Chapter 15

Xiahou Qingcheng's clear eyes lit up even more, and she said excitedly, "I know, I know, the capture of the Khan in the snow, that was the Black Feather General. Watermark GG test Watermark GG test"

The man in the straw hat's lips also curled into a smile, and he nodded, saying, "That's right. The Xiling campaign lasted for more than two months, and it was already winter. At that time, Xia Duwei had already died in battle, and the Black Feather General led the remaining troops, who were trapped in Heiyang City. Fortunately, there was a heavy snowstorm, otherwise, the tens of thousands of iron cavalry surrounding Heiyang City would not have allowed the city to hold out for long."

"That was the heavens protecting our Tang Dynasty. Not only did we have the Black Feather General, but also that heavy snow," Xiahou Qingcheng said with relief. "If it weren't for the Black Feather General, Xiling would have been in grave danger."

As they spoke, they had already turned into an alley. The man in the straw hat smiled and said, "Was it Longlin Wei who told you this?"

Xiahou Qingcheng nodded and said, "Big Brother said that at the time, Heiyang City was in a precarious situation. A heavy snowfall lasted for several days. The Uotuo people, who were mainly cavalry, could not attack the city due to the snow and could only besiege it. Xia Duwei had already died in battle, and the Black Feather General stepped forward, leading the remaining troops to resist the enemy." Although she was a young lady, when she spoke of the battle, she was very enthusiastic: "The Uotuo people could not attack the city and set up camp outside. The Black Feather General observed from the city walls for two days and determined the location of the Uotuo Khan. That night, the city gates of Heiyang City were quietly opened, and the Black Feather General led his thirty-man Black Feather Night Ravens straight to the Uotuo Khan's tent. Before the Uotuo people could react, the Black Feather Night Ravens had already stormed into the tent and captured the Uotuo Khan alive."

The man in the straw hat smiled and said, "You have described it perfectly. Indeed, the Black Feather General's astonishing feat instantly turned the tide of the Xiling campaign. The Uotuo Khan was captured, and the Uotuo people no longer dared to move, retreating to the Kunlun Pass. The court sent envoys to negotiate, and the Uotuo Khan promised that during his lifetime, the Uotuo army would never step into Tang territory again. Moreover, he redeemed his life with a large number of cattle and sheep. The crisis in Xiling was thus resolved, and the Black Feather General became famous for capturing the Khan in the snow."

Xiahou Qingcheng said, "Uncle Wen, if that's the case, Xiling should still be part of our Tang territory. Why do you say it doesn't count as Tang territory?"

"Did Longlin Wei tell you that the Uotuo people retreated within two months, and the Black Feather General then led his troops back into Jiayuguan?" the man in the straw hat asked.

Xiahou Qingcheng nodded and said, "Big Brother mentioned it but didn't say much. Uncle Wen, wasn't the Black Feather General just retreating to the pass for rest and reorganization? I heard that the 5,000 troops who fought against the Uotuo, when they retreated into the pass, were reduced to less than 2,000."

The man in the straw hat shook his head and said, "I mentioned earlier that when the Duwei Army was fighting the Uotuo, the Xiling aristocracy watched from the sidelines and did not initially support the Duwei Army, which led to the Duwei Army being in a difficult situation. The sage sent people, and only then did the Xiling aristocracy send reinforcements and supplies to the front lines." He paused and then continued, "At that time, the Xiling aristocracy was not really afraid of the court, but the court and they made a compromise."

"A compromise?"

"To prevent the Uotuo from controlling Xiling, we had to rely on the Xiling aristocracy. In that situation, the court could only choose the lesser of two evils," the man in the straw hat said calmly. "Xiling was divided into three counties, and the heads of the three major aristocratic families were all ennobled as hereditary marquises. Each marquis controlled a county, nominally as subjects of the court, but in reality, they each controlled a county."

Xiahou Qingcheng frowned and said, "But the Xiling Duwei Office is still there, and there are still court officials in Xiling."

"The tax revenue of each county is in the hands of the aristocracy, and if there is banditry or rebellion in Xiling, the three hereditary marquises have the authority to organize forces to suppress it," the man in the straw hat glanced at Xiahou Qingcheng and said, "This means they have control over both financial and military power. The Xiling Duwei Office is no longer what it used to be. The officials sent by the court to Xiling are mostly nominal."

He shook his head and sighed, "So, Xiling is part of Tang, but it is not really part of Tang. Do you understand now?"

Xiahou Qingcheng's delicate brows furrowed, and her expression became serious, "Uncle Wen, then... then the young man from the Duwei Office earlier, is he... is he a court official?"

The man in the straw hat nodded and said, "The Duwei Office that the court has set up in Xiling is the eye that watches the Xiling aristocracy. At least the Duwei Office in Guicheng is indeed a court official."

Xiahou Qingcheng seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and smiled slightly, "I knew he was a good person."

"Is he a good person just because he paid for your meal?" the man in the straw hat said irritably, "You always talk about wanting to travel the world, but if no one protects you, you won't last a day. People are treacherous, and bad people won't let you know they are bad until they do something evil."

Xiahou Qingcheng smiled and said, "I knew he was a good person." She then asked, "Uncle Wen, the Uotuo people no longer dare to invade our Tang, the southern border has made peace, and the Tushun people have not launched a large-scale invasion in recent years. Why hasn't the court sent troops to attack Xiling for so many years? If our Tang army were to attack, how could the Xiling aristocracy resist?"

"Since the court made an agreement with the Xiling aristocracy, it will not break its word unless there is a major change," the man in the straw hat said calmly. "Our Tang is a country of propriety, and we treat all with virtue. As long as the Xiling aristocracy does not commit a major offense, the court will not act rashly."

Xiahou Qingcheng's eyes lit up, and she said, "I understand. The court is waiting for the Xiling aristocracy to make a mistake. Once they do, the court will send troops to reclaim Xiling."

"They are well aware that the court is watching them," the man in the straw hat said softly. "So over the years, they have been very careful and have not given the court any excuse." He seemed to realize he had said too much and said irritably, "You've delayed me, and the old master is probably waiting impatiently. Damn it, let's go."

The man in the straw hat quickened his pace, but Xiahou Qingcheng still asked, "Uncle Wen, do you think the young man from the Duwei Office will go to the noodle shop again tomorrow?"

The man in the straw hat suddenly stopped, came to his senses, and stared sharply at Xiahou Qingcheng's beautiful face, saying word by word, "You went out without permission today, and the old master is already very angry. He won't let you go out again. Even if you do go out again, you must not have any contact with these people."

"Why?" Xiahou Qingcheng immediately asked, "He is a good person and a court official. Why can't I have contact with him?"

"There is no reason," the man in the straw hat said coldly.

Xiahou Qingcheng bit her lip and said, "But I still owe him money. He said that if we meet again, I can pay him back."

"In this world, not all favors can be repaid, and not all grudges can be avenged," the man in the straw hat said calmly. "Some things are best left in the past, and a small official is not worth your effort. Forget about today's events." Seeing Xiahou Qingcheng's reluctant expression, he sighed, "If your father finds out about today's events, have you thought about the consequences?"

Xiahou Qingcheng's expression immediately showed a hint of respect.

"Let's go," the man in the straw hat turned and walked away, "We will leave here in two days. If you really want to pay him back, I will send someone to do it for you."

Xiahou Qingcheng's face showed a look of distress. Although they had already walked down several streets, she still looked back, seemingly still thinking about the righteous young man from the Duwei Office. After hesitating for a moment, she finally followed the man in the straw hat and did not look back.

The night was as dark as ink, and the wooden alley was already

(To be continued on the next page)

dead silent.

Xiahou Qingcheng was thinking about the debt she owed to Qin Xiao, but Qin Xiao had no time to think about Xiahou Qingcheng.

The man in the straw hat and Xiahou Qingcheng were clearly not ordinary people. Qin Xiao, born in the city, did not have any hatred towards the high-ranking officials and nobles, nor did he have any admiration for them.

When the old man was still alive, he had advised Qin Xiao that the most incomprehensible thing in this world is the human heart. The thoughts of those high-ranking officials and nobles are not something ordinary people can fathom. If possible, it's best to avoid contact with them to prevent bringing disaster upon oneself.

The withered branches on the gate were still there, but the person he was waiting for had not appeared.

"The 198th day," Qin Xiao thought to himself.

The old black dog was still curled up under the plum tree, unmoving.

When he first brought the abandoned, nearly dead old black dog from the street, Qin Xiao felt that the yard had at least some life.

Every time night fell, it was Qin Xiao's time to be alone, and also a time of loneliness.

Although he had become accustomed to a lonely and solitary life, having the old black dog add a bit of life to his solitary existence was not a bad thing.

Lonely people, deep down, always hope for a bit of comfort.

Back in the room, Qin Xiao took off his wine gourd and placed it on the table. Without even lighting the oil lamp, he walked to the bed, lay down on his back, and stretched out his arms to relax his body.

This was his habit. Every day when he returned to his small room, he would relax his body, empty his mind, and close his eyes to rest for a moment.

The old man had said that the Eight Extremes Fist could strengthen the body, and this kind of relaxation could make the blood and qi flow more smoothly. Although the time was short, it could help to cultivate qi.

Suddenly, Qin Xiao sat up abruptly.

He felt something was wrong, but he couldn't immediately figure out what. He frowned and soon realized the problem.

The old black dog was already very old and no longer as agile and full of energy as in its youth.

But after spending some time with Qin Xiao, it had clearly accepted its new owner. The old black dog, which was used to lying under the plum tree, would always bark softly at its owner when Qin Xiao returned to the yard, to comfort the hardworking owner.

Perhaps it had become a conditioned reflex, never interrupted.

But today was clearly different. When Qin Xiao entered the yard, he did not hear the old black dog's soft barks. At the time, his mind was preoccupied with the Golden Hook Gambling Den, so he didn't pay attention. But after relaxing, he realized something was wrong.

Why didn't the old black dog bark?

Qin Xiao instantly became alert. Whenever something abnormal happened, he would be fully on guard, not daring to be careless, as the old man had taught him, and he had never forgotten.

The old man had taught him the so-called Six Wisdoms from a young age.

The Six Wisdoms are the wisdoms one must possess in six different situations.

One of them is that once you notice any changes in the people or things around you, no matter how slight, you must be on guard, because you may already be in danger.

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