Changning’s Imperial Army - Chapter 81

Chapter 81 – Tian Wen Ge

Changan city.

Yanya Academy.

The head of the academy’s room was very warm. The charcoal in the copper pot on his table was burning strongly. His thick soup was already boiling – all he had to do was to put in slices of lamb meat into it. It seemed that the late fall in Changan city had come to an end overnight. It was starting to get chilly and cold. The flowers were still blooming the day before. The beautiful season had come to an end.

The academy head liked to eat white tofu. A refined-looking delicate young man, who was like a girl, was slicing white tofu. His knife work was neat – every single piece was of equal thickness.

The young man had a face that would make girls jealous; when he let down his hair, it made him look rather androgynous. He had good skin; his lips were red and his teeth were white. His most beautiful feature was his pair of eyes. They were clean-looking and clear.

The academy head comfortably sat in his chair, waiting for the white tofu to be placed into the post. The more he looked at the young man, the more satisfied he was.

Last year, there was Meng Changan. This year, there was Bai Xiaoluo. The continued tradition of nurturing talents in the academy made the academy head perfectly contented.

“Last year, your brother came in third in the competition.”

The academy head thought of the young man named Bai Xiaoge. He was rather beautiful as well, but he was a lot more robust than Bai Xiaoluo. However, the majority of the people would be cheated by Bai Xiaoluo’s delicate looks. His sword attacks were swifter, more ruthless and more direct than that of his brother’s. In the recent monthly competitions in the academy, nobody could withstand his storm-like sword attacks.

And very few people know that Bai Xiaoluo did not specialize in sword techniques, but long lance. It was also his favorite.

Bai Xiaoluo was not considered tall – he was around 1.75 meters, and the iron long lance that he hung in his room the entire time was more than 2 meters long. The pointed end of it alone was two feet long.

“My brother has always been stronger than me.”

One by one, Bai Xiaoluo added the slices of tofu into the pot. It did not splash at all.

“Hypocrite.”

The academy head pointed to the aged wine that had been heated up for a while. Bai Xiaoluo put down the plate and poured a cup of wine for him. “I’m not being a hypocrite. Since we were children, my brother has always been my hero. He is the goal that I am working towards. The only thing I want to achieve is to become as strong and powerful like my brother.”

“You should drink too.”

The academy head pointed to the empty cup in front of Bai Xiaoluo.

Bai Xiaoluo laughed bashfully. “We’re in the academy. One of the rules states that we cannot drink wine.”

The academy head replied, “I will remove that rule tomorrow.”

Hence, Bai Xiaoluo poured half a cup of wine for himself. “Is there anything urgent?”

“I feel that there is something I should tell you in advance. Originally, this is something highly confidential that I absolutely cannot reveal ahead of time, but since I am old, I should become more headstrong. Besides, you are not as ruthless and ferocious as Meng Changan. His ability to adapt to circumstances is stronger than you. It’s good for you that I tell you in advance.”

Meng Changan?

Bai Xiaoluo was a little shocked. It was a name that he had heard several times before. Last year, during the competition, he was also in the academy. However, because he had not completed ten years of education, he was not allowed to take part in the competition. He had witnessed with his own eyes how Meng Changan managed to defeat his biological brother Bai Xiaoge.

The difference between him and Bai Xiaoge was that from the first year Bai Xiaoge entered the academy, he made people remember his name. As for Bai Xiaoluo, people only got to know about him in his tenth and final year in the academy.

This was precisely why the academy head admired Bai Xiaoluo. In the first nine years, he spent eight years in the academy together with his brother, Bai Xiaoge. If he wanted, he could have easily overpowered his brother. However, he constantly kept a low profile. His performance every month was mediocre; it was not attention-grabbing at all.

After his brother left the academy, he displayed his extraordinary splendor.

“Brother Meng is really strong.”

When he thought about last year’s competition, Meng Changan was already heavily injured and yet he remained an irresistible force. That was when people made the shocking realization that the Meng Changan they knew, who was on par with Bai Xiaoge and Yu Dian, was only suppressing his full potential. When he stopped holding himself back, Yu Dian and Bai Xiaoge could not match up to him at all.

“You’re not worse than him.”

The academy head drank a mouthful of wine; the wine went down his throat. Drinking wine and eating white tofu in such a cold weather with that person before him was a delightful and wonderful experience.

“Whatever I’m about to say to you next, you cannot let anyone else know – not even your parents. I’m guessing that your brother Bai Xiaoge already knows about it. He went to the Western Border Armed Forces – it’s well-suited for him. But similarly, he is not allowed to reveal it either.”

The academy head looked out of the window. “A few years ago, His Majesty started doing something extraordinary. Initially, the people who first discussed it with His Majesty were Tantai Yuanshu and I…let me be more direct. His Majesty wants to do something that surpasses the four borders and depositories.”

“Huh?”

Bai Xiaoluo was stunned. “Something that surpasses the four borders and depositories?”

“His Majesty appreciates young people – their abilities, determination and their loyalty towards Great Ning, as well as their courage and valor that we old people have already thrown in the gutter. Ever since a few years ago, it seems like His Majesty has been observing you young people. He set up Tian Wen Ge. Your name, your brother’s name, as well as Meng Changan’s name, are in Tian Wen Ge.”

“The scholars always say in a sour manner that Great Ning reveres the military. It is not that Great Ning reveres the military, but that the allocations and trainings of the troops remained the same ever since it was founded, as well as the power and might that was constantly displayed towards outsiders. This is because the previous emperors of Great Ning bore in mind the wishes of the deceased Great Ancestor. Both aspects, civil and military, have been well-established for a long time…it is said that military is used to establish a country, and civil is used to rule a country. However, since ancient times, the powerful empires that used to bask in glory lost their power because of mismanagement of civil and military. Hence, merely using civil ways of ruling the country is not enough. Military has to come into play too.”

“The southern border’s Shi Yuanxiong is fifty this year, and the eastern border’s Pei Tingshan is almost sixty. The northern border’s Tie Liuli is fifty four, and the western border’s Tan Jiuzhou is considered to be rather young – he is forty nine. Even though the younger generation does not lack talents – such as northern border’s Wu Xinyu and Haisha, but the number of talents are dwindling. Why? Is it because each generation of Great Ning is getting worse?”

“No, it’s because some people have started to become imperious and domineering. In the eastern border, Pei Tingshan has eight generals – each one of them is valiant. However, they are merely brave. What about talents who can command troops? They have already been suppressed. When the older people who have been in authority for too long, they will abuse it. They want to be in power for a few more years before passing on their position to their family members. How disgraceful.”

The academy head finished his second cup of wine. “As for your seniors, I think especially highly of Wu Xinyu and Hai Sha. Those two people are talented in commanding people. Hence, His Majesty admires Tie Liuli a lot. Because Tie Liuli knows how to behave like a true counselor. As for the younger generation, I like Meng Changan and you. And another fella who I have yet to meet. Even though he is not in the four borders and depositories and did not undergo training and education in my academy, he had already revealed his outstanding talent. His Majesty knows more about this than me.”

“All of you are the future important subjects of His Majesty. I’m telling you in advance because I want you to know that what you lack most is self-confidence. You always feel that you are not good enough in different areas. It might be good in terms of academics, but it is not a good thing when it comes to leading troops in the future. Amongst all of you, only Meng Changan was born with an aggressive nature, that he is the best in the world.”

The academy head let out a long sigh. He had already said a lot. It was in fact already enough.

“Let’s eat.”

He took a piece of white tofu that almost broke apart from overcooking. “His Majesty makes intricate plans, over long periods of time. Several people can’t see through him.”

Bai Xiaoluo lowered his voice. “Pei?”

The academy head shook his head in silence.

After they finished their meal, the academy head waited for Bai Xiaoluo to leave before he sat down by his desk. There was a letter on the table whose seal had been broken not long ago. It came from the northern border.

The academy head took the letter out and read it once more. He thought to himself about how Tie Liuli went out of his way to interfere with things. If something were to happen to that fella, what would Zhuang Yong do to him?

However, he felt that if everything were to be done according to Tie Liuli’s plan, it would be extremely interesting.

“Tie Liuli knows how to be a qualified counselor.”

The academy head muttered to himself. After that, he lifted his brush and continued writing. He was not replying to Tie Liuli’s letter. Instead, he was writing to a certain someone in the Navy in Anyang.

“I’m already old, and if I don’t do something wild once, I’m afraid I’ll never get the chance to do it. What His Majesty needs is people like us, who cross the line. He wouldn’t do anything like that himself. He cannot afford to have a bad reputation…”

After he finished writing, he melted the sealing wax and sealed the letter. Thereafter, he yelled out, “Send it to the Navy.”

A young man walked out of the darkness and took the letter with both hands. “I will send it out at the fastest possible speed.”

He lifted his head. It was Liu Yun Sect’s Bai Ya!

Ten days later, the letter arrived at the Navy’s. However, it did not get to Zhuang Yong.

That was because the letter was not written to Zhuang Yong, but to Cen Zheng.

It was almost winter, but An Yang was still as warm as before. The wild flowers along the river bank had been blooming over and over again, as though it was never ending. The Navy’s training was as strict and compact as always. Shen Leng had never been laxed on his men – not even for a day.

It was the start of their vacation tomorrow. After Shen Leng ended the extra training session with his men, it was already nightfall. He called out to Chen Ran and the two of them carried their extremely sturdy canvas rucksack that was distributed by the Navy and left the camp, preparing to head home.

The moment he left, he saw General Cen Zheng standing by the river bank. Shen Leng and Chen Ran saluted to him. When they were about to walk off, they were stopped by Cen Zheng.

“You must be Chen Ran, right? Head back first. Tell the people back home not to worry, I have a few words to say to Shen Leng before I send him home.”

Chen Ran looked at Shen Leng. Shen Leng nodded slightly.

“Take a walk with me.”

Cen Zheng said to take a walk, but they got onto a small boat instead. The food and drinks had already been prepared beforehand. They sat opposite each other.

Cen Zheng was silent for a moment before he took out a letter and placed it in front of Shen Leng. “There is something you should know.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about Meng Changan.”

“Huh?”

Shen Leng’s eyebrows twitched.

Cen Zheng pointed to the letter. “We’ll talk more after you finish reading it.”

Shen Leng took the letter out of the envelope; he did not say a single word as he read it. He had a vicious look in his eyes.

“After your vacation is over, there will be an ordinary mission. You will have to escort a ship from Jiangnan’s Weaving Repository that will be sending the latest textiles to all the nobles in the palace to choose and select the various designs and colors. It is said to be urgent, hence it has to be expedited. Hence, I intend to send your regiment there. Because you have to wait for them to select the textiles, hence you have to be in Changan city for a period of time. You should also know that the nobles take their time to pick and choose, and are very meticulous. Hence, it will take a while.”

Cen Zheng took a map and placed it right in front of Shen Leng. The fastest way to get to Fen Yan Tai, ensuring there is no delay in the return journey, and making no error in the affairs of the important people in the palace – they are all in your hands.”

He looked at Cen Zheng. “Why?”

“What do you mean why?”

“How do you know all these? Why are you telling me?”

“You will know it next time.”

Cen Zheng gestured for the boat to return to the river bank. “Go home. That young lady of yours is impatiently waiting for your return.”