This was an eventful period.
But for the common people who were used to a peaceful life, it was just a few more things to talk about after a meal. They could not see the storm coming, so they would not be worried.
After Hsu Fengnian returned from Beimang to Beiliang, he had first rushed to Iron Gate Pass to kill Zhao Kai. After returning to the wang fu, he had to take care of Xu Weixiong. Then he started to use Xu Weixiong and Chen Changsheng's strategies to pave the way. Today, he finally carried a pot of Green Ant Wine up the stairs. It was not that he could not squeeze out time to go to Tide-listening Pavilion earlier, but Hsu Fengnian did not dare to do so.
When he was young, his legs were weak, but he could climb up and down Tide-listening Pavilion quickly. Now, even though his cultivation had dropped, he still had second-level internal power, but he walked so slowly.
The withered man who had sat on the top of the pavilion for almost twenty years did not smile. After the death of Beiliang's chief strategist Zhao Changling, he, who had been suppressed, should have been the time to rise up, become familiar with the Liyang Dynasty, improve further, and leave behind an important comment in history. But he remained in seclusion there. Why? Wasn't it all for the sake of having a name that would go down in history after death for the sake of a wise ruler?
Li Yishan died without a grave, and without a stele.
Xu Xiao personally brought a jar of ashes to the border to scatter. According to Li Yishan, it was his fate to die without a grave. Also, he thought that since he would not see Xu Xiao lead troops to Beimang in his lifetime, he wanted to quietly look north after death, and let that disciple he did not admit to complete it. Xu Xiao did not tell Hsu Fengnian about this, but how could Hsu Fengnian not know?
Hsu Fengnian pushed open the thin door of the pavilion. It was dark and gloomy. He placed the Green Ant Wine on the desk and lit the copper oil lamp at the corner of the desk. There was an ordinary and lonely brush hanging from the brush holder. Unlike the messy books on the floor in the past, Xu Xiao had probably organized them personally. But the room seemed even more empty and lonely. When he was young, Hsu Fengnian had been afraid of this place. He had to study history with this man who was half a master, and play chess with him. If he did not like it, he would be beaten up. Most importantly, he could not complain to anyone. He had to watch him drink and listen to his coughs as though he would die of drunkenness in the next moment. In the empty space of the desk under Hsu Fengnian's feet, there was a chess stool with vague engravings and two boxes of black and white chess pieces. He bent down and moved them to the surface of the desk. In the past, in order to test and improve the young Hsu Fengnian's memory, the master and disciple both raised their hands and pointed at each other in the air to play chess. They rarely used the chess stool anymore. Hsu Fengnian opened the chess box and took out a handful of black chess pieces.
There was one person missing from the opposite side.
In the past, Hsu Fengnian was often missing. This time, Li Yishan was missing.
In the future, there would be fewer and fewer people.
Hsu Fengnian said softly, "Chen Zhibao went to Western Shu alone without a single soldier. I have made such an enemy. I have made Master worry."
"Chen Zhibao left without any attachments. But his trusted subordinates who were willing to die for him, almost a hundred of them left. I told Xu Xiao not to stop them. If you want to scold them, then scold them. In the future, if by any chance he lost, there would be unofficial history saying that the second muddle-headed King of Beiliang let the tiger return to the mountain, let a hundred riders enter Shu. Hsu Fengnian was indeed unable to bear such a big responsibility. Chen Zhibao's talent in generals and generals is only inferior to Xu Xiao's. His talent in generals and soldiers is unrivaled in the world. When he arrived at Western Shu and became the King of Western Shu, I am afraid in a few years he would have several tens of thousands of elite troops ready to fight and defend. However, I think that since I am destined to fight him, I might as well fight him fair and square. I don't want to use those low-class crafty plots and machinations. "
"Nangong Pushe, who was in closed-door training with you in the Pavilion, has already come out to intercept and kill Han Diaosi. I don't know if it's because Quan Castrator is one of White Fox's four enemies. Before I killed Raccoon Diwu in Beimang, I thought that in this life, I could catch up to his realm in one go. I did not think that after the battle of Iron Gate Pass, I would be beaten back to my original state. It seems that Master has never rejected letting me practice martial arts. In the nine rounds of Listening to the Tide, there was one round where you and Xu Xiao bet on whether I could enter first rank. I entered first rank and then fell out. Now, I don't know if I have disappointed you. "
"According to your arrangements, Murong Tonghuang brought an Enigmatic Face and hid in the Beimang court. Shu Xiu also went to Xiangfan City. She used ten years of her life to exchange for the glory and wealth she dreamed of. She is not a wangfei, but she is better than one. As to whether Murong Tonghuang can take root, and whether Shu Xiu can succeed, Zhao Xun and that Lu Xu who brushed past me, you said that Man proposes, God disposes. I can wait. "
"Xu Beizhi and Chen Xiliang each have their own merits. It is hard to say who is like you and who is like Chen Xiliang. I left Xu Huainan's head by the Ruo Shui. As expected, Xu Beizhi willingly told the truth. He is an extremely magnanimous counselor. He does not stick to the back of the curtain, and he comes up with many stratagems. He is also very familiar with politics, and his gift of foresight is even more outstanding. If nothing unexpected happens, I will make him the first choice for the next Administrator. Chen Xiliang was born a poor scholar, but he is first class in recognizing strategy and literature. You once commented that strategists should plan for themselves, for others, for the army, for the country, and for the world. They should advance step by step, and only when they have achieved their own peace can they help others devise strategies. You said that strategists' talent in military strategy is something that can only be discovered but not sought. You yourself are a scholar, but you do not recommend that scholars give advice on how to conquer an army. You can skip this realm, but you must have the vision to plan for the country. You even said that Northern Liang's chess game is a helpless game of governing an orphan. You can only seek victory amidst danger. Strategists do not have to deliberately seek to rule the world. If they use this as their goal, they will have to destroy the wealth that Northern Liang has painstakingly accumulated over the past twenty years. Beiliang can only lose once, but Beimang and Liyang can lose many times. I don't mind being a man with my tail between my legs. After all, after so many years, I have already become accustomed to it. "
"My Er Jie is probably qualified for the important task of strategizing. I will make Wutongin into a strategic location similar to Guangling Wang Zhao Yi's Spring Snow Building. Who said that women are like that Longquan Kiln, which has never been passed down from generation to generation?"
Hsu Fengnian rambled on like this.
He was originally not a long-winded person. He was like this when he killed the enemy. During the Qingming Festival, he killed Tao Qianzhi, the devil Xie Ling, Tuoba Chunsun's retainer, and the Fifth Raccoon of Mount Tibing.
Hsu Fengnian lowered his head and said, "You once used your Go skill to evaluate several strategists in the world. Among them, Huang Longshi won first place, obtaining seventy-six pieces. Yuan Benxi, who has always been hiding behind the Emperor, came in second, obtaining sixty-seven pieces. Today, I will be bold enough to give Master the final verdict. "
"During the Spring and Autumn Period, you helped Xu Xiao, which was tantamount to helping the Zhao Family's Son of Heaven to seek the world and unify the Central Plains. The Liyang Dynasty's territory was vast, no less than the Great Emperor Qin's Kingdom eight hundred years ago. Ten pieces, ten pieces. "
Hsu Fengnian placed ten pieces on the Go board.
"Seeing through the matter of foresight, Master almost single-handedly advised Xu Xiao not to strive for the world and not to sit on that scalding hot Dragon Throne. Six pieces. Step by step, you drove Chen Zhibao into Shu and obtained four pieces. "
After gently placing down six pieces, Hsu Fengnian grabbed a handful of Go pieces from the Go box.
"As for the matter of geography, under your guidance, the Imperial Court allowed Xu Xiao to lead troops into Beiliang and be given the title of King of a different surname. He was far away from the capital and was able to guard the northwest gate of the dynasty and obtain nine pieces."
"You liked to personally plan troops, but you single-handedly facilitated the Battle of the Imperial Concubine's Tomb and Chu Lushan's thousand-man cavalry to open Shu. After pacifying Western Shu, you even used the strategy of exterminating the family. After entering Beiliang, you created no less than a hundred thousand refugees and sinners to form an army that could fight. Once I became the King of Beiliang, I would issue an amnesty and have a hundred thousand troops. Eight pieces. "
"As for diplomacy, Xu Xiao followed your arrangements and mediated with the Imperial Court, Zhang Julu, and Gu Jiantang for more than ten years. He did not fall behind and was far better than the King of Yan's strategists. He was fully deserving of the title of number one expert in the world. Nine pieces. "
"As for astronomy, you did not believe in ghosts and gods, so you did not get a piece."
"As for the appreciation of people, Xu Xiao's six pieces, Yuan Zuozong, Chu Lushan, and Qi Dangguo all came from your unique insight and obtained six pieces. Yao Jian and Ye Xizhen took four pieces. After that, you personally wrote down the carving method for Xu Beizhi and Chen Xiliang, adding four pieces for now. "
"Northern Liang is a desolate place. It only has three provinces in its hands. Even under your meticulous planning and management, Northern Mang still doesn't dare to make a single move. Moreover, you've successfully obtained the hereditary title for Xu Xiao, giving an idiot like me the chance to become the Northern Liang King and obtain eight sons."
There were a full sixty pieces on the chessboard.
Then, there were the relatively idle six pieces. Eleven pieces slowly appeared on the chessboard.
Hsu Fengnian looked at the chessboard in a daze. "A strategist must first plan for himself. Huang Longshi, who single-handedly created the chaos of the Spring and Autumn Period, is still free and unfettered. Yuan Benxi, who is invincible behind the scenes in the Zhao Family, is also safe and sound, hiding in the imperial court. The King of Yan's chief strategist is above tens of thousands of people in Nanjiang, enjoying the riches and honor of the mortal world. Master, what about you? "
He lifted a pot of green ant wine.
He poured the wine on the chessboard.
After pouring out all the green ants in the pot, Hsu Fengnian, who was alone in the room, had tears streaming down his face. He choked and said, "Master, who do you want me to bring wine to in the future?"
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