The Splendor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 112 Attitude
On the fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, at Fuli Post Station.

Xiao Yi got up early, washed up, ate, and put on his armor.

He did not wear heavy armor, but wore a brocade robe as his inner garment, a military robe on top, and a light and practical imperial guard lamellar armor. He also wore a red cloak for warmth and to signify his status as an envoy.

We are now only forty li away from Xuzhou, and we will arrive today.

The route was planned by the guide, taking the official road on the south bank of the Bian River, passing through Songzhou, Qixian, and Fuli, for about 640 li.

The officials were quite comfortable. There was a post station every seventy li, which provided post horses, food and lodging. Even the black horse they brought didn't need to carry people, and it was also convenient to communicate.

"General, a letter has arrived in Yanzhou."

"Come in and talk."

Xiao Yi opened the door and welcomed Zhang Mei inside.

"An urgent report from Yanzhou: Cui Zhoudu and Yan Honglu, in coordination with Yan Yan's plan, secretly contacted the soldiers. However, before Yan Yan could arrive, the Taining army had already mutinied over the matter of the iron-core silver. Murong Jixun could not control the situation and led five hundred elite soldiers to Xuzhou."

When did this happen?

"It's been two days. Murong Jixun has probably arrived in Xuzhou before us."

"What do you think, Brother Xuan Gui?"

"This is bad news. If Murong Jixun finds out that you are his father's killer, he will surely sow discord between you and Liu Yun. It would be best for you to conceal your name and act according to the circumstances."

Xiao Yi pondered for a moment and then asked, "Liu Yun's throne was granted by the court, while Murong Yanchao and his son are considered traitors by the court. Logically, he should not be allowed to take in Murong Jixun."

Zhang Mei said, "That's true, but we also need to consider their personal relationship and stance. I suppose Murong Jixun went to Xuzhou to persuade Liu Yun not to accept the throne."

"He gave his advice, and I gave mine. If Liu Yun could resist the temptation of the throne, he would have raised an army even without Murong Jixun."

"General, you have great courage."

The procession set off.

At 9:00 AM, when they arrived at the western suburbs of Xuzhou, a dilapidated donkey cart loaded with firewood was slowly moving forward, blocking the road.

Although Xiao Yi and his knights could ride around them, they were also carrying a carriage, so they had to ask the old man who was traveling to move aside and let them pass first.

The driver was a ragged old man who hurriedly spurred the donkey to the side. However, perhaps because it had been carrying a heavy load for too long, a "crack" was heard, the axle broke in the middle, the cart tipped over, the firewood scattered, and the donkey brayed sadly.

The old man was at a loss, trying to steady the frightened donkey and also trying to steady the cart. In the end, he knelt down before Xiao Yi, repeatedly apologizing, his face full of fear.

Xiao Yi felt a pang of sorrow upon seeing this. He dismounted, helped him up, and had the soldiers help load the firewood and temporarily repair the axle.

The team moved on.

Soon, they arrived at the Tongbian Gate in the west of Xuzhou. Xuzhou truly lived up to its reputation as the key to the southeast and a major hub for canal transport. With the year-end approaching, long queues of pedestrians formed outside the city gate.

A group of merchants from Jiangnan were stuck on the moat, unable to cross even if they wanted to.

After waiting for a while, Lü Chou looked around impatiently and said, "That unlucky old man is here too."

Looking back, the old man was supporting the cart and urging the donkey along, walking even slower than before. It took him a long time to get more than ten steps away before he bowed and smiled at Xiao Yi.

In the distance, a troop of cavalry galloped towards them with the sound of rapid hoofbeats.

Zhang Mei immediately became alert and whispered, "I'm afraid it's one of Murong Jixun's men."

Xiao Yi said, "It shouldn't be. There are only about twenty people, all of whom are elites."

"General, you have a good eye." Lü Chou squinted and said, "Their horses are tall and strong, with prominent breastbones; they are the finest horses of Hedong... Look, that young lady is so beautiful!"

As the enemy drew closer, Xiao Yi first observed the knights. Their faces were rough and fierce, and they wore Han army lamellar armor, but with some foreign influences, such as ear guards under their helmets and narrow-sleeved short jackets with white fur sewn onto the collars.

Zhang Mei leaned closer and whispered, "Oh no, it's Liu Chong's personal guards, the Daibei White Wolf Guard."

"It's alright. Given the current state of the nation, it's perfectly normal for Liu Chong to send someone to inquire."

At this moment, Xiao Yi looked at the pretty young woman that Lü Chou had mentioned.

She was a young girl in military attire, riding at the forefront. She wore a silver-scaled armor and a fiery red fox fur cloak. Her skin was slightly dark, her nose was high and straight, her eyes were deep-set, and her pupils were a rare light brown. She had the typical appearance of a Shatuo person.

Liu Chengyou was also a Shatuo person, but his appearance did not show it.

The Shatuo girl urged her horse to gallop over, but was blocked by the donkey cart carrying firewood. She immediately lashed out with her whip, striking the old man.

"Get out of here, you old rascal!"

The old man was in pain but dared not cry out. He hurriedly tried to pull the donkey cart away, but he couldn't turn it around in time.

The girl grew impatient and snapped, "Kill it, and push the thing in the way to the side of the road."

"Here!"

A cavalryman stepped forward, spurring his horse forward and drawing his scimitar, which he then swung at the bewildered old man.

Xiao Yi was taken aback, not expecting the other party to be so ruthless, willing to kill at the slightest disagreement. He spurred his horse and charged in that direction.

"drive!"

The black horse shot out like an arrow released from a bow.

Ahead, the gleaming blades of the Hedong cavalry were aimed straight at the old man's neck.

Xiao Yi drew his sword.

"clang."

The man uses the horse's momentum, and the knife moves with him.

With a swift flick of the blade, the blade pierced through the cavalryman's wrist guard, slicing a deep, bone-revealing gash into his sword-wielding arm.

Unfortunately, we were a moment too late.

The cavalryman and the old man screamed simultaneously; the moment the scimitar slipped from their hands, the old man was also stabbed in the back.

Blood splatters.

Xiao Yi reined in his horse, and the black steed reared up and neighed loudly.

More than twenty riders immediately surrounded him.

The Shatuo girl pointed her whip and shouted, "You audacious scoundrel, how dare you hurt someone?!"

Xiao Yi remained silent. As soon as the black horse's front hooves touched the ground, he spurred his horse and charged back, breaking through the encirclement.

We can't wait until the enemy has already surrounded us before we leave.

"Take him!"

Xiao Yi darted out from the other side of the donkey cart like lightning. Three Hedong cavalrymen swung their swords at him, one slashing at the horse's neck, another at his shoulder, and the third at his waist.

Pulling on the reins, the black horse, seemingly understanding human nature, suddenly took a half-step to the right, avoiding the curved blade.

At the same time, Xiao Yi raised his sword to block the incoming blade, and with a quick flick of his wrist, he injured his opponent in return.

The moment the blood splattered, he used the momentum to flip over, pressing his left hand against the neck of the black horse, bending his right knee and bracing himself against the saddle, his whole body sliding to the left side of the horse as if falling off.

Swallows skimming the water.

This is a riding maneuver he often performs, as if he disappears on horseback.

In the blink of an eye, the scimitar that was slashing horizontally missed its target, and Xiao Yi had already darted out.

The talisman hanging from his waist brushed against the snow on the ground, kicking up snowflakes.

One man and one horse broke through the encirclement.

"Good skill!"

Behind them, the Shatuo girl cried out in alarm and shouted again, "Chase!"

Xiao Yi turned over and sat back down, then spurred his horse and galloped back.

Ahead, his twelve soldiers had already arrived on horseback, protecting him and facing off against the twenty Hedong cavalrymen before him.

Xiao Yi did not act rashly. He had considered that the Shatuo girl was proud and arrogant and had already left the main camp. With twelve men against twenty, he was confident that he could capture the leader first and use the Hedong cavalry to give Liu Yun a warning.

"stop!"

Zhao Shangjiao immediately called out, and led Wang Yan and Wang Du to urge their horses forward, cupping their hands in a gesture of respect to smooth things over.

"It's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. We are envoys from Bianjing, sent by the Empress Dowager to welcome the new emperor. This gentleman is the Inner Palace Guard Commander appointed by the Empress Dowager. He is young and impetuous and has offended your esteemed subordinate. We hope you will forgive him."

Wang Yan also stepped forward and said with a smile, "Young lady, please calm down. We are all soldiers of the imperial court, so we must not ruin our harmony."

Xiao Yi glanced at them coldly and saw that the Hedong cavalry had reined in their horses. He then ordered his men not to move rashly.

"Put down your weapons, they are imperial envoys." The Shatuo girl laughed, "I heard on the way that the Empress Dowager and Guo Que'er have agreed to make my elder brother the emperor, is that true?"

"It is absolutely true."

"You all have good judgment. My elder brother is skilled in both literature and martial arts; he's a good candidate to be emperor."

“Young lady, according to etiquette, you should address the heir apparent as ‘cousin’ or ‘Your Highness’.”

"Why? He's clearly my own elder brother."

Since a fight was unlikely, Xiao Yi dismounted, walked to the old man's side, and squatted down to examine him.

The wound pierced through the old man's entire back, and blood flowed incessantly, completely soaking the snow beneath him. If this knife had been in the hands of an armored soldier or a strong man, he might have been able to withstand it, but he was old and frail, terrified out of his wits, and barely breathing.

"Grandpa, do you have any last wishes?"

"I... I'm selling the firewood to..."

The old man spoke with difficulty, his old eyes fixed on Xiao Yi, and before he could finish speaking, he suddenly breathed his last.

"Old man..."

"My name is Liu Luan. What's yours? You're quite skilled."

The voice of the Shatuo girl reached my ears.

Xiao Yi gazed into the old man's eyes and saw in them a longing for life and a hope to return home to see his family after selling the firewood.

"I'm asking you a question! Are you stuffing donkey hair in your ears?"

Liu Luan spurred his horse forward and said, "Do you know my identity? I am the daughter of the Jiedushi of Hedong. Are you a general appointed by the Empress Dowager? She is my aunt."

Suppressing his disgust, Xiao Yi stood up and looked at Liu Luan. There was still a trace of anger at being offended in her light brown eyes, but even more so, a deep curiosity.

He didn't answer, but turned his head to look at Zhang Mei, signaling her to come over and deal with the situation.

"This humble man, Zhang Mei, greets the lady."

"Did I ask you? Why isn't he answering me? Is he mute?"

Xiao Yi beckoned Lü Chou over and instructed him, "Bury this old man and find his family to provide compensation."

"Here."

"So you can talk." Liu Luan sneered. "What? Killing an old bastard makes you angry? You injured my soldiers, and I haven't settled the score with you yet."

Xiao Yi continued to let Zhang Mei handle the situation, while he mounted his horse and led his troops back to the ranks.

Listening to the conversation behind him, he judged Liu Luan's stance.

“Young lady, it is the general’s duty to protect the people, and he acted a little too hastily. If the conflict reaches the ears of the heir apparent, it may cause misunderstandings. It would be better to enter the city first and meet with the heir apparent. After all, the matter of ascending the throne is of utmost importance.”

"That makes sense, but why does he ignore me and make you relay everything? Does he hate me? He's got no right to be so arrogant."

"No, no, young lady, you misunderstand. The general is always cold and taciturn and doesn't like to talk."

"Very well, let's enter the city together. I want to see how long he can be so arrogant."

A moment later, Zhang Mei rode over and whispered in his ear, "General Xiao, the important matter is paramount; do not act impulsively."

"I know."

"Why is the general treating this woman so rudely? What if things fall apart..."

Xiao Yi did not deliberately lower his voice, but said in a cold and clear voice: "When a successor ascends the throne, he is the emperor and should govern with benevolence. If the emperor's sister kills people at will, and we condone and support her, are we fit to be subjects?"

"What does the general mean?"

“Breaking the law in the street, once I see the heir apparent, I will ask him to deal with this matter.”

Hearing this from behind, Liu Luan was furious and shouted, "How dare you?!"

Xiao Yi still ignored him.

He did indeed despise Liu Luan, but that did not cloud his judgment.

This is his attitude this time. He came to invite Liu Yun to ascend the throne as an envoy with great news, not as a swindler to trick Liu Yun into going to Kaifeng.

Therefore, he should be smug; the more smug he is, the more the other party will believe him.

(End of this chapter)