The next day, Zhang Shi indulged Wang Jiayin thoroughly, keeping him entangled in the bed curtains until his bones felt soft and his spirit felt drained, leaving him sprawled there afterward, breath stolen and limbs unwilling to move, as though his soul itself had been wrung dry by pleasure.
Zhang Shi leaned close, her warm breath brushing his ear, her voice soft and tender, carrying that sweet, clinging tone that men found hardest to resist. "My Lord, my Lord," she murmured, half coquettish and half aggrieved, "my elder brother Zhang Liwei holds such a low position in your army. He is your own brother-in-law, and yet you will not even grant him a proper official post. Doesn't that mean you no longer cherish me?"
Wang Jiayin lay there in a daze, his mind still floating, his will weakened by indulgence. A man in such a state was most vulnerable to whispered persuasion. He waved his hand vaguely and muttered, "Fine, fine. Promote him. Promote him, promote him, promote him."
Zhang Shi did not let the moment slip by. She pressed closer, her voice lowering further. "I want my brother to be promoted, but I am also afraid he might die in battle. I've thought it through carefully. This would be best. Promote him to be your personal commander. If he stays by your side every day, that will surely be the safest place."
Wang Jiayin chuckled lazily. "Such a small matter. Very well. Starting tomorrow, Zhang Liwei will be my personal commander."
A personal commander was nothing more than the captain of the personal guard, yet the moment Zhang Liwei obtained that position, Wang Jiayin's head was, in truth, already placed into his hands.
June 2nd, the fourth year of the Chongzhen reign, 1631.
At Chihong Fortress, inside Xing Honglang's main tent, Xing Honglang, Gao Chuwu, Zao Ying, Lao Nanfeng, and several others were sitting around a table, listlessly playing mahjong. This was a novel pastime taught to them by the Dao Xuan Tianzun, the tiles carved neatly from bamboo, and when there was nothing to do, playing a few rounds was surprisingly addictive.
They had been watching Xicheng Mountain from afar for several days now, yet Wang Jiayin's forces had not moved, and Cao Wenzhao's army was just as still. Nothing happened, day after day. Boredom had seeped into their bones, and mahjong had become their only distraction.
Just then, the Puppet Dao Xuan Tianzun, who had been lying limp and unmoving for several days like a discarded doll, suddenly clacked and stood upright.
Almost at the same moment, the four players stopped what they were doing, rose to their feet, and bowed deeply. "Greetings, Dao Xuan Tianzun."
The Puppet Dao Xuan Tianzun gave a knowing chuckle, the bamboo boards in its mouth clacking rhythmically as it spoke in verse.
"Tonight the tide shall turn at last,
Jiayin's end will come up fast.
Make your ready, gather all,
When fortune calls, do not stall."
The four were instantly overjoyed, leaping up from their seats at the same time.
Xing Honglang, Zao Ying, and Gao Chuwu all rushed to their gear. Only Lao Nanfeng remained behind for a moment. He calmly took out a canvas bag, opened it, and placed it beside the table. With a sweeping motion of his hand, he gathered all the mahjong tiles and poured them neatly into the bag.
"Don't rush into battle so eagerly," he said with a grin. "Fights will never end, but mahjong is a treasure from the mortal world. It must be properly safeguarded."
After tying up the bag, he finally began to put on his armor and fasten his saber. His movements were fluid and efficient, the habits of a veteran border soldier ingrained into his muscles. Even though he started later than the others, he finished first, fully armored while Gao Chuwu and the rest were still fumbling with straps.
As he swung himself onto his horse, Lao Nanfeng began humming a tune from the Celestial Realm, light and carefree.
"In this bustling mortal land, blossoms bloom in every place,
Here I wait and drift and dream, lost within this worldly space…"
After humming a couple of lines, he glanced sideways at the others and laughed. "Why are you all so slow?"
Then he continued humming as if nothing in the world concerned him.
"I cannot leave this colorful realm behind,
Turns out I'm just a drunken butterfly, lost in its design…"
Watching him, the others could not help but feel secretly impressed. Few in Gao Family Village could remain so relaxed on the eve of battle. Even He Jiu, the militia's chief instructor, was always nervous before a fight, muttering about his great grandmother as if seeking ancestral protection. Compared to that, Lao Nanfeng looked as though he were heading out for a stroll.
At that moment, a scout galloped into the tent and reported loudly, "Cao Wenzhao's forces are moving. They are forming up and appear ready to attack the mountain. Eh? All the commanders are already prepared?"
Lao Nanfeng burst into laughter. "The Dao Xuan Tianzun truly sees all. One calculation, and everything is known. Since Cao Wenzhao has moved, Wang Jiayin's end is sealed. Come, come. It's time for us to fish in troubled waters."
Three hundred cavalry rode out in advance, with the infantry following close behind.
Scout reports continued to arrive from the front. Cao Wenzhao's forces were advancing.
Wherever Cao Wenzhao went, the others followed, always keeping several miles of distance.
As they marched, Xicheng Mountain gradually emerged in the distance. By then, night had fallen, and the mountain stood like a massive black shadow against the deep darkness, silent and oppressive.
Cao Wenzhao's army halted at the foot of the mountain, ready to attack at any moment.
Xing Honglang's forces naturally stopped as well, waiting quietly.
They waited until the dead of night, when the moon hung bright and the stars were few.
Suddenly, a burst of fire exploded from the mountaintop with a thunderous boom. Immediately afterward, hundreds of voices roared together from above, shaking the night.
"Wang Jiayin is dead! Wang Jiayin is dead!"
Cao Wenzhao was overjoyed. "Attack!"
Three thousand Guanning Iron Cavalry surged forward, charging straight up Xicheng Mountain.
Seeing this from behind, Xing Honglang and the others were momentarily stunned. "What exactly happened on the mountaintop?"
The Puppet Dao Xuan Tianzun chuckled knowingly, its bamboo boards clacking once more.
"A common girl he seized by force,
His wife's own kin then set the course.
Drunk and blind, his head was claimed,
By wicked deeds, his fate was named."
They listened, confused for a brief moment. Then, as the meaning of the verse sank in, understanding dawned all at once.
Three pairs of eyes turned toward Lao Nanfeng.
Lao Nanfeng scratched his head. "What? Why are you all staring at me like that?"
Gao Chuwu said seriously, "Lao Nanfeng, I feel like you might end up following Wang Jiayin's path someday. You always look like you're drooling when you see a pretty woman. If one day you forcibly seize a common girl, then it'll be 'those who commit many evils will meet their end.'"
Lao Nanfeng's expression stiffened. "That's not right. I, Lao Nanfeng, do like beautiful women, but I have no interest in mortal women. In my heart, there are only celestial maidens."
The others were rendered speechless.
Lao Nanfeng added earnestly, "Even if you gave me a hundred times more courage, I wouldn't dare to forcibly seize a celestial maiden."
Xing Honglang nodded solemnly. "That's true."
Zao Ying nodded as well. "Agreed."
Only Gao Chuwu broke into a wide grin. "You can't steal a celestial maiden, but you can steal her clothes. Didn't the Cowherd succeed by stealing a celestial maiden's clothes?"
Lao Nanfeng's eyes widened. "What? There's such a trick? How did I forget about that? Gao Chuwu, you're a genius. I'll go guard a mountain pond and try my luck."
Everyone was horrified.
Xing Honglang kicked Gao Chuwu hard, sending him sprawling. "What nonsense are you teaching him? That idiot will actually do it."
Gao Chuwu looked aggrieved. "Huh? Would anyone really do something like that?"
Xing Honglang replied coldly, "Anyone else wouldn't. But Lao Nanfeng definitely would."
The Puppet Dao Xuan Tianzun watched from the side, laughing so hard that its entire wooden frame clacked and rattled. "Everyone, rest assured. Those celestial maidens will not come down to bathe. Lao Nanfeng will not find them, much less steal their clothes."
Lao Nanfeng froze. "Wait, wait. They really won't come down to bathe?"
The Puppet Dao Xuan Tianzun nodded decisively. "No. Never. There are plenty of places to bathe up there. Why would they bother coming down here?"
Lao Nanfeng collapsed onto the ground with a heavy thud, lying there in utter despair, his spirit completely crushed.