Chapter 137: "Deliver a Message to Wei Qishan for Me..."
The warhorse galloped through the city gate's lengthy narrow passage. After charging into the barbican, Xiao Li and his men sharply reined in, forcing the horses to rear up on their hind legs before halting their forward momentum.
The horses' manes were thoroughly soaked by sleet, their nostrils exhaling frosty white breath. The hem of the men's robes and their weapons dripped with water droplets, their eyes dark and fierce, their exhaled breath similarly forming pale mist in the air.
The frantic gallop had driven the biting wind like steel needles straight into their throats and lungs—a truly unpleasant sensation.
The Wei soldiers who came forward to take their reins were intimidated by their lingering battle aura, momentarily frozen in hesitation.
"Bring the wine!"
Liao Jiang's booming voice and hearty laughter echoed from the watchtower. He, Yuan Fang, and other Wei generals descended the city steps in large strides, heading directly toward Xiao Li's group.
Xiao Li's sleet-dampened hair, previously swept back by the cold wind, now fell somewhat disheveled at his temples. His unadorned face retained the ferocity fresh from the battlefield, radiating formidable vigor.
Swinging his long leg over, he dismounted. Just as he uttered "General" to Liao Jiang and Yuan Fang approaching, Liao Jiang gave him a hearty slap on the shoulder.
"The younger generation surpasses the old! Truly remarkable!" Liao Jiang grinned broadly, turning to Yuan Fang. "I was just telling you this lad is the God of Tai Sui! But looking at his impressive appearance, he's more like the Divine Lord of Clear Origin and Wondrous Way enshrined in Taoist temples!"
Xiao Li clasped his fists in salute, the bloodstains on his arm wraps having faded from melted snow. "You flatter me, General. I dare not accept such praise."
As he spoke, aides brought over wine, presenting it to Liao Jiang: "General, the wine is here."
Liao Jiang patted Xiao Li's shoulder twice more, saying "No need for modesty," then took the wine jar and personally broke the seal. After sniffing the aroma at the rim, he laughed: "This is the only jar of Dukang liquor I saved for celebrating our victory!"
Aides gathered several dozen wine bowls on trays. After Liao Jiang personally filled all the bowls, he tossed the empty jar to the ground, lifted a bowl from the tray, and declared boldly to Xiao Li's group: "Fine wine deserves heroes! I toast you all!"
Xiao Li and his men took the wine offered by the aides, raised their bowls toward Liao Jiang, and drained them in one go.
Wei soldiers cheered enthusiastically. After finishing his wine, Liao Jiang handed the empty bowl to his guard and summoned Xiao Li to walk beside him. Chuckling heartily, he said: "It's been years since I've seen a young hero like you! When I write the battle report to the Marquis, I'll definitely give you a proper recommendation!"
Yuan Fang, half a step behind, hurriedly interjected: "No need for your concern! I'll report the facts to the Marquis myself!"
"Aren't you staying in Youzhou to recover from your injuries? How could you be faster than my dispatch riders?"
"During these days of travel, my wounds have mostly healed. Now that Youzhou's crisis is resolved, I must immediately depart for Yuzhou to report various Southern Border matters to the Marquis!"
...
At that evening's victory banquet, Xiao Li was kept drinking until late night without chance to escape.The notable brothers of Tong Prefecture sat gathered around, Zheng Hu let out a drunken belch, his words beginning to slur: "We... we've really made it this time. The people from Wei's camp now... now treat us with respect."
After toasting with a wine bowl and exchanging pleasantries with several righteous army leaders, Zhang Huai returned to sit by the fire, his fair complexion already flushed red from the alcohol.
Seeing this, Zheng Hu slurred: "Strategist, you... your alcohol tolerance isn't good, just... don't drink along with everyone else."
Zhang Huai waited for the wine's effect to subside slightly before rubbing his temples and saying: "Those coming to toast are all righteous army leaders from various regions. The Prefect is detained by Wei camp's generals, so someone must drink the toasts from these people."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Hu tried to stand up: "I... I'll go!"
He staggered as he rose, but Zhang Huai signaled for someone nearby to push him back down, chuckling: "General Song has already taken my place."
Zheng Hu scanned the surroundings with eyes seeing double, indeed spotting Song Qin clinking bowls and drinking with several people in the crowd. He let out another drunken belch and continued stammering: "Then... that's fine."
With that, his head lolled to the side as he leaned against a fellow brother and passed out drunk.
The watching brothers couldn't help but burst into another round of laughter.
When Song Qin returned, his unsteady steps showed he'd been heavily plied with drink. Most Tong Prefecture brothers around the fire were already drunk. Sitting down beside Zhang Huai, he similarly hissed through his teeth while pressing his slightly dizzy head.
Zhang Huai removed the small pot from over the fire, pouring out its contents and handing a bowl to Song Qin: "Drink some butter tea to settle your stomach."
Song Qin drank a few sips, feeling less nauseous, then remarked with emotion: "I never saw those people being so friendly before."
Zhang Huai added more firewood to the flames, his clear eyes reflecting the dancing firelight as he said with a smile: "The Prefect is certain to gain Wei Qishan's favor through this battle at Youzhou. The various righteous armies coming to join superficially want to help Wei's forces resist foreign enemies, but in reality they all fear losing their own troops. That's why during battles, none dare commit fully. After all, if Youzhou holds, they can claim merit for coming to aid; if Youzhou falls, they can retreat south and still boast about having resisted Northern Border barbarians, right?"
Song Qin shook his head while holding his tea bowl, only managing to say: "Truly cunning."
Zhang Huai's smile remained: "Those in Wei's camp aren't fools either. Leaving aside whether they ever valued these irregular troops, after learning about the petty calculations in the righteous armies' hearts, how could they maintain good relations? Now that our Tong Prefecture Army has become the only righteous army to cross Wei camp's threshold, how could those righteous army leaders not become more active in their scheming?"
Although this northern aid campaign was initially for jointly resisting foreign enemies, on battlefields where human life was as cheap as grass, every selfish motive had long been amplified.
The righteous army leaders feared their troops being sent to the frontlines as cannon fodder, and didn't want their original forces broken up and reorganized into the army, since that would cost them their ability to command immediate obedience.
From Wei camp's perspective, these miscellaneous troops claiming to come aid them were unwilling to truly integrate, yet still used their grand pretext to consume their military provisions and use their military resources, while shrinking back when actual fighting came - how could they not feel resentful?Xiao Li's Tong Prefecture Army had now become the only righteous army recognized by the Wei camp, naturally serving as a bridge connecting the Wei camp with other righteous armies.
As long as Wei Qishan hadn't lost his mind with age, even if other righteous armies hadn't contributed much in the city defense battle, he wouldn't turn away these troops delivered to his doorstep.
For those righteous armies, having traveled thousands of miles north to provide assistance with considerable consumption of manpower and resources, and now with the successful defense of Youzhou granting them nominal merit, they certainly wouldn't choose to leave immediately.
Building good relations with Xiao Li was far more worthwhile than courting the cold reception of the Wei army.
At the very least, Xiao Li's Tong Prefecture Army shared their status as righteous armies, and to some extent, also faced exclusion from the Wei camp.
Where common interests exist, cooperation follows.
Zhang Huai's eyes, reflecting the firelight, saw another kind of flame flicker within as he slowly said, "After this battle, the Governor has solidified his foundation at the Northern Border."
Since following Xiao Li to Tong Prefecture, Song Qin had known Xiao Li would go far, but how far exactly, he had no answer. Not responding to Zhang Huai's remark now, after finishing the last sip of butter tea in his bowl, he glanced toward the command tent where the feast was held. Seeing many Wei generals being supported out by their guards, as if the banquet had concluded, he asked, "Has everyone left? Why don't I see the Governor?"
During their oath of brotherhood, being older, he had been addressed as "elder brother" by Xiao Li, and to this day Xiao Li still called him that. However, he had changed his form of address for Xiao Li to "Governor."
The wind swept away the clouds in the sky, revealing a startlingly bright crescent moon like a hook.
When the wind blew over the hill again, the wild grass across the moonlit plain rolled in waves like the sea. In the distant camp, fires burned brightly, and the sounds of feasting and laughter continued.
Xiao Li lay in the wild grass, using his Arm Wraps as a pillow, gazing absentmindedly at the overly clear and cold crescent moon.
The scent of wine on his clothes and the frosty, grassy chill carried by the wind overpowered the bloodstain smell on his Arm Wraps. His breaths filled with the coolness of the night wind and frost, yet his body grew warm as the alcohol spread through him.
He knew he should clear his mind to strategize the numerous matters at hand. Various righteous armies had shown goodwill toward them; if they were to remain long-term at the Northern Border, these forces would become his bargaining chips with Wei Qishan. But how to prevent Wei Qishan from growing wary still required careful planning.
Yet at this moment, he couldn't spare a single thought for these matters. Lingering in his ears was only the unintentionally overheard phrase from the banquet: "I heard Princess Han Yang has returned to Liang to take charge."
Why did news of her affect him so deeply?
Was it hatred? Or resentment?
Or perhaps he wanted to see how someone as proud as Han Yang would react upon realizing her mistakes?
Xiao Li closed his eyes.
He thought, probably all three.
Xin Prefecture.
A army disguised as a righteous force marched along an overgrown ancient road, heading north under cover of night.
The "leader" of the righteous army, who rode at the front, possessed strikingly handsome features, but his gaze was sharp and alert like lightning, constantly scanning the surroundings of the ancient road for any movement.
The carriage protected in the center of the cavalry appeared ordinary at first glance, but made remarkably little noise even when rolling over broken stones and branches on the road.
Heavy curtains drawn tight concealed everything inside the carriage, blocking all prying eyes.
Wen Yu sat peacefully inside the carriage, leaning against soft cushions with closed eyes, resting.Tong Que and Zhao Bai sat opposite her, one intently monitoring the movements outside the carriage, the other resting with closed eyes to conserve energy for the night watch shift.
"What is the name of the righteous army leader who helped Youzhou repel the Rongjue?"
Behind the long table by the window, Pei Song abruptly opened his narrow eyes.
The Hawk Hound holding the military report detected the unusual tone in his voice, recognizing it as a precursor to his anger, and bowed his head even lower in trepidation, replying: "His name is Xiao Li."
Pei Song's hand, which had been holding a chess piece, paused. A smile appeared on his face, but his mild tone slowly drenched all the Hawk Hounds present in cold sweat: "I wondered why Liang Camp never deployed him while we pursued their forces all the way to Mount Tai'a. So he had already gone north."
No one present dared to respond.
He tapped the chess piece in his hand twice casually on the board before continuing with leisure: "Was that makeshift Tongcheng army that fought Dou Jianliang at Wayaobao also led by him?"
The kneeling Hawk Hound nodded, sweat beading at his temples.
Pei Song's smile deepened: "Good, truly excellent. You've been searching everywhere for him without success, yet he managed to raise a Tong Prefecture Army right under your noses?"
All the Hawk Hounds in the room dropped to their knees with a thud: "We beg for Master's punishment."
Pei Song's hidden strength suddenly erupted, crushing the white jade chess piece in his hand to fragments. All pretense of calm vanished as he spoke with ferocity: "Get out and report to the punishment hall for your penalty."
After all the Hawk Hounds had withdrawn, Pei Song sat in silence with closed eyes for a moment before lifting his gaze and calling: "Shiwu."
Pei Shiwu emerged from the shadows: "Master."
Pei Song said: "The spies planted in Wei Camp should be activated now. Deliver a grand gift to Wei Qishan for me."
Author's Note: Updated later than usual, dropping red envelopes for you all in this chapter too~
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