Chapter 512: Win or Lose

Li Gongde was placed by Sun Fulu in the corridor outside the study. Xu Hun was tied up, badly injured, and his clothes were stained with blood. Next to him was one of Li Gongde's trusted retainers, glaring intently at Xu Hun, the spy. This retainer was a true minor Grandmaster, his cultivation naturally impressive. In Lingzhou's jianghu, he was as famous as the Lotus Pond Gang leader nicknamed "Splashing Monkey." However, one continued to enjoy wealth and luxury at the Governor-General's residence, while the other had his entire family annihilated overnight, leaving no bodies. This demonstrated that being a pampered watchdog was far more comfortable than being a rootless wild dog.

Li Gongde appeared calm, his eyes closed in thought, though his fists, hidden in his sleeves, clenched and unclenched. At the end of the corridor, Hong Shuwen, a former White Horse Cavalier, leaned against the wall, poised like a venomous snake. When Hong Shuwen straightened up, Li Gongde suddenly opened his eyes. Seeing the Prince return with Xu Beizhi on his back, a scene so different from what he expected, he was momentarily stunned. Having honed his skills in the cutthroat world of officialdom, Li Gongde quickly composed himself. He had his personal guard leave first. This time, the elder didn't put on airs of a senior; instead, he solemnly smoothed his robes, knelt down, and said in a deep voice, "Li Gongde has come overnight to confess to Your Highness. I implore Your Highness, in consideration of our more than twenty years of acquaintance, to save Li Hanlin!"

Li Gongde couldn't see Xu Fengnian's expression. The Prince likely handed the heavily intoxicated Xu Beizhi to Hong Shuwen first, then hurried over, supporting the Governor-General's arms and trying to help him up. But Li Gongde stubbornly kept his head bowed, kneeling. He heard the Prince ask anxiously, "Uncle Li, why are you acting this way? How can Fengnian deserve this? What happened to Hanlin? Uncle Li, please get up and speak!"

Li Gongde's voice was tinged with a faint sob. "Your Highness, if you don't agree to save my son Hanlin, Li Gongde will kneel here until I die, and I will not get up!"

Xu Fengnian, reeking of alcohol, retorted angrily, "I can choose not to save anyone else, but I must save Hanlin! How could I possibly stand by and let Hanlin fall into danger?! Uncle Li, why act like this? Are you, the esteemed Governor-General of Beiliang, doing something against the Xu family that makes you feel guilty?!"

Li Gongde raised his head, old tears streaming down his face. "Your Highness, Li Gongde has been loyal to Beiliang for twenty years, and Heaven can bear witness! The Great General's cultivation of the Li family was a debt of rebirth. Aside from the undeniable crime of corruption, Li Gongde dares to claim that he has never harbored disloyalty towards Beiliang or the Xu family!"

Xu Fengnian knelt in front of the distraught Governor-General, speaking softly. "Since that's the case, Uncle Li should even more so get up and speak. First, tell me who the bound person is, and why you need me to save Hanlin. There are no outsiders here; you and I, uncle and nephew, can speak freely. If there's something I can't do, then I'll ask Xu Xiao. I refuse to believe anyone in Beiliang can harm Hanlin! Who can wrong the Li family!"

Only then did Li Gongde shakily and frantically get up, wiping his tears with his sleeve. He pointed at Xu Hun and sternly declared, "This man's name is Xu Hun. He's a confidant of Li Xifeng, the Gold Brocade Weaver, and also a secret agent of the Liyang imperial court. Years ago, he took his family out for a spring outing. That cunning old fox Li Xifeng actually pretended to meet me by chance and deliberately mentioned this man was a junior from his distant relative's family. Then tonight, this Xu Hun, utterly insane, infiltrated my residence and delivered a secret letter personally penned by that green-eyed fellow, claiming that if I, Li Gongde, were willing to betray Beiliang, my future status at court would be higher, not lower, than that scoundrel old Yan Jiexi. He even said that Zhao Gou had already arranged an escape route for the Li family. How could Li Gongde be so ungrateful? I immediately apprehended this rogue! But my poor son Hanlin, alas, has already been transferred by a military order to the Southern Dynasty of Beimang, and is now being forcibly escorted eastward along the northern border. I fear it won't be long before he enters the capital from Jizhou. Your Highness, although Li Gongde has not the slightest intention of betraying Beiliang, the fact that sinister villains like Li Xifeng and Xu Hun would target me means that I, Li Gongde, as Governor-General, must have conducted myself improperly for them to think they had an opportunity. No matter how Your Highness and the Great General decide to deal with Li Gongde afterwards, I will have no complaints. But Your Highness knows best what kind of person Hanlin is. If he reaches the capital, he will surely be cut to pieces by that enraged green-eyed man and the Zhao Emperor. Your Highness, you *must* rescue Hanlin!"

Xu Fengnian exhaled a breath and smiled. "So, that's what this is about. Uncle Li, don't worry too much. Come, let's go to the study and have some tea. Fengnian will immediately send messages to Xu Xiao, Chu Lushuan, and Huangfu Cheng, the general of Youzhou. I will absolutely ensure that a safe and sound Li Hanlin is returned to Uncle Li!"

Just as Li Gongde was about to nod in thanks, his eyes suddenly widened. The Prince, who had always been jovial in front of him, directly struck Xu Hun—a valuable source from whom many secrets could potentially be extracted. With an open palm and fingers like hooks, he tore off half of Xu Hun's face. Then, as if still finding it too troublesome, he delivered a swift blow to Xu Hun's head, and the poor man died on the spot without uttering a single word. Xu Fengnian casually wiped his bloodied hands on his sleeve, then carefully helped the Governor-General with one hand while pushing the door open with the other. As they stepped over the threshold together, Xu Fengnian paused, leaned back, and smiled at Xu Yanbing. "Uncle Xu, please have Hong Shuwen quickly send out those three secret messages. The last one is for Huangfu Cheng; tell him this Prince authorizes him to privately mobilize two thousand light cavalry to intercept them outside the pass. Oh, and also ask a servant to bring a pot of hot tea."

Xu Yanbing nodded.

Li Gongde whispered, "Your Highness, Xu Hun is clearly no ordinary spy. Earlier, Li Gongde had intended to interrogate him. It seems he was personally involved in Yan Jiexi's escape from Beiliang back then. With him in our hands, we wouldn't have to worry about Li Xifeng and the Gold Brocade Bureau refusing to cooperate. Killing him later seemed safer."

Xu Fengnian shook his head and laughed. "Uncle Li, you underestimate how tight-lipped these sworn loyalists are. Besides, here in Beiliang, on our own turf, I couldn't care less about Li Xifeng or that weaving bureau. Even if you include those Zhao Gou spies, as long as there's a plausible reason, I'll just kill them as I please. We're not relatives; it's a life-or-death struggle between adversaries, so there's no need for sentiment. In such matters, it's about who's more ruthless. Peregrine Falcon guards who fall into Zhao Gou's hands outside Beiliang face the same fate. Otherwise, why would they be called 'sworn loyalists'? The name isn't given for nothing."

Li Gongde listened to the Prince's unusually casual and indifferent words. As he sat down, he glanced at the young man's prematurely graying hair and remained silent.

Xu Fengnian smiled reassuringly. "Uncle Li, if you think Huangfu Cheng and two thousand elite cavalry aren't enough, we can send an additional two hundred crossbowmen and a thousand cavalry."

Li Gongde quickly assented, "Yes, yes. Alas, such a messy affair truly puts Your Highness in a difficult position."

Xu Fengnian waved his hand. Xu Yanbing personally brought the tea, and Xu Fengnian then reiterated the order to add more troops and urgently send them out of the pass.

Xu Fengnian sneered, "What a Li Xifeng! He truly keeps a low profile only to make a shocking move. He's been a reclusive turtle in Beiliang for over a decade, and when he acts, he only goes for big deals. He's grown addicted to undermining the Xu family; he wasn't satisfied just providing a marital connection for the Zhao family's master, and now he won't even spare Uncle Li. After tonight, I'll pay a visit to this Gold Brocade Weaver. By then, he won't be as lucky as Xu Hun was."

Li Gongde sighed, looked at Xu Fengnian, and said sincerely, "Your Highness, although this was not Li Gongde's own doing, I consider myself utterly disgraced, with no face or desire to remain in office. I hope Your Highness will permit Li Gongde to retire and return to my hometown to be a country gentleman in Huangnan County. In truth, when Your Highness first arrived in Lingzhou, I already had this thought. The new waves push the old waves forward; the hearts of Beiliang's people are turning, and there is now an atmosphere of scholars gathering like a forest. I, Li Gongde, know my learning is shallow, and my reputation is incredibly poor. Not to mention the second-rank Governor-General, even the concurrent post of Lingzhou Prefect was hard to command respect for. When Your Highness first became Lingzhou General, I thought that before retiring, I could at least assist Your Highness for a year or two, fulfilling a wish to serve in Beiliang through two eras. It was for the public good, but indeed, it also contained private ambition. I never expected that shortly after Your Highness moved into the General's Residence, the officialdom of Lingzhou, right under my nose, would immediately descend into chaos. It was then that Li Gongde knew he was ultimately old, too small in ability, and too shallow in experience. Rather than shamelessly clinging on and being cursed away, it would be better to humbly request Your Highness's mercy today and allow me to return home to enjoy my twilight years."

Xu Fengnian lightly lowered his head, blowing at the mist rising from the tea, smiling but saying nothing.

The study's lights cast a dim yellow glow. Li Gongde held the teacup with both hands for warmth, and as steam rose, the faces and expressions of both the old man and the young man appeared indistinct.

Li Gongde chose his words carefully, speaking slowly. "Your Highness, Li Gongde's resignation and retirement are not merely to avoid suspicion. It is truly because I know I am incapable of handling such a great responsibility. Being the first Governor-General of Beiliang was like forcing a duck onto a perch. As for Li Gongde's well-known addiction to officialdom, I've had enough of it. Now, Beiliang's structure has expanded, and it has a fresh new atmosphere. Li Gongde has not studied much, and compared to scholars like Wang Xihua, I am vastly inferior. Yet, a few days ago, as I watched Fuzhen replace old couplets with new ones on countless doors, I pondered a truth I hadn't understood before: no matter how well old spring couplets are written, after a year of wind and sun, they become worn and old. Aside from anything else, they simply don't look festive enough, far less pleasing than new ones. Moreover, Beiliang is now vibrant and full of talented people. Your Highness intends to rectify officialdom, and at its core, the art of officialdom is nothing more than the three-word essence of 'moving positions.' Therefore, as soon as Li Gongde leaves, it's not an exaggeration to say that every official in Beiliang could be promoted by one rank. At the very least, the learned scholars favored by Your Highness can all naturally move up. Consider this Li Gongde's final contribution to Beiliang, doing what little I can..."

Xu Fengnian interrupted, "Let's not discuss this for now. Uncle Li, you are still young. It's too early to talk about retiring and enjoying a leisurely life."

Li Gongde seemed about to speak but stopped.

Xu Fengnian had an amused expression, teasing, "I bet Zhang Julu and the court will at least give Uncle Li a ministerial position and a Grand Academician title. Otherwise, that would be too petty."

Li Gongde smiled. "Li Gongde has not opened the secret letter, so I don't know its contents."

Then the Governor-General placed the secret letter from his sleeve onto the table. Xu Fengnian glanced at it casually, hearing Li Gongde's first hearty laugh of the night. "If you ask me," Li Gongde said, "a ministerial post of the same rank as Governor-General, plus a Grand Academician title that doesn't produce any silver, is not worth looking at. At the very least, they'd have to give Li Gongde the position of Tantaweng Huan Wen for it to be worthwhile. Of course, if the Grand Chancellor is willing to yield his position, Li Gongde wouldn't mind accepting it with a smile. If that were truly the case, allow Li Gongde to go back on his word just this once. Your Highness, please don't stop me; I'll rush to take office tomorrow!"

Xu Fengnian took a sip of tea and laughed heartily. "If the Zhao Emperor had such boldness, ha, I really wouldn't stop Uncle Li! An official trained in Beiliang ends up becoming the Grand Chancellor of the court—that sounds good when word gets out. Wouldn't countless scholars flock to Beiliang to become officials then? Because Beiliang is a land where dragons rise and fortunes flourish! This Prince would be delighted for them to struggle in Beiliang for twenty or thirty years, accumulate enough hardship and merit, and then go off to be politely received by the court for their retirement, comfortably enjoying high office and generous salaries for a decade or so, and after death, each granted an honorable posthumous title by the Emperor. What a wonderful arrangement! The Xu family of Beiliang benefits, and the Zhao family of the court gains reputation. Everyone's happy!"

Li Gongde smiled knowingly.

Xu Fengnian sobered his expression and said, "Uncle Li, you can rest assured and continue being the Governor-General. As for Hanlin, I guarantee I will send him back to Lingzhou without a scratch."

Li Gongde still wanted to speak, but Xu Fengnian closed the teacup lid, placed it on the table, and with an expression that brooked no refusal, said, "Uncle Li, it's settled then. Everything else can wait until Hanlin returns!"

Li Gongde could only stand up, bid farewell, and silently leave the study.

Xu Fengnian saw him to the study door, then sat back in his chair and closed his eyes.

This secret affair, once revealed, would undoubtedly shake the entire court. He had orchestrated the whole scheme, with Xu Weixiong and Wutong Courtyard meticulously refining every detail. Li Xifeng, the Gold Brocade Weaver, had made a deal with Beiliang; his descendants were held as hostages in the capital. To leave Beiliang alive and ensure the imperial court—or more accurately, the Emperor—did not suspect him, he absolutely had to present a flawless and comprehensive plan, as one misstep could unravel everything. Therefore, it was true that Xu Hun was a diligent Zhao Gou spy. It was also true that Li Xifeng had obtained two personal letters from Zhang Julu from the court, and it was true that Li Hanlin had been transferred to the Southern Dynasty of Beimang. Truth and falsehood, intertwined and complex, with crisscrossing interests and various maneuvers, large and small, enough to dazzle anyone. Crucially, Beiliang could not afford a single mistake. Liyang could absorb losses, but Beiliang could not afford to lose. If they won, the Gold Brocade Weaving Bureau would transform from an imperial agency into Beiliang's private property. Large numbers of spies embedded in and around Beiliang would be traced, and even many Liyang infiltrators in border garrisons would be uprooted. This way, Beiliang's muddy waters could be somewhat cleansed. Xu Fengnian's ambition as Lingzhou General from the outset was not limited to Lingzhou's military affairs but to thoroughly eliminate any hidden worries in Beiliang's officialdom, allowing scholars to settle down with peace of mind. If Li Gongde had resisted the temptation, Xu Fengnian had previously told himself that he would let this Uncle Li satisfy his addiction to officialdom. If he didn't, and the worst scenario unfolded, even with the Yan family's prior betrayal, Xu Fengnian had no intention of annihilating the Li family. He would merely, nominally, let Li Gongde resign due to ill health and return home to live comfortably as a rich old man in Huangnan County. As the Governor-General himself said tonight, with his retirement, Beiliang's officialdom would move to the greatest extent possible according to the Prince's wishes. Everything Xu Hun did was Li Xifeng's will, and Li Xifeng's instructions to Xu Hun were, in turn, Xu Fengnian's secret directives. As for Li Hanlin, the standard-bearer of the crossbowmen, a large contingent of Beiliang's most elite Falcon guards had secretly been shadowing him, with six minor Grandmaster retainers from the Prince's mansion mixed among them. The Zhao Gou sworn loyalists responsible for receiving him outside the pass were destined for death. However, Xu Fengnian knew that with this, all four of his fox-friends, those four brothers who grew up together, visited brothels, and took the blame together, were now gone.

The Governor-General, accompanied by his trusted retainer, slowly walked out of the General's Residence.

Li Gongde turned his head to glance at the slightly eerie official residence shrouded in night, then asked with a smile, "What kind of person do you think the Prince is?"

The minor Grandmaster hesitated for a moment before replying, "A master."

Li Gongde chuckled, not pressing the cautious martial arts master, and muttered to himself, "While it's said that a man isn't a true man without a touch of ruthlessness, a compassionate person can still be a hero."

The retainer dared not add more.

Li Gongde reached the entrance of his own residence. Just as he was about to step onto the stairs, he suddenly withdrew his foot and smiled. "Let's take a walk down Apricot Street, now that it's finally quiet and clean."

Li Gongde walked onto the empty and desolate street, sighing without cause, "All beings suffer; it's about how one finds joy in that suffering. Others may see you as utterly pitiable, but if you suffer and don't even realize it's suffering, *that* is true skill."

"I, like the Great General, am old. Whatever I do now, it's all for my descendants."

The study.

Xu Fengnian reached out and gripped the teacup.

The white porcelain cup shattered with a crash.

Half a cup of tea splattered all over him.

It was pre-arranged for him to arrive at the Lingzhou General's Residence on the third day of the first lunar month, but he only arrived on the fourth.

In the corridor, he deliberately mentioned three secret letters.

Xu Fengnian had given the Li family chance after chance.

At this moment, only a single secret letter remained on the table.

In this game of chess, Beiliang, with its advantageous position and loyal people, could never lose; it was only a matter of winning more or less.

But for Xu Fengnian, it was a loss no matter what.

He had brought this isolation upon himself!

Xu Beizhi had truly spoken well.