Chapter 0007: Meeting at the Tavern

Brother Wang, your literary talent is truly remarkable. In the art of composing poetry and couplets, I am but a mere novice and cannot even begin to compare with you

"Lao Liu, is this news reliable? Wasn't it already said that there would be a campaign in the third year of the Kaihuang era? But it didn't happen. At that time, I was still in the Right Tunwei army, preparing in the Jianghuai region for several months, but in the end, it was also called off, wasn't it?"

Li Laizi, the reason you were unable to succeed last time was due to the arrival of the Turks. At that time, you were in the south, while I, Old Zhang, was urgently conscripted into the army. I joined the great army of Prince Wei, Yang Shuang, to repel the Turks beyond the frontier, and it took us three months to drive them away. That is why your southern expedition came to naught

Wang Shichong felt a stir in his heart, yet his face remained impassive as he calmly said: "Why does Brother Wang not proactively petition the Supreme One for battle? Surely, with the Supreme One's wisdom, it would be impossible not to be moved. After all, your Wang family has endured in Jiangnan for three generations, with numerous former subordinates. When the great army marches south, they would certainly be able to provide assistance."

In recent years, the Guanzhong region has experienced favorable weather and abundant harvests, and the once desolate and devastated state since the chaos of the Five Hu has long become a distant memory.

Wang Shichong smiled faintly, his eyes bright: "Brother Wang, these are merely rumors circulating in the streets and alleys. The Supreme Ruler has not issued any explicit orders, nor has there been a call for the soldiers of the realm to march south. If you were to recruit brave men at this time, and it turns out there is no southern expedition, you would then bear the charge of harboring ulterior motives"

In the summer of the eighth year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty, in the city of Xinfeng, the sun shone brightly, and the sky was as blue as if it had been washed.

It is precisely due to Wang Shichong's outstanding performance that his father, Wang He, disregarded the opinions of others and entrusted the entire family business to Wang Shichong. In the eyes of everyone in the Wang family, Wang Shichong has already become the person destined to take over the Wang family in the future

The man in the yellow robe appeared handsome and elegant, with a flowing beard, embodying the image of a cultured scholar. However, there was an indescribable sorrow in his brows. After composing this poem, he directly sat down opposite Wang Shichong and downed the wine from the willow grove in front of him, yet wore a helpless expression on his face: "Although Guanzhong is pleasant, it is after all not Jiangnan. I do not know how much longer we must wait after having crossed Jiangnan and vanquished the Southern Chen. In my lifetime, will I still be able to personally avenge the deep-seated blood feud?"

As these four lines of poetry were recited, a middle-aged man wearing a soft-soled cap and dressed in yellow satin approached Wang Shichong with a smile from the staircase.

In May, the locust trees sway with the blooming flowers, their rich fragrance intoxicating countless homes, as spring | The water is a clear blue, where the waves drift down, carrying the scent all the way to the ends of the earth

Listening to the discussions in the tavern, the brow of the scholar in yellow gradually relaxed. He drank several bowls of wine in succession, and his complexion became slightly flushed. This Liulin wine is known in later generations as Xifeng wine, renowned for its lingering aftertaste and rich, fragrant aroma. Combined with the scent of locust blossoms filling the city, it caused the scholar to show some signs of intoxication.

Wang Ban's brows relaxed somewhat as he replied, "Before I set out to come here after receiving your letter, I had already submitted a memorial to the Supreme One. I estimate that a response will come in the next few days. However, as you know, my situation is such that I cannot raise a troop with just my meager salary, nor can I procure weapons and armor. Therefore, I can only shamelessly seek your support this time. If the Supreme One shows mercy, I will truly need your substantial assistance."

At a window-side elegant seat on the second floor, there sat a young man of about eighteen or nineteen years old. He was of medium height and slender build, dressed in fine blue silk clothing. His hair was somewhat curly, and his eyes were a striking green. His facial features were fairly regular, but his complexion was slightly dark. With a prominent nose and deep-set eyes, he appeared somewhat different from the typical Han Chinese.

The establishment of the Sui Dynasty has now been eight years, and the current supreme ruler Yang Jian can be regarded as a rare wise monarch. He practices frugality and widely implements benevolent governance, supported by many loyal ministers and valiant generals. The national strength of the Sui Dynasty is steadily rising

He glanced around; this was the lobby, bustling with people and noise, truly not a suitable place for conversation. He then smiled slightly at the scholar in yellow attire and said, "Brother Wang, this is not a place for discussion. I have already made arrangements; please follow me."

The man in the yellow robe nodded and followed Wang Shichong to the elegant seating area on the third floor. Today, Wang Shichong had arranged to discuss matters with him and had reserved the entire third floor early on. After the waiter brought the food and drinks, Wang Shichong took out three large coins and pressed them into his hand, instructing him to guard the staircase on the second floor and not allow anyone to come up casually. The waiter's eyes lit up with excitement as he repeatedly expressed his gratitude and hurriedly ran downstairs.

As the last character of the word "ya" was uttered by the middle-aged man in yellow, Wang Shichong smiled faintly and gently applauded

Before Wang Shichong had the chance to speak, he overheard a few drinkers at a nearby table engaging in lively conversation: "Have you all heard? The Supreme Ruler has already made up his mind and is preparing to raise an army to march south against the Chen Kingdom"

At the end of May, the Guanzhong region is adorned with blooming locust flowers. Strings of white locust flowers, the size of copper coins, hang from the branches of locust trees lining the streets and alleys of Xinfeng City. The refreshing fragrance of the flowers, mingling with the aroma of willow forest wine that fills the city, is carried by the gentle warm breeze, intoxicating the passersby on the road

Wang Ban sighed and downed another bowl of wine: "My dear brother, you may not know, but I currently hold no military position. Even if the Supreme One issues an edict to summon the provincial troops, I fear it would be impossible for me to enlist, let alone serve as a vanguard. If I wish to achieve military merit on the battlefield and eliminate the Chen Dynasty, I must recruit brave men myself, cross the river ahead of the main army, and then find a way to contact my former subordinates to guide the army. Only then can I seek revenge and settle old scores"

At this point, the man in the yellow robe, Wang Ban, spoke with eyes that seemed ready to burst into flames, striking the table with a powerful fist, causing the wine in the bowl before him to splash in a flurry.

Since three years ago, Wang Shichong has begun to participate in the Wang family's business. Several caravans from Hexi and Longyou have not only expanded the Wang family's business significantly but also allowed him to meet many powerful figures in the Longyou region

The young man in the blue attire raised the wine bowl before him and drank it all in one go. The intense potency of the alcohol surged through his mind, and he instinctively touched the back of his head. The excruciating pain etched in his memory suddenly made his mind exceptionally clear

The face of the man in the yellow robe changed slightly, but it was only a fleeting moment before he regained his earlier resolve: "Brother, you are aware of the enmity between Wang Ban and Chen Baxian regarding the murder of my father, a grudge that cannot coexist. Back then, my late father Wang Sengbian fought alongside Chen Baxian as comrades in the defense of the kingdom. Unexpectedly, this villain, in his quest for the throne, betrayed his comrades, launching a surprise attack on my father, killing him and my five brothers. Had I not been in Jingzhou at that time, I too would have fallen victim to his treachery. This hatred is irreconcilable; although the old villain is now dead, the Chen dynasty he established still exists, and his nephew Chen Shubao is the current ruler. If I do not eradicate the Chen state, what face will I have to meet my deceased father and brothers after my death?"

So that's how it is. Anyway, for us soldiers, wherever we are ordered to fight, we must go. However, if this time it is to conquer the south, I won't be able to go to the battlefield in my current state. Moreover, I have seen the Yangtze River, and it stretches so far that you can't see the other side. I have heard that the people on the other side live on a very large island. If we really want to conquer the south, I think we need to build hundreds of large ships.

This young man in blue is Wang Shichong. After outsmarting Wang Shiji, Wang Shichong early on abandoned the plan of establishing a domain through military force. Instead, he devoted himself to studying the classics and the history of the Ming dynasty, as well as meticulously researching military texts and strategies, hoping to make progress in this area

It was noon, and the largest Fushun Tavern in the city was already crowded with diners, fully occupied. They were toasting and exchanging cups, enjoying their meals heartily. Some were reciting poetry, others were playing drinking games, and there were even some people engaging in casual chatter about various topics from all corners of the world

Fortunately, the Wang family's collection of books is quite substantial, including classics and historical texts such as the "Records of the Grand Historian" and the "Book of Han," which are relatively complete. Heaven did not grant Wang Shichong a robust physique, but it did bestow upon him an extraordinary memory. After ten years, Wang Shichong has become well-versed in knowledge, and coupled with his past experiences, he possesses a level of sophistication and intelligence far exceeding his actual age

Wang Shichong placed his hand on Wang Ban's fist, a glint of green light flashing in his eyes: "Brother Wang need not be so anxious; I merely wished to say that this matter is of great importance. Once the official edict is issued, there will naturally be opportunities for you to achieve merit and establish your accomplishments. Why rush for this moment?"

Wang Shichong shook his head: "Brother Wang, you must not drink any more; this matter requires careful consideration over time"

Five years ago, in the third year of the Kaihuang era, the grand army that was originally prepared for a southern expedition had to return north due to the invasion of the Turks. After suffering heavy losses, the Sui Dynasty finally repelled the 400,000-strong Turkic army. Subsequently, the Turks fell into division and internal strife, rendering them incapable of posing a threat to the Sui Dynasty

After the man in the yellow robe settled down, he lowered his voice, his face filled with excitement: "Brother, even these common folk know that the southern expedition is imminent. What are we waiting for? If you are afraid of taking responsibility, I can handle it alone."