The Wind Blows From Longxi Episode 20 Recap
> The Wind Blows From Longxi Recap
Xun Xu found Liu Ying and offered her his token, telling her it would allow her to leave the city anytime. He pleaded with her to depart this dangerous place and avoid further involvement in the war. Liu Ying embraced him, took the token, and left. Xun Xu then instructed Lin Liang and Pei Xu not to follow her, and specifically told Pei Xu not to inform Chen Gong about their encounter. Later, Chen Gong visited Feng Ying for tea.
During their conversation, Chen Gong lauded Feng Ying's exceptional contributions to Siwencao Intelligence, remarking that even Wei officials like Guo Gang and Guo Huai held him in awe, describing him as "extremely cunning and vicious." Feng Ying acknowledged Chen Gong's underlying message. Chen Gong then brought up the war ten years prior, in Jian'an 23, when his father was killed while Li Yan was garrisoning Zizhong County.
He recounted how Ma Qin and Gao Sheng, instigated by Cao Wei, rebelled and besieged Zizhong. Despite the initial advantage of the Shu army, their supply lines were suddenly cut, leading to a massive invasion. With Liu Bei's main army stationed at Yangping Pass, a rescue was impossible. Chen Gong directly challenged Feng Ying, believing that as the head of Siwencao Intelligence, he must have had information about this incident.
Feng Ying admitted that when he and Yang Yi arranged for Chen Gong to go to Cao Wei, they anticipated this day would come. He revealed that allowing the rebel forces to besiege Zizhong was a strategic necessity for the Shu army. At that time, Liu Bei was confronting Xiahou Yuan at Yangping Pass, unable to find a weakness in Wei's defenses.
Yang Yi, upon discovering Guo Huai's instigation of Ma Qin and Gao Sheng's rebellion, swiftly conveyed a secret edict from the late emperor. This edict ordered Feng Ying to secretly provide Zizhong County's defense details to Cao Wei. As a result, Wei's forces at Mount Dingjun, including Xiahou Yuan, misjudged the situation and rashly attacked, falling into Zhuge Liang's trap. This allowed the Shu army to kill Xiahou Yuan and conquer Hanzhong.
Feng Ying emphasized that his actions were under orders and that Chen Gong's father's death was not the original intention of the strategy. Chen Gong pressed further, questioning if Feng Ying's collusion with Guo Huai and betrayal of Shu spies were all part of this strategy for the Han dynasty, and whether those lives were expendable.
Feng Ying responded that no one deserves to die, but when faced with a choice between national interest and individual lives, he would always choose the former. He informed Chen Gong that Yang Yi would arrive in Nanzheng in a few days, suggesting Chen Gong could verify the details with him. Feng Ying stressed the immense sacrifices made and insisted that their efforts must not be wasted.
Feng Ying then admitted to arranging Gao Tangbing's death, assuring Chen Gong it was unrelated to him. He acknowledged Xun Xu was investigating him but dismissed it as inconsequential. Finally, Feng Ying instructed Chen Gong to secure a General's Token from Yang Yi. Meanwhile, Ma Dai arrived at the deserted Ziyan House for his appointment with Li Yan. Hu Zhong, Li Yan's confidant, greeted Ma Dai and took his sword, explaining the private nature of the meeting.
Li Yan offered Hu Zhong to Ma Dai as an assistant, which Ma Dai readily accepted. Li Yan then began to express his dissatisfaction with Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition, deeming his plans too ambitious and impractical. Ma Dai, however, remained cautious, stating that as a soldier, his duty was to obey His Majesty's orders, and success or failure was beyond his purview.
Li Yan then invoked the death of Ma Dai's brother, Ma Chao, in an attempt to sway him, claiming Ma Chao had also shared concerns about Zhuge Liang. Ma Dai firmly refused to be entangled in court politics and prepared to leave. As Li Yan was about to take drastic action, Hu Zhong intervened, proposing to show Ma Dai a secret imperial edict. After reviewing the edict, Ma Dai's attitude shifted dramatically.
He apologized for his earlier words and pledged to "fight the rebels by edict," expressing his unwavering loyalty. Li Yan then presented an affidavit, which Ma Dai saw was signed by numerous generals, indicating Li Yan's extensive network of support. Ma Dai signed the document and raised a toast, proclaiming, "With so many generals assisting, how can we fail to achieve great things?" However, he harbored his own hidden agenda.
In Tianshui Commandery, Guo Huai and Guo Gang assessed the Shu army's deployment. The Military Intelligence Agency reported being unable to distinguish the Shu army's main force. Facing simultaneous invasions from Shu and Eastern Wu, Guo Huai ordered all forces in Tianshui to consolidate and retreat to the Weishui River within three days, establishing a defensive line to block the Shu army frontally, even if it meant temporarily abandoning Wudu and Yinping.
Separately, Huang Yu gathered the remaining two to three thousand Wuxian Sect members in Hanzhong. He tasked one group with cutting off the Shu army's supply lines north of Sanguan Pass. Another group, led by Elder Cao and Guan Qi, was dispatched to attack the pass outside Xixiang Town, with the specific objective of targeting Xun Xu. Xun Xu's leg injury was gradually healing.
He informed Chen Gong that he had placed a "pawn" with Liu Ying and was awaiting her move. Pei Xu reported that a small circle, a known spy contact mark, had been drawn on Feng Ying's door the previous day. Chen Gong then told Xun Xu that Feng Ying planned to visit Taoist Qingyun at Chiyan Peak in Qingshi Valley for divination. Xun Xu scoffed, not believing Feng Ying's spiritual intentions.
Xun Xu instructed Pei Xu to maintain strict surveillance on Feng Ying and to act decisively if he made any suspicious moves. To aid Xun Xu's efforts, Chen Gong provided him with a General's Token from the Prime Minister's Mansion, which he had acquired from Yang Yi. That night, Feng Ying meticulously wrote a message on a bamboo slip, sealed it, and put it away.
He gazed at his old armor, lamenting that he would never again wear it to battle, and expressed gratitude for its protection over the years. Sun Ling reported the arrangements for Feng Ying's upcoming trip. He questioned Feng Ying's decision to go to Chiyan Peak early the next morning, as Zhuge Liang's main army was expected to arrive in Nanzheng in the afternoon, suggesting Feng Ying wouldn't be able to return in time.
Feng Ying, however, remained resolute, giving Sun Ling, his beloved wife's only close relative, a meaningful look before dismissing him. The following morning, Feng Ying set out for Chiyan Peak with his divination offerings. Xun Xu and his men were already lying in ambush nearby. When a servant emerged from the courtyard carrying Feng Ying's offerings, Xun Xu dispatched men to follow him.
Inside, Taoist Qingyun, recognizing Feng Ying as a high-ranking official who had already transcended life and death, bluntly predicted that Feng Ying would face imprisonment within three days. Feng Ying merely smiled, appearing to accept his fate. As Feng Ying descended the mountain path, Xun Xu and his forces suddenly burst out, arresting him on charges of colluding with Cao Wei and leaking military secrets.
