Chapter 626: Autumn Wind and Autumn Rain

**Journeying Alone to Northern Mang**

After autumn began, Xu Fengnian's journey north took approximately two fortnights. He mostly lingered leisurely at the four northernmost border passes in Liang Province: Jinyuan, Qinghe, Chongzhong, and Huaiyang. During this time, several elderly generals with particularly heavy military duties, including Yan Wenluan and Chen Yunchui, gradually departed. They were followed by provincial generals and deputy generals like Han Laoshu and Huangfu Ping, who withdrew south. Next, influential captains within the province, such as Wei Shaqing and Xin Yinma, bade farewell and returned. Finally, it was the turn of the second-line border generals and captains whose garrisons were not in these locations. This well-known "Jinqingyangzhong" defense line had always been directly under the Protector-General of Beiliang. Now, it naturally fell into the hands of Chu Lushan. In late spring of this year, Chu Lushan relocated the Protector-General's Mansion, which was a hundred li away, into Huaiyang Pass, doing so without much fanfare. Huang Laifu, the Huaiyang Captain, had initially offered to vacate his official residence, but the Protector-General, who was known for his love of luxury, surprisingly declined. Instead, he simply bought a mansion from a prominent local family within the pass. It is said that after the family head accepted three thousand taels of silver, he couldn't sleep well for several days and repeatedly tried to return the money to the Protector-General's Mansion, where "Lulu" (Chu Lushan's nickname) resided. However, the Protector-General's Mansion paid no attention. Eventually, the man became so anxious that he sought advice from an expert. He added two thousand taels, making a total of five thousand taels of silver, and donated this money to Huaiyang Pass for military provisions. This family, who had grown rich from border trade in earlier years, finally felt a slight sense of relief, though they still secretly moved to a fortified villa several tens of li south of Huaiyang Pass. Chu Lushan's notorious reputation was evident from this incident.

The young Beiliang King arrived at the important border town, traveling non-stop. He only stayed an extra few days at Huaiyang Pass. The King's retinue, which had been steadily decreasing in number, had now largely stabilized. Besides Chu Lushan and Huang Laifu, the "big and small landlords" of Huaiyang Pass, there was also a group of young and strong captains from various border areas and within the province. These included Wang Chou, the leader of the Anliang military garrison; Cao Xiaojiao, the renowned, troublesome General Honglu on Youzhou's northern defense line; Hong Xinjia, the true head of the numerous fortified outposts along the Hulu Pass line in Youzhou; and Zhu Boyu, the Fengqiu Captain from Lingzhou, who hailed from a military family; and Ren Chunyun, the Beiguo Captain from a poor background. These two were the lucky ones who had performed exceptionally during the Lingzhou army's encirclement and suppression of Jiang Fuding. Huang Xiaokuai, the Pearl Captain who led the vanguard in that operation, was even promoted directly to Lingzhou Deputy General, assisting Han Laoshu alongside Wang Zhi. However, Huang Xiaokuai was not ordered to go north this time, and Jiao Wuyi took over his original military post. Compared to these three, Ma Jinchai, the Dongye Captain of Zegu County, who had entered the Beiliang King's sight at the same time as everyone else, truly had the worst luck imaginable. Not only was he not promoted, but he couldn't even keep his original official position.

After Xu Fengnian arrived at the northern defense line, he rarely spoke, even asking few questions, apart from listening to the military and customs reports from generals of all ranks. Occasionally, his inquiries were only about trivial border defense matters. He never uttered a single boastful word about strategizing for the world, nor did he intentionally show off his family's military theories in front of the many seasoned commanders and young martial artists. In fact, many people sincerely wanted to hear about the Beiliang King's heroic deeds in the martial world. After all, he was the "new martial arts champion" who could even defeat Wang Xianzhi in a single battle. No matter how grand Xu Fengnian's pronouncements, even veterans like Yan Wenluan and Gu Dazu would have gladly listened intently. However, the young feudal lord still greatly disappointed everyone, consistently refraining from mentioning his several journeys through the jianghu or the life-and-death battles he had fought. Following Xu Fengnian's ascent to the pinnacle of the martial world, apart from the hidden ambush at Tiemen Pass, his deeds of slaying Fifth He, the master of Tibing Mountain, and the "Mancat" Han Diaosi, also began to quietly circulate and spread throughout the Liyang court and populace.

The group ascended the city wall. Among them, Cao Xiaojiao, the newly appointed General Honglu, was a short, sturdy middle-aged man. He had a considerable reputation on Beiliang's eastern defense line north of Youzhou, and had long accumulated enough military merits. However, because he had repeatedly clashed with Grand General Zhong Hongwu, not to mention this official, weighty general title, he hadn't even secured one of the myriad minor general titles previously. After Zhong Hongwu's downfall, Xu Fengnian specifically had Beiliang's "Hawks" monitor him for about half a year before deciding to promote him. Cao Xiaojiao was certainly not a perfect person: he had an extremely strong killing intent, governed his troops violently, and many of his subordinates committed forbidden acts, even privately embezzling and exploiting border military pay. Zhong Hongwu had used these very reasons to firmly keep Cao Xiaojiao suppressed in a minor captain's position back then. Cao Xiaojiao was like a sharp, exposed fast blade: capable of hurting others, and potentially himself. Xu Fengnian's heavy reliance on him was not without controversy within the Beiliang army; even veteran General Chen Yunchui had significant objections. As for Hong Xinjia, who was a full head taller than Cao Xiaojiao, his reputation was much better. Beiliang had many hereditary military garrisons and fortified outposts, with the Hulu Pass area being particularly prominent. The Southern Court's Great King once said that even if 160,000 Northern Mang troops were thrown into it, they might not be able to fill it, and a large part of this could be attributed to Hong Xinjia's achievements. While his talent in leading troops was only mediocre, he was one of the few exceptionally talented individuals in the Liyang Dynasty when it came to managing military farms or constructing the fortified outpost system. He was also a great master of "investigating things to gain knowledge." Gu Jiantang valued this person highly. When Gu Jiantang was in charge of military and political affairs in the northern region as Minister of War, it was rumored that the Grand General secretly made a request to Zhang Lu, insisting on taking this person to Liangliao to improve the defense lines. After being rejected, he even attempted the absurd act of mobilizing "Zhao Gou" to kidnap Hong Xinjia.

Ascending the city wall, Xu Fengnian stood with his hands tucked into his sleeves, gazing eastward. Suddenly, he turned to Hong Xinjia, who was standing one "Lulu" (Chu Lushan) away, and addressed him by his nickname, "Earth God." He said with a smile, "Grand General Gu Jiantang, currently in Liangliao, recently offered me an exorbitant price. He promised that if I hand over you, this 'Earth God,' he would help Beiliang secure an additional 30% of grain tribute from the court, plus 300,000 taels of silver. And he guaranteed that you would be promoted three ranks, just one step shy of becoming a high-ranking official."

Hong Xinjia grinned, "Firstly, whether I want to go or not is irrelevant. Secondly, I genuinely don't care about the size of my official hat. As long as I can do things, that's enough. I've been managing Hulu Pass for over ten years; I can't bear to leave."

Xu Fengnian shook his head, "Tell me the truth."

Hong Xinjia's face, dark as charcoal from years of wind and sun exposure, surprisingly showed a faint blush. Cao Xiaojiao immediately scoffed, "Old Hong here fears nothing under heaven, yet he's afraid of his wife. His wife is a woman from Yanzhi County—a beautiful flower stuck in Hong Xinjia's lump of black cow dung. Last year, she gave him a chubby son, so how could she rest assured letting her man go to Liyang to become a high official? We used to say that her words were more effective than the Grand General's. As for imperial decrees from the court, even if one really arrived at the Hong family mansion, wouldn't that woman just throw it straight into the latrine? Isn't that right, Old Hong?"

Hong Xinjia elbowed Cao Xiaojiao in the ribs. The latter didn't block, and just rubbed the spot with a cheeky grin, "Hitting me, are we? The King himself saw it. I won't pay back the twenty-eight thousand taels of silver I owe you then."

Hong Xinjia, who had an exceptionally close relationship with Cao Xiaojiao, widened his eyes. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly realized the Beiliang King was right there, and forcibly swallowed the "family scandal" that was about to blurt out.

Xu Fengnian simply smiled, not pursuing the matter further or digging for details. Chu Lushan imperceptibly frowned.

Xu Fengnian glanced at the sky and joked to the group of generals and captains around him, "You all, go home and find your mothers."

As they walked down from the city wall, Chu Lushan approached Xu Fengnian and quietly asked, "Should I dispatch five hundred elite cavalry to escort Your Highness?"

Xu Fengnian, who had his bothersome eldest disciple trailing behind him, shook his head. Chu Lushan dared not act on his own initiative; at most, he could secretly add more personnel. He quickly calculated in his mind that there were still a few sturdy old falcons in the Fushui Society's top chambers.

Finally, Xu Fengnian and Yu Dilong left Huaiyang Pass, two individuals on two horses. Yu Dilong had barely learned rudimentary horsemanship; while riding was still bumpy, at least he no longer fell off.

Among his three disciples, Yu Dilong was the least close to his master, Xu Fengnian. While Lu Yunzhang was garrulous, he ultimately desired to converse more with his "immortal master." Wang Sheng, though taciturn, was undoubtedly the most respectful of Xu Fengnian. Only Yu Dilong neither knew how to interact with this feudal lord master nor ever thought of actively trying to get closer. The only emotion he displayed was a heartfelt, natural fear. Xu Fengnian had already taught Wang Sheng swordsmanship and Lu Yunzhang martial arts, but for some reason, he had not "carved" Yu Dilong, who was superior to his junior disciples in both aptitude and potential. He hadn't even given Yu Dilong an introductory inner cultivation manual to memorize and study.

Cao Xiaojiao and Hong Xinjia, who had arrived together, naturally departed together. Because Hong Xinjia was such a coveted prize for the Liyang court, Protector-General Chu specially dispatched an additional half-battalion of cavalry to escort them. Cao Xiaojiao and Hong Xinjia sat opposite each other in a carriage. Cao Xiaojiao continuously drank wine. Hong Xinjia hesitated for a moment, then finally said, "Why are you so unrestrained with your words? Do you really think the King and the Protector-General don't know about the mess you've made? And you insist on stripping down on the city wall for everyone to see?"

Cao Xiaojiao cast a sidelong glance at Hong Xinjia, who had spent half his life dealing with soil and stones, and smilingly retorted, "Do you remember what you were worried about on our way here?"

Hong Xinjia nodded, "Of course. With your notoriously bad reputation, anyone trying to cover for you would look like a handful of mud smeared with excrement. Since the King made an exception to promote you, he would usually temper grace with authority. Although I'm not insightful about officialdom, I understand this much. Generally, during this audience, the King should have given you a few warnings."

Cao Xiaojiao burst out laughing, "Exactly! That's common sense. So, if the King had given me a serious lecture, or even chewed me out thoroughly, I would feel at ease. But did you notice, our King is very strange; from start to finish, he didn't give any advice to me, Cao Xiaojiao, this corrupt and cruel official."

Hong Xinjia paused, then said in surprise, "Indeed."

Cao Xiaojiao pulled up his sleeve to wipe his mouth and said, "That's why I'm scared! Otherwise, I wouldn't be insane enough to challenge the King on the city wall right in front of Chu the Demon, would I? Whose face would I be slapping if not Chu Lushan's?"

Hong Xinjia became even more confused, asking with a bewildered expression, "Then if you've angered Protector-General Chu, won't you be made to suffer petty retaliation later?"

Cao Xiaojiao slowly took a sip of wine. "Old Hong, just don't worry about it; you wouldn't understand even if I explained it. Your fate is to deal with inanimate objects like mud and stones; don't get involved in these complicated matters."

Hong Xinjia laughed, "No matter what, a promotion is a good thing."

Cao Xiaojiao mumbled, "I, Cao Xiaojiao, will show as much capability as the position and troops I'm given, but if anyone wants me to truly disregard my life, forget it. There's nothing more valuable than life in this world, and I'm not some penniless foot soldier who needs to risk my life for a future."

Hong Xinjia said, half panicked and half annoyed, "Keep these words to yourself!"

Cao Xiaojiao lifted the curtain, gazing out at the autumn wind whipping up yellow sand, wave after wave, sweeping across the vast desert.

Hong Xinjia slapped his thigh and suddenly said, "I just remembered something. It was when I was drinking with Old General He, and he inadvertently let it slip. Do you remember that day when the two battalions confronted each other, and after a winner was decided, the King bestowed swords and horses?"

Cao Xiaojiao nodded and laughed, "That was just a bit of clever manipulation to win people over."

Hong Xinjia's expression was a little strange, and he whispered, "The King actually said something else at that time."

Cao Xiaojiao raised his wine flask, listening intently.

Hong Xinjia said, "It seemed the King said, 'As long as you can achieve merit, I'm not asking you to die.'"

Cao Xiaojiao remained silent, taking a sip of wine.

In the autumn wind, two riders traveled south, but instead of returning directly to Liangzhou City, they turned towards Yanzhi County in Youzhou.

In Bishan County that evening, a sudden downpour began.

Xu Fengnian, drenched like a drowned chicken, knocked on the door. He waited for a long time before it opened, and gazing at the woman's aloof face, he smiled, "I'm hungry."

The woman sneered, "Coincidentally, I haven't eaten either."

Xu Fengnian, quick on his feet, slipped past the woman holding the umbrella, "I'll make it."

Yu Dilong never forgot that scene for the rest of his life. At that moment, the child only felt that this exceptionally beautiful woman must either be the Empress or a master even more powerful than the top ten martial artists combined, otherwise it made no sense.

It was at this moment that the future "Land Dragon" finally felt that his master still possessed a spark of human vitality.