There Is Light in Changshan

Yan Chengzong, a master's student in history, wrote his thesis on the transmission history of the Manuscript for My Nephew. He knew Yan Jiming all too well. In the two histories of the Tang, there was only one line about him: "Jiming, son of Gaoqing." When Changshan fell, he was captured by the rebels. He refused to submit and was killed. The word "killed" in the footnote was written with cool detachment.

Then he was reborn as Yan Jiming. He was eight years old, in the third year of the Tianbao era, eleven years before the An Lushan Rebellion.

He knew how it would end. He knew Changshan would fall, his father would die, and he would die. He thought that "knowing" gave him an advantage. He repaired the city walls, stored grain, built an intelligence network, and trained local militia. He did everything he could. He even made an evacuation list and put A Zhen's name in the middle, because the historical records said she "was ransomed after being captured." She would be safe.

He predicted every major event correctly. The one thing he failed to account for was that she would turn back.

In the first month of 756, Changshan fell. Before the tunnel was sealed, he made the most irrational decision of his life: he turned back.

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate anything in this story.