Chapter Twenty-Two: Crossing the Waves and Treading the River
“I trust you, so what’s wrong with giving you some authority?” Zhongli An nodded and sighed softly. “Although allying with Jiangnan would give us the ability to contend with Xiao Yan, Jiangnan is a complex and chaotic place with many different forces.”
He raised his hand and placed it on Qi Kun's shoulder. "You and Ling Yu must be extremely careful and never put yourselves in danger. You must come back safely. Even if you are unable to form an alliance, you must protect yourselves."
"Thank you for your trust, my lord. I will certainly live up to your expectations on this mission." Upon hearing this, Qi Kun solemnly clasped his hands in a salute to Zhong Li'an.
"Why must we be like this?" Zhongli An raised his hand to help him up. "I've been busy with official duties lately, so let's rest for a few days before setting off again."
Qi Kun smiled and nodded slightly, "Thank you for your care, my lord."
Zhong Li'an chuckled and patted Qi Kun's straight back. "Come into the tent, have a cup of tea, and rest for a while?"
"I'd rather obey than be too respectful." Upon hearing this, Qi Kun smiled and nodded, then followed Zhong Li'an into the tent.
Zhong Li'an lifted the curtain and nodded to the soldier by the door, "Go and call those three generals in, and bring out this year's new tea to brew."
The soldier clasped his hands in a fist and nodded. "Yes."
-
Three generals arrived as ordered and gathered in the central command tent to discuss the southward campaign.
“Gu Fan,” Zhong Li’an took a sip of tea, then looked up at Qi Kun, “how many men do you plan to bring on this trip?”
"As for the accompanying personnel..." Qi Kun rested his head on his hand and pondered for a moment, then nodded to Zhong Li'an, "Twenty people will suffice, just in case."
Zhong Li'an was taken aback upon hearing this. "Twenty men?" He then chuckled and put down his teacup. "Even if our soldiers can take on ten men each, we can't just bring twenty."
"Oh, it's alright, my lord," Yang Xiao waved his hand with a smile, "With me here, there won't be any problems. If all else fails, we can just fight."
Zhongli Shuo couldn't help but laugh out loud, "I didn't realize you were even more reckless than me. Can you really take on so many military generals from Jiangnan all by yourself?"
Yang Xiao chuckled dismissively and waved her hand, "He Yuan's mind is in turmoil; he doesn't even know where to go from here."
As for his civil and military officials, I estimate that half of them are waiting for an opportunity to defect to Xiao Yan.
"If that's the case, isn't the risk of this trip even greater?" Bai Ming frowned upon hearing this. "He Yuan's men are all loyal to Xiao Yan, so why would they ally with us to defeat the enemy?"
Yang Xiao turned to look at Bai Ming, chuckled, and shook her head. "Don't worry, there are still half the people who don't like Xiao Yan, right? Besides, I've been in Jiangnan for so long, I have connections everywhere."
“Lingyu, I’ve heard that you’re on very good terms with the young lady from the Cen family in Jiangnan,” Zhongli’an pondered for a moment, then asked with concern, “How much of this person can I trust?”
“Absolutely.” Yang Xiao nodded solemnly to Zhong Li’an. “I trust her even more than I trust myself. My lord, rest assured, I’m always very good at judging people.”
"The young lady from the Cen family of Jiangnan?" Zhong Lishuo rested his chin on his hand and looked at Yang Xiao. "You know someone like her? What's she like?"
Yang Xiao waved her hand helplessly, "Go to Jiangnan and see for yourself." She sighed softly and looked back at Zhong Li'an, "Although we have the help of friends in Jiangnan, this alliance is by no means a vow of eternal love."
Zhong Li'an nodded. "I understand. Jiangnan is in chaos. The two of you went south just to use Jiangnan's influence to suppress Xiao Yan of Bingzhou."
“Although we can keep Xiao Yan in check, Jiangnan is actually already in disarray,” Qi Kun said, lowering his eyes as he stood up. “I’m afraid we will have a tough battle ahead, either with Xiao Yan or with Jiangnan.”
"So what?" Zhong Li'an also stood up, a gentle smile spreading across his eyes. "As long as we win that battle, won't we be able to occupy half the country? Besides, when have we ever been afraid of war?"
“That’s right, strategist. With the rest of us here, what battle can’t we win?” Zhongli Shuo said, standing up and putting his hand on Bai Ming’s shoulder. “Zhao Qing, don’t you agree?”
Bai Ming also stood up with a smile, cupped his fists towards Qi Kun, and said, "Strategist, you are overthinking this. For the sake of the greater good of the world, I am willing to risk my life."
"I'm afraid of you..."
Before Qi Kun could say anything, Yang Xiao stepped forward and patted Qi Kun on the shoulder, "Master, things are still far from settled, why are you already afraid of battle? Besides, how can you win without paying a price?"
She put down her hand, looked at Qi Kun, and sighed with a smile, "I know what you mean, but this battle is unavoidable. You are our strategist, how can you let yourself lose your composure?"
Qi Kun frowned and sighed, "I couldn't have predicted what would happen after that..."
“There will always be a way, won’t there?” Zhongli An smiled at Qi Kun and comforted him, “Gu Fan, if you don’t trust us, don’t you trust Ling Yu?”
Upon hearing this, Qi Kun couldn't help but look up at Zhong Li'an, "How could I not trust my lord?"
“Don’t put so much pressure on yourself, and don’t be so reserved. If you’re willing, this place can be your second home.” Zhong Li’an sighed softly, patted Qi Kun’s shoulder, and said sincerely, “Going south with fewer people shows sincerity and makes it less likely to fall into their trap. However, twenty people are really too few, so perhaps…”
"Rest assured, my lord," Qi Kun said with a smile, grasping Zhong Li'an's hand. "Twenty men are enough; this mission will surely succeed."
"My lord," Bai Ming said, bowing respectfully, "just in case, I am willing to go with the strategist."
"Huh?" Zhong Lishuo stood up upon hearing this. "I want to go too." He glanced at Bai Ming beside him, then at Yang Xiao, and immediately understood. He shook his head and sighed with a smile, "Never mind, I won't compete with you. You go."
Zhong Li'an looked at the group of people with a smile and nodded, saying, "Alright, that's exactly what I was thinking. Zhao Qing is calm and steady, and it would be perfect for her to go south to help Ling Yu and Gu Fan."
Qi Kun looked sincerely at Zhong Li'an, smiled and nodded, "Thank you, my lord."
-
The southbound boats were quickly prepared, and a letter from Yang Xiao floated lightly across the Jiangnan region on a small boat, eventually reaching Cen Xun's hands.
Ripples spread across the banks of the Yu River, willows swayed in the breeze, and the light hoofbeats of horses echoed along the shore. Zhong Li'an rode ahead, turned back, waved his hand, and called to Bai Ming with a smile, "Zhao Qing, hurry up, I have something to tell you."
"Hmm? Yude," Yang Xiao said, tilting her head and smiling at Zhong Lishuo who was running ahead, "Our lord sent you to see us off. Why are you whispering to Zhaoqing?"
“If my brother hadn’t been so busy with official duties, he would have come to see you off in person,” Zhong Lishuo said with a smile, turning halfway back. “Besides, you didn’t let me see the poem you wrote for Zhaoqing before, so couldn’t you let me have a word with Zhaoqing alone?”
Bai Ming gently held the reins, smiled at Yang Xiao, shook his head helplessly, and then lightly kicked the horse's belly. The unknown white horse trotted a couple of times and caught up with Zhong Lishuo's Fei Mo.
This is definitely a fine steed and deserves a good name.
Zhong Li'an reined in the reins, looked at Bai Ming who was rushing over, put his hand on Bai Ming's shoulder, and smiled knowingly, "I've given you the chance to go to Jiangnan, so make the most of it."
"What?" Bai Ming looked at Zhong Lishuo in confusion, only to meet his knowing gaze.
Zhong Lishuo tilted his head and looked at Bai Ming, "You don't think I can't see through your thoughts, do you?"
Bai Ming paused for a moment upon hearing this, then lowered his eyes and sighed with a smile, "I can't even see through my own thoughts."
"How can that be? I've given you all the opportunities, so you should make the most of them!" Zhongli Shuo chuckled as he held the reins. "Or should I go to Jiangnan on your behalf and take a good look at the beautiful scenery there?"
“The order I requested from the lord is not something you can just grant on my behalf,” Bai Ming said, glancing at Zhong Lishuo with a smile. “Besides, the strategist and General Yang both have important duties to attend to. I wouldn’t feel comfortable having you guard them.”
Zhong Lishuo chuckled, lowered his eyes, and waved his hand. "If I said this to Lingyu's face, she would definitely retort that I look down on her. If you say it like this, she will definitely say that she is fine and that you can rest assured." He then turned back and put his arm around Bai Ming's shoulder. "Don't you think her attitude towards you and me is a little different?"
"Alright, alright," Bai Ming blushed, but still raised his hand and gently patted Zhong Lishuo's arm, "Let's not speculate about Lingyu's intentions."
Zhong Lishuo chuckled and sighed, raising his eyes to look at Bai Ming, who had his head bowed. The smugness and evasiveness in Bai Ming's eyes were laid bare to Zhong Lishuo.
"Alright, alright, alright," Zhong Lishuo gently pulled on the reins, turned his horse around to wait for Qi Kun and Yang Xiao, then looked back at Bai Ming, "Anyway, just don't go against your own heart."
"You," Bai Ming chuckled and shook his head, "how come you care more about my affairs than about your own?"
"Why distinguish between you and me between brothers?" Zhong Lishuo waved his hand with a smile and rode forward to meet Yang Xiao and Qi Kun.
A rushing sound of clear water came from the riverbank, and several small boats were seen rowing with wooden oars to the shore. The ripples they stirred up spread to the shore and then slowly disappeared, leaving only a wet trail of water.
"Have you finished your whispers?" Yang Xiao leisurely twirled the silver spear in her hand, turning her head to smile at the two of them.
Bai Ming greeted him with a light laugh, "What secrets could we possibly have? It's just a normal farewell."
"I can't go with you on this trip, but you must bring back some interesting little things for me," Zhong Lishuo said with a light laugh, looking up at everyone. "And you must tell me about the interesting things that happened in Jiangnan."
"Okay," Yang Xiao nodded with a smile, "Why are you still asking for gifts like a child?"
Qi Kun smiled and looked at Zhong Lishuo. "General Yude has always had a childlike nature," he said, clasping his hands in a fist salute to Zhong Lishuo. "During this trip, although Xiao Yan will not act rashly, there will inevitably be some people with ulterior motives taking advantage of the situation. My lord is handling the affairs of four provinces by himself, so please lend a hand. In our absence, Ji Province will depend entirely on you."
Zhongli Shuo nodded upon hearing this, patting his chest confidently, "Don't worry, strategist, with me here, there will be absolutely no trouble." He looked at the three of them and laughed heartily, "When you return, I will personally host a banquet to welcome you back. If you don't tell me about the stories of Jiangnan, you'll be punished with a drink."
Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but laugh. "Don't worry, Yude, there will be plenty of stories, and you'll get your share of gifts too."
Zhong Lishuo glanced back at the prepared ship, then solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute to the three men, saying, "May you all have a smooth journey."
"Take care of yourself."
"Jizhou is counting on you."
After bowing, the three dismounted. Zhongli Shuo jumped off the saddle bridge and escorted them all to the boat. He stood on the shore, waving and smiling at the three people sitting in the boat. "My brother and I are waiting for your good news!"
The river rippled once more, the sails stirring up the willow leaves that had fallen into the water, creating waves. The clear sound of the water was incessant. Zhong Lishuo's voice and figure gradually faded into the misty morning fog. All the scenery of the mountains and water was shrouded in the flowing clouds, transforming into a stroke of light ink that penetrated deep into the paper.
Yang Xiao placed the gun at her feet, sat comfortably on the boat, leaned back against the hull, closed her eyes, tilted her head back and took a deep breath, savoring the dampness and fragrance in the air. She then raised her hand and gently stroked the water beside the boat, each touch turning into a ripple. The undulating water traces, like arrows in mid-air, continued to move forward.
“Indeed,” Yang Xiao stretched and smiled at the two people sitting next to her. “Tongxi is right. As long as you have mountains and rivers in your heart, everywhere is Jiangnan.” She turned around and looked up at the green mountains and clear waters shrouded in the morning mist. She said with a smile, “Such scenery, although in the north, is no different from Jiangnan.”
The boatman couldn't help but laugh when he heard Yang Xiao's words. "Who says otherwise, General Yang?" He rowed the oar while smiling at Yang Xiao. "My hometown is in Jiangnan, but when I sail here, I always feel like I'm back home. Your friend is right. If you have mountains and rivers in your heart, everywhere is Jiangnan!"
Qi Kun also stood up and looked at the misty mountains and rivers, then smiled at the boatman, "Uncle, in your opinion, how long will it take for this boat to reach Jiangnan?"
"Judging from my usual schedule, I estimate we'll arrive in less than a day," the boatman replied, turning his head as he rowed. "It's said to be a day, but the scenery along the river is so beautiful and charming that you'll arrive in no time if you enjoy the view along the way."
“Alright,” Qi Kun nodded with a smile, “then I’ll trouble you.”
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