Chapter Summaries

Yang Zhengshan's forces fought to capture Chongshan Pass as he battled Prince Qing's bodyguard Zhang Yu. Prince Qing escaped, but Yang Zhengshan's troops gained ground across the walls and streets, shifting the battle in their favor.

• Yang Zhengshan defeated Ji Feiyu with one blow, while Zhang Yu sent guards to escort Prince Qing away and confronted Yang Zhengshan with his Soft Sword.
• Yang Zhengshan and Zhang Yu fought across the battlements and into the city, but Zhang Yu evaded Yang Zhengshan's attacks despite becoming exhausted.
• Song Dashan broke through the outer gate into the Barbican, while Yang Mingzhi and Yang Mingzhen fought Hou Yao inside the city.
• Lu Chongde led thousands of defected soldiers toward the southern gate, and Niu Zhuang and Tang Feihu expanded their positions on the eastern and western walls.
• More soldiers entered the city from the walls, and the advantage in the battle began to turn toward Yang Zhengshan's forces.

Yang Zhengshan’s forces captured Chongshan Pass after Prince Qing and Ji Feiyu escaped, while Yang Zhengshan defeated Zhang Yu and chose not to pursue them. By nightfall, the battle had ended with devastating losses, and Yang Zhengshan began addressing the aftermath.

• Prince Qing helped the badly wounded Ji Feiyu escape through the unguarded middle city gate as Niu Zhuang joined Yang Mingzhi and Yang Mingzhen against Hou Yao.
• Song Dashan led the charge through the breached South City gate and killed Hou Yao, while Tenglong Guard soldiers poured into the city.
• Yang Zhengshan defeated Zhang Yu, crushed his shoulder blades, and carried him toward North City.
• Yang Zhengshan saw Prince Qing and Ji Feiyu fleeing but let them go, considering their escape an unresolved game that might later benefit Da Rong.
• The battle continued until dusk, leaving Chongshan Pass strewn with corpses and more than half of the participants dead or wounded.
• Yang Minghao reported that the prisoners were mostly unharmed but Luo Ren’s wife had miscarried; Yang Zhengshan ordered medicinal wine sent to her.

After Yang Zhengshan captured Chongshan Pass, he dealt with the battle’s heavy losses and welcomed Pang Tang and Lü Hua to the city. Pang Tang took charge of Chongshan Town, while Lü Hua said he had come to help defend against Wuliang’s army.

• Yang Zhengshan reported that more than fifty thousand soldiers had died in the battle, and their bodies were buried over five days.
• Pang Tang arrived at Chongshan Pass on July thirteenth with laborers, grain, and fodder, and Yang Zhengshan described the devastating casualties.
• Lü Hua arrived and greeted Yang Zhengshan, explaining that he had come to assist in blocking Wuliang’s army rather than interfere in Chongshan Town’s affairs.
• Lu Chongde accepted Pang Tang’s authority to govern Chongshan Town, and Pang Tang asked for his guidance on local matters.

Yang Zhengshan assigned officials to stabilize Chongshan Town and discussed his growing power with Lü Hua, who warned him of a disastrous defeat at Dongsheng Prefecture. With Wuliang’s army threatening Jizhou, the court might mobilize the Imperial Guard, risking a struggle over the bedridden Old Emperor’s most protected troops.

• Yang Zhengshan told Pang Tang to reorganize Chongshan Pass, sent Ji He back to oversee Dingliao Guard, and assigned Zhang Yuanwu to handle Fuzhou Guard.
• Yang Zhengshan arranged for Pang Tang to manage Chongshan Pass’s money and grain while he prepared to lead troops against the West Route and Wuliang’s main army.
• Lü Hua reminded Yang Zhengshan of his past assistance, and Yang Zhengshan agreed that he owed Lü Hua a favor.
• Lü Hua told Yang Zhengshan that Chen Tonghui’s two-hundred-thousand-strong force had been routed by Hu cavalry and was trapped defending Dongsheng Prefecture.
• Lü Hua warned that the court might mobilize the Imperial Guard, creating unpredictable changes in the capital while the Old Emperor lay bedridden.

Yang Zhengshan gathered an army to confront the Wuliang forces, while Cui Liang chose to ally with Little Prince Wutuo and sought a way to stop him. Cui Liang spotted a possible defensive opportunity near Guining City and the Yinghe River.

• Yang Zhengshan questioned Lü Hua about the Old Emperor’s illness, then said he would set out as soon as possible to face the Wuliang army.
• The Ministry of War ordered Yang Zhengshan to lead Chongshan Town’s forces into Liaoxi, and Dingliao Guard sent Qin He with four thousand cavalry and eight thousand foot soldiers.
• Yang Zhengshan marched west with thirty-five thousand troops, while Cui Liang chose to submit to Little Prince Wutuo rather than abandon his power in Chongshan Town’s West Route.
• Little Prince Wutuo promised Cui Liang the title of vassal king if he could block Yang Zhengshan’s advance and preserve his own forces.
• Cui Liang studied a map and noticed that the canyon west of Guining City, where the Yinghe River flowed, might offer a way to resist Yang Zhengshan.

Yang Zhengshan discovered that Cui Liang had cut off the Yinghe upstream to flood his army, then concluded that Little Prince Wutuo intended to withdraw from Liaoxi rather than press the invasion. The army halted safely beyond the canyon, while Yang Zhengshan’s assessment of the Wuliang army’s plans shifted toward an impending retreat.

• Cui Liang sent two thousand soldiers to block the Yinghe at the canyon west of Guining City, planning to flood Yang Zhengshan’s army and the surrounding area.
• Yang Zhengshan noticed the river’s unusually low flow and sent Yang Mingzhi and scouts upstream to investigate.
• Yang Mingzhi’s scouts confirmed that the river had been cut off, and Yang Zhengshan kept his army at a safe distance from the canyon.
• Yang Zhengshan and his generals discussed Cui Liang’s scheme, and Lü Hua reported that Cui Liang had exchanged letters with Little Prince Wutuo.
• Yang Zhengshan reasoned that Little Prince Wutuo had stopped advancing because he intended to withdraw from Liaoxi after plundering its wealth.

Yang Zhengshan moved his army toward a valley where he planned to confront the Wuliang Hu Tribe, while the imperial court dispatched six Imperial Guard camps north. Cui Liang abandoned the gorge he had dammed, unleashing a flood that killed tens of thousands, and Lü Hua began spreading news of his responsibility.

• Yang Zhengshan ordered Niu Zhuang and Tang Feihu to march to a valley in the northwest and requested fire oil from Lord Pang.
• Yang Zhengshan rode ahead to inspect the valley and decided its terrain could serve his plan against the Wuliang army.
• The imperial court sent six Imperial Guard camps north, but Little Prince Wutuo had already retreated to Huade Prefecture with his plunder.
• Cui Liang learned that Chongshan Town's army had headed north, abandoned the flooded gorge, and left with two thousand soldiers.
• The gorge burst open and floodwaters killed tens of thousands near Guining City, while Yang Zhengshan kept his army's position secret and Lü Hua arranged to spread news blaming Cui Liang.

As Wutuo and Cui Liang gathered their forces to advance on Guan Shankou, news of Cui Liang’s sacrifice of Guining City spread panic across Chongshan Town’s West Route. Yang Zhengshan prepared a plan using kerosene and grass cages, waiting for a strong northwest wind while his army held the pass.

• Wutuo learned that Yang Zhengshan had occupied Guan Shankou and ordered Cui Liang to send troops into the valley ahead of the Wuliang army.
• Secret Martial Guard scouts spread news of the Guining City disaster, alarming civilians, military households, and soldiers across Chongshan Town’s West Route.
• Cui Liang hurriedly mobilized troops toward Guan Shankou as Wutuo’s army gathered its plunder and moved toward the west route.
• The Imperial Guard counterattacked the Wuliang army, routing its cavalry near Linqing Prefecture and fighting further clashes as Wutuo withdrew from Huade Prefecture.
• Cui Liang’s troops entered the valley and repeatedly probed Guan Shankou, but Yang Zhengshan repelled them as Wuliang reinforcements arrived.
• Yang Zhengshan confirmed that thirty thousand jin of kerosene and one hundred thousand grass cages were ready, and said he was waiting for the northwest wind while preparing to hold Guan Shankou.

The Imperial Guard reached north of Xiling City and agreed to follow Yang Zhengshan’s plan, while Wutuo prepared a full assault on Guan Shankou. The chapter left both armies set to attack on the first day of the ninth month, at the time Yang Zhengshan specified.

• Liang Chu received Yang Zhengshan’s message and ordered the Imperial Guard to march to a position north of Xiling City within four days.
• Wutuo berated his generals for failing to take Guan Shankou and ordered a full attack two days later.
• Yang Mingzhi met Liang Chu north of Xiling City and delivered Yang Zhengshan’s official order to attack at the third quarter of the hour of the Ox on the first day of the ninth month.
• Liang Chu agreed to follow Yang Zhengshan’s plan and then spoke with Yang Mingzhi about Liang Qingping.

Yang Zhengshan prepared a nighttime fire attack at Guan Shankou, betting that Wutuo would hesitate to launch his assault and that a northwest wind would arrive. The Imperial Guard waited north of Xiling City to coordinate a raid, while its nobles debated Yang Zhengshan’s character and motives.

• Yang Zhengshan ordered Soldiers, engineers, and laborers to carry grass cages and fire oil onto the slopes around Guan Shankou, while Wutuo watched and hesitated to advance before his planned assault the next day.
• Yang Zhengshan observed Wutuo through a Thousand-Mile Mirror and correctly bet that the cautious general would not attack before nightfall.
• After dark, Yang Zhengshan’s men spread fire-oil-soaked grass cages across the slopes and valley entrance as Yang Zhengshan waited for a northwest wind.
• Niu Zhuang and Tang Feihu questioned Yang Zhengshan about relying on the wind, and he said his forces would withdraw if it failed to come.
• Liang Chu and the Imperial Guard waited to launch a night raid at the third quarter of the chou hour as Cao Can questioned whether Yang Zhengshan expected them to attack first.
• Zhou Lan rebuked Cao Can for doubting Yang Zhengshan, and Lu Baishu eased the tension by discussing the one time he had met Yang Zhengshan.

Wutuo realized too late that Yang Zhengshan had used the northwesterly wind to drive fire-oil-soaked grass cages into the Wuliang camp. As the camp burned and its troops fled, Liang Chu sent the Imperial Guard into the valley to attack.

• Wutuo grew uneasy as the wind strengthened, then realized the northwesterly wind could carry fire into his camp.
• Burning grass cages rolled into the Wuliang camp, where wind-driven flames spread through the tents, troops, and horses.
• Wutuo ordered a retreat south, but Cui Liang led him west into the mountain forest instead.
• Liang Chu and his commanders watched the fire consume the Wuliang camp, and Liang Chu ordered the Imperial Guard to prepare to attack.
• Liang Chu led tens of thousands of Imperial Guard soldiers into the valley as war drums and battle cries rang out.

Yang Zhengshan’s fire destroyed the Wuliang army’s camp, and he let his exhausted soldiers rest while the blaze burned out. After learning of the Imperial Guard’s victory, he began planning to stabilize Chongshan Town’s West Route.

• Yang Zhengshan admired the fire consuming the Wuliang camp and sent the soldiers back to camp to rest.
• Yang Zhengshan slept through the night, then learned from Xie Yuan that the Wuliang army had been defeated.
• Yang Zhengshan refused to risk soldiers searching the mountain forests for fleeing Hu cavalry or Little Prince Wutuo.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered Xie Yuan to take five thousand Tenglong Guard soldiers to Daning City and stabilize the West Route.
• Yang Zhengshan received Liang Chu’s report that the Imperial Guard had killed more than thirty-eight thousand enemies and captured more than eighteen thousand.

After the great victory in Nameless Valley, Yang Zhengshan met with Liang Chu and Zhou Lan, then oversaw the recovery of spoils and the reorganization of Chongshan Town’s West Route forces. The victory report reached the Capital, where the court celebrated the destruction of the Wuliang army but began disputing the rewards.

• Yang Zhengshan joined Liang Chu and Zhou Lan in discussing the Crown Prince’s growing influence and the Imperial Guard’s departure from the Capital.
• Yang Zhengshan had his Soldiers search the valley’s ashes for weapons, armor, and gold and silver, then divided the recovered spoils according to military rules.
• On the eighth day of the ninth month, Liang Chu handed over more than eighteen thousand prisoners to Chongshan Town and led the Imperial Guard back to the Capital.
• Yang Zhengshan punished a few officers and reorganized the ordinary prisoners into the West Route Reinforcement Battalion to stabilize Chongshan Town.
• The victory report reached the Capital, where officials celebrated the annihilation of seventy thousand Wuliang troops and began arguing over the rewards.

At morning court, the Crown Prince used a proposal to ennoble Yang Zhengshan to pursue several political aims, while Zhu Qinwen recited Yang Zhengshan’s military record to win support for the reward. The court heard that his victory at Guan Shankou could be compared with the Battle of Suizhou, as the Crown Prince watched Prince Cheng and Prince Gong.

• The Crown Prince convened morning court while Emperor Chengping remained gravely ill and Prince Cheng and Prince Gong observed state affairs.
• The officials debated the Crown Prince’s intention to grant Yang Zhengshan a noble title, which could win Yang Zhengshan’s allegiance and attract border-town generals.
• The Crown Prince signaled Zhu Qinwen to present a memorial praising Yang Zhengshan and recounting his rise through military merit.
• Zhu Qinwen described Yang Zhengshan’s accomplishments, prompting officials to reconsider his reputation as they heard the details of his campaigns.
• Zhu Qinwen compared Yang Zhengshan’s victory at Guan Shankou to the Battle of Suizhou, elevating his achievement before the court.

The Crown Prince pushed the court to grant Yang Zhengshan a noble title, arguing that his military accomplishments deserved recognition. The court settled on making Yang Zhengshan the Marquis of Jing'an, while Prince Gong and Prince Cheng left the Imperial City fearing they would not survive the Crown Prince's eventual ascension.

• Court ministers compared Yang Zhengshan's military writings and achievements with those of the first Duke of Dingguo, and Zhu Qinwen called for Yang Zhengshan to receive a state noble title.
• Crown Prince supporters backed the proposal, while Zheng Shizeng and other ministers objected that Yang Zhengshan's merits did not justify ennoblement.
• The Crown Prince declared he would grant Yang Zhengshan the title of Marquis of Jing'an and take responsibility if Emperor Chengping blamed him.
• The court's morning session ended with Yang Zhengshan's ennoblement moving into preparation, despite continued opposition.
• Prince Gong and Prince Cheng left the Imperial City together and agreed they could not afford to wait for the Crown Prince to ascend the throne.

Prince Gong and Prince Cheng agreed to kill Yang Zhengshan, unaware that he had been granted a marquisate. Yang Zhengshan arrived at Chongshan Pass to take up his post as regional commander and found that his mansion staff had been reorganized.

• Prince Gong and Prince Cheng decided to kill Yang Zhengshan, believing the Crown Prince wanted them to do it.
• Yang Zhengshan led the Elite Guard Battalion into Chongshan Pass, where townspeople welcomed him with reverent looks.
• Yang Zhengshan saw Luo Shang, who had returned from Jiangnan and anticipated the Luo Family's rise under Yang's rule.
• Zhou Ren and Lu Wenhua reported that the Regional Commander's Mansion's eight departments and twelve offices had been staffed and were preparing for work.
• Yang Zhengshan entered the Regional Commander's Mansion as its new regional commander.

Yang Zhengshan recommended new commanders for Tenglong Guard and Chongshan Town while worrying that the Crown Prince might interfere with the appointments. Meanwhile, Yu Qingyi arranged Lin Zhan’s wedding and began preparing the Yang Family’s move to Chongshan Pass.

• Yang Zhengshan wrote memorials proposing four Tenglong Guard commanders, four route Assistant Regional Commanders, and leaders for the five Zhenbiao battalions.
• Yang Zhengshan wondered whether the Crown Prince would use the appointments to place his own people in Chongshan Town, then continued managing the town’s affairs.
• Yu Qingyi met Lady An in Liao'an Prefecture City and set Lin Zhan’s wedding date for the eighteenth day of the twelfth month.
• Yu Qingyi assured Lady An that Lin Zhan would follow the Yang Family’s rules, including its restrictions on wives and concubines.
• Yu Qingyi returned to Tenglong Guard and began preparing to move the Yang Family to Chongshan Pass.

Yang Zhengshan learned that the Crown Prince had pushed to make him a marquis, a move that offered the Yang Family a rare opportunity while exposing him to danger from Prince Cheng and Prince Gong. After restoring order in Chongshan Town, he prepared to travel to the Capital for the investiture ceremony, which the Ministry of Rites scheduled for the twentieth day of the tenth month.

• Yang Zhengshan read Wu Zheng's letter and concluded that the Crown Prince's marquisate proposal could provoke Prince Cheng and Prince Gong to target him, but he decided he could not refuse the opportunity.
• Yang Zhengshan reorganized Chongshan Town's forces, assigned temporary posts to Yang Mingzhi and Qin He, and sent Niu Zhuang and Tang Feihu back to their guards.
• Yang Zhengshan began rebuilding the Regional Military Commission after Ji Feiyu's rebellion had nearly wiped out its officials.
• Imperial Court officials arrived at Chongshan Pass to verify military achievements and arrange Yang Zhengshan's enfeoffment as a marquis.
• Yin Qingxin told Yang Zhengshan that the investiture ceremony would take place in Fengtian Hall on the twentieth day of the tenth month and that he must reach the Capital before the fifteenth.
• Pang Tang hosted a banquet for the visiting officials, which Yang Zhengshan and Lu Chongde attended.

Lü Hua warned Yang Zhengshan that Shanhe Tower had placed him on its Gold List, with a Jade Dew Spirit Peach offered for his death. Yang Zhengshan left Chongshan Pass for the Capital with only twenty attendants, while Ji Zhen chose to warn him rather than pursue the bounty.

• Lü Hua told Yang Zhengshan that Shanhe Tower had posted a bounty of one Jade Dew Spirit Peach for killing him, though he did not know who had commissioned it.
• Yang Zhengshan suspected Prince Qing, Little Prince Wutuo, and people in the Capital might want him dead, and he anticipated a dangerous journey to the Capital.
• Yang Zhengshan left Chongshan Pass on September twenty-second with twenty personal attendants, hoping to learn the Imperial Court's situation and draw danger away from his family.
• Ji Hai told Ji Zhen that Yang Zhengshan had departed with only twenty people and suggested the Jade Dew Spirit Peach might tempt them.
• Ji Zhen rejected the idea of taking the bounty, citing Hengdao Sect's ties to Yang Zhengshan, and sent Ji Hai to warn him.

Yuheng Star Hall learned that the main hall had ordered it to kill Yang Zhengshan for a Jade Dew Spirit Peach, and Luo Jinsong chose to leave the mountain rather than obey. Meanwhile, Yang Zhengshan traveled toward the capital and stopped at Yang Family Village, where his clansmen welcomed him enthusiastically.

• Luo Jinsong, Li Chengguo, and Qian Zhonghe realized that killing Yang Zhengshan would likely destroy Yuheng Star Hall and that the main hall was willing to sacrifice them for the Jade Dew Spirit Peach.
• Luo Jinsong decided to gather his people and leave the mountain the next day, and Li Chengguo and Qian Zhonghe agreed to follow his decision.
• News of Yang Zhengshan's departure from Chongshan Pass spread, drawing martial artists toward Jizhou and making his name famous throughout the jianghu.
• Yang Zhengshan stopped at Yang Family Village after eleven years away, where Yang Mingguang recognized him and ran to announce his return.
• The villagers gathered around Yang Zhengshan to greet him, and Yang Zhengxiang arrived to welcome him.