Rebirth of a Star General 116
Youth (1)
“It’s no wonder that you chose to fight for military power in the final days of Xiao Zhongwu and his wife instead of mourning; it’s no wonder that you didn’t change your face when you drowned 60,000 people in the first battle of Guocheng Valley. In terms of ruthlessness, who else in the Great Wei can be compared to Xiao Huaijin?”
In the dungeon, there was silence for a moment.
Shen Han wanted to say something but eventually said nothing. With his back facing the prisoner, the young man slowly clenched his hand beside him into a fist.
But after a while, it slowly loosened. He turned his head, looked at Lei Hou, and smiled indifferently, “It seems that you know very well what kind of person I am. Then you should think more clearly.” He walked out, his voice cold, “I never give people a second chance.”
When he reached the door, he bumped into He Yan and Lin Shuanghe who were both standing at the corner. His eyes stopped, ignored them, and left.
No one dared to chase after him.
Shen Han had people lock Lei Hou up again. Not knowing if Xiao Jue’s words made Lei Hou feel desperate, Lei Hou laughed out loud. His laughter echoed in the prison – gloomy and mournful.
Fei Nu came out and was startled when he saw He Yan and Lin Shuanghe, and said, “Young Master Lin, why are you here?”
“I wanted to say,” He Yan glanced inside, “I fought with Lei Hou, and since the General was interrogating Lei Hou, I thought that maybe I could be of some help, so we came to take a look.”
“No need. It’s already settled.” Fei Nu replied quickly, “You two can go back.”
Lin Shuanghe shrugged, seeing Xiao Jue’s big cloak in Fei Nu’s hand, he took the initiative to take it and said, “This is Huaijin’s, right? I’ll pass it to him. I think he wouldn’t want to see anyone at this moment.”
Fei Nu, “There is no need to trouble Young Master Lin.”
“No trouble, no trouble,” Lin Shuanghe said, “I’m going to find him later.”
Fei Nu stopped and nodded to Lin Shuanghe, “Then thank you, Young Master Lin.”
Lin Shuanghe smiled and said to He Yan, “Let’s go.”
The two went outside together.
When they came out, it was already snowing lightly, and now the snow was heavier. He Yan was injured and walked very slowly, with Cheng Lisu’s cloak covering him. Although Lin Shuanghe addressed every girl “sister” from his mouth to be affectionate, he still maintained a distance when getting along with women, as if he was deliberately avoiding suspicion. Si he never helped He Yan.
However, the two were not in a hurry and walked very slowly.
The snow particles rustled down and touched people’s body. He Yan was thinking about Lei Hou’s words from the dungeon just now. While she was thinking, Lin Shuanghe opened his mouth and asked, “Have you heard of the battle of the Guocheng Valley?”
He Yan was startled, and then replied, “I have heard about it.”
The Battle of Guocheng Valley was the most important battle when Xiao Jue led the Southern army to quell the Southern Barbarian’s Rebellion after Xiao Zhongwu’s death. At that time, the entire Great Wei was waiting to see Xiao Jue become a joke. A 16-year-old boy bringing so many soldiers, fighting with an opponent who defeated even his father. No matter how anyone looked at it, he was bound to lose.
Who knew that the first battle was a complete victory and that after the barbarians retreated steadily, Xiao Jue really pacified the unrest in only half a year.
“Do you know how he won the battle of Changgu?”
“Water attack.”
“You actually knew?”
He Yan didn’t speak, the bamboo stick slammed into the snow, poking out a small hole.
“Then you must also know that during the Battle of Guocheng, General Feng Yun, Xiao Huaijin flooded the city, killing 60,000 people.” Lin Shuanghe hugged Xiao Jue’s black cloak tighter, “At that time, the dead bodies were floating, and the east of the city stank with the smell all over, Guocheng was like a hell on earth, it was unbearable to even breath there.” He asked with a smile, “Do you think he is cruel and inhuman?”
He Yan calmly said, “War is inherently cruel. To be kind to the enemy is to be cruel to the people of your country. What’s more, if you are not in that position, no one knows what the truth is like. If it weren’t for his cruelty and inhumanity, perhaps those who are now drowned would be us.”
Lin Shuanghe paused, turned to He Yan, and asked, “How could you think so?”
“I just think that General Xiao is not such a person.”
Lin Shuanghe stared at her as if he was seeing He Yan for the first time.
He Yan asked, “Is there something wrong with what I said?”
After a long while, he shook his head and smiled, and said, “I’m just surprised that although you haven’t been with Huaijin for a year, you still believed in him so much. Why was I not as firm as you when I heard about this?”
He Yan thought to herself, that was because Lin Shuanghe had never really been to the battlefield. After seeing the people fighting on the battlefield, she knew how difficult it is for a general to make such a decision. Xiao Jue was smart and calm. If there was no reason to do so, then there was no need to do such a thing. Instead, this has left him with a reputation as a notorious murderer.
You must know that after the First Battle of Guocheng, Xiao Jue defeated Southern barbarians and garnered the respect of countless young people, but he was also criticized by many literati for being ruthless and unrighteous and pointed at him for killing too many people. After all, among the people who were drowned in the battle, there were also Southern civilians.
“Doctor Lin seems to know the reason for what he did.” He Yan asked, “What is that?”
“I didn’t know it at the beginning.” Lin Shuanghe sighed, “With 3,000 soldiers against 60,000 soldiers, what other way is there other than a water attack?”
“3,000 soldiers?” He Yan suddenly raised her head, “Weren’t there 100,000 southern soldiers?”
“100,000?” Lin Shuanghe smiled and said, “If there were 100,000 southern soldiers, he wouldn’t have to resort to this method.”
After Xiao Zhongwu’s death that year, Mrs. Xiao followed his death, and for a while, the Xiao’s family burst into tears and sorrow. At that time, Xiao Zhongwu was defeated in the battle of Mingshui because of his stubbornness and wrong command, which made tens of thousands of Wei sergeants die on the battlefield.
His Majesty was kind. Remembering the Xiao family’s many years of credit, he did not hold Xiao Zhongwu for his faults, but at the same time, the military power was also taken back. Xiao Jue was only sixteen years old at the time, and Xiao Jing was only eighteen. Bai Rongwei had only been married for less than half a year when this disaster happened.
Lin Shuanghe still remembered the first time he saw Xiao Jue after the Xiao family accident.
The young man used to be indifferent and lazy, as if nothing had ever been reflected in his heart. But it also taught people to understand that nothing in the world can beat him.
It’s just that anyone who suffered from such a disaster in their family would inevitably be in a state of collapse, and no matter how bad the person was, they would be very different from the past. But the Xiao Jue that Lin Shuanghe saw was not like that, Except that he looked a little more haggard than before, he was not depressed in any way.
“Do you have any medicine that makes people sleep all day?” Xiao Jue asked immediately.
Lin Shuanghe said, “My pharmacy has it. If you want it, I’ll get it for you right away.”
Lin’s pharmacies were all over Wei, and several were opened in the bustling city of Shuojing alone. Lin Shuanghe ordered his servant to go to the nearest pharmacy, took two pairs, and handed it to him. “One will sleep for ten hours after taking it.” He suddenly thought of something, “If you can’t sleep at night, I can make a milder one for you.”
Perhaps, Xiao Jue had trouble falling asleep all night because of a sudden change at home and wanted to ask for medicine to calm the nerves and help him sleep.
Xiao Jue put the medicine back in his sleeve, waved his hand at him, and said, “Thank you.” After that, he turned to leave.
“Huaijin!” Lin Shuanghe called him.
Xiao Jue stopped and looked at him.
“This medicine… is for you right?”
The young man’s brows were delicate and bright, his eyes crossed him and landed in the distance. At the end of the distance, the majestic palace was looming, and he said lightly, “I plan to enter the palace.”
Lin Shuanghe was not a stupid person, he understood Xiao Jue’s intention in an instant, and he said in horror, “Are you going to enter the palace without telling your elder brother?”
“If I tell him this,” The young man lowered his head and smiled, “it will only add to his trouble.”
“You’re crazy!” Lin Shuanghe said anxiously, “Do you know that the court is in chaos right now because of General Xiao’s affairs? Now, no one dares to speak for General Xiao. Minister Xu has been accompanying His Majesty every day. Do you know why?”
“I know.” Xiao Jue said, “So what? The military power must return to the Xiao family.”
“You might die like this!”
Xiao Jue turned his head and looked at him fixedly, “then let me die.”
“You!”
“By the way, I want to ask you for help with something.” He said.
The young man’s face rarely showed such a solemn expression, and an ominous premonition surged in Lin Shuanghe’s heart for a moment. He pursed his lips and asked, “What’s the matter?”
“If I come back alive, treat it as if it didn’t happen. If I die,” he paused, “there is no need to collect my corpse. I hope Imperial Physician Lin can speak in front of the Empress Dowager and help my elder brother. As this matter… has nothing to do with my brother.”
“What do you mean… if you’re dead?” Lin Shuanghe heard his own trembling voice.
“It’s very simple, once tonight is over, either I will die today, or he will die tomorrow.” He looked calm, as if he was talking about someone else’s business, “but I’m not sure about the outcome, so,” he curled his lips, “You can pray.”
“Xiao Huaijin!”
The boy faced him, bowed deeply, and when he straightened up, he only said two words.
“Thank you.”
Lin Shuanghe’s eyes turned red.
Xiao Jue waved at him, “Go back.”
Lin Shuanghe didn’t move.
He laughed and turned to leave.
That was a long, long time ago, but at that time Xiao Jue’s back still seemed to stop in front of him. On the bustling downtown streets, the boy’s back was tall and straight, but he was extremely lonely.
No one knew what kind of road he was going to take, but Lin Shuanghe knew one thing very well:
Xiao Jue will not look back.
He was absorbed in his thoughts but was suddenly interrupted by He Yan’s words. He Yan asked, “So later, the General entered the palace by himself like this?”
Lin Shuanghe regained his senses and continued to walk forward slowly, saying as he walked, “I didn’t follow him into the palace. What happened later was told to me by my grandfather.”
That night, it started to rain.
The autumn rain was cool and cold, and it seemed to soak through people’s hearts. In a few days, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival. If nothing happened to Xiao Zhongwu, the Xiao mansion would have been busy at that moment, making the decorations for the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. But now it was bleak, with mourning and sorrow everywhere.
The three people at the table were silent.
No one wanted to eat the food. Bai Rongwei said in a warm voice, “Eat a little bit. If it goes on like this, your body won’t be able to take it anymore.”
They were all simple porridge and side dishes. After a moment of silence, Xiao Jing still picked up the bowl. He took a sip, put it down again, and said, “Huaijin, tomorrow morning, I will enter the palace with you.”
Xiao Jue, “Okay.”
Bai Rongwei asked, “Entering the palace…what do you want to do?”
“Xiao family without the military power will sooner or later become meat on the chopping board, and be slaughtered by others.” Xiao Jing said, “In any case, the Southern Army must return to the Xiao family, otherwise…”
Otherwise, the Xiao family won’t know how long it will last.
“Then, even if His Majesty returned the military power to us, what should we do in the future?” Bai Rongwei said cautiously, “You are an advisor, even if Huaijin is a martial artist, he is only sixteen years old.”
Xiao Jing’s movements stopped.
He had to admit the fact that there was no one in the Xiao family. Even though Xiao Jue was gifted, he was only sixteen and a half-grown child. How could he lead tens of thousands of Southern soldiers?
It would be difficult to convince the public.
“There are so many things that you can do at the age of sixteen.” Xiao Jue casually said, “Elder brother, if you get afraid even to start, you will only achieve nothing.”
Xiao Jing sighed and said, “Forget it, let’s take one step at a time. Now, there is no other way to go.”
“Will His Majesty return the military power to us?” Bai Rongwei said worriedly, “Now that Minister Xu is so powerful, he will not let this opportunity to deal with the Xiao family be missed.”
“Yes.” The young man poured tea lazily for them, “Don’t be afraid, Xu Jingfu is just a mortal.”
No one spoke anymore.
The rain continued to drizzle, and the servants helped Bai Rongwei and Xiao Jing back to the bed.
Xiao Jue stood up, put on his coat, and walked out the door.
Outside, Fei Nu was waiting. The rain fell on the ground, smashing puddles and ripples, soaking the white lanterns hanging at the door.
Xiao Jue stopped at the door.
Fei Nu said, “Master.”
He lowered his head and instructed the housekeeper, “Take care of them.” He turned around and got into the carriage.
“Let’s go.”
And then the carriage disappeared into the night.
The carriage drove to the palace, where the current Prime Minister Xu Jingfu was playing chess with Emperor Wen Xuan.
The palace servant came to report, “Your Majesty, the second son of General Xiao’s, is asking for an audience with you.”
Emperor Wen Xuan stopped playing chess, “Xiao Huaijin? What is he doing here?”
“Maybe he is here for his father.” Xu Jingfu smiled and said, “Your Majesty, be careful.” He picked up a black piece.
“You, don’t take advantage of my distraction,” Wen Xuan laughed and scolded, “Cunning.”
Xu Jingfu also smiled, “It was His Majesty who let the old minister.”
The two of them joked and played chess again, seeming to have forgotten Xiao Jue. The time for a stick of incense passed, and the palace servant came in again to remind, “Your Majesty, Second Young Master Xiao is still waiting outside the palace gate, and it is raining outside.”
“Tell him to go back if it’s raining.” Emperor Wen Xuan was worried about the chess game in front of him, “What’s the point of staying?”
“Your Majesty, don’t be annoyed,” Xu Jingfu said, “This second son of Xiao’s family has undergone great changes, and he is still a child. He must have a lot of grievances in his heart. It is better to let the old minister go out and persuade him. It is best to persuade him to go back.”
“Go ahead.” Emperor Wen Xuan waved his hand impatiently, “The last court was also about Xiao Zhongwu’s business, and the next court can’t be about this anymre. It’s the Xiao Family all day long, I’m tired of hearing this name. You let him go back! Go and come back quickly, you have to accompany me to finish this game of chess.”
Xu Jingfu got up and saluted respectfully, “Yes.”
As soon as he left the gate, he saw Xiao Jue kneeling at the door waiting.
Xu Jingfu was past his prime. When he was young, he worked in the Hanlin Academy, and his students were all over the world. The outstanding young men of the Wei Dynasty were more or less related to him. Even though Xiao Jue was not his student, he has heard of Xiao Jue’s outstanding performance. He once met Xiao Jue during the royal hunt, and he remembered that the white-robed boy was so handsome, like a pearl, outshining everyone else.
Xu Jingfu also sighed in his heart, such an outstanding young man, if he was from his Xu family it would be good. It is a pity that barbarian Xiao Zhongwu got this lucky.
He stood in front of Xiao Jue and said, “Second Young Master Xiao.”
The boy raised his head and looked at him, “Master Xu.”
“It’s raining so heavy outside. Why is Second Young Master Xiao waiting outside without an umbrella.” He instructed the palace servants on the left and right, “Come here, bring an umbrella for Second Young Master Xiao.”
The palace servant stood behind Xiao Jue with an umbrella, and Xu Jingfu made a gesture to help him up, as if like an elder, he really cared about the younger ones, “What are you doing on your knees, get up quickly.”
Xiao Jue didn’t move and said, “I want to see His Majesty.”
“Your Majesty is busy right now. If Second Young Master Xiao has anything, there is no harm in coming back tomorrow. It is very late now, and His Majesty has to rest after his work. It is not a good time to meet the Majesty.”
The young man was unmoved and only repeated, “Lord Xu, I must see His Majesty today.”
Xu Jingfu took two steps back, put his hands in his sleeves, and looked at him, with a kind smile on his face, “Second Young Master Xiao, Your Majesty is kind, When Xiao family had merits, he favored you. Now your father is guilty – the battle of Mingshui caused a disastrous defeat for the Wei soldiers, and he should have been held accountable. It was His Majesty who was thinking of their old friendship and didn’t do much. How can you still be so stubborn and insensitive?”
The rain slanted and slipped in under the umbrella, soaking the boy’s clothes. His eyebrows were beautiful, his expression was calm, and his voice was no longer half lazy and savvy, as he said, “Lord Xu is right.”
Xu Jingfu’s smile remained unchanged.
“So,” Xiao Jue raised his head and looked at him, “I implore Lord Xu to make an accommodation with His Majesty. Xiao Jue wants to see His Majesty.”
“Second Young Master Xiao is joking. Why would this old man plead His majesty for you?” Xu Jingfu asked.
The young man looked at him and bowed his head slightly, “Please, Lord Xu.”
The arrogance of a young man was the most unbearable. Sometimes the spine bends so gently, looking like he couldn’t stand up again.
If Xiao Zhongwu in heaven knew this, what kind of expression would he have from seeing his proud second son kneeling in front of him and begging for mercy?
For a split second, Xu Jingfu didn’t want to drive him to a dead end. It was much more interesting to watch a proud person fall into the mundane world, get trodden into the mud, and their self-esteem getting trampled.
He raised his head slightly and said distressedly, “Second Young Master Xiao, it’s not that this old man won’t help you. It’s just that now His Majesty is angry with the Xiao family. Even this old man can hardly interfere in this matter.”
Xiao Jue only said, “Please, Lord Xu.”
Xu Jingfu stared at him, and after a while, he said, “If Second Young Master Xiao insists on seeing His Majesty, it is better to take the punishment yourself. The Xiao family is already guilty. Well, this old man can speak for Second Young Master Xiao.”
“Lord Xu please advise.”
“You are young now, and it is difficult to bear more punishments. Just go receive fifty beatings first.” He said.
These words were very easy, as if they had given Xiao Jue a good deal of relief. The palace servant next to him lowered his head and did not speak, but he couldn’t hide the surprise in his heart.
Fifty beatings could kill a weak person. Even for an ordinary person, fifty boards could take half of his life, and it would be difficult to get better if he doesn’t recuperate for half a year or so.
Xiao Jue said, “Okay.”
Xu Jingfu smiled, “Second Young Master really has the style of his father,” he turned around and instructed the people behind him, “Take Second Young Master Xiao down to get the beatings.”
It was raining heavily at night, as fifty beatings fell on the person, which was not as easy as imagined, especially when the executioner of the palace was deliberately “instructed” by Xu Jingfu.
The young man said nothing, gritted his teeth, and tolerated the punishment. After fifty beatings, he wiped the blood from the corners of his lips, slowly propped himself up, and stood up.
When he stood up, his footsteps were a bit vain, and he almost lost his footing, and the palace servant beside him looked a little unbearable. The second son of Xiao, who was dressed in brocade and fox fur, was noble and gorgeous, but now he looked so embarrassed. Who would have expected? No one could have expected this.
Xu Jingfu was not interested in watching Xiao Jue suffer from the beatings. He entered the hall and went to talk to Emperor Wenxuan first.
Emperor Wenxuan said, “Didn’t you say you want to drive him away?”
“Your Majesty,” Xu Jingfu shook his head, “Second Young Master Xiao insisted on seeing His Majesty, but the old minister couldn’t persuade him. The young man is so strong-minded that when he really decides to do something, even the nine-headed ox won’t be able to pull him back. Now that General is gone, his mother also… The old minister also sees him as pitiful. Your Majesty might as well meet him and listen to what he has to say. If he doesn’t speak well, let him go out and don’t see him next time.”
Emperor Wen Xuan sighed, “You have a soft heart.”
“Your majesty is merciful.”
“Forget it,” Emperor Wenxuan instructed the palace servants, “Anyway, I grew up watching him, so let him come in.”
It was extremely cold outside the hall and extremely warm inside. There was no night rain that could not be avoided, but only the dizzy fragrance of flowers. The lights were bright, as someone entered.
He knelt down in front of Emperor Wenxuan and said, “This minister greets His majesty.”
“Please excuse yourself.” Emperor Wenxuan said casually, looked up at Xiao Jue and was stunned as soon as he saw Xiao Jue, so he asked, “How did you become like this?”
It had been raining outside, and Xu Jingfu’s umbrella only lasted for less than a moment. He was wet and embarrassed all over, moreover because he had just passed fifty beatings, his body was extremely weak, his face was like paper, and his lips were pale, as if he was about to faint the next moment.
He was very different from the past.
After watching him grow up, Emperor Wen Xuan couldn’t help but feel pity, moved a bit of genuine concern. He slowed down his tone, and said, “Tell me, did someone bully you?”
“No.” Xu Jingfu stood aside and replied, “Second Young Master Xiao knew that the Xiao family was guilty, so he took fifty beatings as punishments by himself, so that he could teach himself to feel better, and let His Majesty know the repentance of the Xiao family.”
Emperor Wenxuan looked at him and sighed, “Fifty beatings… It’s too much.”
“Second Young Master Xiao is also grateful for His Majesty’s kindness.” Xu Jingfu smiled.
“Why did you come to me?” Emperor Wen Xuan said, “I don’t want to talk about the Xiao family anymore.”
Xiao Jue’s eyes swept across the chess game on the table. In the chess game, black and white pieces were intertwined, and under the warm lights, there was a gloomy coldness.
As strange as life is, no one can predict what will happen in the future.
But the past is in the past, and since it is impossible to predict, the future is created.
The boy fell down, his voice was calm, with unstoppable stubbornness, he said word by word.
“This minister begs for Your Majesty’s to grant the permission to personally lead the Southern Army into Mingshui again to fight the Southern Barbarians.”
