Chapter 41 – Concluding Affairs of the Yin Dynasty (2)

The Flag Mountain range was perpetually shrouded in thin mist, filled with natural obstacles at every turn. Finding the legendary immortal sage was no easy feat, yet the harder he was to find, the more people ventured into the mountains to search. Later, the rumors spread to the common people, and those seeking wealth and glory, those wishing to save the world, those hoping for official titles and noble ranks, those longing to receive the mandate of heaven—wave after wave of people rushed into the mountains.

At this time, however, Zhan Changfeng was still in the Hengzhou Governor’s residence, compiling this sacred text.

What Zhan Changfeng had studied were the arts of kingship, and the methods of governance contained within were beyond the understanding of ordinary people. The profound mysteries inside, if seen by others, would truly be revered as sacred words.

She now divided the governance methods she had learned into two parts: one for rulers, titled ‘Heavenly Strategy,’ and one for subjects, titled ‘Earth Repository.’ In this way, she was indirectly passing down the arts of kingship.

However, the content had been cleverly adapted by her, concealing within it the ideals of a great harmonious society and the natural truth that all people are born equal.

Whether people are born equal or not was not the important thing. Zhan Changfeng believed that humans were creatures of self-interest—if something offered no benefit to oneself, how many people would actually pursue it?

The so-called saying, ‘The sacred texts of Flag Mountain: a ruler who obtains them can pacify the realm; a subject who obtains them can command all directions and stand above ten thousand yet below one’—this was meant to give them motivation.

Perhaps rulers might not believe that obtaining the texts would unify the realm, but the immortal sage and the sacred texts represented the will of heaven—a banner under which they could openly eliminate the old dynasty and establish themselves as Emperor.

Subjects, too, might not necessarily harbor the aspiration to save the world, but who wouldn’t want to be a hero in times of chaos, to bring glory to their ancestors, and to carve out a foundation for their descendants?

Yet in the present age, it was difficult for those of humble birth to rise to prominence. The nobility was in decline. Going before the feudal lords with a thin résumé to offer one’s services rarely resulted in a great leap forward—unless one carried a name that commanded attention.

A disciple of the immortal sage—how imposing that would sound.

Using the ambitions of others for fame and profit to promote her own ideals—this was Zhan Changfeng’s fundamental approach. After that would come making this ideology the mainstream, replacing the dross of what came before.

But neither ‘Heavenly Strategy’ nor ‘Earth Repository’ had yet come to the moment for their appearance.

“Where has the Imperial Aunt reached?”

Zero-Two replied: “Her Highness the Imperial Princess has just passed Qinhuai Ridge. She will arrive in Hengzhou in two days.”

Zhan Changfeng had invited Yi Shang as a guest under the name of Hengzhou’s Governor. Previously, when Xifeng City had fallen, Yi Shang had sought aid from Jinzhou. The Jinzhou Prefect, Wang Zhi, had inherited the title of Lord Tian Bo through generations—he was indecisive and cowardly by nature, handling all matters by deferring to his strategist. This strategist happened to be a hidden agent planted by the old Emperor.

Zhan Changfeng had instructed him to persuade Lord Tian Bo to yield his position to Yi Shang, in order to test whether Yi Shang would accept Jinzhou and whether she harbored ambitions for dominance.

Yi Shang accepted.

This was something Zhan Changfeng found gratifying—she would no longer need to prop up someone else.

Afterward, the strategist entered Yi Shang’s service, offering plans and strategies. Yi Shang formally seized control of the Three Southern Provinces, and later reclaimed Xifeng City.

Yi Shang had long been renowned throughout the Three Southern Provinces. When the three provinces fell into her hands, there were no dissenting voices—some even said that heaven had finally opened its eyes.

When Zhan Changfeng first heard what the common people were saying, she found it remarkable. Looking across history ancient and recent, perhaps only Yi Shang could receive such adoration as a woman.

Since that was the case, she would make her position even more legitimate. Zhan Changfeng handed the ‘Heavenly Strategy’ to Zero-Two. “Have it carved on the back of a turtle’s shell. When the Imperial Aunt reaches the Si River, release the turtle.”

A dark turtle bearing a divine diagram—a sage walks among the living.

It was all about building momentum.

Qinhuai Ridge.

Yi Shang came to Hengzhou in secret, traveling in plain clothes with only a small group of trusted companions. As they passed by a household, they heard cries for help from within. A woman came tumbling out through the wicker fence, rushing frantically to the front of the horses. “Kind souls, please save me—I’m about to be beaten to death!”

She was weeping and making a commotion, one of her eyes bruised black and filled with terror.

A man came chasing after her almost immediately. His rough, large hands seized her by the hair and dragged her back toward the yard. He spat a mouthful of phlegm. “You wretched woman, you dare try to run!”

“Stop! Let her go!” Yi Shang commanded coldly.

“And who are you?” The man glanced at the group mounted on fine horses and swallowed the profanities that had risen to his lips, yet he spoke with self-righteous boldness. “It’s only natural for a man to discipline his wife. What, are you going to stick your nose in my business?”

Yi Shang said, “If you have something to say, say it with words. What does hitting someone accomplish?”

“Oh, miss, save me, save me,” the woman threw herself beside the horse, weeping and pulling back her sleeves. “How can I go on living if I stay in this household?”

Beneath both sleeves were bruises of purple and black from rod strikes—truly a horrifying sight.

Yi Shang could not help but be filled with rage. “Has he always beaten you like this?”

“Even a wise official finds it hard to judge family affairs—you’re an outsider, don’t meddle.” The old man across the lane was sitting on stone steps, shucking corn, and spoke as though nothing were unusual. “What would the world come to if men didn’t beat their wives?”

“Saner,” a middle-aged woman herding ducks called out earnestly to the man, “when you discipline your wife, keep the door shut tight and don’t let her run out making a scene again. Otherwise people will say you’re useless—can’t even manage your own woman.”

She then shot Yi Shang a sideways look. “Not like some people, sitting on a horse and talking back to a man.”

The man also felt humiliated—that wretched woman had made him lose face entirely. He grabbed a vine switch from the fence and began lashing at the woman. “That’ll teach you to hide, that’ll teach you to run—let’s see if you dare again!”

After hearing all this, Yi Shang felt both a bitter amusement and a heaviness in her heart. She swept her Long Spear in a motion, sending the man flying several meters away. “What use is a man like this?”

The woman was first stunned that the man had been sent flying with such a light motion, and then upon hearing Yi Shang’s words, her whole body shuddered. She scrambled to shield the man with her body, glaring at Yi Shang warily, and screamed, “What are you trying to do?! If you dare hurt my husband, I’ll fight you to the death!”

Yi Shang was astonished. She looked the woman over carefully twice to confirm that this was indeed the same person who had just been begging her desperately for rescue. “He treats you like this—why do you still protect him? Do you not hate him?”

“Ptah! Where did this madwoman come from? My husband can beat me if he pleases—it’s none of your business!” The woman glared fiercely at Yi Shang, afraid she might strike again.

The man kicked the woman aside. “I must have had terrible luck for eight generations to end up stuck with something like you.”

Intimidated by the air of authority surrounding Yi Shang and her companions, he could only vent his anger by kicking his own wife—several kicks in a row. “I’ll divorce you, you cursed jinx!”

The woman acted as though the sky had collapsed. Ignoring the piercing pain, she threw her arms around the man’s leg. “Master of the house, I was wrong, I’ll never dare again—please, go ahead and hit me, please hit me, I beg you!”

“Ptah! Shameless!” The man seized her by the hair again and dragged her back into the house. Yet this time she seemed overcome with gratitude, as though she had been granted some great blessing from above.

Looking back, she shot a resentful glare at Yi Shang—it was all this woman’s fault for meddling!

Yi Shang let out a long, slow breath to stop herself from exploding with anger. “To think there are people like this in the world.”

Those around her did not dare speak. Only a strategist dressed in blue robes fanned his folding fan. “Your Highness, the world is full of people like this. It is only that your gaze has always been set too high—you have never lowered your eyes to look.”

“…” Yi Shang pressed her lips tightly together and suddenly felt a weariness deeper than any she had known on the march or in battle. “Is there truly no way to change this?”

The blue-robed strategist smiled. “I believe there is someone who would be very glad that you are asking this question.”

Yi Shang gave him a long, penetrating look. “Perhaps I would like to meet him.”

“I hear he happens to be in Hengzhou.”

“Is that so.” Yi Shang snapped her riding crop down. “Ride on!”