Chapter 494: Good Birds, Good World

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He Xinliang

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He XinliangFenghuo Xizhuhou

The carriage slowly came to a halt. Xu Fengnian released Hu Yan Guanyin, who, after only the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, looked as though she had just been pulled from a water tank. He bent down, lifted the curtain, and saw three riders stopped beside the post road. They were not armored, dressed in simple, neat martial arts attire. Unlike typical martial artists, however, they each wore a Beiliang saber at their waist. One young rider was particularly striking, with a face like polished jade. A small, sturdy leather pouch hung from his saddle, holding five or six short halberds. Upon seeing these familiar faces, Xu Fengnian smiled, jumped down from the carriage, and stamped his feet. The weather was bitterly cold, and the post road was hard. The three riders, seeing His Royal Highness disembark, quickly dismounted themselves. Xu Fengnian waved his hand, signaling them to forgo elaborate courtesies. All three riders were veterans of the Fengzi Camp's White Horse Volunteers, implicitly among the most prestigious and deeply rooted individuals in Beiliang. Furthermore, Hong Shuwen, one of the three, had earned considerable respect in the Battle of Iron Gate Pass, where he, wielding twin sabers, had slain six Imperial Guards and one Golden Saber Imperial Guard. This young rider, nicknamed "Ruthless Hong," was now Deputy General Wang Zhi's subordinate, nominally holding the rank of Changshui Duwei. He had also made an appearance last time with the Yulong Gang in Longqing Commandery. This time, he had been transferred to the General's Residence in Lingzhou. Xu Fengnian recalled that when he had requested Hong Shuwen from Wang Zhi, the latter had trembled with reluctance, looking as though he had just lost his parents. He then quickly changed his demeanor, shamelessly smiling and asking His Royal Highness for two substantive Duwei positions as compensation. Xu Fengnian requested Hong Shuwen's warhorse, while the Changshui Duwei shared a horse with his comrades. Four people, three horses, and one carriage then proceeded together towards Huangnan Commandery. Xu Fengnian asked with a smile, "Hong Shuwen, did Ning Emei teach you the short halberd?"

Hong Shuwen, who typically exuded the ruthless aura of a lone wolf from the desert, obediently reined in much of his inherent malevolence when beside His Royal Highness. He even appeared somewhat shy as he nodded and replied, "General Ning said I have some talent with halberds. When I get used to the short halberd, he'll teach me the long halberd."

Xu Fengnian didn't deliberately try to win people over with words. After a few casual remarks, he focused on galloping forward.

As noon approached, they reached a small border town in Huangnan Commandery. Leading their horses, they walked through the town, which was bustling with a New Year's market. Villagers from nearby areas had come to purchase goods for the festivities. Some county officials took the opportunity to set up a platform, light candles, and recite moralizing texts, aiming to demonstrate their benevolence and educate the populace on behalf of the "parental officials." However, Beiliang's people were known for their robust and unyielding character, viewing such events merely as a lively spectacle or a joke. In other commanderies of Liyang, these acts, meant to embellish an official's career, were typically solemn and dignified, with reciters expected to be immaculately dressed. In Beiliang, however, they often bordered on the absurd. Many of the performers were merely minor yamen runners with a rudimentary grasp of literacy, simply there to fill a slot. Some attention-seeking Duwei officers would even roll up their sleeves, climb onto the stage, and sway their heads back and forth. As Xu Fengnian paused to observe from a distance, a muddle-mouthed minor official on stage, despite repeating an old tune, still misread a passage. Some quick-witted children, who knew the texts by heart, began to jeer. When the children made a fuss, many adults around them joined in the heckling. Losing face, the official glared and pointed, singling out a man and scolding him furiously. The man, unafraid of this petty official's minor authority, retorted loudly. Then, the man's wife, with flirtatious eyes, added a few teasing remarks. The official, not truly angered to begin with, became unrestrained, using the opportunity to playfully tease the full-figured woman. But Beiliang women were not easily embarrassed or meek. A few bold, ribald remarks from her left the official blushing furiously. Amidst such undignified commotion, the rigid and pedantic recitation of moralizing texts had paradoxically become a joyous event that everyone thoroughly enjoyed.

Xu Fengnian looked around and told Hong Shuwen to find a clean restaurant. After lunch, the group continued their journey to Huangnan Commandery City. Xu Fengnian temporarily bought Hu Yan Guanyin a large sable hat to cover her forehead and eyes, ensuring her striking beauty wouldn't be too astonishing. The three retainers, who had left the Fengzi Camp to infiltrate Beiliang's local officialdom, consistently kept their eyes straight ahead. This was especially true for Hong Shuwen, for whom Hu Yan Guanyin seemed not to exist at all.

Remounting their horses, they turned from the market onto a branch of the post road. Besides the overt three-tiered division of post roads (province, commandery, county) in Beiliang, there were also several more expensive, hidden post roads between many passes. Many seemingly superfluous post station attendants were maintained with hefty salaries; if not for Beiliang's financial strain, Xu Xiao would have had even grander plans to implement. Meanwhile, under Zhang Julu's insistence, the Liyang imperial court's tax revenue was "draining" into the insatiable maw of the northern border. South of Jiangnan, most post roads had been cut back or reduced to varying degrees. Zhang Julu had severely reprimanded several high-ranking local officials who came to the capital for this, but after a slight improvement, the situation quickly reverted to normal. Additionally, Zhang Julu personally oversaw horse administration, which was more critical than the post roads. The Chief Grand Councillor, not having three heads and six arms, simply couldn't devote much energy to personally overseeing the reform of the post roads. Moreover, the Gu faction had controlled the Ministry of War for eighteen years. Zhang Julu not only interfered with horse administration but directly seized this incredibly lucrative sector, taking away the whole bowl of fatty meat. Resentment had long festered among the Ministry of War's ranks. Therefore, when Sun Tanglu, the influential Chief Eunuch, visited Beiliang last time and reported everything he had witnessed there to the emperor in the capital for an entire night, his mention of the post roads left His Majesty in deep, silent contemplation for a long time.

Xu Fengnian did not spur his horse to a gallop. The well-developed post roads beneath Beiliang warhorses' iron hooves were a double-edged sword: while ensuring rapid movement of troops and provisions, they also meant that if Beiman's 350,000 border troops defeated Beiliang's cavalry, they could swiftly cross the border without hindrance, making the path southward completely open. The Zhao family's repeated tolerance of Xu Xiao, even turning a blind eye to salt and iron matters and not making things difficult for annual grain transport into Beiliang, was partly due to their fear that an open Beiliang gate would bring disaster to the Central Plains. Their later decision to grant Chen Zhibao a princely title and send him to Shu was also based on their lack of confidence in Xu Fengnian's ability to command Beiliang's forces. The court had made the worst-case scenario preparations: if the Xu family in Beiliang couldn't sustain the Zhao dynasty's northwestern pillar, at least Chen Zhibao's Shu region would serve as a second line of defense. At the level of Xu Xiao and Zhang Julu, schemes and stratagems became less significant; ultimately, power lay with those who had already gained dominance.

Xu Fengnian beckoned to Hong Shuwen and said, "Duwei Hong, currently, honorary and titular officials in Beiliang are as numerous as ox hair. Not to mention Colonels and Duweis, even generals are everywhere. If I recall correctly, Beiliang follows the same laws as Liyang, with civil and military ranks, including both substantive and honorary titles, totaling as many as seventy-four grades, plus scattered enfeoffments that are simply too many to count. If I were to revoke all of them someday, or even most of them, tell me, what would happen to Beiliang's officialdom?"

Hong Shuwen hesitated.

Xu Fengnian smiled, "Speak freely."

Hong Shuwen said gravely, "Your Highness, then our Beiliang would truly fall into complete chaos. If the civilian morale in the rear is unstable, those on the border who risk their lives for the general — who among them isn't supporting a family? They too would become unsettled. Take my own family, for instance. My father was granted the sixth-rank title of Cavalry Commandant for his military merits back then. My second uncle, being somewhat learned, also received the relatively uncommon sixth-rank title of Scholarly Gentleman in Beiliang. These titles, which convey rank but no actual responsibilities, merely serve as a mark of respect for our elders and their old comrades when they gather locally. To truly profit from them or exploit the land is simply impossible. If they were suddenly taken away, the old men would feel utterly disheartened, even more so than losing several thousand taels of silver. Your Highness, if I may be so bold as to speak my mind, I heard from my elders this time that several thousand scholars from other regions have arrived, all competing with the old Beiliang residents for opportunities. When I traveled from Longqing Commandery to the General's Residence in Lingzhou this time, I also heard many rumors, all unfavorable to Your Highness."

Xu Fengnian nodded, a faint smile on his face. "Many people are colluding to stir up trouble and fan the flames, making the officialdom of Lingzhou feel quite warm, like a blazing stove. I imagine there are still many diligently adding firewood to that stove. This year-end in Beiliang is quite different from previous years; it's not cold at all."

Hong Shuwen was somewhat bewildered. How could His Royal Highness still smile? Because Hong Shuwen was considered one of the prince's "close retainers," the Hong family, which held a minor reputation locally, had not joined the crowds this time. Instead, they had closed their doors to visitors, stayed out of disputes, and had already been isolated and alienated by many formerly well-connected families. Hong Shuwen would never hesitate to charge into battle and kill enemies. He had always believed that a man should spill his blood and sacrifice his life on the battlefield; even before becoming a general who brought glory to his ancestors, he had already envisioned his end, wrapped in horse hide. But asking him to critique current affairs was truly asking for his life. Since His Highness had brought up this chaotic and despicable matter, "Ruthless Hong," who once dared to slap his aunt into semi-consciousness within his own family, could only speak honestly.

Xu Fengnian slowly said, "We must prescribe the right medicine for the illness, differentiating between urgent and gradual approaches. First, we will finalize the substantive ranks of the military generals who hold real power; we won't touch the border armies for now. Hong Shuwen, let me give you a preview: I plan to establish fourteen Colonel positions, all of fifth rank, based on Beiliang's terrain. Each Colonel will be named after a strategic pass within their territory. Lingzhou, if all goes as planned, will only have three such positions. Wang Zhi will be stationed at Lazikou Pass, bordering Western Shu, along the Micangling Road. Of the other two, one will go to Han Laoshan, who is temporarily serving as Lingzhou's Deputy General. The remaining one will be open for all of Lingzhou to contend for. I refuse to believe that such a large piece of prime meat won't attract clever people. Becoming a Colonel means standing out from the vast number of Captains and Colonels who deal with trivial matters all day. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call such a person a regional warlord. As long as someone is willing to lead the infighting, the subsequent matters will become much easier to handle. Originally, I intended Han Laoshan's position for you, but your military merits are not yet prominent. Han Laoshan, after all, has Xu Xiao's backing, which commands respect wherever he goes; you don't. So, I will first place you in the Lingzhou General's Residence to accumulate experience. Although I won't be able to resolve Lingzhou's officialdom with a swift, decisive blow, it's bound to involve some bloodshed, and that's when I'll need you. Local Captains and Colonels in Beiliang don't get many opportunities to 'chop people,' so don't take this lightly. In the future, when I leave Lingzhou, you will most likely assist Xu Beizhi, the new Provincial Governor of Lingzhou. I trust you know my relationship with Governor Xu. To put it bluntly, if he makes a mistake, your head, Hong Shuwen, will not be enough to compensate."

Hong Shuwen instinctively rubbed his neck and chuckled, "Anyway, whatever Your Highness says, I'll do it, no questions asked. But could I request something from Your Highness?"

Xu Fengnian laughed and chided him, "Why are you acting just like Wang Zhi? Spit it out!"

Hong Shuwen whispered, "Your Highness, in the future, if there are battles on the border, please don't forget Hong Shuwen."

Xu Fengnian asked, "Twenty years ago, so many people joined the army because peaceful days were hard to come by anywhere. They were all chasing wealth and status, gambling that they might secure an official position. But things are different now. Why do you, Hong Shuwen, choose not to be a stable official and instead insist on risking your life on the border? Is tying your head to your belt very impressive? Or are you dissatisfied with not becoming a high-ranking official on land?"

Whenever Hong Shuwen grinned, he had a naturally sinister glint in his eyes. "Hong Shuwen is different from others. I just can't get used to a leisurely, happy life. Especially after associating with Your Highness, I feel restless if I don't kill someone for a day. If I go to a brothel and enjoy myself with women with soft skin, after the pleasure, I feel disgusted, and I almost want to wring their necks. This illness probably can't be cured, so I can only go to the border to kill people."

Xu Fengnian smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

In times of peace and prosperity, the common people sleep soundly. When they wake, their homes are still there, everyone is alive, and they work each day. If they can also harbor one or two good aspirations, then this is a good era.

In the eyes of the common people, Hong Shuwen is certainly not a good person. However, without individuals like Hong Shuwen and Li Hanlin, Beiliang's good era would not last long.

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* 2013-12-13 23:55: My first time being so early!* 2013-12-13 23:55: Haha, I'm Little Positive Boy.* 2013-12-13 23:56: Reply to Zidi Ruer: Damn, you made me so excited!* 2013-12-13 23:56: Every click, every red ticket, every favorite, every book review from you is a support for Fenghuo. Red tickets are free. After registering a Zongheng account and accumulating a certain number of points, you will receive red tickets. Every account can favorite "the novel."* 2013-12-13 23:57: Banned.* 2013-12-13 23:58: Inserting a reply.* 2013-12-14 00:09: ...* 2013-12-14 00:12: Go go go go go, waiting for the next update.* 2013-12-14 00:15

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