Five

One must always be wary of others. Xi Yuanqiang stubbornly held his ground.

Nonsense!" Xi Yan casually cursed.

Xi Yan squinted his eyes, looking at this group of students with hidden agendas, and suddenly broke into a smile. With this smile, the gloom was instantly dispelled, and the sky cleared after the rain

Become less like oneself

After walking for a long time, Xi Yan suddenly asked: "Do you think Tuoba Shanyue will resort to violence against me?"

It is worth stating directly that a month ago, Tuoba had already received instructions from the sovereign, indicating the need to reorganize the military and provisions, so that they could be ready to depart at any time

Until he had stepped out of the main hall, standing beneath a nearly full bright moon, he heard the low voice of his master behind him: "Ying Wuyi's departure from the imperial capital this time was quite sudden, but why does it seem that the sovereign had already made preparations for this matter? With our years of experience in the military, we cannot say we detected Ying Wuyi's movements, yet the sovereign is aware. Who informed the sovereign? Could it be that someone conspired in this matter?"

"It was I who lent it to him," Lu Guichen said softly

There is no need to say much about matters that cannot be confirmed. Regarding the internal circumstances of this campaign to restore the monarchy, I, like General Tuoba, know nothing at all. The guest walked straight out the door

After a long silence in the hall, the guest slowly exhaled a puff of blue smoke

A sudden, fierce sound of hooves shattered the silence, as if several swift horses were chasing each other, rapidly approaching from behind. In such a late hour, who would dare to gallop through the streets of the capital? Xi Yan became alert, pressing his hand against the heavy sword at his waist, and swiftly took cover behind his horse. The swordsmanship passed down by Xi Yan was more suited for foot combat, yet Xi Yuan's sword skills were also quite profound. If the approaching figures were enemies, as long as he could evade and counterattack from behind the horse, Xi Yuan was confident he could face more than three cavalrymen alone.

With a flick of her sleeve, she turned and was about to leave

Outside the General's residence lies a broad and level avenue, stretching from north to south, leading directly to the palace gates. At this moment, the night is deep and quiet, with no pedestrians in sight, only a horse-drawn carriage from the Honglu Temple, adorned with red lanterns, slowly passing by. The moonlight spills onto the bluestone pavement, polished smooth by the soles of passersby, creating a unique chill. The bright moon hangs beneath the eaves of the tall tower, while the willows gently brush against the top of the carriage.

He lost the bet to us and cheated. We..." Fang Qizhao had not finished his explanation when he suddenly realized he had let something slip. The remaining few people glared at him fiercely. Ye Zhenghong quietly moved his foot over and stepped hard on the top of his foot.

General Xi... the Minister of the Honglu Temple is still trembling

After taking a few more steps, Xi Yan bravely asked, "Uncle, do you have a grudge against General Tuoba? I think that person... is just a bit gloomy, appearing rather unfriendly, but there isn't anything particularly malicious about him."

Everyone, the bright moon and gentle breeze, what a delightful atmosphere!

This is a phrase that Xi Yan often has on his lips. Concealing weapons and acting stealthily, he seems to be even less capable than the lower-ranking generals. If he were to speak of it, he would undoubtedly face reprimands from his uncle, and Xi Yan is self-aware. However, he believes that both his uncle and Tuoba can be considered as high-ranking generals. Yet, despite their enmity for so many years, they have not used their strategies to determine superiority over one another. Upon closer reflection, it seems that these two do not attack each other; they merely avoid each other deliberately.

Xi Yan sneered coldly: "I will not punish you for gambling, nor will I punish you for fighting. What I punish you for is your neglect of military duties! Four dignified officers, the pillars of the nation, beaten to the ground by a mere Ji Ye, even resorting to using horse ropes, completely losing the face of our Tang army. Punishing you with half a month of hard labor is still lenient!"

Xi Yuan was stunned for a long time, shook his head, felt it was not right, and then nodded. His original intention was to express that he did not know, but he was worried about being misunderstood by Xi Yan, so he shook and nodded, going through a series of head movements. His words were clumsy, not at all like his uncle, which often led to such awkward situations.

A few students exchanged glances, and it was the eldest son of the Tawei Mansion, Lei Yunzheng, who, relying on his father's reputation, mustered a bit of courage and raised his head to say: "Ji Ye stole our money!"

In the general's residence of Tuoba, in the simple central hall, the host and guest sat facing each other at a distance, without speaking. The blue smoke from the burning tobacco rose gently, while the guest in a black robe smoked, his gaze lingering on the hibiscus tree in the courtyard

The four individuals were so terrified that they completely forgot to salute the general.

"It was they who were rude first, Ji Ye only..." Lu Guichen could no longer hold back

Xi Yan looked at his nephew's embarrassed appearance and suddenly burst into laughter, leading his mount slowly towards the group of people. Dressed in plain clothes, his identity was indiscernible in the night. The group of warriors was arrogantly outrageous, fully aware that someone was approaching yet continuing to stomp their feet, cursing and swearing as they did so

The sword seal and the edict were sealed with red wax in a vermilion box, and the palace eunuchs delivered them directly to my residence; I have not even seen the face of the sovereign.

Xi Yan, however, continued to stand with his hands behind his back, merely shifting his gaze towards the direction of the swiftly approaching horse. The carriage from the Honglu Temple was originally leisurely following behind the uncle and nephew, but suddenly, five strong horses appeared behind the carriage. In the moonlight, the riders on horseback held long poles measuring eight feet in length. Four of them simultaneously shook their poles, attacking the rider on the black horse. The coordination among the four riders was exceptionally skillful, spreading out to the four corners of the black horse. Some of the long poles were thrusting, while others were swung horizontally, creating a low, whistling sound that sealed off all the space around their opponent.

"What kind of sergeant are you looking for?" Xi Yan smiled, "Aren't you a soldier yourself?"

The moment the black horse warrior steadied himself on the top of the carriage was precisely when his opponent's strength was at its weakest. He exerted force once more, bending the long pole into a bow shape, and the opponent could no longer maintain his grip. With a tremor of the long pole, it had already changed hands.

He has obtained the gun! The remaining three warriors exclaimed in unison

The warrior holding the pole suddenly gathered his spirit, let out a loud roar, and with all his might, lifted his arms. His strength was astonishing, as he managed to lift the warrior on the black horse off its back by the long pole. The remaining three men cheered as they brought the long pole down with force, striking towards the back of the black horse warrior. At that moment, the black horse warrior was suspended in mid-air, already in a desperate situation. However, as he released his right hand from the long pole and drew a streak of blue light from his waist, with a horizontal swing, he severed all three resilient wooden poles by a foot. With the three poles rendered ineffective, he had already landed on the top canopy of the carriage at Honglu Temple.

Good! The sound of applause echoes, followed by a cheer.

As the willow branches brushed against the face of the sword-wielding warrior, the warrior holding the long pole suddenly sprang up. In mid-air, he stretched his body, resembling a giant black eagle spreading its wings. With this movement, a fierce and powerful gust of wind sliced downwards, as if splitting mountains and shattering stones

The length of the long knife is less than half that of the long pole, yet when wielded in his hands, it possesses the might to shatter a carriage, just as Ji Ye did with his pole. He galloped on horseback, leaned forward, and swung the knife, executing the three movements flawlessly. The knife, still sheathed, exuded a thunderous power. Xi Yan coldly smiled, not drawing his sword; instead, he let his shoulder drop, causing the opponent's strike to miss entirely. In the instant he sidestepped, Xi Yan unexpectedly delivered a heavy slap on the opponent's leg.

It was as if a thunderbolt had struck above everyone's heads, causing them to look up and exchange glances. For these noble youths, the issue of salary deduction was of little consequence, but the prospect of fifteen days of hard labor was akin to taking their lives.

General Xi holds a royal title and is a trusted minister of the sovereign. The sovereign has issued an edict to attack Ying Wuyi, which is a matter of great national importance. Even if you do not speak to me about it, have you not discussed it with General Xi?

The sovereign bestowed the golden talisman and the iron horse seal, issuing orders for the expedition. As the ruler of a nation, his words are as weighty as mountains. At this point, it is difficult to turn back. I, Xi, only hope to live up to the sovereign's trust and return victorious.

Xi Yan glanced back at him and said: "I punish you because you defaulted on your debts after losing; your gambling conduct is too poor"

He seemed to be in high spirits, laughing heartily a few times, and strolled out slowly, leaving a group of students dejected, with only Xi Yan following closely behind. Xi Yan mounted his steed and walked leisurely under the weeping willows along the street, turning his head to glance at his nephew, slightly surprised: "Xi Yan, your expression..."

In our South Huai City, such a fierce blade skill belongs only to your family," Xi Yan coldly shouted, "Young Master, why are you still running?

Very well! The guest tapped the table, stood up, and left the room

The opponent raised his sword by one unit, and a broken rod flew out two feet from the blade. However, the momentum of the long rod remained unabated, cleaving down upon the top of the carriage like a long knife. As the warrior wielding the long rod landed, the entire canopy of the carriage shattered in a puff of light smoke. The terrified coachman desperately pulled on the reins of the two horses, while the swordsman on the roof of the carriage tumbled headfirst into the interior.

Lü Guichen had no choice but to dismount, obediently leading his warhorse with his head lowered, and walked up to Xi Yan. The young generals from the Daliu Camp in Nanhua City stood beside Xi Yan, almost without exception. Apart from Lü Guichen and Ji Ye, who were students under Xi Yan, the others were also studying military formations in Xi Yan's military academy. The gathering of teachers and students on the street created an indescribably strange atmosphere. Xi Yan coldly chuckled as he took a puff from his pipe, remaining silent. The students, aware that they had caused a great disaster, stood with their heads bowed in fear, while only Ji Ye, bound on the ground, had no opportunity to lower his head.

He suddenly rolled over and lay back on the saddle, dodging two long poles. Subsequently, one of the poles grazed his lower back, while the other had already pierced his chest but was caught firmly by him. The long pole swung towards him with a powerful whistle, its end carrying immense force, yet he managed to grasp it with one hand, leaving the opponent unable to break free in their urgency. With a flick of his wrist, a shockwave traveled back along the pole, causing the warrior holding it to nearly let go.

Xi Yan had not yet responded, while Xi Yan had already loosened his pace and strolled along the path with his hands behind his back. The uncle and nephew walked in silence, amidst the clear moonlight and gentle breeze. Xi Yuan observed his uncle's broad robe from behind and felt that tonight, Xi Yan's demeanor was somewhat desolate and indifferent.

Xi Yuan had long known that his friend was once again fighting on the streets. Such a skill of unarmed combat against armed opponents was rare even in the entire Da Liu Camp. There was only one person with the audacity to gallop through the streets and engage in battle at night, and that was Ji Ye

Strangely, what the black horse warrior received was clearly a long pole, yet what they shouted was "gun"

What nonsense!" Xi Yan shot him a glance, "My father is your grandfather, my elder brother is your father. Don't you know how your grandfather passed away?"

Everything will be ready by tomorrow

The students looked at Xi Yan with a gentle expression, speaking eloquently, all feeling as if they had escaped from the brink of death, even Ji Ye's expression relaxed.

I... I... I am fine, " Xi Yan vigorously shook his head, " I will go and relay the message to the patrolling soldiers.

"It has nothing to do with you. If you don't want to court death, just roll past me!"

To kill, the general employs schemes, the lieutenant general employs strategies, and the junior general employs combat

Xi Yan was momentarily taken aback, then smiled slightly, but the smile gradually faded. He gazed at the surface of the Qingjiang Pool in the distance, remaining silent for a long time: "Xi Yan, have you ever been in battle?"

The sovereign issued a decree, stating that as a warrior, one must go into battle and kill. Xi Yan looked at his nephew and asked, "What do you think, is it right or wrong?"

Strangely, the person who was stepped on did not utter a single word

Hehe, Xi Yan smiled at his nephew, but his expression suddenly changed, "Lei Yunzheng, Ye Zhenghong, Fang Qizhao, Peng Lianyun!"

The long pole fell into the hands of the new master, truly transforming into a spear! The warrior on the roof of the carriage circled and waved the long pole, then suddenly halted, the pole shooting out a sharp line like a spear, directly piercing the face of an opponent. It was merely the simplest thrust, yet the opponent, filled with fear, let out a loud shout, rolling off the horse's back, not daring to block its sharpness. Following that, two equally fierce thrusts caused two more opponents to rein in their horses and retreat, not daring to approach. Only the warrior who had lost the long pole remained by the side of the carriage; his skills seemed to be the best among the four companions. At that moment, he suddenly jumped up on the horse's back, using the momentum to leap onto the roof of the carriage, drawing the sword from his waist with ease. Following that, two equally fierce thrusts caused two more opponents to rein in their horses and retreat, not daring to approach. Only the warrior who had lost the long pole remained by the side of the carriage; his skills seemed to be the best among the four companions. At that moment, he suddenly jumped up on the horse's back, using the momentum to leap onto the roof of the carriage, drawing the sword from his waist with ease.

Oh. Xi Yan scratched his head, at a loss for words. Although he and Xi Yan were uncle and nephew, he had never seen Xi Yan since childhood. To him, this uncle was like a legend, and it was only when Xi Yan suddenly stood in front of him one day that he believed this rumored uncle truly existed. As for who Xi Yan's father and brothers were, he found it quite difficult to connect them to his own family.

"If you lose money in the casino, you must be able to afford the loss!" A hint of anger appeared on Xi Yan's face as he looked at Ji Ye on the ground, "If you can't afford to lose and still gamble, killing you is a trivial matter; you have ruined my reputation!"

As Xi Yan stepped out of the general's residence, a figure clad in military attire swiftly emerged from the shadows by the door. The young man, with a sharp gaze, looked around hurriedly and leaned close to Xi Yan's ear, asking: "Uncle, how is it?"

The master pondered for a long time and nodded: "Understood! 20,000 troops, the allocation will be completed by Tuoba tomorrow, and the supplies and vehicles will also be the quantity requested by General Xi. If there is nothing else, please forgive Tuoba for sending you off."

For a long time, Tuoba Shanyue has had a feeling that he is separated from this calm and composed opponent by a strong hatred. When Xi Yan's eyes, which often carry a hint of laughter, meet those of Tuoba Shanyue, they suddenly change.

In the Tang Dynasty, it was well known that the Commander of the Wu Hall, Xi Yan, and the General Tuo Ba Shan Yue were at odds. The Tuo Ba General's residence and Xi Yan's granted estate, "You Feng Tang," were separated by two streets, yet these two renowned generals never interacted until their deaths. This night, Xi Yan unexpectedly visited alone, causing Tuo Ba Shan Yue to feel surprised and uneasy. He arranged to meet in the main hall but was unclear about Xi Yan's intentions. However, a whispered remark from Xi Yan before his departure subtly revealed to Tuo Ba Shan Yue the concerns of the other party. It seems that in this delicate situation, these two rivals also shared common interests.

However, Xiyan has not taken a single sip of the tea from General Tuoba's residence

Oh, Xi Yan nodded, "So there is still gambling. However, Ji Ye, as far as I know, has always been impoverished. How could he possibly have money to lose to you?"

The status of the heir is precious, so I cannot impose punishment. As for the rest, each person shall be fined three months' salary!" Xi Yan raised three fingers and said, "Since you all enjoy strengthening your bodies, then upon returning to the camp, each of you will work as laborers for fifteen days!"

Xi Yan looked on, shaking his head and smiling: "In the heat of battle, with a single stroke, you may not even know the name of your opponent before they are dead. You are being loyal and dutiful, yet that person's family will hate you for a lifetime"

If it is a mistake, Xi Yan said leisurely, then from the day I began teaching you swordsmanship, we have already made a mistake...

"No," Xi Yan shook his head. He could tell that Xi Yan was lost in thought. Having followed his uncle since childhood, he had never been on the battlefield, and no one understood these matters better than Xi Yan himself, so there was no need to ask.

Yet the warrior on the black horse is unarmed

Ji Ye gritted her teeth, cast a cold glance at Lei Yunzhen, Ke, and a few others, then turned her head away without saying a word

The newly arrived rider landed and galloped a few steps, then paused in the distance. The young warrior suddenly sensed something was amiss, covered his face, and urged his horse to flee.

"General," Lei Yunzhen stepped forward from the crowd with a bit more courage, "Gambling according to military regulations only results in a one-month salary deduction, and fighting only leads to a two-month penalty. Why must we still do the hard labor?"

The Red Cavalry of the Exiled Nation is indeed a formidable force in the world. Has General Xi made the necessary preparations?

He descended with his entire weight, striking down from the air with a whip-like motion

The carriage raced past a weeping willow, and Xi Yan suddenly laughed and said, "Good, the outcome is already decided"

Xi Yuan let out a slight sigh of relief. Xi Yan and Tuoba Shanyue, two renowned figures in the Lower Tang, had worked together for twelve years without ever meeting alone, while outsiders regarded them as political rivals. Although Xi Yuan did not understand the nature of the rift between the two, he, being Xi Yan's nephew, instinctively viewed Tuoba Shanyue as an enemy. Observing their demeanor, he perceived Tuoba Shanyue as cold and taciturn, suspecting him to be a person of deep scheming. Therefore, when Xi Yan suddenly announced his intention to visit Tuoba Shanyue alone that night, Xi Yuan felt anxious, as if facing a formidable foe. Not only did he arm himself and conceal himself outside the residence to observe, but he also secretly dispatched twenty-five elite scouts from the Ghost Bat Camp, equipped with sturdy bows, to hide a street away and await orders. Should there be any sign of disturbance, he would signal with a fire arrow to storm into General Tuoba's residence to rescue his uncle. However, at that moment, Xi Yan was in no danger, and Xi Yuan would not recklessly reveal all his forces to his uncle, treating it as if they were nonexistent.

Suddenly, a thought struck Xi Yuan's mind: "Could it be that my uncle's relatives went to war and were injured while facing General Tuoba?"

Then, is it wrong

The warrior holding the long pole did not achieve complete victory. Just as he was in a standoff with the swordsman, the remaining two riders had already caught up, pulling on both ends of a long rope like a whirlwind. As soon as he landed, he was tightly bound by the rope. The two riders led the rope, galloping and spinning around him, and finally, with a sudden pull, they toppled the man, who was entangled like a spool of thread, to the ground

Several warriors rushed forward to surround their defenseless opponent. A few of them exchanged glances and simultaneously threw away their weapons, raising their feet to stomp down fiercely on the man. The warriors were all wearing hard leather boots, and they showed no mercy as they stomped, cursing: "Run away, get up and keep running, I'll stomp you to death, you dog bastard!"

This is not a question that a minister should ask. Since I have served under the feudal lords, my only duty is to obey the imperial edict and suppress the rebellion. General Tuoba should understand my situation; the sovereign has directly sent someone to deliver the military token to me without giving me the opportunity to meet, which implies that I need not say more.

"That is also good," Xi Yan said, "Our Tang dynasty has been weak for a long time, and the martial spirit is not strong. Rather than spending time in brothels and pleasure houses, it is better to stretch our muscles and bones and study martial arts."

Greetings, Lord Duan... Xi Yan bows deeply with arms crossed.

Xiyan, who was observing from a distance, leisurely lit his pipe and took a puff, smiling as he looked at his pale-faced nephew: "Xiyuan, why does your face look so ghastly?"

Xi Yan let out a soft laugh, turned over and mounted the horse, and hurriedly pursued the startled carriage. Xi Yuan felt distressed in his heart, yet he could only follow closely behind.

Xi Yan held the reins of the horse and suddenly said to his nephew, "Let us walk back."

"General," spoke Jiya on the ground this time, "if I can win, then why have I been doing hard labor for half a month?"

In mid-air, the ability to execute such a horizontal slash demonstrates that the Black Horse Warrior's agility and flexibility are beyond that of ordinary individuals. What is even more remarkable is the calmness in the face of fear while suspended in the air. Xi Yan, with his hands behind his back, appeared to be watching a performance, yet he failed to notice the pale complexion of his nephew beside him, as if he had witnessed something exceedingly terrifying

"Impertinent?" Xi Yan raised an eyebrow

"Is it the case that the sovereign made the decision to go to war on his own?" The master raised his brown eyes and gazed directly at the visitor

Why did Ji Ye steal your money

The master sat alone in the hall, gazing at a cup of clear tea left by the guest. The cup was full, and the guest had not taken a single sip.

On the third day of August, it is already the early autumn season. The autumn wind begins to rise, and the grass and trees on both sides of the street have already taken on a faint autumn hue. The sound of the watchman's clapper adds to the autumn melancholy.

Xi Yuanshen's expression was bleak as he quietly pointed to the carriage of the Honglu Temple that had been split apart by Ji Ye.

The two individuals on the roof of the carriage are respectively holding a long pole and a sharp sword, exchanging glances amidst the jolting of the galloping carriage. The long pole has the advantage in length, yet the opponent wields a renowned blade that glimmers with a bluish hue. Both parties have their reservations, resulting in a momentary stalemate.

Xi Yan turned his head away, and the smile on his face suddenly seemed to be frozen, slowly adding a hint of bitterness to the smile. On the carriage exposed to the moonlight sat Duan Chenyue, the Minister of the Honglu Temple, shivering in the nude, beside him was a naked woman with a slender waist and delicate legs, known as the famous courtesan Su Xiaoqiu from the brothel in Nanhuaicheng.

Lü Guichen fell silent, lowered his head, and suddenly had nothing more to say

Since he became my student, my troubles have increased day by day. Xi Yan turned around and glared fiercely at Ji Ye.

What about our General Jiye? My nephew, who is your close friend, was quite worried about your safety just now, and his expression is still not right. Xi Yan smiled as he looked at the "spool" on the ground.

The voice was like thunder, startling several warriors who lifted their feet and hung in mid-air, standing there in a daze. When they turned their eyes to clearly see that face, which seemed to be smiling yet not smiling, the surroundings were so quiet that one could hear a needle drop.

In the distance, another steed approached like lightning. Xi Yan turned his gaze and saw a young warrior on horseback, his face filled with anxiety, wielding a long sword still in its sheath. The arriving young warrior could only see a few armored warriors by the street surrounding a person tightly bound by ropes, realizing that his friend had undoubtedly been captured. Without the time to discern the identities of those present, he urged his horse forward, fiercely pulling the reins and leaping into the air, swinging the long sword in its sheath downwards, aiming first at Xi Yan's shoulder

In the Tang Dynasty, within the city of Nanhua.

"What is it?" He glanced at his nephew with a reproachful look and said, "It's nothing. What are you sneaking around for?"

What is the matter?" After a long time, Xi Yan asked calmly and without revealing any emotion.