All the heroes of the world are now in my grasp.

Chapter 23 Seeking Advice on the Future

Dusk falls earlier in Loufan County than elsewhere. The cold wind of January is still biting, swirling the remaining snow across the bare streets and alleys. Most of the shops along the street are still closed, except for the "Wanghelou" restaurant in the south of the city, where two dim yellow lanterns hang, emitting a faint warmth in the twilight.

This restaurant was one of the few remaining businesses in the county town that dared to stay open. The owner was a native of Loufan. Even during the days of the major defeat at Jiehekou, when the Xiongnu cavalry swaggered outside the city, he couldn't bear to close down. He simply nailed the doors shut tightly, leaving only a small window open for regular customers. Now that the situation had stabilized somewhat, he dared to remove half of the doors and rearrange the tables and chairs, but business remained slow. In the large restaurant, there were only two or three tables with a few scattered customers, who spoke in hushed tones, afraid of disturbing anything.

Gao Zidan arrived at the restaurant half an hour early. The owner didn't recognize him, but seeing the official seal at his waist, he immediately greeted him with a beaming smile and led them to the most secluded private room on the second floor. The room was small but clean and tidy. A square table stood by the window, overlooking the frozen Fen River. The cold wind whistled against the windowpanes.

"Recorder Gao, are you satisfied with this private room?" The owner bowed and smiled obsequiously. "I have prepared the best food and wine, all local dishes from Loufan. They are still hot and will be served to you shortly."

"Thank you for your trouble, boss." Gao Zidan nodded slightly, her tone calm. "Warm up another pot of fine sorghum liquor, make it a little hot."

"Alright! Please wait a moment!" The boss responded and left, closing the door to the private room behind him.

Gao Zidan walked to the window and looked out at the frozen Fen River. The river was covered with a thick layer of ice, a vast expanse of white stretching into the distant mountains. The cold wind swirled snowflakes, which pelted the window paper, leaving fine, scattered marks.

Ten days have passed since the devastating night raid at the border river mouth.

He still wakes up in the middle of the night, his vision filled with flames, flying blood and gore, and the image of that black-armored knight riding his horse, banner raised, invincible. The thought that he almost died in the night raid he indirectly orchestrated, the thought that Liu Yao had exploited his trust to deceive him, Zhou Bo, and the entire Bingzhou, fills him with a mix of emotions: anger, resentment, lingering fear, and an indescribable sense of defeat.

Just as his thoughts were churning, the door to the private room was gently pushed open. Liu Daogui walked in slowly. He had changed out of his daytime official robes and was wearing a dark blue casual robe. His hair was tied up with a wooden hairpin, making him look less serious and more refined and approachable.

"Uncle!" Gao Zidan hurriedly went to greet him, bowing respectfully. "I am truly grateful that you have taken time out of your busy schedule to keep this appointment, Uncle."

"There's no need for such formalities between us," Liu Daogui said with a smile, gesturing for him to sit down. "I've been busy all day at the General's Mansion and was just looking for a place to have a drink and relax."

As they spoke, the owner and his waiters brought out steaming dishes and drinks. A plate of stewed mutton, a plate of stir-fried wild mushrooms, a plate of cold wild vegetable salad, and a dish of braised beef—all simple local dishes, yet incredibly fragrant. The owner personally poured warm sorghum liquor for the two of them, then bowed and withdrew, closing the door to the private room behind him.

Gao Zidan raised his wine glass, stood up, and bowed deeply to Liu Daogui, his tone extremely sincere: "Uncle, this first cup of wine is for you. If it weren't for you personally awarding me the medal today and patiently explaining the official system and military regulations to me, I would have been completely clueless when I first entered the General's Mansion, not knowing how to conduct myself. I will never forget this kindness."

"Sit down quickly, sit down quickly." Liu Daogui quickly reached out to help him up, a relieved smile on his face. "Your father and I were sworn brothers. Back then, if it weren't for your father risking his life to save me, I would have died in the chaos of war long ago. Now that he's gone, it's only my duty to take care of you. Besides, you are intelligent and have a broad vision; your future is limitless. I've only done a small favor."

The two raised their glasses together and drank the warm liquor in one gulp. The spicy liquid went down their throats and turned into a warm current, dispelling the chill from their bodies.

After a few drinks, the atmosphere gradually warmed up. Gao Zidan put down his wine cup, cupped his hands to Liu Daogui, and said, "Uncle, to be honest, I escaped from Shanggu and wandered all the way, hiding in the deep mountains of Yongming for more than half a month, knowing nothing about the outside world. Now that I have entered the General's Mansion and am entrusted with a mission, I don't even know the surrounding warlords' forces or the overall situation of the world. I am really terrified. I hope that you will not hesitate to enlighten me and tell me about the current situation around Bingzhou, so that I can have a better understanding."

Upon hearing this, Liu Daogui didn't answer immediately. Instead, he picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of stewed mutton, and slowly chewed it. He looked up at Gao Zidan, his gaze deep and probing, and slowly said, "Zidan, before I tell you about the current state of the world, I want to hear about your aspirations. You are young, burdened with a blood feud, and live in this chaotic world. What do you want to do with your life?"

Gao Zidan was slightly taken aback, not expecting him to ask this question so suddenly. He was silent for a moment, then raised his head to meet Liu Daogui's gaze, his eyes filled with unwavering determination, and said, word by word, "Uncle, I have only two ambitions in this life."

"The first is revenge." His voice trembled slightly. "Xiang Yu slaughtered my entire Gao family. This is an irreconcilable hatred. If I, Gao Zidan, cannot personally kill Xiang Yu in this life to comfort the spirits of my parents and clansmen in heaven, I swear I am not worthy of being called a human being!"

"The second one," he paused, his tone softening, but a heavy, sorrowful look appeared in his eyes, "is to bring peace and stability to the world. On my journey from Youzhou to Bingzhou, I've seen far too much. Villages where nine out of ten houses are empty, people freezing and starving to death, the horrific sight of people exchanging children to eat, and the innocent lives slaughtered by the marauding soldiers. I often wonder, when will this chaotic world end? When will the people of the world no longer have to wander and live in constant fear of dying at the hands of marauding soldiers? I don't possess any extraordinary talent, nor do I dare to aspire to unify the world. I only hope to do what I can to help the people, so that they can have enough to eat and a stable home."

His words were sincere and heartfelt, without a trace of falsehood. Liu Daogui listened quietly, his smile gradually fading, replaced by a look of emotion and admiration. He raised his wine glass to Gao Zidan and said in a deep voice, "Well said! It's unbecoming of a man to leave one's family's grudge unavenged; bringing peace and stability to the world is an ideal a true man should have. With this heart, you are a hundred times better than those corrupt officials who hold positions without doing their jobs and only know how to fight for power and profit."

He downed his drink in one gulp, put down his cup, and continued, "However, bringing peace and stability to the world is too far off and cannot be accomplished in a day. Right now, you must prioritize revenge. Only after avenging your blood feud can you focus on other things without distractions. Since you want to know about the surrounding situation, I will explain it to you in detail. To defeat Xiang Yu, you must know where to begin."

Gao Zidan quickly sat up straight and listened attentively.

Liu Daogui picked up a chopstick, dipped it in wine, and drew a simple topographical map on the table. As he drew, he explained, "Our Bingzhou is located in the heart of the Central Plains, with its rivers and mountains forming a strategic location. Since ancient times, it has been a place of great importance for military strategists. Currently, there are six major powers surrounding it, all eyeing it covetously."

"Let's start with Yunzhou in the northwest, which is controlled by Li Longji, a member of the former Tang imperial family. This man is extremely shrewd and calculating, and has been operating in Yunzhou for over twenty years, establishing a deep foundation. He has remained secluded, not participating in the conflicts in the Central Plains, and no one knows what he is really planning. However, Yunzhou has an excellent terrain, overlooking Youzhou from a high vantage point. Currently, Xiang Yu's main forces are all in the east, confronting Liu Bang, leaving the west extremely vulnerable. If Li Longji wanted to make a move, he could send troops from Yunzhou to strike Xiang Yu from the rear, leaving Xiang Yu attacked from both sides. However, this man is too cautious and will not act lightly unless absolutely necessary."

"Further west is Shuozhou, whose governor is Ji Chong'er, a relative of the envoy. However, he has only recently arrived in Shuozhou, and the local powerful clans do not submit to him. He is too busy to take care of himself, and it is too far from Youzhou to be worth mentioning for the time being."

"To the southwest lies Fenzhou, governed by Tian Yinqi. Fenzhou is fertile and incredibly prosperous, and it is easy to attack but difficult to defend. If Your Majesty wishes to strengthen your power and unify the entire Jin territory, you will inevitably have to take action against Fenzhou sooner or later. Only by taking Fenzhou can we truly claim to have a strategically important and secure territory, where we can advance or retreat as needed."

"To the southeast lies Ji Province, governed by Ji Bai, a relative of the magistrate. This man is stationed in Ye City, overseeing the affairs of Hebei. He is ambitious and no ordinary person. Although he shares the same kinship with the magistrate, he cannot be completely trusted. However, his desire to unify Hebei will inevitably lead to conflict with Xiang Yu, making him a natural ally. We can temporarily befriend him and join forces against Xiang Yu."

"To the east lies Hengzhou, governed by Xiao Yan. Hengzhou is strategically located, easy to defend and difficult to attack, making it a tough nut to crack. Moreover, Hengzhou has already been placed under the jurisdiction of Xiang Yu's General Who Conquers the North, and Xiao Yan is currently completely loyal to Xiang Yu, showing no signs of disloyalty. Taking Hengzhou will be no easy task."

"Finally, there's Youzhou in the northeast, Xiang Yu's territory." At this point, Liu Daogui's tone became incredibly heavy. "This man is unparalleled in bravery, commanding 50,000 Youzhou cavalry who swept across the northern frontier, invincible. He is the most threatening force in the entire north, and the biggest obstacle on your path to revenge. Defeating Xiang Yu with the strength of Bingzhou alone is simply impossible. We must unite with Liu Bang, the Duke of Liao, Li Longji of Yunzhou, Ji Bai of Jizhou, and the forces of Cangzhou to form an encirclement, only then will we have a sliver of hope."

"In terms of strategy, Bingzhou now only has two paths: either annex Fenzhou to strengthen itself, or attack Hengzhou to attack Xiang Yu's flank."

Gao Zidan listened with great excitement, nodding repeatedly. Liu Daogui's analysis was clear, insightful, and thorough, providing a comprehensive understanding of the advantages, disadvantages, positions, and schemes of the surrounding major powers, giving Gao Zidan an instant grasp of the overall situation.

"Thank you for your guidance, Uncle. I've finally understood." Gao Zidan bowed in thanks, then asked, "Which route should we take in Bingzhou? I'm sure both routes have supporters, right?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Daogui's face showed a complex expression. He nodded and lowered his voice, saying, "You're right. Bingzhou today may seem like a unified entity, but in reality, it's rife with undercurrents and numerous factions. Broadly speaking, it's divided into two major factions and four minor factions."

"There are two major factions: the Northern Faction and the Southern Faction. The Song Dynasty has always preferred to adopt a mixed local administrative model that combines northern and southern elements, and Xiang Yu's side did the same, probably because they felt that this would create checks and balances and be beneficial to centralized power. The Northern Faction mainly consisted of local powerful families in Jin, as well as some officials transferred from other parts of the north by the court; the Southern Faction consisted mostly of the confidants and former subordinates who followed the magistrate from the south."

"Within these two major factions, there are two smaller factions. The Northern faction, in general, advocates attacking Fenzhou. The local Jin faction, led by Lin Xiangru and Zhao Ding, intends to unify the entire territory of Fenzhou, consolidate its foundation, and then plan for external expansion. The court faction, led by Fa Zheng and Liu Rengui, aims to avoid direct conflict with Xiang Yu, the general appointed by the court to conquer the north, and instead stabilize its position and observe the changes in the Central Plains."

"The Southern faction advocated attacking Hengzhou as a whole. The Ji clan faction, led by Ji Zha, wanted to unite with Ji Bai of Jizhou to harass Xiang Yu's rear, manage Hebei, and strengthen the power of the Ji clan. The Liaogong faction, led by General Zhou Bo, wanted to send troops as soon as possible to support Liu Bang, the Duke of Liao, and relieve his pressure in Liaoxi."

"Now these two factions and four smaller factions are arguing endlessly before the magistrate, and no one can convince the others. The magistrate has also not made a clear statement and is still observing the situation."

Gao Zidan listened silently, her mind racing. She hadn't heard much about Ji Guang, but guessed he was some ruler from the Spring and Autumn or Warring States period. However, among these rulers of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, if not Qin Shi Huang, who could be stronger than Liu Bang?

It seems I need to make plans soon. After avenging myself, finding an opportunity to join Liu Bang's forces is the right thing to do. If Liu Bang doesn't defeat Xiang Yu, then I'll have to find someone like Zhao Kuangyin, Li Shimin, or Liu Xiu. I can't possibly join Zhu Yuanzhang; that would be asking for trouble.

Thinking of this, he raised his head, looked at Liu Daogui, and said cryptically with a hint of probing, "Uncle, in my opinion, while attacking Fenzhou first would certainly consolidate our foundation, it would also give Xiang Yu enough time to grow stronger. The Duke of Liao is currently trapped in Liaoxi by Xiang Yu, in a difficult situation. If he is defeated, Xiang Yu's next target will inevitably be Bingzhou. 'If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold,' you should understand this principle, my lord, shouldn't you?"

Liu Daogui gave him a deep look and instantly understood his meaning. He himself was from the Liu clan of Pengcheng, a kinsman of Liu Bang, and was actually one of the representatives of the Liaogong faction. He nodded and said in a low voice, "What you said makes sense. However, the situation is unclear now, and no one can say for sure what the future will bring. You are new here, so don't take sides too easily. First, establish yourself in the General's Mansion and do your job well. Whether we attack Fenzhou first or Hengzhou first, Bingzhou and Xiang Yu will inevitably clash sooner or later, it's just a matter of time. Xiang Yu cannot be eliminated in a short period of time; we have plenty of time."

Upon hearing this, Gao Zidan understood and nodded, "Thank you for your guidance, Uncle. Zidan understands."