Chapter 1 The Back Sea

South of Shangjing, the capital of Qian, there was a mountain. The people of Qian called it the Back Sea.

This mountain was like spring all year round, with flowers blooming, a testament to the magic of nature. A sea of flowers was, indeed, a sea.

But the common belief among the people was that the mountain was inhabited by immortals. When immortals traveled, they naturally moved through a misty sea of clouds; where they resided, naturally swirled with clouds and mist. Thus, it was called the Back Sea.

But the Qian government,

such as the Qian Emperor and Yao Zizhan, and people from other countries, referred to that place as the Back Mountain.

Because they knew that there was only one mountain there; they also understood that there were no immortals, only a group of *lianqi shi* (Qi refiners).

The difference in names reflected the difference in attitude towards it.

The current acting headmaster of the Back Mountain was Master Xundao, who liked to wear white. Moreover, he didn't manage much. In fact, although the Back Mountain was a gathering place for *lianqi shi*, it was neither a sect nor a yamen (government office).

Because it was too close to Shangjing, the Qian court would not allow a rigorous sect composed of *lianqi shi* to be so close to its capital.

Therefore, the Back Mountain had always been loosely organized, with rules but not strict, and its disciples liked to travel among the common people.

Today,

Master Xundao, who had been in seclusion, emerged. His place of seclusion was in a pavilion in the middle of a flower pond in the Back Mountain, where there was a white lotus.

It was said that,

when Zang Fuzi entered Yanjing to sever the dragon vein, in the end, only a half-closed white lotus was brought back by Baili Jian.

Master Xundao sat in a carriage,

which swayed all the way from the Back Mountain, and under the guidance of a Daoist boy, entered Shangjing City late at night.

Likewise, Master Xundao of the Back Mountain wanting to enter the capital late at night would naturally not be blocked by the gatekeepers citing curfew.

Next,

he entered the palace all the way to the Nuan Pavilion, all very smoothly.

Outside the Nuan Pavilion,

Master Xundao saw Baili Xianglan sitting there playing chess.

Baili Jian usually didn't stay in Shangjing, but Baili Xianglan held the position of the Silver Armor Guard. The Baili family's main residence was in Jiangnan, not considered a sect because they didn't widely accept disciples, but they were already a sacred ground of swordsmanship in Qian.

To gain something, one must lose something at the same time. To allow the Baili family to continue to develop and eventually become the number one swordsmanship family in the world, they had to first submit a certificate of allegiance to the court.

In this world, the most stable relationship is one of mutual need.

"Playing chess alone?" Master Xundao asked.

Baili Xianglan got up, saluted Master Xundao, and said indifferently, "No."

"Then who with?"

"Teacher Yao."

"Teacher Yao has already returned?"

Although Yao Zizhan had stepped down as the Supreme Commander of the Three Borders, handing over the position to Zu Zhuming, he should still be staying at the Three Borders for a period of time, first to facilitate the handover, and second to hold a position for the next civil official the court would send to the Three Borders.

"This is a chess piece Teacher Yao left here last winter."

"So, you've hesitated for so long on your move in this game of chess with Teacher Yao?"

Baili Xianglan shook her head.

"The chess game isn't a dead end, it can still be played."

"Then?"

"Teacher Yao promised me that when someone comes to the Nuan Pavilion to see His Majesty, as long as thirty people with sufficient status ask me about this chess game, when he returns, he will write seven poems for my Baili family's swords.

Master, you are the twenty-ninth, I am almost collecting them all."

"I think, Teacher Yao certainly didn't let you say the second half of the sentence."

"He didn't tell me not to, so I said it."

Originally a good story,

the Great Qian's Literary Saint Yao Zizhan left a chess game in front of the Nuan Pavilion, the opponent not having made a move for a year.

But, after Baili Xianglan's explanation, it was truly amusing.

"Are you here to see His Majesty, Master?"

"Yes."

"His Majesty is waiting for you."

"I know."

"Then it seems it's not something important, otherwise Master wouldn't have the leisure to chat and laugh with me here."

"That matter isn't urgent, just informing him, the mountains are high and the road is long, the days are still long, these two cups of tea won't make a difference."

"Then, Master has something to ask of me?"

"I'm looking for your brother. He promised to come to my Back Mountain in the second half of the year to help me, but now, it's already snowing."

"It's not the New Year yet, so it's still the second half of the year."

"Where did your brother go?"

"He said he went out to sea, logically speaking, he should be back soon. My brother keeps his promises and won't break his word."

Saying that,

Baili Xianglan pointed to the chess game in front of her,

and smiled:

"My brother might be like this chess game, asking Master to have his disciples warm the wine before the last two hours of New Year's Eve."

"Oh?"

"Because my brother will probably come to keep his appointment at the last hour.

Baili Jian, Baili's Appointment;

When I was a child, reading, I saw many anecdotes about celebrities and many aphorisms, and I always found them very interesting.

After growing up, seeing many celebrities, I actually find it even more interesting."

"Life, after all, is about seeking something interesting, oneself being interesting, others being interesting, and descendants also being interesting, that's the gist of it."

"Master seems like it really isn't an urgent matter."

"That year, if you had led a group of Silver Armor Guards masters to bring that child back, there wouldn't be today's matter."

"Teacher Yao said that Tian Wujing of Yan was not a reckless martial artist who would meekly obey you just because his wife and children were tied up. Moreover, I myself also feel that that child falling into the hands of Zheng… Hehe, that Marquis of Pingxi of Yan, is a greater disaster for Yan than falling into the hands of our Qian people.

One child can't mobilize the Jingnan Army;

Even if that child is in our hands, we cannot mobilize the Jingnan Army, we will only make the Jingnan Army united in hatred against us;

But that child is in the hands of the Marquis of Pingxi,

he,

can use the heir to command the Jingnan Army."

"But do you know, in this world, there aren't so many 'should be'?"

"Please enlighten me, Master."

"Back then, the various ministers in my Great Qian court, each with thunderous literary reputations and the integrity of green pines, but in the end, the Yan people's iron cavalry still reached the walls of Shangjing.

This is the best example.

The year before last, the celestial phenomenon of the fall of the Four Symbols Stars appeared, with a star falling on the northeastern border, which was also the opportunity for my last entry into the palace.

At that time,

he was just the general of Xuehai Pass,

Now,

he is already the Marquis of Pingxi of Yan, Yan's… marquis of military merit."

"Master believes that that celestial phenomenon fell on that Marquis of Pingxi?"

"You don't believe it."

"Yes, the Baili family only believes in the sword in their hands."

"Hehe."

Master Xundao smiled and nodded,

said:

"In this world, there aren't so many 'should be'. For a hundred years, generations of ministers and emperors have believed that reducing the power of military generals would lead to long-term stability and no disturbances;

In reality, this has led to the military being weakened in recent years. Not only could the north not withstand the Yan people's iron hooves, but the southwest was still festering.

You think that that child in the hands of the Marquis of Pingxi will become a chaotic element for the Yan people in the future;

Perhaps,

the one who leads the army to break through the walls of Shangjing again in the future will be that Marquis of Pingxi?

Small merchants, doing business, even in seemingly sure-win deals, must be on their guard when they sleep at night, because they know what is meant by 'unexpected events happen in the sky', yet those who govern a large country can feel at ease so 'should be', don't you find it interesting?"

"Master's words today seem particularly numerous. Master, this is the Nuan Pavilion, this is the Emperor's bedroom. What Master is saying is no longer just heavenly secrets, but, directly pointing at court affairs."

The implication being,

you've crossed the line.

Master Xundao shook his head,

said;

"Before I entered the Back Mountain, I sang about this in front of the Donghua Gate.

I am a scholar, what is wrong with scholars saying these things?"

Baili Xianglan smiled; "Master is planning to descend the mountain?"

"If the heart is on the mountain, then the person is on the mountain. If the heart is off the mountain, then the person is off the mountain."

"Xianglan understands."

"I'm going to see the Emperor."

"Master, please."

………

Master Xundao stepped into the Nuan Pavilion,

Inside the Nuan Pavilion,

the Emperor, dressed in a Daoist robe, threw the memorial in his hand to the ground, picked up his tea, and took a sip.

Below the Emperor, kneeling and trembling was the Grand Commandant of the Silver Armor Guard - Luo Mingda.

In fact, Luo Mingda's identity was the same as Lu Bing's of Yan, they were both the Emperor's milk brothers.

This was not an excessive coincidence, but rather a certainty.

First of all, the Emperor was initially a prince, and the prince certainly had playmates from a young age. The children of his wet nurse would often play with the prince, this was affection from growing up together.

Furthermore, the wet nurse's family basically rose to prominence entirely because she nursed the Emperor, so all the glory was focused on the Emperor alone, and there was no involvement with anyone else;

Most importantly, milk brothers, although they were said to be brothers, had no blood relationship, while those brothers with blood had the opportunity to covet your throne.

In ancient times, milk brothers were actually similar to childhood friends.

Master Xundao stepped forward, picked up the memorial, and placed it back on the coffee table to the Emperor's left.

They were all smart people, this action was enough to explain a lot.

The Emperor's gaze swept over Master Xundao, and he nodded slightly.

Then,

the Emperor yawned,

pointed at Luo Mingda kneeling on the ground,

and scolded:

"The Silver Armor Guard's nail in the southwest was tricked by the natives, and sent back the wrong military report, leading to an ambush of a Western Army, with nearly ten thousand casualties.

The situation in the southwest is about to fester again."

"Your subject deserves to die, your subject is guilty!"

Luo Mingda pleaded guilty.

"Your Majesty." Master Xundao said.

"Li Aiqing (beloved minister), feel free to speak."

Luo Mingda, kneeling on the ground, heard this dialogue, and his heart "gulped" a bit.

This meant that Master Xundao of the Back Mountain, the *tanhua* (third place in the imperial exam) who was famous in Shangjing back then, was planning to re-enter officialdom?

"The situation in the southwest, chaos, is inevitable. The main force of the Western Army has been transferred to the Three Borders in recent years, leading to insufficient deterrence and suppression of the southwest. Furthermore, with the death of the old Prime Minister Zhong, it is normal for the chieftains to have changed their minds.

The current situation is not really anyone's fault, but rather the inevitable result of the overall trend.

Your subject believes that the matter of the southwest should imitate the strategy of the Tattooed Face Prime Minister pacifying the southwest back then, with one person fully responsible for the military and political affairs of the southwest, to quickly stabilize the situation.

Pure appeasement, the natives fear power but do not cherish virtue;

Pure suppression, most of our Great Qian's capable troops are at the Three Borders, the Yan people are the real major threat to our Great Qian;

Therefore, we should divide them, dissolve them, and punish them, in order to quickly restore the situation."

"Does Aiqing have a recommendation?"

"Your subject is willing to go."

"Granted. Tomorrow Aiqing will wear official robes and attend court to hear the decree."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The southwest,

he's going?

Luo Mingda, kneeling on the ground, wanted to raise his head several times to say something, to remind him of something, but he didn't dare, because he knew that what he wanted to say and remind, the Emperor actually already knew in his heart.

Moreover, the Emperor had already granted it.

The Silver Armor Guard was the most powerful special affairs agency in Great Qian,

and within the Silver Armor Guard, there was a top-secret level of files;

as the Grand Commandant of the Silver Armor Guard, Luo Mingda was naturally qualified to read them, and one of them recorded that this Li Xundao, who was sitting in the Back Mountain, not showing off, was actually the abandoned son of the Tattooed Face Prime Minister that Zang Fuzi personally brought to the Back Mountain to protect…

The Emperor grabbed a handful of dried fruit, threw a few into his mouth,

and asked;

"Aiqing's entry into the palace this time, is it because you sensed something?"

"In response to Your Majesty's words, your subject sensed on the mountain that someone was coveting the fate of that Tian-surnamed child." Saying that, Li Xundao paused, "This was originally a trivial matter, but your subject believes that it is time, the time for your subject to descend the mountain, has arrived."

"Hehe, isn't that so." The Emperor responded, then, he looked at Luo Mingda, "The night I received the news, I called this stupid fellow in front of me and scolded him for half the night, but this stupid fellow just wouldn't admit that he did it."

"Commandant Luo wouldn't be so… A living Jingnan Marquis's wife, the current Jingnan Consort, is the most useful chess piece, even if that chess piece has long lost contact and lost response, but her layer of identity cannot be stripped away."

"Li Aiqing also believes this way?"

"Yes, discerning people in the world naturally won't think that this is Commandant Luo or Great Qian or Your Majesty's means, it's too costly, not worth it.

Those who are truly interested will instead speculate……"

"Speculate that it is the handwriting of the opposite Emperor of Yan, in order to prevent a situation of being too powerful to control?" The Emperor shook his head, "He gathers those two with righteousness, even if he wants to do this, he can directly let that Tian Wujing kill his wife and children.

Where is the need for such trouble?"

Seeing that Luo Mingda and Li Xundao below still wanted to speak,

the Emperor raised his hand to interrupt them,

and said:

"I am the Emperor, and he is also the Emperor, so I understand him better, even I can understand Tian Wujing better. I think that the Emperor of Yan should not be completely unaware of the Du Juan matter, but to say that he forcefully intervened at that time, wanting to cut off the Tian family's descendants, cut off the Jingnan Army's inheritance, I don't think it's likely.

Of course, he may not really be clean either.

In this world,

the easiest character to write is '一' (one);

In this world,

the most difficult character to write is also '一' (one).

One is the beginning,

consistent from beginning to end,

The most taboo thing for those who govern is changing orders in the morning and evening; what rulers love to say most is that a ruler's words are gold;

Ji Runhao gained the help of Li Liangting and Tian Wujing with righteousness. These three people, no matter what, must continue to walk consistently, because no one can turn back.

At this time,

whoever dares to turn back is the target of public criticism.

The Li family, a century-old Zhenbei Marquis's mansion;

The Tian family, a century-old aristocratic family;

If they are lost, then they are lost,

but his Ji family,

is an eight-hundred-year-old dynasty!

If you say that Ji Runhao is a fool,

then what am I,

this Emperor who was repeatedly humiliated by his Great Yan's iron cavalry,

what am I?"

Speaking up to here,

the Emperor's eyes slowly sank down little by little,

and said word by word:

"There is another hand, which was involved in that matter back then,

making us,

dirty from head to toe!"