The Fish and Dragon Gang had been in decline in recent years, barely able to sustain itself, while the younger generations of Honghu Gate and Liu Jian School flourished by diversifying their sources of income. Within the Fish and Dragon Gang, many whispered that the Feng Shui(fengshui) must have gone wrong. With no other options, Patriarch Liu sought the help of several renowned geomancers from Longjing Prefecture. Despite spending a fortune and following their advice to make various adjustments, there was no improvement. Over time, rumors spread that the issue was caused by an imbalance between yin and yang, and the blame was pointed directly at Liu Niroong, who refused to marry. Now, with the gang nearly facing annihilation, Liu Niroong’s sense of guilt was unbearable. Especially after capturing Zhong Chengxin, the next magistrate of Longjing Prefecture, Liu Niroong knew this disaster would not end peacefully. Patriarch Liu no longer harbored any hope of maintaining their foothold in Lingzhou.
They did not know the true identity of General Wang Zhi. The general sat casually on a huanghuali armchair, a relic passed down from the former Xichu Kingdom to Beiliang, exuding an oppressive aura that left Patriarch Liu and others too frightened to even breathe loudly. First, the scholar from Zhong Mansion was arrested, shocking everyone. Then, even the eldest son of the Zhong family was not spared. However, despite having nearly a thousand soldiers stationed outside, they only dared to loiter about timidly, leaving the Fish and Dragon Gang in a state of limbo, barely clinging to life. The sensation of teetering on the edge of death was unbearable.
When Patriarch Liu saw General Zhong Hongwu stride across the threshold, his heart sank, and his limbs turned icy cold. He never imagined that in Beiliang, they had incurred the wrath of the infamous Zhong Da Jiangjun. He believed no one could save the Fish and Dragon Gang now. Counting on his fingers, he could name only a handful of people who might help, such as Prince of Beiliang Xu Xiao, Chen Zhibao, who had been enfeoffed as a king in Shu, the dreaded Zhu Lushan, and Yan Wenluan, who shared military command in Beiliang with Zhong Hongwu. Yet, Patriarch Liu had never even glimpsed these lofty figures from afar. With Zhong Hongwu’s arrival, the situation immediately reversed. Even the mighty Wang Zhi showed signs of unease. After all, the old man before them was the nominal commander of over 100,000 iron cavalry in Beiliang, a rare general of strategic brilliance within the Beiliang army. He had followed the “Butcher of Men” in battle for thirty years, and each of his achievements from the Spring and Autumn Wars alone was enough to crush anyone beneath its weight. Wang Zhi placed his teacup down, steeled his nerves, but did not rise to his feet.
Zhong Chengxin, one of the few literary talents in Beiliang, was overjoyed. He had never suffered such a humiliating defeat in his life—bound like a dumpling by arrogant soldiers and tossed carelessly onto the cold floor. He kept reminding himself that a scholar could be killed, but never dishonored, and barely managed to hold back his tears and urine. In contrast, the Advisors and scholars(Maoliao Wenshi) (strategist) remained calm yet with a dark glint in his eyes. His gaze never left the newly emerged military advisor. Born into a scholarly family in Lingzhou, he had studied in the Jiangnan region for six years and learned the art of strategy from a hermit. He was no mere bookworm buried in ancient texts. Initially, when Zhong Mansion heard of Wang Zhi’s sudden violent actions, he had subtly warned Zhong Chengxin that something was amiss and urged caution, suggesting they wait and see how things unfolded. However, Zhong Chengxin, who valued his dignity greatly, could not withstand the provocation of Tang Ziyi and the incitement of his profligate younger brother-in-law. The latter deliberately framed Wang Zhi’s actions as an attempt to assert authority by targeting Zhong Mansion. He claimed that if Zhong Mansion yielded even a step, there would be no turning back, and Wang Zhi, this arrogant soldier who knew nothing of restraint, would ride roughshod over the Zhong family, even going so far as to defecate and urinate on their heads. This struck a nerve with Zhong Chengxin, who always considered himself a Confucian general. He had long admired the reputation of Cao Zhangqing and Chen Zhibao for their dual prowess in literature and martial arts. Zhong Chengxin usually cultivated his temperament within the mansion, practicing calligraphy, painting, and swordsmanship, or engaging in discussions about military strategy at banquets. Everyone respected him for being the son of the Huaihua General and dared not question him, only flattering him, which only deepened Zhong Chengxin’s self-pity. He once carved a personal seal with the ten characters: “Born twenty years too late, my regret is not being in the Spring and Autumn period.” In the eyes of the strategist, this was merely a frivolous lament from a private chamber.
As a strategist, he was cautious and adept at playing his part. Since Zhong Chengxin insisted on indulging his desire to command troops, he was more than willing to add fuel to the fire of the insignificant Fish and Dragon Gang. However, he did not expect Wang Zhi to be so ruthless as to directly apprehend him. He was surprised and secretly wary—not because of Wang Zhi’s brute manner, but due to the unnatural calmness of the young members of the Fish and Dragon Gang. He looked down on the effeminate Zhong Chengxin, but that did not mean he underestimated all aristocratic offspring. Had he predicted correctly? Was this a meticulously planned conspiracy targeting the Zhong family? Was it about Zhong Chengxin’s position as the next governor of Longjing Prefecture, or was the scheme even grander?
He had assumed that when the Huaihua General arrived with his spear, all plots would be exposed and quickly dissolved under the scorching authority of the general. Although Zhong Hongwu had resigned from his position as cavalry commander in a dispute with the Prince of Beiliang, his salary and rank remained intact. Although his power had somewhat diminished, he was still not someone ordinary people could provoke. He was certain that even Yan Wenluan, the current commander of the cavalry, would not dare to openly challenge the old general who had seemingly fallen out of favor with the Prince of Beiliang. The officialdom was indeed an intriguing place. Zhong Chengxin becoming the next governor of Longjing Prefecture served as a warning bell for the entire Beiliang bureaucratic establishment.
However, what happened next was a scene none in the hall would ever forget.
A young man with white hair slowly peeled off his mask, revealing an uncommonly handsome and delicate face, with a pair of Peach Blossom Eyes(Peach Blossom Eyes). Though his appearance was elegant and refined, there was a rare and majestic bearing about him that Zhong Chengxin could never possess.
“Xu,” said the young man, “Xu Xiao’s Xu.”
Upon hearing this, Wang Zhi tightened his grip on the teacup. Wang Zhi was undoubtedly a bold and capable martial artist. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have often led elite cavalry on thousand-mile expeditions to the Western Regions to eradicate bandits. This was likely a unique indulgence reserved for border generals. Wang Zhi respected very few people, let alone younger individuals. However, after that ambush, he personally experienced the invincibility of Han Diaosi, and after a drinking session with the Prince of Beiliang, he roughly understood about half the truth. He truly felt a mix of awe and fear toward the Young Lord. His three thousand cavalry were merely to intercept Han Diaosi. As for his colleague He Yan from the Sword Pavilion, whose two thousand cavalry were barely involved in any fierce battles, both of them instinctively withdrew from the battlefield after Han Diaosi passed through the cavalry formation. Neither had any intention of sacrificing decades of hard-earned experience in the Western Regions. But in the Battle of Tiemenguan, as far as Wang Zhi knew, the visible forces were Prince Zhao Kai leading two hundred imperial guards and over a dozen hidden elite swordsmen, plus a top-tier female martial expert as his protector. Yet Xu Fengnian still directly attacked with his personal guards. If Zhao Kai and the imperial court had hidden plans, wouldn’t Xu Fengnian risk dying in disgrace there? Worse still, afterward, the entire Beiliang could be accused of rebellion. This did not seem like the action of a young man who only wanted to peacefully serve as the hereditary Prince of Beiliang for ten years! He was determined to fight both Chen Zhibao openly and prevent the imperial court from interfering in the west—a dual-pronged strategy.
Wang Zhi took a deep breath, knelt down in his armor, the sound of his armor clinking as he did so, and respectfully said, “General Wang Zhi pays homage to the Young Lord!”
Patriarch Liu was left utterly bewildered, standing there like a lost soul. Liu Niroong and Wang Dashi were equally astonished, finding it impossible to believe that this Xu Young Master(Gongzi) (young master), who seemed to have nothing better to do than travel to the Northern Wilderness, was actually the heir of Beiliang.
Zhong Hongwu, the Huaihua General who had followed the “Butcher of Men” in countless battles, showed only slight surprise at the sight of the young heir after many years, but not the slightest fear. If he had even a hint of favor or wariness toward this youth, how could Zhong Hongwu have dared to openly berate the Young Lord for selling official posts in front of Xu Xiao? The old general slammed his iron spear into the ground, cast a disdainful glance at Wang Zhi, and then turned his gaze to Xu Fengnian, who was incognito in Longjing Prefecture, sneering, “Oh? The Young Lord has personally come to Lingzhou. I suppose you’ve set your eyes on some young lady? Let me make myself clear. If it’s a courtesan in a brothel, the Young Lord spending money is fine. If it’s a mutual agreement, then there’s nothing to be said. But if you dare to abduct a maiden within Longjing Prefecture, don’t think that with Wang Zhi’s thousand cavalry or your White Horse Righteous Cavalry(Baima Yicong) (White Horse Escort), I won’t arrest every last one of you!”
Liu Niroong shivered under the intimidating gaze of the venerable Huaihua General.
Xu Fengnian handed the mask to Qing Niao, looked at Zhong Hongwu, who still stood tall like a tiger even in death, and smiled lightly, “Don’t keep saying ‘this general’—you’re just an old man who’s already retired. You should just enjoy your retirement in peace.”
The old general’s anger flared, his already fearsome face becoming even more terrifying as he glared with his wide eyes, roaring, “How dare you, you brat! Others may see you as the eldest son of a great general, but in my eyes, you’re nothing but a good-for-nothing scoundrel. Look at your reckless behavior over the past decade! Entrusting Beiliang to you is like playing a game!”
Xu Fengnian merely smiled in response.
With the identity of the Beiliang heir confirmed beyond doubt, Liu Niroong and Wang Dashi exchanged astonished glances.
Zhong Chengxin, by nature timid, upon hearing that it was indeed Xu Fengnian, still swallowed hard despite having Zhong Hongwu’s presence to rely on. Though he had used his status as the son of the Huaihua General to get his way in Longjing Prefecture, he had still spent years navigating the bureaucratic world. With guidance from sages within Zhong Mansion and a deep understanding of human relations, he knew well the saying that it was easier to deal with a King of Hell(Yan Wang) (King Yama) than a Little Demon(Xiao Gui) (petty demon). In his heart, Zhong Chengxin was secretly resentful and confused about his father’s decision to resign from his post in defiance of the Beiliang Prince and provoke the future ruler of Beiliang. If General Chen Zhibao had not voluntarily left Beiliang, and the “White Robe War Sage” still had a firm grip on victory, Zhong Chengxin could have accepted his father’s actions as a political gamble. But now, with the Young Lord in his prime, Zhong Chengxin had read many pages of bloody historical records filled with the chaos of dynastic changes. He did not wish for such a fate to befall the Zhong family. At the very least, his father, the Huaihua General, could return home to enjoy his twilight years for another decade or two, but Zhong Chengxin still had most of his life ahead of him to climb the bureaucratic ladder. Once Xu Fengnian became the Prince of Beiliang, even if the Zhong family was not dragged down by association, wouldn’t Zhong Chengxin be stuck for life in his current position as the governor of Longjing Prefecture, neither advancing nor retreating? Zhong Chengxin had always seen himself as a great talent destined to become the next Governor of Beiliang!
Among those in the hall, Liu Niroong was the most bewildered and at a loss.
That man—the relative of the Lingzhou General’s mansion who had been spat at by the Fish and Dragon Gang’s guards? The low-ranking aristocrat who had chosen to stand idly by during the ambush at Daoma Pass, showing no sense of chivalry? The cold and aloof young man who could only converse with Wang Dashi? The slick young noble who had chatted amicably with wealthy merchants in Liuxia City? The rogue who had haggled with a water seller at Yancheng Pass and shown a bit of warmth? The half-baked martial artist who carried a sword but never once drew it?
How could he be the heir to Beiliang, destined to inherit the throne?
He bore the surname Xu, but how could he be the Xu Fengnian she should never have crossed paths with in her entire life?
The Huaihua General mistook Xu Fengnian’s smile for retreat and waved his hand, issuing orders, “Unbind them!”
Xu Fengnian glanced at Zhong Chengxin and the scholar from Zhong Mansion, then turned to Zhong Hongwu and asked, “Why?”
Zhong Hongwu laughed bitterly, “Who do you think you are? Even if the Great General himself were here, I’d still make you release them!”
Wang Zhi, still kneeling on the ground, raised his head and shouted fiercely, “Zhong Hongwu, do not act as if your age gives you the right to insult others! My one thousand cavalry alone could flatten this small Longjing Prefecture!”
Zhong Hongwu did not even deign to look at Wang Zhi, crossing his arms arrogantly, “And you dare to speak to me? Are you also someone who bought your rank from Xu Fengnian? Dare you go to the border between Beiliang and the Northern Wilderness? Don’t let the sight of the Northern Wilderness cavalry charge scare the legs right out from under you!”
Wang Zhi’s face remained expressionless as he coldly replied, “Zhong Hongwu, I respect you as an old colleague of my father’s. If you continue to insult me, I swear I will make you regret it!”
Zhong Hongwu burst into laughter, “Your father? Let me think.”
Then, his laughter ceased. He paused briefly before turning his head with a sneer, “In the past thirty years of the Beiliang army, there hasn’t been a single general surnamed Wang who caught my eye! What kind of nobody was your insignificant father?”
Wang Zhi gritted his teeth but said nothing.
Xu Fengnian watched Zhong Hongwu’s arrogance with cold eyes.
The Beiliang army was riddled with factions. Zhong Hongwu had served as the cavalry commander for nearly a decade and was the undisputed leader of his faction. Among his generation of senior generals, only Yan Wenluan’s military achievements and prestige could rival his. Zhong Hongwu was the undisputed king of his own mountain, along with the younger generation led by Chen Zhibao. These three factions kept each other in check. Except for the Snow Dragon Cavalry and the Longxiang Army, most of the Beiliang forces were divided among these three. Among them, of course, Chen Zhibao, the Beiliang Commander-in-Chief, was first in rank and military merit. Yan Wenluan followed closely behind. Although Yan Wenluan’s forces were slightly fewer than Zhong Hongwu’s, he was more adept at political maneuvering and cultivating connections. His loyal subordinates rose through the ranks faster than those under Zhong Hongwu. Excluding the eighty or so actual commanders among the honorary and ceremonial officers, Yan Wenluan had nearly thirty key followers under his command, far outnumbering Zhong Hongwu’s mere dozen or so. However, precisely because of this, Zhong Hongwu became increasingly indifferent to “rules.” Over the years, Xu Xiao had always tolerated him.
After scolding Wang Zhi, Zhong Hongwu turned to Xu Fengnian with a sneer, “Isn’t the Young Lord going to personally untie them? Otherwise, be prepared for me to go to the Prince’s mansion and scold you in front of the Great General again!”
Xu Fengnian, who had been smiling slightly, heard this and his eyes became as calm as water. He said lightly in surprise, “Oh?”
Zhong Hongwu retorted, “What else do you expect? Are you planning to go to my mansion to apologize with a bundle of birch twigs on your back?”
Xu Fengnian held his horsewhip and said to Patriarch Liu and the others, who were treading carefully as outsiders, “Please, Patriarch Liu, leave for a moment.”
Zhong Hongwu laughed fiercely, “No need! If you dropped your face on the ground yourself, don’t blame others for stepping on it.”
Xu Fengnian did not insist and smiled, “I’ve heard that Zhong Hongwu is a true second-rank expert? Unmatched in the Spring and Autumn battles?”
Zhong Hongwu gripped the iron spear upright in the ground, “Fighting two hundred Xu Fengnians should be no problem at all.”
Chen Xiliang frowned deeply, his fingers tightly clasped.
Xu Beizhi, however, smiled knowingly.
Chen Xiliang caught a glimpse of Xu Beizhi’s relaxed expression from the corner of his eye and slowly loosened his fingers.
Xu Fengnian nodded, “Alright, then I shall test you.”
After hearing this, Zhong Hongwu looked around the room, shaking his head and laughing, “Let that young girl in green fight for you? Or your sycophant Wang Zhi? Xu Fengnian, Xu Fengnian, why don’t you let them help you become the Prince of Beiliang?”
Xu Fengnian lowered one hand and extended the other, his sleeve sweeping in front of him.
Twelve flying swords hovered in mid-air, suspended in place.
They varied in length and color.
Xu Fengnian plucked one of the swords with his finger and softly said, “Tai’e.”
“Kill the junior officer inside the hall.”
One sword sliced through a head.
He plucked another sword, “Peach Blossom.”
“Kill the junior officer Tang Ziyi.”
The third sword was flicked, “Xuanlei.”
“Kill the Zhong Mansion strategist Tang Duan.”
The scholar and the junior officer in the hall died the same way, instantly.
The aging Zhong Hongwu trembled with his strong body, released the iron spear, and slowly lowered his head with great difficulty, whispering, “Greetings to the Young Lord.”
The fourth sword, Xu Fengnian placed his finger on the flying sword, “This sword is Huangtong.”
Looking at the pale-faced Zhong Hongwu, he asked, “Kill Zhong Chengxin?”
Zhong Hongwu slightly raised his head, his eyes filled with various emotions—rage, gloominess, hatred.
And a hint of never-before-seen reverence.
Xu Fengnian calmly said, “Then with so many swords left, surely it’s enough to kill a disrespectful Zhong Hongwu.”
Huaihua General Zhong Hongwu heavily knelt down with a loud thud, “Zhong Hongwu greets the Young Lord!”
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