Asheng saw Chen Ji dragging a dead dog, pulling a Zhuosheng Jiang through the woods. The Zhuosheng Jiang’s hands dragged weakly on the ground, his armor scraping against the earth with a rustling sound.

In an instant, Asheng looked at Chen Ji, who was splattered with blood, and instinctively raised his bow and arrow. When he remembered that this was one of their own, he swiftly put away the arrow and slung the bow over his back.

He lowered his head to look at the Zhuosheng Jiang at his feet, then at the one Chen Ji was dragging. Both wore long black pheasant feathers on their helmets, indicating they were two centurions, skilled fighters among the Zhuosheng Jiang.

Asheng tentatively asked, “Young Master, you killed all these?”

Chen Ji grunted, “Just lucky.”

Asheng looked at Chen Ji’s calm face and suddenly recalled that when he had previously pulled out ears from his pouch to show Chen Ji, other noble officers’ children would flinch or even scream in horror, but Chen Ji hadn’t.

He changed his previous attitude and nimbly took off the water skin from his waist, handing it to Chen Ji. “Young Master, have some water.”

Chen Ji looked at him in surprise. “Not thirsty.”

Asheng’s eyes darted around, then he pulled out two warm eggs from his pocket. “Young Master, have some eggs. I originally prepared them for Old Man Hong, but he can’t eat them now.”

Chen Ji hadn’t eaten breakfast, so he took the eggs and started peeling them.

Asheng praised, “Young Master has excellent skills. In the Yeshou, not many people can kill two Zhuosheng Jiang in one go.”

Chen Ji asked while peeling the egg, “Who are they?”

Asheng smiled and replied, “Zhou Kuang from the Wujunying, but Brother Zhou Kuang returned to the capital after being promoted to Qianhu. Then there are Gao Yuan and Gao Ye from the Wansuijun, Zhang Liang and Li Rang from the Shenjiying, and Hong Zu’er and Zhang Baishi from Chongliguan.”

Chen Ji asked, “To claim military credit for a Zhuosheng Jiang, what should be cut?”

“How could you personally do such a dirty job? I’ll help you. Usually, Old Man Hong kills the enemies, and I collect the spoils,” Asheng crouched down and began searching the Zhuosheng Jiang. “Identifying the military merit of a Zhuosheng Jiang is quite complicated. Even if you’re from the capital, the Ji’gong Guan will be meticulous. First, you need to find the Zhuosheng Jiang’s waist token. The token records which army they belong to and is used to verify their identity when entering and exiting Jing Dynasty military camps. However, Zhuosheng Jiang are cunning and like to intentionally hide their waist tokens elsewhere, precisely so that the Yeshou cannot verify their military merit after death.”

Indeed, these two Zhuosheng Jiang also didn’t carry their waist tokens.

Asheng continued, “If the waist token isn’t found, more things are needed as evidence. The Zhuosheng Jiang’s bows and swords are better than those of ordinary infantry. These must be brought back. After verifying the military merit, the Ji’gong Guan will return them to you. You can use them yourself or sell them in the military market, they’re worth a lot of silver.”

“Then there are their heads. Zhuosheng Jiang are all Xingguan; their teeth and hair are much better than ordinary infantry, which also serves as proof of identity.”

“Finally, their armor. The Zhuosheng Jiang’s leather armor is made from raw oxhide soaked in tung oil, then air-dried, and then repeatedly coated with lacquer and air-dried. A set of leather armor takes three years to make, is more expensive than a set of iron armor, and much lighter. Only the most elite Xingguan in the Jing Dynasty army can wear it. Ordinary swords and axe blades cannot cut through it, making it suitable for long-distance raids.”

Asheng tapped the black leather armor on the Zhuosheng Jiang with the blade of his knife, producing a sound similar to tapping resin. He then tried to pry a piece of the armor with his hand, but it was so hard it was difficult to move.

He quietly glanced at the corpse Chen Ji had dragged. That Zhuosheng Jiang had three penetrating wounds, two of which had pierced through the leather armor, treating it as if it were nothing.

Asheng was puzzled. Chen Ji was unarmed, so what kind of Xingguan technique could penetrate the leather armor and then pierce through the Zhuosheng Jiang’s body?

Chen Ji ate an egg and calmly asked, “Will the leather armor be returned as well?”

“No,” Asheng continued to explain, “these leather armors will not be returned once submitted to the Ji’gong Guan. Those perfectly intact are transported to the capital for the imperial court’s safekeeping, occasionally used as rewards; unauthorized private possession is forbidden. Lightly damaged ones are repaired by craftsmen and issued directly to the elites of the three imperial camps. Severely damaged ones are simply repaired and issued to the border army… So, when the senior officers of the Yeshou capture leather armor, they intentionally damage it more, then ask the Zongbing to retain it.”

While speaking, Asheng had skillfully stripped the Zhuosheng Jiang clean, then nonchalantly cut off its head and applied lime from his pouch. “The military merit from these two Zhuosheng Jiang is enough for you to be promoted to Baihu. As for whether you can reach Qianhu, it depends on whether your background is strong enough.”

Chen Ji was puzzled. “The Baihu before told me that two Zhuosheng Jiang were enough for a Qianhu promotion.”

Asheng shook his head and patiently explained, “That’s a Qianhu, General Zhang Lanzin, the Zongbing, doesn’t have the final say; it must be reported to the Ministry of War. If promoted to Qianhu, you would be a Zheng Wupin military officer, wearing the Xiongpi rank badge. Upon returning within the pass, you could immediately serve as a local Shoubei or as a Lingyun Qianhu in river transport, both lucrative positions… Having the military merit of two Zhuosheng Jiang only means you have the prerequisite to pursue this matter, but whether it succeeds depends on you.”

Chen Ji calmly said, “Then why would the Baihu say that?”

Asheng grinned. “Those are just pretexts we use to trick the noble officers’ children. Those noble officers’ children are foolish and rich, with thousands of taels of silver sent from home every month. We sell one Zhuosheng Jiang to them for two thousand taels of silver, which makes us wealthy for several years… But you’re an expert, so I can’t deceive you.”

Asheng hid the heads, leather armor, and bows and arrows under a pile of stones. “They must be weighted down with stones, otherwise the heads will be carried away by wild beasts.”

Chen Ji leaned against a tree trunk, eating his last egg. He watched the young Asheng finish everything and said meaningfully, “Wouldn’t it be better to just take them back to Chongliguan? Why hide them?”

Asheng’s eyes darted around, then he smiled and said, “Young Master, we still have other places to go, so we won’t return to Chongliguan just yet.”

Chen Ji said casually, “First you were eager to please, giving me eggs you cherished yourself. Then you went to great lengths to help me with this, taking it upon yourself to hide everything, saying you want to go elsewhere. Tell me, what do you want to ask of me?”

Asheng, whose intentions had been exposed, showed no embarrassment. He simply said sincerely, “Young Master is a smart man, so I won’t beat around the bush. My Uncle Baizi and Xingxing are still trapped in Liutiaogou. Please help them.”

Chen Ji said nonchalantly, “What’s in it for me?”

Asheng, with bright eyes and white teeth, looked especially innocent. “Young Master, aren’t we all working for the imperial court?”

Chen Ji stood up straight. “The Zhuosheng Jiang have reached Chongliguan, so Liutiaogou must be dangerous. I am just a Xiaowei, I’m not going.”

Asheng quickly said, “What would make you go?”

“Two things,” Chen Ji mused for a moment. “First, I don’t plan to get promoted. You help me sell these two Zhuosheng Jiang, and all the silver goes to me.”

Asheng was startled. “Young Master, you truly don’t want to get promoted at all?”

Chen Ji smiled. “Becoming a Baihu doesn’t require Zhuosheng Jiang. Don’t you still have the ears of Jing Dynasty infantry? Give me ten of them.”

Asheng muttered, “You’re quite astute in business… What’s the second thing?”

Chen Ji pondered, “Is there a secret passage that few people know of, one that allows clandestine entry and exit to the Damagong Mountains?”

Asheng became wary. “Why are you asking about that?”

Chen Ji looked at him. “Do you still want to save your Uncle Baizi?”

Asheng gritted his teeth. “There is one. After leaving Chongliguan, you go through Yaozigou, Wangmagou, Xiashancha…”

Chen Ji shook his head. “You lead me there yourself when the time comes.”

Asheng hesitated. “Young Master, aren’t you afraid I’ll go back on my word?”

Chen Ji turned and walked north. “People who are willing to risk their lives to save others are people of their word. I’m not afraid you’ll go back on it. Let’s go, to Liutiaogou.”

The two headed towards Huangtuzui, intending to check if Chen Ji’s comrades from his banner were still alive.

Asheng was familiar with the path, as if he remembered the location of every tree.

Chen Ji followed him through the mountains, asking curiously, “Since Old Man Hong adopted you when you were just over a year old, why do you still call him Old Man Hong and not change the address?”

Asheng paused, then continued walking as if nothing had happened. “Old Man Hong doesn’t allow it.”

Chen Ji was puzzled. “Why not?”

Asheng explained without looking back, “Old Man Hong says the Yeshou can’t have attachments. If you have attachments, you’ll be afraid of death, and in this cursed place called Chongliguan, being afraid of death means you will die, it’s uncanny.”

Chen Ji fell silent.

Asheng sighed, “Every time Old Man Hong leaves Ping’anmen, he first gambles away all his money at the military market. He says that if he spends all his silver, he’ll have no attachments and will definitely come back alive.”

Chen Ji teased, “So you earn so much silver from military merit, yet you still live so frugally?”

Asheng smiled. “Isn’t that right? I’ve sold at least eighty, if not a hundred, ears, and two Zhuosheng Jiang heads. Every time I tell Old Man Hong, once we’ve saved enough silver, don’t go out risking your life anymore. Go live a prosperous life in the capital, or go to the Wansuijun, since Zongbing Lu Wuya of the Wansuijun also wants to recruit him.”

“And what happened?”

Asheng stepped over a small stream and casually said, “He curses me out every time. Old Man Hong has a bad temper and often curses people. He just cursed me out when he came back to support you.”

Chen Ji asked curiously, “Aren’t you afraid of death, knowing there are Zhuosheng Jiang but still daring to come back?”

Asheng lowered his head. “I can’t help it. Old Man Hong said this is the fate of the Yeshou. Moreover, Uncle Baizi and Xingxing’s lives must be saved. If the Yeshou fall into the hands of the Zhuosheng Jiang, they will be flayed, dismembered, and slowly tortured to death. We hate them, and they hate us. Xingxing is my age; we’ve played together since we were little. I can’t just watch him die like this…”

Before he finished speaking, Asheng slowly stopped, staring blankly ahead.

Chen Ji looked up and saw hundreds of heads piled up in front of them, forming a Jingguan. The deceased had died with their eyes open, a terrifying sight.

Asheng moved step by step towards the Jingguan. “Uncle Bazi, Sixth Brother…”

He recognized each exposed head, almost grinding his teeth as he spoke.

Asheng walked to the Jingguan, wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, not minding the blood and horror on the heads, and carefully picked up each head, placing them on the ground.

Chen Ji watched from nearby. Asheng turned to him and said, “Everyone from your banner is here, and from other banners too. But Uncle Baizi and Xingxing aren’t among them; they’re still alive.”

He said sincerely, “Please, Young Master, help them.”

Chen Ji said gravely, “Which direction is Liutiaogou?”

Asheng pointed northeast. “That way.”

Chen Ji turned and ran quickly north. “Let’s go now.”

The Jingguan was a way for the enemy to display their power; ordinary infantry would be filled with dread upon seeing one.

The Zhuosheng Jiang had ventured deep into the Damagong Mountains, intending to force the Ning Dynasty soldiers back into Chongliguan so they could carry out their plans undisturbed… But what were their plans?

Chen Ji was convinced that the Zhuosheng Jiang were after the Jing Dynasty envoys; they intended to intercept and kill them.