Chapter 781: Owe Money Without Repayment, Tell the Mountain Ghost

Xu Fengnian suddenly turned around and saw a group of familiar faces: Xu Huang with his handsome beard, Sima Can with his perpetually bright smile, Liu Duanmao whose appearance was said to ward off evil, the cool-faced Jin Baoshi, and a tipsy, unfamiliar middle-aged man with a longsword slung across his shoulder. This last person was likely Chang Sui, the "Wine Immortal" renowned throughout Liyang's scholarly circles. Xu Huang chuckled softly, "We bumped into Daoist Master Han at Ziyang Palace. We heard that Your Highness had arrived on the mountain and, once again, took over a residence. We really should find Your Highness and offer our thanks."

The initially harmonious and polite conversation was completely disrupted by Chang Sui's casual familiarity; he simply slung an arm around Xu Fengnian's shoulder and brazenly declared, "I took a trip to Jibei and found out that Youzhou's infantry, under Yan Wenluan, aren't the only ones whose combat prowess is unmatched. Even Youzhou's cavalry are superior to those from other parts of Liyang. Originally, I figured our teacher wouldn't be able to bring himself to let us go, so I'd have an excuse to say I was suffering from 'acclimatization sickness' in Beiliang, throwing up and having diarrhea, and would need three or four years to recover. I never expected the teacher to be so generous this time, even sending Xu Huang and the others off to Beiliang in one go. This is perfect; us fellow disciples can still stick together. What a pity I tried so hard only to backfire; our parting in Jizhou will likely be the last time I see the teacher in this life. I should have just followed him to Qingcang City in Liuzhou. Xu Fengnian, from now on, we'll be sticking with you. Or, since we're here, how about we discuss something? Can you help Xu Huang get a general's position? Let me be blunt: a titular general won't do. Even if he can't be a real frontier general in Liangzhou, a post in Liuzhou or Youzhou would be fine. With my junior martial brother Xu's vast strategic knowledge, leading an army of ten thousand men would certainly be more than enough for him. As for that kid Sima Can, he could stay in Liangzhou's Prefectural Office as a fourth or fifth-rank official. If you're feeling more generous, you could just assign him to Song Dongming as an assistant. But be extremely careful, that kid is notorious for seducing pretty maids in Qingliang Mountain; his biggest flaw is that he can't keep his 'bird in his pants.' As for junior martial brother Liu Duanmao and junior martial sister Jin Baoshi, there's no rush. If there are truly no official positions for them, then just find a random place for them to gain experience for a year or two..."

Xu Huang wore a helpless expression, Sima Can's radiant smile became strained, and Liu Duanmao simply turned his head away, pretending not to know his senior martial brother. Jin Baoshi secretly glanced at Xu Fengnian, her gaze complex.

As a gesture of reciprocation, since Old Master Han was so generous, Xu Fengnian, delighted, was not a petty person himself. He immediately displayed the decisive side of a prince, stating gravely, "Mr. Xu can first go to the Puyang Pass Protectorate. I will personally write a letter to Chu Lushan. Beiliang's frontier military affairs are always strictly regulated, and to be honest, I, Xu Fengnian, cannot guarantee that Mr. Xu can immediately become a chief commander of a Liangzhou army. However, I will certainly not let Mr. Xu's talents be wasted. Mr. Sima, you are welcome to head straight to Qingliang Mountain to assist Vice-Administrator Song Dongming. Of course, if you dislike being an assistant, you could also take up a post at the Liangzhou Prefectural Office or in Tieyou County, Lingzhou. The Prefectural Office currently has a vacant Registrar position, and Tieyou County in Lingzhou just had a vacant Prefect, both fourth-rank official positions. It's up to Mr. Sima to weigh his options. As for Mr. Liu, I hope you can go to Lingzhou to assist Prefect Xu Beizhi. Perhaps your initial position won't be high, but I believe that with Mr. Liu's knowledge and Xu Beizhi's discernment, Mr. Liu will quickly distinguish himself. As for Miss Jin, I genuinely haven't thought of a plan yet. Please allow me some time to consider, but no matter what, I will give Miss Jin a satisfactory answer before I descend the mountain."

When Xu Fengnian finished speaking, not only did Sima Can and Liu Duanmao exchange glances, but even Xu Huang was taken aback. Jin Baoshi, however, pressed her lips together, her eyes shining with spirit. Only Chang Sui remained his usual carefree self, leisurely lifting his wine gourd for a swig, then wiping his mouth and chuckling, "Splendid!"

Xu Fengnian said sincerely, "I, Xu Fengnian, certainly welcome all of you staying in Beiliang, and my second sister will also be very happy."

Chang Sui sighed softly, "So, apart from the Eldest Martial Brother, who has an ancestral grievance with the Xu family, and the Youngest Martial Brother, who inevitably stands against you, six of our teacher's eight disciples are now serving together in Beiliang. Life and death are fated, wealth and honor are in heaven, and gatherings and partings are unpredictable. The six of us are already quite fortunate."

That last remark was clearly directed by Chang Sui at his junior martial brother Liu Duanmao, who still harbored unresolved issues. Among the eight disciples, Liu Duanmao had been closest to Prince Zhao Kai.

Liu Duanmao paid him no heed.

Next, Chang Sui suggested they gather and all try the most authentic 'Green Ant' wine under heaven. Xu Fengnian emptied his pockets to buy over ten bottles of wine from a vendor, then led them to a nearby thatched cottage. The cottage was cleaned year-round and, despite being uninhabited, showed no signs of decay; even the small vegetable patch behind it was lush green. Xu Fengnian expertly moved bamboo chairs and stools out of the cottage and specifically brought out a table originally used for stacking books. The thatched cottage was not far from Xixiang Pond, yet the two places presented a striking contrast of movement and stillness, which had much to do with Wudang Mountain's deliberate arrangement. The group sat around the table in the open space in front of the cottage. Chang Sui was already drinking heartily by himself. Xu Huang and Liu Duanmao sat side-by-side, while Jin Baoshi sat opposite Chang Sui, diagonally across from Xu Fengnian.

Naturally, Xu Huang began discussing the Guangling naval battle with Xu Fengnian. When they had met earlier in Liuzhou, they had differing opinions on what was essentially an internal conflict of the Guangling navy. As Old Master Han had predicted, both were half right: Xu Huang had correctly guessed it would be a swift battle, while Xu Fengnian had correctly predicted Western Chu's victory. Regarding the subsequent situation in Guangling, Xu Fengnian and Xu Huang debated again. Xu Huang, a military strategist who had traveled the former Western Chu territory multiple times, firmly believed that Liyang would soon form a pincer movement. He asserted that Western Chu's breakthrough point must be the seemingly unstoppable 100,000 elite troops from the Southern Border. Only by this move could Western Chu truly gain strategic depth, establish a foothold in the gap between Jiangzuo and the Southern Border, and fully exploit the natural defenses of the Guangling River. Although this would still not prevent them from being caught in a north-south pincer attack by Lu Shengxiang and King Yan Chi, the situation would still be much better than desperately defending a corner of Western Chu's capital, where their forces would inevitably be whittled away by the Liyang court.

For this, Xu Fengnian specifically found a topographical map of Guangling Road from inside the cottage and slowly unfolded it on the table. Xu Huang, holding a wine cup in one hand and pointing at the landscape with the other, elaborated, "Landscape painting speaks of 'potential,' and martial artists' duels also speak of 'momentum.' Western Chu's national momentum had almost reached its peak after Xie Xichui defeated the veteran generals Yang Shenxing and Yan Zhenchun on the western front, Kou Jianghuai shined on the eastern front, and Cao Changqing's single battle secured the Guangling River. However..."

Xu Huang refilled his half-empty cup, then pointed to the wine bottle beside him. "No matter how strong Western Chu's national momentum becomes, it is ultimately just one cup of wine. Liyang's momentum, however, is as vast as this wine bottle. Yang Shenxing's Jizhou infantry suffered heavy casualties, Yan Zhenchun's cavalry was completely wiped out in one battle, and even King Guangling Zhao Yi's navy was annihilated. Yet, the wine in the bottle is still much, much more than the wine in this cup. This is just us discussing military strength on paper. Liyang's true grand momentum lies in the fact that after the new emperor's ascension, the hearts of the Liyang people remain stable, even increasingly so. The transition between the Yonghui and Xiangfu eras was far less turbulent than outsiders imagined. Therefore, in the war between Liyang and Western Chu, the former can achieve success in one battle, while the latter will face total defeat!"

Xu Huang pointed his finger first to a key town on the north bank of the Guangling River, then to a pass in Jianzhou on the south bank, stating gravely, "If I were Cao Changqing, I would send a fierce general, one who dares to fight tough battles, with ten thousand elite troops south to this point, cutting off their retreat, just as veteran general Wu Zhongxuan leads half of the Southern Border army across the river. Then, I would have a seasoned, prudent, and defense-savvy general hold the western gate, making it impossible for the 100,000 Southern Border troops to fight comfortably or retreat smoothly."

Xu Fengnian leaned slightly over the map, frowning and softly saying, "My Beiliang infantry deputy commander Gu Dazhu mentioned this veteran general Wu Zhongxuan, believing his leadership and command of troops far surpass Yang Shenxing and Yan Zhenchun. He also has a considerable number of fierce generals under him. Wu Zhongxuan wouldn't ignore his rear when fighting long distances in unfamiliar territory."

Xu Huang glanced at Sima Can, who was leisurely cracking melon seeds next to him. The latter sheepishly put down his handful of seeds and sat up straight, saying, "Wu Zhongxuan and his contingent of distinguished, fierce generals are all highly experienced veterans who wouldn't be so careless. However, as the military classics say, 'one does not transport grain a thousand li' – this is a significant latent danger for the Southern Border army. The more fatal flaw, which Wu Zhongxuan and his men cannot resolve, is that even the most passionate battlefield struggles are always just silent ripples of court disputes. Ever since the former Liyang Emperor, they have distrusted King Yan Chi Zhao Bing, and the current Emperor is no exception. At its core, isn't abolishing the fiefdoms about using Beimang to reduce Beiliang's 300,000 iron cavalry, and using Western Chu to reduce the Southern Border's 200,000 tiger-wolf troops? If Wu Zhongxuan easily defeats Western Chu, wouldn't those officials in Tai'an City be afraid of those hundreds of thousands of 'Southern barbarians' having nothing to do and then taking the opportunity to parade right under their noses?"

Sima Can couldn't resist secretly picking up another handful of melon seeds from the table, cracking them as he mumbled, "Beiliang's river transport is troubled, so how could the 100,000 Southern Border troops truly be comfortable? So, if Wu Zhongxuan manages to defeat Cao Changqing in this battle, it would mean he possesses extraordinary abilities. During this time, the imperial court would certainly interfere, just as Yan Zhenchun had to 'understand' and take risks by advancing. If it becomes a stalemate, the Liyang court would be happiest. If they lose, they'll just be reorganized and absorbed on the spot by Lu Shengxiang, the commander of the southern expedition. Not a single soldier will return to the Southern Border, and perhaps even Wu Zhongxuan will have to go to the capital to serve as an official. Didn't Tangxi Sword Immortal Lu Baijie just get demoted from Minister of War to Administrator? Wouldn't Wu Zhongxuan be tempted? Wouldn't he want to compete with that still-unstable new Vice Minister of War, Tang Tieshuang? Young Tang is young, his military achievements aren't great, and his reputation isn't as big as mine. Why should he contend with Old Wu for a position? Besides, doesn't everyone in Tai'an City say that a civil official who doesn't want to be the Chief Grand Secretary isn't a good civil official, and a general who doesn't want to be the Minister of War isn't a good general..."

Jin Baoshi stomped heavily on his foot under the table. Sima Can, clearly a seasoned veteran of such abuse, didn't bat an eyelid, but finally became less cynical. "Although the Zhao imperial court of Liyang acts autocratically, watching the war between Liang and Mang from the sidelines while personally engaging in battle with the Western Chu rebels and painstakingly playing mind games with the older generation of princes, I, Sima Can, must say that the former Liyang Emperor was truly a monarch of great skill. Looking through history, if we disregard frontier achievements, he should still be ranked among the top five. Putting everything else aside, let's just count on our fingers under the great trend of abolishing fiefdoms: not to mention Beiliang, King Huainan Zhao Ying died on the battlefield, right? King Jiaodong Zhao Sui has diligently guarded the northeastern gate for all these years, correct? Zhao Xun, the hereditary Prince Jing'an, even wished he could bare his heart to the court and engrave a large 'Loyalty' character on his forehead, didn't he? So, a Spring and Autumn history book is essentially about generals from various states taking turns on the stage, with emperors and civil officials pushed aside, each page proclaiming 'Martialists save the nation.' But the Yonghui Spring, however, switched to 'Scholars govern the nation,' led by Zhang Julu, with the five ministries outside the Ministry of War working together. What a magnificent scene! Even a thousand years from now, any scholar will be proud of this brilliant period of history."

Sima Can suddenly paused, looking around like a storyteller building suspense, and took a sip of wine. "So, here's the question! Why, when it seemingly appears that the longer Liyang drags it out, the greater its chances of winning, and the longer Beimang is drawn out, the smaller its chances, did the former emperor still insist on igniting conflict in Guangling Road, thereby making Beimang think they had an opportunity and launch a major southern invasion at this time? Aren't they afraid of squandering even the most substantial national resources by fighting on two fronts?"

Chang Sui burst out laughing, pointing at his junior martial brother with his wine gourd. "From now on, you narrate, I'll set up the stage for you, and Junior Sister Jin will collect the money."

Xu Fengnian smiled and gave the answer: "Elite armies across the land can maintain their peak for twenty or thirty years at most; after that, they will only decline and accumulate problems. My Beiliang Iron Cavalry, which originated in the Spring and Autumn period, has now been in service for exactly thirty years. Tai'an City, first, fears that my Beiliang frontier army will become incapable of fighting Beimang over time, and second, fears that I, Xu Fengnian, will harbor ill intentions after fully consolidating my position and power. A simple example: if my father had declared back then that he wanted to divide the land with the Zhao family by the river, at least half of the soldiers would have immediately left, and morale would have crumbled. But if this were proposed at the end of the Yonghui era, with Xu Xiao already deeply rooted in Beiliang, among the 300,000 Iron Cavalry—all veteran Beiliang men—not many would leave. When I, Xu Fengnian, truly hold power for four or five years and gather the frontier generals under my command, for Beiliang, which has always harbored ill feelings towards Tai'an City, to establish its own state in the northwest frontier, even if not directly challenging Liyang, would that not be considered human nature in the capital's eyes?"

Chang Sui burst out laughing, "What a perfect example of human nature!"

Sima Can asked with a playful grin, "Your Highness, have you truly never considered this?"

Xu Fengnian shook his head, saying nothing.

Chang Sui finally spoke seriously, his eyes blurry from drink: "Speaking of the various armies across the land, there aren't many that can truly be called elite forces. The Jinan infantry, originally the Northern Han Imperial Guards, have been ruined by Yang Shenxing. Yan Zhenchun's cavalry was originally Liyang's top elite cavalry, but alas, the old general also died a frustrated death, not due to battle. Now, what remains is truly scarce. Cai Nan, the new Administrator of Huainan, expanded his original 60,000 troops to 80,000, but their combat effectiveness significantly decreased. The Liaodong Duoyan elite cavalry, personally forged by Minister of War Tang Tieshuang, are not bad, and King Liaoxi Zhao Sui's Black Water Iron Cavalry are also good. Wu Zhongxuan's Southern Border 'Grand Armor' is said to rival Yan Wenluan's Youzhou infantry. As for King Yan Chi Zhao Bing's personally led 40,000 'Unrivaled Army,' they've always been kept hidden, with only a name but unknown true combat power. As for the navy, the once fine Guangling Navy was split in two, so there's no need to mention them. The Qingzhou Navy has long been so corrupted by Qing Party officials that they're a complete mess; if they could fight with their mouths, they'd probably be invincible. Counting them all, the only army that has truly maintained its edge for a full thirty years is your Beiliang frontier army."

Chang Sui stood up and slowly said, "On the Central Plains, natural barriers and city walls absolutely cannot stop the Beimang cavalry. That's why I want to stand here, among the only Beiliang frontier army that can hold its ground even when outnumbered, to contribute my small strength and resist Beimang for the Central Plains."

Chang Sui tilted his head back and drained most of the gourd's wine. "At Hulukou in Youzhou, with its two cities and hundreds of fortresses, the Beimang cavalry will advance only after every single Beiliang defender is dead!"

Chang Sui muttered to himself, "When I wrote frontier poems after drinking, before I had been to the border, I always felt they were grand and magnificent. Now I know that a true battle-hardened frontier is not at all the heroic, soaring spirit imagined by scholars."

Chang Sui declared loudly, "Why write poems for the dead? Better to die here and leave a will!"

Sima Can said softly, "Second Senior Martial Brother is truly drunk."

Xu Huang suddenly stood up, raising his cup high, looked at Xu Fengnian, and said, "To Hulukou in Youzhou! To Hutou City in Liangzhou! To Qingcang City in Liuzhou! A toast to Your Highness!"

Sima Can, Liu Duanmao, and Jin Baoshi also stood up, raising their cups.

After standing up, Xu Fengnian said softly, "I am not worthy of this toast. Consider it a toast to Beiliang, which has been worthy of the Central Plains for twenty years."

After that, the drinking became unrestrained, truly letting loose. Jin Baoshi went twice to Xixiang Pond to buy wine from a vendor. Sima Can eventually got so drunk he was looking for his cup under the table, while Chang Sui sang loudly in a local dialect no one could understand. Xu Huang, who valued his dignity the most, also couldn't escape, his beard soaked with wine. Even Jin Baoshi, who drank the least, had flushed cheeks. This made Xu Fengnian, who drank the most but remained sober, a little awkward. After pulling Sima Can out from under the table once, he looked up at the smiling woman and said with a blush, "It's a bit of a party pooper that I'm the only one not drunk."

The thoroughly drunk Xu Huang squinted and chuckled, his tongue already tied: "I heard the teacher say that before the Grand General was enfeoffed as a prince, during one of his visits to the capital for commendation, after court was dismissed, he tapped on the official's hat of a Ministry of War bigwig outside the main hall and said, 'When I, Xu Xiao, had only six or seven hundred men, I wasn't even a fart in your eyes! When I had six or seven thousand men, whether I could see you depended on your mood. When I had sixty or seventy thousand troops, you'd call me brother to my face, but behind my back, you'd still curse me as a simple-minded old ruffian. And when, by accident, I ended up with two or three hundred thousand troops, annihilated six states, and slaughtered four emperors alone, what then? Today, I call you 'old brother,' but do you dare to answer me?' Haha, Grand General, oh Grand General! As a junior martial artist, I, Xu Huang, also hope to gallop on the battlefield and exact revenge with such gusto, just like you!"

Xu Fengnian saw Jin Baoshi's questioning gaze and said softly, helplessly, "This is just a rumor spread by Liyang officials; it never happened. If it were true, Xu Xiao would have boasted about it to me hundreds of times already."

Chang Sui also started acting drunk. "The Grand General is indeed extraordinary, but how could Li Yishan, who, as a mere scholar, assisted the Grand General and ultimately helped Beiliang, a single region, fight against the entire Beimang nation, be considered even slightly inferior?! It's a pity Li Yishan is dead; otherwise, I, Chang Sui, would gladly serve as a chronicler for Master Li, how wonderful that would be!"

Liu Duanmao looked around blankly, foolishly. The wine in his cup had long since spilled from being shaken, yet he was still muttering to himself, "Where's the wine cup? Where did the wine cup go?"

Sima Can slapped the table and replied, "Isn't the cup on the ground? I just saw it under the table!"

Only half-drunk, Jin Baoshi reached up to her forehead, sighing. Couldn't these senior and junior martial brothers show a little scholarly reserve? It was one thing in Shangyin Academy, but how could they be even more unrestrained in unfamiliar Beiliang?

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "It seems our Beiliang 'Green Ant' wine is truly the most potent."

As dusk fell, Chang Sui and the others ultimately did not let Xu Fengnian see them off up the mountain. They staggered, supporting each other, towards Ziyang Palace. However, Chang Sui shamelessly remembered to ask Xu Fengnian for the Beiliang saber. Jin Baoshi chuckled, exposing him, "Senior Martial Brother definitely isn't truly drunk. Otherwise, whenever he gets tipsy, he always gives things away; he never asks for them."

Chang Sui glared, "Senior Martial Brother isn't even concerned about his life; what's wrong with wanting a saber?"

Then, he immediately continued muttering drunkenly to himself, "Forget the sword energy soaring to the heavens; at least my wine breath can reach the Big Dipper. Xu Fengnian, you're not fair, one's wine manners reflect one's character. How can everyone else be drunk while you alone remain sober? No, tomorrow I'll find you for another round. Today was because my junior martial brothers and sister held me back..."

Jin Baoshi retorted exasperatedly, "Alright, alright. Come back tomorrow when you can get credit for wine from Wudang Mountain."

Xu Fengnian smiled slightly, "Then I won't see you off."

Jin Baoshi nodded apologetically, "Please excuse them. My senior martial brothers aren't usually like this."

Xu Fengnian shook his head, "People of strong character are the easiest to deal with, and Beiliang's environment is only suitable for such individuals."

For some reason, Jin Baoshi quietly slowed her pace, turned her head, and asked, "Is it really true, as the border rumors claim, that Dong Zhuo of Beimang deployed three great formations on the battlefield—'Chessboard,' 'Sword Circle,' and 'Sitting and Standing'—from the Chess, Sword, and Music academies respectively? And that over a hundred Kunlun slaves from Tibing Mountain operated those powerful ballistas, each as formidable as an immortal's sword? Even the Daode Sect's Talisman Formation 'A Thread of Sky' and Princess Tomb's Dunhuang Flying Apsaras were used? All just to stop you from advancing another two hundred steps through the formations?"

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Hearing you describe it afterwards, it does sound quite impressive. But actually, when I was breaking through the formation at the time, I didn't feel it was anything special, especially since I had dozens of Wu family swordsmen cavalry escorting me from behind."

Jin Baoshi murmured, "I see."

Xu Fengnian smiled without speaking.

The woman gently turned, her voice light and ethereal, "To observe oneself through one's body, one's family through one's home, one's village through one's village, one's state through one's state, and the world through the world. Observing each aspect thoroughly, one travels at ease and in perfect contentment."

Xu Fengnian frowned, falling into thought.

As twilight approached, Xu Fengnian returned to the front of the thatched cottage, tidied up the remnants, moved the tables, chairs, and stools back inside, and then went to check on the vegetable patch behind the house.

After squatting in front of the house for a while, he returned inside, lit an oil lamp, and casually picked up a martial arts manual he had brought from the armory years ago, slowly flipping through it. Late at night, Xu Fengnian put down the book and walked outside.

In the eyes of Qi cultivators like Tantai Pingjing, Tai'an City was permeated with imperial aura. Xiangfan City was eerily quiet. Jiangnan Road felt serene and desolate.

Beiliang men did not write frontier poems, nor did Beiliang women ever harbor boudoir laments.

To die is to die.

Xu Fengnian looked up at the night sky.

"A single general's success is built upon ten thousand withered bones." What Xu Xiao owes to the Spring and Autumn period, I will repay. Xu Xiao lived a life of war, and as a military general, he could only kill; there was no right or wrong to it. But for every person he killed in the Central Plains, I, his son, must save an equal number.

And what I, Xu Fengnian, owe to the 300,000 Iron Cavalry and the people of Beiliang—I may never be able to repay it in this lifetime.