Chapter 23: The Fall of the Jing Kingdom, Revisiting Old Grounds
The Seventeenth Year of the Shang Marquis, early October.
Eastern Capital.
The Eastern Capital was not originally called the Eastern Capital; its name was Pingcheng.
But several decades ago, the capital city of Heng State fell.
Unable to resist the enemy who occupied Heng State’s capital, Emperor Huan was forced to relocate here and establish a new capital.
Since then, the Eastern Capital had been established for nearly forty years.
Forty years is a long time.
The Son of Heaven, who was barely nineteen years old back then, was now approaching sixty, his hair long since turned white.
The wide, heavy royal robe draped over him did little to convey the grandeur of a ruler; rather, it emphasised his frail frame, lending him an almost pitiful appearance.
Emperor Huan, supported by eunuchs, staggered out of the Royal Palace and approached Zhang Yang, clasping his hands respectfully. "I have long heard of Minister Zhang’s great reputation," he said.
"Seeing you today, you are even more radiant than the tales," Zhang Yang replied.
Emperor Huan’s manner was humble — even somewhat deferential. It was nothing like a ruler meeting a subordinate.
Zhang Yang looked at the elderly man, his steps faltering, his eyes unfocused. Memories from decades past surfaced in his mind.
He had met Emperor Huan twice before.
The first time was forty years ago, when he led troops accompanying Lord Huan of Yuan State on a campaign. They had briefly stayed in Heng State’s capital, where Zhang Yang had seen Lord Huan once.
Back then, Lord Huan was just seventeen, full of youthful grace and promise.
The second time was eighteen years ago, after Zhang Yang’s rebirth, when he had passed through the Eastern Capital.
By then, Lord Huan had reached middle age.
Steady.
Mature.
But in this moment—
Zhang Yang studied the elderly man before him, white-haired, his face deeply lined and marked with age spots, and sighed.
Time truly was the most merciless force in the world.
Zhang Yang silently reflected, then smiled gently: "The Son of Heaven overpraises me."
"I have two matters to discuss."
Emperor Huan sensed the complexity in Zhang Yang’s gaze and emotions but did not understand the reason.
Hearing that Zhang Yang had two matters, Emperor Huan quickly asked cautiously, "What does Minister Zhang wish to address?"
Zhang Yang smiled and said, "First: Lady of Shang wishes to visit the Imperial Ancestral Temple to pay respects to Great Heng and the ancestors. She hopes the Son of Heaven will grant permission."
Emperor Huan’s expression shifted subtly—he grew somewhat anxious, even angry.The Imperial Ancestral Temple was a place dedicated to honouring the successive Sons of Heaven of Great Heng.
Such a place was not easily accessible. Even if Lady of Shang wished to offer her respects, she would have to observe the proper rites and protocols.
The Book of Rites, in the chapter "Royal Regulations," states: "The Son of Heaven offers sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, the feudal lords to the soil and grain gods, and the nobles to the five other spirits."
One could not simply claim the ancestors as their own or conduct sacrifices at will.
For Lady of Shang to visit the Imperial Ancestral Temple to venerate the line of ancestors was a serious challenge to the Son of Heaven’s authority.
However—
Emperor Huan, thinking of the five hundred thousand troops stationed outside the city, let his anger flash briefly before feigning magnanimity: "It is rare and commendable that Lady of Shang possesses such intentions."
"I hereby grant permission."
"May I ask what Minister Zhang’s second matter is?"
Zhang Yang’s lips curved ever so slightly: "Our Great Shang is located in the South; its customs are utterly distinct from those of the Eastern Capital."
“The lady wishes to invite the young master to visit Great Shang as a guest, to strengthen the ties between Great Shang and the Royal Family.”
Emperor Huan’s pupils constricted, his face twitching violently, barely restraining himself from grinding his teeth.
A visit as a guest.
This was no mere visit; it was clearly a demand for hostages.
Humiliation.
Utter humiliation.
I, the illustrious Son of Heaven, am actually being asked to send hostages to the feudal lords—I—
I endure it!
Emperor Huan’s smile turned somewhat stiff. “If the lady is so hospitable, how could I possibly refuse?”
“I have seven sons. My sixth son is twelve this year, intelligent and eager to learn, lively in character, and fond of travelling and exploring. I believe he would greatly enjoy the customs of the Shang Kingdom.”
Zhang Yang smiled: “The Son of Heaven truly is magnanimous.”The following day, under Emperor Huan’s arrangements, Lady of Shang went to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to pay respects to the ancestors of Heng State. She became the first woman in Heng’s several hundred years of history to perform this ritual. Even more notably, she was the first lord to serve as the presiding priestess for the ancestral worship of Heng’s forebears.
The day after the ceremony, Lady of Shang and Zhang Yang departed from the Eastern Capital, leading their army towards the Jing Kingdom.
By that time, news of the Gongsun Clan’s defeat had already spread throughout Jing.
In the capital city of Jing, Anping, King Xian of Jing received the information and immediately summoned all his trusted allies, hastily beginning a purge of the Gongsun Clan.
However, the Gongsun family had long made their own plans. Shortly after Lord Xian contacted his confidants, the Gongsun Clan openly rebelled, slaughtering King Xian of Jing along with all his offspring.
But after wiping out the royal house of Jing, the Gongsun Clan chose not to take control of Anping. Instead, they fled overnight with their kin towards the northwest.
By the time Zhang Yang’s troops entered Jing, the kingdom had descended into chaos.
Lord Xian was dead, and all his descendants had been slaughtered.With no leader among the dragons and no designated heir to the throne, Lord Xian’s brothers each vied fiercely for the position of sovereign.
For a time, the Jing Kingdom had three simultaneous rulers!
These three sovereigns bickered and insulted one another without cease, right up until Zhang Yang led his army into Jing.
The seventeenth year of the Shang Marquis, 6th November.
Zhang Yang led his forces into the capital city of Jing, Anping.
The entire process met with no resistance whatsoever.
In fact, quite the opposite occurred.
The nobles of Anping were calling out in desperation, begging Zhang Yang and his men to come inside.
Since the Gongsun Clan had unleashed a massacre in Anping, the city had been plunged into a month-long chaos.
Without a sovereign, and with many high ministers gone, all order had completely collapsed.Soldiers, thugs, and nobles plundered one another, turning the entire capital into utter chaos.
Amid such turmoil, the princes of Jing Kingdom continued their bitter bickering and insults.
The local nobility of Anping, powerless to restore order, were forced to seek help from Zhang Yang.
Zhang Yang showed no leniency towards the disorder in Anping. With swift and decisive action, he eliminated those opportunistic rebels who had taken advantage of the chaos.
In just two days, Anping returned to its former harmony.
Following this, Zhang Yang dispatched the Xuan Bird Battalion soldiers to patrol the surrounding regions.
With the support of the Feng and Yuan clans—noble families of Jing Kingdom—the process of pacifying the territories went remarkably smoothly.
By May of the eighteenth year of the Shang Marquis, Jing Kingdom was essentially subdued!
That October, Zhang Yang left twenty thousand Xuan Bird Battalion soldiers to garrison Anping, while he took three thousand men back to the Shang Kingdom’s capital, Hao City.
At the end of October, they reached Yuan City.“Chief Minister, ahead is Yuan City.”
Heitu gazed into the distance, laughing heartily, “The last time I was here was already eighteen years ago.”
“Thinking back now, it truly feels like a lifetime ago.”
Zhang Yang stared into the far horizon, his eyes misty.
Eighteen whole years had passed in the blink of an eye.
Eighteen years...
Zhang Yang’s gaze followed Yuan City and drifted further afield.
Where on earth had Xiang’er and the others ended up?
Eighteen years—had they never once heard the name they bore: the Zhang Family of Tu Town!
Lost in thought, Zhang Yang said, “Change course. Let’s head to Tu Town.”
Heitu was momentarily stunned but said nothing. Under Zhang Yang’s command, the three thousand cavalry changed direction and headed towards Tu Town. Tu Town lay only a few dozen miles from Yuan City.
The next morning, at dawn, Zhang Yang ordered the three thousand cavalry to remain stationed outside the town while he, accompanied by Heitu and a small group of personal guards, returned to Tu Town.
By then, more than forty years had passed since he had left Tu Town. Forty years was ample time for many changes. Tu Town was no exception. The houses and streets had all undergone significant change. The Zhang Family Residence had entirely vanished without a trace.
Here, Zhang Yang could see no trace of the past.
He looked dazed as he wandered along the unfamiliar streets, entering the town and then leaving it again.
Unintentionally, he arrived at a cemetery two miles outside the town.
This was the Zhang Family’s burial ground.
Amidst the pine trees, thin trails of smoke curled upwards.
Someone was burning offerings woven from straw.
Zhang Yang cast his eyes around and stood rooted to the spot.
There, towering in the centre of the cemetery, stood a stone stele.
The Tomb of Master Zhang.
Before the tombstone, an old man and a youth carefully watched over the burning offerings.
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