Chapter 808: Nothing is useful (Part 2)

In the eyes of ordinary people in Liyang, Beiliang is now a land of death, where lives will soon be devastated. Thus, when a carriage traveled from Hezhou to Youzhou, instead of fleeing from Beiliang to another region, it seemed to be going against the current.

The coachman was a one-armed man with an empty sleeve, gripping the reins with his single hand, doing his best to control the carriage steadily. Fortunately, compared to the simple carriage, the horse pulling it was remarkably tall and spirited, requiring little effort from the middle-aged coachman to manage.

An old man leaned slightly, lifting the coarse cloth curtain that shielded them from the wind and sand. His gaze swept past the one-armed man's shoulder, looking forward in silence, not lowering the curtain for a long time.

The coachman turned and said softly, "Father, if I'm not mistaken, we'll see the boundary marker between Youzhou and Hezhou in about ten *li*."

The old man nodded, a dazed look on his face.

The coachman frowned and said, "Even if Beiliang has always disregarded imperial decrees, you are, after all, the nominal Deputy Military Commissioner of Beiliang. Would Xu Fengnian dare to suddenly kill you? If that's the case, why lower yourself to appease Beiliang like this? What if word gets back to the capital..."

The old man simply left the carriage, sat behind his son, and waved his hand to cut off the temporary coachman. He chuckled, "What if some rumors reach Tai'an City? The foundation of my Yang family has never been in the imperial court. Ever since the defeat in Guangling Dao, when your father went to the capital as a sinner, from His Majesty the Emperor to a minor sixth or seventh-rank Ministry of War official, who has ever shown your father a good face? Not to mention, the tens of thousands of Jizhou veterans your father personally cultivated were taken by the court just like that. Your appointment as Deputy General in Jizhou only allowed you to bring three thousand soldiers, and that was only on the premise that you were needed to check Yuan Tingshan. Otherwise, Huchen, you wouldn't have been able to bring a single soldier back to Jizhou."

The coachman was indeed Yang Huchen, who lost an arm fighting the remnants of Western Chu years ago. Now, he serves as Deputy General of Jizhou alongside Han Fang, a descendant of a loyal and martyred family whose grievances were finally redressed. Yang Huchen's role was twofold: to prevent Yuan Tingshan from becoming too powerful with his troops in Jizhou, a critical border region, and to serve as a pawn for the Liyang Zhao imperial family in monitoring the Han King, Zhao Xiong. The old man, of course, was Yang Shenxing, newly appointed by the court as the Deputy Military Commissioner of Beiliang Dao. He was one of the eight Grand Generals of the past, known as the Four Expeditionary and Four Garrison Generals. For over a year in the capital, he had endured the miserable life of a "tiger fallen into a plain, bullied by dogs." He not only lived in constant fear but also became the butt of jokes among his official peers. He was frequently dragged out for drinks, ostensibly to help the old general drown his sorrows, but it was more like parading a monkey. They found various ways to rub salt into his wounds. When it came to reading expressions and kicking someone when they were down, nearly every official in the capital was a grandmaster. If Yang Huchen had not been appointed Deputy General of Jizhou by the Ministry of War, signifying that His Majesty had not entirely lost patience with the Yang family, the old man's departure from the capital would likely not have seen just a handful of well-wishers, but none at all. As the old man traveled through the western capital region and several Jizhou states, although he himself had no intention of forging connections, the utter lack of attention along the way still chilled Yang Huchen's heart as his son. He recalled the grandeur of the Yang family's expedition from Jizhou to Guangling in the past. In those days, even high-ranking regional officials below the level of a governor couldn't hope to secure a seat at a private banquet hosted by the Yang family.

Probably sensing Yang Huchen's indignation, the old man patted his son's shoulder and chuckled softly, "Huchen, it's no wonder the world is so fickle. Ever since I became a Grand General, our Yang family has grown accustomed to throwing its weight around in Jizhou; we weren't exactly angels. How many times did the Yang family not oppress men and women? It's only natural that we're now facing retribution."

Yang Shenxing looked around. The scenery in Hezhou was not much different from Jizhou. Both were indeed in the northwest frontier; after autumn set in, the grass turned yellow like dirt, unable to compare to the picturesque half-green landscapes of Jiangnan. The old man slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and mused, "Looking at it another way, it's a good thing that retribution came early. If it came too late, the court might not even have given you the chance to serve as Deputy General of Jizhou to atone for past errors. Besides, your father is surely much luckier than old Yan Zhenchun, who died on the battlefield, right? Don't look at Zhao Kui now as the second-in-command of the Southern Expedition, just below Lu Shengxiang; that old fellow is currently like an ant on a hot pan. Your father dares to bet you that if he suffers a defeat, not only will he not compare to me, he might not even compare to Yan Zhenchun. That's because the court's goodwill towards our generation of old generals from the Spring and Autumn periods has been exhausted with me and Yan Zhenchun. So, your father's mood upon leaving the capital isn't as bad as outsiders might imagine. To be honest, leaving that Tai'an City, where one walks on thin ice, has made your father feel much better, and I've come to understand many things during this journey."

Yang Huchen felt a sense of relief. No matter what, as long as his father wasn't too burdened by worries, it was a good thing. He also had the confidence to lead the Yang family to rise again.

Yang Shenxing smiled, "This time, your father secretly sent a confidential letter to Qingliang Mountain, requesting Beiliang to send an envoy to meet me at the Youzhou border. As long as they don't meet me there, I, Yang Shenxing, will not step one foot into Beiliang; I will wait right on the border. I, Yang Shenxing, was at least once a Grand General. Adopting such a humble and pathetic posture now certainly isn't the act of a hero, but so what? Everyone in the capital is waiting for the news of my sudden death in Beiliang, or for me to be greatly humiliated by Xu Fengnian on some occasion. I simply won't let them have their wish. 'Face' is illusory; what's substantial is the 'inside.' The Yang family is currently in turmoil. Your father is the Yang family's 'face' in the imperial court; if it's gone, it's gone. As long as you, Huchen, regain your footing in Jizhou, in five or ten years, that 'face' will naturally return to the Yang family's pockets. By then, even if you don't want it, others might be willing to kneel and beg you to accept it."

Yang Huchen lowered his head, his eyes slightly red. The father behind him, who had never yielded to age, the Grand General Yang who had always seemed to stand tall and indomitable since Yang Huchen could remember, now made Yang Huchen feel that he truly had grown old.

Yang Shenxing sighed, "What I fear now is that the young King of Beiliang will take his anger out on the Yang family because of the imperial court, and that he will be displeased with you because your father holds this position of Deputy Military Commissioner. After all, Jizhou is not too far from Beiliang. In the past, Xu Xiao, out of old ties, rarely interfered beyond Beiliang. Now that Xu Fengnian is in charge, observing Beiliang's actions under his command in recent years, it's clear that Beiliang's spirit is fierce, and it no longer deliberately conceals its sharp edge. Ultimately, Beiliang and the imperial court are just one step away from a complete fallout. This trip of mine into Beiliang is both a risk and an opportunity. Huchen, you just focus on your role as Deputy General of Jizhou; I have my own plans in Beiliang. From now on, remember a few points: firstly, do not socialize with any former Jizhou local commanders. Secondly, manage your relationship with Han Fang carefully, maintaining an appropriate distance. Finally, get close to the newly appointed Military Commissioner, Han Lin, and be prepared to act as his loyal vanguard. Han Lin will be crucial if the Yang family is to regain a foothold in Tai'an City later. Han Lin is different from typical students of Zhang Lu's academy. On the surface, he seems far inferior to Zhao Youring and Yin Maochun, and even less capable than Yuan Guo and Wang Xionggui. But in the current Emperor's mind, Han Lin is the most valuable one to promote, for a simple reason: Zhao, Yin, and Wang were all first-rank nobles promoted by the previous Emperor, having almost reached unpromotable high positions. Yuan Guo and Han Lin, on the other hand, were figures only truly given importance after His Majesty ascended the throne. Unfortunately, Yuan Guo performed poorly and has been completely abandoned. As a result, the Emperor will now place all his hopes on Han Lin alone. This is Han Lin's greatest advantage. Han Lin might seem like the least assertive among Zhang Lu's students back then, but precisely this moderation, which is not mediocrity, is the greatest reliance in officialdom. The longer it lasts, the greater its staying power, and Yuan Guo is the counterexample."

For some reason, the more Yang Huchen listened, the heavier his heart became.

Yang Shenxing chuckled, "Does it sound like I'm giving you my last words? Huchen, you've got it wrong. I just said that I'm not going to Beiliang with any intention of dying, nor will I push myself forward just to save the court's face."

Yang Huchen felt a bit awkward.

Yang Shenxing said earnestly, "Ever since the traveling scholars of the Great Qin dynasty transformed into deeply entrenched aristocratic clans, the ink used to describe us warriors with blades in our hands has never been particularly glorious in the history books. Those prominent figures who left their names always found themselves associated with the four words 'regional warlordism'. Yet, the noble families wielding pens were often linked to 'several generations of dukes,' their heritage lasting not just a hundred years to be called an aristocratic clan, but often two or three centuries, or even longer. In contrast, how many regional powers like us have survived to a 'hundred years old'? To enjoy fifty years of glory over three generations is already a miracle, as if ancestral graves are emitting green smoke. Now, don't just look at the court vigorously suppressing local military commanders, making everyone feel insecure. Compared to old fellows like Yan Zhenchun and Zhao Kui, your father sees further. In the future, Liyang might not necessarily fail to produce a hundred-year surname belonging to a military general. To achieve this, the foolishly loyal Han family serves as a cautionary tale, while the Xu family of Beiliang, is..."

At this point, Yang Shenxing suddenly fell silent. In the end, only a long sigh escaped him: "Xu Xiao, he's no ruthless schemer!"

Yang Huchen was puzzled. The Grand General Xu Xiao, widely known as unruly and defiant, if not a ruthless schemer, could he be a hero instead?

Yang Shenxing smiled and asked, "Huchen, who do you think Beiliang will send to the Youzhou border to be the 'bad guy'?"

Yang Huchen, who had already considered this question, said softly, "Logically, it should be Youzhou Prefect Hu Kui or Youzhou General Huangfu Ping who comes to greet us. However, with the war currently in full swing, these two might not be able to get away. But even if Beiliang intends to humiliate Father, I imagine at the very least a Youzhou Governor would appear. As for Li Gongde and Song Dongming, who are nominally of roughly the same rank as Father, the possibility is very small, as one must remain in Qingliang Mountain and the other is in charge of new city construction. I also don't expect Xu Fengnian to make such a grand display. Furthermore, if it truly were one of Li or Song who came to Youzhou, I would suspect Xu Fengnian of having ulterior motives. In that case, whether Father agrees or not, I would personally escort him all the way to Liangzhou."

The journey of a dozen or so *li* passed in a flash.

As Yang Huchen saw the boundary marker on the roadside, he also spotted four or five riders waiting by the post road.

Among them, one rider stood out prominently. Besides his youth, there was a strange sensation that Yang Huchen felt, like the first time he saw a legendary martial arts grandmaster in his youth, like seeing a towering mountain. It was akin to his first audience with the Emperor in the Tai'an City palace last year, like standing at the edge of an abyss.

Yang Huchen even forgot to turn his head, trembling as he said, "Father, it seems he came himself."

Yang Shenxing had been sitting in the carriage with his eyes closed, resting, since approaching the border. Hearing Yang Huchen's trembling voice, he was puzzled. Had Hu Kui or Huangfu Ping arrived? Or perhaps Li Gongde or Song Dongming themselves had graced them with their presence? Otherwise, given his son's temperament, he would never be this flustered.

When the heavy-hearted Yang Shenxing lifted the curtain, it was midday, and for a moment, the sun overhead felt glaring. The old man squinted as he looked, and when he clearly saw the rider, Yang Shenxing froze on the spot.

Suddenly, the old man, who had not lost his fighting spirit even when venturing deep into Beiliang's lion's den, truly felt for the first time that he was indeed old.

Before Yang Shenxing could dismount, that rider galloped forward first. He glanced at Yang Huchen, the fierce Liyang general acting as coachman, then smiled at Yang Shenxing and said, "Lord Yang has a good son."

Yang Huchen was momentarily speechless at the young man's remark.

The old man, who had not been addressed as Grand General Yang, burst into laughter, not at all offended. He declared loudly, "In this respect, Yang Shenxing is far inferior to the Grand General!"

The only one whom Yang Shenxing, a former legitimate Grand General, would respectfully address as "Grand General" in the Liyang Dynasty, was Xu Xiao.