The Saibei Prince of Liao, Great Song's Literary Control Over Martial Might

After everyone left the Tianzhi Mountain Range, the wolf and the bei did not lead the pack in pursuit but instead retreated back into the mountains once more.

Cui Xuan and the others breathed a sigh of relief, but Lu Xingshi felt a twinge of regret.

He had actually hoped they would charge at him—at this distance, he had enough time to fire three shots from the 'Golden Crow Gun,' guaranteeing that not a single wolf could reach him.

Ever since Heat Weapons appeared, the formerly charge-happy nomadic tribes had turned to song and dance, proving that charging still couldn't beat firearms.

Crossing the Tianzhi Mountain Range led to a vast expanse of grassland, territory the Great Song Dynasty Court had seized from the northern barbarians, used as natural pasture for raising cattle, sheep, and warhorses—most of the horses came from Saibei.

When the Great Song was first founded, it was brimming with martial vigor: if you didn't submit, they'd beat you until you did, and whatever land caught their eye, they simply took.

The Saibei region was exactly that case.

But three hundred years had passed since the dynasty's founding, and the court had undergone many generational changes. The internal situation... Lu Xingshi wasn't clear on it, but both the martial world and the common folk said there were treacherous ministers blinding the emperor's ears. Only by getting close to the court's inner circle could one learn the true state of affairs.

After everyone left, they hurried without rest toward Cuifeng Pass, the fortress where the Iron Sword Sect's sect leader was stationed.

Once they identified themselves, they quickly met Jin Xiong, the Iron Sword Sect's sect leader. Cui Xuan explained the situation, and Jin Xiong sighed: "You've come at a bad time."

"Word came yesterday—the barbarians are heading south to raid."

"I shouldn't have to fight the barbarians, right?" Lu Xingshi spoke up. He wasn't a disciple of the Iron Sword Sect, nor was he considered a martial artist; the court couldn't really strong-arm him.

Jin Xiong glanced at Lu Xingshi, then nodded: "You don't have to, but be careful. Find a safe place to stay inside the pass."

He didn't try to morally blackmail Lu Xingshi or pressure him with righteousness—aside from corresponding obligations, this was voluntary by nature.

It was perfectly normal for Lu Xingshi to refuse.

Lu Xingshi felt no sense of belonging to the Great Song Dynasty whatsoever. As for the barbarians, they were people too, not Demons and Monsters. Why would an outsider like him stir up trouble by getting involved?

Unless it concerned him directly, this was essentially just killing.

If he had the power to stop it, he would prevent bloodshed from erupting—but he didn't.

He had no confidence in reconciling the conflicting interests of two civilizations by himself.

Lu Xingshi also didn't ask about the rebels or the Heretical Practitioners, not wanting to waste favors. It would be better to ask his master when he found him.

"Sect Leader Jin, I'd like to ask about someone—the Star Plucking Rogue, Murong Xuan." Lu Xingshi got straight to the point.

Cui Xuan was somewhat surprised: "The Star Plucking Rogue is your master?"

"That's right." Lu Xingshi didn't deny it; it wasn't anything shameful.

"Well... that might be a bit troublesome."

"The Star Plucking Rogue is at Tiange Pass, with barbarians invading from the front and the Prince of Liao obstructing from behind."

"According to scout reports, supplies are running low—he can hold out for at most three more days." Jin Xiong frowned as he spoke.

"If I recall, the Prince of Liao is a prince who was enfeoffed and set up his own court, right? Why would he obstruct his own border fortress?" Lu Xingshi asked, puzzled.

Saibei was called the Liao Territory, so naturally the one enfeoffed here was the Prince of Liao. The title only lasted one generation; after the New Emperor's Ascension, when a prince set up his own court, he would replace the old one.

As for the former old prince, he would be recalled to the Capital to retire, then given a different noble title. That title could only be inherited for three generations, after which the descendants became commoners. Even with royal blood, the royal family wouldn't support them—they'd have to rely on their ancestor's wealth or start from scratch.

Still, being of royal blood and having a genealogy made many things much easier.

"You might not know this yet, but the one who rebelled is none other than the Prince of Liao." Jin Xiong said calmly.

This startled Cui Xuan: "How is that possible? What does the Prince of Liao stand to gain?"

"What else could it be? The throne, of course." Lu Xingshi remarked sarcastically. The Prince of Liao wasn't the Crown Prince; since he'd already been enfeoffed, he naturally had no chance at the throne.

"To be precise, he was forced into rebellion."

"Ever since Shizong ruled through civil officials over military ones, the Civil Officials' power has swelled. The Prince of Liao came from a military background, so naturally he was suppressed."

"But no one expected the Prince of Liao to directly use the banner of 'Purge the Emperor's Entourage,' rallying the border troops to change the regime and break the pattern of civil officials dominating military ones."

"Unexpectedly, the secret leaked, and then the barbarians invaded. Now he's caught between a rock and a hard place." Jin Xiong explained the current situation.

The Prince of Liao had no intention of letting foreign tribes through the pass; instead, he planned to use Saibei as a defensive line, first repelling the barbarians before proceeding with further plans. That's why many hadn't made a move.

After hearing Jin Xiong's words, Lu Xingshi gave him a deep look.

He sensed something off in the man's attitude—the Iron Sword Sect was likely already aligned with the Prince of Liao's faction. Otherwise, why would he be so secure inside Cuifeng Pass?

Moreover, the entire Saibei region had already fallen into the Prince of Liao's hands.

Those pinned at Tiange Pass were probably the last loyalists—either die fighting the barbarians or surrender to the Prince of Liao, who could then dispatch troops to rescue them at the first opportunity.

That was precisely why the court was hesitant to move against the Prince of Liao. If he gave up or let the barbarians Southbound, the Great Song Dynasty Court would be in a real mess.

So they arranged for martial arts sects to deal with the 'Heretical Practitioners' the Prince of Liao had recruited.

Those 'Heretical Practitioners' were likely bets placed by the great sects of the realm.

As for the Imperial Awakening Palace, they were sitting on the sidelines. Whether the Prince of Liao or the Crown Prince became emperor made no difference to them—perhaps the Prince of Liao's biggest supporter was the Imperial Awakening Palace itself.

"Thank you for the information. Sect Leader Jin, I'd ask a favor—I want to go to Tiange Pass to find my master." Lu Xingshi cupped his hands.

Though trapped, as long as he wasn't dead, that was fine.

"Easy enough. Leave Cuifeng Pass, head toward..." Jin Xiong gave Lu Xingshi directions.

"His Highness the Prince of Liao is benevolent and knowledgeable in military affairs, valuing both civil and martial arts. If you find Senior Murong and can't hold off the barbarians, you may surrender to the Prince of Liao to preserve your lives."

"Senior Murong is a veteran of the martial world; he should not die on the battlefield."

As he said this, Jin Xiong dropped all pretense outright.

Cui Xuan and the others remained silent. He too had learned certain things—for instance, that the people who had ambushed them back then were likely not sent by the Prince of Liao, but were the Imperial Court's doing.

The purpose was to warn these sect leaders who were cozying up to the Prince of Liao.

"I'll speak with my master," Lu Xingshi replied. He had little desire to get involved in matters concerning the Imperial Court.