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# MyDramaNovel.com

> Translating Tomorrow's TV Drama Hits, Straight from the Pages of Chinese Novels


## Posts

- [Chapter 520: Meeting on the River](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-520-meeting-on-the-river/): If not for excessive wariness of Han Qian’s demonic cunning, cooperating with Xuzhou and tolerating the Chishan Association establishing itself on Fanliang Lake’s western shore would only benefit Huaidong, not harm it. Currently, nearly three thousand people had already gathered near White Hoof Ridge. Even if the scale continued expanding, it would be difficult to pose any substantial threat to Huaidong. And the Chishan Association couldn’t possibly lurk in the shadows long-term. As long as the number of former Left Guangde Army subordinates migrating north reached a certain scale, even if Huaidong didn’t inform on them, Guangde Prefecture, the Ministry […]
- [Chapter 519: The Camp](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-519-the-camp/): The refugee camp where He Aba stayed was about twenty li northwest of White Hoof Ridge—a rather large village located at a river bend. The village’s perimeter was protected by a rammed earth wall, with a river over ten zhang wide meandering north past the village’s northwest side, seemingly flowing toward Hongze Lake. Through interrogating wounded prisoners, Kong Xirong, He Liufeng, and Lin Sheng learned this village was called Qingjin Ferry. A post road built during the previous dynasty but abandoned due to warfare decades ago passed through here, turning west three to four dozen li toward Shiliang County town. […]
- [Chapter 518: Sneak Attack](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-518-sneak-attack/): He Aba crouched at the edge of the forest, staring toward White Hoof Ridge. Tonight’s sky was overcast and cloudy, but it wasn’t so dark that one couldn’t see their hand before their face. Bright light outlined the distant mountain ridge. At this moment, He Aba could vaguely make out that this group of refugees at White Hoof Ridge had set up watchtowers on the northern and southern ridges, as well as halfway up the gully directly facing them. Three or four people at each location clutched bamboo spears and wooden pikes while keeping watch. Since the watchtowers all had […]
- [Chapter 517: Preparing for Contingencies (Part Two)](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-517-preparing-for-contingencies-part-two/): On the morning of the tenth day after returning to White Hoof Ridge, Han Qian awoke very early. Dawn had not yet fully broken, and the light inside the room was even dimmer. In the study converted from an abandoned ancestral hall, he lit an oil lamp to read a secret letter that had just arrived from Xuzhou the previous day. To prevent the news and whereabouts of his departure from Xuzhou from leaking, all secret letters were written in cipher and transmitted through multiple layers before needing to be translated for reading. This secret letter had only been translated […]
- [Chapter 516: Preparing for Contingencies (Part One)](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-516-preparing-for-contingencies-part-one/): After crossing the Hangou Canal and mounting horses hidden in the forest, everyone took advantage of the night to bypass obstructing streams and rivers, galloping northwest. The further northwest they traveled, the more sparse the population became. Everywhere stood collapsed and abandoned houses, or roads flooded and washed away by floodwaters. Fortunately, the horses Han Qian and his group rode were exceptional steeds selected from hundreds, enabling them to advance quickly through such muddy terrain. After traveling through the night, past dawn, Han Qian’s group bypassed the abandoned imperial highway and ducked into a dense forest to rest. They had […]
- [Chapter 515: Intent](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-515-intent/): Not knowing how many personnel Han Qian had left behind at the inn across the way, Wang Wenqian and Yin Peng remained in the teahouse, not daring to act rashly, not even daring to easily send anyone out, fearing it might cause unnecessary misunderstandings. After dark, their escorts left behind at Jian Garden finally came looking for them, worried something had happened. Only after there were enough people to thoroughly guard the teahouse did Yin Peng personally lead men to surround the inn across the way, then rush in to conduct a search and arrest. After a flurry of chaos, […]
- [Chapter 514: The Meeting (Part Two)](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-514-the-meeting-part-two/): In this era, information transmission was inefficient and slow, and people lacked sufficient mobility. One shouldn’t think that during the Jinling conflict, when Chuzhou’s various intentions could be said to have been directly thwarted at Han Qian’s hands, and everyone from top to bottom wanted nothing more than to capture Han Qian and grind his bones to dust—yet throughout all of Huaidong, those who had actually met Han Qian face to face and could recognize his features were extremely few. Even if there were any, they were almost all concentrated around Wang Jun. Apart from wearing patched old clothes to […]
- [Chapter 513: The Meeting (Part One)](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-513-the-meeting-part-one/): With the Imperial Guards and prefectural troops from various prefectures—over one hundred thousand cavalry, infantry, and naval forces—besieging Chaozhou city under the command of Li Zhigao, Gao Chengyuan, and others, and with Deputy Privy Council Commissioner and Marquis Xinchang Li Pu personally leading Wei Zhen and other officials to Chuzhou city to supervise the transport of fodder, military equipment, and other supplies, Wang Wenqian, though far away in Yangzhou city two to three hundred li distant, still felt his heart was not at ease. Scout cavalry had already detected signs that Liang forces were gathering on the northern bank of […]
- [Chapter 512: Shiliang County](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-512-shiliang-county/): Before entering Yangzhou, Han Qian accompanied the first group of people crossing the river north under the guise of fleeing famine and first went to make an on-site tour of Shiliang County, located between Chuzhou and Yangzhou. Shiliang County was situated between Chuzhou and Yangzhou, in the plains east of Wuxing Mountain, with most of its area at low-lying elevations. Shiliang County was also located south of Hongze Lake and west of the main waters of Fanliang Lake. Many streams and rivers originating from the hills and mountains of eastern Chaozhou flowed through Shiliang County territory into Hongze Lake and […]
- [Chapter 511: Chishan Assembly](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-511-chishan-assembly/): Setting aside Han Qian’s towering prestige among the former soldiers of the Guangde Army, and setting aside the financial and material support that Xuzhou could provide, Han Donghu, Su Lie, and the other uprising leaders had only been making secret connections in the early stages, hiding from official eyes and ears while covertly preparing everything. They had also considered that launching an uprising directly in Guangde Prefecture would be too difficult and far too dangerous. When Han Qian proposed his new plan, even though Su Lie personally still harbored some reservations, seeing the barely suppressed excitement on the others’ faces, […]
- [Chapter 510: Deliberations](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-510-deliberations/): Since suspicion was unavoidable and staying uninvolved was ultimately not a solution, it would be better to make each other wary—that might enable peaceful coexistence. With Han Qian’s attitude transformed, Feng Liao, along with Dou Rong who had served as Battalion Commander and Deputy General in the Chishan Army and Left Guangde Army, contacted Han Donghu and first carried a batch of money and grain to rush to the stronghold at the northern foothills of Fuyu Mountain south of Guangde to meet with Su Lie and other leaders secretly preparing the uprising. Han Qian had the willingness to receive the […]
- [Chapter 509: Hesitation and Indecision](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-509-hesitation-and-indecision/): Seeing Xi Ren under the lamplight with her powdered cheeks like flowers, Han Qian unbuttoned his long robe and explained the reason for being delayed until deep night before returning to their base: “Today, besides meeting Han Donghu, I also met Xue Ruogu, which delayed some time.” Xi Ren asked doubtfully: “If you meet with Xue Ruogu at this time, is there still any possibility he’ll overturn the assassination case?” “We just waited by the official road watching him pass by and didn’t step forward to meet him face to face. Of course, Xue Ruogu himself was also aware that […]
- [Chapter 508: Maoshan](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-508-maoshan/): After Han Donghu left, two horse carts with quite dilapidated side panels weathered by wind and rain emerged from the peach grove. After the tea stall was loaded onto the carts, Han Qian and Feng Liao also climbed in. The two carts left the official road one after the other, inconspicuously turning onto a side road to the south, driving toward Maoshan. The large thatched shelter stood empty and deserted, as if nothing had happened at all. “If Xue Ruogu could first reveal a corner of the assassination case’s inside story here, and then Guangde Prefecture erupts with some disturbance […]
- [Chapter 507: Uprising](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-507-uprising/): “By the official road, with people and carts coming and going, you should come sit here to talk,” Han Qian gestured for Han Donghu to sit before the tea stall, then said with a smile to Feng Liao, “I knew these hands would be the flaw. Indeed, no matter how well burn scars are disguised, they still don’t resemble an old man’s hands.” “Your Lordship’s status is noble, and you’re currently under Emperor Yanyou’s suspicion—how can you lightly venture into dangerous territory?” Han Donghu sat before the tea stall, still unable to control his agitated emotions. Compared to overturning the […]
- [Chapter 506: Roadside](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-506-roadside/): Some matters seem difficult to handle, but for certain people, they’re merely things mentioned in passing. Xue Ruogu served at the Censorate as Investigating Censor, responsible for supervising and impeaching court officials for corruption, bias, and unlawful conduct. Especially after Emperor Yanyou ascended the throne and further emphasized employing remonstrating officials to check the courtiers, the position of Investigating Censor, though seemingly modest in rank at only Upper Sixth Rank, could absolutely be called a position of low status yet great authority in the court. Xue Ruogu was straightforward by nature, and thus executed Emperor Yanyou’s intentions most thoroughly, consequently […]
- [Chapter 505: The Visitor](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-505-the-visitor/): After Cao Gan arrived in Jinling, he remained unattended to all along. He assumed the Great Chu court ministers were deliberately snubbing him, but in reality, on the very day he arrived by official vessel in Jinling, Great Chu forces assembled in Shuzhou and other locations formally launched their offensive against Chaozhou. Jinling faced Chuzhou and Chaozhou across the river. Troops stationed along the southern banks of the Yangtze were on high alert, and the Six Ministries and various bureaus operated like machines at full capacity. Almost everyone’s attention was focused on developments on the northern bank. Who at this […]
- [Chapter 504: Secret Discussion](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-504-secret-discussion/): Cao Gan had an important mission to fulfill and no inclination to remain at Welcoming Spring Pavilion drinking wine and listening to music. He left quite soon. A slender figure still sat in the neighboring elegant chamber. Hearing the sounds of Cao Gan’s departure, he finally spoke up to ask Feng Liao: “If we truly establish the commercial trade matters between our two kingdoms via the Qianjiang according to this list in these peace negotiations, won’t Xuzhou suffer tremendous losses?” “Without suffering losses, one cannot gain advantages,” Feng Liao said. “The Great Chu Directorate of Imperial Workshops’ armor and weapons […]
- [Chapter 503: The Merchant Vessel](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-503-the-merchant-vessel/): It wasn’t only Cao Gan and Wei Qun who inadvertently noticed that Xuzhou merchant vessels had once again sailed into Jinling—this also entered many people’s field of vision. However, among these people, the vast majority shared Wei Qun’s thinking, believing that after the Wuchuan River Valley campaign, Xuzhou had cleared itself of suspicion of colluding with rebel forces and Shu forces, and was beginning to seek closer ties with Great Chu’s heartland. Information regarding the personnel, types of cargo, and quantities aboard this Xuzhou merchant vessel had been transmitted to Jinling one step ahead after entering Langzhou’s Wuling County territory […]
- [Chapter 502: The New Envoy](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-502-the-new-envoy/): At the end of February, Shu forces withdrew from the Wuchuan River Valley. The new Shu envoy, Yuzhou Military Administrator Cao Gan, carrying an edict from Shu ruler Wang Jian, arrived in Jinling again on the sixteenth day of the third month. It was the third month of spring with bright sunshine. The slender-figured Cao Gan, dressed in a long robe, stood on the official vessel gazing at the damaged outer walls of Jinling city in the distance. Compared to when he had left Jinling, the repair work on the entire outer city walls had made essentially no progress. He […]
- [Chapter 501: The Victory of Obstinacy](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-501-the-victory-of-obstinacy/): The Kingdom of Shu’s sudden violation of their treaty, dispatching troops to occupy the Wuchuan River Valley that rightfully should have been Great Chu territory, ultimately caused far less of a stir in Jinling than the recent large-scale concentration of Imperial Guard forces along the Yangtze River and in Shuzhou. Most of the scholar-gentry and prominent family scions in the capital couldn’t even figure out where the Wuchuan River Valley was located. In the vast majority of people’s understanding, the kingdoms of Shu and Chu only shared borders in the Wushan Gorges and the upper reaches of the Han River […]
- [Chapter 500: Returning to the Capital](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-500-returning-to-the-capital/): While matters from Jinling requiring notification to Xuzhou faced a long and slow journey, traveling from Xuzhou to Jinling was different. Following Chen River into Yuan River, then via Dongting Lake into the Yangtze River, sailing downstream all the way with great sails billowing in the wind, traveling day and night without rest, at fastest it took only six or seven days. An Jixiang entered Dongting Lake along Yuan River and bid farewell to Pacification Commissioner Huang Hua. Rushing along urgently, on the last day of the eleventh month, he returned to Jinling. Jinling had seen heavy snow two days […]
- [Chapter 499: Pacification (Part Three)](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-499-pacification-part-three/): Early the next morning, Han Qian personally led Xuzhou’s officials to rush to Qingniubei Wharf to see Huang Hua, An Jixiang, Zhou Qinian and others board official boats heading east to return to Tanzhou. Han Qian stood at the wharf with his hands in his sleeves, watching the three official boats set sail and gradually recede into the distance, leaving only the azure sky reflected on the jade-green water. In his heart, he wondered how much peace this ordeal would bring to the southwest. At this moment, Kong Xirong brought over a horse. Han Qian mounted it and, surrounded by […]
- [Chapter 498: Pacification (Part Two)](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-498-pacification-part-two/): Sizhou’s forces east of Panlong Ridge all withdrew into Jinhe County. Gao Shao personally led a battalion of elite troops to garrison Hujian Pass, bringing the pacification matter into a substantive operational phase. The Hujian Pass gorge was about one li long, with the pass fortress built at the eastern valley mouth. To the north rose the steep cliffs and peaks of Caojing Ridge. As one of the most important remaining ridges of the southern foothills of Wuling Mountain, Caojing Ridge’s mountain range continued extending southward for about five li after passing Hujian Pass. The mountain layers interlaced and staggered, […]
- [Chapter 497: Pacification (Part One)](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-497-pacification-part-one/): Seeing An Jixiang’s brows knitted tightly, his entire being like a hunting bow with its string drawn taut, Han Chengmeng’s heart leapt to his throat. Although once upon a time An Jixiang had been merely an obscure minor figure beside Zhang Ping, at this moment Huang Hua could not ignore his existence. After all, An Jixiang more directly represented Emperor Yanyou’s will. And Huang Hua’s ability to sit in the position of Hunan Provincial Pacification Commissioner was, more accurately speaking, the result of a joint decision by Emperor Yanyou and the court’s various ministers. However, Huang Hua showed no intention […]
- [Chapter 496: Testing the Waters](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-496-testing-the-waters/): Feng Liao had originally planned to wait for Feng Yi to return from meeting Han Qian before going to see Huang Hua himself. He never expected Huang Hua would be the first to propose visiting Dragon Fang City, catching him completely off guard. Since Xuzhou had no intention of openly rebelling, they could not obstruct Huang Hua, who as Pacification Commissioner was their direct superior, from freely traveling within Xuzhou’s territory. Feng Liao had difficulty walking, and having previously feigned a leg injury, he hastily summoned a physician overnight to apply a plaster cast. The next morning, he traveled by […]
- [Chapter 495: Pacification Commissioner](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-495-pacification-commissioner/): On the twenty-third of October, Feng Liao, the instigator of it all, traveled over mountains and through rivers to return once again to Chenzhong. At this time, only half a month had passed since news of the Shu army’s occupation of the Wuchuan River valley reached Chenzhong. This time Feng Liao departed from Wuchuan, and under the protection of guards walked the dangerous roads along the southern foothills of the Wuling Mountains back to Chenzhong. Though he crossed three to four hundred li fewer mountain ridges than on the outward journey, he was still tormented quite severely. Feng Liao’s mission […]
- [Chapter 494: Changes](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-494-changes/): The Shu army’s advance south through Yuzhou to occupy the Wuchuan River valley and push their military forces to the northern border of Shiqian County on Sizhou’s western flank had multifaceted impacts. Sizhou didn’t dare abandon Shiqian County, which controlled the river valley along both banks of the middle reaches of the Qian River. On one hand, regardless of whether the Shu army’s deployment was secretly coordinated with Xuzhou, since the Shu army had already entered the Wuchuan River valley, they certainly wouldn’t miss the present opportunity to seize Shiqian County and open the passage connecting south to the various […]
- [Chapter 493: Border Crossing](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-493-border-crossing/): The encampment was located in a mountain hollow southeast of Chenzhong City, adjacent to a rural patrol inspection office compound. Among the eight hundred tribal slave soldiers in the military camp, besides the lowest-ranking soldiers, the eight squad leaders promoted to lead teams and other commanding military officers were also all servants and slaves sent by the Yang clan from Sizhou to do work. The supervisory training team of over a hundred men led by Xi Fa’er, Dou Rong, Han Bao and others had spent nearly the past two months with roughly two supervisory military officers responsible for each commanding […]
- [Chapter 492: Taking Over](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-492-taking-over/): After years of tempering, Xi Shepeng was no longer simply the reckless warrior who had only known how to charge into bloody combat with blade in hand. He understood very clearly in his heart the meaning behind his father’s repeated admonitions to “grasp the proper measure” before leading his troops into Chenzhong. To be honest, the only thing that could currently restrain Xuzhou’s ambitions was the great mountain that was the imperial court, but the court obviously had no desire for unrest to easily erupt in the Southwest at this time. This was also the key reason why Fu Gengwen, […]
- [Chapter 491: Night Falls](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-491-night-falls/): “How is the Old Master’s health in Jinling?” After first sending An Jixiang, Fu Gengwen, Yang Hu, and the others to the guest house to rest, Han Qian kept Han Chengmeng behind at the residence to talk. Regardless of everything else, Han Qian and Han Chengmeng were cousins. When they had publicly announced things before, it was said that Han Qian, the Old Master, Han Daochang, and Han Jun had conspired together to deceive Gu Zhilong, presenting an image of the Han family united in close harmony. Now that Han Qian kept Han Chengmeng behind alone for family conversation, An […]
- [Chapter 490: On-Site Inspection](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-490-on-site-inspection/): When Han Qian claimed the road was at risk of being washed away by flood waters, Yang Hu absolutely wouldn’t let himself be led by the nose based on Han Qian’s words alone. He immediately invited Xi Shepeng, Fu Gengwen, and Han Chengmeng to rush to the Crow Ridge dam construction site for an on-site inspection to verify the truth of Han Qian’s words. An Jixiang bore an edict to deliver the Empress Dowager’s bestowed gifts, so naturally he couldn’t join in this commotion and had to cross the river with Han Qian to Chenzhong city first. Han Qian also […]
- [Chapter 489: New Officials](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-489-new-officials/): Xi Shepeng was leading troops across the border bearing an imperial decree. According to protocol, Han Qian needed to receive the decree before he could further learn of the court’s specific disposition regarding the Sizhou popular uprising. With Feng Liao not in Chenzhong, the positions of Provincial Administrator and Chenzhong County Magistrate were temporarily held by Chief Clerk Zhao Jicheng and Household Section Military Adviser Xi Xunqiao. They rushed to the opposite bank overnight with men, summoning craftsmen to erect a simple large official pavilion beside the post road using bamboo and wood. The next day before noon, learning that […]
- [Chapter 488: Autumn's Intent](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-488-autumns-intent/): Entering September, autumn’s atmosphere gradually thickened in Xuzhou. After over half a year of construction, based on the foundation of Jiming Stockade, Chenzhong County town had also been built to an initial scale. Chenzhong County town was located on the southern bank of the Chen River, divided into inner and outer cities. The inner city remained largely consistent with Jiming Stockade, with its inner walls rebuilt by overlaying large and small city bricks onto the foundation of the stone stockade walls. The inner city’s area was quite small. After planning, the buildings inside had undergone a round of repairs and […]
- [Chapter 487: Devising the Plan (Part Two)](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-487-devising-the-plan-part-two/): Emperor Yanyou Yang Yuanpu, in order to swiftly recover Jinling and stabilize the Great Chu situation, made peace with his elder brother Prince Xin Yang Yuanyan, specifically permitting him to establish the Huaidong vassal state based on the five provinces of Chu, Hai, Si, Yang, and Tai. However, he resolutely demanded that the Huaidong salt fields be placed under the direct jurisdiction of the Chu court. On one hand, this was because eight or nine out of ten common people in Jiangdong, southern Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hu-Xiang, and other regions relied on sea salt produced in Huaidong for their salt consumption. […]
- [Chapter 486: Devising the Plan (Part One)](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-486-devising-the-plan-part-one/): This matter involved stakes so enormous that unless someone of Feng Liao’s or Gao Shao’s, Tian Cheng’s, or Lin Haizheng’s caliber personally traveled to Yuzhou, anyone else would find it extremely difficult to gain the trust of Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong. Of course, even if Feng Liao endured the hardships of crossing the Wuling Mountains to reach Yuzhou and successfully met with Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong, persuading Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong to cooperate with Xuzhou and provide Xuzhou with a pretext to openly deploy troops into Sizhou would be no easy feat. Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong, due to his mother’s […]
- [Chapter 485: Concerns](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-485-concerns/): Sizhou was vast in territory but sparse in population. In just seven or eight days, four to five thousand rioters had gathered to cause chaos. The scale could already be considered extremely large. Even if the Yang clan could quell the civil unrest, their vitality would be severely damaged, weakening their control over the Wuchuan region. If this were merely a matter between Sizhou and Yuzhou, they should naturally take the opportunity to propose pushing the provincial boundary southward so Yuzhou could occupy more territory. However, involving the two nations of Shu and Chu made things far more complex. Even […]
- [Chapter 484: Family from One's Maternal Home](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-484-family-from-ones-maternal-home/): Not many days after Yang Hu and Chenzhou Chief Administrator Cao Xiushi arrived in Jinling to report on the Sizhou civil unrest, Shu Kingdom’s Court of State Ceremonial Minister Wei Qun and Yuzhou Military Administrator Cao Gan, serving as Shu envoys, also traveled east along the river and arrived in Jinling City for an audience with Emperor Yanyou. The marriage alliance between Shu and Chu, coinciding with Emperor Tianyou’s death and the Jinling Incident, had experienced twists and turns beyond what the world could imagine before Princess Qingyang finally married Yang Yuanpu as his consort. Wei Qun, serving as the […]
- [Chapter 483: Prime Minister's Residence](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-483-prime-ministers-residence/): When Shen Yang entered the capital and was appointed Prime Minister, Emperor Yanyou bestowed the well-preserved Wen family residence upon Shen Yang as the Prime Minister’s residence. Since the previous dynasty, “Opening Office with Ceremonial Equivalent to the Three Excellencies” as the highest rank among civil scattered officials was more a symbol of honor and status. In reality, aside from Princes of First Rank and Princes of Second Rank, neither royal kinsmen nor great ministers had the authority to establish their own offices and personally appoint subordinate officials. However, as Prime Minister of Great Chu, it was impossible for Shen […]
- [Chapter 482: Audience](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-482-audience/): Seeing Zhang Ping seated in the main hall, Han Jun stood respectfully to one side of the palace door, not rushing in to disturb the Empress Dowager. What Zhang Ping was reporting at this moment was that today Emperor Yanling had summoned envoys from Sizhou and Chenzhou in the Political Affairs Hall along with various participating ministers to inquire about the situation of the civil unrest in Sizhou. Sizhou was a remote small prefecture. Positions such as governor had long been controlled by the Yang clan. The population within the prefecture was only sixty to seventy thousand. When the civil […]
- [Chapter 481: White Night](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-481-white-night/): Not to mention the common people—even among the hundreds and thousands of officials in the Six Ministries and Nine Courts and various administrative offices, there were probably only a few who could immediately say where Sizhou was specifically located. In the sweltering, steamer-like heat of Jinling City, it didn’t matter if a riot had broken out in Sizhou. Even the news that Li Zhigao, Left Vermillion Bird Army Commander-in-Chief, had been granted the additional title of Vice Minister of War and concurrent Governor of Shuzhou, leading his troops across the river to Shuzhou to oversee the campaign against the Anning […]
- [Chapter 480: Chess Pieces](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-480-chess-pieces/): The roads were inconvenient. By the time Yang Hu rushed to the stream-side bamboo house, it was already dark. Over ten bright horn lamps illuminated the small campsite as bright as day. Yang Hu’s personal escort guards were stopped outside the campsite to wait while Yang Hu was led into the stream-side bamboo house. Outside the mountains the heat was unbearable, but inside the mountains it was cool. After nightfall, Han Qian had even put on a thin shirt over his short jacket. Seeing Yang Hu enter accompanied by Feng Liao and Gao Shao, Han Qian placed Xin’er, who had […]
- [Chapter 479: Mountain Stream](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-479-mountain-stream/): In the valley halfway up the northern slope of Dragon Tooth Mountain, a row of bamboo houses was built directly over a mountain stream. Surrounded by lush green shade with the stream water flowing gurgling beneath the bamboo houses, there wasn’t half a trace of summer heat. These past few days the weather along both banks of the Yuan River had suddenly grown hot. Regardless of how the situation in Si Province territory had suddenly grown tense, Han Qian still brought Zhao Ting’er and Xi Ren here to escape the heat. Wenxin, who had just learned to toddle, ran happily […]
- [Chapter 478: Prison Break](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-478-prison-break/): Even though Jinhe City had over three hundred county soldiers and the county prison had over fifty jailers, there was a saying: “A thief can strike for a thousand days, but no one can guard against thieves for a thousand days.” Xu Province not only provided detailed intelligence support and had elite personnel like Diao the Half-blind and Pei Pu directly participating in formulating and executing the specific plan, but also transported necessary weapons, armor, and some equipment into the city in batches. Although Jinhe City was dilapidated, the county prison built right against the north city wall was still […]
- [Chapter 477: The Uprising](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-477-the-uprising/): Han Qian arrived quietly with his men and departed just as quietly. Ordinary mountain villages were always tranquil. The courtyard that Zhao Zhixian and Tan Yuliang’s two families had acquired was outside the valley entrance. Apart from a few yellow dogs barking and breaking the silent night, most people in the village had long since retired after dark, and no one noticed the commotion at the valley entrance. Tan Yuliang looked at the wine jar on the table and the thick stack of paper in his hands. If not for these, he would have doubted whether what had just happened […]
- [Chapter 476: The Meeting](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-476-the-meeting/): About thirteen or fourteen li from Tiger Gorge Pass lay Tall Chair Valley, embraced by mountain cliffs on three sides and spanning a ravine four or five zhang deep on the fourth side. Geographically, it resembled a giant chair embedded deep into the southeastern slopes of the Wuling Mountains, hence the name Tall Chair Valley. Tiger Rock Creek flowed past the front of Tall Chair Valley, and eight or nine li away it split through a large stone cliff called Green Ox Back before flowing into the Chen River. Don’t be deceived by how the Chen River on either side […]
- [Chapter 475: Fury](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-475-fury/): “Crack!” An inkstone smashed onto the stone-paved ground of the courtyard, shattering into pieces. Everyone was startled, watching in dead silence as Han Qian stood under the corridor with an ashen face. They hadn’t expected that after receiving the intelligence report, Han Qian would be so unable to contain his rage. “My father suffered cruel torture, yet in his heart he thought of the people suffering in the flames of war. I’ve gone through countless hardships, not hesitating to risk my own life, all to prevent the flames of war from spreading too widely. And what about them? One by […]
- [Chapter 474: Wind Rising](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-474-wind-rising/): “The assassin was extraordinarily brave and extremely familiar with Shangjia Fort’s terrain. After killing and wounding ten Shang household soldiers, he still escaped with ease. Such a valiant general would be an outstanding person even in the army. I hear his build particularly resembled someone beside the Marquis of Qianyang—having investigated this far, the Jinyun Bureau and Ministry of Justice didn’t dare dig any deeper. But who would have thought that just as the Jinyun Bureau and Ministry of Justice’s forces withdrew, over ten Shang household soldiers secretly colluding with the assassin, seeing their tracks exposed, struck preemptively and killed […]
- [Chapter 473: The Truth](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-473-the-truth/): The candles burned high in Chongwen Hall. Yang Yuanpu’s figure standing behind the imperial desk was cast by the candlelight onto the tall wall, appearing especially imposing. Before the imperial desk, aside from Chen Ruyi and An Jixiang kneeling on the slightly cool polished stone floor, there was not a single eunuch or minister serving nearby. In the great hall, only the three—sovereign and subjects Yang Yuanpu, Chen Ruyi, and An Jixiang—either standing or kneeling, yet this made the hall seem particularly vast and empty. “Your humble servant knows the assassination case is no small matter. The slightest error could […]
- [Chapter 472: Silencing](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-472-silencing/): When Wei Zhen returned to Shangjia Fort at Donglu Mountain with his bailiffs, what he saw was Shang Wensheng’s corpse—his grayish-white eyeballs nearly split open, long dead. Blood had soaked through the bedding, yet Wei Zhen could see no other new obvious wounds on Shang Wensheng’s body with his eyes that wouldn’t close in death. Wei Zhen surmised he must have died from his old wounds rupturing and bleeding. As for Chen Xiang and the six other retainers who had been bound hand and foot, they had now been killed with sharp blades like swords slashing their throats. Their bodies […]
- [Chapter 471: House Slaves](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-471-house-slaves/): Chen Ruyi led her people away first. The Ministry of Justice Chief Secretary Shen Bochi also worried about unearthing a massive scandal that the entire Ministry of Justice couldn’t handle, so saying he would return to the ministry to issue arrest warrants and have all prefectures and counties assist in searching for suspicious persons, he too hurriedly departed. After respectfully seeing off Chen Ruyi, Shen Bochi, and the others, with the sky darkening, Wei Zhen walked back to the sickbed and looked at Shang Wensheng’s pallid face from excessive blood loss, not knowing what to say. The court ministers had […]
- [Chapter 470: Interrogation](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-470-interrogation/): “Since Magistrate Shang recognizes me, that’s good. I’ll ask directly whatever I need to know.” Chen Ruyi stood with hands clasped behind his back before Shang Wensheng’s sickbed and said. “According to Magistrate Wei, the second young master of the Shang household returned to Donglu Mountain with his family and servants. Upon passing through Lishui, learning that Shang Family Fort was occupied by a group of refugees, he left his servants and family in Lishui and first rushed to Donglu Mountain with his household troops to expel the refugees. Unexpectedly, they met with desperate resistance and had no choice but […]
- [Chapter 469: Assassin](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-469-assassin/): “Tie up this unfilial wretch!” Shang Wensheng was so furious his temples throbbed violently. He ordered his household troops and retainers to bind his second son Shang Zhongjie. “Master, what are you doing?” At this moment, a middle-aged woman came stumbling out from inside. From her panicked appearance, she had clearly just received news and rushed back to Shang Family Fort. However, she didn’t reproach Shang Zhongjie but instead rushed forward to grab the riding crop in Shang Wensheng’s hand that he was about to strike down again, demanding sternly. “Are you going to hand Zhongjie over to the authorities? […]
- [Chapter 468: Mangled Corpses](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-468-mangled-corpses/): To further remedy the flaws, or to more forcefully silence doubters should something truly happen in the future, after Feng Yi finished handling the affairs Han Qian had entrusted to him in Jinling, he specially made connections to board the Five-Tooth Army naval fleet heading to Yueyang for garrison rotation, planning to change ships in Yueyang for the return to Xuzhou. By late April, Jinling was already quite hot. On the great embankment west of the naval encampment, two brown-clothed young men stood with hands clasped, gazing at the gradually receding fleet, their eyes filled with confusion. After An Jixiang […]
- [Chapter 467: Departure](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-467-departure/): Han Qian’s withdrawal to Xuzhou had been most thorough. Even after Jinling fell, when the authorities wanted to return the residences on Lanting Lane and Kaoshan Lane to his name, he sent no one to receive them. Feng Yi and Han Dong’s visit this time differed from other prefectures and counties presenting tribute gifts and being received by the Ministry of Rites. They brought their people directly to stay in the guesthouse belonging to the Court of State Ceremonial, enjoying the treatment accorded to envoys from vassal tribal states. A single courtyard compound was located in the southwest corner of […]
- [Chapter 466: The Han Residence](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-466-the-han-residence/): During the Battle of Jinling, the Han Residence was relatively well-preserved, having merely been requisitioned by rebel forces as barracks. Apart from some filth and considerable damage to doors and windows, the main buildings remained largely intact. After thorough cleaning, they looked renewed and refreshed. Though the palace was holding the grand ceremony for establishing the Empress today, the Han family was also receiving honor—a daughter entering the palace to be invested as Noble Consort, a rank only slightly below that of Imperial Noble Consort. For the Han Residence, today was truly a day of great celebration. With supplies scarce […]
- [Chapter 465: Imperial Authority](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-465-imperial-authority/): After leaving Changxin Palace, Yun Puzi walked through the passage between the courtyard wall and the towering palace city wall. The starry night was squeezed by the high walls on both sides into a long, narrow dark river, as if reflecting the lights of the heavenly court. Today was the grand ceremony for establishing the Empress—a special circumstance. The palace city gates still hadn’t closed at this hour. Exiting through Chongyang Gate led to a stone-paved long street. Chongfu Temple was located at the street’s west end. Beyond that was the Chongli Gate out of the Imperial Palace. This area […]
- [Chapter 464: Deep Affection](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-464-deep-affection/): “Did An Jixiang bring back any new information from delivering the edict to Xuzhou?” Qingyang was also formally elevated to Noble Consort today. As one of the Four Consorts, a Noble Consort’s status ranked above the other three consorts. But today’s grand ceremony was held for establishing the Empress, and the other three consorts (Refined Consort, Virtuous Consort, and Worthy Consort) were newly married women. Having barely endured until the celebrations concerning her concluded, she returned to Changxin Palace in an irritable mood. Changxin Palace was one of the first buildings in the palace compound to be completely renovated. Besides […]
- [Chapter 463: Jinyun Bureau](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-463-jinyun-bureau/): “Lord Jiang and Lord Yuan are utterly loyal to His Majesty, with nothing improper in any matter. I’ve only been away for a month—what did these two lords do that made His Majesty determined to have you, Younger Brother, oversee Jinyun Bureau?” An Jixiang narrowed his eyes and asked. “Jinyun Bureau isn’t overseen by me alone. If there’s a Left Commander, there naturally should be a corresponding Right Commander,” Chen Ruyi said with a smile. “I actually suggested to His Majesty that Senior Brother take this Right Commander position. Although His Majesty didn’t immediately respond at the time, I still […]
- [Chapter 462: Returning to the Palace](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-462-returning-to-the-palace/): The day An Jixiang returned to Jinling from Xuzhou bearing the imperial edict happened to coincide with the grand ceremony for establishing the Empress. The Imperial Palace was in a complete uproar, and momentarily no one paid attention to An Jixiang’s whereabouts. Before ascending the throne, Yang Yuanpu had already married Li Yao, daughter of Marquis Xinchang Li Pu, as his consort, and later took Princess Qingyang, daughter of Shu Ruler Wang Jian, as a secondary consort. After ascending the throne, he further took as consorts Han Shuhui, daughter of Han Daoming; Zheng Zhao, younger sister of Zheng Hui; and […]
- [Chapter 461: The Book of Heavenly Craftsmanship](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-461-the-book-of-heavenly-craftsmanship/): The section of the Yellow River flowing past the outskirts of Bianjing suffered a levee breach in early autumn of Taixi Year Seven (Taixi being the era name used by Emperor Taizu of Liang, equivalent to Tianyou Year Seven in time). Torrential floodwaters rushed from the breach toward the eastern side of Bianjing, nearly washing away the city’s eastern wall. Although the authorities quickly conscripted tens of thousands of laborers to fill the gap and even built a section of stone embankment for reinforcement, the flooded area saw farmlands and homes destroyed and river silt accumulated, leaving behind a series […]
- [Chapter 460: Yangzhou](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-460-yangzhou/): During the Sui Dynasty when Emperor Yang made his southern inspection tour, the Yangzhou government office once conscripted tens of thousands of laborers to construct a traveling palace on the eastern peak of Shu Hill northwest of the city, which took a full year to complete. When the Sui fell, the traveling palace was destroyed in the flames of war. In the early years of the previous dynasty, someone invested enormous funds to restore the ruins, naming it Jian Garden, taking the meaning “warning of the preceding vehicle, to caution later generations.” Over more than three hundred years, Jian Garden […]
- [Chapter 459: Mountains and Rivers](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-459-mountains-and-rivers/): The reason Han Qian came to Qianyang this time, besides passing through to inspect Langxi and Quyang counties, was also to make a special trip to Qianyang City to see Guo Rong and invite him to emerge from retirement to serve in Xuzhou. Initially serving as deputy envoy accompanying Han Qian to the Shu capital to escort the bride, Guo Rong had been accompanied by some palace attendants. But it was precisely the existence of these palace attendants that made it impossible to conceal the matter of Guo Rong assisting Han Qian in abducting Princess Qingyang and escaping from Shu […]
- [Chapter 458: Wine House](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-458-wine-house/): Late March was Xuzhou’s most mild and comfortable season. The rainy season had not yet arrived. The Yuan River was broad and clear, the weather bright and beautiful. Wearing thin robes, with verdant mountains and greenery everywhere one looked, gentle breezes caressing faces, warmth pervading all. If light rain fell, misty rain enveloping the river and green mountains in hazy veils, one felt even more the vastness of heaven and earth. Sitting indoors reading and writing, or entering a wine house to pick a window-side table and slowly sipping wine—these were most pleasant. Although the prefectural seat had moved to […]
- [Chapter 457: Reunion](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-457-reunion/): “Shen Yang has become cautious in his actions since taking office as Guangde Prefectural Governor. Besides Qin Wen being appointed as Chief Clerk to control the prefectural hall, and Zheng Tong controlling the Works Bureau, the Personnel, Rites, Military, Justice, and Revenue Bureaus, as well as the Prison Office, Courier Station, Prefectural School, Medical Officials, and State Commandant positions, along with the hundred-plus clerks filling various bureaus large and small—all were appointed according to the wishes of the Yueyang people, either selected and appointed from old clerks of the three counties, or chosen from the sons of aristocratic families from […]
- [Chapter 456: Dissatisfaction](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-456-dissatisfaction/): This New Year, Han Laoshan felt both deeply satisfied and filled with tremendous “dissatisfaction.” Because in the new year, he would no longer be a “member of the Han Family.” After Han Qian returned to Xuzhou, everything continued as usual throughout the entire first month, with only one Prefectural Governor’s decree being issued. The full text of the Prefectural Governor’s decree consisted of just over a hundred characters: “Xuzhou Prefectural Governor Han Qian hereby proclaims that upon receipt of this decree, all laws regarding slaves and bondservants as lowly persons, treating them equivalent to livestock, regarding the birth and raising […]
- [Chapter 455: Jiminzhai](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-455-jiminzhai/): Han Qian’s group traveled by boat upstream along the Yuan River. Despite hurrying, it was only the fifth day of the new year when they entered the Chen River via Chenyang and arrived at Jiminzhai at dusk. Although the Chen River was a tributary of the Yuan River, the nearly hundred-li stretch of waterway in the middle and lower reaches from Chenyang to Jiminzhai passed through relatively stable and open terrain along the banks. Gathering the large and small streams and rivers from deep within the southern foothills of the Wuling Mountains, it had abundant water volume, with quite excellent […]
- [Chapter 454: Secret Meeting](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-454-secret-meeting/): Though the matter wouldn’t be publicly announced with great fanfare, news that Chuzhou’s secret envoys had proposed the marriage engagement as a condition for negotiating submission, and that Han Qian, bound by filial duty to his father, had no choice but to first return to Xuzhou to observe mourning, quietly began spreading throughout Fanchang City first. Using such news to explain Han Qian’s departure from Fanchang and return to Xuzhou caused the least disturbance to military morale. Han Qian’s departure or remaining didn’t just involve the morale of over ten thousand elite soldiers of the Left Guangde Army. Within the […]
- [Chapter 453: Morning](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-453-morning/): “Han Qian left Fanchang during the night and took Yang Qin’s troops back to Xuzhou without authorization?” As a Battalion Commander, a mid-level military officer in the army, Han Duan’s main duty was to lead a small number of soldiers responsible for escorting grain, fodder, armor, and other supplies from eastern Zhejiang and other places to cities, strongholds, and camps designated by the Bureau of Military Affairs for delivery. This was considered a relatively safe assignment with considerable merit, though the work was quite arduous. However, after the campaign to reduce the vassal states, Han Duan’s ability to inherit a […]
- [Chapter 452: Farewell](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-452-farewell/): At dawn, white fog rolled across the river surface, making the distant shore mountains appear faintly like they were placed in a fairyland, concealing the mess and devastation left behind by the fires of war. Six two-thousand-stone oared war sailboats raised their sails, creating ripples across the calm river surface, with fine waves lapping against the hulls. Han Qian stood at the ship’s rail, hands clasped behind his back. The fierce river wind whipped up his robe sleeves and hair, flying backward. His lean face at this moment seemed as cold and sharp as thin ice in puddles on the […]
- [Chapter 451: Muddying the Waters](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-451-muddying-the-waters/): “What other contents were in the letter Han Qian left behind? What matters did he discuss?” Seeing that Yang Yuanpu was merely angry at the moment and hadn’t yet lost his rationality, Shen Yang continued questioning Chen De. Through the lamplight, Shen Yang examined the bottom surface of the letter, which appeared to be densely filled with an entire page written with a dipped pen. At this moment, he hoped that within this letter, Han Qian might at least have some words to console Yang Yuanpu, so that his feeling of betrayal wouldn’t be too intense and overwhelm his rationality. […]
- [Chapter 450: Filial Piety](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-450-filial-piety/): Chen De’s words were like a giant boulder smashing into a calm lake surface, instantly stirring up enormous waves that shook everyone’s hearts violently. What did it mean that Han Qian led people away from Fanchang City? The great hall instantly fell silent as a crow’s flight. Everyone looked toward Chen De in shock, all suspecting their ears had deceived them, or that Chen De had drunk too much and was talking nonsense. Chen De was one of the Grand Consort’s few trustworthy relatives at court—strictly speaking, merely a cousin from the Grand Consort’s maternal family. In early years in […]
- [Chapter 449: Marriage Contract (Part Two)](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-449-marriage-contract-part-two/): No matter how turbulent the undercurrents beneath the surface, the dissolution of the Guangde Army Commissioner’s Office, the transfer of command authority over the Left and Right Guangde Armies to the newly established Bureau of Military Affairs, and the three-route forces advancing on Jinling City all proceeded in an orderly manner. No matter how formidable Empress Dowager Xu, Niu Gengru, Wen Muqiao and others once were, no matter that they commanded a batch of quite capable generals like Yang Jian, Wen Bo, Zhao Mingting, and Xu Anlan, and no matter that north of the river Xu Mingzhen personally led forty […]
- [Chapter 448: Marriage Contract (Part One)](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-448-marriage-contract-part-one/): Although the Right Guangde Army had Gu Zhilong and Chen Mingsheng as Commander and Deputy Commander, and both indeed possessed some capability in commanding troops and managing armies, the true core of the Right Guangde Army consisted of the Prince’s Mansion officers led by Li Xiu and Li Qi. Particularly Li Xiu and Li Qi, as representatives of the Prince’s Mansion’s younger generation, had performed extremely outstandingly in the battles at Liyang and Nanling, several times serving as anchoring pillars and mainstays. When the Right Guangde Army absorbed Xuanzhou forces, with nearly over half the soldiers being sons of Xuanzhou, […]
- [Chapter 447: Killing Intent](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-447-killing-intent/): Cold wind blew fiercely over Fanchang City, with withered branches occasionally falling into the courtyard from the narrow lanes. Han Qian walked out of the room with slight drunkenness, seeing Feng Liao standing in the corridor. He said: “If this cold wind blows all night, by tomorrow morning the ice on the rivers and ponds will be thick enough for people to walk and horses to tread on. Your journey accompanying my second uncle to Langxi should be more convenient. Considering the difficulty of surviving the spring famine, after you arrive in Langxi, organize as many people as possible to […]
- [Chapter 446: Heart's Door](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-446-hearts-door/): Xi Ren waited all day in the side courtyard. As dusk approached, she saw Han Qian return from the command camp accompanied by Kong Xirong and Guo Que, and urgently asked: “Prince Tan couldn’t possibly just demand you hand over military authority for nothing. What compensation did he offer you today?” Feng Liao held no official position and didn’t want to mingle with the attendant escort like Kong Xirong and Guo Que, waiting half the day in the side courtyard. He too had only come over with Feng Yi when he saw Han Qian return, and said with a laugh: […]
- [Chapter 445: Grand Council](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-445-grand-council/): Zhang Ping and Jiang Huo pushed open the door and entered. Seeing Yang Yuanpu waving his hand to dismiss two maidservants from the room, they stepped forward to pay respects to Yang Yuanpu and Princess Qingyang. “When Han Qian was incorporating the remnants of Taowu’s military households, the situation was also perilous. It was impossible to imagine reaching today’s circumstances. Most people in Yueyang sought stability, but only you disregarded the dangers and were willing to rush to Jinling to assist—while in Yueyang I also heard about how you single-handedly recovered Anji, convincing the local clans and noble families of […]
- [Chapter 444: Letter of Resignation](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-444-letter-of-resignation/): The Southern Bureau Forbidden Army had already retreated along the entire line north of the Shuiyang River. Dangtu, Yijiang, and Xiangyuan counties to the northeast and east of Fanchang had also been taken by the Yanjiang Pacification Army and Right Guangde Army without a fight. They stationed three to five thousand troops respectively in each location, connecting with Lishui, Maoshan, Liyang, Jintan and other places further east into one continuous territory, sheltering Fanchang, Nanling and other cities on the inner side. Fanchang wasn’t any great famous city—the city walls were small. Even evacuating all the over one thousand remaining county […]
- [Chapter 443: Entering the City](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-443-entering-the-city/): The capture of Chizhou city and Nanling city, along with the Southern Bureau Forbidden Army fleeing from Tongling, Fanchang and other cities, meant that the passage for the three routes of forces under Yueyang to converge at Fanchang was completely opened. Fanchang, formerly known as Chungu County, was the first city captured when Emperor Tianyou led the Huainan Army across the river to attack the Shengzhou Military Commissioner’s Office. It originally belonged to Chizhou Prefecture, then was reassigned to Jingzhao Prefecture, serving as the western gate of Jinling. To Fanchang’s south lay the wilderness of mountains extending hundreds of li […]
- [Chapter 442: Seizing the City](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-442-seizing-the-city/): The majestic and magnificent thousand-year-old famous city of Chizhou had been battered beyond recognition by both warring sides by the end of November. Large sections of city bricks had been continuously bombarded by stone projectiles from whirlwind ballistae for over twenty days, collapsing and falling away in great chunks. The exposed rammed earth walls were covered with branching cracks—a scene of utter devastation. Collapsed breaches dotted the city walls everywhere, long since thoroughly soaked with the fresh blood of soldiers from both sides. Below the walls lay broken swords, bows, halberds, and spears everywhere, with countless snapped arrows beyond counting. […]
- [Chapter 441: Departure and Staying](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-441-departure-and-staying/): Standing before the window, watching as Feng Yi, Kong Xirong, and others were all persuaded to leave by Feng Liao, Han Qian shook his head and couldn’t help but sigh. Looking at Xi Ren’s bright and captivating face, he said with a bitter smile, “Only now do I more deeply comprehend what is meant by ‘the tree desires stillness, but the wind will not cease’! Sometimes this wind not only blows fiercely from outside, but there’s no peace within either!” “Then compared to you, wouldn’t Prince Tan’s side be like standing on the mouth of a volcano ready to erupt […]
- [Chapter 440: Secret](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-440-secret/): Without bothering with Feng Liao and others still standing like wooden posts under the corridor and in the courtyard, Han Qian pushed the door open and entered the room. The furnace burned vigorously, the room steaming with heat. Han Qian removed his heavy official robe. Seeing Feng Liao venture inside, he ignored him, walking straight to the desk to sit down, spreading open a teaching plan that hadn’t been revised yet, lifting his brush to annotate. Feng Liao glanced at Xi Ren, momentarily unable to figure out what Han Qian was truly thinking, hoping Xi Ren could give him some […]
- [Chapter 439: Conditions](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-439-conditions/): Watching Li Pu aggressively look toward Zhang Ping, Han Qian didn’t wait for Zhang Ping to take a stance. He lifted his robe hem and sat behind the central long table, saying calmly: “In previous battles, Chishan Army lost eight thousand men in combat. The loss of able-bodied men has been too severe. Yet for over three hundred thousand women and children to survive the harsh winter requires large numbers of able-bodied laborers to construct houses and mine coal and stone to ensure humble dwellings can have fires for warmth. If we conscript the limited able-bodied men into the army […]
- [Chapter 438: Mobilizing Troops to Advance North](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-438-mobilizing-troops-to-advance-north/): “General Zhigao truly dispatched troops with divine speed! The provincial armies from Shao and Heng haven’t even departed for Ezhou yet, have they? This works out well—all our forces can rendezvous directly outside Chizhou City!” Before Han Qian returned, Li Pu, Gu Zhilong, Chen Mingsheng, Li Xiu, Wen Ruilin and others were first accompanied by Feng Liao and Feng Xuan into the main hall of the Commissioner Prefecture’s public office, drinking tea and chatting cheerfully while waiting for Han Qian’s return. The original plan was to wait until late October for Hunan’s various provincial forces to reach Ezhou to complete […]
- [Chapter 437: Time Waits for No One](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-437-time-waits-for-no-one/): “These days are so dull I could shit a bird—Brother, when do you think the lord will lead everyone north to advance on Runzhou? Prince Xin has already retreated like a bear back to the northern Yangtze. With only those few defeated generals in Runzhou, if we don’t beat the living hell out of them now, when will we? If that won’t work, can we attack into Huzhou? Brother, what do you think is going through the lord’s mind?” After entering mid-October, the weather turned cool. The rustling north wind already carried several degrees of bone-piercing cold. After Han Bao […]
- [Chapter 436: Dividing the Forces](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-436-dividing-the-forces/): Outside Suiyang City in Songzhou during early September, the autumn wind swept past rustling, with scattered yellow leaves already falling from the treetops, making people feel the deepening autumn atmosphere. Outside the city, tens of thousands of soldiers waved their banners, their cheers thunderous. Residual fires still burned on the broken city walls, the air filled with the pungent burnt smell left by burning oil mixed with timber and corpses. The breach torn open by whirlwind cannons resembled a shocking wound on the city. Drawing the view closer, broken weapons and armor littered everywhere—spears, bows, and arrows densely studded the […]
- [Chapter 435: United in Purpose](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-435-united-in-purpose/): Before the Mingju Hall at the Han residence, a gust of wind passed, leaves rustling and falling, heralding the approach of late autumn. “Han Qian was disloyal and unfilial! To lure Gu Zhilong to take the bait, he didn’t hesitate to use me, Second Uncle, and Grandfather as bait. I, Second Uncle, and Grandfather knew nothing beforehand! Han Qian harbors old grudges and wanted to use this opportunity to eliminate Second Uncle and me!” With Yuan Guowei beside him in the great hall, Han Jun could only give a unified account of the various stratagems used to capture and force […]
- [Chapter 434: Changxin Palace](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-434-changxin-palace/): In late August in Yueyang, it was precisely the time of clear autumn weather. “Good, good!” Jiang Huo had just climbed the steps to the long corridor in front of Chengyun Hall when he heard unrestrained exclamations of approval from inside the great hall. With a broad smile, he stepped aside to let Shen Yang and Wang Lin, whose thoughts had been wandering along the way, enter the hall first, saying: “The dispatch reports from Lord Han and Marquis Li were transmitted back from Xuanzhou before noon, arriving right on the heels of the Prince of Yuzhang sending his heir […]
- [Chapter 433: Epitaph](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-433-epitaph/): “In the seventeenth year of Tianyou, on the twelfth day of the eighth month, seven days after your death, I compose this text bearing grief to express my sincerity and inform your spirit: A youth surnamed Guo, named Nu’er, was a native of Hanshan County in Chaozhou. In the eighth year of Tianyou, when Chaozhou was invaded by the Liang army and tens of thousands of households were destroyed, Guo Nu’er crossed the river with his parents and siblings along with over a hundred thousand Chaozhou people to escape disaster. His father died on the journey, and he begged for […]
- [Chapter 432: Peace Negotiations (Part Two)](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-432-peace-negotiations-part-two/): Li Yu’s dying wish was to be buried locally in the mountains outside Guangde City. In the end, Xinchang Marquis Li Pu and Li Xiu sent people to Guangde City to escort their father Li Yu’s coffin to Sitian Dun together with Yao Xishui, Yun Pozi and others. Li Pu and Li Xiu planned to select a burial site on Jinzhong Ridge to inter Li Yu. The weather was still quite hot at this time, and the road back to Hongzhou might not open for who knew how long, so they could only temporarily bury him in this foreign land. […]
- [Chapter 431: Peace Negotiations (Part One)](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-431-peace-negotiations-part-one/): In the dimly lit water dungeon, Han Jun, beaten black and blue by rods and clubs over the past few days, felt as though each day lasted a year. Beyond the severe pain wracking his body, every slight disturbance from outside made his heart tremble with fear, still worried that Gu Zhilong in his fury might drag them out at any moment and dismember them. His heart was filled with mixed regret and hatred. The hatred was naturally toward Han Qian for being so heartless as to use them as bait; the regret was for leaving his comfortable position serving […]
- [Chapter 430: Close Combat (Part Five)](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-430-close-combat-part-five/): “After the First Division withdrew into Nantang Stockade, Prince Xin Yang Yuanyan led eight hundred elite cavalry to arrive at the north bank of Meizhu Stream, but afterwards did not linger long and instead escorted Zhao Zhen’s remnant troops back to Liyang City to rest and reorganize. Except for a dozen scouts and reconnaissance riders circling west of Tianyin Mountain toward Xuancheng, scouts have not yet seen signs of the Chuzhou Army moving south in force to join with Gu Zhilong!” As the sun slanted westward, Han Qian stood atop the broken city walls, listening to Guo Que report the […]
- [Chapter 429: Close Combat (Part Four)](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-429-close-combat-part-four/): Meizhu Stream originated from the western foot of Jieling Mountain. Though the stream was shallow with slow currents, it was the border river between Runzhou and Xuanzhou, flowing west into Jingzhao Prefecture territory. The first ten days of the eighth month were already mid-autumn, though the weather south of the Yangtze River had not yet completely cooled. The fierce midday sun still brought scorching heat. In the shallow valley sheltered by low mountains on Meizhu Stream’s south bank, broken weapons and banners lay everywhere, corpses sprawled in every direction. Blood seeped into the black soil and congealed. Even the breeze […]
- [Chapter 428: Close Combat (Part Three)](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-428-close-combat-part-three/): Zhao Zhen had always been confident that when equal forces were committed without fear of casualties, the Chuzhou Army’s elite troops had overwhelming superiority over the Chishan Army. The Chuzhou Army had over half veteran soldiers, with new slaves and bondservants all selected as strong and fit. Their weapons and armor were more refined, their provisions and supplies more abundant. The opposing Chishan Army’s First Division, though called elite, still had nearly half its soldiers wielding broken long bamboo poles called wolf-fang rakes. Less than a quarter of the soldiers wore armor—all captured leather armor at that. Before this battle […]
- [Chapter 427: Close Combat (Part Two)](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-427-close-combat-part-two/): How could the militia possibly have the experience or effective means to withstand and suppress the impact of a large-scale cavalry formation? In panicked confusion, they raised spears and shields to block while dozens of hunting bows behind the shield wall shot chaotically overhead in scattered volleys. The arm-drawn crossbows hung on the left side of the saddles, swaying and slapping rhythmically with the galloping warhorses. On one hand, they needed to deceive the more formidable Xuanzhou troops attacking from the south. On the other hand, the Chishan Army’s supplies had long been so scarce that even crossbow bolts had […]
- [Chapter 426: Close Combat (Part One)](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-426-close-combat-part-one/): The several large camps of the Chuzhou Army stationed inside and outside Liyang City began stirring like water droplets falling into boiling oil before noon. The camps bristled with forests of blades and spears, banners flapping fiercely. Seeing Wang Wenqian rush back from Yangxian with his forehead wrapped in white cloth, bloodstains still seeping through, Zhao Zhen asked with concern: “Lord Wang, what happened to you?” “The horse ran too fast and the carriage overturned on a stone. Fortunately, no serious harm was done.” When Yin Peng learned of the unusual movements of the Chishan Army, he and Wang Wenqian […]
- [Chapter 425: Mountain Estate](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-425-mountain-estate/): Seeing that the vanguard troops had already established their position at the ravine east of Langxi City, and that the defenders were too timid to come out and fight, Zhou Chu, Zhao Qi, and the others, all surrounded by escorts, separately rushed to their respective supervised battalions, urging the main forces of the Third Corps to advance toward the ravine, then split forces toward Yanzi Wharf to the south and Changshan Gully to the north, preparing to assault Langxi City from three sides. Zhang Ping, Feng Yi, Kong Xirong, Wei Chang, and the five-hundred-man Guard Battalion still remained behind Han […]
- [Chapter 424: Xuanzhou Is Easier to Plan For](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-424-xuanzhou-is-easier-to-plan-for/): Han Wenhuan and Han Daochang secretly infiltrated Xuancheng. Through Fu Mo, who had once served as a Vice Minister in the Ministry of Revenue at court and three years ago had been implicated in the Mausoleum Desecration Case and retired to live in idle seclusion in Xuancheng, they passed a message to arrange a meeting with Gu Zhilong. Gu Zhilong’s indecision was merely because he wanted to compare offers from different sides. When Han Qian sent people to see him, what Gu Zhilong mainly disdained in his heart was that Han Qian’s foundation wasn’t deep, that recruiting slaves and servants […]
- [Chapter 423: Chances of Victory](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-423-chances-of-victory/): Night rain pattered down, growing heavier and heavier. Hundreds and thousands of horse hooves trampled the muddy earth, advancing southward from both flanks of the post road. The clanging clatter of clustered armor plates gathered together like the sound of a suppressed tsunami in the rain. Langxi was located at the northwestern foothills of the Fuyu Mountain range, leaning westward against Lake Nanyi, which encircled an area of over a hundred li. When heading to Xuancheng, if one didn’t want to take the official road between the western shore of Lake Nanyi and the eastern foothills of Mount Jilong – […]
- [Chapter 422: Terminally Ill](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-422-terminally-ill/): Han Daochang and Han Jun escorted Old Master Han Wenhuan into the northern foothills of Mount Fuyu. They first sent someone to rush to Sitian Dun to make contact with Marquis Xinchang Li Pu, then waited for Li Pu to arrive before proceeding together to Guangde Stronghold to meet with Han Qian. When Xi Ren walked into the eastern side courtyard, there was no one in the courtyard itself. Inside the great hall, besides Han Qian, Feng Liao, Feng Yi, Zhang Ping, Yuan Guowei, Old Master Han Wenhuan, Han Daochang, and Han Jun, there were also Li Pu, Li Xiu, […]
- [Chapter 421: Birth of a Son](https://mydramanovel.com/chu-chen/chapter-421-birth-of-a-son/): A sudden, urgent, and loud cry of an infant abruptly shattered the quiet night sky over Dragon Tooth City. Inside and outside the courtyard stood people who had been anxiously waiting. At this moment, their expressions all brightened with joy, and they couldn’t help but walk toward the birthing room. Old Zhao was still somewhat more composed, rubbing his hands together. Only when he craned his neck and saw his wife pushing open the door and walking out from the birthing room did he rush urgently to the front of the corridor to ask, “Is it a boy or a […]

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