Do not underestimate the western part of Lingzhou City, even though it is not as prosperous as the northern part. This area is a place where tigers and dragons lurk. Most of the government clerks and officials reside here, and rumors about the recent incident quickly spread to every tavern. Wang Luting and Sun Yin chose a restaurant that specialized in Jian’nan Shaochun wine. They sat at a second-floor table near the railing and ordered a plate of the renowned Camel Hump Roast, famous throughout Beiliang. Below them, the diners were engaged in loud conversations, all discussing the recent commotion on Wenquan Street. Initially, they cursed the young prince’s immoral behavior, especially his disgraceful treatment of Colonel Dong Yueqi, Huang Bingcao, and the loyal General Hong Yuan. The prince had forced them to kneel, leveraging his status as the general of Lingzhou, and even demanded they bare their upper bodies. This enraged the three men so much that they chose to remove their armor themselves, declaring their intentions to leave Beiliang and no longer serve the Xu family.
However, some more informed clerks joined the conversation, revealing that the situation was far more complicated than it seemed. It turned out that the sons of the Dong and Zhou families had ridden their horses recklessly through the street, provoking the prince first. They had even attempted to mobilize soldiers to “surround and eliminate” the general of Lingzhou. This revelation caused those who had previously condemned Xu Fengnian to soften their stance, though they still muttered that it was merely a case of dogs fighting, with neither side being particularly virtuous.
As more clerks who were privy to the details continued to share the truth, rumors began to spread throughout Lingzhou’s mansions and taverns. Eventually, the truth emerged, and the fiercely independent people of Lingzhou, known for their strong character, fell into an unprecedented silence. Those who had been the loudest in condemning the prince found themselves feeling uneasy and surprised.
Wang Luting observed and listened, feeling a sense of relief. He put down his chopsticks and noticed that Sun Yin across the table remained indifferent, continuing to eat a piece of the fragrant camel hump meat. Wang Luting smiled and asked, “Was that really your best strategy? At the time, I didn’t know what the prince said, but without drawing his sword or killing anyone, he managed to make Colonel Dong Yueqi kneel before his back. I thought he must have invoked the authority of the Beiliang King and the lives of Dong’s entire clan to force Dong to submit. It was fascinating to see two old warriors, one crying while holding his armor and the other beating his grandson in the street.”
Sun Yin shook his head. “I did have a good strategy, but the prince offered an even better one. This way, not only did Dong Hongqiu and others become convinced, but they also refrained from naively bowing their heads. At the very least, they will continue to feel grateful to the Xu family for not forgetting their contributions. This reassurance is more comforting to these straightforward military officers than any verbal promise. Their respective circles will also temporarily remain quiet, and out of gratitude, they will be willing to step back for the prince. More importantly, it created a rift among the tightly-knit military officers in Lingzhou. The officers who have fought on the battlefield will start to view the sons of generals who obtained their positions through their fathers’ merits with suspicion, making it impossible for them to remain as close as before. As for the clerks and constables who are adept at reading the wind, seeing the upper ranks grow distant, they will naturally behave themselves. No one is foolish; if the general of Lingzhou can subdue Dong Yueqi, who had the backing of the esteemed General Zhong Hongwu, then dealing with these low-ranking clerks and constables will be effortless. The more the prince wields the imperial sword and holds it high without striking, the more it instills fear in people’s hearts. Now, the prince has not used the authority of the Beiliang King to strike Dong Yueqi and Huang Bingcao with the imperial sword, but instead has appealed to their sense of reason. Yet, the prince is a ruthless person who dares to confront Zhong Hongwu, and no one used to call him cunning now knows that the general of Lingzhou is not a kind-hearted person. Everyone suspects that Lingzhou will soon experience a bloody purge, and blood will definitely be spilled. Layer by layer, the situation escalates, and the reclusive Strategist-in-Chief has not moved, nor has the Vice Governor Zhou Jianshu, who has been kneeling all along. Now even the arrogant officer behind Dong Yueqi hasn’t moved. Luting, so who do you think is next?”
Wang Luting smiled knowingly, “It can only be those clerks who have stirred up the official circles in Lingzhou and made their lives miserable. Although you and I know that the prince won’t confront them directly, they don’t know that. They will only feel that the sword hanging over their heads is about to fall, making them feel worse than death.”
Sun Yin nodded, his expression gloomy.
Wang Luting whispered, “With the prince’s intelligence and skill, you still refuse to serve as an official?”
Sun Yin countered, “What kind of official? A county magistrate governing a region? A deputy governor of one of Lingzhou’s seven commanderies? Or a strategist in the Inspector’s office?”
Before Wang Luting could persuade him, Sun Yin sneered, “I wouldn’t be good at any of them. A person’s value lies in self-awareness, which allows one to understand others. I, Sun Yin, have high aspirations but lack practical skills. As a county magistrate, I would be without support and unwilling to engage with local gentry and clerk families. They would easily outmaneuver me. Even if the prince were my patron, these cunning individuals would have many subtle ways to undermine me, making it impossible for me to accomplish anything. I would be unable to implement policies, leading to economic decline and suffering for the people. I wouldn’t receive a farewell umbrella from the citizens upon leaving office; instead, I would face daily curses and blame from the county’s people. Would I, Sun Yin, need the prince to provide a group of capable clerks to accompany me? As for assisting a governor or serving an inspector, my abilities wouldn’t be much better. The prince might be a benevolent ruler who values loyalty, worthy of your allegiance, Wang Luting, and capable of changing the opinions of people like Dong Yueqi, and commanding the loyalty of thirty thousand border cavalry to the death, but for me, it’s of no use.”
Wang Luting felt disheartened, as if it were a matter of love between a man and a woman; though the woman is clearly excellent, she simply does not love him.
They left the bustling tavern, which now seemed to have more high-hatted, well-dressed scholars with foreign accents than usual. Wang Luting’s mood was heavy as they entered a quiet alley. Since Sun Yin disliked extravagance, Wang Luting had found him a clean house hidden in this alley. Slightly tipsy, Sun Yin self-mockingly said, “The strategies I’ve studied and the texts I’ve written, I believe are original and surpass those of ancient scholars. Unfortunately, they are merely the Dragon-Slaying Art (Dragon-slaying techniques) that people mock in texts, completely useless in Beiliang. Luting, you don’t need to persuade me anymore. By declining the prince’s invitation and becoming a tutor in the Zijin Wang family, I can still make the prince view you with more respect due to his sense of guilt, and consider it repayment for the years I’ve been protected by the Zijin family.”
Wang Luting clenched his teeth and said, “Sun Yin, with your talent, how can you spend your whole life as a tutor? Historically, it’s natural for Wang Luting to be absent, but it would be a great loss if Sun Yin were missing. Once I become the director of the Jinlou Weaving Bureau, I will risk my life to send you to…”
Before Wang Luting could finish, Sun Yin angrily said, “Stop!”
This residential area had alleys crisscrossing each other, but at night, it was cold and desolate. A cough from a dark corner was particularly jarring. Wang Luting was shocked, his face turning pale. Sun Yin sighed, and they stopped walking. A young nobleman wearing a sable fur hat and a woolen cap emerged from the shadows, smiling at them.
Wang Luting slowly knelt down, saying nothing.
Gaining wealth only to lose it again, truly unpredictable is the way of the world.
Xu Fengnian smiled, “If you, Wang Luting, didn’t have this sense of loyalty and only focused on climbing the bureaucratic ladder, you would be just another Yan Jie Xi or Jin Lan Ting. I wouldn’t feel comfortable placing you in such an important position as the Jinlou Weaving Bureau. Stand up.”
Sun Yin helped Wang Luting to his feet, saying calmly, “Sun Yin, the prince is speaking the truth. In the future, feel free to take your position as the director of the Jinlou Weaving Bureau, and don’t feel guilty about me. Now that things have come to this, let me speak from the heart. My life has been on the chopping block since I met the prince, and it may not be safe. Without any unexpected turns, I will likely die quietly and unnoticed. Only with my death can I account for myself to you, Wang Luting, and to Beiliang and the court. When you bound me and brought me to Lingzhou and asked why I was so willing to face death, the root of it was exactly this.”
Xu Fengnian looked at Sun Yin, “I can give you the opportunity to use your dragon-slaying techniques, but I can’t guarantee it will be in ten or twenty years, or if it will ever happen at all. But for you, Sun Yin, at least there will be a chance. Do you want to make a big deal with me?”
Unlike the grief-stricken Wang Luting, Sun Yin remained calm, smiling and saying, “If it were before today, I wouldn’t believe it for a second, but now, in this place, I’m willing to listen to the prince’s insights. If I think there’s profit to be made, I’ll take this deal. After all, Sun Yin only has one life and a belly full of knowledge that doesn’t fit the times, so I can’t lose much.”
Xu Fengnian, walking alone, turned and left, and Sun Yin slowly followed. Wang Luting, his limbs weak, could only lean against the wall, gasping for breath.
Wang Luting, standing there, thought Sun Yin’s life was hanging in the balance. The best scenario he could imagine was that Sun Yin would return alive, but he didn’t expect Sun Yin to return with a smile after just a short while, his eyes bright and full of spirit.
Sun Yin took the young head of the Zijin Wang family’s hand and smiled, “Luting, this is the last time we will meet in this life.”
Wang Luting was sorrowful, “Is the prince still going to have you killed?”
Sun Yin shook his head and smiled, “The worst-case scenario.”
Wang Luting sighed in relief, “Does he want you to be his trusted advisor and plan strategies for him in the future?”
Sun Yin shook his head again, “Middle strategy.”
Wang Luting, who had already suffered greatly from speaking too much, had a changing expression. Knowing what he was thinking, Sun Yin still smiled, “It’s still just the best strategy. The prince has given Sun Yin another unexpected surprise. Luting, don’t think too much about it. No matter how hard you think, you won’t figure it out. Otherwise, how could we deceive old foxes like Zhang Julu who can see through the smallest details?”
Wang Luting gripped Sun Yin’s hand tightly and laughed, “I won’t bother myself with unnecessary worries. As long as you are doing well, that’s enough for me. Then Wang Luting will stay in Beiliang and wait for you to achieve the three top honors in the capital. At that time, who in the world won’t know you!”
Sun Yin whispered, “Earlier, while I was watching from the sidelines, I had some thoughts on the situation in Beiliang, six strategies in total. Come on, let’s go back to my place, and I’ll write them down for you. With this, you can rightly become the director of the Jinlou Weaving Bureau. Then I have some rough drafts about the direction of the court’s situation, which I’ll also write down for you. With a little polishing, you might even reach the position of the Lingzhou Inspector one day. I have to return to Huangnan County tomorrow, but you have to stay in the state capital. How about we spend the whole night talking tonight?”
Wang Luting laughed, “I’m used to sleeping with a young lady, so if I fall asleep, be careful, I might take liberties with you.”
Sun Yin burst into laughter.
Wang Luting had never seen Sun Yin so happily at ease.
In another small alley, Xu Fengnian walked side by side with Xu Beizhi, with Pei Nanwei following behind.
Xu Beizhi spoke slowly, “According to the reports from spies near the two, Sun Yin’s knowledge is the rare Dragon-Slaying Technique rather than the Dragon-Riding Technique. My grandfather had some similar ideas before, scattered and fragmented, but he dared not put them into writing. Are you really willing to send him to the capital as a piece that might never be used?”
Xu Fengnian laughed, “Since the time of Chancellor Tang Tusou of the Yinghua Hall in the Liyang court, passing through Chancellor Liu Yanghou to the current Chancellor Zhang Julu, no matter how the methods of governing change, whether it’s the Liu faction or the Zhang faction, the underlying principles have been passed down consistently, like a flame. Take the example of the Han family in Jizhou and Chancellor Liu Yanghou, who were entangled in a web of favors and grudges. Chancellor Liu couldn’t bring down the Han family, but when the legacy passed to Zhang Julu, at the first opportunity, he borrowed the emperor’s knife to kill the entire Han family. In the court’s factional struggles, the most important thing is the inheritance, similar to the nature of aristocratic families. Now, the Minister of Revenue, Wang Xionggui, is openly the top disciple of Biyan, but my teacher said that Wang’s vision is far inferior to Zhang Julu’s. The emperor and Yuan Benxi probably want Wang to take over the Zhang faction, but they will never let him become the Chancellor. Zhang Julu and Huan Wen see this clearly. Given Zhang’s personality, he won’t be afraid of being held accountable after his death, even if his entire family is executed, he won’t soften his stance. The emperor’s strategy of discarding a used donkey once it’s no longer needed is used without hesitation. In which dynasty hasn’t one or two fat donkeys been slaughtered? What Zhang Julu fears is that his governance strategies will be changed by the court. When my teacher allowed Jin Lan Ting to go to the capital, he knew that this person was not up to the task, and he might have had the intention to secretly harm Zhang Julu. However, now that Yao Bai Feng has publicly scolded Jin San Lang in the National Academy, I estimate that Zhang Julu is also somewhat vigilant and may have already started preparing to replace someone to assist Wang Xionggui, who will eventually lead the Zhang faction. Sun Yin’s departure is just right. Of course, Sun Yin’s usefulness is far more than that. The most urgent task for Beiliang now is to ensure that Sun Yin’s journey to the capital is fraught with hardships and difficulties. This major secret, I plan to bypass the Wutong Institute and have Chu Lushan handle it personally.”
Xu Beizhi laughed, “Are you afraid the Wutong Institute lacks experience, or are you worried that the Second Princess is too hardworking? Or is it that after beating Chu Lushan’s Youjun last year, you’re giving him a date as a reward for the New Year?”
Xu Beizhi suddenly noticed Xu Fengnian’s cold expression. Knowing how perceptive Xu Beizhi is, he was startled and stopped joking.
Xu Beizhi sighed inwardly.
It had taken great effort to pour oil on the fire for the court, and Beiliang itself hadn’t escaped a snowstorm either.
Xu Fengnian suddenly laughed bitterly, “Being a prince and the general of Lingzhou is already so tiring. Can you imagine how exhausting it would be to become an emperor who rules everything?”
Xu Beizhi laughed, “An emperor who knows how to recognize and use people isn’t as tiring as you think.”
Xu Fengnian twirled a copper coin between his fingers and laughed it off.
Han Laoshan, who was about to leave, spoke softly, “Your Highness, we’ve received news that a master and servant with unknown backgrounds have entered from Hanshi County in Lingzhou. They claim they want to meet the prince who brought back the head of the fifth Mo from Liangzhou. Hanshi County has sent out two groups of over four hundred soldiers and officers, but none have been able to stop them. Your Highness, here are the portraits of the master and servant.”
Xu Fengnian was puzzled, took the two pieces of paper with detailed descriptions of their appearances and actions, and after reading them, handed them to Xu Beizhi, laughing, “These two are really bold. In the middle of winter, they carry a peach blossom beauty folding fan, claiming they want to paint all twenty women on the list of the top and secondary beauties. They are as flamboyant as they can be. Orange, take a look. Their appearance is the kind that can easily stir the hearts of female martial artists, even more handsome than you. Are you jealous?”
Xu Beizhi was puzzled, “When did someone like this appear in the martial world? What level are they at?”
Xu Fengnian casually replied, “Daring to come to Beiliang so openly, and directly targeting me, Xu Fengnian, without reaching the first level, isn’t it just asking for death? Since he mentioned the Fifth Mo, his arrogance is sky-high, so he must be at the Zhixuan level.”
Han Laoshan softly asked, “Your Highness, Xu Yanbing is not in Lingzhou, should I leave the city to intercept this person?”
Xu Fengnian sneered, “No need for you to go. Let’s see if he has the ability to come to the city. If he does come, then let’s see if he has the ability to leave alive.”
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