Yang Jiao Ya’er was considerate and understanding, not minding at all that the two guests had taken over the conversation. Seeing them settle in for a long night of discussion, she lit two thick red candles in the main hall and then retreated to her chamber to read, leaving the door slightly ajar. She was willing to light a lamp, so she secretly squatted by the door, using the dim light to strain her eyes over her books.
The Jiu Academy of Shangyin had countless scholars and teachers, but very few truly deserved the title of “Great Master.” Wang Jiujiu had once won the debate on names and realities but lost the contest of Heaven and Man to the current Grand Jiu of the Academy. Even so, his influence remained firmly within the top three in the Academy. When it came to the art of persuasion and strategy, none could rival him. At this moment, Wang Jiujiu leaned forward, warming his hands over the brazier, his weathered face glowing in the firelight. Occasionally, he plucked a peanut from a dish and popped it into his mouth.
Xu Fengnian sat on a small wooden stool, holding the girl’s favorite pair of Barbaric Brocade boots, carefully warming them over the brazier at just the right distance. In this way, no matter how lofty their positions, both of them exuded a grounded, rustic charm, far from the lofty, untouchable image of clay statues in a temple. Neither of them rushed to speak, even though the current situation was urgent. After all, life was not like a game of Go, where a move could be regretted and changed. Wang Jiujiu, ever meticulous, bore a heavy heart. Scholars often spoke grandly but failed to match their lofty words with practical results. Wang Jiujiu had spent his life mastering the art of strategy and diplomacy, but even the best plans required people to execute them. On a Go board, once a stone was placed, it could not be moved, but real people were not so simple. Who would willingly become a puppet on strings or a pawn crossing a river? This was precisely why Wang Jiujiu had always treated the game of Go with indifference. After all, the pieces were lifeless. Otherwise, couldn’t one simply choose capable statesmen from among the Go masters of the imperial court?
The little girl, peeking at the white-haired man outside while turning the pages of her book, certainly didn’t dislike him, but neither did she feel any budding affection. For one, she was still young, and secondly, affection between men and women wasn’t simply about how good the other person was—it was something no one could explain. Love had no beginning, and it had no end; who could ever truly understand fate? Influenced by her scholarly family, Yang Jiao Ya’er believed she would one day marry someone like her father. The warm and handsome young man in the hall outside was nice enough, but he just wasn’t to her taste. She hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, and she soon pulled her shallow thoughts back. Instinctively, she dipped her finger in her mouth, wet it slightly, and turned the page, savoring the taste of ink. She smiled to herself. Her parents always scolded her for this habit, saying books were hard to come by and that destroying them was unforgivable. But what did a little girl care? She never changed, and eventually, her father learned to pretend not to notice.
Finally, in the main hall, Master Wang spoke slowly, “We must first consider defeat before victory. Let’s start with the worst-case scenario. Of the six hundred people, the ratio of scholars to students is roughly two to eight. In recent years, I’ve sent nearly half of the Jixia scholars to places like Old Shu, Ji Prefecture, and Xiangfan under various pretexts for study and lectures. About half of the Jixia scholars have set up private academies within eight hundred miles of Beiliang or attached themselves to local nobles. These people entering Beiliang may do so relatively easily, but we must also consider the possibility of secret surveillance by the imperial court. At the first sign of trouble, they might move swiftly to eliminate them. If even these people are at risk, imagine those who remain in the Academy—they are like fish on a chopping block. The relationship between the Xu and Zhao families has run its course. With such a large-scale migration, not only will there be resistance from local officials along the way, but even the Zhu Gou might be deployed. These scholars and students, no more delicate than fragile women, cannot withstand the trampling of cavalry. To put it bluntly, a single spear from a skilled soldier of Liyang could pierce a line of them like candied haws on a stick. Your Highness, when you said less than half might reach Beiliang, you were not exaggerating.”
Xu Fengnian smiled and said, “When the enemy comes, we meet them with generals; when the flood comes, we stop it with earth. The iron cavalry of Liyang and the Zhu Gou, skilled in assassination, may be used to feasting on flesh, but do you think our spies and informants in Beiliang are vegetarians? When they were still watching us from the sidelines, we were already feasting heartily. My master left behind a contingency plan for this very situation, and now we are already taking action. The advantage of terrain lies with Liyang, but in terms of timing and human support, though not entirely in Beiliang’s favor, it is certainly better than in those earlier years of hardship. First, Beiliang launched raids on several towns along the northern border of Nanman, and my second elder sister even led an army all the way to the southern capital of the Southern Court, keeping Nanman on the defensive. Then there was the demon lord Luo Yang, who spent an entire year pushing southward last year, luring and killing countless elite cavalry. Beiliang has long maintained a large network of spies and assassins, originally used to guard against Nanman infiltration. These people were once feared for targeting only those barely above the lowest ranks of the martial world, avoiding the heavily guarded elites. Now, however, they can be deployed within Liyang. If Nanman dares to seize the opportunity and collude with the Zhao family, then let Xu Xiao strike again. Coincidentally, the newly appointed Beiliang Commander Chu Lushan and the cavalry commander Yuan Zuozong are both eager to make their mark. If they can direct their efforts toward Nanman, even Zhong Hongwu and Yan Wenluan would be delighted. Moreover, the Zhu Gou of Liyang has not yet recovered from the heavy losses inflicted by Cao Changqing when he escorted the princess. Our spies and assassins may not be skilled in open combat, but they excel in covert operations, whether in small teams or larger units. In a confrontation with the Zhu Gou, they can hold their own. Additionally, the elite warriors who once devoted themselves to protecting me—the wayward son of a noble family—can now be deployed to support Beiliang’s established military intelligence network. Don’t forget, the reason Beiliang’s cavalry is unmatched is largely due to its superior scouting. If the imperial court of Zhao dares to tear off its mask and deploy more than a thousand elite soldiers, then they should be prepared to meet their match.”
The old scholar sighed, “Then the board will be a tangled mess of teeth.”
He pulled his hands back from the fire, rubbing his thin cheeks, “And there may be blood everywhere.”
Xu Fengnian said calmly, “You can’t expect a horse to pull your cart without feeding it hay. There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. My family does not plot rebellion or seek the throne, yet we guard the northwestern frontier for the Zhao family. Even a common household knows to feed the dog that guards their home. Yet the Zhao family dreams of starving that dog—our only flaw being that we refuse to grovel—until its ribs stick out, then they’ll wait for the right time to cook it into a hearty stew. Even a dog will jump over a wall when cornered, let alone the iron cavalry of Beiliang, hardened in blood.”
Xu Fengnian suddenly smiled, setting down the girl’s now-warmed boots and adjusting the coals with a pair of tongs, “But if I were the emperor or crown prince of the Zhao family, I’d be wary of the Xu family too. No one likes to hear another man snoring beside his bed. Still, understanding is one thing; accepting it is another matter entirely.”
Suddenly, he laughed, “But then again, if I were the emperor or crown prince of the Zhao family, I’d be just as wary of the Xu family. No one likes to hear another man snoring beside his bed. Still, understanding is one thing; accepting it is another matter entirely.”
Xu Fengnian smiled wryly, “It’s not easy being the head of the family. The child who cries the loudest gets the candy. If you don’t throw a tantrum now and then, no one will take you seriously.”
Master Wang chuckled, “Then let’s consider the brighter side of things?”
Xu Fengnian’s expression brightened, “Now that’s a pleasant thought.”
But the old scholar shook his head, “Let’s temper your optimism. Suppose we assume that most of the six hundred make it safely to Beiliang. Have you considered what will happen when the temple is small but the gods are many, and there’s not enough porridge to go around? The entire realm of scholars is watching to see how Beiliang will accommodate them. Beiliang is poor and narrow, and while there are many official posts, they can’t be handed out carelessly. Too many titles will devalue them, and once people settle in, they won’t be eager to serve you anymore. Moreover, the local clans of Beiliang, many of whom rose to prominence during the Spring and Autumn Wars, will inevitably clash. Whom will you side with? Favoring one party will only breed resentment from the other, and the more you favor them, the more insatiable their demands will become. The real difficulty lies not only in the major military matters that often involve bloodshed but also in the petty squabbles that wear you down. I know you’ve worked hard to shed your reputation as a spoiled brat, especially among the veteran soldiers who once held you in low regard. It wasn’t easy. Aren’t you afraid that bringing in this faction of scholars from the Academy will lead to factionalism and undermine all your efforts? That people will call you a wasteful, empty-headed fop?”
Xu Fengnian smiled, “The happiest thing for a bride is not only to find a husband who loves her but also to have a fair father-in-law and a kind mother-in-law. Beiliang is eager for talent, but while good horses are common, true connoisseurs are rare. Without the hundreds from Shangyin Academy, the Xu family still managed to establish itself in Beiliang and crush Nanman so thoroughly that they couldn’t even lift their heads. As for the local clans of Beiliang, there were many things Xu Xiao couldn’t do, but I have no qualms about playing the villain. You may have had old ties of friendship with Xu Xiao, using that goodwill to exploit the people and strip the land bare, but you and I have not reached that level of intimacy. I didn’t get where I am today by relying on them. I won’t favor anyone—I’ll just treat both the local clans and the newcomers with reason and courtesy. Outside of Beiliang, my words might not carry weight, but within Beiliang, if you refuse to listen to reason, I’ll make sure you regret it. If you’re a local clan, you can be a wealthy landowner thanks to your military merits or hold key military posts in the various prefectures—fine, that’s your due. But if you behave shamelessly, undermining the Xu family’s foundations, chipping away here and hammering there to create holes like a dog digging under a fence, making the once-solid walls of the house riddled with gaps, don’t blame me for filling those holes with your corpses. If you’re an outsider, as long as you don’t pretend to be high-minded and work diligently, there will be official posts, gold and silver, and even women in abundance. Beiliang may be small, but that has its advantages—everything happens under the Xu family’s watchful eyes. Whatever you do, we will see it. What the Xu family seeks is nothing more than fairness. As for the hard words and bitter advice, I suppose that will fall to you, old master. I imagine you’ll hear plenty of curses behind your back.”
Master Wang nodded, “With fairness and compassion working hand in hand, these poor new brides who’ve lost their Mother’s family will have a chance to rise if they work hard and endure. There will be bumps along the way, but at least they won’t be driven to despair. They’re not delicate ladies of noble birth, but as long as they find a considerate family, they can endure the hardships.”
Xu Fengnian joked with a smile, “The first time I saw you playing Go with Xu Xiao on Qingliang Peak, your words were elegant and refined. Perhaps it’s because I’m such a vulgar fellow that you’ve lowered your tone.”
The old scholar shook his head with a wry smile, “This is called tailoring the dish to the guest. Treating each case according to its needs. If I were to act too familiar with Beiliang King, a man known as the fiercest brute in Liyang, deliberately trying to get close with loud laughter, hearty drinking, and feasting, it would have been unbearable for an old man like me. Besides, the reason why the art of strategy is also called the art of long and short is simply because it involves using one’s strengths against the enemy’s weaknesses. Speaking of that, I’d like to test you, Your Highness. Where do Beiliang and Liyang each stand in terms of strengths and weaknesses?”
Xu Fengnian looked helpless, “That’s a question for Xu Beizhi or Chen Xiliang. I’m not about to expose my own weaknesses. Does that count as grasping the essence of the art of strategy?”
Master Wang hummed thoughtfully.
Xu Fengnian asked softly, “This little girl’s surname is Ouyang, and so is her grandfather’s. They’re from Longgang. Have you heard of them, old master?”
Master Wang replied calmly, “The girl’s father is half my student. He doesn’t have much faith in Beiliang and won’t be joining us there.”
Xu Fengnian nodded. Well then, with the upheaval in Shangyin Academy, both the Academy and the imperial court would want to maintain stability. With the girl’s father’s scholarly reputation, his future would at least be secure.
Xu Fengnian stood up, “Then shall we depart?”
Master Wang stood as well, smiling, “Won’t you say goodbye?”
Xu Fengnian smiled, “That girl dislikes sentimentality.”
The two quietly stepped out of the house. After closing the door, Xu Fengnian hung the jade pendant he had taken with him on the grapevine trellis.
The next day, the snowstorm ceased. A towering snowman, several people high, stood by the Fo Palm Lake of Shangyin Academy.
Yang Jiao Ya’er ran all the way to Yu Youwei’s courtyard, shouting joyfully, “Big sister Yu, there’s a huge snowman by the lake, and it looks just like you!”
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