Chapter 7

In the summer of the eighth year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty, in the city of Xin Feng, the sun shone brightly and the sky was a clear blue.

It was the end of May, and the Guanzhong region was in full bloom with locust flowers. Clusters of white locust flowers, each about the size of a copper coin, hung from the branches of locust trees lining the streets and alleys of Xin Feng. The refreshing fragrance of the flowers mixed with the aroma of Liu Lin wine that permeated the entire city, carried by the warm breeze, intoxicating the passersby.

The Sui Dynasty had been established for eight years, and Emperor Yang Jian was a rare enlightened ruler, practicing frugality and implementing benevolent governance. He had many capable ministers and generals, and the national strength of the Sui Dynasty was steadily rising.

Five years ago, in the third year of the Kaihuang era, the army, which was originally preparing to launch a southern campaign, had to turn north to repel the invasion of the Turks. After paying a heavy price, the Sui Dynasty finally repelled the 400,000-strong Turkish army. Since then, the Turks had fallen into division and internal strife, no longer posing a threat to the Sui Dynasty.

In recent years, the Guanzhong region had enjoyed favorable weather and bountiful harvests. The once devastated and barren land, which had been a distant memory since the Five Barbarians' invasion of China, was now a thing of the past.

It was noon, and the largest Fushun tavern in the city was already crowded with diners, sitting shoulder to shoulder, toasting and feasting, some reciting poetry, some playing drinking games, and others chatting idly about various topics.

On the second-floor window seat, a young man of about eighteen or nineteen, with a robust build and average height, sat in a fine blue silk robe. His hair was slightly curly, and his eyes were a striking green. His features were well-proportioned, but his skin was a bit dark, with a prominent nose and deep-set eyes, making him look different from the average Han Chinese.

The young man in the blue robe picked up the wine bowl in front of him and drank it in one gulp. The strong alcohol hit his brain, and he instinctively touched the back of his head. The searing pain in his memory instantly made his mind unusually clear.

This young man in the blue robe was Wang Huaqiang. After outsmarting Wang Shiji, Wang Huaqiang had long given up the idea of establishing a territory through military might. In addition to his business, he practiced martial arts daily with his two brothers and studied classics and military strategies, hoping to improve in these areas.

Fortunately, the Wang family had a considerable collection of books, including complete sets of classics and histories like the "Records of the Grand Historian" and the "Book of Han." Heaven had not given Wang Huaqiang a strong physique, but it had endowed him with a photographic memory. Over the past ten years, Wang Huaqiang had become a man of great learning, and his past experiences had given him a maturity and intelligence far beyond his actual age.

Starting five years ago, Wang Huaqiang began to participate in the Wang family's business. After several successful trade missions to the Hexi and Longyou regions, not only did the Wang family's business grow, but he also formed connections with many powerful figures in the Longyou region.

Due to Wang Huaqiang's outstanding performance, his father, Wang Helì, overcame the objections of others and entrusted the entire family business to Wang Huaqiang. In the eyes of the Wang family, Wang Huaqiang was already the future heir.

"May in the locust forest, the flowers sway like jade, their fragrance intoxicating thousands of homes. The spring water, blue as jade, flows where the fragrance floats, reaching the ends of the earth."

With these four lines of poetry, a middle-aged man wearing a soft-topped headwrap and a yellow silk robe smiled and walked towards Wang Huaqiang from the staircase.

When the last word "end of the earth" was spoken, Wang Huaqiang smiled and clapped lightly.

"Brother Wang, your literary talent is impressive. I can't even come close to your skills in composing poetry."

The man in the yellow robe looked refined and handsome, with a flowing beard, a typical scholar. However, there was a hint of sorrow in his eyes. After reciting the poem, he sat directly across from Wang Huaqiang, drank the Liu Lin wine in front of him in one gulp, and then put on a helpless expression: "Although Guanzhong is good, it is not like the south. I wonder how long it will take for us to conquer the south and subdue the Chen Dynasty. I wonder if I will live to see the day when I can avenge my blood feud!"

Before Wang Huaqiang could respond, a few diners at a nearby table started chatting: "Have you all heard? The Emperor has made up his mind and is preparing to launch a southern campaign against the Chen Dynasty."

"Old Liu, is your information reliable? Didn't they say they were going to attack in the third year of the Kaihuang era, but it didn't happen? At that time, I was in the Right Garrison Army, and we prepared for several months in the Jianghuai region, but it was eventually called off."

"Li Laizi, the reason it didn't happen was because the Turks invaded. At that time, you were in the south, but I, Old Zhang, was urgently conscripted to join Prince Wei Yang Shuang's army to counter the Turks. We fought for three months before driving them away, which is why the southern campaign was called off."

"Is that so? Anyway, as soldiers, we have to go wherever we are ordered. But if we are ordered to attack the Chen Dynasty this time, I won't be able to go to the battlefield anymore. And I've seen the Yangtze River; you can't even see the other side. They say the people on the other side live on a huge island. If we really want to conquer the Chen Dynasty, we'll need to build hundreds of large ships."

Listening to the discussions in the tavern, the scholar in the yellow robe gradually relaxed his frown, drank several bowls of wine, and his face turned slightly red. Liu Lin wine, known in later generations as Xifeng wine, was famous for its long-lasting aftertaste and rich fragrance, which, combined with the scent of locust flowers throughout the city, made the scholar feel a bit tipsy.

Wang Huaqiang shook his head: "Brother Wang, you shouldn't drink any more. We need to think carefully about this matter."

He glanced around. This was the main hall, and with so many people, it was not a good place to talk. He smiled at the scholar in the yellow robe: "Brother Wang, this is not the place to talk. I have made arrangements. Please follow me."

The scholar in the yellow robe nodded and followed Wang Huaqiang to the third-floor private room. Wang Huaqiang had reserved the entire third floor for their meeting and had arranged for the waiter to bring wine and dishes. After the waiter served the food, Wang Huaqiang gave him three large coins, instructed him to guard the staircase on the second floor, and not to let anyone up. The waiter's eyes lit up, thanked him repeatedly, and hurriedly ran down the stairs.

After the scholar in the yellow robe sat down, he lowered his voice, his face full of excitement: "Brother, even these commoners know that the southern campaign is imminent. What are we waiting for? If you are afraid of taking responsibility, I will do it alone."

Wang Huaqiang smiled, his eyes shining: "Brother Wang, these are just street rumors. The Emperor has not issued a clear edict, nor has he summoned the national army for the southern campaign. If you recruit soldiers now and the campaign does not happen, you will be accused of plotting treason."

The scholar in the yellow robe's face changed slightly, but it was only for a moment before he regained his firmness: "Brother, you know that I, Wang Ban, have an irreconcilable blood feud with Chen Baxian. My father, Wang Sengbian, was a comrade-in-arms with Chen Baxian, but this traitor betrayed and assassinated my father, killing my father and my five brothers. If I had not been in Jingzhou at the time, I would have been killed as well.

This hatred is irreconcilable. Although the old traitor is dead, the Chen Dynasty he established still exists, and his nephew, Chen Shubao, is the current ruler. If I do not destroy the Chen Dynasty, how can I face my deceased father and my fallen brothers after I die!"

As Wang Ban spoke, his eyes blazed with fury, and he slammed his fist on the table, causing the wine in the bowl in front of him to splash.

Wang Huaqiang placed his hand on Wang Ban's fist, his eyes flashing: "Brother Wang, there is no need to be so agitated. I was just saying that this is a major matter. Once the official edict is issued, there will naturally be opportunities for you to establish your achievements. There is no need to rush."

Wang Ban sighed and drank another bowl of wine: "Brother, you may not know, but I currently have no military position. Even if the Emperor issues an edict to summon the national army, I will not be able to join, let alone be a vanguard.

If I want to establish my achievements on the battlefield and destroy the Chen Dynasty, I must recruit soldiers and cross the river ahead of the main army. Then I will find a way to contact my father's old comrades and lead the army, so I can avenge my family."

Wang Huaqiang's heart stirred, but his face remained calm as he said: "Why don't you submit a petition to the Emperor and volunteer for the campaign? I believe the Emperor, with his wisdom, will be moved.

After all, your family has been in the south for three generations, and you have many old comrades. When the army launches the southern campaign, they will certainly need your support."

Wang Ban's frown eased, and he replied: "Before I came here, I had already submitted a petition to the Emperor. I expect a response in the next few days.

However, as you know, my salary is not enough to raise a force or equip them with weapons and armor. That's why I have to come to you for support. If the Emperor shows mercy, I will need your concrete support."