Chapter 716: Before the Wolf Smoke Rises

By Feng Huo Xi Zhu Hou

In Yanzi County, on the border of Youzhou, the Tao family was a renowned noble clan, considered a prominent local lineage. Their descendants served in both civil and military capacities within Youzhou's officialdom. The Tao family was known for its simple and honest traditions, and the patriarch, Tao Jinzao, had an excellent reputation for his benevolence. He built granaries to store food and frequently opened them to provide disaster relief in Youzhou. When the one-million-strong Northern Mang army was pressing down on Beiliang, many prominent families in Yanzi County, adhering to the strategy of "a cunning rabbit has three burrows," secretly moved their younger members and assets out of Beiliang. Only the Tao family showed no signs of movement.

A group of over a dozen riders arrived at the Tao family mansion late on this early spring night. In the darkness, their horses' hooves clattered crisply and resonantly on the bluestone path, which was lined with six imperial archways bestowed by the court. Tao Jinzao, who was over fifty, had received an unexpected secret report and hastily risen, donning his robe. The entire family, over a hundred members, emerged, opening the main ceremonial gate and reverently kneeling together on the stone steps outside. The lead rider was a young man entirely enveloped in a thick fur cloak. Behind him were a one-armed elder with two strands of snowy white eyebrows and a woman in white whose physique surpassed that of even the northern warriors. The more than ten guards following them were all armed with short crossbows and Beiliang sabers, and they rode uniformly white horses.

Tao Jinzao's two unmarried granddaughters knelt side by side, unable to resist bravely stealing glances at the young lord who was smiling as he helped their grandfather up. He was incredibly handsome, with excellent looks and even better temperament. They wondered if he was a young scion from a Central Plains aristocratic family who had risen to prominence as scholars poured into Beiliang. They had always heard that scholars from Jiangnan were handsome and refined, exuding an scholarly aura with every gesture, a stark contrast to the local men of Beiliang. However, they were, of course, mistaken. While it was true that outside scholars were seizing opportunities to fill official positions in Beiliang, apart from a handful of individuals like Yu Luandao, no one else had the standing to command such a grand reception from the Tao family patriarch. The man who had instantly captivated them was none other than the King of Beiliang, who had led ten White Horse Valiants on this unannounced night journey to Yanzi County.

Xu Fengnian and Tao Jinzao quickly entered the main gate. Seeing a delicate and lively child in a woman's arms, Xu Fengnian took off a jade pendant from his waist and, with a warm smile, presented it to the child as a first-meeting gift. Xu Fengnian then dismissed the elderly, young, women, and children of the Tao family to rest, leaving only Tao Jinzao and his son, Tao Wenhai, to accompany him. Without any polite pleasantries, Xu Fengnian lowered his voice and asked directly, "Are all the Fushui Chamber spies from Lingzhou properly settled?"

Tao Jinzao, his emotions stirred, calmed himself and reported, "This group of twenty-six people has been deployed to their respective locations. The three groups combined total eighty-one individuals. Adding the four second-rank minor grandmasters and fifteen third-rank experts secretly dispatched from the royal manor to Yanzi County earlier, they can support each other from the shadows. All preparations are complete; we are just waiting for the Northern Mang assassins who have infiltrated the territory to fall into our trap. All border passes are now closed, and elite border army rangers and local Youzhou scouts are extensively patrolling the area. Even if some manage to slip through the defenses, it will be very difficult for them to penetrate deep into Youzhou to assassinate officials."

Xu Fengnian nodded.

Tantai Pingjing, Sui Xiegui, and the White Horse Valiants naturally did not participate in the confidential discussion. Only Xu Fengnian and the Tao father and son remained, seated in an elegant room with clusters of lush green bamboo visible outside the window. Late last year, heavy snow fell across Liyang, and even more so in Beiliang. This year's late spring chill was not as harsh or difficult to bear as in previous years. However, Xu Fengnian did not remove his fur cloak after sitting down. Tao Jinzao and his son, Tao Wenhai, were also granted seats. Yet, it was clear that facing this renowned young prince, even on their home ground, they remained extremely reserved, almost like humble guests. The aged Tao patriarch felt awe, while Tao Wenhai, who served as a county captain in a mid-sized county of Yanzi County, felt more admiration than fear.

Soon, a graceful woman brought hot ginger tea. After setting it down, she went to a corner of the room, knelt, and skillfully and deftly opened a drawer box, placing over a dozen types of precious spices on a small rosewood table in front of her. On the rosewood table, there were already the typical "master-servant trio": a bottle, an incense burner, and a box, with the burner serving as the master and the bottle and box as its servants.

Xu Fengnian held the ginger tea with both hands and took a sip. Immediately, some of the chill was dispelled, and a warmth permeated his heart and spleen. In this rare moment of reprieve, he subconsciously looked towards the woman who exuded a sense of peace and tranquility. She was perhaps one of those captivating women with "delicate bones and ample flesh," dressed appropriately, yet her curves – her bosom, the transition from waist to hips, and her kneeling legs – were not obscured by her winter clothing. Xu Fengnian, of course, had no romantic thoughts, nor any inclination to develop anything with her; it was simply that such an outstanding woman was indeed pleasing to the eye. Xu Fengnian was an expert in art appraisal, and it would not be an exaggeration to call him a grandmaster. Otherwise, Tai'an City would not have eagerly sought after the calligraphy and paintings that the Beiliang heir apparent had years ago defaced with his seal, labeling them "fakes." Xu Fengnian knew at a glance that the brass incense burner was the work of Huang Yong, a renowned master from "Southern Foundry." The burner possessed a profound ancient charm, subtle yet robust, and after years of maintenance, it emitted a vibrant red luster, like the dazzling gleam of a famous sword. Barring any surprises, the ash in the burner would be the accumulated residue from years of burning agarwood, embodying the saying, "ten years of incense, half a censer of ash."

Xu Fengnian was somewhat distracted, his mind wandering far away, his gaze lingering near the young woman. Tao Jinzao smiled knowingly; his eldest granddaughter had been unwilling to marry for years, causing him to be teased by old friends whose marriage proposals had failed, with the saying, "The Tao family has a daughter, a rare commodity." Unlike his open-minded father, Tao Wenhai had been secretly observing this "prodigal son who turned over a new leaf" and became the King of Beiliang. As the Tao family held a clandestine identity associated with the Fushui Chamber, Tao Wenhai had long been involved in transmitting military intelligence, particularly in Youzhou. Compared to the descendants of ordinary prominent Beiliang families, Tao Wenhai's curiosity about Xu Fengnian was richer and deeper.

Xu Fengnian gathered his thoughts and candidly said, "Please excuse my distraction."

The woman offered a sweet smile.

Xu Fengnian took another deep drink of ginger tea, set down his cup, and said gravely, "According to the intelligence obtained by Chu Lushan from the Southern Dynasty, the Northern Mang Empress had long ago tasked Li Mibi with a plan: 'assassins first, troops later.' The martial arts factions of Northern Mang were divided into two groups. The vast majority of top masters and all low-ranking martial artists joined the army, while the mid-level experts were assigned to Li Mibi, the chief Northern Mang spymaster, for the precise assassination of our Beiliang border generals and civil officials within our territory. They won't seek death by going to the Beiliang Protectorate General's office where Chu Lushan is located. However, crucial officials like you, Tao Wenhai, who are indispensable to Beiliang yet relatively lacking in personal guards, are the prime targets for Northern Mang's elite assassins."

Xu Fengnian gently twirled his teacup with his finger. "The border passes north of Liangzhou are all fortified cities and military garrisons with considerable depth, making it difficult for the enemy to find opportunities. Youzhou, however, is much more complex. While the Hulu Pass area has a dense network of large and small fortified posts and beacon towers, their primary purpose was to hinder the rapid advance of the Northern Mang army. They are not effective against these secretly infiltrating 'spiderweb' assassins and martial arts masters. Even though General Yan Wenluan and Youzhou General Huangfu Cheng have dispatched sixteen elite cavalry units of around five hundred men each to hunt down infiltrators along the border, I believe it will still be difficult to achieve significant results. The real battlefield in the Youzhou direction will still be within our territory. Therefore, the Peregrine Falcon guards of the Wutong Courtyard and Fushui Chamber must primarily focus on border prefectures like Yanzi County. However, even though the Peregrine Falcon guards have been deployed in full force, in reality, they are bound to be overwhelmed when the time comes."

Tao Wenhai subtly glanced at his father, Tao Jinzao, who nodded. Only then did Tao Wenhai speak: "My Lord, my greatest concern now is that after entering our territory, Northern Mang will disperse their forces, with each small group led by one or several top masters. Even if our Peregrine Falcon guards are secretly providing protection and manage to transmit a message at the cost of their lives before dying, and our nearby elite assassins rush to encircle that battlefield immediately upon receiving the news, I fear the enemy might have concealed their true strength during the initial attack. They might have no intention of withdrawing after a single successful strike. In that scenario, we could suffer a second round of heavy casualties. By the time we recover and are forced to concentrate several major forces to intercept them, the enemy's other elite elements might have already begun their secret operations elsewhere, and we would naturally be spread too thin."

At this point, Tao Wenhai hesitated, appearing to want to say more but holding back. Xu Fengnian smiled, "Speak freely."

Tao Wenhai spoke frankly, "After all, Beiliang is a sparsely populated corner of the land. In a war that relies on exhausting the strength of martial arts masters, we do not have an advantage. Especially since the four major Northern Mang forces – the Daode Sect, the Qi and Sword Music Bureau, Princess Tomb, and Mount Tíbing – have all sent their elites to participate, and many long-renowned demonic figures from Northern Mang's martial world are also being directed by Li Mibi. We are certainly at an absolute disadvantage in the number of second and third-rank martial grandmasters. Yet, precisely these types of characters can deliver the most decisive blows in assassination and counter-assassination contests. Our large numbers of light cavalry and rangers will find it difficult to play their role. To put it bluntly, we might be led by the nose from beginning to end, perhaps not even able to grasp the hem of their garments."

Xu Fengnian nodded. "In fact, Northern Mang has five explicitly identified first-rank masters: the Head Elder of the Daode Sect, the Grand Music Master of the Qi and Sword Music Bureau, Xiao Nian Tou of Princess Tomb, and two notorious demonic figures on their list. So, it can be said that their Emperor has unearthed the entire foundation of Northern Mang's martial world this time, and our Youzhou will be that old woman's first proving ground for rectifying the martial arts community."

Tao Wenhai and Tao Jinzao exchanged glances, both seeing the deep worry in the other's eyes.

Xu Fengnian smiled faintly. "Of course, the good news is that apart from Xiao Nian Tou, the 'Half-Masked,' the rest are only at the Vajra and Zhixuan realms. Furthermore, among the second-rank minor grandmasters, most are from the Qi and Sword Music Bureau. While these experts have high cultivation, in a fight to the death, they might not necessarily be a match for Beiliang's third-rank martial artists."

Tao Wenhai gave a wry, silent smile. The enemy was already so powerful and difficult to contend with; this hardly seemed like good news to celebrate.

In the corner, the kneeling woman slowly stirred the incense ash evenly, cut the agarwood into small pieces, and lit the charcoal and incense with graceful, unhurried movements. Since the conversation tonight would certainly not be brief, her actions were calm and deliberate.

Tao Wenhai cautiously said, "My Lord, I boldly propose..."

Xu Fengnian quickly interjected, "You wish for the Wu family's Hundred Riders and Hundred Swords to come to Youzhou to put out the fire?"

A somewhat embarrassed Tao Wenhai nodded.

Xu Fengnian shook his head. "The Wu family swordsmen must remain with Chu Lushan as a precaution against unforeseen events; they cannot be moved yet."

Tao Jinzao and Tao Wenhai knew that the long-browed, one-armed elder by the King of Beiliang's side was a sword immortal who had become world-renowned after a single battle in Liangzhou City. However, they naturally wouldn't think such an expert would leave the King's side. The crucial point was that even with their limited discernment, the father and son could tell that the King of Beiliang was "peculiar" at the moment, as if he had suffered a devastating loss of vitality after a brutal victory. If their unfortunate guess was correct, then that sword immortal elder certainly could not leave without permission. In fact, with Tantai Pingjing by his side, Xu Fengnian had hoped Sui Xiegui could lend a hand, but the old man completely disregarded the situation in Youzhou, behaving in a completely disrespectful manner for his age. He insisted on staying wherever Tantai Pingjing was, saying that with both of them over two hundred years old, in Sui Xiegui's words, "How many more glances can I exchange with her now? Of course, every extra glance is a precious one."

But Xu Fengnian would certainly not sit idly by and allow Northern Mang forces to flaunt their power in Youzhou. In addition to mobilizing the Wutong Courtyard and Fushui Chamber, and deploying all the masters from Tide-Listening Pavilion, he also sent Mi Fengjie, the master of Sunken Sword Cave and a Zhixuan realm expert, to Youzhou. Mi Fengjie would cooperate with Fan Xiaochai, the granddaughter of Fan Baoshan, who was once the Grand General of the former Northern Han. Mi Fengjie's Zhixuan realm cultivation was far beyond what a Daode Sect True Man at the Zhixuan realm could compare to. As for Fan Xiaochai's current strength, she could confidently win even against two second-rank minor grandmasters from the Qi and Sword Music Bureau. With her uniquely stubborn nature, she might even fight to the death against three. Furthermore, Qi practitioners from the Guanyin Sect had quietly arrived in Youzhou. They would not directly involve themselves in the conflict but would endeavor to monitor those first-rank masters who "flash like ephemera" during major battles, transmitting intelligence to nearby Peregrine Falcon guards to allow Youzhou to act with precision.

This war would certainly be a series of bloody battles composed of many small-scale skirmishes. Once the two sides met, death or injury was inevitable; there would be no clean escape. The contest would come down to which side could move more swiftly and covertly.

While Tao Jinzao and Tao Wenhai merely suspected the King of Beiliang was severely wounded, Li Mibi of Northern Mang knew this for certain. Therefore, Sui Xiegui's presence would be a key target for Northern Mang. In Xu Fengnian's view, besides Xiao Nian Tou of Princess Tomb, who would see Sui Xiegui as an imagined adversary, there should also be an even more deeply hidden top master. Of course, Xu Fengnian's definition of "top" would naturally not be on the same level as the literati like Tao Jinzao and Tao Wenhai.

Xu Fengnian asked, "Do you have a relatively detailed map of the Youzhou situation here?"

Tao Wenhai quickly rose and went to the study to retrieve maps, returning with a large stack. There were maps of Youzhou's territory and its prefectures and counties. He spread the largest map, showing the entire Youzhou region, on the table, then laid out the four or five smaller ones separately. Such items were not something ordinary citizens would dare to privately possess; if discovered by officials, it would certainly lead to imprisonment. Xu Fengnian stood up, and Tao Jinzao and Tao Wenhai also promptly rose. Xu Fengnian meticulously inquired about the distribution of elite assassins in various prefectures and counties of Youzhou, intending to identify any gaps. The three naturally discussed the terrain of different prefectures and counties. Tao Wenhai was surprised to find that the prince had an intimate knowledge of geography that even many locals in Yanzi County couldn't articulate clearly. He casually mentioned the stationed troops and commanding officers in various locations, and even knew the backgrounds and military command styles of martial generals whose ranks were merely sixth or seventh-grade. Tao Wenhai couldn't help but suspect that his own minor position as a county captain might not escape the prince's discerning eye. His heart, which had just settled, once again became anxious, fearing he might leave even a slight negative impression on the young prince.

The three conversed for a full two hours. The young woman, apart from adding incense, tea, and candles, remained quietly kneeling in her corner.

Her name was Tao Tanxiang. She was not serving the King of Beiliang so impeccably out of mere politeness; in truth, she had begun paying attention to Xu Fengnian a very long time ago, when he was still the notorious, utterly good-for-nothing heir apparent. Tao Tanxiang's father, Tao Xuanlong, had spent a fortune to acquire a famous painting that had circulated from the Beiliang King's Manor: "Ladies of the Dragon Palace," by a master painter from the former Western Shu kingdom. When she saw the two outrageously large seal script characters "Fake" stamped on it, she was utterly dumbfounded. Could there truly be such a scoundrel in the world who would so wantonly destroy a treasure? These famous paintings, which esteemed connoisseurs would examine with a reverence akin to pilgrimage, were meant to be passed down through generations. If perfectly preserved, they might even be admired centuries or a millennium later. Didn't this fellow fear being infamous for ten thousand years because of those two characters? Later, out of a childish pique, she asked her father to spare no expense in buying back any calligraphy or painting that the heir apparent had stamped. It was quite amusing: Tao Xuanlong, whose official rank was merely seventh-grade at the time, spent a fortune acquiring these "fakes." Consequently, Hong Shandong, the governor of Yanzi County, a man known for "righteous governance," took a favorable view of him, believing him to be a promising talent. Especially after the heir apparent became the King of Beiliang, Tao Xuanlong once again received an exceptional promotion. Over time, Tao Tanxiang sporadically collected no fewer than thirty pieces of calligraphy and paintings bearing Xu Fengnian's seal. Not all of these seals were the character for "fake"; for instance, Xu Fengnian had another seal, now privately praised by Beijing's collectors as the delightfully interesting "Jijiu Zhang" (a type of cursive script), and a simple yet lively, roughly styled phoenix-shaped seal. And the mother-and-son seal on the painting "Loquat" was particularly memorable.

Thus, Tao Tanxiang gradually felt as though she had known this man for a very long time.

She knew every piece of news about him that had come from the Liyang martial world, from the imperial court in the capital, and from Beiliang officialdom throughout these years.

Her hands resting lightly on her knees, she raised her head and gazed intently at the man who never displayed any overbearing aura. Every time he furrowed his brow in concentration, every time he offered a warm smile, she meticulously absorbed it, as if collecting a precious item.

After another hour, Xu Fengnian smilingly told the elderly Tao Jinzao to go to bed first, while he and Tao Wenhai continued their late-night conversation. The topics expanded, no longer limited to Youzhou or even Beiliang, but encompassing the politics and military affairs of Liyang and Northern Mang, as well as the local customs and traditions of both dynasties. The Tao family patriarch had, before leaving, approached his granddaughter, Tao Tanxiang, and asked her to prepare tea and some pastries. So, for the subsequent relaxed conversation on the small couch by the window, she sat between the King of Beiliang and her uncle, Tao Wenhai, creating a somewhat amusing dynamic like a tripod.

When the sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn, Tao Wenhai, still looking energetic and unsleepy, rose to take his leave. He requested the King of Beiliang's permission for Tao Tanxiang to accompany him on a casual stroll through the Tao family mansion. Xu Fengnian smiled and nodded in agreement.

The two walked towards the Tao family' library. Throughout their walk, they maintained a distance of two shoulders apart, without any sense of drawing near or pulling away.

Xu Fengnian said apologetically, "Miss Tao, you've worked hard."

She shook her head and smiled, "It wasn't hard at all. My grandfather might be a bit disappointed, but I'm not; I'm very content."

Xu Fengnian gave a knowing smile and stated frankly, "You needn't worry about marriage. There are plenty of talented young scholars coming to serve as officials in Beiliang these days, and quite a few of them possess both excellent character and profound learning."

Tao Tanxiang hummed in acknowledgment and walked closer to the pavilion. She said, "The world values book collections for their editions and completeness. For instance, well-engraved imperial editions are said to be worth a hundred taels of silver per page and a thousand gold per set. But our family library doesn't prioritize that. My grandfather believes that nothing is more important than the words of the sages within the books. Rather than spending a thousand taels of silver on one imperial set, it's better to buy a hundred sets of ordinary books. Therefore, this library's collection is no smaller than those grand libraries in the Central Plains, and any scholar who wishes to borrow or read books here faces no obstacles."

Xu Fengnian nodded. "I've heard that your Tao family also takes full responsibility for the food and lodging of impoverished scholars who come to study, which is truly rare. The trend of scholars traveling for study in Beiliang is far less prevalent than in the Central Plains, but because of your Tao family, Yanzi County is no less impressive than Jiangnan."

Tao Tanxiang said softly, "My father always said that a flourishing, wealthy family is like a person with a full complexion. But if their 'yang energy' becomes excessive and isn't regulated, it will eventually harm their internal organs. Therefore, our Tao family's annual disaster relief, lending of books, and kindness to neighbors are all necessary forms of 'treatment.' One cannot wait until the illness is terminal to try and mend the fence after the sheep have escaped."

Xu Fengnian quipped, "Based on that statement alone, your father could easily serve as a county governor and still have plenty to offer."

Xu Fengnian walked towards the main gate of the Tao family mansion. As he stepped over the threshold, he said to Tao Tanxiang, "You should go back and rest. Staying up late is very harmful for women. I still need to wait for someone by the archway."

She squinted her eyes and smiled brightly, saying playfully, "It's fine. I'm very curious to know who in this world can make the King of Beiliang wait."

Xu Fengnian simply smiled without answering.

The two stood beneath an archway.

After an unknown wait, a carriage and a retinue of over a hundred White Horse Valiants finally appeared in the distance at the edge of their vision.

Tao Tanxiang turned her head, just in time to see him smile.

She watched him walk quickly to greet them. She did not follow, but stood rooted to the spot, watching his receding figure.

The carriage and cavalry detachment came to a halt. Tao Tanxiang saw a young woman, whose face was unclear, disembark from the carriage.

Xu Fengnian looked at the woman who had traveled all the way from the Liangzhou King's Manor and softly asked, "Are you cold?"

She shook her head.

One rider who had arrived with the White Horse Valiants, acting with an air of considerable presumption, did not dismount. Instead, after exchanging glances with Xu Fengnian, he merely nodded, then turned his horse's head and rode away.

This rider carried neither a saber nor a crossbow.

Only a heavy iron spear.

But with this one rider and one spear,

Youzhou would not fall into chaos.

Xu Fengnian requested a warhorse from the White Horse Valiants. He first helped her onto the horse, then swung himself into the saddle, holding her as they rode together on a single mount.

Xu Fengnian said apologetically, "I once promised you we would see all the sights of Beiliang."

She leaned into his warm embrace, silent.

Xu Fengnian spurred his horse, galloping along the path the White Horse Valiants had taken.

Besides the two of them on one horse, there was no one else around. Her face radiant, she raised her hands to her mouth and childishly shouted, "Xu Fengnian is taking Lu Cheng'an on the white horse through Beiliang!"

The white horse rides through Beiliang.

A thousand miles of joyful wind!