Chapter 972: Li Yishan

Xu Fengnian stood up and put down his pen. He had only written half of the letter destined for Fengxiang Military Town when he greeted Yang Shenxing, leaving the desk temporarily free. The Deputy Jiedushi, whose cultivation in official matters was profound, no less than Li Gongde's, naturally assented calmly.

Xu Fengnian sent the Fushui Manor spy chief back to the interrogation room and led the veiled woman alone to the study next to the Second Hall's signing room. When he personally closed the door gently, the woman removed her veil, revealing a face that could truly be called devastatingly beautiful. Her charm was indeed so captivating that she could make a humble study glow. Within Jubei City, probably only the nation-toppling beauty Jiang Ni could truly surpass her. When Xu Fengnian saw the Fushui Manor spy's lip-reading, the words that came to his mind were not the more obvious "Dongyue" (meaning East Yue, a state), but the relatively obscure "Dongyue" (meaning East Peak, a name). This was the real reason for Xu Fengnian's caution. One could even say it was an unknown, long wait. Xu Fengnian had been waiting for the truth to come to light since before he inherited his title. His solo journey to Northern Mang as the Crown Prince was merely a move at the end of the opening phase of a game. Even though the first thrilling war against Northern Mang had ended, and the second was in full swing, it was still only the mid-game of this grand Spring and Autumn chess match. Only with the arrival of this woman did the endgame truly begin.

Everyone knew Nalan Youci, the last surviving strategist from the Spring and Autumn era, who in the Southern Marches resembled a feudatory prince more than King Yan Zhao Bing. He was often accompanied by five personal maids, each with a beauty that could topple nations, and their peculiar nicknames were Fengdu, Dongyue, Xishu, Sanshi, and Chengli—a total of five people, ten characters.

She was Dongyue, one of Nalan Youci's maids. Facing this young prince of a different surname, who held the greatest military authority in the Liyang Dynasty, she remained composed, smiling slightly. "Since Your Highness is so nervous, you must already know about my master's early schemes with those late acquaintances. That's even better; it saves me the trouble of explaining."

Xu Fengnian did not sit down; he merely stood near the ordinary boxwood desk. He didn't offer her a chair either. They stood facing each other, and he spoke directly, "All of my master's chess pieces, including the former King of the Northern Court, Xu Huainan, are now dead. Who do you have left on your master's side?"

The maid Dongyue chuckled, "Why doesn't Your Highness take a guess?"

Xu Fengnian narrowed his phoenix eyes, his expression darkening.

She ignored his expression, tutting, "It is widely said in the Central Plains that 'ten years to cultivate Song Yushu, a hundred years to cultivate Xu Fengnian, a thousand years to cultivate Lu Dongxuan.' Your Highness's current demeanor, however, does not quite live up to your reputation."

The Nine States of Spring and Autumn were a game of chess. The Hongjia Northern Flight, as the apex of the Spring and Autumn conflicts, served as both the endgame and the opening move. Four scholars from the Central Plains, originally from different factions—Huang Longshi, one of the Three Masters of Spring and Autumn; Li Yishan of Tingchao Pavilion; Li Yishan of the Southern Marches; and Yuan Benxi, the Imperial Tutor of Liyang—joined forces with a shared understanding to orchestrate this scheme. Since the establishment of Great Qin, cavalry from the northern plains had repeatedly advanced south to attack the passes, bringing chaos to the Central Plains. Scholars and commoners fled and migrated, retreating repeatedly from north to south, a phenomenon later traditionally known as the Southern Migration of the Gentry. Examples include "The Liu Clan's Refuge in Shu" at the end of the Yongxi era and the "Ganlu Southern Migration" after the fall of the Da Feng Dynasty. The Jiang clan of Great Chu, the most powerful among the Nine States during the Spring and Autumn period, was considered the true inheritor of Da Feng's legacy in the Central Plains precisely because seven or eight out of ten of the over three hundred aristocratic clans, large and small, involved in the Ganlu Southern Migration relocated to the Guangling River region. However, the Hongjia Northern Flight, which involved two major migrations and two routes, was the exact opposite: from south to north. The first wave of northern-bound refugees was understandable, mostly comprising remnants from the states of Dongyue, Later Song, and Later Sui, who either voluntarily or involuntarily moved into the Liyang capital region. Yet, about half a year later, a larger exodus erupted. The most unyielding Western Chu, the Southern Tang accustomed to lavish and decadent lives, the Western Shu with the strongest attachment to their homeland, along with a few remnants from Northern Han and Great Wei, formed dozens of torrents, all surging northward. They ultimately converged primarily in what is now Liangyou Liangzhou of Beiliang Dao and Hezhou of Lianghuai Dao, successfully escaping into Gusai State and Longyao State of the Northern Mang Southern Court almost just before "Butcher" Xu Xiao was enfeoffed as the King of Beiliang.

Amidst this, several deeply hidden critical moves emerged. One was when Xu Xiao, then enfeoffed as a prince of a different surname by Emperor Zhao Li of Liyang, suddenly declared that he would kill all the scholarly elite of Western Chu, vowing to block the mouth of the Guangling River with their corpses. Because the Battle of Western Leibi had been so horrific, both the defeated Jiang clan of Great Chu and the victorious Xu Xiao harbored immense resentment. Thus, when the immensely powerful Xu Xiao publicly uttered these words in the Tai'an City court, it not only shook the imperial court and the commoners but also drove the remnants of the shattered Western Chu to even deeper despair. It was clear that "Cripple" Xu wasn't even giving them a chance to live as peaceful subjects. What could they do but flee?

Another instance involved Zhao Bing, son of Zhao Li and later King Yan of the Southern Marches, who, by rights, should have taken control of Western Chu's territory based on his military achievements. Not only did he fail to go to the wealthy Guangling Dao, but he also missed out on Qingzhou of Jing'an Dao, which dominated the Central Plains' heartland. Zhao Li had initially only intended for this son, "most like me," to go to Huainan Dao, probably hoping that, with Xu Xiao's enfeoffment in Beiliang Dao already a certainty, the warlike Zhao Bing could become a neighbor to Xu Xiao, Liyang's sole prince of a different surname. However, in the end, Zhao Bing, who had once considered going beyond the Liangliao Pass, ended up in the most unexpected place: the Southern Marches, a region with vast territory but rife with barbarians and miasma. Unofficial histories circulated that the bloodthirsty Zhao Bing, before leaving the capital, had chopped down a thousand-year-old cypress in his princely residence with his saber, vowing to slaughter all Southern Tang youths "taller than a cartwheel" to vent his anger. Coincidentally, during Zhao Bing's southward journey, Southern Tang, whose resistance in the late Spring and Autumn period was by no means fierce, actually rebelled, killing thousands of Gu Jiantang's soldiers stationed there. Zhao Bing, who had originally intended to deliberately spar with the new King of Guangling, Zhao Yi, in Guangling Dao for amusement, had to suddenly quicken his pace and rush southward.

The third instance was Xu Xiao's enfeoffment as king being the earliest, but his taking up residence in his fiefdom being the latest.

For the first two crucial moves, which the world had not deeply pondered, Liyang's Imperial Tutor Yuan Benxi, known as "Half-Inch Tongue," watched coldly from the sidelines because he was pleased with the outcome. The Zhao clan, whom he served, truly wished for everlasting peace to be proclaimed throughout the land. To achieve this, they needed to ensure that the powerful aristocratic clans, those "centuries-old nations, thousand-year-old families," would "die if moved from their roots." They wanted these clans, under the potentially prophetic threats and intimidation of the two great feudatory kings, to obediently relocate to the Liyang capital region, directly under the emperor's gaze, so that "all heroes of the world would fall into the Zhao family's jar," just like the imperial examination scholars. At the same time, this would eliminate future troubles, both preventing the remnants of various states from rebelling without their foundations and ensuring that when Liyang decisively launched its northern expedition against the grasslands, there would be absolutely no worries from the south. Unfortunately, at this juncture, unexpected complications arose. Xu Xiao's army moved extremely slowly westward, taking their time to admire the scenery along the way, even lingering in Jizhou for a full month. When Yuan Benxi and the Liyang court realized something was amiss, they ordered Cai Nan, the top general under Great General Gu Jiantang (who served as Minister of War and was garrisoned in Jiangnan Dao), to lead his troops to intercept the torrent of refugees that had suddenly converged and headed northwest, forcing them to turn back east toward Tai'an City. However, Cai Nan's army, due to its large cavalry force and unfamiliarity with the northwestern terrain, ultimately failed to stop that mighty flow of Spring and Autumn refugees.

At that time, the Han family of Jizhou, who had for generations guarded the border against the nomadic cavalry, suffered their tragic annihilation precisely because they had held back their troops during that incident. Although the Old Grand Tutor of Liyang, who was Zhang Julu's mentor and father-in-law, did have personal grievances with the Han family of Jizhou, to claim that he alone caused the downfall of a large, loyal family that had served for generations would both overestimate the court influence of that scholar, nominally the highest official below the emperor, and underestimate the Old Grand Tutor's integrity as a scholar. The truth was that the Liyang court dared not openly antagonize the Beiliang border army, which was already "heaven high and emperor far." Thus, they could only make an example of the Jizhou Han family, who were "by their bedside." Additionally, they took the opportunity to have Yang Shenxing, also a meritorious official from the Spring and Autumn period, lead troops to garrison Jizhou. With Cai Nan's troops also stationed at the Beiliang Dao border, they strove to severely restrict the retreat routes of the Beiliang Iron Cavalry.

In this chess game, four strategists, acting as grandmasters, sat in the four directions of the Central Plains, jointly rolling up their sleeves to make their moves.

Ultimately, the one destined to pick up the chess pieces from the board was the Crown Prince of Beiliang, who had inexplicably traveled to Northern Mang.

Inside the study, only the faint scent of books lingered as the man and woman fell into a long silence.

Xu Fengnian suppressed the turmoil within him, trying to speak calmly. "Is Wang Sui, the Prince Consort of Dongyue, Nalan Youci's chess piece?"

The woman's eyes widened, and the surprise on her face was not feigned. She asked curiously, "Didn't Master Li mention it to Your Highness?"

Xu Fengnian's heart stirred, but he said expressionlessly, "He did not."

How intelligent and perceptive Nalan Youci's maid was! She immediately grasped the hidden meaning, suddenly realizing, "So, Master Li had already changed his mind when he passed away."

She tilted her head. "Since Master Li changed his original intention before his death and didn't want you to bear this heavy burden, why is Your Highness still so persistent?"

Xu Fengnian stated directly and gravely, "People are dying everywhere in Beiliang. I don't have time to waste words with you!"

She glanced at the young prince, whose left hand was gripping his saber hilt, and raised an eyebrow, a look of eagerness on her face. "The Beiliang war saber has always been called the 'Magnificent Xu Style' by military strategists in the Central Plains. This implies that all war sabers in the world emulate the Xu saber. Your Highness, may I have a look?"

Xu Fengnian sneered, "Can a dead person lift a saber?"

She feigned fright and touched her chest. "This isn't the demeanor of someone asking for a favor, is it? No wonder my master said about the northwestern frontier..."

There was a sudden, loud bang.

The young woman, a beauty of national renown, was pressed against the door, a hand pressed firmly against her smooth, fair forehead.

Blood seeped from the corner of her mouth as they stared at each other. At first, a mocking smile still played on her lips, but when she looked into the young prince's eyes, she saw a brutal intensity that he was desperately trying to control.

On the verge of death, she inexplicably recalled her master's laughing remark: when pushed to the extreme of anger, scholars wished to chop off the saber-wielding arms of all martial artists, and martial artists similarly wished to chop off the book-holding hands of all scholars.

Just as she thought Xu Fengnian would kill her, even if it meant burying that secret forever, a light but clear knock sounded at the door. Then she saw the young prince's expression suddenly change, transforming into a clean, warm smile. After an undisguised glance of disgust at her, he released his hand, casually waved her towards a wall, and gently opened the door. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and turned to look, only to see a face that even she found stunning. The woman, seemingly of the same age, immediately looked around after stepping across the threshold. Upon seeing her, she quickly sized up Xu Fengnian from head to toe, then clumsily put on a naive act of "I didn't see anything." The woman carrying a pot of tea calmly said to Xu Fengnian, "Hehe, that girl said you had a guest, so I brought you some tea."

Xu Fengnian's mouth twitched.

That girl Jia Jiajia, who was incredibly observant and attentive in the princely residence, must have added, "The guest is a beautiful woman."

Otherwise, given Jiang Ni's temperament, she wouldn't have bothered whether an Emperor of Liyang or an Emperor of Northern Mang had arrived in Xu Fengnian's study.

Jiang Ni seemed to have just noticed the living person rooted to the wall. She raised the warm teapot in her hand and asked, "Miss, are you thirsty? Would you like some tea?"

Dongyue, the maid who had already wiped away the blood, deliberately adjusted her collar and bit her lip, as if still feeling lingering fear, truly appearing piteous and charming.

Jiang Ni's eyes immediately widened, and she secretly stepped on the King of Beiliang's foot, twisting it hard.

Dongyue only saw the unfortunate prince, whose back was to her, seeming to take a deep breath. Then he placed his hand on the head of the peerless beauty—a gesture far, far gentler than the one he had used on her own forehead. He chuckled, "What are you thinking? This 'Auntie' who is skilled in maintaining youth comes from the Southern Marches. She's Nalan Youci's personal maid and is here to discuss important matters with me. We had a little spar just now, and I didn't control my strength properly, so I accidentally hurt her."

The 'old person' (referring to Jiang Ni, playfully) glanced at the pale woman. Although still half-believing, half-doubting, the words "Auntie" were crucial, making her feel slightly relieved.

She tossed the teapot to Xu Fengnian and turned to leave.

Xu Fengnian, holding the teapot in one hand, prepared to close the door with the other. Unexpectedly, Jiang Ni, before taking more than a few steps, suddenly turned around, stared directly at him, and irritably asked, "It's scorching hot, and the windows aren't open. Why are you closing the door?"

Xu Fengnian sheepishly withdrew his hand, saying helplessly, "Alright, alright, I won't close the door."

She pouted, turned around again, and muttered to herself, not quietly, "If you have nothing to hide, why not close the door openly and magnanimously?"

Xu Fengnian sighed, gently pulled a chair, turned to place the teapot on the desk, took out two white porcelain teacups purchased from the market outside Jubei City, and after sitting down, motioned to the maid Dongyue with a wave of his hand, "Sit down and have some tea."

She hesitated, but then moved a chair, sitting opposite the young prince across the desk.

The earlier incident where they had fallen out and torn off their polite facades seemed to have never happened. At this moment, the study was calm and peaceful.

All of this was due to the woman who had brought the tea.

Her thoughts were somewhat complicated.

In the Central Plains now, specifically in Liyang's Tai'an City, renowned as the most prosperous city under heaven, countless outgoing young ladies from prominent families had nearly eloped together to Liangzhou, just to catch a glimpse of Xu Fengnian. This was truly no exaggerated rumor or common joke.

Life is but a hundred years, and a hundred years to cultivate Xu Fengnian.

This new King of Beiliang had, one might say, achieved his success through unconventional means.

She had originally not believed that any man in the world could surpass her master in charm. Today, having witnessed it firsthand, while she still felt he was not quite as good as her master, he was not far behind.

Xu Fengnian leaned forward to pour her a cup of tea.

The woman's thoughts were as deep as the sea. Dongyue, the maid who had earlier been subtly defiant yet polite in confronting the young prince, straightened her expression. She did not pick up the teacup, and slowly said, "Before I left, my master told me that the matter of the chess pieces was only a telepathic understanding between him and Master Li of Tingchao Pavilion. After they parted ways on their journey to Tai'an City that year, they had no further contact. My master also said that because Master Li had spoken candidly at the time, he was able to guess the identity of Master Li's chosen chess piece. Given Master Li's caution, it could only be Xu Huainan. In fact, Xu Huainan was indeed the most unexpected, actually succeeding in becoming the King of the Northern Court in Northern Mang. My master further said that, given Xu Huainan's contradictory personality, this chess piece might not have lasted to the end. Of course, Xu Huainan would certainly not leak secrets; at most, he would choose to give up."

Xu Fengnian nodded. "When Xu Huainan saw me by the Ruoshui River back then, he could have lived, but the old man still chose to die. Perhaps he didn't believe Beiliang could defeat Northern Mang. Rather than feeling ashamed towards the Central Plains and then towards the Empress of Northern Mang, rather than being disappointed, he preferred to be out of sight, out of mind, doing nothing at all."

The maid Dongyue raised her teacup, took a slow sip, and said softly, "My master said his chess pieces were far less important than Master Li's, and there were more of them, exactly ten people. However, twenty years later, most have perished: three died of illness, two committed suicide, and two more were eliminated by the assassins my master had placed near them due to their thoughts of betrayal. So, this trip to Beiliang is for me, Dongyue, to convey a message for my master. As Your Highness previously guessed, Wang Sui is one of my master's most carefully placed chess pieces. However, this former Prince Consort of Dongyue, one of the Four Great Generals of Spring and Autumn, is just like Xu Huainan, showing signs of indecision. Compared to another chess piece whose name is also revealed within my name, Wang Sui is more selfish and harder to control."

Xu Fengnian remained silent, deep in thought.

Her expression turned solemn as she said, "Please remember the other person, Your Highness. His surname is Wang, given name Du. He once called himself 'Old Man of the Hills.' The elder himself hasn't achieved much in the Southern Court, but his family has nurtured a formidable young man, Wang Jingchong, who is currently Northern Mang's Winter Nabao. And the Wang family is absolutely loyal to the Central Plains, beyond any doubt."

Xu Fengnian frowned. The Beiliang border army, from top to bottom, was well acquainted with Wang Jingchong, the fierce frontier general of the Southern Court. This man was currently leading his direct lineage troops to Gusai State, tasked with intercepting Yu Luandao's cavalry unit, which had advanced deep alone!

Xu Fengnian suddenly asked, "And the last remaining third chess piece?"

She gently shifted, "Regarding this person, my master said it is not yet time to activate them."

Xu Fengnian was stunned for a moment, then self-mockingly said, "Could it be that I have to wait until I defeat Northern Mang?"

She candidly replied, "My master didn't say, so I naturally don't know."

Xu Fengnian didn't press the maid further, no longer digging for more details. Knowing the identities of Wang Du and Wang Jingchong as chess pieces was already an unexpected pleasant surprise.

She didn't finish her tea, standing up. "My master's final words were that Huang Longshi ultimately chose Zhao Zhu, the Crown Prince of King Yan, as the true Son of Heaven. That's why the Southern Marches army was able to advance north so smoothly. My master hopes Your Highness will rest assured while guarding the Northwest. When success is achieved, and you help Zhao Zhu complete the historic feat of incorporating the vast grasslands into the new Liyang territory for the first time, Your Highness and the Beiliang border army will certainly not be mistreated."

Xu Fengnian snorted in disdain.

Before she left, she blinked, the corners of her mouth turning up, and whispered, "I've said so much 'my master said,' but I actually want to add an aside: Your Highness, you are even more impressive than I imagined."

Far from showing any satisfaction, Xu Fengnian immediately and frantically called out towards the window, "Jia Jiajia, you are forbidden to tell Jiang Ni that!"

The bewildered maid Dongyue only vaguely heard a burst of laughter from beyond the window behind her.

Xu Fengnian reached up and rubbed his forehead, sighing.

"I'm done for."

The maid Dongyue picked up her veil again and performed a full curtsy towards the young prince, who was about to rise and see her off. Considerately, she gently advised, "Your Highness needn't see me out."

Xu Fengnian glanced at the teapot, smiling wryly. "From now on, forget about tea. It'll be a miracle if I don't drink arsenic."

She departed with a smile.

She walked directly out of the princely residence. After leaving Jubei City on horseback, escorted by Fushui Manor spies, she looked back at the imposing city walls, and grief welled up within her, bringing her to the verge of tears. She didn't know if it was for her master or for someone else.

Inside the city, Xu Fengnian walked alone towards the military office of the princely residence, sat back down in Yang Shenxing's seat, and resumed writing his letter.

He suddenly paused, looking outside.

During this secret meeting, Nalan Youci's maid had indeed spoken many truths, all from Nalan Youci's heart. However, it was entirely possible that there were nine truths for every lie, all part of a grand scheme.

And he, too, had no choice but to mix truth with falsehood.

But none of that mattered.

What saddened Xu Fengnian was that the emaciated strategist who had confined himself to the top floor of Tingchao Pavilion for twenty years—an unparalleled national scholar with the world in his heart—had, for the sake of an unworthy student like him, even ceased to care about who the world would ultimately belong to.

That man, who clearly originally [had certain intentions], yet only before his death, did not fully explain to Xu Fengnian that chess game—the Spring and Autumn chess game that he, Li Yishan, had personally orchestrated and considered his proudest achievement. He left nothing behind, no last words, no writings.

Why did he change his mind at the very end?

Xu Fengnian couldn't understand.

After finishing the letter and handing it to the interrogation room, he took a pot of "green ant wine" and went to the rooftop ridge of the tallest building in Jubei City. He sat cross-legged, gazing south.

It was said that his master's southern homeland was a picturesque place of beautiful mountains and clear waters, with stone arch bridges everywhere.

Xu Fengnian did not drink the wine. He lay down, hugging the wine flask, looked up at the sky, and tears streamed down his face.

Perhaps it was only when he secretly thought of Xu Xiao and Li Yishan, when he remembered them, that this young prince, who seemed to possess everything yet seemed on the verge of losing everything, would cautiously feel a sense of grievance.