Chapter 132: Firepower

"A personal connection?" Lu Chengyan felt a little bewildered. She, of course, understood the varying importance of personal bonds. Wealthy and powerful families employed countless methods to control their subordinates, which, to put it simply, was a combination of grace and power. Since it was a matter of extending grace before asserting power, it naturally underscored the importance of personal bonds. However, coming from her Old Ancestor, its significance seemed far greater than she had imagined.

The old venerated elder of the Qing Party, who had witnessed the vicissitudes of life, turned his head to look at the plum-green incense burner. Its spiral shape resembled mountain peaks, with carvings of the three immortal mountains: Penglai, Boshan, and Yingzhou. Three wisps of purple smoke wafted out from the hollowed-out mountains, creating a mystical sight. Having been with her Old Ancestor for many years, Lu Chengyan noticed the scent fading and immediately went to add charcoal. The incense in the burner was made from Borneo camphor, transported from the South Sea, blended with water reeds unique to Qingzhou, and pressed into incense cakes. Consequently, the fragrance was moderately rich, long-lasting, and the smoke was light and not irritating to the nose.Lu Feichi withdrew his gaze and said softly, "Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger. The wise people around an emperor can be categorized into three levels of talent. Those with great talent, who can govern the world and benefit the people, represent the highest caliber for assisting the nation; the 'Blue-eyed Boy,' Zhang Julu, is undoubtedly one such person. Those of moderate talent can govern a province or control several prefectures. If used on a grand scale, they can destabilize the nation; if used on a small scale, their abilities are wasted. Wen Taiyi and Hong Lingxu from our Qingzhou are in this category, and your father, Lu Dongjiang, might barely qualify if he further refines himself in the future. The lowest are those who only know how to fawn and flatter their masters, possessing mediocre learning but a natural ability to read people. Yan'er, do you know why great talents who assisted rulers throughout history often met worse fates than those of lesser talent?"

Lu Chengyan whispered, "Is it because their achievements overshadow their lord?"

Lu Feichi neither confirmed nor denied it, saying calmly, "Can it be said that the King of Northern Liang, Xu Xiao, did *not* achieve so much that he overshadowed his lord? Why is it that this 'Butcher' is still alive today, having carved out territory and commanding 300,000 elite soldiers? There is no other reason than these two words: personal connection. When dealing with an emperor, personal connection far outweighs talent and strategy. Why can eunuchs interfere in politics, and why can imperial relatives wield power? Is it not because the monarch cherishes that bond of 'fragrant incense'? The relationship between Xu Xiao and the late emperor was less like father and son, and more like brothers, which is extremely rare. Therefore, even after the late emperor's death, this friendship was more or less passed down to the current emperor. During the succession struggle, Xu Xiao merely stood by and watched. This was not a merit, but a bond of friendship unknown to ordinary people. Later, when Empress Zhao Zhi wanted to marry the Northern Liang crown prince, Wen Taiyi and others thought that the emperor's bond with Xu Xiao as ruler and subject had run out. They rushed to kick him while he was down, stirring up trouble in court alongside Sun Xiji and those old traitors who had ruined a previous state. They were wrong, terribly wrong! Empress Zhao Zhi's mind is not simple. In my view, only half of it was to test Xu Xiao's limits; the other half was to protect Northern Liang and the Xu family. Even if Xu Xiao resisted, she wouldn't truly be angry. What happened when Xu Xiao came to the capital this time? Didn't he get hereditary succession without forfeiture? If it were anyone else, even King Yanchi, could they have succeeded?"

Lu Chengyan cautiously asked, "Old Ancestor, how much of that ruler-subject bond, painstakingly accumulated by the King of Northern Liang throughout his military life, is left now?"

Lu Feichi laughed, "Not much left. No matter how strong a bond, it can't withstand Xu Xiao's repeated antics. However, as long as King Yanci, King Guangling, and the other major vassal kings aren't all dead, it still holds. The late emperor had a strong reason for not allowing Gu Jiantang to go to Northern Liang and become a prince of a different surname. Gu Jiantang is too smooth, unwilling to make enemies. How could the late emperor trust him to be king a thousand *li* away? Xu Xiao, that cripple, embodies a profound wisdom of concealing his sharp edge. Gu Jiantang's maturity and skill truly can't compare. Earlier, some in the dynasty said that if Xu Xiao's forces were handed over to Gu Jiantang, he could also conquer the six nations. That's not false, but as for the outcome, he wouldn't escape the fate of 'when the cunning rabbit is dead, the hounds are cooked'."

The old venerated elder, who had been enjoying his twilight years in Qingzhou for a long time, smiled slightly and said, "Let me tell you a few more things, my dear girl. The reason I risked coming to Spring God Lake is that the collective spirit, which our Qing Party's two generations painstakingly built up, has dissipated. That 'Blue-eyed Boy,' Feng Huo, is truly formidable. He's only been in power for a few years and has already brought Old Man Wen completely under control. If that were all, it would be fine. But that old fossil Hong Lingxu originally intended to promote several of his good-for-nothing sons before stepping down: one to become a Grand Eunuch in the capital, one a prefectural governor, and the remaining illiterate one to take command of the Qingzhou navy from the Wei family. However, the 'Blue-eyed Boy' thwarted all these plans and even gave Yangling Commandery to Old Man Wen's favorite disciple. Hong Lingxu is good in every other respect, but his mind is too narrow. Although he saw that this was the 'Blue-eyed Boy's' overt strategy, he still couldn't swallow it. Consequently, he became completely estranged from Old Man Wen, with whom he already had a rift. The remaining old Qingzhou figures who held sway in the court also refused to settle down, either secretly wooed by Gu Jiantang or exchanging glances with people like the old Grand Tutor Sun Xiji of Western Chu. Everyone can actually see how the Qing Party's overall situation will unfold in the future, but when it affects them personally, they disregard the larger picture. Our Qingzhou has long been described by the ancients as 'seeing profit and forgetting righteousness'."

Lu Chengyan giggled, "If Old Ancestor were still in the capital, how could he let them mess around like that?"

Lu Feichi patted his great-granddaughter's head, narrowing his eyes and chuckling, "You little flatterer."

The old man sighed, "Am I not also someone who sees profit and forgets righteousness? I can only laugh at these old fossils in front of you, my dear girl. Who knows, tomorrow it might be their turn to secretly slander and scheme against me."

Lu Chengyan huffed, "How dare they! Tomorrow, Yan'er will have Lu Dou make their whole family scatter like chickens and dogs!"

Lu Feichi stroked his beard and laughed heartily, "There are few truly smart people in this world, but also few truly foolish ones. Your father and these so-called descendants of powerful families don't quite understand this principle. It's just that with the world now at peace, they haven't witnessed the brutal hearts of people during turbulent times. Those advisors and retainers in the Lu family manor who are so eager to swear their utmost loyalty, in my opinion, are worth very little. Scholars from humble backgrounds study for sustenance, while aristocratic families only study for a splendid future. Very few truly grasp profound righteousness and great wisdom. It's a pity for all those history books that record the bloody lessons of our ancestors."

Lu Chengyan nodded and said, "Indeed, if one reads 'dead books,' then a scholar is useless in a hundred ways. Only by reading 'living books' can one truly say that all other pursuits are inferior, and only scholarship is supreme."

The old man burst into hearty laughter and praised, "Your father should hear that."

Lu Chengyan made a mischievous face, "No way, Father will surely start lecturing Yan'er again about what the sages said on this or that day."

Lu Feichi sobered his smile and slowly rose with Lu Chengyan's support, walking to the window. He sighed softly, "It's not surprising that Crown Prince Zhao Xun lost to that Northern Liang Prince. But even King Jing'an, who had decided to burn his bridges and commit fully, couldn't stop him. That's interesting. Just now, Chu Lushan claimed he still wouldn't retaliate even if you slapped him, Yan'er. Don't think that was just a joke for show; that 'Smiling Assassin' Luqiu'er is very serious."

Lu Chengyan exclaimed in astonishment, "That was true? Yan'er thought it was just a joke to warm up the atmosphere."

Lu Feichi smiled faintly, "That's why I plan for you to enter the Northern Liang Prince's manor. We won't hope for the principal consort, but I'll certainly seek a secondary consort position for you. When it comes to courage, those two old fellows, Wen and Hong, have never once in their lives surpassed me."

Lu Chengyan, who had been praised by her Old Ancestor since childhood for her intuition, had some inklings earlier but was still utterly shocked upon hearing it firsthand, speechless for a moment.

Lu Feichi patted her hand and said kindly, "Go, keep an eye on the incense burner for a while. That thing can't have its fire go out."

Watching his great-granddaughter scurry to squat before the incense burner and poke at the charcoal, the old man looked out at the lake. With the breeze caressing his face and his white beard fluttering, he was truly magnificent. After a moment of thought, he said softly, "Yan'er, tomorrow, hand Lu Dou over to Chu Lushan. The timing for Xiangfan City will then be just right."

Lu Chengyan obediently mumbled, "Oh."

Lu Feichi turned, took a piece of old ginger from a food box on the shelf, put it in his mouth, and suddenly asked, "I hear that Crown Prince is quite handsome?"

Lu Chengyan was taken aback for a moment, then looked up with a smiling face, "Extremely handsome!"

Lu Feichi slowly chewed the slightly spicy ginger, stroked his beard, and squinted his eyes, "In that case, he probably has half the charm of your Old Ancestor in his youth, wouldn't you say?"

Lu Chengyan traced a finger across her cheek and giggled naughtily, "Old Ancestor, you're shameless!"

The old man didn't get angry. He walked over, bent down, and wiped a smudge of charcoal from his great-granddaughter's face, saying dotingly, "A daughter married out is like water poured away. You haven't even married yet, and you're already favoring outsiders over your own family! Old Ancestor has doted on you for all these years for nothing."

Lu Chengyan's eyes suddenly reddened, and she cried out chokingly, "Yan'er won't marry! Not marrying, not marrying!"

Lu Feichi chuckled, "Silly girl. Old Ancestor will give Yan'er one last piece of advice: 'When you marry a husband, follow your husband.' If you truly want our Lu family to continue to be wealthy and noble, then after Old Ancestor is in his coffin, no matter what your parents say, and no matter how the family pleads, you must always remember to prioritize your husband's interests in everything. This is the fundamental way for the Lu family to distinguish itself from the chaos in Qingzhou. As for your handsome future husband, his ability to force King Jing'an into such a risky move this time is half skill and half a lack of complete maturity. However, he is still young after all. As long as he develops the necessary spirit and vision, he might very well become a King of Northern Liang who is no less formidable than 'Cripple Xu'."

The old man looked at the starry sky and softly uttered a cryptic remark that left Lu Chengyan feeling muddled: "Occupy the North and look South, a python swallowing a dragon."

Xu Fengnian didn't approach the bonfire where Halberd Ning Emei was. Instead, he lay on the grass at the top of the hillside, gazing blankly at the brilliant Milky Way. Not long ago, he had just fed Qingniao the initiation gift from Old Daoist Master Zhao Xituo of Longhu Mountain: a Dragon-Tiger Golden Elixir, incredibly precious even in the Celestial Master's Residence, which housed countless treasures. There were only two pills in one box, said to prolong life and be no different from a life-extending elixir, only slightly inferior to the elixirs personally refined by Qi Xuanzhen. Back then, the Old Sword God Li Chungang went to Longhu Mountain's Demon Slaying Platform specifically to seek the immortal elixir rumored to revive the dead, which was in the hands of Immortal Qi. Therefore, upon seeing the two fragrant Dragon-Tiger Golden Elixirs after the box was opened, Li Chungang, who recognized their worth, asked if Xu Fengnian truly meant to give them to the green-clad maid before she took it. The Old Sword God's intention was that the maid's injuries were no longer serious, and her survival was certain, so such a priceless golden elixir seemed unnecessary and almost extravagant. To his surprise, the Crown Prince calmly replied that he was willing, and then immediately asked when the second golden elixir would be suitable to take.

The old man in sheepskin approached and sat down beside the Crown Prince, pulling out a licorice root to chew on. He sighed with emotion, "The sky is like a yurt, covering the four fields. Who among us isn't a frog in a well?"

Xu Fengnian smiled, "Old Senior, that doesn't sound like something you'd say."

The Old Sword God curled his lip and said self-deprecatingly, "In front of the little mud doll, of course, I always need to put on a show of being a master. Otherwise, how can I trick her into practicing swordplay with me?"

Xu Fengnian rolled his eyes, mimicking the Old Sword God by pulling out a licorice root, flicking off the dirt, and slowly chewing it in his mouth. He mumbled indistinctly, "It's sweet. Back when I was with Old Huang, we often slept in places like this, where not even a bird would lay an egg. No bed, no blankets. I'd curse endlessly, and when I was too tired to go on, Old Huang would hand me this licorice root."

The Old Sword God said calmly, "Those few slashes you used in the reed marsh were Sword Nine Huang's nine swords, weren't they? Although I've never seen that man wield a sword, the first eight swords were acceptable, merely superior sword techniques. But the ninth sword was truly the style of a master. How long have you been secretly practicing, young man?"

Xu Fengnian shook his head, "I only looked at the sword manual; I've never actually practiced it. I don't know why I used it today."

Old Man Li looked half-skeptical.

Xu Fengnian sat up, turned his head, and asked, "Old Senior, why didn't you accept that sword box?"

The Old Sword God laughed, "Then why don't you, young man, hungrily pore over that unrivaled blade manual?"

Xu Fengnian lay back down, crossing his legs.

The Old Sword God laughed loudly, "If the heavens had not given birth to Li Chungang, the Way of the Sword would be an eternal night."

Xu Fengnian said helplessly, "Go brag about that to Jiang Ni."

The Old Sword God stood up, kicked away the young rascal's crossed legs, and said angrily, "Get up! I'll make you see if I'm bragging!"

Xu Fengnian was stunned for a moment and asked in disbelief, "Are you going to teach me a superior sword technique?"

The old man scoffed, "What the world considers superior sword techniques is nothing! Tonight, I'll directly teach you 'Two Sleeves Green Snakes'!"