Chapter 1955: His Years Were Not Long

Geng Jixun stood closest to Liu Xu, watching the military exercises while quietly keeping an eye on Liu Xu's condition. Seeing his grave expression, he couldn't help but lean slightly sideways, stroking his long beard and chuckling: "The young lord is valiant and sharp, deeply resembling the Great King — Andong has a worthy successor!"

Only Geng Jixun could say, and dare to say, such words. However, upon hearing this, Liu Xu did not respond for a moment, merely continuing to watch the field with deep eyes. War horns blared, horses galloped, and the riders were changing formations under Liu Wenyuan's command — composed and commanding, moving as if they were extensions of his own arm, presenting a scene of orderly ease.

After a long while, Liu Xu finally spoke in a voice only Geng Jixun could hear: "Wenyuan was raised by me since childhood. He joined the military young, has endured much hardship, and his nature is resolute. With his abilities, he can inherit the family enterprise. He bears great ambitions, but I fear he may become complacent in his pride — arrogant toward superiors and contemptuous of subordinates."

As Liu Xu spoke, his brows knitted involuntarily. He paused briefly, then continued in a wistful tone: "Brother Xun, this child will likely have to be entrusted to you from now on. Besides giving your full assistance, you must also offer timely counsel. You are an elder who has watched him grow to this point — where correction is needed, do not hesitate to speak..."

Hearing Liu Xu say this suddenly, Geng Jixun was taken aback. He glanced cautiously at Liu Xu, lowered his head, and said in a hushed voice: "The Great King speaks too gravely! We ministers still await following the Great King to bring great order to Andong. With the Great King's personal guidance, the young lord will naturally become more mature and steady..."

Liu Xu had no intention of listening to Geng Jixun's loyal reassurances. He slightly raised his hand, gently shook his head, and said with some dimness: "My days, I fear, are numbered!"

Geng Jixun's expression changed abruptly, his face full of alarm. He said in a solemn voice: "I beg the Great King, do not speak such words again! Your Majesty is in the prime of life, just about to unfold grand plans...!"

Geng Jixun's words still could not be finished. Liu Xu gave a light cough, a trace of bitterness at the corners of his mouth: "Grand plans and great enterprises — all empty in the end... Brother Xun, I am not speaking idly. These words come from my heart. Take care of yourself!"

"Great King! Andong cannot be without you!" Geng Jixun, now disregarding all else, continued to plead.

"Enough! Let us speak no more of this. This is not the place for such discussion. Just keep it in mind..." Liu Xu smiled lightly.

Liu Xu had appeared at such a public occasion in disguise, but upon careful observation, one could notice something amiss — Liu Xu's face bore an unusual flush.

Liu Xu's body had indeed developed problems — major problems. There had been signs while still in Luoyang, and the illness had worsened on the journey back to Andong. Over the past few months, Liu Xu had been working while ill, truly toiling from dawn to dusk, pouring out his heart and blood, driving himself relentlessly.

It wasn't that Liu Xu didn't cherish his own body, but Andong was at a critical stage that allowed no slack. The establishment of Andong's institutions concerned the long-term future of the state of Andong. He had laid a deep foundation for the founding of Andong, and standardizing and institutionalizing it was a monumental task.

The price of all this was that his illness grew ever more severe, reaching the point of no return. Lung disease — in this era, it was nearly a death sentence. Had he been able to rest and recuperate properly, there might still have been a chance of recovery.

However, Liu Xu was first of all in Andong's harsh environment, and secondly burdened with heavy official duties. In the words of the old medical officer, every document the Great King approved, every decision he made, meant his illness worsened by a degree.

Liu Xu also knew in his heart that, translated plainly, the medical officer's words meant he was drawing ever closer to death — indeed, step by step walking toward it.

A man like Liu Xu — deep of thought, firm of will — still could not help but feel fear when facing the great matter of life and death, even revealing a fragile side. However, more than the terror of facing death directly, what Liu Xu felt was reluctance — even if it were merely Andong, he still had a blueprint yet unfinished. Accompanying this was a suffocating sense of frustration that nearly choked him.

As Liu Xu's closest friend and most trusted assistant, Geng Jixun was not entirely unaware of Liu Xu's physical condition. Some information had leaked out before; at least it could not be hidden from him, the king's right-hand man. But he never imagined Liu Xu's illness had become this severe. From the sound of it, his years were not long, and even his passing might come in the near days...

At this moment, Geng Jixun's heart was heavy, and his mind somewhat chaotic. He truly could not imagine what Andong would be like without Liu Xu, nor what its future prospects would be.

Even setting aside Andong, the decades of deep friendship between the two men alone made this hard for Geng Jixun to accept. On the other hand, although Liu Xu's words just now had seemed hasty, Geng Jixun still understood the meaning of entrusting his heir.

This trust and charge weighed heavily on Geng Jixun's heart, yet at the same time a warm current surged through him — a minister entrusted with the orphaned heir...

In recent years, Geng Jixun had been second only to one man above ten thousand in Andong; even the Deputy Commander-in-Chief in charge of military affairs had to show him some face. However, Liu Xu, like his father Emperor Liu, was also a forceful master. Geng Jixun, the number one man beneath the king, was in some respects never quite satisfied.

Anyone with ambition and ideas would not be willing to be merely a puppet on strings, and Andong under Liu Xu's governance was largely such a situation — everyone had to revolve around his baton and act according to his will.

If what Liu Xu had revealed was true, then for Geng Jixun it would be tantamount to removing a great shackle. His power and influence in Andong would rise markedly — incomparable to what it was under the Andong Governor-General's administration.

But was what Liu Xu said really true? For such words to be spoken by Liu Xu's mouth on such an occasion — was it not too improper? Geng Jixun silently weighed the matter in his mind.

Glancing at Liu Xu from the corner of his eye, then following his gaze to the field, watching the young lord Liu Wenyuan leading the charge at the head of the cavalry formation, Geng Jixun's brows furrowed again involuntarily.

Having him assist the young lord — of course he would be a thousand times willing. But this young lord was not so easy to serve. Compared to Liu Xu, Liu Wenyuan's personality was more pronounced and more forceful. Of course, this was also related to age — youth often meant hot-bloodedness and being hard to serve.

Liu Wenyuan was only twenty-two now — not exactly young. At Liu Xu's age, he had already been able to take charge independently. But Liu Wenyuan, to be honest, still had a long way to go.

In every era, people's cycles of growth and maturity differ. Liu Wenyuan was essentially still a royal grandson born in peacetime. The world he had known since childhood was different from that of his elders. Although he had received a strict education since youth, witnessed the splendor of the Central Plains, personally experienced the bitter cold of the Northeast, and even had military campaign experience, overall he still lacked tempering.

Because the difficulty and degree of trials and refinement he had undergone were different — he had always been immersed in praise and acclaim, having experienced too few setbacks, one could even say none at all...

To be a general still requires honing, let alone to be a king. However, the opportunities of history wait for no one. When the great tide rolls in, it does not shift according to individual will.

Combining this with Liu Wenyuan's situation, Geng Jixun's mind turned rapidly — pondering, envisioning — but the more he thought, the more confused his mind became.

The military review outside the city lasted a full half day. By the time they returned to the city, Liu Xu's body had completely given out. Upon returning to the prince's residence, he collapsed directly onto the kang. Perhaps it was a deep sleep, or perhaps a faint — he did not awaken until the next day.

Another half month later, Liu Xu had begun coughing up blood...