Chapter 99

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Liu Ling found a way to survive in a desperate situation.

She had thought she would lose everything, and the huge sum of over a thousand and five hundred gold coins was still unknown how to be raised, but due to Liang Xiao's extraordinary performance under pressure, he managed to turn the tide and won over three hundred gold coins. She was extremely excited, even a bit overexcited. She sent people to buy a large amount of wine and meat, summoned the chefs from the Huainan Mansion, and set up a flowing banquet by the Jue River, an open-air feast, to celebrate with the people.

The food in the Han Dynasty was very different from later times, with a large proportion being grilled. Grills were set up under the shade of trees, and more than ten chefs lined up, smoothly starting the barbecue. Most of the visitors carried their own seating, gathering from all directions, finding empty spots to sit, taking the free wine and meat, drinking and eating heartily. Soon, some began to sing aloud.

As the singing began, some started to dance gracefully. Men, women, and children, all danced joyfully. The melodious songs mixed with the aroma of meat and wine, drifting along both banks of the Jue River, even into the city of Chang'an.

An unexpected carnival thus began.

Liang Xiao was the hero and could not be overlooked. The Li brothers were also important guests; without Li Jiao's pressure and contrast, Liang Xiao's performance today would not have been so outstanding. The competition at the Weiyang Langshu was known to only a few people—due to reputation issues, the Weiyang Langs would not actively spread it—this competition, however, was under everyone's watchful eyes and was such an exciting match. It would soon spread throughout the entire city of Chang'an.

Liang Xiao could not avoid becoming famous even if he did not want to.

Besides the archery competition, the gambling Liu Ling set up also played a significant role in fueling the excitement. She publicly announced that Liang Xiao had refused the summons from the Huainan Mansion, removing a burden from his heart. From then on, Liang Xiao could interact with her on equal terms. Even Dongfang Shuo put down his burden, drinking and singing without any reservations, more frenzied than the average person.

Li Jiao, who lost a blue horse, was very reluctant to part with it. However, he did not hold a grudge. He deeply admired Liang Xiao's ability to handle pressure, even more than his archery skills.

"Liang Xiao, you are a born archer," Li Jiao said, holding a wine cup in one hand and placing the other on Liang Xiao's shoulder, his tongue a bit thick. Perhaps because he was heartbroken over losing his beloved blue horse, he drank a lot of wine. "The more tense you are, the more heroic you become. It's a pity you don't go to the battlefield."

"I am ashamed, ashamed," Liang Xiao said, pushing Li Jiao away without showing any emotion. Li Jiao was too affectionate, and he was not used to it.

"What a pity, you were not born in the time of Emperor Gao. Otherwise..." Li Jiao persisted, hugging Liang Xiao's neck tightly. "A marquis of ten thousand households is nothing."

Liang Xiao found these words familiar. This seemed to be what Emperor Wen of Han said about Li Guang, but he did not expect Li Jiao to use it on him.

"Why do you say that? The borders are not yet peaceful, and the Xiongnu have not been subdued. There are plenty of opportunities for us to establish our achievements."

"Heh heh, the court follows the Huang-Lao philosophy, focusing on defense at the borders. When the enemy comes, we repel them; when they leave, we let them go. What opportunities are there to establish achievements? Even ambushing a few Xiongnu won't get you a marquisate, let alone a public carriage."

Li Jiao raised his wine cup, took a big gulp, and glanced at Liu Ling in the distance. "Heh heh, it's right that you didn't go to Huainan. The King of Huainan favors the Huang-Lao philosophy, emphasizing tranquility and non-action. In Huainan, what opportunities would there be to establish achievements? Would the Southern Yue dare to attack the Jianghuai region? Ha!"

Liang Xiao remained silent. As long as the Grand Empress Dowager Dou was alive, the Huang-Lao philosophy was still prevalent, and even the young Emperor Liu Che was restrained, let alone others. However, he originally did not have a bad impression of the Huang-Lao philosophy and had some reservations about Emperor Wu of Han abandoning it and promoting Confucianism. At this moment, he had a different view.

From the rampant behavior of the Hu family and other powerful families to the marriage alliances with the Xiongnu, these were all the results of the Huang-Lao policy. Saying it was for the people's rest, in reality, it strengthened the power of the Hu family and other powerful families, while ordinary families like the Tu family had already suffered widespread bankruptcy, and the foundation of the small peasant economy was already destroyed. If the policy did not change and the Huang-Lao philosophy continued to be implemented, it would be difficult to sustain.

In that case, the decline of the Huang-Lao philosophy and the rise of Confucianism was also a historical trend? But this trend had gone off course, ultimately pushing the Han Dynasty into an abyss and leaving China with an incurable legacy.

What can I do? Liang Xiao was lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about?" Liu Ling, holding a wine pot in one hand and a few skewers in the other, walked over. Today was a picnic, so there were no formalities. She rolled up her sleeves and drank and ate skewers like an ordinary person. She sat down next to Liang Xiao and handed him a skewer. "Was Li Jiao just whispering about Huainan again?"

"Many people criticize Huainan, don't they?"

"Reputation is a double-edged sword. These warriors have many complaints about my father, and I've known this for a long time."

"Why?"

"Why? Of course, it's because it hinders their opportunities to establish achievements. Warriors, of course, hope for chaos and constant wars. But they don't realize that once war breaks out, countless people will suffer. The current peaceful era is due to decades of rest and recuperation without major wars."

"The princess is right. Once war breaks out, all the prosperity will be like a fire, burning everything to ashes in a moment."

Liu Ling glanced at Liang Xiao and nudged him with her shoulder. "I didn't expect you to use the Spring and Autumn writing style. Did Dongfang Shuo teach you?"

"No, I was just inspired by the princess and spoke my thoughts." Liang Xiao took a bite of the meat and chewed slowly. "To maintain peace, not only must internal strife be avoided, but we must also unite and resist external enemies. If something like the Xiongnu invading Chang'an happens again, it would be disastrous. If even the capital cannot be kept safe, how can the people at the borders live in peace and security, or even survive?"

"Then you think we should fight? Don't you know that a country, no matter how large, will perish if it loves war..."

"Even if the world is at peace, forgetting war will lead to danger!"

"Uh..." Liu Ling was speechless for a moment. After a while, she laughed. "It seems Huan Xuanbo really taught you a lot. Not only the 'Art of War' by Sun Tzu, but also the 'Military Methods' by Sima Fa."

"Is this from the 'Military Methods' by Sima Fa?" Liang Xiao was surprised.

"You didn't know?"

"I read little, how would I know about the 'Military Methods' by Sima Fa?" Liang Xiao quickly covered up, as he had often heard people say this but only now learned it was from the 'Military Methods' by Sima Fa. What was the 'Military Methods' by Sima Fa? "But I occasionally heard my master mention a few lines, without knowing the details."

"You, you still read too little." Liu Ling thought for a moment and suddenly said, "How about this, I'll teach you to read."

"You teach me to read?"

"Yes, the Huainan Mansion has many books. In the inner and outer chapters compiled by my father, there is a volume on military strategy, which I can teach you orally."

Liang Xiao was hesitant. He had little interest in the books compiled by King Liu An of Huainan, thinking they were just a patchwork, seemingly covering everything but lacking substantial content. To learn military strategy, what Huan Yuan had taught him was already enough, not to mention the anonymous military treatise.

Thinking of the anonymous military treatise, Liang Xiao suddenly felt he could ask Liu Ling. She was well-informed and could recite the military strategy, so she might have seen this treatise and know its origin. When he mentioned it to Liu Ling, she readily agreed. Liang Xiao had just recited a few lines when Liu Ling raised her hand to stop him, a hint of a strange smile in her eyes.

"You don't need to recite it. I know whose military treatise this is."

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