aircannonsinc Chapter 195 Something Happened at the Nujiang Ferry Crossing? Xu Longxiang's Unease
Chapter 195 Something Happened at the Nujiang Ferry Crossing? Xu Longxiang's Unease
at the same time,
The Northern Frontier, the Prince Zhenbei's Mansion.
In late autumn, October, the north wind has already begun to blow.
The Prince's Mansion covers an area of 100 acres, with pavilions and towers stretching out in a continuous line. The flying eaves and brackets outline a majestic silhouette against the hazy sky.
Two stone lions, each over ten feet tall, stand in front of the gate with their eyes wide open in anger, their paws resting on embroidered balls. After a hundred years of wind and rain, the stone has turned bluish-black, but this only makes them appear more majestic.
It was now 7:45 PM, and night had fallen.
Deep within the Prince's Mansion, the Zhenyue Hall was brightly lit.
This is the core area where the Prince of Zhenbei handles military affairs; ordinary officials are not even qualified to step into the courtyard.
The hall is three zhang high and five bays wide, with blue bricks and gray tiles, simple and unadorned, yet it exudes a solemn and austere atmosphere.
The three large characters "Zhenyue Hall" on the lintel are written in strong, elegant strokes, personally inscribed by the late emperor, and the brushstrokes still carry the sound of metal and steel.
Inside the hall, the charcoal fire was burning brightly.
Eight thick nanmu pillars support the dome, and the pillars are carved with maps of the northern landscape, with undulating mountains and winding rivers, so detailed that every canyon and every pass is clearly distinguishable.
The floor was paved with bluish-gray stone bricks, worn smooth as a mirror by the years, reflecting the lights in the room.
A long conference table was placed in the center of the hall. The dark sandalwood tabletop was three zhang long and one zhang wide, and more than twenty sandalwood armchairs were placed around it.
Most of the chairs were empty at the moment, with only a few near the main seat showing signs of being sat on, the teacups still warm and emitting wisps of steam.
Xu Longxiang sat in the main seat.
He had changed out of his long-distance travel gear and into a dark blue casual robe, the collar slightly open, revealing his well-defined collarbones.
His long hair was simply tied up with an ebony hairpin, with a few strands falling across his forehead, adding a touch of languor to his appearance, but unable to conceal the deep-seated coldness between his brows.
A thick stack of documents lay spread out in front of him.
There were autumn military settlement accounts reported by the General of Fuyuan, a copy of the Xiliang battle situation sent by the General of Zhenxi's office, tax assessment documents from various prefectures in the north forwarded by the Ministry of Revenue, and a thick stack of greetings from various prefectures and counties.
Those were just for show; the truly important matters had already been reported separately by designated personnel.
Xu Longxiang's gaze swept over the documents, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound.
He was reviewing today's meeting.
Two hours ago, Zhenyue Hall was filled with people.
General Zhou Bingwen, General Murong Zhan, and General Helan Shan.
Three of the four main army groups in the north have arrived as commanders, while only the General of Fuyuan, who is stationed on the easternmost front, has sent his deputy to replace him due to his duties.
Other notable civil officials from the northern states include: Wei Yuanzhong, governor of Yunzhou; Han Qinhu, governor of Shuozhou; and Yuwen Chengdu, governor of Yanzhou.
These are all veterans who have followed the Xu family for many years, some of whom were even old men who had helped build the empire since the time of Xu Xiao.
The meeting had only one theme: what to do next.
They already knew everything that had happened in the capital.
Xu Fenghua was forcibly taken as a concubine.
Qin Mu's humiliating words of "celebrating Consort Hua" at the wedding ceremony.
The humiliation suffered by Xu Longxiang and the humiliation suffered by the Northern Border were all brought back to the Northern Border in detail by the fast horses that delivered the messages.
The atmosphere inside Zhenyue Hall at that time was so heavy it could be squeezed out of you.
General Zhou Bingwen, known for his fiery temper, slammed his fist on the table: "Your Highness! This humble general requests permission to immediately muster 30,000 troops and personally lead them south to kill that tyrannical emperor!"
Although General Murong Zhan, the General Who Guards the North, was more composed, a cold glint flashed in his eyes: "Your Highness, this matter cannot be left unresolved. If we swallow our anger, what will the world think of the Northern Border? What will the soldiers in the army think of Your Highness?"
Civil officials, on the other hand, were more cautious.
Wei Yuanzhong, the prefect of Yunzhou, stroked his gray beard and slowly said:
"Sending troops is a major undertaking and requires careful consideration. At present, the Western Liang is not yet pacified, and the Northern Barbarians are eyeing us covetously. If we rashly march south, we risk being attacked from both sides. Moreover, the young lady is still in the palace; if we act rashly, her situation will be..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.
Xu Fenghua is still in Qin Mu's hands.
She was Xu Longxiang's elder sister, and also the most crucial weakness of the Northern Border.
The meeting lasted for two full hours, with heated debate, but no agreement was reached.
The military generals advocated for war, while the civil officials advocated for caution.
Finally, Xu Longxiang made the final decision:
"This matter is not urgent."
He stood up, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his voice calm yet undeniably authoritative:
"Thirty years of accumulation in the North cannot be achieved overnight. Since Qin Mu dared to do this, he must have a backup plan. What we need to do is not to be blinded by anger, but to remain calm, steady our position, and do what needs to be done."
"All armies are intensifying their drills, reorganizing their military equipment, and ensuring that provisions and supplies are prepared in advance."
"All prefectures and counties shall continue to operate as usual, and taxes, land reclamation, and recruitment shall not be neglected."
"As for the imperial city—"
He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:
"I have my own plans."
The meeting ended here.
The officials gradually dispersed, and Zhenyue Hall returned to silence.
Xu Longxiang sat alone in the main seat, staring at the stack of documents in front of him, but his mind was churning with more complex thoughts.
His mind is in a mess right now.
So much had happened during that time, and those memories flashed through his mind like a series of fleeting images.
This caused him to experience a surge of emotions, making it difficult for him to calm down.
"Your Highness."
A voice came from the doorway, interrupting Xu Longxiang's thoughts.
He looked up and saw a middle-aged man dressed in a blue scholar's robe stride into Zhenyue Hall.
This man was around forty years old, with a thin face, three long strands of beard hanging down to his chest, and a scholarly elegance between his brows, yet also a hint of profundity.
It was Fan Li, one of Xu Longxiang's five chief advisors.
Fan Li walked three steps to the long table and bowed.
Xu Longxiang raised his hand: "Mr. Fan, there's no need for such formality. What do you think of the attitude of those officials today?"
Fan Li straightened up, stroked his beard, and said, "It's all expected that the military officers advocate war and the civil officials advocate caution. Zhou Bingwen has a fiery temper and can't stand being slighted, so it's not surprising that he advocates war. Murong Zhan is more composed, but he can't swallow this insult either. It's also understandable that Wei Yuanzhong and the others are concerned about the young lady's safety."
He paused, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes:
"Your Highness handled the situation perfectly today. You stabilized morale without making any absolute statements. From now on, we can proceed with our plans gradually; there's no need to rush."
Xu Longxiang nodded.
What Fan Li said was pretty much what he thought.
Fan Li sat down in the armchair, accepted the hot tea offered by the maid, and took a small sip.
"Mr. Fan," Xu Longxiang suddenly spoke, "where do you think Empress Li Yang is now?"
He asked the question casually, as if it were just a casual remark.
Fan Li put down his teacup and pondered for a moment: "According to the itinerary, they have been traveling for three days since they set off from the capital. If the journey has been smooth, they should have already crossed the Nujiang River ferry and entered Liyang territory by now."
He smiled and added, "Her Majesty the Empress is probably already resting at the post station in Liyang. Judging by the time, the congratulatory message from Liyang should arrive in a few days."
But there was no smile on Xu Longxiang's face.
He gazed at the deep night outside the window, and the image of Zhao Qingxue's peerless face and her deep purple phoenix eyes floated into his mind.
For some reason, he always felt uneasy.
"Mr. Fan," he asked again, "have we been in contact with the people at the Nujiang ferry crossing recently?"
Fan Li was slightly taken aback.
Nujiang ferry crossing?
That was the only route the Liyang delegation could take back home, and also...
Fan Li's gaze suddenly sharpened.
There are indeed their people at the Nujiang ferry crossing.
It was a hidden stake that the Xu family had been operating for many years but had never used.
The gang leader, Hu Zhenshan, was nominally a local tyrant in the Nujiang area, but in reality, he was backed by Shen Zhong, the grain and fodder transport commissioner under the Fuyuan General.
Shen Zhong was a key pawn that the Xu family had secretly cultivated for many years and planted in the Northern Border military.
This line was buried very deep, and even most officials in the North were unaware of it.
Only Xu Longxiang and a few of his core advisors knew the truth.
"Your Highness," Fan Li's voice tightened slightly, "Are you worried about...?"
"It's not out of concern," Xu Longxiang interrupted him, his voice still calm. "It's just a routine inquiry. Have our people sent back any messages?"
Fan Li shook his head: "I've been busy traveling these past few days and haven't been able to contact them yet. However, according to custom, they send secret reports every three days. Judging by the time, we should have news today."
"Then let's investigate," Xu Longxiang said. "Send a letter to confirm the situation."
"Yes." Fan Li stood up. "I will take care of it immediately."
He strode out of Zhenyue Hall and disappeared into the night.
Xu Longxiang sat alone in the same spot, his gaze fixed on the rising moon outside the window.
The cool moonlight shone on the old locust trees in the courtyard, casting dappled shadows.
He suddenly remembered Zhao Qingxue's appearance before she left outside the east gate of the imperial city.
She is still so beautiful.
It looked exactly the same as he remembered, unchanged, still captivating, enchanting, and irresistible to him.
only……
The other person seemed to have no feelings for him, and even seemed somewhat unfamiliar with him.
Xu Longxiang shook his head, dismissing the thought.
Empress Li Yang was already high above and cold as ice, so how could she easily fall in love with him?
His great cause is not yet accomplished, and he cannot afford to be distracted by these matters at this moment.
Xu Longxiang picked up his teacup and took a small sip.
The tea had gone cold, and the bitterness spread from the tip of my tongue to my throat.
He frowned and put down his teacup.
Time passed by, second by second.
Xu Longxiang waited quietly, his expression calm.
However, he was not at peace inside; in fact, he felt uneasy and inexplicably anxious.
He had a feeling that something bad was about to happen.
Five hours later.
Xu Longxiang opened his eyes, his gaze deep and unfathomable.
He stood up, ready to leave.
Just then—
Hurried footsteps came from outside the door.
Xu Longxiang looked up and saw Fan Li stride into Zhenyue Hall.
His face looked very pale.
His face was pale with a hint of bluish-gray, his brows were furrowed, his lips were slightly pursed, and his steps were a bit more hurried than usual.
Xu Longxiang's heart sank suddenly.
"What's wrong?"
Fan Li walked to the long table, bowed, and his voice carried an undisguised solemnity:
"Your Highness, I was just about to tell you about this."
He paused, took a deep breath, and then continued:
"Just now, as instructed by the Crown Prince, I contacted the Nujiang ferry crossing by flying letter. According to custom, this kind of message is sent by the fastest hawk in our Northern Army. Released from the palace, it can reach the Nujiang ferry crossing in a maximum of four hours. After receiving it, they will reply in the same way, regardless of whether it is important or not, to show that everything is normal."
His voice grew softer and softer:
"But this time—"
He looked up at Xu Longxiang, speaking slowly and deliberately:
"I sent out a carrier falcon five hours ago, and I have yet to receive any reply."
Inside Zhenyue Hall, a deathly silence suddenly fell.
The charcoal fire burned in the copper basin, occasionally making a soft "crackling" sound, but at this moment it sounded particularly jarring.
The night breeze blew through the window, stirring the lanterns under the eaves. The light and shadow flickered and fell on Xu Longxiang's face.
Xu Longxiang's brows furrowed slowly.
His hand remained on the armrest of the chair, his posture unchanged.
But the five fingers gripping the armrest tightened almost imperceptibly.
There was no reply.
There was no reply from the other side of the Nujiang ferry.
What does this mean?
This means something might have happened over there.
This means that the hidden network that has been operating for many years may have run into problems.
mean--
A thought flashed through Xu Longxiang's mind.
The thought flashed through his mind, but it made his heart sink.
Empress Liyang's journey took her to the Nujiang ferry crossing today.
But at this moment, he has lost contact with his men.
Between these two things—
Is there any connection?
"Your Highness," Fan Li's voice rang out again, tinged with cautious probing, "Do you think... something might have happened over there?"
Xu Longxiang did not answer immediately.
He simply sat there quietly, his gaze fixed on the bright moon outside the window.
The cold moonlight outlined the hard lines of his profile.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice calm, yet carrying a barely perceptible tension:
"Send the order to all post stations and spies along the route to immediately investigate the situation at the Nujiang ferry crossing."
"Send another team of fast horses to set off overnight and go to the ferry crossing in person."
"Report any news immediately."
Fan Li bowed: "Yes!"
He turned to leave, but Xu Longxiang called him back.
"Mr. Fan."
Fan Li stopped and turned to look at Xu Longxiang.
Xu Longxiang continued to gaze out the window, his voice very soft, almost as if he were talking to himself:
"You mean... Empress Li Yang has truly crossed the Nu River by now?"
Fan Li was stunned.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but found that he couldn't say anything at all.
Because he couldn't be sure either.
Based on the itinerary, they should have crossed it.
But what if we don't have it?
What if something unexpected happens?
What does that mean?
Fan Li dared not think any further.
All he knew was that beneath the prince's calm expression lay a turbulent undercurrent of emotions.
"Go ahead," Xu Longxiang waved his hand.
Fan Li bowed and withdrew, his steps even more hurried than when he arrived.
Only Xu Longxiang remained inside Zhenyue Hall.
He slowly stood up and walked to the window.
He pushed open the window, and the night wind rushed in, carrying the chill of late autumn, and ruffled the stray hairs at his temples.
He gazed at the deep night sky to the north, at the vast plains illuminated by the bright moon, and at the road leading to the Nujiang ferry crossing.
A deep worry, never before revealed to anyone, flashed in his eyes.
Zhao Qingxue...
where are you?
And where am I?
The moonlight was silent, only the night wind howled past.
The lights inside Zhenyue Hall swayed a few times in the wind before finally stabilizing.
The halo of light shone on Xu Longxiang, stretching his tall figure into a very long shadow, which was projected onto the wall behind him, making him look like a silent statue.
And in the distance he cannot see—
The Nujiang ferry crossing has long since changed.
Those hidden agents he had cultivated for years, those pawns he had placed his hopes on, those plans he thought were foolproof—
They have all turned to dust and sunk into the surging waters of the Nujiang River.
Meanwhile, the Empress Li Yang, whom he longed for, was sitting in the carriage heading towards the imperial city.
Face to face with the man he hated most.
He was sharing a room with the incompetent ruler he thought was "utterly vulnerable".
He was manipulated at will by the opponent he thought was "easy to bully".
And all of this—
He knows nothing.
He could only stand under the northern night sky, gazing at the darkness that seemed impenetrable forever.
wait.
Waiting for news that will never come.