Chapter 27: The Four Marquises Come to the Capital, Zhang Emperor Xinzhi Submits to Wen Huan

  Ten days later, the grand ceremony of the crown prince's ascension to the throne was finally ready. The vassals from all directions came to Mashu County from all sides. This time, the congratulatory visit was extremely important. Although the four major vassals took action early, they had a lot of luggage and arrived later than others.

  Previously referred to as the 800 vassals, Zhang Emperor Xin naturally didn't have the energy to receive them, and directly handed them over to Wen Zhong, Bi Gan, Shang Rong, etc. What he was waiting for were the four great leaders among the vassals - East Lord Hou Jiang Huan Chu, West Lord Hou Ji Chang, South Lord Hou E Chong Yu, and North Lord Hou Chong Hou Hu.

  Among the four directions, the north is newly defeated, the south is poor and bitter, it's hard to become a threat, the west has wild ambitions, the east is watching with tiger eyes, yet it's something that can't be ignored.

  The first to arrive in Mochi was Beihou Chonghou Hu, who came to comfort Zhang Emperor Xin. After a brief conversation, he led the crowd to the post house, followed by Nanhou. The south was warm and humid, while the north was dry and cold. Before Ou Chongyu had a chance to meet Zhang Emperor Xin, he fell ill and hastily entered Mochi.

  "Report, Your Highness the Crown Prince, Duke Dong Bo has arrived at the city gate." On this day, Emperor Zhang Xin was arranging for the Feng Chan ceremony when he heard a subordinate come to report. He raised an eyebrow, as the eastern land is far from the city of Mo Yu, why did he arrive so quickly?

  Zhang Di Xin led his men to welcome, but saw the flags standing densely, a hundred horses neighing in unison, the drums beating heavily. The leader was riding a crimson red horse, with an impressive and majestic appearance. Seeing the prince coming out to welcome him, he hastily paid his respects and said: "Duke of Eastern Bo, Jiang Huan Chu, pays his respects to Your Highness."

  Zhang Dixing saw Dongbohou performing the ritual, and hastily held him back: "Your Excellency is Mount Tai, how can you perform such a ritual?" Jiang Hanchu saw this and was overjoyed in his heart. Not bowing to the Son of Heaven was a rare honor. As he stood up, he felt that his waist had gained an extra bit of energy: "The young marquis has come here, it would be enough to send one or two envoys, how dare I trouble the Crown Prince's great presence."

  Jiang Huanchu finished speaking, but didn't hear a response. He looked up to see Zhang Disheng staring intently at the person behind him. This man was majestic and imposing, wearing a dark blue seven-treasured tiger-headed armor. His long hair flowed in the western wind like a wild horse, and he held a long-handled spear in his hand. A dragon-and-tiger-patterned sword hung from his waist, and although his eyebrows were handsome, they also had a hint of heroic spirit. He was indeed extraordinary!

  The young man looked at Zhang Emperor Xin, sizing him up without stopping, raising an eyebrow, but not paying respects. He opened his mouth and asked: "I've long heard that the Crown Prince is heroic and powerful, able to change pillars in the Flying Cloud Pavilion, and lift tripods in the Xianqing Hall. I'm not talented, so I hope Your Highness will instruct me a bit."

  "How dare you! This is the Crown Prince, the most revered one under heaven. Where do you get the audacity to offend him? Apologize at once!" Jiang Huan Chu also did not expect that his unworthy son would be so reckless as to directly propose a duel with Zhang Di Xin.

  "I don't dare to accept your teachings, but this place is quite extraordinary. Wait a little later, and it will surely fulfill your thoughts." Without needing others to say, Zhang Emperor Xin also knew who this was. In the great merchant army, there had long been rumors of Huang Jiang Huan's reputation. The so-called Huang referred to Huang Fei Hu, under the command of Grand Preceptor Wen. And Jiang referred to Jiang Wen Huan, son of Duke Dong Bo Jiang Huan Chu, and also the younger brother of Crown Princess Jiang Wen Qi.

  "Thank you, Your Highness!" Jiang Wenhuan was overjoyed and bowed to thank him. Since Zhang Disheng showed no anger, Jiang Hanchu let the matter pass and they all headed towards Mo City.

  The four vassals have been in control of the four directions for many years, and the 200 vassals under them also obey their orders to the letter. In the places where they are stationed, they have deep roots and are not easily shaken. If one wants to dissolve their power, it is not something that can be accomplished overnight, let alone by killing just four people.

  If it weren't for the previous emperor Zhou's foolish idea of inviting all the vassals to come and pay homage at Zongzhou, only to kill them one by one, which enraged the four corners and led to a rebellion against Shang, the Shang dynasty would not have perished. Such history, Emperor Xin of Zhang would never want to repeat again.

  Jiang Wenhuan and Jiang Wenqi were originally close siblings, and the two had not seen each other for a long time. As soon as they settled down, they hurried to Shouwang Fu.

  Along the way, Jiang Wenhuan thought that the Crown Prince's personal welcome must be a great honor to the Jiang family, and his eyebrows were filled with joy. When he saw Jiang Wenjuan, they both had tears in their eyes and talked for a long time. By the time Jiang Hanchu arrived, it was already late afternoon. Emperor Zhang Xin saw that the sky was getting dark, so he set up a banquet in the palace to welcome the two father and son.

  At the banquet, Zhang Emperor Xīn had long known that Jiang Wén Huàn was a great general in the army, and intentionally tried to win him over. He talked about astronomy and geography, humanities and military affairs, showing off his knowledge, but unexpectedly, his younger brother-in-law didn't fall for it, just drinking silently with few words...

  "Report! Your Highness! Kang Wenhuan requests an audience!" The next morning, Zhang Emperor Xin was still fast asleep when he heard the servant's report. Wasn't Kang Wenhuan not interested in him? Why did he come to see him today?

  "Your Highness, you pretended to be drunk yesterday, were you afraid of me?" Zhang Emperor Xin had just shown his face when Jiang Wen Huan spoke out to provoke him, casually tossing over a long sword, "Is there a brave man under the name of fame?"

  Zhang Di Xin couldn't help but laugh, last night he saw the people from Jiang's family, they had a great conversation, but Jiang Wen Huan repeatedly ignored him, our crown prince was "overcome with wine" and left early, who would have thought that in this person's eyes, it became "fear of war"?

  To say nothing of Zhang Emperor Xin being incompetent, it can still be tolerated, but to be afraid of battle, isn't that a humiliation to the military's identity!

  Zhang Di Xin kicked up the long sword with one foot, caught it in his hand, and didn't open his eyes. He just waited for Jiang Wen Huan to attack. Jiang Wen Huan furrowed his brow and didn't show any courtesy either. With a thrust of his long sword, he charged forward to kill.

  Zhang Di Xin saw the long sword approaching, but didn't dodge or evade. He simply raised his scabbard and gently swept it aside, deflecting the blade. Jiang Wen Huan's attack was fierce, but he didn't expect a light sweep to throw him off balance. His feet stumbled, and only then did he manage to steady himself.

  "Be careful, Crown Prince!" Jiang Wenhuan naturally felt discontent in his heart and immediately swung his sword back. However, before it could land, he felt a hard object blocking him - it was the hilt of Zhang Di's sword, with its tip pointing at him. Zhang Di had a smile all over his face as he stared at him: "This move of yours is too slow."

  Jiang Wenhuan was proud of himself, and in the army, he had never suffered such a loss. Seeing that his repeated attacks were unsuccessful, he naturally felt ashamed and angry, retreated one step, his long swordsmanship was like flowers, his footsteps were swift and agile, pressing closely on Zhang Dexin.

  Jiang Wenhuan's martial arts skills were not ordinary, but far from being a master, in Zhang Dixing's eyes, they were full of flaws. He stood still on the spot, without making any moves, allowing the long sword to thrust forward.

  Jiang Wenhuan stepped forward, pressing Zhang Disen tightly. Seeing that Zhang didn't attack or defend, Jiang launched a step-by-step offensive, but found it difficult to inflict any damage on him. However, his own consumption was enormous, and a layer of fine sweat appeared on his forehead.

  Zhang Di Xin saw the opportunity had arrived, his long sword thrust out, and the scabbard fell straight onto Jiang Wen Huan's lower abdomen!

  Jiang Wenhuan thought Zhang Dixing wouldn't counterattack, but didn't expect him to suddenly strike like this, and was naturally unable to dodge, getting hit squarely by the sword scabbard.

  "The Crown Prince, be careful!" Zhang Emperor Xin shouted loudly, his feet flashing as he pressed forward, forcing Jiang Wenhuan to retreat step by step. As the latter panicked and suddenly retreated backward, he turned around and swung out his long sword!

  A long sword like wind, "Puff!" a sound, directly through the sleeve and over, Jiang Wenhuan's heart was in a panic, his foot fell, and he tumbled to the ground.

  "The art of war is a deceitful way, attacking the enemy's void and striking their reality, attacking the enemy's reality and striking their void. Only when both are false and true can it be called a deceitful way." Zhang Emperor Xin said as he pulled up Jiang Wenhuan, "You are still young, you need to practice more, and in the future, you will surely achieve great things."

  "Thank you, Your Highness!" Jiang Wenhuan saw that Zhang Disheng's knowledge was vast and profound, and he felt even more convinced in his heart. "The Crown Prince's words are sometimes true and sometimes false, but I don't know how to distinguish between the truth and falsehood."

  "When false becomes true, true also becomes false. Where there is nothing, something exists...". Zhang Di Xin swung his long sleeves and didn't care about Jiang Wen Huan, speaking as he walked away.

  Jiang Wenhuan listened and suddenly felt enlightened, with more thoughts flowing into his mind like a spring, rushing into his heart. The crown prince was extraordinary, truly a divine being!

  As he turned the corner to avoid Jiang Wenhuan, Zhang Dixing couldn't help but wipe the sweat from his forehead. The "treacherous path" he had just mentioned was only known by our crown prince, and as for the deeper meaning, he didn't have a clue.

  If being asked by Jiang Wen, wouldn't that be embarrassing? Zhang Daqian casually recited a line and quickly escaped the scene. In movies, real masters seem to be like this.

  "Your Highness, Your Highness! The Marquis of Xi Bo has arrived!" Zhang Emperor Xin had just come out when he heard the servant hastily report. His body was stunned for a moment, and what was supposed to arrive finally did!

  Enemies meet, and the scene is unknown. Zhang Emperor Xin silently thinks about what King Wen of Zhou would be like. "King Wen had four breasts, twenty-four concubines, and ninety-nine sons." This is the original description of Ji Chang. To say nothing of the rest, these four breasts are hard to believe, and it's unknown whether they're true or not.

  Zhang Dexin went out of the Wu Gate to welcome, but saw a team of carriages coming from afar, with dozens of people. There were no banners or flags standing, no military horses opening the way, and no shengs blowing in unison. They came to Mianzhou in a cloud of dust.

  The leader was an old man with a head full of white hair, although he led the way in front, he rode on a black donkey, moving very slowly, and the crowd followed behind him, not daring to overtake.

  Is this really King Wen of Zhou? Zhang Emperor Xin looked at the man, furrowing his brow. Could it be that the great King Wen of Western Zhou was just an old man on the verge of collapse?

  "The hall came to welcome, it was the heavenly grace, even if it was the common people, they deeply felt the thick virtue of the crown prince." The old man said, kneeling on the ground, "The Marquis of the West, Xi Bo Hou Ji Chang, has an audience with the Crown Prince, wishing him a thousand years of longevity."

  "Marquis, please don't be polite, quickly get up." Zhang Disheng leaned forward, but felt that this person was not tall, with a gentle and kind appearance, wearing a coarse linen long gown, with eyebrows and eyes that looked benevolent. How could he look like someone with ambitions? Yet, it's unknown how the Marquis of Pingxi will turn out in the future.

  "Your Highness, please forgive me. My young son has contracted a serious illness and I have been taking care of him at home, so my two sons have not come to pay their respects." Ji Chang replied, without mentioning the name of Ji Fa, with a worried expression, "But I don't know what disease he has contracted, when will he recover..."

  Recovery, hum! I'm afraid Ji Fa was never ill in the first place! Zhang Emperor Xin knew what kind of person he was from an early age. Ji Chang's words were indeed a bit too much, but good gentlemen are often the most deadly poisonous snakes. You're so low-key, how can I feel at ease?!

  "Please rest assured, Lord Xi, that you will recover soon. I beg of you, please do not worry." Ji Chang nodded repeatedly upon hearing this and was about to express his gratitude when Zhang Emperor Xin continued, "However, it is precarious. Among the hundred sons of Xiqi, one can choose the best from among them to sit in the position of heir."

  One hundred sons, how did he get them? Ji Chang heard this and his heart trembled with a start. He had never spoken of the children he himself had borne to anyone, yet somehow Emperor Zhang knew so clearly: "Your Highness's words are extremely correct, Duke Xiao has a son under his knees, naturally there is no need to worry about Xiqi."