Chapter 48

Old Xu, a blind veteran from Beiliang, was originally an archer. After being hit in one eye by an arrow, he switched to the cavalry. His military achievements were mediocre, and in the Beiliang army, where heads were exchanged for honors, his record was not impressive. He retired without accumulating substantial wealth, only a body full of ailments. Initially, living in the city was relatively comfortable, but he could not withstand the constant financial demands of his even poorer and more destitute old comrades. Most of them died, and Xu had to pay for their coffins. Over time, the solitary old Xu truly had no money left.

Xu was a native of Liaodong's Jinzhou, orphaned at a young age. He followed Grand Marshal Xu Xiao from Jinzhou to Liaoxi, then through Xionghai Pass, and into the Central Plains, fighting in the chaotic wars of the Spring and Autumn period. Many veterans who joined the army at the same time as Xu, if they managed to survive, became military advisors or battalion commanders, and at the very least, received a military rank before retirement.

So, while Xu was an old veteran, he was not a distinguished one.

He did not dare to risk his life for fame and rank, which only the children of noble families could afford to do. Xu, a veteran who was not exactly greedy but definitely feared death, was fortunate to have his head spared by the military supervisors.

Later, Xu's remaining eye also went blind, damaged by the smoke while making charcoal on the mountain. This made him the "Blind Old Xu" in the neighborhood. The worst part was that after going blind, Blind Old Xu was hit by a horse's hoof in the market, which left him crippled.

The wealthy young men, accompanied by their beauties, laughed loudly when they saw the old man rolling on the ground. Blind Old Xu, determined to fight, reached for a stick on the ground but heard that these young men were the sons of various military commanders and the grandsons of high-ranking officials in the capital. Xu threw the stick and cried like a child, repeatedly wailing, "I should have died long ago!" This made even some sympathetic onlookers run away in fear. One of the young men, annoyed by Xu's noise, drew his sword to strike. The people of Beiliang have always been fierce, and even the wealthy young men, who might only have enough strength to untie a courtesan's sash, would definitely strike if they could draw a weapon. This was something that many wealthy young men from other regions found hard to adapt to.

If that sword had struck Xu's head, there would be no story of the young prince carrying Green Ant wine today.

At that moment, Xu Fengnian happened to pass by. His horse was far more robust and his demeanor far more arrogant than those third-rate wealthy young men. He did not intend to get involved, but Xu's heart-wrenching words caught his attention: "My legs weren't broken by the Western Chu bastards, but by my own people. Heaven, you and I are both blind!"

Xu Fengnian did not speak but had his servants disperse the young men. He did not care how many arms or legs the pampered young men broke. If they wanted to, they could bring their families to the mansion to demand compensation from Xu Xiao, or even bring an imperial edict.

Later, Xu did not die. He was mysteriously taken to be treated for his legs. However, the force of the horse's hoof was too much for an old man's legs to bear, and they were completely broken. When Blind Old Xu was preparing to wait for death in his small riverside hut, officials came to inform him that he would receive one tael of silver per month. Xu, terrified, received the silver for half a year before mustering the courage to ask the official. The official said it was a new rule in the Beiliang army to treat veterans well. Later, Xu asked a fellow veteran who was also on the brink of death, and learned that it was true, but they had to go to the government office to collect the money.

Xu was puzzled. Good deeds bring good rewards? But he didn't seem to be a good person. In his youth, he had participated in burning, killing, and looting, following Grand Marshal Xu Xiao.

Xu's legs were broken, but he could still walk with a homemade cane. The government official had his subordinates repair the hut, and every year, before winter, a thick quilt was sent. Xu managed the vegetable garden decently, and one tael of silver was equivalent to a thousand coins. Xu's tastes were simple, and he could still buy some meat and wine at the end of the month. His life was comfortable, and waiting for death now was much more pleasant than when his legs were first broken.

Today, Xu was dozing on a wooden stool outside his house when he heard a loud voice shouting, "Old Xu, Old Xu, let's drink. I caught a fat duck in the river on the way here."

Blind Old Xu perked up. The young man surnamed Xu had come. They had met four or five years ago, when the young man was chased to the river for peeking at a young woman bathing and sought refuge in Xu's hut. This formed a small bond. Blind Old Xu knew the young woman Xu spoke of, the pretty girl from the Lanting wine shop. Though he couldn't see, his ears were good, and he often heard idle men drooling over her, saying her chest had become fuller and her round face had become more delicate. Xu had bought wine dregs from the shop and smelled the girl's fragrance, which was as pleasant as Lanting's signature green plum wine.

Xu, if I were younger, I wouldn't let you climb the wall. I'd just keep watch for you.

"The pot is in the usual place inside. Remember not to throw the duck feathers into the river. If you leave, I'll tear down the hut." Xu took the wine flask, sniffed it, and smiled contentedly. "This Green Ant isn't as good as Lanting's green plum, but it's better than the wine dregs."

The guest thrust the duck, with its neck twisted, into Blind Old Xu's arms and said irritably, "Do I have to pluck the feathers too? I'll go heat the water."

Xu, with the wine in hand, was more talkative and went to pluck the duck feathers with his cane.

Soon, the hut was filled with the aroma of cooking. Xu, gnawing on a greasy duck leg, asked with a smile, "Xu, it's been over a year since we last met. You disappear for three years or a whole year. What do you do for a living? Listen to Old Xu's advice, don't do anything that goes against heaven and earth. Peeking at girls bathing is one thing, but if you start wielding weapons, it's another. I know you won't listen, but tell me, what do you want to hear? At my age, I don't have many chances left to talk, so I'll say as much as I can."

The man, gnawing on the duck, smiled and said, "Tell me about Liaodong. My ancestors were from there, Jinzhou."

The one who could wander so idly was naturally the young prince, Xu Fengnian.

Blind Old Xu laughed heartily, "Jinzhou, do I not know it well? The whole of Liaodong is the same. Don't believe the nine out of ten commanders who claim to be poor to the court. They're not poor at all. The only ones who are poor are us, the landless. We're just a step away from rebellion."

Xu Fengnian frowned and asked, "According to the law, each soldier should have forty acres of land. Liaodong is our most critical frontier, with vast plains that are hard to defend. If we abandon it, the Northern Barbarians will invade, and the northern region will be defenseless. So, if Liaodong is secure, the Central Plains are peaceful. If Liaodong is disturbed, the whole country will be in turmoil. Rebellion? I haven't heard of any unrest in Liaodong in recent years."

Old Xu sneered, "Xu, you know nothing. Your flowery words, I don't understand. Where did you hear this from? I only know that when I left Liaodong, there were twenty-one garrisons in Liaodong and only six in Liaoxi. Ignoring Liaoxi, the twenty-one garrisons in Liaodong produced a million stones of grain annually. How much of that went into our pockets? Think about it, Xu. Not just the major figures like the Grand Commander, the Garrison Commander, the Deputy Commander, and the battalion commanders, but even the seventh and eighth-rank officials, all engaged in private farming and diverted the irrigation channels. If they didn't control the water and take the fertile land, where would they get the money to bribe their superiors? When Grand Marshal Xu Xiao was in charge of Liaodong, it was a rare blessing for the people. After he left, who cared about the soldiers' lives? Many of the border troops were sent to Liaodong as punishment for their crimes. Who would willingly go to such a harsh place? Once there, who would really believe they would have land and grain? I'm from Jinzhou and don't even have a fraction of an acre. These outsiders have even less chance."

Xu Fengnian smiled lightly, "They won't rebel. The people of Liaodong are used to poverty. As long as they have a bit of food, no one will be willing to rise up."

Old Xu sighed, "Unless they are truly starving, no one wants to defy fate. But if things continue like this, Liaodong will be in trouble. I've been away from Jinzhou for nearly thirty years, and I've endured for thirty years."

Liaodong has always been a battlefield. The saying goes, 'The tiger strides and the dragon rises, the heart decides the high and low.' The safety of the country often depends on the two Liaos. Xu Xiao advised the court to spare no effort to defend Liaodong, but few in the court took it seriously. It's not that no one saw the importance, but with the current stability, what benefit would it bring to their current positions to worry about the future?

Xu Fengnian said softly, "Old Xu, tell me more about the customs and people of Liaodong."

Old Xu spoke frankly, pouring out everything he knew. By the time the pot of stewed duck was empty, Old Xu was exhausted, but most of his energy had been spent on the duck.

Old Xu wiped his mouth and said, "When Grand Marshal Xu Xiao entered Beiliang, he was truly awe-inspiring. Do you remember the poem by the princess?"

Xu Fengnian smiled, "A thousand carriages on the Green Ox Road, children under the flags holding mulberries."

Old Xu leaned on his cane, lost in thought.

Xu Fengnian left the wine flask and quietly walked out of the hut.

Qingniao stood at a distance, watching the young prince slowly approach. She always accompanied him to the riverside hut but never asked why he dealt with a blind old veteran.

Xu Fengnian, seeing Qingniao's cold face, looked somewhat dazed.

Back then, Blind Old Xu was in the thousand-carriage procession, and his legs were not yet broken.

The child still held the mulberries and looked up to ask his mother if they were good.

Qingniao, feeling a bit confused, was suddenly bitten on the cheek by Xu Fengnian, who laughed, "Delicious, it tastes like mulberries."

{Piaotian Literature}