Chapter 624: Temple Elder Liang, North Liang’s Youth

In an elegant mountain retreat, two old men sat opposite each other, eating crabs. The older of the two, with snow-white eyebrows and hair, had a lazy white cat perched on the corner of the table beside him. Although the autumn wind stirred the crabs' legs, hinting at the prime season, it was still two ten-day periods too early for the best crab-eating time. However, Tai'an City, as the capital of Liyang, received countless tributes. Food connoisseurs with connections and influence had their unique channels. Fenquan Lake in Yang Province produced purple-whiskered yellow crabs. Because the Daoist ancestral court, Longhu Mountain's Celestial Master Mansion, was home to many high-ranking officials, some elegant person named them "Dragon-Tiger Crabs," a nickname that has been used ever since. This variety matured exactly two ten-day periods earlier than other lake and river crabs; by early autumn, the female crabs were already full of roe and had thick meat.

The snow-clad old man had a benevolent face. On the table, a porcelain dish held exquisitely crafted crab-eating tools (the "eight pieces"). The old man was meticulous in his crab consumption, occasionally picking up a slice of ginger to eat, to counteract the cold properties of the crab. A beautiful maidservant also presented a tray with a cluster of fresh early-autumn chrysanthemums, picked from an unknown location, to wipe hands and remove any fishy smell. This old man ate his crab with gentle tapping and slow peeling, everything in perfect order, clearly an old gourmand who knew the art well. The man opposite him was also old, but still a generation and a half younger than the elder with the precious "snow lion" (cat). He ate his crabs ravenously and sloppily, without the elaborate crab tools. His fingers were golden and greasy from the meal, and he didn't forget to lick them clean, making the white-browed old man's personal maidservant's scalp tingle. Yet, she dared not show the slightest hint of disdain, knowing that this old man was none other than the renowned Tantan Weng, the esteemed Head of the Secretariat of the Liyang Dynasty. Had it not been for his defection at a crucial moment, no one in the court would have dared to openly confront Grand Chancellor Zhang Julu. However, the old man she had carefully served for several years was by no means an ordinary person: Yu Jiankang, the venerable ancestor of the Jiangxin Yu clan. In truth, even Tantan Weng should address him as "Senior Martial Uncle." The maidservant felt a touch of helplessness. This banquet was originally arranged by her ancestor to ask Tangxi Sword Immortal to intercede on their behalf. Unexpectedly, Lu Baijie, the Minister of War, was tied up with urgent military affairs, and Master Huan (Tantan Weng) was unwilling to wait, leaving Yu's ancestor with little to say.

Yu Jiankang was the venerable old man from the back mountain of Baoguo Temple in Jiangnan Dao, who could force the yellow-robed Daoist nun Xu Pu to offer herself to the Prince of Beiliang. He was also the one who persuaded the younger Tangxi Sword Immortal to enter officialdom in the capital, which led to the current flourishing prosperity of the Linlang Lu clan.

After the old man finished his crab, rinsed his mouth, and wiped his hands, he gently exhaled. The exceptionally clever maidservant, understanding the hint, discreetly withdrew. Yu Jiankang reached out and stroked the white cat's head. Looking at Tantan Weng, who casually wiped the grease on his clothes, he chuckled softly, "Lord Pushe, when will you have time to visit Jiangnan? It would be an honor for this old man to play host."

Tantan Weng laughed, "Old Yu, our relationship hasn't reached that point yet, so let's skip the empty pleasantries. To be honest, there are still several old scores between us that haven't been settled. But since all calculations lead to a muddled account, I, Huan Wen, have been able to deceive myself all these years, so please, Old Yu, don't try to deceive others anymore."

Yu Jiankang gazed deeply at Tantan Weng, whom he hadn't seen in over twenty years. Suppressing the subtle resentment that had just begun to emerge in his heart, he self-mockingly said, "Indeed, I underestimated you back then. Separating the mandarin ducks was one of the great regrets of my life."

Huan Wen shook his arm and spoke plainly, "Rest assured, Old Yu, you are Old Yu, Yu Lian is Yu Lian, and Lu Baijie is Lu Baijie. I, Huan Wen, am not so petty as to vent my anger on others. It's just that Yu Lian couldn't become the Minister of Personnel, a position requiring 'three entries into the palace,' and he couldn't compete with Zhao Youling, a protégé of Zhang Lu. I, Huan Wen, was indeed one of the obstacles, but it wasn't due to personal animosity. It's simply that Yu Lian, like a wooden beam, isn't strong enough to support the Ministry of Personnel. For ministries like the Ministry of Revenue or the Ministry of Works, I, Huan Wen, could turn a blind eye, but to take charge of the Ministry of Personnel, which is about to have its rank elevated, Yu Lian would need his ancestors' graves to emit a thick plume of green smoke."

The old head of the Yu clan, despite being implicitly criticized, smiled without anger. It wasn't a feigned calm from deep cultivation; the snow-browed elder genuinely wasn't upset.

Huan Wen continued bluntly, "The Ministry of War was incompetent, allowing Guangling Dao to fall into disarray, giving Cao Changqing an opportunity to easily sweep it all away. I, Huan Wen, harbor resentment. If I don't curse Lu Baijie, the Minister of War, who else should I curse? He should blame himself for being in that position. If it were Gu Jiantang or Chen Zhibao, I would still curse them without hesitation. Of course, Lu Baijie has only been an Assistant Minister for a short time, and his seat as Minister is barely warm, so he is somewhat wronged by this scolding."

Even Yu Jiankang felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. He said helplessly, "You didn't just verbally abuse him, you also physically assaulted him. Now the whole world knows that Tangxi Sword Immortal almost kicked you, Lord Pushe, in the chest."

Huan Wen slammed the table, indignantly saying, "I'm an old man, and I almost twisted my ankle! Who can I go to for justice?"

Yu Jiankang sighed, not intending to get entangled with this scoundrel over the matter. Everyone in the court, high and low, knew full well that whether Tantan Weng actually kicked Minister Lu or not was irrelevant. What mattered was that the Left Pushe of the Secretariat was furious with the Ministry of War, which had recently changed leadership. This would have widespread repercussions. Even if Lu Baijie was favored by the Emperor, once he left the terrible impression of being detested by Tantan Weng, many of his ambitions would face invisible obstacles, even if no direct evidence could be found. Even if he could achieve something, its impact would be greatly diminished. The Ministry of War was already unsettled, and the Ministry of Personnel, long suppressed, was showing signs of resurgence. As the new leader of the Jiangnan scholar-official faction, the highly respected Lu Baijie originally had hopes of further advancement, not limited to just the Ministry of War. However, with Huan Wen's kick, everything became uncertain. While the Jiangnan scholars had Yu Jiankang, who once evaluated clan ranks, weren't there also plenty of old, undying figures hiding behind the scenes in Jiangbei?

Yu Jiankang, able to take things in stride, asked, "What about Xu Gong?"

Huan Wen glanced at Yu Jiankang, annoyed. "I'm not some 'green-eyed boy.' Hindering someone's career is easy enough, but promoting others? I can't do it, and I don't want to. Old Yu, you've brought the wrong pig's head to the wrong temple. Besides, with the decades of favors you've accumulated, it doesn't seem like you need to burn incense to anyone."

The Gumu Xu clan used to be supported by two pillars: the distinguished General Longxiang, Xu Gong, on the outside, and Consort Xu on the inside. Unfortunately, the latter, due to being Xu Xiao's eldest daughter, was seized upon by the Empress and banished to the cold palace, likely never to see the light of day again. Her removal to Changchun Palace not only severely weakened the Gumu Xu clan but also significantly impacted the entire Jiangnan scholar-official faction. Aristocratic clans and powerful families have always shared in prosperity and decline, a fact of history. At the time Consort Xu fell from favor, several prominent Jiangnan scholar-officials with promising careers were quickly pushed back to their original positions by the Ministry of Personnel, controlled by Zhao Youling, using various tactics and excuses. In official circles, laughing at others and being laughed at often happens overnight; there's no such thing as "thirty years east of the river, thirty years west." If Lu Baijie hadn't risen so swiftly in Tai'an City, the scholars from Jiangnan would have faced even tougher times. For example, on the day Lu Baijie was promoted to Minister of War, the number of people at the guild halls in various Jiangnan prefectures doubled. Then, after Tantan Weng publicly berated the Ministry of War, about thirty percent quietly departed.

Yu Jiankang gently stroked the white cat's back, shaking his head and sighing, "Being in court versus outside of it is a world of difference. Inside, when you ask others to do something, they should be grateful. Outside, asking for favors doesn't work so well."

Yu Jiankang, under the guise of interceding for Lu Baijie, was actually there to secure a future for Xu Gong. Both old men were perfectly clear that Lu Baijie's temporary rise or fall in position couldn't halt the general momentum of this imperial favorite. But General Longxiang Xu Gong was different. There was already an undercurrent in the court to suppress military generals. The Ministry of Personnel had been elevated in rank above the Ministry of War. Gu Jiantang was confined to the northern frontier with a fancy title of Grand Pillar of the State. Why were old military figures like Yang Shenxing and Yan Zhenchun so eager to request a southward campaign? Wasn't it because they all saw that it was now or never? They were all thinking of accumulating as much merit and hereditary privilege for their descendants as possible. If Xu Gong missed this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it would be even harder for him to rise in the future.

Throughout the entire Spring and Autumn period, only one person could truly create their own powerful trend: Xu Xiao, the Butcher.

Gu Jiantang could only be considered half of that. As for others, even a hero like Lu Shengxiang, no matter how talented, merely rode the prevailing trends.

Huan Wen hesitated, saying nothing.

Yu Jiankang was taken aback. This fellow was never indecisive; could there actually be something that made him hesitate? The old ancestor of the Yu clan immediately grew serious.

Huan Wen suddenly asked a strangely irrelevant question, "Old Yu, how many more years can you live? Is fifteen years possible?"

Yu Jiankang couldn't grasp the hidden meaning at once and could only speak honestly, smiling, "I dare not hope for fifteen years, but I certainly won't be in a coffin within ten years."

Huan Wen nodded and said in a deep voice, "Good. Then I, Huan Wen, will make an exception and put in a good word for Xu Gong. Within three years, he will certainly be made a Grand General with real authority. To be honest, if it were according to the workings of you Jiangnan scholars, Xu Gong wouldn't just fail to get a promotion; he'd be on a dead end! In return, you, Yu Jiankang, must write two characters for someone before you die."

Yu Jiankang frowned deeply, somewhat puzzled.

Huan Wen wrote two characters on the tabletop with his finger, then stood up and left directly.

Yu Jiankang looked at the empty tabletop, which bore no trace of writing, and did not see Tantan Weng off. After a long silence, he sighed, "Green-eyed fellow, with such a friend, what is there to fear in death?"

The Empress of Beimang, with a magnanimity far surpassing men in the world, allowed the Southern Dynasty to establish its own court.

The Southern Dynasty established six ministries but not the Secretariat or Chancellery. However, it gained a "Southern Royal King." Still, the ministers of the six ministries always held one rank lower than their counterparts in the Northern Court.

Southern Royal King Huang Songpu's standing in Beimang was steadily declining, especially after his trusted general Hong Gu'an single-handedly lost the border fortress of Junziguan. This was a heavy blow to Huang Songpu, who came from a northern-migrated minor aristocratic family. However, Grand General Liu Gui, of humble origins, and Yang Yuanzan, a commoner who joined the army—these two prominent figures—did not take advantage of the situation to extensively erode Huang Songpu's power and territory. Ever since the Dragon-Elephant Army crushed the Wazhu Junziguan line, many high-ranking noble clans (ranked A-grade) had reined in their ambitions considerably. Those Spring and Autumn veterans who once dared to criticize the three Grand Generals now sensed the oppressive atmosphere of an impending storm and no longer spouted nonsense about overthrowing Beiliang with fewer than a hundred thousand troops. The Southern Dynasty, by a twist of fate, saw a rare atmosphere of harmony emerge. Furthermore, Dong Zhuo gained increasing influence, his rise as an external force almost irresistible, and Hong Jingyan acquired all of the Rouran iron cavalry. The confrontation between these two in the Southern Dynasty court largely shifted some of the older, existing conflicts.

The Southern Royal King Huang Songpu found it increasingly difficult to command the Southern Dynasty's 400,000-strong army, a fact well known within and outside the court. However, even a starving camel is bigger than a horse; as long as Grand Generals Liu Gui and Yang Yuanzan didn't openly confront Huang Songpu, no one dared to challenge him face-to-face.

Except for that fat man.

At this moment, the fat man, whose military power was growing even stronger, commanded nearly 100,000 troops, all of whom were elite and fierce soldiers. This fat Dong, who had an exceptionally poor reputation in court, was now spewing curses, almost literally spraying spittle at Huang Songpu's nose.

"Old man Huang, have you gone mad, thinking of fighting Beiliang to a decisive victory?!"

"I'm asking you, how did that Hong Gu'an, who should be dragged out and whipped, die? He had superior numbers and geographical advantage, yet he still lost to the Dragon-Elephant Army, which had temporarily switched from heavy to light cavalry!"

"I'll bet you, if you do this, forget about flattening Beiliang; His Majesty's royal tent might even be ransacked by the Xu family's iron cavalry!"

"You old geezer, are you blind? After Gu Dazu entered Liang, Beiliang's grand defensive line, woven from fourteen passes as key nodes, is a quagmire. They are determined to entangle with us slowly at the second line of defense! If 400,000 troops rush in at once, Beiliang can afford the attrition, but can we? Do you really think the Xu family's scouts won't cut off our rear, allowing us to flaunt our grain transport?"

The fat Dong became more and more unrestrained in his words. The white-haired Huang Songpu remained expressionless throughout, not even bothering to wipe away the fat man's spittle.

Yang Yuanzan and Liu Gui, for once, did not stop Dong Zhuo's impropriety.

During a brief pause when Dong Zhuo took a breath, Huang Songpu calmly asked, "Are you done cursing?"

Dong Zhuo, bending at the waist, hurriedly raised his arm, "Wait a moment."

Many old officials in the court, accustomed to such scenes, rolled their eyes. Some younger newcomers still showed varying degrees of shock.

Huang Songpu indeed said nothing.

Dong Zhuo worked his mouth, seemingly trying to generate more saliva to curse more smoothly.

Dong Zhuo straightened his back, just about to curse Huang Songpu, this old fool, back to his senses.

At the entrance of the grand hall, several tall men with profound authority entered. They weren't particularly old, but their official ranks couldn't be higher.

Most of them were high-ranking Beimang officials, "Jie Ling" (Bearer of the Imperial Staff), who resided in the Southern Dynasty but could completely disregard its court. The others were even rarer and held more transcendent power in Beimang than the Jie Ling.

Dong Zhuo sensed the strange atmosphere around him, turned his head, and gaped.

Good heavens, was this still the Southern Dynasty court? Or was it the most solemn "drawing ash deliberation" of the Northern Court's royal tent?

These uninvited guests included two old Jie Lings from Gusai and Longyao Prefectures, Jie Ling Murong Baoding from Juzi Prefecture, and even Grand General Zhong Shentong!

Only then did Huang Songpu slowly begin to speak, "I have already submitted a memorial to His Majesty the Emperor. If approved, the army marching south to Beiliang will not only be the Southern Dynasty's 400,000 troops. It seems very likely it has been approved."

Hong Jingyan glanced at the fat Dong and sneered coldly.

Dong Zhuo, understanding the hint, closed his mouth, shook his head, looking left and right, pretending nothing had happened.

Huang Songpu nodded lightly to the Jie Lings and Grand Generals, then calmly told Dong Zhuo, "In my memorial, I also resigned as Southern Royal King and recommended you, Dong Zhuo, to His Majesty."

Dong Zhuo was stunned speechless.

The fat man then suddenly snapped back to his senses, his eyes moist. He tightly gripped one of Huang Songpu's hands, exclaiming, "Old General, your concern for the nation and its people is truly moving! Do you have any granddaughters you're worried about, perhaps the young Huang Ehuang who's still unmarried? I, Dong Zhuo, would be honored to do my humble part and help look after her!"

Huang Songpu coldly said, "If you dare step one foot inside the gates of the Huang manor, I will break all three of your dog legs!"

Dong Zhuo retracted his hand, chuckling, "Well, I'm not the Southern Royal King yet, am I? Good things in this world are only truly yours when they're safely in your pocket; otherwise, everything is meaningless."

Hong Jingyan narrowed his eyes, observing with a cold gaze.

Ignoring the obsequious fat man, Huang Songpu walked to the center of the grand hall. The white-haired old man, who had spent half his life in military service but was likely no longer the Southern Royal King, said nothing but bowed deeply with cupped fists.

Not just the generals who had distinguished themselves on the battlefield, but even the civil officials instinctively returned the bow with cupped fists.

On the Beiliang border, a cavalry troop of over fifty riders moved slowly forward.

No one was anyone else's escort.

Every single one held an official post.

Among them were Chu Lushan, the Protector-General of Beiliang; Yuan Zuozong, the Grand Commander of Beiliang's cavalry; and Yan Wenluan, the Grand Commander of the infantry.

Also, the deputy commanders of both the infantry and cavalry: Gu Dazu, Zhou Kang, He Zhonghu, and Chen Yunchui.

Xu Longxiang, Xu Xiao's second son.

Shi Fu, General of Liangzhou; Han Laoshuan, General of Lingzhou; Huangfu Cheng, General of Youzhou.

And several new faces among the deputy generals, including Wang Zhi and Jiao Wuyi.

Next were the commanders leading various elite forces, and over a dozen commandants guarding strategic passes within Beiliang:

Commandant Wei Shaqing of Tong Pass, Xin Yinma; Commandant Li Maozhen of Ruoxian; Commandant Zhu Boyu of Fengqiu; Commandant Ren Chunyun of Beiguo.

And a large group of newly promoted border commandants, all without exception robust men around thirty years old, each with military merits and resolute eyes.

Leading them was Xu Fengnian, the King of Beiliang.

How did Beiliang, which many had mistakenly believed to be suffering from a lack of talent, suddenly produce so many remarkable young and middle-aged generals upon closer inspection?

Such a lineup was enough to send shivers down the spine of any enemy, regardless of their standing.

The fifty riders, with unspoken understanding, lined up abreast at the top of a high slope.

Together, they quietly looked down upon Beimang.

Yan Wenluan suddenly laughed loudly, "Old fellows over forty, how about stepping back and letting the young ones take the front?"

Old fellows like Gu Dazu and Chen Yunchui exchanged smiles and quietly retreated.

This cavalry troop appeared slightly uneven.

But their formidable aura remained undiminished.

Because there were still over thirty people in the front line.

Neither Liyang nor Beimang seemed capable of fielding so many capable and courageous young and middle-aged generals simultaneously on a single battlefront!

And it was even more impossible to make Spring and Autumn famous generals like Yan Wenluan willingly take the rear for them!

The young prince, holding an iron spear, drew a horizontal line on the ground, level with his horse's front hooves, using the spear tip.