Weizhou.

Thin white snow covered the gray-blue roof ridges and withered branches. In the courtyard, military men in short-sleeved garb swept fallen leaves with brooms.

This place was heavily guarded. Ordinary servants were not permitted to approach—all menial work was handled by military soldiers.

Faint sounds of scolding came from the study.

“This is the good work you’ve done?”

“I had you guard Youzhou alongside Liao Jiang, but with the barbarians still outside the city, you were so frightened you fled back with your tail between your legs? You truly bring me honor!”

No heating dragon had been lit in the room. The north wind howled outside, and the interior was equally cold and cheerless.

Wei Qishan wore a plain white inner robe with a large outer robe draped over it. His tall frame, showing no mercy from the passage of years and this injury and illness, had suddenly become much thinner, so that his former robes now hung somewhat loosely on his body.

Kneeling below, Wei Pingjin wore everyday brocade robes with his hair bound in a golden gauze crown. Listening to this harsh scolding, his ten fingers curled into fists at his sides, his eyes holding humiliated forbearance—clearly unconvinced.

He argued, “Your son is not greedy for life and afraid of death. That day when I withdrew the troops, it was truly because Youzhou’s situation was hopeless. The barbarians breaking through the city was but a matter of moments. To prevent the soldiers below from needlessly sacrificing their lives, your son gave the military order to withdraw to Weizhou. The military supervisors can all testify for your son…”

“What is this?” Wei Qishan directly threw the latest battle report that had been delivered back into Wei Pingjin’s face.

The memorial’s paper was of hard quality. Thrown at his face, it made half of Wei Pingjin’s cheek burn painfully for quite a while.

He had only just arrived in Weizhou last night. Because Wei Qishan had already retired, he hadn’t dared disturb him, thinking to pay respects this morning and report on withdrawing from Youzhou. Who would have thought that Youzhou’s meteor fast horse had already delivered the victory report into Wei Qishan’s hands this morning?

That Liao Jiang could still turn defeat into victory under such difficult circumstances—Wei Pingjin absolutely didn’t believe it. Therefore, after Wei Qishan threw the battle report at him, he only knelt stiffly for a moment before picking up the report to read carefully.

Although the battle report didn’t mention his early withdrawal with a single word, it praised a volunteer army leader named Xiao Li as if he were a deity. When Wei Pingjin saw that Xiao Li had led only a few dozen riders to burn the barbarian granary and reverse the battle situation, he held the report with near mockery. “This person led only a few dozen riders to burn the barbarian granary—Father, do you believe it?”

Wei Qishan raised his eyes coldly toward his son. Even in illness, his authority was not diminished in the slightest. “What your elder brother could accomplish at sixteen years of age, and what Liao Jiang and all the generals witnessed with their own eyes—why would I not believe it?”

Wei Pingjin was blocked by these words, yet the sense of humiliation in his eyes grew stronger.

He knelt dryly for another moment. When Wei Qishan’s senior attendant came knocking again with another report, only then did Wei Qishan say coldly, “Get out and reflect on yourself.”

Wei Pingjin bowed with clasped fists in extreme discomfort, said “Your son takes his leave,” and only then left the study.

The senior attendant watched Wei Pingjin’s departing back, then turned to present the report sent from the southern border to Wei Qishan’s desk before saying carefully, “This old servant knows that the early death of the eldest young master is a heartache for the Marquis, but how many in this world can become accomplished at such a young age like the eldest young master? Although the second young master’s temperament is somewhat arrogant, he ordinarily studies diligently and practices martial arts with considerable effort, always taking the eldest young master as his model. The Marquis need not be too harsh.”

Wei Qishan glanced at the letter at the corner of the desk. Seeing it bore Great Liang’s seal, he didn’t even break the wax seal before throwing it directly into the basket beside him. He took out a military book instead and opened it on the desk. “If he could match even half of Chuan’er’s ability, I wouldn’t have needed to place him beside Liao Jiang.”

The senior attendant knew that Wei Pingjin had made a great fool of himself this time, causing even Wei Qishan to lose face before all the veteran generals. For a moment he didn’t know how to respond to this.

When Pei Song had just captured Fengyang and Princess Hanyang had not yet risen in the southern border, after Wei Qishan severely checked Pei Song’s momentum, to pave the way for his son, he had once allocated troops to Wei Pingjin and assigned several capable generals to lead and assist him in fighting Pei Song. Who would have thought Wei Pingjin would be chased by Pei Song, losing one city after guarding another, actually restoring morale to Pei’s army that had been barely clinging to survival?

After that battle, no one in the army from top to bottom had much confidence in Wei Pingjin.

But Wei Qishan only had this one son. No matter how angry he was that his son failed to meet expectations, he could only hold his nose and continue finding ways to pave the road.

After he was injured at Youzhou, he had already prepared for the worst. If he didn’t make it, military authority would certainly have to pass to Wei Pingjin. Liao Jiang was one of his most important generals. He entrusted both Youzhou and his son to Liao Jiang—if anything truly happened to him, with Liao Jiang’s full support of Wei Pingjin, within a few years he could completely win over the hearts of those below.

Therefore defending Youzhou to the death alongside Liao Jiang had become a critically important step.

If this battle was won, needless to say Wei Pingjin could share in the military merit.

If Youzhou truly couldn’t be held, having formed bonds of life and death with Liao Jiang’s subordinate generals, Wei Pingjin would henceforth have more support in the army.

Now it was good—all his plans had been ruined by Wei Pingjin himself.

And the man still had a wooden head—he hadn’t understood where the problem lay even now.

If he had just stayed to defend for even half a day longer and fully demonstrated his determination to share the fate of all the soldiers, when the city truly faced collapse, would Liao Jiang have let him die there?

At that time, if Liao Jiang had sent people to “forcibly” evacuate him, would the subordinate generals have had any objections?

He himself had hastily withdrawn the troops, and Liao Jiang’s side achieved victory immediately after—this had completely cemented his cowardly reputation for being greedy for life and afraid of death. How could Wei Qishan not be angry?

Thinking of his deceased eldest son, rare melancholy crept across Wei Qishan’s brow. “Chuan’er is as ruthless as his mother, leaving me this lonely old man in this dusty world. I wonder if his mother still resents me on the other side…”

Halfway through his words, his hand was already at his lips, coughing lowly.

The senior attendant hurried forward to close the windows, advising, “You surrendered to the new dynasty to spare the common people of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun from the ravages of war. The first lady knows your difficulties—how could she resent you? The eldest young master’s death was truly heaven envying his talent. The Marquis should not grieve over these past events anymore—be mindful of your own health. The military physician said your injuries require proper care. This old servant will have the people below light the heating dragon in your room. This freezing cold weather is not conducive to recovery.”

Wei Qishan’s first wife was a descendant of the previous dynasty’s meritorious nobility. After Emperor Liang Mingcheng unified most of the Central Plains, Wei Qishan faced Great Liang’s offer of surrender and the barbarian tribes beyond the passes eyeing them covetously—for the sake of his subjects, he ultimately chose to surrender to Great Liang.

His wife was strong-willed. After leaving a letter stating everything was unrelated to Wei Qishan, she resolutely took her own life.

Wei Qishan and his first wife’s eldest son, Wei Xingchuan, was gifted and intelligent with extraordinary courage—the child in whom he placed the highest hopes. But unfortunately, at sixteen years old, after becoming famous in one battle against the Rongque, he aroused the Rongque’s fear, and they schemed to have him killed on the battlefield.

His first wife and eldest son were Wei Qishan’s most hidden pain. Every time he thought of them, his white hair would multiply.

After coughing for a while, he waved his hand in refusal. “I’ve lived this way for so many years. This body of mine won’t fail just because we’ve reached this year.”

The senior attendant wanted to persuade him further but heard Wei Qishan ask, “How goes the search for the person I asked you to find?”

The senior attendant had no choice but to stop and answer, “We’ve searched and found twelve young ladies from various places whose appearance and age are suitable. We’re currently teaching them proper etiquette. Once they’ve learned the rules, they can be brought before the Marquis for you to select.”

Wei Qishan glanced at the several reports bearing the Liang seal in the basket. “Have someone also teach them the Four Books and Five Classics. Great Liang’s Wen clan produced a remarkable princess. If my Great Jin’s princess is illiterate, we would become the laughingstock of the world.”

The previous dynasty’s national title was Jin.

—

After leaving the compound, Wei Pingjin walked with a cold face all the way to the end of the covered corridor before he could no longer suppress his anger. He punched the corridor pillar hard and closed his eyes for a long time without speaking.

The attendants behind him were silent as cicadas, not daring to approach and touch Wei Pingjin’s bad luck at this time.

Wei Pingjin’s five fingers were scraped by the corridor pillar, oozing blood beads. He grimaced and said with self-mockery, “Mother was right—the living can never compete with the dead.”

This involved their marquis household’s private affairs. The attendants dared even less to comment, each keeping their heads bowed and eyes lowered, purely treating themselves as objects.

Wei Pingjin withdrew his hand. His anger clearly hadn’t subsided, but glancing at the attendants playing dead, he also had no mood to vent his anger on them. Extremely displeased, he said, “Return to the military camp.”

Once at the military camp, the advisors under his command weren’t so lucky to escape his wrath. After several advisors in succession were dragged out to receive military beatings, the remaining advisors in the great tent were all breaking out in cold sweat for themselves.

Wei Pingjin sat in the tiger-skin chair, his two military-booted legs crossed and propped on the desk. He toyed with the cat’s-eye stone-embedded dagger in his hand, looking at everyone below with some amusement. “This young lord keeps you all fed not to be wine sacks and rice bags. Didn’t you say Youzhou absolutely couldn’t be held? You were greedy for life and afraid of death yourselves, tricking this young lord into withdrawing the troops—truly audacious! If I don’t execute you all today, won’t everyone think they can make a fool of this young lord tomorrow?”

The advisors immediately wailed their injustice, kneeling all over the ground.

In this matter they were truly wronged. That day Youzhou was indeed in extreme danger, but they advised withdrawal because Wei Pingjin himself didn’t want to remain and had even argued with Liao Jiang to the point of discord. Now he was taking it out on them.

Those of them who made their living by reading their superiors’ expressions naturally had to go along with Wei Pingjin, saying pleasant things he wanted to hear, advising withdrawal.

Now it was good—Youzhou had held, and Wei Pingjin definitely got harshly scolded when he went to the marquis’s residence today. With fire in his heart, he was now venting on them.

Although the advisors understood in their hearts what was happening, they didn’t dare speak the truth. They could only play dumb and beg for loyalty, then think about how to redirect this ancestor’s anger elsewhere.

Listening to their pleas, Wei Pingjin gave a cold laugh. “You feel wronged? This young lord feels even more wronged!”

He called out toward the tent entrance, “Someone come! Drag them out and give each of them fifty strikes!”

The advisors were terrified, hurriedly crying out, “Young lord, see clearly! The situation at Youzhou that day was truly urgent! We advised the young lord to withdraw troops, firstly for the young lord’s safety, because the young lord’s safety concerns Northern Wei’s foundation—there can be no mishap!”

Although Wei Pingjin still gave a cold snort, these words obviously pleased him somewhat, and he didn’t interrupt the advisor.

The advisor hurried to continue, “Secondly, it’s also for Northern Wei’s foundation. The barbarians beyond the passes came with fierce momentum, and in the Central Plains heartland there’s also that jackal Pei Song eyeing us covetously. If we’d lost our troops at Youzhou, when the barbarians beyond the passes and Pei’s army join forces to attack, Northern Wei would truly be in danger! The only thing we didn’t anticipate was that in that Tongzhou volunteer army, there would be such a capable person who could lead just a few dozen riders deep into enemy territory to burn their granary…”

Wei Pingjin withdrew his feet and threw the dagger he’d been toying with onto the desk, producing a sharp “clang” that frightened the advisor into immediately stopping.

Wei Pingjin said with unclear meaning, “This young lord also didn’t expect that General Liao was still hiding such a move.”

In his words was actually the meaning of blaming Liao Jiang.

He knew his father had him guard Youzhou alongside Liao Jiang to have him win over military hearts there, but Liao Jiang, relying on being his father’s important general, was already domineering in military strategy. When he saw him worried about Youzhou’s fall, he concealed this tactical move without saying anything, causing him to withdraw and lose such tremendous face. Wei Pingjin’s heart also held resentment.

Another advisor who had remained silent suddenly said, “Speaking of which, it’s also strange. That Tongzhou volunteer army leader is so brave—first saving General Yuan Fang from tens of thousands of Pei’s army when Southern Chen’s rebel general Dou Jianliang massacred our Wei army in the southern border, then at Youzhou’s critical moment, relying on just a few dozen riders to kill into the enemy camp and burn their granary. How is it he was never heard of before?”

These words struck right at Wei Pingjin’s heart. When he first saw the battle report, he didn’t believe the man could be so valiant. Now hearing this advisor’s analysis, he increasingly felt these two events connected together were too suspicious. He immediately sat up straighter and demanded, “That Tongzhou volunteer army leader Xiao…”

For a moment he couldn’t recall the name. The advisor below hurried to reply, “Xiao Li.”

Once Youzhou’s battle report reached Weizhou, the news of great victory and Xiao Li’s name naturally spread through the Wei army.

“Right, Xiao Li!” Wei Pingjin’s expression visibly grew excited. He commanded heavily, “Investigate this person thoroughly for this young lord!”

If the problem lay with this person, his withdrawal from Youzhou wasn’t wrong at all. Rather, it was Liao Jiang who failed to properly vet his people and nearly caused great disaster!

His words had barely fallen when an advisor discussed in a low voice, “This name… why does it sound somewhat familiar?”

Wei Pingjin’s gaze immediately swept over. “You know this person?”

That advisor, startled by the look, stammered back, “Re… replying to the young lord, this humble one can’t recall at the moment, but has definitely heard this person’s name before…”

Wei Pingjin slammed the desk hard, his eyes terrifying as if he would devour someone. “Can’t recall? Then go outside and receive military beatings while you think!”

That advisor immediately kowtowed begging for mercy. Just as Wei Pingjin was about to call someone in to drag him away, suddenly another advisor cried out in realization, “I know this person! Isn’t he a Liang general? In the southern border battle to seize Taojun, he was quite famous!”

With him saying this, the advisor kneeling and begging for mercy obviously also recalled it all at once, hurriedly saying, “That’s the one! That’s the one!”

Wei Pingjin stood up supporting himself on the desk, demanding, “Is what you say true?”

The advisor who first mentioned Xiao Li was a Liang general said, “As long as it’s not someone with the same name, it shouldn’t be wrong.”

Wei Pingjin began pacing somewhat anxiously in place. Finally, he still irritably threw the question to the advisors. “Has any of you seen that Liang general Xiao Li? Can you identify whether they’re the same person?”

The advisors looked at each other, clearly none having seen Xiao Li, unable to identify him.

It was still the advisor who pointed out Xiao Li’s previous “unknown fame” who said, “Although we don’t know that Xiao-surnamed Liang general, previously among the common people there was much denunciation of the Liang camp. Some Liang camp advisors, unwilling to assist tyrants and continue helping Southern Chen usurp the nation, defected to our Wei camp. Although the Marquis hasn’t employed this group, he has treated them with courtesy and kept them in the administrative office compiling historical texts. That Tongzhou volunteer army leader has achieved such great merit—the Marquis will certainly summon him personally. On the day of rewarding merits, the young lord can bring a few Liang camp advisors to observe the ceremony. After identifying without error, you can expose the Liang camp’s conspiracy on the spot and capture him in one move. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

After listening, Wei Pingjin couldn’t help but clap in praise, saying happily, “Good! We’ll do as you say!”

He looked back at that advisor. The latter lowered his brow and eyes with a humble smile, bowing his head slightly in a very modest and obedient manner.

Wei Pingjin said, “This whole room is full of wine sacks and rice bags. Only you’re somewhat useful. You’ve contributed with your strategy today—reward of ten gold. Henceforth remain constantly at this young lord’s side.”

This meant he would be promoted to chief advisor.

That advisor smiled and bowed with clasped hands, concealing the look in his eyes. “This humble one thanks the young lord for his grace.”

—

After the victory at Youzhou, the Rongque people couldn’t chew through this hard bone of Youzhou again in a short time. Having also lost their grain supplies, they had no choice but to first relocate to other encampments.

After Liao Jiang led his subordinate generals in discussion over the maps, he determined they would continue attacking various places at the northern border thereafter. To facilitate the Wei camp’s subsequent troop deployments, Liao Jiang extracted a portion of Youzhou’s forces and had Yuan Fang lead them to Weizhou.

The various volunteer armies that had previously come to pledge allegiance to the Wei camp now all looked to Xiao Li as their leader. After the great Youzhou victory, Wei Qishan naturally had to receive them to fulfill his duties as host.

After Xiao Li and Yuan Fang led tens of thousands of troops on several days’ journey to reach Weizhou, the forces were all stationed outside the city. Only about a hundred meritorious generals were escorted into the city.

Yuan Fang worried Xiao Li might harbor resentment and explained on the road, “The Marquis loves his people like his own children. To avoid the army entering the city and disturbing the common people, he long ago established a military order not allowing us to bring troops into the city.”

Xiao Li naturally understood the purpose in this was no different from feudal princes not being allowed to bring troops into the capital, but since Yuan Fang had the intention to explain, he also went along with flattery. “I’ve long heard the Marquis treats the people benevolently and governs properly. Seeing it today, it’s truly as said.”

With these words, Yuan Fang felt much more at ease. Along the way he pointed out many scenic spots and historic sites for him to see, laughing and saying he would personally take him to tour the city later.

Upon reaching the marquis’s residence, Wei Qishan’s senior attendant was already personally waiting outside the main gate. Seeing them, he hurriedly directed young servants forward to tend the horses. After everyone dismounted, he bowed in greeting, then with a warm smile led them inside. “The Marquis has already set a banquet in the front hall waiting for all the generals.”

Yuan Fang was familiar with the senior attendant and didn’t treat Xiao Li as an outsider either. As they entered, he asked, “Is the Marquis’s injury better?”

The senior attendant was inwardly surprised that Yuan Fang would speak so freely in front of Xiao Li, but his face remained warm as ever, smiling. “Much better. After seeing Youzhou’s victory report the other day, the Marquis can now eat half a bowl more rice.”

This was an indirect way of praising the Youzhou generals again.

Yuan Fang immediately laughed heartily. “That’s good then. That traitor Pei Song schemes everywhere, not only turning Southern Chen’s rebel generals but also secretly colluding with the Rongque barbarians, causing our Wei camp much suffering! When the Marquis has recovered, we must avenge this humiliation!”

As they spoke, they had passed through several hanging flower gates and reached the marquis residence’s front hall.

The attendants outside the door, seeing the party arrive, hurried inside to announce them.

The senior attendant led them up the stone steps. Before entering, he gestured to the soldiers on both left and right sides holding trays and standing respectfully, saying with a smile, “Please, all generals, leave your weapons here.”

Yuan Fang and the other Wei generals, familiar with the routine, unbuckled their swords and placed them on the trays. Xiao Li, having already learned the protocol for military officers meeting their lord during his time in Pingzhou, wasn’t surprised at this moment and smoothly unbuckled his sword and placed it in the tray.

With him taking the lead, the volunteer army leaders naturally had nothing more to say. Only Zheng Hu, while unbuckling his saber, muttered quietly to Song Qin beside him, “This Wei marquis residence sure has a lot of rules.”

Song Qin kept his eyes straight ahead, reminding in a low voice, “Forgotten what the strategist instructed before we came? Be cautious in words and actions.”

Zheng Hu was just venting complaints. Afraid of bringing trouble to Xiao Li, he swallowed all remaining complaints back into his stomach.

The attendant lifted the wind-blocking door curtain at the great entrance. Inside, a heating dragon had been lit. Before everyone had even entered, they felt warm air on their faces. But the scene inside the hall was blocked by a screen over a zhang long depicting a thousand mountains and river scenery at the entrance, making it unclear. They could only hear the sound of strings and bamboo instruments coming from inside.

From entering the residence until now, they still hadn’t seen Wei Qishan himself, but this northern border lord’s imposing manner had already opened everyone’s eyes.

When the senior attendant bowed again making a “please” gesture to lead everyone inside, Yuan Fang didn’t move, turning sideways to Xiao Li. “Benefactor, please.”

Xiao Li said, “General Yuan should lead the way.”

Yuan Fang smiled. “Benefactor need not be formal—let’s go together.”

After speaking, he raised his hand gesturing for Xiao Li to enter together.

The Wei generals and volunteer army leaders following behind naturally also divided into two groups of their own accord, following the two men inside.

Circling around that enormous screen into the inner hall, Xiao Li immediately spotted Wei Qishan sitting in the main seat. This Marquis of the Northern Border, master of the northern border Wolf Riders, whose name shook the four seas, was just as the world praised—resolute and imposingly authoritative. Just sitting there, his entire being exuded an indescribable power that made everyone unconsciously breathe more heavily for a moment, showing no sign whatsoever of his previous severe injury.

Wei Qishan was also looking at Xiao Li. His gaze was quite peaceful, yet also seemed able to completely penetrate whoever he observed.

Xiao Li felt an unprecedented pressure. He had seen many people before, but whether it was Li Yao’s gaze in the past carrying recognition and instructive meaning, or when killing Pei Song, the other’s shocked yet unilaterally declaring his certain death again with hatred—none matched the heavy weight in this gaze after it had been tempered through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

This mutual gaze lasted only two breaths before Wei Qishan turned his eyes away, smiling as he asked Yuan Fang beside him, “This must be the young lord Xiao that Liao Jiang mentioned in his letter—the one with tiger’s courage who dared to penetrate deep into enemy camp with just a few dozen riders?”