Jinting Han people

Chapter 171: Heroes of Guanzhong (4k)

After not seeing him for over a year, Li Ju seemed to have grown an inch taller, making his figure more upright, like a broken mark on a cliff. But compared to his melancholy and introverted appearance when we last met, Li Ju seemed much more cheerful and confident this time.

He smiled broadly, strode over, and clasped his fists towards Liu Xian, saying, "County Lord Liu, I've been looking for you for ages. I saw you enter the city this morning and wanted to see you, but I didn't expect to see you until now!"

Liu Xian was also very happy. He looked Li Ju up and down, patted his chest and said, "Shihui, it looks like you've become successful! You even have a silver seal and a green ribbon!"

"It's all thanks to you, and His Royal Highness Prince Liang's appreciation."

Li Ju was truly enjoying a golden age. Before King Zhao took office, he had been directly promoted by King Liang, Sima Rong, from a simple county official to a fifth-rank Yamen General in a single day. While the Yamen General's power was modest, commanding only a few hundred trusted guards, it was a truly valuable position for someone from a humble background like Li Ju.

Therefore, he was very grateful for Liu Xian's recommendation, and as soon as he heard that Liu Xian had come to Chang'an, he came directly to reminisce about the old times.

"Are you free, sir? I'd like to treat you to a drink tonight."

"That's unfortunate. His Highness the Prince of Zhao doesn't care about the matter. I promised the Tiele people that I would find a tavern first and apologize to them later, or we could do it another day."

"Isn't that perfect? I'll also help you with the extra pair of chopsticks!"

Li Ju smiled and pointed at the bustling Chang'an Street and said:

"Your Excellency, since you've just arrived, I'm afraid you don't know which tavern in Chang'an is the best. I'd be happy to show you around!"

Having said that, it would be impolite to refuse. Moreover, Liu Xian really didn't know the situation in Chang'an. Thinking of Qi Wannian saying that he would bring some people with him, Liu Xian nodded and smiled:

"In that case, I'll trouble you, Shi Hui."

Led by Li Ju, the group crossed Shangguan Back Street and turned south onto Zhangtai Main Street. They came upon a street of wine shops and brothels, and heard the sounds of men and women laughing and chatting. Li Ju picked out a tavern called Woyunju and said to Liu Xian, "Sir, they have wine here, and their roasted beef heart and Hupao mutton are also excellent. We, the members of the Western Expeditionary Army, usually gather here!"

"That's great! Let's go with this one."

Liu Xian stepped inside and discovered that the layout of Woyunfang was quite unique. While it was called a tavern, it actually had a stage in the center, upon which a number of musical instruments, such as qins, drums, and bells, were arranged. Tables were placed around the perimeter, allowing guests to observe the stage at any time. The same was true on the second floor, where the private rooms were separated by screens, leaving an empty space in the middle where guests could lean on the railings and gaze down.

Li Ju explained, "This tavern invites dancers to perform drum dances on stage in the evening, accompanied by some Hu music, to entertain the guests!"

As he spoke, he took the initiative to book a private room on the second floor, which could accommodate about ten people for dinner. After Liu Xian found the place, he also went to the Hengmen Gate to invite Qi Wannian as agreed.

Qi Wannian, just as he said, brought four companions with him. When he saw Liu Xian, he smiled and said, "Mr. Liu, don't blame me for doing you a favor!"

"Are these all your acquaintances?"

"No, no, we just met. I'm going to be a hostage for a few years and stationed at the Western Expedition Army Headquarters. How can I not build good relationships with the local people?"

"Ah, then may I ask..."

"Once we're seated, I'll introduce you one by one."

Hearing this, Liu Xian looked back over and saw that the person he had brought with him were some unfamiliar young people, all of whom had extraordinary temperaments. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart, this Qi Wannian really is good at building relationships. He had only been here for less than half a day and he was already building his network.

Back at Woyunju, the innkeeper had already served some wine, drinks, and fruits. Perhaps because there were more customers, a beautiful woman slowly walked onto the stage, kneeling on a konghou, her bare hands plucking the strings. The sound was ethereal, like a bird in the mountains or a stream under the moon. She was playing the classic "Konghou Yin."

"Is this what scholars enjoy? This is truly eye-opening!" Qi Wannian took his seat, leaning against the railing with a contented smile on his face. He said to Liu Xian, "I think I understand a little bit about the feeling of being so content that one forgets to return to one's homeland."

This should have been an insult. After all, for Liu Xian, the heir apparent of the Anle Duke, his grandfather Liu Chan's words were undoubtedly a stain on his family. However, Qi Wannian's tone was devoid of malice, and Liu Xian wasn't about to make a fuss.

He simply said, "I've been in Luoyang for nineteen years, and I've never been to a place like this."

"Oh? Could it be that Luoyang is not as prosperous as Chang'an?"

"No, I just haven't been there."

This was also true. Liu Xian had been studying until the age of fifteen. After entering the officialdom, Sima Wei and Sima Yi often hosted banquets in their own palaces or the Eastern Palace. His father, Liu Xun, probably understood such places of debauchery, but Liu Xian had never followed them.

At this time, a young Hu man who had accompanied Qi Wannian burst into laughter upon hearing this and said to Liu Xian, "Then I'll have to toast you! Life is a time to revel while it's time to revel! When you're old and lying on your sickbed, you won't be able to indulge yourself even if you want to!"

"May I ask who you are...?"

"My name is Yang Nandi from Lueyang. My father is Yang Maosou, and my grandfather is Yang Feilong. Speaking of which, my family has a connection with Mr. Liu. I wonder if Mr. Liu has heard of him?"

Oh! Liu Xian remembered that he was a descendant of Yang Qianwan, the King of the Di people in Hanzhong.

Chen Shou told him that when Ma Chao started his rebellion against Wei, he had many Qiang and Di people under his command, and the most famous Di king among them was Yang Qianwan of the White Horse Di.

Later, when Ma Chao fled south to Shu Han, Yang Qianwan followed him, leading his troops into Shu. His troops fought alongside Zhuge Liang and Jiang Wei in their campaigns. It wasn't until after Shu Han's fall that his grandson, Yang Feilong, defected to the Jin army and was granted the title of General of the Western Expedition by Sima Yan. I didn't expect to see Yang Feilong's descendants again today.

Liu Xian quickly raised his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp. He then sighed to Yang Nandi, "I left home and became a stranger in a foreign land. I thought I had no relatives, but I never expected to see an old friend again!"

Yang Nandi was also deeply moved. He said, "I heard that Liu Jun was exiled to Guanzhong. I also find it incredible. Is there no one else in the court? How could they let you go to the provincial capital?"

"I'm afraid the reason behind this is unclear!"

"That's true. Sometimes things just work out. There's no need to worry too much. Meeting is fate, so let's have another drink!"

Yang Nandi was two years younger than Liu Xian, so after they exchanged greetings, Liu Xian called Yang Nandi "brother" and Yang Nandi called Liu Xian "brother."

Yang Nandi was a very forthright man. Even if one didn't know him well, one could tell he was a man of great temperament. He didn't hide his emotions, and he expressed them openly, often infecting those around him. With him leading the way, the atmosphere became lively, and the next three people followed suit, introducing themselves.

"My name is Li Xiong from Lueyang, and my courtesy name is Zhongjun. Mr. Liu, please just call me Zhongjun."

Li Xiong sat to Yang Nandi's left. He was eight feet three inches tall and the most handsome of the group.

He has fair skin, high eyebrows and prominent brow bones, which make his eyes look deep and oppressive. His cheeks are as sharp as a knife, and his lips are thin and firm, which makes people impressed at first sight.

Liu Xian took one look at his bulging arms and immediately understood that this man must be extremely powerful. Considering that he even had writing, it showed that his tribe had been highly influenced by Chinese culture, almost indistinguishable from the Han Chinese.

Considering this, his family’s status in the Zhengxi Army must be quite high.

So Liu Xian asked, "What is your current position?"

Li Xiong bowed and said, "I'm ashamed. I'm currently serving as a military officer in Jingzhao County, but I haven't accomplished anything."

This wasn't a very important position, comparable to Liu Xian's position as county magistrate. But Liu Xian was surprised to learn that Li Xiong was a Di, because Hu people were hired at a lower rank, and to be able to reach this position was enough to show the power of their family.

As expected, Li Xiong went on to introduce his background, saying, "My ancestor, Li Mu, was a fourth-rank Eastern Qiang hunting general."

Fourth rank was practically the highest official rank a Hu person could hold in the Western Jin Dynasty. Sima Yan falsely appointed Yang Feilong as General of the Western Expedition, a position he held in essence. It seems Li Xiong's family was also a prominent Lueyang clan.

The third person who introduced himself was older, probably in his early thirties, and his complexion was pale and bloodless, seemingly not in good health. However, his attire was the most elegant of the group, with a wide robe, a wide belt, wooden clogs, and a high hat. His speech was also polite, appearing even more refined than Liu Xian.

He introduced himself and said, "I am Huaigui from Linweipu. I once studied under Master Fu and have a basic understanding of the classics. I would like to ask County Lord Liu to give me some advice."

Pu Huaigui didn't mention his official title, but rather his teacher and his classical knowledge. This was quite unique, and Liu Xian couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity. He asked, "Is the Master Fu that Huaigui is talking about the Duke of Changyu (Fu Xian)? I just met his second son, Fu Chongming (Fu Xi), at a literary gathering in Xiayang a while ago!"

"Yes, my master is none other than Lord Changyu. I've also heard that the county lord is planning to hold a literary gathering. It's a shame, like kites soaring to the heavens and fish leaping in the abyss, that a mere mortal like me is burdened by official duties and cannot participate. What a pity!"

The fourth Hu man to speak was the youngest, likely having just come of age. He didn't seem shrewd or stage-shy, though. Seeing it was his turn, he picked up a piece of melon and ate it while saying, "Aren't we here to eat? Why are you being so formal? It makes me uncomfortable."

Everyone laughed when they heard this. Pu Huaigui, who was standing by, introduced him, saying, "This is Peng Dangzhong from the Peng family of Anding. He's young, but very courageous. My Lady, please don't try to get close to him."

Liu Xian smiled and said, "It's okay. I'm not being sensible. I just came here to eat. When I first came of age, I was really messing around!"

After saying that, he quickly asked the restaurant to serve some food and wine. Li Ju had previously ordered five pounds of Hu Pao mutton, and Liu Xian thought it was a bit of a waste, but seeing that these guests were all tall and strong, he was afraid that they could eat a lot, so he ordered another three pounds.

Seeing this, Qi Wannian couldn't help but feel extremely proud. He said to Liu Xian, "Mr. Liu, look at these friends I brought here. Aren't they all extraordinary men, outstanding talents?"

Liu Xian smiled and nodded, saying, "It's obvious at a glance. They are all outstanding individuals who stand out from the crowd."

Liu Xian originally wanted to ask where Qi Wannian found these people, especially since most of their ancestral homes were in Liangzhou, but after thinking about it, he guessed the answer.

How else could it be? These young men were probably being held hostage in Chang'an, just like Liu Cong in Luoyang. However, there were very few Hu hostages in Luoyang. Besides Liu Cong, I had only heard of two or three others. Here, there were probably hundreds of hostages from various tribes.

Now that the Hu people have accepted Han culture and are moving from ignorance to civilization, and the combination of vigorous vitality and splendid culture has given birth to some Hu heroes, it is also a very normal thing.

But Liu Xian couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive. Thinking of Zhao Wang Sima Lun and Sun Xiu, he couldn't help but feel a headache. Could such a Western Expedition Army really control these Hu people's heroes?

If you come by yourself, you should...

For a moment, Liu Xian's thoughts were in a mess.

Just as he was lost in thought, Qi Wannian clapped his hands and called to him, saying with a smile, "Hey, Mr. Liu, it seems there's someone close to you too. Would you like to introduce him to me?"

Before Liu Xian could reply, Li Xiong slammed the table and said, "I know him. He's the youngest guard commander of the Zhengxi Army and also its most accurate marksman. Li Ju, Li Shihui, right?"

Facing Li Xiong's aggressiveness, Li Ju was not intimidated at all and replied, "I recognize you too. It is said that Li Zhongjun is the best swordsman of the Di tribe, but I have never seen him. What a pity!"

It turned out that the two had met before in the Zhengxi Army Headquarters. They both laughed when they heard the words and couldn't help but raise their glasses to drink together. It seemed that they both admired each other.

Seeing this, Qi Wannian clapped his hands and laughed, "Another outstanding young man! How delightful! I, Qi Wannian, love making friends with heroes! Come, Mr. Li, let me toast you!"

Before we knew it, the sky gradually darkened and the number of guests in Woyunju gradually increased. Many guests were already sitting on the first floor, and people were also gradually taking their seats in the private rooms on the second floor.

As the wine flowed, the conversation became increasingly lively, the laughter so constant that it even drowned out the sound of the female musician playing the guzheng downstairs. But no one cared, especially Yang Nandi. He couldn't appreciate the beauty of the guzheng, but instead felt that the music was so soft that it made him feel uncomfortable. He then sang a folk song in the tavern:

"Riding on rugged mountains, the horses drank from the Yellow River when they were thirsty.

Frost covered the Hu Pass, and the war ceased for thousands of miles! "

The poem was so majestic and profound, everyone applauded, even those in the adjacent private room applauded. Someone then hurried over and said, "Whose friend is this? You sing so well! You're really enjoying it! If you don't mind, how about we have a feast together?"

When he looked through the screen, the visitor was delighted and said, "I was wondering why the voice sounded so familiar. It turns out Shihui is here."

Li Ju also looked intently and introduced Liu Xian, "Ah, County Lord, this is County Lord Suo Chensuo from our Western Expedition Army. Do you think we can sit at the same table?"

Liu Xian looked back at Qi Wannian and saw that he had no objection. He smiled and said, "Anyone who can have fun with me is my friend. How could I refuse them?"

Then Liu Xian met Zhang Gui, commander of the Western Expedition Army, Suo Chen, magistrate of Haozhi County, Jia Kan, protector of the Western Expedition Army, and Huangfu Chong, military official of Yongzhou.

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(End of this chapter)