Xiao Rong listened for a long time before finally understanding why they had come to see him.

 

It was still about Huang Keji.

 

On the one hand, Xiao Rong felt both amused and helpless, but on the other hand, he was somewhat moved. Indeed, everything in the world was complex. The rise of the scholar class had led to the decline of other classes, but it was precisely because this group of scholars persisted in upholding noble qualities and fought bravely for these values that they indirectly curbed the ruler’s words and actions, forcing them to present a facade of kindness.

 

…

 

As for Huang Keji, Xiao Rong hadn’t thought much of him initially. His original plan was to reprimand Huang Yanjiu and make contact with Huang Keji, planting a seed in his mind and encouraging future infighting between him and Huang Yanjiu. Huang Keji would receive the support of the Northern Army, and if he truly managed to break with Huang Yanjiu, Xiao Rong would have Qu Yunmie offer him countless benefits—both as a way of repaying a favor and as an example for others to see what rewards await those who sided with the Northern King.

 

Qu Yunmie had no family to speak of, and the land of the Central Plains was vast. Although no new feudal lords could emerge, granting titles of nobility was still necessary. Xiao Rong thought that Huang Keji, with his status, could be made a titular prince without real power, allowing him to enjoy wealth and luxury for a lifetime.

 

After being granted a royal title, no one could accuse Qu Yunmie of being ungrateful.

 

Xiao Rong felt that this plan had no flaws, but after hearing Yu Shaoxie and Gao Xunzhi’s concerns, he realized that Huang Keji was currently just a sixteen-year-old boy. Xiao Rong’s plan hinged on Huang Keji being able to fight his way out of Jianning, with a mind and methods sharp enough to rival Huang Yanjiu. Only then would he be deserving of Xiao Rong’s rewards.

 

It seemed to be a bit of an unrealistic expectation.

 

Xiao Rong felt a pang of guilt and blamed it on his exhaustion from the previous night, which had led to an immature idea. Rubbing his face, which was still numb from sleep, he nodded casually under the expectant gazes of the two men in front of him, then prepared to get up.

 

After he finished tidying up, he went to find Qu Yunmie, who, upon hearing that Xiao Rong was finally awake, ordered the guards to inform Huang Yanjiu and his men.

 

It turned out Huang Yanjiu had come to visit earlier, but since Xiao Rong had been asleep the entire time, Qu Yunmie had to meet with Huang Yanjiu in his place. Qu Yunmie hadn’t even clearly understood why Xiao Rong had summoned him, so naturally, he couldn’t entertain them on his own.

 

When Qu Yunmie explained the reason why he had left Huang Yanjiu waiting for an hour and a half, Xiao Rong felt completely numb.

 

This was the price of being around Qu Yunmie—not only did you have to watch him offend others, but you also had to watch him offend people on your behalf.

 

…

 

Now that things had reached this point, there was no way to fix it, so Xiao Rong resigned himself to the situation. He sat next to Qu Yunmie, waiting for Huang Yanjiu to enter.

 

Yesterday, there had been three people who came in, but today, there were only two left, and Huang Keji wasn’t among them.

 

Moreover, Huang Yanjiu’s attitude had changed. He was now humble and friendly, showing no sign of the provocations he had made the day before.

 

With Huang Yanjiu acting polite, Xiao Rong’s demeanor became even more courteous. He stood up and cupped his hands in greeting. “How did the Governor sleep?”

 

Huang Yanjiu smiled. “Very well, very well. I slept soundly until morning.”

 

Xiao Rong also smiled, his smile even more attractive. “I envy you, Governor Huang. I, too, wanted to have a good sleep, but in the middle of the night, I had a nightmare. I dreamt of a broken sword lodged in the gate of Chenliu City. Isn’t that a terrible omen?”

 

Huang Yanjiu: “…”

 

Xiao Rong’s expression became slightly more serious as he spoke, but after he finished, his tone quickly shifted, and he smiled again. “But I think it’s just one of those things where what you think about during the day enters your dreams at night, nothing more. Don’t you think, Governor Huang?”

 

His change in demeanor was so swift that Huang Yanjiu couldn’t keep up, so he could only offer a stiff smile.

 

Xiao Rong sat down and said leisurely, “There are several interpretations of this broken sword omen: one is bloodshed, the second is betrayal by a villain, and the third is failure in a planned endeavor. That’s why I say this is no real omen, for the King is brave and powerful, and no one can harm him. Not villains, not even demons or ghosts could touch him. As for the third omen, that’s even less likely. The King’s current ambition is to crush the Xianbei, and since you, Governor Huang, have personally come to Chenliu, it’s clear that you’re ready to join the King in defeating the Xianbei. How could there be any failure?”

 

Huang Yanjiu’s smile grew even more strained. He realized this was all leading up to a demand for him to send troops. Oh well, he had already accepted that. If worse came to worst, he could always feign illness after returning.

 

Huang Yanjiu gritted his teeth and cupped his hands toward Qu Yunmie. “I am willing to lend 5,000 Jianning troops to assist the King in the campaign against the Xianbei.”

 

Xiao Rong: “…”

 

Five thousand troops? Was he joking?

 

Even Yu Shaocheng’s rebellion had six thousand soldiers.

 

Qu Yunmie knew his own eloquence was lacking, so he didn’t respond and instead looked to Xiao Rong.

 

To be honest, Qu Yunmie felt that getting Huang Yanjiu to commit any troops at all was good enough. Whether it was 5,000 or 50,000 didn’t matter much to him since, in his eyes, he would be leading 200,000 troops regardless.

 

Xiao Rong, seated, responded with a cold smile. “So this is Governor Huang’s sincerity?”

 

Huang Yanjiu hurriedly explained, “Jianning is poor, and I don’t have many soldiers under my command–”

 

Xiao Rong cut him off, “No matter how poor a place is, it can’t have only 5,000 soldiers. In the matter of attacking the Xianbei, the King is the leader, the initiator. To ensure a decisive victory, he will lead the entire Northern Army to the north! The King has such courage, and you, Governor Huang, should follow his example. After all, the people have suffered under the Xianbei for so long! How many civilians have died under the hooves of Xianbei horses? The previous Emperor died young; wasn’t that also the fault of the Xianbei? Governor Huang, as a governor appointed by the court, you receive a salary from the Emperor, so you must remain loyal to the court. If you only send out 5,000 troops, how can you prove your loyalty to the court? How will you gain the Emperor’s favor? Our King hasn’t contacted anyone else—he sent his first letter to you, Governor Huang, because of the kindness he received from the Huang Family. How could you not understand the King’s efforts in this matter, which benefit the nation, the Emperor, and the people?”

 

Qu Yunmie: “…”

 

What efforts was Xiao Rong talking about?

 

Huang Yanjiu looked at Xiao Rong in surprise. Qu Yunmie was capable of such deep thinking?

 

Zhou Liang silently stared at the floor, showing no reaction. In reality, he had already moved Xiao Rong from his “grudge list” to his “formidable rival” list.

 

…

 

Smart people only needed to hear the beginning to understand Xiao Rong’s point, but Huang Yanjiu and Qu Yunmie needed to hear more.

 

Xiao Rong took a sip of tea, cleared his throat, and then prepared to have a heart-to-heart talk with Huang Yanjiu.

 

“To be honest, Governor Huang, everything north of the Han River is in ruins. The soldiers under the King may seem numerous, but in reality, they are of mixed quality. Many things are beyond the King’s control. The King is determined to defeat the Xianbei, but one thread cannot make a rope, and one tree cannot make a forest. This battle…

 

“Victory or defeat is still uncertain, which is why we need Governor Huang’s full support. No, it’s not us who need it, but the common people and His Majesty!”

 

Huang Yanjiu: “…”

 

Did they really think that just because he came, they were guaranteed to win? Who would believe that?

 

Xiao Rong knew he didn’t believe it, so he immediately started painting a picture for him. Those letters hadn’t even been sent yet, but Xiao Rong spoke as if those people were definitely coming, one bringing a few thousand troops, another ten thousand, and once everyone gathered, their numbers would be overwhelming, making victory over the Xianbei as easy as pie. Of course the reason they had sent the letter to Huang Yanjiu alone was that some benefits couldn’t be shared with others, only with the Huang family.

 

Xiao Rong didn’t mention Huang Yanjiu’s name but kept referring to the “Huang family,” which was indeed a point where Qu Yunmie was at a disadvantage. Huang Yanjiu always held a certain disdain for Qu Yunmie, simply because of his surname, Huang. On a moral level, he always felt superior to Qu Yunmie.

 

When it came to offering benefits to Huang Yanjiu, he wouldn’t fall for it. Yet when it was framed as repaying the Huang family, it seemed more believable to him.

 

Xiao Rong observed his expression and then dropped a bombshell: “The Huang family’s ancestral home is in Jiangzhou, and Governor Huang’s older brother spent his whole life managing Lujiang. Governor Huang also grew up there. Does Governor Huang want to return to Lujiang?”

 

Huang Yanjiu’s expression changed.

 

Of course, he did. He dreamed of it! On one hand, it was because that was where he had been driven out, and on the other hand, Lujiang was far richer than Jianning. It was also close to Jinling, which would be incredibly convenient for him to launch his plans!

 

Still, he only gave a cautious smile. “It’s up to His Majesty to decide where I serve, I have no complaints.”

 

Xiao Rong responded, “What if His Majesty were to transfer you back to Lujiang?”

 

Huang Yanjiu chuckled. “Don’t joke, Prefect.”

 

Xiao Rong smiled. “I’m not joking. Back then, because of the king, your brother lost his post as the Governer of Lujiang. This has always been a thorn in the King’s heart, something that’s hard to remove. This joint effort with you to defeat the Xianbei is not only to add strength to the Northern Army but also to remove that thorn, returning everything to its rightful owner. The Xianbei aren’t just the King’s nemesis but also the court’s. If Governor Huang makes great contributions in this campaign, the King could write to His Majesty and the Grand Marshal, requesting your transfer back.”

 

Huang Yanjiu glanced at Xiao Rong. This time, he didn’t even bother chuckling.

 

Seeing this, Xiao Rong smiled again. “Does Governor Huang not believe the King can make this happen? What you don’t know is that the King and the Grand Marshal have an ongoing correspondence. They met last year in Huaiyin, where they shared a banquet and drinks, and this year, the King visited Pingyang and got along well with the Governor of Pingyang.”

 

Huang Yanjiu was stunned. He looked up at Qu Yunmie, who blinked and then coldly averted his gaze.

 

Yes, he had visited both places, but was it as Xiao Rong described? Well, that wasn’t really his concern.

 

Seeing this, Xiao Rong added, “This transfer isn’t easy to arrange, but the King can only help push for it. It mainly depends on how Governor Huang performs. Additionally, the King has requests, and if you agree to them, he will be more at ease.”

 

Conditions, of course—Huang Yanjiu felt that was normal. He still couldn’t decide whether to believe it, but he was curious about what Qu Yunmie’s conditions were.

 

Xiao Rong explained them: First, to send top-quality gold and jewels to Chenliu, which they would pass on to His Majesty. Second, to write a personal letter thanking Qu Yunmie for helping the Huang family and declaring their feud settled, and third, to let everyone know that all his belongings would be inherited by Huang Keji from now on.

 

Xiao Rong calmly laid out these conditions, and even Zhou Liang raised his head to look at him. He made no attempt to hide that he knew of Huang Keji’s existence. Huang Yanjiu exchanged glances with Zhou Liang, each having their own thoughts.

 

Huang Yanjiu had completely relaxed by now. At first, Xiao Rong’s behavior had been so generous, as if he was handing Lujiang over for free, which had raised all of Huang Yanjiu’s suspicions. Now, he understood that this wasn’t really about helping him return. It was actually about using this transfer to sever the Huang family’s hold over Qu Yunmie. After this, he could no longer use this matter to pressure Qu Yunmie.

 

Naturally, the treasures would end up in Qu Yunmie’s pocket, with the whole idea of “passing them on” being just an excuse. They were simply coveting the wealth of the Huang family and wanted to seize this opportunity to grab a share. As for the final condition, it was the only thing that surprised Huang Yanjiu.

 

They actually seemed to care about Huang Keji’s well-being, which he found quite amusing.

 

Huang Yanjiu didn’t realize it, but he had started underestimating Qu Yunmie again. Having gone through such a long-winded negotiation only to realize that it was all just to remove the Huang family’s leverage over Qu Yunmie, Huang Yanjiu felt smug. He no longer worried about whether what Xiao Rong said was true or false. After all, this matter was clearly a thorn in Qu Yunmie’s side, and he would do anything to resolve it.

 

However, it wasn’t just Qu Yunmie who was trapped, Huang Yanjiu was as well. Jianning was fine in many ways, but it was too remote, and he longed to return to Lujiang.

 

Sending troops had initially been something he was reluctant to do, but if sending troops meant he could earn merit and be transferred back to Lujiang, that changed everything. He began asking more questions, engaging in a back-and-forth negotiation with Xiao Rong, with his attitude growing increasingly aggressive. Under his pressure, Xiao Rong had no choice but to agree to request an official letter from His Majesty or the Grand Marshal authorizing the deployment of troops.

 

As long as he saw that letter, he would give his full support to the campaign against the Xianbei, just as Xiao Rong had said.

 

Grinding his teeth, Xiao Rong reluctantly agreed and insisted that Huang Yanjiu quickly deliver the jewels, so he would have something to report to His Majesty.

 

Money wasn’t as critical as soldiers or supplies, and the Huang family had plenty of it. Huang Yanjiu readily agreed, then left with a triumphant smile.

 

Qu Yunmie watched his retreating figure, missing his Snow-Drinking Vengeance Spear terribly.

 

Now that there were no outsiders present, Qu Yunmie frowned at Xiao Rong. “Did you really agree to request a letter from the Emperor just to get him to send troops?”

 

Xiao Rong leisurely sipped his tea. After finishing, he smiled faintly and asked, “Do you still remember why I initially sought to unite these people in the campaign against the Xianbei?”

 

Qu Yunmie thought for a moment and then recalled, “Because we need funds to build Chenliu.”

 

Xiao Rong nodded.

 

Qu Yunmie asked, “So this is just about getting his jewels?”

 

How much could he send? It wouldn’t even be enough to make a real difference.

 

Xiao Rong glanced at him, his eyes filled with a hint of pity.

 

Qu Yunmie: “…”

 

At this moment, Xiao Rong, in a cheerful mood, stood up. Tilting his head slightly, he said to Qu Yunmie, “The world’s wealth is divided into ten parts: five in the hands of noble families, five in the Emperor’s hands. Huang Yanjiu… he’s nothing more than a pleasant surprise on the road to slaying the tiger, at best he’s a rabbit. But it’s the rabbit’s blood that will draw out the tiger.

 

“Rest assured, my Lord. Troops and supplies will be ready before you set out. This battle, we are certain to win.”

 

 

Edited by: Antiope

 

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