Xu Fengnian originally intended to bid farewell and head around Huanghua Pass into Liangzhou. However, how could Li Maotian let him off so easily? He insisted with such persistence that Xu was dragged into the residence of the Commandant of the Guerrilla Army. Even Liu Gongren and several others couldn’t escape the ordeal. A grand banquet was laid out in the mansion. Li Maotian summoned his eldest son, Li Houshi, to join. The old officer dared not press the newly appointed King of Liangzhou too hard with drinks, but he was far less courteous to Liu Gongren. With Li Maotian being a seasoned wine connoisseur steeped in the bureaucratic world, he was a master at drinking, urging others to drink, and dodging drinks with equal finesse. Several young talents from the Reclamation Bureau initially tried their best to remain sober in the presence of their young lord, but soon they were all drunk. Liu Gongren, completely inebriated, struck a bowl and sang the “Song of Liangzhou’s Great Horses” by Yu Luan Dao. The banquet ended with everyone thoroughly enjoying themselves. Even Li Maotian himself was tipsy, so it was Li Houshi who escorted Xu Fengnian out of Huanghua Pass. As they left the mansion, a clean-faced young scholar in a Confucian robe followed them stealthily. Li Houshi, in his prime, could only helplessly explain that this was his youngest son, Li Jingfu, who had passed the xiucai examination at the age of eleven. The boy greatly admired Xu Fengnian, the Number One Man under Heaven, the King of Beiliang.
Xu Fengnian sincerely praised Li Jingfu, calling him a rare seed of a scholar in Beiliang.
Li Houshi resembled his father, Li Maotian, in appearance, though he lacked the air of an official. According to secret records from the Fushui Bureau, this cavalry commander of Huanghua Pass had served as the commander of the Suoyin Sui for a full eight years. Now, walking down the quiet street beside Xu Fengnian, their shadows stretched longer in the dusk. Young Li Jingfu, seeing that neither the King of Beiliang nor his father seemed to mind his breach of etiquette, stealthily followed behind the four, gazing enviously at Lü Yunchang, who carried a blade, and Wangsheng, who bore a case on his back.
After a moment’s hesitation, Li Houshi softly said, “Your Majesty, my father indeed has his own motives. He hopes I can take over Huanghua Pass. He always says that even if I could inherit the hereditary title of Commandant of the Guerrilla Army, it wouldn’t mean much. I hope Your Majesty won’t take offense.”
At this point, Li Houshi, never eloquent, let out a bashful smile, seemingly unsure how to continue.
Xu Fengnian smiled lightly, “Your father certainly has a taste for office. His hosting this banquet today was also to pave the way for you, hoping to leave a good impression at Qingliang Mountain so that your future promotions would come more easily. However, you still underestimate your father. Before entering the city, he made a bet with me. He said that if, after meeting you, I found you capable of shouldering the responsibility of defending Huanghua Pass, then he would be allowed to serve as an old soldier in whichever of the two elite units—the vanguard or the storm-troopers—he chose. In that sense, your future position as the commander of Ruoshui is something your father earned today with his life.”
Li Houshi turned red-faced, and after a long pause, finally managed to say, “Your Majesty, please don’t listen to my father. The old man is already of advanced age. He can barely manage to ride in ordinary clothes, let alone fight in armor and wielding a spear. He wouldn’t last even a single stick of incense’s worth of time.”
Xu Fengnian nodded slightly.
Li Houshi continued, “Your Majesty, our Li family has a strong lineage. I have two younger brothers who are both in the military. There is no shortage of heirs to inherit the legacy of Huanghua Pass. My father’s wish is something I, as the eldest son, should fulfill.”
Xu Fengnian gave no clear response. Turning his head, he saw Lü Yunchang whispering something into the ear of the young scholar in the Confucian robe, probably Lü, the little trickster, showing off his worldly wisdom again. Li Jingfu, finally seeing the prince turn his head, quickly ducked away from Lü Yunchang’s arm around his shoulder, gathered his courage, and stepped forward a few paces to speak. But before he could open his mouth, Li Houshi shot him a sharp glance and said, “Don’t push your luck. Go back and study your books.”
The boy’s voice trembled slightly as he declared loudly, “We scholars would rather have our heads hanging at the city gate than merely leave our names in history!”
At this statement, the already quiet street became even more silent. Li Houshi, a man accustomed to gripping bows and spears but rarely a writing brush, and Wangsheng and Lü Yunchang, who were even less refined, could only think their peer was speaking in an overly literary manner.
Xu Fengnian raised his hand, signaling Li Houshi not to interrupt, and smiled, saying, “This young fellow may be small, but his words are bold. I once met Huang Longshi, Cao Changqing, and Xuan Yuan Jingcheng—three Confucian Sages among the Immortal Cultivators of the mortal world.”
At this point, just one sentence had already mentioned three names that echoed like thunder. Li Jingfu’s eyes sparkled as he gazed at the great hero before him, thinking to himself that indeed, the King of Beiliang, having traveled ten thousand miles, had seen more of the world than anyone else!
Xu Fengnian continued, “Yet even they never spoke with such grand ambition as you just did.”
Li Houshi couldn’t help but smile slightly, though upon seeing his young son’s pale face, he sighed inwardly.
Xu Fengnian seemed to be speaking to himself, “A scholar leaves his name in history; a warrior hangs his head at the city gate. They do not interfere with each other. If the former could, while writing his fine prose behind closed doors, write a few kind words about the latter, that would be quite good.”
Xu Fengnian turned to Li Jingfu and said, “I’m not mocking your overestimation of yourself. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. When I first started training with the saber, I too had great ambitions, though no one believed in me at the time. When the heart stirs, the intention arises, and the karmic connection is born. I say this because I think you’re still too young. Even if you put down your brush and take up arms, going to the battlefield would only burden others. Besides, Beiliang boasts a mighty army of three hundred thousand iron cavalry. There’s no place here for a young scholar like you to risk his head. Study your books well.”
After saying this, Xu Fengnian told Li Houshi not to accompany him further and left Huanghua Pass with his two disciples.
Li Jingfu stood in a daze for a while before pinching his own cheek hard and grinning foolishly, “The King of Liang actually spoke to me?”
Li Houshi, who always felt he could never quite connect with his growing son, softly chuckled, “You foolish boy.”
Li Jingfu happily walked back toward the Commandant’s mansion, while Li Houshi silently followed behind, watching his son’s still somewhat delicate frame with a hint of pride.
Suddenly, Li Jingfu turned around and asked, “Dad, do you want to go to the Yubi Restaurant for a drink?”
Li Houshi hesitated and said, “Well, I could still manage about a jin or two.”
Li Jingfu grinned and said, “Then let me treat you.”
Li Houshi was puzzled.
Li Jingfu winked, walked up to his father, and whispered, “This year when I left the city for spring, I met a girl. Her father is the owner of Yubi Restaurant. Whenever I feel tired from studying, I go there just to catch a glimpse of her. I don’t think of anything else, but I feel refreshed and clear-headed.”
Li Houshi burst into laughter.
Li Jingfu raised his lips into a slight smile and deliberately said with a frown, “But that girl has her heart set on a wandering swordsman from the city streets who isn’t in the pass right now.”
Li Houshi patted his youngest son’s head, unsure how to comfort him.
Li Jingfu looked up and smiled, “Dad, I want to study under the two great strategists of Beiliang, Zhao Changling and Li Yishan. When I’ve learned all I can, I’ll become a military advisor to King Liang, devising strategies from afar.”
Li Houshi nodded.
Father and son walked together toward the restaurant two streets away, and Li Houshi softly said, “Since you already have someone you like and have set your aspirations, if Grandpa won’t let you drink, your father will allow it.”
An hour later, Li Houshi, the commander of Huanghua Pass, carried his drunken youngest son out of the restaurant, his rough face filled with warmth.
As they walked, the commander’s eyes gradually grew resolute. A seed of scholarship should study, but there was one thing the prince had said that struck a chord in his heart: Beiliang’s thirty thousand iron cavalry would only be needed when every man, including himself, had already given his life. Then, and only then, would it be the common people’s turn.
So you, the Northern Qidan, boast of having a million mounted archers?
Even if you conquer Beiliang, how many tens of thousands will remain?
On his back, the drunken boy murmured, “Dad, I will study with all my heart, until I become a Confucian Sage. I won’t fear walking narrow paths myself, but I will pave a grand road for the people of the world.”
Li Houshi smiled and said cheerfully, “Even when drunk, you speak such grand truths. You truly are better than your father.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage