At dawn, Xu Beizhi slowly walked to the top of the mountain. He looked at Xu Fengnian, who was draped in a thick fur coat. He walked to the stone table and sat down. He shook the empty wine pot and said softly, "An ordinary man will die because of his treasures, and a hundred ghosts will look up at him."
Hsu Fengnian, whose alcohol smell had long been blown away by the cold mountain wind, sighed and said, "Last night, I was thinking that if someone else becomes the emperor, even if that person used to be my good friend, would he tolerate someone with a different surname holding hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers?"
Xu Beizhi shook his head and said, "You'd better not have any hope, or else you'll be disappointed. Because even if that person can tolerate it, the people around him won't agree. How to sit on the dragon throne and how to sit on it are two completely different things. Beiliang always felt that the three emperors of the Zhao clan of Liyang were the same. They all liked to cook the hound after the cunning rabbit had outlived its usefulness. This opinion wasn't wrong. However, not to mention Zhao Zhuan, who had just ascended the throne, Zhao Yin and Zhao Dun were destined to be wise monarchs in the history books of future generations. They naturally had their own strengths. Ordinary commoners would have to rack their brains if they wanted to take care of a household and live a comfortable life, let alone a huge dynasty. Zhao Yin might believe that Xu Xiao won't rebel against the Zhao clan, but Zhao Yin wouldn't believe that Xu Xiao's son would willingly guard the northwest. Zhao Dun might know that your bottom line isn't low, but he also doesn't believe that the next Xu clan's prince with a different surname won't be arrogant and uncontrollable. He must be wondering if there's a possibility that the King of Beiliang might one day run off to destroy the Zhao clan on a whim. "
The outspoken Xu Beizhi glanced at Hsu Fengnian, who wanted to say something but was hesitating. He sneered and said, "You might say that Xu Xiao won't rebel, but I, Hsu Fengnian, won't rebel either. The same goes for my descendants in the future."
Hsu Fengnian smiled bitterly and said nothing.
Xu Beizhi's words were still harsh. "There's no knowing what's in a person's heart. No one can read Hsu Fengnian's mind. No one in the world has to believe anyone's reason, especially those who were born in the royal family. If they weren't suspicious by nature, how could they sit on the throne? How could he compete with the vassal towns, the relatives of the emperor, the eunuchs, and the civil and military officials of the imperial court? Besides, he would rather have his grandson squander away his family business than let it be snatched away by an outsider. This kind of dark mentality was not unique to the Emperor. Do you, Hsu Fengnian, dare to say that you don't have any? "
Hsu Fengnian smiled and said, "That's true."
Xu Beizhi suddenly asked, "Aren't you one of the four grandmasters? Why? Are you also afraid of the cold?"
Hsu Fengnian said self-deprecatingly, "After the battle at Liuzhou, my strength fell greatly, and I feel cold in my bones all day long. Actually, the fur coat can't keep out the cold. The only reason I wear it is because it's better than nothing. It's just like how many retired swordsmen of the jianghu like to look at their dusty swords on the shelves. Retired generals also like to touch their armor and sabers. "
Xu Beizhi asked, "What's up with that Liangzhou Deputy General Kou Beishang?"
Hsu Fengnian joked, "He's a new lover. What's up? Tangerine, is this old lover of yours here to denounce you?"
Xu Beizhi stared expressionlessly at Hsu Fengnian.
Hsu Fengnian could only put away his joking expression and said helplessly, "It's that Kou Jianghuai from West Chu from Guangling Path. He made a deal with me, and we're both getting what we need."
Xu Beizhi's expression softened, and he said in a low voice, "Liuzhou only has three incomplete military towns to rely on, but they have to face Liu Gui's 100,000 soldiers and Tuoba Bodhisattva's 10,000 elites. They have 30,000 Long Xiang Army's two deputies. Wang Lingbao is only a valiant general. Although Li Mofan is a talented general, there's a huge disparity in strength between the two sides at Liangmang in Liuzhou. Li Mofan is also not an immortal who can make soldiers out of beans. The Long Xiang Army is still in a perilous situation, and we need Kou Jianghuai, who has the potential to be a top general of the Spring and Autumn Period, to help us in our hour of need."
Hsu Fengnian nodded and said, "When Kou Jianghuai makes a name for himself at the Huaiyang Pass defense line in Fuling, Liuya, and Huaiyang Pass, I also have plans to let him become a general there. In the Northern Pass of Liangzhou, the space for us and Beimang to maneuver our troops is limited. In the end, it's just a fight to the death. Therefore, we have to defend multiple passes and garrisoned troops, and both sides have their hands tied. However, Liuzhou is like a blank piece of paper. It has plenty of 'blank space' for Kou Jianghuai to display his military talents to the fullest. "
Hsu Fengnian suddenly laughed and asked, "Ju Zi, you're actually afraid that something will happen to Chen Xiliang in Qingcang City, right?"
Xu Beizhi asked back, "Do I have to scheme against my colleagues every day for you, the King of Beimang, to feel at ease?"
Hsu Fengnian slammed the table and glared at her, "Ju Zi, you can't vent your anger on me just because you were bullied in Lingzhou and scolded by others, okay?! Let's talk nicely, okay?! "
Kou Jianghuai, who was casually strolling around Mount Qingliang, coincidentally saw this scene and heard these words. For some reason, he felt a chill run down his spine. Could it be that Xu Beizhi had an 'affair' with that Xu Beizhi? Otherwise, how could a provincial governor without any foundation make the King of Beimang feel so wronged? Kou Jianghuai quickly turned around and was about to retreat. However, he was stopped by Hsu Fengnian. Then, the three of them surrounded the stone table and formed a tripartite formation. Kou Jianghuai's expression was as if he was deaf, blind, or mute just because they were flirting.
Hsu Fengnian looked at Kou Jianghuai, who was pretending not to look. He pointed at Xu Beizhi and introduced him with a smile, "Lingzhou Provincial Governor Xu Beizhi, praised by Mr. Song Dongming as the kind of person who can slaughter commoners and stabilize the country. Unfortunately, his alcohol tolerance is poor, and his alcohol tolerance is even worse. Once, when he was drinking with the Fish Dragon Gang in Lingzhou, I had to personally carry him back."
Kou Jianghuai said seriously, "Greetings, Provincial Governor Xu."
Xu Beizhi also regained his usual elegance and said with a smile, "General Kou's arrival in the Beiliang Frontier Army is like adding wings to a tiger."
Hsu Fengnian said mischievously, "Aren't you helping the tiger do evil?"
Xu Beizhi laughed coldly, "Oh, impressive, scolding all three of them at once. You don't even let yourself off."
Kou Jianghuai also said seriously, "You hurt yourself by hurting a thousand of your enemies. It can be seen that the King of Beimang is very … lousy at using troops."
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