Chapter 135: Upstairs Heartfelt Words

In the twilight, White Fox Face stood on the third-floor veranda of the Tide-Listening Pavilion. It was hard to believe that this Northern Liang King's residence, second in size only to the Yan Chiyou King's among the Seven Kings, had no master. The King's consort had died young, and Xu Xiao, stripped of his Grand Pillar State title, was far away in the capital. Even the Crown Prince had run away from Northern Liang. The eldest daughter, Xu Zihuu, was well; after marrying, she was, after all, like water poured out, no longer primarily bound to her birth family. The second daughter, Xu Weixiong, had topped the Rouge Sub-list, which judged talent over appearance, and was still studying at Shangyin Academy. The Northern Liang King's youngest son, Huang Man'er Xu Longxiang, was cultivating on Dragon Tiger Mountain. This made White Fox Face feel a bit self-mocking and speechless when he occasionally found himself lost in thought. When he first met the good-for-nothing Xu Fengnian, who was no better than a refugee or beggar, he never imagined he would today ascend to the third floor of the Arsenal. He had originally prepared for the worst, ready to make a deal with the Northern Liang King, determined to read all the books in the Tide-Listening Pavilion no matter what. Later, when he borrowed Xu Fengnian's Embroidery Winter and Spring Thunder dual blades, he felt no regret or heartache; for him, besides keeping his life to practice his blade, there was nothing he couldn't let go of or sacrifice.

White Fox Face leaned his hands on the cool railing, his mind full of thoughts. Like most people, he had held considerable prejudice against Xu Xiao, who had conquered the realm and established this prestigious residence. But after staying here for over a year, looking back at the hunchbacked, slightly limping old man, he couldn't help but feel genuine admiration.

"Of the eleven barbarian tribes, both within and beyond our borders, any who dare bear arms shall be immediately executed," and "All lands under heaven, wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever rivers and mountains reach, shall be subjects of my Liyang Dynasty."

These two bold statements were not mere rhetoric from literary giants. Instead, they came from Xu Xiao, a commoner long criticized by scholars for his lack of education. What was even more remarkable was that Xu Xiao had almost achieved them! It was simply incredible.

"Mr. Nangong, it's rare to see you idling," a cool voice, tinged with a slight smile, came from behind White Fox Face. White Fox Face turned, looked at the man, and shook his head, replying, "I wouldn't dare be called 'Mr.' by Strategist Li."

"Congratulations on reaching the third floor. You're a year faster than I expected." The newcomer was indeed Li Yishan, the National Scholar. In the Spring and Autumn National Wars, a period that produced countless talented strategists, he was still the most outstanding. In those days, he and Zhao Guangling of Western Shu were known as Xu the Butcher's right and left hands, Zhao on the left, Li on the right. Roughly, one was for strategy, the other for decision-making. Zhao Guangling specialized in overt strategies, while Li Yishan focused on covert ones. Many ruthless "extinction" schemes, damaging to one's moral karma, came from his hand. Together, their collaboration was seamless. Zhao Guangling died of a spitting blood illness within Western Shu territory; his merits and demerits eventually faded like smoke. Li Yishan, however, remained in the Tide-Listening Pavilion, planning strategies for the Northern Liang King. Yet, judging by his complexion, he too was terminally ill and did not seem destined for a long life. Indeed, when Western Shu was conquered and several capricious Southern barbarian warlords were subsequently annihilated, it was Li Yishan who proposed that anyone taller than a chariot wheel, regardless of whether they were women or children, should be killed. Even today, mentioning Li Yishan in Shu Prefecture can make children stop crying. How could a person who achieved his goals regardless of positive or negative karma possibly live long?

White Fox Face asked, "There's something I don't understand that I'd like to ask Strategist Li about." Li Yishan nodded and smiled faintly, "Please, speak your mind. I'll tell you everything I know." White Fox Face was not one to stand on ceremony and directly asked, "The Northern Liang King is generally recognized as a capable general who can lead troops, but not a grand marshal who can command other generals. During the Spring and Autumn National Wars, the other three famous generals rarely, if ever, personally led the charge in battle like the Northern Liang King. The Battle of West Rampart was undoubtedly the most formidable peak national war in history, with the largest concentration of arms, yet he boldly handed over command to you and Chen Zhibao, while personally leading the elite iron cavalry directly to Huanglong. Why is it that the Northern Liang army can only bear the surname Xu, and no other?"

Li Yishan looked at the Tide-Listening Lake, whose surface remained eternally still without any bait, and chuckled softly. "Zhao Guangling and I also debated this very question back then, and neither of us convinced the other. The answer isn't with me; it lies with Xu Xiao and his son Xu Fengnian. Mr. Nangong, you can well continue to observe with detachment. Ah, Zhao Guangling, it's a pity he was born into a chaotic era; otherwise, he would surely have been a capable minister in times of peace, no worse than Zhang Julu. Our biggest disagreement back then was who would control the Northern Liang army in the future—would it be a descendant of the Xu family, or someone else? That's why I told Xu Xiao it was fortunate Zhao Guangling died early. With his fierce hatred for evil and his rigid, black-and-white character, he would have found our Crown Prince an eyesore, whether the prince was truly cunningly hiding his abilities or genuinely a good-for-nothing. As for me, while I might not be as good as him at strategizing to win battles from a thousand miles away, my temper is much better, which is why I've lived longer. Or else, why do you think Xu Fengnian comes to bring me wine every few days? That boy is shrewd. Zhao Guangling disliked these petty clevernesses, but I rather appreciate them. Also, when he was a strategist, he was always hands-on in the military tent, while I'm lazier, so I could observe many things and get to know the Crown Prince's character better. I watched that fellow grow up. Once, because of the armored maid Zhao Yutai, he angered the King's consort, who punished him by making him stand facing a wall with two books held up. How long could a child that young hold them? He stubbornly refused to admit his mistake and didn't want to slack off, so he put one book on his head and bit another in his mouth. That stubborn disposition was indeed identical to the King's consort's. Of course, this small matter doesn't prove much. Whether our Crown Prince can smoothly inherit the title and take command of the three hundred thousand iron cavalry is still hard to say."

White Fox Face hesitated before asking, "Aren't you worried about that 'Little Butcher'?"

Li Yishan was sensitive to cold. Even during the height of summer, the night air on Qingliang Mountain, atop the Tide-Listening Pavilion, was cool and breezy. He quickly picked up his gourd flask, took a warming sip of wine, and then sighed deeply. "Xu Xiao doesn't seem to be afraid, but I am very afraid. Even an outsider like Mr. Nangong has noticed it, so how could the Crown Prince and Chen Zhibao, who are directly involved, not be fully aware? When I think of Chen Zhibao's methods before the Battle of West Rampart—riding alone to wear down and kill the wife and daughter of Wu Sheng Ye Baikui—I can't help but be afraid. Perhaps you don't know, Chen Zhibao's swordsmanship is impressive, but his spear play is still his most outstanding skill. He can already stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Spear Immortal Wang Xiu, his master, from back then. Chen Zhibao's military tactics have always aimed for a decisive blow in one strike. Presumably, outside of military tactics, his approach is no different. You must understand that many things in this world are beyond one's control. Back then, didn't Zhao Guangling and I, along with many confidants, hint to Xu Xiao that he should simply rebel? Although Xu Xiao could restrain himself, whether Chen Zhibao can remain patient is something only Heaven knows. That person in the capital has invested a great deal of effort in this over the past decade or so. To be frank, Mr. Nangong, it's not that Li Yuanying cherishes his own life; I'm just afraid that if the edifice collapses, I would fail the King's consort who played the drum in white robes."

White Fox Face seemed infected by the invisible, chilling aura emanating from Li Yishan, and his mood grew solemn.

Li Yishan let out a long breath, tilted his head back, took a gulp of strong liquor, and laughed heartily. "The reason I came down today to speak these heartfelt words to Mr. Nangong is simply that I hope that one day, after Mr. Nangong ascends to the top of the tower and leaves the Tide-Listening Pavilion, he will remember this slight friendship. Fengnian's clever little tricks were all carefully taught by me, a dying man. Mr. Nangong, please don't be annoyed by this boy's slickness; since Fengnian's disposition is similar to the King's consort's, it is naturally not bad."

White Fox Face simply nodded.

Li Yishan, however, knew that was enough. The man, who had witnessed countless battles firsthand, spoke with a dazed expression. "In this time of peace and prosperity, not to mention the common people, even some young generals cannot imagine the grand scale of hundreds of thousands of armored soldiers fiercely battling. Such a sight, though strewn with countless bones, still saw countless men pressing forward, one after another. Northern Liang is a good place. Northern horses gallop in with much pride; southern songs lament tales of death. To grieve for the country's demise but not to be sorrowful—that shows true breadth of spirit. I just wonder if in this lifetime I'll still be able to see Fengnian leading troops, sweeping across and conquering the thirteen prefectures of Northern Mang."

"The sound of wind, rain, thunder, and mighty rivers—none compare to the sound of Northern Liang's horse hooves."

Li Yishan smiled, turned, and left the veranda. White Fox Face looked at his gaunt back, feeling a mixture of emotions.

White Fox Face looked into the distance again, suddenly frowning. He seemed to regret not agreeing to leave Liangzhou together at that time. Annoyed by this unprecedented emotion, he snorted coldly and forcefully suppressed it.

After regaining his composure, White Fox Face narrowed his peach-blossom eyes, which were even more beautiful than Xu Fengnian's. He gazed towards the East Sea and muttered through gritted teeth, "Second under Heaven, then?"