“Can strategists not ascend to the throne?”
Chapter 237 – Crossing the Qinling Mountains
A nineteen-year-old Grand Marshal!
In a setting where most people only dabble in politics after reaching adulthood, this is almost unbelievable.
Even though the event was accomplished in front of witnesses, it was propelled by Liu Yan’s ambition, leaving everyone in a state of bewilderment as they exited the Zichan Palace.
However, Qiao Yan, the newly appointed Grand Marshal, appeared far more composed than these seasoned officials.
As she was granted the title of Grand Marshal alongside a holy decree for hunting, she began discussing the military situation with Huangfu Song and Xianyu Fu.
“The garrison stationed in Chencang won’t move for now, as they need to oversee conditions in Wudu County and Hanyang County. However, to ensure quick troop movements, I will be relocating other garrisons in the Guanzhong area, and I’ll leave the defense of the area and Chang’an City in your capable hands.”
Qiao Yan said this without a trace of arrogance, respectfully bowing to Huangfu Song and Xianyu Fu.
This clear delegation of power eased Xianyu Fu, a former supporter of Liu Yu, considerably.
Truth be told, after the recent reorganizations, the boundaries between the military and civilian sectors in Chang’an City are quite distinct, and the recent wave of newcomers has been thoroughly vetted, so the likelihood of security issues is very low, which is why Qiao Yan primarily conveyed her concerns to Huangfu Song.
“Originally, I aimed to complete the repairs on Tong Pass before the spring plowing in March. Unfortunately, due to the attack on Hanzhong, I had to reassign those adept in mountain warfare. General Huangfu will now lead a contingent to handle it.”
Between Chang’an and Luoyang, the most famous pass was supposed to be Hangu Pass.
This was once the critical fortress for Qin demonstrating its dominance over the Central Plains.
However, after four hundred years of river erosion, the wetlands have spread out significantly to the north of Hangu Pass, rendering the natural barrier useless.
If someone wants to attack Chang’an, they can simply circle through the wetlands.
The wetlands themselves have also become less steep over the years, making passage easier.
This means that to stop enemies coming from the east, just relying on the original Hangu Pass won’t cut it.
Thus, after Dong Zhuo fled west to Chang’an with Liu Xie, Duan Wei, realizing this, advised Dong Zhuo, and after receiving his approval, rebuilt a checkpoint west of Hangu Pass.
Using the natural barriers of the Loess Plateau, Yellow River, Qinling Mountains, and Tong River to re-establish defenses for the Guanzhong region.
Thanks to the Tong River, the pass was named Tong Pass.
Upon entering Guanzhong, Qiao Yan also obtained the authority to defend this checkpoint, so when Xu You came to deliver food to Yuan Shao in an attempt to mend relations, he was promptly sent off by Qiao Yan from there.
However, with most of Dong Zhuo’s defenses aimed against Qiao Yan to the north, this Tong Pass, which should have been fortified, ended up rather hastily done.
After the repairs of Weiyang Palace, the construction of Zichan Palace, and the renovations of roads in Chang’an, the reinforcement of Tong Pass also moved up the agenda.
Unfortunately, her top priority was still to assault Zhang Lu, at least to get the most out of her newly gained Grand Marshal position.
Huangfu Song nodded in agreement but couldn’t help but jest, “Ye Shu has indeed cultivated a calm demeanor with her title of provincial governor from her early years.”
One can’t expect anyone to have such tranquility in the high position of Grand Marshal.
This display made one reflect; some people, after going through hardships at a young age, indeed develop an extraordinary level of composure.
Qiao Yan responded, “General Huangfu, that’s not entirely true. In high positions, everyone experiences a mix of joy and anxiety, but given the current situation, if I were to feel apprehensive just because of the Grand Marshal title or become vain, I’d just be inviting trouble for myself. It’s better to treat this position the same way I treated my previous role as a cavalry commander and focus on my responsibilities.”
Huangfu Song laughed, “Then let me see how you, as Grand Marshal, will command General Liu Yan.”
If it weren’t for the mountainous terrain to Hanzhong, Huangfu Song would have liked to join in on the expedition.
But neither he nor Lu Zhi was in their prime anymore, so it wasn’t appropriate for them to engage in this.
Qiao Yan clearly understood the uniqueness of this campaign.
Even if they had the initial advantage of surprise against Liu Yan, the reality remained—
The route from Guanzhong to Hanzhong was not easy.
Thus, for this campaign, she brought along two teams skilled in mountain warfare.
One was Yao Chang’s Qiang troops, and the other was the Black Mountain Army led by Chu Yan.
Originally, these two squads were supposed to assist Cheng Yu in expanding towards Hongnong and the capital of Henan, but with the priority shifting, it made more sense for them to accompany Qiao Yan into battle in Hanzhong.
Joining Qiao Yan was an army under Zhao Yun’s command.
This force had been patrolling between Chencang and Chang’an, monitoring various passes to Yizhou.
However, with this hunting plan established, it meant they could replace defense with offense, making it natural for Zhao Yun to advance with her.
Then, when deciding on which strategist would follow into battle, Qiao Yan chose not to take Guo Jia but left him in Chang’an to assist Cheng Yu in responding to issues in Jing Province, Yu Province, and Yanzhou.
Xi Zhicai stayed back in Bingzhou to ensure no breaches occurred in Ji Province and Liang Province.
Li Ru needed to keep a low profile after dealing with the affairs in Yizhou, so he retreated to Shangjun to associate with Jia Xu, the “traitor.”
Yang Xiu remained in Suiyuan City as a messenger.
With that, only two people were left to take along—
Xun You and Xu Shu.
“I intend for Yuan Zhi to go to Wudu County, guarding the exit leading from Wudu to Mianyang in Hanzhong,” Qiao Yan arranged upon returning to the Grand Marshal’s residence.
After her promotion, Xi Zhicai took on the post of deputy governor in Bingzhou, acting on behalf of the provincial governor, while Guo Jia was promoted from a staff member in Yunzhong and Xihe to the head of the Grand Marshal’s office, now sitting to Qiao Yan’s right, marking a blockade on the map before her.
But this was clearly not meant to trap Hanzhong from both sides.
For Guo Jia had already heard Qiao Yan’s next statement, “Maintain the garrison numbers at Wudu County’s various passes as Yuan Zhi sees fit; all I need to ensure is to achieve one goal: to allow Zhang Lu to retreat south towards the Guo Han Kingdom in Wudu County if necessary.”
Guo Jia, sipping his tea, replied, “You plan to use the strategy of driving the tiger to swallow the wolf, huh?”
Qiao Yan smiled knowingly, “Not entirely; I have other plans in mind, but that can wait. Ultimately, the goal of this hunt isn’t to wipe out Zhang Lu’s Taishi Path but to scatter his followers within Hanzhong.”
She didn’t lay everything out, and Guo Jia didn’t pry.
The primary goal—achieving the Grand Marshal title—was already accomplished, making everything else comparatively secondary.
Guo Jia asked, “Alright, but if you have such arrangements for Yuan Zhi, are you planning to bring along Xun Yuan?”
This pair of uncles and nephews from the Xun family, with the uncle holding a position in court as a palace attendant while the nephew rose to join Qiao Yan’s office as a military advisor after she became the cavalry commander, naturally meant it made sense for him to accompany Qiao Yan into battle.
But that wasn’t the whole reason.
“Yes, take Xun Yuan with me,” Qiao Yan confirmed. “I discussed the route to Hanzhong with him a few days ago, and we are aligned in thinking it should be via Luogu Path.”
Qiao Yan pointed to the map, highlighting the path nestled between Xiegu Path and Ziwugu.
This route, starting from Luogu and ending at Tanggu, served as a crucial passage between Guanzhong and Hanzhong and had yet to become a widely used thoroughfare for north-south traffic.
This was because the road didn’t merely connect two ravines; it encompassed a series of valleys like Heishui and Qingshui, composed of a convoluted network of pathways.
The starting point of Luogu and the endpoint of Tanggu took up less than one-fifth of the total length of this route.
However, one benefit of this choice was that despite the winding paths, the total distance was only 440 li, a whole 200 li shorter than Ziwugu.
And compared to Xiegu Path, the level of vigilance towards it from Hanzhong would be considerably lower.
Qiao Yan added, “Xun Yuan excels at unconventional tactics, and for this battle in Hanzhong, we need a unique approach right from the start to suit his style. But this means it’ll be a bit tougher on the journey.”
Xun You, sitting next to Guo Jia, shook his head, not perceiving this to be a hardship.
If in military operations one were to back down simply due to geographical conditions, then he may as well leave military strategizing behind and go study under Xun Shuang.
He just reminded, “This isn’t quite a challenge; however, it would be wise for you to bring more medics along. I’ve heard from the locals in Guanzhong and Yizhou that Luogu Path is frequented by green snakes that strike within ten steps. As the Grand Marshal, with your weighty responsibilities, be careful in this regard.”
Qiao Yan replied, “I certainly can’t be neglectful; I’ve already arranged for additional medics to come from Bingzhou, and they should arrive before we set off.”
Not for a moment did Qiao Yan take the venomous snakes and insects in the high mountain valleys lightly.
Even if her intent was just to reach Hanzhong and not venture further south into Yizhou, she couldn’t afford to be careless traversing these deep mountains.
Even though her support of Liu Yu in ascending to the throne earned her the strategist achievement “Supporting the Lord to Ascend the Throne” that granted 9 attribute points, of which 4 went into intelligence maxing it out, leaving 5 into luck, raising it to 106, she wasn’t ready to gamble that luck could shield her from pesky insect bites.
That’s probably not the right way to use this thing.
Compared to excessive luck, Qiao Yan felt her Strategist System was more helpful in being that three-dimensional map she activated the first time she achieved 100 strategist points.
Traveling through the Qinling Mountains, this practical tool would give her an edge over others.
Five days after her appointment as Grand Marshal, the army departed from Chang’an, heading towards the Luogu Path.
The ceremony of conferring the Grand Marshal title in Zichan Palace was unseen by Chang’an’s citizens.
But now as the army set off, they could see the impressive commander among the elite who would converge with the stationed troops at Luogu.
That’s the youngest Grand Marshal!
Qiao Yan looked at the spectators witnessing their departure.
Compared to January’s send-off of the emperor for the heavenly offerings at the Hall of Enlightenment, she couldn’t tell if it was the approaching winter, or that the weather had warmed considerably, prompting people to get outside, or if it was due to the orderly development of Chang’an post-Liu Yu’s ascension, causing an increasing influx of people that made her feel like she was parading in a procession of scholars.
Or perhaps something else entirely occurring just outside Chang’an.
In the past, Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, likened being a palace servant to holding the position of Jinjian; now the Jinjian still serves the emperor, but it’s uncertain for the populace of Chang’an whether to place their hope in the Jinjian, or rally under her Grand Marshal banner for glory.
This realization made her recognize that her years of effort to win the Grand Marshal position were not in vain, while simultaneously reminding her that if this situation continued, regardless of whether she stepped into this position due to the prevailing circumstances, she would still quickly find herself at odds with the Han authority.
Within the next six months, she needed to devise a way to ease the tensions.
However, perhaps unexpectedly, among the crowd, besides the common people, there were a few notable figures.
“Liangguo Qiao family?” Cheng Yu was taken aback upon receiving news sent from the Grand Marshal’s office by Guo Jia.
It had been some time since he had heard from Qiao Yan’s family.
When Qiao Yan led troops to quell the Chang’an rebellion, they hadn’t stirred at all, remaining in a state of silence for almost half a year as well, neither asking for her nor responding.
Even Yuan Shao, who was on opposing sides with them, had previously communicated with Chang’an… No, if Tian Feng is counted, that makes two interactions.
From the farthest reaches of Yangzhou, Zhou Yu had even come to negotiate with Qiao Yan.
Over this half-year duration, even those traveling from Jiaozhou to Chang’an had plenty of time, let alone those moving from Yanzhou to the neighboring Sili.
This made it hard for Cheng Yu not to suspect that this family might have been sabotaged during Cao Cao’s pacification of Yanzhou or accidentally dealt with by bandits crossing through.
Don’t blame him for such malicious speculation; this family seemed utterly blind!
Most notably, the Qiao sisters had already rushed to join Qiao Yan so early on.
Because of the situation’s formalities, when this news reached Cheng Yu’s office, Xun Yu happened to be there, observing Cheng Yu’s expressions ranging from helplessness to dissatisfaction.
“Trouble?”
“The messenger is dressed in the uniform of the troops under Qiao Yan, so it’s not hard for Xun Yu to figure out who he is.”
Qiao Yan had just left Chang’an, so it seemed unlikely she had forgotten to send any messages before leaving. Thus, Xun Yu’s first thought was about the situation in Youzhou.
But looking at the note in Cheng Yu’s hand, it didn’t resemble a military report at all; it looked more like a hastily scribbled note—this probably wasn’t anything too serious.
Cheng Yu replied, “No big deal, just a bunch of clowns without a shred of judgment.”
As he spoke, he continued reading for another two lines and saw that Guo Jia had written that the Qiao family from Liang claimed they were here to congratulate the lord on becoming Grand Marshal.
“…” Cheng Yu couldn’t hold back any longer and muttered under his breath, “What a bunch of shameless people!”
Who do they think they’re fooling with this excuse?
It had only been five days since the lord was appointed Grand Marshal.
Considering the distance from Chang’an to Luoyang, and then to the Qiao family in Liang, it would take more than four days for this news to reach them. Even at the fastest speed, it would take at least three days for the news to make a round trip. There’s just no way they could’ve made it in five days.
Clearly, they had been mulling over the news of Liu Yu ascending to the throne and finally decided they couldn’t just stand idle in Yanzhou anymore.
No matter what Qiao Yan’s style of governance might bring about in terms of repercussions for their entire clan, given her achievements in supporting the emperor, they had to come and curry favor with her.
Who knows, they might even gain some benefits in the Chang’an court.
As fortune would have it, they arrived in Chang’an just in time to see Qiao Yan leading her army, and they got word that she had already secured the Grand Marshal position.
Seeing this, their earlier hesitations had long been cast aside.
The Grand Marshal, under whom thousands stand, brings far more benefits to a family than any so-called potential risks!
In such a chaotic situation, they really shouldn’t be tiptoeing around but instead should be eager to seize the advantages within reach!
Driven by this mindset, the few who came to Chang’an waste no time entering the Grand Marshal’s residence, claiming they were here to congratulate Qiao Yan on her promotion.
Guo Jia greeted the group with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes and immediately turned to send a brief message to Cheng Yu.
The message stated that the lord was unavailable at the moment and, since she was heading into Hanzhong to strategize about the war, it would be quite inappropriate for her to be tangled up with trivial matters like this. It might be better for the two of them to make a decision in advance.
If these people were of the caliber of Cao Cao, the Governor of Yanzhou, or Sun Ce, the Governor of Yangzhou, their choice to come and offer their services at this moment wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing.
Qiao Yan, being in such a high position, would naturally need more support.
But given the current situation, it was clear these folks hadn’t realized they could only rely on Qiao Yan for their rise after Qiao Zhao and Qiao Rui had passed away, showcasing their narrow vision and short-sightedness. After Cheng Yu chatted with them for a bit, it was also evident that they lacked capability.
From this perspective, it wasn’t surprising at all that Qiao Xuan, who was in the position of Grand Commandant, hadn’t paved any roads for his family.
Thus, Guo Jia turned to Cheng Yu and asked if they could avoid dragging the lord into this situation, suggesting they delay any interactions until she returned, advising that she should not trust these people with significant responsibilities.
Typically, they shouldn’t meddle in such familial matters.
But since they were the ones truly considered close advisors, they all knew Qiao Yan’s ambitions and understood that the path she was set upon was fraught with danger, potentially leading to her demise. Even acquiring the Grand Marshal position required this circuitous approach, so how could she allow herself so many weaknesses?
From Qiao Yan’s current performance in the conflicts across the realm, it was highly unlikely she would make rookie mistakes, but when it came to domestic matters, even the wisest could falter.
Guo Jia felt it was necessary to offer a word of caution.
But this subject had come up before when they were still in Liangzhou, when Cheng Yu had a conversation with Qiao Yan.
Back then, Cheng Yu asked Qiao Yan about what arrangements she would plan if the Qiao family from Liang came to sweeten the deal.
Qiao Yan replied that if those folks couldn’t see her potential when she was already stepping across Liang and Bingzhou, there was no way they’d come to help; they’d only come to take advantage of her.
If such a situation did arise, solving it would be easy.
Her grandfather, Qiao Xuan, had already set the standard.
For those capable in the family, she could ensure they wouldn’t be suppressed by anyone’s prior relationships and could carve out their own path.
As for those lacking ability and unwilling to learn, they could just fend for themselves!
Moreover, who would be more suspicious of someone solely dedicated to the Han court and the realm than someone who was also promoting their family?
When Emperor Ling of Han was still alive, she was an isolated minister.
So when the position of isolated minister didn’t hold up anymore, might as well embrace being a lone wolf!
Someone with minimal ties to the family; even the relatives flocking to her would vanish into the shadows of the intelligence network, making it hard for anyone to suspect her ambitions for the throne!
In this time and environment where family ties were crucial, her approach was quite unparalleled.
Even Wang Mang, who kept a low profile before usurping power, had his own family influence.
That said, the incompetence and shortsightedness of the Qiao family might just be a boon for her.
Cheng Yu understood Qiao Yan’s reasoning but couldn’t help feeling somewhat melancholic upon hearing that family members from the Qiao clan had arrived.
This news meant she would rely entirely on the support of her trusted aides, devoid of family power, as she took the final steps forward.
He glanced at Xun Yu, realizing that Qiao Yan’s choice made more sense than ever in the current situation, his previous anger transforming into calm.
He picked up his pen and informed Guo Jia in the message to escort those folks to the nearest posthouse, using the confidentiality of military matters as an excuse to have them sent away. After today, he would explain the situation to Guo Jia.
After finishing these notes, he signaled to Xun Yu to head along to Chang’an’s Tian Army encampment.
Currently, Xun Yu was assisting the Three Dukes in external affairs, primarily helping Lu Zhi manage military supplies in the army camp, overlapping with Cheng Yu’s responsibilities as Grand Minister of Agriculture.
With the spring sowing fast approaching, they needed to expedite their collaboration.
Considering the increasing population in Chang’an, solely relying on Bingzhou’s agricultural tools for support would be too costly in terms of transport. Therefore, the ironworks in Chang’an were gradually resuming operations.
Of course, these ironworkers, now claiming to be making farming tools, could easily switch to producing weapons.
Cheng Yu, wearing a serious face reminiscent of the elderly farmers in the fields, spoke confidently to Xun Yu when he asked about relevant issues, making Xun Yu think that regardless of whether Qiao Yan had ulterior motives, she had indeed recommended the most suitable candidate for Grand Minister of Agriculture.
But little did Xun Yu know that Cheng Yu’s mind was currently preoccupied with one thought—
The lord only has them for support now!
In the matter of usurping the Han dynasty, they had to be even more dedicated.
Qiao Yan was unaware that the visit of the Qiao clan from Liang had almost led Cheng Yu to brand her as a “strong and tragic beauty,” even making up his mind to contribute more effort toward her plans for seizing power.
At this moment, she had already entered the Qinling area from Luoyu.
The northern slopes of the Qinling were grander and more imposing compared to the southern slopes; in late February, the snow on the peaks had yet to fully melt, while the lower slopes turned into streams.
The rivers flowing from the north converge into the Weishui, while those from the south feed into the Hanshui, sustaining the lifeblood of both rivers.
Unlike the first time she set out with Zhao Yun, Chu Yan, and Yao Chang, they had their troops in order now, forming a long line entering into Luogu Valley, with Chu Yan leading, Zhao Yun in the center, and Yao Chang at the rear.
A thousand-strong force was considerably fewer than her earlier offensives in Liangzhou and Chang’an, but given the terrain of Luogu Valley, there were weak spots in the paths that were better suited for fewer troops. In fact, fewer numbers made for safer passage.
Moreover, Hanzhong was a river valley basin that could isolate itself from other parts of Yizhou, meaning they didn’t need a large force to attack here; they only needed to maintain control of the advantageous positions.
Currently in Qiao Yan’s hands was a map that recorded the pacification of Banshan Man by the imperial army in Hanzhong years earlier. The routes on this map concerning Luogu Valley were fairly clear, but the drawing style made it hard to understand.
Fortunately, even before she stepped into this area, merchants from Yizhou who had been given her instructions had already drawn up another route map.
So, it was as if three maps were now working in harmony.
However, even with such a useful tool, trying to cross the Qinling through this valley path was no easy feat, which is why there’s the saying about “deathly barriers winding and treacherous paths stretching on.”
It truly resembled a landscape where spring has yet to arrive in the depths of Luogu Valley.
Qiao Yan raised her eyes to gaze at the distant mountains, feeling contemplative.
While reflecting, she couldn’t help but feel fortunate; her troops were far more adaptable in such environments than average folks.
And with the warmth of cotton clothing and the ability to transport provisions by wagons, the hardships of crossing the Qinling were considerably lighter than for ordinary armies.
Between several traversable river valleys, the mountain ridges around two thousand meters high posed no significant obstacle for the well-trained Black Mountain Army and the Qiang people, who had dealt with harsher conditions.
On the contrary, the more troublesome part fell to Zhao Yun’s cavalry unit.
But those following Zhao Yun, some of whom had even been trained by him since his early days in Bingzhou, exhibited a stunning level of discipline.
Qiao Yan looked at Zhao Yun and saw him leading his horse at the front of the cavalry, testing the endurance of the path.
The backdrop of towering mountains and deep forests framed the slowly marching troops, turning them into a black line threading through the mountains.
This felt distinctly different from marching through Liangzhou.
It was hard to imagine that during the Tang Dynasty, this area could thrive with post offices every five miles and pavilions every ten.
But it was precisely this perilous journey that Zhang Lu and Zhang Xiu in Hanzhong would never suspect—that they’d choose this yet-to-be-fully opened route to launch a surprise attack!
After traveling for seven days, they reached the Eight-Mile Pass, and after crossing Guanling Ridge, they soon after arrived at Baicao Post, not far from Tanggu Pass.
That is, the southernmost end of Luogu Valley.
Though it wasn’t yet dark enough to warrant halting, Qiao Yan immediately ordered everyone to stop and rest, intending to tackle the mountain ridge ahead with renewed spirit come morning.
It’s no wonder she made that decision.
As the camp was set up, the exhaustion from the trek was evident on everyone’s faces. After pulling out some dry rations and feeling somewhat sated, they began to recover.
At this point, the only ones appearing somewhat lively were a few guides from Yizhou in the troop.
The youngest among them, possibly eager to return home, spoke of some legends about the southern end of Luogu Valley.
He recounted that on the horse path ridge they passed in the morning, there stood a large stone about a person’s height, called the “Support Pot Stone,” named for Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu who camped there to cook.
The winding ridge on the eastern side was called the “Python Ridge,” as it was said a python helped Liu Xiu in battle but lagged behind, turning into stone from shame.
Qiao Yan rested her chin on her hand, listening to the legend when Xun You interjected, massaging his leg, “It seems the emperor never recorded passing this way; at least, none of the existing records indicate that.”
Seeing the young man caught off guard by Xun You’s interruption, Qiao Yan chuckled, “Whether he did or didn’t matters little; if the people of Yizhou walked beneath Python Ridge and across the horse path ridge, then the legendary fortune of Emperor Guangwu might see them through, enabling them to safely traverse Luogu Valley and into Guanzhong!”
After all, that’s the child of destiny and a great fire mage!
Xun You appeared somewhat helpless, “You believe in fortune too, my lord?”
This sounded rather childish.
He expected someone like Qiao Yan, who typically spoke based on strength, wouldn’t believe in such ethereal luck.
But just as he finished speaking, a shadow dashed past the dimming surroundings, and even though Qiao Yan didn’t move, the shadow still zipped right past her and then—
Plopped right into the boiling pot of water ahead!
Xun You instinctively took a step back to avoid being splashed, only to see a snake struggling in the boiling water.
Xun You: “…”
Qiao Yan blinked, “See? I’ve always been pretty lucky.”
Xun You remained silent, and then Qiao Yan asked, “By the way, shouldn’t this snake not be imitating the one from Python Ridge to assist us in attacking Zhang Lu?”
Well… probably not.
This strange omen to the soldiers about to reach Hanzhong would certainly be considered an auspicious sign.
Even if they couldn’t enjoy a meal of snake stew, it wouldn’t stop them from having a delightful tale to tell on their last night in the Qinling.
If a venomous snake could leap into the net, wouldn’t that mean Zhang Lu could too!
On the evening of the following day, a group of heavenly soldiers descended upon Chengu County, west of the southern exit of Luogu Valley.
And after a quick three-hour siege, Qiao Yan already found herself seated within the county office of Chengu County.
To her surprise, she encountered someone of special status there.
Madam Lu from the Taishi Path.
