The Lord of Xinling
Within the hierarchy of power on the Hill of Faith in Handan, the King of Zhao would naturally stand at the very top. Below him, Pingyuan Jun and Jianxin Jun would be locked in fierce competition for the position of chief minister. If forced to rank them, Pingyuan Jun would likely hold a slight edge. Descending further through the official ranks, one would find Upper Minister Zhao Zhuang, Pillar of the State Han Xiang, and Guest Minister Qi Ming arrayed in their respective positions. Yet, standing apart from all such official hierarchies, there existed in Handan a figure whose influence rivaled even that of Pingyuan Jun or Jianxin Jun. Though he held no official post and possessed no fief within Zhao, the privileges granted to this individual were extraordinary. He was the sole person in the realm permitted to operate beyond the reach of the law. The world knew him as one of the Four Gentlemen of the Warring States—Xinling Jun.
"Indeed… if it is Xinling Jun, he may well provide the escape route needed to resolve the Young Master's current predicament."
This was Old Gu Cheon's assessment, offered after hearing the reasoning behind the plan: to provide travel funds for any Wei refugees in Zhao who wished to return home, and settlement grants for those who chose to remain. It was the same solution Ji Dan had once proposed to Han Jing—only this time, instead of relying on Pingyuan Jun's patronage, they would seek to resolve the crisis through Xinling Jun.
'But the situation is quite different from when we dealt with Pingyuan Jun.'
Pingyuan Jun had never favored the scheme of persecuting Ji Dan only to later champion his revival. That very reluctance had allowed Ji Dan to benefit from the backlash, earning Pingyuan Jun's goodwill from the outset. The conditions for success had not been difficult either. Since Yan and Zhao had already reconciled, all that was required was proper treatment befitting Ji Dan's status. For Pingyuan Jun, who had been preparing to rise again, it had been no great burden—in fact, it had provided a convenient opportunity to display his influence. The hurdle for agreement had been remarkably low. Of course, Ji Dan had still needed to prove he was worth investing in, but even that had not proven overly challenging.
Convincing Xinling Jun, however, was an entirely different matter. Previously, Ji Dan had been a pitiful hostage suffering unjust treatment. Now he had become an ingrate who had spurned Pingyuan Jun's goodwill and taken in a discarded Qin princess. Wei had lost territory and people to Qin, and recently had even been forced to bow its head before the King of Qin. Though Xinling Jun currently resided in Zhao after being cast out by his own country, he remained, at heart, a man of Wei. His hatred for Qin, which had brought such shame upon his homeland, would not be light.
'From the very beginning, he left his country and opposed Qin out of a sense of duty. After all, it was Xinling Jun who served as supreme commander of the allied forces that saved Handan when it was besieged by Qin.'
The difficulty was obvious. Yet it had to be done. There was truly no other option left. Xinling Jun was the final lifeline remaining to Ji Dan—the only choice he had.
"One way or another, we have no choice but to try Xinling Jun. This is an investment toward that end."
Xinling Jun possessed both patriotism and a strong sense of mission. Such a person would surely look favorably upon someone who had aided his fellow countrymen when he himself could not. In short, it was a matter of building goodwill.
'The resentment stemming from Zheng is a variable, but from what I can see, success remains entirely possible.'
Though the threshold for persuasion had risen, the target for success had been lowered. With Pingyuan Jun, Ji Dan had sought comprehensive patronage across all fronts. With Xinling Jun, such sweeping support was unnecessary. It would be enough if Xinling Jun did not actively oppose him. Simply being able to borrow Xinling Jun's name would suffice. If that could be achieved, Ji Dan could manage the rest on his own.
After listening to the end of Ji Dan's explanation of the next steps, Old Gu Cheon declared his willingness to stand with him.
"I pray for your success."
That day, Old Gu Cheon became Ji Dan's second retainer, following Jing Ke. Several days later, Ji Dan met Xinling Jun.
The Four Gentlemen of the Warring States were all exceptional, yet none were perfect. Lord Mengchang was renowned for treating his retainers well, and indeed many among them were fierce and unruly, living up to his reputation. Lord Pingyuan, though a noble scion possessed of wisdom, lacked understanding of statecraft and nearly brought ruin upon his country through the Battle of Changping; he was but a flower raised in a greenhouse. Lord Chunshen, though a man of strategic brilliance capable of saving his nation, hesitated at the critical moment and thus invited disaster upon himself. Therefore, only Xinling Jun stands supreme among the lords of the realm.
In truth, the Xinling Jun who stood before him radiated a weight of presence unlike anything Ji Dan had felt from his father, the King of Yan, from the King of Zhao, or even from Pingyuan Jun. Hair of burning red, intense as flame. Clear green eyes that regarded all under heaven with impartiality. And a beauty more dazzling than any array of colors. Above all else—
'So large…'
Enormous. Yes, if one were to capture the first impression of Xinling Jun in a single word, it would be that. Her imposing aura and striking appearance both paled before that sheer magnitude. A towering height easily exceeding one hundred and seventy centimeters, a presence as vast as gazing up at the sun, and, at the center of it all, that overwhelmingly large feature—
The wellspring of kindness. The symbol of maternal love.
Ji Dan finally understood why her title was Xinling Jun.
'The Lord who possesses the Hill of Faith.'
It was a name perfectly suited to her. Overwhelmed by the largest thing he had ever seen in his life, Ji Dan found such absurd thoughts rising unbidden in his mind. Even as he offered the customary greeting, he struggled to regain his composure.
"Ji Dan of Yan greets Xinling Jun of Wei."
"Indeed. It is good to meet you. I, too, have been wishing to see you."
Her reaction was rather favorable. Just as he had suspected, she must have heard the circumstances from Pingyuan Jun. Or perhaps she had inferred them from the letter of introduction he had brought. Either way, it was an encouraging sign.
"I should have come to pay my respects sooner, but circumstances did not permit it until now."
"There is no need for such formality. This is not Wei, after all, but Zhao. My position is not so different from yours."
"That cannot be. Unlike me, who came as a hostage, Xinling Jun is a state guest of Zhao—the benefactor who saved Handan from Qin."
Xinling Jun's feat of leading the allied forces of Wei and Chu to defeat Qin's general Wang He and rescue Handan was still frequently spoken of. Even Pingyuan Jun continued to honor Li Tan, the man who had awakened him at the time—how could the people of Handan forget their savior, Xinling Jun? Yet facing her now, Ji Dan understood why the people of Zhao were so fervent in their admiration and had granted her such unprecedented privileges as a state guest.
'They say looks-ism was even stronger in ancient times…'
The fact that Xinling Jun was a woman was shocking enough, but her appearance and figure were even more so. She was truly a person favored by the heavens. A noble royal bloodline, a body that could only be called perfect, and the proven excellence of her abilities that confirmed her inner strength as well. If someone like her had abandoned all the glory and power she enjoyed in her own country to come save them, even Ji Dan would have reacted the same way. And indeed, retainers flocked to her because of that very image, their numbers surpassing even those of Pingyuan Jun or Jianxin Jun.
Xinling Jun did not deny his words, speaking calmly instead.
"I did help Zhao."
"Yes. If not for Xinling Jun, how could Handan exist as it does now…"
"Just as the Young Master helped the people of Wei."
"…exist…"
Cutting him off mid-sentence, Xinling Jun declared that she knew he had aided the people of Wei. He had intended to reveal that card eventually, but having the other party already know it was another matter entirely. It meant she might already be aware of every other card he had yet to play.
'How is this possible? Pingyuan Jun was the same, and now Xinling Jun as well. How could they know every detail of my situation?'
No matter how great the reputation of the Four Gentlemen might be, this was excessive.
'Could it have been Old Gu Cheon? No, he is not the sort to go around revealing such things. Then did someone overhear my nighttime meeting with him?'
The intelligence networks of these colossal figures, each commanding thousands of retainers, were enough to make one's head spin. But Ji Dan, too, had gained considerable experience by now. Concealing his discomposure and steadying his mind had become second nature.
"Yes, I did provide some assistance to the people of Wei."
Following her lead in his reply, Xinling Jun smiled faintly.
"I like your honesty. I find all aspects of human nature fascinating, but I am especially fond of honest people. Come closer. Have you eaten? If not, let us talk over a meal."