The five or six young male and female customers in the store began to chat in boredom. Currently, the topic of discussion was naturally focused on the one-sided battle of Guangling. They all believed that it was time to close the coffin and close the coffin. These rich kids with Beijing accents were indeed people who lived at the foot of the Emperor's feet. Although their voices weren't loud, the people around them could hear them clearly. After commenting on the military achievements and abilities of the various generals of the imperial court, they also reprimanded the civil and military officials of West Chu. Soon, the topic reached the true backbone of West Chu's restoration, Cao Changqing. In the end, both sides had opposing opinions. One side said that Cao Changqing was only outstanding in martial arts and Go, but his ability to turn the country into a Go board was not enough. The other side retorted that Cao Changqing was a clever housewife who could not cook without rice. He lost because West Chu did not have the right time, place, and people, and definitely not because that official was weak in Go. The dispute continued, but both sides were close friends and could not fight. Finally, the topic inexplicably shifted to the previous empress of West Chu. Two young women spoke of her with pity. A young man dressed in embroidered robes sneered and said that she was nothing more than a femme fatale who could bring disaster to the country and its people. After West Chu was destroyed, it was rumored in the streets of the old capital that it was this woman who ruined the fate of Da Chu. Otherwise, with West Chu's original fate, it should have been able to survive for another 160 years. Soon, another young man laughed and said, "Why is the popular saying that nine out of ten sheep are incomplete? Isn't it because the empress of West Chu was born in the year of the sheep?"
Not far away, the green-clothed Confucian scholar with white hair on his temples was silent.
A young man who was playing with a small bronze seal laughed softly and said, "Not to mention that Cao Changqing's reputation is unmatched, the King of Beiliang really made a big mistake. The imperial court has clearly relaxed the transportation of Guangling and actually led ten thousand cavalry south to Guangling under the banner of pacifying the rebellion. However, everyone knows that they are actually helping some remnants of West Chu to get out of trouble. However, Beiliang is domineering, but our imperial court can't do anything about it. After all, they control the northwest gate and claim to have three hundred thousand cavalry. My father has calculated with people in the Ministry of War and estimated that there should be around 120,000 to 30,000 cavalry. Sigh, we are really sullen. If it weren't for Beimang, the Beiliang Xu family would have already handed over their military power.. "
The Confucian scholar put down a yellowed ancient book and said with a smile, "Why else would I say that the world is afraid of the word 'if'?"
In fact, the group of people had long noticed this scholar in green robes. Although he didn't look like an official, the Liyang court was generally more polite to scholars. Moreover, most of the reclusive scholars in the world had such a high standard. These young people who had come because of their fame came from the capital's official families, so naturally, they wouldn't treat this person with hostility.
The Confucian scholar smiled and asked, "I've always been curious. Why did the young northwest vassal king want to fight to the death at the border? Can you explain to me?"
A young man with a crooked appearance said loudly, "Isn't Hsu Fengnian a grandmaster of martial arts evaluation? Since no one will die, why didn't Hsu Fengnian lead the Beiliang cavalry into battle? If he lost, he would just run away. If he won, his name would go down in history for all eternity. If it were me, I would also fight the Beimang, and beat the Beimang to death! "
The Confucian scholar asked again, "Then why didn't he join forces with the Beimang? 300,000 Beiliang Frontier Army and a million Beimang troops to go south to the Central Plains. Wouldn't that be a better chance than defeating the Beimang?"
The young man was stunned for a moment, and then said righteously, "It must be because Xu didn't dare to ask a tiger for its skin. The Beimang barbarians are naturally bloodthirsty. In addition, they would definitely use the Beiliang cavalry as the vanguard. When they finally conquer the Central Plains, the Beiliang troops would be left with only a few tens of thousands. Wouldn't that old woman of Beimang burn the bridge after crossing the river?
In the end, not only did Xu not get any benefits, but he also got his head chopped off. Xu isn't a fool. Why would he do such a loss-making business? What do you think, Sir? "
The Confucian scholar nodded and smiled, "That makes sense."
Then, as if he remembered something, the Confucian scholar waved his hand and said, "I don't deserve to be called Mister, and I've never been an official in Liyang. My surname is Cao. You can call me Old Cao."
The handsome young man playing with the bronze seal asked tentatively, "Judging from your accent, Mister Cao … Oh, no, Old Cao, are you from Guangling Taoism?"
The Confucian scholar nodded and said self-deprecatingly, "That's why I haven't been an official."
Everyone was relieved. Naturally, they felt that this person couldn't be a high-ranking official in Liyang imperial court because of his background as a Guangling Taoist. Probably because he had some knowledge and integrity, but he didn't want to be a low-ranking official in Liyang imperial court. Thus, he chose to be a poor scholar who traveled all over the world.
The travel-worn Confucian scholar suddenly looked towards the south. Then, as though he had the intention to leave, he turned to the group of young men and women and said gently, "Originally, I also have an 'if' to say to all of you, but there's something I need to do first. I'm afraid I won't be able to wait for the owner of this shop. Please help me pass the message."
A woman said sweetly to persuade him to stay, "It won't be too late to leave after you say the 'if'."
The Confucian scholar, whose hair was already white but had a unique style, shook his head and said, "There is something that really can't be delayed."
After he finished speaking, the Confucian scholar walked out of the bookstore and walked along the small street towards the outside of town.
On his way north, he deliberately concealed his presence, so he didn't walk very fast. This was because he wanted to see some old friends like the bookstore owner of Jufeng Town. He was afraid that they would be implicated after he died.
The world was afraid of what if, and the world was afraid of what if.
So his "if" was destined that no one in this world would know.
If, during his official period, West Chu would be revived, he would personally lead the army north, and Gu Jiantang's Liyang and Liyang border armies would go south to Great An City. Wang Sui would resist the Beimang and take the chance to go south, and Hsu Fengnian's three hundred thousand Beiliang cavalry would choose not to move because of a certain woman surnamed Jiang. Also, with Chen Zhibao leading the Shu army in Guangling Road, they only needed to tie down Wu Zhongxuan and Xu Gong's armies. They didn't even need to stop the Yan King Zhao Bing's Nanjiang army from coming to Great An City because they wouldn't be able to make it in time.
Then would the world still be surnamed Zhao?
He didn't think so.
He, Cao Changqing, didn't think so!
After this man slowly walked out of Jufeng Town, he took off his bag and took out two chess boxes.
Allow me, Cao Changqing, to play one last game for you.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
