Chapter 40, Chapter Seven: Under the Stars and Moon

"Liangzhou hasn't fallen yet?" Liu Jun looked at the map in his hand. "I thought Li Xiong would definitely be able to take Hanzhong after Luo Shang's death, but I didn't expect Liangzhou to hold out for so long. Where are we now?"

The person who answered was Linghu Ni, the son of Linghu Sheng. Since the incident with Xu Run, they had been waiting outside Jinyang City with their troops and were now considered Liu Jun's personal guards.

They had been away from Bingzhou for three or four months. Perhaps it was divine intervention, but they had not encountered many bandits or barbarians along the way. They fought as they went, and now they were not far from Chang'an.

Because of his intelligence and quick wit, Yin Xiaocheng, who often served as a scout, reported, "We have already arrived in the Qin state."

"Qin State? Oh, then that must be Fufeng." Liu Jun really didn't know why Sima Zhong would change such a nice-sounding place name into something so incongruous. He casually tossed his water pouch to him, "Sharp ears and eyes, worthy of your ancestor's name."

"Huh?" Yin Xiaocheng looked completely bewildered, scratching his head with a sheepish grin.

Liu Jun smiled and said, "Your grandfather's name was Da Mu."

He was so serious, which made everyone burst into laughter.

Since leaving Bingzhou, he has been surrounded by vast lands and rivers, and he has put those unpleasant things behind him. He has become much more cheerful and can joke and laugh, which makes everyone feel at ease.

Liu Dan watched as his long, slender fingers traced the shape of Chang'an. "Are you going to pay your respects to the Crown Prince?"

Liu Jun's finger paused on the city walls of Chang'an for a moment, then he shook his head again. "The opportunity to fight must not be missed, and we cannot afford to delay. Let's rest for the night and set off tomorrow morning."

In early summer, unable to sleep, Liu Jun got up, put on his clothes, and, as usual, surveyed the enemy situation and terrain. He rode his horse around the area, and only after confirming that there were no enemies within a few miles did he feel relieved. Seeing a lush willow tree by a small stream, with beautiful scenery, he tied his horse under the willow tree, lay down, and looked at the starry sky.

In my previous life, I was quite fond of studying the Book of Changes and had a deep belief in the apocryphal and prophetic teachings that people of my time believed in.

But later, on that rainy night, he cast a divination for himself, and the result was extremely auspicious.

They say the dragon is flying in the sky, but it's clearly a dragon trapped in shallow waters.

Therefore, having been given a second chance at life, I would rather not engage with the I Ching.

So when you look up at the sky, you don't think about things like Mars guarding the heart or the five planets aligning; you just focus on appreciating the vastness of the Milky Way and the endless expanse of stars. Gradually, you feel your soul connecting with the heavens and the earth, and you experience a unique poetic feeling.

In that instant, he thought of his grandfather, who had already ascended to the heavens.

But he was not his grandfather after all. He had been tempered for too long and seemed to have truly become a martial artist. Thousands of words lingered in his heart, but he could never express them or put them on paper. In the end, they could only turn into a long, melancholy sigh.

He took out a hujia (a type of reed pipe) from his sleeve and played it against the wind, playing Cai Wenji's Eighteen Songs, Ji Kang's Guangling San, and also Liu Kun's Pillow of Arms and Waiting for Dawn, Clear Whistle Repelling the Enemy.

He also played his own Nangong Bloodshed, his life staining the yellow sand.

Suddenly he stopped, hearing the sound of approaching hooves. He quickly put down his huqin and hid in the ravine he had already spotted.

Several riders arrived in the blink of an eye, one of which was light yellow, almost golden, and stood out even in the moonlight.

Liu Jun felt relieved, but still lingered for a moment longer until he could see the person's face clearly before he was completely at ease.

"That bugle call just now was definitely his. Could it be that I misheard?" Sima Ye held his riding whip, looking around in confusion.

Suddenly, a figure pounced from behind him, grabbing his sleeve and pressing down on his shoulder before he could draw his sword, rendering him unable to move.

Sima Ye was shocked, but he was powerless to fight back. He looked around at the guards in desperation, but they all couldn't help but laugh. He also smelled a faint fragrance. He stopped struggling and laughed, "I walk with your jade body, and let the breeze spread your light. What a beauty."

Liu Jun hadn't expected to be teased instead of frightened. Hearing him quote Cao Zijian's "Ode to Rosemary," he couldn't help but shake his head and laugh, "The fragrance hasn't dissipated even after we've been out for so long. It's truly a wonderful fragrance. It's a pity I didn't bring it with me this time, otherwise I would have given some to Your Highness."

Sima Ye turned his head and was taken aback to see that he had lost a lot of weight compared to before. "Is something wrong? Why have you become so thin?"

"I have not yet congratulated Your Highness on your ascension to the throne." Liu Jun took a step back and bowed deeply.

Sima Ye quickly stepped forward to help him up, "Why be so polite? What are you doing here? Did the Marquis of Guangwu send you to assist me?"

Seeing Liu Jun shake his head, Sima Ye said in a low voice, "How can a father and son hold a grudge overnight? Now the son is getting stronger and stronger, but the father will eventually grow old. Meanwhile, your popularity in the army is growing, so he is just a little anxious. One day, the Marquis of Guangwu will realize the pain of losing an arm and will finally come to his senses."

What he said coincided with what Guo had said, which surprised Liu Jun. "I never expected Your Highness to have such a talent for judging people, and I never imagined that my family scandal would reach Chang'an. Tai Zhen said it? 'A gentleman who is not discreet will lose his integrity.' He's being too reckless!"

Sima Ye smiled slyly, “Few people know about this matter, so it has no impact on your reputation, sir. As for Tai Zhen, he lost a game, and I paid to redeem him. He told me this to make it more interesting and pay off his debt.”

Liu Jun shook his head and chuckled, "Your Highness should still let him suffer a bit and get rid of this habit as soon as possible."

"You have to come and persuade me in person." Sima Ye frowned. "You didn't answer directly just now, so it seems you don't intend to enter the service of Chang'an?"

Liu Jun stood with his hands behind his back, saying, "I am ordered by my father to go to the southwestern prefectures and counties such as Yizhou and Liangzhou to seek an opportunity to recover lost territories."

"The Southwest?" Sima Ye shook his head and smiled bitterly. "It has long been occupied by Li Te and his son Li Xiong, who have been cultivating it for many years. With the imperial court's military strength, how can it possibly be taken back?"

"We have to go and see, rather than just sit and wait to die," Liu Jun said calmly.

Sima Ye pursed his lips, "Liangzhou is not far from Guanzhong. If anything goes wrong, do not linger in battle. Return immediately, and I will send troops to meet you."

Liu Jun turned his head to look at him, "It seems Your Highness comes from a wealthy family?"

"I'll sell everything I own to save you," Sima Ye said earnestly.

Liu Jun, having recently witnessed the fickleness of human nature, felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing this. "Thank you, Your Highness, but Guanzhong is a crucial point and still needs to be heavily guarded. If Your Highness is willing to help me..."

"How about granting me the position of Governor of Liangzhou!"

At this time, the world was in turmoil. Whether it was Xun Fan, Wang Jun, Sima Rui, the Prince of Langya, or even Liu Kun, they all appointed officials by imperial decree. However, due to the lack of consultation or their own ulterior motives, conflicts often arose. Thus, there was an absurd situation where there were three governors in one area, leaving the people at a loss.

But Sima Ye was different. He was the crown prince recognized by the world. As soon as Sima Chi, who was in Liu Cong's hands, died, he would immediately inherit the throne. His appointment carried extraordinary weight.

Sima Ye immediately understood, "Tomorrow, I will issue a proclamation to the world, appointing you as the governor of Liangzhou. The former governor of Liangzhou... will be appointed as the governor of Yizhou, to assist you in the campaign against Li Xiong."

Liu Jun thanked Sima Ye for his gratitude, and then heard him say, "It's too late today; you can use the seal tomorrow. Besides, I have another important matter to ask of you."