Second Master Liang took it and pressed it to his face, exhaling: “These people can really drink. It’s not called drinking wine—it’s called pouring wine. I shouldn’t have sat beside the commanding general.”
The retainer removed his outer robe for him and said with a smile: “This wine was bestowed precisely for you, my lord. Of course you should sit in the main seat. It’s that simple in the military. Besides the wine, your merit will also be reported to the court—promotion and ennoblement. Next time, even if it’s not for drinking wine, you’ll still be able to sit beside the commanding general.”
Second Master Liang kept the hot towel covering his face and said nothing, as if he had fallen asleep.
The retainer went to fetch some sobering soup and called softly: “My lord, drink the sobering soup before resting, otherwise you’ll still have a headache tomorrow.”
Second Master Liang’s voice came from behind the towel: “I’m not drunk.”
All drunk people say that. The retainer smiled.
“I’m very clearheaded.” Second Master Liang said, removing the hot towel to look at the retainer, his eyes clear. “You—who exactly are you?”
The retainer was in his thirties, unremarkable in appearance, just like all the menial servants around military officers. At this moment, holding the sobering soup, he was momentarily stunned, then smiled again.
“My lord is truly drunk.” He laughed. “I’m Li Fang.”
Of course Second Master Liang knew his name. His old friend surnamed Cai had secured him this minor position and, fearing he would be lost in the military, also gifted him a retainer.
“Li Fang, who sent you to help me?” He asked. Seeing Li Fang about to speak, he raised his hand to stop him. “Don’t say it was Minister Cai.”
At this point he smiled.
“Even if Minister Cai were standing before me, I would ask him who he is.”
“I haven’t had too much to drink. Rather, I’m more clearheaded. This battle merit, this battle strategy—I couldn’t write it, you couldn’t write it, and Minister Cai couldn’t write it either—”
“So, who was it?”
Retainer Li Fang smiled and said: “Though my lord knows nothing, by mentioning the word ‘help,’ you understand everything.”
Though this sentence said nothing specific, it already confirmed all of Second Master Liang’s suspicions. Second Master Liang rubbed his face hard with his hand. So where was there any fortune turning when he had nowhere else to turn? The path had all been arranged by someone else.
“Who?” He asked again.
Li Fang smiled and shook his head: “Forgive me, I cannot say.”
Second Master Liang understood this kind of person. If he wouldn’t speak, no one could make him.
“Then what does he seek?” Second Master Liang asked, staring fixedly at Li Fang. “The Liang clan has nothing.”
Except a heart full of resentment and indignation.
Did the person behind this seek the Liang clan’s resentment and indignation? Then that person must also have the same enemies as them.
Who were the Liang clan’s enemies? The heartless and ungrateful former Crown Prince who had cast aside Minister Liang like worn-out shoes; the Xie clan who wanted to uproot them completely when the marriage alliance fell through; and the Chu clan whose verbal dispute had precipitated it all.
Li Fang smiled and shook his head: “That person only asks that Second Master Liang kill enemies for the nation and people, and achieve merit and glory.”
Second Master Liang smiled self-deprecatingly. He understood. That person didn’t seek Second Master Liang as he was now, but Second Master Liang after achieving merit and glory.
As for what was sought?
What was sought was everything the Liang clan had.
Because everything the Liang clan had would be obtained through that person’s help.
This was a transaction that wasn’t worthwhile, but—could anyone refuse this kind of temptation?
Tonight was merely a small victory, yet the congratulations of being surrounded like the moon among stars made one drunk without drinking wine—how long had it been since he enjoyed this kind of taste?
Even during the Liang clan’s prosperous times, Second Master Liang hadn’t enjoyed this kind of glory. He was merely Minister Liang’s brother, nothing more.
Li Fang stood to one side, watching Second Master Liang’s expression shift, and set down the sobering soup: “My lord, drink the sobering soup first. Don’t make things difficult for yourself.”
Second Master Liang didn’t speak. After a moment of silence, he reached out to take the sobering soup and said: “Thank you.”
After saying these words of thanks, he lowered his gaze.
He was accepting not merely the sobering soup, and his thanks were not merely for the sobering soup. This counted as acceptance.
Li Fang straightened his body and said with a smile: “Moreover, my lord, your achievements will also assist Young Master A’Qiang.”
A’Qiang! Second Master Liang raised his head again, his expression tense.
“Is A’Qiang going into battle to kill enemies?” He asked.
He, as a military officer, could earn merit through writing and speaking. A’Qiang was different—A’Qiang had to personally enter battle and kill enemies to earn merit.
Entering battle to kill enemies, one inevitably risked being killed.
Second Master Liang, having asked this question, smiled bitterly.
Hadn’t they left the garrison that night precisely to enter battle and kill enemies?
Why was he worried now?
Second Master Liang finally lowered his gaze again and sighed softly.
“Second Master need not worry.” Li Fang said with a smile. “Tigers don’t sire dogs. Young Master A’Qiang will certainly become famous in one battle.”
……
……
The battle came without warning.
Unlike serving as a guard lookout, when they saw the enemy then, they were responsible for raising the alarm but didn’t need to jump out to engage.