Chapter 749: Can You Drink a Cup?

As dawn broke, Xu Beizhi slowly made his way to the mountaintop. He saw Xu Fengnian, bundled in a thick fur coat, sitting at the stone table. Shaking the now-empty wine pot, he softly remarked, "An ordinary man who possesses a treasure invites disaster; the high and mighty are always coveted."

Xu Fengnian, the scent of alcohol long since dispelled by the crisp mountain wind, sighed. "Last night, I was wondering if someone else were to become emperor in the future, even if that person used to be a close friend of mine, would he be able to tolerate someone of a different surname commanding hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers?"

Xu Beizhi shook his head. "You'd best not hold out hope, lest you be disappointed. Even if that person could tolerate it, everyone around them wouldn't agree. How to ascend the throne and how to secure it are two entirely different matters. Beiliang always believed that the three emperors of the Zhao imperial family of Liyang shared the same disposition, always keen to 'kill the dog after the cunning rabbit is caught' — this view isn't entirely unfair to them. But leaving aside the newly enthroned Zhao Zhuan, since Zhao Yin and Zhao Dun are destined to be recorded as enlightened rulers in future histories, they naturally possess extraordinary qualities. Even ordinary commoners need to exert all their efforts to manage a household well and ensure they have enough each year, let alone managing a vast dynasty. Zhao Yin might have trusted that Xu Xiao wouldn't rebel against the Zhao family, but he couldn't trust that Xu Xiao's son would still willingly guard the Northwest. Zhao Dun might know your bottom line isn't low, but he likewise couldn't trust that the next King with a different surname from the Xu family wouldn't become arrogant and uncontrollable. He's surely thinking, 'Is it possible that one day the King of Beiliang might suddenly decide to undermine the Zhao family's foundation?'"

The outspoken Xu Beizhi glanced at Xu Fengnian, who seemed about to speak but held back, and sneered, "Perhaps you'd say Xu Xiao wouldn't rebel, and neither would I, Xu Fengnian, nor would my descendants."

Xu Fengnian offered a wry, silent smile.

Xu Beizhi's words remained sharp. "People's hearts are inscrutable; no one is a mind-reader for you, Xu Fengnian. There's no rule in this world that dictates one must trust another, especially not those born into the imperial family. If they weren't inherently suspicious, how could they sit on the dragon throne? How could they contend with the provincial governors, imperial relatives, eunuchs, and the entire civil and military court? Furthermore, when it comes to a family's legacy, one would rather see it squandered by one's own descendants than seized by outsiders. This dark mentality isn't unique to emperors. Do you, Xu Fengnian, dare say you don't possess even a hint of it?"

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "That's true."

Xu Beizhi suddenly asked, "Aren't you one of the Four Grandmasters? How is it that you also fear the cold?"

Xu Fengnian said mockingly, "After the battle in Liuzhou, my power greatly diminished, and I've felt a chill in my bones ever since. This fur coat doesn't actually keep me warm; I wear it simply because it's better than nothing. It's like many aging swordsmen who've retired from the martial world, who like to frequently look at their sheathed swords gathering dust on a rack; or generals who've laid down their armor and returned to farming, who often touch their armor and battle sabers."

Xu Beizhi asked, "What's going on with that Liangzhou Vice General, Kou Jianghuai?"

Xu Fengnian teased, "He's my new favorite, you see. What's wrong, Juzi? Has your old flame come to demand an explanation?"

Xu Beizhi stared expressionlessly at Xu Fengnian.

Xu Fengnian had no choice but to drop his joking expression and said helplessly, "It's Kou Jianghuai from Xichu, in Guangling Dao. We made a deal; it's a mutually beneficial arrangement."

Xu Beizhi's expression softened slightly, and he said gravely, "Liuzhou only has three military towns, not yet fully repaired, to rely on. Yet it must face Liu Gui's hundred thousand troops and Tuoba Pusa's tens of thousands of elite direct forces. The two vice-generals of the 30,000 Dragon Elephant Army — Wang Lingbao is merely a fierce general adept at charging into battle, and while Li Mofan is a capable commander in his own right, the disparity in forces between Liuzhou and Beiliang is vast, and Li Mofan isn't a deity who can conjure soldiers out of thin air. The Dragon Elephant Army is still in a precarious situation, like a single tree struggling to support a collapsing building. We need a general like Kou Jianghuai, who possesses the potential of a top Spring and Autumn era commander, to provide crucial support in this time of need."

Xu Fengnian nodded. "Once Kou Jianghuai gains some renown along the Fuling, Liuyue, and Huaiyang Pass defense lines, I also intend to have him serve as Liuzhou General there. In the northern passes of Liangzhou, our flexibility in deploying troops against Beimang is extremely limited. Ultimately, it's a desperate struggle, and with so many border towns, passes, and garrisons, both sides are constrained. However, Liuzhou is different, like a blank sheet of paper, offering ample 'blank space' for Kou Jianghuai to fully unleash his military talent."

Xu Fengnian suddenly asked with a chuckle, "Juzi, are you actually worried that something might happen to Chen Xiliang in Qingcang City?"

Xu Beizhi retorted, "Must I constantly scheme against my colleagues for you, the King of Beiliang, to feel at ease?"

Xu Fengnian slammed the table, glaring at him. "Juzi, just because you took a beating in Lingzhou and were called a 'rice-buying prefect,' you can't take it out on me, can you?! Can't we just talk like normal?"

Kou Jianghuai, who had been strolling casually on Qingliang Mountain, happened to witness this scene and overheard their conversation. He inexplicably felt a chill down his spine. *Could it be that these two Xus are 'involved'?* Otherwise, how could a prefect with no strong backing make a dignified King feel so aggrieved? Kou Jianghuai, as if greasing the soles of his feet, was about to turn and retreat. However, Xu Fengnian called out to him, and then the three of them stood around the stone table, forming a tripod-like stance. Kou Jianghuai wore a face that clearly said, "You two can flirt all you want; I'll just be deaf, blind, and mute, acting as if I don't exist."

Xu Fengnian looked at Kou Jianghuai, who was pretending not to look directly at them. He pointed at Xu Beizhi and said with a smile, "This is Xu Beizhi, the Prefect of Lingzhou. Master Song Dongming has praised him as someone who can govern both scholars and commoners to stabilize a nation. Unfortunately, his alcohol tolerance is poor, and his drinking manners are even worse. One time, after drinking at the Fish-Dragon Gang in Lingzhou, I had to personally carry him back."

Kou Jianghuai said with a serious expression, "Greetings, Prefect Xu."

Xu Beizhi also regained his usual elegant and refined demeanor and smiled, "General Kou's arrival in the Beiliang border army is akin to adding wings to a tiger."

Xu Fengnian mischievously interjected, "Isn't it more like acting as a helper to a tiger in its evil deeds?"

Xu Beizhi sneered, "Oh, impressive, you curse three people at once, not even sparing yourself."

Kou Jianghuai also said earnestly, "'Harm a thousand enemies, lose eight hundred of your own.' It shows His Royal Highness's military strategy is quite... unrefined."

Xu Fengnian said smugly, "Just by moving my lips, I can bring mutual destruction upon you, Kou Jianghuai, and Xu Beizhi. Is that still 'unrefined'? What if I actually acted? Hmm? Or perhaps you'd like to try?"

At that moment, a large group of people who had just reached the summit of Qingliang Mountain began to jeer and egg them on.

"Try it! You absolutely must try."

"General Kou, I'm rooting for you! If you win this fight, you'll be one of the few Grandmasters in the world, countable on one hand."

"Forget Vice General of Liangzhou, you could even be Liangzhou General! If you still think the post is too low, I, Chen Yunchui, will give you my position as Deputy Commander of the Infantry."

"General Kou, we've been unsatisfied with His Royal Highness for a long time. We're too old; even if we won against him, it wouldn't be a fair victory. But today, you and His Royal Highness are peers, so you must help us get some revenge! At worst, I, He Zhonghu, will personally carry you down the mountain later."

Turning to look at this large group of Beiliang's most powerful and influential regional officials, Kou Jianghuai, having just arrived in Beiliang, felt his mouth twitch slightly and was momentarily unaccustomed to the sight. In Guangling Dao, whether during his early studies at Shangyin Academy or later when serving in the Great Chu court, such a scene of old men ganging up on a young junior would absolutely never occur. While feeling somewhat absurd and amused, Kou Jianghuai also felt an unsuppressible emotion deep down, perhaps best described as heroic fervor. Among these elders before him were Gu Dazu, the former Southern Tang's foremost general; Zhou Kang, the "Brocade Partridge"; He Zhonghu, who with 8,000 cavalry famously routed 40,000 Post-Sui infantry; and Chen Yunchui, who always donned his armor and charged into battle during major wars! Following the four Beiliang border army Vice Commanders were Li Gongde, the Grand Administrator, and Song Dongming, the Deputy Administrator, both in civil official robes, and Huang Shang, the local censor of Liyang renowned as the "Conscience." In addition, Kou Jianghuai identified, by their official robes and decorations, Tian Peifang, the Prefect of Liangzhou; Hu Kui, the Prefect of Youzhou and also Youzhou General; Han Laosan, the Vice General of Lingzhou, among others. Unfortunately, Kou Jianghuai still hadn't seen Yuan Zuozong, the "White Bear" and commander of the Beiliang cavalry, nor Yan Wenluan, the commander of the infantry. And, of course, he hadn't seen Yu Luandao, the Yu family's most celebrated talent. Kou Jianghuai couldn't help but feel some regret.

It should be noted that when Kou Jianghuai was studying at Shangyin Academy, he often burned the midnight oil, poring over Gu Dazu's treatises on strategy and analyzing the classic, thrilling, and inspiring battles orchestrated by Zhou Kang, He Zhonghu, Chen Yunchui, and others—tales glorious enough to be savored over wine!

Kou Jianghuai saw another twenty to thirty military generals standing further back. Most were relatively young, in their thirties or forties, and were likely the more valuable and powerful military officers after Beiliang's reforms.

For some reason, Kou Jianghuai instinctively stood up and suddenly clasped his hands in salute to these people.

It was He Zhonghu who first clasped his hands in return, and after that, everyone else also clasped their hands with smiles.

Kou Jianghuai inadvertently noticed that even a civilian official like Tian Peifang showed no hesitation when clasping his hands in salute alongside the military generals.

Then, the group ascended the tower together to gaze down upon the prefectural city.

As time passed, people gradually dispersed, and by midday, only Xu Fengnian, Xu Beizhi, and Kou Jianghuai remained, along with the two young tiger-qilin creatures playfully frolicking around Xu Fengnian. Eventually, Xu Beizhi also left the tower to go to Song Dongming's hillside residence for discussions. The idle Kou Jianghuai also followed them down the mountain to enjoy the scenery at Tinchao Pavilion. Meanwhile, Xu Fengnian waited inside the tower for a group of five: Xu Yanbing, a family of three, and a young man from Beimang. Xu Fengnian looked at the Beimang martial arts grandmaster, who now looked entirely like a Liyang commoner, his eyes complex, and said, "It is you, after all." The middle-aged man, who was Hu Yan Daguan, grinned but said nothing. His daughter, however, stared wide-eyed at Xu Fengnian, the young nobleman whom she had "designated" as her master. She lifted her little head and gazed intently for a long time, then seemed a little disappointed. With a world-weary sigh, she mumbled, "Turns out he's just like my dad, doesn't look very strong."

Xu Yanbing said calmly, "We fought twice, with no clear victor. For the last match, neither of us was in a hurry."

Xu Fengnian seemed relieved and chuckled, "Indeed, there's no need to rush."

Xu Fengnian looked at Tiemu Dier, often mentioned in Fushui Manor's intelligence reports. He observed the ordinary-looking sword at his waist and said in a Beimang accent, "A fine sword."

Tiemu Dier took it as a polite remark and merely gave a cold nod. Yet, the young man's expression still revealed a hint of ill-concealed awkwardness. After all, the provincial king before him, who commanded the strongest military force in the Liyang Dynasty, was not only the sworn enemy of all Beimang but also the martial arts grandmaster who had defeated Wang Xianzhi of Wudi City.

On the high tower's outer corridor, Hu Yan Daguan helped his daughter stand on the railing.

After seeing a figure, Xu Fengnian excused himself and went downstairs.

Xu Weixiong, seated in a wheelchair, glanced at the people upstairs and said softly, "Ten days ago, a message came from Xishu to Wutong Academy, asking you to go to the Lingzhou border. I ignored it."

Xu Fengnian frowned, "He wants to see me?"

Xu Weixiong said calmly, "He, Xie Guanying, and that woman from Chuntie Thatched Cottage have now entered Lingzhou. He said he would wait for you at the border between Lingzhou and Liangzhou."

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Then I shall meet him."

Xu Weixiong nodded. "Take Uncle Xu and Tantai Pingjing with you. If Hu Yan Daguan is willing to accompany you, that would be for the best."

Xu Fengnian hummed in affirmation.

On the Qingming Festival of the second year of Xiangfu, at dusk, tens of thousands of people in mourning white gathered on the back mountain of Qingliang.

Xu Fengnian, the King of Beiliang, led nearly a hundred civil and military officials to offer libations together for the Dragon Elephant Army who died in Liuzhou, the Youzhou cavalry who died in Jibei and outside Hulu Pass, the border army who died inside and outside Wogong City and Luanhe City within Hulu Pass, and those who died inside Hutou City.

In that stele forest, among 300,000 nameless stone tablets, 36,872 names had already been inscribed.

As night fell, countless wish lanterns, offered in prayer, slowly ascended within Liangzhou City.

After five riders left the city, Xu Fengnian stopped his horse, looked back, pulled out his wine flask, and took a long drink.

A year from now, how many of the Beiliang border army would be unable to drink this wine?

Several years from now, among the millions in Beiliang, how many would think of this 'green ant' wine before their deaths?

At that moment, the scene in Xu Fengnian's eyes was like fire spirits rising throughout the city.