Chapter 514: Armoring Northern Liang, Unarmoring the Crown Prince

The officials in Lingzhou had assumed that after the Crown Prince, who had been frustrated in Lingzhou, returned to the Princely Manor for the New Year, he would surely have requested an imperial sword from the Grand General to launch a purge in Lingzhou. However, the state capital remained calm and peaceful, leaving everyone puzzled. Could it be that the Administrator was truly so highly esteemed and powerful that even the Grand General had to view him differently, granting him a fate utterly distinct from that of General Zhong Hongwu of Huaihua? Many opportunists, eager to gain favor and squeeze into the Lingzhou General's Residence, reconsidered and decided it would be more prudent to first pay a New Year's visit to the Li Manor. Furthermore, Sun Fulu, the General's Residence's notoriously unapproachable chief steward, had announced that the manor would not receive visitors for the time being, which deterred most officials from seeking a cold reception there. Yet, at noon on the sixth day of the first lunar month, when Song Yan, the Prefect of Huangnan County, moved his entire family into the state capital, not to the Administrator Li Gongde's residence as his disciple, but to the General's Residence, it again left many people bewildered.

However, when Song Yan moved into the official residence, the Crown Prince did not make an appearance. He was busy drinking in the west of the city with Xu Beizhi. The coachman, Xu Yanbing, had been replaced by Han Laozhan, who was both a fellow disciple and a deputy general of Lingzhou. Besides this pair of 'persimmon and tangerine,' there was also Pei Nanwei, who had traded her snow-sweeping fox fur for plain clothes, though she kept her loose mink hat. Wang Lüting and his close hometown friend, Sun Yin, were also present, along with Wang Yunshu, who had just come to make an acquaintance. Five young gentlemen of similar age were gathered. Except for Sun Yin, who was unremarkable in appearance and rigid in demeanor, the other four, with their dashing and unconventional looks, were quite striking. Fortunately, their drinking spot was in a lower-class area of the state capital, so they weren't easily recognized by keen observers. During their drinks, Wang Yunshu and Wang Lüting, both figures among the "Four Kings of Huangnan," knew each other well, and in their youth, they had been among the "Four Bullies of Lingzhou." Thus, their conversation flowed naturally. Only Sun Yin, who was temporarily working as a humble tutor for the Zijin Wang family, seemed out of place and remained silent. Even when Xu Beizhi tried to initiate conversation several times, Sun Yin responded politely but never managed to expand on the topics. It seemed he was inherently unsuited to be the center of attention at a table. Xu Fengnian naturally compared Sun Yin to Chen Xiliang, who had a similar background, and felt a touch of disappointment. Chen Xiliang had never shown any shyness or timidity, whether in front of him or Xu Xiao. Xu Fengnian urgently needed educated scholars who could be immediately put to use, like Xu Beizhi, who could thrive independently when assigned to a county, requiring no further concern from him. Otherwise, Xu Fengnian, not being a god, would be unable to manage everything. Wang Lüting, who was skilled at reading people, secretly kicked Sun Yin's foot under the table several times, but the unyielding Sun Yin remained oblivious.

The rich aroma of a large pot of stewed dog meat filled the air, and over ten catties of green ant wine had been consumed; it was almost time to pay and leave. Wang Lüting sighed internally, knowing well how crucial first impressions were, especially for the head of the Zijin Wang family. So many supposedly unrecognized talents in the world were, in fact, mostly fools who didn't know how to seize opportunities to recommend themselves. A man's talent, unlike a woman's pregnancy, isn't immediately obvious, so it was no wonder others failed to recognize it. The problem was that Wang Lüting was more certain than anyone that Sun Yin was not a pedantic, bookish scholar, which made it all the more regrettable. Although Wang Lüting was a new favorite of the Crown Prince, he couldn't foolishly tell the Crown Prince how exceptional Sun Yin's scholarship was, implying that the Crown Prince couldn't recognize a true talent, unlike a good judge of character. If Wang Lüting truly acted so rashly, he wouldn't be able to hold onto his position as head of the Zijin Wang family, a seat stained with the blood of many clan members. Despite Wang Lüting's refined demeanor at the moment, he had skillfully incited bandits to covet wealth with one hand and heavily compensated the authorities to suppress them with the other, without hesitation. He had slaughtered nearly half of his treacherous uncle's family of over forty people, leaving only some insignificant elderly, young, and female dependents. Eighteen roving bandits were also left with no survivors, leaving the entire clan silent and fearful to this day. The two groups then went their separate ways. Wang Lüting departed with Sun Yin, while Wang Yunshu walked alongside them for a while, leading his horse, before claiming he had plenty of drinking buddies in the state capital and needed to go carouse. He then galloped away. Since Wang Lüting took charge, the two young gentlemen, who had once been good friends, gradually drifted apart.

On the other side of the road, Xu Fengnian bought a string of sugar-coated haws and bit into one. After a long silence, Xu Beizhi finally couldn't help but ask, "Are you truly not planning to heavily rely on Sun Yin, who has the potential to become the second Yao Baifeng of Beiliang?"

Busy with his sugar-coated hawthorn, Xu Fengnian mumbled, "Even if I were to use him, I'd be hard-pressed to find a suitable official position for him. With his personality, regardless of how learned he is, if I were to leave him in a local county, he'd surely be tormented to death by the seasoned old officials. And if I had to give him a high-ranking official title, frankly, I'd be reluctant. It would be more effective to give it to anyone else, or at the very least, they'd achieve more immediate results than Sun Yin. However, letting Yao Baifeng take him to the Imperial Academy in the capital isn't right either. The imperial court has a unique environment and skilled mentors to meticulously refine this unpolished jade. If Sun Yin were to become a powerful minister in the court later, and Beiliang gained another enemy like Zhang Julu, I'd regret it bitterly. But to keep him confined in Beiliang for his entire life would be unreasonable and unkind, both morally and practically. For a scholar whom Yao Baifeng described as capable of passing all three imperial examinations, to end up wasted in my hands would not sound good if word got out."

Xu Beizhi chuckled, "So, you think Sun Yin is like a chicken rib—flavorless to eat, but a pity to discard?"

Xu Fengnian nodded.

Unexpectedly, Xu Beizhi shook his head. "Not necessarily."

Xu Fengnian handed the half-eaten string of sugar-coated haws to the quiet Pei Nanwei. Surprisingly, she calmly took them and bit into one, holding it in her mouth. Xu Fengnian, not in the mood for flirtation, continued speaking to Xu Beizhi: "The capable do more work. Why don't you help me test Sun Yin? I genuinely don't have the time to deal with it. I'm about to leave Lingzhou to participate in the border military exercises with Xu Xiao."

Xu Beizhi stated emphatically, "If he's left to me, even if I become the Governor of Lingzhou, you shouldn't expect Sun Yin to truly open up to you. Every scholar has some pride, and Sun Yin's is particularly pronounced."

Xu Fengnian frowned. "Either way, it's a problem. What do you want me to do?"

Xu Beizhi softly said, "There's a simplest way; do you want to hear it?"

Xu Fengnian rolled his eyes. "Cut the nonsense."

Xu Beizhi calmly replied, "If he's unusable, kill him. Do it discreetly—a drowning accident, or slow poisoning, whichever you're more familiar with. Wang Lüting is ambitious; it would be a good opportunity to let him understand the meaning of balancing benevolence with authority before he takes over the brocade weaving business."

Pei Nanwei turned to glance at this Northern Mang remnant, resolving to keep her distance from him.

Just as Xu Fengnian was about to speak, he spotted a cavalcade arrogantly galloping down the street in the distance, instantly causing chaos. Chickens scattered, dogs barked, and the entire street erupted. Fortunately, the common folk seemed accustomed to it; women clutched their children and sprinted away, vendors dashed with their carrying poles, and men in the middle of the street dove for cover, all with practiced ease. This only fueled the arrogance of the wealthy idlers who rode their horses recklessly. They continued to crack their whips. Most of the young gentlemen were adorned in furs, carried swords, and wore sabers. Surprisingly, there was also a young woman among them, with fiery eyes and an air of ferocity that matched her dissolute companions. She rode a splendid horse, a Yellow Dragon charger, a breed nearly as valuable as the priceless Ferghana horse from the Western Regions. Her mount and the leading White-Hoofed horse were the most expensive and eye-catching in the troupe. Xu Fengnian observed with a calm, cold expression. The White-Hoofed horse merely cast a sideways glance at Xu Fengnian by the street and galloped past. They would have passed each other without incident, but the young owner of the Yellow Dragon charger had sharp eyes. Initially, she was merely drawn to the handsome features of the two elegant young men. Then, she happened to catch a glimpse of the beautiful woman beside them as she looked up. With a skillful flick of her whip, she struck off the beautiful woman's mink hat. That wasn't all; she reined in her horse, turned it around, and its hooves heavily thumped the street about ten paces away. Swinging her slender, gold-wrapped riding whip, she looked down at the woman and two men with malicious intent. "Tsk, tsk," she drawled, "how strange to encounter such a fresh, beautiful woman here. Gao Derun, come quickly! I guarantee you won't need to spend silver at brothels for a year! Kidnap her and take her back to your manor. You'll probably be too weak to even walk out for a drink after this!"

Xu Fengnian bent down, picked up the mink hat from the ground, and offered it to Pei Nanwei, only to be met with an angry glare. As the former Princess Jing'an, Pei Nanwei was indeed infuriated by the young woman's ignorant rudeness, but she wouldn't stoop to their level. What truly enraged her was that Xu, who could clearly have blocked the whip, had stood by and watched her endure the humiliation. Seeing that she wouldn't take the hat, Xu Fengnian smiled and put it on his own head. The young woman stopped her horse, and the entire cavalry quickly turned their mounts and returned. The young man, whom the arrogant woman had called Gao Derun, his eyes gleaming as if struck by a divine vision, said nothing. He dismounted swiftly and dashed towards Pei Nanwei, intending to lift her onto his horse and take her back to his manor. Xu Fengnian waved his hand, signaling Han Laozhan, who was secretly following, not to reveal himself. Then, he took a step forward and delivered what seemed like a gentle, soft kick. Despite his slender build that made him appear easily toppled by the wind, the high-ranking idler was actually a formidable figure among Lingzhou's wastrels. He sneered, tapped his foot, executed a fancy hawk-like flip, and lunged towards the man whose kick he presumed was as useless as an embroidered pillow.

Xu Fengnian, who was toying with him, smirked and suddenly took a large stride forward. Before the tall young man could even register his companion's warning shouts, he was sent flying by a palm to his chest, hurtling from one side of the street to the other. He crashed violently into the solid wall between two shops, falling to the ground, his condition unknown.

The culprit, the young woman,'s face darkened. She gripped her riding whip with both hands, straining it taut, her eyes filled with venom.

The young man who had warned the tall fellow narrowed his eyes, stroked the mane of his White-Hoofed horse, and said gravely, "Attacking someone on the street without provocation, showing no regard for the law—don't you know how to write the character for 'death'?"

Xu Fengnian tugged at the brim of his mink hat with both hands. His figure vanished in a flash, and a palm struck the White-Hoofed horse's head. The valuable steed, worth three hundred taels of silver, didn't even have time to whinny before it died instantly, its hooves collapsing limply to the ground. The young man, terrified, hastily leaped up and retreated several yards, not even daring to probe his opponent's strength.

Xu Beizhi sighed.

At this moment, let alone you amateur officials' sons, even if the arrogant Yan Wenluan were to appear, he would likely be beaten by the Crown Prince, who just happened to be full of suppressed anger with nowhere to vent it.

Xu Fengnian took a deep breath, suppressing his surging murderous intent, and said expressionlessly, "Get out!"

The noblewoman riding the Yellow Dragon charger laughed, infuriated. "Fine, you do have some amateurish skills. It's the first time I've heard of such a principled martial artist in Lingzhou! What an eye-opener!"

The young man whose beloved steed lay dead in the street exchanged a look with a companion, who then galloped away.

Xu Fengnian glared at the woman on horseback, then continued walking with Xu Beizhi.

Xu Beizhi chuckled and asked, "Feeling better now?"

Xu Fengnian said helplessly, "What on earth are you talking about?"

Xu Beizhi stopped needling him. He turned to see the belligerent noble youths sheathing their swords, slowing their horses, and following behind, unwilling to leave, their faces filled with cruel amusement, ready to witness a grand spectacle. Xu Beizhi gently shook his head.

A squad of brightly armored city patrol soldiers, led by the messenger rider, quickly approached with an imposing air.

Xu Beizhi sneered. These young wastrels weren't foolish; they knew that to deal with skilled martial artists effectively, it was best to use the government's blade. This way, there were no repercussions, and it saved trouble, effort, and money—why wouldn't they? Xu Beizhi saw the owner of the White-Hoofed horse sharing a mount with a companion, clearly still dissatisfied with the current display. He gestured and whispered to someone nearby, who then galloped away. Xu Beizhi smiled; it seemed they were determined to eradicate them completely, intending to call in more forces for an encirclement, just in case the three of them, pushed to desperation, tried to escape using their skills. These must be ruthless descendants of generals, capable of mobilizing a large number of local patrol soldiers. It was possible that the authority over this state capital's patrol and defense was in the hands of one of their fathers. Lingzhou, as a good place for retired border generals to enjoy their later years, had many generals of various ranks, many honorary captains, and even more military ruffians. The Administrator's initial "inability" to suppress the Lingzhou clerks' rebellion was partly due to Mr. Li's inaction, but more importantly, the Administrator was a rare true civil official in Beiliang. For those Lingzhou captains who held real power, even a genuine desire to discipline and restrain them would require immense effort and cultivation of connections. The imbalance between civil and military power in Beiliang had long existed, and the arrival of scholars in Liang, along with internal conflicts, further complicated Beiliang's already intricate situation.

The squad of soldiers who arrived first were eager, their hands on their saber hilts, waiting for their corporal's command. As Miss Dong, the Captain's daughter, had mentioned earlier, it was rare to encounter martial artists who dared to cause trouble in Lingzhou, let alone within the heavily guarded state capital. The terrifying news that Lotus Pond, where a martial arts grandmaster resided in Huangnan County, had been instantly obliterated had already spread throughout Lingzhou during the New Year visits. This made all the large and small gangs in Lingzhou tremble in fear, and they all increased their offerings of silver to the officials by several tenths this year. The corporal, grinning grimly, drew his saber, ready to apprehend the three and claim credit from Mr. Zhou and "Captain Dong Yuedi." The New Year had just passed, and this was truly a fantastic start.

The street was bustling with activity. Wang Lüting and Sun Yin, caught in the crowd, watched the scene unfold. Wang Lüting was a little exasperated, hesitating whether to step forward and stop those insolent individuals. Sun Yin shook his head. "Let's observe for a bit longer."

Wang Lüting whispered, "I just told you, His Highness isn't someone who likes petty squabbles. Furthermore, the reason His Highness came out this time was to meet you. Getting into this kind of trouble, I feel very uneasy about it."

Sun Yin pointed to his head and calmly said, "By the time I was fourteen, I had already read all the books I needed to. You often asked me what I was doing after that; now I can tell you. Since ancient times, there have been secret imperial strategies, passed down only within the royal family, used to control officials. But here, I have half a compiled work, 'The Classic of Strengths and Weaknesses, Pros and Cons,' which can be used to analyze, target, and then counterbalance imperial strategies. After Master Yao went to the capital, it wasn't that I didn't want to go to the imperial city; it's that I couldn't. Going there would mean death, and I am very afraid of dying. How could I not see through the Crown Prince's strategy of biding his time? The fact that he could turn the 'Four Kings of Huangnan' from ostensibly united to completely fractured further proves that, as I told you that night, His Highness chose a middle-ground strategy to govern Lingzhou. However, what I seek, even a hereditary Crown Prince cannot provide. Rather than sell my knowledge against my will at a cheap price, it's better not to sell it at all!"

Wang Lüting said regretfully, "Can't you learn to compromise and yield?"

Sun Yin sneered, "How would that be any different from Administrator Li Gongde?"

Wang Lüting quickly shut his mouth, honestly observing the commotion from a distance, fearing that the man beside him would utter more rebellious words.

Beiliang was poor, perhaps so poor that there were few "broken pots" to even "smash against the wall," and those with bare feet had never feared those with shoes. The local customs were fierce since ancient times, and brawls were commonplace. It was only after Xu Xiao's arrival that things became somewhat restrained, but the warlike blood flowing in their veins never faded. Now, a rare confrontation between civilians and officials unfolded, and many men cheered and egged them on. However, no one expected that when a plainly dressed man stepped out, it wouldn't just be "all bark and no bite"—there wouldn't even be any "rain." Miss Dong, the incredibly arrogant daughter of Captain Dong, seemed as if possessed. She frantically dismounted and approached the man. Those watching from a distance couldn't hear what was said, only seeing the man's cold expression. Yet, the Captain of the Elite Cavalry's daughter did not become enraged, remaining standing uneasily. Outsiders were unaware of the situation, but Miss Dong's group of hangers-on were terrified. They tumbled off their horses, treading on thin ice. The corporal swiftly sheathed his saber, and with his soldiers, dropped to their knees in a wide swath. It turned out that Dong Zhen, daughter of "Captain Dong Yuedi," Lingzhou's second most powerful military officer, recognized the man as Deputy General Han of Lingzhou. When Deputy General Han inspected the military camps before the New Year, Dong Zhen happened to be loitering nearby and caught a glimpse of him from afar. She felt that this "uncle" exuded an overwhelming presence, far surpassing her own father, whom she considered the paramount power in Lingzhou, who could only serve as a subordinate. Afterward, she had heard her father cautiously mention that Deputy General Han had entered Lingzhou with the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince, who had never appeared outside the General's Residence, could be ignored; as long as one didn't directly confront him, he would eventually leave Lingzhou with his tail between his legs. However, Deputy General Han was someone who absolutely could not be provoked. Not only was he the junior disciple of Wang Xiu, the Spear Immortal, and possessed unparalleled martial arts, but he was also the Grand General's personal guard and would serve as an official in Lingzhou for a long time. At this point, the official circles in Lingzhou already had the saying, "Rather provoke the Administrator than Deputy General Han." How could Dong Zhen dare to flaunt her authority in front of this seemingly invincible legendary man? Yet, in her view, the extensive commotion she had caused was justified on her part, and besides, she didn't think General Han would stoop to argue with a junior woman like her over trifles.

But when Dong Zhen saw the young man in the mink hat approach General Han and whisper something, and General Han merely nodded in response, Dong Zhen was instantly terrified, her courage completely shattered.

In the vast city of Lingzhou, who could command Han Laozhan in such a manner?

There was no need to guess that person's identity. Dong Zhen was the first to realize, dropping heavily to her knees. Seeing this, the other spoiled youths were also terrified. They stumbled and fell, successively kneeling down, not daring to even breathe.

Han Laozhan said stiffly, "All of you, kneel. Send someone to fetch the highest-ranking official from your families to come collect you. You have the time it takes for five incense sticks to burn. If no one comes, I, Han, will personally twist off your heads!"

Dong Zhen wanted to cry but had no tears. They all had to kneel obediently; whom could they send to fetch someone?

The young man in the mink hat chuckled softly, "Let these diligent military officers, who work so hard for the people of Lingzhou, deliver the message. Gentlemen, hurry! Mount their fine horses; opportunities like this are rare. One horse is worth more than all your possessions. If any of these people happen to die, you'll be blamed, and your very skin will be stripped, not just your armor, but your flesh too."

The corporal, emboldened, stood up. With him leading, his soldiers also hesitated before standing. Xu Fengnian told the corporal, "I've counted; you're one too many. You stay here; the others go deliver the message. Oh, and tell their elders that anyone who has served as a military official must come dressed in their armor."

Dong Zhen felt like dying. As she lowered her head, her eyes were filled with terror and resentment. Nearly half an incense stick had already burned away. In the distance, the increasingly crowded street observers only saw the young man in the mink hat, who must have been of great importance, removing the patrol corporal's waist-saber. He then squatted down quietly, the saber across his knees.

This greatly disappointed the onlookers. In previous years, they had grown accustomed to the arrogant behavior of the four notorious young masters of Lingzhou. According to common sense, all crows were black; shouldn't the privileged scions, who won by relying on their connections and family background, beat the unfortunate losers to death? Otherwise, if they were too polite, how could they even qualify as Lingzhou wastrels? Wang Lüting asked curiously, "What's going on? Is he trying to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, to make the Lingzhou officials in these families submit? But from the current situation, it doesn't look like he truly intends to kill anyone. If he waits until those officials arrive to kill, then they might verbally agree, but they won't be convinced at heart."

Sun Yin slowly said, "The lowest strategy would be to randomly kill, executing these wastrels and officials. While it might establish authority in the eyes of Lingzhou's common people, it would ultimately unite Lingzhou's military and civil officials and yamen clerks against him, exacerbating the immediate crisis. A middle-ground strategy, killing no one, would be to grant a favor to these families. At the very least, it would ensure their future behavior isn't too unsightly, and both sides would temporarily be at peace. However, this would still do nothing for the overall situation in Lingzhou, and the border soldiers of You and Liang prefectures would still look down on the Crown Prince. As for the best strategy, given the current situation, there is almost none."

Wang Lüting chuckled, "Almost?"

Sun Yin calmly replied, "There is one, but I don't believe the Crown Prince can achieve it."

Wang Lüting pressed, "Tell me about it."

Sun Yin, uncharacteristically, smiled. "If this ends in a muddled way, then you treat me to a good drink, and once I'm drunk, I'll tell you. Anyway, in Beiliang, my fate is to achieve nothing significant, neither high nor low. Since I can't live happily, I might as well drink happily."

Four incense sticks later, magnificent horses galloped into view. Fortunately, most of the riders were military officers by birth, with superb equestrian skills. Only one civil official, who had never seen battle, displayed quick wit. He had his escort drive his horse, riding together on one mount, and, disregarding his dignity and demeanor, clung desperately to the escort's waist, looking utterly disheveled.

Captain Dong Hongqiu of the Elite Cavalry was the furthest away, but he still arrived with the civil official. The four military officials who had arrived earlier—a Lingzhou military registrar, a general of miscellaneous rank, and two powerful captains—were already kneeling on the ground with their respective sons and grandsons. The profligate youth who had crashed into the wall and fainted was also dragged over.

Mr. Zhou, the Administrator, who was in charge of the province's documents and records, also slipped away, his speed surprisingly exceeding that of Captain Dong. He cleanly prostrated himself on the ground, wailing, "Your humble servant Zhou Jianshu pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince! My wayward son has disturbed Your Highness; your humble servant deserves to die ten thousand deaths!"

It was widely known that Mr. Zhou, the Administrator of Lingzhou, was one of the few who had been granted entry to the General's residence that day. In the study, he had received the Crown Prince's implied promise, which, if not for promotion and wealth, at least ensured that no matter the turmoil in Lingzhou, he, Zhou Jianshu, would securely retain his position as Administrator, the third-highest civil official seat in Lingzhou. The young master Zhou, who had ridden the White-Hoofed horse, was the very "wayward son" Mr. Zhou spoke of.

Even Administrator Zhou, who was backed by the formidable General Yan Wenluan, had obediently knelt, which made the military registrars and captains feel a little more at ease.

Only Captain Dong Yuedi remained standing, clasping his fists and stating solemnly, "This humble general, Dong Hongqiu, pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince."

He stood, but the Crown Prince was still squatting.

Administrator Zhou, catching a glimpse of this scene from the corner of his eye, lowered his head a bit further, but a faint smile subtly curved his lips.

The entire official circle of Lingzhou knew that Dong Hongqiu was General Zhong's trusted and beloved officer. Furthermore, Dong Hongqiu had joined the army at a young age and was a decorated military official who had experienced the Spring and Autumn Wars. Otherwise, he would not have been able to attain the prestigious and powerful position of Captain of the Elite Cavalry in Lingzhou. Many retired generals from the border regions coveted such lucrative and prominent posts; without true ability, even if one managed to secure it by luck, they would eventually be ousted.

To be honest, even the common people who disliked wastrels like Dong Zhen and Zhou Jianshu secretly felt that Captain Dong's refusal to kneel before the Crown Prince, who had achieved nothing, was justifiable.

The Crown Prince, gripping the Beiliang saber, slowly rose. There was no sign of the furious outburst Dong Hongqiu had anticipated, nor any indication that he would use his titles as Crown Prince of Beiliang or General of Lingzhou to force him to kneel.

Han Laozhan, standing respectfully behind the Crown Prince, was about to step forward but was waved off by Xu Fengnian.

Xu Fengnian stood leaning on his saber, his hands gently clasped over the hilt. He smiled faintly and said, "Gentlemen, rest assured, I have suffered no harm. It's not that your sons and grandsons didn't want to cause trouble; they simply lacked the capability. Whether they are prodigal sons who can't accomplish anything but excel at ruin, or parasites who only know how to feast on your achievements, it has little to do with me. For nearly twenty years in Beiliang, I, the Crown Prince, have indeed been unreasonable in many matters, and in that regard, I am no different from your descendants. However, today, I wish to take this opportunity to share a small truth that I happen to understand."

Captain Dong Yuedi sneered, "Oh? Since His Highness has the leisure, this humble general would be pleased to hear it in detail!"

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Actually, I don't need to explain much. Men, everyone except Administrator Zhou, help these other sirs remove their armor."

The military officials kneeling on the ground all suddenly raised their heads, their initial shock quickly turning into undisguised fury. Among them, the military registrar, over fifty years old, stood up with a dark expression. "I risked my life for your Xu family to achieve what I have today! This wealth is my rightful due. You can kill me, but you cannot humiliate me! Although my grandson may have shown disrespect, he didn't harm you in the slightest. Even if you presume upon your status as the Grand General's legitimate eldest son, the Crown Prince of Beiliang, my grandson's fate was ill-starred, losing to you, a young man who can become the General of Lingzhou just by wishing it. If you, Xu Fengnian, want to beat him, I accept it. But to try and humiliate me? No chance! I've lived this long, and I truly don't believe you'd dare to kill everyone on this street! If that were the case, then I was blind as a dog to have served your Xu family back then!"

After exchanging glances, the general of miscellaneous rank and the two captains also gritted their teeth and stood up.

Among the crowd of common folk, who could only vaguely see from a distance, some had already begun to cheer loudly, shouting that the men of Lingzhou were truly impressive. Others whispered among themselves that while these officials might not be great at governing, their temperaments were to their liking.

Pei Nanwei gazed at that figure's back.

She inexplicably recalled the breathtaking scene she had witnessed years ago in the reed marshes outside Xiangfan City.

She, who should have been gloating, felt a certain weariness.

Xu Fengnian didn't touch his saber; he merely tilted his head slightly.

Han Laozhan, already brimming with murderous intent, darted out. He kicked the highly principled Captain Dong Yuedi, sending him sprawling forward, then delivered an elbow strike to his back. Dong Hongqiu's sturdy, 170-180 jin body was violently slammed onto the street, raising a cloud of dust.

Captain Dong Yuedi, who usually couldn't even be ordered around by the Administrator in Lingzhou, was now sprawled on the ground, struggling desperately to get up. Han Laozhan, who had already deliberately reined in his strength, stepped on his back again, utterly reducing him to a humiliated, broken dog.

All the common people watched in horror.

Administrator Zhou Jianshu's throat moved, and he swallowed hard.

Dong Zhen and Zhou Jianshu's entire group were so utterly shocked that their faces turned ashen.

Even the elderly military registrar of Lingzhou, who had long not heard the bugle calls of the battlefield or seen the smoke of war, began to tremble.

Xu Fengnian lifted the Beiliang saber and pointed it at the trembling corporal. "Go, strip Master Dong's upper clothing. Strip one, then the next."

Xu Fengnian added chillingly, "I, the Crown Prince, rarely listen to reason. Don't be ungrateful for your good fortune."

Captain Dong Yuedi let out a tragic roar. No longer restrained by Han Laozhan, he stumbled to his feet. "I, Captain Dong Hongqiu of the Elite Cavalry, will remove my armor myself today! From this day forward, I will no longer be a soldier of Beiliang!"

The military registrar, his eyes red and voice hoarse, laughed hoarsely, "To hell with being an official in Lingzhou! Huang Zhong will also remove his own armor!"

Thus, except for the civil official Zhou Jianshu, everyone bared their torsos in the dead of winter.

It was both comical and tragic.

Years ago, they had donned armor and fought to the death for Grand General Xu Xiao. Now, out of indignation towards this Crown Prince, they were removing their armor!

The common people, no one knew who started it, grew increasingly agitated. If not for the regular armored guards blocking their path with their sabers, they would likely have surged forward en masse.

That accursed Crown Prince just stood there, utterly indifferent and unmoving!

Wang Lüting, caught in the surging crowd, his lips trembling, turned and asked, "Sun Yin, what should be done about this?"

Sun Yin narrowed his eyes, gazing intently at his peer, remaining silent.

Dong Zhen dropped her riding whip and stood beside her father, covering her mouth, tears streaming down her face. Administrator Zhou was also forcibly helped to his feet by his wayward son.

Xu Fengnian's eyes were cold as he calmly said, "Dong Hongqiu, currently a fourth-rank Captain of the Elite Cavalry in Lingzhou. Twenty-six years ago, he joined Xu Xiao's army, followed Chu Lushan with a thousand cavalry to open up Shu, and was the first to ascend the battlements of Chunshan Pass. In that single battle, he sustained four saber wounds."

"Huang Zhong, currently a fourth-rank military registrar in Lingzhou. During the siege of Xiangfan City, as a death-sworn soldier of the Vanguard Camp, he scaled the city walls six times like an ant, sustained injuries six times, until he was severely wounded and unable to fight further. The eight hundred death-sworn soldiers of the Vanguard Camp, after twelve reinforcements, had only nineteen survivors after the battle."

"Hong Yuan, along with his blood brothers Hong He and Hong Shan, were among the first skirmishers in Liangzhou. Together, they took twenty-one heads of Northern Mang scouts. His brothers successively died in battle, and Hong Yuan was severely wounded, to this day unable to grasp a teacup with his right hand. He was forced to withdraw from the border and was personally bestowed the miscellaneous title of General Wei Yuan by Xu Xiao, with a promise that his eldest son could become an official upon reaching adulthood."

The Crown Prince didn't even spare a glance for the other two, who had become captains through their fathers' merits or by paving their way with silver.

The Crown Prince, holding the Beiliang saber, turned and departed.

He left only one sentence.

"Those standing beside these three men, go count the scars on your grandfathers' and fathers' bodies."