Chapter 673: Edge Knife Has Not Been Raised, Home Knife Falls

The Liyang Dynasty had two anomalies. One was Xu Xiao; even after being granted territory and made a non-royal prince, his soldiers still preferred to respectfully address him as Grand General. The other was Gu Jiantang. Although he was never enfeoffed as a prince, military officers often referred to him privately as Grand General during his decade-plus tenure as Minister of War. Now, as the only Grand Pillar State in Liyang holding a Grade-1 imperial honor, he was still known as Grand General in the Liangliao border region. After the Spring and Autumn Wars, when merits were assessed and rewards granted, Gu Jiantang, despite having slightly less military achievement than Xu Xiao, was younger and undoubtedly more favored by Liyang's old aristocracy and new imperial elites. Following Xu Xiao's death, when Gu Jiantang became the undisputed preeminent figure in Liyang's military and subsequently left the capital to take charge of the entire Northern region's military and political affairs, his power and reputation within Liyang's court and public opinion surged. Even the most obtuse capital officials understood that it was only a matter of time before Grand General Gu Jiantang, who was far from being labeled an old minister, would become a pillar of three successive dynasties. Moreover, Gu Jiantang was also a martial arts master on the martial prowess rankings; with his robust physique and vigorous energy, it would be effortless for him to serve another two or three decades. Therefore, the common notion of border generals attracting envy certainly did not apply to him.

Under Gu Jiantang's comprehensive reforms and consolidation after he took command of Liangliao, combined with the immense military expenditure consumed by Liyang Dynasty's eastern front over two decades, the region became known as an impregnable fortress. The Liangliao border army was unequivocally loyal to Gu Jiantang. Especially before Grand General Gu resigned as Minister of War, Tai'an City occasionally raised objections regarding the seemingly bottomless military spending in Liangliao. However, after Gu Jiantang left the capital for the north, although the Gu Faction, lacking its central figure, began to gradually disintegrate, the court's support for the Liangliao eastern front became increasingly unreserved. Military achievements and awards for border soldiers, which the court previously would delay or reduce, now flowed smoothly and without discount. With such a commander, the Liangliao border army's morale was revitalized, fostering an unprecedented sense of unity. Whispers even circulated privately that Grand General Gu might advance even further. Since Xu Xiao was a Grand General and so was he, and Xu Xiao had been Grand Pillar State and now he was too, then what was to stop Gu Jiantang from becoming a non-royal prince, just like Xu Xiao? Everyone knew the court was wary of Beiliang but had always placed great trust in Grand General Gu.

Morale on the eastern front soared, especially after the Northern Barbarians brazenly divided their forces and advanced. Almost every Liangliao general visited the commander's tent to request to fight. They argued that since the Northern Barbarians were clearly picking on the weak by first attacking Beiliang, how dared they challenge Liangliao with a mere two or three hundred thousand troops? Such a force would barely be enough to satisfy the eastern border army. However, neither Gu Jiantang's direct subordinates from the Spring and Autumn Wars nor the 'outsiders' from the Gu Faction who had steadily worked their way up in Liangliao could get the Grand General's approval. Eventually, many generals were even coldly dismissed from the main tent by the increasingly annoyed Grand General.

Winter was approaching, and the biting wind in Liangliao brought a bone-chilling cold. On the main road leading to a military fort, the leading rider, a man, wore a slightly old but still valuable fox fur coat over iron armor that, despite years of wear, remained as vibrant as new. Behind him rode two hundred elite light cavalry, skilled in both archery and horsemanship. The man was no longer young, with frosted temples, but a single glance revealed no trace of weariness or decline. Instead, one could clearly discern his hard-edged, iron-blooded aura. It was difficult to imagine that a man nearing fifty, who had served as a capital official for over a decade, had not had his sharpness dulled even slightly by the bureaucracy. On the contrary, those years of dormancy had been like sharpening a blade day after day for over a decade: the more it was sharpened, the keener the blade became.

It should be noted that the old fur coat he wore held extraordinary significance. When the Zhao imperial house established its dominion, Emperor Xian of Liyang bestowed countless promotions, riches, and residences upon civil and military officials based on their merits. However, only three individuals received a fox fur coat personally bestowed by the Emperor. Among civil officials, the only one to receive this honor was the youngest Grand Chancellor in Liyang's history, Zhang Julu, the 'Blue-Eyed One'. Among the military generals who had fought tooth and nail to secure the empire for the Zhao clan, only Xu Xiao and he were among them!

After he gifted the Nanhua Talisman Blade to that interesting young man, he now carried only the most ordinary border army sabre. Yet, no one dared deny that he was the foremost sabre master of his era. Unlike the top swordsmen in the martial world, each commanding their own style, those who wielded sabres, even grandmasters acclaimed as such, seemed miles away from this man. It was no wonder the martial prowess rankings stated that he alone commanded half of all sabre intent in the world.

A dusty cavalry unit emerged from a western path and joined the main road. Behind the man, two young officers, similar in appearance, reacted: one frowned slightly, while the younger one exchanged a knowing smile. In all of Liangliao, only that girl and that 'madman' would dare to block the road like this. There was nothing to be done, as one was their father's most cherished daughter, and the other was practically a son and son-in-law. These two influential border officers were not capital elites sent to Liangliao to gain experience; their current ranks and military authority were earned through hard-fought military merits on the battlefield, rising from piles of the dead. Gu Donghai and Gu Xishan were among the Liyang Dynasty's most distinguished military scions, bar none. Yet, both young men had started as ordinary soldiers. After being promoted to captain based on their merits, even their immediate superiors were unaware of their true identities. It was only when they became officers commanding their own forces, gaining recognition among Liangliao's high-ranking generals, that their identities as the Minister of War's sons, familiar to those who knew the hierarchy of the capital's officialdom, truly became known.

The man and woman from the arriving cavalry naturally rode alongside Gu Donghai and Gu Xishan, showing no awkwardness.

Gu Xishan unceremoniously said to the man, "Yuan the Madman, did you come empty-handed? Aren't you being too casual? Aren't you afraid your future brother-in-law won't be casual with you either?"

The young sabre wielder, called Yuan the Madman, grinned, revealing a mouthful of chillingly white teeth. He gestured with his chin towards the woman beside him and said, "What's there to be casual about? Your sister almost burned down Jizhou's Yan Fort this time! Gu Xishan, your family sells vinegar, don't they? With such a jealous outburst from her, the entire Liangliao region smelled of it."

The woman smiled without speaking.

Gu Xishan burst out laughing, "You should be content! If anyone else dared to do that, wouldn't the man be castrated and served as a side dish for drinks? Forget the women of Yan Fort; even princesses or noble daughters would get slapped by her. This time, she merely showed them her displeasure at Yan Fort, so you'd better burn some high incense and be thankful!"

The young man, whose sabre at his waist was precisely the Nanhua Blade, the world's foremost sabre, was about to speak, but a glance at the tall man's back ahead made him stop.

Even with his carefree nature and extraordinary courage, he dared not speak ill of his soon-to-be wife in front of his father-in-law.

Gu Xishan stared and asked, "Yuan Tingshan, did you really come empty-handed?!"

The young man, who had by now consolidated most of Jibei's power, smiled and said, "I just chopped off over six hundred Northern Barbarian heads. Do you want them? I can have someone deliver them to you later."

Gu Xishan, somewhat envious, quietly asked, "Yuan Tingshan, why don't I go with you to Jizhou? We haven't had a battle here for years, but your side seems to be thriving. I'd even be willing to be a Captain for you."

Yuan Tingshan, a prominent figure in both Liangliao and Jizhou, scoffed, "Captain? Don't even think about it. How about a stable hand?"

Gu Xishan grumbled curses.

Gu Donghai dismissed it with a smile. Towards Yuan Tingshan, his definite future brother-in-law, he had always been amiable, never putting on airs as the descendant of a famous general, nor showing any disdainful glances typical of a top aristocratic scion towards a lowly martial artist. On the contrary, it was he who personally facilitated Yan Fort's acceptance of Yuan Tingshan as a son-in-law; otherwise, no matter how powerful Yan Fort was in Jizhou, they wouldn't dare foolishly challenge the Gu family. Although their father had never verbally acknowledged Yuan Tingshan as his adopted son or son-in-law, taking Yuan Tingshan with him to the capital twice was enough to convey everything to both the capital and Liangliao.

Gu Jiantang suddenly called out Yuan Tingshan's name.

The latter quickly spurred his horse to catch up.

The three siblings consciously slowed their horses.

Gu Jiantang stated calmly, "You submitted a memorial to Tai'an City."

Yuan Tingshan's lips were tightly pressed together; he offered no explanation.

Gu Jiantang's voice remained devoid of emotional fluctuation, "After Donghu marries you, she will no longer be a member of the Gu family."

Yuan Tingshan was struck as if by lightning, yet he refused to lower his head, stating gravely, "Grand General, rest assured, I can provide for her!"

A cold sneer seemed to appear on Gu Jiantang's lips. Yuan Tingshan reined in his horse, bringing it to an abrupt halt.

Apart from Gu Beihu, who was determined to follow her husband wherever he went, also stopping, a bewildered Gu Donghai and Gu Xishan continued to follow Gu Jiantang towards the military fort.

She cautiously asked, "What's wrong? Did you upset my father?"

Yuan Tingshan grimaced, looking very troubled.

The cavalrymen he brought also wisely stopped by the roadside.

Yuan Tingshan rubbed his chin and said, "Your father is truly interesting. He clearly wants to annihilate those two hundred thousand Northern Mang troops, yet he insists on acting like a stone Buddha. After I submitted that memorial, it would have been entirely beneficial to your father, with no downsides, yet he still refused! I just can't understand what it's like to be this Grand Pillar State!"

Gu Beihu exclaimed in shock, "Wasn't your memorial requesting military merits from the Ministry of War?"

Yuan Tingshan tilted his head and spat, "A few hundred barbarian heads are nothing but scraps of military merit; I'd be ashamed to even mention it! If I'm going to do business, I do it big. This time, I'm helping the Zhao Emperor kill someone whose single head is worth hundreds of thousands of Northern Barbarians!"

Gu Beihu was stunned.

Gu Jiantang looked back south, his gaze complex and obscure.

In the spring-like warmth of the Imperial Study in Tai'an City, the Zhao Emperor personally walked to the center of the room, knelt, and used tongs to poke the charcoal in the brazier. Nearby, Song Tanglu, the Head Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial who attended the Emperor closely, scurried with a bowed waist. His small steps were silent, like a nimble cat, yet one could discern the trepidation of this successor to Han Shengxuan. The Zhao Emperor held a memorial in his hand, which Song Tanglu knew perfectly well was sent by the prominent figure Yuan Tingshan from Jibei via five-hundred-li express. As for what was written in the secret memorial, when Han Shengxuan served as Head Eunuch, he could first review it and then decide whether to submit it to the Emperor or transfer it to the Ministry of War. However, now that Imperial Recorders were appointed in the palace, Song Tanglu, despite his immense favor, never dared to touch such matters. The Zhao Emperor held the secret memorial and placed it over the fiercely burning charcoal. However, as soon as a corner caught fire, he hesitated, withdrew his hand, and tapped the edge of the brazier, extinguishing the flame.

Inside the Imperial Study, four or five young Imperial Recorders remained engrossed in their work, writing furiously at their desks, seemingly oblivious to the strange scene unfolding nearby.

The charcoal fire illuminated the Zhao Emperor's pale face.

A grand eunuch, permitted to wear a vibrant red python robe, softly said from outside, "Your Majesty, Jin Lanting, the Right Libationer of the Imperial Academy, requests an audience."

The Zhao Emperor's arm remained suspended in the air as he sank into thought, seemingly not hearing the soft, perfectly pitched voice.

Song Tanglu held his breath and bowed, not daring to speak. However, he extended one hand behind his back and subtly waved it towards the open doorway.

The other grand eunuch, also bowing his head, should, in theory, not have seen the Head Eunuch's subtle gesture, yet he immediately began to retreat.

The Zhao Emperor slowly came back to his senses and said calmly, "Granted."

Song Tanglu softly said, "Your Majesty."

The Zhao Emperor hummed in an almost inaudible voice.

Soon, Song Tanglu silently brought a small, embroidered stool. The Zhao Emperor then sat before the brazier, the secret memorial resting on the front of his imperial yellow dragon robe, specifically on an embroidered coiled dragon design, which appeared vivid and magnificent, with claws extended.

Jin Lanting, sporting a handsome beard, stepped over the threshold and was about to kneel when the Zhao Emperor softly said, "Dispensed."

The Zhao Emperor extended his hand. Song Tanglu quickly brought another stool, and Jin Lanting, overwhelmed by the favor, carefully sat down after expressing his gratitude.

The Zhao Emperor glanced at the scholar from Beiliang. The gloom between his brows seemed to have lessened somewhat, and he said amicably, "Sanlang, do you have something to report?"

Jin Lanting's expression was open and resolute, as if he were possessed by a deity, taking on the demeanor of one bravely facing death. He respectfully said, "Your humble servant does indeed have a matter to report. Although it should have been submitted in a written memorial, your humble servant believes it should be presented to Your Majesty in person!"

Jin Lanting stood up, bowed, took a few steps back, then knelt with a thump, prostrating himself completely. He slowly declared, "Your humble servant, Jin Lanting, wishes to impeach Grand Chancellor Zhang Julu on ten major charges!"

"Your humble servant,""Grand Chancellor."Inside the Imperial Study, the wrists of almost all the Imperial Recorders, close attendants of the Emperor, trembled.

The Zhao Emperor remained silent.

In the East Palace, Crown Prince Zhao Zhuan stood alone beneath a golden nanmu birdcage housing a clumsy, mimicking parrot, whistling cheerfully.

He muttered to himself, "The essence of it is that he's the greatest power-hungry schemer of all time, wielding power by appearing to avoid it. Let me count how many charges there are. Manipulating the reins of government, acting autocratically. Privately maintaining border armies, squandering the national treasury. Colluding with the powerful eunuch Han Shengxuan. Framing the loyal and righteous Han family due to personal vendetta. Ineffective governance, leading to the restoration of Western Chu. Anything else? It seems I can't think of any more, even racking my brain."

At this, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince smiled, "It's truly difficult for our Jin Sanlang."