Longhu Mansion had nearly turned upside down, yet Qing Cang City remained relatively calm. For the refugees within the city, the only noticeable change was the appearance of hundreds of shiny bald heads. Those with better connections learned that an elite cavalry unit of eight hundred riders had entered the city under the cover of night, taking up positions around Longhu Mansion. These warriors, clad in white armor and mounted on white steeds, carried both swords and crossbows, exuding an imposing presence. The fact that Beiliang had taken control of Qing Cang was already a fait accompli. Since there was no massacre, and instead a steady stream of supplies poured into the city, many rare and previously scarce goods suddenly appeared in abundance, sprouting up like mushrooms after rain. Most of the refugees simply went with the flow. Of course, some citizens did leave the city seeking refuge elsewhere, but the gates were loosely guarded, and no one tried to stop them. After some time, the wealthier local elites, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, noticed the city settling into a state of peace and prosperity, and grudgingly returned.
Besides setting up soup kitchens at the city gates, Qing Cang also posted edicts and notices throughout the streets and alleys. A young scholar from Beiliang named Chen had temporarily assumed the role of city governor. Longhu Mansion had transformed overnight into the new governor’s official residence. Beiliang had lifted its ban on salt and iron trade in Qing Cang, and the new governor had begun drafting household registration documents. It was said that any citizen of Qing Cang who passed the review would be permitted to conduct business in Lingzhou, the wealthiest region in the three states of Beiliang. Those with discerning eyes could sense the subtle nourishment of spring rain soaking the earth. Naturally, there were both those who mourned and those who rejoiced. However, Zhou Junchen, who would never again have the chance to wear a dragon robe, was genuinely delighted. The Beiliang King was decisive and efficient in his actions. Official documents personally approved by Beiliang’s military commander Chu Lushan and the economic overseer Li Gongde had already been dispatched throughout Lingzhou. If Zhou Junchen hadn’t been helping Governor Chen tidy up the mess in Qing Cang, he could have already moved his entire family to Huangnan County, the granary of Lingzhou, to assume the post of county magistrate—a highly coveted position. The previous magistrate, Song Yan, had recently been promoted to deputy governor of Lingzhou, clearly indicating that this was a place of great opportunity for advancement.
Zhou Junchen had one good quality—he was a fence-sitter, but as long as he wasn’t asked to risk his life, and was given generous rewards, he would put in full effort without hesitation. In the past half-month, he had been tirelessly assisting the newly arrived Governor Chen, working diligently and without complaint. Once a local tyrant who could ignore the emperor’s morning court sessions, Zhou had barely slept soundly in recent days. The loyal soldiers of Qing Cang, who had once been favored by the old regime, now felt resentment and fear. Caught between the new ruler and his old comrades, Zhou Junchen was like both the matchmaker and the bride, his stress causing his mouth to blister. Yet, he carried himself with the pride of an official destined for a county magistrate, his spirit high as he looked forward to his future. Those with hope often feel this way—short-sighted as they may be, as long as they can see a promising path ahead, they won’t fear the toil.
As dusk approached but had not yet fully settled, a young scholar-like figure, escorted by a unit of white-clad cavalry, approached the crumbling northern wall of the city alone. He saw a man sitting atop the wall, his hair tied in the style of the Wudang Huangting sect, with two swords hanging at his waist, gazing northward. The scholar followed the swordsman’s gaze toward the north, to the Gusei Prefecture of the Beiman Kingdom. Last year’s one-sided battle had seemingly resulted in an unexpected victory for Beiliang’s iron cavalry, but the scholar knew in his heart that the Beiman forces had only been wounded, not crippled. The overall situation was mixed. The good news was that Gusei Prefecture had been devastated, with its signal towers and The Post Road (military roads) reduced by nearly ninety percent, making it difficult for large cavalry units to march south in the near future. The bad news was that Beiman had been awakened. Several prominent generals from the southern court would now reassess the martial balance between Beiman and Beiliang. When the next war broke out in full force, Beiliang would no longer have the luxury of a swift and decisive victory.
The young new governor of Qing Cang stepped forward and said softly, “Greetings, Beiliang King.”
Xu Xiao turned and smiled, “Xi Liang, you’ve come. These past few days, I’ve seen how busy you’ve been, so I didn’t want to bother you for a drink.”
Chen Xi Liang smiled faintly but did not respond much. This was perhaps one of the differences between him and Xu Beizhi. The latter would always mock and roll his eyes at both the Crown Prince and the new Beiliang King without any sense of being a guest. Chen Xi Liang, on the other hand, always maintained his proper place. At the time when the two trusted aides of the Crown Prince Xu and Chen had “parted ways,” Xu Beizhi was sent to Longqing Prefecture, while Chen Xi Liang remained secluded within the Qingliang Mountain Mansion, living in a small room at the top of the Tingchao Pavilion, immersed in books, particularly those left behind by Li Yishan.
Now, Beiliang’s military strategies, especially the reorganization of the military ranks and the deployment of fourteen key lieutenants based on geography, were all devised by Chen Xi Liang. However, after leaving the pavilion, Chen was entrusted with the full authority to handle the transportation of grain into Beiliang and the state monopoly on salt and iron, both of which did not go smoothly. In the former case, Huan Wen, the chief official of the Menxia Province of the Liyang court, personally intervened and deliberately obstructed Beiliang, and Chen’s defeat was not unjustified. Later, even though he could “command” Huangfu Chen, who held military power in Youzhou, he was still driven out by the entrenched and powerful local forces involved in the salt trade. The ownership of several major salt lakes remained unresolved, leading many high-ranking officials in Beiliang to scoff at him, privately mocking this scholar who had risen alongside Xu Beizhi, a man from the northern aristocracy, with the phrase, “Indeed, those from humble backgrounds cannot attain noble status!” Thus, the defeated Chen Xi Liang was urgently recalled by the new Beiliang King and sent to the desolate land of refugees to fend for himself. The position of Qing Cang’s governor? Was it comparable to any county magistrate in Lingzhou? Wasn’t this clearly a demotion? Looking back at Xu Beizhi, he had already become the highest-ranking official in a province, second only to the economic overseer in Beiliang! Comparing oneself to others could indeed be disheartening.
Xu Xiao changed his sitting posture, dangling his legs over the wall, and gently patted the hilts of his swords, Hehezu and Chunlei, saying, “The grain transport issue has already been handed over to the economic overseer to deal with the bureaucratic officials of Liyang. As for the matter of public versus private salt lakes, I know your intentions. You wanted to establish new rules for Beiliang, separating civil and military affairs, so you preferred to hit a wall rather than let Huangfu Chen interfere, insisting on a slow and steady approach that would yield lasting results without any hidden dangers. In fact, even if you had come to Qing Cang, you could have continued to oversee this matter remotely. However, I still decided not to let you continue. Partly because you might not know, Beiman has already decided to strike first on the western front, determined to remove Beiliang, the stinking stone in the latrine. Beiliang cannot afford to wait; time is not on our side. It’s not that your strategy is bad, but the overall trend is against you. Your efforts were outmatched by the timing. Moreover, the importance of Qing Cang to the entire Beiliang is greater than many Beiliang generals could have imagined.
Like Liyang, after suffering several defeats in previous battles, the current emperor was once criticized by the court and the people as the worst wastrel in the world, with the national treasury nearly depleted. In the past decade, under the misguided plans of many prominent ministers, the entire front line was moved south by two hundred miles, and many military towns and fortresses were disbanded. This wasn’t entirely wrong; in fact, it allowed the Liyang court to catch its breath and gradually recover, and the southern front line became increasingly solid. However, why did Gu Jiantang insist on taking the enormous political risk of being labeled as warmongering by the Yushi Tai and the five departments outside the Ministry of War, just to push the front line northward? According to Gu Jiantang’s original intention, the long eastern front line, which had consumed nearly half of the empire’s taxes, should not be moved north in its entirety, but selectively restore sixteen major fortresses. Even with Biyan’s strong support and Gu Jiantang’s appointment to oversee the northern military and political affairs, only six were built. Later on, as you know, the new Minister of War, Chen Zhibao, a favored official of the Zhao emperor, could only fight for resources with the court officials who each had their own hidden agendas. After somehow reaching an agreement with Biyan and Gu Jiantang, he publicly took a half-step back but secretly advanced a big step forward, cutting down some of the overlapping secondary fortresses on the new eastern front. Thus, with great difficulty, he managed to restore “six plus three fortresses” on the old eastern front from the court’s grasp. When Chen Zhibao left office, the total number was barely more than half of the perfect eastern front envisioned by Gu Jiantang. These nine new fortresses, which consumed countless treasures, were not meant to stop the Beiman cavalry in one fell swoop but to hold their ground stubbornly, without regard for face or life, trying to emulate Wang Yangming’s defense of Xiangfan. Their true purpose was to make Beiman, who sought a quick victory, realize that a direct attack would not succeed. Once they attempted to bypass the fortresses, their supply lines would be harassed by the elite cavalry from these military towns. Even if they couldn’t be completely cut off, they would at least be constantly harassed. Even if Liyang suffered initial defeats and lost the entire new eastern front, allowing Beiman to march all the way to Tai’an City, it would not matter. As long as the various feudal lords rallied to the emperor’s aid, these nine fortresses would provide mutual support, making it highly likely that Beiman would not return.
Of course, many people thought that Beiman could simply take the old eastern line’s new fortresses one by one. However, although Beiman had learned many siege tactics from the Central Plains in recent years, their fundamental nature remained that of nomadic raiders. If they were to dismount and attack cities, the cost in lives would be too great. Winning a battle in one place at one time would mean losing the overall strategy for conquering the world. Fundamentally, Beiman was nothing more than a larger version of Beiliang, equally unable to afford the luxury of time. Once the restoration of the Xichu Kingdom failed and Liyang had dealt with the last remnants of the Spring and Autumn Period, not only would the financial resources of the Central Plains be fully under the Zhao family’s control, but the people’s hearts would also be won over. At that time, Liyang would truly reach its peak. Yes, roughly comparable to the great Qin Dynasty eight hundred years ago, it would barely have the strength for a decisive battle.
Chen Xi Liang tightly pressed his lips together and did not speak.
Xu Xiao smiled lightly and said, “I know you still have some complaints, thinking that we should handle both matters at the same time. But you can say what you want; I won’t listen. Anyway, I’m about to leave Qing Cang, so whatever you say, I’ll pretend not to hear. Once you finish your term as Qing Cang’s governor, you’ll likely become the governor of Liuzhou…”
Chen Xi Liang shook his head and interrupted, “I’m someone who has high aspirations but lacks ability. I already find governing Qing Cang quite challenging, so I won’t take on the role of Liuzhou governor. Moreover, the Beiliang King himself has said that Qing Cang is crucial to the Beiliang front line. Let alone Liuzhou, which includes Qing Cang. I’m only good at talking and am completely inexperienced in warfare. Plus, I’m afraid of seeing people die. As long as I don’t witness the bloodshed caused by my plans, I can feel relatively at ease. But if I see smoke rising and people dying around me, I, Chen Xi Liang, will never be able to bear it.”
Xu Xiao sighed, recognizing the stubbornness of his decision, a trait he shared with his friend, Ju Zi. Xu Xiao wore a self-mocking smile and said, “Fine, if you don’t want to do it, I won’t force you. Besides, I’ve got a big fish lure now. A provincial governorship is a high position that countless people envy. This time, as we reorganize the Beiliang army, the original three provinces of Beiliang have all been handed over to civilian officials. Civilian governance and military command—don’t expect them to complement each other quickly, but at least they should avoid interfering with each other. Both sides should refrain from making their conflicts too obvious. Since you don’t want this governorship, I can give it to the martial families who have suffered losses. Not only the governorship, but all the positions from top to bottom can be filled by them as a way to pacify them. Otherwise, you wouldn’t see so many powerful figures on the border pretending to be obedient after the early spring military review. Many of them are secretly cursing me behind my back, drowning their sorrows in wine. I’ve heard that the sales of green ant wine have increased significantly compared to previous years.”
Chen Xi Liang smiled knowingly, “Indeed, being the Beiliang King is no easy task. It’s time to use a large number of official positions in Liuzhou to appease the people. Now, Beiliang is showing a clear trend of appointing scholars to official posts, encouraging the formation of scholarly societies, funding the establishment of various academies, and inviting renowned literary figures such as the headmaster of the Shangyin Academy and Huang Chang to critique writings. Every year, three “exemplary essays” are selected from each of the three provinces of Beiliang—You, Liang, and Ling. Regardless of their social background, those who win the top spots in these provinces can directly enter officialdom, with the lowest rank being a regular eighth-grade official. This is enough to drive those self-proclaimed talented scholars, who feel their talents have been unrecognized, to the brink of madness. In contrast, the martial officials, who have lost their financial benefits and power, are not just feeling disappointed—they probably have murderous thoughts. As the head of the Beiliang family, the Beiliang King must now strike a blow and then offer a sweet date.”
Xu Xiao nodded in agreement.
Chen Xi Liang fell silent.
The two had first met at the Baoguo Temple in Jiangnan, during a gathering of scholars. Xu Xiao had missed the famous blind scholar Lu Xu, but he had not missed this Jiangnan scholar, whom Li Yishan had described as someone whose potential only needed to be expanded.
Chen Xi Liang stood on the city wall, his hands resting on the rough, uneven mud wall. His expression softened as he softly laughed, “Back then, I was just a delusional fool who dreamed of being posthumously honored with the title ‘Wenzheng,’ unable even to enter the gates of Baoguo Temple. Not only could I not join the elegant scholars inside, but even the idle sons of noble families outside the temple could look down on me with disdain. I spent my days drawing dragons with charcoal, never imagining that one day I would become so prosperous that someone would offer me a provincial governorship, which I wouldn’t even want to accept. Life’s twists and turns are so absurd that even this madman finds them unbelievable. Sometimes, when I wake up in the morning, I want to slap myself a few times because only the pain can convince me that I’m not dreaming. And now, I’m chatting casually with a powerful prince who commands three hundred thousand iron cavalry, discussing the affairs of the world. How could a destitute scholar, full of ideas out of step with the times, transform into a man of great ambition?”
Xu Xiao was amused and joked, “I hope we can part ways amicably and that you’ll never reach a day where you feel you’ve chosen the wrong person to follow.”
Chen Xi Liang nodded, clenching his fists against the city wall, “I hope to see this through to the end with the Beiliang King.”
Xu Xiao teased, “As for me, I already have two wives in name, unlike you, who hasn’t even started a family yet. Now that you’ve become a prominent figure in Qing Cang, the sky’s the limit for you.”
Chen Xi Liang was puzzled, “Huh?”
Xu Xiao playfully pointed at his own crotch.
Chen Xi Liang’s lips twitched slightly, at a loss for words.
Xu Xiao stood up, jumped down from the wall, and patted Chen Xi Liang’s shoulder, “As the saying goes, ‘When a man dies, his testicles point to the sky.’ While alive, you must live up to your own bird.”
Chen Xi Liang smiled faintly but did not follow Xu Xiao down from the wall. Instead, he took a rare moment of leisure to stand there, gazing into the distance with the last rays of sunlight, looking northward at the endless yellow sands.
As a native of Jiangnan, Chen Xi Liang had initially struggled to adapt to the northwest landscapes of Beiliang. The twilight here always arrived late, the sky seemed higher than in the south, and the vast deserts made him feel small. Every inch of this land had once been soaked in blood and the lingering smoke of war. To the north lay the Beiman Kingdom, portrayed by the Central Plains as uncivilized barbarians who knew nothing but raw flesh and blood, yet in reality, it was an unprecedentedly formidable enemy unlike any dynasty the Central Plains had ever faced.
To the east, continuing eastward, lay Tai’an City, the residence of the Zhao family of Liyang. At this time, Liyang was experiencing a golden age of harmony between the emperor and his ministers, growing increasingly prosperous. Chen Xi Liang, who loved reading history, was certain that future historians would write about this era with admiration, regardless of whether the emperor’s surname was Zhao. The next generation would look back on this period with longing, a new era of prosperity for Liyang, led by a wise ruler known for his diligence and tolerance. Surrounding him were a series of famous ministers, including Zhang Julu, Huan Wen, Yao Bai Feng, Lu Daolin, Gu Jiantang, Chen Zhibao, Lu Baijie, Lu Shengxiang, Nalan Youci, Zhao Youling, Yin Maochun, and more. Even the martial figures like Wang Xianzhi of Wudi City, Cao Changqing of Xichu, and Qi Yanglong of the Shangyin Academy all shone brightly on the ruins of the Spring and Autumn Period, creating a glorious era unmatched in eight hundred years.
Chen Xi Liang instinctively looked for Xu Xiao’s figure, but the Beiliang King, who was several years younger than him, had already vanished into the distance.
Could this man truly soar freely under the vast sky?
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