The name of Keshengju was extremely renowned in the capital, one of the most famous old establishments in Chang'an. It was said that when the late emperor traveled incognito to inspect the lives of the people of Chang'an, he only ate at Keshengju. Later, he even personally wrote a poem on the snow-white wall of a private room on the second floor. After that, no guests ever entered that room again, and the poem on the wall was preserved; even the tables and chairs in the room became treasures.
The Phoenix Terrace, a border city on the eastern frontier of the Sui Dynasty, was also very famous. It was here that the victorious Sui army accepted the submission of the Eastern Chu emperor.
That war pushed the Sui Dynasty's border line outward by over a thousand miles. After the victory, the emperor ordered the construction of the Phoenix Terrace garrison, a stone city representing the glory of the Sui Dynasty, and of course, a symbol of the Eastern Chu Kingdom's shame.
Mo Xidao, the scout commander of Fenghuangtai, was hosting a banquet at Keshengju. Given his background, the fact that he could afford such a large sum of money raised suspicions about who might be supporting him. After all, the pay for border scouts was meager, and not everyone was as lucky or resourceful as Fang Jie.
Fang Gu ran a trading market, so it was understandable that Fang Jie had accumulated wealth through business. But how could a border soldier who had only risen to the rank of brigade commander after countless battles afford such a large sum of money to entertain hundreds of soldiers taking the martial arts academy exam? Fang Jie had some doubts; he felt this banquet was not as simple as he had initially imagined.
Soldiers, especially border soldiers, were not particular. They often ate in the open, sometimes going days and nights without a hot meal. Seven or eight tenths of their hard-earned pay went home to their parents, and when they had free time, a hot pot meal at a small restaurant was a treat they were quite content with.
Even someone as wealthy as Fang Jie felt somewhat intimidated by the luxurious restaurants in the capital, let alone Mo Xidao, who had no other source of income.
Fang Jie came alone, without Mu Xiaoyao.
If he had brought Mu Xiaoyao, he would likely have been drowned in envious saliva. Soldiers of the Sui Dynasty's border army were stationed on the frontier year-round, and it was common for them to go a year or two without encountering a woman. Mu Xiaoyao was too conspicuous, and Fang Jie didn't want to be ostracized because of it.
Since they were all border soldiers, he should show the simplicity befitting them.
Therefore, Fang Jie specially changed into his military uniform from his time in Fangu, brand new and crisp. Although it looked somewhat shabby compared to the prestigious Keshengju restaurant, the pride and sense of accomplishment he felt wearing it were beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. Only those who shared the same uniform could understand the complex meaning contained within the words "border army." Heartache, hardship, struggle, and slaughter—today's laughter and joy could be tomorrow's death on the battlefield.
Over time, a brotherhood forged between border soldiers developed, a bond so strong they could entrust their lives to each other. For example, most of the border soldiers captured by Wu Peisheng at Fangu did not betray Fang Jie. Those who haven't experienced life and death cannot understand the profound respect for such trust—the kind that allows one to entrust their back to a comrade.
Keshengju, a century-old establishment, lived up to its reputation. Though opulent, it showed no signs of arrogance. Upon Fang Jie's arrival, the waiter at the door immediately greeted him warmly. The waiter was astute; recognizing Fang Jie's attire as an invited candidate for the Ministry of War, he led him directly into the main hall.
The entire first-floor hall of Keshengju was booked by Mo Xidao.
This must have cost a fortune. Fang Jie couldn't calculate it precisely, but he was certain that while he could afford it, he would bite his nails with regret. The lobby on the first floor of Keshengju Restaurant could easily accommodate at least forty tables. The smooth, blue-brick floor gave the illusion of being a single, flawless boulder.
When Fang Jie entered, sixty or seventy men dressed as border soldiers were already seated in the lobby. Upon seeing him enter, all eyes turned to him. The waiter who led Fang Jie in asked him a question in a low voice, then raised his chin and announced in a loud voice, "Fang Jie, the military officer from Fanggu City, has arrived!"
Upon hearing this name, the border soldiers in the lobby, for some reason, immediately stood up. Almost simultaneously, they all gave Fang Jie a grand Sui Dynasty salute, arms crossed at his chest. Fang Jie felt a surge of warmth, stood at attention, straightened his body, and returned the salute with his right arm crossed at his chest.
A man in a brigade uniform greeted him with a smile, speaking gently, "Welcome. We've all heard of you, and we all know Fan Gu. Recently, during the Northwest campaign, all eight hundred of Fan Gu's brothers were killed in action. We brothers hold him in high esteem. We are all border soldiers, we are one of us."
The word "one of us" deeply moved Fang Jie.
Mr. Zhuo had already told him about Fan Gu. Fang Jie suppressed his hatred for Li Xiaozong, but today, facing the solemn salute of those sixty or seventy border soldiers, he seemed unable to control his emotions any longer, his eyes unconsciously reddening slightly.
"I am the only surviving border soldier from Fan Gu. I accept your salute on behalf of my brothers!"
He said.
The soldiers in the hall were solemn, the silence unsettling for a moment.
"Come in and sit down. We were just talking about you. Everyone's very curious about you. A scout who's achieved twenty-one victories—what kind of hero are you? We all admire you. By the way… my name is Zhang Kuang, and I come from the northeastern border of the Great Sui Dynasty."
Zhang Kuang!
Hearing this name, Fang Jie's heart tightened slightly.
This seemingly amiable middle-aged man, around thirty years old, with fair skin and bright eyes, would be mistaken for a learned scholar if he wore a long robe. He wasn't tall, thin, and even slightly shorter than Fang Jie, and didn't seem to possess any cold-blooded ruthlessness. Yet, this kind and approachable man was the same ruthless man who had infiltrated the Northern Barbarian tribe for two years, married the tribe chief's daughter, and then personally sent his father-in-law and wife to their deaths. In a way, the blood debt of those ten thousand-plus Northern Barbarian heads should all be attributed to him.
In Anyuan City, Zhang Kuang was promoted to brigade commander for his merits. When Fang Jie first heard this name at Wu Yidao's residence, he had imagined him to be a burly man with a cold, arrogant gaze.
"Greetings, Commander!"
Fang Jie saluted again.
In terms of rank, he was merely a deputy scout, so naturally he had to salute Zhang Kuang.
"Come, sit with the brothers."
Zhang Kuang said with a gentle smile.
...
...
"Perhaps you're curious."
Zhang Kuang pulled Fang Jie to sit down at a table, smiling gently. "We're all from humble border families, how could we be so extravagant as to book the entire lobby of Keshengju? Judging from your expression, I know you don't know the story behind it, and probably no one has mentioned it to you."
Fang Jie nodded. "Indeed curious."
"Do you know who the owner of Keshengju's ancestors were?"
Zhang Kuang asked.
Fang Jie shook his head.
Zhang Kuang smiled and said, "The owner of Keshengju Restaurant was an ancestor of a military man named Li Sheng. He was also a member of the border army. Once, he was wounded in both legs in a fierce battle and had to return home. After returning to Chang'an, Li Sheng used his salary and the silver awarded for his military merits to open this restaurant. At first, it was just a small shop, but over time, the business flourished, and it gradually became famous throughout Chang'an. But Li Sheng didn't forget his origins; he never charged soldiers who came to eat at the restaurant. However, because he didn't charge them, the soldiers were too embarrassed to come back. Later, everyone persuaded Li Sheng, and he decided that from then on, soldiers would only be charged one-tenth of the price of their meals. This rule has been followed by his descendants ever since Li Sheng established it."
"No wonder."
Fang Jie felt a surge of respect for the founder of Keshengju Restaurant. "There's another story," Zhang Kuang chuckled.
"Ever since His Majesty established the Martial Arts Academy, the current owner of Keshengju Restaurant has set a new rule. Every year, candidates from the border troops can eat for free and order whatever they want just by entering Keshengju. After this rule was established, the border troops candidates from the previous year's Martial Arts Academy got together and decided to hold a gathering at Keshengju so everyone could get to know each other. After all, none of us are wealthy, and we can't afford to host a banquet. This year, it was Mo Xidao from Fenghuangtai who organized it, so we should thank the owner of Keshengju."
Fang Jie truly didn't know these things.
Since arriving in the capital, he hadn't had a moment's rest. He'd been schemed against, scheming against others, and most of the information he gathered was only related to the Martial Arts Academy's exams. He had never heard of these things Zhang Kuang mentioned. Unlike other border troops, he hadn't wandered around the capital seeking out interesting anecdotes. He was caught in a deadly predicament, preoccupied with how to avoid being killed and how to deal with wave after wave of enemies, both overt and covert.
"Where's Brother Mo?"
Fang Jie asked.
Zhang Kuang replied, "He's helping carry the wine in the back; he'll be back in a bit."
Just then, a group of border soldiers suddenly surged out from behind the guesthouse, each carrying a wine jar. Leading them was a tall, lean, and powerful man, most strikingly marked by a scar running from his forehead to his jaw.
He was... missing an eye!
Seeing the astonishment on Fang Jie's face, Zhang Kuang sighed softly, "That's Mo Xidao. During that infiltration of Eastern Chu, he was incredibly bloodthirsty, killing over a hundred men, but he also lost an eye. It's good that he's back alive; if it were me, I'm afraid I would have died in a foreign land long ago. And... if I died in Eastern Chu, the court would never acknowledge that achievement."
A tragic scene! The sorrow in his voice was deeply moving.
He was right. If Mo Xidao hadn't returned alive and had been captured by the Eastern Chu pursuers, the court would never have recognized him as a soldier of the Sui Dynasty. Even though the Sui Dynasty never took Eastern Chu seriously, such a senseless massacre of an entire family would damage the Sui's reputation. In fact, the Phoenix Terrace garrison commander who sent him to Eastern Chu had only intended for him to infiltrate and gather intelligence; it was Zhang Kuang who had acted on his own initiative and wiped out the Eastern Chu general's entire family.
"I heard Brother Fang Jie has arrived!"
The tall man, missing his left eye, handed the wine jar to someone else and loudly asked, "Which one is Brother Fang?"
"I am!"
Fang Jie quickly stood up and bowed: "Greetings, Brigade Commander!"
He and Zhang Kuang had performed such great service, yet they were only promoted from squad leader to brigade commander. It had to be said that the Sui court owed them, and all the border soldiers, an undue debt. Fang Jie had no doubt that if such a great achievement had been made by a scion of a powerful family, he would have received far more than Zhang Kuang and his group. Even if the court didn't publicize it, it would undoubtedly be a qualification for their future promotion and wealth.
But now, the court had only given Zhang Kuang and Mo Xidao a chance to participate in the martial arts academy's examination, and these lowly border soldiers were already incredibly grateful.
"Damn it!"
Mo Xidao, a lean but strong man half a head taller than Fang Jie, strode over, laughing loudly as he walked, "I thought Brother Fang Jie, who had achieved twenty-one military merits, would at least be a burly man, but he's actually a delicate-looking boy who looks like a woman?! Haha, you're not impersonating my Brother Fang, are you? If I find out you're an imposter, you'd better watch out for your asshole!"
What a vulgar person, but Fang Jie didn't find him repulsive at all.
This was the true nature of the border soldiers Fang Jie knew—rough and unrefined, like wind-bruised rocks. They swore constantly, but their hearts were warm.
"Lots of people wanted to take my ass, but I've already poked them all in! If I'd known everyone knew my name, I would have been showing off and freeloading long ago," Fang Jie said with a laugh.
"Haha!"
Mo Xidao strode over and gave Fang Jie a bear hug: "Killing hundreds of bandits makes you a real man! I hate effeminate wimps. Come on, let me see your hands to tell if you're lying!"
After hugging Fang Jie, he casually grabbed Fang Jie's right hand and examined it.
"Those calluses are so thick!"
He couldn't help but sigh, then raised Fang Jie's right hand and roared, "This is our little brother, the youngest border guard to take the martial arts academy exam this year! All of you, take a good look at him! From now on, if anyone dares to bully our little brother, don't you dare play dumb!"
The crowd roared in approval.
Just then, six or seven young men in brocade robes walked in from outside the guesthouse.
The one in the lead had a handsome face and an extraordinary air, but his face was excessively pale, as if he had applied a layer of powder. With a high, straight nose and thin lips, the man frowned and muttered under his breath upon seeing the room full of border soldiers, "A bunch of penniless bastards coming here to freeload! I don't know how they can be so shameless!"
The quick-witted waiter immediately ushered the group inside, saying, "Young Master Wang, please come to the private room on the second floor."
"It reeks of a fishy stench, disgusting!"
The man behind Young Master Wang glanced at Fang Jie and his companions, his eyes filled with disgust.