Chapter 286: Handsome Youth

They were right in their estimate—only two days passed, and the main force had just reached the outskirts of Hanyang when, in the dead of night that very day, Wei Shen heard the faint rustling again. This time, having experience, he remained calm. With so many people outside, even ghosts and gods couldn't locate Da Wang here.

As he opened his eyes, the small night lamp illuminated everything clearly—outside, a huge black shadow was fiddling with the flap of their tent……

Wei Shen kicked the sleeping Da Wang awake with a blatantly disrespectful kick, yet his voice was polite: "Your Highness? Esteemed Prince You, your divine envoy has returned!"

Prince You stumbled up, dazed, noticing nothing amiss, and voluntarily went to help open the door: "Bai Ze, has the Duke of Dongdu arrived?"

Bai Ze entered familiarly, lay down, and said, "Bringing ten thousand men."

The tent was originally spacious, but Bai Ze filling half of it made it feel cramped. Zhe Tian naturally shifted to stand in front of Wei Shen, planting himself there……

Wei Shen: "What is it trying to do?"

Da Wang: "... Let you move aside. What's wrong—since we're not fighting this time, does Zhe Tian think we're not worthy?"

Upon hearing that, Zhe Tian agreed, immediately locking his gaze onto Wei Shen.

Wei Shen: ……

★

Tang Qian heard that a unit of soldiers had arrived at Hanyang City and assumed they were envoys from Chang'an urging him to return to the capital.

"Still not giving up! With Jade Gate Pass gone, the frontier means nothing?! I'll just hold Hanyang! Let them wait until one day they're coward enough to surrender Hanyang too—then we'll talk!"

His subordinate hurriedly told him, "This time the bearing is off—doesn't look like Jin Dynasty soldiers at all, not like they're from Chang'an."

"What do you mean? Could it be the Xiongnu… or those from the Western Regions?"

"Just have the Commander go check—he'll know!"

It must be Da Wang.

Da Wang believed he had already severed ties with Bai Li Jin, and also wished to show Tang Qian respect, so he stationed his cavalry outside the Wei River bank, bringing only the Eagle Riders to meet Tang Qian.

This clever fellow thought it over and decided he needed to let them see their strengths.

He wanted Jade Gate Pass to join him, not to come fight Tang Qian—he wanted them to see their future prospects!

Before breaking camp, Da Wang held a special "Oath-Taking Assembly" on-site, having them tidy their military appearance.

Armor and weapons must be polished to gleam, warhorses groomed to sleek, smooth shine!

They must display the bearing of elite troops, to well and truly confuse Jade Gate Pass!

Wei Shen, hearing half of it, muttered: "Why? Making themselves look so good just to take to Hanyang for a marriage alliance?"

Da Wang glanced at him: "Your horse is clean enough—its coat shinier than your hair. Hurry up and wash it!"

"Why bother with such fuss on the march? Water is precious……"

Before he could finish, Da Wang pointed behind them: "In midsummer, still guarding the Wei River—you say water's precious?"

Wei Shen had no choice but to undo his hair and go wash it properly.

When Da Wang arrived outside Hanyang City in full battle gear, his Eagle Riders resembling the grand parade formations of old, speaking frankly, the Jade Gate Pass border troops guarding the city panicked slightly.

This cavalry, whether in appearance or demeanor, was utterly intimidating!

Da Wang signaled Zhou Ke to shout; Zhou Ke raised his voice: "We don't know if Tang General is inside the city—my lord wishes to meet him."

The garrison soldiers panicked and reported upward; by the time the message reached Tang Qian, a while had passed, and Da Wang waited, bored stiff.

Even Bai Ze, standing properly, sat down; Zhe Tian took off, landed, and began playing, even circling inside Hanyang City.

Tang Qian emerged, climbed the gate, and saw the Eagle Riders—majestic, stern, murderous, aura leaking from their flanks… and… not-so-majestic Da Wang.

This Guy noticed Bai Ze sitting down, that broad, fluffy mass beside him, and after waiting so long, he thought he'd go sit beside it—surely more comfortable than a horse saddle!

He wore armor—could Bai Ze allow him? He decisively stretched out a paw and pressed down, refusing!

Tang Qian first marveled that their warhorses were barded, then noticed the riders' armor was unusual—he couldn't name it, but under sunlight it flashed a metallic sheen unique to metal, yet not quite like iron?

Even their faces were hidden behind ferocious visors—what kind of beings are these?!

Tang Qian trembled—this was far more than just "unusual bearing" as his subordinates had said!

Then he noticed Bai Ze, and Da Wang pressed beneath Bai Ze's paw……

The giant white fluff amidst the black horses was strikingly conspicuous, leaving him no time to think further—Wei Shen stepped forward, waved at Tang Qian, bared eight teeth, and said, "Tang General, do you still remember me? My grandfather was Wei Ting Hou!"

Tang Qian studied the enthusiastic youth closely: "... Wei Ting Hou? Wei Shen?" Anyway, it wasn't Wei Ke, whom he'd just seen days ago.

Wei Ke wasn't this enthusiastic, and was older.

Thinking of Wei Ting Hou, then looking at the child pressed under some unknown beast's paw, dressed so well—Wei family had no such large child; could it be… Prince You?

Da Wang wore no helmet; his head adorned with a fine mutton-fat white jade crown fixing his little topknot, Tang Qian instantly knew he wasn't a common soldier—standing among the masked riders, he was strikingly conspicuous.

He was also strikingly handsome.

Wei Shen warmly greeted him, becoming instantly familiar: "It's me, Tang Uncle—I'm the second son of the Wei Peng family!"

Da Wang struggled free from Bai Ze's paw, raised his hand: "I'm the third~"

Tang Qian: ……

Da Wang lifted his head—Tang Qian finally saw his face clearly.

Though still young, one could see his features were refined, his bearing not vulgar.

Hmm, he does resemble Wei Ke a bit. The more he looked, the more certain he became of Da Wang's identity.

Our Da Wang will surely be a beauty like carved jade in nine parts—his remaining one part uncertain, stemming from his temperament. As Wei Shen would say, Da Wang's bear nature will affect his bearing.

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The city gate opened, but Tang Qian was still standing on the city wall watching the Eagle Riders. This was not the bearing of a prince's personal guard, nor was it the Southwest Army of Changzhou. This was absolutely a force that had seen blood.

Having served half his life in the military, he could still tell whether they were the leisurely prince's personal guard or veterans of the battlefield.

So the question arises: where did they come from?

Tang Qian looked again at the Da Wang riding a red-maned tall horse. The Da Wang had already belatedly assumed the airs of a prince, sitting on horseback like a proud little peacock.

The little peacock was busy whispering commands to Bai Ze in private: "Bai Ze, later in front of people you must give this king some face, understand? If I tell you to sit down, you don't get up, got it?"

Bai Ze:...

Bai Ze suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, thinking, if you're going to pull this kind of stunt, you should bring your stupid bear along!

Tang Qian just couldn't figure it out: the fief of the You King was in the far east—how did he manage to bring so many cavalry through the Xianbei and Xiongnu-occupied regions to reach Hanyang?

At that moment, a subordinate ran over, out of breath, to inform him: "Commander, there are still about ten thousand cavalry stationed by the Wei River bank!"

"Ten thousand?"

"Exactly. And they're all cavalry, with their tents pitched neat and orderly—they couldn't have just arrived."

Tang Qian cursed the army's scouts; since losing Jade Gate Pass and retreating here, they had even abandoned their basic duties.

"Could they have come around from the Jin Dynasty? No, that doesn't make sense—how could Chang'an allow that?"

Before he could think further, Wei Shen entered the city and turned back to shout enthusiastically at him. Tang Qian had no choice but to come down and lead them to where they were stationed in Hanyang.

Hanyang had no garrison before, nor any place capable of holding a hundred thousand people. They occupied a deserted village, relocated the few households there, and Tang Qian himself lived there—conditions could be described as extremely harsh.

As for military pay, forget it—they were struggling to be self-sufficient.

Seeing soldiers tilling the soil along the road, the Da Wang guessed they were also out of grain, probably even worse off than at Shanggu Pass.

Approaching this dilapidated encampment, the Eagle Riders looked utterly out of place.

Tang Qian lived in the best house in the village. The Da Wang, Wei Shen, and Ling Yin followed him inside, while most of the Eagle Riders stayed outside on the street, only a dozen or so close guards following him into the courtyard.

They dismounted and stood beside their horses, each with waist and back straight, hands resting on sword hilts, eyes following the Da Wang's movements.

How to put it? Compared to them, the troops at Jade Gate Pass now looked more and more like farmers.

Tang Qian, while ushering the Da Wang into the house, glanced back at their soldiers and muttered that it was hard not to envy them—though probably no one would believe him.

Several people sat down in a place resembling a council hall. Bai Ze and Zhetian squeezed in beside the Da Wang, and Wei Shen formally introduced the Da Wang to Tang Qian.

"I suppose Lord Tang has already guessed—this is His Highness the You King of Youzhou."

Tang Qian and an officer beside him politely saluted the Da Wang.

The Da Wang waved his hand, wearing a solemn expression: "This king, the You King, may now have no relation to the Jin Dynasty at all. The court has ceded Youzhou to the Xianbei, ordering this king to return to Chang'an and await another fief!... I don't know if I am fortunate enough, like my cousin, to address General Tang as Tang Uncle?"

What opinion could Tang Qian have? He was a rough old man who had never seen such an enthusiastic little fox.

And there was that eagle perched on his shoulder, giving off a distinctly unfriendly air—now glancing sideways, now glaring at him, as if one wrong word would provoke an immediate attack.

"Don't hide it from Tang Uncle: since being enfeoffed as lord of the border commandery of Youzhou, this king has held the border troops in the utmost reverence—twelve parts respect, to be exact. You are the ones who truly endure hardship. Whether it's Lord Liang of Shanggu Pass, this king's maternal grandfather, or the Commander-in-Chief of the Western Frontier..."

Sure enough, upon hearing "Commander-in-Chief of the Western Frontier," Tang Qian's face flashed with a hint of sorrow. He quickly lowered his head to adjust himself, then pretended to listen attentively to the Da Wang's speech.

"Only we border commanderies know the suffering of the border troops. Now the court, with just a flick of the lips, easily cedes five northern commanderies to wolf-hearted barbarians. Don't think this king is small—this king understands everything. Now that they've taken five places, once they taste the benefits, after a period of rest and recuperation, they will immediately resume their southward advance. They don't realize the Central Plains are far richer, do they?"

"Exactly."

"So this king cannot fulfill their wish—he will immediately take action to seize it back!"

"Cough cough cough! What? Seized it back?"

Tang Qian, simply sitting and listening to the Da Wang speak, had already been choked by his words...

"Bai Li Jin clings to life and fears death, and with his designs on the crown prince's position, he made this mistaken decision. As a descendant of the Bai Li clan, this king absolutely cannot tolerate ceding Jin Dynasty lands to barbarians! Tang Uncle did not directly return to Chang'an to follow the court southward—he must also be a man of ambition. Would you like to join this king in retaking Liangzhou?"

Tang Qian was doubtful, and he only said Liangzhou: "What about Bingzhou?"

"This king has already retaken it! Moreover, he chopped off the head of Qiu Lin Yi, who killed General Xue, and sent it to the general's spirit tablet."

Upon hearing this, Tang Qian rose and bowed solemnly to the Da Wang.

Had anyone else said this, he would not believe it—but seeing those soldiers outside made him lean more toward believing the Da Wang. Such a matter need not be lied about; the truth will spread in time.

The Da Wang quickly pulled him up: "Tang Uncle, don't stand on ceremony—we border commandery folk are all one family!"

Wei Shen smiled on the side: "Here we come, here we come—familiar, one big family."

The Da Wang has many relatives who become family at first sight.

Seeing Tang Qian's straightforward nature, the Da Wang didn't beat around the bush. In a few words, the picture was clear—he began persuading Tang Qian to bring the northwestern border troops into their Youzhou forces.

"Rather than follow those who forget their ancestors, sell out the land, and betray the country like Bai Li Jin, it's better to do something real for the people."

"... This king is not asking Tang General to rebel with the border troops against the state. This king merely asks Tang General to continue doing what General Xue did in life—guard the gates of the Jin Dynasty. Shanggu Pass still holds its position as before; this king has already resolved the three Xianbei tribes, and Dongdu Hou supports this king, now administering Bingzhou under military rule.

This king knows Tang General is loyal and devoted to the Jin Dynasty, and as a member of the Bai Li royal clan, this king is deeply grateful.

This king's maternal clan is the Southwest Wei clan, so this king also favors those of us who garrison the borders—straightforward, speaking plainly.

Tang Uncle, speaking frankly, this king truly does not wish to contend with Bai Li Jin for the Jin Dynasty's throne! Even now, this king can promise you: as long as Bai Li Jin does not first move against Youzhou, this king will not take the initiative to advance southward for the rest of his life."

Wei Shen wanted to laugh: "The Da Wang's words are an art form!"

"Again and again, remind them you also bear the Bai Li surname, and are still of the same father as that one in Chang'an. The difference is, the Da Wang's maternal clan has always been the Wei military family, while the elder branch is the Langya Wang clan—whether you and he can share a chamber pot is for you to judge!"

Wei Shen thought: given your elder brother's temperament, if he turned around he'd surely strike at you—so rest easy, it certainly won't be your turn to strike first.

"... This king still has one reminder for Tang Uncle: given Bai Li Jin's character, your staying here without immediately returning to Chang'an has already thoroughly offended him. Even if you return to Chang'an and manage to save your life, this army will henceforth have nothing to do with you."

This could be called a fatal blow—one strike, and it lands.

If the Da Wang's saying that Tang General should continue General Xue's lifelong duty was the first strike, then leaving these brothers behind would be the fatal one.

Yes, if they now returned to Chang'an, this border army would no longer remain in his hands—indeed, even the Xue clan could not intervene.

The three and four sons of General Xue are in the army, but they hold low ranks and have not yet grown capable of standing alone. The Xue family is about to lose this army, which they have cultivated for three generations...

Tang Qian fell silent for a long time, and the Da Wang pressed on.

"I know my maternal grandfather raised the Southwest Army with great difficulty, and I see our brothers outside also... getting by just fine. Our Youzhou soldiers, in Youzhou, have the most honorable livelihood. They farm while they train—look at how well this king's cavalry are kept, they never lack food or drink. In the future, if Tang Uncle joins our Youzhou forces, this king will treat everyone equally: what Youzhou soldiers have, Shanggu Pass will have, and your Jade Gate Pass will have too."

Tang Qian: ……