If last year’s Lingzhou political arena was still in a state of undercurrents stirred by the Crown Prince who was also the military commander of Lingzhou, it was merely a farce with much thunder but little rain. Then the military and political upheaval in Youzhou under the bloody iron fist of the new King of Xiliang was a tragedy that left everything in disarray and everyone in fear. Spring rain is as precious as oil, and in Xiliang, springtime rainfall at the tail end is even more so. Once the rain fell, it washed away the blood, saving Youzhou’s various government offices a great deal of trouble. One must understand that in this unprecedented upheaval in Xiliang, three senior officers were killed, and the number of powerful military commanders who perished was more than could be counted on both hands. Hundreds of officials and nobles were stripped of their official statuses and exiled to border regions. The so-called eight hundred military families entrenched in Youzhou, though the number was exaggerated, there were certainly three hundred households. Most of these families were affected and had no ability to resist. Those who waited patiently for the thunderous wrath of General Yan Wenluan were even more disheartened. Not only did the general remain a passive observer, he even personally deployed six elite battalions of the Yan family’s direct lineage to control several key passes in northern Youzhou. This was not merely a betrayal; it was akin to stabbing oneself deliberately.
With the Snow Dragon Cavalry infiltrating the heart of Youzhou, General Qi Dangguo, the adopted son of the former King of Xiliang, personally leading troops on the eastern border of Liangzhou, and two cavalry divisions under Wang Zhi and Xin Yin Ma from different units of the Xiliang army preparing for war in the north of Lingzhou, the situation was dire. Gu Dazu, the deputy commander of the infantry and a rising star in Xiliang, and old generals like Liu Yuanchun and Wei Tieshan, whether retired or still in office, all chose to publicly support the new King of Xiliang despite their deep connections to Youzhou. At this point, the arrogant military families of Youzhou might not have understood why the new King of Xiliang was so lenient in Lingzhou but so ruthless in Youzhou, but they certainly understood one thing clearly: Xiliang belongs to the Xu family.
All the old generals in Xiliang who had the capability and seniority to stand up against the young prince, none of them were willing to speak up for them.
In short, it was too late.
The old guard was gone, and the new blood had arrived. And they came in batches. Some were summoned by Xu Fengnian, while others came uninvited. The latter were not very polite. Huang Chang, who had almost become the leader of the scholars in Xiliang, was practically ready to stomp his feet and curse. Wang Daxian, a scholar from the Shangyin Academy, was leisurely and calm, advising Huang Chang with useless words about not letting anger harm his health. Both of these refined old men had just admired the desert scenery from the border and rushed to Yih River in Youzhou without delay. However, the closer they got to Yih River, the calmer Wang Daxian became, while Huang Chang, who should have been the happiest to see this scene, became the most vocal critic of the King of Xiliang, accusing Xu Fengnian of being too ruthless and calling him the true butcher, even more merciless than Xu Xiao. Xu Fengnian neither smiled nor got angry nor spoke, but instead took full charge of the military and political affairs in the Youzhou General’s Mansion. He was completely indifferent to Huang Chang’s scolding, not even lifting his eyelids.
After the two elderly men, Master Wang and Huang Chang, came Yang Guangdou, the newly appointed governor of Liuzhou, who had rushed from the refugee area. This master of the Mohist school did not show any sign of anger, merely saying two sentences: “That’s enough,” and “Chen Xiliang did a very good job,” before coming and going in haste, not even having time to drink a cup of hot tea or eat a warm meal. Besides these elderly men with white hair, the rest were at least a generation younger. Hu Kui, the governor of Liangzhou, the true founder of the White Horse Scout (Baima Chehou) or the Lieju Cavalry, was accompanied by Yu Luandao, who had written the “Liangzhou Da Ma Ge” (Song of the Great Horses of Liangzhou), the eldest grandson of the Yu Yang family. This fellow had ridden alone through the refugee area in a big circle and seemed to have neither been killed nor killed anyone. There was also Song Yan, who had recently become the vice-governor of Lingzhou, and Wang Xihua, the head of the Wang family in Huangnan County of Lingzhou. These two had previously been political opponents within the same county, but they were not exactly mortal enemies. Wang Xihua was famous for his moral writings throughout Xiliang, while the governor Li Gongde, who was devoted to practical achievements, were the real mortal enemies.
After all these people gathered at the Youzhou General’s Mansion, the next morning was dark and stormy. Xu Fengnian planned to invite everyone to visit the newly built Qinglu Cave Academy together. However, for some unknown reason, Song Yan and Wang Xihua had already left together early in the morning, so Xu Fengnian did not send anyone to invite them.
Huangfu Ping, who had not had much opportunity to show his face recently, was responsible for leading a hundred personal cavalry to escort them. He looked solemn and expressionless, revealing neither joy nor sorrow. Le Dian, the deputy general of Youzhou, who had earned the nickname “Le the Executioner” for his bloody deeds within a short period of ten days, was even more worried. Only Wang Peifang, the chief civil official of Youzhou, was trailing behind the group, sitting high on his horse. His slender, not particularly strong, body swayed with the horse’s movement, and he could not hide the joy on his face. Misfortune and fortune are interdependent, especially when turning from misfortune to fortune. Even if Wang Peifang had great self-control, how could he not feel especially delighted?
While Youzhou was in chaos, this academy at the foot of Qinglu Mountain could be called the last remaining sanctuary in Youzhou. Nearly a hundred scholars had already entered to study in peace. They buried their heads in their books when they were alone and exchanged ideas when they gathered together. The only drawback was the two temporary leaders of the academy, who required everyone to submit a practical essay every month, with the more words the better. Topics included how to manage Xiliang’s salt and iron, how to respond to the court’s constraints on grain transport, how to eradicate the ills of factional struggles, how to solve the problems caused by petty officials, how to define the difference between a virtuous and a powerful prime minister, and even how to balance the power of the prime minister. Many of these topics were undoubtedly forbidden territory for scholars, but some still could not resist the huge temptation of winning the monthly essay competition, which offered rewards ranging from one hundred to five hundred taels of silver. As the old saying goes, “In books there are golden houses, abundant grains, and beautiful women.” Regardless of the golden house, don’t the latter two require real money? The sages merely spoke more subtly, but the underlying principles were very practical. Although the Qinglu Cave Academy was still in its infancy and lacked the essential spirit and vitality that defined a great academy, Huang Chang’s mood visibly improved after climbing the mountain. He no longer cared about showing his displeasure toward the King of Xiliang, smiling with a twinkle in his eye, feeling deeply pleased. Although the imperial court did not ban scholarly discussions, Xiliang even ignored the most subversive remarks and even encouraged them. In the eyes of the old censor Huang Chang, this was the true soil for nurturing the seeds of learning. As long as one had thoughts in their heart, they could express them with their mouths and put them into writing, leaving their mark in history for future generations to judge. This was the true blessing for scholars throughout the land.
Standing at the entrance of the academy, Huang Chang did not rush to cross the threshold. He looked up at the plaque inscribed by Xu Fengnian, the King of Xiliang, and paused. Suddenly, tears welled up in his eyes, his lips trembled, and he asked, “Can this academy truly accommodate scholars like me one day, allowing me to freely curse you, Xu Fengnian, and Xiliang?”
Xu Fengnian nodded and said, “Cursing is fine, as long as you scholars can cultivate yourselves. If you can also sincerely work for the good of the world, that would be even better. If one day a powerful warrior in Xiliang dares to draw his sword against you, as long as the truth is in your hearts and mouths, not in their hands or on their blades, I will protect you.”
Huang Chang repeatedly said “Good,” his large sleeves fluttering as he strode into the Qinglu Cave Academy with Master Wang. After walking a distance, he suddenly noticed that the young Xu had not followed, still standing in place. Huang turned his head, puzzled.
Xu Fengnian said, “From now on, any warrior in Xiliang wearing armor or carrying a sword is not allowed to step into the academy. You scholars can Peace of mind to pursue your studies. I don’t expect the civil and military officials in Xiliang to be able to get along like a harmonious couple tomorrow, but at the very least, they should keep their distance and each fulfill their own duties. But I must make one thing clear: if scholars try to gain fame and reputation, I can turn a blind eye, but if they use their tongues and pens to disrupt governance and disturb the people, they will definitely suffer dearly. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Huang Chang. Even if you fight me, I will be merciless, and I won’t hesitate to kill you.”
Huang Chang wanted to say something but stopped.
Master Wang, who had long since boarded the Xiliang bandwagon, quietly laughed beside Huang and said, “Old Huang, where do you get all this pedantic nonsense? It’s not good. Being poor is not scary for a scholar, but once a scholar becomes pedantic, his writings will be worth less than pickled cabbage.”
Huang Chang sighed and gave up.
Yu Luandao wanted to follow into the academy, but Hu Kui, the governor of Liangzhou, quietly held back this young talent from a prominent family, shaking his head gently. To everyone’s surprise, Yu Luandao took off his family heirloom sword, “Da Luan,” handed it to Hu Kui, and smiled, saying, “I’m just bored and want to take a look inside. I’ve studied for twenty years, read enough, and now it’s time for me to die on the battlefield. According to the King of Xiliang’s words, I probably won’t have the chance to step into this place again in my lifetime. So why not take the opportunity to look around while I’m not wearing armor or carrying a sword? The sound of wind and rain doesn’t interfere with anything, and the sound of hooves and battle can be heard until my ears are calloused. But the sound of scholars reading in the academy, which I’ve been familiar with since childhood, won’t be heard again in the future.”
Xu Fengnian looked at the young man’s back, who was about the same age as himself, took the sword from Hu Kui, did not draw it, but instead gently tapped the scabbard with his finger, and smiled, asking, “Your name is Yu Luandao?”
The young man, hailed as the next “Yu’s Pride” after Cao Changqing on the Guangling Road, turned around and smiled, “Yes.”
The young prince, who had been giving people a gloomy impression during this period, smiled faintly and said, “Even if you are a spy from Liangyang, Xiliang is willing to accept you just for your looks.”
Yu Luandao looked mournful, “I’m not a maiden waiting for marriage. I can’t be happy that the King of Xiliang judges me by my appearance.”
Xu Fengnian handed the Da Luan sword back to Hu Kui and then smiled, waving his hand to indicate Yu Luandao to enter the academy.
After Yu Luandao slowly walked into the Qinglu Cave Academy, Xu Fengnian turned around and walked to the fence of the square in front of the academy, gesturing to Wang Peifang. This governor of Youzhou, a genuine scholar and gentleman, did not enter the academy. The people outside were all genuine generals. Wang Peifang felt awkward, caught between two worlds. In the past, Wang, the governor, was afraid, but that was because Xu Fengnian was the eldest son of General Xu Xiao and the heir apparent. Even after Xu Fengnian successfully took over, Wang Peifang considered himself a minister facing the new King of Xiliang and still retained a bit of scholarly pride. Unfortunately, after witnessing the new King of Xiliang’s ruthless killings in Youzhou with his own eyes, that bit of courage was completely gone.
Wang Peifang stood carefully behind the new King of Xiliang.
Xu Fengnian looked into the distance, “You will exchange positions with Hu Kui. The governor of Liangzhou has always been half a rank higher than the governor of Youzhou. In the eyes of others, you, Wang Peifang, are being promoted. However, you and Hu Kui, who is nominally demoted, know in your hearts how I value you two.”
Wang Peifang sweated on his forehead, bent down a little more, and answered softly, “Your humble servant understands.”
Xu Fengnian hummed, “You go to the academy.”
Wang Peifang hurriedly turned around and ran into the academy.
Xu Fengnian’s eyelids twitched slightly, and he slightly shifted his gaze, looking toward the foot of the mountain. After a while, he spoke to Hu Kui, “Hu Kui, you are a military man by birth. You know that Youzhou is not like Lingzhou, which is under the control of Li Gongde. Here, it is almost incurably ill, with military families everywhere. These people are used to using their fists and swords to argue. Talking to them until your mouth is sore is useless. It’s up to you to show your ability.”
Hu Kui, who had experienced many ups and downs, nodded heavily without a word of boast.
Xu Fengnian continued, “Le Dian, you will go to the border of Liangzhou tomorrow to assist Yuan Zuozong. This time, I know you are the most frustrated.”
Le Dian, the deputy general of Youzhou, lowered his head and saluted, “Your humble servant accepts the command! I am a rough man and cannot speak well, but I am willing to die for Xiliang!”
Xu Fengnian turned around and stared at Huangfu Ping, “You will still be the general of Youzhou. Actually, that day in the tavern, what you said was not wrong, but some things cannot be judged as right or wrong. I am a bit different from you and Hu Kui, and there is no need to say anything unnecessary. Putting you in the position of the general of Youzhou, what needed to be said has already been said. But there is one thing you should understand: Huangfu Ping is no longer a martial artist who has to be constrained and watch others’ expressions. In Xiliang, if I don’t give you a hard time, who will? And who dares?”
Huangfu Ping, who had been keeping a low profile in front of Xu Fengnian, for the first time in a long while, chuckled, “With these few words, even if Huangfu Ping is fried in oil a hundred times, it’s worth it.”
Xu Fengnian did not show any emotion and walked down the mountain alone in the slanting wind and drizzle.
He was going to meet two people climbing the mountain.
The old eunuch Zhao Sikun, who had traveled from the southern capital to Xiliang.
And Gao Shulu, whose mountain-opening talisman had already peeled off and faded at the beginning of the climb.
Xu Fengnian knew that this meeting would be truly uncertain in terms of life and death. But only after passing this test could Xu Fengnian face the cavalry of Beiman without any distractions.
Only after navigating the worst possible situation could he once again travel alone to Beiman.
The girl assassin, Huhu, didn’t know when she had followed him. Xu Fengnian stopped and shook his head at her.
She also shook her head.
Xu Fengnian smiled and scolded, “Are you stupid?”
The girl assassin, Huhu, smiled.
This time, she was really smiling.
The sound of wind and rain continued, without the sound of reading near the academy, but there was the sound of Huhu.
Xu Fengnian approached the little girl, helped her adjust a familiar golden hairpin in her bun, “You look like your mother, and you’re pretty too.”
The girl wrinkled her nose, not knowing whether she was happy or sad.
She looked at him, squatted on the steps, and did not follow him down the mountain.
Xu Fengnian turned around, his hands resting on the Chunlei and Guohezhu, and resolutely walked down the mountain.
Not far from the foot of the mountain, Gao Shulu grabbed the sleeve of the old eunuch from the capital city of Taian and threw him down. He floated back to the foot of the mountain, and the aged eunuch, with a frail body, landed safely without a scratch.
Gao Shulu stretched out his arms and took a big breath.
Then he lifted the wind and rain from the mountain, which had not yet reached the ground, and sent it back to the ninth heaven above.
At the same time, the two sleeves of the green snake rolled down from the mountain.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage