Qiang Jin Jiu (Author : Tang Jiuqing 唐酒卿)

Chapter 43 : Atlas

All votes and comments are much appreciated :)

—————

After three bouts of drinking in the house, much of the sense of estrangement had dispersed. Although they still had not warmed up to each other, it was already more than enough for them to have a chat over wine.

Ji Gang removed the muffler around his neck and took a sip of wine. When Zuo Qianqiu saw the burn marks on his exposed neck too, he could not help but ask, “Back then, the Biansha Cavalry invaded Duanzhou. How did you… how did you end up in this state?”

Ji Gang twirled his wine cup around and smiled, “Shen Wei beat such a quick retreat that Duanzhou did not even hold out for a day. The horses of the Biansha Cavalry were too fast, and my legs aren’t as fast as they used to be, so how could I have escaped? At that time, I was already ready to fight to the death.”

At this point, he thought of Hua Pingting and could not help but choke with emotion. He turned his head aside and rubbed his face. He did not continue. 

Zuo Qianqiu downed the cup of wine and said, “Shen Wei deserved to be killed!”

“It wasn’t just Shen Wei who deserves death.” Ji Gang said bitterly, “The defeat of the Zhongbo troops was so fishy. For the blame to be pushed to Shen Wei alone means that they were certain he wouldn’t survive.”

Zuo Qianqiu said, “You have been away from Qudu for a long time. How can you be so sure that Shen Wei was a scapegoat?”

“Five years ago, when Chuan-er entered the capital, someone plotted against him while he was in the Imperial Prison.” Ji Gang said, “At that time, Shen Wei was already dead. Yet someone still wanted to wipe out his family to eradicate potential sources of trouble. Why? Wasn’t it precisely because they wanted to silence him?”

Zuo Qianqiu drank his wine in silence. After a while, he said, “Now that they are all dead, I’m afraid it won’t be easy to relaunch a thorough investigation into the defeat of Zhongbo troops. Is your disciple thinking of seeking revenge for Shen Wei?”

The wine had already gotten to Ji Gang’s head. These five years, he had completely abstained from drinking, and he could be said to have broken his vow of abstinence tonight for Zuo Qianqiu. Holding on to the table edge for support, he sneered, “Revenge. Why would Chuan-er want to seek revenge for Shen Wei? Zuo Qianqiu, how can you be as narrow-minded as they are?! Are you telling me that everyone in the world with the surname Shen is guilty of sin? Chuan-er has grown up. He’s sensible enough to know better, and he can tell right from wrong. He and Shen Wei just happened to be born as father and son. Other than that body of flesh he got from Shen Wei, they have nothing to do with each other. Why are all of you pushing him into such a corner? Shen Wei is already dead! Shouldn’t you look to the Biansha Cavalry to avenge this so-called blood feud of Zhongbo?!” 

Ji Gang suddenly smashed the wine cup. His chest heaved.

“Conducting a thorough investigation of the Zhongbo’s troops defeat isn’t for anyone, but to get to the bottom of the matter. Why should he be made to bear such a sin?! You have been a general too. Haven’t you thought of it? Five years ago, someone could make the Zhongbo’s troops suffer a defeat. Five years later, he could do the same to another place! Back then, the Biansha Cavalry could keep up with such a tight pursuit. Would they have been able to do it without inside help and map?!”

Zuo Qianqiu sighed and said, “Gang-di, please be appeased. Back then, when Jiming rushed over to Zhongbo, the first thing he did was to cut off the main route leading from Zhongbo to Dancheng in order to investigate where the Twelve Tribes of Biansha’s information came from. But the situation was critical at that time. Do you know how difficult it was? All the evidence pointed to Shen Wei. Yet, Shen Wei just had to burn himself to death, leaving behind a son of common birth whom he did not favor. How could anyone not get suspicious?”