Peace Order
Chapter 319 - 143: Indeed, Irreconcilable!

Chapter 319: Chapter 143: Indeed, Irreconcilable!

Invited by the Prince of Ying Country?

Li Guanyi lowered his gaze. This time, the other side had formally sent an invitation card, which ironically made the situation safer. Li Guanyi went to inform Elder Xue, then changed his clothes, wearing the sword gifted by Yan Daiqing at his waist, before stepping onto the luxurious carriage.

The skill of the carriage driver was even better than that of Zhao Dabing.

The carriage brought Li Guanyi to the temporary palace where the Prince of Ying Country was staying.

The aura of the White Tiger circled in the sky, representing Yuwen Lie, the famous general of the realm, who was currently staying at one side of the palace. Li Guanyi remained silent, alighted from the carriage, and then, guided by an attendant, went to the front hall of the palace.

"I have long heard of your reputation and only today have I had the opportunity to meet you."

"It is truly a regrettable matter.

No sooner had Li Guanyi waited for a while than the Prince of Ying Country came out to greet him. This prince, known throughout the various nations for his wisdom and kindness, was smiling. He was in his prime, with handsome features and slightly drooping eyes, his smile warm and gentle.

Li Guanyi rose and returned the greeting with a slight bow.

Jiang Gao gripped Li Guanyi’s forearm with one hand, pulling him along with a laugh, "Why stand on ceremony with me, sir? Please, come..."

Thus, at this moment, it was just the two of them.

After three rounds of drinks and while they were engaging in light conversation, Jiang Gao dismissed everyone around and said, "I’ve heard that great talents are like the Phoenix that seek the Paulownia to rest. The nations are in strife, and the people cannot live in peace. I intend to pacify the realm and hope sir can assist me."

Li Guanyi said, "What are you talking about?"

Jiang Gao laughed, "Common sayings advise to avoid diving into depths with acquaintances but seeking someone to share in a great ambition isn’t ordinary, it takes more than your usual discourse, I offer my sincerest heart to you."

"Whether it works out or not, that is our destiny, but there’s no place for insincerity."

Seeing Jiang Gao’s sincere and straightforward demeanor, reminiscent of a virtuous nobleman, Li Guanyi was moved.

Li Guanyi, silent, stood up and bowed, saying, "I have always been too frivolous, having already caused trouble in Jiangzhou, to the extent that even my official uniform and jade belt were stripped away. With my kind of record, how could I harbor any grand ambitions?"

"I only hope for a time of peace and prosperity, where the people can live safely, in streets filled with lively music and under harmonious moonlit nights. As for me, my few acres of poor farmland are enough to satisfy myself."

Jiang Gao was stunned, then after a moment of thought, he earnestly said:

"Then, I ask you to join me in creating this great era."

Li Guanyi looked at the Jiang Gao in front of him and grinned.

He felt like this youth had the kind of fervor one shows when frantically drawing cards from a rare deck.

He rejected once more, "There are many heroes under heaven, I am but an inept ranger, temperamental and unskilled, your highness thinks too highly of me."

Jiang Gao looked deeply at Li Guanyi, then smiled, no longer pressing the issue, and self-mockingly said:

"It seems, I do not have such fate."

"Come, let’s drink!"

"Today, since I cannot coax sir away, I might as well get sir drunk, ha ha ha, please!"

He raised his cup, and drank with Li Guanyi. Given that Li Guanyi was fifteen and could drink, nobody would force him to drink too much. After the drinking session, Jiang Gao escorted him out, saying, "Today, sir mentioned that there are many heroes under heaven."

"But I feel that today, I might never find someone like you again. Perhaps it’s because you hold the common people in such high regard."

Jiang Gao smiled warmly, "But, as you just said, an era of peace and prosperity, where people live in happiness, bustling streets and harmonious moonlit nights, heh... I too hope to see that."

This mild-mannered Prince of Ying Country smiled warmly, promising earnestly:

"Thus, I will devote all my efforts to achieve all this, and someday... I mean, if there truly comes such a day, might I ask you for a drink of your homemade wine under the harmonious moonlight?

"Even if by then, we are both old."

Li Guanyi paused, feeling the youth’s composed and open-hearted attitude, answered in silence:

"If there comes such a day, I will not return until I’m drunk."

Jiang Gao smiled warmly, softly saying: "Also, someone told me that you are a brilliant tactician in an era of Divine Generals, a rare talent under heaven, he said I should do everything to recruit you."

"If not, I would have to kill you."

"After you leave, sir, please be careful."

Li Guanyi paused and asked, "Why are you telling me this?"

Jiang Gao smiled, "It’s me who invited you here, and at least in this place, I consider you a rare friend, a person of heroic caliber, young yet already an Imperial Guard, and someday surely a high-ranking general."

"If you were leading the Night Rider Cavalry of Chen Country, we could meet on the battlefield as enemies."

"Enemies need not show mercy, we would fight with all our might."

"But at this moment, we are still friends, and to a friend, one should always be honest.

"They told me to strangle an enemy in the bud, but if I view everyone in the world in this manner, all the world’s heroes would become enemies, wouldn’t that path be too lonely?"

Jiang Gao smiled, "Such are the world’s heroes; treat them with sincerity."

"Friend or foe, I’d never regret this meeting."

He extended his hand, smiling as he gestured for Li Guanyi to leave. Li Guanyi nodded. He left the palace, Jiang Gao watched him walk away, turning back only when he was far enough, seeming to sigh in regret. As Li Guanyi walked away from the hall, not yet far gone, a laugh was heard.