Chapter 37 Those who have thunder in their chest but a calm face can be worshipped…

Chapter 37: One whose heart harbors thunder yet whose face is as calm as a lake is worthy of...

Xie Shao was momentarily speechless.

She spoke of diverging paths, but he felt a sense of destiny, as if among the many roads in the world, he was fated to walk this one.

After a long silence, he finally raised his head, his eyes darker than the night itself. "I beseech you, Princess, to guide me."

This decision was not made in this moment; he had foreseen this day long ago.

"I have said before, the mountains and rivers of the south are the stage for your rise," Jiang Congyan said calmly, her gaze fixed on the dense stars in the distant southern sky.

"Huan Jun will soon head to the Huainan region to take action. In recent years, Liang has been plagued by natural disasters and endless uprisings. It urgently needs internal stability. If you and he, one in civil affairs and the other in military, support each other, you will be able to fully control the Huainan region..."

Xie Shao's heart raced as she spoke so boldly and explicitly.

To control several provinces... this was the stuff of feudal lords who once dominated history. By asking him to do this, was she trying to preserve the Liang dynasty or to split it apart?

Jiang Congyan knew his doubts, but she had no other choice.

The north had long been firmly controlled by the aristocratic clans. Even though she knew the course of history, she could not change the current situation much. Only the Huainan region, which had not been developed for long, was still considered a miasmic land by the Central Plains scholars, who disdained to manage it. The power of the aristocratic clans there was far weaker compared to the north, and there were many local mountain people, making the situation intricate and tangled. The Jiaozhou and Nanyue regions were even more remote and narrow. If they could exploit the internal contradictions, they might shatter the chains of the aristocratic clans. Additionally, as the climate grew colder, farming in the south was far more profitable than in the north. With ample food and soldiers, Huan Jun might stand against the northern aristocratic clans and advance reforms.

Liang had a population far larger than the barbarians, yet it ultimately fell. The root cause lay in the corruption of the ruling class, a top-down decay long intertwined with Liang.

First, secure Huainan, ensure food supply, and train a strong army there. Only then might they quell the north and grant Liang a fleeting breath.

As for whether Huan Jun and Xie Shao would become ambitious after gaining power, Jiang Congyan was not worried. No matter what, it could not be worse than the historical outcome.

Moreover—

Huan Jun and Xie Shao both died for Liang!

Jiang Congyan outlined a few challenges he might face and offered advice, but the specifics would hinge on the circumstances.

She added, "You are valiant and skilled in martial arts, but you will require strategic counsel. In Wuling County resides a gentleman named Zhuge You, reputed to be a descendant of Marquis Wu. You should visit him."

Zhuge You, courtesy name Ziyang, was from Wuling and lived in seclusion on Mount Luo.

By this time, Zhuge You had already gained some fame. Local officials had repeatedly invited him to join the government, but he always declined, claiming no interest in politics and only a desire to commune with nature. It wasn't until he was forty, when Chang'an fell and the court fled south, that Xie Shao, struggling to maintain his position, faced imminent defeat. It was then that Zhuge You emerged from seclusion and came to Xie Shao's side, promptly adjusting his strategy against the enemy. At a crucial juncture, they repelled the Xiongnu army and aided Xie Shao in establishing a defensive line along the Huai River, barely prolonging Southern Liang's existence by a decade.

Jiang Congyan understood that Zhuge You disdained the current court, choosing a commoner's life over official service. It wasn't until the Han dynasty was on the brink of collapse that he reluctantly assisted Xie Shao.

She was not entirely certain that Zhuge You would emerge from seclusion for Xie Shao, but she believed that, given his concern for the Han dynasty and understanding of Xie Shao's goals, he might be swayed by compassion.

"I have some words for you to convey to Master Zhuge upon your meeting. Perhaps they will add some weight to your persuasion..."

After discussing this, Xie Shao stood up and clasped his fists in salute. "I am deeply grateful for your guidance, Princess. I have gained much wisdom. I beg your pardon for intruding upon your rest. I shall now take my leave."

Just as he turned around, a cool, clear voice came from behind.

"Why do you hasten to leave?"

The words stopped him in his tracks.

Xie Shao, puzzled, turned back and asked respectfully, "Does the Princess have further commands?"

Jiang Congyan remained seated on the stone bench, only slightly turning her face to look at him. Her fair skin shimmered faintly in the dim moonlight, outshining even the moon itself.

No wonder the songs described her as a celestial being from the moon. The thought flashed through Xie Shao's mind, unbidden.

"Are you heading back to Chang'an tomorrow, General?"

"...Yes."

"Why don’t you stick around for a few more days?"

"But..."

"A general on the battlefield doesn’t have to follow the emperor’s commands!" Jiang Congyan lifted her eyelids, speaking slowly and sharply.

Xie Shao still couldn’t quite figure out the princess in front of him. Born into nobility, she possessed the most beautiful face in the world, her delicate figure looked like it couldn’t even handle a sword. Yet her words and demeanor exuded a boldness and iron will that were entirely different.

These contradictions seemed natural in her, as if she was meant to be this way.

Suddenly, he remembered the two times she’d borrowed a sword. The first time was at a palace banquet, where she was forced to perform. While the court was mesmerized by her graceful dance, he only noticed her cold, dark eyes illuminated by the sword's light. The second time, she was fierce and unrelenting, her slender wrist wielding a heavy iron sword that she pointed unhesitatingly at a fierce Xianbei general.

She was to marry into the royal court and live there, yet she was unafraid of offending them.

Even a common vagrant, she still saw as one of her people, not allowing others to trample upon them.

In that moment, he even saw the aura of a monarch in her.

"I need a reason to stay, General," Xie Shao said.

He didn’t think the princess feared losing the Lüben Guard’s protection, but he truly couldn't fathom why she was making such a request of him.

"Do you really think the other barbarian tribes will just sit back while Liang allies with the Xianbei?" she said in a low, persuasive tone.

Xie Shao's expression changed.

"The regions aren’t connected, and the terrain’s treacherous, what a perfect opportunity for an ambush! The wedding procession’s been too quiet for far too long!" Her final words carried the weight of an impending storm.

Xie Shao's pupils contracted sharply.

He heard her say the procession would be ambushed, yet he saw no trace of fear on her face.

"I’m sure the princess has a plan to handle this," Xie Shao said, suppressing his astonishment.

In just one month of accompanying the wedding procession, he found the princess’s intelligence and insight truly remarkable. If she were a man, she’d surely earn a marquisate.

Jiang Congyan glanced at him. She’d noticed he was a bit stubborn; to get him to do something, one needed a convincing reason.

Jiang Congyan didn't beat around the bush, telling him, "I’m asking you to stay not for me, but for you, General."

"Oh?" Xie Shao was filled with doubt, bowing his head to listen.

"Don’t you want to prove yourself in battle, General?"

Jiang Congyan rose from the stone stool, taking a step closer to him, her clear eyes fixed on his.

"A freshly sharpened sword needs to draw blood to test its edge! A new soldier must face the enemy to become fearless! A newly appointed general naturally needs to win battles to earn the loyalty of his subordinates, isn’t that so?"

"This ambush is your chance to show your courage, General. It’s also your chance to see who’s stronger—you or the barbarian cavalry!"

As her words fell, the courtyard fell into an eerie silence, only the faint scent of peach blossoms lingering in the air.

She stood under the peach tree, the flower shadows dancing around her. The night breeze played with her cascading hair and moonlit robes. The clouds before the full moon dispersed, the frosty light settling on her delicate, icy features, seemingly tinged with a faint sorrow. Yet upon closer inspection, it was unmistakably a chilling, murderous intent!

Xie Shao's heart was shaken, his composed expression gradually cracking. A strange emotion surged, nearly overwhelming him.

He suddenly recalled a saying: "One who harbors thunder in his chest yet maintains a calm demeanor is worthy of being a great general!"

He had been wrong before. Even as a woman, the princess could achieve the status of a marquis.

Yet, such a woman was now being sent by the emperor to the grasslands for a political marriage. A sense of regret he hadn’t noticed welled up in him.

He could only be thankful that the princess still cared for Liang State. Otherwise, with her skills, destroying Liang State would have been easy, especially with the Prince of Mobei, a powerful warlord, backing her.

But then, he remembered her identity and the tragedy seventeen years ago when the former Princess of Chu encountered bandits and died during childbirth. Even though he wasn’t politically savvy, he could guess that the events of that year weren’t simple and might even be related to the current emperor.

Faced with the possibility of avenging her mother, would the princess truly wholeheartedly support Liang State? And considering her secret plans with him and Huan Jun, wouldn’t she lead Liang State to ruin?

Xie Shao wasn’t sure. He suddenly felt a shiver down his spine, a coldness creeping up from the soles of his feet. But he was already caught in her plan.

He thought to himself, the emperor sending the princess to Mobei might not be a good thing.

"This general obeys!" he said with a hoarse voice.

—

The next day, the wedding procession moved through the gates of Guyuan, heading northeast.

Guyuan, named for its rugged and secure terrain, guarded the Xiaoguan Pass and stood majestically on the Liupan Mountains, serving as the ancient key to the world.

Guyuan, carved and impacted by the river, featured rolling hills, crisscrossing ravines, and interlocking ridges. Such terrain, perfect for an ambush, would surely be effective.

Once past Guyuan, they would leave Liang State. To the northwest lay the Alxa region, long occupied by the Qiang people, and to the east were the Hezhong and Hedong regions, eyed covetously by the Jie people. Further beyond were the Xiongnu and Xianbei tribes, standing in opposition.

Surrounded by strong enemies on all sides, the wedding procession had to cross a mountainous region with overlapping forces, which was no simple task.

Tuo Baxiao had no trouble getting here because he traveled light, leading only elite cavalry. In terms of combat and mobility, they were the strongest around. Under such circumstances, attempting an ambush would be a fool’s errand.

But now, the situation was entirely different. Besides the Xianbei cavalry, the procession was mostly composed of Liang State’s wedding entourage and craftsmen, along with many supplies being escorted.

The carriages and horses were slow, and the procession couldn’t move fast. There were also many non-combat personnel who needed protection, making this the perfect opportunity for an ambush.

Even if they couldn’t achieve the grand goal of killing Tuo Baxiao, killing the princess or most of the Liang State personnel would severely damage the alliance.

Doing so would be like challenging Tuo Baxiao’s authority. If he survived, he would surely retaliate with force after the ambush. But the Qiang and Jie, caught in the middle, had already sensed Tuo Baxiao’s ambition to rule. Even if they didn’t provoke him, Tuo Baxiao would eventually come for them.

Tuo Baxiao was too young. At only twenty years old, barring any accidents, he could dominate the grasslands for at least another two decades.

He ascended the throne at sixteen, and in just four years, he had subdued all the Xianbei tribes and conquered the surrounding smaller tribes, incorporating them into his ambitious territory. It wouldn’t take long—five or ten years—before his power grew even stronger. By then, what ability would they have to resist the Xianbei cavalry? Perhaps it wouldn’t even take five or ten years; just two or three years, and they would become mere dust beneath his hooves.

Tuo Baxiao’s rise was too fast! So fast that it terrified everyone! Whether ambitious or not, everyone wished to eliminate him as soon as possible!

Jiang Congyan clearly felt the tension in the procession after leaving Guyuan, like a bowstring pulled taut.

She lifted the carriage curtain and calmly glanced at the endless mountains outside, then slowly lowered it, sitting in the carriage with a serene expression, closing her eyes to rest.

Xie Shao escorted the procession thirty miles out of the city without any sign of stopping, leaving everyone puzzled.

He proactively rode up to Tuo Baxiao, dismounted, and saluted, "This area is a complex terrain with overlapping forces. Your humble general fears that the Qiang, Jie, and other tribes may take advantage of the chaos. Therefore, I request to escort further to ensure the safety of the princess and our people of Liang State. Please grant your permission, Prince of Mobei."

Tuo Baxiao sat high on his Li Eagle, exuding an unbridled aura of authority, looking down at him with a commanding presence. His deep eyes beneath his prominent brow ridge stared at him for a moment before he coldly uttered, "Granted!"

From the start, Tuo Baxiao had disliked Xie Shao.

There was no reason—it was just an intuition.

He heard that guy went looking for her last night. Hmph!

Tuo Baxiao snapped his horsewhip and rode to the front of the procession. As he passed by, the Li Eagle's tail lashed across Xie Shao's shoulder. Xie Shao's brow twitched, but he stood firm.

The Lüben Guard captains were a bit confused as to why Xie Shao wanted to escort them further, but after a month of working together, Xie Shao had earned some respect. Xie Shao expressed concerns about barbarians ambushing them, and as the escort team, they had to protect the princess for the alliance's sake. Thus, they all agreed.

The next day, the procession passed through a narrow valley with steep mountains on both sides, with only two exits at the front and rear.

The area was unnervingly silent, the wind howling, and the air thick with tension. Even the craftsmen, unaware of the situation, were affected by the mood. The entire procession was unusually silent, with no conversations to be heard, only the flags flapping and snapping in the wind.

At that moment, the pale horizon in the distance seemed to darken, and a fierce wind whipped up dust.

Such weather was normal in the northern regions, but Tuo Baxiao, leading the way, suddenly reined in and raised his hand, signaling the procession to stop.

He narrowed his dangerous green eyes and made a gesture to the people behind him. Immediately, someone dismounted and lay on the ground to listen for subtle movements, while another rode ahead to scout the path.

The surrounding mountains loomed silently, their dark green forms like a ferocious beast ready to bare its fangs at any moment.

The procession stopped, but no one dared to voice any objections.

The oxen and horses pulling the carts seemed to sense something, restlessly pawing at the road, occasionally letting out muffled snorts.

Soon, the Xianbei cavalryman who had been listening on the ground reported to Tuo Baxiao that a thousand-strong cavalry was approaching from a distance. They were still too far away for a precise estimate.

Tuo Baxiao's eyes darkened, and he raised his gaze to the approaching dust cloud, his gaze sharp as a cold arrow.

"To arms!" he shouted, his powerful voice echoing through the valley like ripples spreading across water.

At his command, the Xianbei cavalry behind him quickly rearranged their formation, drawing their swords and bows. In an instant, the air shimmered with the glint of steel.

In the middle of the procession, Zhang Zheng and others gathered around Jiang Congyan's carriage, while Xie Shao led the Lüben Guard to form a protective circle around the ceremonial and craftsmen groups.

At that moment, the scout who had ridden ahead returned with more specific information.

"...It's the Jie tribe, with around eighteen hundred to two thousand cavalry, all armored elites, bearing Huo Bineng's banner."

Upon hearing about the large number of approaching cavalry, Tuo Baxiao's expression remained unchanged. A cold smirk played on his lips, and even a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the dust cloud thickened, blotting out half the sky. Birds took flight in alarm, and the ground beneath them started to tremble.

The oxen and horses whinnied nervously, seemingly trying to escape the dangerous environment. "Whoa!" The drivers pulled hard on the reins to control them, but their trembling hands gave them away.

The thunder of hooves grew closer, and the ground shook more violently. Stones from the mountain walls rolled down one after another, as if striking their hearts. Though the enemy's appearance was still unseen, the sheer force of their approach made the timid pale.

The Lüben Guard's expressions were especially stern, but beneath that sternness was a barely concealed nervousness. Though they were the elite of Chang'an City, they were mostly street patrollers and had rarely fought bandits. Now, they were suddenly facing fierce barbarians, and it was impossible not to feel fear.

In contrast, the Xianbei cavalry under Tuo Baxiao were eager and excited, constantly testing the edges of their blades, as if what was coming was not an ambush but a game meant only for them.

The contrast made Xie Shao's heart sink.

The princess was right. New soldiers needed to face the enemy to become brave.

He glanced at the Lüben Guard below and rode to the front of them, his expression serious and solemn. "Soldiers, we are tasked with escorting the princess. Now that a strong enemy approaches, morale is key in battle. How can we falter at this moment and disgrace our nation? Moreover, this battle concerns your own lives. I need you to show fearless courage in the face of the enemy. Can you do it?"

"Yes!" they responded.

Dissatisfied, Xie Shao furrowed his brow and raised his voice sharply, demanding, "Louder! Can you do it?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" they shouted, raising their weapons and striking their chest armor, the metallic clang echoed as their voices roared.

Xie Shao finally felt satisfied and focused entirely on the approaching enemy.

The enemy finally appeared before them.

They thundered forward on their warhorses, amidst the rising dust, streaks of cold light shot like meteors, heading straight for the wedding procession.

A hail of arrows fell like rain. The front-line cavalry raised their shields in defense, denying the enemy a second shot, Tuo Baxiao had already surged ahead.

He brandished a gleaming silver goose-feather spear, its sharp tip gleaming with a blinding cold light.

Seeing the Prince of Mobei charging towards them, some, eager for fame, charged out recklessly, wanting to challenge Tuo Baxiao.

Injuring the Prince of Mobei would be a great feat, and they could also make a name for themselves in one battle.

With this in mind, a Jie general wielding a long sword confronted Tuo Baxiao.

The warhorses galloped, their speed creating a terrifying momentum and impact. Their weapons clashed with a resounding 'clang,' sending sparks flying. The Jie general felt an immense force, as if a mountain was crushing him. His arm went numb, and the long sword slipped from his grasp. He fumbled to retrieve it, but Tuo Baxiao reined in sharply, turned, and thrust his spear. A flash of cold light, and his head was severed from his body.

Scalding blood sprayed into the air, falling like a red drizzle.

Tuo Baxiao's stern face was streaked with blood, trickling down his brow and temple. His bloodthirsty green eyes made him look like a legendary Asura general, radiating a murderous aura.

He turned, his icy gaze fixed on the remaining Jie.

The Xianbei cavalry behind him erupted in triumphant cheers, rallying for their brave king.

The Jie were stunned, having just made contact and lost a general. Their ferocious momentum was shattered.

The Prince of Mobei was indeed this brave!

The leading prince, Huo Bineng, paused in shock, then seethed with rage. "Charge! All of you, kill him!"

The melee erupted, the Xianbei cavalry hot on their king's heels, charging into the enemy ranks with unmatched bravery, fighting fiercely.

Jiang Congyan stepped out of the carriage and stood on the shaft. From the carriage's height, she had a clear view of the battlefield.

The Jie were numerous, a dark mass pressing forward was indeed terrifying, but the Xianbei cavalry within were like a fierce black dragon, churning this dark cloud into chaos, and Tuo Baxiao was the sharpest claw at the dragon's head.

It was said that the Prince of Mobei was invincible, his bravery unmatched, now it seemed, this was not a legend, but a fact.

The enemy numbered nearly two thousand, while the Xianbei cavalry he led were less than four hundred, five times the number, yet with the superior mobility and impact of the cavalry, coupled with their brave physique and martial skills, he weaved through the Jie ranks, still managing to shatter them, making it difficult for them to form a complete formation.

Superior tactics would make one marvel at the general's divine strategy, but the most direct display of martial prowess was even more thrilling, and more likely to shatter the enemy's courage.

There was a historical record of a battle, saying that when the court moved south, the Xiongnu cavalry pursued relentlessly, a full three thousand troops, but were scared out of their wits by less than two hundred Xiongnu cavalry, they fled for their lives, not daring to face the enemy, and most didn't die by the Xiongnu's swords, but were trampled to death by their own in the chaos.

Such an absurd ratio of enemy to own forces, such an absurd degree of war damage, was almost unbelievable, at the time, netizens said, even killing three thousand pigs would take several days, these Liang State troops were worse than pigs.

Pigs, when faced with a life-threatening situation, would rely on their primal instincts to find a way to escape, but as humans, sometimes the greatest threat is not from the outside, but from their own fearful hearts.

Once fear takes hold of the heart, even a gentle breeze can make one's soul flee.

Wudati Hou could be mentioned in the same breath as Tuo Baxiao, it was not without reason, if the Liang State at that time faced such a wolf-like army, it indeed could not help but cause fear.

Seeing Tuo Baxiao moving through the Jie army as if it was no man's land, the people in the convoy felt relieved, but the next moment, another sound of hoofbeats came from the valley entrance behind the convoy, followed by the appearance of another group of Jie cavalry, also numbering over a thousand.

They had been lying in ambush in the dense forest far away, waiting for the wedding procession to step into their trap.

The convoy was surrounded from front and back, seeing this, the Jie prince laughed heartily, saying triumphantly, "Tuo Baxiao, did you think I would be so foolish as to rely on these two thousand men to kill you? You probably didn't expect it, I have another group of men. You are now surrounded, your Han Princess is about to become a ghost under my blade. An alliance? Humph, let's see if you can still form this alliance!"

Hearing this, Tuo Baxiao's deep green eyes seemed to freeze over, flashing with intense killing intent.

Huo Bineng had said something that enraged him.

He did not turn back, but instead charged straight towards Huo Bineng with his spear.