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That night, Yang Guang perished at the hands of the Yuwen clan. The towering flames turned Jiangdu (Yangzhou) into a blood-red inferno, announcing the complete collapse of the last vestige of symbolic authority of the Sui Empire.

Just as Yi Huawei said on the West Lake pleasure boat, the fall of this dragon corpse instantly drained the last bit of the central strength of the South, completely exposing this unclaimed piece of fat meat to the fangs of the wolves.

Jiangdu City descended into utter madness. The mob, venting their pent-up resentment towards the tyrant, stormed the imperial city to loot the remains; the rebel army (the Yuwen clan and their allies), after a brief victory, quickly lost control, burning, killing, and looting, clashing with the enraged citizens and routed Sui soldiers in a boiling cauldron of blood. The Yuwen clan, though bearing the infamy of regicide, lacked the ability to truly consolidate power, unable even to truly control Jiangdu, forced to consolidate their forces, confined to the ruined palace, living in constant fear.

Time flew by amidst blood and fire. The chessboard of the world, following Yi Huawei's cold, prophetic trajectory, relentlessly advanced.

Immediately after Yang Guang's death, Li Zitong (of the Jianghuai Army) marched south, heading straight for the wealthy Yuhang and Wujun! His offensive was swift and fierce, and wherever his troops went, the former Sui army and local forces either collapsed or defected.

Faced with Li Zitong's fierce offensive, Shen Faxing initially managed to put up a meager resistance thanks to his advantageous terrain and the private armies of powerful clans. However, he lacked strategic depth and a true commander capable of leading a large army, and the powerful clans within his ranks were also harboring their own ambitions. Within just a few months, his territory was devoured by Li Zitong, his troops suffered heavy losses, and he was trapped in his old stronghold of Wuxing, struggling to hold on. As expected, he became a trapped beast that "played with fire," and his complete annihilation was only a matter of time.

Du Fuwei, this "wolf of cunning," perfectly embodied the strategies of "sitting on the mountain to watch the tigers fight" and "taking advantage of the chaos." Unlike Li Zitong, he didn't rush south. Instead, he seized the opportunity while Li Zitong's main force was tied down in the south by Shen Faxing, swiftly sweeping through northern and eastern Jianghuai, consolidating his rear, and expanding his power. Simultaneously, his elite troops, like venomous snakes, lurked on the Jiangnan battlefield, ready to deliver a fatal blow and seize the greatest reward when Li Zitong and Shen Faxing were both weakened. Yi Huawei's prediction of "either sitting on the mountain to watch the tigers fight, or taking advantage of the chaos" was becoming a reality in his hands.

Yuhang, Wujun, and other places have become veritable "meat grinders." The once picturesque West Lake with its willows and bridges, and bustling city life, have been reduced to scorched earth in the repeated tug-of-war of war. Refugees are everywhere, and corpses of the starving fill the fields. The fertile land has become a battlefield, perfectly illustrating Yi Huawei's cold-blooded words from half a year ago: "A dreamlike bubble, reduced to dust in an instant."

The downfall of Li Mi of Wagang came faster and more thoroughly than Yi Huawei predicted, that "his defeat was not far off." His fatal flaws of being "harsh and ungrateful" and "intolerant of others" fully erupted after the loss of external pressure (Yang Guang).

Former meritorious generals (Xu Shiji/Li Ji) have become disloyal. Wang Shichong seized the opportunity in Luoyang, exploiting the internal strife within Wagang, and launched a fatal counterattack. The disastrous defeat in a key battle nearly wiped out Wagang's main force.

Li Mi of today is no longer the leader of the Central Plains. With his remnants of troops, he is like a lost dog, squeezed into a small territory by Wang Shichong and Dou Jiande's forces advancing north, barely clinging to life. The flames of Wagang have been extinguished, leaving only ashes.

Dou Jiande, this "hero from humble beginnings," did indeed establish a foothold in Hebei, setting up a relatively stable regime (the Xia dynasty). He implemented benevolent policies, winning the hearts of the Hebei people and expanding his sphere of influence, especially after the collapse of the Wagang army, when he acquired considerable territory and defeated troops. However, as Yi Huawei predicted, his tendency to "maintain the status quo but lack ambition" began to emerge. Faced with the westward expansion of the Li clan and the cunning of Wang Shichong, Dou Jiande appeared hesitant and conservative, lacking the boldness and strategy to decisively establish his rule. He was more like a benevolent ruler who controlled a region than a powerful ruler vying for supremacy.

After defeating Li Mi, Wang Shichong's power greatly increased, and he controlled a large, wealthy region centered on Luoyang. Under the guise of "restoring the Sui Dynasty," he won popular support, but in reality, he usurped power and intensified his preparations to declare himself emperor. His true nature—"deceitful, untrustworthy, tyrannical, and cruel"—was fully revealed after he seized power, leading to constant internal purges and an unstable foundation for his rule.

Meanwhile, the Song clan of Lingnan remained remarkably quiet amidst the chaos of the world. Song Que, stationed in Lingnan, firmly controlled the Baiyue region with the power of the Heavenly Blade and a strict rule, ensuring the people's livelihood was stable and making it a rare haven in the turbulent times.

This "stability" is precisely proof that Song Que's "vision was unable to transcend the shackles of his aristocratic family" and that he was merely a "guardian lion." Watching the north rise up like dragons and tigers, and the south turn into a bloody battlefield, this number one swordsman in the world, despite possessing unparalleled martial arts skills and the talent to govern, was unable to make a move at the beginning of the game of the world because of his obsession with the Han lineage and his roots in Lingnan. He could only stay in one place and wait for the times to change.

Li Yuan of Taiyuan, under the strong advocacy and meticulous planning of his second son Li Shimin, officially launched his rebellion shortly after the death of Yang Guang. His strategy was crystal clear—to seize Guanzhong and establish his capital in Chang'an!

Li Shimin displayed unparalleled talent, characterized by "heroic decisiveness, skill in recruiting talented individuals, and profound understanding of military strategy." He personally led his elite troops, sweeping through enemy lines with unstoppable momentum, incorporating righteous armies and recruiting capable individuals along the way, thus winning the hearts of the people. The full support of the powerful clans of Guanzhong provided a solid guarantee of manpower and supplies.

In just a few months, the Li clan's army had broken through the natural barrier of the Yellow River and was at the gates of Chang'an! The fall of this symbolically significant capital was only a matter of time. The rise of the Li clan, dazzling and radiant, attracted countless eyes from across the land.

However, this victory brought enormous hidden dangers and pressure.

In order to seize the moral high ground and reduce resistance, Li Yuan supported a young member of the Sui imperial family (Yang You, Prince of Dai) as emperor, while he himself was appointed Prince of Tang and Grand Chancellor, thus taking control of the government. Although this move temporarily silenced some accusations of being a "traitorous minister," it also brought serious problems.

The puppet emperor and the old Sui forces around him (even if they were merely figureheads) became a force that Li Yuan and his son had to deal with carefully. Any radical reforms or expansions could be labeled as "disloyal" and drain their energy.

Other forces, especially Wang Shichong, also held Prince Yang Tong of Yue and Dou Jiande hostage (who claimed to be "benevolent and righteous"), and fiercely criticized Li Yuan as a treacherous hero, arguing that his legitimacy in occupying Chang'an was not without flaws.

In addition, the Turkic Khaganate (Shibi Khan) in the north had a rapidly expanding ambition for the Central Plains after Yang Guang's death.

The powerful Turkic cavalry loomed over the northern border like a dark cloud. Shibi Khan viewed the Li clan as a potential adversary to be suppressed, not as a submissive vassal. He constantly dispatched small cavalry units southward to harass and plunder, testing the Li clan's limits and strength.

Under the pretext of "supporting" Li Yuan's uprising, the Turks demanded huge sums of gold, silver, cloth, and grain from the Li clan, and even requested that women from the imperial family be sent for marriage alliances! This greatly depleted the already meager financial and material resources of the Li clan.

The Li clan's most elite troops and most experienced generals (Li Shimin) had to be deployed for a long time on the northern border, constantly on guard against large-scale invasions by the Turks. This made the Li clan's rule in Guanzhong unstable (they needed to divide their forces to suppress local rebellions and eliminate bandits), and they were even less able to expand eastward and southward on a large scale, watching helplessly as the forces of Wang Shichong, Dou Jiande, Du Fuwei, and others grew stronger in Henan, Hebei, and the Jianghuai region.

Li Shimin demonstrated his abilities as a "heroic and decisive ruler, adept at recruiting talented individuals, and deeply knowledgeable in military strategy," repeatedly achieving remarkable feats under limited conditions, stabilizing the internal situation, and repelling small groups of Turkic harassment and bandits. However, he also felt deeply constrained: internally, he was constrained by the puppet court and lacked resources; externally, he faced heavy pressure from the Turks, hindering his expansion.

Although the Li clan occupied Chang'an, they were like a tiger trapped in a magnificent cage, its claws and teeth bound. Their powerful and domineering presence was forcefully suppressed by the looming threat of the Turks.

...............

On the Yangtze River, the giant ship sailed forward, its massive hull cutting through the turbid waters and carving out two trails of rolling white waves.

Shan Meixian stood by the railing, the river breeze ruffling the hem of her lotus-colored brocade jacket. The collar and cuffs were embroidered with delicate lotus scrolls in silver thread, exuding both elegance and grace. Her hair was styled in an elegant high bun, adorned only with a single, entirely emerald green jade hairpin; the tassels trembled gently in the wind, reflecting on her serene and tranquil face.

At this moment, her right hand unconsciously tapped lightly on the smooth, cold wooden railing, the slight chill of her fingertips seeming to seep into her heart. Her usually gentle eyes gazed at the northern sky, where smoke and fire lingered, a complex mix of emotions churning within them—the young master's prophetic prediction, seemingly omniscient, had been flawless: Jiangnan had become a bloodbath, Wagang had collapsed, Li Mi was at his wit's end, Shen Faxing had brought disaster upon himself, and Du Fuwei was waiting for his chance… However, the Li clan's situation far exceeded her worst expectations! The Turks, this terrifying blade hanging in the north, gleamed with a chilling light, almost cleaving the hidden dragon that Yi Huawei had judged to possess "the most regal bearing" in two! The puppet emperor's constraints were like invisible shackles, causing turbulent undercurrents within the Li clan, making their progress extremely difficult. Although Yi Huawei had foreseen the "twists and turns," the danger of these "twists and turns" was almost catastrophic!
"Mother,"

A clear, slightly confused voice rang out beside her. The young woman, dressed in a pale yellow floral dress with an apricot-colored silk sash, looked even more youthful and vibrant. Following her mother's gaze, she looked north, her sapphire-blue eyes filled with bewilderment: "Young Master said the Li clan has the most regal bearing... but they now..."

He swallowed the second half of his sentence, but the meaning was self-evident: if things continue like this, the true dragon will likely perish in the shallows.

Shan Meixian didn't turn around, only slightly tightening her grip on her hands tucked into her sleeves. Yi Huawei's prediction was accurate, but the Li family's predicament also cruelly revealed a truth:
Even with the potential to become a true dragon, before soaring to the heavens, one can be thwarted by powerful external forces at any moment! Fate is not a smooth path, but a perilous trail strewn with thorns and bottomless abysses; one wrong step and one is shattered to pieces. Chaotic times are like a game of chess; once a move is made, there is no going back; one step leads to life, one step to death.

Inside the cabin, the atmosphere was completely different from the somber mood on the deck.

Yi Huawei sat cross-legged on a futon by the window. He was still dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, its texture as delicate as clouds, spotless, with only a few wisps of flowing cloud patterns outlined in extremely faint silver thread on the lapels and hem, further highlighting his aloof and noble temperament, as if he were out of place in this noisy and chaotic world. Before him sat an ancient seven-stringed zither, its body a deep chestnut color, its patterns like flowing water, clearly a famous heirloom.

His long, slender fingers gently brushed across the cool strings. His eyelids were slightly lowered, his gaze deep and calm, as if he had sunk into another world.

Fingertips flick.

"Zheng——"

A clear and melodious melody suddenly rang out, like the first drop of snow melting in early spring, falling into a quiet mountain stream and cold pool, instantly washing away all the noise in the cabin, and faintly penetrating the thick cabin walls, drifting towards the deck.

When the music first began, it was clear and melodious, like a mountain spring flowing and forest birds chirping. The melody seemed to carry the misty rain of Jiangnan in March, the swaying bamboo by West Lake, and the ethereal beauty of the Broken Bridge in the snow. The fingertips danced, twisted, and plucked on the strings, the technique reaching a state of perfection, each note full and rounded, carrying an indescribable vitality.

This is not a simple performance, but a perfect integration of artistic conception, emotion and even spirit into the sound of the zither. It is the superb skill of the zither that he has accumulated during his century-long imperial career in "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer".

However, this ethereal atmosphere did not last long.

The music gradually shifted!

The murmuring stream seemed to merge into the rushing river, and the birdsong transformed into battle horns. The melody suddenly became powerful and stirring, carrying the clanging and clashing spirit of war! The strings sounded like tearing silk, as if thousands of troops were fighting, war drums were beating, and swords were clashing.

An invisible, chilling aura permeated the air, as if condensing the smoke and fire of war across the vast land outside the cabin, and the struggles and cries of countless lives, into the small strings of the zither. The music was sometimes rapid like a sudden downpour, sometimes heavy like muffled thunder; each pluck seemed to strike the listener's heartstrings, making their blood boil and sending a chill down their spine.

But just as the sounds of killing reached their peak, almost tearing people's hearts apart, the music changed again!
Like the first rays of dawn after a storm, piercing through thick clouds. The intense melody slowly settles and subsides, ultimately transforming into an indescribable vastness and grandeur. It is a perspective that transcends the battlefield, a tranquility born from witnessing the vicissitudes of life. The music becomes distant and profound, like an unchanging galaxy, like the ever-flowing Yangtze River, encompassing everything yet disregarding everything. All the clash of swords, the joys and sorrows, ultimately fall silent in this boundless sound, leaving only a serene understanding of all things, a detachment from life and death.

As the music ended, its lingering notes echoed in the cabin, carrying people's minds to an unknown and distant realm.

Yi Huawei's fingers gently pressed on the still slightly trembling strings, silencing the last lingering melody. He slowly opened his eyes, his deep gaze fixed on the vast river outside the porthole and the scorched earth on both banks, faintly visible in the distance, his eyes calm and undisturbed.

"Young master's skill with the zither is divine. This piece... contains the ultimate truths of heaven and earth, the joys and sorrows of all living beings. When I heard it, my heart and soul were shaken."

Shan Meixian had quietly appeared at the cabin door, her elegant face filled with deep shock and admiration. Shan Wanjing followed beside her, her small face full of surprise.

Yi Huawei slightly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Shan Meixian before finally settling on the distant north behind her: "The sound of the zither is nothing more than the voice of the heart. This chaotic world is the best score."

He paused, then calmly revealed the true purpose of the trip: "Pass down the order to change course to Baling."

"Baling?"

Shan Meixian was slightly taken aback, then her delicate brows furrowed slightly. Baling was not the core area of ​​the Dongming Sect's power, nor was it a necessary route to Jiangzhou (Nanjing).

"Young Master wishes to go to Baling? That place should now be within the Baling Gang's sphere of influence, so we..."

Yi Huawei said calmly, "The Baling Gang's intelligence network is extensive, reaching deep into the streets and underworld. In this chaotic world, it is invaluable. This network should be put to my use."

"The purpose of this trip is to capture their net."

(End of this chapter)