"Summon someone, make tea."
"Yes, Your Excellency!"
...
Marquis Wen brewed tea, waved his hand, and chuckled, "Lin Zhao, put down your things, take a seat. How about a sip of our White Emperor City's clear, fragrant tea?"
Lin Zhao nodded, set down the bamboo chest, and sat opposite Marquis Wen with composure, showing no signs of nervousness.
A pot of tea steamed, its aroma wafting.
Marquis Wen glanced at the youth and asked, "How have things been on your journey here?"
Lin Zhao replied, "Does Marquis Wen require my honest opinion?"
"Yes, tell me the truth."
"Alright."
The young man took a deep breath and said, "Along the way, I've seen widespread famine and rising unrest. Especially in the Yunzhou region, too many people have frozen or starved to death."
"Indeed..."
Marquis Wen frowned. "What do you think will happen if this continues?"
"It will..."
Lin Zhao initially wanted to say the Great Shang would fall, but upon reflection, he deemed it inappropriate. So, he said, "It will be very bad..."
Marquis Wen couldn't help but chuckle. He could clearly perceive Lin Zhao's caution. "This is unavoidable. Three years of harsh winter, this is the will of heaven, a natural disaster. And the four northern tribes are stirring. The demon and devil races, with millions of troops, could descend south at any moment. Now, humanity faces an existential threat. The entire chessboard is about to become a dead end. What can we, who hold high positions, do other than fulfill our duties and accept fate? The people suffer, and Great Shang suffers. In the end, both the family and the nation suffer. It's unavoidable."
Lin Zhao deeply agreed. "What Marquis Wen says is true."
"Have you been to the Sword Washing River?"
Marquis Wen glanced at the youth and smiled. "And to the Fusu Great Wall? With your cultivation level, you must have seen the valiant souls of the Xia clan guarding those thousand-mile frontiers. You've also seen those unyielding Xia clan members on the Fusu Great Wall, those tough ones."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded.
Marquis Wen smiled. "Don't you feel... that the Great Shang's reign was obtained rather despicably?"
Lin Zhao frowned.
"Tell me the truth."
Marquis Wen said, "With me, you will not be punished for your words. You are someone sent by Chu Huaixi personally, and a junior esteemed by the great Confucian scholar Qin Suihan. I, Wen Shuoyang, would not dare to harm you."
Lin Zhao said, "If what I understand is correct, the Great Shang's acquisition of this realm was indeed not honorable. Replacing the Xia clan carries suspicion of an unfair victory."
"Hahahaha~~~~"
Wen Shuoyang burst into laughter. "Who among the Great Shang dynasty's scholars or its fervent Confucian students would dare to say such words? Everyone fears, and only in the distant Xueyu Tianchi can we hear such truths."
Lin Zhao frowned, feeling he might have spoken too freely.
"Actually,"
Marquis Wen revealed a hint of a smile. "What you're thinking in your heart is probably the saying, 'He who steals a hook is a thief, he who steals a nation is a marquis,' isn't it? In fact, it is so, and there's nothing more to say. However, if you, Lin Zhao, had traveled the realm three years ago, you might not think so of this Great Shang dynasty. Three years ago, the Great Shang dynasty was prosperous, its people wealthy, its cavalry roamed ten thousand miles, and its national strength reached an unprecedented peak. These were things the Xia clan at the time could not achieve. You think a schemer seized this realm, yet a schemer made this realm better, didn't they?"
"And now?"
Lin Zhao looked at Marquis Wen. "If the four northern tribes descend, will Great Shang stand its ground and fight to the death? Or will Great Shang repeat the Southern Alliance and cede territory to the demon race for peace?"
"Times have changed."
Marquis Wen narrowed his eyes and smiled. "When the four tribes descend, our Great Shang will undoubtedly fight to the last drop of blood to defend humanity's land."
Lin Zhao frowned. "If that is truly the case, then the realm will be fortunate, and humanity will be fortunate."
"Mm."
Marquis Wen glanced at the youth with clear eyes and smiled. "I, Wen Shuoyang, make a promise to you, Lin Zhao. When the demon race descends, it will be when our Great Shang mobilizes its entire nation to march north. If you and Xueyu Tianchi need assistance, I, Wen Shuoyang, will wholeheartedly help!"
"Thank you!"
Lin Zhao looked deeply at Marquis Wen. This Marquis Wen was the one who signed the Southern Alliance with the demon race years ago. That alliance was a hundred-year disgrace for humanity. Thus, Wen Shuoyang was appointed governor of the northern border, and in court, he was known as "Marquis Wen" or "Governor Wen." However, in the streets and alleys of White Emperor City, he was mockingly called "Wen Dudu," a failure and a disgrace to humanity.
But now, Lin Zhao felt that this "Wen Dudu" might be worth trusting.
...
Afterward, Lin Zhao handed over the survey map and set off with his bamboo chest. Marquis Wen glanced at the items in the youth's chest, which included not only the survey map but also two strips of cured meat, some frozen pheasant meat, and several jars of miscellaneous items – the youth's most treasured possessions. For a moment, a gentle smile graced Marquis Wen's eyes. He said to a guard, "Take Lin Zhao to our kitchen. He may take any ingredients or utensils he wishes."
"Yes, Your Excellency!"
Lin Zhao was slightly taken aback and quickly cupped his hands. "Thank you, Marquis Wen. I was just thinking of replenishing my food supplies for the journey back."
"Mm."
Marquis Wen chuckled. "We have venison and silver phoenix meat in the manor, hunted by our cultivators. You can take some of each; with a few seasonings, you can cook a very good stew. Also, take some of our fine grain white cakes; they are fragrant upon entering the mouth. Furthermore, Captain, after Lin Zhao collects his provisions, take him to the stables to select a fine steed."
"Yes, Your Excellency!"
Lin Zhao bowed his thanks again and then departed.
...
"Your Excellency."
A purple-robed elder appeared behind Marquis Wen, squinting at Lin Zhao's retreating back. He smiled, "Is it necessary to talk so much with such a headstrong youngster, even to the point of revealing your intentions?"
"It is necessary."
Marquis Wen smiled faintly. "A while ago, Chu Huaixi led his troops to ambush and heavily wound the Great Demon Yu Zhi's vanguard, killing eight thousand elite demons with minimal losses. Great Shang has never achieved such a feat. Do you know who advised Chu Huaixi to launch this ambush?"
"Could it be this kid?"
"Precisely!"
Marquis Wen swept away the steam from the teapot. "Our spies in Xueyu Tianchi sent back word that Lin Zhao is now the master of the Mountain Peak Villa, the leader of young geniuses from the Great Chen dynasty like Xu Zhi, Luo Yang, and Mu Zha. This time, he was sent alone to travel the realm to deliver this seemingly inconsequential survey map. What is the intention? Chu Huaixi is always meticulously calculating. In fact, he is already grooming Lin Zhao to be the future commander of the Tianchi Army. And the Tianchi Army controls the northern frontier. Perhaps... we will truly rely on Lin Zhao to resist the descent of the four northern tribes in the future."
The purple-robed elder smiled faintly. "I thought... Marquis Wen genuinely admired this boy and wanted to confide in him!"
"What if I do admire him?"
Marquis Wen smiled. "If Lin Zhao understands my ambitions and shares the same goals, wouldn't that be the greatest fortune of my life, Wen Shuoyang?"
...
In the afternoon.
Lin Zhao raided the Prime Minister's mansion's kitchen. If there's good food, of course, he'd take it. With the current icy conditions, the food wouldn't spoil. Taking it back to the Mountain Peak Villa for Xiao Shitō and Xiao Jiǔ'er to taste would be wonderful. Moreover, these delicacies from the Prime Minister's mansion might not even have been tasted by Xu Zhi, Luo Yang, and Mu Zha. They could all try them.
As the bamboo chest grew heavier and began to creak, Lin Zhao felt a little embarrassed looking at the maids of the Prime Minister's mansion. He immediately went with the captain to the stables to select a fine steed. Then, taking advantage of the pleasant afternoon sun, he galloped away from White Emperor City.
Late at night, he reached the border of Yunzhou and rested for a night at a roadside inn.
The next morning, he galloped on again. Two days later, he arrived at Shanhaiguan Pass, stayed there for a while, and set off at dawn. The fine steed's speed was remarkable. By evening, before the sun had set, he had reached the Fusu Great Wall.
Dressed in a green cloak that covered his face, with the bamboo chest strapped to the side of his warhorse, Lin Zhao, sword on his back, crept through the city, intending to leave the Fusu Great Wall undetected to avoid trouble.
However, in the setting sun, as Lin Zhao passed through the city gate and entered the northern side of the Fusu Great Wall, a familiar figure stood on a flying sword in the air, her white skirt fluttering, watching Lin Zhao from afar.
Lin Wanhua, the most beautiful woman in the Fusu Great Wall.
"Lin Zhao!"
Lin Wanhua called out loudly.
Lin Zhao immediately urged his horse to gallop faster, wanting to get away quickly and avoid being entangled by Lin Wanhua. He already felt guilty about damaging her life sword, Feihua, last time. This time, he absolutely couldn't meet her.
"Lin Zhao!"
Lin Wanhua gritted her teeth in mid-air, her beautiful face showing anger and a hint of resentment. Why was this happening? Of all the young talents in the Fusu Great Wall, which one didn't fawn over her or look at her with longing? Why was it that when it came to you, Lin Zhao, I, Lin Wanhua, seemed like a fierce demon, and you looked as if you were avoiding a plague?
"Lin Zhao!"
She called out clearly again. "Wait and see, in my lifetime, I will definitely come to Xueyu Tianchi to find you!"
Hearing this, the young man became even more flustered. He quickly spurred his horse, disappearing into the horizon outside the Fusu Great Wall like a streak of lightning. All that remained in the snow were straight lines of horse hoof prints.
Lin Wanhua's delicate eyebrows furrowed, feeling even a little wronged. Why was he avoiding her? She wouldn't truly kill him with her sword.
...
"Wanhua."
Behind her, a young man in red robes frowned. "Why bother with a despicable person like Lin Zhao? Forget it, just pretend he never came. How about... I treat you to a meal at Mingyue Tower tonight to calm your temper?"
"Scram!"
Lin Wanhua glared at him. Did she know him? Who was he?
The young man retreated sheepishly, hastily sliding down the city wall to avoid further embarrassment. He, the legitimate eldest son of the Zhou family, had just tried to confess his feelings while Lin Wanhua was distraught and was rebuffed. If this were to spread, wouldn't it be disastrous? How would he continue to make a living in the Fusu Great Wall?
He ran all the way, his heart filled with apprehension. Had his choice of words been inappropriate? He would have to find Ye Lin later to study this matter thoroughly and get his advice.
After all, if he could win over Lin Wanhua, it would be an act that brought great glory to his ancestors.