Recaps

Yang Qing questioned Dai Sheng about Wu Tianyong’s origins and learned he might be Wu Wangdao, a Longzhong man who once resented Dai Sheng’s teacher. Yang Qing concluded Wu had allied with Northern Liang to seize Dai Sheng’s post and left with Jiang Zhizhou considering a plan to turn the allies against each other.

• After Suotu and the Valiant Cavalry returned to Yan Pass, Yang Qing asked Dai Sheng to reconsider whether he knew Wu Tianyong.
• Dai Sheng recalled Wu Wangdao, a Longzhong native who had blamed Dai Sheng’s teacher for his blocked official career and later vanished while traveling to the capital.
• Dai Sheng explained that Wu Wangdao had gathered evidence against their teacher, and Yang Qing suspected Wu Tianyong was the same man seeking revenge on Dai Sheng.
• Yang Qing reasoned that Wu Tianyong had struck a deal with Northern Liang to take Dai Sheng’s position in exchange for helping them in Yan Prefecture.
• Bu Er offered to kill Wu Tianyong, but Yang Qing proposed exploiting the lack of trust between him and Northern Liang; Jiang Zhizhou suggested sowing discord between them.

Yang Qing planned to foil Wu Tianyong’s bargain with Northern Liang by using a disguised double of Dai Sheng as bait. Wu Tianyong heard what he believed was the agreed signal that Northern Liang had succeeded, leaving the trap’s outcome uncertain.

• Yang Qing told Dai Sheng he would use Wu Tianyong’s life to bargain with Northern Liang and keep Yan Prefecture City out of their hands.
• Yang Qing revealed a disguise expert who looked like Dai Sheng and ordered Jiang Zhizhou to proceed with the plan to lure Wu Tianyong.
• Wu Tianyong’s men worried that Northern Liang might betray them, but Wu said he had no other way to obtain what he wanted.
• Wu Tianyong heard the agreed rendezvous signal and concluded that Northern Liang had succeeded.
• Someone called from above the slope, asking for Wu Tianyong and announcing that the Eagle Catcher had come calling.

Wu Tianyong offered to help Lord Eagle and Northern Liang in exchange for power, but Dai Sheng countered by offering his own knowledge of Yan Prefecture. Lord Eagle ordered Wu Tianyong seized, and Wu escaped into the snow as Dai Sheng and Lord Eagle watched with relief.

• Wu Tianyong welcomed Lord Eagle's men, who brought Dai Sheng to him, and revealed his plan to trade Dai Sheng's life for Northern Liang's support.
• Wu Tianyong promised to aid Northern Liang and said he had no ties left in Western Chu.
• Dai Sheng offered to serve Northern Liang instead, arguing that his long experience as Yan Prefecture's magistrate made him more useful than Wu Tianyong.
• Lord Eagle agreed that Dai Sheng's offer sounded reasonable and ordered his men to seize Wu Tianyong.
• Wu Tianyong ordered his subordinates to resist, then escaped into the snow; Dai Sheng and Lord Eagle watched him go and said it was time to return.

Jiang Zhizhou and his men disguised themselves as Wu Tianyong and his subordinates to ambush the Northern Liang Eagle Nest agents, turning their dispute over Dai Sheng into a fight. One Northern Liang agent escaped, while Jiang Zhizhou led his men away toward Yang Qing.

• Jiang Zhizhou realized Wu Tianyong might have been waiting for a Northern Liang Eagle Catcher and ordered his men to disguise themselves as Wu Tianyong’s group.
• A Northern Liang agent arrived and demanded what he wanted, while the disguised Wu Tianyong demanded Dai Sheng in return.
• The disguised Wu Tianyong exposed the bodies of Northern Liang agents buried in the snow and declared that he would hunt the newcomer until he brought Dai Sheng’s life.
• The Northern Liang agents attacked, but Jiang Zhizhou and Wu Tianyong’s men fought them; one escaped after his companion urged him to avenge him.
• Jiang Zhizhou buried the borrowed clothes in Snow Pool and led his surviving men toward Yang Qing.

Yang Qing traveled toward Yan Pass with Dai Sheng, while Jiang Zhizhou returned after completing the plan against Wu Tianyong. Jiang warned Yang Qing that he would stay by his side for protection and revealed that Northern Liang had sent Xiao Qian, a former guard at the Marquis of An's Residence, to Yan Pass.

• Dai Sheng spotted Jiang Zhizhou and his companions approaching through the snow, and Yang Qing welcomed their return.
• Jiang Zhizhou ushered Yang Qing back into the carriage, told Dai Sheng the trouble had passed, and asked why Bu Er had gone ahead to Yan Pass.
• Jiang Zhizhou rebuked Yang Qing for risking his safety and vowed to remain beside him once they reached Yan Pass.
• Jiang Zhizhou told Yang Qing that Northern Liang had sent Xiao Qian, the Left Cavalry General, to Yan Pass.
• Yang Qing noted that Xiao Qian had once served at the Marquis of An's Residence and suggested he might be targeting Jiang Zhizhou.

Yang Qing and Jiang Zhizhou discussed Xiao Qian’s ties to the Marquis of An’s Residence and his long service as Duan Hongzhuo’s weapon, then arrived at Yan Pass. Yang Qing met with Suotu to plan how to counter Xiao Qian, proposing to attack from within.

• Yang Qing explained that Xiao Qian had served as Left Cavalry General for more than a decade and that Duan Hongzhuo had used him to control the Marquis of An’s Residence.
• Jiang Zhizhou said he welcomed the chance to eliminate Xiao Qian, and Yang Qing planned to discuss a strategy with Suotu at Yan Pass.
• Yang Qing and Jiang Zhizhou entered Yan Pass, where Bu Er greeted them and reported that Xiao Qian’s forces had repeatedly challenged the defenders.
• Bu Er led Yang Qing, Jiang Zhizhou, and Dai Sheng to Suotu’s tent, where Yang Qing asked to discuss Xiao Qian.
• Yang Qing told Suotu that they needed to work from the inside out to defeat Xiao Qian.

Yang Qing identified a division of authority between Xiao Qian and Zhong Sun De as the weakness in Northern Liang’s encirclement of Yan Pass. He planned to exploit their conflict by sending an infiltrator who could speak Xiao Qian’s native dialect to deal with Zhong Sun De.

• Yang Qing explained that Northern Liang’s Iron Bucket Tactic trapped its own army as well as the Western Chu forces, making supplies and the approaching cold potential weaknesses.
• Suotu recounted how Northern Liang commanders sometimes challenged Western Chu but withdrew when different command drums sounded, leading Yang Qing to infer that someone was countermanding Xiao Qian’s orders.
• Yang Qing revealed that Zhong Sun De, Zhong Sun Yanluo’s younger brother, held influence over the Northern Liang army and was accompanying Xiao Qian to keep him in check.
• Yang Qing proposed exploiting the tension between Xiao Qian and Zhong Sun De by infiltrating the Northern Liang camp and adding fuel to their conflict.
• Yang Qing said the infiltrator needed to speak Xiao Qian’s native dialect, but clarified that the mission was to deal with Zhong Sun De.

Yang Qing used the threat of a language-based ruse against Zhong Sun De to reassure Dai Sheng and demonstrate his strategy through a game. After Dai Sheng conceded without a fight, Yang Qing suggested that an operation elsewhere had likely just concluded.

• Yang Qing told Suotu to have the soldiers cook meals while Northern Liang waited, and said Dai Sheng could help find a way to counter Zhong Sun De.
• Yang Qing explained to Dai Sheng that old county annals recorded a Northern Liang envoy who spoke the same language as Xiao Qian, and clarified that he meant to use this knowledge against Zhong Sun De rather than assassinate Xiao Qian.
• Yang Qing asked Dai Sheng to play a game on a makeshift board marked in the ground, using ice chips as pieces.
• Dai Sheng conceded after Yang Qing positioned his pieces, recognizing that Yang Qing had won without a battle.
• Yang Qing looked toward a corner beyond the tent and remarked that events there should have reached a conclusion.

Jiang Zhizhou entered Northern Liang’s camp and confronted Zhong Sun De over his complaints about Xiao Qian’s command. Zhong Sun De died in the tent, while his adviser blamed Xiao Qian and called for the assassin to be caught.

• Jiang Zhizhou slipped into Northern Liang’s camp while Yang Qing and Bu Er followed Suotu into the Central Army Tent.
• Zhong Sun De complained that Xiao Qian’s siege of Yan Pass was dragging on, despite his adviser urging him to be patient.
• Jiang Zhizhou entered Zhong Sun De’s tent, identified himself as Xiao Qian’s emissary, and warned Zhong Sun De against defying the general.
• Jiang Zhizhou told Zhong Sun De that there could be only one general commanding the armies, then left the tent.
• Zhong Sun De collapsed and died, and his adviser vowed to seek justice from the Regent King before shouting for guards to catch the assassin.

Jiang Zhizhou returned safely after killing Zhong Sun De and sowing confusion in Xiao Qian’s camp. Xiao Qian began to retreat from Yan Pass, and Yang Qing expected the siege to be lifted, though he believed he could not return to Capital City yet.

• Yang Qing waited anxiously for Jiang Zhizhou, who returned to the tent and explained that he had killed Zhong Sun De while disguising himself as someone close to Xiao Qian.
• Jiang Zhizhou said he had misled Zhong Sun De’s adviser and Xiao Qian by making the killing look like an assassin’s attack, then deliberately appearing near the adviser before slipping into Xiao Qian’s tent.
• Yang Qing, Jiang Zhizhou, and Bu Er shared a quiet meal and passed the night safely.
• Suotu told Yang Qing that Xiao Qian’s army appeared to be retreating, and Yang Qing said Xiao Qian was likely distracted by trouble in his own camp.
• Suotu praised Yang Qing’s plan and anticipated that the siege of Yan Pass would end, while Yang Qing said he could not yet return to Capital City.

Yang Qing and Suotu devised an ambush at Leaving Slope to strike Northern Liang as Xiao Qian withdrew, and Jiang Zhizhou identified a skilled unit to carry it out. After arranging the plan, Yang Qing asked Suotu for a permit to leave Yan Pass, leaving Suotu startled by his intention to depart.

• Yang Qing proposed ambushing Xiao Qian's withdrawing army at Leaving Slope, where Northern Liang would have to transport its supplies.
• Jiang Zhizhou told Suotu that Western Chu had a unit skilled at climbing and scouting dangerous terrain, and Suotu summoned its members to carry out the ambush plan.
• Yang Qing congratulated Suotu on his likely promotion, then said he had business to settle and prepared to leave.
• Yang Qing privately asked Suotu to sign a permit for him to leave Yan Pass, surprising Suotu.

Yang Qing prepared to leave Yan Pass and enter Northern Liang on a dangerous mission, despite Suotu and Dai Sheng urging caution. He planned to depart the next day during the battle at Li Slope, leaving his allies behind as he went beyond the pass.

• Suotu warned Yang Qing about the dangers beyond Yan Pass, then issued him a sealed Border-Passage Writ after learning that Yang Qing would leave the next day.
• Yang Qing explained that the battle at Li Slope would draw attention away from his departure and refused Suotu’s offer of an escort.
• After Yang Qing left, Suotu recalled Chu Jinghui’s order to watch him but concluded that Yang Qing had shown no suspicious intent.
• Yang Qing told Dai Sheng that Western Chu would fight Northern Liang the next day and reassured him that Wu Tianyong was no longer a threat.
• Yang Qing revealed that he was going beyond the pass, asked Dai Sheng to keep his plans secret, and departed through the wind and snow.

At Yan Pass, Yang Qing prepared to travel secretly to the Northern Lands and ordered most of the Dark Alliance in Western Chu to stand down. He learned that Wu Tianyong had imprisoned and tortured members of the Murong Family, and ordered the Alliance to protect them.

• Yang Qing told Bu Er to have the Dark Alliance lay down its arms after the next day, leaving only the Northern Hawk branch in service.
• Jiang Zhizhou questioned Yang Qing’s dangerous plan, promised to accompany him, and urged him to return alive; they checked that Yang Qing had enough medicine.
• Bu Er reported that the Dark Alliance would remain inactive until Yang Qing returned, but would act if bad news came from the Northern Lands.
• Bu Er told Yang Qing that Wu Tianyong had accused the Murong Family of fomenting unrest, imprisoned its members, and that the family head and Miss Murong had suffered serious injuries.
• Yang Qing bowed toward Yan Prefecture and ordered the Dark Alliance brothers there to protect the Murong Residence whenever they could.

Yang Qing and Jiang Zhizhou discussed Yang Qing’s lingering sorrow over Murong Qian and their difficult futures as they prepared to travel to Northern Liang. Jiang Zhizhou gave Yang Qing a warm jade flask for the journey, and they agreed to set out during the third watch because the storm might leave dangerous ice.

• Yang Qing refused Jiang Zhizhou’s offer to take him back to Yan Prefecture and explained that he could not ask Murong Qian to share the consequences of his deception.
• Jiang Zhizhou gave Yang Qing a Lantian Warm Jade flask, hinting that they should avoid implicating anyone beyond those responsible when they reached Northern Liang.
• Yang Qing reassured Jiang Zhizhou that he understood his predicament, and Jiang Zhizhou proposed traveling the world together after their business was finished.
• Bu Er brought Yang Qing and Jiang Zhizhou steaming buns, and they laughed together over the meal.
• Jiang Zhizhou warned Yang Qing that ice might form after the storm and said they needed to depart during the third watch; Yang Qing agreed to follow his lead.

Yang Qing left Yan Pass with Bu Er and Jiang Zhizhou, determined to continue his journey to Northern Liang despite Bu Er’s fears for his health. At a Northern Liang checkpoint, Jiang Zhizhou tried to persuade the soldiers to let their carriage pass.

• Yang Qing stopped the carriage to bow toward Yan Prefecture and bid farewell to his deceased parents.
• Bu Er urged Yang Qing to choose a safer path and start a new life, but Yang Qing refused to abandon his purpose.
• Jiang Zhizhou calmed Bu Er and asked about Yang Qing’s health, but Bu Er gave only a vague answer.
• Jiang Zhizhou took the narrow road at the fork and drove the carriage toward the Northern Liang checkpoint.
• Jiang Zhizhou told the checkpoint soldiers they were hurrying home for New Year and warned them that Yang Qing was frail.

Jiang Zhizhou brought Yang Qing and Bu Er to his secluded Plum Garden residence in Northern Liang. Yang Qing grew suspicious of the mute servants, and the chapter ended when one of them knocked food from Jiang Zhizhou’s hands before he could eat.

• Jiang Zhizhou got the Northern Liang guards to let their carriage pass by offering them a jar of wine.
• Jiang Zhizhou took Yang Qing and Bu Er to Plum Garden, a residence he had secretly bought years earlier and staffed with seven mute servants.
• Yang Qing questioned Jiang Zhizhou about the servants, prompting him to consider that something might be wrong at the residence.
• A kitchen servant trembled while serving the meal and dropped a bowl, then knocked another bowl from Jiang Zhizhou’s hands as he was about to eat.
• Yang Qing told the servant to wait aside while he asked questions.

Yang Qing and Jiang Zhizhou pretended to be poisoned after learning something from a mute servant, drawing out two conspirators who planned to kill them. Jiang Zhizhou and Bu Er killed the attackers, then prepared to flee.

• Yang Qing secretly communicated with the kneeling mute servant and told Jiang Zhizhou to stay calm and watch how events unfolded.
• Yang Qing and Jiang Zhizhou pretended to collapse from poisoned food, while Bu Er returned from the woodshed and played along.
• The gatekeeper and the kitchen servant entered, revealed their plot, and said they served the prince.
• Jiang Zhizhou seized the gatekeeper, while Bu Er stopped the kitchen servant's dagger attack and killed him.
• Jiang Zhizhou forced the gatekeeper to stab himself, then told Yang Qing they should leave.

Yang Qing and Jiang Zhizhou abandoned their compromised estate and sought help from the Northern Hawk, whose preparations gave them disguises and a chance to move safely through Northern Liang. They left the temple in disguise and headed toward a destination Jiang Zhizhou chose.

• Jiang Zhizhou worried that the enemy had discovered his estate and that their information had leaked from within their ranks.
• Yang Qing argued that Duan Hongzhuo's focus on Yan Pass might explain the estate's exposure and urged Jiang Zhizhou to hide their tracks.
• Yang Qing told Bu Er to search the small temple for a message from the Northern Hawk, and Bu Er found a bundle prepared for them.
• Yang Qing, Jiang Zhizhou, and Bu Er changed into new clothes, took identity papers, and put on masks to disguise themselves.
• Bu Er and Jiang Zhizhou erased their traces at the temple before leaving, and Jiang Zhizhou directed the carriage toward a new place to stay.

Yang Qing and his companions entered Tong City after bribing a gate guard and learned that officials were searching for people fleeing from the south. Rather than continue to the inner Imperial City, Yang Qing headed for the First-Rank Residence, where they were greeted on a snowy night.

• Jiang Zhizhou answered a soldier's questions at the Tong City gate and slipped him a silver ingot.
• The soldier warned Jiang Zhizhou that orders called for searching for people who had fled from the south, then checked Yang Qing and Bu Er's travel papers and let them enter.
• Yang Qing decided to stay in Tong City and told Bu Er that the First-Rank Residence was their destination.
• Jiang Zhizhou drove the carriage to the First-Rank Residence, where a man came out to greet them.
• Yang Qing stepped down from the carriage and pointed out the bright lanterns guiding his way.

Yang Qing met Bei Chen at the First-Rank Residence and then went to the Delicacies Pavilion, where he reunited with Xue Ping and secretly discussed plans. The next morning, he asked Xue Ping about Tong City’s jurisdiction and ordered him to take him around the city to investigate.

• Bei Chen welcomed Yang Qing, Jiang Zhizhou, and Bu Er into the First-Rank Residence and reported on its staff and the restaurant Yang Qing planned to acquire.
• Yang Qing told Bei Chen to keep his arrival secret and left the First-Rank Residence despite the worsening snowstorm.
• Jiang Zhizhou led Yang Qing to the Delicacies Pavilion, where Xue Ping recognized him and welcomed him as his master.
• Yang Qing spoke privately with Xue Ping in the rear courtyard, and Xue Ping emerged later that night.
• The next morning, Yang Qing asked Xue Ping who governed Tong City, learned that prefect Cao Yan had jurisdiction, and told Xue Ping to take him around the city.

Yang Qing changed plans to visit the snowstorm-stricken north of Tong City, but a checkpoint searching for people from the south forced him to turn back. At the Rare Treasures Pavilion, he concluded that someone had exposed their movements and resolved to quiet the hunt before it hindered their future actions.

• Yang Qing decided to head toward northern Tong City to assess the snowstorm damage, reasoning that acting now could draw attention before someone else took the initiative.
• At a checkpoint, a Prefectural Soldier demanded that Yang Qing and his companions get out and questioned them while checking portraits.
• Yang Qing claimed to be Jia Qing, a native of Zi City, and learned that the soldiers were searching for criminals and ordering people to report anyone with a southern accent.
• Yang Qing bought food with his companions and returned to the Rare Treasures Pavilion, saying others were already helping people in the north of the city.
• Yang Qing told Jiang Zhizhou and Bu Er that someone had likely disclosed their movements to Northern Liang and said they needed to quiet the matter down.

Yang Qing built a reputation for the Rare Treasures Pavilion while keeping a low profile, then met Tong County Magistrate Gao Jinguang when he came to investigate the restaurant's new proprietor. Gao Jinguang questioned Yang Qing about his background and asked whether he knew that bandits from the south had infiltrated Northern Liang.

• Yang Qing told Jiang Zhizhou to handle a matter without leaving traces, then said he and Bu Er would establish themselves and make a living.
• The Rare Treasures Pavilion gained a reputation in Tong City for its fine wine while Yang Qing practiced calligraphy and Jiang Zhizhou worked outside.
• Xue Ping informed Yang Qing that Tong County Magistrate Gao Jinguang had arrived, and Yang Qing went to meet him while Bu Er stayed behind.
• Gao Jinguang praised the wine and questioned Yang Qing, who introduced himself as Jia Qing and claimed to have escaped a flood that submerged Zi City.
• Gao Jinguang asked Yang Qing whether he knew that bandits from the south had recently infiltrated Northern Liang.

Yang Qing answered Gao Jinguang’s questions about his origins and business, then recovered from the strain of their meeting with Bu Er’s help. After Jiang Zhizhou reported that Yang Qing’s Zi City background had been verified, Yang Qing asked about the conflict between the emperor and the Regent King and the officials supporting them.

• Yang Qing told Gao Jinguang he had left Zi City years ago, had been ill, and had delayed opening the Rare Treasures Pavilion while seeking treatment.
• Gao Jinguang warned Yang Qing to report suspicious people during the year-end rush, praised his Carefree Drunk, and said he would return to taste Yang Qing’s new wine in spring.
• After Gao Jinguang left, Yang Qing felt chilled and unwell, and Bu Er helped him bathe and change clothes.
• Jiang Zhizhou reported that people were checking Yang Qing’s Zi City origins, but that Chen Mo had added household-register entries for them to verify.
• Yang Qing asked Jiang Zhizhou about the emperor and the Regent King, then criticized resolving disputes through force and asked about the military officials’ backgrounds.

Yang Qing sought detailed information on the officers loyal to Duan Hongzhuo while concealing how badly his health had worsened from Bu Er and Jiang Zhizhou. He told Jiang Zhizhou that resolving Northern Liang could take half a year and securing it a year, then asked him to visit land Yang Qing had bought on the Pasture Plains once their work was done.

• Yang Qing asked Jiang Zhizhou to investigate the officers’ backgrounds in detail, focusing on their differing closeness to and favor with Duan Hongzhuo.
• Yang Qing suffered a coughing fit, and Bu Er questioned him about the changed pills; Yang Qing admitted Divine Doctor Xue had prepared them but insisted his mission mattered more than his own safety.
• Jiang Zhizhou confronted Yang Qing about his failing health, but Yang Qing avoided giving a clear answer and said Northern Liang could be settled in half a year and secured in a year if everything was in place.
• Yang Qing told Jiang Zhizhou he had bought land on the Pasture Plains and asked him to accompany him there after their work in Northern Liang was finished.
• Jiang Zhizhou gave Yang Qing the findings he had brought back about the officers.

Yang Qing and Jiang Zhizhou investigated the strained relationship between Xiao Shandong and Tan Wenjie and noticed an unexplained reference to Lady Li. Yang Qing sent a message by carrier bird, then summoned Bei Chen to learn what he knew about the two officials’ private dealings.

• Jiang Zhizhou told Yang Qing that Xiao Shandong and Tan Wenjie, despite serving Duan Hongzhuo, were often at odds and might provide an opening against him.
• Yang Qing found a note on the scroll saying that Lady Li had died at thirteen and asked Jiang Zhizhou to investigate her connection to the two men.
• Jiang Zhizhou agreed to investigate Lady Li carefully, and Yang Qing sent a message by carrier bird while waiting for a reply.
• Bei Chen arrived after Yang Qing summoned him, and Yang Qing asked about Xiao Shandong and Tan Wenjie’s relationship.
• Bei Chen said the two officials had many private dealings and began preparing to tell Yang Qing about them.