xymnovel Chapter 74 Li Xuan Talks About Li Jue
Chapter 74 Li Xuan Talks About Li Jue
Behind Li Jue, another person peeked into the cabin, complaining, "Hehuang, my Lord Li, we can't board a ship of unknown origin."
But when his gaze passed over Li Jue and landed on the protagonist inside the boat, he was immediately astonished, his eyes widening and his voice trembling as he exclaimed, "Xuan, Brother Xuan?"
Li Xuan secretly arranged to meet Li Jue. Since Li Jue was coming for a secret meeting, he naturally brought along a trusted member of the Li clan. This person was none other than a classmate and relative of both Li Xuan and Li Jue.
Li Xuan wiped away her tears and said with a smile, "Long time no see, you've all gotten as dark as me."
Li Jue and the other man were speechless. They had confirmed it was indeed Li Xuan. He was still as infuriating as ever. His personality hadn't changed over the years.
Li Jue instructed the clansmen behind him, "Go outside and keep watch, don't let unrelated people see this."
The man retreated in response, still quite excited, after all, Li Xuan was now a legendary figure in the family. The meeting of Li Jue and Li Xuan was truly a gathering of two exceptional talents, the twin stars of the Guangling Li clan. What kind of story would unfold tonight?
Li Jue sat down quietly, picked up another pair of chopsticks, took a bite of the salted edamame on the table, and commented as she ate: "Salted edamame, seven-tenths of the skill lies in the salt water. Not bad, the salt is of good quality, salty enough, and has a fragrant aftertaste. It's been a long time since I've had such good salted edamame since you stopped making salt."
Li Xuan calmly said, "Those who make salt will eventually be caught. And good salt water is never meant to last long."
It won't last long? Is there a hidden meaning in those words?
Li Jue paused, put down his chopsticks, and said, "I saw you crying just now. Did you suffer some injustice in the north? If you're not doing well, you can come to Luzhou. Now that I've established myself in Luzhou, it's the perfect time to need your help."
Before Li Xuan could even speak, Li Jue had already begun trying to persuade him to surrender.
Li Xuan was speechless for a moment, then chuckled and showed his wife's letter to Li Jue.
Li Jue took the letter, glanced at the beginning, and immediately handed it back, saying, "This is a private letter from my sister-in-law to Ziyu. How can I open it?"
Li Xuan took a sip of wine and said calmly, "Didn't Hehuang ask me why I was crying? Everything is in the letter; there's no harm in taking a look."
Li Jue then unfolded the letter and began to read it. After carefully reading the key contents, Li Jue returned the letter to Li Xuan, his heart surging with emotions like the Qiantang River tide.
After a long while, he finally commented:
"What an amazing child, Ziyu! You have a worthy successor. Another outstanding talent has been born into the Li family of Guangling. Time flies! I still remember our youthful struggles, when our spirits were first shining brightly, full of vigor and ambition, believing that the world was in our hearts."
Now my hair and beard are streaked with gray, my heroic spirit has mostly faded, and I often feel I've wasted my life. Alas, how short life is! My achievements are yet to be accomplished, and rising stars are already poised to take flight. Good, good, good! Truly, Heaven blesses my family; let's drink to that!
Li Xuan nodded with satisfaction: "Indeed, this child far surpasses me. At eight years old, I wasn't this sensible, much less capable of handling such a large situation. However, would the dignified Li Hehuang only pay attention to an eight-year-old after reading the letter?"
Li Jue gave a bitter smile, said nothing, and silently picked up his wine glass to drink.
The Zhou court's grand book presentation ceremony had already been reported to the Yu state. However, because Yu was located in the southeast and had a more refined literary culture, the Yu ministers didn't take it seriously, thinking that Zhou was simply desperate and acting out of desperation because they couldn't find books.
The leadership of the Yu state was overwhelmed by the invasion of the Zhou army. Their days were filled with more urgent military and national affairs, leaving them no time to concern themselves with trivial matters such as someone from the Zhou state offering books.
Li Jue hadn't paid much attention to it initially, treating it as mere amusement. But after reading Li Xuan's letter today, he was instantly jolted awake. The Zhou Emperor's personal expedition to Huainan was a military conquest, while the Zhou Empress's ceremony to collect books was a cultural offensive.
The Zhou state was vying with the Southern Yu state for the legitimacy of Chinese civilization, a conflict no less dangerous than a military offensive by the Zhou army. One could even argue that this grand ceremony was a political attempt to win over the scholars of the southern states. The Zhou emperor's southern campaign was not merely ordinary warfare; it was the beginning of a war of unification!
Li Jue couldn't stay silent.
Li Xuan continued to rub salt into his wounds, taking a leisurely sip of wine and happily congratulating Li Jue, saying, "Hehuang has achieved great feats, almost single-handedly turning the tide. I suppose you've secured your position as the commander of the Desheng Army now."
Li Jue's face darkened further. He said unhappily, "Why are you saying all this? No matter what position you hold, you are entitled to the emperor's salary and should be loyal to him. Isn't that what you, Li Ziyu, do? I heard you became a general in Zhou. Instead of fighting and making contributions on the battlefield, why are you taking over the persuasion business and showing off your words?"
When it was Li Xuan's turn to smile, he said:
"As for the position of commander, if it were to be given, it would have been given long ago. Brother Hehuang defeated our dynasty's famous general and severely damaged our dynasty's imperial guards, establishing the first merit of the Yu Kingdom since the start of the war. He almost turned the tide of the war in an instant and protected the Huaixi counties from the ravages of war."
With such great merit, a reward or promotion should have been issued long ago. How come Hehuang's position remains unchanged?
I heard that before the imperial edict from the Yu Kingdom arrived, the various prefectures of Huaixi dispatched their militia to aid in the battle at Bagong Mountain, and all the soldiers from each prefecture obeyed Hehuang's orders. Brother Hehuang, you are well-versed in history; do you remember what became of such figures in history?
Li Jue put down her chopsticks and complained:
"You scoundrel, you can't say anything nice to me. You never say anything nice to me, it's always veiled barbs. The war is raging, and it's understandable that the court is temporarily unable to spare resources. Rewards will naturally be settled after the war. How can you force the court to give rewards?"
"Does the rewards bestowed by your Zhou court always reflect the whims of your subjects? Rewards and punishments are the prerogative of the monarch. Whatever is given, is given; what is not given, is not to be desired. Isn't this the proper way of a subject?"
Li Xuan chuckled. "Getting impatient, huh? What use are these words of a subject to me? What's the point of trying to impress me with your talk?"
Li Xuan ignored Li Jue's reprimand and patiently muttered to himself:
"If I were in the court of Yu, taking advantage of the current encouragement among the soldiers and civilians in various regions, and the fact that the morale of the people is leaning towards defending the territory and resisting the enemy, I would immediately bestow upon the great hero Li Jue the title of Jiedushi of Desheng Army, and grant him some additional honors. I would then establish him as a model and widely publicize his deeds. This would surely be able to strike while the iron is hot and ignite the determination and enthusiasm of the soldiers and civilians of Lianghuai to fight to the end."
Why wasn't Li Jue promoted to military commander? A man of such great merit and unparalleled bravery remained in his current position, receiving only some wealth and a nominal title as rewards. Wasn't this a blow to the morale of the people and soldiers of the Huai River region? The Zhou army was still rampaging south of the Huai River, and the Yu state's army had suffered repeated defeats, failing to launch a genuine counterattack.
Li Jue sneered, "What do you mean by 'consecutive defeats'? You're really trying to make the Northern Army look good. Since your Northern Army marched south, what decisive results have you achieved? Our Yu Kingdom has hundreds of thousands of armored soldiers, and we've only suffered minor setbacks. We haven't lost a single key fortress or city, and our land and water routes are impenetrably guarded. The Northern Army has been fighting for two months without being able to advance or retreat, yet you boast as if you've already pacified the Huai River region and are at the foot of the Yangtze River?"
Li Xuan's expression was strange, and he said in a low voice, "I have conquered Haizhou."
Li Jue's face gradually stiffened. After a while, he calmed down and sneered, "Haizhou is a heavily fortified town. How could you have captured it? No, you have many dealings with Haizhou. Did someone you persuade to surrender the city?"
Li Xuan stated frankly, "Things have come to this point, and Hehuang will understand the details in a few days. Please forgive me for not saying more now, lest I reveal military secrets. I can only assure you that Haizhou is truly in our hands. The Huai River defense line of the Yu Kingdom has been breached!"
Li Jue frowned in thought, then raised his head and retorted, "So what if it's broken? Haizhou is important because of its seaport. As long as Chuzhou is safe, and the canal is in our hands, you won't be able to fully exploit your power in Huaidong."
Li Xuan said casually:
"Chuzhou is indeed stubborn, but with Haizhou in our hands, our army has gained access to Huaidong. So what if Chuzhou blocks the Grand Canal? Huaidong is crisscrossed with waterways and canals. We can simply conscript laborers and cleverly connect existing waterways to build new canals to bypass Chuzhou and transport supplies. You know, it won't take much time."
The key is that our dynasty now has a base for attacking Huaidong. Guess how many troops and provisions the Yu court will stockpile in Huaidong? Will their support for Huaixi still be as strong as it is now? This year, Yu did manage to hold off our army, but what about next year?
Li Jue's face was grim as he mentally analyzed the battle situation.
Li Xuan offered another bargaining chip: "The Yu army is mostly infantry. Even our Zhou army's infantry has a large number of mules and horses for transportation. Our marching speed is far superior to yours. If the Yu army has a large force in Huaidong, we will immediately go to Huaixi. If the large force is in Huaixi, we will return to Huaidong. Hehuang, with your intelligence, you should understand that with Haizhou fallen, the Yu army no longer has the initiative in Jiangbei."
Li Jue calmly replied, "Marching isn't something that can be accelerated simply by having mules and horses. You have many horses, but they also consume a lot of resources. Besides, the Huai River network is dense, and our navy is not to be underestimated. If we block your retreat at a crucial moment, it will be just like what I did to your Commander Li Chongjin. Even a hero like him could only flee in disarray when faced with a navy blocking his way."
Li Xuan sighed and said, "Don't think so badly of Commander-in-Chief Li. After returning, he reflected deeply on his mistakes and has already submitted a memorial requesting that the Huai Army be established in all the armies of the Imperial Guard."
I've heard about your battle; you fought very well. But the real advantage you gained was that our Imperial Guards were unfamiliar with the terrain and couldn't find their way, which is why you easily led them into the muddy riverbed, leaving them in a dilemma.
Victory and defeat are common occurrences in warfare. Few famous generals of the Great Zhou Dynasty achieved complete victories, but as long as they accept defeat, reflect seriously, and actively make adjustments and preparations, they can win back the next time.
"Perfect timing! Thanks to your General Liu Yanzhen of the Desheng Army, and the large number of elite soldiers from the Huai River region whom we captured in Haizhou who are familiar with the area, we can select 10,000 to reinforce our Imperial Guards, and organize another 20,000 to 30,000 as local troops. In the next major battle, you won't have the advantage of favorable timing and terrain."
Li Jue countered, "If the Zhou state were to heavily rely on the Huai Army, what benefits would they offer you? How many men would you be able to command?"
Li Xuan frankly said, "I don't know. But the Emperor won't let me continue to drift along. He will definitely give me a new appointment and promotion. At least as long as the Yu Kingdom is not destroyed, a southern officer like me will not lose my place to use my talents."
Li Jue laughed and said, "You see, your official career is still tied to our State of Yu. As long as the State of Yu exists, you will be of use. Why be so eager to serve the State of Zhou?"
Li Xuan took out a letter from his bosom and said, "If you had met our emperor, you would understand what a formidable figure he is. Countless heroes are willing to die for him. How can I, for my own selfish reasons, drag the war into a protracted conflict? If the flames of war continue unabated, it will be our fellow countrymen in Lianghuai who suffer the most."
Li Jue scoffed: "You started the fight, you set the fire. Now you're pretending to be good people."
He took the letter from Guo Rong, read it quickly, and said with a smile, "To bestow upon him the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households and the position of Grand Chancellor, continuing the glorious name of my clan as a family of prime ministers. How generous! If I accept, do you think you'll have to perform a grand ceremony before you see me?"
Li Xuan said frankly:
"That's what you deserve, so why not let you be proud for a while? In a few years, I too will be a marquis. I'll have plenty of opportunities to pacify the world and sweep away all obstacles. My portrait will be displayed in the Lingyan Pavilion, and I, Li Ziyu, will surely have a place among the generals listed in the Cloud Terrace."
"If you were to come, the three of us brothers—oh, and perhaps my younger brother Ji—would all be listed in the Lingyan Pavilion, all founding heroes. What an honor that would be!"
Li Jue returned the letter to Li Xuan, saying each word carefully: "A loyal minister does not serve two masters. I have never heard of a minister being able to betray his lord if the lord has treated him well."
Li Xuan grabbed Li Jue's hand, sensing something amiss. By the candlelight, he opened Li Jue's hand and saw that it was a pair of hands covered in calluses, with even some swelling at the joints. It was no longer the delicate, fair-skinned hands of the young nobleman from years ago.
Li Xuan was deeply shocked, and with a sorrowful expression, she said:
"Your integrity forbids you from becoming a traitor. Fine, I won't force you. But I must remind you that the generals of Yu are all veterans who rose to power with the Yu royal family, and their sons. My clan is not one of their original followers, so it is impossible for us to obtain a truly important position."
Your immediate priority is not to fight to the bitter end at Bagong Mountain, but to quickly establish connections in Jinling, find a favorable post elsewhere, and distance yourself from military power. Emperor Yu appears lenient on the outside but is inwardly suspicious; your widespread support in Huaixi without imperial decree will inevitably lead to unrest in the future.
Li Jue was finally moved, tears streaming down her face, and she hugged Li Xuan tightly, saying:
"No one but a brother would say such heartfelt words. I am now on the edge of a cliff, in danger of going forward or backward. If one day I meet with misfortune, you must uphold the reputation of the Li family of Guangling. My family is a family of prime ministers, but three generations have not held the position. Restoring our family cannot be done by me alone."
Similarly, I will not betray my lord. As long as I remain a loyal subject, the world will praise our Guangling Li clan as a family of virtuous and loyal officials. If I were to abandon the State of Yu and defect to the State of Zhou, I would certainly have wealth and honor.
But this will be extremely detrimental to your future career, and to the future prospects of our clan. If a family can produce one traitor, it can produce a second and a third. I am the eldest grandson of the main branch, and I have my responsibilities.”
Li Xuan was even more moved upon hearing this, and large tears streamed down his face one after another: "Why are you doing this to yourself? If the ruler is unjust, the subject will defect to another country. How can you be so stubborn? Look at yourself, look at your hands. You've become like an old farmer. Haven't the hardships you've endured over the years been enough to repay those scoundrels in Jinling?"
Li Jue smiled through his tears, "Neither national affairs nor family matters can be shirked because of personal honor or misfortune. I've remembered what you said. Once the Zhou army withdraws, I'll arrange a transfer and not become that kind of eyesore. If one day I still can't escape this calamity, I'll entrust my wife, children, and parents to you."
Li Xuan punched Li Jue hard on the back, saying reluctantly, "At worst, we can just run away. In Jiangbei, as long as you run back to Guangling, the countryside is so big, they won't be able to catch you. In Jiangnan, we can run to Chu, Han, or Yue. Yu is just one country in the world, don't be so stubborn and wait for them to come and catch you."
Li Jue laughed heartily: "Alright, alright, I know. Don't worry, I'm not the same person I used to be. Take care of yourself in the north; perhaps one day I'll come to join you."
A pot of sake was finished, and a plate of salted edamame was eaten clean. Li Xuan and Li Jue slowly emerged from the cabin. The small boat was moored at the shore, where the Guangling Li clan members brought by Li Jue and the Guangling Li clan retainers brought by Li Xuan were all gathered.
These relatives, from different countries, were overjoyed to gather together in this small, fertile river valley. They whispered about the joys and sorrows of their years of wandering abroad, and the unpredictability of life.
The river branch should have been cold and damp, but these people huddled together, their excitement barely contained, as if they had driven away the December chill from the river branch.
When Li Xuan and Li Jue came out, everyone suddenly realized that time had passed too quickly, and this brief but warm clan gathering had already come to an end.
Although Li Xuan's reasons for coming were not explicitly stated, everyone knew. Frankly speaking, the Jinling court had not treated Li Jue well. Especially after Li Jue's heroic efforts to turn the tide and the unanimous support of the Desheng Army's soldiers and civilians, Emperor Li Jing of Yu State did not take the opportunity to appoint Li Jue as the military governor of Desheng Army, which greatly displeased the Li family members who followed Li Jue.
Today, Li Xuan came to Li Jue to negotiate peace, and many clansmen were hoping that Li Jue would bring great joy to the State of Yu. As the saying goes, "If you don't want me here, there are plenty of other places that will." What difference does it make where you hold office?
They had already experienced firsthand the formidable strength of the Zhou army. With Li Jue's assistance, the Zhou state could easily conquer more than a dozen prefectures and counties north of the Yangtze River, and the members of the Guangling Li clan would all benefit. Why wouldn't they?
As for loyalty? Emperor Li Jing's younger brother, Prince Qi, Li Da, ran rampant in Guangling, bullying men and women. He turned the once prosperous eastern capital, Guangling, into a ghost town. Countless people, unable to bear the terror of Prince Qi, fled to the countryside to hide, unable to return home, afraid to go back. This was because the Yu royal family wronged the people of Guangling first; the people of Guangling owed Li Jing nothing.
Looking into the expectant eyes of his people, Li Jue's gaze unusually darted away. Gradually, everyone's hearts sank. One by one, they hung their heads in dejection.
Li Jue smiled bitterly and said to everyone, "Our Guangling Li clan has never produced a treacherous minister or a traitor. Our good reputation passed down through generations cannot end in my hands. If one day the Northern army wins, it won't be too late for us to go and join Xuan-ge. But now, it's not the right time."
Li Xuan comforted everyone, saying, "Things in this world cannot be rushed. Hehuang has his own considerations. If I become successful in the future, you brothers are welcome to come and join me. Putting aside everything else, everyone will have a future."
Li Jue also cupped his hands and said, "Please be sure to save me a large portion."
"Hahahaha." Laughter echoed and circulated in the river branch, and gradually, the night covered everything.