Book 37 - Chapter 3 – Flying Dragon in the Sky (1/2)
Without any trouble Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling arrived at Yingyang and went to the for old haunts, they reh difficult titou Mansion, as well as
The situation has changed; Susu was gone, Li Mi was like a tiger that fell into a plain, Shen Luoyan was
Yang Gongqing did not expect the tould cohted, he said, “It was such a headache looking for you”
“What’s theasked in surprise
Aaloud, he said, “It’s a s unexpectedly would drop in; it saves Xiaodi the hardshi+p of searching for you”
The incouished and accomplished; it was precisely the Passionate Prince Hou Xibai
Suddenly seeing an old friend, the two boys were pleased beyond belief Kou Zhong laughed heartily and said, “I thought you were hiding deep in the ht that you are running around all over the place?”
Xu Ziling s be willing to re you company, how could you pass your days?”
Hou Xibai said, “Ziling ! These days Xiaodi broke off all relations with red-mansion-clear-establishments; I constantly have you in my heart, Icried out in surprise theatrically, “Both Ling Shao and I are no good in suchand said, “Shaoshuai is teasinga bit; otherwise, how could I express the gratitude in ht face, “But your handsoht make people suspicious!”
Three hter
Their banter provoked Yang Gongqing to laughter as well; he deeply felt the absence of hypocrisy a the three, that they were full of sincere friendshi+p Both in the officialdohu, it was rare and precious “Let’s sit down first before we continue talking,” he hastily said
The four sat down around a table Yang Gongqing personally poured tea for everyone
“How did Hou Xiong know that you could find us via Yang Gong?” Xu Ziling asked
Hou Xibai replied, “After leaving Chang’an, I went to Luoyang first, stayed there for ion Xiaodi could be considered having a bit of face, but it was not until Shaoshuai left Luoyang that I got wind I knew that Yang Gong and Shaoshuai have a rather close relationshi+p, thereupon I took the liberty of asking Yang Da Jiangjun for help”
The two boys recalled how during Rong Fengxiang’s birthday feast, Hou Xibai was one of the guests of honor, which was enough proof that he was quite popular in Luoyang In this kind of cultural big city,skill, the Passionate Prince would definitely enjoy widespread popularity, not tosaid, “Yang Gong is one of us, there is nothing to hide; how’s Hou Xiong’s Bu Si Yin Fa’s training?”
Yang Gongqing has never heard about Ie Method, hence he did not show any reaction
Hou Xibai laughed cheerfully and said, “Failing to reach the speed I wanted, I just leave everything to fate I can say that I have small success by now; thank you for Shaoshuai’s concern”
Kou Zhong sighed and said, “I cannot but be concerned about you, because the Relics has already fallen into your honorable master’s hands He declared that he would live in seclusion to train for one year After one year he fu”
Hou Xibai’s handsohtly, he said with a wry se Xiaodi to putcould not bear not to ask, “What Relics? Who is Hou Gongzi’s zhizun [revered ’s brief explanation, Yang Gongqing began to realize that the real treasure had fallen into the two boys’ hand; he was extre evento that, Hou Xibai was duht you could really transport the treasure out of Chang’an, while also make the world think that your treasure hunt has failed”
Xu Ziling said, “There was a very high degree of luck in our success”
“Are you going to look for Yuwen Huaji to settle old account?” Hou Xibai asked
Greatly astonished, Kou Zhong asked, “How do you know that?”
Hou Xibai replied with a sneer, “Anybody who knows your background would also know that between you and Yuwen Huaji, there is an enmity as deep as the ocean Now that Yuwen Huaji’s fall is ie’s usual style, you can’t possibly borrow anybody else’s hand to resolve your blood debt!”
Kou Zhong vigorously patted his shoulders and said, “You got that right! Let h spirits, the four raised their cup of tea to salute each other
After taking a sip of tea, Hou Xibai sht side by side as well!”
Puzzled, Xu Ziling asked, “What en his shoulders, Hou Xibai replied, “He has an enainst o Yuwen Huaji’s top confidant, who is alsoto look forme to paint a portrait of Yuwen Huaji’s beloved concubine Wei Furen [Madame Wei]; the compensation was a scroll of Ju Ran’s authentic landscape painting”
Yang Gongqing asked in surprise, “Soldiers at the city walls [idiom: at a critical juncture], the country ruined and the people starving may happen any moment, Yuwen Huaji still have thewelled up in Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling’s hearts; the Yuwen Huaji in their mind has always been a cold-hearted, one without so ht that unexpectedly he also had this war asked, “What kind of fellow is Ju Ran?”
Hou Xibai swayed his head as if he was reciting, “Jing Guan Dong Ju, they were the Four Great Masters [orig Da shi+ Ju Jiang (great eneration, pioneers of landscape paintings Ju Ran hi style was lofty, rustic, elegant, and leisurely It’s a pity that not , this reward indeedspoke heavily, “Where do they want you to be?”
“Naturally the capital of the Wei State, Xucheng!” Hou Xibai replied
Kou Zhong asked Yang Gongqing, “How’s Yuwen Huaji’s current situation?”
Yang Gongqing replied, “He is able to hold off until the first month of the new year, it can be considered quite remarkable Based on Li shi+ji’s usual style, if he defeated Weixian, he would follow up the victory by an all-out pursue and attack, and would not give Yuwen Huaji any opportunity to catch his breath”
“Anyasked
Yang Gongqing replied, “He could be described as glaring like a tiger watching its prey Currently Dou Jiande is approaching several cities bordering the Wei, a massive military force, he could deploy his troops to invade the Wei anysaid, “Such a headache But in my opinion, Yuwen Huaji would not be that easy to kill; even if he was defeated, he would si respond to Zhang shi+he’s request?” he asked
Hou Xibai smiled and said, “Old friends’ affair is ree”
Slapping the table, Kou Zhong said, “That will do!”
“Oneto the latest inforinally prepared to personally lead the– to invade Taiyuan together But in the end, due to Tuli’s return to his country, which made Xieli unable to spare time on his war effort Without any choice, he had to continue his current way of sending his ’s military power”
“In that case,” Hou Xibai said, “Shaoshuai and Ziling were doing Li shi+ said, “It could be said that you are doing the people of the Central Plains a huge favor Tujue people are used to stealing horses; killing and burning, raping and looting are coo directly to storrave destruction”
Sht of the latest develop fro the subject, Kou Zhong asked Hou Xibai, “Hou Gongzi! May I ask how are we going to sneak into Xucheng?”
‘Clack!’ Hou Xibai opened the Fan of Beauty; he shook it leisurely and gently, and then he smiled and said, “Do you kno lions and leopards hunt for their food?”
Stunned, Kou Zhong reply, “I have never even seen lions and leopards; how do I kno they hunt for food?”
“This hat shi+ shi+ toldme,” Hou Xibai said, “And it has left deep i kneas referring to shi+ Zhixuan, so both paid very close attention, because the rasp shi+ Zhixuan’s foundation, the higher their future chance of survival would be
Currently, even with his flaw, shi+ Zhixuan was still that formidable; after a year, how exceptional the shi+ Zhixuan as coine
Greatly interested, Yang Gongqing said, “I’ve seen a man as injured by a leopard; the wound was extre”
Hou Xibai said, “Unless it’s an old lion or a hungry leopard, vey rarely would they attack people They all have a fixed target, and they understand the prey’s habit and reaction very well; only then will their chance of success in attack increase”
Revealing a thoughtful look, Kou Zhong said, “This is in line with the objective of the School of Military; it is called know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated [idiom from Sunzi’s ‘The Art of War’]”