Chapter 356: Winds and Clouds Converge, Awaiting Heaven's Time

On the second floor of the Guiyi Tower, the atmosphere had reached its liveliest pitch, with dozens of people seated at ten tables.

Besides the Guiyi Tower's signature Hexi rock-sugar braised pork, crispy roast duck, and curried mutton, there were also newly introduced stir-fried dishes of every kind.

Stir-frying as a cooking method would not become popular until several decades later.

The reason, of course, was that the iron woks used for stir-frying were extremely costly to make, and no one had yet thought of using such precious iron to fashion a pot, so the method had not yet been invented.

But Zhang Zhao certainly knew what stir-frying was! This cooking method was the most common and most basic in later ages.

Besides, although an iron wok was very costly, to Zhang Zhao it hardly counted for anything, so he quickly tinkered out an iron wok for stir-frying and the method for using it.

Once introduced, it immediately swept through Hexi first, and could be counted as the smoothest golden finger Zhang Zhao had ever produced.

Although the Eastern Capital was the flourishing heart of the Central Plains, when it met a cooking method so far ahead of its time, it too quickly fell.

Today on the second floor, those Murong Xinzhang had invited were all stout warriors of the Eastern Capital, some even rich second-generation scions of power.

Yet they were all like bumpkins, wishing they could swallow their own tongues along with the food.

"Excellent! Truly excellent! This stir-fried food paired with Hexi's iced purple wine — even the immortals in heaven could eat no better!"

A military officer named Murong Yanzhao loudly exclaimed in praise. He could barely be counted as coming from a military family, and had just arrived in the Eastern Capital with Liu Zhiyuan, Chief Commander of the Palace Guard Horse and Foot, just in time for this banquet.

"I, a nameless nobody, am honored by the Chief Commander's regard. If ever I am needed, I would die ten thousand deaths without refusal!"

Murong Yanzhao's praise had barely faded when a junior officer of the Palace Guard named Shi Hongzhao stood up and shouted.

His tongue was somewhat loosened by drink. That a figure like Murong Xinzhang would think to invite him to the second floor of the Guiyi Tower for a banquet clearly left him overwhelmed by the honor.

Murong Xinzhang had an excellent capacity for liquor. Although he too was a little dizzy, his thoughts still kept pace, and he still remembered the task Zhang Zhao had given him: this Shi Hongzhao and the Murong Yanzhao from just now were both men to be won over with great favor.

Therefore Murong Xinzhang raised his wine bowl. "We are all fighting men from the battlefield. Why speak of who looks up to whom? Whoever could come has done me honor. Come, drink a bowl of wine with me!"

Shi Hongzhao grew even more grateful at these words. He lifted his wine bowl and drained a full bowl with Murong Xinzhang.

"I have heard that the Chief Commander is a son of our Tuyuhun? And of royal blood from the Murong tribe?"

Before Murong Xinzhang had even wiped the wine from the corners of his mouth, a man beside him named Wei Tong, a Troop Commander of the Hedong Army and young lord of a Military Governor's household, cupped his hands toward Murong Xinzhang and spoke.

"I have also heard that the Troop Commander is of Tuyuhun descent?" Murong Xinzhang did not answer directly, but instead asked the officer beside him in return.

"Indeed of Tuyuhun descent. Not only I — among the Hedong troops and officers, there are many sons of our Tuyuhun!"

Wei Tong admitted it without any concealment. In truth, it was not only in Hedong; further north in the Daibei region, apart from the Tangut, the Tuyuhun were also the majority.

This was because after Li Keyong and his son brought wealth and rank to the three the the Shatuo tribes of Daibei, the territory that had been vacated was gradually occupied by the Tuyuhun.

These people became the new Daibei military-merit group. In history, the Northern Han regime held out for so many years under the fierce attacks of the Northern Song, and the Tuyuhun soldiers and officers among them played an enormous role.

"In that case, I must grow all the closer to the Troop Commander. You and I are both sons of Tang, and both of Tuyuhun stock — the same principle as Han men sharing a surname and clan!"

Murong Xinzhang grew ever more forthright, and Wei Tong across from him also let down his guard and began drinking deeply and eating meat in great mouthfuls.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of food, a clamor suddenly arose at the entrance to the floor. Murong Xinzhang's two newly accepted disciples, boys of around ten, had begun arguing with someone at the top of the stairs.

"Zhao Erlang! Who has come here making such a racket? Have him give his name!"

Murong Xinzhang was slightly drunk and unwilling to rise, so he called out to his disciple at the entrance.

This Zhao Erlang was the son of a Chief Military Inspector of the Palace Guard. He had an elder brother who had died young, but because the brother had already reached adulthood when he died, although Zhao Erlang was in fact the eldest, people of the time all called him Zhao Erlang.

Although this Zhao Erlang was only ten years old, he had trained his body since childhood and could wield fists, feet, spear, and staff a little. He was a fine prospect for the martial arts.

Murong Xinzhang had taken a liking to him at first sight, and so had asked for him to be at his side, teaching him spear and staff in his spare time, and counted as half a master to Zhao Erlang.

Well, in truth, it was Zhang Zhao who had given him a list and told Murong Xinzhang to deliberately seek him out.

"Elder Brother, several men have come to the stairs, terribly overbearing, insisting on coming up."

The one who came running over indignantly to report was Murong Xinzhang's second disciple. His ancestral home was in Liaoxi, and he had moved to Luoyang in his youth. His name was Wang Shenqi, clever and bold, even more beloved by Murong Xinzhang than Zhao Erlang.

"Xue Baipao! Do you still remember who gave you the sword at your waist? Have you forgotten an old friend so quickly that you cannot even come up to the second floor?"

Hearing someone call him Xue Baipao, and mention the sword, and with a voice still carrying the immaturity of youth, Murong Xinzhang knew in an instant who it was. Who else could it be but the fourteen-year-old Military Governor of the Huazhou Zhenguo Army, Zhao Kuangzan?

"Hahaha! So it is the Military Governor himself. Quickly, please take the seat of honor!"

Murong Xinzhang laughed loudly as he walked toward the stairs. Zhao Erlang, who had been blocking the way, had already been shoved aside.

Zhao Kuangzan felt he had lost some face. He stared at Zhao Erlang with an unfriendly expression, looking as though he wanted to find a few men to give him a sound beating.

"This boy is named Zhao Kuangyin. Perhaps he is even a kinsman of yours!" Murong Xinzhang hurried over to smooth things over.

"Xiang Hai'er, this is Military Governor Zhao of Huazhou. You must not be so rash in the future. There is no need to keep watch here either. Go eat with Wang Dalang!"

"So it is the second son of Commander Zhao of the Palace Guard. I am Zhao Kuangzan. Remember it from now on!"

Zhao Kuangzan was, after all, still young, and remained somewhat displeased in his heart. But he could never have imagined that in history, a few decades later, he would have to avoid Zhao Kuangyin's taboo name and change his name to Zhao Zan.

Perhaps because they had been delayed too long at the entrance, a somewhat thin young man behind Zhao Kuangzan secretly poked Zhao Kuangzan in the lower back, and only then did Zhao Kuangzan reluctantly follow Murong Xinzhang to the seat of honor.

Once everyone was seated, Murong Xinzhang carefully observed the man who had come with Zhao Kuangzan and claimed to be Zhao Kuangzan's cousin.

He suddenly realized that the figure was not thin; rather, one should call it slender. The fingers were fine, white, tender, and long; the complexion was even fairer; the eyes were round and bright; the lips were somewhat pink and full; the eyelashes even slightly curled.

This is a woman! Murong Xinzhang's heart stirred, and then began to pound. He thought of who this person most likely was.

Most likely, it was that aunt who was like an elder sister to Zhao Kuangzan — the fifteenth daughter of Emperor Mingzong of Tang, Princess Yongle.

Princess Yongle found Murong Xinzhang extraordinarily heroic and felt somewhat satisfied. Seeing him staring at her, she was not the least bit shy, and her dark, bright eyes stared back at Murong Xinzhang.

This, in turn, made Murong Xinzhang somewhat embarrassed. He could only change the subject and ask Zhao Kuangzan.

"I have heard that the Military Governor will soon go to the Khitan?"

Zhao Kuangzan had wanted to tell Murong Xinzhang not to address him that way, but after thinking about the relationship between the two of them, no form of address seemed quite right, so he let it be. He nodded.

"Yes! Father has sent a letter summoning me, and the Son of Heaven has already agreed. Zan will soon go north with my mother!"

As he spoke, Zhao Kuangzan drank a bowl of purple wine with Murong Xinzhang, and said with a somewhat worried frown.

"I am a son of Tang by birth, bearing the blood of the Great Tang imperial house. The Khitan are barbarians! But alas, my father summons me. Ah!"

Murong Xinzhang did not know how to console Zhao Kuangzan. At this time, although people acknowledged the Khitan's military might and regarded them as a rising power in the north.

They still generally viewed the Khitan through the eyes of the old Great Tang, and mostly called them contemptuously the "rotten Xi," their status not even equal to that of the Sogdians of the three Daibei tribes.

It was Princess Yongle beside Zhao Kuangzan whose beautiful eyes flickered, and she spoke in the tone of an elder addressing a junior.

"A true man and great husband—why utter such disheartened words? Going to the Khitan is to let you fulfill your filial duty before your father. In the future, there may yet be a chance to borrow the opportunity and come south."

Zhao Kuangzan's eyes lit up, and he was about to blurt out, "Thank you, Aunt, for your consolation."

Princess Yongle anticipated it a step ahead. She coughed once, and Zhao Kuangzan hurriedly swallowed the words already at his lips, choking until his face turned bright red.

"Isn't this Military Governor Zhao? I hear your father is deeply favored by the Khitan ruler, and now he has sent word for you and your mother to go and reunite. Truly congratulations!" It sounded like congratulations, but in fact it was full of mockery.

Zhao Kuangzan had been very unwilling to go to the Khitan in the first place. Hearing this, he flew into a rage, but after standing up and looking, he hesitated again.

The one mocking him was a powerfully built military officer. Zhao Kuangzan found him somewhat familiar—it seemed to be He Jian, Chief Commander of the Fengde Cavalry of the imperial guard defending the Daning Palace.

Zhao Kuangzan's escorts had all been left downstairs. He was only fourteen, and there was no way he could win a fight.

This He Jian was one of Shi Jingtang's trusted men. He must have been resentful that Zhao Kuangzan's father and grandfather had once tried to compete with Shi Jingtang to be the puppet emperor, and so he had spoken to provoke him.

But thinking of what his father and grandfather had done, and considering the current balance of power, Zhao Kuangzan—who had been a privileged young lord since childhood—actually swallowed it down.

Seeing Zhao Kuangzan back down, He Jian grew even more unrestrained. A rough military man like this, once he had drunk too much, was capable of anything. It was quite possible he even had thoughts of giving Zhao Kuangzan a beating.

"Why does the Military Governor not speak? Do you look down on me?" Sure enough, He Jian was drunk. He came over carrying a bowl of wine.

"If you don't look down on me, then you must drink a bowl of wine with me! Ha ha ha!"

Zhao Kuangzan was so angry his face turned crimson. Beside him, Princess Yongle's round eyes also flashed with wave after wave of fury. But this was already the Later Jin, not the Later Tang.

"Commander He must be drunk. Why not go down and rest?"

Murong Xinzhang searched through his memory, and after confirming that He Jian was not on the special list Zhang Zhao had given him, he directly spoke up to stop it.

Unfortunately, He Jian was already worked up. He slammed the wine bowl down hard beside Zhao Kuangzan, splashing purple wine everywhere.

With his right hand he tore open his clothes, revealing brawny muscles and thick chest hair.

"I am speaking with Military Governor Zhao. What business is it of yours? A nag from Hexi—how could it be worthy of the finest fodder of our Eastern Capital?"

Murong Xinzhang flew into a rage. So this He Jian was not targeting Zhao Kuangzan at all—he was targeting him.

Originally, all of Shi Jingtang's cavalry had been under the jurisdiction of the Fengde Cavalry. After Murong Xinzhang arrived, Shi Jingtang established a separate Palace Cavalry. Although no formal title had been granted, the intent to divide power was already obvious.

"You slave! You're asking for a beating!"

The enraged Murong Xinzhang leaped out from his seat. Before He Jian could react, Murong Xinzhang had kicked him to the ground.

Then he straddled He Jian's chest and rained down a flurry of wild punches on his face, beating He Jian until his face was a riot of colors and he howled in pain.

"He Bao'er! So you're a pewter spearhead after all—all that talk of being peerless with spear, staff, fists, and feet, and this is your peerlessness! Ha ha ha!"

Do you think these Five Dynasties warriors would worry about spoiling the mood, or come over to break up the fight for fear of hurting relations?

Not a chance! Brawling was as ordinary as eating and drinking to them. Which drinking session didn't end with someone's head split and blood flowing?

The moment these fellows saw a fight break out, every one of them picked up his wine bowl and formed a circle, jeering and laughing to their hearts' content.

"Well struck! Well struck! Give your granddaddy a few more punches!" After a couple of howls, He Jian proved himself a good sport—not only did he not beg for mercy, he loudly cheered.

"You slave! If I keep hitting you, the victory would be unworthy!"

When he shouted that, Murong Xinzhang actually stopped hitting. He suddenly got to his feet and clasped his hands in salute to the onlookers all around.

"Gentlemen, bear witness. He Jian and I must settle who is better." Then he looked at He Jian, who had been helped up, face bruised and swollen, and said:

"I have here a Hexi fold-eared blue roan horse that can cover two hundred li in a day. In three days, once your wounds have healed, come find me. Whether spear and staff or fists and feet, if you beat me, the horse is yours!"

"Fine! I have a coral tree worth at least four hundred strings of cash. If you beat me, I'll present it to you with both hands!" He Jian clenched his teeth and placed a heavy wager of his own.

"Excellent! Excellent! I'll wager one hundred strings on Commander Murong for a great victory. Does anyone dare bet against me?" Hou Renju, second son of Hou Yi and Prefect of Pengzhou, immediately announced he wanted to place a bet.

"I, Wang Quanbin, also wager on young lord Murong for a great victory!" A burly man with a leopard-like head and round eyes walked over. He had campaigned together with Murong Xinzhang against Zhang Congbin and Fan Yanguang, and they were on very good terms.

"Then I'll bet on He Bao'er instead! Two hundred strings!" A man ran over laughing loudly—it was Chen Sili, the Eastern Court Provisioner. In no time, everyone was placing bets, and the place was buzzing.

Behind them, Princess Yongle watched Murong Xinzhang's broad back, powerful build, and handsome profile, and could not help nodding.

With her status, if she married an ordinary man who could not protect her, she would likely find no peace.

Murong Xinzhang perfectly matched the image of the husband she had in mind.

That night, in his room, Murong Xinzhang took out the slip of paper Zhang Zhao had given him and put check marks beside one name after another. Written on it were names such as Murong Yanzhao, Zhao Kuangyin, Wang Shenqi, and Wang Quanbin.

Below, marked with crosses, were Guo Rong, Shi Shouxin, Pan Mei, and Cao Bin—these were people who had not yet been found.

Before long, a figure stirred outside the door. Murong Xinzhang hurriedly put the list away. Hu Guang strode straight in, his expression deeply displeased.

"Does the Commander intend to betray the Great King? A mere woman's charms, and you would abandon your parents?"

So Hu Guang was worried he would betray Zhang Zhao. Murong Xinzhang could not help laughing in spite of himself.

"Do you think so little of me? The Great King is my father, and my mother serves at the Great King's side. In Hexi, I, Murong Xinzhang, am a favored son of heaven. How could a bowing and scraping Son of Heaven in the Daning Palace possibly recruit me?"

As he spoke, Murong Xinzhang's face broke into a smile. "I was worried there would be no one to entrust this great matter to. Today, seeing Captain Hu's loyalty, the task the Great King entrusted to me finally has someone to take it up."

"A task entrusted by the Great King?" Seeing that Murong Xinzhang did not seem about to betray anyone, Hu Guang, half-believing and half-doubting, let Murong Xinzhang pull him down to sit.

"That Princess Yongle is indeed a daughter of the Son of Heaven, noble of blood, exquisitely beautiful yet with a martial air. I am determined to marry her!" Murong Xinzhang continued.

"You've met Princess Yongle?" Hu Guang could not recall where Murong Xinzhang could have seen Princess Yongle.

Murong Xinzhang smiled mysteriously and said nothing more. Instead, he took out the list from before and solemnly clasped his hands to Hu Guang.

"This is the list the Great King gave me. After I leave, I hope you will stay behind, make wide connections, and befriend the heroes on this list, to await the appointed time!"

"Await the appointed time?" Hu Guang was somewhat stunned. He stared at Murong Xinzhang for a long time without speaking.

"Yes! Await the appointed time! From today on, you will eat and lodge with me. Any doubts you have, you may ask me. I will stay in the Eastern Capital for five months at most. After that, it will be up to you."

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