On the twelfth day of the first month in the first year of Xin He, Duan Xu received orders to return to the North Bank and resume his position as Grand Marshal to reorganize the troops. After lying dormant for two months, he switched from defense to offense, recapturing Qing Province. The Provincial Governor of Dan Zhi in Ying Province defected and surrendered to Great Liang.
On the nineteenth day of the third month in the first year of Xin He, the Great Liang army surrounded the Upper Capital and severed its water routes.
On the eighth day of the fourth month in the first year of Xin He, the Feng Shun Emperor of Dan Zhi attempted to flee the Upper Capital under the protection of twenty thousand cavalry but encountered a Great Liang ambush and was forced to retreat into the city in disarray.
In the fifth month of the first year of Xin He, Dan Zhi requested to surrender, seeking to preserve their royal family. Duan Xu refused.
On the sixth day of the sixth month in the first year of Xin He, the Upper Capital fell. Duan Xu led his troops into the city, executing the Feng Shun Emperor and nearly a hundred members of the Dan Zhi royal court. The Grand Sacrificial Priest committed suicide, and thus Dan Zhi was extinguished.
Duan Xu ordered his entire army not to harm any civilians in the city, even those of Hu Qi descent.
In the seventh month of the first year of Xin He, Dan Zhi's remaining generals in the Yi and Ji Provinces led their troops in resistance but were driven to the northern grasslands within half a month by the Tang Bei and Ta Bai armies.
From the seventh to the tenth month of the first year of Xin He, five provinces—Tan, Qian, Gui, Ru, and Huan—surrendered one after another.
In the eleventh month of the first year of Xin He, Duan Xu submitted a memorial proposing to relocate the former Hu Qi people to farm in Qian, Ru, and Huan provinces, and prohibited intraethnic marriages, requiring them to marry Han people instead. The Emperor approved.
In the spring of the second year of Xin He, Duan Xu returned to the Southern Capital, surrendered his military authority, declined all awards, and resigned from office to live in seclusion.
Regarding Duan Xu, the first-class meritorious official who recaptured the seventeen northern provinces, countless legends circulated throughout the North Bank. Some said he possessed supernatural strength and extraordinary cleverness from birth, having received instruction from immortals in his dreams, which made him invincible in battle, capturing every stronghold he attacked.
Others claimed he was physically frail and rarely went to the battlefield, but as long as his commander's flag remained visible, the Great Liang army would fight bravely without retreat.
Legend had it that he was intimately familiar with the Dan Zhi royal court, immediately recognizing the disguised Feng Shun Emperor and Crown Prince, executing them personally. He reportedly conversed with the Grand Sacrificial Priest for three hours on the city wall, after which the priest laughed and cried, saying, "I return to the grasslands," before leaping from the wall.
It was said that he survived numerous assassination attempts without a scratch and was often seen talking to himself, as if a deity stood by his side, constantly protecting him.
Amidst growing grass and flying orioles, the spring sunlight fell gentle and warm, and flowers bloomed in brilliant profusion. Duan Xu wore black clothes embroidered with silver patterns of pine, cypress, and bamboo branches. He was much thinner than before, his face carrying a sickly pallor, but his spirit seemed good. He sat cross-legged before a grave, throwing victory reports one by one into the fire basin before him. As the flames danced, ashes floated lazily in the bright light.
"In a few generations, the Hu Qi people within Great Liang's borders will gradually become Han people, just as Simu said—through blood integration. I've also given your policy essays to the Emperor," Duan Xu said casually, as if engaged in ordinary conversation.
When he'd declined all victory celebrations and returned the military tally to the Emperor, announcing his resignation, the Emperor's eyes had revealed genuine surprise, followed immediately by suspicion—as if he couldn't believe Duan Xu truly had no ambition for power, as he'd claimed earlier.
He'd known it was futile to say more to His Majesty. As he placed the military tally in the Emperor's hands, he'd merely said: "Your Majesty, the world is vast, and this military tally is extremely heavy. Please hold it carefully."
"I don't know if the Emperor will seriously read your policy essays, or if he'll implement them after reading. But it doesn't matter—I've also given a copy to Zhao Xing, an interesting person." Duan Xu's smile carried faint amusement.
Because of the late Emperor's death and various internal court conflicts, the court had no time to attend to Zhao Xing in Qi Province to the north. Zhao Xing remained there openly, and later, due to his contributions during the war, Duan Xu obtained for him the position of Provincial Governor of Qi and the title of Duke of Xun.
Before leaving, Duan Xu had copied Fang Xian Ye's summary of his governance experience in Yun and Luo provinces and his essays on statecraft, gifting them to Zhao Xing. After reading just a few pages, Zhao Xing's eyes had lit up, and he'd repeatedly praised the writing, expressing a desire to meet the author.
"The author, Fang Xian Ye, is already buried. If you achieve greatness someday, remember him."
"Lord Zhao once aspired to be the hegemon of Qi Province. Perhaps you should think more broadly in the future."
Speaking thus, Zhao Xing's expression had changed slightly, and then he'd smiled with knowing understanding.
Zhao Xing was a formidable character, combining ambition with skill, with a vision of the world far broader than that of the one sitting in the Southern Capital's high hall. Before leaving, Duan Xu had returned the troops recruited from Qi Province to Zhao Xing. When Shi Biao proved unwilling to return south, he'd persuaded him to stay with Zhao Xing. Additionally, he'd gifted Zhao Xing the blueprints for the Feathered Battle Formation chariots and his military treatises.
"The thorns have been removed, the path has been cleared." Duan Xu coughed twice, skillfully using a handkerchief to wipe away the blood he'd coughed up, and smiled. "This is about all I can do."
"Don't blame me, but I've discovered these past couple of days that I already have white hair. Ah, Fang Xian Ye, since ancient times, rosy cheeks never return. Don't you see how visitors from other provinces, once on the Chang'an road, age with each return?"
Duan Xu smiled as he tapped the tombstone with his index finger. Had his good friend been standing there, he would have seen the same bright, round eyes as always.
The sunlight was warm, and everything around lay very quiet.
Duan Xu remained silent for a moment, then looked up at the crystal-clear sky, speaking whatever came to mind.
"How quickly twelve years have passed. When I first saw you, I thought, 'This person looks so frail, not at all like me.' If I had always stayed in Great Liang, would I have become like you? Your pride was too strong to hear such words, so there were many things I never discussed with you. Thinking about it now, it's quite regrettable."
"Jingyuan's marriage has been arranged and will take place in a few months. Her fiancé is a very good person, and most importantly, he treats her extremely well, so don't worry. However, I always felt she had some feelings for you. When you died, she cried for a long time. I asked her why she was so sad, and she said she didn't know. If you had spent more time together… well, let's not talk about that anymore."
Duan Xu sighed softly, a smile still lingering at the corners of his lips, but his eyes grew desolate. He seemed to joke: "I always thought that once the North Bank was recaptured, I would entrust everything to you, but you left first. Now I wonder, why did I ever believe that what I wanted to accomplish would never fall through?"
Chen Ying was now just a weak, unconscious wandering soul, and Fang Xian Ye had departed early.
In his youthful arrogance, he'd believed he could turn misfortune into good fortune, always staying one step ahead of fate. In the end, as the years flew by, he realized that although he hadn't lost, he had never truly won either.
Flesh and blood ultimately cannot withstand the unpredictability of life.
Someone appeared behind him, a faint fragrance spreading. He could no longer identify this scent, but he knew who it was.
He Simu placed her hand on his shoulder and bent down: "Time to go back and take your medicine."
Hearing the words "take your medicine," Duan Xu sighed deeply, stroking the tombstone: "I've finally come to see my good friend. Can't you let me chat with him a bit longer?"
He Simu smiled slightly, not indulging him: "Your excuses to avoid medicine are becoming increasingly creative."
She effortlessly pulled him up from the ground by the nape of his neck. Duan Xu didn't struggle, rising with her force, and said to the tombstone: "My wife is fierce; I must obey. Farewell, Xian Ye."
He was silent for a moment, finally smiling brightly: "In your next life, don't meet someone as troublesome as me. Live easily and happily for yourself."
As soon as he finished speaking, they disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Before the tombstone, only the brilliant sunlight, insect chirps, and bird calls remained.
According to his agreement with He Simu, after resigning from office, Duan Xu lived in the Star Palace to facilitate Heavenly Similarity Star Lord's treatment at any time. When the Star Lord removed the silver needles inserted in Duan Xu's head, he immediately vomited blood and could barely walk.
During the war over the past year and more, following the Star Lord's repeated instructions, Duan Xu rarely went to the battlefield himself, but the mental strain had been immense. Toward the end of the campaign, he could barely hold on, relying on the Star Lord's silver needles to maintain his spirit.
After the fall of the Upper Capital, he'd rested for a while. This time, returning to the Southern Capital to handle matters at the Duan residence and return military power, he'd again had to rely on these methods to conceal his condition.
He Simu forced him to finish his medicine, then helped him lie down on the bed. Duan Xu was somewhat tired; his eyes blinked as if he were about to fall asleep. Between wakefulness and sleep, he grasped He Simu's arm and murmured: "How much time do I have left… just tell me…"
He Simu's movements paused momentarily. She gazed intently at Duan Xu's colorless face, then placed his arm under the quilt and whispered in his ear: "When you stop avoiding your medicine, I'll tell you."
Duan Xu pursed his lips and closed his eyes, falling asleep.
He Simu tucked in his quilt and sat by his bedside, quietly watching him.
While the Southern Capital enjoyed clear skies, Mount Tai Zhao, where the Star Palace was located, was experiencing continuous spring rain. Without the silver needles, Duan Xu was as fragile as a paper figure, unable to withstand the wind. The doors and windows of the room were tightly closed, with only the pitter-patter of rain audible.
He Simu thought: Duan Xu was only twenty-six now, and she had known him for exactly seven years.
She had once imagined him at seventy—aged, with a head full of white hair, walking with a cane, his movements slow. She'd thought that by then, she would tease him, laugh at him loudly, boast about her eternal youth, inhabiting various young bodies and flaunting herself before him, frustrating and angering him.
And then, she would take good care of him.
By that time, he should have long fulfilled his wishes, becoming an old man who could stay by her side and leisurely bask in the sun.
She would completely possess this period of his life, and after knowing him for fifty years, slowly accept the fact that he would eventually leave her and disappear from this world.
But it had been only seven years, and she wasn't ready.
Could he live to seventy? Could he wait until his hair turned white, and someday, while dozing off, leave her peacefully and without suffering?
Seven years was too short. Seven years was truly too short.
"Have some pity on me, Duan Fox," He Simu said softly. As she spoke, a strong surge of emotion suddenly welled up from the depths of her heart—a mixture of heartache, sorrow, and hopelessness—overwhelming her like a raging sea.
She thought perhaps she wanted to cry.
But evil spirits had no tears. Even her parents had never received a single tear from her.
"Is General Duan asleep?" came a deliberately lowered voice. He Simu looked up to see He Jia Feng Yi bending over in front of her, leaning on a cane, dressed in blue palace robes, looking sickly yet somehow energetic as usual.
He Simu nodded.
He Jia Feng Yi sighed: "I heard from my senior brother that General Duan's condition isn't good…"
"Hmm."
"If he passes away, what will you do?"
He Simu was silent for a moment, then said: "There's still much to do. Auntie Jiang Ai is currently helping me oversee the ghost realm, but her ambitions lie elsewhere, so I'll have to resume authority later. Chen Ying's soul is still too weak now. After nurturing his soul for a few years, I'll restore his consciousness to accompany me. His obsession is protection, and if he's willing, perhaps after a hundred years, he could take my place."
"I'm not asking what the Ghost King will do. I'm asking what you, my ancestor, will do."
He Simu's eyes flickered slightly, then she gave a bitter smile. In the room, only the patter of rain remained, the air quiet and damp.
"I don't know." She raised her eyes to meet He Jia Feng Yi's gaze and said quietly: "Perhaps when that time comes, I'll know."
When she thought of Duan Xu's death now, time seemed to vanish into an endless sea of emptiness. She could still see many things waiting for her to do but couldn't see herself.
He Jia Feng Yi's eyes moved slightly, and he silently extended his hand to pat He Simu's shoulder.
Not long after, Jiang Ai called He Simu to handle some issues in the ghost realm, and He Simu temporarily left. He Jia Feng Yi was also preparing to leave the room when he saw Duan Xu open his eyes on the bed.
He Jia Feng Yi exclaimed in surprise: "So General Duan was pretending to sleep just now."
"I slept for a while, then woke up." Duan Xu slowly sat up, his pale face showing his usual bright smile. He said: "Your Eminence, I have a request."
He Jia Feng Yi had a bad feeling. He asked: "What do you want to do?"
"Does Your Eminence have a way to let me lend all five of my senses to Simu, even if just for an hour?" Duan Xu asked as if it were the most natural thing.
He Jia Feng Yi widened his eyes, choking for a moment before saying: "I have no past grudges or recent enmity with you. Why do you want me to do something that would make me face death before my ancestor?"
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