Chapter 853: Iron Cavalry in the Snowstorm of the South Yangtze (Part 1)

Hezho, bordering Beiliang, had felt aggrieved for over two decades since the “Butcher” was enfeoffed as the Prince of Beiliang. Therefore, Cai Nan, the Military Commissioner of Lianghuai, personally led his army to set up formations on the border between Youzhou and Hezho. He was determined this time to block the iron cavalry that had unauthorizedly left the Prince's domain. When the 800 Phoenix Camp passed through unimpeded last time, impeachment memorials against him, a frontier general of Liyang, had already piled up like snowflakes. Cai Nan knew full well that he could turn a blind eye to the 800 White Horse Retainers, but this time, with a massive force of ten thousand iron cavalry, if they were to charge straight through again and head directly for the Central Plains, not only would the censors in the Liyang imperial court not let it go, but even Emperor Zhao himself would probably question the loyalty of him, a high-ranking frontier official. Moreover, for this military intervention, Han Lin, the Commissioner of Military Affairs, had also given his approval. This refined civil official, who held an extremely high position in the local administration, even dared to disregard his own life and death, personally arriving in official robes among Cai Nan's troops. He wanted to accompany Cai Nan and help block them. Clearly, this new Commissioner, with his roots in the capital, was willing to risk his life to demonstrate a stance of unyielding defiance against Beiliang's advance.

On the border, General Cai Nan, clad in heavy armor, held his spear and gazed into the distance.

Commissioner Han Lin, standing beside Cai Nan, had a complex look in his eyes. This official of the second rank, who hadn't ridden a horse for many years, completely disregarded the burning pain in his legs, his face filled with anxiety. When they heard that Beiliang had mobilized the cavalry from beyond the pass, both Han Lin and Cai Nan were equally enraged and shocked, but there were subtle differences. Cai Nan believed that the unruly young Prince was finally going to rebel. Han Lin, who secretly had covert contacts with Qingliang Mountain, Beiliang's capital, thought Xu Fengnian had gone mad. Han Lin, who had always been gentle and refined in the capital's official circles, was like an ant on a hot pan in his study two days prior, unable to sleep a wink. Besides submitting a confidential memorial that would go directly to the Emperor's desk, the Commissioner, renowned in the court and literary circles for his elegant poetry and concise official documents, also wrote a somewhat rambling family letter. At that time, Han Lin understood that this "family letter" was in fact no different from a will. Whether Xu Fengnian was mad or not, as long as he blocked their path, the meager past relationship would be immediately shattered. But how could Han Lin not be here? His elders, children, and relatives—his entire clan—were all in Tai'an City, at the Emperor's feet. Under the Zhao family's roof, the honor and disgrace of his entire clan rested on his shoulders; Han Lin simply could not afford not to be here.

As a pure-minded civil official from the capital, Han Lin didn't detest Cai Nan, whom capital officials viewed as a "country bumpkin" who had long muddled in local affairs, but he certainly wasn't close to him. Therefore, during this external posting, Han Lin's interactions with Cai Nan were merely superficial. Apart from the welcoming banquet where all high-ranking officials from Lianghuai were present, Han Lin had no private meetings with Cai Nan. This wasn't just out of fear that the court would suspect collusion between civil and military leaders. Deep down, Han Lin felt that compared to the rough and ready Cai Nan, reeking of the battlefield, the young Prince, who had been unruly and unconventional in his youth, was far more associated with elegance and charm. Yet, riding alongside Cai Nan today, perhaps feeling a sense of shared peril in the face of imminent disaster, Han Lin found that Cai Nan might not be as incompetent as the capital's official circles claimed.

It seemed that in just twenty short years, Liyang had transformed from valuing military prowess and demeaning civil officials to esteeming civil officials and suppressing military power.

Cai Nan turned his head and asked with a smile, "Commissioner Han, doesn't Prince Han have something to say about this?"

Han Lin gave a bitter smile, "I specifically visited Prince Han's residence on the second day of the first lunar month and personally saw Prince Han confined to his bed, pale and weak, repeatedly struggling to get up only to fall back."

Cai Nan, who usually didn't show his emotions, chuckled, "To have such a loyal Prince defending the border is truly fortunate for Lianghuai, and for the imperial court."

Han Lin consoled him, "General Cai, it has come to this; more talk is useless."

Cai Nan laughed heartily, "When a man is about to die, aren't he allowed to grumble a bit?"

Han Lin looked at the vast white landscape and sighed, "If I had known this, I should have had a good drink with General Cai. Meeting a friend on a snowy night, even poor wine would taste like fine liquor, I imagine."

Han Lin noticed that the Military Commissioner was staring intently at him and, completely puzzled, asked, "Is something wrong?"

Cai Nan suddenly said softly, "Nothing is wrong. I just hope that after today, Commissioner Han can look after the women, children, and elderly of the Cai family."

Han Lin was completely bewildered. Just as he was about to ask, his vision suddenly went black, and he fainted.

Cai Nan watched as his direct personal guard struck Han Lin on the back of the head with a scabbard. Once the guard jumped from his horse and sat behind the Commissioner, supporting the unconscious Han Lin, Cai Nan then said, "Take Han Lin back to his residence."

The personal guard, who was also no longer young, hesitated as if to speak.

Cai Nan smiled, "Old Song, back when Xu Xiao led ten thousand iron cavalry south to patrol the border, I, as the commanding general, took the lead in kneeling, which made it so you couldn't hold your heads up in front of the court either. I know you old brothers harbored resentment. The past two years, every time you came to pay New Year's greetings, the chairs in my Cai family home felt like they had nails in them, and you'd leave quickly. That's fine." Cai Nan didn't turn around, simply raised his horsewhip and pointed towards Youzhou. "This time it's perfect. I just want to tell you old brothers, it wasn't that I, Cai Nan, chickened out because Xu Xiao brought ten thousand iron cavalry. No, it's that as a martial man of the battlefield, I deeply admired that Grand General. It's not just me; General Gu also admired him. So this time, with Xu Fengnian leading ten thousand Beiliang cavalry—the same Prince of Beiliang, and the same ten thousand Grand Snow Dragon Riders—of course, I won't be a pushover again. Old Song, among our old brothers, your family has spread out the most, and relies on you most for their livelihood. So this time, don't stay with us. Besides, Qingming Festival is just a few months away this year. It wouldn't be right if all our old brothers didn't have a living acquaintance to bring them good wine then."

The burly personal guard, who had followed Cai Nan and Gu Jiantang on campaigns for half his life, opened his mouth wide but couldn't utter a single word.

Cai Nan sternly ordered, "Get lost!"

The personal guard lowered his head, turned his horse, and spurred it away with a fierce crack of the whip.

From behind, Cai Nan's teasing words drifted, "Remember, during Qingming, don't be stingy, you iron rooster that even General Gu has heard of! Bring good wine!"

The personal guard didn't turn around, but suddenly roared, "I won't! I'll only bring you cheap wine, worth two fen of silver a pot! If you're so capable, General, then bring the brothers and crawl out from underground then!"

Cai Nan, on his horse, his back to the personal guard carrying the unconscious Han Lin, softly exhaled, and his smile faded.

Since the beginning of spring in the third year of Xiangfu, continuous heavy snow had fallen. What was true in the sky was now true on the distant ground.

The Grand Snow Dragon Riders had arrived.

Beiliang's iron cavalry was unmatched under heaven; the Grand Snow Dragon Riders were unmatched in Beiliang.

Cai Nan roared, "Beat the drums!"

Even before the White Horse Retainers left the provincial city, Beiliang's civil and military officials had already gathered on the city wall to see them off. Further away, the ten thousand iron cavalry had long since secretly entered the pass from beyond the frontier, waiting for a long time at a camp outside the city, just waiting for the command from the second-generation Prince of Beiliang, to once again gallop across the Central Plains after nearly twenty years.

The Xu family's iron cavalry, which had shaken the world, had broken through all opposition during the Spring and Autumn Wars, fighting their way from north to south, then back from south to north. This time, their hooves were again heading south.

In reality, the alliance initiated by Xu Beizhi and Chu Lushan this time was not without resistance. Three highly influential old generals—He Zhonghu, Chen Yunzhui, and Gu Dazhu—none of them wanted to see the Beiliang army suddenly advance into the Central Plains at this time. However, Yuan Zuozong and Yan Wenluan's joint approval played a decisive role. Especially Yan Wenluan's unexpectedly firm stance successfully persuaded a large number of veteran meritorious generals.

Chu Lushan, the Prefect of Beiliang, large and corpulent like a small hill, stood beside the slender Yan Wenluan, looking awkward to any observer.

Chu Lushan lightly stamped his foot, cupped his hands to warm them with his breath, and chuckled with downcast eyes, "I really didn't expect Old General Yan to agree. I thought I'd have to personally make a trip to Youzhou, and the thought of having to travel from Huaiyang Pass to Xiaguang City in this terrible weather made me feel a bit faint then."

The gaunt old man, showing all signs of age, retorted grumpily, "Back then, when the Prefect led 8,000 Yeluoche iron cavalry to intercept Dong Zhuo's private army, didn't you mind the bumpy ride shaking off your autumn fat?"

Chu Lushan chuckled, "How can good deeds that bring glory and bad deeds that make one notorious be weighed equally?"

Yan Wenluan pursed his lips. Among the old-school Beiliang generals, almost none liked the notorious Chu Lushan.

The domineering and ruthless nature of Beiliang's generals, not just Chu Lushan but also figures like Li Mofan and Cao Xiaojiao, were all cut from the same cloth. When it came to fighting to the death in battle, there was no questioning them. But as for their character and conduct, could they truly be called good people by the common folk? The answer, of course, was no.

This was actually an insoluble knot that Grand General Xu Xiao had left for the new Prince of Beiliang, Xu Fengnian. After all, Beiliang had enjoyed peace for over a decade, and military families were as numerous as ox hair. How many wicked and evil deeds had they committed? Without going far, take Liu Yuanji, the former Deputy Commander of the Infantry, who stood on the city wall at that very moment; how many innocent commoners had his three sons killed? If it weren't for Lin Doufang, a close friend who had retired from the military years ago, who had beaten and scolded Liu Yuanji during the incident outside the pass, the old commander would probably have been kept in the dark his entire life, mistakenly believing his three sons were merely a bit unproductive. In fact, even upright old men like Yan Wenluan were not without private complaints and grievances about the chaotic behavior of the younger generations of their comrades. It was just that when the Grand General was alive, he always felt he owed his old brothers who had fought alongside him to establish the dynasty, and never had the thought of punishing them severely. Furthermore, the new Prince of Beiliang had also been a carefree scoundrel in his early years, so the Grand General had even more reason to "put himself in their shoes."

Yan Wenluan spoke directly, "What you did on New Year's Eve was quite well done. But even so, I, Yan Wenluan, still cannot bring myself to like you, Chu Lushan."

Chu Lushan rubbed his hands, turned, and chuckled, "Old General Yan, you're not some beauty. If an old man like you liked me, there wouldn't be anything to be happy about, would there?"

Yan Wenluan snorted coldly and said nothing more.

On the crowded city wall, Gu Dazhu, standing alone, looked particularly conspicuous. Zhou Kang, the "Brocade Partridge," hesitated for a moment but then left Lin Doufang and the others, walking by himself to Gu Dazhu's side, though they still maintained a body's distance.

Gu Dazhu showed no signs of speaking.

Zhou Kang hesitated several times, but ultimately didn't leave in anger. His tone was slightly stiff and sarcastic, "Deputy Commander Gu, weren't you always very steadfast? It was clear beforehand that you didn't want the Prince to lead the army south to the Central Plains. So why were you willingly silent last night?"

Gu Dazhu smiled faintly, "Commissioner Zhou, what reason do you wish to hear? Would it make you happy if I admitted that I'm a weathercock who observes people's expressions and shifts with the wind?"

Zhou Kang was also direct, nodding, "If you say that, I'll go find some wine to drink as soon as I'm off the city wall."

Gu Dazhu said calmly, "Then I'm afraid I'll disappoint Commissioner Zhou. The reason I didn't stop the Prince, while not a grand or noble explanation, also wasn't due to any sordid thoughts. In my conduct, I, Gu Dazhu, no longer need to prove anything in Beiliang."

The Brocade Partridge tilted his head, reached up to scratch his ear, and scoffed, "Now that's what Deputy Commander Gu should say. What a pity, the Prince has already left the city."

Gu Dazhu murmured to himself, "Which old man hasn't been young? Who hasn't had one or two desired women they couldn't attain? I, Gu Dazhu, had one, but I missed her back then. So, even at my age today, I still don't know if we truly weren't suitable, or if I just lost her because of cowardice and timidity. Commissioner Zhou, you are famously known for your enduring marital devotion; surely you wouldn't understand."

Zhou Kang remained silent for a long time, then exhaled a heavy cloud of mist and whispered, "We're an old couple now, and we naturally treat each other with respect as if we were guests. But in our youth, there was indeed a passionate affair."

Gu Dazhu sighed, "At least you had that experience. That makes you stronger than me."

Zhou Kang suddenly turned his head and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Lin Doufang! Didn't they say you eloped with a Southern Tang princess back in the day? Our Commander Gu here said he actually admired that princess, and from his tone, they had some sort of ambiguous relationship in their younger days. Why don't the two of you have a chat?"

Lin Doufang's eyes widened. "What?! Gu, you better explain yourself!"

Liu Yuanji immediately chuckled, winking at Wei Tieshan. "Now there's a good show to watch."

Gu Dazhu was dumbfounded.

By the time Gu Dazhu recovered his wits, the Brocade Partridge who had played a trick on him had already made a quick escape, only a distant retreating figure visible.

He then saw Lin Doufang furiously dash down the city wall, yelling, "Zhou! If I don't beat you to death today, then my surname isn't Lin, it's Gu!"

Once both had run far off, Lin Doufang stopped and burst into hearty laughter.

Lin Doufang wasn't foolish; he wouldn't truly believe Zhou Kang's nonsense.

Yu Luandao stood beside Hu Kui. Similar to Xu Beizhi and Tian Peifang, who had already stepped down or were about to step down from their governorships, Hu Kui, the Governor of Youzhou, would also soon relinquish his position. Unlike Xu Beizhi's consideration for the larger picture and Tian Peifang's going with the flow, Hu Kui had never been interested in officialdom; his gaze had always been fixed on the battlefields beyond the pass. In Youzhou, it wasn't just Hu Kui; even General Huangfu Ping of Youzhou seemed to be stirring, as if wanting to move his post to Xiaguang City. Moreover, this time Hu Kui had come to Liangzhou with the old commander Chen Yunzhui, and the veteran's words hinted that Youzhou's infantry indeed needed a vigorous young martial general in his prime. Although Chen Yunzhui didn't explicitly state it, it was clear the old man hoped Hu Kui would become the third-in-command of Youzhou's infantry and, more importantly, that Hu Kui would seize this opportunity to speak with the Prince before Huangfu Ping could gain the upper hand. But in the end, Hu Kui still didn't speak up, for which the old man gave him no pleasant looks today.

Today, Beiliang's frontier army still had its factions, large and small, but they were no longer as clearly delineated as in earlier years. With the conclusion of the first Liang-Mang Great War, some subtle, natural changes had occurred. For instance, Chen Xiliang got along very well with the entire Dragon Elephant Army and was highly regarded by old generals like He Zhonghu and Zhou Kang, who believed this young man was a rare scholar with unyielding integrity, capable of being a cultured general even if not a civil official. Xu Beizhi, on the other hand, was closer to Lingzhou General Han Laosan, Deputy General Wang Zhi, and others. It could be said that the entire Lingzhou military faction was happy to treat Xu Beizhi as one of their own. Meanwhile, Yu Luandao, who truly rose to prominence in Youzhou, got along best with Hu Kui and was surprisingly uninterested in cultivating a relationship with the Prince's confidant, Huangfu Ping.

Not far from the two, Huangfu Ping and Kou Jianghuai stood side by side. Although both were now provincial generals, their backgrounds and reputations were worlds apart.

Huangfu Ping didn't actually understand why Kou Jianghuai was willing to approach him, a notorious "lone wolf" in official circles.

Kou Jianghuai leaned against the battlements, smiling, and revealed the truth with a single remark, "General Huangfu, Beiliang's frontier army has countless talented individuals, but I think you and I are most alike. We not only dare to gamble, but we don't play for small stakes; if we gamble, we gamble big."

Huangfu Ping shook his head, "I'm from a background of a rough martial artist; how much money can I lose even if I lose everything? I can't compare to General Kou, who was originally expected to be enfeoffed as a marquis and appointed as a minister in Western Chu."

Kou Jianghuai also shook his head, "If I empty my pockets and put a thousand taels of gold on the table, and you're about to starve to death tomorrow with only ten coins in your pocket, but you also put all ten coins on the table, the size of our gambling addiction is essentially the same."

Huangfu Ping uttered a perplexing statement, "Perhaps gambling addiction doesn't distinguish between high and low, but I wonder about Kou Jianghuai's gambling ethics?"

Kou Jianghuai turned his head to look at the Youzhou general, who had a mixed reputation in Beiliang, and asked with a smile, "What, General? Are you worrying on behalf of the Prince that if I become a servant of two families today, I might join Beimang and become a servant of three families tomorrow?"

Huangfu Ping's expression remained unchanged. "General Kou, I did not say that, nor would I dare to say that."

Kou Jianghuai dismissed it with a smile and asked, "After hearing General Huangfu's story, I'm very curious why you're genuinely so devoted to Xu Fengnian. Could you tell me about it?"

Huangfu Ping gave an insincere smile. "General Kou, my words aren't pleasant to hear, so don't take offense. Our relationship isn't at that level yet. But if we ever get a chance to fight on the battlefield together, it won't be too late to speak our hearts out then."

Kou Jianghuai chuckled, "What, is General Huangfu going to serve as a Deputy General in the Dragon Elephant Army in Liuzhou?"

Without waiting for Huangfu Ping to reply, Kou Jianghuai answered his own question: "A Youzhou General and a Dragon Elephant Army Deputy General are technically equal in rank. However, in Beiliang, the cavalry of Liangzhou's frontier army looks down on the infantry, Liangzhou's frontier infantry looks down on the Youzhou army, and the Youzhou army, in turn, looks down on the Lingzhou army, which doesn't even have a proper border. As an elite force drawn from Liangzhou's frontier cavalry, a powerful Deputy General of the Dragon Elephant Army is certainly not comparable to a constrained Youzhou General. So, I'll congratulate General Huangfu on his promotion now. It seems I won't have to wait too long to hear General Huangfu's heartfelt words."

Huangfu Ping subtly glanced at Hu Kui, then a slight smile played on his lips. "General Kou is indeed exceptionally astute."

Kou Jianghuai said with a smile, "I like hearing that. It's been a long time since anyone praised me to my face."

Huangfu Ping nodded, "Let's be clear beforehand: once I take up my post in Liuzhou, perhaps General Kou will find it hard *not* to listen."

Kou Jianghuai laughed heartily, "Bring it on."

Suddenly, Kou Jianghuai, who had been enjoying a congenial conversation with Huangfu Ping, heard someone call his name. It was Yu Luandao, whom he considered his lifelong rival. Compared to Kou Jianghuai's lukewarm attitude towards Xie Xichui in Guangling Dao, Yu Luandao, also from a prominent family and a young talent who made a name for himself early, was a complete eyesore to Kou Jianghuai. Presumably, the latter felt similarly about him. "One mountain cannot hold two tigers" probably referred to Kou Jianghuai and Yu Luandao. However, their rivalry was always hidden, never out in the open. Hearing Yu Luandao's call, Kou Jianghuai smiled, turned, and asked, "General Yu, what can I do for you?"

It wasn't Yu Luandao who spoke, but Hu Kui. The latter took a few steps closer and quietly asked, "Kou Jianghuai, regarding Western Chu's three future strategies—advancing north, retreating south, or moving west—I've deliberated for a long time and don't dare to make rash judgments. After all, I'm not from Western Chu, and I've been away from the Central Plains for over a decade, so my understanding of Western Chu's situation is far inferior to yours, General Kou. Could you enlighten me a bit?"

Kou Jianghuai showed no hesitation, saying crisply, "If I were in charge of Western Chu, naturally I would head north and fight Lu Shengxiang to the bitter end. As an aside, I've always suspected that Cao Changqing reached some sort of understanding with Gu Jiantang of Liangliao, and even Wang Sui of Beimang. If Xie Xichui were in Cao Changqing's position, then he'd likely cross the Guangling River to the south, exert all efforts to defeat the Southern Frontier army—which has already seen Wu Chongxuan defect—then strive for rule by dividing the river. If even the Guangling River couldn't be held, then he'd retreat further and further, into the hundred thousand mountains filled with miasma, waiting until Beimang and Liyang were half-dead from fighting, then seize opportunities to emerge, picking up scraps today and nibbling on watermelon rinds tomorrow, pitifully accumulating strength little by little. But ultimately, whether he could succeed would no longer depend on human effort, but only on fate. As for what Cao Changqing himself thinks, I can't guess, and I'm too lazy to try. Anyway, I always feel that this grand official is already mad."

Hu Kui was a martial man born for the battlefield. Kou Jianghuai had piqued his interest, and he unconsciously began pointing at the battlements. "Western Chu is now completely encircled. To the east is Song Li, who has usurped power. To the south is Prince Yan Chi, Zhao Bing, who has just personally taken the field, along with Nalan Youci standing behind this old Prince. To the west are the one hundred thousand elites under Grand General Wu Chongxuan, who have broken away from the Southern Frontier; they are not to be underestimated, especially now that he is the Liyang Minister of War, with significant support in provisions and military pay. Even Prince Jing'an Zhao Xun, Commissioner Wen Taiyi, and Military Commissioner Ma Zhongxian have become like finance officials for Wu Chongxuan on the western front. As for the northern front, Lu Shengxiang has started fighting unconventionally, like in the earliest Spring and Autumn Wars. With Chen Zhibao and his ten thousand elusive Western Shu infantry responding, Western Chu's northern front is suffering the most. General Kou, if in your opinion, one were to head north, how should one fight? Should one first target Chen Zhibao's infantry or seek out Lu Shengxiang's cavalry? And if we consider Xie Xichui's southward march, wouldn't that play right into Liyang's strategy of 'driving a tiger to swallow a wolf'?"

After talking for a long time, Hu Kui looked up and saw a young face with eyes rolling wildly. He quickly gave a self-deprecating smile, and Hu Kui stopped trying to engage with someone uninterested.

Kou Jianghuai laughed carelessly, "Commissioner Hu, Commissioner Hu! I'm a citizen of Great Chu, hiding here in Beiliang, and even I no longer care about the Guangling Dao war. Why are you, Commissioner Hu, worrying about it?"

Hu Kui wasn't angry, laughing candidly, "General Kou, I suppose I'm just worrying about nothing."

Yu Luandao frowned.

Kou Jianghuai raised an eyebrow, giving Yu Luandao a provocative look.

In Beiliang, among the civil officials, there were Song Dongming and Bai Yu, as well as Xu Beizhi and Chen Xiliang. Now, it seemed, another pair of rivals had emerged among the military generals: Kou Jianghuai and Yu Luandao.

In the spring of the third year of Xiangfu, perhaps the scattered red scraps of firecrackers on doorsteps across the Central Plains, remnants of celebratory fireworks, had not yet been swept clean.

Ten thousand Grand Snow Dragon Riders headed south to Jiangnan.

Besides the 800 Phoenix Camp, there were also Wu family's hundred riders and hundred swords.

There were Yuan Zuozong, Yu Luandao, Hong Biao, and Hong Shuwen.

There was the Prince of Beiliang.

Xu Fengnian.