Phi-Fic Chapter 409 Cautious Words Deliver the Message, Xiao Ruofeng Resolves to Return to Tianqi (2)
Chapter 409 Cautious Words Deliver the Message, Xiao Ruofeng Resolves to Return to Tianqi (2)
At the beginning of Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the sun had just peeked over the eastern hills.
The leaves of the willow tree in front of the Gu residence were still covered with dew that had not yet dried. Xiao Ruofeng had changed into a set of close-fitting clothes that were easy to ride, and he and Lei Mengsha bid farewell to Gu Jianmen in front of the residence.
"I don't know when I'll be able to see you two again after we part today. I'm really going to miss you."
Gu Jianmen spoke with heartfelt sincerity. Ever since his elder brother was murdered, he had been determined to take over the Gu family business, and he feared he would never have the chance to set foot in the martial world again.
Among the eight young masters of Beili, Lei Mengsha was closest to him. Xiao Ruofeng was born into the royal family. Although their relationship was not as close as that with Lei Mengsha, their brotherly affection was genuine.
Xiao Ruofeng felt a pang of reluctance upon hearing this, but with his father's life hanging by a thread, he could only put aside his brotherly affection for the time being.
"Third Brother, there's no need for that. We brothers will have plenty of opportunities to meet again. It's just that there are important matters to attend to in the palace. Otherwise, I would really like to stay with you and Second Brother in the Southwest for a few more days."
After Xiao Ruofeng finished speaking, he reached for his waist, took out a waist token about half the size of his palm, and handed it to Gu Jianmen:
“This waist tag is a token of my Langya Prince’s Mansion. Now the Southwest Road is under the control of the Marquis of Zhenxi, and your Gu family has also become a wanted criminal by the court. But we brothers are not bound by our positions. I know that you had to kill the corrupt officials in Chaisang City for the sake of the survival of the Gu family.”
"If you come to Tianqi City again, you can act with impunity with this waist token. As long as you acknowledge me as your junior brother, no matter what happens in the future, your Gu Jian Sect will always be my, Xiao Ruofeng's, third senior brother!"
Gu Jianmen took the waist token, which still retained Xiao Ruofeng's warmth. He was speechless for a moment, feeling that he had so much to say but couldn't utter a single word. In the end, he could only put away the waist token and gently punch Xiao Ruofeng's chest.
"Good brother, no matter what the future holds, as long as you need my help, my Gu family will never refuse!"
Lei Mengsha, holding his horse, stood to one side. Seeing that the two seemed to be saying a final farewell, he immediately moved closer, putting his arms around them on either side and winking at them.
"Hey? Third brother and seventh brother, what are you two doing? It's like you're exchanging tokens of love. Go away, without me as your second senior brother, how could you two, one a drunkard and the other a royal prince, possibly get along?"
"Alright, alright, next time we three brothers meet, we must drink from morning till night, and then from night till morning!"
How about we go to Yangzhou next time? I've heard the courtesans there are all the best in the world, so incredibly beautiful! And... the Daughter's Red wine from Guyuelongshan is absolutely divine..."
Seeing Lei Mengsha completely absorbed in the moment, Gu Jianmen and Xiao Ruofeng exchanged a smile and simultaneously said with disdain:
"Virtue!"
……
After bidding farewell to Gu Jianmen, Xiao Lei headed straight north on the main road and left the southwest region in less than half an hour.
Lei Mengsha finally couldn't help but ask, "Seventh Brother, can you tell me now?"
Xiao Ruofeng rode ahead on his horse without turning his head: "What do you want to tell me? Getting there is the priority. We need to try to reach Xiangyang before sunset, otherwise there won't be a place to stay in this desolate wilderness."
Lei Meng spurred his horse and charged ahead of Xiao Ruofeng, turning back to ask:
"You barely said a word to me the whole way, and your brows were so furrowed you could crush a mosquito. What's making you so worried?"
"How could I, as your older brother, not care about you? Tell me what's wrong and let your second senior brother help you out!"
Xiao Ruofeng, feeling somewhat helpless from his persistent questioning, had no choice but to pull on the reins, and the horse neighed and stopped.
Seeing Xiao Ruofeng stop, Lei Mengsha followed closely behind.
The two dismounted and found a shady spot. Xiao Ruofeng took out a wine flask, drank a few mouthfuls, and tossed it to Lei Mengsha.
"It's not that I don't want to tell you, I'm just afraid you'll gossip everywhere with your big mouth. Let's have some drinks and rest here for a bit, we still have three or four hundred miles to go!"
Lei Mengsha took the wine flask and tilted his head back to gulp down a large mouthful:
"What do you mean by 'big mouth'? Although I, Lei Mengsha, am talkative, I never speak carelessly. Seventh Brother, you've known me for a long time. This place is secluded and deserted. Tell me quickly."
Xiao Ruofeng found a soft meadow, sat down, and said:
"Lu Ting'en was defeated, and Yunzhou City was also captured by the Marquis of Zhenxi, but these are not the most important things..."
"Under the whole world, when it comes to conquering cities and seizing territory, no one can surpass Baili Luochen. Although Lu Ting'en has guarded the border for many years, his skills are still somewhat lacking, and he is no match for the old Marquis!"
Lei Mengsha wasn't surprised after hearing this, and echoed:
“That’s right. The only one who could go toe-to-toe with the old Marquis Baili would be General Ye Yu back in the day. Lu Ting’en alone is no match for the Pofeng Army under the Marquis of Zhenxi.”
"When you came from Yunzhou last time, we discussed this matter at Jian San's house. I just didn't expect Lu Ting'en to be so incompetent, losing cities and territory in less than a month. It seems that the military might of the Marquis of Zhenxi is as strong as ever!"
Xiao Ruofeng nodded, staring blankly ahead:
"The reason I'm in such a hurry to go back is because something has happened in the Imperial Palace..."
Lei Mengsha was taken aback: "The Imperial Palace? What could possibly happen in the Imperial Palace?"
Xiao Ruofeng plucked a blade of grass and held it in his hand: "My sworn brother has gone to Tianqi again, and this time he went straight to the Pingqing Palace, not only rescuing Lu Ting'en who came to the capital to plead guilty, but also alarming Father Emperor..."
"Wen Yanzhao? I haven't seen him for more than half a year since the last time we snatched a bride at the Prince's Mansion. What is he doing in Tianqi rescuing Lu Ting'en, this defeated general? Could it be that there is some relationship between them?"
Lei Mengsha was somewhat puzzled, but Xiao Ruofeng sighed heavily and shook his head, saying:
"It's not that there's any connection. I don't understand the matter either. Logically speaking, Lu Ting'en received the Emperor's decree to guard Yunzhou and resist the Marquis of Zhenxi. He should be an enemy of Wen Yanzhao. Why would he travel thousands of miles to rescue Lu Ting'en?!"
Xiao Ruofeng shook his head again and said, "That's hard to say. The reason I remained silent the whole way was because I was thinking about this question."
"But after thinking it over, there's only one possible conclusion!"
Lei Mengsha's eyes widened as she asked, "What's the result?"
Xiao Ruofeng tossed the grass stalk in his hand into the wind: "Take it for my own use!"
"Take him under our control? Yunzhou City has already been captured by the Marquis of Zhenxi, what use is Lu Ting'en now?"
Xiao Ruofeng turned to look at Lei Mengsha and asked in a questioning tone:
"If you were the Marquis of Zhenxi, and you conquered a border prefecture, who would you appoint to command the troops? Who would you appoint to garrison it?"
Lei Mengsha crossed his arms and pondered for a moment before saying:
"Of course, his trusted confidants, such as... his deputy generals who have fought alongside him for many years, or his close followers. If all else fails, he can keep his own son, Baili Chengfeng. That should be foolproof, right?"
Xiao Ruofeng smiled faintly upon hearing this, clearly indicating that Lei Mengsha's answer was not ideal. He stood up, flicked his wrist, drew the Haoque Sword, and drew a rough map of the North and Southwest regions on the grass with a few swift strokes.
Xiao Ruofeng pointed to the location of Yunzhou on the sketch and said, "Second Senior Brother, take a look. Yunzhou is a vast area, a gathering place for Han people, barbarian tribes, and many chieftain tribes. It has been a troubled state since ancient times."
Moreover, this place borders Nanjue and the Western Buddhist Kingdom, where frequent wars cause unrest among the border residents. If we were to send our own subordinates to garrison it, it would be like picking up a hot potato. You just said to send Baili Chengfeng personally. I'd like to ask you, how many sons does Baili Luochen have?
"If he takes over Qianzhou Road and Shannan West Road in the future, who should he send to garrison them? Could it be that, to put his mind at ease, he will also send Baili Dongjun there?"
……