The Decline of Anyi: From Prosperous Capital to Desolate Frontier

As autumn winds swept through the Su River Valley, the once-thriving hunting grounds outside Anyi grew increasingly desolate. After the State of Wei moved its capital to Daliang, the nobility and wealthy merchants followed, leaving Anyi’s former glory to fade like a fleeting dream. The Qin State reclaimed the Hexi Highlands and seized the strategic fortress of Lishi, stripping Anyi of its northern defenses. Meanwhile, Zhao occupied the Shangdang Mountains, exposing Anyi’s northeastern flank. In a matter of years, the city that had once been the foremost capital of the realm became an isolated frontier fortress, besieged on all sides.

The population dwindled, merchants ceased their travels, and the hunting lodges that once dotted the valley fell into ruin, inhabited only by foxes and rabbits. On moonlit nights, the distant howls of tigers and monkeys echoed through the valley, deterring even the most seasoned hunters from venturing out after dark.

A Solitary Light in the Wilderness

Yet on one such night, a lone lamp flickered in the depths of the pine forest. A slender figure approached cautiously along the forest path, eventually revealing a grand tomb and a humble thatched hut beside it.

“Ah—Brother Zhang, come quickly!” the figure cried out in alarm.

A tall man emerged from the hut, sword in hand. “Feiyun, don’t be afraid.”

“A snake! Ugh, so thick! It slithered away.”

The man laughed heartily. “An autumn snake is but a trapped dragon—let it go.”

Disgusted, the slender figure—Feiyun—complained about the creature’s slimy texture and foul smell before pulling Zhang Yi inside. The hut was spartan: a woven door, a coarse hemp curtain, a simple sleeping mat, two book-filled chests, a stone desk, and a Wu Hook sword hanging on the wall.

Feiyun unpacked a basket of warm flatbread and cured meat, which Zhang Yi devoured eagerly. Between bites, he listened as Feiyun recounted strange happenings in the valley—a merchant seeking to lease their old house and a young nobleman, ill and lost, who had taken shelter there.

Shadows of Conspiracy

Zhang Yi, ever the strategist, found the events suspicious. Anyi, now a backwater, was an unlikely destination for merchants or wandering nobles. Yet he advised caution: “Let things unfold, but keep your eyes open.”

Later that night, after escorting Feiyun partway home, Zhang Yi wandered along the riverbank, lost in thought. His mind turned to Su Qin, his former classmate, who had recently re-emerged as a champion of the “Vertical Alliance”—a coalition of six states against Qin. Su Qin’s success left Zhang Yi at a crossroads. With the six states united under Su Qin’s leadership, where did that leave him?

Zhang Yi resolved to carve his own path. If Su Qin had aligned with the six states, he would seek his fortune in Qin—the very state Su Qin sought to oppose.

A Midnight Duel and an Unexpected Ally

Returning to his hut, Zhang Yi found it mysteriously lit. Two men—a Zhao cavalry officer and a swordsman—awaited him, bearing an invitation from the Zhao crown prince. When Zhang Yi refused, the swordsman challenged him to a duel. Though Zhang Yi fought valiantly with his Wu Hook, he was outmatched.

Just as defeat seemed certain, a mysterious white-clad figure intervened, wielding an unusual curved sword. With effortless skill, the stranger dispatched the Zhao men, revealing himself as a wandering swordsman—or so he claimed.

Over wine beneath the moonlight, the stranger—who introduced himself as Ying Hua—offered to accompany Zhang Yi to Qin. Suspicious but intrigued, Zhang Yi agreed.

The Final Farewell

Before departing, Zhang Yi faced one last sorrow. Zhang Laodie, the loyal family steward, chose to end his life rather than leave the ancestral home. Heartbroken, Zhang Yi buried him beside his mother’s tomb, defying convention to honor the old man’s devotion.

As the sun set, Zhang Yi, Feiyun, and Ying Hua set out westward—away from the ruins of Anyi and toward an uncertain future in Qin.

Legacy and Reflection

The fall of Anyi mirrors the turbulent era of the Warring States, where shifting alliances and ruthless ambition redrew the map of power. Zhang Yi’s journey—from exile to strategist—exemplifies the resilience and cunning required to navigate such times. His rivalry with Su Qin, the rise of Qin, and the eventual unification of China under its banner all trace back to these pivotal moments in the Su River Valley.

Today, the tale of Anyi’s decline and Zhang Yi’s resolve serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of power and the enduring human spirit in the face of upheaval.