Chapter Six: The Intentions of the Two Gentlemen

Li Huaiyi shook his head and said: "That won't do. I cannot defy Master Zhao's orders. Please wait quietly inside the house. If you need anything to eat or drink, just let me know."

The room was dimly lit, and Xu Haoyue was too lazy to light a lamp. Moreover, he genuinely did not know how to light one; he had no idea how to use a fire knife or flint. Lying on the bed, Xu Haoyue glanced at a wooden lattice window on the wall, and a spark of inspiration flashed in his mind as he devised a plan

Xu Haoyue was taken aback. Could it be that Zhao Kuangyin had a preference for men? Thinking of this, he couldn't help but break into a cold sweat. He forced a smile and said, "Brother Zhao, I have urgent business to attend to in Yingshan and cannot be your guest. Thank you for your hospitality last night. Next time I visit Zhuozhou, I will treat you to a drink." Xu Haoyue did not directly state that he was going to Yingshan with Zhao Kuangyin; he only mentioned that he had matters to attend to in Yingshan. Zhao Kuangyin, who was also heading to Yingshan, would surely invite him to travel together.

Xu Haoyue said irritably: "I want to die!" Damn it, they have confined themselves like prisoners, truly a group of barbarians. Having grown accustomed to modern freedom, Xu Haoyue clearly cannot accept the practice of restricting personal liberty

Zhao Er remained silent, while Zhao laughed and said, "It is still too early to discuss these matters. I only wish to have someone like Mr. Xu by my side to provide guidance at any time, which would undoubtedly be of great benefit. If fate allows, it would be good to find him; if not, then we must let it go. The pressing issue at hand is still the situation in Huainan. The Emperor aims to seize the land of Huainan, and we risk our lives to infiltrate Huainan. Firstly, to gather intelligence; secondly, to connect with those who are loyal to our dynasty; and thirdly, because there are still martial forces like the Wuwang Villa in Huainan. Without the support of Wuwang Villa, our army will face numerous obstacles in Huainan." Wuwang Villa? Isn't Ying Ruolan the young master of Wuwang Villa? Hearing Zhao Kuangyin mention Wuwang Villa, Xu Haoyue listened even more attentively.

Tian Zhongjin and Li Huaiyi quickly let go of their hands, and several people were shouting in the courtyard. Zhao Kuangyi walked out of his room and shouted, "What is all this noise so early in the morning?" As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Xu Haoyue, his expression turned cold, and he said indifferently, "So it's you. Didn't you leave? What are you back for?"

Cui Han frowned and said: "You two, let go of the gentleman. The gentleman left without saying goodbye last night because he was annoyed by your rudeness. Now that he has returned, he certainly will not leave again"

Xu Haoyue secretly stuck out his tongue, realizing that Ying Ruolan was the daughter of a prominent family from the ancient underworld, no wonder her martial skills were formidable and her demeanor was impressive. Zhao Kuangyi suddenly understood: "So the Wuwang Mountain Villa is descended from Ying Bu, the notorious bandit of the early Han Dynasty, no wonder the Ying family can control these bandit thieves." He paused and said in a deep voice: "Elder brother, what should we do now?"

Zhao raised his cup and took a sip of tea, then said in a deep voice: "You always look down on scholars. I have told you countless times that we come from a martial background. If we truly want to achieve greatness, relying solely on bravery is not enough. Life is but one, and once it is spent, nothing remains. Strategy and intelligence are paramount. What we lack now is precisely this. I have encouraged you to read more often, yet you are unwilling to do so."

Zhao Er snorted, sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and said: "In the battle of Gaoping, if it were not for my elder brother leading us, the personal guards, to charge into the fray at the cost of our lives, the Great Zhou would have been defeated. The Emperor promoted my elder brother to the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards because of his bravery and martial prowess. The recent organization of the Imperial Army was also overseen by my elder brother. Wasn't all of this earned through my elder brother's valor? Can those scholars achieve such feats?" Under the bed, Xu Haoyue, upon hearing this, almost exclaimed, 'Can those scholars achieve such feats?' It was indeed true that these two were the historically renowned Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Kuangyi. Although he had vaguely guessed their identities earlier, hearing them speak it aloud at this moment made him even more certain. Xu Haoyue's heart raced; being in such close proximity to the two emperors of the Northern Song Dynasty made him feel as if he were in a dream.

Zhao, feeling somewhat troubled, waved his hand and said gently, "What about Mr. Xu?" Li Huaiyi replied, "He is currently sleeping inside the room." Zhao Er, on the other hand, lowered his head and remained silent

Zhao Kuangyin pondered, "After much consideration, it seems that only the methods of coercion and inducement remain. I originally intended to first discuss matters with the three branches of the Ying family and the bookkeeper, but unfortunately, they have all refused to come. If only we could find Mr. Xu and have him serve as an advisor, it would be good to consult him on strategies. Alas, he has slipped away secretly; it appears that we have not shown enough courtesy. " Xu Haoyue secretly found it amusing that he was right beside the two, yet they were completely unaware. It seems that the ancient martial arts, with their claims of discerning sounds and positions, are merely exaggerated.

Zhao Da grunted in response, yet did not answer. Suddenly, a sound of wood cracking echoed from within the room, startling everyone. Tian Chongjin hurriedly pushed open the door to look inside, only to see the window on the inner wall wide open, the window sash swinging back and forth. Zhao Da exclaimed in frustration, "He jumped out of the window; why aren't you going to find him back?!" Tian Chongjin and the other three exchanged glances, stunned for a moment. Zhao Er angrily shouted, "Why aren't you going after him? You can't even keep an eye on a frail scholar; what use are you?!" The four quickly entered the room and leaped out of the window to pursue him.

Zhao Kuangyin slowly said: "Huainan Yingshan is the hometown of Ying Bu, the King of Huainan during the early Han dynasty. After Ying Bu's defeat, a branch of the Ying family took refuge in Yingshan. Since the onset of the An-Shi Rebellion, talents have emerged from the family, and the descendants of the Ying family have developed their own martial arts, subduing the bandits of the eighty-one strongholds in Huainan to ensure their own safety. By the time of the establishment of the Liang dynasty, the Ying family in Yingshan had founded Wuwang Mountain Villa. The heads of the Ying family throughout the generations have been known for their righteousness and generosity, and with the reputation of their ancestor Ying Bu, the bandits in Huainan regarded the Ying family as their leader. During the Jin dynasty, it was rumored that the Ying family possessed secret treasures left by their ancestor Ying Bu, wealth that could rival a nation. This attracted many formidable enemies, including the former Wu state, which also set its sights on the Ying family. The Ying family faced a united assault, and during the battle of Yingshan, they suffered heavy casualties, leading to a decline in talent and a significant reduction in their power. However, the bandit strongholds in Huainan still respected them as their leader."

The two chatted idly for a while, discussing family matters, including their mothers, mentioning something about the Du family. Xu Haoyue felt a sense of frustration and fell into a deep sleep.

The four robust men before him had broad waists and muscular arms. Xu Haoyue questioned himself, considering his height of 1.76 meters and his decent physique. However, he truly lacked the confidence to break through the presence of these four individuals. Who knows if ancient martial arts are really as miraculous as depicted in novels and television dramas? Xu Haoyue dismissed the thought of testing it himself, let out a heavy sigh, closed the door, and returned to his bed in frustration.

Xu Haoyue's heart gradually settled, and only then did he remember that his loud shout must have been heard by the Zhao brothers outside, who were likely eavesdropping under the bed. This was unreasonable; would his actions be looked down upon by Zhao Kuangyin? Would the detested Zhao Kuangyi mock him? Feeling anxious, Xu Haoyue cautiously poked his head out. There was no sign of the two brothers at the square table outside, which filled Xu Haoyue with joy. He quickly crawled out from under the bed, straightened his clothes, and looked out the window; the sky was already brightening. He then pushed the door and left the room.

Tonight, we were supposed to meet several renowned figures from Wuwang Villa, but unfortunately, none of them showed up. After waiting in vain for an entire evening, if things do not improve, we will set off for Wuwang Villa tomorrow morning. Even if it is a den of dragons and tigers, we must venture in! Zhao Kuangyin spoke with great determination, and Xu Haoyue felt a surge of joy in her heart. It was just right, as she also intended to go to Wuwang Villa, and traveling alongside the Zhao brothers would be a perfect opportunity to enjoy some food and drink.

Indeed, Zhao Kuangyin was pleasantly surprised: "Sir, we are just about to go to Yingshan on business; let us go together."

Zhao Kuangyin also heard the voice, and without having time to put on his clothes, he rushed out of the room and exclaimed, "Sir, it has been quite difficult for me to find you." After saying this, he stepped forward and grasped Xu Haoyue's hand, refusing to let go.

After making up his mind, Xu Haoyue no longer felt anxious and peacefully slept on the floor, waiting for the two to finish their conversation before shamelessly going out.

Zhao Da shook his head and said: "Today, Mr. Xu in the tavern spoke profoundly. Consider our Central Plains, which has experienced the Liang, Tang, Jin, Han, Zhou, and Five Dynasties. Each founding emperor of these dynasties was a heroic figure. Wang Zhu Wen of Liang and Wang Li Cunxu of Tang were particularly outstanding heroes. Yet, why did they all perish within just over a decade? Mr. Xu's statement is very accurate: one can conquer the world quickly, but governing it takes time. During the Five Dynasties, power was held by military men, and the cycle of violence only led to more violence without resolution. What this chaotic era lacks is the governance of cultured individuals." Xu Haoyue listened, his face turning red. He did not expect that his ramblings would be taken seriously by Zhao Kuangyin. Mr. Xu's statement is very accurate: one can conquer the world quickly, but governing it takes time. During the Five Dynasties, power was held by military men, and the cycle of violence only led to more violence without resolution. What this chaotic era lacks is the governance of cultured individuals." Xu Haoyue listened, his face turning red. He did not expect that his ramblings would be taken seriously by Zhao Kuangyin.

Zhao Er nodded and said: "It is heard that the Wuwang Mountain Villa has been in control of the various bandit strongholds in Huainan for over a hundred years. The bandits in various places in Huainan all obey the orders of the Wuwang Mountain Villa. If the Wuwang Mountain Villa were to assist the false Tang, it is highly likely that our supply routes would be disrupted by the bandits when our army advances southward"

Li Huaiyi hurriedly said: "Brother Tian, you must hurry up. It is possible that the gentleman might use a diversion and slip away from us four, and then we would have no face to meet the master."

After the passage of half a stick of incense, Zhao Da and Zhao Er arrived together. At the entrance, Tian Chongjin, Li Huaiyi, Mi Xin, and Cui Han stepped forward, clasped their fists, bowed, and spoke in unison in a low voice: "Master, Second Master"

Mi Xin nodded and said, "This is extreme; treating the gentleman like this is not appropriate."

In fact, Xu Haoyue did not leave the room. He recalled the events in "The Deer and the Cauldron," where Wei Xiaobao played tricks on the members of the Heaven and Earth Society. He deliberately made a loud noise while opening the window, making others believe he had escaped through it, while he himself quickly slipped under the bed.

"Is that so? Then it truly is fate. In that case, I shall comply with your wishes." Xu Haoyue smiled, contemplating that the issues of food and drink during the journey had been resolved. Meanwhile, seeing Zhao Kuangyin smiling ambiguously, she couldn't help but flinch, secretly thinking that he wouldn't be planning to employ some tactics akin to Liu Bei's, sharing the same carriage and sleeping quarters to influence her. Xu Haoyue had no objections to sleeping with a woman, but the thought of sharing a bed with Zhao Kuangyin, this dark-skinned man, made her shudder.

Xu Haoyue snorted softly, recognizing this as a blatant threat. Without exposing it, he smiled slightly and said, "Then may I take a stroll in the courtyard of the inn"

In the largest Anyuan Inn of Zouyu City, Xu Haoyue was lying on the high bed with soft pillows in a premium guest room. After a brief nap, the effects of alcohol had worn off, and he was awakened by a sudden dryness in his lips and throat. At this moment, the sky had darkened, and the room was pitch black. Xu Haoyue got up and poured himself a cup of tea, which slightly eased his parched throat. He intended to go out for a walk and enjoy the night scenery. However, when he opened the wooden door, he found Tian Chongjin, Li Huaiyi, Mi Xin, and Cui Han, four towering figures, blocking his way. Tian Chongjin, with a voice like thunder yet still polite, asked, "Where does the gentleman wish to go?"

Zhao Da, with a pale face, walked into the room and sat down at the square table in the hall. Zhao Er took out a fire stick to light the candlestick on the table, then poured a cup of tea for Zhao Da and said: "Elder brother, please do not worry; that Xu fellow, being merely a frail scholar, cannot run far." Xu Haoyue, hiding under the bed, silently lamented. He had originally thought that everyone would chase after him, believing he was unseen, but unexpectedly, Zhao Da and Zhao Er remained in the room to talk.

Upon arriving in the courtyard, Xu Haoyue saw that Tian Chongjin, Li Huaiyi, and two others were kneeling upright in the courtyard. Xu Haoyue understood that the four must have been unable to find him and were punished by kneeling there. When the four saw Xu Haoyue unexpectedly walk out from the room, they were all overjoyed and rushed forward. Tian Chongjin and Li Huaiyi, without further ado, lifted Xu Haoyue up, with Tian Chongjin exclaiming: "Sir, what remarkable skills you possess! My four brothers searched for you all night but could not find any trace of you. Yet now, at dawn, you have quietly returned to the room. Could it be that you are a celestial being?"

Uncertain how much time had passed, Xu Haoyue only felt something furry on her face that was quite itchy. When she leisurely opened her eyes, she was startled to see a mouse, which had seemingly appeared from nowhere, crawling on her face. Xu Haoyue let out a startled cry and hurriedly waved her hand to shoo it away. The mouse, frightened, jumped and scurried away in a panic.

Zhao Kuangyi then asked, "Elder brother, why does the Ying family of Wuwang Mountain Manor possess such great power?"

Xu Haoyue, who was not on good terms with him, replied indifferently, "I had a few more drinks last night and thought it best to leave without saying goodbye. I feel somewhat sorry for Brother Zhao, so I came to bid farewell to him."

Xu Haoyue said with a stern face: "Brother Cui is right. Since I have returned, I do not intend to leave again. If you continue to force me and create a scene, I might have to sneak away once more"

Li Huaiyi, somewhat smooth in his demeanor, smiled and said, "Sir, you jest. It is getting late, and in these chaotic times, with bandits rampant, it is better to rest in the inn." The implication was to suggest that Xu Haoyue should stay indoors for safety.