Chapter 44: Rapid Promotion

Zhang Chi was momentarily startled, then furious; his eyes were bloodshot as he immediately urged White Snow to charge at Canghuai. After Canghuai had struck Du Ximing heavily with his long spear and landed, he could not evade White Snow, whose forelegs slammed hard into his chest. Though General Canghuai was renowned for his bravery, he could not withstand such a blow, and he tumbled to the ground. White Snow was so agile that with that strike, Canghuai's ribs were surely broken.

Dao Xuan would not miss such a golden opportunity. He raised his blade to strike, and Canghuai, unable to rise, could only lift his spear to block the fatal blow. But before he could think of how to counterattack, he looked up to see someone in azure robes descending from the sky.

Of course, Zhang Chi was not truly flying. Seeing Du Ximing take a spear to the chest to save him, Zhang Chi was filled with uncontrollable rage. Realizing this was the perfect moment to kill Canghuai, he grasped his blade with both hands, reversed his grip, and leapt from horseback, pouncing upon Canghuai with a ferocity as though wings had sprouted from his ribs.

Canghuai had always prided himself as a hero, but witnessing Zhang Chi’s reckless assault was like seeing a primordial beast from the heavens rushing toward him; he felt powerless to resist.

This attack was swift and decisive—a single strike pierced Canghuai’s heart. Zhang Chi crashed heavily upon Canghuai’s body.

But Canghuai felt nothing anymore; the blow was fatal. In the instant of death, he had no time to sense pain—only a bone-chilling cold as the blade entered his heart.

Seeing Canghuai dead, Zhang Chi ignored his own body’s agony and scrambled to Du Ximing’s side, determined to see for himself whether Du Ximing had survived.

Upon inspection, Du Ximing had blood at the corner of his mouth but still breathed, though it was faint. This was likely thanks to his armor and Canghuai’s sudden, airborne attack—like the last shot from a spent crossbow, which broke the armor but did not penetrate deeply. Still, being struck by a spear in the chest was no light injury; surviving was already a stroke of luck, though his ribs were surely broken.

Zhang Chi, seeing Du Ximing alive, wept with joy. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve, anxious that amidst the chaos, stray arrows or startled horses might further harm Du Ximing. He called loudly to nearby soldiers, “Quick, quick, come protect General Du!”

At that moment, Che Yin stood atop the city wall and suddenly saw a force of several thousand men, like a pointed blade, thrusting straight into the enemy ranks from the rear. To his astonishment, they succeeded in killing General Canghuai in a flash. He was overjoyed.

He had thought his own life would end alongside Jiankang city, but now hope had returned. Without time to discern who the rider of the white horse was, he shouted from the wall, “This man is truly the savior of all Jiankang!”

Che Yin was not mistaken. Had Zhang Chi not led his troops into the fray and slain the enemy commander, another moment’s delay would have meant Canghuai storming the last defenses and occupying Jiankang Palace.

Outside the chaos of battle, Zhang Chi would have had no chance to kill Canghuai amidst the myriad enemy troops.

It was not only Che Yin on the city wall; all others felt the same. Prince Sima Daozi of Kuaiji finally breathed a sigh of relief and said, “This force that hastened to aid the king is a blessing to the House of Jin!”

Che Yin nodded in agreement, “The Prince speaks truly. With their commander dead, the enemy’s morale will crumble. Why not seize this moment to sally forth and break them in one blow? Thus, Jiankang’s peril will be resolved.”

Sima Daozi assented. Che Yin, though advanced in years and a general, would not personally lead the charge, but quickly ordered the opening of the Grand Marshal’s Gate and the mobilization of the entire army.

Despite their numbers, Canghuai’s troops lost all will to fight with their leader slain. The city’s forces surged out from the gates, while Zhang Chi’s cavalry attacked from the rear. Surrounded front and back, in a short time, tens of thousands of enemy soldiers were routed and scattered.

Victory was certain. Zhang Chi, worried about Du Ximing’s wounds, thought the palace must have imperial physicians. He left the battle to his men and brought his cousin Ding Yizhi and Han the Scholar, who were not suited for combat, into Jiankang Palace to seek an audience with the emperor.

However, he did not meet the emperor but Prince Sima Daozi of Kuaiji.

The reigning monarch was Sima Dezong, the Emperor of Jin, but he was weak and foolish—a mere puppet, with all power in Sima Daozi’s hands.

Sima Daozi sat high in the hall, delighted after Canghuai’s defeat. Zhang Chi’s request to treat Du Ximing was immediately granted.

Soon, the imperial physician returned to report: “The injured man’s life is no longer in danger, but he will need time to recuperate.” Zhang Chi’s heart was finally at ease.

Sima Daozi then said, “Miss Wang truly did not recommend the wrong person. Young Master Zhang possesses extraordinary talent—first breaking the Northern Iron Army, and now achieving great merit. Once all the rebels of the Five Bushels of Rice Dao are expelled from the city, I will report to the emperor and appoint you as General Who Suppresses Bandits. What do you think?”

Zhang Chi cared only for Du Ximing’s recovery, and was unfamiliar with the official titles of the Jin dynasty. He had no idea what such a position entailed, and merely replied with indifference, “Thank you, Prince of Kuaiji, for your promotion,” saying no more.

To rise from staff officer directly to General Who Suppresses Rebels was a leap of several ranks. Sima Daozi observed Zhang Chi’s calmness and felt a subtle unease.

A promotion of several ranks, yet the man showed not a hint of joy—he must be no ordinary person. Had Zhang Chi displayed even a trace of delight, Sima Daozi would not have considered eliminating him. But Zhang Chi’s composure only heightened Daozi’s alarm: to be appointed General Who Suppresses Rebels and remain unsatisfied—it must be that he harbors greater ambitions.

At that moment, Sima Daozi recalled the old nursery rhyme that had always troubled him: “When the secret is revealed, the world will revolt; the leader from humble origins, white horse and azure robes.”

Better to kill by mistake than let slip. Already, Sima Daozi had murder in his heart toward Zhang Chi. Yet the city was still filled with followers of the Five Bushels of Rice Dao. With no soldiers left in Jiankang, he needed Zhang Chi to help expel them.

Thinking thus, Sima Daozi smiled, “I have often heard it said: ‘In success, do not rejoice; in adversity, do not despair; in peace, do not indulge; in danger, do not fear. One who harbors thunder in his chest and has a face as calm as a lake may be made a general.’ At first I doubted such a person existed, but today I have seen you, Young Master Zhang, and know it to be true. You indeed have the talent of a true general. I will petition His Majesty to appoint you General Who Suppresses Rebels. Now I ask you to help drive the followers of the Five Bushels of Rice Dao from the city.”

…

…

When the discussion ended, Zhang Chi bowed and withdrew from the hall. In truth, he cared nothing for any official rank—his only concern was Du Ximing’s recovery. Since Du Ximing was too injured to move, it was best to leave him in the palace to rest for now, scatter the remaining followers of the Five Bushels of Rice Dao, and then return for him.

The three returned to the Grand Marshal’s Gate. By now, the battle outside the palace had ended. Santong was waiting with the troops; seeing them emerge, he immediately inquired about Du Ximing’s condition. Zhang Chi replied, “Brother Du’s injuries are not life-threatening, but he cannot be moved and will remain in the palace to rest. Let us first disperse the followers of the Five Bushels of Rice Dao and reclaim all city gates.”

Santong was content upon hearing Du Ximing was safe, but Ding Yizhi pondered, “General Du’s injuries are serious, and though he must rest in the palace now, it is only a temporary measure. Once he improves, Brother, you must find a way to get him out as soon as possible.”

Santong was puzzled, “Isn’t the palace the best place to recover? Why the urgency to move him?”

Zhang Chi was also unsure, but he knew his cousin never spoke without reason. As expected, Ding Yizhi explained, “Today in the court, the Prince of Kuaiji showed you great respect and appointed you General Who Suppresses Rebels. But this is not necessarily a good thing.”

“A promotion is a great blessing—how could it not be?” Santong was even more confused.

“Sima Daozi is deeply scheming and his temperament is poisonous,” Ding Yizhi elaborated. “The more courteous he acts, the more likely he is plotting something sinister. Today in court, his excessive respect was hardly a blessing. If I am not mistaken, he wants you to stabilize Jiankang, and when the imperial army returns to the capital, you will be discarded like a hunting dog after the rabbit is dead.”

Ding Yizhi’s words made Zhang Chi suddenly realize many things—he was not adept at intrigue. Though he understood the principle of ‘when the cunning hare dies, the hound is boiled,’ it was easier known than truly seen.

“Now, with the Five Bushels of Rice Dao still controlling the outer city, once we reclaim it, we must find a way to get Du Ximing out of the palace, then follow Miss Wang’s plan and retreat to Shu,” Ding Yizhi advised.

“Indeed, Miss Wang has already made arrangements. Once you lead troops into Shu, you can surely claim the prosperous region,” Han the Scholar interjected, mentioning Miss Wang and unable to help but shed tears. “Miss Wang put her heart into this; I hope you will not disappoint her intentions.”

Zhang Chi nodded. Brother Du was gravely wounded and in urgent need of treatment, but until Jiankang was stabilized, rescuing him would be a formidable challenge.

Zhang Chi sighed. Hearing Han the Scholar mention Miss Wang, his heart was filled with grief. “We have already avenged Miss Wang. Let us first go to Xuanyang Gate, retrieve her body, and give her a proper burial before considering anything else.”

Everyone nodded, and Zhang Chi called them together, heading south toward Vermilion Bird Gate.