A Fancheng Night: Chou’s Submission

 The study was eerily quiet, as if time itself had paused. Only the faint scratching of the brush against the paper, like tiny insects gnawing at the silence, broke the oppressive stillness. Qin Yi sat upright behind his desk, the lamplight casting shifting shadows across his sharply defined features. He meticulously reviewed the mountain of reports piled before him, his brow furrowing and relaxing in turn, his thoughts unfathomable. Beside him, Xuan Jian stood like a silent iron tower, his imposing figure shrouded in black armor, his face hidden behind a cold mask. Only his deep-set eyes, like bottomless pools of icy water, remained visible, fixedly staring ahead, unwavering as a mountain.

Gongshu Chou stood to the side, resembling a trapped beast cornered and terrified. His back was hunched, his white beard trembled slightly, and beads of sweat, like broken pearls, rolled down his deeply wrinkled forehead, soaking his collar. He held his breath, not daring to make a sound, lest he incur the wrath of the young general. He felt as if time had stretched infinitely, each second dragging on like a year, the heavy pressure threatening to crush him.After what felt like an eternity, Qin Yi finally set down the report in his hand. He slowly raised his head, his gaze like two beams of cold light, a faint smile playing on his lips, yet his eyes held a chilling ambiguity."The affairs of Fancheng are numerous, I have kept Master Gongshu waiting," Qin Yi said, his voice deep and resonant, each word falling distinctly into Gongshu Chou's ears. Though his tone was outwardly polite, it carried an undeniable air of authority, as if an invisible hand gripped Gongshu Chou's throat.Gongshu Chou, startled as a frightened bird, hastily bowed and waved his hands, his voice filled with panic, "I dare not, I dare not, how could this old one presume to trouble the General?" As he spoke, he surreptitiously wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, attempting to conceal his inner turmoil.He cautiously raised his head, tentatively asking, "I wonder what instructions the General has for this late-night summons?"Qin Yi chuckled softly and waved his hand, gesturing for him not to be so formal. "Master Gongshu need not be so apprehensive. I simply wish to ask a few questions." His tone was light and casual, as if engaged in friendly conversation, but Gongshu Chou remained on high alert, knowing that storms often lurk beneath calm surfaces.Gongshu Chou, still uneasy, bowed again respectfully, "General, please ask. This old one will surely speak without reservation, telling all I know.""I have heard that the Gongshu family has resided in the state of Chu for generations. I wonder why you have relocated to our Great Qin?" Qin Yi's voice suddenly deepened, carrying a subtle undercurrent of pressure.Upon hearing this, a bitter smile spread across Gongshu Chou's face. He sighed deeply and slowly began to explain, "The King of Chu is a muddle-headed ruler, the court is rife with corruption, and powerful officials scheme against each other for personal gain. Our Gongshu family found it increasingly difficult to survive in such an environment. Having no other choice, we were forced to lead our clansmen northward, hoping to find a chance to live and establish ourselves within the borders of Qin."He paused, then raised his head, looking at Qin Yi with hopeful eyes. His tone became more earnest, "I implore the General to have mercy and allow our Gongshu family to live in peace and prosperity within Qin. This old one will be eternally grateful and will surely repay the General's kindness in the future."After listening to Gongshu Chou's words, Qin Yi simply nodded noncommittally. The smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by a cold, sharp expression. His gaze became icy, sending shivers down Gongshu Chou's spine.He asked calmly, "Judging from Master Gongshu's words, it seems you do not intend to remain in Fancheng for long?" His tone was even, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority, as if he had already seen through Gongshu Chou's true intentions.Gongshu Chou's heart tightened. He knew his thoughts had been perceived by Qin Yi. He quickly explained, "The General is occupied with countless affairs, and Fancheng is facing imminent war. We did not wish to cause any further disturbance or trouble for the General, therefore…""Master Gongshu misunderstands," Qin Yi interrupted him, his voice firm and leaving no room for argument. "This General hopes that the Gongshu family can assist me in facing the upcoming battles, and furthermore, swear absolute loyalty to me, loyalty to Great Qin!"Upon hearing this, Gongshu Chou's cloudy old eyes suddenly narrowed. His expression became complicated, a mixture of surprise, anger, and helplessness. He spoke with a hint of displeasure, tentatively asking, "Does the General believe that a single act of saving our lives is enough for the Gongshu family to entrust our very lives and fortunes to you?"Qin Yi waved his hand again, his voice turning chillingly cold, like a wind from the deepest winter. "This General is not making threats. Rather, I am discussing a transaction with you, Master Gongshu, a transaction that concerns the future destiny of the Gongshu family." His gaze became sinister, and he spoke slowly, emphasizing each word, "Fancheng is currently in imminent danger, besieged by the Xiongnu army. If several hundred outsiders were to suddenly disappear from the city at this time, I doubt it would cause much of a stir, ha ha ha!" His laughter echoed in the study, hollow and cold, sending chills down Gongshu Chou's spine.He looked at Qin Yi's handsome face, but a sense of dread washed over him. He felt that the person standing before him was not a human being but a bloodthirsty demon, a messenger from the depths of hell, ready to devour anyone at any moment.Qin Yi's deep eyes flashed with a frightening cold light, as if they could see through the deepest secrets of the human heart. His low voice echoed in the silent study, each word striking Gongshu Chou's heart like a heavy hammer, filling him with a sense of suffocation and terror. "The Gongshu clan, their ancestors were the renowned craftsmen of the world, Gongshu Ban, who, because he was from the state of Lu, was later respectfully called 'Lu Ban'.""As descendants of Lu Ban, you should uphold the family precepts, adhere to craftsmanship, and carry forward the spirit of striving for perfection in your skills, making the name of the Gongshu family even more renowned, rather than… falling to this state." Qin Yi paused, as if giving Gongshu Chou time to digest the deep meaning of his words, or perhaps he was brewing an even fiercer storm. Gongshu Chou's forehead was now covered in beads of sweat, which trickled down his cheeks. He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the pressure, his lips trembling, but he dared not make a sound, fearing that a single misstep would bring about his own demise."The King of Chu initiated water conservancy projects, widely recruiting skilled craftsmen from all over the land, which naturally included your Gongshu clan." Qin Yi's voice rang out again, with a hint of subtle mockery and regret. "What an honor! What a rare opportunity! If you had used this opportunity to truly benefit the people and contribute to the nation, your Gongshu clan would have been recorded in history, your name passed down through generations, receiving the respect of ten thousand ages!"Qin Yi suddenly slammed his hand on the desk, the loud bang echoing sharply in the quiet study, making Gongshu Chou's body tremble violently, as if struck by lightning, nearly losing his balance. His hunched back became even more stooped, as if trying to shrink himself into a ball."But what did you do?! You actually colluded with corrupt officials, acting as partners in crime! You embezzled vast sums of money allocated by the imperial court for water conservancy projects! This money, which should have benefited the people, now fills the pockets of you vermin!"Qin Yi's tone was filled with undisguised anger and disappointment. Each word was like a sharp knife, fiercely stabbing into Gongshu Chou's heart, causing him unbearable pain and leaving him nowhere to hide."To satisfy your own selfish desires, you became so unscrupulous as to deliberately delay construction, causing the water conservancy projects to be unusable when the flood season arrived. This resulted in vast tracts of fertile land being mercilessly submerged by the raging floods, countless people being displaced, their families broken and scattered!"Gongshu Chou's face turned deathly pale, his body swaying as if he were about to collapse. He opened his mouth, wanting to offer some excuse, to absolve himself of guilt, but found his throat so dry it felt like it was on fire, unable to produce any sound. He knew that the crimes he had committed were too numerous to count, and no matter how he tried to explain, he could not escape punishment."When the imperial court investigated, you knew your sins were grave and feared you could not save your clan's lives. Therefore, you fled in panic like stray dogs, leading your entire clan, over a hundred people, on a path of desperate escape, finally reaching my territory of Fancheng!" Qin Yi's gaze was like a torch, staring intentlyat Gongshu Chou, as if trying to see through him, to penetrate the deepest recesses of his soul. "Gongshu Chou, everything I have said… is there even half a sentence that is false?!"Qin Yi's voice, like a judgment from the depths of hell, reverberated in Gongshu Chou's ears, shattering his spirit and causing his heart to tremble with fear. Gongshu Chou could no longer withstand the immense pressure. His knees buckled, and he fell heavily to the ground with a thud, his entire body shaking violently like a sieve. His forehead struck the cold floor with a dull thud. "General… General, please understand… this old… this old one is guilty…" Gongshu Chou's voice was hoarse and trembling, filled with deep despair and pleading. He knew that before Qin Yi, any attempt at justification was futile. He could only confess his crimes and beg for Qin Yi's mercy.Qin Yi looked down at the kneeling Gongshu Chou, a cold smile curving his lips. His eyes were filled with mockery and disdain."Master Gongshu, now, can we finally discuss this transaction?" he said slowly, his tone filled with threat and pressure. "Do you wish to live in peace, to overcome the current difficulties with me, and then rise to prominence in the future, enjoying endless wealth and honor? Or do you wish to lead your entire clan, hundreds of people, into the abyss of eternal damnation? The choice… is now in your hands."Having spoken, Qin Yi glanced at Xuan Jian beside him. Xuan Jian immediately understood. He walked expressionlessly to Gongshu Chou, took out an ancient scroll from his robes, and presented it to Gongshu Chou, along with a writing brush. "Master, please sign your name." His voice was cold and devoid of any emotion, as if he were simply carrying out a simple order.Gongshu Chou raised his head blankly, his cloudy old eyes looking at the strange characters on the scroll, his face showing hesitation and doubt. He reached out with trembling hands, slowly taking the scroll and the brush. His heart was filled with fear and unease. He knew that once he signed his name, it would mean he had completely lost his freedom, handing his fate over to Qin Yi. But did he have any other choice? He glanced around, seeing Qin Yi's cold eyes and Xuan Jian's sharp, blade-like gaze. He knew he had nowhere to retreat.He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, as if making a final struggle. After a moment, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with helplessness and despair. With trembling hands, he gripped the brush and slowly signed his name on the scroll. The instant the brush touched the parchment, he felt a strange sensation within his body, a power that did not belong to him. Like a lightning strike, it coursed through his entire being, merging into his limbs and bones, filling him with a nameless terror and unease.His expression drastically changed. He abruptly raised his head, looking at Qin Yi in terror, his eyes filled with fear and incomprehension, as if he had seen a ghost. "You… what have you done to me?!" he asked in a trembling voice, his tone filled with fear and anger."Master need not be so alarmed," Qin Yi said slowly, watching Gongshu Chou's terrified expression, a faint smile playing on his lips. His tone was calm and indifferent, yet carried an undeniable air of authority. "This is merely a simple two-way contract. Its purpose is only to ensure that both you and I can cooperate with peace of mind and trust each other. Nothing more."He paused, his tone becoming colder and harder. "Once you sign this contract, you will be absolutely loyal to me, with no divided loyalties. If you dare to betray me or do anything that is detrimental to me or to Great Qin, then the strange power within your body will immediately erupt, making you wish you were dead, unable to live or die!"Gongshu Chou's face became even more terrified. He had originally thought this was just a temporary expedient, that he would only temporarily submit to Qin Yi's power and then find a way to escape later. But he never expected that Qin Yi would be so ruthless, using such methods to control him. This filled him with boundless despair and fear. He hastily circulated his internal energy, trying to expel the strange power from his body, but found it was completely ineffective. The power was like a maggot attached to his bone, firmly controlling his body, leaving him unable to move. His heart turned to ice. He knew he was completely finished. He had completely fallen into Qin Yi's control, becoming a pawn in his hands, at his mercy. His heart was filled with regret and despair. He regretted that he had been greedy for the immediate ease, that he had easily believed Qin Yi's words. Now that he had come to such an end, he could only blame himself. He looked up at Qin Yi, only to see that Qin Yi still wore a faint smile, but that smile, in his eyes, was like a devil's grin, sending chills down his spine. He knew that from this moment on, his fate, and the fate of his entire clan, would be in the hands of this young man before him.