Chapter 875: Xichu Overlord (Part 2)

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Competing for Supremacy

The Great Snow Dragon Cavalry returned by their original route. While the young vassal king was away and returned, Yuan Zuozong first led his troops south. The Qingzhou army, with less than a thousand cavalry, suffered a crushing defeat, their cavalry almost completely annihilated. The Qingzhou army, having no city to rely on, was driven back over forty li, abandoning their armor and weapons. No matter how bravely their Qingzhou commander fought, facing death with equanimity, personally slaying over forty deserters on the battlefield, he still couldn't stop the infantry's decline.

Meanwhile, Beiliang Colonel Niu Qianzhu led two thousand cavalry to intercept twenty thousand Shu soldiers, but achieved no success. This was because Che Ye, the Shu army commander, unexpectedly chose to avoid confrontation, leading his vast army north by a circuitous route. Their march formed a large arc. Niu Qianzhu's two thousand cavalry approached the Shu army several times, coming within a li. Amidst the swirling dust, the Shu soldiers always stood ready for battle, completely ignoring the provocations of the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry. Furthermore, to feign weakness, this elite Western Shu force, which had penetrated deep into the Central Plains, even withdrew all their scouts and cavalry, willingly acting as if blind.

Niu Qianzhu did not dare to initiate a battle independently and risk military opportunity, but he felt incredibly stifled. Therefore, before heading south to rendezvous with the Beiliang Iron Cavalry, he led twenty cavalry guards to a position three hundred paces from the Shu army's flank, stopped his horse, raised his spear, and looked formidable. The Shu army remained still, continuing their march eastward with bowed heads. Finally, Niu Qianzhu spat fiercely, turned his horse around, and led his troops back south.

As the four armies collapsed or shied away from battle, the defensive line crafted by Xu Gong, the Deputy Minister of War for Liyang, immediately became full of holes. Moreover, General Yuan Tingshan of Jizhou was unwilling to deploy his troops alone for an interception. He could only watch as the unscathed Great Snow Dragon Cavalry easily entered Guangling Pass. This enraged the unprepared General Wu Chongxuan, who personally rushed to Caisang County, accompanied by his trusted confidant Tang He, to interrogate Xu Gong. This was the first "meeting" between the Liyang Minister of War and the Deputy Minister, and it ended unhappily.

Subsequently, Wu Chongxuan rushed to the front line with Yuan Tingshan's ten thousand Jibei cavalry. Xu Gong, after merging with twenty thousand Western Shu infantry and gradually gathering the retreating Qingzhou forces, slowly advanced together towards the Guangling front. After this, the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry swept forward like a broken bamboo. Following their established strategy, they successfully received over five hundred lightly armored Western Chu scholars, known as "seedlings," along the jagged front lines of Guazizhou, where the two armies' defenses intertwined. To secretly escort these frail scholars out of the region, the Western Chu army launched frantic counterattacks on four battlefields, including Guazizhou and Laodushan. In just one day, nearly ten thousand soldiers died in battle. These five hundred young "carp," almost dead from thirst, finally leaped into the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry's "pond," allowing them to breathe.

The Beiliang Iron Cavalry, including Xu Yanbing, still remembered vividly how the five hundred Western Chu people, utterly disheveled, showed no great relief or ecstasy after being escorted by the main force of the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry. Instead, everyone looked despondent and pained. The five hundred dismounted in unison, knelt facing east to bid farewell, weeping uncontrollably. That scene was like stray dogs with no home to return to, whimpering sorrowfully under the eaves of someone else's doorway.

Yuan Zuozong felt a complex mix of emotions upon receiving the crudely written roster. Beiliang had "accepted the surrender" of four hundred and ninety-six individuals this time. Among them, four hundred and sixteen were young Western Chu literary talents. Excluding the more than seventy well-bred young ladies from influential families in Guangling Dao, there were only a handful of Western Chu military generals, perhaps a dozen or so.

The roster in Yuan Zuozong's hand began without names, only a few lines of small, neat calligraphy, handwritten by someone, which were striking: "The five hundred of Great Chu must not speak of restoration. Those of Chu lineage residing in Beiliang may not leave the Northwest." Below this was written: "Last will and testament of Cao Changqing, sinner of the fallen Chu!"

The east wind thaws the ice, turning it into rain; all that awaits is the spring thunder to herald the awakening of insects.

It was a time of continuous rain, which more or less impeded the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry's advance. Their horses' hooves were caked with mud, making it uncomfortable for the Beiliang Iron Cavalry, who were accustomed to the scorching sun and sand of the desert.

Xu Fengnian, Xu Yanbing, and Yuan Zuozong rode side by side. Yuan Zuozong glanced at the Western Chu "deserters" mixed in the middle of the cavalry and said softly, "For Beiliang, in the long run, this is a great boon, but for now, it's a mess. These scholars, upon reaching the Northwest, can only be temporarily placed behind the scenes. My fear is that these young, ambitious scions of noble families will complain too much and ultimately turn their anger on Beiliang. If disputes arise, we can't beat or scold them; otherwise, we'd have to send them to Huang Shang's Lingzhou Academy, far from border conflicts, to let them pass their time among books. Earlier, most of them weren't even willing to switch to wearing Beiliang light armor, let alone carrying Beiliang sabers or light crossbows. Niu Qianzhu and a few others were so annoyed they almost drew their swords on them."

Xu Fengnian comforted him, "It would be tragic for the Central Plains if scholars lacked character. We shouldn't fear their arrogance or integrity, only their despondency. 'A scholar's rebellion won't last three years,' and there are only five hundred Western Chu people, especially here in Beiliang. Forget the border army; probably any girl from Liangzhou skilled in archery and horsemanship could take down two or three of these scholars. There's nothing to worry about. We don't need to expect them to change their minds quickly. Besides, I trust Cao Changqing's judgment; many of them should be open-minded individuals. Once they truly experience the Northwest scenery, and with Yu Luandao of Youzhou and Kou Jianghuai of Liuzhou as precedents, they will naturally cast aside their prejudices. Ultimately, the older generation of Western Chu loyalists might hate the Xu family more than Liyang, but these young ones are different. Most are in their early twenties; they hate Liyang far more than Beiliang. What I'm actually worried about with this group is..."

At this point, Xu Fengnian let out a self-deprecating laugh and did not continue, implying he was hesitant to speak ill of someone highly regarded.

Yuan Zuozong chuckled, "What, are you afraid of suddenly having five hundred Zhao Changlings around you? That one day, if you lose control, they'll truly rebel against Liyang?"

Xu Fengnian retorted with a sigh, "The second Liang-Mang war is imminent. Beiliang's most pressing concerns haven't been resolved; where would I find extra thoughts for that?"

Xu Yanbing teased, "If, as Your Highness previously said, the world situation progresses according to Cao Changqing's original plan, then Beiliang would be the most comfortable party. As long as we cooperate with Wang Sui to hold back Beimang's southward advance, our task would be complete, and we could then comfortably watch the Central Plains unfold from the Northwest. Your Highness, I'm curious, since Cao Changqing was even willing to send Western Chu scholars to Beiliang, clearly having a considerable friendship with you, why did he change his mind at the last moment? Not only did it make Western Chu's restoration futile, but it also deprived Beiliang of the chance to profit from the chaos."

Xu Fengnian touched the Beiliang saber at his waist and said with emotion, "My master once said that scholars have four deaths: dying in the countryside, dying in a prefecture, dying for a nation, or dying for the world. That Cao Changqing... he originally intended to die for a nation for one person, but only changed his mind at the very end. Among the martial arts grandmasters I've encountered, Wang Mingyin, once the eleventh greatest in the world, died for brotherhood, living without regret before and after returning to the martial world. Tuoba Bodhisattva of Beimang lives the most ambitiously, wanting to be both the greatest master and the greatest contributor in the world. Deng Tai'a lives the most free and uninhibited; whether it's peace or chaos, whether you're an emperor or a general, I, Deng Tai'a, couldn't care less. Only Cao Changqing lives the most exhaustingly, never considering himself a martial artist, never having truly left the Great Chu imperial court."

Xu Yanbing looked at the muddy road and sighed, "Cao Guanzi's heart is dragging through the mud."

Xu Fengnian said, surprised, "Uncle Xu, that comment of yours has a touch of the scholar about it."

Yuan Zuozong smiled knowingly.

Xu Yanbing's mouth twitched. He turned and chuckled, "Your Highness, most of those young Western Chu women are unmarried, and many of them don't hide their expressions when they see you. How would one describe it in four characters?"

Yuan Zuozong interjected, "Hesitant to speak, yet wanting to."

Xu Fengnian said helplessly, "That's not a kind thing to say."

Yuan Zuozong quipped, "The real mess is when the backyard catches fire if one is not careful. If I recall correctly, the Second Princess has never been particularly cordial towards that Western Chu Emperor. Moreover, both of Your Highness's prospective fathers-in-law are not easy to deal with. Regarding the matter of the Beiliang Crown Princess, does Your Highness have a clear idea?"

Xu Fengnian fell silent, rubbed his forehead, and after a moment of silence, finally said, "It will be as it was originally planned; I have never hesitated on this matter."

Xu Yanbing nodded, "It should be so."

Yuan Zuozong suddenly said, "Xie Xichui is also in the army. If we can get his assistance, our Beiliang border army would be like a tiger with wings. Whether we place him in Liangzhou or Liuzhou, he could be worth tens of thousands of troops."

Xu Fengnian smiled, "One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers; one temple cannot house two Bodhisattvas. To prevent Kou Jianghuai from thinking I don't trust him, even if Xie Xichui truly intends to join the army, I wouldn't place him in Liuzhou. Besides, Xie Xichui isn't yet familiar with border army affairs. How about we place him with Second Brother Yuan for now?"

Yuan Zuozong shook his head, "It's better for the Liangzhou border army to use Xie Xichui than for me, Yuan Zuozong, to use him alone. Both he and Kou Jianghuai are the top military strategists from Western Chu. After being tempered by a series of battles in Guangling, they are already capable of leading independently.

Both of them have highly innovative military tactics, seemingly following unconventional, 'abandon the conventional for the extraordinary' approaches. However, a deeper look reveals significant differences. Kou Jianghuai, in his tactics, is skilled at abandoning cities, often seeking survival in death traps. By unpredictably deploying and moving troops, he creates localized advantages in battles despite overall numerical inferiority, slowly eroding the enemy and suddenly gaining momentum. On the eastern front of Guangling Dao at the time, he caused Zhao Yi's army to lose inexplicably, making them feel as if Kou Jianghuai's forces were overwhelming them on every battlefield. While Xie Xichui's tactics are also unexpected and extremely perilous, fundamentally, Xie Xichui leans more towards straightforward, decisive blows. Therefore, the flanking Liuzhou battlefield requires Kou Jianghuai's 'flexibility,' while the main Liangzhou battlefield needs Xie Xichui's 'force.' Now, the cavalry armies outside Liangzhou Pass, after having troops withdrawn, have been weakened. It might be better to entrust Xie Xichui to He Zhonghu or Zhou Kang, which would also serve as a form of compensation. As for the rank, it depends first on Your Highness's resolve, and second on Xie Xichui's confidence."

Xu Fengnian quietly asked, "So, has Second Brother Yuan helped lay some groundwork?"

Yuan Zuozong squinted and chuckled, "Your Highness is more skilled than I am at winning people over."

Xu Fengnian recalled Xie Xichui's utterly despairing face in the contingent and grumbled exasperatedly, "Aren't I just afraid of my warm face meeting a cold backside!"

Grumbling aside, Xu Fengnian still turned his horse, heading in the opposite direction from the main army.

After the young vassal king departed, Yuan Zuozong asked curiously, "Now that Cao Changqing, the Confucian Sage, has embraced the Hegemonic Path, what is the extent of his cultivation?"

Xu Yanbing stated gravely, "Among the four top martial artists in the world today, Tuoba Bodhisattva is already somewhat behind the other three. If His Highness, Cao Changqing, and Deng Tai'a were to fight each other, it would likely not be a matter of victory or defeat, but life or death. However, if we're talking about who prevails in life-or-death situations, I suspect it would be a cycle: His Highness defeats Deng Tai'a, Deng Tai'a defeats Cao Changqing, and Cao Changqing defeats His Highness. Of course, if Tuoba Bodhisattva could find a suitable weapon, he could also immediately take that step into the Celestial realm. As for other figures, I only suspect Gu Jiantang possesses a formidable trump card that should not be underestimated; others are not worth considering. Hmm, actually, there are two others who also have a chance: one is the person His Highness calls 'White Fox Face,' and the other is Tantai Pingjing of the Guanyin Sect, whose whereabouts and allegiance are unknown."

Yuan Zuozong asked with a smile, "Then what about you and Chen Zhibao?"

Xu Yanbing replied indifferently, "Not worth mentioning."

Yuan Zuozong, who was well aware of Xu Yanbing's terrifying combat strength, frowned and asked, "Why is that?"

Xu Yanbing chuckled, "After a fight to the death, the survivor will, at best, linger on in the ordinary Heavenly Phenomenon realm for the rest of their life. What more needs to be said?"

Yuan Zuozong was speechless.

Among the powerful and majestic Great Snow Dragon Cavalry, the more than five hundred Western Chu riders seemed out of place. This was not only due to the physical differences between north and south but also the vast disparity in their demeanor.

They halted for a rest after precisely thirty li. Xu Fengnian dismounted and led his horse near the group of five hundred. Facing him, the Northwest vassal king whose fate was intertwined with that of Great Chu, some looked at him with ill will, some with numbness, and some with hatred. As for those with a slight glint of curiosity and yearning in their eyes, they were, after all, a negligible minority.

Xu Fengnian approached Jiang Ni, who was wearing armor and carrying a sword. Recently, she had been avoiding him whenever possible, even being rather cold to the Western Chu subjects who still called her "Your Majesty." Today, Jiang Ni was with over ten young women from prominent Western Chu families, traveling north with the Beiliang Iron Cavalry. All the women looked out for each other. Most of them had initially believed that entering the Beiliang army would be like lambs entering a tiger's den, not without various worries. Especially after growing up accustomed to the winding river banquets of Guangling, the romance and leisure, and the eloquent scholars, suddenly seeing so many stern, silent Beiliang cavalry in clanking armor, how could frail women not worry about their uncertain future? It wasn't until Her Majesty the Emperor arrived by sword flight and they personally saw the renowned young vassal king that they felt some relief. As they marched north for half a month, they discovered that the Beiliang cavalry soldiers showed no signs of harassment, and particularly, the King of Beiliang gave special care to the five hundred from Great Chu. Gradually, smiles began to appear on their faces. Occasionally, when the army halted by a river, they would spontaneously start laughing and playing. They even took to cleaning the horses' nostrils, brushing their backs, and feeding them fine grain, doing so with competence.

Xu Fengnian walked to a large willow tree by the main road but did not directly enter its shade. He stood seven or eight paces away from Jiang Ni and the young women from noble families. Before Xu Fengnian could speak, four or five young men with swords at their waists quickly approached. Their boots were covered in yellow mud, and their once elegant demeanor was long gone. These young men did not speak, but stared grimly at Xu Fengnian.

Xu Fengnian looked at Jiang Ni and said softly, "Cao Changqing will soon reach the outskirts of Tai'an City. Would you like to go see him one last time? I can accompany you."

One of the young men, pressing the hilt of the sword he consistently refused to remove, said with a face full of grief and indignation, "Xu Fengnian, do you intend to prevent the Minister of the Secretariat from entering the city?! Are you going to be a mere watchdog for the Zhao imperial family of Liyang?!"

Xu Fengnian shook his head, "I would not stoop to that."

In the distance, a detachment of Phoenix Camp cavalry watched menacingly. Madman Hong Shuwen stood with his saber, his eyes fierce.

Another angrily said, "My Great Chu Minister of the Secretariat does not need your hypocritical farewell, Xu Fengnian!"

Xu Fengnian gently replied, "Some matters are not for you to decide."

Jiang Ni finally lowered her head and said, "Uncle Qi Daizhao said that our previous parting in the capital was a final farewell, and he forbade me from going north."

Xu Fengnian calmly said, "Don't listen to him. Since you have now left Guangling Dao, just follow your heart in all matters. If you wish to see Cao Changqing, then go see him; I will accompany you."

She looked up, her eyes misty with tears, "May I?"

Xu Fengnian's gaze was firm, and he smiled, "With me here, there is nothing in this world that cannot be done."

Before the Western Chu scholars under the willow tree could indignantly object, the women, whose cheeks flushed upon hearing that statement, all had sparkling eyes and spoke up, universally urging Her Majesty the Emperor to go north to Tai'an City hand-in-hand with the King of Beiliang.

Not far away, Xie Xichui felt a mix of helplessness and amusement.

Well, they haven't even reached Beiliang, and already there's infighting.

Jiang Ni took a deep breath and nodded vigorously.

Then.

Then she flew away by herself, riding her sword through the air...

Seeing the young vassal king's crestfallen expression, almost all the nearby women covered their mouths to hide their smiles, and Hong Shuwen's Phoenix Camp struggled hard to suppress their laughter.

Xu Fengnian turned and glared at Hong Shuwen and his men, who quickly pretended that nothing had happened, adopting a look that invited a beating.

Xu Fengnian shot up from the ground, like a streak of white rainbow ascending from the earth.

Everyone on the ground, both the Beiliang Iron Cavalry and the Western Chu refugees, was dazzled and shaken.

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