Chapter 127: The Swimmer Drowns

Yang Xuan took a beating from a scabbard. Panting, Liu Qing stood with his hands on his hips and barked, "Do you know your error?"

"Yes, your subordinate knows his error." Yang Xuan kept his head bowed and appeared submissive.

Liu Qing tossed the scabbard back, patted him on the shoulder, and beamed. "Well done!"

It was a classic case of a harsh thrashing followed by a commendation. The old man had to discipline him to maintain his authority; otherwise, others would accuse him of favoritism. After a brutal beating, no one could object. Then, by praising him afterward, the matter was brought to a perfect close.

Zhuque remarked, "Little Xuan, I’m worried that your intellect isn't quite enough and that you’ll be hoodwinked by these people."

"This victory was achieved entirely through the dedication of our soldiers," Liu Qing said, his voice booming. "Later, we shall evaluate the merits and offer rewards; there will be no shortage of them."

The soldiers beamed with joy.

"Yet, this victory also relied on one man." Liu Qing pointed at Yang Xuan and said, "I ordered him to lead a separate force, and naturally, he had the authority to make decisions on the fly. If Yang Xuan had chosen to consolidate the center when he discovered the enemy was surrounding it, what would have happened? At best, this battle would have been a draw."

Anyone with a brain was now singing the praises of Yang Xuan’s timing.

"He was waiting. Waiting for what? Waiting for Liang Chao to lead out his final reserves, waiting for both sides to be fully entangled, when the enemy could not retreat with ease."

"The moment I saw him, I wanted to give him a sound thrashing. Otherwise, we were here suffering through the hardship, while he calmly crushed the enemy—was that not unfair?"

"Hahahaha!"

Liu Qing’s words drew laughter from the crowd, and Yang Xuan noticed that the gazes cast upon him had become much friendlier.

"The old man is quite good to you!" the green light flickered.

"But in this battle, Yang Xuan’s contribution is the greatest!" Liu Qing roared. "Give a shout for our Great Tang warriors—"

"Bravo!" the crowd cheered, raising their arms.

The sound of hooves came from the distance, and someone shouted, "Cavalry!"

The commanders immediately began calling out, "Form ranks! Form ranks!"

Before they could finish, a single rider charged over.

"It’s one of our own!"

It was a Great Tang scout. He looked at the battlefield, which was still in its original state, and said with disappointment, "Is it over?"

Someone was infuriated. "What? Do you feel like it shouldn't be?"

In the distance, several thousand cavalrymen appeared, their momentum staggering.

"It’s... it’s the cavalry from Tao County."

Tao County represented the Regional Commander.

Zhang Du rode at the forefront and exclaimed in disappointment, "It’s already over?"

Liu Qing was stunned, then asked, "Are these the reinforcements sent by the Prefect?"

Zhang Du cupped his hands. "Deputy Commander Zhang Du, ordered to support the Chenzhou army. What a pity!"

The man looked crestfallen at having missed the chance to earn merits. Upon seeing Yang Xuan, he cheered up. "Zitai!"

"Zhang Du!" Yang Xuan smiled. "Why have you come?"

Liu Qing gave a wink, signaling Yang Xuan to look after this deputy commander while he went to direct the cleanup of the battlefield.

Zhang Du dismounted, rubbing his backside, and frowned. "The Prefect was worried that the Washe Tribe might strike, so he ordered me to lead three thousand cavalry to reinforce you. I didn't expect to be late."

"How is the Prefect?" Yang Xuan asked.

"The same as always," Zhang Du laughed. "Northern Liao sent someone to demand the heads of the generals we killed. The Prefect just said he fed them to the dogs, which made the envoy so angry he threatened that they would launch a grand army to attack the Northern Frontier. The Prefect gave me a wink..."

"What did you say?" Yang Xuan felt that Huang Chunhui was truly an old fox.

"I said if I don't go, I’m a grandson!"

Zhang Du doubled over with laughter.

"What is actually happening in Northern Liao?"

"Ah, Northern Liao..."

When Helian Feng ascended the throne, a group of powerful nobles rebelled. The rebellion was suppressed, but not completely purged. Those remnants had gradually grown in influence over the years. This time, taking advantage of the fact that Helian Feng had just returned from a hunt and palace defenses were lax, they launched a coup.

That night, the palace ran red with blood. It was said the rebels reached Helian Feng’s sleeping quarters, and even Helian Feng himself had to take up a weapon to fight, fortunately saved by the timely arrival of reinforcements.

What followed was the purge. The nobles were quite stoic; they gathered together to resist, but Helian Feng ordered the palace to be set on fire.

"They say the screams echoed through the night sky, and the entire city of Huipu could hear them. The smell of roasted meat hung over the city for days."

Huipu was the capital of Northern Liao.

All the remaining males were slaughtered, and the women were all taken as slaves.

"Tragic!" Zhang Du gestured vividly as he spoke.

Yang Xuan, however, felt this was merely routine.

When Yiniang took him away from the place where the deposed crown prince was imprisoned, it must have been even more horrific.

"If only our army could have struck then," Zhang Du said with some regret.

...

"Tell the Imperial Uncle in Tanzhou that if he doesn't provide more grain this year, our herdsmen will go and defect to the Great Tang."

Hua Zhuo’s face was dark as he watched his men collect the hard-earned wealth, preparing to go to Tanzhou for purchases.

The three great tribes were located between Chenzhou of the Great Tang and Tanzhou of Northern Liao. The controller of Tanzhou was Helian Chun, the Imperial Uncle of Northern Liao.

When Helian Feng’s father, the previous emperor, ascended the throne, Helian Chun was only five years old. What threat could a tender child pose?

To show his benevolence to the world, the emperor doted on his young brother; calling him spoiled would be an understatement.

By the time Helian Chun grew older, he was proficient in every vice—eating, drinking, gambling, and womanizing. The emperor found him a headache, but after so many years, even raising a cat or dog would build affection, and he couldn't bear to punish him, so he let him run wild.

When the old emperor was dying, worried about turmoil, Helian Chun stood outside the palace with his entire family, declaring that whoever dared to rebel would have to step over the corpses of his family first.

Later, when someone truly rebelled, Helian Chun decisively led his family into the palace, and it was said he even hacked several rebels to death.

Thus, Helian Feng, who had intended to replace the old ministers, developed some affection for this Imperial Uncle. Yet, thinking of his profligacy, he remained troubled. Finally, his advisors gave him a plan: let this Imperial Uncle sit in command at Tanzhou.

Tanzhou was a good spot!

With the three great tribes in front, the Great Tang wouldn't dare attack Tanzhou even if they had the guts. Moreover, the Imperial Uncle was one of their own; with him guarding Tanzhou, Helian Feng could sleep soundly.

This Imperial Uncle always claimed to be a philanthropist, but the moment he arrived in Tanzhou, he fleeced the people so ruthlessly that it drew the wrath of heaven and man, forcing Helian Feng to regret his decision and send someone to reprimand him.

The Imperial Uncle wasn't good at anything else, but he had one advantage: he was submissive to the Emperor. And so, the people of Tanzhou finally ushered in spring, but the Imperial Uncle turned his greedy gaze toward the three great tribes.

"Khan, the grain price in Tanzhou is twice that of the Great Tang!" someone said with a bitter smile. "Last time we pleaded for a price reduction, that Imperial Uncle sent word: take it or leave it, and if you don't like it, get out!"

Hua Zhuo truly wanted to tear that Imperial Uncle into pieces, but just thinking about the consequences of losing the protection of the Great Liao, he dismissed the thought.

"Go." Hua Zhuo waved his hand.

"Khan!"

The sound of hooves was urgent, causing Hua Zhuo’s heart to race.

"What is it?"

A soldier entered, ignoring the protocol of saluting, and said in a panic, "Khan, the army of Liang Chao... is gone."

"What?"

This battle in the early spring of the fourth year of Daqian broke the balance between Washe and Chenzhou. Not long after the Chenzhou army returned, the Washe army appeared outside the walls of Lin'an City.

Liu Qing stubbornly hung the heads of the Liang father and son on the city walls to dry, forcing Washe into a siege battle.

Lin'an City was sturdy, and attacking a city in such a season was naturally foolish; Washe retreated in bitterness.

In Taiping City, Yang Xuan pushed his subordinates through rigorous training.

Two thousand five hundred men, the vast majority of whom were criminals.

The sounds of battle cries could be heard in the city every day.

Jiang Zhen sat in his room in silence for a long time before opening a letter.

According to the pre-arranged agreement, he read it by skipping lines: *Gain their trust.*

*This is asking me to become the magistrate's confidant?*

Jiang Zhen felt it was a difficult task.

"But what if I actually like it?" He truly wanted to become Yang Xuan's confidant and follow this magnanimous magistrate.

He thought for a long time before beginning to write his reply.

—*Good!*

He thought about it and then regretted it.

—*Difficult!*

"I cannot let them know that the Magistrate is so kind to me." Jiang Zhen decided to leave it at that.

"The Magistrate is back."

Jiang Zhen put the letter away and left his room, seeing Yang Xuan leading Nan He and the others into the county office.

"Greetings, Magistrate."

"Ah, Jiang Zhen!" Yang Xuan, who had been furious, nodded with a smile.

*The Magistrate is truly a good man.*

Yang Xuan entered his office and cursed, "How can we defend ourselves without crossbows? Bows have a short range; after one volley, the enemy will be upon us. What use are they?"

Yiniang entered and, seeing the situation, glanced at Nan He.

Nan He shook his head, signaling that it was no major issue.

"Sir, calm your anger," Yiniang said, turning around. "Fourth Lady, hurry and brew some tea for the Master."

Zhang Siniang glanced at Yang Xuan and ran off like a flash.

*Am I a tiger?* Yang Xuan sat down, tapping his forehead to clear his mind. "Just now, a letter came from Tao County saying that the one thousand men of the Taiping Army are not qualified to have crossbows."

Yiniang didn't understand this, so she said offhandedly, "If not, we'll build them ourselves. Let Old Thief and the others make them."

"This isn't a flatbread," Cao Ying said with a bitter smile. "Building crossbows is extremely difficult. Craftsmen and good materials are both essential, and obtaining these is incredibly hard."

According to Yang Xuan's design, the Taiping Army should have crossbows for long-range, bows for medium-range, and then use spears to finish them off.

But the crossbow issue was rejected by Tao County, dealing a heavy blow to Yang Xuan’s reform plan.

Yang Xuan suddenly asked, "Can we find craftsmen?"

Cao Ying shook his head. "Such craftsmen are all under the control of the Ministry of Works... even the Chunyu clan doesn't have them."

Nan He said quietly, "The Chunyu clan definitely has them, but building crossbows is taboo; even if they had them, they would conceal it."

Crossbows were powerful and had long ranges; they were considered tools for assassinating kings and overthrowing regimes.

Old Thief scratched his head. "When I went to rob graves in Northern Liao, even Northern Liao didn't have crossbows, which shows how strictly the Great Tang guards such craftsmen."

Zhuque said, "Build them yourself."

*Build them, my foot!*

If the Taiping Army really managed to produce crossbows, someone in Chang'an would surely impeach him.

Manufacturing crossbows without permission, whether in the Great Tang or Northern Liao, was almost a guaranteed charge of treason.

"We still have to find a way from Tao County."

Yang Xuan wrote to his two brothers there, asking them to help mediate.

Not long after, Jiang Cunzhong replied, saying he had mediated ten crossbows.

"Ten crossbows?" Yang Xuan was enraged, feeling he was being toyed with. But when he saw that this was a favor Zhang Du had managed to extract after being slapped by Liao Jin for defending him, he couldn't help but feel guilty.

—*After Zhang Chumao went to the Southern Frontier, someone kept an eye on the Prefect, saying he was idling in the Northern Frontier and lacked ambition. Keep quiet for now; wait until the Prefect gets through this difficult time.*

"So that’s how it is!"

Yang Xuan realized that no matter what, Huang Chunhui wouldn't have given him only ten crossbows; it was no different from a joke.

After dinner, the family gathered to chat.

"Master, are you looking for craftsmen?" Old Thief asked.

"Yes." Yang Xuan’s desire for craftsmen was extraordinary.

Old Thief said, "There are many criminals in Taiping City. When I was in prison in Chang'an, the people who came in were strange and varied; there was everyone."

Zhuque: "The people here speak nicely, there are many talents."

Yang Xuan’s heart stirred. "Ask around."

The next day, Old Thief brought a few criminals over.

"What do you all do?" Cao Ying asked.

A middle-aged criminal on the left raised his hand.

"Speak."

"I am a blacksmith."

"Where did you work before?"

"The Ministry of War."

Yang Xuan and Cao Ying exchanged a look and asked, "What did you build?"

"Weapons."

"What kind of weapons?"

"Swords and spears!"

"Can you build crossbows?"

The criminal shook his head. "People like that cannot leave Chang'an."

Cao Ying sighed in disappointment.

Yang Xuan asked, "If I gave you the method, could you build them?"

The criminal nodded, a confidence called 'expertise' making him look less humble. "I can."

"What is your name?"

"Gu Zhong."

Yang Xuan asked, "Why were you exiled to Taiping?"

Gu Zhong lowered his head. "Back then, I created something good. My superior wanted to claim the credit, so he framed me."

"Alas!" Cao Ying shook his head and sighed.

Yang Xuan asked casually, "And that superior?"

Gu Zhong replied calmly, "His hand was broken."

"How was it broken?"

"He was bumped into by someone, and his hand was thrust into molten iron. In a moment of madness, I chopped off his arm to save his life."

"Who bumped into him?"

"Me."

*A talent!*

Yang Xuan thought for a moment. "From this day forward, you will follow my orders."

"Yes." Gu Zhong hesitated. "May I ask, Magistrate, what do you want me to build?"

"Weapons."

After Gu Zhong left, Yang Xuan said to Cao Ying, "We must have our own craftsmen. Let’s accumulate them slowly."

Yang Xuan went out.

Old Thief asked, "Is the Master starting to build his own foundation?"

Cao Ying nodded. "What do you think?"

Old Thief said, "Back in Chang'an, there were only a few of us, but in the blink of an eye, he controls a whole county with over two thousand men under his command. In my opinion, the Master will surely control a region in the future!"

Cao Ying frowned. "Get to the point!"

Old Thief muttered, "Almost forgot that the Master wants that... the great cause of opposing the rebels will surely succeed!"

Old Thief stood up. "I'm going out for a walk."

"Number Two!"

He stood under the eaves, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"What do you want?"

A head suddenly appeared before his eyes.

Old Thief jumped up in fright. When he realized it was Wang Laoer hanging upside down from the eaves, he started cursing while chasing him.

The two left the county office one after the other.

"Where are we going?" Wang Laoer felt that sitting by a fire was the most comfortable thing in this weather.

Old Thief was bored. "Let's go, walk around the city."

Wang Laoer shook his head. "I'm not going."

Old Thief was bored on his own, so he coaxed, "I'll take you to find a beauty and get you a wife."

The sound of hooves came urgently.

"Runaway horse! Get out of the way!" the rider on horseback shouted.

Shadows flashed by the roadside, and a man ran headlong into it.

Wang Laoer’s eyes widened. "That’s Xiao Erlang, the number one 'porcelain-toucher' of Taiping."

The term "porcelain-toucher" was coined by Yang Xuan and had quickly swept the city.

Xiao Erlang was famous for his lightning-fast movements, which were difficult to detect; the person involved would often feel it was their own fault that caused the accident.

He had been tempered by countless 'touches' and had never failed.

This time was no exception; he had even calculated the timing to fly over before the warhorse hit him.

The warhorse suddenly stumbled.

*Bang!*

Xiao Erlang flew away, and the warhorse stood steady, letting out a proud whinny.

"Husband!"

A woman threw herself over.

Wang Laoer had recently studied the city’s situation thoroughly. "That’s Chang Sanniang, Xiao Erlang’s partner. Her crying is world-shaking."

Old Thief was stunned, feeling as if he had been struck by lightning, unable to take his eyes off the woman.

Chang Sanniang looked up, her fierce brows and fierce eyes glaring viciously at the man who had dismounted.

"Murder!"

In the early spring of the fourth year of Daqian, Xiao Erlang, the number one expert of Taiping County, died while 'touching porcelain.'