Chapter Summaries

Yang Zhengshan took control of the Garrison Battalion and questioned Wei Cen about the Secret Martial Guard’s investigation into smuggling in Anyuan Prefecture. He learned that Prince Qing Mansion might be behind the scheme and that Lü Hua intended to use him as bait, leaving Yang Zhengshan to decide how to proceed.

• Yang Zhengshan jailed Xu Wanfu and the others, then sent Song Dashan and ten Yang Family Disciples to fill vacant posts in the Garrison Battalion.
• Wei Cen told Yang Zhengshan that Lü Hua had sent him to assist in investigating the Anyuan Prefecture smuggling case.
• Wei Cen named Cao Han, Xu Wanfu, Lin Xuan, Hao Zhaoxian, the Jing'an Liang Family, and Black Cliff Stronghold as implicated, and revealed that Lü Hua suspected Prince Qing Mansion was pulling the strings.
• Yang Zhengshan realized Lü Hua planned to use him as bait to provoke the Liang Family and draw out the conspirators, but agreed he would have to confront them regardless.
• Yang Zhengshan learned Wei Cen had nine Post-Heaven Martial Artist subordinates and told him to stay in the front courtyard while he considered what to do next.

Yang Zhengshan questioned Xu Wanfu about the smuggling operation and learned that Yi Shan of Black Cliff Stronghold had directed him. After Yang Zhengshan and Wei Cen used Xu Wanfu as bait, Hou Jun came to kill him, and a fight broke out nearby as they pursued the next lead.

• Yang Zhengshan disciplined corrupt clerks and runners in the Garrison Commander's Office, then went to question Xu Wanfu in the prison.
• Xu Wanfu admitted that he helped move smuggled goods into and out of the city and identified the Jing'an Liang Family as the transporters, but said he had dealt only with a man called Mister.
• Wei Cen revealed that Mister was Yi Shan, an adviser to Black Cliff Stronghold, and Yang Zhengshan decided to use Xu Wanfu as bait to draw out the people behind the smuggling.
• A masked figure sneaked into the prison and killed Xu Wanfu, but Wei Cen identified the killer as Hou Jun, the Third Stronghold Master of Black Cliff Stronghold.
• Yang Zhengshan and Wei Cen heard fighting near the official hall; Wei Cen rushed toward the sound while Yang Zhengshan followed along the street.

Yang Zhengshan intervened when a twin-saber martial artist overwhelmed Hou Jun and rescued the injured swordsman, who turned out to be a woman he had once seen at Fuyun Restaurant. He brought her to the Garrison Commander's Office, where Wei Cen identified her poison and supplied an antidote, while Secret Martial Guard agents tracked Hou Jun and his ally to a courtyard.

• Yang Zhengshan and Wei Cen watched a swordsman fight Hou Jun until a twin-saber martial artist joined in and drove the swordsman back.
• Yang Zhengshan distracted the twin-saber martial artist with a shower of copper coins, rescued the swordsman, and escaped with them as Wei Cen's agents followed Hou Jun and his ally.
• Yang Zhengshan discovered the swordsman was a woman who had fainted from poisoned wounds, then recognized her as the woman Yang Chengye had encountered at Fuyun Restaurant.
• Yang Zhengshan carried the woman to the main courtyard of the Garrison Commander's Office and gave Wei Cen a bloodstained handkerchief to identify the poison.
• Wei Cen identified Soul-Bewitching Powder and gave Yang Zhengshan its antidote; Yang Zhengshan treated the woman's wounds and waited beside her.

Yi Shan learned that Rong Qianjun had been suppressing the Azure Sky Sword Sect in Anyuan Prefecture and ordered a search for Yu Qingyi while keeping watch on the Garrison Commander's Office. After Yu Qingyi woke in Yang Zhengshan’s bedroom and accused him of violating her modesty, he reminded her she was his prisoner, and she identified herself as the married sect master of the Azure Sky Sword Sect.

• Hou Jun told Yi Shan that Yu Qingyi had attacked him and that Rong Qianjun had been stealing the Azure Sky Sword Sect’s business in Anyuan Prefecture.
• Yi Shan worried that the conflict could expose Black Cliff Stronghold’s secrets and ordered his men to find Yu Qingyi and her mysterious rescuer while watching the Garrison Commander's Office.
• Yu Qingyi woke in Yang Zhengshan’s bedroom, recognized him as the garrison commander, and accused him of looking at her body while treating her wounds.
• Yang Zhengshan pointed his spear at Yu Qingyi and told her she was his prisoner, prompting her to regain her composure and introduce herself as Yu Qingyi, a married woman.

Yang Zhengshan questioned Yu Qingyi, the Azure Sky Sword Sect leader, and confined her at his home to keep her from alerting Black Cliff Stronghold. Wang mistook the imprisoned guest for a potential new wife for Yang Zhengshan and nervously went to attend to her.

• Yang Zhengshan learned that Yu Qingyi had tried to kill Hou Jun because of the Azure Sky Sword Sect's grudge with Black Cliff Stronghold, but she did not know who the twin-blade martial artist was.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered Yu Qingyi to remain in his home and forbade her from sending a letter, then told Wu Hai to prepare clothes and keep her presence secret.
• Wu Hai mistook Yu Qingyi for a prospective wife of Yang Zhengshan and was instructed to buy more servants, including twenty teenage boys for training as household guards.
• Wang visited Yu Qingyi after hearing there was a female guest, worried that Yang Zhengshan might marry her, and offered to arrange clothes and necessities.
• Yu Qingyi declined to ask for anything, and Wang left to make arrangements while Yang Zhengshan continued training.

Yang Zhengshan’s family mistook the woman he had brought home for a prospective second wife, while Yang Zhengshan focused on his new command and the fallout from taking down Xu Wanfu. At the front office, the officials under his command presented him with a bribe of five thousand taels, revealing how deeply corrupt they were.

• Wang and Liang worried about how a new mother-in-law might treat them, while Yang Yunyan felt uneasy about her father remarrying.
• At breakfast, Yang Yunxue and Yang Yunyan asked about the woman in Yang Zhengshan’s room, and Yang Zhengshan realized his family believed he planned to marry her.
• Yang Zhengshan dismissed his family’s questions and went to the front office to deal with the aftermath of Xu Wanfu’s downfall.
• Zhou Ren told Yang Zhengshan that Xu Wanfu was dead and that the officials from the forts had gathered at the Main Hall.
• Tian Gui presented Yang Zhengshan with a wooden box containing five thousand taels in silver notes, and Yang Zhengshan recognized the officials’ blatant corruption.

Yang Zhengshan rejected a bribe from corrupt officials, ordered cotton-padded clothes issued to the Garrison Commander's Office staff, and then faced Liang Rong's offer to pay for written orders supporting smuggling. He left Liang Rong's proposal under consideration.

• Yang Zhengshan scattered Tian Gui and the other officials' five thousand taels, gave them one month to repair the Tun Fortresses, and threatened to have them executed if they failed.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered Zhou Ren to issue two sets of cotton-padded clothes to every worker in the office after learning the Armament Bureau's craftsmen had gone four years without new ones.
• Yang Zhengshan learned Liang Rong had arrived and summoned Wei Cen before meeting him in the Guest Reception Hall.
• Liang Rong asked Yang Zhengshan for a written order to transport goods beyond the border, but Yang Zhengshan refused at first.
• Liang Rong offered Yang Zhengshan three hundred taels for each written order, with three to five smuggling trips per month, and Yang Zhengshan said he would consider it.

Yang Zhengshan accepted Liang Rong’s money and issued the order, but secretly planned to use the arrangement to expose Prince Qing Mansion’s role without letting the Secret Martial Guard use him as a weapon. After Lü Hua approved the plan, Yang Zhengshan began preparing the Garrison Battalion and Yu Qingyi came to ask him for a favor.

• Yang Zhengshan negotiated a payment of four hundred taels with Liang Rong and gave Wei Cen the banknotes after issuing the written order.
• Yang Zhengshan told Wei Cen he would pose as an ally to lower the conspirators’ guard, while Town Garrison Camp forces intercepted their shipments beyond the border.
• Wei Cen returned with Lü Hua’s approval, and Yang Zhengshan began preparing to train the Garrison Battalion into an elite force.
• Yu Qingyi, whose injuries had mostly healed, came to Yang Zhengshan’s study and asked him for a favor.

Yang Zhengshan warned Yu Qingyi that the Azure Sky Sword Sect must stay out of the Black Cliff Stronghold affair, then arranged for her followers to return home and seal the mountain. As troop training began and the Liang Family’s smuggling expanded, Yang Zhengshan turned to the approaching New Year and worried about securing enough grain and fodder.

• Yang Zhengshan advised Yu Qingyi to have the Azure Sky Sword Sect withdraw and seal its mountain for a year, and she agreed to send her people a letter.
• Ding Qiu delivered Yu Qingyi’s letter, and her two senior attendants led the group out of Anyuan City to return to the sect.
• Yang Zhengshan gave Han Cheng and Song Dashan his troop-training plan, including meals and reward silver, and the training at Chengguan Fortress got underway.
• Yi Shan and Liang Rong began with a shipment of cotton cloth, then smuggled grain, salt, and iron beyond the border while Lü Hua let them proceed.
• Yang Zhengshan realized the training was rapidly consuming the garrison’s supplies and considered asking his superiors for more grain and fodder before the New Year.

Yang Zhengxiang visited Yang Zhengshan in Anyuan Prefecture City and sought his advice about Yang Chengze’s proposed marriage to County Magistrate Luo’s daughter. After Yang Zhengxiang and the clan members returned home, Yang Zhengshan prepared to travel to the Songzhou Guard.

• Yang Zhengshan welcomed Yang Zhengxiang and Yang Minghui, who had come from Yinghe Fortress to visit him.
• Yang Minghui explained that Yang Chengze was thriving as a Defense Officer and that the family was considering a marriage for him.
• Yang Zhengxiang revealed that County Magistrate Luo had proposed his concubine-born daughter as Yang Chengze’s bride, and Yang Zhengshan encouraged the match.
• Yang Zhengshan hosted the visiting clan members, showed Yang Zhengxiang around the city, and bought supplies for the Yang Clan.
• After four days, Yang Zhengxiang and Yang Mingcheng departed for home, and Yang Zhengshan told Yang Minghao to prepare for their trip to the Songzhou Guard.

Yang Zhengshan visited Jia City to deliver holiday gifts, where Wang Sheng asked to train under him after the New Year and Sha Pingchuan welcomed him with an extravagant feast. The chapter ended with Sha Pingchuan presenting a troupe of dancing girls, leaving Yang Zhengshan struggling to control his desires.

• Yang Zhengshan learned that Wang Bin was away, delivered his gifts to the Wang residence, and met Wang Sheng.
• Wang Sheng asked to follow Yang Zhengshan in Anyuan City to learn his methods, and Yang Zhengshan agreed to guide him after the New Year.
• Yang Zhengshan visited Sha Pingchuan at the Guard Division Office and offered him a year-end gift.
• Sha Pingchuan accepted the gift and arranged a lavish meal featuring expensive Lamb Fine Wine.
• Sha Pingchuan summoned dancing girls, and Yang Zhengshan found himself fighting to remain composed as he watched them.

Yang Zhengshan accepted Sha Pingchuan’s adopted daughter Yulu under pressure, but suspected the arrangement concealed a scheme. After questioning Wei Cen, he connected Sha Pingchuan’s extravagant wealth to the smuggling case and ordered further investigation.

• Sha Pingchuan introduced Yulu as his adopted daughter, then decided to betroth her to Yang Zhengshan and sent her along despite Yang’s unease.
• Yang Zhengshan brought Yulu to his residence, ordered servants to house and watch her, and asked Wei Cen about Sha Pingchuan.
• Wei Cen explained that Sha Pingchuan had seized hundreds of qing of garrison farmland and acquired properties across several cities.
• Yang Zhengshan noted that Sha Pingchuan’s wealth and extravagance seemed impossible to explain through his six years as Guard Commander and suspected ties to smuggling.
• Yang Zhengshan told Wei Cen to investigate further, and Wei Cen agreed to report the matter to the regional commander.

Yang Zhengshan wrestled with his desire for Yu Qingyi while continuing to organize grain and pay for his soldiers. After Sha Pingchuan delivered the supplies, Yang Zhengshan prepared to distribute them and send troops to inspect the military farms outside the city.

• Yu Qingyi brought Yang Zhengshan congee, and he accidentally held her hand, making her flee in embarrassment.
• Yang Zhengshan suppressed his desire by drilling with his spear outside, while Yu Qingyi watched him from her room and struggled with her feelings.
• Sha Pingchuan sent Yang Zhengshan the promised grain and three thousand taels of silver, and Miss Yulu remained quietly in the Yang household.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered Han Cheng to prepare for distributing grain and pay to the soldiers, followed by a patrol of the military farms.
• Yang Zhengshan advised Yang Mingzhen and the other Yang Family Disciples to keep screening soldiers and build trusted bonds with their men.

Yang Zhengshan rewarded the Soldiers of the Garrison Battalion and set out to inspect the fortresses under Anyuan Prefecture. At Shaling Fortress he discovered that Xie Yuan had quietly maintained a capable garrison, while three other Fortress Officials had let their posts fall into ruin, and he decided they would be removed after the New Year.

• Yang Zhengshan distributed grain, silver, and New Year gifts to the Garrison Battalion, then ordered a physician to treat a Soldier's sick mother.
• Yang Zhengshan led three hundred Soldiers and carts of supplies to Shaling Fortress, where Xie Yuan greeted him and revealed a clean, well-run garrison.
• Yang Zhengshan saw that Xie Yuan had trained his Soldiers despite keeping a low profile under previous corrupt superiors, but decided to investigate him before placing him in an important role.
• Yang Zhengshan distributed grain and silver at Shaling Fortress and three nearby fortresses under Xie Yuan's authority.
• Yang Zhengshan found the other three fortresses filthy and neglected, left their fawning Fortress Officials visibly dissatisfied, and decided they would live only until after the New Year.

After inspecting the fortress settlements, Yang Zhengshan asked Wei Cen to investigate their officials and spent the days before New Year with his family. He grew closer to Yu Qingyi, who made him a cloak, and ended the chapter watching her practice swordsmanship in the falling snow.

• Yang Zhengshan inspected all nine fortress settlements, found most of them in ruins, and told Xie Yuan he would wait until after New Year to deal with the officials.
• Yang Zhengshan persuaded Wei Cen to investigate Xie Yuan, Tian Gui, and the other fortress officials after the holiday.
• Yang Mingcheng brought home a roe deer, and Yang Zhengshan praised him and ordered it prepared for dinner.
• Yang Zhengshan found Yu Qingyi sewing a cloak for him, then talked with her about the Azure Sky Sword Sect and its difficulties supporting its members.
• After Yu Qingyi finished the cloak, Yang Zhengshan took her hand and asked to watch her practice the sword.
• Yu Qingyi practiced her sharp, battle-minded swordsmanship as snow fell.

The Yang Family's New Year's Eve dinner grew awkward when Yang Zhengshan invited Yu Qingyi, prompting the family to wonder whether he intended to marry her. After the family left them alone, Yang Zhengshan took Yu Qingyi to the study, while Yulu remained isolated in her courtyard and decided to visit her master the next day.

• Yang Zhengshan invited Yu Qingyi to the Yang Family's New Year's Eve dinner, where Yang Qingwan asked whether Yu Qingyi was her grandmother.
• Yang Zhengshan explained that Yu Qingyi was staying as a guest, then placed meat in her bowl and told her to treat the house as her own.
• The Yang Family members made excuses to leave Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi alone, and he invited her to read with him in the study.
• Yulu rebuked her momo for reminding her of her master's instructions, then decided to pay her master a visit the next day.

On New Year’s Day, Yang Zhengshan gave gifts to his family and servants, then gave Yu Qingyi a valuable hairpin while she was missing her disciples. Their tender moment was interrupted by Yulu, whose attempt to present herself as Yang Zhengshan’s concubine ended with him ordering her two old maids disciplined.

• Yang Zhengshan gave iron spears to Yang Yunxue, Lin Zhan, and Wang Yunqiao, and instructed Wu Hai to distribute New Year’s red envelopes to the household servants and visitors.
• Yu Qingyi told Yang Zhengshan she missed her disciples, and he gave her a ruby gilded hairpin and tried to put it in her hair.
• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi shared an intimate moment before Wu Hai announced that Yulu requested an audience.
• Yulu entered and called herself Yang Zhengshan’s concubine, but he said he had no intention of taking her as one.
• Yang Zhengshan reminded Yulu that she was a servant without her contract of sale and ordered her two old maids to be taught manners.

Yang Zhengshan began cleaning up corrupt officials in the Garrison Commander’s Office, exposing Tian Gui’s crimes and ordering his removal along with six other fortress officials. With most of the old administration cleared out, Yang gained control of the office and could reshape its military battalion and fortress settlements.

• Yang Zhengshan ordered Yulu to return to Xiuchun Courtyard and had two old maidservants dragged away after they invoked Sha Pingchuan’s name.
• After the Spring Festival, Yang Zhengshan summoned the Garrison Commander’s Office officials and confronted Tian Gui with evidence of corruption and murder.
• Tian Gui begged for mercy, but Ding Qiu crippled him with one strike and dragged him out.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered six more fortress officials removed, and his soldiers dragged them from the hall.
• Yang Zhengshan reflected that the purge had left him in control of the Garrison Commander’s Office, despite the shortage of capable officials.

Yang Zhengshan reshuffled fortress posts, drew the Wu family into his administration, and prepared to benefit from Wang Sheng’s arrival. After welcoming Wang Sheng and his supplies, Yang Zhengshan learned that there were no urgent matters at Jia City, suggesting Chongshan Town was unlikely to campaign that year.

• Yang Zhengshan appointed Xie Yuan to oversee the remeasurement and reallocation of fortress fields, and made Yang Minghao the Defense Officer of Shaling Fortress.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered Wu An to take the Defense Officer post at Shuiquan Fortress or have his father, Wu Chongzhe, take it instead, and gave them three days to answer.
• Yang Zhengshan told Han Cheng that Wang Sheng would arrive to learn troop training and planned for him to serve as Bazong.
• Yang Zhengshan and Han Cheng welcomed Wang Sheng, who arrived with attendants, soldiers, and more than thirty carts of supplies.
• Yang Zhengshan and Wang Sheng talked about Wang Bin and the Wang family, and Wang Sheng said there had been no urgent matters lately.

Yang Zhengshan brought Wang Sheng into the Garrison Battalion to learn its training methods, then challenged Wu Chongzhe in a fight to establish control over the Wu family. The chapter ended as Yang Zhengshan charged at Wu Chongzhe with his spear, his battlefield killing aura overwhelming him.

• Yang Zhengshan persuaded Wang Sheng to serve as a Bazong in the Garrison Battalion and take part in its training.
• Yang Zhengshan took Wang Sheng to Chengguan Fortress, introduced him to the battalion, and helped him adapt to training.
• Wu Chongzhe arrived in Anyuan City intending to accept the post of Defense Officer of Shuiquan Fortress without submitting to Yang Zhengshan.
• Yang Zhengshan challenged Wu Chongzhe to a fight, and Wu Chongzhe accepted, hoping to establish his own strength.
• Yang Zhengshan changed into martial clothes and charged at Wu Chongzhe with his spear, startling him with his intense killing aura.