Jinting Han people

Chapter 70: Stable Fire (4k)

At this moment, strange noises emanated from Jingu Cave, likely caused by the cool breeze blowing off Lotus Lake. In the main courtyard's kitchen, a variety of delicacies were prepared for the feast for the host and the princes and princesses.

The maids were going in and out of the kitchen. For this banquet for the prince, Shi Chong was extremely cautious. He mobilized most of the manpower in the garden, thinking that not only could there be no mistakes, but he must also give Sima Wei an excellent impression.

Therefore, he ordered his maids that anyone who dared to make a mistake or show any expression other than joy, and whoever caused the King of Shiping any displeasure, would be sent directly to the mass grave to accompany the dead.

The maids had long been accustomed to this and held no resentment towards Shi Chong. This was because they knew that from the moment they arrived at the Golden Valley Garden, their lives no longer belonged to them. While their daily lives were luxurious, the price they paid was inner numbness. No one could have their own emotions or sincerity anymore, and could only become playthings for Shi Chong to demonstrate his power and will.

In a sense, the gorgeous dresses are also their mourning clothes. They are waiting indifferently for their own death, or the cooling of their body temperature.

But these beautiful girls still wore smiles on their faces, looking completely carefree and beautiful. They even seemed genuinely happy to have the prince and princess here.

"How long do you need to steam the bear paws?"

"It will probably take another half hour."

"The leopard fetus is already stewed, serve it first!"

"How's the pufferfish being handled?"

Maids chatted among themselves as they moved back and forth across the hall. Their alluring aromas transformed into curls of white smoke, enveloping the entire courtyard. In the gray weather, they resembled a soaring bird. Meanwhile, guards stood solemnly in the hallway. Though unarmored, they were all tall and powerfully built, forming a sturdy human wall that added a touch of masculinity to the courtyard.

At this time, Shi Chong was chatting and laughing with Sima Wei, and the content of their conversation happened to be about these guards.

Sima Wei had served as a cavalry captain in the Imperial Guards for many years, and military habits were ingrained in his bones. He had clearly come here for fun, but upon seeing the guards at Shi Chong's Jingu Garden, he couldn't help but be curious and asked him curiously, "Lord Ji Lun, where did these warriors come from? They are so brave!"

Shi Chong laughed and said, "Excuse me, Your Highness. These are warriors I recruited from northern Jingzhou when I was an official in Jingzhou to curb the banditry in southern Jingzhou."

Sima Wei said "Oh" and asked, "I've always heard of the bravery of the Jingchu warriors, but I don't know how good they are at archery and horseback riding."

Shi Chong shook his head slightly and explained, "Your Highness, since we are located in the north and south of the Yangtze River, we are naturally not proud of our archery and horsemanship. These warriors of mine are good at water and swordsmanship."

"Good at swordsmanship?" Sima Wei was stunned, then laughed and said, "Then I'm afraid it's of little use, right?"

"Oh? Why do you say that, Your Highness?"

"I've been in the military for a few years now. While I'm not an expert in military affairs, I do understand some of the basic principles of the battlefield. As the saying goes, an inch longer is an inch stronger. On the battlefield, spears and halberds are the true kings. This is because long weapons can be used to strike first, or to gain advantage after striking last. So, if one person wields a sword and the other wields a spear, and they've practiced for the same amount of time, and they clash, the spearman will always win. Isn't that the truth?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Chong didn't respond immediately. Instead, he let out an enigmatic smile. He waved his hand and summoned a strong man eight feet tall, who stood before Sima Wei. Sima Wei's eyes lit up. He took in the man's sturdy arms and broad chest, and an expression of admiration immediately appeared on his face. He smiled at Shi Chong and asked, "Who is...?"

Shi Chong introduced him, "His name is Zhao Hei. He is the best swordsman among all the swordsmen of Jingchu. When we were suppressing the Wuling Barbarians, he fought ten of them alone and killed three of them in a row, which frightened the barbarians. We all said privately that his swordsmanship was not much better than that of Qu Chenghou, one of Emperor Gaozu of Han. I'm afraid he's not far behind."

Qu Chenghou refers to Chongda, a general in the early Western Han Dynasty. He was appointed as a general by Emperor Gaozu of Han because of his superb swordsmanship.

Upon hearing this, Sima Wei could not help but stand in awe and toasted Zhao Hei, saying, "So you are such a hero! It seems I was rude."

Zhao Hei did not refuse and drank it all in one gulp.

Shi Chong then asked Zhao Hei, "Zhao Hei, His Highness said that spearmanship is easier to see results and more effective than swordmanship. Do you agree?"

Zhao Hei remained expressionless and answered frankly, "Any martial artist who has truly practiced martial arts would certainly agree with this."

Shi Chong asked again: "If that's the case, why don't you practice with the spear, but instead practice with the sword?"

Zhao Hei replied, "To defeat a sword with a spear is merely an ordinary skill, nothing to brag about. To defeat a spear with a sword is to demonstrate one's true heroic qualities!"

"Alright, you may withdraw!" After Zhao Hei bowed and retreated, Shi Chong turned back to Sima Wei and said with a smile, "I wonder if Your Highness can now understand why I recruited these swordsmen?"

Sima Wei seemed to understand, but hesitantly asked, "What the Imperial Household Officer is saying is that these people have mastered their swordsmanship to such an extreme that they are no longer afraid of spears?"

"Hahaha, between swords and swords, who can guarantee victory?" Shi Chong stroked his beard and laughed, "Your Highness has misunderstood. They are indeed skilled in swordsmanship, but that is not the point. The reason I recruited these Chu people is because they still have a sword heart!"

"Kenshin?"

"Yes, a swordsman's heart that knows swordsmanship is difficult, yet still chooses the hardest path despite the easy! Having this swordsman's heart means they are not afraid of life or death, and that they value dignity above all else. Whether in a competition or on the battlefield, those with a swordsman's heart are enough to intimidate the enemy."

Sima Wei suddenly realized that, whether it was a duel between two individuals or a confrontation between two armies, martial arts and military science were certainly crucial, but they weren't the only ones. People weren't just dead objects; they had hearts. A resolute heart, even unarmed, would inspire fear in others. A weak heart, even armed with divine weapons, would only lead to humiliation. But he still didn't understand: "Why must we abandon the easy and embrace the difficult?"

Shi Chong waved his hand and asked Zhao Hei to answer again. Zhao Hei said, "It's nothing more than heroic swordsmanship and simple spearmanship."

What this means is that sword dancing is more handsome and beautiful than holding a gun, and for this look, they would rather risk their lives.

Sima Wei was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. He said to Shi Chong, "So that's how it is! So that's how it is! Grand Coachman, I understand what you mean! So this is the sword heart!" After a slight pause, he exclaimed in admiration, "With just a few words, you've made me want to practice swordsmanship."

"Your Highness is a body of thousands of gold, and you wield the swords of the princes. Why would you bother with these mortals?"

The two of them burst into laughter again, and then raised their glasses to drink together. It can be said that both the host and the guests had a great time.

But Sima Xiuhua, who had been listening for a long time, was very unhappy. As a princess, she had nothing to do with topics like swords and knives, and secondly, she didn't want to come to the banquet. So she puffed up her little face, her eyes widened, and complained to Sima Wei: "Fifth brother, fifth brother!"

Sima Wei suddenly woke up, and immediately understood what she meant. He repeatedly blamed himself and said, "Don't blame me, little sister, don't blame me." Then he asked Shi Chong, "Everyone says that the scenery of the Imperial Household's Golden Valley Garden is magnificent. I wonder if you can take my little sister to see it?"

Shi Chao was also happy to see the princess leave, and immediately called Shi Chao over and said, "Xi Nu, take the princess outside to relax and walk around." He also instructed, "It looks like it will rain soon, so you might as well come back early." Shi Chao understood the meaning of the music and knew that he was asked to buy time. He nodded slightly and said, "I know what Sixth Uncle means." He immediately invited Xiu Hua to visit Qianli Lake.

Xiuhua had been bored of sitting for a long time. Now that she was free, she had no intention of staying. She ran out like a bird, showing no sign of being a princess at all.

As a result, apart from Shi Chong's maids and guards, only Shi Chong and Sima Wei were left in the hall.

The two of them feasted and chatted for half a day, setting the mood. As the sky gradually darkened, Shi Chong felt that he had chatted with the King of Shiping and it was time to get down to business. He asked calmly, "By the way, the weather has been so hot lately. I wonder how your Majesty is feeling?"

Sima Wei had just visited his father at the palace a few days ago. He shook his head and said, "Your health has been getting worse lately. In the spring, you suffered from insomnia, but in this weather, most people are too hot to sleep, but Your Majesty has become sleepy instead."

"How to say?"

"The day before yesterday, I visited him in the scorching sun, drenched in sweat. But when I entered the palace, His Majesty didn't even bother with the ice jar; he just fell asleep on the couch. I waited for almost half an hour before His Majesty finally woke up. Later, I asked the eunuchs who attended him, and they said His Majesty is only awake for four hours a day now. He's really getting old!"

"People in their fifties tend to be cold and sleepy, that's normal." Shi Chong consoled him, but his focus was obviously not on this. Instead, he continued to change the subject, "But I heard that the Marquis of Linjin has been handling the inner court recently, and he's also serving in the forbidden area. I don't know how he's doing." The Marquis of Linjin mentioned by Shi Chong refers to Yang Jun, the leader of the Three Yangs.

Sima Wei drank a glass of wine and wondered, "It's not bad, though. With Yang Yao around, the government is still pretty much fine. But if you want to know where it's better, I'm afraid it's not much better!"

Shi Chong heard his dissatisfaction and immediately came to a conclusion. However, he pretended to be confused and continued, "Your Highness is referring to..."

Sima Wei smiled casually and said, "Why is the Imperial Household Officer pretending to be ignorant? At the beginning of this year, there was a solar eclipse. Then an earthquake in Kyoto collapsed the Imperial Ancestral Temple. In early April, hailstorms fell. A few days ago, news came from Lu that a vicious wind had descended, uprooting trees and houses! These are all ominous omens!"

"They say that there is a connection between heaven and man. With such major events happening one after another in the country, it's obvious that there's a demon in the court! Doesn't the Imperial Household think so?"

What a direct response! Shi Chong was taken aback, but he couldn't hide his stance any longer. After a moment's hesitation, he nodded and said, "Although the cavalry is not bad at governing, they do have some signs of being closed-door and ostracizing talented people when it comes to employing people."

"It's more than just ostracizing talented people!!" Sima Wei raised his glass and took a sip of wine, then sneered, "I'm in the Forbidden City now. I want to see His Majesty, but I have to inform him first! There are so many royal princes in the country, who isn't more virtuous and respected than him? He's simply enjoying the Empress's blessing, so he's so rampant! Grand Coachman, I'm going to say something I shouldn't say. If he continues like this, I'm afraid the Ten Attendants Rebellion of the Later Han Dynasty will happen again today!"

Even though Shi Chong had been prepared, he was still shocked when he heard this:
Sima Wei's dislike for Yang Jun had reached such a level! Was this his own opinion, or that of most of the other princes? It seemed his assumption was correct. With Yang Jun's current prestige, he probably wouldn't be able to rule the Jin dynasty!

But if Yang Jun can't do it, who can? The Prince of Runan? The Fifth Prince in front of him?

When I first heard the news, I thought that His Highness had learned to bide his time. Now it seems that this was probably just the idea of the experts around him. But with his decisive personality, I'm afraid he will definitely cause some trouble!

Shi Chong's thoughts turned in a thousand circles for a moment, and he began to weigh the relationship between himself and His Royal Highness the Prince of Shiping, and what appropriate distance they should maintain.

He probed, "Then I wonder, Your Highness, where do you think we should start if we want to clear up the empire and rectify the court?"

Sima Wei said decisively, "As the saying goes, to cure an illness, one must address its root cause; to capture a thief, one must first capture the leader. Although I am not talented, I am willing to follow the example of Emperor Xuan. If Yang Jun dares to show even the slightest sign of disloyalty, I will eliminate this source of trouble, even if it costs me my own life!"

Such murderous intent! Shi Chong was startled again, but at the same time, he felt a certain contempt for Sima Wei: This prince was too naive. They had only been talking for a short time, and he was already so naive?! If someone had infiltrated the inner chambers of the palace, he would definitely not have discovered it. And with this kind of personality, this prince might be able to kill, but he definitely couldn't control the situation.

Although thinking this in his heart, Shi Chong was overjoyed on the surface. He bowed and said, "This is exactly why I came to you, Your Highness. As long as Your Highness is willing to raise the banner, I, Shi Chong, although I have no virtue, am willing to do my best to help you!"

Sima Wei was also delighted. He said with a smile, "A loyal minister like the Grand Coachman is the true hero of the founding of the Jin Dynasty!"

The two of them clinked glasses and laughed heartily. It was already dark. It wasn't night yet, but the cumulus clouds were as thick as mountains, blocking out any sunlight. A cool breeze blew through the courtyard, a sign of heavy rain.

Shi Chong, upon seeing this, could not help but stand up and say, "What strange weather! I'm afraid Your Highness will have to stay at my humble abode today."

Sima Wei said relaxedly, "I've heard about the luxurious inner chambers of the Imperial Household, and I'm just about to experience it!"

As he was speaking, suddenly a white light flashed, lightning streaked across the sky, and thunder shook the earth.

A strong wind suddenly blew up, extinguishing all the lights in the garden, as if night had already fallen early. And amidst the howling, thunder rumbled like a mighty army.

Amidst this loud noise, the world became quiet for a moment, and people could only hear their own faint heartbeats.

When the thunder faded away, Shi Chong looked outside the hall again. The sky and the earth were dark and silent. This was the last calm before the storm.

But at this time, some noises were faintly heard in the distance. At first, it sounded like the buzzing of mosquitoes, and then gradually became as clear as boiling water.

It was the sound of commotion and noise. Shi Chong looked towards the source and saw that the southwest was no longer dark, but there was a reddish and white light. He stared at it for a moment and suddenly realized that it was fire!

The fire spread like a tongue of flame in the dark night and soon ravaged the entire stable. The hundreds of horses that Shi Chong had collected from all over the world panicked and neighed loudly in the flames.

The most majestic black dragon colt among them was snorting anxiously when suddenly a hand was put around its back.

A young Jiehu boy stepped into the stirrup and nimbly jumped onto the horse's back. He looked around and skillfully used the reins to tame the restless beast under his crotch. He was very pleased with himself and said with a smile: "Good horse! Good horse! But compared to my brother, your temper is far worse!"

The black dragon colt flew into a rage upon hearing this, and immediately flew off with a cry, dashing out of the flames like lightning. Suddenly, Afule's joyful long howl echoed between heaven and earth. The howl was so intense that even Shi Chong, who was a mile away, could hear it.

"There is an assassin! There is an assassin!" said the guards brought by Sima Wei.

Shi Chong also gave the order in public: "Quickly bring people to protect His Highness! Also, quickly find the princess!"

As he said this, cold sweat broke out on his forehead. It was obvious that he had no idea what the cause and effect of the matter was, and he couldn't help but worry about the worst possible scenario.

But amid the noise of the crowd, countless thoughts flashed through Shi Chong's mind, but they soon melted away like snow, leaving only one question:
He didn't leave any guards by Luzhu's side!
This thought horrified Shi Chong, who immediately called Zhao Hei over and sternly shouted, "Hurry to Chongqi Tower and don't let anything happen to Lu Zhu!"

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(End of this chapter)