The Wind Blows From Longxi Episode 22 Recap
> The Wind Blows From Longxi Recap
Huang Yu's messenger arrived at Wei's camp to deliver intelligence to Inspector Guo Huai and Governor Guo Gang. Guo Huai acknowledged that Chen Gong had not disappointed him. The two generals discussed Zhulong's brilliant plan: a fabricated invasion by the Wu Army would compel Li Yan to divert provisions to Jiangzhou, leaving Zhuge Liang's army with only a month's supply.
They noted that Chen Gong now wielded significant power within Siwencao Intelligence, and Li Yan was under their control, making the Qingping Plan proceed more smoothly than anticipated. Guo Huai then dispatched an immediate order to Hao Zhao, instructing him to defend Chencang County for one month, stating that if the county fell within that period, Hao Zhao would face execution, but if it held for longer, Guo Huai would bear all responsibility.
Xun Xu, back in Nanzheng County, had spent the previous night pondering Chen Gong's recent actions, finding them increasingly suspicious. He had previously learned that Chen Gong's father was not a traitor but a hero who sacrificed for the state, a narrative Feng Ying had seemingly concealed. When a subordinate reported Huang Yu's presence at the Xixiang checkpoint, Xun Xu surmised it was no coincidence and rushed there with his men.
Along the road to the checkpoint, Huang Yu and Chen Gong lay in wait. Huang Yu gave Chen Gong a poisonous arrow. Under these circumstances, Chen Gong had no other choice but to reluctantly fire the crossbow, striking Xun Xu in the chest. Chaos erupted as Huang Yu's soldiers attacked. Pei Xu, witnessing the ambush, dragged the severely wounded Xun Xu away, lamenting that he couldn't give Xun Xu a proper burial as he hid him.
Pei Xu, injured in the ensuing fight, was later rescued by Siwencao Intelligence soldiers. After the ambush, Chen Gong feigned anger at Xun Xu's apparent death when Yin Ji reported it. Chen Gong questioned why Xun Xu would rush to Xixiang without informing him. Yin Ji, while not always agreeing with Xun Xu's methods, asserted that Xun Xu's intelligence suggested he must have had another, undisclosed reason for his hasty departure.
Yin Ji also stated his disbelief that Feng Ying could be a Wei spy, as Feng Ying had founded Siwencao Intelligence and would never betray it. Chen Gong then inquired about Pei Xu's condition, and Yin Ji noted that Pei Xu seemed to be withholding information. Unbeknownst to most, Chen Gong had not truly killed Xun Xu. Instead, he had faked Xun Xu's death and imprisoned him in a dark, isolated cell, ensuring his arrow wound was treated.
Lin Liang, tasked with Xun Xu's care, informed Chen Gong that Xun Xu was recovering well, with medicine administered in his water daily. Chen Gong expressed his weariness and confusion about who was right or wrong in the intricate web of espionage, but firmly declared that Xun Xu must live and be protected at all costs.
He instructed Lin Liang to ensure Xun Xu would disappear and live under a new identity after the grand plan concluded, as Xun Xu's stubborn nature would lead him to uncover the truth if allowed to investigate. Meanwhile, confined in his cell, Xun Xu, desperate for answers, used a stone to dig at the wall, hoping to find a way out.
He also confronted Lin Liang during a meal delivery, demanding to see Chen Gong to understand why he was imprisoned, but Lin Liang explained Chen Gong was away on a mission to Mount Dingjun.
Li Yan, growing increasingly anxious over Zhuge Liang's prolonged campaign against Chencang County, expressed his fear to an official that if Zhuge Liang managed to conquer even one commandery, the morale of the Shu army would soar, causing Emperor Liu Shan to again become indecisive and potentially discard Li Yan. Thus, Li Yan emphasized the critical need for his plan to succeed.
Chen Gong arrived to report that he had successfully established communication with the Wei Army, and Guo Huai would dispatch disguised elite forces to await orders outside Dasanguan Pass. Li Yan initially praised Chen Gong for quickly assuming Feng Ying's responsibilities, but then directly inquired if Chen Gong was responsible for Xun Xu's death.
Chen Gong confessed he was forced to eliminate Xun Xu, fearing his continued investigation into the Zhulong case, Gao Tangbing's death, and Feng Ying's arrest would expose Li Yan's grand strategy. Li Yan acknowledged Chen Gong's difficult decision, philosophical about the sacrifices needed for "extraordinary achievements." Ten days later, Li Yan would instruct Hu Zhong to send the first batch of army provisions, and Chen Gong's critical mission was to ensure these provisions never reached the front lines.
Chen Gong further elaborated that the fabricated Wu invasion would compel Zhuge Liang to fight on two fronts, allowing Li Yan to step in and resolve the crisis, thereby securing his place and reputation. Zhuge Liang had strategically set up an ambush along Chencang Road, luring Wei General Wang Shuang deep into a valley by feigning multiple defeats.
Despite warnings from his officers about Zhuge Liang's cunning, Wang Shuang, overconfident, pursued the retreating Shu army and was trapped when the canyon exit was blocked by logs. Zhuge Liang then gave the order to fire arrows, and with Deng Zhi leading a charge, the Wei troops were annihilated, and Wang Shuang was defeated. Upon receiving the battle report, Li Yan learned of Zhuge Liang's success and his intention to confront Guo Huai's main forces.
Reacting swiftly, Li Yan dispatched a messenger to Jiangzhou to activate the second phase of his plan. He then drafted a secret letter to Emperor Liu Shan, alleging that Emperor Sun Quan of Wu had broken their alliance and was poised to invade Xichuan from multiple directions while the Shu army was engaged in the Northern Expedition. Li Yan blamed Zhuge Liang's "obstinate" disregard for the late emperor's blood feud for this "precarious" situation.
He pledged to diligently serve the emperor and adapt to the crisis, including diverting army provisions to Yidu. He then ordered Hu Zhong to personally deliver this critical letter to Chief Eunuch Huang Hao in Chengdu. Meanwhile, Zhuge Liang noted that Wang Shuang's head, preserved with lime, had been sent to Chengdu, hoping it would temporarily alleviate Emperor Liu Shan's suspicions. However, Zhuge Liang remained concerned about the army's logistics and supply lines.
While General Wei Yan was tasked with securing the provisions, Zhuge Liang found him "not thoughtful enough." Deng Zhi then volunteered to personally oversee the supply efforts, which brought Zhuge Liang some relief. In the upper reaches of the Mian River, a dam, weakened by continuous heavy rain, was nearing its breaking point. Huang Yu had completed his preparations and awaited Chen Gong's signal to destroy the dam, unleashing a flood to obstruct the transportation of army provisions.
Huang Yu threatened that if Chen Gong failed in this mission, he would be executed. Meanwhile, Liu Ying sought to borrow a bamboo flute from Li Yan's study but was blocked by a guard, who explained that General Li Yan had strictly forbidden anyone else from entering. Undeterred, Liu Ying, dressed in dark attire, was later discovered by her maid, Ying'er, who entered the room. Liu Ying had no choice but to silence Ying'er.
At Dasanguan Pass, Hu Zhong delivered army provisions to General Wei Yan and Deng Zhi. During their meeting, Hu Zhong tried to ply Wei Yan with wine and subtly suggested they wait for better weather before departing, attributing his caution to his inexperience and the instability of the eastern front. Wei Yan, though brave, was prone to indulgence and drank the wine.
However, Deng Zhi, ever vigilant, reminded Wei Yan of past blunders caused by drinking on duty and insisted that they could not afford any delays. After confirming the provisions were in order, Wei Yan and Deng Zhi promptly departed despite Hu Zhong's attempts to delay them further, citing the Prime Minister's urgent need and the extended travel time via the eastern route.
