Chapter 693: Waiting and Thinking, Wishing to Hear about Qi Nan

The Liyang Dynasty, once disparaged as "northern barbarians," unlike the culturally flourishing Western Chu, had historically never established positions like Grand Tutor or Grand Preceptor. Even after unifying the Central Plains, this practice continued. To prevent powerful chancellors from monopolizing power, even the chief officials of the Central Secretariat and Chancellery were left vacant, a tradition only broken in recent years by Huan Wen and Qi Yanglong. The Qinmianyuan, serving as a study hall for imperial descendants and children of dukes, marquises, and princes, employed instructors who were all esteemed scholars of integrity, possessing both virtue and talent. However, their official ranks were not high; some celebrated scholars with significant works barely qualified for official positions. Even Chen Wang, the current head of the Qinmianyuan, held the title of Junior Protector, which was merely an honorary designation. His actual salary was lower than that of a regular Yellow Gate Official in the Hanlin Academy.

Thus, when Chen Wang emerged unexpectedly to become the Junior Protector of Qinmianyuan, Tai'an City simply regarded him as a "mini-heir chancellor," a second Yin Maochun, who would need a decade or two to gradually work his way into the political core. However, a shocking rumor quickly spread: not only was he to immediately assume an important position in the Chancellery, but he might even "take food from the tiger's mouth," potentially usurping power from Yin Maochun, who had overseen the Hanlin Academy for over ten years. As if to confirm this rumor, which seemed to originate from some influential mansion in the capital, Tan Tanweng and Yao Baifeng, the Libationer of the Imperial Academy, jointly visited Junior Protector Chen. It was said they conversed joyfully, becoming fast friends despite their age difference. Looking back at Jin Sanlang, although he too had achieved rapid success and advancement, unlike the previously obscure Chen Wang, he had never received such prestigious treatment among the dynasty's top echelons. This demonstrated that Chen Wang's mastery of "cultivating prestige" was far more natural and effortless than that of Jin Lanting, the Vice Minister of Rites. Suddenly, the small, unassuming Prince Regent's mansion on Wangjun Street, where Tai'an City's imperial relatives and high-ranking nobles congregated, became bustling with carriages and visitors. Chen Wang's wife's grandfather was not from the legitimate lineage of the previous emperor and held little influence. However, during the Spring and Autumn Wars, he firmly supported the previous emperor. His eldest son inherited the title of Prince of Chai Commandery. As a daughter of the prince, Chen Wang's wife should have, by custom, had her title reduced to County Princess. However, the current emperor, recognizing the loyalty of two generations of Prince Chai, granted her an exceptional imperial decree and personally arranged her marriage to Chen Wang. In retrospect, it seemed that not only did the humble scholar Chen Wang not "marry into a prominent family," but rather, Prince Chai had an unparalleled knack for finding hidden gems.

Chen Wang and the Princess had already moved out of the prince's mansion, though their new residence was not far. It took his wife only a short while to visit her parents' home. Initially, Prince Chai worried that his daughter's frequent visits might displease Chen Wang, but over time, he realized his son-in-law's magnanimity was truly remarkable. Now, with Chen Wang elevated to Junior Protector and soon to enter the increasingly powerful Chancellery, he showed no signs of the arrogance common among those from humble backgrounds who suddenly achieve success; he remained as gentle and respectful as ever. Chen Wang's mansion had always been closed to outsiders, a strict rule he established even before his rise. Many opportunists hoping to curry favor had to settle for visiting his father-in-law's residence, bringing gifts. This brought great honor to Prince Chai, who was nicknamed the "Cold Bench Prince." The slightly aging prince would often stroll through the streets, hands behind his back, cheerfully visiting neighbors, as if all the frustrations of his earlier life had vanished.

Tai'an City welcomed its second snowfall. Before the old snow could completely melt, new flakes blanketed the ground. Lazier households simply left the snow untouched. Old-timers, familiar with the seasons, muttered that there might be another beautiful snowfall before the year turned, lamenting the biting winter cold that pained their aging bones.

Yet, amidst their sighs, the elderly often gathered with friends around a stove to chat. The people of the capital, living under the emperor's gaze, enjoyed discussing state affairs, especially these old-timers who had witnessed two or even three Liyang emperors. While the rising conflict in the northwest frontier and the concluded Guangling campaign brought little joy, they were generally optimistic. After all, the current dynasty had enjoyed over twenty years of recuperation, and Liyang possessed a strong foundation from the Yonghui Spring. These seasoned city dwellers firmly believed that by this time next year, the realm would be completely peaceful. Some elders even hoped that if they could witness their dynasty annex Northern Mang before they died, they would have no regrets.

The area in Tai'an City known by the common folk as Prince Regent Alley subtly mirrored the layout of Prime Minister Zhang's residence, creating a sense of two opposing forces. However, their circumstances were starkly different. The latter's street bustled with carriages and horses during morning and evening court sessions, while the former's was desolate, with few figures seen. This was because, although the residents of the mansions in Prince Regent Alley were of the highest noble status, most were mere figureheads, rarely participating in court affairs, with only a very few exceptions. Since the Yonghui era, they had been deliberately excluded from the central government by a certain "purple-bearded, green-eyed man." Thus, their daily commutes, both morning and evening, were limited to a handful of major court ceremonies where they served as mere decorations, whereas the latter's street was incredibly noisy, filled with officials in purple and scarlet robes. Nevertheless, since the autumn of the first year of Xiangfu, the previously stagnant Prince Regent Alley had seen a gradual increase in carriage traffic. This area, which had grown accustomed to its isolated status, began to welcome many new faces.

In the twilight, Chen Mansion, whose threshold height had previously ranked among the lowest in Prince Regent Alley, witnessed its young master, for the first time, personally escort an unfamiliar guest home. The gatekeeper, an old man from a family that had served the old Prince Regent's residence for generations, could not identify the middle-aged man still dressed in court robes. He wondered who this person could be to warrant such solemnity from his master. Observing the man's official badge, a woven peacock indicating a civil official of the third rank, the old gatekeeper, who considered himself a shrewd judge of character, was confident he could spot an aristocrat at a glance. Carefully scrutinizing the man who crossed the threshold with his master, he felt a contradictory aura about him: though a civil official, he resembled a meritorious military general fresh from the battlefield, yet he wasn't like the rough-and-tumble types who used to frequent the Ministry of War's barracks and cause disturbances in earlier years.

The number of servants in the mansion was just enough to ensure the smooth operation of the four-courtyard residence. Thus, as Chen Wang and his guest proceeded to the study, they encountered no one. Unlike the grand mansions built to princely specifications, or even the nearby princely residences with their traditional three-route, five-courtyard layouts, which would be bustling with activity and guests at this dinner hour—especially on a snowy evening, when high-ranking officials might hold a cup of wine and engage in spirited conversation with close friends—Chen Mansion, comparatively modest in size, exuded the deepest sense of tranquil seclusion.

After the host and guest were seated, a tall woman of average appearance hurried in upon hearing they had arrived. As she entered, her husband was personally brewing tea. The flames in the stove flickered gently, and the water in the kettle gradually boiled, adding a touch of warmth to the somewhat quiet room. Chen Wang looked up at his wife and introduced with a smile, "This is Vice Minister Xu from the Ministry of War."

Regardless of rank, no one in Prince Regent Alley was ill-informed. The woman, formally titled Princess Changle, immediately recognized the guest's multiple identities: Xu Gong, General of Dragon Might, pillar of the Gumu Xu clan, and one of the most prestigious young generals in the Liyang army. He was currently joked about throughout Prince Regent Alley as Tai'an City's "new daughter-in-law." She had also heard that Vice Minister Xu was not particularly well-regarded; while his appointment wasn't exactly a veiled demotion, it would be incredibly difficult for him to integrate into the capital's political circles as swiftly and successfully as Lu Baijie, the "Sword Immortal of Tangxi." The imperial clan woman, whose given name was Zhao Song, had always been uninterested in court politics. Why her husband had brought this Vice Minister of War home was not something she dwelled on, as was her custom. A guest was a guest, and she knew how to handle the situation without disgracing her husband. So, after a lukewarm greeting with Xu Gong, she quickly took over the tea brewing from Chen Wang, poured two cups for the men, and then promptly excused herself.

Xu Gong joked, "Junior Protector, you are truly blessed. We can only envy you."

Xu Gong had always been a genuine provincial official, never deliberately cultivating connections or influence in Tai'an City's court where "connections make it easier to be an official." His ability to come to the capital this time, as rumored, was solely due to his clan elders and several seniors from Jiangnan Dao "pleading on their old reputations." His future path would truly be up to his own efforts, as the saying goes, "the master leads you to the door, but cultivation is up to the individual." Therefore, after arriving in the capital, he was extremely restrained and reclusive, rarely leaving his residence. The reason he was able to connect with Chen Wang was that during Chen Wang's time as Director of the Ministry of Personnel's Evaluation Bureau, assisting Yin Maochun in overseeing the "Grand Plan" for local evaluations, he had interacted with Xu Gong. Theirs was a friendship between gentlemen, one where they felt they had met too late. At the time, Xu Gong could never have imagined that Chen Wang would rise so quickly, becoming one of the prominent officials and dignitaries at the heart of the dynasty.

Chen Wang wasn't overly modest either, nodding with a smile, "Among the many noble daughters of the Zhao clan, my wife's temperament is indeed quite good." At this point, Chen Wang paused slightly, his expression softening, and he instinctively added, "I cherish her greatly."

Xu Gong hesitated, then asked, "May I ask, although my family has hoped for years that I might one day enter the Ministry of War, I'm puzzled why the elders at home were so surprised by this summons to the capital. Especially old Patron Yu, who gave me the four-character farewell advice, 'mixed blessings,' and in his words, there was an inexplicable sense of the unpredictability of life. Clearly, Jiangnan Dao hoped I, Xu Gong, would come to the capital, but whether I could come was not within their control. Dare I ask, Junior Protector, if someone in the capital spoke well of me?" Speaking frankly and completely is the mark of a friendship between gentlemen. Xu Gong knew that such a direct question went against official etiquette, but believing his friendship with Chen Wang to be sincere, he disdained pretense.

Chen Wang smiled and pointed to himself.

Xu Gong was stunned.

Chen Wang straightened his expression and said, "Initially, when Pillar of the State Yu from the Yu family came to the capital, he undoubtedly intended to recommend you, Brother Xu, and had made arrangements. I'm not sure why nothing came of it later. In my view, they probably decided at the last minute it was best not to let you, Brother Xu, wade into the murky waters of Tai'an City for now. At that time, I hadn't yet entered the Qinmianyuan as Junior Protector; I was still the Director of the Evaluation Bureau in the Ministry of Personnel. Acting within my capacity, I spoke a few words to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Of course, those were just a few extra touches. If not for your own capabilities, Brother Xu, no matter how eloquently I spoke, the Crown Prince wouldn't have given it any thought."

Xu Gong was somewhat torn between laughter and tears.

Chen Wang admitted frankly, "Pillar of the State Yu Jiankang has his considerations and calculations, and I have my own thoughts. The situation is turbulent. I always feel that with your literary and military talents, Brother Xu, when better to emerge than now? Do you wish to miss one Spring and Autumn War, and then miss another? May I ask, how many more twenty-year periods and opportunities do you have to miss? Of course, I understand Pillar of the State's cautious thinking; he sees you, Brother Xu, as a rare commodity, waiting for the situation to deteriorate further. Perhaps at that critical juncture, a mere Vice Minister of War wouldn't be enough to 'send off' you, General of Dragon Might, a 'dormant dragon in the abyss.'"

Xu Gong nodded, "Junior Protector, I've taken your words to heart."

Chen Wang chuckled, "So, this time, I've implicated you, Brother Xu, causing you to be sent to patrol Liangliao and be seen as a laughingstock in Tai'an City. Please don't blame my 'drawing a snake and adding feet.' Or perhaps I should toast you with tea, and fine myself three cups?"

Xu Gong laughed heartily and magnanimously, "My dear Chen, you're being overly sentimental now!"

Chen Wang retorted sharply, "You've called me Junior Protector so many times, and only now call me 'my dear Chen,' yet you accuse me of being sentimental? Who's truly being sentimental here?"

Xu Gong, a man of stout build who sat like a mountain, brazenly said, "I humbly ask for Junior Protector's forgiveness."

Chen Wang sipped his tea. At the doorway stood a woman who had hesitated for a long time, not daring to knock or speak. She had returned to tell her husband that she needed to retrieve some items from her family home. Looking at the warm smile on her husband's face, she felt both genuine happiness and an unnamable guilt. She was happy that her husband was an ideal partner whom no discerning woman could fault, and delighted that he finally had a friend with whom he could open his heart, share tea, and chat. Princess Changle, however, felt guilty because since their marriage, she had never known how to alleviate his burdens. With a woman's intuition, she sensed his deeply hidden suppression, likely due to serving the emperor—like accompanying a tiger—always treading on thin ice and constantly on edge. And she, a so-called "golden branch and jade leaf," along with her father, a supposed imperial relative, had always been a hindrance rather than a help to her husband. Chen Wang never drank alcohol; even on their wedding day, he drank only sparingly. Every day, he would read late into the night, going to bed much later than her, yet rising much earlier, as if he always had endless books to read and endless affairs of state to manage. What was rare, though, was that he never made her feel neglected because of this. Although she wasn't an exceptionally shrewd woman, she wasn't foolish either. She believed he genuinely cared for her and would never engage in philandering. Chen Wang's self-restraint was unparalleled among the dozens of mansions in Prince Regent Alley. He cared for her. She sympathized deeply with him, yet she didn't know how to help him. Inside, the two most talented men of the Liyang Dynasty drank light tea, conversing freely. She quietly left.

Chen Wang asked Xu Gong about the developments in the Guangling Dao war. Xu Gong, full of worry, spoke with a heavy tone: "The Ministry of War initially expected the rebellion to be quelled in six months, and this wasn't entirely blind optimism. If Yang Shenxing and Yan Zhenchun hadn't claimed a great victory back then, merely holding out would have made Western Chu's restoration akin to chronic suicide. However, the defeat of those two old generals 'sharpened' Western Chu's new blade, giving young talents like Xie Xichui and Kou Jianghuai enough room to sustain themselves through battle, growing stronger with each fight. Now, with Western Chu's power growing, it's difficult to achieve a quick victory. Furthermore, Commander Lu Shengxiang remains a figurehead; his true enemies, besides the Western Chu rebels, include the court's infighting and the power struggles among military factions. Western Chu, on the other hand, is united. With one side weakening and the other strengthening, this war will be hard-fought. Fortunately, the court didn't lay all the blame on Lu Shengxiang and didn't replace the commander mid-battle; otherwise..."

Chen Wang nodded, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said he has mentally prepared for the Western Chu remnants' army to reach the imperial capital."

Xu Gong was greatly alarmed and quickly looked around.

Chen Wang calmly said, "Don't worry, even if such words reach His Royal Highness, neither you nor I will suffer any consequences. The Crown Prince has that much magnanimity."

Xu Gong's emotions surged. Junior Protector Chen's simple remark revealed too much. Superficially, it praised Crown Prince Zhao Zhuan's great tolerance and expressed a pessimistic view of the Western Chu war. The deeper meaning was Chen Wang subtly conveying a hidden message: the Crown Prince is a lenient heir, worthy of Xu Gong's allegiance. If one were to delve even deeper, Xu Gong felt a chill: during the sensitive time when the Crown Prince was merely acting as regent, with the Emperor still alive, was it too early to persuade or remind a Vice Minister of War to explicitly declare his loyalty? Was there some hidden meaning here? It was well-known that no alarming secret reports about the Emperor's health had circulated in Tai'an City for years. Could it be?

Just as Xu Gong was in the throes of an intense internal struggle, Chen Wang, as if merely engaging in casual conversation, quickly moved to the next question: "How long can Beiliang hold out? If the northwestern gateway cannot be defended, how do we defend afterward?"

Xu Gong, being extremely astute, remained as composed as the silent Chen Wang across from him, showing no ripple of emotion on his face. Having long prepared for such a question, he immediately replied, "Under normal circumstances, Beiliang's border army alone could hold for about two years. However, this assumes no major blunders or elaborate schemes from either side. In reality, when two armies confront each other, you can never predict whether your opponent's next move will be brilliant or foolish. Many classic battles in history were shaped by accidents, mistakes embraced as opportunities, or even victories achieved through seemingly erroneous moves, leading some to inexplicable defeats and others to unbelievable wins. If it were an ordinary standoff between two armies with mediocre commanders, it would simply be a contest of national strength, with no suspense. But the conflict between Liang and Mang cannot be judged by this analogy, because both sides possess far too many renowned generals."

Xu Gong looked somewhat enraptured, his eyes momentarily unfocused. "Beiliang has Chu Lushan, Yuan Zuozong, Yan Wenluan, Chen Yunshui, He Zhonghu... which of them isn't a formidable general forged in the fires of war, capable of commanding independently? Northern Mang has Tuoba Pusa, Dong Zhuo, Liu Gui, Huang Songpu, Yang Yuanzan..." Xu Gong sighed, "Almost every single one of them can introduce unpredictable variables into the entire war."

Xu Gong was hitting his stride; once he started talking, he couldn't stop. Holding his cup but not drinking, he gesticulated in the air. "Before Beiliang was incorporated into Liyang's territory, northern nomadic invasions had two routes. One was to choose Beiliang, the 'neck' of the Central Plains, as the primary target. Armies would descend from a dominant position, often sweeping everything before them. The disadvantage was the somewhat long battle line; even if they pushed all the way to Xiangfan, the 'waist' of the Central Plains, it would be difficult to advance further, usually forcing them to plunder and retreat. The second route was to exploit gaps in the Jizhou frontier defenses and move south. Vanguard cavalry units would scout in batches, clearing scattered obstacles outside the passes, simultaneously covering the main army and plundering villages, forcing the Central Plains dynasty to retreat to strongholds. With cities isolated like islands and border defenses paralyzed, the northern barbarian cavalry would then naturally invade south, unopposed.

"Currently, Northern Mang appears to have chosen an unwise route, but in reality, prioritizing immediate concerns over long-term ones is a measure of last resort. If the northern barbarians are determined to fight our dynasty, there is no superior strategy; only mediocre or inferior ones are available. Northern Mang cannot afford to drag out the war, while our dynasty is best positioned to do so. If Northern Mang waits until Western Chu in Guangling Dao is annihilated before starting a war, they will truly have no chance. A stable Central Plains internally and an ambitious Central Plains court would undoubtedly be a nightmare for the northern nomads. If Northern Mang were to first attack their western front, which is our court's Liangliao defense line built with half the national strength, an amateur might think this route is closest to Tai'an City, and Northern Mang should logically deploy forces there. But the truth is that Northern Mang would be unable to commit their full strength southward, because Beiliang's 300,000 border troops are destined to support the eastern front of Liangliao and launch an active offensive against Northern Mang's Southern Dynasty. Once Beiliang's iron cavalry are allowed to freely penetrate deep into their territory, entering the grasslands, even if Northern Mang's main army miraculously reaches the foot of Tai'an City, they would face an irreversible defeat; not only might their Southern Dynasty be gone, but even their northern royal court could be shattered.

"And what if we take another step back? What if Chen Zhibao fails to tie down Northern Mang, and Gu Jiantang's seemingly impregnable eastern front is completely broken? So what? We can give Tai'an City to you, Northern Mang. Our dynasty still has the strength to fight!"

At this point, Xu Gong abruptly swept his hand from north to south, "We can retreat all the way south of the Guangling River in one go. Don't forget Prince Yan Chi Zhao Bing's battle-hardened army. With Zhao Bing's army as the core fighting force, His Majesty can easily rally an army of 500,000; it would be no difficult feat."

Xu Gong suddenly gave a self-deprecating smile. "But then again, if Northern Mang can truly push us to this extent, it speaks to their capability. If they ultimately win the empire, I, Xu Gong, will be utterly convinced, even if it means dying in battle."

Chen Wang softly said, "All of this has a prerequisite, though."

Xu Gong was silent for a moment before nodding, "The prerequisite is that Beiliang is willing to fight to the very end."

Chen Wang murmured to himself, "I know that person is willing."

Xu Gong hummed in acknowledgment. "There's no other way; he is Xu Xiao's son, after all. Anyone else can retreat, but not him!"

Chen Wang smiled faintly. "It's hard for me to connect the young nobleman who once paid me for poems with the current King of Beiliang, who dares to fight when he says he will."

Xu Gong was somewhat at a loss for how to respond.

Chen Wang murmured, "Beiliang's snowflakes are as large as mats. Since Tai'an City is experiencing such heavy snowfall, my hometown must be even colder."

Xu Gong admired this scholar, who was more than ten years his junior. A young man from Beiliang, he had passed the imperial examination in the capital and, in the official circles of the capital, had never once spoken ill of Beiliang. He had never even concealed his "close bond" with the then-heir of Beiliang. Despite this, he remained favored by the emperor, steadily ascending to high positions, and even showed promise of reaching the pinnacle, vying for the seat of future civil leader. Xu Gong could hardly believe the story behind this rise, nor did he expect Chen Wang to voluntarily recount it. Even if Chen Wang were willing to speak, Xu Gong, no matter how bold, would not dare to listen. Unless, one day in the future, Chen Wang truly shed the "heir" prefix to become a second Zhang Julu, and Xu Gong himself became the second Gu Jiantang of the Liyang Dynasty.

Their conversation was like drinking tea: satisfying for seven or eight parts, leaving two or three parts of lingering taste. If they continued, they might become tiresome to each other.

Xu Gong rose to take his leave.

Chen Wang also stood to see him off, accompanying him to the door. He smiled, "Tomorrow, Brother Xu, you'll be heading to the northern front, and I still need to be at the Qinmianyuan on time, so I won't escort you further."

Xu Gong nodded, "No matter. We will have plenty of opportunities to meet again in the future."

Xu Gong's unassuming carriage slowly departed into the wind and snow. The tracks just made by its wheels were swiftly covered by the heavy snowfall.

Chen Wang turned and stepped onto the stairs. He looked up at the night sky and suddenly instructed the old gatekeeper, "Old Song, prepare a carriage. I want to enjoy the snow. Also, remember to have someone inform her."

The old man asked in surprise, "During the night curfew?"

Chen Wang, who, like Xu Gong, had not yet had time to remove his official court robes, smiled, "Just leave the city without changing clothes."

The old man immediately felt a surge of pride and smiled knowingly, "This old servant will go at once."

Soon after, a carriage exited the South City Gate and stopped at a small ferry crossing.

Chen Wang stepped out of the carriage. For some reason, as he stood at the ferry crossing leading south, his gaze was directed westward.

Chen Wang took out a small object he always carried and gently sniffed it. When he was young and studying, he once read an ancient saying: "One cultivates good karma for three lifetimes to hear the fragrance of Qinan agarwood in this life." In his hand was a piece of extremely valuable Qinan wood.

Back then, he was just a poor, struggling young scholar who had studied diligently for ten years with an uncertain future. He often sat reading at that cool, reed-filled ferry crossing, while she would listen to him read as she pounded clothes. He had promised that if he achieved fame through the imperial examinations, he would return home in glory and bring her some of this Qinan agarwood. And, he would marry her.

Then, he traveled thousands of miles to Tai'an City, the finest city in the realm, and successfully "leapt over the dragon gate" in the fiercely competitive imperial examinations. But in the end, he got married, lifted the red veil, and saw the delicate face in the candlelight. It wasn't her. He only sent four words to the woman from his hometown: "Don't miss, don't wait."

For so many years, what he feared most was not the inscrutable emperor, nor the restrained crown prince, nor the omnipresent Zhao Gou. He most feared talking in his sleep, feared calling out her name, and even more, feared that the path he had chosen with such youthful fervor would implicate that gentle woman far away in Beiliang.

She had once told him, blushing but seriously, that if they married, he wouldn't be allowed to touch any farm work. Why? Because he was a scholar.

Chen Wang gripped the piece of Qinan wood tightly, his lips trembling, and closed his eyes.

The heavy winter snow fell, dusting his shoulders, though he paid no attention to it.

Chen Wang. His name, Wang, meaning 'to gaze,' also evoked the imagery of the full moon, or the sun in the east and the moon in the west, gazing at each other from afar.

This truly deserving young heir chancellor slowly opened his eyes and softly asked, "Have you found a good family?" Even if not, please don't wait any longer. If you married, it must have been to a scholar who understands how to cherish you better than I did. You must resent me, this faithless man, right?

Chen Wang's face was covered in tears.

What he didn't know was that the good person at the ferry crossing was still waiting for him—only, she used to stand at the crossing, and now lay among the reeds, waiting forever. The one who died bore no resentment, but the one who had not returned remained unaware.