"Little monk!"
After finishing his morning lessons, Li Su had just come down from his room and was about to get something to eat when he heard a voice behind him.
It was the big-eyed girl who was impossible to forget after a single meeting—Ming Yulong!
"Want something to eat? Come on, let's eat together."
Li Su paused, then prepared to refuse.
"Don't worry, it's all vegetarian."
The little girl ran straight over, took Li Su by the hand, and led him off at a quick clip.
Li Su's mouth twitched. What was this girl playing at? Didn't she know men and women should keep their distance? Didn't she know monks had to abstain from lust? He was fourteen, for heaven's sake! Still, that little hand of hers—well, it was as fair as jade and soft as a newborn baby's.
Amitabha.
When they reached the table, Li Su was startled.
Well, would you look at that.
Seven people were already seated.
In order, they were the White-Clad Buddhist, Young Master Murong, the Green-Clad Woman, Wang Jiantong, a young man he didn't recognize, and Xuanci and the others. So the whole lot of them had come down.
Li Su's mouth twitched. The others were one thing, but Xuanci...
A table full of second-rate experts.
Could it be that all the young second-rate experts who had come to Yanan Prefecture this time were sitting here?
It was only after entering the martial world that Li Su had realized first-rate experts were actually quite rare.
In fact, aside from prestigious sects like Shaolin Temple, most places were guarded by second-rate experts.
After all, becoming a first-rate expert wasn't simple. You needed the right cultivation method, luck, and talent.
That showed just how terrifying Shaolin Temple's foundation was. Nearly every generation could produce several first-rate experts, with even super-first-rate masters holding the fort.
The martial world might be frightening, but perhaps it wasn't quite as frightening as it seemed.
"Little monk, let me introduce everyone. This is the White-Clad Buddhist, Li Chengkong, Big Brother Li. He specializes in the Demon-Subduing Sleeve."
The White-Clad Buddhist smiled at that, his gaze perfectly calm. After Xuanci's words yesterday, he had finally let go of his doubts about leaving Putian Shaolin.
Ming Yulong didn't pause, but rattled on, "This is Big Brother Murong, from the Gusu Murong family. His family's signature arts are Star Shift and Canhe Finger."
"This is Big Sister Blue Bird, from the Diancang Sect. She's great with a sword. Really impressive."
"You know this little monk already, so I won't introduce him."
"This is Wang Xianglong, Big Brother Wang, from Mount Qingcheng. His sect may not be a major one, but he's already at the peak of the second-rate realm. He's amazing."
"You know the rest, so I won't bother introducing them."
Li Su put his palms together and greeted everyone with a bow. After thinking for a moment, he took out a charcoal pencil and wrote: "This humble monk is Xuankong. Greetings, everyone."
Everyone paused. He was writing with a pencil?
Ming Yulong was blunt as ever. "Little monk, why aren't you talking? Why are you writing?"
Li Su wrote: "This humble monk can't speak."
Ming Yulong stared. "Little monk, are you mute?"
Xuanci said, "Xuankong isn't mute. He just suddenly lost his voice. He'll definitely be able to speak again someday."
Everyone was taken aback. What did that mean?
Xuanci naturally didn't explain. Instead, he turned to Murong Bo. "Big Brother Murong, we were just talking about Western Xia. Why do you think there won't be a war?" Clearly, this was what weighed on him most at the moment. After all, they had come here because of the Song–Western Xia war. If it didn't happen, wouldn't they have to turn around and go home?
Xuancheng and the others watched Murong Bo intently, eager to hear the answer.
Murong Bo smiled. "Of course, this is only my analysis. Based on the information we have now, the odds of Western Xia sending troops against Yanan Prefecture are very low. You could say it's practically impossible."
"Oh? Why do you say that?" the White-Clad Buddhist asked, unable to hold back.
Murong Bo said, "If Western Xia had swiftly gathered its forces and attacked a month ago, given the state of the Song Dynasty at the time, it would probably have suffered a serious defeat. But the Song Dynasty has now responded. Not only has it stationed troops along the border, it has also sent forces from Taiyuan Prefecture and Jingzhao Prefecture. Its numbers now exceed Western Xia's, and it has the advantage of defending. Even if the Western Xia Army is formidable, it won't gain much by attacking under these circumstances. Unlike the Song Dynasty, Western Xia can't afford to expend troops without limit. Even if the exchange rate were ten to one, it would be difficult for Western Xia to accept."
As Murong Bo spoke, everyone fell into thought.
There was no denying it: by this analysis, the Song–Western Xia war might not happen after all.
"So there won't be a war?" Xuanci's face fell as it always did. He had waited so long for this day.
Xuancheng and the others looked just as disappointed.
Ming Yulong was curious. "Hey, you little monks, do you really want a war that badly?"
Xuanci paused, then fell silent for a moment before shaking his head. "Of course it would be best if there were no war!" They hadn't come here to take revenge. They remembered the teachings of the monk Tianming.
Then Xuanci turned back to Murong Bo. "Big Brother Murong, how do you think the Song–Western Xia war will develop from here?"
Murong Bo thought for a moment. "We'll have to keep an eye on the Western Xia First Class Hall. Their disappearance must mean they're plotting something. Once they show up, Western Xia's true purpose should become clear."
Everyone nodded at that.
Wang Jiantong said, "Mm. Once I go back, I'll tell the Beggar Sect disciples to hurry up and investigate the First Rank Hall."
Wang Xianglong spoke up too. "I'll have people keep an eye out as well."
The White-Clad Buddhist added, "Same here."
Murong Bo smiled and clapped his hands. "All right, that's enough discussion. It's time to eat. Everyone, hurry up before it gets cold."
So this was when it started?
Seated in his place, Li Su said nothing, merely blinking. Murong Bo was establishing his standing and winning people over.
There was no doubt about it: he was already at the center of this group.
The man certainly had a few tricks up his sleeve.
His analysis of the Song–Western Xia war had been laid out with impressive clarity.
You needed a sharp eye to make that kind of analysis in this era.
Look at Xuanci. He was already completely starstruck. Unless something unexpected happened, the two sides would stay in contact for more than twenty years, until Murong Bo led him into a bloody pit and set the entire story of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils in motion.
Just as expected of Murong Bo, who wanted to restore Yan by bringing down the Song Dynasty. He'd ruin his wife, his son, and his brothers. And for his epitaph: Whoever crosses him dies.
But then again...
Li Su lowered his head and put a steamed bun in his mouth.
Murong Bo's analysis seemed sound, but it was really just a summary of the current situation. Anyone who didn't understand the situation might suddenly see the light, but to those who did, it was a pile of empty words. It was still useful, of course. After all, the monk Tianming had told them some things yesterday after he returned, but the details had been sparse. Murong Bo's analysis had basically captured the overall picture.
Attacking Yanan Prefecture would cost Western Xia more than it gained.
Putting myself in his shoes, if I were Li Yuanhao, I wouldn't attack either.
Then...
What if that wasn't the target?
What about the two flanks—Taiyuan Prefecture and Jingzhao Prefecture?
Taiyuan? No. That area bordered not only Western Xia, but also the Liao Kingdom. Even if troops were sent, the units stationed along the Liao border wouldn't move. If Western Xia attacked Taiyuan Prefecture, the Liao Kingdom could react quickly. And because of its ties with the Liao Kingdom, Taiyuan Prefecture wasn't very prosperous.
Then what about Jingzhao Prefecture?
Hmm. A flicker of something strange passed through Li Su's eyes.
Because of Yanan Prefecture, Jingzhao Prefecture had left its troops in Lanzhou, which bordered Western Xia directly, and in Qingzhou, which was closer to the front. But it had moved a large number of troops out of Weizhou.
If they attacked Weizhou right now and took it, they would practically have Jingzhao Prefecture at their doorstep...
Jingzhao Prefecture might not mean much to everyone. But if I said Chang'an, I imagine you'd understand.
Taking Chang'an was of course impossible. They'd have pushed too far into enemy territory, and troops would come at them from every direction. But if they simply meant to raid the area, that would be terrifying.
There were plenty of counties around Chang'an, and the region was economically prosperous.
A feint to the east, attacking in the west?
A flicker of something strange crossed Li Su's eyes. If he remembered correctly, Western Xia had pulled off something like this once before, back when he was betting on history. And the Song forces hadn't realized what was happening until the enemy had penetrated deep into their territory. Could this have been that very campaign?
Hmm...
Li Su furrowed his brows slightly as he ate his steamed bun, his little face troubled.
Because if Western Xia pushed that far, there'd be only Henan Prefecture between its army and Kaifeng.
Only one prefecture between them and Kaifeng. That was not good.
What could you say about the Song emperors? They were kindhearted, and it was the best of times for civil officials—but it was also an age when the emperors had the faintest courage.
If Western Xia really reached Jingzhao Prefecture, who knew what would happen...
So, here was the question:
Should he speak up or not?
Speak?
That scoundrel Murong Bo was right beside him. He might already know what was going on, and maybe he'd even gotten in league with Western Xia. After all, his son had made his entrance as a general of the Western Xia First Class Hall. If Li Su said a word here, his name might be on the First Rank Hall's kill list by tomorrow.
Even if he wasn't, Murong Bo might still set his sights on him and figure out a way to kill him. If someone could make this kind of guess from just a few scraps of information, Murong Bo would probably feel safest with him dead, whether he was right or wrong.
After all, that man was determined to restore Yan at any cost.
What should he do?