“Actually, the best choice for commander in my mind wasn’t you—it was your father who strongly insisted. You know I rarely refuse that old man’s requests. He’s also a veteran marshal and wouldn’t recommend an unqualified commander to me, so I appointed you. This journey will inevitably be fraught with thorns everywhere. Be careful.”
“When you’re uncertain or can’t figure things out, using force to clear the way is a good idea. Be careful of the mountain goats in the Red Sea—that woman isn’t dead, but I’m certain she won’t dare provoke my wrath. For all her demands, you only need to refuse. When you encounter her fleet, what you need to do is open fire first. If there’s to be any talking, it can only happen after completely destroying their combat forces. You must remember this—don’t forget!”
“In the cold oceans, there’s a group of beast-like pirates. They’re uncivilized and extremely barbaric. Only slaughter can make them submit. So for this expedition, I’ve equipped you with three times the usual weapons, but only half the usual food. You’ll need to obtain food yourself. No matter what methods you use, bringing everyone back safely will count as a great achievement.”
“Don’t concern yourself with political affairs. We haven’t had any dealings with them yet. Even if we have, they’ll be confined in Chang’an to sing and dance for us—that’s the only thing they can do. We don’t want warmth or courtesy. At sea, you can only survive well by being more savage than anyone else. Use your most vicious thoughts to speculate about every person you see. Even if you see your father and me appear on the sea surface in the distant North Sea wanting to board your ship, the only thing you should do is—open fire!”
With each statement Yun Ye made, Cheng Chuliang nodded. This child’s greatest virtue was obedience. Born into a military family, he naturally understood why soldiers must obey—this was a virtue. If adaptation was needed, that was Wang Xuance’s responsibility.
The wind rose, and the warships pitched unsteadily with the waves. It was time to hoist the sails and set out. In distant Dengzhou, Chu Suiliang was doing the same thing as Yun Ye. The wild sea wind blew his beard in all directions, but still couldn’t make him stop talking.
“Boys, this is your last opportunity to achieve merit and establish careers. Bring out your ambition! You have the sturdiest warships, you have incomparably formidable armaments, the sharpest blades. Go! Beat those southerners in finding the Sun God’s nation. You have guides—those southerners don’t.”
“I know Yun Ye’s prestige at sea makes you feel infinite pressure, but don’t worry about it. He’s not the one going to sea this time—he’s not the commander. The commander is Cheng’s club, who grew up in the north just like you. If you can’t beat Yun Ye, do you lack even the confidence to defeat Cheng Chuliang? Lord Zhao places great hopes in your voyage. This old man guarantees that as long as you return victorious, receiving titles and honors for your wives and children will certainly be no problem. Yun Ye once said the ocean is a place where strength is compared. Haha! When it comes to being formidable, that’s the specialty of us Guanlong aristocratic families.”
“Boys, you’ll face countless enemies. You have no reinforcements, only opponents—including the southern fleet. Yun Ye, clever all his life but confused for a moment, actually thinks that sailing south and north can converge at the same place. This is a heaven-sent opportunity…”
Tang officials were just like this—civil officials acted more ruthlessly than bandits. After one blood-boiling speech, the group of soldiers below were instantly fired up, their blood vessels ready to burst. One by one, faces red and necks thick, they howled and jumped onto the warships. Hoisting the sails, the fleet left the harbor. Chu Suiliang felt very satisfied with the soldiers’ passionate response.
Zhang Liang stood behind Chu Suiliang without saying a word, but he hadn’t missed a single word of Chu Suiliang’s speech. Seeing Chu Suiliang turn to look at him, he sighed and said, “The winds and clouds on the ocean change unpredictably—one moment calm and peaceful, the next moment turbulent waves. Going to sea with only passionate blood is seeking death. Minister, what you said was somewhat biased.”
Chu Suiliang said with a smile, “This is the inner sea. When they reach the outer sea, the waves will calm their fervor. Lord Zhang, after many years stationed at the East Sea, do you have any plans to return to Chang’an? After many years of patience, your family has flourished with numerous branches and leaves. You should make arrangements for your descendants. I hear your youngest son and several grandsons have turned out quite excellent. This old man has a granddaughter at home who has been well trained by my wife—her womanly appearance, skills, and virtue are outstanding in Chang’an. How about we form a marriage alliance?”
Zhang Liang said to Chu Suiliang with a smile, “This old man is a castrated person. Back then, His Majesty mercifully spared my life. Zhang Liang only wishes to serve His Majesty wholeheartedly with all his strength. As for children’s matters, if it were just a simple marriage alliance, how could your granddaughter’s turn reach Zhang Liang’s unworthy son? What you and Lord Zhao value is nothing more than my position.”
“Minister, Zhang Liang speaks bluntly—I only ask that you not take offense and not harm the children. Zhang Liang is a person without a stance. Truthfully, I’m just a puppet on strings in His Majesty’s hands. No matter what I think, my body will move on its own. So the marriage matter should be dropped. I only want to barely survive and pass on the family line—that would satisfy me completely. In the future, if Lord Zhao prevails, I ask that the Minister, considering Zhang Liang’s involuntary position, spare the Zhang family a way to live.”
Chu Suiliang laughed coldly, “At this time, everyone in the court is either black or white. Wanting to muddle through in gray probably won’t work, right? Lord Zhang has made enough profit in the East Sea these years—don’t you want to change positions?”
Zhang Liang laughed loudly, “Minister, Zhang Liang was self-righteous for many years. Only in my old age have I finally understood how to live clearly. Actually, as an official, as long as you don’t violate taboos, being a bit greedy and taking a bit isn’t a mistake. Following the wrong person is the big trouble. People who go back on their word are looked down upon. If Zhang Liang wants to change positions, naturally I’ll petition His Majesty. What does seeking you, Minister, amount to?”
Chu Suiliang hadn’t expected Zhang Liang’s speech to be so sharp. He flicked his sleeve and left first. Zhang Liang smiled bitterly and shook his head, then turned to board his ship. His base was on Penglai Island—by regulation he couldn’t linger in Dengzhou.
Just as he entered the cabin, a disheveled, beast-like man walked to Zhang Liang’s side and said in a strange tone, “I want to eat him!” Zhang Liang stroked the man’s messy hair and laughed coldly, “Can’t eat him—at least not now. The master hasn’t told us to eat, so we can’t open our mouths. Otherwise there will be disaster…”
Yun Ye embraced Lai Chuanfeng and pounded heavily on his breastplate with a fist, then removed his own cloak and draped it over him. Then he waved his hand, signaling they could board the ships and depart.
“Grand Marshal, wait for me! This humble officer will definitely bring you treasures you’ve never seen before. Liu Renyuan even hopes this humble officer can help him catch a singing sea monster—I’ve already agreed. Hahaha! Grand Marshal, take care! This humble officer departs!” Lai Chuanfeng shook the cloak and laughed heartily as he boarded first, his entire person appearing supremely heroic.
Hippatia also boarded the ship. Standing beside the mast, she looked at Yun Ye in the distance, opened her mouth but swallowed her words. The waves of Dongting Lake tossed the ship to the crest, and after the cables were released, their view was quickly obscured by the boiling lake surface. In her eyes were only water and sky merged as one, along with the high pointed roof of Yueyang Tower.
“Vapors steam over Yunmeng Marsh, waves shake Yueyang City.” Yun Ye looked up at these two lines of poetry on Yueyang Tower. The poem remained, the painting too. The picturesque landscape once painted on paper had now become reality. Tall city walls extended far along Dongting Lake, not only embracing the lake but also defending the rolling Yangtze River. All this was beautiful—only the old friends had already turned to yellow earth.
Han Cheng was alive, but Guan Tinglong had long since died. That chubby Qian Sheng had also died—just last year. He died still alone. Han Cheng’s position had never changed—he was the Deputy Governor of Yuezhou City. Whether the Governor was Yun Ye or Cui Xiu made little difference to him.
“When Qian Sheng died, he told me he was going to the underworld to guard the gates of Yueyang City, and wanted me to come down early too. But these past few years I’ve abstained from women, absolutely refusing to let his scheme succeed. This fellow keeps entering my dreams lately. It looks like my days aren’t many either. Guarding such a large city, who wants to die? But if you don’t die, it won’t do. People are already cursing me as an old undying one, wishing I’d hurry up and die to vacate the position for others.”
Han Cheng’s words still couldn’t make Yun Ye feel happy. What was Cui Xiu doing? Didn’t he say at the beginning that he wouldn’t look at anyone’s face? How did he become so formidable in just these one or two years? Human hearts are unreliable! He had focused all his attention on the military, somewhat neglecting local affairs. And what Zhangsun Wuji was best at was borrowing momentum. Cui Xiu hadn’t held firm!
“Yun Shou’s official rank has already reached the fifth grade, lower division. Promoting him one rank to become Governor of Yuezhou shouldn’t be a problem. Zhangsun Wuji’s fief is in Zhaozhou—isn’t the Governor there his son Zhangsun Huan? Let’s follow their example. The Governor of Yuezhou can be Yun Shou, and in the future it will change to Yun Huan. I’d like to see what else Zhangsun Wuji can do. The Cui family is truly foolish—choosing sides before matters are clear. Really absurd.”
Han Cheng opened his mouth and smiled, “If the eldest young master can come, that would be best. That way, Xue Wanche and I won’t be lonely. These years you haven’t managed local affairs much—your territory has been almost completely encroached upon by others.”
Yun Ye smiled, “We have plenty of time. Compared to Zhangsun Wuji, I’m simply a young man. As long as I don’t do things that make His Majesty wary, the final victor will be me. Tell me, those people can’t fail to see this point, right? Why would they be so anxious?”
Han Cheng laughed heartily, “Blinded by profit! Confused by immediate benefits, unable to see the future. They always think Zhangsun Wuji is about to win. To preserve their current glory and wealth, who would care about the future?”
Yun Ye boarded the ship, with Han Cheng following closely behind. Cui Xiu didn’t come to see him off, which indicated this fellow was determined to break with Yun Ye. The Emperor’s decree was for Yun Ye to inspect the southern fleet. Now that the task was complete, he couldn’t enter Yueyang City again. Perhaps this was also specially arranged by Zhangsun Wuji, worried that Yun Ye would deal Cui Xiu a fatal blow.
Yun Ye patted the railing and said to Han Cheng, “Zhangsun Wuji has gone too far—Yueyang City is my fief!”