Chapter 911: Noble Lords, Rolling Yellow Sand (3)

A carriage stopped outside Liangzhou City. A young noble, sword at his hip and jade pendant, stepped down. In his hand, he carried a pot of recently purchased green ant wine. He looked around: scattered persimmon trees dotted the plain, their branches laden with clusters of bright yellow fruit, barely lending a touch of abundance to the otherwise barren northwest.

The young man walked slowly, occasionally glancing at the familiar persimmon trees, some near, some far. He remembered how he used to sneak out of the city and wander this area in his youth, bored, giving many nicknames to these trees. Half a *li* away, one with particularly wild, "fang-bearing" branches was called "Armor-hung"; in the twilight, it could look a little frightening. A small persimmon tree that had grown up beside it, unseen for several years, had now grown taller. At a glance, it appeared to bear even more fruit, golden all over and quite auspicious. The nickname he had given it back then was "Little Yellow Robe." The young man continued along a dried-up stream bed until he reached a thatched cottage, unadorned by a surrounding mud wall. Behind the house grew several strangely shaped, crooked-necked old elms.

The house was now empty.

The young man walked to a tree stump, crouched down, and wiped away the dust with his sleeve. He then sat upon it, surveying his surroundings. He gently placed the green ant wine on his robe, then raised his voice and called out, "Old Xu, the blind man, I brought you wine!"

If it had been during the final years of the Yonghui era, a blind, limping man would have come scurrying out, wobbling. He would take the wine pot from the young man's hand, skillfully remove the mud seal, and sniff deeply. Then, a wide smile would spread across his weathered face, a smile like the persimmon trees in autumn. But when the old man shared wine with him, he would always take advantage and then start lecturing him, saying that when he had spare money, he shouldn't waste it. Even the smallest copper coins should be saved, one by one, for that was how one could marry a wife. Of all things in the world, marrying a wife and having children was the most important. Old Xu would always wistfully mention a place called Rouge County in Beiliang's Youzhou, where the women were the most beautiful. He'd say, "If you, young Xu, can marry a girl from Rouge County, send me a message. I, Old Xu, will walk for three days and three nights just to crash your wedding feast."

He remembered that time, after the old man finished speaking, he carefully asked if such a grand event as a wedding feast, with an old blind man like him showing up as a guest, would be considered disgraceful. He added that if young Xu's elders or in-laws would disapprove, then he, Old Xu, wouldn't join the festivities. He'd just get a couple of reasonably priced pots of green ant wine later.

The young man, who often brought the old man green ant wine or secretly obtained chickens and ducks for him, thumped his chest and declared that his family listened to him most. He swore that if Old Xu didn't come to his wedding feast, he'd be furious with him, and insisted Old Xu sit at the main table.

At that time, the old man simply thought the young man who often chatted with him was just a common lad from Beiliang's streets. Like himself in his youth, he was the kind of person who couldn't stay still, drifting aimlessly and restlessly. So, hearing he would be invited to sit at the main table for a wedding feast, he was happy but didn't think much of it. He certainly wouldn't have connected the boastful young man with Qingliang Mountain. After all, there were too many people named Xu in the world, weren't there? The young man back then often hinted in their chats about his longing for places beyond Beiliang. He dreamed of becoming a chivalrous wandering hero, wielding the best sword, drinking the strongest wine, and finding the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world—someone even more stunning than the women of Rouge County. The old man always contradicted the young man, telling him with the tone of an experienced person not to be so ambitious. "No matter how good the Central Plains are," he'd say, "they are not home after all." The young man also sighed at the time, saying he understood this principle. His teacher, who taught him to read and write at home, had once said, "Ten years away from home is not long for a young man, but for an old person, a single step out is a long journey." The old man heard this and laughed, saying, "Your teacher has true knowledge; how did he teach such a half-baked apprentice like you?"

Sometimes, when they sat together chatting, Old Xu, the aged blind man, would sit on the nearby tree stump, leaning on his cane with both hands, secretly napping in the sun.

Perhaps, many years ago, on the battlefield of Xilei Wall, there was a young soldier from an old army camp whose leg wasn't lame, nor was he blind, but he too might have dozed off in the sun like this. Only, his cane would have been an iron spear, and perhaps not far away, a large banner with the character "Xu" would have flapped wildly in the strong wind.

Now it was autumn in the third year of Xiangfu. Old Xu, the blind man, had long since passed away, so there would naturally be no more of his rambling chatter.

The old man never lived to drink the young man's wedding wine.

The young man had also promised the old man that after his death, he would personally carry his coffin to the burial.

But the young man couldn't keep that promise.

At that time, he was far away in Jiangnan.

He didn't go to Old Xu's grave. Instead, he gently poured the pot of green ant wine onto the ground in front of the tree stump. As he bent to pour the wine, he quietly said, "Old Xu, I secretly bought this wine from the wine-selling beauty. Times are not peaceful now, and war is about to start again. Beiliang has started to prohibit private brewing among the common folk, so this pot of wine wasn't cheap. If I weren't a regular, the shop might not even dare to sell it to me. The proprietress's daughter has really blossomed into a beautiful young woman. It's true what they say, 'a girl changes eighteen times.' I heard that girl has now taken a liking to a young scholar from another place who teaches at a private school near her home. When I bought the wine earlier, the proprietress even joked that I was too late, and her daughter had actually been waiting for several years. See, I wasn't bragging back then, was I? I told you that girl had good taste; otherwise, she wouldn't have chosen me..."

Some regrets were like an old dog whimpering alone, slowly and sorrowfully, at a street corner, tugging at the heart.

He left the wine pot on the tree stump and stood up to leave.

The carriage returned to Qingliang Mountain.

Now, two places in the Beiliang King's Mansion were famous throughout the land. The Wutong Courtyard was jokingly called the Phoenix Pavilion, while the Deputy Military Commissioner's residence on the mountainside, overseen by Song Dongming, was known as the Dragon Gate.

As soon as he returned to Qingliang Mountain, a Dragon Gate official rushed over, breathlessly reporting that the Deputy Military Commissioner had urgent matters to discuss.

When he saw Song Dongming personally waiting in front of the low-lying official residences, he knew that regardless of whether the news was good or bad, it was definitely not a minor issue. Otherwise, given the composure of this former potential Prime Minister of Liyang, he wouldn't be so restless.

Indeed, once Song Dongming saw him approach, they turned and entered the central official residence together. Song Dongming's voice was slightly urgent: "Four pieces of news have come together, related to Liangzhou, the Central Plains, the capital, and Beimang respectively. Your Highness needs to weigh them."

Xu Fengnian smiled, "Then let's start with the news from Liangzhou."

Song Dongming nodded, "An urgent intelligence report came from Fengxiang Military Town, closest to the Western Regions. Cao Wei and Xie Xichui unilaterally changed the Protectorate General's established strategy. They chose to launch a preemptive attack, hoping to decisively defeat Zhong Tan's cavalry inside Miyun Pass!"

Xu Fengnian's expression remained calm as he said, "The Lamasery monks probably didn't move with Zhong Tan's cavalry."

Song Dongming looked worried, "Even so, the troop strength difference between the two sides is still small. Isn't such a head-on, life-for-life confrontation against the original intention of deploying troops in Liangzhou?"

Xu Fengnian shook his head, "If we fail to completely annihilate Zhong Tan's cavalry at Miyun Pass, then this battle will be meaningless. One could even say that their reckless pursuit of glory would lead the entire Liangzhou into extreme passivity. However, since even Xie Xichui is willing to accompany Cao Wei in such a risky move, I trust their judgment."

Song Dongming sighed, smiling wryly, "Those two really give us no peace of mind."

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "If they win, there might be an unexpected pleasant surprise."

Song Dongming understood, "That's true. If Zhong Tan's cavalry is completely wiped out, perhaps the Lamasery will have to reconsider their stance."

Xu Fengnian asked, "What's the news from the Central Plains? Have Wen Taiyi and Ma Zhongxian finally stopped obstructing the grain transport?"

Song Dongming smiled, "That's not considered vital news."

Xu Fengnian was somewhat surprised, "Is there a more significant change in the situation than that?"

After Song Dongming and Xu Fengnian took their seats in the council hall, the Deputy Military Commissioner of Beiliang, whose position had been acknowledged by the Liyang imperial court's Ministry of Personnel, looked amused. He said, "Prince Jing An, Zhao Xun, who was originally loyal to the imperial court, has just pledged allegiance to the two rebellious vassal kings."

Xu Fengnian froze.

Song Dongming scoffed, "Bargaining for a price, that's a truly brilliant move. I estimate this astute prince sold himself for an exorbitant price."

Xu Fengnian found it absurd, frowning, "Could it be that Zhao Bing and Chen Zhibao plan to put Zhao Xun on the throne?"

Song Dongming chuckled, "Your Highness hit the nail on the head!"

Xu Fengnian fell into thought.

If Jing'an Dao, in the heartland of the Central Plains, was added, along with Western Shu and Southern Zhao, which Chen Zhibao already controlled, then the entire region south of Guangling River was now completely united. Half of Liyang's territory had fallen into the hands of the three vassal states. At this time, King Yanchu Zhao Bing, who initiated the rebellion and had the greatest strength, seemed most qualified to ascend the throne and divide the empire with the Liyang legitimate dynasty. However, the opposite was true. Zhao Bing was least suitable to replace his python robe with a dragon robe so early. No matter how incompetent Song Yushu portrayed the Liyang Emperor in that decree, the court and commoners, especially the gentry of Jiangnan, still supported Taian City. Zhao Bing was not suitable to be the first to stick his neck out. The outsider Chen Zhibao, whose name was not legitimate, was even less suitable. Thus, Prince Jing An, Zhao Xun, became the reluctant candidate. The branch of the Zhao clan of father and son Zhao Heng and Zhao Xun, in the Liyang Dynasty which had not yet swallowed the Central Plains, was actually more legitimate than the branch of Zhao Dun and Zhao Zhuan. The reason old Prince Jing An, Zhao Heng, harbored such deep resentment after failing in the succession struggle and being "banished" to Qingzhou was not without cause. It's likely that few officials in the current Xiangfu New Dynasty knew of that secret from earlier years. Before Zhao Zhuan's grandfather ascended the throne, because the contemporary Prince Chun had no son, the Imperial Clan Court proposed that Zhao Heng be adopted into Prince Chun's lineage. However, Zhao Zhuan's grandfather's ascension process was even more convoluted than his son Zhao Dun's. In short, by the end, Zhao Heng's identity became such a confused mess that even the elders of the Imperial Clan Court probably couldn't sort it out. But if this old matter were brought up again now, it would be a timely and clever move.

Xu Fengnian felt no envy about Zhao Xun's sudden rise to prominence, only a slight amusement. He remembered that pitiful fellow, the hereditary prince whom he had twice thrown into Spring God Lake. Was he really going to sit on the dragon throne and wear dragon robes?

Xu Fengnian collected his thoughts. "The Central Plains can only get so chaotic. Oh, what's happening in Taian City?"

Song Dongming habitually rubbed a jade pendant hanging from his waist and chuckled, "Several influential eunuchs from the Seal Office have been dispatched. They are on their way to Beiliang, bringing a large pile of freshly issued imperial decrees and edicts."

Xu Fengnian puzzled, "A large pile?"

Song Dongming couldn't help but laugh, "Otherwise, why would three or four eunuchs from the Seal Office need to come out together? The most important among them is your Grand Pillar State title, and posthumous enfeoffments for Beiliang border army generals like Liu Jinu and Wang Lingbao. For example, Taian City posthumously enfeoffed Liu Jinu as a First-Class Earl, granting him the noble title 'Kexin.' Besides that, there are the meticulously prepared edicts for the future wives of your mansion, Lu Cheng and Yan Chutong. The reason that group of eunuchs from the Seal Office is traveling relatively slowly is probably because they want to wait for your marriage, hoping for a 'triple joy' auspicious omen. From this, it's clear that Taian City's sincerity this time is vastly superior to the previous two occasions."

Xu Fengnian fell into deep thought.

Song Dongming did not disturb the young prince's contemplation.

Song Dongming quietly looked out the window, his own thoughts wandering.

The greatest impression on Beiliang's second-highest civilian official was Lu Shengxiang's meteoric rise in the Liyang court. This former Spring Snow Pavilion member's ability to be enfeoffed as a marquis and appointed prime minister was not merely due to his ease in official circles, but rather his extraordinary talent and promising military achievements. However, the timing of Lu Shengxiang's rise was intriguing. Song Dongming believed that Lu Shengxiang himself might not be as complacent as the capital's official circles imagined. He might even be treading more carefully than when he was the commander of the southern expedition. What happens when one holds a high position during a powerful trend, and what then, when the trend recedes? Can he retire successfully? Weren't Old Liang King Xu Xiao's posthumous bad reputation and Grand Tutor Zhang Julu's family being exterminated and property confiscated clear lessons? The two Liyang emperors before the current Emperor Zhao Zhuan, each wore a dragon robe—one known for brilliance and martial prowess, the other for magnanimity. Yet, one could not deny the bloodstains on their sleeves. While the two emperors were certainly not foolish rulers who indiscriminately killed the innocent, when they did decide to kill, they always targeted those with the highest merits. Did Lu Shengxiang not worry that he might become a sacrificial offering when a new emperor, after Zhao Zhuan, ascended the throne?

Song Dongming finally understood that navigating Liyang's officialdom was not difficult. Taian City could accommodate scholars of both talent and virtue like Qi Yanglong and Huan Wen, as well as those who sought fame like Wen Shouren and Jin Lanteng. It could tolerate scholars who solely focused on civil service like Sima Puhua. But it could not tolerate scholars who deep down adhered to the principle of "people are paramount, ruler is secondary," nor could it tolerate those whose merits were so great they could no longer be rewarded.

In Liyang and the Central Plains, it was easy to be an official for the Zhao family, but not necessarily easy to work for the common people.

Many things, even for the emperor, were subject to countless restraints. In earlier years, the "Green-Eyed Child" (Emperor Zhao Dun) managing the grain transport and low-level officials might have been what the late Emperor Zhao Dun himself wanted to do. But the complex forces that had accumulated around the Zhao imperial family for centuries, or the newly ascended influential figures in the court, each had their own demands and selfish motives. It was like a vast, deeply entangled web, omnipresent, covering the Central Plains. Within this vast web, there were various unimaginable complex situations: struggles between imperial power and prime ministerial power, factional disputes, civil and military conflicts, disputes between noble families and commoners, regional conflicts between north and south, conflicts between the capital and local areas, struggles between gentlemen and villains. And within each government office, there were disputes over rank and position, and between offices, there were internal and external conflicts.

Therefore, Song Dongming increasingly approved of Beiliang.

Here, getting things done was relatively simple.

However, at the same time, Song Dongming was also aware that this precious simplicity would quickly deteriorate if the Xu family of Beiliang were no longer limited to the four prefectures of Beiliang Dao in the future.

For example, between him and Bai Yu, between the Lu and Wang families (as "imperial in-laws"), between young people like Xu Beizhi and Chen Xiliang and the old border generals, between respected figures like Huang Chang and notorious ones like Huangfu Ping and Li Mofan, between Beiliang cavalry and infantry, and between various elite border armies, and so on.

And perhaps one day, conflicts would even arise between Xu Fengnian and "everyone else."

At this moment, Song Dongming was filled with mixed emotions.

A voice reached his ears, "Minister Song, what's the news from Beimang?"

Song Dongming snapped back to attention and smiled, "That Beimang princess, who used the alias Fan Bainu, entered the pass from Jizhou and made her way to our Youzhou. She reported her true identity to Huangfu Ping, and under the 'escort' of the Tongguan cavalry, she is expected to arrive at Qingliang Mountain in about two days."

Xu Fengnian was surprised, "What is she coming for?"

Song Dongming shook his head, "I can't guess either. However, she brought several attendants with her, all Qiesixue Guards from the Northern Court Royal Tent."

Xu Fengnian self-mockingly said, "When did Beiliang become so lively?"

Song Dongming looked spirited and sharp. He opened his palm, then clenched his fist, "The fate of the world rests entirely on Beiliang's decision."

Xu Fengnian chuckled inexplicably, saying, "My father, Xu Xiao, loved hearing words like that when he was alive."

Song Dongming smiled and asked, "Does Your Highness not like it?"

Xu Fengnian smiled candidly, "Who in the world doesn't like to be flattered?"

After saying this, Xu Fengnian's expression became somewhat melancholic.

After Xu Xiao achieved fame and success, as he gradually aged, perhaps the old man's only regret in this life was never hearing a single good word from his son.

It seemed there wasn't even one.