In the large tent where the host and guest were seated, Wang Bin sighed, saying, “It’s a pity we came in haste and didn’t bring any musicians. Otherwise, it would have been a delightful thing to enjoy the spring outing with Zixi.”
For nobles, the key to a successful outing lies in its elegance and grandeur. The spacious tent was set up for a feast, and the beautiful maids behind Wang Bin exuded the same grace. Even on a military expedition, he hadn’t entirely given up on enjoying the finer things in life.
On the other hand, their side was quite modest. Liang Feng sighed lightly and said, “Fourth Brother, your consideration is thorough, but during a period of national mourning, we must exercise restraint.”
This statement served both as a way for Liang Feng to save face for himself and to subtly remind him that excessive revelry wasn’t appropriate during the period of national mourning. Wang Bin glanced at Liang Feng’s plain attire and chuckled, “It’s a shame that this has postponed your wedding plans. When Seventh Sister gets married, I will definitely send a generous gift!”
Liang Feng raised an eyebrow and smiled, tacitly accepting the jest.
Seeing his reaction, Wang Bin laughed, “But, marrying Seventh Sister might not necessarily bring you peace of mind. Those people in Taiyuan care too much about social status. There might still be troublesome matters in the future.”
A quick way to build a friendship is not having the same friends but having the same enemies. While this statement might seem crude, it revealed quite a lot.
Liang Feng raised an eyebrow, “While family background is important, the turbulent times we’re in can’t be compared to genuine talent and learning. Heroes like Wang Gong and Fourth Brother are much stronger than those flashy young men in Taiyuan.”
Wang Bin, like his father Wang Jun, was of illegitimate birth. He had always detested the condescending attitude of the mainline family members who emphasized their noble lineage. Hearing Liang Feng’s words, he couldn’t help but smile, “How many true scholars like Zixi are there? Nowadays, Taiyuan isn’t doing well; they’re just a bunch of fame-seekers and idlers.”
Relationships were established, compliments were exchanged, and Wang Bin then changed the topic, “But even with the finest demeanor, if one ends up like Ji Zhongsan, it’s all in vain. Compared to that, what Zixi has achieved in Shangdang is truly remarkable. The cremation of the Thunderstrike, what a stunning feat! Now, with the capture of Yangyi, the situation in Andong has certainly improved.”
Ji Zhongsan referred to Ji Kang, a scholar renowned for his talents, but who ultimately met an unfortunate end. But what Liang Feng was renowned for went beyond just his intellectual prowess.
Upon hearing Wang Bin mention the solar eclipse event, Liang Feng shook his head and sighed, “This event was purely accidental and has brought about many troubles. The real competence lies in Wang Gong’s elite Xianbei cavalry under his command. Without Wang Gong’s reinforcement, how could the King of Donghai have captured Chang’an so easily?”
While this statement seemed like praise, it couldn’t evade the fact that the Xianbei people had been inclined towards plundering Chang’an and had not protected the emperor’s procession, resulting in the emperor’s untimely death.
Hearing this, Wang Bin couldn’t help but smile and said, “Times are unpredictable. How could we, mere mortals, foresee such events? However, the recent celestial anomalies have been a cause for concern. With two emperors simultaneously reigning, it’s truly an inauspicious sign.”
The play has arrived! Liang Feng glanced at the man before him, who wore a constant smile and showed no signs of worry, and calmly stated, “This matter can only be decided by the nobles in Luoyang City.”
“That’s natural. However, the Administrative Office established by the King of Chengdu is now far away in Jing County. The northern conflicts seem to go unnoticed. Just like Dongyin, they say he’s about to transfer to Ye City, and we don’t know how Bing County will turn out…” Wang Bin spoke until this point, and then he paused slightly. “My father believes that the Xiongnu in Bing County is indeed a great threat, but we are powerless to drive them away. How should I put it, Taiyuan is also the foundation of the Wang family, and I’m afraid only someone as astute and capable as yourself can defend a whole province…”
What? Even though he was mentally prepared, Liang Feng was still taken aback. Was he being asked to become the Inspector of Bing County? Wang Bin had big ambitions! If it were any other condition, Liang Feng wouldn’t have accepted. But the position of Inspector of Bing County was not something he could easily refuse. That was the whole of Bing County!
Unable to answer easily, Liang Feng closed his mouth, looking thoughtful. Wang Bin didn’t rush him; instead, he smiled and said, “The journey has been tiring. How about you rest for a while now? By nightfall, you and I can have a banquet, and we’ll celebrate throughout the night.”
This gave him ample time to think. Liang Feng thanked Wang Bin and, following the proper farewell etiquette, left the grand tent. He returned to his own camp with Yiyan. Although it wasn’t as luxurious as the Wang family’s tent, it was much safer.
Without much regard for formalities, Liang Feng sat cross-legged on the fur blanket inside his tent, furrowing his brow as he asked, “If I were to become the Inspector of Bing County, what would it be like?”
Yiyan’s heart skipped a beat. “My Lord, if you become the Inspector, Bing County would be like Shangdang. In less than two years, the Xiongnu would have to withdraw completely!”
This was what Liang Feng had in mind as well. Now that the county school was established, the basic officials should be sufficient for one province. Bing County had these unclaimed wastelands. With proper cultivation and farming, it wouldn’t take more than two years to support tens of thousands, or even more, of people. With people, you had an army, and with an army, you had a chance to repel the Xiongnu.
This readily available opportunity was too tempting to resist.
“If I were to become the Inspector, would I have to obey someone else?” Liang Feng asked again.
This time, Yiyan furrowed his brow and thought for a moment before answering, “It depends on that person’s character.”
This was a crucial point. Liang Feng couldn’t help but smile wryly. “He’s no ordinary person, that’s for sure.”
Wang Jun was a complex individual. He had played pivotal roles in both Ye City and Chang’an, allowing him to amass great wealth from the plundering and pillaging by the rapacious Xianbei troops. Such ruthless and greedy character traits were hardly the qualities of a virtuous man.
Moreover, during the period of national mourning, he had sent his own son to meet with a lowly prefect like Liang Feng to discuss the takeover of Bing County. What kind of scheming was this? At the very least, he didn’t seem to care about the Emperor or the imperial court in Luoyang. He might not even regard Sima Yue with much respect.
To befriend such a character would be akin to making a deal with a tiger.
Taking two deep breaths, Liang Feng suppressed the stirring in his chest and said, “Very well. Currently, Shangdang should refrain from getting involved in this chaos. It’s better to decline.”
No matter how substantial the benefits were, the choice of who to share them with was crucial. Even if Wang Jun hailed from the Wang clan of Taiyuan, he wasn’t the best choice. After all, the marital alliance was with the Wang family branch led by Wang Wen, so what could possibly go wrong?
Leaving these concerns behind, Liang Feng adjusted his robe and said, “Let’s find a new set of clothes. We might have a tough battle ahead tonight.”
※
On the other side, Wang Bin also summoned his confidant.
“Sergeant Zhang, what do you think of Liang Zixi?” Wang Bin asked.
“Just by looking at the two hundred riders Liang Prefect brought, you can tell he’s extraordinary. Half of them are Jie Hu, and they’re not far behind the elite Xianbei cavalry under the Commander,” Zhang Dian pointed out the prowess of those riders.
Wang Bin furrowed his brow, “Liang Zixi is known as the ‘Buddhist Son,’ so it’s not strange that he employs non-Han troops.”
“No, it’s not strange. But how many strong troops like these does Shangdang have?” Zhang Dian countered.
On this point, Wang Bin wasn’t surprised. Liang Zixi had to have exceptional qualities to achieve such a great victory against Bing County’s official troops. In fact, if the other side had some ambitions, he was not afraid. It was those who wanted nothing who were difficult to control.
“With a single county’s territory, how many troops can be supported?” Wang Bin snorted, “If he’s a capable warrior, it’s even better.”
“I’m just afraid this young man won’t pledge his loyalty,” Zhang Dian’s tone grew heavier. “Young Master, you should be cautious.”
Zhang Dian was one of Wang Bin’s trusted aides and had previously offered him many useful strategies. Wang Bin nodded thoughtfully and said, “What Sergeant says is correct. Let’s see how he responds tonight. Prepare a banquet, and await our esteemed guest.”
Seeing that his lord had made up his mind, Zhang Dian immediately withdrew from the grand tent. From this vantage point, two li away, was Liang’s camp. The two hundred riders had already set up their camp, and their leader seemed quite capable. The camp was meticulously organized, demonstrating their competence without any trace of hostility. It was discreet. However, witnessing such a camp only fueled the fire in Zhang Dian’s heart.
This is the man that Seventh Sister is going to marry!
Zhang Dian was actually from Bing County and came from a small branch of the Wang clan in Taiyuan. From a young age, he knew the might of the prominent family to which he was affiliated. Familiar with the extravagance of the Wang clan, it gradually instilled in him aspirations and ambitions. Due to his exceptional intelligence, he managed to integrate into the Wang family’s branch as a guest officer. By a stroke of luck, he had the opportunity to meet Wang’s Seventh Sister and used his wits to capture her young and tender heart.
She was a charming and lovely young lady, and more importantly, she bore the Wang surname. Even though she wasn’t from the main lineage, she still came from the Wang clan of Taiyuan. Marrying that Wang family girl would surely pave the way for his success!
In pursuit of this goal, Zhang Dian was even willing to leave Taiyuan, his hometown, and journey to harsh and cold places like You County to join Wang Bin’s ranks. Now, he had become a military advisor, and in a few more years, he might even become a prefect. With this initial status and with Seventh Sister’s determination to marry him at all costs, how could he not succeed in marrying her?
However, he never expected that in just two short years, everything in Bing County would change drastically. Seventh Sister was promised in marriage to the Prefect of Shangdang. When he learned of this news, he was consumed by anger. How could an average, widowed, and physically weak gentleman like the Prefect of Shangdang have the right to marry a suitable Wang family girl? Just because of his position as a prefect?
Therefore, when he learned that he could come to Bing County and accompany the family master for a private meeting with Prefect Liang, Zhang Dian was determined to ruin this marriage.
However, no matter how many plans he had, they all crumbled when he saw the detestable person face-to-face. Zhang Dian was quite confident in his own looks. Without his handsome appearance, he wouldn’t have easily won Wang Seventh Sister’s heart. But this Liang Zixi was even more handsome than himself! Without the unexpected frailty and coarseness that would make people look down on him, how could such an appealing scholar appear before Seventh Sister?
Merely breaking the engagement and causing a feud between the Wang and Liang families was not enough. He had to ensure the demise of this young man, only then could he sever all possibilities.
Luckily, accomplishing this task wasn’t too difficult.
Suppressing the boiling venom in his heart, Zhang Dian adjusted his robe and headed toward the back of the tent.
In the large tent where the host and guest were seated, Wang Bin sighed, saying, “It’s a pity we came in haste and didn’t bring any musicians. Otherwise, it would have been a delightful thing to enjoy the spring outing with Zixi.”
For nobles, the key to a successful outing lies in its elegance and grandeur. The spacious tent was set up for a feast, and the beautiful maids behind Wang Bin exuded the same grace. Even on a military expedition, he hadn’t entirely given up on enjoying the finer things in life.
On the other hand, their side was quite modest. Liang Feng sighed lightly and said, “Fourth Brother, your consideration is thorough, but during a period of national mourning, we must exercise restraint.”
This statement served both as a way for Liang Feng to save face for himself and to subtly remind him that excessive revelry wasn’t appropriate during the period of national mourning. Wang Bin glanced at Liang Feng’s plain attire and chuckled, “It’s a shame that this has postponed your wedding plans. When Seventh Sister gets married, I will definitely send a generous gift!”
Liang Feng raised an eyebrow and smiled, tacitly accepting the jest.
Seeing his reaction, Wang Bin laughed, “But, marrying Seventh Sister might not necessarily bring you peace of mind. Those people in Taiyuan care too much about social status. There might still be troublesome matters in the future.”
A quick way to build a friendship is not having the same friends but having the same enemies. While this statement might seem crude, it revealed quite a lot.
Liang Feng raised an eyebrow, “While family background is important, the turbulent times we’re in can’t be compared to genuine talent and learning. Heroes like Wang Gong and Fourth Brother are much stronger than those flashy young men in Taiyuan.”
Wang Bin, like his father Wang Jun, was of illegitimate birth. He had always detested the condescending attitude of the mainline family members who emphasized their noble lineage. Hearing Liang Feng’s words, he couldn’t help but smile, “How many true scholars like Zixi are there? Nowadays, Taiyuan isn’t doing well; they’re just a bunch of fame-seekers and idlers.”
Relationships were established, compliments were exchanged, and Wang Bin then changed the topic, “But even with the finest demeanor, if one ends up like Ji Zhongsan, it’s all in vain. Compared to that, what Zixi has achieved in Shangdang is truly remarkable. The cremation of the Thunderstrike, what a stunning feat! Now, with the capture of Yangyi, the situation in Andong has certainly improved.”
Ji Zhongsan referred to Ji Kang, a scholar renowned for his talents, but who ultimately met an unfortunate end. But what Liang Feng was renowned for went beyond just his intellectual prowess.
Upon hearing Wang Bin mention the solar eclipse event, Liang Feng shook his head and sighed, “This event was purely accidental and has brought about many troubles. The real competence lies in Wang Gong’s elite Xianbei cavalry under his command. Without Wang Gong’s reinforcement, how could the King of Donghai have captured Chang’an so easily?”
While this statement seemed like praise, it couldn’t evade the fact that the Xianbei people had been inclined towards plundering Chang’an and had not protected the emperor’s procession, resulting in the emperor’s untimely death.
Hearing this, Wang Bin couldn’t help but smile and said, “Times are unpredictable. How could we, mere mortals, foresee such events? However, the recent celestial anomalies have been a cause for concern. With two emperors simultaneously reigning, it’s truly an inauspicious sign.”
The play has arrived! Liang Feng glanced at the man before him, who wore a constant smile and showed no signs of worry, and calmly stated, “This matter can only be decided by the nobles in Luoyang City.”
“That’s natural. However, the Administrative Office established by the King of Chengdu is now far away in Jing County. The northern conflicts seem to go unnoticed. Just like Dongyin, they say he’s about to transfer to Ye City, and we don’t know how Bing County will turn out…” Wang Bin spoke until this point, and then he paused slightly. “My father believes that the Xiongnu in Bing County is indeed a great threat, but we are powerless to drive them away. How should I put it, Taiyuan is also the foundation of the Wang family, and I’m afraid only someone as astute and capable as yourself can defend a whole province…”
What? Even though he was mentally prepared, Liang Feng was still taken aback. Was he being asked to become the Inspector of Bing County? Wang Bin had big ambitions! If it were any other condition, Liang Feng wouldn’t have accepted. But the position of Inspector of Bing County was not something he could easily refuse. That was the whole of Bing County!
Unable to answer easily, Liang Feng closed his mouth, looking thoughtful. Wang Bin didn’t rush him; instead, he smiled and said, “The journey has been tiring. How about you rest for a while now? By nightfall, you and I can have a banquet, and we’ll celebrate throughout the night.”
This gave him ample time to think. Liang Feng thanked Wang Bin and, following the proper farewell etiquette, left the grand tent. He returned to his own camp with Yiyan. Although it wasn’t as luxurious as the Wang family’s tent, it was much safer.
Without much regard for formalities, Liang Feng sat cross-legged on the fur blanket inside his tent, furrowing his brow as he asked, “If I were to become the Inspector of Bing County, what would it be like?”
Yiyan’s heart skipped a beat. “My Lord, if you become the Inspector, Bing County would be like Shangdang. In less than two years, the Xiongnu would have to withdraw completely!”
This was what Liang Feng had in mind as well. Now that the county school was established, the basic officials should be sufficient for one province. Bing County had these unclaimed wastelands. With proper cultivation and farming, it wouldn’t take more than two years to support tens of thousands, or even more, of people. With people, you had an army, and with an army, you had a chance to repel the Xiongnu.
This readily available opportunity was too tempting to resist.
“If I were to become the Inspector, would I have to obey someone else?” Liang Feng asked again.
This time, Yiyan furrowed his brow and thought for a moment before answering, “It depends on that person’s character.”
This was a crucial point. Liang Feng couldn’t help but smile wryly. “He’s no ordinary person, that’s for sure.”
Wang Jun was a complex individual. He had played pivotal roles in both Ye City and Chang’an, allowing him to amass great wealth from the plundering and pillaging by the rapacious Xianbei troops. Such ruthless and greedy character traits were hardly the qualities of a virtuous man.
Moreover, during the period of national mourning, he had sent his own son to meet with a lowly prefect like Liang Feng to discuss the takeover of Bing County. What kind of scheming was this? At the very least, he didn’t seem to care about the Emperor or the imperial court in Luoyang. He might not even regard Sima Yue with much respect.
To befriend such a character would be akin to making a deal with a tiger.
Taking two deep breaths, Liang Feng suppressed the stirring in his chest and said, “Very well. Currently, Shangdang should refrain from getting involved in this chaos. It’s better to decline.”
No matter how substantial the benefits were, the choice of who to share them with was crucial. Even if Wang Jun hailed from the Wang clan of Taiyuan, he wasn’t the best choice. After all, the marital alliance was with the Wang family branch led by Wang Wen, so what could possibly go wrong?
Leaving these concerns behind, Liang Feng adjusted his robe and said, “Let’s find a new set of clothes. We might have a tough battle ahead tonight.”
※
On the other side, Wang Bin also summoned his confidant.
“Sergeant Zhang, what do you think of Liang Zixi?” Wang Bin asked.
“Just by looking at the two hundred riders Liang Prefect brought, you can tell he’s extraordinary. Half of them are Jie Hu, and they’re not far behind the elite Xianbei cavalry under the Commander,” Zhang Dian pointed out the prowess of those riders.
Wang Bin furrowed his brow, “Liang Zixi is known as the ‘Buddhist Son,’ so it’s not strange that he employs non-Han troops.”
“No, it’s not strange. But how many strong troops like these does Shangdang have?” Zhang Dian countered.
On this point, Wang Bin wasn’t surprised. Liang Zixi had to have exceptional qualities to achieve such a great victory against Bing County’s official troops. In fact, if the other side had some ambitions, he was not afraid. It was those who wanted nothing who were difficult to control.
“With a single county’s territory, how many troops can be supported?” Wang Bin snorted, “If he’s a capable warrior, it’s even better.”
“I’m just afraid this young man won’t pledge his loyalty,” Zhang Dian’s tone grew heavier. “Young Master, you should be cautious.”
Zhang Dian was one of Wang Bin’s trusted aides and had previously offered him many useful strategies. Wang Bin nodded thoughtfully and said, “What Sergeant says is correct. Let’s see how he responds tonight. Prepare a banquet, and await our esteemed guest.”
Seeing that his lord had made up his mind, Zhang Dian immediately withdrew from the grand tent. From this vantage point, two li away, was Liang’s camp. The two hundred riders had already set up their camp, and their leader seemed quite capable. The camp was meticulously organized, demonstrating their competence without any trace of hostility. It was discreet. However, witnessing such a camp only fueled the fire in Zhang Dian’s heart.
This is the man that Seventh Sister is going to marry!
Zhang Dian was actually from Bing County and came from a small branch of the Wang clan in Taiyuan. From a young age, he knew the might of the prominent family to which he was affiliated. Familiar with the extravagance of the Wang clan, it gradually instilled in him aspirations and ambitions. Due to his exceptional intelligence, he managed to integrate into the Wang family’s branch as a guest officer. By a stroke of luck, he had the opportunity to meet Wang’s Seventh Sister and used his wits to capture her young and tender heart.
She was a charming and lovely young lady, and more importantly, she bore the Wang surname. Even though she wasn’t from the main lineage, she still came from the Wang clan of Taiyuan. Marrying that Wang family girl would surely pave the way for his success!
In pursuit of this goal, Zhang Dian was even willing to leave Taiyuan, his hometown, and journey to harsh and cold places like You County to join Wang Bin’s ranks. Now, he had become a military advisor, and in a few more years, he might even become a prefect. With this initial status and with Seventh Sister’s determination to marry him at all costs, how could he not succeed in marrying her?
However, he never expected that in just two short years, everything in Bing County would change drastically. Seventh Sister was promised in marriage to the Prefect of Shangdang. When he learned of this news, he was consumed by anger. How could an average, widowed, and physically weak gentleman like the Prefect of Shangdang have the right to marry a suitable Wang family girl? Just because of his position as a prefect?
Therefore, when he learned that he could come to Bing County and accompany the family master for a private meeting with Prefect Liang, Zhang Dian was determined to ruin this marriage.
However, no matter how many plans he had, they all crumbled when he saw the detestable person face-to-face. Zhang Dian was quite confident in his own looks. Without his handsome appearance, he wouldn’t have easily won Wang Seventh Sister’s heart. But this Liang Zixi was even more handsome than himself! Without the unexpected frailty and coarseness that would make people look down on him, how could such an appealing scholar appear before Seventh Sister?
Merely breaking the engagement and causing a feud between the Wang and Liang families was not enough. He had to ensure the demise of this young man, only then could he sever all possibilities.
Luckily, accomplishing this task wasn’t too difficult.
Suppressing the boiling venom in his heart, Zhang Dian adjusted his robe and headed toward the back of the tent.
