Chapter 362: Han Xiao Delivers the Aphrodisiac Pill

The next night, in the middle of the confrontation between the two armies, there was an abandoned beacon tower.

After Wang Hou delivered the message, Yang Jiye thought for a long time before making a decision. On one hand, the person coming was a former member of the Zhenbei Army, and on the other hand, he also wanted to know what the Ming Army was planning.

For him, he was also very confused now. He couldn't wait for news from the Imperial Court, so he could only guard and not let the Ming Army go south.

But if the Imperial Court really ordered an attack, he knew clearly that his chances of winning if he took the initiative were not high!

Facing such a stalemate, not only did he need a way to break the situation, but the Ming Army did too.

Han Xiao only brought two of his most trusted personal guards and waited here early. He was not wearing armor, only a common grey cloth cotton robe, just like an ordinary person visiting a friend.

Not long after, slight horse hoofbeats and footsteps came from below.

Yang Jiye was also not wearing general's armor, but a common warrior's outfit, with a long sword at his waist.

The moment he saw Han Xiao, a flash of complexity crossed his eyes.

"Han Xiao?" Yang Jiye's voice was low and hoarse.

"Old General Yang, it's been many years, and you still have your style." Han Xiao cupped his hands, his tone carrying respect.

Yang Jiye waved his hand to let his personal guards retreat to the bottom of the tower to stand guard, leaving only one trusted old colonel by his side.

He walked to the edge of the earthen platform, looked at the faint campfires in the distance, and said lightly: "Han Xiao, you and I can be considered to have old ties. Now that we serve different masters and meet on the battlefield, what old ties are there to talk about? Could it be that you came to be a lobbyist?"

"Old General is straightforward."

Han Xiao walked to his side, "Catching up on old times is true, and being a lobbyist... also counts. However, what this subordinate wants to say is not to let the Old General betray his master for glory, but to talk to the Old General about why we joined the army back then?"

Yang Jiye was silent for a moment: "To protect the territory and pacify the people, to eat the monarch's salary, and to be loyal to the monarch's affairs."

"To protect the territory and pacify the people..."

Han Xiao repeated, his tone carrying emotion, "Old General, when you were in the Zhenbei Army back then, you were at the forefront to block the Xiongnu, which left you with a hidden illness for many years that has not healed to this day. Was what you did for protecting the territory and pacifying the people?

Now in the Imperial Court, the monarch is muddled above, the officials are greedy below, Western Liang is in rebellion, and Beijiang... is also a force.

Old General, you hold 250,000 troops and confront me here. Is it for the territory? Is it for the people? Or is it for that... monarch who sits in the deep palace and may have long forgotten that there is a person named Yang Jiye at the border?"

"Han Xiao!"

Yang Jiye did not expect Han Xiao to be so presumptuous as soon as they met; he thought the two would exchange more pleasantries.

Anger surged in his eyes, "Stop talking nonsense! His Majesty is the Son of Heaven. Even if there are... even if there are flaws, it is not for a subject to discuss presumptuously! You occupy the passes, hide the Imperial Seal, and openly rebel; you are the traitors of the country!"

"Traitors of the country?"

Han Xiao snorted coldly and did not back down, "What is a traitor?

Is the Imperial Court that lets the people go hungry and cold, lets corrupt officials run rampant, and lets border soldiers bleed and cry, the traitor!

Or is the Ming Army, under whose rule the people of Beijiang have fields to farm, clothes to wear, children can read books, and the Xiongnu dare not invade the border, the traitor?

General Yang, you have guarded the border all your life. Have you ever seen the scene in Beijiang now? Have you ever seen a true smile on the faces of the people?"

Yang Jiye was speechless for a moment. Although he had not seen the changes in Beijiang with his own eyes, he knew a little bit from scout reports and rumors.

That was completely different from the barren and chaotic Beijiang described in his memory and in the Imperial Court's documents.

"My Lord once said that what he wants to establish is a world where those who farm have their own fields, those who study have their own books, and everyone can use their talents to the fullest. This may sound a bit arrogant, and it may be difficult, but he is doing it."

Han Xiao's tone was sincere, "Old General, ask yourself, can the Imperial Court you are loyal to and defend give the people of the world such hope? Can it cure your wounds and solve the regrets in your heart?"

The last sentence was like a heavy hammer, hitting Yang Jiye's heart hard.

His wounds, his hidden illness, his regret of having no offspring... this was the pain of his life, and also his heart's knot.

The Imperial Court? He had seen countless imperial physicians and used countless precious medicinal herbs, but there was no improvement, only added sarcasm.

"You..."

Facing Han Xiao's "mockery", Yang Jiye was furious and couldn't help but tighten his grip on the sword hilt.

Han Xiao took out a simple wooden box from his bosom and presented it with both hands: "This thing was obtained by my Lord by chance, and it may be beneficial to the Old General's old illness. The Lord said this is not a trading item, but just... a little heart from a junior who once admired the Old General's character.

The Old General has guarded the border all his life and has worked hard; you should not suffer this torture. Whether to use it or not is up to the Old General. I came here today, and the words have been delivered. Whether to continue consuming meaninglessly under this Shuoning city with our army, increasing the casualties of soldiers in vain, or...

Find a new path with more hope and one that can better realize the original ambition of 'protecting the territory and pacifying the people' for yourself and the soldiers under your command, Old General... think twice."

He placed the wooden box on a stone nearby and bowed deeply to Yang Jiye: "The night is deep, this subordinate will take his leave. Old General, take care."

After speaking, Han Xiao said no more, took his personal guards, turned around, and walked down the beacon tower, quickly disappearing into the darkness.

Yang Jiye stood where he was, looking at the direction Han Xiao left, and then at the small wooden box on the stone, his chest heaving violently.

After a long silence, he slowly reached out his hand and picked up the wooden box; it was slightly heavy in his hand.

After opening it, it was lined with brocade, and a wax-sealed pill was lying quietly inside. Beside it was a small note, on which was a brief explanation of the pill and how to take it, written by Jiang Jinshi himself, the handwriting vigorous and powerful.

"Aphrodisiac Pill..."

Yang Jiye whispered the name, his fingers trembling slightly.

He was extremely conflicted at this moment, worried that the medicine would be useless, and also worried that it would be useful.

If it were useless, the hope he had just raised would be instantly shattered!

But if it were useful, how could this favor be repaid?

Now the two were serving different masters, and logically speaking, they should be mortal enemies on the battlefield!

As for whether the other party would use this to poison him, he dismissed this thought in an instant.

He trusted Han Xiao's character; after all, they were both people who had followed the Zhenbei King, and he would never do such a thing!

He slammed the wooden box shut, clutched it tightly in his hand, his eyes very complicated.

"Go! Return!"

After returning to Shuoning City, Yang Jiye dismissed everyone, sat alone facing the candlelight, looked at the pill in the wooden box, and sat for a whole night.

He knew the nature of the Zhenbei Army. Just the fact that the Zhenbei Army could join the Ming Army, and that Beijiang was thriving and the people were living and working in peace and contentment, was enough to show that the Ming Army was worth entrusting.

But this went against his beliefs of decades, and for a while, it was difficult to choose!

What kept appearing in his mind were Han Xiao's words, the changes in Beijiang, the corruption of the Imperial Court, the muddle-headedness of the Emperor, the regrets of his life, and the uncertain future of the soldiers under his command...

The sky gradually brightened, his eyes were bloodshot, but he finally made up his mind.

Opening the box, Yang Jiye took out the pill and carefully read the instructions again.

This medicine had nothing special, just take it directly, but Jiang Jinshi said that this medicine was too fierce and suggested that Yang Jiye call a maid or concubine before taking it. ===== CHAPTER 363 =====