Han Sui was startled when the sudden sound of a zither drifted down from the city walls. His eyes snapped toward Xi County at once, scanning the surroundings with sharp suspicion.
To the west lay the Qishan Mountains, to the east the Qinling range. The county sat wedged between them, with only a narrow official road threading through. It was perfect terrain for an ambush.
Han Sui immediately grew cautious.
In such a confined landscape, his army of one hundred thousand could not fully deploy. If an ambush were sprung here, the consequences would be disastrous.
Yet after a long wait, nothing happened.
No troops appeared. No arrows flew. Only the faint, steady sound of the zither continued from atop the wall.
On the battlements, Niu Feng and Cao Xing frowned, unable to make sense of it. Meanwhile, Zhang Xin sat calmly, playing with evident enjoyment.
He knew full well that the famed "Empty City Stratagem" was little more than fiction.
But what he was doing now was not that.
This was simply a performance—a calculated deception aimed at Han Sui.
By Zhang Xin's estimation, Han Sui should have been rushing back toward Jincheng by now. The fact that he had instead appeared at Xi County so quickly only confirmed Zhang Xin's suspicions: Han Sui was deeply involved in orchestrating the uprisings in multiple regions—or at the very least, he was fully aware of them.
Which meant he also knew Zhang Xin's strength: five thousand troops.
The terrain outside Xi County formed a trapezoid—wide at Zhang Xin's side, narrow at Han Sui's. If battle were joined here, Han Sui's numerical advantage would be neutralized, while Zhang Xin could concentrate his forces for local superiority.
But where were those five thousand troops?
Hidden? Waiting?
Or nowhere at all?
Han Sui hesitated.
"Is this a bluff… or an ambush?" he muttered inwardly.
He dared not advance, yet he was equally unwilling to retreat.
His family—wife and children—were still in Zhang Xin's hands. Though such ties could be replaced, there was one person he could not abandon: his father.
In the Han world, filial piety was everything.
After a long silence, Han Sui called over a rider and whispered instructions. The man nodded and rode toward the city.
On the wall, Cao Xing immediately raised his bow, arrow nocked.
"Is the Marquis of Wuxiang present?" the rider called out from a safe distance.
Zhang Xin nodded. "I am."
"My lord respects the Marquis' reputation along the northern frontier and does not wish to fight," the rider said. "He has come only for his family. If you release them, he will withdraw immediately."
Zhang Xin smiled faintly. "Tell Han Yue to withdraw first. Once I reach Hanzhong Commandery, I will return his family."
The rider left, then soon returned with a reply.
"My lord asks that the Marquis release his family first. He swears he will keep his word."
Zhang Xin waved dismissively. "Drive him away."
He didn't believe a single word.
Han Sui—also known as Han Yue—was infamous for his cunning. Time and again, he had manipulated others into taking the blame while he reaped the rewards. He had elevated leaders only to kill them later, replaced figureheads at will, and even sacrificed his own kin when it suited him.
Trusting such a man would be foolish.
Han Sui's hesitation stemmed from two fears: the hostages in Zhang Xin's hands, and the mysterious disappearance of those five thousand troops.
If Zhang Xin released the hostages and withdrew, his forces would be exposed. With no threat to his rear, Han Sui would attack without hesitation.
The distance from Xi County to Hanzhong was hundreds of miles—far too long to remain safe.
When the rider returned, Han Sui remained unconvinced.
Nearby, his subordinate Yan Xing could no longer restrain himself.
"The city lies right before us," Yan Xing said. "Why do we hesitate?"
"My father is still in their hands," Han Sui replied, feigning concern.
Yan Xing scoffed inwardly but spoke carefully. "Even so, the Marquis would not dare harm him. If anything happens, your entire army will fight with desperate resolve. Could he withstand that?"
Han Sui nodded slowly, though his eyes remained wary. "Even so… the gates stand open. There may be an ambush."
"If you doubt, allow me to lead a force inside and test it," Yan Xing offered.
Han Sui turned to his advisor, Cheng Gongying. "What do you think?"
"It is worth trying," Cheng Gongying replied. "A probing force is wise when the enemy is unclear."
"Very well," Han Sui said. "Yan Xing, take one thousand men and scout the city. Be cautious."
Yan Xing saluted and led his troops forward.
From the walls, Zhang Xin saw them approach—and immediately turned and ran, abandoning even his banner.
The soldiers sweeping the gates fled even faster.
Yan Xing's suspicions vanished. With a shout, he charged straight into the city.
Watching this, Han Sui frowned.
Had he overthought everything?
Then—
A thunderous roar erupted from within the city.
Han Sui's expression changed instantly. He almost ordered reinforcements, but the mountains on both sides made him hesitate.
What if there were more ambushes waiting?
Moments later, chaos spilled out of the city.
Defeated soldiers fled in panic.
Han Sui stared in shock—of the thousand men who had entered, barely four or five hundred remained.
Yan Xing was nowhere to be seen.
Grabbing one of the survivors, Han Sui demanded, "Where is Yan Xing?"
The man trembled uncontrollably, eyes wide with terror.
"Ghosts… ghosts…" he stammered.
"What nonsense!" Han Sui shouted, shaking him violently. "Speak clearly!"
The man's eyes rolled back—and he collapsed, unconscious from sheer fear.
Whatever had happened inside Xi County…
It had broken them.