CCWAD – Chapter 25

Chapter 25

A Daughter of a Military Family, Fierce as a Tiger

Prologue:

“When the red-clad woman, who claimed to be Yang Zhi’s sister, burst into the small courtyard with her spear, I realized Li Shishi’s plans extended far beyond the imperial court. She smiled and blocked a fatal blow for me: ‘Allow me to introduce Yang Bamei, our future cavalry commander.'”

—

News of the sudden shift in the winds at Liangshan Marsh gradually reached Eastern Capital Bianliang through special channels. The rising voices against amnesty in the Hall of Righteous Gathering, Song Jiang’s predicament, Lu Junyi’s increasingly firm stance, and the subtle changes in relationships among the chieftains all attested to the power of Yan Qing’s secret letter. Tong Guan’s side also seemed to have caught wind of the situation; the envoy he sent again was more humble in tone, even hinting at a willingness to renegotiate “cooperation” details under the premise of “guaranteeing Liangshan’s interests.”

Yan Qing’s small courtyard had become an intelligence hub in the eye of the storm. Every day, she had to process information from Liangshan, Tong Guan, the Grand Canal Transport Gang, and other parties, discuss strategies with Li Shishi, and carefully avoid the surveillance of Cai Jing and other factions. While exhausted physically and mentally, her old shoulder injury would still ache faintly on rainy days, reminding her of the arduous journey she had undertaken.

One afternoon, as Yan Qing was poring over various intelligence reports, a flurry of urgent horse hooves suddenly sounded outside the courtyard gate, followed by Shi Xiu’s sharp challenge: “Who goes there?!”

Before anyone could respond, there was a tremendous crash as the courtyard gate was forced open from the outside with immense strength! Amidst flying splinters of wood, a figure clad in fiery red stormed in like a whirlwind, a bright silver spear aimed directly at Yan Qing’s face!

“You scoundrel! Take your life!”

The newcomer was incredibly swift, her spearplay fierce, carrying the brutal aura of battlefield combat. Yan Qing was caught off guard, and as the spear tip neared her face, she could even feel its chilling killing intent.

At the critical moment, a figure in pure white appeared as if from nowhere. Li Shishi had materialized in the courtyard; with a flick of her jade-like hand, a round fan casually brushed against the spear shaft. The thunderous thrust was gently deflected, missing Yan Qing’s ear by a hair’s breadth and piercing through the window lattice behind her.

“Bamei, stop,” Li Shishi’s voice was still calm, but carried an undeniable authority.

The red-clad woman, having missed her target, withdrew her spear and glared at Yan Qing: “Sister Shishi, why are you stopping me? This wretch has caused my brother great suffering!”

Only then did Yan Qing get a clear look at the newcomer. She appeared to be about eighteen or nineteen years old, dressed in a fiery red combat outfit, her posture as upright as a pine tree, her features exuding a compelling heroism. Her silver spear gleamed with a cold light, making her look every bit the valiant warrior. What was most striking was the untamed spirit in her eyes, bearing a seven-tenths resemblance to the “Green-Faced Beast” Yang Zhi from Yan Qing’s memory.

“Miss Yang?” Yan Qing’s heart stirred, and she asked tentatively.

“I am your great-grandmother Yang Bamei!” The red-clad woman’s eyebrows shot up. “Yan Qing, you were at odds with my brother when you were at Liangshan, and now you’ve incited Steward Lu to oppose amnesty, ruining my brother’s prospects of a wife and heirs. What crime do you deserve!”

It was her! Yan Qing immediately understood. Yang Zhi held a high rank among the Liangshan cavalry, always valuing fame and titles, and was most eager for amnesty. Yan Qing’s opposition to amnesty had indeed struck at Yang Zhi’s fundamental interests.

“Bamei, you misunderstand Young Master Yan,” Li Shishi stepped forward slowly, gently placing her hand on Yang Bamei’s spear-holding arm. “Amnesty is a dead end. Young Master Yan’s actions have, in fact, saved the lives of everyone at Liangshan, including your brother Yang Zhi.”

“Nonsense!” Yang Bamei exclaimed agitatedly. “My brother’s martial arts are unparalleled. If he can be granted amnesty and become a general, he will surely bring glory to our family name and revive the prestige of our Yang family!”

“And then?” Yan Qing interjected, her voice calm but hitting the mark. “Will he be transferred to the remote northwestern frontier to fight the Xixia cavalry to the death? Or will he be sent south to suppress Fang La and die on the battlefield? Miss Yang, I have always admired your brother’s martial prowess, but do you know that the imperial court always uses and discards generals granted amnesty?”

She took out a copy of the Ministry of War document and handed it to Yang Bamei. “This is the strategy drafted by the Ministry of War, stating in black and white that Liangshan’s forces are to be dispersed and used as a tool for destruction. Miss Yang, if you do not believe me, please take it and examine it carefully.”

Yang Bamei took the document with a mixture of doubt and suspicion. As she read, her face grew paler. When she read the line, “Select the brave ones for border troops, and find excuses to deal with the defiant ones,” her spear-holding hand began to tremble.

“How…how could this be…”

“This is a strategy personally penned by Tong Guan,” Li Shishi sighed softly. “Bamei, what was the fate of your Yang family, renowned for generations of loyal heroes? Yang Zhi was forced to roam the world after failing to deliver the Flower and Rock Network. Has he still not seen through the imperial court’s true face?”

Yang Bamei stood frozen, and her silver spear clattered to the ground. She recalled the tragic ends of generations of Yang family generals, and the years of hardship her brother Yang Zhi had endured. Her eyes welled up with tears.

“But… but what else can we do…” her voice choked with sobs, “Are we to be bandits for the rest of our lives?”

“Who says we have to be bandits forever?” Li Shishi helped her up, her gaze intense. “Bamei, do you still remember the dying wish of your grandfather, Duke Yang? Do you still remember the true essence of the Yang family spear techniques?”

She pointed at Yan Qing, her voice firm: “This Young Master Yan is seeking a true way out for Liangshan. A way that neither relies on the whims of others nor sullies the honor of your ancestors. Bamei, with your martial skills, are you content to just throw tantrums in this small courtyard?”

Yang Bamei looked up, her tear-filled eyes filled with confusion. “A true way out?”

“Indeed,” Yan Qing continued. “Liangshan needs to change, and this world needs to change even more. But we cannot rely on the court’s charity; instead, we must rely on our own strength to carve out a new path.”

She walked up to Yang Bamei and bowed solemnly. “I have long heard that the Yang family spear techniques are unparalleled in the world, and Miss Yang is a fierce daughter of a military family with extraordinary martial arts. If you do not disdain me, I wish to ask for your assistance, to jointly find a bright path for Liangshan, and for this world.”

Yang Bamei looked at Yan Qing, then at Li Shishi. After a long hesitation, she finally bent down to pick up her silver spear. “If what you say is true, then my life, Yang Bamei’s life, is yours! But—” she pointed the spear tip at Yan Qing, “if you dare to deceive me, I will take your head!”

Li Shishi let out a soft laugh and linked her arm with Yang Bamei’s. “Alright, since we’ve cleared the air, you’re one of us. Bamei, have you made proper arrangements for the troops you brought?”

Only then did Yan Qing realize that Yang Bamei had not come alone. Over the years, she had secretly gathered over a hundred cavalry from the old Yang family forces, all skilled in archery and horsemanship, waiting for an opportunity to revive the Yang family’s prestige.

“They are waiting outside the city,” Yang Bamei wiped away a tear, regaining her dashing demeanor. “As soon as Sister Shishi gives the order, they can enter the city at any time.”

Li Shishi nodded with satisfaction and said to Yan Qing, “Bamei and her cavalry will be crucial to our next plan. With them, many things will be much easier.”

Yan Qing looked at the two women standing side-by-side, one as cool as the moon, the other as fiery as flames, her heart filled with emotion. Li Shishi’s schemes extended far beyond courtly struggles and江湖 forces; even descendants of the Yang military family were within her chess game.

This seemingly frail courtesan, how many more hidden cards did she possess?

Outside the window, the sun was setting, casting long shadows of the three figures. Yan Qing knew that with Yang Bamei’s addition, their strength had grown by another measure. And the moves they would make next would be even more thrilling.

—

(End of Chapter 25)