White Horse, Silver Spear, Grand Commandant Gao

After Gao Xingzhou finished telling his long story, the three of them were already in Qingjian City.

On the day of leaving Yanzhou, Madam Gao hugged her second son and refused to let go. Gao Huaixuan was also reluctant to part. She turned her back to wipe away her tears, then turned back to persuade her mother. After some pulling and tugging, they were finally able to leave.

The two brothers stayed in Qingjian City with their father for several days. During this time, military supplies such as arrows, food, and fodder were delivered in a continuous stream, transforming a bare city into the shape of a fortress.

If the Dingnan army attacks again, we can defend the city and avoid open battle.

Gao Xingzhou was not idle. He received Gao Junli, whose father, Gao Sizhen, was of the same generation as Gao Siji and considered him a cousin. He agreed to recommend Gao Junli for the position of Prefect of Suizhou.

He then comforted the tribes within his territory, forging bonds of gratitude and righteousness. Despite his high position, Gao Xingzhou treated everyone with humility, and all the tribes were won over.

"I don't understand why Father would associate with these barbarians. Does he expect them to join the army and fight?"

Gao Huaide looked down on these small tribes with only a few dozen tents and a few hundred people. Their so-called warriors had only a horse and a bow, and used a sharpened wooden stick as a spear.

Let alone full armor, even a thick fur coat and a bronze mirror would be considered rare protective gear.

When these words reached Gao Xingzhou's ears, he unsurprisingly received a lecture.

He led Gao Huaide to the top of the watchtower and pointed northwest: "If you look as far as you can, can you see a hundred miles away?"

"How could that be? I don't have eagle eyes."

"I extend kindness and trust to the surrounding Qiang tribes, treating them with the care and concern of family, bestowing many rewards upon them, and cultivating relationships with trusted chieftains to gain their loyalty. With the barbarians' hearts won over, they will promptly report to me whenever the Xia Prefecture army enters the territory. This ensures preparedness for every battle, effectively giving us many more eyes and ears. Do you understand?"

Gao Huaide understood, but even though he acknowledged that his father was right, he could hardly put on a completely convinced expression.

"Maybe I'm just a rebellious and unlikable person."

Looking into the distance, a group of people, no bigger than black dots, were heading towards Qingjian City.

……

On the appointed day, Yang Hongxin arrived from Linzhou as promised.

After touring around Qingjian City, Yang Hongxin exclaimed in admiration, "Brother Gao is indeed decisive and efficient. It's only been a little over a month since we last parted, and he has already built a fortified city."

Gao Xingzhou rode alongside him at a leisurely pace, calmly explaining the situation: "Before coming here, I met with Fu Yanqing, and he has already agreed to join forces to deal with the Dingnan Army."

Yang Hongxin was overjoyed. With Fu Yanqing joining the cause, their chances of success were much greater. If things went well, he himself would be able to become the governor of a prefecture and obtain an official position.

"That's great. I have already sent some of my clansmen to Hengshan to build a fortification, which will be completed soon."

From this point on, the strategy of the three heroes locking the dragon, as described by the old man Chen Tuan in the tower, was accomplished.

Qingjian, Hengshan, and Fangqu acted like three iron chains, firmly trapping the Dingnan Army and continuously nibbling away at their strength.

Gao Xingzhou cautioned, "Li Yichao will definitely not sit idly by and wait for his death; he will surely seek a way to break the deadlock. Last year, Xia Prefecture was able to mobilize 10,000 cavalry to fight against the imperial court's punitive expedition. Even if we join forces, we must not underestimate him. We will have to fight with all our might when the time comes."

Yang Hongxin raised his arm proudly: "None of the men of the Yang family are afraid of death. Brother Gao, just wait and see."

"Very good."

Gao Xingzhou cracked his horsewhip, making a loud bang: "Now we have the initiative. No matter which side Li Yichao attacks, we can support each other and defeat him while waiting for him to tire himself out. The overall situation can be settled."

Yang Hongxin readily agreed and pulled a child behind him to the front: "Brother Gao, this is my son. I'm entrusting him to you from today onwards."

Looking at the child's appearance, he was practically a miniature version of Yang Hongxin, with a burly face and ruddy complexion. He clasped his hands in a salute and said in a low voice, "Yang Chonggui greets Marshal Gao Jie."

He said no more after that.

"Although young, he is steady and dignified, with the demeanor of a military general."

Gao Xingzhou praised Yang Hongxin and invited him to stay a few more days: "If the Dingnan Army launches a large-scale attack, there are still many matters that need to be discussed in detail, such as how to respond and how to send out warnings. Let the younger generation spend a couple of days together."

He turned to Gao Huaide and instructed him, "Take good care of Chonggui, treat him like your brother."

……

"Your name is Yang Chonggui, and mine is Gao Huaide."

"Nice to meet you."

"This is my younger brother, Gao Huailiang. He will be coming to your house soon."

"I also have a younger brother, his name is Yang Chongxun."

"I heard you also have a little wife who's not even a year old?" (Note 1)

"..."

Yang Chonggui's already slightly red face turned even redder: "It was all decided by our fathers; I've never met her."

Gao Huaide secretly rejoiced. If his father had made him marry a woman he had never met and whose beauty he did not know, it would have been unacceptable.

Yang Chonggui was taciturn and not good at talking, which may be because the two were not familiar with each other.

Gao Huaide thought to himself that since his father had entrusted him with his care, he had to take good care of him. Unfortunately, there was nothing in Qingjian City, so he could only return to the prefecture city to figure it out.

Yang Hongxin and his entourage had been there for several hours, and the adults were busy with their own affairs. Gao Huaide noticed that Yang Chonggui's face was flushed and his legs were trembling slightly, and asked with concern, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell from the long journey?"

Yang Chonggui gritted his teeth and endured it for a long time, but finally couldn't resist his instincts and asked loudly, "Excuse me, where is the outhouse in your residence?"

Gao Huaide almost laughed himself to death. He didn't want to relieve himself in a stranger's house and had been holding it in for so long. This kid's personality is really twisted.

"I also have a bit of an upset stomach, let's go together."

"Bedrooms are usually located facing south, and the toilets shouldn't be too far away, otherwise it will be unbearable at night in the dead of winter. The kitchen should also be far from the bedroom to prevent fires and to avoid odors mixing."

The saying "A gentleman keeps away from the kitchen" may seem like a self-righteous act, but in reality, it's quite cunning.

Gao Huaide didn't study his serious books properly, but he knew a lot of miscellaneous knowledge. When he got to the outhouse, he loosened his belt and explained, "Toilets are mostly in the north, and kitchens are mostly in the south. North is up and south is down, so we say 'going to the toilet' and 'going to the kitchen.'"

The two began to drain the water side by side.

"I've heard that some extremely wealthy and noble families have toilets with large beds covered in crimson gauze, lavishly furnished, where people squat directly on the bed to relieve themselves. There are also more than ten beautiful maids serving them, and they have everything they need, such as cinnamon powder and agarwood juice. They really know how to enjoy life."

Yang Chonggui, the son of a nouveau riche, had never heard of such extravagance and only cared about relieving himself of his burdens.

He suddenly noticed Gao Huaide staring at him with ill intent, and said with displeasure, "Why are you telling me all this? And where are you looking?"

"You don't understand, do you? It's hard for an ordinary person to pass the time when surrounded by a dozen women while using the toilet. But there was a General Wang back then, whose name I can't remember, who could change his clothes calmly and with an arrogant expression." (Note 2)

After tying his belt, Gao Huaide laughed loudly, "I'm seeing if you have the potential to be a great general."

"..."

Just as Yang Chonggui was speechless, Gao Huaide slowly added, "He's got good assets; he should have no problem having seven or eight sons in the future."

"..."

When the two first met, Yang Chonggui found this guy extremely annoying.

……

Gao Xingzhou and Yang Hongxin finalized their plans and inquired about the movements of the Khitans in the north.

"They've been quiet for a few months now, without any raids. Recently, news came that Abaoji's mother died last November."

Yang Hongxin did not name names, but the Khitan descendants all bore the surname Xiao, mostly from the Yishi and Bali tribes, who had held power for generations. Yelü Abaoji admired Emperor Gaozu of Han, so he called himself Liu, comparing himself to Prime Minister Xiao of Yishi and Bali, and thus adopted the surname Xiao.

Abaoji's wife, the current Empress Dowager Shulü Pingze, is half Uyghur.

"This woman is incredibly ruthless; she's cruel not only to others, but also to her son and herself."

Even someone as bold as Yang Hongxin felt deeply wary of Shulu Ping.

Gao Xingzhou remained silent, lost in thought.

Eight years ago, the Xingjiao Gate Incident occurred, and the late emperor ascended the throne. At the same time, the Khitans captured Longquan Prefecture, destroyed the Bohai Kingdom, eliminated any potential threats, and greatly expanded their power.

With chaos erupting again in the Central Plains, how will the Khitans respond?

However, his worries were futile, and Gao Xingzhou had no choice but to temporarily suppress his thoughts about the Khitan.

Before leaving, Gao Xingzhou wanted to send a squad of soldiers to escort him, but Yang Hongxin waved his hand boldly: "My Yang family's sons have ventured into the dragon's den and tiger's lair, how could the mere Dangxiang Li family stop us! Commander Gao, rest assured, your son is with me, I will definitely keep him safe."

Gao Huailiang gently pulled on the reins, skillfully controlling the horse to join the Yang family's group. His movements showed no signs of awkwardness or stiffness, a result of his hard work during this period.

Yang Chonggui's riding skills were no less than his; the two children exchanged glances, looking at their respective fathers.

Yang Hongxin raised his voice and said, "Boy, learn a few skills from Commander Gao and come back to show your father what you've got."

Yang Chonggui answered loudly, gripping the golden knife tightly in his hand.

Gao Xingzhou was as cold and aloof as a mountain. Gao Huailiang waited for a moment but saw no reaction from his father, and a hint of disappointment appeared on his face.

Just as they were about to mount their horses and ride off, Gao Xingzhou casually said, "Liang'er, take care."

A glint of light flashed in Gao Huailiang's eyes, and he said loudly, "I am leaving. Father and elder brother, please take good care of yourselves."

The two groups, one in the south and one in the north, gradually drifted apart.

Gao Huaide stared intently at his younger brother's departing figure. This time, Gao Xingzhou, unusually, did not urge him on.