The soil was rich, and with the stirring of the spring thunder, all things began to flourish.
Fine drizzle fell like threads as dusk approached. On the imperial road connecting the city of Yan Zhi Prefecture with Bi Shan County, three riders galloped swiftly. They finally arrived at the bustling Gu Lu Street just in time for dinner. The trio slowed their pace on the slightly muddy road, making a few turns before arriving at a secluded courtyard. Dismounting, Lu Yunchang, who carried a long frost-covered saber on his back, looked puzzled. He couldn’t understand why Yu Dilong insisted on coming to this godforsaken place. When their master had first suggested returning directly to Liangzhou, Yu Dilong’s face had fallen. He delayed for half a day in his room, claiming through the door that he had an upset stomach, and told Lu Yunchang to accompany their master ahead. Lu Yunchang had laughed heartily at that—given Yu Dilong’s weak internal energy, even swallowing swords or eating knives wouldn’t have upset his stomach!
Lu Yunchang teased, “Could it be you’re pregnant?” Normally, Da Shixiong, who couldn’t take a joke, would have challenged him to a fight, but this time, there was no reaction.
Then, for some unknown reason, their master changed his mind and said they should head to Bi Shan County first. Yu Dilong immediately perked up, dashing to the stable, saddling his horse, and mounting it in one smooth motion.
The courtyard gate was barred with reed stalks. Lu Yunchang could have pushed it open with one hand, but Yu Dilong, after tying the horses with practiced ease, stood at the gate and solemnly straightened his robe, brushing off raindrops from his shoulders before knocking on the wooden door with utmost seriousness.
Soon, Lu Yunchang saw the inner door open slowly, revealing a woman in simple attire. He whispered, “Yu Dilong, is she your mother?”
Yu Dilong looked annoyed and instinctively snapped, “She’s your mother!”
Then he realized that if the woman inside, Madam Pei, were Lu Yunchang’s mother, Lu would be incredibly lucky. That wasn’t an insult—it was practically a compliment. Yu Dilong quickly composed himself and said sternly, “Don’t be flippant. Follow my lead and call her Madam Pei. I don’t care what you do the rest of the time, but if you dare to act foolishly today, I’ll really beat you up.”
Lu Yunchang rolled his eyes, but soon his gaze was fixed. Wow, this older sister was really beautiful! Yet he quickly averted his eyes—he wasn’t a fool. Having grown up in the underbelly of Donghai Wudi City, he was a seasoned martial artist despite his youth. He could tell with just a glance that this extraordinary woman must be someone very close to their master.
What followed only deepened Lu Yunchang’s admiration. Who was their master? Not only was he the most powerful feudal lord in the Liyang Dynasty, but he had also gained the title of the world’s greatest martial artist after just a few years wandering the martial world. Lu Yunchang had even heard that the current Purple Robe Xuan Yuan, the only female leader of the martial world in centuries, had once been no more than a retainer at their master’s side.
Yet this woman, standing behind a shabby wooden door, didn’t rush to unbolt it. Her expression was cold and aloof. She glanced sideways at Xu Fengnian with a half-smile that seemed more mocking than warm. Even Lu Yunchang, watching, felt there was something mysterious and dangerous in her gaze. She said with a mocking tone, “Oh, what an unexpected guest.”
Lu Yunchang, deeply impressed, almost wanted to raise his thumb in admiration, thinking to himself that this woman was undoubtedly a true heroine—someone who had long withdrawn from the martial world yet still possessed unmatched martial prowess. Otherwise, who else in the world would dare to refuse their master entry with such audacity? Yu Dilong suppressed a smile, clearly delighted to see his master being humbled.
Xu Fengnian coughed slightly and waited. Seeing that she still made no move to open the door, he said awkwardly, “Well, I’ve been busy lately. By the way, have you eaten yet?”
Pei Nanwei ignored him. At this moment, Yu Dilong stretched his neck and cheerfully called out, “Madam Pei.”
Pei Nanwei smiled warmly and finally opened the wooden gate for the three of them. She patted Yu Dilong’s head affectionately, “You seem a bit taller.”
Yu Dilong grinned happily. As the four walked toward the house, Lu Yunchang curiously glanced around, but saw nothing unusual—just a modest home in Beiliang, with a small vegetable patch in the corner and even a simple chicken coop.
Yu Dilong kicked Lu Yunchang lightly. Lu Yunchang whispered, “What was that for?!”
Yu Dilong glared at him, and Lu Yunchang, realizing his mistake, quickly forced a smile and said, “Madam Pei, I’m Lü Yunchang, the master’s eldest disciple.”
Yu Dilong, who had carried the Liang knife slung across his back since returning from the Hulu Pass, emotionlessly reached for his sword hilt. Knowing better than to provoke Yu Dilong seriously, Lu Yunchang hastily corrected himself, “Oops, I got it wrong. I’m the master’s youngest disciple. Yu Dilong is my senior apprentice brother. The master has another disciple named Wang Sheng, who is the second senior apprentice sister.”
Pei Nanwei nodded with a smile.
Inside the house, Pei Nanwei went to the kitchen and prepared some simple dishes for the master and his disciples. The four of them sat around the table, each on a stool. Xu Fengnian slowly picked at his food with chopsticks.
Pei Nanwei asked, “When are you leaving?”
Xu Fengnian smiled bitterly. “Are you already chasing me away?”
Pei Nanwei was silent for a moment before frowning and saying, “You’re still listed as the vice magistrate of Bi Shan County, yet you haven’t received your salary. I went to the county office after the Lantern Festival, and the clerk in the household registration office said you no longer need to report to the office for duty. Later, I heard that the county magistrate and the governor had reached an agreement to replace you with a scholar from another province who had come to Liangzhou.”
Xu Fengnian chuckled. “Well, holding onto a position without doing any work isn’t very seemly. The salary isn’t that important…”
He noticed Pei Nanwei staring at him intently, so he immediately changed his tone, pretending to be angry as he slapped the table. “How outrageous! This is nothing but bullying. I should go to the county office and demand an explanation.”
Pei Nanwei said simply, “Then go after dinner.”
Xu Fengnian asked cautiously, “Does the household have no spare silver left?”
Pei Nanwei replied calmly, “Who ever said there’s such a thing as too much silver for daily life?”
Yu Dilong, who had grown up in poverty, nodded in agreement. “Exactly! Madam Pei, you’re absolutely right. Later, I’ll go with the master to the Bi Shan county office to help you demand what’s owed. If they refuse…”
Pei Nanwei smiled and interrupted gently, “Speak nicely, and don’t start a fight.”
Yu Dilong nodded earnestly, turning to Xu Fengnian with a serious expression. “Master, in Beiliang, don’t we reward soldiers for their battlefield achievements? There were plenty of big kills outside the Hulu Pass, but they don’t count as mine. If you could advance me ten taels of silver now, I’ll make it up later when I get my own kills. I’ll just deposit the silver with Madam Pei for safekeeping.”
Xu Fengnian, under the table, kicked his foolish apprentice for bringing up such an awkward topic. With a helpless smile, he said, “I don’t have any silver on me.”
Yu Dilong persisted, “But didn’t we take two jars of go stones from the city? There’s a pawnshop on Gu Lu Street. I bet they’re worth something. How about I take forty or fifty of them and pawn them for ten taels of silver?”
Xu Fengnian rubbed his forehead and sighed softly. This apprentice, who always seemed to bring up the wrong topic at the wrong time, had no idea how valuable those go stones were. Each of the two Jujubewood jars contained 180 stones—some of the finest black stones from Yu Naodong, others the pure white “snow mark” stones. In terms of material alone, each stone was worth not just ten taels of silver, but ten taels of gold. And these were rare antiques, like precious books—collectors valued completeness and hated missing pieces. Besides, these were the top-grade tribute items once used by the Western Chu imperial court. Who knew if they had once belonged to a royal go master, or even been used by Grand Tutor Li Mibi or Cao Changqing in their strategic duels?
Pei Nanwei frowned and asked, “He’s still just a child. Why must he go to war and kill people?”
Xu Fengnian looked at her calmly. “He is my disciple.”
Yu Dilong, worried that his master and Madam Pei might argue over him, quickly smiled and said, “Madam Pei, it’s okay. I’m from Beiliang. Since I have martial skills, it’s only right that I fight against the barbarians. Later, once I’ve repaid my debt to the big guy and earned some military honors, I’ll send all the silver to you. You can keep it for me, right? You can use it however you like.”
Pei Nanwei smiled and nodded. “Alright. I’ll have someone renovate the house later, turning it into a courtyard residence. I’ll save a room just for you.”
Yu Dilong, still chewing his food, looked up with joy. “Great!”
After dinner, Xu Fengnian put down his chopsticks and looked at Pei Nanwei. “I’ll go with you to the county office. Let the two kids wash the dishes.”
As the two of them each took an oil-paper umbrella and stepped out, Lu Yunchang sat cross-legged on the stool, watching Yu Dilong clean up the dishes. He whispered, “Who exactly is Madam Pei? Why does the master seem so fond of her?”
Yu Dilong, in a cheerful mood, decided to tease him. He leaned in mysteriously and said, “Madam Pei is no ordinary person. She might not be the second-best martial artist in the world, but she’s definitely among the top three.”
Lu Yunchang looked incredulous. “You’re pulling my leg.”
Yu Dilong smirked. “Believe it or not, but Madam Pei could kill you with just a finger. Oh, and this is my home. If you visit in the future, don’t just come for food and drinks—bring a gift.”
Lu Yunchang grimaced.
Yu Dilong cheerfully carried the dishes into the kitchen, humming happily, “I’ve got a home now.”
As Xu Fengnian and Pei Nanwei walked through the alley, he said with a sigh, “Thank you.”
Pei Nanwei replied calmly, “Because of Yu Dilong? No need. I’ve always liked that child. As for that Lu Yunchang, he’s full of violent energy—I don’t like him much.”
Xu Fengnian shook his head. “You’re wrong. If I don’t keep an eye on him, Lu Yunchang might become a powerful figure in the martial world, maybe even a martial king. But if Yu Dilong isn’t guided properly, or if he has nothing to bind him emotionally, he could become truly terrifying. He might even become another Wang Xianzhi.”
Xu Fengnian sighed again. “The future of the martial world is hard to predict. But after Huang Sanjia transferred the qi fate of eight kingdoms into the martial world, the current era is like a bamboo forest in spring—new shoots are sprouting everywhere. But soon, it will be like the bamboo flowering and dying in droves, entire stretches of dozens or even hundreds of miles turning to waste. And after that, there will be no more bumper years—only lean ones. In such times, my three apprentices—Yu Dilong, Wang Sheng, and Lu Yunchang—will stand out even more. Especially Yu Dilong, who has the greatest potential and the best opportunities. He may become the only land immortal of the next century, surpassing even my generation. That’s why it matters so much whether he has a home or not.”
Pei Nanwei smiled. “So that’s why you’re willing to come here for a meal. It’s quite a feat for you, the Beiliang King, to be fighting the Northern Barbarians while worrying about the fate of the world. And you even scheme for your own apprentices. Doesn’t it tire you out?”
Xu Fengnian gave a self-mocking smile. “Worrying about the world? I don’t have the luxury of time for that. At the end of the day, all I want is to protect the legacy my father Xu Xiao passed down to me. That’s my bottom line. Beyond that, if I can do a little good, that’s even better. If I can’t, I won’t force myself. As for backstabbing or taking advantage of others’ misfortunes, I’d rather not. As for the ‘scheming’ you mentioned—maybe. But what can I do? Every time I see Yu Dilong, I can’t help but think of Wang Xianzhi. He, Huang Longshi, and Zhang Julu—three men I once deeply disliked but eventually came to admire.”
Pei Nanwei suddenly said, “I just heard news from the Hulu Pass. The cities of Wo Gong and Luan He have been captured by the Northern Barbarians. I thought you’d send a messenger to tell me to move back to Qing Liang Mountain. These past two days, the whole Bi Shan County has been talking about how you personally led troops outside the Hulu Pass and killed many barbarians. So, does that mean I don’t have to go to Liangzhou anymore?”
Xu Fengnian smiled. “If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to. Let me be honest with you—if the Northern Barbarians really do march south, among the four states of Beiliang, Youzhou will be the last to fall.”
Pei Nanwei frowned. “Later than Liangzhou?”
Xu Fengnian nodded. “It’s the geography. To put it simply, Youzhou is like a chicken rib—tough to chew and not worth the effort. Liuzhou is like a spicy appetizer—it might be hard to swallow, but the Northern Barbarians can still manage it. Linzhou is like a feast of delicacies, but it’s too far away for the barbarians to reach. Therefore, the main battlefield will be in Liangzhou, where cities will be besieged and defended, and both sides’ light cavalry will wait for the right moment to strike. Even the first large-scale clash of heavy cavalry in history might happen there.”
Pei Nanwei said softly, “The Beiliang Circuit is still too small, and the population is insufficient.”
Xu Fengnian sighed helplessly. “What do you expect? Back then, the Liyang Dynasty’s strategy of controlling the feudal lords through the Zhang Lu and Gu Lu systems was largely based on the *Kuo Di Zhi* by Xun Ping and the *Hong Jing Nian Jun Xian Tu Zhi* by Xie Guanying. The number of troops each feudal lord could raise—how many Xu Xiao’s Beiliang Circuit could support, how many Zhao Bing’s Southern Frontier could raise—had all been calculated countless times. Starting in the middle of the Yonghui era, all the constraints and support given to Beiliang were based on the assumption that the Northern Barbarians would use Beiliang as their southern entry point. Yuan Benxi was gambling on exactly this scenario. As for Zhao Bing’s Southern Frontier, it was meant to counter the Western Chu’s resurgence in the Guangling Circuit. Otherwise, how could Liyang remain so calm even after the defeats of Yang Shenxing and Yan Zhenshun? Even when Emperor Zhao Dun was dying, he still had the leisure to take Gu Jiantang to visit the scenery in Ji Province instead of going to the southern capital to rally the army, and he didn’t rush the Liaodong border troops south. Why? Simply because, in Zhao Dun’s eyes, the Western Chu’s resurgence was not a matter that would threaten the foundation of the nation. What he wanted was to carefully control the timing to weaken all the feudal lords outside Beiliang. Early defeats didn’t scare him—they even pleased him. He feared that if Yang Shenxing and Yan Zhenshun had won a few early victories, there would be no role left for the Guangling King Zhao Yi, the Huainan King Zhao Ying, or the Jing’an King Zhao Xun. Otherwise, why would Yan Zhenshun, a seasoned general, rush south so hastily to reinforce Yang Shenxing? Didn’t Lu Shengxiang see the danger? Why did no one in the capital’s Ministry of War, including Lu Shengxiang, face punishment for the chaos that followed their seemingly reckless orders?”
Pei Nanwei said with a worried tone, “What if Prince Yanche Zhao Bing refuses to march? If the Northern Barbarian’s million-strong army invades, is the court truly unafraid of fighting a war on two fronts? And can Gu Jiantang alone defend Tai’an City with only the two Liao provinces?”
Xu Fengnian smiled gently and softly replied, “You worry too much. You underestimate Zhao Dun and the group of renowned ministers from the Yonghui Spring era. The five major historical threats have always been regional warlords, eunuchs, imperial in-laws, bureaucratic factional struggles, and local generals who hoard their troops and act independently. Reflect on what the Liyang court has experienced in the past two decades, and the outcomes since the revival of the Xichu Kingdom.”
Pei Nanwei continued, “Eunuchs interfering in politics—there hasn’t been such a problem during the reigns of the two Zhao emperors, and it seems unlikely to happen in the future either. The same goes for the issue of imperial in-laws. As for factional struggles, during the Yonghui era, there was Zhang Julu, but his faction was never really a significant threat. Now both the Zhang Lu and Gu Lu factions have collapsed. Although we don’t know how things would change if someone else sat on the dragon throne, I know that before his death, Zhao Dun summoned Qi Yanglong, the Grand Sacrificial Official of the Shangyin Academy, to Tai’an as a regent minister to assist the new emperor in stabilizing the court. I believe major turmoil won’t occur. As for local generals, after the fall of Gu Lu, with the precedents set by old generals Yang Shenxing and Yan Zhenshun, everyone is now on edge. With Gu Jiantang constantly yielding, many generals consider themselves lucky to survive, let alone challenge the court’s authority. Among the old feudal lords, Prince Huainan Zhao Ying has died, Prince Jiaodong Zhao Sui is so tightly suppressed by Gu Jiantang that he can barely breathe, and in Qingzhou… that person, to show loyalty, seems to have dispatched several thousand elite cavalry. Meanwhile, Beiliang is locked in a deadly war against the Northern Barbarians, and the most powerful among the feudal lords, Prince Guangling Zhao Yi, is tied down by Xichu and will inevitably suffer heavy losses. Plus, you mentioned that Prince Yanche Zhao Bing will soon receive an imperial decree to march northward…”
Pei Nanwei reached up and brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, smiling, “Truly worthy of the Yonghui Spring era.”
Xu Fengnian sighed, “Qi Yanglong didn’t disappoint. The new court has handled many matters meticulously—bestowing posthumous honors upon meritorious generals, establishing six new academic posts for civil officials. Everything proceeds in an orderly fashion.”
Xu Fengnian lowered his head slightly, watching rainwater dripping onto the stone pavement in the alley and vanishing, “Zhang Julu is dead. Though some underlying matters won’t change, the deep imprints he and the Zhang Lu faction left on the Liyang court will soon fade and disappear. The chapter of the Yonghui Spring written by Zhang Julu—once turned, it’s gone forever. This is where Liyang truly shines. Though it seems battered from all sides and leaking everywhere, it remains as stable as Mount Tai. Ultimately, it’s because Zhao Dun left his successor a solid foundation.”
They walked slowly, still some distance from the Biyuan County Yamen, when Pei Nanwei hesitated, as if wanting to say something.
Xu Fengnian turned to her with a smile, “Go ahead and ask.”
Pei Nanwei looked at him and asked, “Don’t you already know what I want to ask?”
Xu Fengnian closed his oiled paper umbrella and suddenly squeezed under hers. Pei Nanwei showed no surprise; she thought that if a “married couple” were going to the yamen to argue over debts, each holding their own umbrella might seem odd and weaken their momentum.
Xu Fengnian took the umbrella from her hand, and shoulder to shoulder, they stepped onto the street after turning the corner. He said, “Back when I traveled with Wudang’s Wang Xiaoping toward Shenwu City, I wasn’t sure I’d survive under the Human Cat Han Shengxuan’s hands. I shared some thoughts with Master Wang. My father Xu Xiao was never a man of twisted intentions. He said Beiliang and Liyang were like one family—quarrels behind closed doors were fine. If life under the same roof became unbearable, then moving out and living separately, never to meet again, was acceptable. But if someone thought they could take advantage and came to our doorstep to show off, Xu Xiao wouldn’t mind giving them a slap across the face. That’s a simple principle. Of course, Xu Xiao had his Bottom line—his son destined to inherit his legacy. As long as I remained alive, even if I stumbled along the way, he could endure. But if I died at the hands of the court, then he wouldn’t care about Beiliang anymore—he’d bring his thirty thousand Beiliang border troops straight to Tai’an City. Back when I traveled the Jianghu with Lao Huang, the current Empress Dowager Zhao Zhi, then the Empress, personally sent guards to help me avoid danger. As a woman, she clearly understood Xu Xiao’s mindset through intuition.”
Xu Fengnian suddenly chuckled to himself, “As for me, back in the capital, I once boasted that I’d defend the nation’s borders for the people of Zhongyuan. Not entirely sincere, but not entirely false either. After all, if I must protect Beiliang for Xu Xiao, isn’t that the same as defending the northwestern gateway for Zhongyuan? Same action, different intentions.”
A slight smile curved Pei Nanwei’s lips.
Gazing at the yamen ahead, Xu Fengnian softly said, “That old woman from the Northern Barbarians once declared in front of both dynasties that she was willing to rule the world together with Xu Xiao. Sounds impressive, doesn’t it?”
Pei Nanwei nodded, “Indeed.”
Xu Fengnian smiled, “That’s where the hidden dagger lies. Back then, when Xu Xiao refused to divide the empire along the river, several officers who were unwilling to accept it left. You might say that was his own doing. Later, the court ordered the Xu family cavalry to suppress the Jianghu martial artists, and how many common soldiers left then? You’d never guess—twenty thousand, all battle-hardened veterans. So, if Xu Xiao had accepted the old woman’s offer back then, how many people do you think would have left?”
Xu Fengnian raised one hand and rotated it, “At least one hundred thousand.”
Pei Nanwei suddenly understood, “So that’s how it was.”
Xu Fengnian narrowed his eyes, “During that snowstorm, Xu Xiao met the old woman from the Northern Barbarians beyond the pass, and both Tuoba Pusa and I served as coachmen. It ended in discord. But if you think Xu Xiao refused because he feared the collapse of Beiliang’s morale, then you underestimate both my father and Empress Murong. She secretly offered Xu Xiao a condition—one you’d never guess.”
Pei Nanwei casually said, “Isn’t it that she promised, once successful, that since Xu Xiao would be too old to govern, he could retire, but you, Xu Fengnian, would become the ruler of Zhongyuan?”
Xu Fengnian stared in disbelief, exclaiming in shock, “You actually guessed that?!”
Pei Nanwei shot him a glance, “I couldn’t have guessed it otherwise, but with the way you spoke, I just went with the most unimaginable possibility. Besides, Zhao Zhi is a woman, and so am I—can’t I understand Empress Murong’s thoughts?”
Xu Fengnian sincerely admired, “Impressive!”
Suddenly, Pei Nanwei said, “I’m not cold.”
Xu Fengnian looked puzzled.
Pei Nanwei tugged at the corner of her lips, “If you really thought I was cold, why didn’t you tilt the umbrella more toward me when the rain splashed on your shoulder? Your gesture was too exaggerated. Hand—move it away!”
Xu Fengnian reluctantly withdrew his hand from Pei Nanwei’s shoulder.
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