Chapter 121: Nation and Family

After seeing Zhou Ning safely back to the Imperial Academy, Yang Xuan was just about to head home when he was called back.

"Let me give you a check-up." Zhou Ning pulled out her acupuncture kit.

Yang Xuan shuddered. "A-Ning, I’m perfectly fine. I’m not sick."

Zhou Ning frowned. "Sick or not, a check-up is necessary."

"Lie down!"

Yang Xuan lay on the table and underwent a thorough examination.

"You have a bit of internal heat," Zhou Ning instructed. "Drink more water."

"Does she not know where the young man's 'heat' comes from?" Zhu Que chuckled suggestively. "Poor little virgin."

Once out of the Imperial Academy, Yang Xuan strolled slowly along Vermilion Bird Street.

"Zitai!"

Yang Xuan turned around and immediately beamed as if he had run into a dear friend.

"Brother Liang!"

Seeing Liang Jing, who looked much more dignified now, dismount, the two shared a hug.

"It’s been a long time. Why didn't you come looking for me?" Liang Jing sounded like a neglected wife.

"I had to finish handling my affairs before I could properly meet with Brother Liang," Yang Xuan replied impeccably, finally asking, "Is Her Ladyship doing well?"

Liang Jing nodded. "Her Ladyship is naturally fine, but that wicked woman in the palace is being aggressive."

"The Empress?"

"Exactly."

The two found a place to drink.

"I heard about your time in the Northern Frontier," Liang Jing said with satisfaction. "You brought honor to Her Ladyship. Where do you want to go this time? Would you like a better posting?"

"No," Yang Xuan shook his head. "If I move to a better place just as things are starting to improve, others will say that Her Ladyship’s people only come down to be gilded."

Liang Jing looked at him for a long time before giving his shoulder a heavy pat. "Good brother!"

After a round of heavy drinking, Liang Jing clapped his hands. Two young women entered, both quite pretty.

"I prepared these for you, brother," Liang Jing said with a knowing smile. "Just take them back to keep your bed warm."

Yang Xuan shook his head and said sternly, "The cultivation technique I practice prevents me from leaking my masculine energy before the age of sixteen."

"Is that so?" Liang Jing looked quite disappointed.

Later, when they parted ways, Zhu Que asked, "When do you turn sixteen?"

"Soon."

Liang Jing headed into the palace.

"Her Ladyship invites Councilor Liang in." Liang Jing was now a Councilor in the Ministry of Rites.

Inside the hall, the Noble Consort was teasing her cat. She raised her eyes. "What has my elder brother been busy with lately?"

Liang Jing bowed. "Things have been lively in the Northern Frontier, so I’ve been keeping an eye on it. My Lady, Zhang Chumao is plotting to take the position of Military Governor of the Northern Frontier."

"A powerful frontier official!" The Noble Consort stroked her pet, speaking indifferently. "He is the son-in-law of the Yang clan; I imagine the Empress must be very pleased."

Liang Jing sneered. "They call it a great victory, but I find it curious. Zhang Chumao spent years in the Southern Frontier and was utterly mediocre. Why would he suddenly be reborn and excel upon reaching the Northern Frontier? This must be a scheme by the Four Great Clans to plant one of their own in the military. My Lady, what is His Majesty’s intention?"

The Noble Consort pinched the cat’s neck, pulling gently, her bright eyes showing a hint of warning. "Do not ask."

"Understood."

Later, a eunuch went to the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, Liang Jing tried to probe your attitude regarding Zhang Chumao, but the Noble Consort refused him."

"He knows his place," the Emperor said blandly.

"Your Majesty," Han Shitou entered. "His Highness the Crown Prince requests an audience."

The Emperor nodded.

Han Shitou went out. Outside the hall, the slightly plump Crown Prince, Li Jing, stood respectfully, his hands almost bound.

Han Shitou said, "Your Highness, please follow me."

Entering the hall, Li Jing bowed. "Greetings, Father."

The Emperor raised his eyes, speaking calmly. "What have you been busy with lately?"

Li Jing replied, "I have recently made the acquaintance of several great scholars whose learning is profound. I have been spending my time discussing scholarship with them, and I have benefited greatly."

The Emperor nodded, then lowered his head to look at the memorials, speaking distractedly. "Study well, and ask questions when you do not understand."

"Yes." Li Jing responded joyfully, as if a single word from the Emperor were a heavenly blessing. The look of filial affection on his face was palpable enough for a blind man to feel.

Han Shitou added from the side, "His Majesty is busy with official business."

Li Jing knelt and bowed. "Your son takes his leave."

"Go."

Han Shitou saw Li Jing out without a trace of contempt. Everyone knew the Crown Prince was not valued by the Emperor; some arrogant eunuchs even dared to extort money from the Eastern Palace, which spoke volumes. Yet, Han Shitou dared not underestimate this Crown Prince. Li Jing was twenty-seven and spent his days studying Confucianism, appearing mediocre. But could a man who could hand his own wife over to his father be mediocre? They say the hatred of having one's wife stolen is irreconcilable, yet the Crown Prince still entered and exited the palace with a gentle smile. He was no pushover.

A eunuch ran up in a hurry.

"What is it?"

The eunuch said, "Liao Jin, the Deputy Military Governor of the Northern Frontier, is arriving soon."

Han Shitou looked at the gloomy sky, thinking that rushing in such weather was a form of self-torture; such an attitude would surely please the Emperor.

The eunuch added casually, "Oh, right, someone mentioned that Taiping County also reported a victory. We should ask about it when the time comes."

Han Shitou’s brow twitched slightly. "Taiping County?"

The eunuch laughed. "Junior Supervisor Han, you might not know, but the County Magistrate is one of the Noble Consort’s people. This time, while guarding the grain route, they defeated the foreign cavalry. Four hundred defeated eight hundred! And those men seem to be convicts, called the Death-Defying Battalion. Tsk, tsk! That magistrate is truly ferocious..."

Han Shitou stood there, his eyes calmly watching the distance. His right hand slowly clenched into a fist, waving it with force where no one could see. His slightly red eyes were terrifyingly bloodshot at this moment.

...

Twenty miles outside Chang'an, a relay station welcomed dozens of riders that day. Under a light drizzle, the group wore bamboo hats and straw cloaks.

The station master came out to greet them. "Greetings, gentlemen."

Two soldiers stepped forward. "Quickly, arrange charcoal."

The station master smiled as he agreed, asking, "Who might this be?" Lodging required registration, or the wasted money and grain would drive the station master to suicide.

A man behind stepped up, lifting his bamboo hat slightly. "I am Liao Jin, Deputy Military Governor of the Northern Frontier."

The station master bowed. "I shall arrange it immediately."

The station was soon a flurry of activity, and no one noticed the station master slipping to the back to find a man.

"Liao Jin has arrived."

The man smiled. "We will remember your service."

The station master returned and personally brought the charcoal.

"The cold is in my very bones," Liao Jin said, rubbing his hands, his face weathered by the journey. After dinner, he sat by the fire, lost in thought.

"Deputy Governor." Someone knocked on the door.

"What is it?" Liao Jin rubbed his eyes.

The door opened, and an accompanying soldier said, "Someone wishes to see you, claiming to be an old friend."

Liao Jin asked, "Who?"

"Me!"

A man wearing a bamboo hat, a straw cloak, and a face mask walked in. He pulled down the mask, and Liao Jin froze. "You..."

"Please, close the door."

Liao Jin nodded, and his attendant closed it. Liao Jin looked at the man, his eyes full of confusion. "Why was I urgently summoned to Chang'an? Duke Xu coming to the station in the middle of the night makes me suspect..."

The man was Zhang Chumao. "Deputy Governor Liao, your journey was hard. The reason you were summoned back to Chang'an is that there is something we need you to testify to."

Liao Jin smiled faintly. "About the great victory?"

"You are indeed a smart man," Zhang Chumao nodded. "If I am appointed Military Governor of the Northern Frontier, I am willing to support you in achieving merit."

"I do not want merit."

"Then what do you want?"

"Truth!"

Zhang Chumao looked at him and suddenly laughed, quite happily.

"You want truth?" Zhang Chumao laughed. "I forgot to tell you, your son has committed a grave crime, taking bribes of over thirty thousand coins."

Liao Jin was stunned. His son was an official in a distant land, and the two rarely met. Every letter back and forth was full of good news. He never expected... He couldn't verify this, and he didn't need to.

Liao Jin raised his eyes and asked calmly, "What do you want?"

Zhang Chumao moved his neck, and rainwater dripped from his bamboo hat. He said in a low voice, "I only want the victory to be real. If it succeeds, I swear that this matter will be buried forever, otherwise my family will face total destruction. If it fails... my children are all pampered. If they were to be exiled somewhere, I think I would be heartbroken."

Liao Jin was silent.

Zhang Chumao smiled. "Huang Chunhui is old, but your credentials are not enough to succeed him as Military Governor. If someone else is appointed, someone who doesn't know your history, how will they treat you?"

Liao Jin rubbed his brow and lowered his head.

Zhang Chumao’s mouth curled slightly. "In that case, I look forward to drinking with you in the Northern Frontier. Farewell."

He opened the door and left, letting in a gust of cold wind. Liao Jin sat there in silence.

...

Early the next morning, Zhao Sanfu arrived.

"Liao Jin will arrive in Chang'an by noon."

Yang Xuan stood under a tree, missing the lively times when his whole family was here.

"No movement from Zhang Chumao?"

Zhao Sanfu shook his head. "We couldn't keep tabs on him."

"Damn it, Zhang Chumao isn't going to just sit there?" Yang Xuan knew Zhang Chumao’s victory was fraudulent, but there was no evidence! If he wanted to find evidence, the best witness would be the vanguard commander.

Zhao Sanfu shook his head. "He won't sit still, but who can prove his victory is fake?" He had much to do and soon left.

"Is no one going to handle this?" Zhu Que asked.

"The Four Great Clans are at the height of their power, and the Emperor’s attitude is unclear. Who would dare? Whoever touches it becomes their enemy."

...

Near noon, Liao Jin entered the city. He didn't pause for a moment and went straight to the palace to request an audience. Messengers came to call Yang Xuan to the palace. This was Yang Xuan’s first time seeing the Emperor—no, the usurper.

"Jing Ke assassinating the King of Qin, kill him!" Zhu Que was a bit excited. "Use a decapitation tactic, then the world will be in chaos, and you can raise the banner of 'Serving Heaven and Rectifying the State'... Wahahaha!"

On the way to the palace, Yang Xuan couldn't help but study the terrain, pondering how to attack it most conveniently.

"Follow me."

Following the eunuch, watching the palace, Yang Xuan fantasized about the days when the Filial Emperor walked these grounds. Outside the main hall, Liao Jin had already arrived.

"Deputy Governor Liao." Yang Xuan bowed.

Liao Jin said gently, "Young people should keep their spirits up, but one must not be impulsive."

Is he going to compromise? Yang Xuan’s heart turned cold.

A eunuch emerged from the hall—it was Han Shitou, whom he had met once before. Han Shitou said coldly, "Follow me."

The two entered one after the other. The Prime Ministers and Ministers were all there. Zhang Chumao was also present, looking humble, likely having just been praised. The Emperor... the usurper looked calm, his cheeks even showing signs of fat, showing he was living well.

Yang Xuan caught a glimpse of the high officials before lowering his head.

The Emperor said blandly, "Everyone is here. Ask what you will about the great victory."

Zheng Qi smiled. "Duke Xu’s achievements are illustrious; I imagine there are no questions."

Wang Douxiang said coldly, "The report says Duke Xu killed over a thousand enemies in this battle, with losses of three thousand."

"The Northern Liao were ferocious, and the vanguard underestimated the enemy, leading to heavy losses at the start. Later, the soldiers fought hard, and I led the army to arrive, only then did the enemy retreat," Zhang Chumao said with regret.

What acting! Yang Xuan thought of the movies he had seen; the so-called best actors would have to bow before this Duke Xu. But it was understandable—others acted for a paycheck, while this man acted to kill.

Wang Douxiang said, "The Northern Frontier should know of this. Deputy Governor Liao is here; please enlighten us."

Liao Jin stepped forward. Instantly, all eyes focused on him. Zhang Chumao looked at him with an exceptionally gentle smile. Wang Douxiang’s eyes flashed, cursing inwardly. If Zhang Chumao weren't guilty, he wouldn't need to look at Liao Jin at all. That look clearly meant something was wrong. Did he get to Liao Jin!?

Yang Songcheng looked at Chen Shen, smiling with great nonchalance. Chen Shen had rarely questioned the authenticity of Zhang Chumao’s victory; otherwise, Zhang Chumao would have already departed with the title of Military Governor. But what use was a temporary delay? Yang Songcheng had planned this for a long time, having Zhang Chumao lead the army to retaliate against Northern Liao. But that idiot Zhang Chumao was incompetent, losing men and horses in the battle. If not for that, why would he have found the dirt on Liao Jin’s son, then ordered Zhang Chumao to threaten and bribe Liao Jin to achieve this?

Chen Shen glanced at Yang Songcheng, his eyes calm as a deep, old well.

Liao Jin took a deep breath and said slowly:

"In the eleventh month of the third year of Daqian, Duke Xu led fifty thousand troops out and encountered the Northern Liao army."

Zhang Chumao’s mouth hooked up. He was incredibly glad he had married a woman from the Yingchuan Yang clan. Even if he didn't like that woman with all her rules, he had plenty of other women; he just needed to keep her provided for.

Liao Jin continued: "Five days later, the army returned and reported a victory. The Northern Frontier scouts had been circling the area during the battle and learned what happened..."

Zhang Chumao thought about how Liao Jin would become his deputy, and he had planned accordingly. He would have to make Liao Jin’s son even worse, until he was steeped in every vice, so that Liao Jin would have to be subservient to him, making the Northern Frontier a solid block.

Liao Jin glanced at him.

"The scouts reported that the vanguard encountered the Northern Liao army, collapsed upon first contact, and then broke into a complete rout..."

What does he mean? Zhang Chumao narrowed his eyes, waiting for the rest.

Liao Jin raised his head, his gaze piercing. "Last night, I stayed at the relay station, and someone came to see me, saying that my son was corrupt and would certainly be exiled. If I confirmed today that the victory was real, my son would be spared punishment. I tossed and turned all night. Country or family—which is heavier?"

Yang Songcheng looked at the high officials, his eyes cold enough to freeze them to death. *You idiot!*

Zhang Chumao trembled all over.

Liao Jin said decisively: "In this expedition, Duke Xu was defeated!"

The hall went as quiet as an ancestral temple, everyone looking like wooden spirit tablets.