Wang Yang was dismissed; Jingxuan was delighted.
Li Jingxuan had already been involved in military planning. Now he was officially the chief Military Advisor.
The Prince of Badong had rather wanted to hand all Wang Yang's authority directly to Li Jingxuan, just to anger Wang Yang. But Li Jingxuan's background was humble, his reputation and seniority slight; he simply could not command everyone's respect. Besides, the prince did not want to make his quarrel with Wang Yang too bitter, so he abandoned the idea.
Still, Li Jingxuan was very pleased. He knew he lacked ancestral prestige and a distinguished surname, and could not leap to the heights as Wang Yang had. But with campaigns being waged across the realm, this was precisely the time to put his abilities to use! Now that he directed military planning, how could he fear having no chance to earn merit?
Were kings, nobles, generals, and chancellors born to their stations?
That Young Master of Langya was not the only man with talent!
Standing atop the tower ship, Li Jingxuan gazed around, brimming with ambition. Recalling the army's rhyme-"The Young Master of Langya is clever and bright; at the bow sits the man all dressed in white"-he could not help laughing. Just then, he truly wanted to ask Wang Yang: Wang Zhiyan, are you still sitting at the bow-eh?
Steamed perch, silky water-shield soup, dressed duck feet, amber honeyed lotus root, and one dish Wang Yang had specifically requested: salted vegetables simmered with tofu.
Wang Yang had ordered five small dishes and a flask of Baling clear wine, spread out a mat, set up a low table, and seated himself at the bow.
He gazed at the campfires ashore, rank upon rank like fireflies, and the sails and masts on the river, thick as a