Chapter 498: Thinking Over and Over, It's All Love

At the Song manor, Song Yan approached Li Fuzhen, and they walked together on the estate. Song Huangmei, usually an unpredictable character, had endured enough setbacks that she didn't dare stir up trouble, instead quietly removing her sword and going to learn embroidery and needlework. After some thought, Song Yan slowly said, "Niece, allow me to begin with some perhaps tedious digressions. After I've finished, you can return and explain to the Grand Administrator why Huangnan County has undergone such a drastic transformation.

The official circles in Lingzhou are currently experiencing drastic changes. If I, Song Yan, were not a protégé of the Grand Administrator, but instead a strategist for the Lingzhou General, and I were to put myself in Prince Xu Fengnian's shoes to consider the situation, there would be three policies to address it: superior, mediocre, and inferior. The inferior policy attempts to gain submission by killing, and it further subdivides into three levels: lowest, middle, and highest. Killing large numbers of minor officials is the most incompetent method within the inferior policy, and it would only cause the people of Lingzhou to become completely disheartened. Not only would local Lingzhou officials, both high and low, consider this Lingzhou General an utter good-for-nothing, but even scholars from other regions observing the situation would think it a terrible mistake, like marrying the wrong man. If they can kill disruptive minor officials today, they can kill anyone tomorrow. Life would be precarious, and what good is a temporary official position then?

The middle level of the inferior policy involves killing a few influential officials like me. This is relatively better, because the minor officials are not the masterminds of Lingzhou's political unrest; they are directed by officials of a similar rank to Song Yan, including both civil and military figures. These are entrenched local powers, and it is their covert instructions that have allowed Lingzhou to become so corrupt. Whether it's killing Song Yan, or a certain prefect, or taking the opportunity to remove the key supporters of the General of Huaian in Longqing County, the effect would be largely the same. The instigating minor officials would become timid and silent, and Lingzhou's official circles might experience a brief period of calm. However, this policy is still not a long-term solution. Once the Lingzhou General departs, Lingzhou would revert to its old ways, much like how a dynasty deals with corrupt officials. It treats the symptoms, not the root cause, allowing problems to resurface like weeds in spring, without truly eradicating them. The highest level of the inferior policy is quite simple: only one person needs to be killed.”

Li Fuzhen had never been interested in officialdom, yet listening to the Grand Administrator's detailed explanation, she found it surprisingly engaging. However, Song Yan's next sentence shocked her, draining the color from her face: “That would be to kill the Grand Administrator. Killing anyone else would not be as effective in deterring Lingzhou as killing your own father. If even a Grand Administrator, whose official rank in Beiliang resembles that of the Beiliang Protector, can be killed, who else would escape if they incurred the Prince's wrath? Moreover, Niece, you must be well aware of your father's conduct as an official. The political maneuvering in official circles only grows more ruthless. In Liyang, the Song family produced three eminent figures and two scholars, while the Han family had generations guarding the border in Jizhou. Compared to Lord Li, they were genuine pillars of the court, incorruptible officials, and meritorious subjects. If they could die, then Lord Li could be said to have deserved death many times over. To put it bluntly, the Li family has amassed so much gold and silver that if their assets were confiscated, the border soldiers would be able to enjoy a prosperous year with plenty of meat and fish. The Li family alone owns twenty to thirty pawnshops, not to mention countless bribes from subordinates, rare artifacts, and antique paintings and calligraphy—all acquired by the Li family and then resold at high prices through their pawnshops. Furthermore, they maintain two horse caravans, each numbering over a hundred, specifically for transporting salt and iron and engaging in tea and horse trade. Therefore, when I, Song Yan, first heard that Prince Xu Fengnian was taking on the role of Lingzhou General himself, my initial thought was that the Xu family was preparing to deal with your Li family. I even sent a secret letter to the border, inquiring whether your brother, Li Hanlin, had been placed under house arrest. I wonder if my benefactor was oblivious to what was happening right under his nose, or if he placed too much trust in the old ties between the Xu and Li families…”

Li Fuzhen finally spoke, “Our family will not fall to such a state.”

Song Yan smiled and uttered a strange remark, “If those words came from my benefactor, I might not dare to believe them.”

Li Fuzhen looked bewildered, and Song Yan continued, “It's surprising that the Prince did not use any of the three inferior policies to resolve Lingzhou's predicament. This is because the two policies above the inferior one—the superior and the mediocre—both require precise timing and skill. A slight misstep could lead to a thankless effort. The mediocre policy involves manipulating and eliminating people, creating momentum and leveraging it—none of these elements can be lacking. The superior policy would involve him not personally acting as the Lingzhou General, but instead leveraging the accumulated prestige of our King of Beiliang to exert pressure, layer by layer, on the Grand Administrator and Zhong Hongwu. Then, working with newcomers to Beiliang like Huang Shang, he would gradually advance from the bottom up, with efforts both high and low, internal and external. Ultimately, this would cause the minor officials caught in the middle to go with the flow and adhere to their duties by following the general trend. However, while such a strategy is meticulous, its effects would only become apparent gradually, requiring at least one to two years. Since the Prince, for reasons unknown, chose the mediocre policy—which is more aggressive than the superior one yet more subtle than the inferior one—then I, who am not merely aiming to be a county chief, have an opportunity. Besides my own ambitions, there is one more thing, Niece, that you should mention to Lord Li: it is not Song Yan who needs to tarnish his reputation, but my benefactor himself. I am not yet a high enough official to deliberately damage my standing. However, for my benefactor, it is time to relinquish some power. My departure from the Li family's patronage at this moment is perfectly timed.”

Li Fuzhen softly said, "Fuzhen doesn't know how much truth there is in uncle's words, nor the merits of these schemes and strategies. I only remember Father privately saying that Uncle Song's official career was far less successful than his own, but his understanding of situations far surpassed Father's. It's just that Beiliang is a small place, which only allowed Uncle Song to utilize a fraction of his capabilities and influence."

Song Yan was taken aback. After a long pause, he sighed deeply, “My benefactor truly understands me.”

Li Fuzhen looked up, gazing into the distance, and asked, “Lord Song, is the Prince, like you, a clever man?”

Song Yan had likely just pledged allegiance to the Lingzhou General, and naturally felt some reserve when speaking of his new superior. He did not give a direct answer, only stating, “It was difficult to speculate before, but having now interacted with him, one thing is clear: when it comes to deliberate self-discreditation in Beiliang, no one surpasses him.”

Since Li Fuzhen now addressed him as Lord Song instead of Uncle Song, Song Yan understood that his bond with his benefactor's family would likely end here. He calmly said, “Let me offer one final heartfelt remark: Guo Fufeng is someone who can only share in prosperity. As for whether he can share in adversity… perhaps I’m overthinking it. The Li family will likely never see its empire collapse.”

Li Fuzhen's expression showed no anger. She offered a slight curtsy and slowly departed.

In a secret room at the Huangnan County private residence, Han Shang had been largely flayed and dismembered, yet he remained defiantly silent.

Xu Fengnian reached into a basin to wash his hands, observing the slightly swirling, thick bloody water, and remarked, “Not everyone is cut out to be a master spy.”

Hong Shuwen stood nearby, his hair on end, while Xu Yanbing remained composed.

Hong Shuwen glanced at the Prince’s still slightly reddened hands. “Shall I get another basin of water?”

Xu Fengnian nodded.

As Xu Yanbing waited for Hong Shuwen to return with fresh water, he quietly said, “Your Highness, if I am not mistaken, that was Eunuch Han's unique flaying technique?”

Xu Fengnian didn't hide anything from his loyal elder. He pointed to his own head and chuckled, “After Han Shengxuan was killed in Shenwu City, I used an unorthodox method involving his head to learn certain things, and I greatly benefited from it when I slew Fifth Mo in Beimang. However, Liu Haoshi stripped away the foundation of my Grand Yellow Court with a Celestial Phenomenon technique, and my cultivation is now insufficient. Many techniques, even if I know how to use them, I simply cannot execute. It's like a low-ranking swordsman who has memorized all the moves of ‘Two Sleeves Green Snakes’ but lacks the strength to perform them. Among the four realms of the first rank, I have experienced three pseudo-realms, perhaps even four. Unprecedented and unlikely to be repeated, it seems I have no regrets.”

Xu Yanbing said nothing more.

Hong Shuwen returned with a fresh basin of water, and only then did Xu Fengnian thoroughly wash his hands. He shook off the water droplets, and as his mind willed it, seven or eight flying swords darted out one by one from Han Shang’s body, skipped across the water in the basin, and then disappeared into his sleeve. These exquisite trinkets, once their sword embryos are complete, require no internal energy to wield. Thus, for Xu Fengnian, using them was effortless.

Xu Fengnian left the secret room and returned to the house. In the courtyard, those who had previously been cleared of suspicion, the "turtles" and "shad" of Huangnan County, were systematically carrying out their covert operations. Some acted as bait, others created diversions, and Wang Tongque was nowhere to be seen. Although the people in the courtyard had just faced a life-or-death situation, for mobile spies beyond the "turtles," especially those near the border, such events were quite commonplace. Previously, there was a group of spies in a Youzhou commandery so brazen that Chu Lushan himself had to lead six hundred iron cavalry to encircle them. Out of seventeen individuals, it was comically discovered that only one had not joined the Beimang faction; a small portion of the rest were Beimang infiltrators, and a large majority had been either lured or coerced into defecting to Beimang. Chu Lushan walked in alone to face the seventeen and quipped, "I am honored to inform you all that after I joined, you only have two enemies." Of course, Beimang's Southern Dynasty was not necessarily any better than Beiliang.

Xu Fengnian pulled up a chair and sat under the eaves, quietly awaiting the arrival of the Peregrines and Eagle Warriors.

According to secret reports, Huangnan County's three spy nests—two old and one new—were located in a Taoist temple, a gang's hideout, and a brothel, respectively. During the Spring and Autumn War, brothels were undoubtedly common places for spies to gather, which was unoriginal. So much so that Chu Lushan, upon taking charge of intelligence, expressed his disdain, claiming that if you arrested a popular courtesan from ten different brothels, two or three would certainly be spies. By the late stages of the Spring and Autumn War, few fools remained in this line of work. Firstly, it was extremely difficult to train elite female spies who were also exceptionally beautiful. Secondly, everyone already knew that brothethels were easy places to gather intelligence, so local spies kept a very close watch on courtesans. Even the slightest suspicion, followed by a trail of clues, would lead to them preferring to kill an innocent rather than let a guilty one escape. However, with the smoke of war cleared, female spies were once again gradually finding refuge in brothels, though their numbers remained few. Leaning back in his chair under the eaves, Xu Fengnian slowly thought of Dunhuang City, and also of Wu Meiniang.

Compared to Jiangnan, night falls late in Beiliang. Xu Fengnian looked up at the tranquil twilight, knowing that the Beimang spies, still unaware of their impending doom due to Han Shang and Black Carp's protection, had only a few more hours to live.

A series of subtly intricate knocks sounded at the door.

Hong Shuwen, who was responsible for odd jobs, went to open the courtyard gate.

Xu Fengnian looked over, smiled, and saw a familiar face.

Upon seeing the Prince, the person's face lit up with genuine delight.

Xu Fengnian knew her name was Ren Shanyu, a youthful-faced woman who wielded a pair of Flowered Battle Axes. Though in her thirties, she still possessed a girlish face, and remarkably, her ample bosom exuded a bold charm. In Shenwu City, she had very nearly died at the hands of the Human Cat.

Indeed, before the Human Cat, Han Wudi, who was proclaimed invincible below the ranks of land immortals, anyone could meet their end at any moment.

Xu Fengnian smiled, bidding the woman who had knelt before him to rise. He said gently, “Ren Shanyu, are you leading forty Eagle Warriors into Huangnan County this time? That sounds like a promotion. Congratulations.”

Ren Shanyu, whose name had just been spoken by the Prince, beamed, revealing a pair of playful canine teeth that seemed out of place for her age. It was hard to imagine such an alluring woman, after chopping people with a large axe as if dicing vegetables, would then use the axe to directly wipe blood from her chest. Blushing, she replied, “Reporting to Your Highness, Wang Lin, who appeared with this servant in Shenwu City, is leading the team. This servant is merely a scout, like a pawn sent ahead to reconnoiter. The Peregrines have already made contact with Wang Tongque, and Wang Lin and his team will enter the city punctually at quarter past Youshi.”

Xu Fengnian nodded and had Hong Shuwen bring a chair for the woman. She looked as though she had received an unimaginable honor, her face a mix of surprise and apprehension. She sat down gingerly, daring only to perch half of her buttocks on the seat. Xu Fengnian smiled and asked, “Only a trivial official position? That doesn’t match your achievements. Shall I put in a word for you?”

The woman, who had once been a ruthless bandit on Jinzi Mountain, squirmed uncomfortably, her earlobes completely flushed. She struggled to compose herself, trying to keep her chest from trembling too much, and spoke with utmost seriousness, “This servant was born into the lowest class in Dongyue. If Beiliang had not taken me in as a spy when I was nine, I would have died long ago. I am also clumsy and have twice caused military delays. In any other place, I would have been expected to slit my throat to atone. I am content just to be alive.”

Xu Fengnian leaned his elbow on the armrest of his chair, propping his chin in his hand, and chuckled, “I didn’t expect Luqiu to have any humanity left.”

Hearing the Prince openly comment on General Chu, whom all Beiliang spies revered like a deity, Ren Shanyu thought she had committed a grave offense and was about to stand up and kneel again in fear.

Xu Fengnian waved his other hand downwards. “I was just speaking casually, don’t be nervous.”

Ren Shanyu settled back onto the chair, even more reluctant to speak.

Ren Shanyu, emboldened, secretly glanced at Xu Fengnian. She saw the Prince with narrowed eyes, his smile captivating.

She clenched the corners of her clothes, sweat streaming down her face, a particular remark stuck in her throat.

Xu Fengnian said helplessly, “Just say what you want to say.”

Ren Shanyu gritted her teeth, lowered her head, and stammered, “Your Highness, this servant has only one wish in this life.”

Xu Fengnian turned to look at the woman, curious. “Tell me.”

She lifted her head, and after speaking, she slumped onto the chair, her buttocks finally settling firmly on the seat this time.

Hong Shuwen wanted to laugh but dared not, feeling uncomfortably stifled.

Hong Henzi felt a genuine admiration for this woman.

She actually dared to flirt with their Prince.

Her wish was that before she died, the Prince would personally touch her chest, adding that it was the only thing she had to offer.

Then, for some reason, as Hong Shuwen looked at the woman's determined and clear eyes, he felt an inexplicable sadness.

Xu Fengnian leaned forward and reached out, only to smooth the stray hairs at her temples.

Xu Fengnian then withdrew his hand, looked ahead, and murmured to himself, “On the way to Huangnan County this time, I kept wondering if it was truly worth dealing with those who only adhere to rules and ignore reason in Lingzhou, constantly maneuvering, when I myself abide by rules, reason, and sentiment. But now I understand.”

The woman, who had forgotten her shyness, clearly did not understand what the Prince was saying.

Xu Fengnian’s lips curved upwards. “No need to touch; I already know it’s very…”

After a long pause, the Prince finally uttered two words.

“…magnificent.”