Chapter 515: Adding Fuel to the Fire and Adding Frost to Snow

Search within this forum.

Search by tag.

Total 1 page.

Replies: 1

**New Post Regarding Updates**

While checking for updates, remember to click "sign in" on the top right.

The novel "World of " by Fenghuo Xizhuhou.

Link:Mobile Link:

Red tickets are free. After registering a Zongheng account and accumulating a certain number of points, you will receive red tickets.

Every account can bookmark the novel "".

Chapter Serialization Master Post:

Before the main text is released, interjections are forbidden. Please wait patiently.

Xueba Admin Log Link:

Those who interject before the update content is fully posted will be temporarily banned for one day.

***

Although the west side of Lingzhou City was far less prosperous than the north, it was a place where hidden talents resided, with most government officials and clerks living there. Thus, the inside story of the incident quickly spread throughout all the taverns. Wang Lüting and Sun Yin chose a restaurant specializing in Jiannan Shaoshun wine, sitting on the second floor by the railing. They also ordered a dish of camel hump roast, famous throughout Beiliang. Downstairs, voices buzzed, all discussing the recent drama on Wenquan Street. Initially, people were furiously condemning the Crown Prince's immoral actions, saying he had humiliated Dong Yueqi, Huang Bingcao, and the loyal General Hong Yuan to the point of breaking their spirits. Not only did he use his status as Lingzhou General to force them to kneel, but he also demanded they expose their upper bodies, infuriating the three men so much that they removed their armor themselves to show their resolve to abandon Beiliang and no longer serve the Xu family.

Then, some well-informed clerks joined the discussion, revealing that the matter was not so simple. It turned out that the young masters of the Dong and Zhou families had galloped their horses recklessly in the street, provoking the Crown Prince first, and even attempted to mobilize armored soldiers to "encircle and suppress" this Lingzhou General. This made the outsiders, who had been unilaterally cursing Xu Fengnian as worthless, somewhat temper their words, though they still grumbled that it was merely a case of "dogs biting dogs," and none of them were good people. Later, as more and more clerks with inside knowledge disclosed the truth, and continuous rumors flowed into various residences and taverns in Lingzhou, the full truth finally came to light. Consequently, Lingzhou, known for its fierce populace, fell silent for the first time. Those who had been the most vocal in their condemnation of the Crown Prince were now somewhat sheepishly stunned.

Wang Lüting watched and listened, feeling a sense of relief. He put down his chopsticks, then saw Sun Yin, who was sitting across from him, remain unperturbed. Sun Yin picked up a fragrant piece of camel hump meat with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth. Wang Lüting asked with a smile, "Is this your 'best strategy'? At the time, I didn't know what His Highness said, but without drawing a blade or killing anyone, he actually made Dong Yueqi voluntarily kneel down before His Highness's retreating back. I thought he would have to invoke the King of Beiliang and the survival of their entire clan to force Dong Yueqi to submit. And those two battle-hardened old men, one cried while embracing his armor, and the other started beating his grandson right there in the street. How interesting!"

Sun Yin shook his head and said, "It's true that I had a good strategy, but His Highness came up with an even better one. This way, not only are Dong Hongqiu and the others genuinely convinced – not just naively bowing down – but at the very least, it ensures these individuals continue to be profoundly grateful that the Xu family's second generation remembers their merits. This is far more reassuring to straightforward military officials than any verbal promise. Their respective circles will also temporarily remain calm and law-abiding. Out of gratitude, they will be willing to discreetly step back for the Crown Prince. But more importantly, it has created a rift among the closely-knit Lingzhou military officials. Active military officers who have personally experienced battlefields will inevitably begin to scrutinize those young officers who gained their positions through their fathers' merits. They can no longer be as intimate as before. As for the clerks and yamen runners, who are most adept at sensing changes in the wind, seeing their superiors outwardly agreeing but inwardly divided, they will naturally start to work honestly. Nobody is foolish; if the Lingzhou General can subdue Dong Yueqi, who is backed by Grand General Zhong Hongwu, wouldn't it be effortless to deal with this group of insignificant lackeys?

"The more the Crown Prince brandishes his imperial sword, raising it high but not letting it fall upon anyone, the more it instills fear. Currently, His Highness has still not used the King of Beiliang's authority to strike Dong Yueqi or Huang Bingcao with that imperial sword. Instead, he appeals to reason, remembering past sentiments. However, a ruthless person like the Crown Prince, who dares to challenge even Zhong Hongwu, was never praised for his cunning before. Yet, people now know that the Lingzhou General is not a kind-hearted Bodhisattva. Everyone guessed that Lingzhou would sooner or later face a bloody incident, a 'killing a chicken to scare the monkeys' scenario, which would surely involve bloodshed. As it trickled down, the reclusive Military Governor didn't move, Lingzhou's Chief Administrator Zhou Jianshu, who was kneeling from beginning to end, didn't move, and now even the arrogant colonels behind Dong Yueqi haven't moved. Lüting, then who do you think is next?"

Wang Lüting smiled knowingly, "It can only be those clerks who made the Lingzhou officialdom have a bad year. Although you and I know that His Highness wouldn't glare at them fiercely, they don't know that. They'll only feel a knife hanging over their heads, poised to fall but never quite doing so, which is the worst kind of torture."

Sun Yin nodded, a dejected expression on his face.

Wang Lüting asked softly, "With His Highness's intelligence and methods, you're still unwilling to serve as an official?"

Sun Yin retorted, "Serve as what kind of official? A county magistrate overseeing a region? An assistant to a prefect in one of Lingzhou's seven commanderies? Or a staff member in the Governor's mansion?"

Before Wang Lüting could persuade him, Sun Yin sneered, "I wouldn't be good at any of them. It's important for a person to know oneself; only by knowing oneself can one understand others. I, Sun Yin, have high aspirations but limited practical ability. If I were a county magistrate, without support and unwilling to spend my energy dealing with those local magnates and clerk families, they would easily deal with me. Even if His Highness backed me, those unruly people have countless subtle ways to subtly undermine me, making it impossible for me to act. With no one to use, and policies unable to be implemented, my jurisdiction would eventually suffer economic decline and widespread misery. Forget about the 'ten thousand people's umbrella' upon leaving office or promotion; I'd probably be cursed and scorned by the county residents every day. Am I, Sun Yin, to become a county magistrate, and also require His Highness to provide a large contingent of capable clerks? As for assisting prefects and serving governors, my abilities, Sun Yin, are not much better. His Highness might be an enlightened lord who values old ties, worthy of your allegiance, Wang Lüting; worthy of Dong Yueqi and his ilk changing their impressions; and worthy of the three hundred thousand cavalry on the border fighting to the death for him. But for Sun Yin, it's useless."

Wang Lüting felt a bit disheartened. It was like matters of love; a woman might be clearly excellent, but one simply doesn't like her.

The two left the bustling tavern, which, compared to Lingzhou City of old, clearly had many more elegant scholars with tall hats and broad sashes speaking with foreign accents. Wang Lüting felt heavy-hearted as they walked into a quiet alley. Sun Yin disliked lavish displays, so Wang Lüting had found him a clean residence hidden in this alley. Slightly tipsy, Sun Yin scoffed at himself, "The 'Art of Strengths and Weaknesses' and 'Positive and Negative Canons' that I, Sun Yin, have studied, I believe are original and surpass ancient works. Unfortunately, this 'dragon-slaying technique,' mocked in ancient texts, is truly useless in Beiliang. Lüting, you don't need to persuade me anymore. By declining His Highness's recruitment, and working as a tutor for the Zijin Wang family, you can still earn some respect from His Highness due to his sense of indebtedness. Consider it repayment for the years I've relied on the Zijin family's protection."

Wang Lüting gritted his teeth and said, "Sun Yin, how can your talent be spent as a mere tutor for your entire life? On the annals of history, it's natural for Wang Lüting to be absent, but it would be utterly unacceptable for you, Sun Yin, to be missing! Once I become the head of Jinlü Weaving, I'll risk everything to send you to..."

Before Wang Lüting could finish, Sun Yin angrily exclaimed, "Stop!"

This residential area had a crisscrossing network of alleys, but at night, it was quiet and deserted. A cough from the dark corner sounded particularly jarring. Wang Lüting was struck as if by lightning, his face devoid of color. Sun Yin sighed. They stopped, watching a young nobleman in a mink felt hat step out of the shadows, greeting them with a smile.

Wang Lüting slowly knelt down, silent. To gain wealth only to lose it again so soon, truly unpredictable are the ways of the world.

Xu Fengnian smiled, "If you, Wang Lüting, didn't possess this sense of loyalty and only knew how to scheme in officialdom, you would just be another Yan Jiexin or Jin Lanting. This Crown Prince truly wouldn't trust you with such an important position in the Jinlü Weaving Bureau. Get up."

Sun Yin helped Wang Lüting to his feet and said calmly, "Sun Yin, His Highness speaks genuinely. From now on, you can confidently run your Jinlü Weaving. Don't feel guilty towards me. Things have come to this point, and I, Sun Yin, will speak frankly. After meeting His Highness, my life was effectively placed on the chopping block. I might not be able to preserve it. Barring any surprises, I'm very likely to die quietly. Only with my death will there be an explanation for you, Wang Lüting, for Beiliang, and for the court. When you tied me and brought me to Lingzhou, you asked why I seemed ready to face death generously. This is the root cause."

Xu Fengnian looked at Sun Yin, "I can provide you an opportunity to put your 'dragon-slaying technique' into practice, but I can't guarantee if it will be in ten or twenty years, or if it will ultimately succeed. However, for you, Sun Yin, it's at least a glimmer of a chance. Would you like to strike a big deal with me?"

Unlike Wang Lüting, who looked as if he had lost his parents, Sun Yin remained composed, smiling, "If it were before today, I, Sun Yin, would never have believed it. But here and now, I am willing to listen attentively to His Highness's insights. If I find it profitable, then this deal is done. After all, I, Sun Yin, only have one life and a belly full of ill-suited knowledge. How much can I possibly lose?"

Xu Fengnian, who had appeared alone, turned and walked away. Sun Yin slowly followed. Wang Lüting, whose limbs felt weak, could only lean against the wall, panting heavily.

Wang Lüting, standing rooted to the spot, had initially thought Sun Yin's fate was uncertain, and that the best outcome would be for him to simply return alive. He had not expected Sun Yin to come back smiling after just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, his eyes shining brightly, full of vigor.

Sun Yin held the hand of the young head of the Zijin Wang family and smiled, "Lüting, this will be the last time you and I meet in this life."

Wang Lüting said sadly, "Does His Highness still want you dead?"

Sun Yin shook his head and smiled, "That would be the worst strategy."

Wang Lüting sighed in relief. "Could it be that he wants you to be his trusted advisor? To offer strategies for His Highness in the future?"

Sun Yin still shook his head. "That would be a mediocre strategy."

Wang Lüting, who had already learned the hard lesson that speaking too much leads to trouble, had a fluctuating expression. Sun Yin, knowing his thoughts, still smiled and said, "It's still just the best strategy. His Highness has once again given me an unexpected pleasant surprise. Lüting, don't overthink it. You wouldn't be able to figure it out even if you racked your brains. If it weren't so, how could it deceive old foxes like Zhang Julu, who see through even the most subtle things?"

Wang Lüting squeezed Sun Yin's hand tightly and said with a smile, "I won't bother myself with trivial worries; as long as you're well, that's enough. Then I, Wang Lüting, will quietly wait in Beiliang for you to achieve the 'triple success' in the capital. By then, who in the world won't recognize you!"

Sun Yin whispered, "Before, when I was observing from the sidelines with nothing to do, I developed a 'Six Strategies of Strengths and Weaknesses' for the situation in Beiliang. Come, let's go back to my residence. I'll write it down for you. With this, your position as head of Jinlü Weaving will be perfectly legitimate. Afterwards, I also have some rough ideas about the court's future trends; I'll write those down for you as well. When the time comes, if you refine and polish them a little, you might even become the Governor of Lingzhou. I will return to Huangnan Commandery tomorrow, but you must stay in the provincial city. How about we talk all night tonight?"

Wang Lüting laughed, "I'm used to sleeping with young ladies. If I fall asleep, be careful, I might get handsy with you."

Sun Yin burst into laughter. Wang Lüting had never seen Sun Yin laugh so heartily.

***

In another alley, Xu Fengnian and Xu Beizhi walked side by side, with Pei Nanwei following behind them.

Xu Beizhi slowly said, "According to the intelligence from the spies near them, Sun Yin's studies are of the rare 'dragon-slaying technique' rather than 'dragon-riding technique'. My grandfather had similar ideas before, which he mentioned to me piecemeal, but he never dared to commit them to writing. Are you truly willing to let him go to the capital to be a chess piece that might never be used in his entire life?"

Xu Fengnian smiled, "From Grand Academician Tang Tusu of the Yinghua Hall, the Liyang imperial court's core ideology has been passed down through former Chief Grand Secretary Liu Yanghou, to the current Chief Grand Secretary Zhang Julu. Regardless of how the methods of governance change, whether it's Liu's faction or Zhang's faction, the underlying essence and intent have been inherited and passed on like a torch. For instance, the Han family of Jizhou, who were entangled in grievances with Liu Yanghou, the head of the Grand Secretariat back then, couldn't be overthrown by the old Chief Grand Secretary. But once Zhang Julu inherited his mantle, he seized an opportunity to borrow the emperor's hand to kill, implicating the Han family across nine generations. Court factionalism places the highest importance on legacy, much like aristocratic clans.

"The current Minister of Revenue, Wang Xionggui, is ostensibly Bi Yan'er's foremost disciple. But my master said that Wang Xionggui lacks the broad vision, far inferior to Zhang Julu. The Emperor and Yuan Benxi probably wouldn't mind Wang Xionggui taking over Zhang's faction, but they would never allow him to become Chief Grand Secretary. Zhang Julu and Huan Wen also clearly see this. Given Zhang Julu's personality, he isn't afraid of being held accountable after his death, or even of his entire clan being executed; he wouldn't soften. The imperial art of 'slaying the donkey after the mill is done' is used without scruple; which dynasty or era hasn't seen a fat donkey or two slaughtered? What Zhang Julu fears most is that his political strategies will be changed by the court later.

"Initially, my master allowed Jin Lanting to go to the capital, knowing that this person was incapable of great responsibility, and it wasn't without the intention of subtly undermining Zhang Julu. However, now that Yao Baifeng openly reprimanded Jin Sanlang at the Imperial Academy, I suspect Zhang Julu has become somewhat wary and might already be preparing to find someone else to assist Wang Xionggui, who is destined to lead Zhang's faction in the future. Sun Yin's departure is perfectly timed. Of course, Sun Yin's usefulness is far from this simple. The urgent task now for Beiliang is to ensure Sun Yin's journey to the capital is full of hardship and bitterness. This monumental secret matter, I plan to bypass the Wutong Courtyard and let Chu Lushan personally handle it entirely."

Xu Beizhi smiled, "Are you afraid the Wutong Courtyard lacks experience, or are you concerned the Second Princess will be too burdened? Or is it that after giving Chu Lushan a beating last year, you're now giving him a sweet treat for the New Year?"

Xu Beizhi suddenly saw Xu Fengnian's cold expression. Being so perceptive, Xu Beizhi was startled and stopped joking. Xu Beizhi sighed inwardly. Just when they had painstakingly managed to add fuel to the fire for the imperial court, Beiliang itself hadn't escaped facing even greater hardship.

Xu Fengnian suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly, "Being a Crown Prince and Lingzhou General is already this tiring. How much harder must it be to be an emperor ruling the entire world, like a beast of burden?"

Xu Beizhi smiled, "An emperor who knows how to identify and utilize talent isn't as toilsome as you imagine."

Xu Fengnian twirled the copper coin between his fingers, dismissing the comment with a smile.

Han Laoshun hurriedly approached, reporting softly, "Your Highness, we've received news that an unknown master and servant pair has entered from Hanshi Commandery in Lingzhou, openly declaring their intention to meet Your Highness, who brought back Fifth Hoof's head to Liangzhou. Hanshi Commandery dispatched two waves of over four hundred government soldiers and armored guards, but none could stop them. Your Highness, these are images of the master and servant."

Xu Fengnian was perplexed. He took the two papers with portraits and detailed descriptions of their words and deeds. After reading them, he handed them to Xu Beizhi and laughed, "This fellow is quite something! In the dead of winter, he's carrying a peach blossom beauty folding fan, claiming he wants to paint all twenty women from the 'Rouge's Main and Vice Rankings.' He's as flamboyant as can be. Juzi, look, his appearance is also the type that easily stirs the hearts of female martial artists, a bit more handsome than you. Aren't you jealous?"

Xu Beizhi asked doubtfully, "When did such a character appear in the martial arts world? What is his cultivation level?"

Xu Fengnian casually said, "To dare to swagger into Beiliang like this, and with his spearhead directly pointed at me, Xu Fengnian, if he's not at the first-rank cultivation level, what is he but seeking death? Since he mentioned Fifth Hoof and spoke with such audacity, I estimate he must be at the Finger-Profound Realm."

Han Laoshun softly asked, "Your Highness, Xu Yanbing is not in Lingzhou. Should I leave the provincial city to intercept this person?"

Xu Fengnian sneered, "You don't need to go. We'll just see if he has the ability to come to the provincial city. If he comes, then we'll see if he has the ability to leave alive."

[Collapse Replies][Multiple replies with timestamps]

There are 10 more replies.Total 1 page.Replies: 1

Don't have a Baidu account yet? Top Games Played by Forum Members:

* **Popularity:** 887430* **Popularity:** 422004* **Type:** Simulation Management, **Popularity:** 241314* **Type:** Casual Competitive, **Popularity:** 158852* **Popularity:** 150226* **Type:** Casual Competitive, **Popularity:** 76350* **Type:** Simulation Management, **Popularity:** 65942* **Popularity:** 31666* **Popularity:** 31666* **Type:** Casual Competitive, **Popularity:** 27690

Born for interests, Tieba understands you better! [Login or Register]