Chapter 1321: Han Qinhu

"Brother, please."

Li Jing offered a drink, full of heroic spirit.

Wang Yan smiled and nodded, picked up the ceramic bowl, and downed it in one go.

Watching Wang Yan's movements, Li Jing couldn't help but widen his eyes: "Brother has a great capacity for liquor."

"I used to drink it sip by sip, but after I threw my lot in with the Prince of Jin, I started drinking like this."

"Why is that?"

"Poverty."

Wang Yan answered simply and directly, "This bowl of wine costs a large coin. In the past, I could only bear to buy one bowl every three or five days, so naturally, I had to savor it slowly. Now that a little silver is no longer a concern, drinking boldly and gulping it down is the most satisfying way."

Hearing this, Li Jing decisively picked up his bowl and finished the remaining wine as well.

"Truly satisfying." Li Jing, flushed with the wine, deeply agreed with Wang Yan's words.

Wang Yan asked with a smile: "Yaoshi, you are also a noble son of the Li clan; why are you traveling alone with a sword?"

"This journey is to travel the world and observe the ways of the people. I heard the great army had returned in triumph, so I rushed to Daxing. To be honest, Brother, Han Qinhu, who destroyed the Chen Kingdom, is my uncle."

"So that's how it is. On the second day after I joined the Prince of Jin, His Highness held a grand banquet, and I had the honor of meeting Lord Han."

"Brother has great martial arts skills and follows the Prince of Jin; one day, you will surely be enfeoffed as a marquis."

"Enfeoffment is not my wish." Wang Yan shook his head with a smile, "I only hope for peace under heaven, so that we common folk may all have enough to eat."

"Brother has a great ambition; I admire you, I admire you."

"I am a crude person; what great ambition is there to speak of? I just dare not forget my roots, nor can I forget the taste of freezing and starving. Let's not talk about this. Since we hit it off at first sight today and share the same interests, come, come, let's drink, let's drink."

Having just met, it was impossible to talk too deeply, but they did roughly discuss the current situation. After all, when men are together, it is hard not to talk about such things.

Even the farmers in the villages, who don't know a single character, have to talk about the landlord's messy affairs and the hearsay from the city.

Applied to Wang Yan and Li Jing, it was even more normal. Li Jing was a son of the Longxi Li clan, part of the Guanlong aristocratic group that had existed for hundreds of years—an absolutely top-tier political family. Wang Yan was also a Consulting Aide in the Prince of Jin's mansion, a proper official. Talking about the ministers of the court, discussing the Turks and Goguryeo, and debating the campaign to destroy Chen was only natural.

After a meal of drinking like this, Wang Yan was quite satisfied; Li Jing was indeed no ordinary man. Even at eighteen, he already had deep accumulations and a unique perspective on various matters.

Li Jing was even more satisfied with Wang Yan. He truly couldn't see that Wang Yan came from a background as a lowly soldier; he was definitely a man of real talent and learning who would surely get ahead in the future.

So, the two exchanged contact addresses, agreed to keep in touch often in the future, and then parted ways.

"Does my husband think highly of him?"

Walking down the street with Wang Yan, watching Li Jing's figure disappear, Xiao Mei asked this.

"What do you think?"

"He is worthy of being a son of a noble family; his upbringing is good, and his family learning is deep. It is rare that he has no aristocratic arrogance and does not look down on my husband's humble background. However, he is still not as good as my husband. Everything he says is compliant, with no hint of overstepping; he is a submissive subject. On this point, he is inferior."

Xiao Mei herself had a rebellious spirit and was willing to do rebellious things; in her evaluation, she naturally thought more highly of those with a rebellious spirit.

This was also the reason why she was currently wholeheartedly following Wang Yan. In fact, it was not that she had no chance to leave Wang Yan; after all, they had already arrived at the Prince of Jin's mansion, and she was so beautiful that betraying Wang Yan would have been no problem.

It was just that she still had some persistence.

However, at the same time, she was an opportunist and an absolute egoist. It seems that in the original story, she invested in Li Mi to leave herself a way out...

Once Wang Yan showed signs of decline, given their current relationship, Xiao Mei would run without hesitation and would sell Wang Yan out completely.

It was just that Wang Yan didn't care about these things.

He smiled: "Don't say such things in the future; be cautious in speech and action, Madam. Where is there absolute safety? Don't talk, just do, and then it will be safe."

"Yuwen Huaji is a disaster after all; he will definitely cause trouble for us." Xiao Mei's train of thought was very jumpy.

Wang Yan smiled: "If he causes trouble for us, we won't let him off either; only then can Yang Guang rest easy."

"This is the art of kingship, husband. If I didn't know you came from a mud-legged background, I truly wouldn't believe it."

"Didn't I say? I had the luck to know a few characters and read a few books. Where is there any art of kingship? It's just mutual checks and balances. It's a principle even the village head knows."

Wang Yan waved his hand and changed the subject: "There is still plenty of time; let's go to the agency to take a look and ask about the market."

Eating and drinking hadn't taken much time, and there was still a long while before the market closed and the curfew began. The two of them strolled leisurely to the agency to understand the situation and look at the prices of houses and storefronts.

After all, it was the largest capital city; houses and shops were in high demand, and the prices were not cheap. Of course, for the rich woman Xiao Mei, it was a small matter. The family fortune she had saved up was enough to support a landlord family for three generations of prosperity, provided there were no spendthrifts. That was how rich she was.

However, Wang Yan didn't spend money to buy directly; he just wanted to understand first. He felt that according to the excellent character Yang Guang had shown, after he was busy for these few days, he would send him a large mansion along with servants. After all, he, Wang Mou, was an unverified but reliable peerless fierce general...

So for the next few days, Wang Yan didn't do anything; he just took Xiao Mei around the city to stroll.

In the past, Xiao Mei might not have had this stamina, after all, she had been pampered. It was during the journey from Jiankang to Daxing that she often walked, and coupled with the physical exercise she learned from Wang Yan, she practiced vigorously every day. Only then did she build up her body, able to stroll around with Wang Yan. She became much more sunny, not looking like a villain as before, and regained some of her girlish heart.

Xiao Mei said this was the happiest time she had lived so far, whether day or night, she was happy...

During these few days, Li Jing finally met Han Qinhu.

Recently, Han Qinhu's days had not been happy because he competed for credit with Heruo Bi and was promoted to Pillar of State, reaching the peak of a military official, but then his reward was taken away. Because someone reported and exposed that he had indulged his subordinates in sexually assaulting the Chen palace, his merits and demerits canceled each other out, and this battle was fought in vain.

But old Han still had grace; he was unhappy himself but didn't lose his temper with his nephew. He was still very happy to see Li Jing, tested his martial strategy, and was satisfied with Li Jing's progress.

"Yaoshi, you are already eighteen; it is time to enter officialdom. Do you have any arrangements?"

"Not yet; I still want to travel outside for a few years to see the ways of the world."

"A son of a noble family, don't really become a wandering knight."

"My nephew understands." Li Jing nodded in response, then turned to ask, "Does Uncle know Wang Yan, Wang Ziyan?"

Han Qinhu was stunned for a moment, then reacted: "He is the Consulting Aide in the Prince of Jin's mansion, right? Do you know him?"

"I met him by chance in the West Market a few days ago; we hit it off at first sight and drank together. He said that when he was in Jiankang, he met Uncle once, and he was at the end of the table."

"I know him. Those of us who followed the Prince of Jin to Jiankang all know him. He is a fierce general."

Han Qinhu affirmed Wang Yan and spoke about Wang Yan's battle record: killing a team of elites alone, stealing water and food which was basically open robbery, killing his way in and knocking everyone unconscious, and challenging six generals in the Chen palace hall—he was awesome to an incredible degree.

Afterwards, he revealed gossip to Li Jing: "This kid is a romantic. With his ability, escaping the Chen palace was not a problem. But he found Concubine Xiao, whose fame for beauty you have also heard of. For Concubine Xiao, this kid went directly to the Prince of Jin. At that time, the Prince of Jin was also looking for Concubine Xiao..."

Only then did Li Jing know that the beautiful woman who had been following Wang Yan without saying much was the famous Concubine Xiao.

He smiled: "In that case, the Prince of Jin is quite broad-minded."

"No matter how beautiful a woman is, she is not as important as a fierce general like Wang Yan. The Prince of Jin is still clear-headed."

"Uncle thinks highly of Wang Yan."

"Daring to fight, having both courage and strategy, valuing love and righteousness—how can I not think highly of such a great man?" Han Qinhu laughed, "Let me tell you one more thing: when in the Chen palace, Wang Yan took Concubine Xiao to tour the garden... Yuwen Huaji was sick for more than half a month before he recovered. When I saw him again, his face still had red marks, hahaha, satisfying."

"What did the Prince of Jin say? Was there no punishment?"

"If it weren't for that, why would he only be a Consulting Aide? It was just to give Yuwen Huaji an explanation. Do you think Wang Yan is really a reckless man?"

Han Qinhu explained the relationship to Li Jing, pointing out the joints of Yang Guang balancing his subordinates and suppressing the noble families, "So Wang Yan has both courage and strategy and will surely achieve great things in the future. You can associate with him more; he has relied on the Prince of Jin and will surely be heavily used in the future, which will also be of great help to you."

"As for the Yuwen family..."

"No need to worry. Just based on Wang Yan daring to directly move his hand to hit Yuwen Huaji, the Yuwen family will have to suffer in the future. Wang Yan knows his strengths, uses his own strengths to attack the other's weaknesses—this is the way of the military strategist to win. Plus the Prince of Jin's partiality, unless the Yuwen family doesn't provoke Wang Yan, otherwise they will have a hard time."

"My nephew understands." Li Jing nodded, then chatted with Han Qinhu about family matters and the situation of their family members.

Han Qinhu had time, and Yang Guang had also won the post-war benefits that belonged to him, so he was finally at ease and remembered the peerless fierce general he was raising at home.

"What is Wang Yan doing recently?"

Hearing his question, the subordinate following him reported all of Wang Yan's actions.

From the first day he went out and got into a fight, meeting Li Jing, to Wang Yan taking Xiao Mei shopping every day, eating and drinking along the way, very happily. He also said Wang Yan went to the agency to ask about houses and shops, intending to do business. He also said Wang Yan ran and practiced martial arts every morning, went out riding every day to practice the horse spear. He also said Wang Yan read books every day, and Xiao Mei read books and explained principles to Wang Yan.

After hearing this, Yang Guang couldn't help but laugh or cry: "They are really living in harmony, more comfortable than me, a prince. Arrange it, make a table of good wine and food tonight, wait for him to come back, and let him come over."

"Yes, Your Highness."

When Wang Yan and Xiao Mei came back laughing and talking, they were brought before Yang Guang.

"Ziyan, was this courtesy name chosen by your Madam?"

"No, it was chosen by the subordinate himself. A few days ago, I met a son of the Longxi Li clan, and he came up to report his name to me, so I chose a courtesy name for myself."

"Oh? What is the source?"

"The Master said (Zi Yue)."

"Uh... Hahaha..." Yang Guang was amused and laughed out loud, "So rebellious; if that old pedant knew, he would probably scold you until you were covered in blood. Take a seat; you have been under my command for some time, and I have been busy with official business before, neglecting you. Today, let the two of us talk properly."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Wang Yan sat down in response, watching the waiter pour the wine, and directly raised his glass to toast Yang Guang three times.

Yang Guang only drank one cup after three times, but he nodded repeatedly and said good, approving of Wang Yan's actions.

"Eat, eat; I heard long ago that you have a good appetite, eat more."

Wang Yan was not polite; Yang Guang said eat, so he picked up his chopsticks and ate heartily.

"Your Highness, the subordinate has lived through enough bitter days and is afraid of hunger. So when there is food, the subordinate must eat more. I'm afraid I won't have anything to eat in the next meal, so I can support myself for a longer time."

Watching Wang Yan directly grab a chicken and gnaw on it, Yang Guang laughed: "As long as you follow me steadily, I guarantee you will eat well and drink well for a lifetime."

"This is natural; Your Highness treats the subordinate generously, and the subordinate will surely repay you with death."

"I want you to do things, not to die. Only by keeping a useful body can you do more things."

Yang Guang took a small sip himself, watching Wang Yan hurriedly trying to accompany him in drinking, smiled and waved his hand, then turned to ask: "What are your plans?"

"It is all up to Your Highness to decide."

"I will definitely decide, I am asking what you want to do."

Wang Yan said: "Recently, I only want to find a house, get a storefront to do business, and then buy a hundred or so acres of land outside the city. In the future, there will be a harvest every year, so I won't have to sit and eat until the mountain is empty. In the long run, naturally, I want to repay Your Highness, let Your Highness become the Emperor, so that the subordinate can be a great meritorious official who follows the dragon and enjoy wealth for a lifetime."

"You are really honest."

"Your Highness, the subordinate comes from a background as a lowly soldier; how would I know so many twists and turns? The subordinate is the most honest, always saying what is what."

"Yuwen Huaji was not beaten in vain; you have to give him an explanation. This year, just stay in the mansion as a Consulting Aide. Wait until next year, and I will see where to arrange for you. You don't need to buy houses, storefronts, or land; I will give them to you. You just study and improve steadily, do business and make money down-to-earth, don't be anxious, there will definitely be a time when I need you."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Wang Yan knew that Yang Guang was not lying. He relied heavily on Yuwen Huaji and definitely had to take care of Yuwen Huaji's face. On the other hand, now that the post-war benefits had been distributed, Yang Guang had no place to arrange for Wang Yan.

Wang Yan's best place was definitely in the army. But Wang Yan could not be a high official, and there was no need for a small official; he had to be at least a commander of a hundred men.

However, Yang Guang did not live up to Wang Yan's trust after all; he was a generous and good boss, giving houses, storefronts, and land. Yang Guang was truly wise and martial now; Wang Yan certified it, absolutely authoritative.

Yang Guang drank and ate, watching Wang Yan eat heartily, and he couldn't help but speed up his own chopsticks; it was indeed appetizing.

He asked: "Earlier in the Chen palace, you said you wanted to smear the Crown Prince. Now that you have returned to Daxing for many days, have you paid attention?"

"Your Highness, the current Emperor and Empress practice thrift strictly. The subordinate heard that the Crown Prince is extravagant without limit; this can be utilized. The Crown Prince is thrifty, and finding people in the marketplace to praise the Crown Prince's extravagance and waste is a victory for Your Highness. This is a long-term matter; Your Highness must not be anxious."

"You killing embryo are teaching me?" Yang Guang stared, feeling amused, "Such a big matter, how could I not know?"

"Loyal words are harsh to the ear but beneficial to action, Your Highness. The subordinate just wants to warn Your Highness not to be lax."

Yang Guang was so angry he laughed: "Eat your food."

"Yes, Your Highness."

So Wang Yan ate and drank heartily, chatting with Yang Guang about his days as a city gate guard... ===== CHAPTER 1322 =====