Yunzhong Prefecture, the setting sun was swallowing the horizon.

The sounds of people, accompanied by the raging flames, seemed chaotic and mournful under the darkening sky. Within the flames, figures ran, cried out, and the air was filled with the smell of burning flesh.

Chounan Ward, a slum in Yunzhong Prefecture where Han Chinese people gathered, was filled with shacks. At this moment, a great fire was raging and spreading. Fire-fighting carts rushed from afar, but Chounan Ward was chaotic and disorganized. Once the fire started, the meager water supply was powerless against the disaster.

Commander Mandu Dalu stood at a nearby street corner, watching everything. He heard the voices of people near and far. Some people rushed out of the fire, their bodies charred, collapsing into the sewage outside the market, their final screams piercing the heart. Chounan Ward was inhabited by Southern people who had managed to redeem themselves. Many Jin people watched the spectacle from the nearby streets, discussing it.

Mandu Dalu had come to discuss matters with a local gang, mainly composed of Xi people. Seeing the raging fire, the gang members had gone out to rescue people, fight the fire, and gather information. He watched from the roadside for a while. His deputy and several city constables arrived and whispered, "Chief, what's going on? This is a big deal..."

Mandu Dalu was one of the city's chief constables, managing cases that were far-reaching and had a wide impact. The great fire before him would undoubtedly kill many people – although they were all Southern people – but it had a negative impact. If he wanted to manage it, investigate it, he should take action now.

"Go help out and ask around while you're at it."

As Mandu Dalu said this, several of his constables dispersed. The deputy, however, could see the strange look on his face. They walked aside, and then he said, "Chief, this is..."

"The fire started simultaneously in three courtyards. Many people didn't have time to react and were blocked on both sides. Not many people have noticed yet. Keep an eye out, and we might need to arrange some confessions in the future..."

The deputy turned to look at the flames, "At least a hundred people will be burned to death or injured this time. Such a big deal, we..."

"Don't worry, no one will care about it in a few days."

"..." Mandu Dalu's words had complex meanings, neither sad nor happy. The deputy's mind raced for a moment, recalling rumors he had heard today. "Chief... that rumor from the South... it can't be true, can it..."

Mandu Dalu was silent for a long time. "...It seems it's true."

"That's impossible!"

The deputy exclaimed. People on the nearby street looked over. The deputy glared back fiercely, and when the person turned away, he hurriedly said to Mandu Dalu, "Chief, this kind of thing... how could it be true? Commander Nianhan he..."

Mandu Dalu suddenly patted him on the shoulder. "Whether it's true or not, we'll know in a few days!"

"...How could the higher-ups cover up this kind of thing?"

"Isn't this... not covering it up?"

Mandu Dalu's gaze turned to the sea of fire. The wooden archway in front of Chounan Ward had already burned and collapsed. He said, "If it's true, you should be able to imagine what will happen next."

"If it's true..." The deputy swallowed, grinding his teeth. "Then these Southern people... none of them will survive."

The flames raged, and the sparks rising into the night sky were like countless dancing butterflies. Mandu Dalu recalled the figures he had seen earlier – several noble sons in the city, reeking of alcohol, leaving in a hurry after seeing the fire. He was not without pity for the Southern people in the fire, but considering the recent rumors and the possibility that this situation vaguely revealed, he had no time to waste his pity on slaves.

Recalling the siege that had occurred just last month and the ongoing war in the west, he sighed in his heart. The Great Jin had been plagued by disasters lately...

The raging fire burned from nightfall until Xu hour (7-9 PM). When the fire was brought under control, the wooden shacks and houses that should have been burned were burned. Half the street was reduced to embers in the flames. Sparks flew into the sky, and cries and groans spread throughout the night.

Tang Minjie, his hair burned in clumps and his face covered in soot, sat paralyzed on the side of the road for a while, surrounded by the smell of burnt flesh. Seeing the constables approaching at the end of the road and the increasing number of people from the yamen, he got up from the ground and staggered away.

After getting burn medicine from a nearby clinic, he went to his hideout in a restaurant and bandaged himself up. At Hai hour (9-11 PM), Lu Mingfang arrived. Seeing his injuries, he said, "I heard... a big fire in Chounan Ward, you..."

"I'm fine. Two informants were burned to death."

"What happened? I heard the fire was huge. You could see it from the other side of the city."

"What we talked about yesterday... the Jin people, the news is not good..."

"Maybe the Southern people really defeated the Jin people completely..."

"It's about time..."

Tang Minjie sat down in a chair. Lu Mingfang saw that his injuries were not serious, so he also sat down. They were both speculating about the possibilities.

From the beginning of April, the situation in Yunzhong Prefecture became tense, and the flow of information was extremely difficult. After the Mongols broke through Yanmen Pass, the north-south communication routes were temporarily cut off. After that, the Mongols besieged the city, and Yunzhong Prefecture was placed under martial law. This stalemate continued until early May, when the Mongol cavalry rampaged and retreated to the northwest. The curfew in Yunzhong Prefecture was only lifted in the past few days. Lu Mingfang, Tang Minjie, and others were constantly piecing together information. Otherwise, they wouldn't have needed to meet again today after meeting yesterday.

"The news from the grasslands has been confirmed." After thinking for a moment, Lu Mingfang spoke. "On the third of May, Gao Mulang lost to the southeast of Fengzhou (later Hohhot) with 27,000 men. The aim of the grassland people is not Yunzhong, but Fengzhou. They raided Fengzhou's armory. The fighting is still going on there. Gao Mulang is going crazy. I heard that Shi Li'ai is also very anxious."

"...No wonder." Tang Minjie blinked.

The Jin people had clashed with these grassland people several years ago. At that time, the commander was Shulihesu. In the early stages of the battle, they had even suffered some losses to the grassland cavalry, but they soon regained their footing. The grassland people did not dare to easily invade the border. Later, taking advantage of the Western Xia's defeat in front of the Black Banner Army, these people took Yinchuan with a surprise attack and then destroyed the entire Western Xia.

Before the Jin Dynasty's fourth Southern invasion, its national power was at its peak. Nianhan led an army of more than 200,000 south. The Western Dynasty's troops actually had enough to defend. At this time, the main force used to defend against the west was the Fengzhou army led by General Gao Mulang. This time, the grassland cavalry launched a surprise attack, broke through Yanmen Pass, besieged Yunzhong, and ambushed and defeated the rescue forces from various directions. As for the end of April, Gao Mulang of Fengzhou finally couldn't bear it any longer and sent troops to rescue Yunzhong.

The grassland cavalry met them one by one, losing more than they won, but they always managed to escape in time. Facing this constant enticement, Gao Mulang finally took the bait in early May, sending out too many troops, resulting in Fengzhou's defenses being empty. The grassland people seized the opportunity to capture the city. His army hurried back and was defeated by the main force of the Mongols on the way. He is still reorganizing his troops and trying to retake the important town of Fengzhou.

"...If that's really the case, these grassland people deeply covet the Jin Dynasty. Breaking through Yanmen Pass, besieging Yunzhong, ambushing and defeating Gao Mulang, and seizing Fengzhou before turning around and defeating him... This series of strategies wouldn't be possible without years of careful planning..."

After listening to Lu Mingfang's information, Tang Minjie frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "Such heroes can be cooperated with..."

"I'm also thinking about this." Lu Mingfang nodded, then said, "I will write a letter to the southwest to ask for instructions, but the most important thing right now is probably the news from the southwest. The fire in Chounan Ward tonight was so big, I don't think it's normal. Also, I heard that the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion killed three Han Chinese today for no reason."

"...Han slaves?"

"...What else could they be? There's no such thing as Han masters in the north."

"...Then he'll have to pay a lot of money."

Tang Minjie murmured. They had speculated about some things, but at this moment, they were even afraid to speculate. The atmosphere in Yunzhong Prefecture was even more complex. Both were silent for a long time.

Tang Minjie said, "If the southwest really wins a great victory, the news will be confirmed in a day or two. Such things cannot be blocked... You have to go back then. The idea of allying with the grassland people doesn't need to be written in a letter."

He paused and then said, "...Actually, I think you can first ask the lady of the Gu family. If such news is really confirmed, the situation in Yunzhong Prefecture, I don't know what will happen. If you want to go south, leaving sooner might be safer."

Lu Mingfang smiled. "These things can't be arranged in a day or two."

They didn't talk about these things any further.

At almost the same time, Chen Wenjun was meeting with Shi Li'ai at the old man's residence. Her face was haggard, and even after careful grooming, she couldn't hide the hint of fatigue in her eyebrows. Despite this, she still took out an already old list and placed it in front of Shi Li'ai.

"I'm here today because I really can't wait any longer. This batch of people, last winter, you promised to give them to me. They were delayed on the road and didn't arrive until spring, which couldn't be helped, but waiting from February to March, from March to April, and now it's May, many of the people on the list are already... gone. Old Sir, you promised me two hundred people, you have to give them to me."

She was referring to the issue of the Han Chinese prisoners who were escorted from the south around the winter of last year. To showcase the achievements of the West Route Army on its southern expedition, these five hundred people were either soldiers of the resisting armies in Xiangfan and other places, or family members of Southern officials and defeated generals. The winter in the north was cold, and the roads were difficult to travel, so the escort of the five hundred people took a lot of time. This spring, they were officially handed over in Yunzhong. After a parade and the application of torture, two hundred of them were originally supposed to be handed over to Chen Wenjun at the end of March, but Shi Li'ai temporarily changed his mind and refused to mention the handover. Now, Chen Wenjun finally couldn't bear it anymore and came to the door.

Shi Li'ai reached out his hand and pressed it on the list. His gaze was low, as if he was thinking, and after a while, he seemed to have fallen asleep due to old age. The silence in the hall continued for a long time...