IV. Advising the King

Xu Guan hurriedly approached Xiao Yan, his face full of joy, and said: "Xiao Yan, I didn't expect the father-in-law's curse to be so effective; you really defeated that Turkic warrior." Xiao Yan smiled and whispered: "This person has such deep cultivation that the father-in-law's curse is of no use. Coincidentally, I saw him fighting with someone at an inn in the Western Regions last year. He is strong and skilled, but he is afraid of one thing." Xu Guan asked: "What is he afraid of?" Xiao Yan replied: "When he was fighting with others, he suddenly smelled flower pollen, and at that moment, he was in tears, collapsing to the ground as if poisoned. Just now, I borrowed some flower pollen from Sister Fan Yun and applied it to my hand, waving it in front of him, and sure enough, he obediently lay down." Xu Guan listened and said: "So, while others use flower pollen to attract butterflies, you use it to drive away ghosts." Xiao Yan giggled and said: "Do you want to smell it too?" She raised her small hand and waved it in front of Xu Guan.

It turned out that Xu Guan, hearing the exchange between Zhang Gongjin and Xiaogong in the adjacent room, realized that these two were pillars of the nation, yet they were about to face misfortune. Moved by compassion, he thought to himself that he must do everything in his power to save them. Without regard for his lack of martial skills, he grabbed a vase nearby and pushed over a screen. The masked man, upon seeing Xu Guan, was momentarily taken aback. At that moment, a golden snake-like whip came rushing in from outside, striking the masked man squarely in the chest. A graceful and delicate figure swiftly entered, displaying remarkable agility as they leaped in front of Xu Guan. Xu Guan focused his gaze and recognized it was Xiao Yan, quickly calling out, "Xiao Yan, this person is quite formidable; you should leave quickly!" Xiao Yan looked into his eyes and softly scolded, "Fool." She then turned to the masked man and said, "This esteemed gentleman wielding a hammer, Yanwan Garden is not a place for swordplay and gunplay." The masked man glanced at Xiao Yan and Xu Guan, pointed at Zhang Gongjin and Xiaogong, and suddenly leaped out of the window. Xiao Yan, who had been fully focused on confronting the enemy, was surprised that the opponent retreated simply because of her words. She hurriedly rushed outside, only to find the courtyard bathed in soft moonlight, with the gentle chirping of insects, but the masked man had already vanished without a trace.

With the formidable enemy retreating, the training ground erupted in cheers. The crowd surrounded Xiao Yan and Xu Guan as they approached the martial arts hall to greet the officials, and there was no shortage of praise and modesty exchanged. However, apart from Xu Guan, no one understood why Ah He Mang could be easily defeated with a single blow. When asked about this, Xiao Yan explained that Ah He Mang had already exhausted his strength in his fight with Li Baojin, which allowed him to be defeated by himself. Upon hearing this, everyone praised Li Baojin once again. Xiao Yan observed that Li Baojin was imposing in battle, and at that moment, Fan Yun was supporting him to stand aside, resembling a jade butterfly resting next to a docile lion. When asked about this, Xiao Yan reiterated that Ah He Mang had already exhausted his strength in his fight with Li Baojin, which allowed him to be defeated by himself, prompting further praise for Li Baojin. Noticing Li Baojin's commanding presence in battle, Xiao Yan approached playfully and said: "Lieutenant Li, you think it is difficult to shed blood and sweat on the training ground, but you do not know that Sister Fan Yun was so anxious just now that she nearly fainted." Fan Yun's face turned crimson, and she lowered her head with a smile, saying: "Sister, what nonsense are you talking about? I was just a bit dizzy from standing for too long; who was anxious to the point of fainting for him?"

When Xu Guan and Xiao Yan hurried back to the inn, the sky had already brightened. They happened to run into Lu Huai, who was getting up to ask the innkeeper to arrange for tea and meals. Lu Huai thought to himself that these two young people had returned only now after a late-night rendezvous, and he secretly laughed, coughing loudly at the two of them. Xiao Yan smiled at Lu Huai and said, "Mr. Lu, are you feeling unwell? Why are you coughing so hard?" Xu Guan, however, was blushing furiously and did not know how to explain.

A group of people left Kuizhou, traveled east to Guizhou, and after passing Yiling, abandoned their boat to disembark. They turned northward, engaging in trade along the way. One day, they arrived at the foot of Chang'an City, which was already in early spring. The Tang Chang'an City was built during the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty and was repeatedly renovated in the early Tang period. By the beginning of the Zhenguan era, the imperial capital had reached an even more magnificent scale. Xu Guan walked among the crowd in the city and saw splendid towers and pavilions, elegant figures, dazzling silks and brocades, and the loud sounds of flutes and drums. It was indeed a unique and unparalleled beauty in the world, the foremost capital of the realm, leaving the young man from Shu completely dazzled.

Zhang Gongjin once single-handedly closed the palace gates during the Xuanwu Gate Incident, blocking the pursuing soldiers of Jiancheng and Yuanji. He was also a formidable general. After exchanging a few moves with the masked man, realizing the opponent's exceptional skills, he hurriedly shouted: "My lord, I will hold this person off, you must escape quickly!" However, the two men wielded their hammers with great force and ferocity, their two large iron hammers swirling into a mass of black energy, enveloping the small room. The sound of clanging echoed incessantly, as tables, chairs, beds, teapots, and wine jars were all smashed to pieces. Even if Xiaogong leaned out, he would be swept away, making escape exceedingly difficult. They fought for another ten exchanges when suddenly there was a loud crash; the large iron hammer in Zhang Gongjin's hand flew out, creating a large hole in the wall. It turned out that Zhang Gongjin's strength was ultimately inferior; after taking over a dozen blows from the opponent, he could no longer hold onto the hammer, which slipped from his grasp. The masked man stepped forward, swinging his hammer, fixating on Xiaogong and Zhang Gongjin. Zhang Gongjin sighed and said to Xiaogong: "My lord, Gongjin is incompetent..." Before he could finish, Xiaogong handed him a wine cup and laughed heartily: "This wine is excellent, do not waste it." Zhang Gongjin took the cup and drank it all in one gulp. Xiaogong then turned to the masked man and sneered: "Li Xiaogong has killed countless people in his lifetime; it is only now that death comes, and it is too late. It is a pity that I did not die on the battlefield, but instead at the hands of a coward who dares not leave his name."

Suddenly, with a loud thud, Ahemang struggled to prop himself up with his iron staff and swayed as he stood up. He shot a fierce glance at Xiaoyan before slowly turning to walk outside. The commander on the platform shouted, "Take him down!" A squad of military cadets surrounded him, but as they approached Ahemang, they only heard two cries of "Ouch! Ouch!" The two leading cadets were sent flying by his sweeping arm, and the remaining cadets dared not advance any further, watching as he walked away without looking back.

After walking for a while, they arrived at the southwest of Pingkangli. The alleys and muddy paths before them were different; both sides were serene courtyards, with pink walls at the end and willow catkins fluttering about. Xiao Yan stopped in front of a small courtyard, where flowers and trees were lush, and the entrance was elegant. A copper plaque with the words "Yan Wan" was embedded on the black door. Xiao Yan picked up the door knocker and tapped it three times. After a while, the two black doors creaked open, and a young maid in a blue dress came out holding a red lantern. Upon seeing Xiao Yan, she rubbed her eyes, stared for a moment, and exclaimed in surprise and joy, "I can't be mistaken, Sister Xiao Yan, you have returned!" Xiao Yan smiled and said, "A Qiao, you have grown taller. How is Fifth Miss?" A Qiao replied, "Thanks to you. She hasn't made you angry to death." Then she glanced at Xu Guan standing behind and whispered, "Sister has been away for two years and even brought back a handsome brother-in-law, truly something to celebrate." Xiao Yan scolded, "You little smooth talker, see if I don't hit you." Pretending to strike, A Qiao quickly begged for mercy, and they laughed together. After some playful banter, Xiao Yan asked, "Is Xi Meng here?" A Qiao replied, "Unfortunately, she is not in the mansion today. If she were here, it would be great; perhaps seeing you would make her forget those worries..." Xiao Yan asked, "What worries?" A Qiao said, "Isn't it because... sigh, this matter is a long story. Come in first; it has been two years, and everyone has so much to say to you."

Everyone found it amusing to see her being so pretentious, thinking that such slow and weak punches, even if she claimed to throw a hundred or a thousand, would have no effect on the enemy. Suddenly, as Xiao Yan swung her fist in front of Ah He Mang, she transformed her punch into an open palm and waved it twice in the air. To everyone's surprise, with that wave, Ah He Mang suddenly bent down, gasping for breath, his face contorted in pain, and ultimately seemed unable to draw in any air, collapsing to the ground with a thud.

The young man poured himself a full bowl, lifted it up, closed his eyes, and took a sniff, his face filled with delight. Then he tilted his head back and drank it all down. He continued to pour and drink for a while, having consumed more than a dou, and then called for a copper basin, pouring the remaining wine into it. The young man kicked off his boots and dipped his feet into the basin to wash. The other guests in the inn were all astonished, and Xu Guan and Xiao Yan, seeing his peculiar behavior, were also secretly amazed. The young man, however, was oblivious to his surroundings, washing his feet while reciting: "Oh feet, oh feet, you have accompanied me in my eastward and westward travels, how can you not be pitied? Today, let us also savor the taste of this fine wine." After washing for a while, he lifted his feet to dry, and then, still wearing his boots, staggered out.

Outside the house, an old woman stood in the courtyard, flanked by two maids dressed in short attire. The old woman leaned on a gilded cane, her posture upright and her spirit vigorous, yet her face was as cold as ice, with a squint in one eye, instilling a sense of fear upon first sight. Upon seeing Xiao Gong, the old woman bowed and said, "Greetings, Prince Zhao of Jun." Xiao Gong replied, "Madam Fang, no need for formalities. What brings you to Yanwan Garden?" Madam Fang responded, "I am ashamed to say, my husband has not returned home late at night, and I have no choice but to search everywhere. I wonder if the prince has seen him?" Xiao Gong coughed twice and answered, "I just saw him, but it seems Xuanling came at an inopportune time today; the young lady he favors is not in the residence, so he left early. When Xuanling left, he was quite angry and smashed this window; has he not yet returned home?" Upon hearing this, Madam Fang's face turned ashen, and she struck her cane on the ground, saying, "Thank you for the information, Your Highness. When I see that old servant, I will surely give him a few dozen strikes." After saying this, she turned angrily and walked away. Once Madam Fang exited the backyard, Zhang Gongjin could no longer contain himself and burst into laughter, saying, "Madam Fang Xuanling is famously jealous; she is the fiercest of them all. Your Highness's teasing will surely give him a good few jars to drink from."

The masked man did not engage, but took a step forward, raising a large iron hammer, seemingly about to strike. Suddenly, with a loud crash, the screen beside him fell down, landing right on the masked man. Startled, he saw a young boy standing behind the screen, holding a vase, who, upon seeing him, threw it with great force. Zhang Gongjin noticed that the masked man was distracted and swiftly charged forward, delivering a punch to the masked man's solar plexus. The masked man did not dodge or evade; with both hands, he swung, using his right hand to smash the flying vase into pieces with the iron hammer, while his left hand reached out to meet Zhang Gongjin's punch. Zhang Gongjin felt the masked man's distraction and charged forward again, aiming another punch at the masked man's solar plexus. The masked man remained unyielding, swinging both hands; his right hand shattered the vase, while his left hand met Zhang Gongjin's punch. When Zhang Gongjin's palm connected with his, he felt an overwhelming force surge towards him, causing a slight warmth in his chest, and he took a step back to regain his balance

A Qiao led the two into the small courtyard. Xu Guanyou looked around and saw that the courtyard featured stacked stones forming a mountain, with a spring flowing into a pond. Outside the green gauze window, apricot blossoms were half in bloom, and beneath the pavilions, red fish swam leisurely, creating a scene that seemed to come straight out of a painting. After walking a few steps, he couldn't help but exclaim in his heart: "So this is the beautiful scenery of the place where Xiao Yan resides." The three of them passed through a winding corridor and entered a side room in the back courtyard. Xiao Yan said to Xu Guanyou: "You rest here for a while, I will be back shortly." After saying this, she walked out with A Qiao. Xu Guanyou stayed in the room and noticed a red gauze lamp hanging from the ceiling, embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water. In the center was a delicate small bed made of purple sandalwood, flanked by two crescent-shaped stools, all covered with floral silk cushions. In the corner stood a fragrant table, on which a green bronze incense burner was burning a fine incense. To the east was a lady's screen that separated the adjacent room; on the west wall hung a piece of calligraphy with the words "Life is like dew" written in a loose and beautiful style, signed "Written by Chu Suiliang." Xu Guanyou had studied calligraphy with his adoptive father and knew that Chu Suiliang was a master of his time. Just as he was about to step closer to examine it carefully, he suddenly heard a noisy commotion outside the window, with footsteps incessantly approaching. In the distance, a woman's voice could be heard: "The prince has arrived, everyone be careful and serve him well."

The waiter hurriedly stepped forward to block him and bowed with a smile, saying, "Sir, please settle the bill for the drinks." The young man reached into his pocket but did not pull out any silver coins. He said to the waiter, "Just put it on my tab; I will pay you back next time." The waiter, hearing this, anxiously replied, "Our establishment does not allow credit. If you have no money, why did you order so many dishes and drinks?" The young man retorted, "I said I would settle the bill later, so why are you making a fuss?" The waiter, losing his temper, exclaimed, "Are you deliberately causing trouble? First, you wasted good wine to wash your feet, and now you want to eat for free?" The young man, enraged, pushed the waiter to the ground. The waiter, sitting on the floor, shouted loudly, "Help! This scoundrel is eating for free and has assaulted me!" Before long, four or five staff members rushed over and surrounded the young man, pushing and shoving as they prepared to take action.

Xu Guan rose to see off Ma Zhou as he left the building. Once he saw him go far away, he turned back. Xiao Yan, who was beside him, remarked, "This guest, Brother Wang, is quite petty. When the governor of Bozhou offended him, he claimed that all governors and county magistrates in the world are incompetent." Xu Guan replied, "He is well-educated and has extraordinary insight; he is indeed remarkable." Xiao Yan asked, "How does he compare to Young Master Xu?" Xu Guan said, "I am naturally far inferior." Xiao Yan smiled and said, "You are quite humble, Young Master. I know he has a certain ability that is certainly not on par with yours." Xu Guan inquired, "What ability? How could I not know?" Xiao Yan replied, "The ability to run away swiftly. This is unparalleled; no one can compare to you." The two chatted and laughed, returning to their seats. Lu Huai, seeing their closeness, chuckled and said, "Miss Xiao Yan is also from Chang'an, right? Why not take Brother Xu for a stroll around the city?" Xiao Yan thought for a moment and said to Xu Guan, "I live in Pingkangli in the east of the city. Would you like to come and take a look?" Xu Guan replied, "Sure." He then placed a piece of broken silver on the table, bid farewell to Lu Huai, and left with Xiao Yan. However, Lu Huai was taken aback, wanting to say something to Xu Guan, and hurriedly chased after them. To his surprise, the two had already left quickly with the moonstone, and by the time Lu Huai reached the entrance of the tavern, they had vanished without a trace. He could only lean against the door and laugh, "They have yet to pass the examination and are already heading to Pingkangli. Young people have no idea how boundless the world of romance is."

Zhang Gongjin grabbed the small stool in front of him, swiftly turned his body, and swung the stool towards the large iron hammer that was thrown at him. With a loud crash, the stool shattered, yet the momentum of the iron hammer did not diminish. Zhang Gongjin bent down to evade, and the iron hammer flew right in front of Xiaogong. Xu Guan almost cried out in surprise, but saw that the iron hammer had come to a halt just half an inch from Xiaogong's nose, as the handle of the hammer had been firmly grasped by Zhang Gongjin. Then, with two loud thuds, two objects fell into the room. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be two guards stationed at the door, who had been knocked unconscious and thrown in without anyone noticing. Zhang Gongjin's anger surged, and he swung the large iron hammer, shouting loudly: "Who dares to launch a sneak attack? Step forward and compete!" Before his words had finished, a figure jumped in from outside the window, tall and clad in black, with a large iron hammer in hand, charging straight at Zhang Gongjin. Zhang Gongjin shouted: "Good lad!" He stepped forward two paces and swung his hammer to meet the attack. There was a tremendous clang as the two hammers collided, sparks flying, and both men grunted in pain, retreating from each other. Zhang Gongjin felt a heat in his palms, his arms slightly numb, and thought to himself: "What a remarkable fellow, there truly exists someone with such incredible strength in this world!"

No one could have anticipated that with a gentle wave of her hand, Xiao Yan could subdue Ahe Mang. The crowd exchanged glances, filled with both surprise and astonishment, and for a moment, the entire venue fell silent. After a brief pause, the governor of Kuizhou stood up on the main platform and exclaimed loudly, "Excellent!" In an instant, a thunderous applause erupted, resonating throughout the surroundings.

In the seventh year of the Wu De era, Xiao Gong served as the commander-in-chief to suppress the rebel Wang Fu Gong Shi in Jiangnan. While advancing into Jingzhou, he hosted a banquet for the generals. During the feast, Xiao Gong ordered water to be brought for the generals to share, but unexpectedly, the water turned into blood in the bowls, causing great alarm among the attendees, who believed it to be an ominous sign. However, Xiao Gong remained composed and at ease, standing up to raise his cup and saying: "Since we have no shame before heaven and earth, why should you all be fearful? Wang Fu Gong Shi is filled with evil, and the blood in the bowl today is a sign of his impending demise!" After saying this, he drank it all in one go. The others, seeing his boldness, were all in admiration, and the morale of the army was thus stabilized, enabling them to later defeat Wang Fu Gong Shi and pacify Jiangnan. Zhang Gong Jin later brought up this matter, hoping to inspire his heroic spirit to jointly advise Emperor Taizong to attack the Turks. However, Xiao Gong seemed completely unfazed and did not respond to his provocation. Zhang Gong Jin could only sigh deeply and bow, saying: "I have been disrespectful, I shall take my leave now." As he reached the door, he suddenly heard Xiao Gong say: "Gong Jin, in the first year of the Zhenguan era, the Turks encountered a snow disaster. At that time, Prime Minister Xiao Yu advised to send troops against the Turks, but His Majesty did not accept it. If you think that the Turks can be attacked simply because they have encountered a snow disaster, how can you persuade His Majesty?" Upon hearing this, Zhang Gong Jin was overjoyed and quickly turned around to bow, saying: "I ask the prince to consider the plight of the people of the Tang dynasty and provide guidance." Just as Xiao Gong was about to speak, a loud crash was heard, and a large iron hammer flew in through the window, heading straight for the back of Zhang Gong Jin's head!

Xu Guan and Xiao Yan left the West Market and headed east. Before long, they arrived at a certain place. Xu Guan noticed that the houses were low and dilapidated, the alleys were winding and narrow, unlike the wide and straight streets of Chang'an. There were also many men, resembling laborers, squatting at the street corners, all disheveled and covered in dust. He asked Xiao Yan, "Have we arrived at Pingkangli? Who are those men?" Xiao Yan replied, "This place is called Lanni Qu, located to the west of Pingkangli. Those men are all Yan Hu, who often reside here." Xu Guan inquired, "What does Yan Hu mean?" Xiao Yan explained, "They cannot find enough to eat in the countryside, so they come to Chang'an in search of work. If they manage to save some money in the city, they will return home, just like the wild geese that leave in winter and return in spring, hence they are called Yan Hu." Xu Guan sighed, "When the people are impoverished, they will wander without returning. Brother Bin Wang said that the rise and fall of a nation does not depend on how much wealth it accumulates, but rather on the suffering and happiness of the common people. This is indeed wise counsel." Xiao Yan huffed, "You just parted ways with him and can't stop talking about it. Others don't see you being this concerned." Xu Guan was taken aback, not knowing why she was suddenly angry. The night was warm and the wind gentle, and the two walked side by side in silence.

Xu Guan saw that the young man was bound to suffer losses, so he hurriedly stood up and stopped a few shop assistants, saying: "Do not take action, let it be counted on my account." He then said to the young man: "If this brother is not in a hurry to leave, how about joining me for a few drinks?" The young man glanced at Xu Guan and replied: "Good. I haven't had enough to drink anyway." After the young man took a seat and they exchanged names, Xu learned that his surname was Ma, given name was Zhou, courtesy name was Binwang. He was from Chiping in Qinghe and had originally been an assistant teacher in Bozhou, but due to his fondness for drinking and causing trouble, he had angered the governor of Bozhou and was now wandering in Chang'an. Ma Zhou then drank three large bowls of wine in succession, engaging in high-spirited discussions with Xu Guan about the "Book of Songs" and the "Spring and Autumn Annals." Both well-read, they exchanged words filled with wit and allusions, enjoying their conversation immensely.

The governor of Kuizhou insisted on hosting a grand banquet to entertain the two individuals. Xiao Yan, unable to decline the invitation, quietly said to Xu Guan, "These officials are quite talkative; if we stay, who knows how long we will be entangled. You take that precious stone with you, and when I say 'let's go,' you must leave immediately without delay." Xu Guan nodded in agreement. Xiao Yan bid farewell to Fan Yun, Li Baojin, and the others, then addressed the officials, saying, "We are merely passing through. It is indeed a stroke of fate that we can join you in confronting the enemy today. If we have the chance in the future, we shall meet again. For now, we must take our leave." After saying this, she gently took Xu Guan's hand and led him away. Xu Guan understood and quickly set off. The crowd saw that in the blink of an eye, the two figures had vanished without a trace, and they remarked, "It seems these two are the Dragon Maiden and the Good Wealth Boy who have descended to the mortal realm, specifically to resolve the crisis in Kuizhou. No wonder they possess such divine abilities." The governor of Kuizhou hurriedly ordered skilled artists to paint the true likeness of the deities, and later, the townsfolk created replicas to keep in their homes. Subsequently, the images of Xiao Yan and Xu Guan were worshipped in Kuizhou, but that is a story for another time.