Like flowing water, time passes in Jinli as autumn whispers.
New Brocade Scroll – Chapter 1: Seeking Peace
The Nanzhao army from the south had halted at the southern edge of Yizhou City. No Nanzhao soldiers could be seen from the other three directions – east, west, and north. Some believed that if Nanzhao truly intended to attack Yizhou, they would surely surround the city and cut off its connections to the outside world, especially its communication with the Military Commissioner’s Office of Jiannan Dongchuan Circuit to the north.
The Dongchuan army was the closest reinforcement available.
Thus, despite the Nanzhao army being merely two hundred li away, Yizhou City remained calm and peaceful, with all four city gates operating normally, allowing free passage in and out.
The citizens of Yizhou, who had lived in peace for decades, still believed that as long as the imperial court negotiated with Nanzhao, their soldiers would retreat from Qiongzhou and Meizhou, never taking another step forward.
However, all of this depended on whether the Military Commissioner would agree to freely give thirty thousand rolls of Shu brocade to Nanzhao.
“My Lord, we’re talking about thirty thousand rolls of Shu brocade!” the Prefecture Chief exclaimed, his heart aching.
Chief Secretary Sang, who had rushed straight to the Military Commissioner’s office without even stopping at home, spoke coldly, “My Lord, this is extortion and intimidation! Nanzhao is merely seeking an excuse to attack Yizhou City!”
From the resistance at Songzhou to the great defeat at Yazhou, and the fall of Qiong and Mei prefectures – it had taken just one short month for the Nanzhao army to reach their doorstep. In the meeting hall, the generals of the Xichuan army were filled with despair. Below the Military Commissioner, Deputy Commander Niu held the highest rank. His dark red face showed no emotion. He remained silent, and the generals maintained their silence as well, listening to the two civil officials passionately state their cases.
“Half of Yizhou’s tax revenue depends on the brocade industry. If we take away all the Shu brocade from the weaving households, they’ll be left with nothing but their looms and no capital. After Nanzhao’s army withdraws, how will they continue weaving?” The Prefecture Chief felt a heart-wrenching pain at the thought of thirty thousand rolls of brocade.
Chief Secretary Sang insisted through gritted teeth, “Even if we give it to the Nanzhao people, they absolutely won’t give up their plans to enter and plunder Yizhou!”
The two officials, outwardly cordial but inwardly suspicious of each other, now spoke in unison to the Xichuan Military Commissioner: “Please, My Lord, deploy the troops and fight Nanzhao to the death!”
If the Xichuan army fought, they could still request reinforcements from the Dongchuan army to the north. Through Jiange Pass and across the Qinling Mountains lay the Central Plains, not far from Chang’an. The imperial court’s grand army could also enter Sichuan. Yizhou had the entire Great Tang behind it – what threat could Nanzhao’s small force pose?
“This official has already sent an eight-hundred-li emergency memorial to the imperial court. Without the Ministry of War’s deployment order, the Dongchuan army could not move. And now Nanzhao has given us only two days. Gentlemen, I believe gathering the brocade to hand over to Nanzhao and buying time is our best strategy,” the Xichuan Military Commissioner stroked his snow-white beard, showing no sign of panic. “Nanzhao won’t incorporate Yizhou Prefecture into their territory. They don’t have the appetite for it. The small kingdom is too poor; they merely want to plunder some wealth. Even if we give them thirty thousand rolls of brocade, when the imperial court becomes enraged, they will double their annual tribute. Whatever Nanzhao takes, they will return twofold.”
Did the Military Commissioner mean to agree to freely give thirty thousand rolls of brocade to Nanzhao?
The Prefecture Chief grew anxious: “My Lord, which weaving household would willingly give their Shu brocade to Nanzhao for free?”
Even if the tribute was doubled, it would still be given to the imperial court. Who would compensate these weaving households for their losses? Wasn’t this the Military Commissioner showing cowardice and planning to openly rob them?
The Military Commissioner smiled slightly: “Time waits for no one. General Niu, this matter falls to you. Collect the Shu brocade based on the number of looms in each household. Tell those weaving households: if they don’t hand over their brocade, this official is willing to die fighting at the gate tower. But if we can’t stop the Nanzhao army and Yizhou falls, they’ll lose far more than just their brocade!”
With someone above to take responsibility, and the Commissioner-cum-Grand Commander choosing peace, Deputy Commander Niu was merely following orders. He hoped that once Sheng Fengze received the thirty thousand rolls of brocade for free, they would withdraw their short-legged army. His heart lightened as he rose to accept the command.
Seeing the Military Commissioner’s resolve, the Prefecture Chief and Chief Secretary Sang could only close their mouths and accept it.
After the discussion concluded, the third watch of the night had already been struck. Squads of soldiers set out in different directions, knocking on the doors of brocade-weaving households.
The commotion outside awakened Ji Yingying, who instinctively pulled out the small knife Yang Jingyuan had given her from under her pillow: “Is Nanzhao attacking?”
Xiang’er, who was on night duty, was also startled: “Young Miss, let me go check.”
Before she could properly dress, Ling’er came in: “Deputy Commander Niu has brought soldiers.”
Deputy Commander Niu? Upon hearing that he had personally led the troops, Ji Yingying hurriedly dressed and walked out of her room.
In the night, the White Egret Hall across the lake had already lit its lamps. In the distance, one could see the silhouettes of servants hurriedly walking with lanterns.
Why would Deputy Commander Niu come? Her previous encounter with the Niu family made Ji Yingying tense: “Let’s sneak over to the gate and take a look.”
“Young Miss, please don’t go,” Nanny Ji came out with a lantern, directly stopping Ji Yingying. She gave her a reproachful look and said, “You’re just a young lady of ten or so years. How could you risk being accosted by soldiers in the dead of night? Let this old servant go gather information instead.”
Ji Yingying thought for a moment and agreed, repeatedly cautioning her: “Nanny, it’s fine if you can’t get any information. Please be careful yourself.”
“This old servant understands. Young Miss, please return to your room. The night dew is heavy; don’t catch a chill.” Nanny Ji left with her lantern.
The three returned to the room, completely unable to sleep. After waiting for nearly an hour, Nanny Ji returned.
She had walked quickly, and after entering the room, Xiang’er poured her two bowls of water to drink before angrily saying: “Young Miss, can you guess why Deputy Commander Niu came in the middle of the night?”
Ji Yingying chided: “Nanny, don’t keep us in suspense. We’re all too anxious to sleep!”
“He’s demanding six thousand five hundred rolls of Shu brocade from the Yang family!”
Six thousand five hundred rolls of Shu brocade?!
The three women’s mouths gaped wide enough to swallow eggs.
In White Egret Hall, Deputy Commander Niu had unceremoniously seated himself in the main guest position beside Madam Yang. Holding a teacup, he leisurely observed the expressions of the Yang family members.
In the quiet hall, the jumping candlelight cast the faces of everyone present in shifting light and shadow.
Madam Yang suppressed her fear and calmly asked: “If Nanzhao wishes to purchase thirty thousand rolls of brocade, what price are they offering?”
“Madam Yang, are you truly confused or just pretending not to understand?” Deputy Commander Niu set down his teacup and leaned toward Madam Yang, saying mockingly, “They came with an army of two hundred thousand to buy brocade? Madam Yang, what price do you think Nanzhao will offer?”
Madam Yang responded unhurriedly: “Commander, you just said it yourself. Nanzhao has come to buy brocade. Whatever the price, there must be one. Even if Nanzhao offers a price, the Yang family can refuse to sell. Moreover, six thousand five hundred rolls of brocade – the Yang family simply doesn’t have that much. Even if we wanted to sell, we couldn’t.”
This was an outright refusal. Deputy Commander Niu suddenly recalled an incident from several years ago when he had sent a matchmaker to the Yang family. The matchmaker had returned, imitating Madam Yang’s manner and repeating her words: “My third son practices martial arts and cannot break his virgin body before eighteen. We cannot delay anyone’s marriage. Besides, the Yang family are merchants; we cannot presume to marry into the family of a third-rank commander.”
“Of the four classes – scholars, farmers, craftsmen, and merchants – the Yang family ranks last.” With old and new grudges surging in his heart, Deputy Commander Niu stood up straight and looked out of the hall. In the darkness, two rows of soldiers stood neatly along the corridor, their torches crackling as they burned.
Looking at his silhouette and seeing the soldiers in the courtyard through him, Madam Yang and her two sons’ faces changed dramatically. Though Deputy Commander Niu hadn’t spoken explicitly, all three understood his meaning.
Even if it meant dying on the battlefield, Madam Yang would willingly give Yang family brocade to shroud and bury fallen soldiers. But now, not only did they lack the courage to fight, they were bringing soldiers to threaten and forcibly take Shu’s brocade. She trembled with anger and spoke loudly: “The Xichuan army has lost battle after battle, and now you’re too frightened to fight. Do you plan to take brocade from weaving households for free to sue for peace with Nanzhao? Deputy Commander Niu, can you face the third-rank military official’s robe you wear?”
The night was quiet, and Madam Yang’s words carried beyond the hall. The torches flickered as the neatly lined soldiers couldn’t help but shudder. Their faces turned toward the hall.
With a “shing!” Deputy Commander Niu drew the sword at his waist.
In the candlelight, Madam Yang’s eyes grew wide as she pushed away Nanny Chen, who had thrown herself in front of her. She held her neck high, completely motionless.