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Before long, led by Yan Sang, the group walked slowly toward the main table through the crowd that parted automatically, their faces filled with curiosity and awe.

The two leaders, though with very different personalities, were equally eye-catching.

The man on the left, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, was tall and handsome. Though dressed in what appeared to be an ordinary blue brocade robe, his steps were steady, and his demeanor exuded an air of nobility honed by years of military service. A faint, gentle smile played on his lips as his gaze swept across the room, displaying neither arrogance nor lack of authority. This was none other than Li Xiaogong, a renowned general of the Li Tang imperial family, now appointed as the Left Grand Master of the Palace and the Ambassador of the Southern Circuit.

The man on the right appeared younger, around twenty-three or twenty-four, with a refined face, a short mustache, and bright, deep eyes that exuded a composure and wisdom beyond his years. He wore a moon-white scholar's robe and a square cap, his demeanor calm and elegant, like a learned scholar, yet the subtle confidence and competence between his brows commanded respect. He was Li Shimin's confidant, the representative of the Changsun clan, Changsun Wuji.

Behind the two were several attendants, dressed as ordinary guards, but each of them had sharp eyes and slightly bulging temples, clearly skilled fighters, silently protecting the two key figures.

The arrival of Li Xiaogong and Changsun Wuji added an even more oppressive atmosphere to the main table area, which was already tense due to the knowledge of their identities. All eyes, whether surprised, suspicious, wary, or curious, were focused on these two uninvited guests.

Li Xiaogong's gaze swept across the main table, passing over the faces of Feng Zhen, Fan Zhuo, Sina, and others, finally settling on the birthday celebrant, the elderly lady who seemed somewhat bewildered by the sudden silence. His smile deepened, and he was the first to bow, his voice clear and warm, carrying a gentle, approachable quality.
"I am Li Xiaogong, accompanied by my friend Changsun Wuji, and I have come from Chang'an. Having heard of the old lady's 80th birthday, I have prepared a small gift to offer my congratulations! I wish the old lady a long and healthy life! I apologize for the intrusion, and hope that the old lady, Chief Fengzhen, and all the heroes will not take offense!"

As he spoke, an attendant behind him presented an exquisite brocade box. Upon opening it, instead of gold, silver, or jewels, inside was a fine old ginseng root with complete roots and whiskers, and a scroll of Buddhist scriptures bound with gold thread. This gift was both valuable and elegant, and it also subtly conveyed blessings for the elder's health and spiritual comfort, demonstrating thoughtfulness.

Changsun Wuji also cupped his hands in greeting, his posture elegant and his words earnest: "Junior Changsun Wuji wishes the old lady a long and healthy life, and that she may never grow old."

His voice was gentle and his eyes were clear, making it difficult for anyone to feel any ill will towards him.

Feng Zhen rose and returned the greeting: "So it's Young Master Li and Mr. Changsun from Chang'an who have graced us with their presence! I am deeply grateful that you two have come from afar to celebrate the birthday of my humble mountain mother! However, our village is rather simple, and I fear we may not be able to provide adequate hospitality. Please, take a seat!"

His gaze involuntarily drifted to Fan Zhuo beside him.

Fan Zhuo also stood up, his burly body like a mountain. He didn't speak, but used his sharp tiger eyes to scrutinize Li Xiaogong and Changsun Wuji without any hesitation, his gaze full of scrutiny.

Li Xiaogong seemed oblivious to the heavy atmosphere and Fan Zhuo's oppressive gaze. He smiled slightly, turned his gaze to Fan Zhuo, and calmly cupped his hands, as if he had expected him to be there. He said, "This distinguished gentleman must be Fan Zhuo, the renowned leader of the Sichuan Gang, who is famous throughout Sichuan and Chongqing. I have long admired your name, and seeing you today, I can confirm that your reputation is well-deserved!"

Upon hearing this, Fan Zhuo's pupils contracted slightly, and he felt a chill run down his spine. Li Tang knew his whereabouts so clearly! He took a deep breath, clasped his hands in return, and said in a loud but clearly distant voice, "I am but a humble commoner, unworthy of the 'long-standing admiration' from Young Master Li. You two are guests from afar, please have a seat."

Sina gracefully rose to her feet, a bright yet mysterious and alluring smile blooming on her face. She said sweetly, "Oh my, what wind has blown all these noble people from Chang'an to our poor, remote village? It truly brings honor to our humble abode. I, Sina, greet Young Master Li and Mr. Changsun."

Jiao Luofeng also suppressed his temper, stood up, and awkwardly clasped his hands in greeting.

Li Xiaogong and Changsun Wuji calmly took their seats, seemingly oblivious to the tense atmosphere around them that was almost palpable.

The banquet finally drew to a close in a strange atmosphere that was outwardly lively but inwardly tense.

The embers of the campfire still crackled, and the air was filled with the lingering aroma of wine and meat, along with an invisible pressure. Guests gradually dispersed, and the Qiang people tidied up the mess, but everyone's gaze involuntarily drifted towards the central watchtower, their minds preoccupied with the intentions of the visitors from Chang'an and the potential changes this would bring to Yunshangzhai and Bameng.

Feng Zhen's expression remained calm, but his eyes showed no signs of drunkenness. He first respectfully comforted his mother, who was somewhat tired but clearly also aware of the tense atmosphere, instructing his wife and daughter to take good care of her. Then, his gaze swept over Fan Zhuo and the others, finally settling on Li Xiaogong and Changsun Wuji, and he gestured for them to enter: "Brother Jiao, Sister Sina, Brother Fan, Young Master Li, Mr. Changsun, it's late, and it's noisy outside. Why don't we move to the inner room, have a cup of tea, sober up a bit, and talk quietly?"

Everyone knew perfectly well that the real confrontation was only just beginning.

Fan Zhuo raised a thick eyebrow, stood up first, and said in a deep voice, "That suits me perfectly."

He wanted to hear what this Tang envoy was really up to.

Sina smiled gracefully, adjusted her skirt with elegant movements, and glanced at Li Xiaogong and the other man with her eyes: "I will follow your instructions, elder brother."

Jiao Luofeng nodded silently and followed closely behind.

Li Xiaogong and Changsun Wuji exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of understanding in each other's eyes. Li Xiaogong smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "When a guest is at the host's behest, please accept this invitation from Chief Zhen."

"please!"

Changsun Wuji also bowed slightly, displaying his elegant demeanor.

Feng Zhen led the group through a dimly lit stone corridor inside the watchtower, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side.

Every so often, a pine torch was stuck into the stone corridor wall. The flickering flames cast long shadows of everyone on the rough, uneven stone, like ghostly figures, adding to the mystery and eeriness. Footsteps echoed clearly in the narrow space, yet no one spoke.

At the end of the stone corridor is a seemingly ordinary wooden door, but upon closer inspection, one can see that the hinges and latches are encased in thick iron, making it exceptionally sturdy.

Feng Zhen took out an antique-style copper key, inserted it into the lock, and with a dull "click," the wooden door opened inward, revealing a more secluded secret room inside.

The interior space was even smaller than the outer side hall, with walls made of rough, unpolished bluestone, perpetually damp from the mountains, and cool to the touch. The walls were almost devoid of decoration, except for a few tanned black bear skins and a complete wolf pelt hanging there, a testament to the owner's prowess. Most striking was the enormous map of Sichuan and its surrounding areas on the front wall, pieced together from several sheepskins. The map wasn't particularly refined, but the mountains, rivers, major passes, and tribal settlements were clearly marked; some key locations even had small flags of different colors planted in them, indicating it had been frequently studied.

In the center is a heavy, long wooden table with deep, natural wood grain and the marks left by years of use. Around it are several hardwood chairs with backrests, simple and sturdy in style.

In the center of the table, a huge tallow lamp was burning, its thick wick emitting a dim and warm flame that barely dispelled the chill of the stone chamber and cast an uncertain glow on the faces of the people sitting around the table with their various expressions.

Feng Zhen took the seat of honor without hesitation. His lean frame seemed somewhat empty in the large chair, but his shrewd eyes, though restrained, naturally exuded the authority of a clan leader as they swept over the crowd. To his left were, in order, "Elder" Jiao Luofeng and Fan Zhuo. Jiao Luofeng leaned his heavy cane against his side, his tall frame sitting upright. His gray hair looked as if covered with a thin layer of frost under the lamplight, and his wrinkled face was expressionless, like an old monk in meditation. Only when his eyelids occasionally opened and closed, and his deep gaze swept over the map and Li Xiaogong, did a barely perceptible ripple flash across his eyes.

Fan Zhuo's burly body filled the chair completely. He crossed his arms, his thick eyebrows were furrowed, and his ruddy face had lost the boldness he had shown at the banquet, leaving only a calm and composed expression. His tiger-like eyes would sometimes look at the map, and sometimes glance at the uninvited guest opposite him.

To Feng Zhen's right was "Meiji" Sina. She seemed completely unaffected by the somber atmosphere, gracefully taking her seat and even adjusting the jingling silver bracelet on her wrist with great interest. Her bright eyes shone with an elusive brilliance in the firelight, and a faint smile played on her lips.

Li Xiaogong and Changsun Wuji were seated as guests by Feng Zhen, facing him directly and directly over the large map on the wall. This position showed both courtesy and allowed the host to observe their most subtle reactions.

Yan Sang was the last to enter. He silently poured warm zaba wine into the ceramic bowls in front of everyone, then nodded slightly to Feng Zhen before quietly leaving. The heavy wooden door closed again, completely isolating the inside from the outside.

As everyone took their seats, a brief silence filled the room, drowning out the occasional crackling of the tallow lamp wick. The feigned warmth and deliberate small talk from the banquet had vanished, and the air seemed to freeze, leaving only the clearly audible sound of their breathing.

Feng Zhen calmly looked at Li Xiaogong and Changsun Wuji opposite him: "Young Master Li, Mr. Changsun, you two esteemed guests have come from afar, surely not just to celebrate my mother's birthday and taste the barley wine and meat of my Qiang village. There is no Liu Er here anymore, so please feel free to offer your advice."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiaogong maintained his gentle, warm smile. He didn't directly answer Feng Zhen's question, but instead elegantly picked up the ceramic bowl in front of him, gently inhaling the aroma of the zaba wine. Then, his gaze fell upon the large sheepskin map on the wall, and his slender fingers gestured in the air:
"Chief Feng Zhen is a man of few words, and I admire his filial piety. In that case, I will presume to speak frankly."

His finger landed steadily on the symbol representing Chang'an in Guanzhong: "Today, the world is in disarray, with heroes vying for power. I'm sure that you heroes here are more concerned and feel this more deeply than Xiao Gong, who is far away in Chang'an."

"Our Li Tang dynasty, in accordance with the mandate of heaven, established its capital in Chang'an. My father ascended the throne after receiving the abdication, reformed the abuses of the Sui dynasty, and was determined to sweep away all the warlords and restore a bright and peaceful world to the people."

Li Xiaogong's finger began to move slowly, tracing the Yellow River, sweeping across the war-torn Central Plains, pointing to the chaotic Jianghuai and Jiangnan regions, and finally, hovering solemnly over a large area in the south. There, a vast and unsettling outline was roughly sketched with a striking, almost blood-red vermilion.

"However, the world is still unsettled, and wolves and tigers are lurking all around. Dou Jiande is entrenched in Hebei, and Wang Shichong has seized Luoyang. They are both potential threats, but their strength can still be observed and their power can still be measured."

Li Xiaogong paused deliberately here, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the people present, becoming extremely sharp, and his voice also becoming more serious: "As for the South... the 'Heavenly Dao Alliance' that has recently risen suddenly, its power and its flames are so fierce that I'm sure you all in Sichuan have heard of it, and perhaps even... felt its chilling aura."

The mere mention of the words "Heavenly Alliance" seemed to instantly suck out the air from the sealed room, only to be suddenly filled with lead blocks, making it so heavy that it was difficult to breathe.

Jiao Luofeng's usually calm face showed a barely perceptible furrow of his brow. His calloused, rock-solid hands unconsciously tightened their grip on the iron staff beside him, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged slightly.

Fan Zhuo lowered his arms, which had been crossed over his chest, and placed them on the table. His burly body leaned forward, his thick eyebrows almost knitted together. He stared intently at the glaring vermilion area on the map, his eyes filled with complex emotions, a mixture of fear and a hint of resolute refusal to admit it.

Even Sina, who had been languidly twirling, paused, her fingers entwining her hair. A sharp glint flashed in the depths of her alluring eyes, and she subtly adjusted her posture to one that was more conducive to listening and thinking.

Changsun Wuji spoke up at the opportune moment, his voice gentle, like flowing water, yet carrying a calm analytical quality: "What Brother Li said is by no means alarmist. According to our extensive investigations, this Heavenly Alliance Leader 'Nameless' is mysterious and unpredictable. No one knows his background, yet his methods are extraordinary, possessing unfathomable abilities."

"Firstly, to fill the vacancies in Lingnan during the Song Dynasty."

His finger pointed to the ridge on the map: "'Heavenly Blade' is the sharpest in the south, and the Song Clan's foundation is deeply entrenched. Obtaining Song Que means not only gaining a peerless master, but also the entire Lingnan region, as well as the Song Clan's accumulated connections, wealth, and private army over generations!"

"Secondly, control the Pegasus Ranch. Half of the world's finest steeds come from here. Controlling the Pegasus Ranch is tantamount to controlling the lifeline for building a powerful cavalry! Its significance is self-evident!"

"Third,"

Changsun Wuji deliberately lowered his voice here: "What's even more unbelievable is that even the Yin Kui Sect, a demonic sect with a history of hundreds of years, has been subdued by its sect leader Zhu Yuyan and her successor Wanwan... The Yin Kui Sect is elusive and unpredictable, and the power it can exert in the dark is sometimes greater than that of 100,000 soldiers!"

His gaze swept over the crowd, and his tone was grave: "Now, the forces under his command are no longer a spark, but have quietly swallowed up the land, becoming a prairie fire, encompassing most of the south!"

"Baling, Lingnan, Jiangling, Jingling, Xiangyang—!"

With each place name he mentioned, his tone grew more forceful: "These five major towns are all strategic chokepoints controlling the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River, connecting the north and south! Now they have all fallen into the hands of the Heavenly Dao Alliance! The strength of their military might, the speed of their advance, and the cunning of their tactics are truly unprecedented in the lives of Xiao Gong and Wu Ji! Moreover, they have been able to integrate the elite troops of the Song Clan, the iron cavalry of the Flying Horse Ranch, and the mysterious methods of the Yin Kui Sect into one, making their strength far beyond that of ordinary separatist forces. They have already formed a momentum to sweep across the south and devour the world!"

Li Xiaogong picked up the conversation at just the right moment, leaning slightly forward, elbows on the table, hands crossed under his chin, his gaze piercing as he looked directly at the representatives of the three local Sichuan forces: Feng Zhen, Jiao Luofeng, and Fan Zhuo. "Leaders," he said, "Sichuan, with the Qinling Mountains to the north, the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River to the east, the plateau to the west, and the miasma-ridden lands to the south, seems to be a safe haven, seemingly secure and secure… However, have you ever considered that once the Heavenly Dao Alliance has absorbed Jingzhou and Xiangyang, stabilized Lingnan, and fully activated its massive war machine, where will its greedy gaze be cast without hesitation next?"

His finger pointed heavily at the fertile region representing the Sichuan Basin, and his voice suddenly rose: "Advancing westward into Sichuan is a logical and inevitable course of action! At that time, the Land of Abundance, with its fertile plains stretching for thousands of miles, will be the perfect granary and source of manpower for their northward conquest! Do you all believe that, relying solely on the strength of Duzun Fort, or with the Sichuan Gang and the Ba Alliance fighting independently, or even with our currently loose alliance, we can withstand the onslaught of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, which has integrated most of the southern forces, boasts soaring morale, and employs a multitude of ingenious tactics?" (End of Chapter)