Because Hezhou was adjacent to the Beiliang Circuit, after that person slaughtered the King of Beiliang, he was like a little wife who had been bullied for more than 20 years. Now that his little wife had a new husband, he finally felt that he could speak a little louder. Therefore, the Military Governor of Huai and Huai, Cai Nan, personally led his army and set up a formation on the border of Youzhou and Hezhou. He had made up his mind to stop the Armored Cavalry that had left the territory of the King of Vassal States without permission. Because the 800 Phoenix Battalion had passed through the border unimpeded last time, there had been a lot of memorials to impeach him as the Great General of the Liyang Border Pass. Cai Nan was well aware that he could turn a blind eye to the 800 White Horses' righteous followers. However, this time, if the 10,000 Armored Cavalry marched straight into the Central Plains, not to mention the Imperial Censor of the Liyang Palace, even the Emperor of Zhao would question his loyalty as a border official. Moreover, this time, the Administrator, Han Lin, had also agreed to send troops to stop them. Even this refined civil official, who was at the top of the local hierarchy, dared to disregard life and death. He wore his official robe and personally came to Cai Nan's army, intending to accompany Cai Nan to stop them. Obviously, this newly appointed Administrator, who was based in the capital, did not hesitate to put himself in danger in order to show that he would not shy away from Beiliang's edge.
On the border, Great General Cai Nan, wearing heavy armor and holding a spear, was looking into the distance.
The Administrator, Han Lin, who was standing beside Cai Nan, had a complicated expression. As a second-rank official who had not ridden a horse for many years, he did not have time to care about the burning pain in his legs. His face was full of anxiety. When they heard that Beiliang had mobilized the cavalry outside the Pass, Han Lin and Cai Nan were both furious and shocked. However, there were some subtle differences. Cai Nan felt that the rebellious young King of Vassal States was finally going to rebel, while Han Lin, who was secretly in contact with Mount Qingliang, felt that Hsu Fengnian had lost his mind. Han Lin, who had always been gentle and refined in the officialdom of the capital, was like an ant on a hot pan in the study two days ago. He had not slept the entire night. In addition to submitting a secret memorial to the court that could reach the Emperor's desk, the Administrator, who was famous for his simple and elegant poetry, had also written a slightly long-winded letter home. At that time, Han Lin understood that the so-called letter home was actually no different from a suicide note. No matter whether Xu Fengnian was crazy or not, as long as he blocked the way, the previous pitiful relationship could not stand up to scrutiny. It could not stand up to scrutiny even with a knife. But how could he, Han Lin, not come here? His entire family was in Great Peace City. They were all at the feet of the Emperor and under the eaves of the Zhao family. The honor and disgrace of his family were tied to his body. Han Lin could not not be here.
Han Lin, as a civil official who had walked out of the capital, did not hate or dislike Cai Nan, who was a "country bumpkin" in the eyes of the officials of the capital who had been in the mud for a long time. However, they could not be said to be close. Thus, during this trip, Han Lin and Cai Nan had only skimmed the surface of the water. Other than the welcoming banquet where the high officials of Huai and Huai came out in full force, Han Lin did not have any private meetings with Cai Nan. This was not only because he was afraid that the court would suspect that a civil and military leader was colluding with each other. In Han Lin's heart, compared to the rough and unrefined Cai Nan, the young King of Vassal States, who had been wild and unruly in his youth, was much more romantic. However, today, walking side by side with Cai Nan, there was a feeling of sharing life and death in the face of a great disaster. Han Lin realized that Cai Nan was not as bad as the officials of the capital said.
It seemed that in just 20 short years, Liyang had gone from honoring martial arts and belittling literature to honoring literature and suppressing martial arts.
Cai Nan turned his head and asked with a smile, "Sir Han, did the King of Han not say anything?"
Han Lin smiled bitterly. "On the second day of the first month, I paid a special visit to the King of Han's residence. I saw with my own eyes that the King of Han was bedridden and had no color in his face. He struggled to get up several times but fell back into bed."
Cai Nan, who usually did not reveal his emotions, clicked his tongue and laughed. "To have such a loyal King of the border who serves the country is truly a blessing for the Huai and Huai, and also a blessing for the court."
Han Lin consoled, "General Cai, things have already come to this. There is no point in saying more."
Cai Nan laughed. "A person is about to die. Can't he grumble a little?"
Han Lin looked at the vast expanse of white and sighed. "If I had known this would happen, I would have drunk a few cups with General Cai. Good friends meet on a snowy night. Presumably, even inferior wine can taste good wine."
Han Lin realized that the Regional Governor was staring at him and asked in confusion, "Is there something wrong?"
Cai Nan suddenly said softly, "There is nothing wrong. I only hope that after today, the women and children of the Cai family will be taken care of by Sir Han."
Han Lin scratched his head in confusion. Just as he was about to ask, his vision suddenly darkened and he fainted.
Cai Nan looked at the personal guard who had hit the back of Han Lin's head with the scabbard. She waited until the personal guard jumped off the horse and sat behind the Administrator to support Han Lin who was leaning back. Only then did Cai Nan say, "Take Han Lin back to the manor."
The personal guard, who was no longer young, wanted to say something but hesitated.
Cai Nan smiled. "Old Song, back then, when Xu Xiao led ten thousand cavalry south to patrol the border, as the leading general, I led you all to kneel, causing you all to be unable to raise your heads in front of the court. I know that you old brothers all have resentment in your hearts. Two years ago, every time you came to pay a new year's visit, my Cai Nan family's chair seemed to be nailed to the ground. You all quickly left. This is nothing."
Cai Nan did not turn his head. He only raised his horsewhip and pointed in the direction of Youzhou. "This time, it's just right. I just want to tell you old brothers that I, Cai Nan, am not scared just because Xu Xiao led ten thousand cavalry. No, it's just that I, Cai Nan, am a warrior on the battlefield, sincerely admire that Great General. It's not just me; our Great General Gu also admires him. So this time, it's Hsu Fengnian leading ten thousand Beiliang cavalry. It's also the King of Beiliang, and it's also the ten thousand Great Snow Dragon Cavalry. Of course, I won't be a coward. Old Song, among our old brothers, your Old Song family has the most branches and leaves, and we rely on you the most to carry the rice bowl. This time, you don't have to accompany us. Besides, there's only a few months left until this year's Tomb Sweeping Day. When the time comes, none of our old brothers will be alive to drink some good wine. It's not right. "
The tall and sturdy personal guard who had followed Cai Nan and Gu Jiantang on expeditions all over the country for half his life opened his mouth wide, but he could not say a single word.
Cai Nan sternly said, "Get out of here!"
The personal guard lowered his head and turned his horse around. He fiercely raised his whip and urged his horse to leave.
Cai Nan's teasing words came from behind him. "Remember, when it's Tomb Sweeping Day, you miser that even General Gu has heard of. Don't be so stingy. You have to bring good wine!"
The personal guard did not turn around. He only suddenly roared, "I won't! I'll just bring two fen of silver and a pot of lousy wine for you. When the time comes, if you have the ability, then bring your brothers up from the ground! "
Cai Nan, whose back was facing the two riders of the personal guard, gently let out a breath. He restrained his smile.
Ever since the beginning of spring in the third year of Xiangfu, there had been endless snow swirling about. It was like this in the sky, and it was also like this on the distant ground today.
The Great Snow Dragon Cavalry had arrived.
The Beiliang cavalry was the best in the world. The Great Snow Dragon Cavalry was the best in Beiliang.
Cai Nan angrily roared, "Beat the drums!"
— —
Long before the White Horse Cavalry left the provincial capital, on the city wall, Beiliang's civil and military officials sent them off. Further away, the ten thousand cavalry had already secretly entered the pass from outside the pass. They had been waiting for a long time outside the city. They were only waiting for the second generation King of Beiliang to give the order. After nearly twenty years, they once again galloped into the central plains.
The Xu family's cavalry that shook the world was unstoppable during the Spring and Autumn War. They fought from north to south, and then from south to north. This time, they were going to go south again.
In truth, the alliance between Xu Beizhi and Chu Lushan had not been without resistance. Even He Zhong, Hu, Chen Yun, and Chui Gu, these three extremely important veteran generals were not willing to see the Beiliang Army break into the Central Plains at this time. However, Yuan Zuozong and Yan Wenluan had agreed to it, and Yan Wenluan's unexpectedly firm stance had succeeded in persuading many of these veteran generals.
The Northern Liang Protector-General Chu Lushan, who was as large as a small mountain, stood beside the thin and weak Yan Wenluan. No matter how others looked at it, they felt awkward.
Chu Lushan lightly stomped his foot, cupped his hands, and lowered his head with a smile. "I really didn't think that Old General Yan would agree. I originally thought that I would have to personally make a trip to Youzhou, but when I thought about how I would have to run from Huaiyang Pass to Xiaguang City in this terrible weather, I really felt a little guilty."
The emaciated old man unhappily said, "Back then, Lord Protector-General led eight thousand Yeluohe to stop Dong Zhuo's private army. Didn't you think that the bumpy ride would cause you to lose weight?"
Chu Lushan chuckled and said, "How can you argue about the good deeds of being in the limelight and the bad deeds of doing evil deeds?"
Yan Wenluan pursed his lips. Almost none of the old-school generals of Beiliang liked the infamous Chu Lushan.
Putting aside Chu Lushan, even Li Mofan and Cao Xiaojiao were of the same origin as the Beiliang generals, and they would fight to the death in battle. But in terms of character and conduct, could they really be considered good people to the common people? The answer was naturally no.
In truth, this was a knot that Great General Xu Xiao had left for the new Prince of Liang, Hsu Fengnian, to resolve. Beiliang had been at peace for ten years, and there were as many descendants as there were hairs on an ox. Just how many evil deeds had they committed? Just the Deputy Commander of the Yuan Bu army, Liu Yuanji, was standing on the high walls. Just how many good people had the old man's three sons killed? If not for Lin Doufang, his good friend who had retired from the army many years ago, scolding and beating Liu Yuanji in the disturbance outside the pass, the old commander might have been kept in the dark for the rest of his life, mistakenly believing that his three sons were just a little useless. In truth, Yan Wenluan and the other elders who were upright and upright also had complaints about the foul atmosphere of the younger generation of their fellow officers. It was just that when the Great General was still alive, he had always felt that he owed his old brothers who had fought alongside him, so he had never harbored any thoughts of killing them. Moreover, the new Prince of Liang had also been a sloppy scoundrel in his early years, so the Great General had to 'put himself in his shoes'.
Yan Wenluan got straight to the point. "The New Year's Eve matter was handled beautifully, but even so, I, Yan Wenluan, still can't bring myself to like you, Chu Lushan."
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