Chapter 117: The Youth (Part 2)
"Your Majesty, I beseech your grace to grant me permission to personally lead the Southern Garrison Troops back into Singing Water and engage the Southern Barbarians."
The lamplight flickered slightly, while outside came the sound of rain soaking the ground.
The youth remained bowed, not rising. After a long moment, Emperor Wenxuan spoke leisurely, "Do you know what you are saying?"
"The Southern Barbarians oppress our Central Plains people. Now that my father has died in battle, the jackals and wolves remain uncleansed. I wish to inherit my father's will, re-enter the Southern Barbarian lands, and recapture Singing Water."
Emperor Wenxuan remained silent. Xu Jingfu spoke first, saying, "Second Young Master Xiao, though this old minister can understand your grief and indignation at the loss of General Guangwu, leading troops into battle is not a matter to be decided with a single word."
Seeing that Emperor Wenxuan showed no intention of stopping him, Xu Jingfu continued, "In the Battle of Ming River, General Guangwu's obstinacy and self-assurance delayed the opportunity for victory, causing tens of thousands of Great Wei soldiers to perish in Singing Water—this was already a grave fault. His Majesty, in his benevolence, has chosen not to pursue the matter. Yet tonight, you come not to plead for forgiveness, but to seek military authority."
Xiao Jue said solemnly, "I do this for the people of Great Wei."
"For the people of Great Wei?" Xu Jingfu shook his head. "Second Young Master Xiao, you are only sixteen years old and have never set foot on a battlefield before. Among Great Wei's many great generals, none dare claim they can lead troops into battle. For a young lad like you to speak so boldly is overly arrogant."
"Go back," Emperor Wenxuan said. "Let us speak no more of this matter."
The youth paused, then looked at Emperor Wenxuan. "I am willing to sign a military pledge. If I am defeated, I will willingly accept punishment."
Word by word, his voice rang with conviction.
The eyes of the Second Young Master of the Xiao family had always been exceptionally beautiful—clear as autumn water, yet often carrying a hint of lazy indifference. Now, that indifference had vanished. Something had sunk deep within, while something else gradually rose to the surface, making one feel a sudden, searing intensity.
Impossible to ignore.
"A military pledge is easy to make," Xu Jingfu said. "But if Second Young Master Xiao is defeated, it is merely a matter of his own life. For others, war is no child's play. Great Wei has already suffered greatly from General Guangwu's defeat at Ming River. Should we now stake tens of thousands of Southern Garrison Troops on your word?" He stroked his beard, shaking his head with a sigh. "Great Wei cannot afford to lose again."
Xiao Jue remained silent for a moment. "I dare not."
A glint of shrewdness flashed in Xu Jingfu's eyes.
Xiao Jue bowed once more. "The Southern Barbarian tribes invade our land, slaughter our people. My father died in battle—I cannot bear to live in cowardice. I beg Your Majesty to grant me permission to lead the army into battle. Without seeing victory, I dare not speak recklessly. However many troops Your Majesty is willing to grant me, I will lead them. Even if I die on the battlefield, I will have no regrets."
His attitude was stubborn, carrying the determination of one who stakes everything. It seemed that if Emperor Wenxuan did not agree, he would remain kneeling here indefinitely.
Emperor Wenxuan rubbed his temples. "I do not wish to speak of this matter again."
"Your Majesty is benevolent," the youth's voice showed not the slightest concession.
"Your Majesty," Xu Jingfu spoke again, "Second Young Master Xiao insists on going to battle against the Southern Barbarians—it is a testament to his sincere heart."
Emperor Wenxuan glanced at him. "What, are you speaking on his behalf as well?"
Xu Jingfu hurriedly replied, "This old minister dares not. It is just... Second Young Master Xiao is so confident in himself. Perhaps a miracle may occur. However, Great Wei truly cannot afford to stake tens of thousands of Southern Garrison Troops as a gamble. Therefore..."
"Therefore what?" Emperor Wenxuan asked.
"Three thousand."
Xiao Jue raised his head.The Southern Barbarians had a formidable army of several hundred thousand. Three thousand against a hundred thousand—no commander would accept such a proposal. It was a war destined for defeat.
Emperor Wenxuan took a sip of tea, understanding clearly that Xu Jingfu’s request on the surface was actually meant to make Xiao Jue back down in the face of difficulty. Sending three thousand soldiers to fight the Southern Barbarians was not just an unreasonable demand—it was sheer lunacy. Unless Xiao Jue had a death wish, he would never agree.
The emperor set down his teacup and looked at the stubborn youth standing in the hall. “Xiao Huaijin, if you insist on leading this campaign, I will grant you only three thousand troops. Are you still willing to go?”
Xu Jingfu stood with his hands tucked into his sleeves, watching from the sidelines.
He won’t agree.
The young man slowly lowered his head and bowed to Emperor Wenxuan. “Your servant thanks Your Majesty for this gracious favor.”
Everyone in the hall was stunned.
When Xiao Jue raised his head again, his expression was utterly calm. “The emperor’s word is law. Three thousand it shall be.”
…
Snow lay heavily on the bare branches, and with a sharp crack, one of them snapped under the weight.
Lin Shuanghe was lost in thought.
By the time he learned that Xiao Jue had taken three thousand troops to Singing Water, a long time had already passed. So long that the battle at Guo City Long Valley had already taken place. So long that scholars and literati were cursing Xiao Jue behind his back for his cruelty and tyranny. So long that Xiao Huaijin had become Great Wei’s God of War, General Feng Yun. So long that the two friends had not seen each other for two years.
The world was unpredictable, and opinions varied widely, but no one knew what the young man had felt when he led those three thousand troops out of the city, knowing he would face an army of a hundred thousand.
Xiao Rubi did not know that Xiao Jue had drugged him unconscious and gone to the palace in the middle of the night, returning with only three thousand troops. He thought the emperor had entrusted the Southern Garrison Troops to Xiao Jue, granting him temporary command.
Everyone cursed Xiao Jue behind his back, accusing him of being power-hungry and ambitious. They said he couldn’t even wait until his mother’s seventh-day memorial had passed before rushing to the palace to plead his case, using his silver tongue to deceive the emperor into handing over a hundred thousand Southern Garrison Troops to a greenhorn. How absurd.
But who was truly absurd?
And how absurd this world was.
Xiao Jue left the city in the middle of the night. No one saw the look in his eyes before his departure, and no one knew what was in his heart.
Shuojing witnessed countless interesting events every day. The Xiao family’s affairs drew sighs of regret from some and schadenfreude from others, but the novelty lasted only a few days. After a month, few mentioned it anymore, and after a few more months, it was completely forgotten.
Until the news of victory from the Long Valley battle arrived.
The Second Young Master Xiao had led the Southern Garrison Troops to capture Guo City, drowning sixty thousand Southern Barbarians and shocking the entire nation.
People were astonished by the young man’s surprise tactics in warfare, and equally appalled that someone so young could already be so ruthless.
The world believed he had led a hundred thousand Southern Garrison Troops and could have chosen a gentler approach, at least sparing some prisoners. Yet among the sixty thousand drowned, there were even civilians.
But what could be done?
“Three thousand against a hundred thousand,” He Yan rubbed a small bump on the bamboo stick, pressing it lightly until it hurt her hand. “He had no other choice.”
Lin Shuanghe smiled. “Exactly.”
Who would resort to such methods unless driven to the brink?
The Southern Barbarian forces were stationed in Guo City. Even Xiao Zhongwu had struggled to capture it after prolonged sieges. With only three thousand troops, a direct confrontation was impossible. Xiao Jue ordered his three thousand men to secretly build a dam a hundred li east of Guo City, blocking the flow from the Eastern Mountain Long Valley. As the water accumulated, forming a vast expanse, he gave the order to breach the dam.
Fei Nu asked, “Young Master, have you thought this through? Once this is done, the world will curse you behind your back.”Flooding Guo City, even in victory, would leave a mark of brutality in the annals of history. Throughout the ages, soldiers and generals have always hoped to leave their names in the annals, to achieve immortal glory. Moreover, the current emperor advocates "benevolent governance" and dislikes wanton slaughter. Such a victory would demand far more than it would yield.
The young man sat beneath a tree, gazing toward the distant Guo City. His fingers brushed over a weed growing from a crack in the ground before him, and he muttered self-mockingly, "Do I have any other choice?"
Fei Nu remained silent.
"What others say about me doesn’t matter," he said, rising to his feet. His black cloak swept a trail behind him as he commanded, "Open the floodgates."
Fei Nu neither spoke nor moved.
The young man strode forward, his voice cold and detached. "I said, open the floodgates."
A thousand-foot torrent of floodwaters surged downward.
Guo City was submerged, the floodwaters pouring in from the east and bursting out from the west. The Southern Barbarian soldiers and civilians trapped within the city had no means of escape, and all sixty thousand drowned.
The city fell, and Xiao Jue achieved victory without a battle.
When the news reached the court, even Emperor Wenxuan was stunned.
After Xiao Zhongwu’s death, officials who supported the Xiao family had been suppressed by Xu Xiang’s faction. Now, with Xiao Jue’s great victory, they finally had a chance to hold their heads high. Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Jue submitted a memorial to Emperor Wenxuan, requesting command of the Southern Garrison Troops to press forward and wipe out the Southern Barbarians in one fell swoop.
Emperor Wenxuan granted authority bit by bit.
Xiao Jue’s victories were won battle by battle.
Over the years, the Southern Barbarians were driven back step by step, ultimately collapsing in disarray. The young man who had once led three thousand soldiers out of the city alone in the dead of night had finally become the General Feng Yun, whose very name struck fear into the hearts of all.
No one cared about the truth anymore. What people remembered was his ruthless ambition for military glory, his disregard for human life, and his merciless slaughter. They remembered his arrogance and overbearing nature, his utter lack of regard for others—how he had executed the only son of the Minister of Revenue without a second thought, showing not an ounce of mercy.
But had he ever wanted it to be this way?
In their youth, they had studied together at the Virtuous Prosperity Academy, reciting verses like, "Youth has its own youthful arrogance, scorning Kunlun, laughing at Lüliang, sharpening the sword for years, now revealing its edge." How spirited, bright, and forthright they had been. Yet in the years that followed, that brilliance and radiance were never seen again.
The handsome youth in white robes and a silver crown had become the jade-faced killing general in black armor and dark robes—a transformation hardly worth celebrating.
From beginning to end, he had always been alone.
The snow fell heavier now.
So heavy that standing still, one could already feel the chill. Footprints left clear marks in the snow, but before long, they would be buried under the heavy snowfall, leaving no trace behind.
"I had no idea that during the battle of Guo City, the Commander only had three thousand troops," He Yan said.
"Do you know how the Nine Banners Battalion came to be?" Lin Shuanghe asked.
He Yan shook her head.
"The emperor ordered Xiao Jue to select three thousand soldiers from the Southern Garrison Troops himself—that was His Majesty’s final act of mercy toward Huaijin. Huaijin stood before the Southern Garrison Troops and asked them to choose whether they were willing to follow him to Singing Water."
Before they set out, no one believed this battle could be won. It was a suicide mission. Every soldier who stepped forward did so with the resolve to die, following this young general to the end.
"The first eight hundred who stepped forward later became the Nine Banners Battalion," he said with a smile.No wonder, He Yan thought to herself. Over all these years, she had never seen Xiao Jue easily accept anyone into the Nine Banners Battalion. The bond formed through mutual support in times of hardship was something that could never be matched by later displays of excellence, loyalty, courage, wit, or capability. Even those who were injured in the Nine Banners Battalion and could no longer return to the battlefield would be settled by Xiao Jue with a proper place to go.
Because they were worth it.
"I didn’t know about these things at the time," Lin Shuanghe said, brushing a snowflake off his sleeve. "Later, when my grandfather was treating Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, she mentioned it. Only then did my grandfather tell me. Over the years, fragments of rumors from various parts of the court were pieced together, revealing the true shape of the matter."
"Did Commander Xiao not tell you these things himself?" He Yan asked. She remembered that during their studies at the Virtuous Prosperity Academy, Xiao Jue, Lin Shuanghe, and another young man had been very close. At that time, Xiao Jue was facing difficulties and would likely have confided in his friends.
"To be honest, in recent years, I’ve only met him a handful of times," Lin Shuanghe shook his head. "The few times he wrote to me, it was only to borrow money."
"Borrow money?"
"Surprising, isn’t it?" Lin Shuanghe’s tone lightened a little. "The Xiao family’s original wealth was confiscated when General Guangwu’s incident occurred. In the first two years when he led troops against the Southern Barbarians, supplies were scarce. His elder brother, being an honest official, was not wealthy either. Xiao Jue couldn’t bear to burden his brother, so he came to me. Our Lin family’s pharmacies are spread throughout Great Wei, and in the capital, they are especially favored by noblewomen, earning a fortune daily. So, he treated me like his father, asking for pocket money."
He Yan: "..."
"Although he has won many battles over the years and received plenty of spoils and rewards, it still isn’t enough to repay what I lent him back then," Lin Shuanghe chuckled. "Of course, I’m very generous. If he can’t repay it, so be it."
He Yan: "...It’s good to have a friend like you."
She meant it sincerely.
Lin Shuanghe waved his hand modestly. "You flatter me. That’s why I was so surprised when Xiao Jue took the initiative to write to me this time, asking me to come to Liang Province."
"Commander Xiao actively sought out Physician Lin to come to Liang Province?" He Yan asked in surprise.
"That’s right. The letter said one of his trusted aides had injured their eyes and asked me to come treat them. I thought it was Fei Nu or Chi Wu who was injured. But halfway here, another letter arrived saying the person’s eyes had healed. Since I couldn’t turn back midway, and I heard he was in Qingnan, I simply changed my route to meet him there. Then I followed him to Liangzhou Guard to see where he’s living now."
He Yan was somewhat taken aback.
The "trusted aide with injured eyes" mentioned in Xiao Jue’s letter was likely her. She had been injured by an assassin at Sun Xiangfu’s banquet, but she quickly realized it wasn’t serious. At the time, she hadn’t known that Xiao Jue had already sent for Lin Shuanghe to examine her.
Although Lin Shuanghe only treated women, as the grandson of Lin Qingtan, his medical skills were extraordinary, and no one dared to underestimate him.
This man wasn’t as heartless as he claimed to be.
As they spoke, the two had already reached He Yan’s door.
"Here," Lin Shuanghe handed the cloak in his hand to He Yan. "Take this to him."
He Yan: "...Why me?"Lin Shuanghe thought for a moment: "Because Xiao Huaijin must be in a rather foul mood right now. If I go to join the fun, I’ll probably get scolded. But you’re different," he leaned closer to He Yan and whispered, "A cute and sweet little girl going over—no matter what, he’ll rein in his temper and won’t embarrass you."
He Yan twitched the corner of her mouth: "Does Physician Lin think Commander Xiao is the type to show tenderness toward women?"
Moreover, she doubted the image she held in Xiao Jue’s mind had anything to do with "cute and sweet."
"Yes, of course he is," Lin Shuanghe smiled at her, gently pushing her toward the room. "He discovered your identity but didn’t immediately kick you out of Liangzhou Guard. That proves he treats you well enough. Go on, be careful not to trip."
He Yan: "Wait!"
"I’ll come see you tomorrow."
He Yan was pushed into her own room.
The door closed behind her, leaving the room empty. The food Cheng Li Su and Song Taotao had brought earlier was still by the bedside. He Yan leaned on her walking stick and made her way over, sitting down on the bed.
The black cloak was right beside her. He Yan glanced toward the other side of the partition door, wondering if Xiao Jue was there now.
If he was, would it be awkward to just bring it over like this?
...
The window was open, and snowflakes like grains of salt drifted into the room with the wind.
The young commander stood by the window, gazing at the snowstorm outside.
In the dungeon, Lei Hou’s words echoed in his ears.
The snow grew heavier, almost blinding. The light in his eyes gradually dimmed.
As a child, he had studied martial arts and classics with a master in the mountains. Before descending, his teacher told him: "You will walk a very difficult path. You must walk it alone, without looking back."
Back then, he was young and didn’t understand what those words meant. It wasn’t until the tidal wave of fate crashed down, capsizing the ship carrying his youthful hopes, leaving him adrift alone in the sea, that he suddenly realized.
So that’s what it meant.
Xiao Zhongwu only had two sons. Xiao Jing was flawless, pure and noble—how could he be involved in such matters? If one of them had to walk this path, bearing the weight of killing, misunderstandings, infamy, and loneliness, it might as well be him.
He didn’t mind.
So many years had passed. He didn’t care about misunderstandings, nor did he fear doubt. How could one lose something they had never possessed in the first place?
Only...
Only on such a snowy day, it was just too cold.
"Creak—"
A sound came from behind.
Xiao Jue turned around. From behind the partition door in the room, a head poked out. He Yan, leaning on her walking stick, struggled to enter, still holding his cloak.
"Sorry," the youth said earnestly, "I knocked for a while, but you didn’t answer, so I..."
Xiao Jue: "So you picked the lock and invited yourself in?"
He Yan replied sheepishly, "Don’t be angry, we’re neighbors." She sneezed, "Achoo—why didn’t you close the window? It’s so cold."
How could she say something like "we’re neighbors" so casually? Xiao Jue couldn’t be bothered to respond and closed the window.
He Yan felt wronged too. She had knocked on the door for a long time, but Xiao Jue hadn’t acknowledged her. She thought he wasn’t there and figured it was just as well—better to avoid him when he was in a bad mood. So she took the chance to quietly pick the lock, slip in, leave the cloak, and leave without having to face him and think of how to comfort him.As it turned out, he had been in the room all along. Ignoring someone like that was truly disrespectful.
"Commander, your cloak." He Yan handed him the garment.
Xiao Jue glanced at her. "Just leave it on the couch."
He Yan gave an "oh" and placed it on the couch, then sat down on a stool in the room. Seeing him still standing there, lost in thought, she guessed he was still upset by what Lei Hou had said in the dungeon and couldn't help feeling a pang of sympathy.
During her years in the Pacify Yue Army, she had never known that Xiao Jue had endured such hardships. If it were her, it wouldn’t matter—He Yan never considered herself special—but for something like this to happen to Xiao Jue, it felt as though fate had been too cruel.
It seemed the heavens weren’t Xiao Jue’s real father either. Whatever was given, something of equal value was taken away. Worse still, it was like a shrewd merchant who never made a losing deal.
She tried to make conversation. "Commander, I must say, this cloak of yours is truly beautiful! Where did you buy it? How much did it cost?"
Xiao Jue replied, "It was bestowed by the imperial palace."
He Yan: "..."
He was clearly unwilling to engage further, deliberately giving an answer that left no room for follow-up. He Yan hesitated, wondering if she should leave. Remembering how Xiao Jue had given her the medicine from the Mandarin Duck Pot when she was injured, she sighed inwardly.
She was someone who repaid kindness with kindness and grudges with retribution. Now that Xiao Jue was feeling low, leaving just like that would be disloyal.
"Commander, the wound on my waist hurts so much," He Yan changed the subject, trying to divert his attention elsewhere. "Will it leave any lasting effects?"
"Hurts?" Xiao Jue sat down at the table, his tone indifferent. "Seeing as you can still get out of bed and wander around, it shouldn’t be a big problem."
He Yan: "..."
She said, "Commander, you shouldn’t take out your frustration with Lei Hou on me."
Right now, he was like a firecracker, unable to hold a proper conversation.
Xiao Jue flipped through the pages of the book in front of him, not even turning his head. "You’re overthinking it."
He Yan watched him. It was likely a report from the Liangzhou Guard about the casualties from Rida Muzi’s surprise attack. He sat at the table, carefully reviewing it.
Xiao Jue really had it tough.
He Yan thought to herself. He had first gone to Qingnan, then rushed back nonstop with the Southern Garrison Troops, led the army to annihilate Rida Muzi’s forces, and settled the wounded and fallen soldiers. After that, he interrogated Lei Hou, endured his taunts, and now he was back reviewing military documents without a moment’s rest.
He Yan, despite being injured, had at least managed a solid night’s sleep. But this man hadn’t rested at all from start to finish.
Yet back in the Virtuous Prosperity Academy, he had been the one who loved to slack off the most. So even Xiao Jue couldn’t escape this fate?
His back was always as straight as a tree, as if he never grew tired, but he must feel exhaustion too.
He Yan sat on the chair, watching his back, and said, "Commander, don’t take Lei Hou’s words to heart."
Receiving no response from Xiao Jue, He Yan didn’t mind and continued on her own. "He’s an enemy, after all. Of course, he’d be happiest to see you angry. Everything he said was meant to provoke you. It’s not just you he insulted—he insulted me too. Uh, he called me a sissy." He Yan began to ramble again. "He also said I had hidden ailments, that my fiancée would eventually run off with someone else, that I’d end up alone, and that someday I’d be reduced to selling tofu in the east of the city with no one buying it."This attempt at comfort was rather clumsy. After He Yan finished speaking, even she felt it was not very thoughtful. But what else could she do? In truth, she had rarely been comforted by others, and thus, she wasn’t very skilled at comforting others either.
Some matters simply have no clear right or wrong; one makes decisions based on their position and circumstances. Outsiders cannot understand the feeling of carrying everything alone—it’s not a pleasant experience, and she had truly felt it herself.
So, she could also understand Xiao Jue’s feelings quite well.
Xiao Jue still couldn’t be bothered to pay her any attention, his gaze never leaving the military documents before him.
He Yan stood up, leaning on her cane as she struggled to walk over to his side. She clenched her right hand into a fist and placed it on his desk.
“I’ll give you something,” she said. “I’m leaving.”
She slowly dragged her steps back to her room and closed the middle door.
After He Yan left, Xiao Jue stopped his movements and looked at the table.
Where her palm had just rested lay a sesame candy.
It looked very sweet.
The historical event of flooding Guocheng has a real-life counterpart in the Battle of Yancheng during Bai Qi’s campaign for the Qin state, though it has been slightly adapted. Interested readers can look it up. This is not meant to whitewash Xiao Jue—it’s just that in such matters, there is no clear right or wrong, only differing perspectives. If there is any fault, it lies in the fact that war itself is inherently wrong, as both victory and defeat bring suffering to the common people. However, this story is merely an escapist, wish-fulfillment romance set in a fictional world, without much depth. I write casually, and you can read it casually—as long as it’s thrilling and sweet enough (covering my head and running away).
(End of Chapter)
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