The group did not hurry back to Qingcang City. Xu Fengnian, Song Dongming, and Chen Xiliang sat by a stream. As the saying goes, “If you doubt someone, don’t employ him; if you employ someone, don’t doubt him.” Xu Fengnian did not hide anything from Chen Xiliang, who had not yet officially assumed his post as Deputy Governor. He openly shared many strategic plans of Beiliang, such as General Wang Lingbao leading troops to Fengxiang Garrison to eliminate the fickle defector general Ma Liuke, which was to clear the path for Cao Wei’s light cavalry of over ten thousand. One could even say that the temporary expansion of the Longxiang Army was a prelude to this cavalry maneuver. Moreover, the main force of Fengxiang’s troops, the monk soldiers, were part of a covert deal between Beiliang and the Six-Pearl Bodhisattva of Landuo Mountain.
After listening, Song Dongming did not delve into details but instead picked up some pebbles and arranged them on the ground while murmuring to himself, “Now there are three battlefronts. General Chu Lushan is in charge of the main northern front in Liangzhou, with well-established fortifications, garrisons, and Post Road (yi dao, post roads), so strong that they could be described as impregnable. North of Youzhou there is a terrain advantage known as the Hulu Pass, naturally favorable to Beiliang, where defense is easy but offense difficult. The Northern Despotate would find it hard to launch a major attack on Youzhou at the outset. However, the vast and flat terrain of Liuzhou favors cavalry movement, and we lack major cities or strongholds there. The Northern Despotate has numerical superiority in troops, and doesn’t need to rely on secret strategies. If they choose to advance southward bypassing Youzhou and Liangzhou, the only concern would be their supply lines being severed by Xu family’s iron cavalry stationed northwest of Liangzhou. This would test both sides’ abilities in ambush and counter-ambush.”
Xu Fengnian glanced at Chen Xiliang, who slowly spoke, “For the Northern Despotate to successfully advance into Shu, regardless of whether Beiliang establishes Liuzhou as a military prefecture for the refugees, they will try to breach through here. Otherwise, attacking the northern defenses of Youzhou and Liangzhou would still be a costly endeavor even with a million troops. After all, our Beiliang army, whether cavalry or infantry, is exceptionally skilled in battle. Moreover, cavalry can dismount and defend cities, or mount up and launch counterattacks. This is the real headache for the Northern Despotate. The general established large granaries and armories in several key cities and strongholds along the border long ago to prepare for prolonged warfare.”
Chen Xiliang paused briefly before smiling and continuing, “However, the Beiliang army has never considered passive defense as the best strategy. From the general and Li Yishan, to Yan Wenluan, Chu Lushan, Yuan Zuozong, and all the younger generals, there has been a consistent understanding and consensus. Hence, Beiliang’s frequent military exercises over the years have always aimed for a balance between offense and defense. The Northern Despotate chose to launch the war now because Xu Xiao has finally aged to death. Moreover, Beiliang has had to deploy some of its forces to Liuzhou plains to accommodate the refugees. This gives them the impression that an opportunity has finally arisen. Also, they cannot afford to delay. If the Liyang court manages to transform the nation’s resources in the Central Plains into border warfare capabilities, the balance of power between the two nations will only continue to shift further, leaving the Northern Despotate with even less chance of victory. One could say that choosing Liuzhou as the battleground is both the Northern Despotate’s perceived opportunity and Beiliang’s proactive choice. This is not arrogance on Beiliang’s part, but confidence—especially confidence in our cavalry’s advantage fighting on home turf.”
Song Dongming smiled knowingly and nodded, saying, “The military and political affairs of Beiliang are like a well-tended field, simply waiting for the harvest. I, the Deputy Governor who hasn’t even received my official robe yet, won’t go out of my way to meddle. Compared to Beiliang, the Northern Despotate is a large household, but a house with many doors inevitably faces many storms. I heard that Empress Murong, wanting to ensure no future threats, is planning a massacre of the Yelü clan, the old rulers of the grasslands. Many Grasslandslords who refuse to march south and attack Beiliang have become lambs awaiting slaughter. We might as well pour oil on the fire by selecting one of the Yelü youths, spreading the message that Beiliang is willing to recognize him as the ruler of the Northern Despotate, rejecting the usurper Empress Murong. Such a move won’t cripple the Northern Despotate, but it will certainly annoy them, which is still a good thing.”
Song Dongming paused and smiled, asking, “Beiliang must have some contingency plans regarding this, right?”
Xu Fengnian nodded with a smile.
Song Dongming continued, “As for specific military strategies, I won’t interfere. Beiliang is full of seasoned generals who are experts in warfare. As an outsider, I’ll just watch the show. However, although the Northern Despotate has a million troops and seems formidable, the real fighters are only nearly a hundred thousand of Dong Zhuo’s Dong family army, Hong Jingyan’s Rouran Iron Cavalry, and the elite troops led by veteran generals like Yang Yuanzan and Liu Gui. The rest are mostly mediocre troops. Without affecting the overall situation, we could strike down one of their weaker but numerically significant units. The Northern Despotate isn’t united; otherwise, the Northern Court Grasslandslords wouldn’t have withdrawn at this time, as they are still divided over attacking Beiliang from the west or Gu Jiantang from the east. If we cut them down slowly, we might gain unexpected advantages. Of course, this is just a casual suggestion from me.”
Xu Fengnian, who had been silent until now, finally interjected, “This is actually a small part of Chu Lushan’s intricate strategy.”
Song Dongming laughed joyfully, “Just a small part, huh… Haha, now I understand why everyone fears the notorious Lu Qiu’er, and why Dong Zhuo, the Southern Court King, suffered a major defeat at our Commander Du Hu’s hands.”
Song Dongming narrowed his eyes and tossed a pebble into the stream, causing ripples to spread across the water. “As for the court, I can do something about the matters of grain transport and salt-iron. I have a plan that could make the court finally loosen its grip.”
Xu Fengnian smiled and said, “Oh? The court has always wanted the ox to pull the cart without letting it graze. They’re extremely stingy. So far, even the half portion of grain transport they reluctantly agreed to hasn’t reached Beiliang’s Lingzhou docks. If the resurrection of Xichu hadn’t dealt them a heavy blow right from the start, that grain transport might never have left Xiangfan City even in a hundred years.”
Song Dongming said calmly, “It’s simple. We’ll submit a memorial from Beiliang to the capital, volunteering to send ten thousand troops to quell the rebellion. As a border prince, we have the duty to defend the frontier and the responsibility to suppress internal unrest. It’s perfectly justified. The court has already suffered two major defeats. Yang Shenxing’s Jinnan infantry were caught like fish in a barrel, nearly wiped out. Yan Zhenshun even sacrificed his life for the nation, and all his soldiers perished in battle. Isn’t this clearly telling the court how formidable Xichu is? Beiliang has always been good at tackling tough challenges. If other princes can’t achieve victories, Beiliang will step in. If ten thousand troops aren’t enough, how about thirty thousand?”
Chen Xiliang smiled and said, “It looks like the Ministry of War in Taian City will be in chaos.”
Earlier, Xu Fengnian had asked Song Dongming if a second-rank official position was enough. Now, Song Dongming’s teasing “enough” was truly a case of giving tit for tat.
Xu Fengnian smiled and said, “The court will hate you to death. I’ll have to assign some experts to guard you, the Deputy Governor, or else the Zhao family’s assassins will come after your head.”
Song Dongming showed no hint of a smile, his eyes firm. He softly said, “If the Zhao family lacks even this much courage, how can they rule the empire? Do they really think Beiliang should sacrifice thirty thousand armored soldiers to ensure their peaceful sleep? It’s true that all under heaven belongs to the king, but since Beiliang is also part of Liyang’s territory, aren’t the millions of people in Beiliang also the Zhao family’s subjects? There’s no such absurd logic in the world!”
Chen Xiliang sighed, deeply impressed by this man. For some reason, compared to Xu Beizhi, his contemporary who had defected from the Northern Despotate, Chen Xiliang felt a closer affinity toward Song Dongming.
At that moment, someone fell into the stream. On the bank, Yu Dilong shook his wrist, wearing a look of disdain.
Seeing his master turn to look, Yu Dilong loudly defended himself, “Master, it’s not my fault! The kid asked me to hit him. He just said that even with one finger, he could knock me down without moving, and that there are only a few experts in Beiliang. He claimed he’s a third-tier cultivator and hasn’t met a single expert since coming to Beiliang.”
Yu Dilong glanced at the drenched figure in the stream with contempt, “What third-tier? I ended up using half my strength just to throw that punch. If I had known he was this weak, I would have held back.”
Wei Shihui secretly gave the boy a thumbs-up, and Yu Dilong responded with a Silly (hān hān, simple and honest) smile.
Unfazed by his own bookboy’s pitiful and shocked expression, Song Dongming smiled and asked, “Prince, I heard you have three apprentices. Which one is he?”
Xu Fengnian helplessly replied, “The youngest one, the big apprentice, is the most trouble. That’s why I keep him by my side. Otherwise, the martial world would surely have a new, unrestrained great devil.”
A rider from the Longxiang Army galloped over, dismounted, and reported, “Your Highness, General Xu and his ninety personal guards have arrived at the Kill-Dragon Hill ten miles away.”
Xu Fengnian stood up and smiled, saying, “Chen Xiliang, you accompany Master Song back to Qingcang City first. I’ll go see my younger brother.”
Chen Xiliang asked, “What about these Bai Ma Yi Cong?”
Xu Fengnian smiled and said, “Tell me, do you two need protection, or do I?”
Chen Xiliang smiled slightly and said nothing more.
One of the Bai Ma Yi Cong hesitated for a moment, then summoned his courage to speak, “Your Highness.”
Xu Fengnian was slightly puzzled but calmly replied, “Speak your mind.”
The Bai Ma Yi Cong took a deep breath. His young face still bore traces of youthful innocence not yet fully erased by the harsh winds of the borderlands. He slightly lowered his gaze and softly said, “Qi Hua’yan, the one mentioned earlier by Governor Chen, who died in the child’s alley of Qingcang City. At that time, I was severely wounded, leaning against a wall waiting for death. He took the dozen or so sword strikes meant for me from the horse bandits. He didn’t get a chance to say anything before he died. But I think I should tell Your Highness on his behalf: Qi Hua’yan never regretted joining the Bai Ma Yi Cong.”
His eyes were clear as he smiled and asked, “Your Highness, when will the war start? I want to join the vanguard unit.”
Xu Fengnian countered, “If Qi Hua’yan died and you, Ding Xuan, also die, how many people will remember him?”
The Bai Ma Yi Cong, whose name was called out, bit his lip and brightly smiled, “I’ll be buried together with many generals in the back hills of Qingliang Mountain. No one will forget me.”
Ding Xuan scratched his head and said, “I don’t mind you laughing at me, Your Highness. Because of Qi Hua’yan, I survived the pile of corpses in Qingcang City, and I’m still afraid of death. But my whole family followed the General to Beiliang back then and has made this place our home. My grandfather said even if he dies, he wants to die in Beiliang; this is the root of our Ding family. My older brother has already taken an official post, and my younger brothers are all studying. I just want to go to the border and kill some Northern Barbarians. Killing one is breaking even, killing two is a profit.”
Xu Fengnian laughed and said, “You won’t get to take the vanguard spot. Just be a good Bai Ma Yi Cong. When the time really comes, I promise you this: when you die, your grave will be next to ours.”
Ding Xuan opened his mouth wide, not knowing what to say.
In the next moment, the young prince vanished in a flash, leaving only a gentle breeze brushing past everyone.
Even the bookboy who had just climbed out of the stream stared with wide eyes. No wonder he was the number one cultivator in the world who had defeated the old monster Wang of Wudi City and sent him away without return!
Song Dongming suddenly remembered something.
Earlier when they met, the Beiliang King used the alias Xu Qi.
The character Qi ( Fantasy) in a name is certainly not a good omen.
Those with a fate marked by Qi are usually described in historical records as those who died young and never reached the pinnacle. For example, Ye Baikui, the Spring and Autumn Warring States’ greatest general, who not only failed to help the Great Chu conquer the world but also died for his country. Or like Luo Gongming, recognized four hundred years ago by the Great Feng Dynasty as the most meritorious general on the frontier but who never became a general in his lifetime, was also described as having an unusual and unbalanced fate.
Chen Xiliang softly spoke, “Thirty thousand memorials, I’m afraid they will stretch for dozens of miles from the back hills of the Prince’s Mansion. It’s a massive project, and with war approaching, Master Song, wouldn’t this be seen as the bureaucrats merely talking while the generals run themselves ragged?”
Song Dongming calmly replied, “Don’t worry. This endeavor will not cost a single coin from the Prince’s Mansion treasury, nor will it affect the border soldiers’ wages. There are countless families whose sons and grandsons are fighting on the border, and they will willingly contribute money and labor. Anyone who dares to evade their duty, I, the newly appointed Deputy Governor, will make sure to set my first fire on them! I want them to know that this war is not just the Xu family’s affair—it is the affair of the entire Beiliang!”
Chen Xiliang slightly moved his lips.
Song Dongming looked at this young scholar, whose sharpness was well hidden, and gently smiled, “Xiliang, are you thinking that my approach is too harsh and heartless?”
Chen Xiliang shook his head.
Song Dongming sighed, “If we don’t do this, Beiliang cannot be defended, and in the end, the common people will suffer. How can the hardship of building one monument compare to the tragedy of families being destroyed and lives lost? Huang Longshi spouted nonsense that plagued the Spring and Autumn era, but one saying of his is truly thought-provoking!”
Chen Xiliang asked, “Could it be ‘Establishing the heart for heaven and earth, establishing destiny for the people, continuing the lost learning of past sages, and opening peace for ten thousand generations’?”
Song Dongming smiled and shook his head.
Chen Xiliang continued, “Or ‘A common man cannot be deprived of his will’?”
Song Dongming still shook his head, softly saying, “Since ancient times, the most foolish are the kings, and the most blameless are the common people.”
Chen Xiliang’s eyes lit up, nodding with admiration, “I’ve learned much!”
Kill-Dragon Hill was a slightly elevated small hill.
Historical records say that General Luo Gongming of the Great Feng Dynasty once shot and killed a dragon here.
At the foot of the hill, over ninety cavalry dismounted and rested, all clad in armor, their red stains hard to hide. Originally, these were the black armors of the Longxiang Army, soaked with too much blood from bandits that hadn’t been wiped clean in time.
Now respectfully called the Young Prince by the people of Beiliang, Xu Longxiang stood alone at the hilltop, gazing northward.
Since he led the Longxiang cavalry to crush the three major military towns including Junzige, people in Beiliang have said that the second son of the General has finally awakened his potential. Since childhood, he was believed to be possessed by a divine spirit, born with the King Kong (Jin Gang, Diamond) body and possessing the strength of dragons and elephants. Even when Xu Fengnian was still the Prince of Lingzhou during his youth, rumors spread that if Xu Longxiang became the Beiliang King, Beiliang would be stable.
This time, Xu Longxiang led his troops into Liuzhou. First, he wiped out over ten thousand bandits secretly harboring Northern Despotate elite soldiers. Then he summoned nearly ninety captains to his side. Without saying much, he led them, each with two horses, one sword, and one crossbow, to kill enemies everywhere.
In more than twenty battles, they killed over 1,400 enemies without losing a single soldier.
These commanders with real authority were deeply impressed and revered this young commander like a god.
Unfortunately, this hunting expedition did not see the Young Prince’s black tiger or his bright red talisman armor.
Moreover, Xu Longxiang was always silent, and no one had yet had the chance to speak a single extra word to him.
Xu Longxiang stood on Kill-Dragon Hill, his back to all his subordinates.
No one at the foot of the hill knew what the still-young commander was thinking.
Suddenly, everyone simultaneously looked up and saw a figure appear on the hill without any warning. Instinctively, they reached for their swords, but upon recognizing the figure, they relaxed.
It was the Beiliang King!
Also known as the commander of their commander’s older brother.
Xu Fengnian arrived beside Xu Longxiang, gently placing one hand on the young man’s head. The two brothers stood side by side, gazing northward.
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