Tribes and Empires: Storm of Prophecy Episode 13 Recap
> Tribes and Empires: Storm of Prophecy Recap
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Mu Ruhanjiang (Hanjiang) and his comrade, Wang Yijia (also referred to as Squad Leader Wang), were joking by the river/among their comrades. Hanjiang playfully snatched a letter from Wang Yijia and read it aloud, revealing details about Wang Yijia's beloved, Chunni. It stated that Chunni had already waited four years for Wang Yijia, and her parents had accepted a betrothal gift from another family.
If Wang Yijia did not get promoted to deputy general within the next year, Chunni would become someone else's bride. During this interaction, Wang Yijia also suggested Hanjiang try to join the Lion Guard, implying that members typically had Muru family ties. Hanjiang, however, expressed disinterest, stating he preferred to fight battles and didn't envy those with Muru blood, though Wang Yijia called him jealous.
Later, at the Muru cavalry camp, Hanjiang and Wang Yijia observed members of the Lion Guard, who usually served as Muyun Lu's protectors within the imperial city. Wang Yijia speculated that their presence in the camp indicated they were scouting ahead for Muyun Lu to engage in discussions with General Di. While inspecting grain carts that had been recovered from mountain bandits, Hanjiang gave Wang Yijia an expensive merchant's dagger he had obtained from the bandits.
Hanjiang expressed his suspicion that these bandits were not ordinary and convinced Wang Yijia to investigate their camp that night. Under the cover of night, Hanjiang and Wang Yijia covertly infiltrated the bandit camp, which they found to be eerily deserted. Hanjiang witnessed a bandit being inexplicably dragged into the ground by an unseen force, leaving behind an iron sphere.
After Hanjiang retrieved the sphere and gave it to Wang Yijia, they discovered an ancient helmet, a short sword, and several pieces of "ice armor" within the camp. Wang Yijia remarked that he wouldn't have known about these treasures if Hanjiang hadn't brought him there. He also wistfully commented that if Hanjiang were related to the Muru family, his status would "rise instantly"—and as he spoke, a nearby campfire flared up instantly, causing them to exchange glances.
Back at their tent, Hanjiang examined the helmet and recognized its markings as belonging to the Heluo Sumuo Kingdom. He also had an unopenable cipher sphere, which he had found near the bandit. To decipher its secrets, Hanjiang sought out the Heluo engineer, Hasicong (referred to as Old Ha), within the camp. Hasicong, who was keen to take Hanjiang as a disciple, initially seemed annoyed when Hanjiang mentioned a deceased teacher who had given him a "Han Che Sword."
However, Hanjiang pacified him, and Hasicong provided him with a booklet or book containing information on Heluo lock designs and mechanisms. Shortly after, Wang Yijia, eager to claim military merit, secretly took the dagger, helmet, and other relics to General Di in Hanjiang's absence. He informed General Di about Hanjiang's observations regarding the Heluo Sumuo origins of the artifacts and claimed sole credit for their discovery.
General Di considered reporting the matter to the imperial court but faced strong opposition from Adjutant Han, who dismissed Wang Yijia's claims as mere rumors by a junior officer. Adjutant Han believed the unearthed items were insufficient evidence. General Di, however, harbored ambitions of using this discovery as a pretext to launch an attack and eliminate Prince Wan's army.
Adjutant Han vehemently accused General Di of fabricating a conspiracy for treason and inciting military conflict, going so far as to declare his refusal to authorize any military deployment if Prince Wan's forces were to mobilize. Given that the Muru family's military authority was currently divided, with Adjutant Han serving as an observer sent by Nanku Yueli, General Di, despite his displeasure, had no choice but to comply.
He secretly dispatched a letter to Muyun Lu and, following Adjutant Han's insistence, punished Wang Yijia for spreading rumors and disturbing military morale. Unaware of the general's true intentions for his punishment, Wang Yijia approached Hanjiang, pleading with him not to expose their joint discovery so that he could claim sole credit, as military merits could not be easily shared.
Hanjiang was angered by the request to lie, asserting that a man should live for himself and uphold honor, faith, and justice, rather than chasing mere accolades. Wang Yijia, however, emphasized the crucial importance of promotion to him, explaining that if he didn't advance, Chunni would marry someone else. Though Hanjiang struggled to fully understand Wang Yijia's desperation for credit, he eventually relented and agreed to his friend's request.
The following day, Wang Yijia was publicly disciplined at the drill ground by General Di and Adjutant Han. He was beaten and sentenced to a five-year freeze on promotions for spreading rumors and disrupting military morale. Witnessing the severe punishment, and understanding its implications for Wang Yijia's future with Chunni, Hanjiang stepped forward to bravely claim responsibility, asserting that he was the one who had discovered the items.
At that opportune moment, Muyun Lu arrived at the camp with his Lion Guard. Witnessing Hanjiang's display of loyalty and integrity, Muyun Lu was immediately intrigued. Upon hearing Hanjiang's name, Muyun Lu paused, then deliberately tested his martial arts skills to confirm his suspicion: this soldier was indeed Mu Ruhanjiang, the third son of Murushuo.
Hanjiang vehemently denied being associated with the Muru surname and refused Muyun Lu's implied invitation to join him (perhaps to Shangyang Pass or the Lion Guard). Muyun Lu, believing that Hanjiang, as a Muru, had a heavy and significant destiny to fulfill—given the empire's co-governance by the Muyun (management) and Muru (protection) clans—and shouldn't be bothered by ordinary concerns or have his talent hidden in the army, decided to force the issue.
To everyone's shock, he publicly revealed Hanjiang's true identity as Murushuo's third son. The revelation of Hanjiang's identity caused a dramatic shift in the camp. His former comrades, now fearful and cautious, avoided him, worried about inadvertently offending a Muru young master. Even Wang Yijia's attitude changed, turning angry and sarcastic, as he scoffed that Hanjiang's "high-minded" words about honor would be impossible without the backing of the Muru name.
A crestfallen Hanjiang retorted that he had never relied on his father, Murushuo, or the Muru surname since birth, and vowed he never would. Despite this, General Di sent Lion Guard armor to Hanjiang's tent, an object many soldiers coveted. Hanjiang, however, refused to accept it, much to Wang Yijia's envy, who commented on Hanjiang's "good father" enabling such opportunities. That night, without saying goodbye to anyone, Hanjiang quietly packed his belongings and left the military camp alone. Wang Yijia, who secretly watched him depart, realized their paths would now irrevocably diverge. Later, Hanjiang was seen secretly going to Muyun Lu's residence and throwing a package inside.
