In the border prefectures of Jiannan, a great battle had just concluded. This was the first major victory of significant scale achieved by Great Wei after clashing with the Southern Barbarians.
It was because the commanding general had heeded the advice of a laboring soldier under his command.
The one who offered the suggestion was Yang Si.
Previously, Yang Si had collaborated with the militia and elite troops to secure several minor victories. The commanding general took note, recalling the reputation Yang Sanlang had earned rising from a captain during campaigns in Longyou, and promptly sought his counsel. Now that Great Wei had achieved victory, who wouldn’t be exhilarated?!
Yang Si had just received praise from the commanding general, who promised to promote him, at the very least to the rank of captain. Stepping out of the tent, he saw the camp filled with transported wounded and soldiers coming and going. Despite the brutality of war, Yang Si stood under the glaring sun and couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.
Squinting in the sunlight, he felt that everything was moving in a positive direction.
It had been two years since Eldest Brother Lang’s death, and only now had he shaken off his despondency, feeling as if he were coming back to life. And all of this was because of…
Yang Si grabbed the arm of a medic’s assistant running past him. “Where’s Xiaozhou?”
The assistant turned around, vaguely pointing in a direction. “The young lady seems to be over there…”
Unable to wait, Yang Si released him and hurried off to find Yan Xiaozhou. The battle was over, and the ground was littered with casualties. With her kind heart, she would surely have followed her mentor to the camp to tend to the wounded. Yang Si was brimming with words and hopes, eager to find Yan Xiaozhou.
A golden bell hung at his waist, yet as he strode swiftly, it made no sound. However, with every step he took, she was there following him. Every time he glanced back, he could see her gentle, smiling figure watching him depart.
She was the kindest, most delicate young lady in the world! Yet she was also the most resilient, the most unyielding.
She had traveled all the way from Chang’an to the border prefectures of Jiannan, enduring the harsh conditions for nearly two years. She had never made any demands of him; when she first arrived, she hadn’t even sought him out actively. She simply accompanied him silently, her presence itself a wordless strength… And now, he could finally give her an answer!
While Yang Si was searching for Yan Xiaozhou, she too was anxiously weaving through the wounded in the camp, looking for him.
She had never told anyone how she feared battle, how she dreaded the sight of blood. Every outbreak of war tormented her, for she feared Yang Si would be injured, and every time she saw him, she worried it might be their last meeting.
On the battlefield, blades and arrows were blind. A commanding general was luckier than a common soldier, with a smaller chance of death; yet Yang Si was still just an insignificant soldier.
Even with peerless martial skills, what use were they on a battlefield of thousands?
She never grew angry with him, never quarreled, never argued… because each time, she feared it might be the last. She didn’t know how Sanlang’s parents endured his going to war, and she knew the man she admired was a great hero, born for the battlefield, destined to soar across the skies.
She was simply too weak. Just afraid. In the end, she was humble, caring most deeply for him alone.
There was nothing wrong with fearing his injury, as long as she didn’t burden him with her anxiety, didn’t let trivial worries trouble him as they did her…Yan Xiaozhou searched throughout the military camp for someone, her eyelids fluttering faintly each time she encountered a wounded soldier. The longer she went without finding Yang Si, the more restless she became. Just as she felt utterly helpless, a hand reached out from beside her and grasped her wrist. Turning around, Yan Xiaozhou saw Yang Si's face.
Instantly, Yang Si witnessed sparks igniting in the young woman's eyes, like fireflies dancing and shimmering over a clear lake.
This sudden brilliance made Yang Si freeze in astonishment.
Only when someone bumped into Yan Xiaozhou did he snap out of it, averting his gaze, not daring to look at her further. Her beauty shone so radiantly that he feared making a fool of himself.
Grabbing Yan Xiaozhou's hand, Yang Si led her into a tent piled with provisions to talk. No sooner had they entered than Yan Xiaozhou turned and laid a hand on his arm, leaning in earnestly. Yang Si stiffened momentarily, holding his breath. After scrutinizing him from head to toe, Yan Xiaozhou finally relaxed and smiled: "Thank goodness, it's just a minor scrape on your arm. Let me apply some medicine, and you'll be fine."
She turned to dash out of the tent in search of medicine.
Suddenly, Yang Si wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, pulling her into an embrace.
Yan Xiaozhou was momentarily stunned, her body rigid.
Her face flushed instantly, and she grew anxious about being seen. Their closeness had never reached this level before, yet how could she bear to push him away? Her heart was clearly rejoicing, leaving her unable to utter any words of refusal for a long while.
She felt ashamed of her own audacity, but when he held her—his firm arms encircling her waist, his mountain-like chest pressed against her back—she blushed from her neck upward, yet she simply had no desire to push him away.
Yang Si looked down at her: her trembling eyelashes, her stiff posture, clearly overwhelmed with discomfort.
With a straight face, Yang Si said: "Little sister Xiaozhou, I noticed some clutter at your feet and was afraid you might trip, so I steadied you. Why is your face so red?"
Yan Xiaozhou: "..."
She glanced down at the clutter, which was still three steps away. Slowly, she pushed his hand away, and he released her accordingly. Yan Xiaozhou turned to look at him, tilting her face to study his handsome, dust-strewn features. Pressing her lips together, she offered a faint smile.
Yang Si placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice husky: "Silly."
Yan Xiaozhou blinked.
Yang Si: "When a man flirts with you, why don't you even try to evade?"
Yan Xiaozhou answered evasively: "My second brother is the Governor of Guangzhou and also holds the concurrent position of Tong Pingzhangshi. His rank is equivalent to a chancellor's—young and accomplished, no one dares underestimate him.
"My second sister-in-law is the current Princess Danyang. Half the court officials heed her words; even His Majesty is subject to her influence.
"The guard accompanying me is named Han Shu Xing. He was assigned to me by my second brother. Though not from Great Wei, his martial skills are exceptional—capable of crushing metal and severing jade.
"Across the entire realm, who would dare provoke the sister of my second brother? Who would dare bully the sister-in-law of Princess Danyang? And who could possibly assault or mistreat me under Han Shu Xing's watchful eyes? Does such a formidable gentleman truly exist in this world?"
Yang Si stared at her.
Crossing his arms, he leaned back with a teasing smile: "I would dare."
Yan Xiaozhou's eyelashes swept like willow branches over water as she cast him a soft, sidelong glance.
Yang Si said nonchalantly: "Your second brother is my good friend, my sworn brother. Your second sister-in-law is my childhood sweetheart—we've been incredibly close since we were young. As for Han Shu Xing's martial prowess? I don't see it. I could defeat him with one arm tied behind my back."
The corners of Yan Xiaozhou's lips curled upward, her tone almost naive: "So that's why I didn't dare resist you, Third Young Master?"
Yang Si raised an eyebrow.
Their eyes met.
After a long moment, both broke into smiles.Yan Xiaozhou blushed with embarrassment, feeling uneasy about staying too long alone with Yang Sanlang in the confined tent. Pretending to feel hot, she fanned herself with her hand, turned her back to him, and still made to lift the tent flap to leave. Yang Si grabbed her arm once more.
This time, Yan Xiaozhou was genuinely annoyed: "What are you doing?"
The women of Jiangnan always spoke with such delicate softness, carrying no real anger. Even her irritation came off like coquetry, evoking tenderness and affection in others.
Yang Si untied the golden bell from his waist and dangled it before her eyes. Yan Xiaozhou’s gaze was drawn to it, and she looked at him in surprise. Her voice trembled: "This is... this is..."
Yang Si: "I can’t wear a bell on the battlefield—it would let the enemy hear me. So I removed the little golden pellet inside to keep it silent."
With a flick of his finger, a small golden pellet was tossed into Yan Xiaozhou’s lap. She opened her hand, looking from the pellet to the bell he held.
Seeing her stunned expression, Yang Si felt a pang of sorrow. Softly, he said: "I never threw away the bell you gave me. I’ve kept it all along... It’s been nearly three years since I left Chang’an. Back then, I couldn’t bear to part with it, always thinking I’d delay until the day before I married.
"I didn’t want to taint the affection I hold for you by clinging to it. So I resolved firmly to discard this bell. But later... things turned out this way."
His voice grew hoarse: "Before you came to Jiannan, I was here doing hard labor, building high walls. Each day’s numb toil left my heart ashen. I won’t hide it from you—after Eldest Brother Lang died... I truly struggled. All my life, I’ve had everything go smoothly, nothing I wanted was beyond reach, nothing Eldest Brother Lang didn’t give me.
"It wasn’t until I witnessed someone dear to me die like that that I understood: in this life, no matter how many worries we carry, in the end, it all turns to 'nothingness.' Only your bell stayed with me, and only my father’s parting words remained in my memory. I refused to let myself be defeated... If I fell, I’d betray my father’s hopes.
"'Do no evil, commit no wrong.' Though I told myself I mustn’t fall, I didn’t know how to live either. In those days, all I had left was your bell.
"And then... you came. When I first saw you in the military camp, it’s no exaggeration to say I felt as if an entire spring had arrived. You stood on the hillock smiling at me, and I truly felt alive again. Yet I still didn’t dare approach you. I knew my status as a convict, while you were the beloved sister of a fourth-rank court official—how could I implicate you, or your family?
"But now... now I’ve finally found a way!"
Listening to him, Yan Xiaozhou felt her heart ache as if weeping, each word a bleeding wound. Possessing the same powerful empathy as her second brother, merely hearing Yang Si speak left her breathless with shared pain. As her eyes welled with tears, Yang Si grasped her wrist.
His spirits lifted, eyes shining brilliantly: "This war between Great Wei and the Southern Barbarians is my chance! I may be useless in peacetime, but now I can prove my worth. As long as I keep achieving merits on the battlefield, the court will notice me—they will have use for me!""Just now the general said he would promote me to a junior captain. Little sister, although due to my criminal record, the general can only grant me a ninth-rank junior captain position. But this is just the beginning! I will climb step by step—as long as I can fight, the central command will employ me! I will return to my former standing."
Yan Xiaozhou gazed at him tenderly, watching his radiant expression as she whispered tearfully, "Yang Sanlang is truly remarkable."
He lowered his eyes. "And every time I go to battle, I will wear the bell you gave me. It will be as if... your heart is accompanying me."
Yan Xiaozhou lifted her face to look at him.
Yang Si leaned down, staring at the teardrops clinging to her eyelashes. He gently wiped them away with his finger, his expression brightening. "Silly girl, don't you know military merits are the fastest path to promotion? Your second brother rose through major incidents, but after one major campaign, I'll advance faster than he ever did."
"When I become a general, when the war ends, I'll ask your brother for your hand, then your father... Little sister Xiaozhou, will you wait for me? Will you marry me?"
He cupped her face, gazing intently. "I will never, ever betray you... I'll never take concubines, never entertain other women. Having experienced such great upheavals, all I want now is the simplest happiness. I only want to marry you—will you have me?"
Yan Xiaozhou murmured, "I've already waited for you so long... I'll keep waiting."
Tears fell from her eyes while a smile bloomed on her lips. Like fresh camellias, she appeared exquisitely charming and fragrant.
Standing on tiptoe, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Choking back sobs with a smile, she said, "I'll wait forever for you to come marry me. I'll always be waiting for you."
Yang Si embraced her waist, pressing her against his chest.
But Yang Si had no time for further words with Yan Xiaozhou. During their intimate moment, they heard horns sounding outside. Yan Xiaozhou feared the Southern Barbarians were attacking again, but Yang Si tilted his head listening before breaking into a smile: "It's officials from the central command! Just as the general said—they've come to confer official positions!"
Yan Xiaozhou rejoiced for him: "Does this mean you'll become a ninth-rank captain? How wonderful!"
They celebrated this minor ninth-rank appointment before Yan Xiaozhou returned to tend the wounded with hopeful heart, while Yang Si was summoned to the commander's tent.
Entering the military camp, Yang Si's eyelids twitched slightly. The central officials holding horsetail whisks weren't ordinary war ministry officials, but several clean-shaven eunuchs. One eunuch glanced dismissively at Yang Si, recognizing the famously notorious Yang Sanlang from Chang'an.
A eunuch spat: "Why is he here?"
The commander—a burly middle-aged man with piercing eyes—scanned Yang Si and motioned him to join the ranks of soldiers behind him. Only after Yang Si took position did the commander speak: "This victory owes much to Yang Chengzhi's strategies. I wished to request the gentlemen grant him an official post."
A eunuch replied with sarcastic tone: "Unnecessary. Great Wei has no shortage of capable fighters. A youth in his twenties is but a child on the battlefield—hardly significant. Appointing a rebel to office? We fear he might lead hundreds of thousands to surrender to the enemy. That would be... inappropriate."
Yang Si remained expressionless, pretending not to hear the slander. After all, he was no longer the youth he once was.He would no longer act on impulse, no longer strike out immediately at injustice. For there was no one left to shield him, no one who would protect him unreservedly whether he beat or killed.
A life for a life—only at this age did Yang Si understand what true punishment meant.
The general’s expression darkened slightly, but he restrained himself. "You speak rightly, sir. May I ask the purpose of your visit? Is there any instruction from the central authorities? Why is it not an official from the Ministry of War, but you who have come..."
The chief eunuch declared loudly, "We come bearing the Emperor’s direct decree! How dare you not kneel to receive it!"
The general was taken aback, then grew excited, thinking that the Emperor bypassing the Secretariat to issue a decree showed His Majesty’s great regard for this campaign and for him personally!
Amid the commotion, all the officers in the large tent knelt. They heard the Emperor’s message: "By oral decree, Great Wei is preparing to negotiate peace with the Southern Barbarians. War between two nations brings no benefit to the people. Seeing the suffering of the common folk pains Our heart. During the peace negotiations with the Southern Barbarians, Great Wei must not initiate conflict or launch attacks.
"Only retreat! Do not give the Southern Barbarians any misunderstanding that we are provoking hostilities. So it is decreed."
The tent erupted in uproar.
All the officers looked up in disbelief.
The general nearly exploded in rage but was restrained by his strategist, forcing himself to endure.
The general’s face was grim. "Is this the oral decree? Has the Emperor issued no formal edict? Is this truly His Majesty’s will?"
The eunuch replied, "I would not dare falsify an imperial decree. This is indeed the Emperor’s will. From this day forth—cease hostilities!"
The general roared, "What of all the soldiers if we cease? What of the hundreds of thousands of civilians in the border regions?!"
The eunuch rolled his eyes. "Are we not telling you to retreat?"
The general: "Once we retreat, the territory will be ceded to the enemy!"
The messenger eunuch grew impatient. "You’ve been losing all along anyway—what difference does it make now? The Ministry of Revenue has spent hundreds of thousands in silver supporting you, yet you’re like a bottomless pit with no returns in sight. The court has decided on peace negotiations—do not interfere."
The general was furious beyond measure.
Blazing with anger, he shouted, "We won this major battle! Wars have victories and defeats—how can we abandon because of short-term losses? How am I to explain this to the army behind me, to the border civilians, with such a message? If we retreat, what of our territory? What of the people’s homes? Are we just to surrender them to the enemy?"
The eunuch smirked without warmth. "General, such grand authority! If you had the skill, you should have won from the start. Why vent at me? I’ve said it’s the Emperor’s oral decree—take it up with His Majesty."
The general, unable to swallow his anger, disgusted by the eunuchs’ ugly demeanor, stepped forward to throw a punch, but his fist was caught by someone behind him. Turning, he saw it was Yang Si.
Yang Si whispered, "General, the conflicts above may have hidden reasons. What can we do? Better to wait and see."
The general looked back at the officers in the tent, the atmosphere heavy with gloom. He sighed deeply, shoulders slumping in resignation—
Yan Shang had been closely following the war in Jiannan Circuit. Though he held the title of Tong Pingzhangshi, inquiring about the war was hardly overstepping his duties.Initially, he received news from Chang'an, but later, finding the communication between Chang'an and Lingnan too slow, he directly established contact with the Jiannan Circuit. With his many friends in official circles and some officials stationed in Jiannan being old acquaintances of Yan Shang, he easily navigated a few channels and connected with the current commander leading the military operations in Jiannan.
Since Jiannan and Lingnan bordered each other, exchanging letters between them was much faster than the back-and-forth between Chang'an and Lingnan.
It was through Yan Shang's recommendation that Yang Si came to the commander's attention.
Through frequent correspondence, Yan Shang stayed as informed about the many battles in Jiannan as those in Chang'an, if not faster.
As soon as news of the full ceasefire in the Jiannan Circuit broke, Yan Shang learned of it through his ongoing exchanges with the commander.
At dusk, Yan Shang stood under the corridor of his residence, gazing blankly at the steady, drizzling rain.
Mu Wan Yao sat inside the room, watching him through the window for two hours as he remained standing there. Unable to bear it any longer, she leaned against the window and scolded him, "If you want to catch a cold, just say so! Do you have to torment yourself like this?"
Yan Shang turned his head and looked vaguely toward the beautiful woman at the window.
Seeing the red veins in his eyes from lack of sleep, Mu Wan Yao's heart softened, and she sighed, "Come inside and sit with me."
Yan Shang entered the room and was pulled by Mu Wan Yao to sit by the window. Noticing his furrowed brow, she couldn't help but say, "You've been sending a letter to Chang'an every day—you've done all you can. What more can you do? Don't think of yourself as a god."
Yan Shang looked at her, a hint of hesitation in his eyes.
Mu Wan Yao raised an eyebrow, "If you have something to say, just say it. We've been married for so long—what do you need to hide from me? Do you want to curse the Emperor? I'll curse him for you."
Yan Shang said, "I... want to go to Jiannan."
Mu Wan Yao looked at him with calm eyes.
He turned his face away, unable to meet her gaze, and whispered, "I'm afraid the officials in Jiannan won't be able to handle His Majesty. After all, he is the sovereign. No matter how strong the Secretariat is, they are still subjects. If a ruler truly wants to do something, his ministers can't really stop him. I'm afraid that if this continues, Jiannan might actually be given away... How can such an important place be surrendered?
"Besides, the war has only lasted two months—it's far from time for us to admit defeat..."
Mu Wan Yao cut off his explanation, "Then go."
Yan Shang looked up abruptly, stunned, and stared at her.
Mu Wan Yao smiled at him, "Second Brother Yan, I married you because I knew your aspirations and understood your character. The issues between us didn't just emerge after marriage. We were clear about what kind of person you are and what kind of person I am even before we wed."
With a tinge of bitterness, she added, "You want to be a great hero, but am I willing to be just a minor figure in your shadow? I married Second Brother Yan not to change who you are, to make you yield for my sake or hold you back from doing anything. I married Second Brother Yan because I admire you and want to be like you.
"If you want to go to a dangerous place like Jiannan, to put yourself in peril, I support you!"
Mu Wan Yao's expression was sharp and resolute.
Yan Shang looked at her, then suddenly leaned in and embraced her. He whispered, "Will you come with me..."
Mu Wan Yao smiled brightly, "I won't go."She smiled at him: "What would I do there? I don't know martial arts, I don't understand warfare, and I'm a woman in poor health. Would I go around boasting about how deeply attached we are as husband and wife, following you wherever you go? That would be ridiculous.
"I'm not going to Jiannan. I'll help Second Brother Yan guard Lingnan. Jiannan and Lingnan are adjacent, and the Southern Barbarians have strong military forces. Better safe than sorry. If the Southern Barbarians can't gain advantage in Jiannan, they might come attack Lingnan. Although the possibility is low, we shouldn't take chances.
"I must hold position in Lingnan, guard this place, and not leave Lingnan as an empty city that could be exploited by the Southern Barbarians, which would burden Second Brother Yan."
Yan Shang gazed at her, cupping her jade-like face in his hands, and said softly: "Write to me daily, and be careful."
Mu Wan Yao gently kissed his cheek, closing her eyes with a smile: "You too. No matter how busy you are, you must write to me daily. You know I worry about you—if even one day passes without a letter, I'll be so anxious I'll cry."
Yan Shang smiled.
He sighed: "Yao Yao, as husband and wife, it's time for us to fight side by side again."
Listening to the rhythmic patter of rain outside the window, my heart remained remarkably calm. Humans are such peculiar creatures—simply by thinking of being with him, I could face life and death without fear.
Mu Wan Yao clung to his waist coquettishly: "I love fighting side by side with Second Brother Yan."
"Now, let us as husband and wife consider—how Second Brother Yan can be transferred to Jiannan right under the nose of that muddleheaded and suspicious Emperor."—
Back in Chang'an, the Emperor's act of bypassing the Secretariat and sending eunuchs to Jiannan to deliver oral messages for peace negotiations had finally erupted into open controversy.
Opposition in the court was fierce, with Lord Liu and his student Yan Shang in Lingnan voicing the strongest dissent. Behind Lord Liu stood the aristocratic families, while behind Yan Shang stood the humble-born scholars. With these two opposing, nearly the entire court—both aristocratic and humble-born officials—followed suit.
At the central government, Lord Liu and several other ministers were so enraged they nearly fainted. He suspected the Ministry of War knew about this matter, because the Minister of War... was a subordinate of the imperial eunuch Liu Wenji!
In the imperial study, Lord Liu held memorials from Jiannan, his face contorted with anger. He glared at Liu Wenji standing beside the Emperor, grinding his teeth: "The war has only lasted two months—why seek peace? What peace is there to discuss?! Ordering our troops to withdraw—are you planning to hand over Jiannan?"
The Emperor replied unhurriedly: "Minister, you misunderstand. How could I do such a thing? It's only that seeing the common people suffer pains my heart. I would rather endure temporary humiliation to end this war. I only learned of this through the memorials Eunuch Liu brought. These past months, what with Earth Dragons and floods, our country has been unstable. If the war doesn't end soon, the people will continue to suffer."
Lord Liu: "But we cannot withdraw! When Great Wei fights barbarians, must we retreat every time? If this continues, wouldn't it make border states develop ambitions, thinking Great Wei can be easily manipulated?"
The Emperor said mildly: "I know what I'm doing."
Lord Liu was momentarily left speechless.
He looked at the Emperor, as indifferent as a clay statue, then at Liu Wenji. When Liu Wenji gave him a careless smile, Lord Liu trembled all over before suddenly calming down.
After a long silence, Lord Liu said with difficulty: "Will Yizhou be ceded too?"
The Emperor: "Yizhou will not be ceded."
Lord Liu: "So it's because the rest of Jiannan is too barren to provide much tax revenue, that's why you're giving it away? In that case, why not cede Lingnan too, and Liaodong as well. After all, they're all... wastelands!"
"Apparently, no matter how crucial their military significance, in Your Majesty's eyes they're worthless! Your Majesty, misled by treacherous men, only seeks to enjoy wealth and reap benefits without sowing. In Your Majesty's view, as long as your pleasures remain undisturbed, other territories can be freely surrendered, right?"
The Emperor slammed the table and stood up: "How dare you! Is this how a minister should speak to his Emperor?!"
"Advocating war or peace are merely personal opinions. I am the Son of Heaven—I should decide how this nation proceeds. I'm stopping the war for the sake of common people in other prefectures, unwilling to burden them further. What have I done wrong? The blame lies with your inability to win battles and share your sovereign's worries. Do not hinder important state matters."
Lord Liu stared at Liu Wenji.
He murmured sarcastically: "Hinder important state matters."
So such a ruler actually still had important matters to attend to.
Lord Liu: "Are Your Majesty's important matters touring the realm, repairing leaky palaces, or perhaps finding more beauties for your enjoyment?"
The Emperor trembled with rage.The Emperor was furious: "Lord Liu, mind your position! I am the Son of Heaven. You and your disciples submit memorials daily lecturing me on governance—what is the meaning of this? Does this empire belong to me or to you? You glare at me with contempt in court every day, and your disciple Yan Suchen sends three letters daily pressing about Jiannan affairs. What are you implying?
"Perhaps I should simply abdicate and let you and Yan Suchen share the throne!
"Guards! Drag Lord Liu away, strip him of his official rank, remove his robes and headpiece, and drive him out of Chang'an... out of Chang'an!"
Liu Wenji's eyelids twitched.
How could a chancellor of the realm be expelled in such manner? If Lord Liu suffered this humiliation today, the entire court would descend into chaos tomorrow. With all civil and military officials in disarray, could the Emperor maintain control? Wouldn't he then become the scapegoat bearing the Emperor's blame?
Liu Wenji threw himself to his knees: "Your Majesty, please forgive! The Chancellor spoke rashly and would never dare offend Your Majesty..."
The Emperor regained his composure.
He realized he had let anger cloud his judgment—how could he dismiss Lord Liu over such matters? He was an emperor who understood affairs clearly, knowing that expelling Lord Liu would render him unable to command the officials.
The Emperor pondered.
Soon, another battle report arrived announcing defeat at Hexi, darkening the Emperor's countenance.
After a long silence, the Emperor sneered: "Very well. Since Lord Liu is so eager for war... why not go fight at Hexi? As chancellor of the realm, you should at least be made a general. Didn't Lord Liu say I'm useless, only knowing how to negotiate peace? Then let Lord Liu experience it firsthand and teach me how to wage war!"
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