Chapter 717: Discussion [Thank You! Again! 41k Chapters Owed]

At the end of the Xu hour (around 9 p. m.)

The imperial palace,

On the palace walls,

Lanterns hung beneath the high eaves of the gate tower, where palace guards in armor, spears in hand and swords at their sides, stood watch.

"Squeak."

The wooden gate beneath the tower opened,

Rong Xian, clad in a military officer's armor, his helmet slightly askew, stretched lazily as he stepped out.

"Clack-clack!"

A neat rhythm of footsteps approached,

Just then, a patrol of palace guards passed by, lanterns in hand.

"Sir, Commander."

The squad leader bowed as he walked past Rong Xian.

After nodding, Rong Xian descended the brick stairs toward the palace grounds, accompanied by his personal guards carrying lanterns.

Arriving at the great gate beneath the palace wall,

"Ha!"

"Giddy-up!"

The cries of riders whipping their horses echoed from within the palace.

Soon,

Hooves drew near,

Watching the cavalry gallop through the palace gate and vanish into the distance, Rong Xian yawned calmly, as if accustomed to such scenes, then turned to the junior officer on duty beside him and asked, "How many batches have left so far?"

The junior officer bowed and replied, "Commander, this is the seventh batch."

Rong Xian clicked his tongue. "Looks like something big's happened."

The junior officer looked at Rong Xian with admiration.

Rong Xian, under the candlelight, noticed the man's gaze and frowned. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Commander, judging by your expression—don't you feel uneasy seeing this?"

"When I saw the first batch ride out, I was fine. But the ones after… each one makes my heart race. Could it be that the north has gone to war with Northern Liao?"

Rong Xian waved his hand. "It's not your fault—you've only been here two months. You're just easily startled."

"Brother-in-law, from your tone, you've seen bigger scenes before?" the junior officer pressed.

Rong Xian shot him a sidelong glance. "Hmph! You're on duty—use your rank."

"Yes, yes, Commander!"

Rong Xian glanced toward the inner palace and said,

"Back when my close friend, Xu Wu, went to Beizhou with Gu Tingye, the scene was far grander."

"At this hour, over ten batches of cavalry were sent out each day."

The junior officer's eyes widened. "Heavens—ten batches?"

Rong Xian nodded, slightly proud.

"Commander, do you know what actually happened today?"

"."

After a moment of silence, Rong Xian glared. "Military secrets—don't pry!"

The next day,

When daylight broke fully,

Carriages and horses rushed through the streets and alleys of Bianjing.

The court's senior ministers, who had labored through the night in the palace, were now returning to their respective mansions.

With the Emperor's permission, the noble households of the capital began exchanging news.

Jiyin Alley,

The Sheng household,

In the study hall,

Master Zhuang sat on a Luohan chair before the screen, frowning as he watched Sheng Changbai, the student nearest to him.

Changbai held a scroll in his hands, but his eyes betrayed that his thoughts were elsewhere.

Master Zhuang turned his gaze from Changbai to the others in the hall, lingering a moment on Zai Zhang and Xu Zaijing.

Just as Master Zhuang was about to speak,

Outside the study hall,

A Sheng household servant hurried in.

Stopping at the door, the servant bowed deeply and said, "Master Zhuang, a steward from the Kaifeng Prefect's household, Gu Da's man, has come to pay his respects."

Feeling the eyes of all in the hall upon him, the servant dared not look up, bowing even lower.

"Show him in."

"Yes, Master Zhuang!" The servant turned and hurried out.

Master Zhuang rose, unfurled his folding fan, and said, "All of you, resume your reading."

Then he stepped from behind his desk and walked toward the door.

As soon as Master Zhuang exited the study hall, Gu Tingye and Qi Heng began whispering among themselves.

"Yuanruo, when will your servant return?"

Qi Heng shook his head. "Uncle, Buwei went to my maternal grandfather's house the moment I arrived at the Sheng household. He should be back by now."

Changfeng, behind Qi Heng, interjected, "Young Master, can Buwei really find out what's happened in Northern Liao?"

Qi Heng nodded, turned slightly to his left, glanced at Minglan, then said, "If my grandfather knows, he'll surely tell Buwei."

Gu Tingye smiled and nodded. "Good."

Then he looked outside and said, "I wonder what Gu Da's steward wants with Master Zhuang."

At the front, Changbai turned to look at Master Zhuang's back, then glanced at his brother-in-law, Zai Zhang.

Observing Zai Zhang's expression, Changbai studied Xu Zaijing again, thoughtful.

Then Changbai turned back to his desk, nodded slightly—as if making a decision—and fixed his gaze on the book before him.

After a long while,

Footsteps approached,

As everyone turned to look,

It was Qi Heng's servant, Buwei, walking in with a slight bow from outside the courtyard.

Seeing Buwei,

Gu Tingye and Changfeng's eyes lit up.

When Buwei entered the study hall, everyone asked only two questions.

"Hem."

A soft cough came from outside. Master Zhuang, frowning, hands clasped behind his back, his face solemn and eyes deep in thought, returned to the hall.

Gu Tingye and the others immediately fell silent and turned to him.

Seeing Master Zhuang's expression, Gu Tingye glanced at Xu Zaijing, his eyes saying plainly: "Jingge, something major's happened, hasn't it?"

Xu Zaijing gave a slight shake of his head—whether meaning "I don't know" or "Nothing's wrong," it was unclear.

Master Zhuang sat down on the Luohan chair, surveyed the students, his gaze lingering on Buwei at the back, then his frown eased slightly. "All of you, you must already know that something major has occurred in Northern Liao."

Xu Zaijing and the others nodded.

"Do any of you know the exact reason?" Master Zhuang asked.

Gu Tingye and the others shook their heads; Xu Zaijing and Zai Zhang merely watched Master Zhuang.

"Just now, a friend of mine sent word with the cause of the Northern Liao incident."

At these words, all in the hall turned to him.

Changbai sat up straight, ears pricked in attention,

Gu Tingye, Qi Heng, and Changfeng stared at Master Zhuang, disbelief written plainly in their eyes.

Their expressions screamed: "Master, tell us quickly!"

Master Zhuang waved his folding fan, signaling calm, then looked toward Buwei and said, "That servant of Yuanruo's name is…"

"Master, his name is Buwei," Qi Heng called out.

"Yes! Buwei—Yuanruo said you went to the Xiangyang Marquis's mansion. Did you learn the full story?"

Buwei rose, bowed deeply, and said, "Master, the old Marquis told me some details."

Master Zhuang nodded. "Good. Tell us what you know."

"Yes, Master."

Buwei bowed again, then turned to Xu Zaijing and the others and said, "The old Marquis said that the Zhao family of Lu Long and the Mongol tribes…"

As Buwei spoke, everyone in the hall—except the Xu brothers—looked astonished.

When Buwei finished, Master Zhuang waved his fan, signaling him to sit, and said, "He's told it well. My own knowledge matches his account."

"Master, this is too bizarre! The Zhao family of Lu Long was commissioned by the Northern Liao imperial clan to negotiate with the Jin. If the Mongol tribes act this way, aren't they openly defying the Northern Liao imperial house?"

Before Master Zhuang could ask, Gu Tingye was the first to speak.

As he spoke, Gu Tingye gazed at Xu Zaijing with eyes full of inquiry and agreement.

It was merely a matter of exchanging glances, but Gu Tingye hesitated, studying Xu Zaijing's expression: "Jing-ge, you didn't already know, did you?"

Xu Zaijing nodded gently, his eyes filled with apology: "I learned it just a little earlier than you, Second Young Master. This concerns state secrets—the palace hasn't issued orders, so I can't speak further."

After a resigned nod, Gu Tingye turned to face Zhu Xuejiu.

Zhu Xuejiu set down his folding fan, lifted his teacup, and took a sip: "Regarding this matter, speak your minds freely."

Qi Heng frowned: "Xuejiu, I believe the Mongol tribes dare act this way only because they regard the northern Liao's noble generals as worthless."

Gu Tingye shook his head: "Yuanruo, I've heard that before the Mongol tribes mobilized, the northern Liao fought the Jin dynasty repeatedly with superior numbers—and lost every time! The old Liao emperor was chased and hunted by Jin troops. For them to disregard the Liao nobility is only natural."

"But what matters is that they disregard the Liao imperial clan."

After the two finished speaking,

Chang Bai, seated in front, spoke up: "Xuejiu, the event has already occurred. I believe we should focus on what follows—how the Liao imperial clan will respond."

Zai Zhang regarded Chang Bai with clear approval: "Xuejiu, I agree with Chang Bai."

Chang Feng, seated behind Qi Heng, chimed in: "Xuejiu, the Zhao family of Lu Long are northern Liao's military aristocrats. If even such a family nearly got wiped out, other Liao noble houses will surely feel the same dread—this is the perfect moment to win them over."

Hearing this, Zhu Xuejiu gave Chang Feng a rare nod of approval.

Seeing this, Chang Feng's face broke into a smile.

Zhu Xuejiu looked at Xu Zaijing behind Gu Tingye: "Zaijing, all your classmates have spoken—why are you silent?"

Xu Zaijing bowed slightly in his seat: "Xuejiu, I'm thinking, as Chang Bai said, about what comes next."

Zhu Xuejiu smiled faintly: "Oh? Where has your thinking taken you?"

At Zhu Xuejiu's words, everyone in the classroom turned to look at Xu Zaijing.

Minglan could now openly study Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing said: "Xuejiu, I'm thinking that since the northern Liao-Jin peace talks have failed, and we in Bianjing have learned of the Zhao family's fate, the Jin must have known even earlier."

"Peace talks—given the current situation and the Jin's military might, the northern Liao will surely make concessions, surrendering part of their territory."

Qi Heng looked at Xu Zaijing, puzzled: "Jing-ge, why do you make such a guess?"

Before Xu Zaijing could answer, Gu Tingye chuckled: "Yuanruo, the Jin dynasty doesn't share a border with our Great Zhou—it's separated by sea! Ha! But the northern Liao does."

Qi Heng's face lit up with sudden understanding: "Second Uncle is right—I was mistaken! Our Great Zhou now has elite armies massed in the northwest, strong and well-equipped. The moment an opportunity arises, we'll reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun!"

Gu Tingye nodded with a smile.

Zhu Xuejiu drew a deep, thoughtful breath, eyes gleaming, then sipped his tea.

Xu Zaijing smiled too: "Yuanruo is correct. As the party about to reap the benefits, the Jin must have gained nothing from the Mongol tribes' actions."

"With their troops sharpened and their strength replenished, seeing this rift between the northern Liao and the Mongol tribes, the Jin will now move to bite off a piece of Liao territory."

"Likely, the Jin will follow Chang Feng's suggestion and intensify efforts to recruit northern Liao's military families."

Zhu Xuejiu set down his teacup, stroked his beard: "Zaijing, do you think anyone in the northern Liao will defect to the Jin?"

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Xuejiu, yes—many will."

Gu Tingye's eyes flickered, and he clapped his hands: "Jing-ge is right! Most of them will likely be families like the Zhao of Lu Long—those involved in the peace talks!"

Xu Zaijing nodded, glanced at Zhu Xuejiu, then continued: "Second Young Master, not just them! Any ambitious families or generals within the northern Liao may be lured by Jin promises."

Qi Heng turned his head to look at Xu Zaijing, nodding unconsciously.

Chang Bai sat upright, a smile forming on his lips.

"Clap!"

Gu Tingye clapped and laughed: "Exactly! Then won't the lands east of the northern Liao descend into chaos?"

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile: "The best-case scenario is precisely as you say, Second Young Master."

"Therefore, Xuejiu—I believe our Great Zhou should seize this moment, pushing our northwest armies forward. If the northern Liao wishes to avoid fighting on two fronts, they'll—"

Before Gu Tingye could clap again in agreement, Xu Zaijing shook his head: "But first, our Great Zhou must win a battle. Only then will the northern Liao come to us for peace talks."

Gu Tingye and Qi Heng exchanged glances: "Jing-ge, why not negotiate directly with us and cede Huan Prefecture?"

Xu Zaijing looked at Gu Tingye: "Second Young Master, the northern Liao must fight us first to know whether they can win—and whether they should even consider peace and territorial concessions."

"Only when they realize that refusing to cede land may mean national destruction will they be willing to talk to our Great Zhou."

He paused, then added: "After all, what you cannot seize on the battlefield, you won't gain at the negotiation table."

Chang Feng nodded vigorously: "Jing-ge is right! We could even ally with the Jin to destroy the Liao—what a brilliant move!"

Hearing this,

Zhu Xuejiu, seated in front, studied Xu Zaijing's expression: "Zaijing, why do you seem to disagree with Chang Feng's suggestion?"

Qi Heng, still nodding, turned in surprise to look at Xu Zaijing.

Gu Tingye turned back: "Jing-ge, I think Chang Feng has a point."

Xu Zaijing took a deep breath: "Why should our Great Zhou rely on the Jin to destroy the Liao when we can do it ourselves?"

Glancing around, Xu Zaijing caught Chang Bai's gaze as he turned back, then said to Gu Tingye: "Second Young Master, when the Jin envoys came to Bianjing, we saw their prowess at the polo field."

Gu Tingye shook his head: "Jing-ge, those were merely elite guards of Jin nobles—not everyone is that formidable."

Xu Zaijing said: "Second Young Master, we must never underestimate our enemies."

Gu Tingye recalled the Jin warriors he'd seen at the polo field and nodded: "Jing-ge, you're right."

Then he realized: "Jing-ge, you call the Jin our enemy?"

"Future enemies," Xu Zaijing added.

(End of Chapter)