“Stop right there, wall-climbing thief! Don’t move! I’m warning you! I’ll shoot!”
Li Yuanji was startled and bewildered. He and Yang Xinzhi had come with the Wu Hou Guard’s night patrol, and they had already explained along the way that they were carrying out a secret imperial edict requiring them to enter the Yang residence at night. Why would the patrol suddenly start shouting like this? Did the night watchmen want their backsides whipped with bamboo?
“Thief! Stand still!”
The twang of bowstrings rang out from the street corner – this was the second warning. Before Li Yuanji could decide what to do, a dark figure appeared from around the corner, running toward him at full speed.
So the Wu Hou Guards weren’t shouting at them after all – apparently, another group of thieves had broken into this residence tonight.
Wait, why “another”…
Seeing the shadow rushing near him, Li Yuanji pushed aside his scattered thoughts and crouched down to execute a sweeping leg attack. Though the figure was small and agile, managing to jump and evade the sweep despite being caught off guard, they continued running forward. However, behind stood Yang Xinzhi, built like an iron tower, his arms spread wide as the eight hundred li of Qin. Without employing any special technique, he simply reached out and grabbed the slight figure, like an eagle catching a chick, holding them firmly.
This delay allowed the night patrol to catch up, led by none other than Su Dingfang, the General of the Right Wu Hou Guard himself. Su Dingfang caught his breath and said with a laugh, “What luck! The thief was caught by the Fourteenth Young Lord!”
“Where did this thief come from?” Li Yuanji asked with furrowed brows.
“From the Zoroastrian temple across the way… We spotted him as soon as he landed and watched him heading toward Vice Director Yang’s residence. At first, we thought he might be one of the Fourteenth Young Lord’s men, but his movements seemed off. So Young Lord truly doesn’t know him?”
Li Yuanji examined the person held in Yang Xinzhi’s grip carefully – it was a young barbarian wearing a foreign cap. In the darkness, his features weren’t clear, but he appeared dark and thin, with the bright whites of his eyes visible. He was panting heavily but remained silent.
“I don’t know him. Let’s take him to the guard post for proper questioning.”
While each ward in Chang’an had guard posts at street corners, the Buzheng Ward, being the location of the Right Wu Hou Guard headquarters, didn’t need one. Li Yuanji and the others took the young barbarian directly to headquarters, where Su Dingfang questioned him thoroughly, but the youth only shook his head, stubbornly refusing to speak.
In the bright lamplight of the room, Li Yuanji could now see the youth clearly – he had large eyes, thick lips, and brownish skin. Though not Han Chinese, his features were quite different from the high-nosed, deep-set eyes of the Sogdian merchants.
He had run out of the Zoroastrian temple in Buzheng Ward. That temple enshrined mysterious foreign deities not widely worshipped in Han territories – its congregation consisted almost entirely of Sogdian merchants from the Nine Surnames of Zhaowu along the western trade routes. Those merchants had protruding foreheads and high bridge noses, the men with curly hair and thick beards, while their women had fair skin and graceful figures… Ahem, in any case, this youth’s features more closely resembled those of the Qiang barbarians from regions closer to the Central Plains, or perhaps… the Tuyuhun people.
The northwestern barbarians had always lived in mixed communities, and Sogdian merchants traveled long distances to trade goods, and people might naturally have some Qiang servants or slaves among their retinue. However, this youth wore expensive black brocade robes and a foreign cap made of fine material. He stood straight-backed with a defiant expression, not at all like a runaway servant. Li Yuanji decided to try deceiving him:
“There’s no use in staying silent – I’ve already recognized you!”
The barbarian youth looked at him with only confusion in his eyes, seemingly truly unable to understand Chinese.
“You’re a Tuyuhun spy! Here to gather military intelligence in our Great Tang, aren’t you?”
At the words “Tuyuhun,” the youth’s expression finally changed, and he suddenly burst out with a long string of unintelligible barbarian speech. Li Yuanji and Su Dingfang looked at each other helplessly, neither understanding a word.
Perhaps they should detain this barbarian youth until dawn, then send him to the Court of State Ceremonial to find an interpreter… As Li Yuanji pondered this headache, the youth rattled off another string of foreign words, but this time the term “Sabao” was mentioned two or three times.
“Sabao?” Su Dingfang perked up, “Are you talking about Kang Sumi? Are you from Sabao Kang’s household?”
The youth seemed unsure of the pronunciation of “Kang Sumi,” uttering a similar-sounding foreign word and repeating it several times, then curling his lip with an extremely arrogant and disdainful expression.
Su Dingfang’s patience ran out, and his anger flared. Slapping the table and pointing angrily, he shouted, “This little barbarian brat breaks the night curfew and still dares to show such an attitude! What worthless bones! Guards, give him thirty lashes first!”
“Wait,” someone interjected, “if this youth really is from Sabao Kang’s household, remember the Sabao holds fifth rank and has imperial honors. Old Kang Sumi frequently socializes with noble houses – we should show him some face. Rather than administering a beating now, General Su should send someone to inquire at the Kang residence first.”
Su Dingfang glanced at Li Yuanji as if seeking his opinion, though a cunning smile played at his lips. Li Yuanji felt his scalp tighten and instinctively raised his guard.
The Left and Right Wu Hou Guards had very different duties from the other fourteen guard units. Besides standing sentry and clearing roads, they were responsible for maintaining order in the capital’s wards, dealing almost daily with criminals and troublemakers. While other guard units might have inexperienced noble youths serving as officers just to start their careers, the Left and Right Wu Hou Guards were staffed mainly by veteran soldiers. Their squad leaders were shrewd and experienced, and the General who managed daily affairs had to be the craftiest of the crafty.
Li Yuanji hadn’t known Su Dingfang before, but upon first meeting this man of about forty, he thought the name sounded familiar. Later he recalled hearing about this man’s tragic misfortunes.
Su Dingfang was from Wuyi in Hebei. During the chaos at the end of Sui, he had been adopted by Gao Yaxian, a beloved general of Xia King Dou Jiande, and had repeatedly distinguished himself in battle. His future had seemed bright, but within a few years, the Great Tang unified the Central Plains, the Dou Xia forces were scattered and destroyed, and Su Dingfang could only return home to farm.
In the early Zhenguan era, Su Dingfang rejoined the Tang army as a militia soldier, following the Duke of Dai Li Jing to campaign against the Turks. Being extraordinarily brave, General Li employed him as the vanguard, and at the decisive battle of Qikou, he broke through Jieli Khagan’s tent command, achieving the highest merit. But before he could receive the rich rewards for this unprecedented achievement, court censors impeached General Li for “collapse of military discipline resulting in loss of precious spoils,” angering the Emperor greatly. Although Li Jing ultimately escaped punishment, Su Dingfang, who had earned the highest merit, took the blame for “looting war prizes.” His merit offset his crime, and he was quietly transferred back to Chang’an as a mere General.
However, while the position of Wu Hou Guard General might not be high in rank, it controlled many semi-legitimate businesses and was likely quite “profitable.” Someone like Kang Sumi, a wealthy foreign merchant whose Zoroastrian temple shared the ward with the Right Wu Hou Guard headquarters, surely paid regular respects with generous gifts. Catching this youth breaking curfew, if he was indeed from the Kang household, was like having gold and silver delivered to their doorstep.
If Li Yuanji hadn’t been present, Su Dingfang would probably have directly sold the favor. But with an imperial relative carrying an imperial edict presiding at headquarters, and having suffered greatly in such matters before, Su Dingfang didn’t dare to openly sell leniency. So he made a show of ordering a beating to clear himself of responsibility, while having his subordinate explain the situation to Li Yuanji, leaving the decision to him – this way, General Su wouldn’t be seen as taking Sabao Kang’s regular gifts for nothing, while also avoiding any responsibility.
“I’ve heard of Sabao Kang Sumi’s reputation,” Li Yuanji spoke up, “I was planning to visit him these days. We might as well inquire at his house – if this youth is one of his people, have him come to pay the fine and take him away.”
The Tang legal code did include provisions for “redemption of punishment” – paying three jin of copper could redeem thirty strokes of the cane, though whether redemption was permitted was another matter entirely. Hearing Li Yuanji speak thus, Su Dingfang understood he had no intention of being harsh about the matter and relaxed, ordering someone to notify the Kang Sumi residence.
Before even the time it takes to eat a meal had passed, hearty laughter was heard outside the door, and an elderly Sogdian merchant wearing a fine foreign brocade robe entered, bowing to Li Yuanji and the others while apologizing:
“My deepest apologies for troubling all you noble gentlemen! This foolish boy is my nephew, who arrived in the capital barely two days ago. He doesn’t understand the rules here under the Son of Heaven’s feet and runs about wildly – it’s all old Kang’s fault for failing to teach him properly! Sangsai, hurry and apologize to all the officers!”
Li Yuanji noticed Su Dingfang and the others rising to return the greeting, addressing him as “Sabao Kang,” and realized this must be Kang Sumi himself. He couldn’t help but study him more closely. This old foreigner had a high nose, deep-set eyes, and a full beard, and while he spoke Chinese very fluently, he had a thick Sichuan accent that sounded quite interesting.
After explaining the barbarian youth’s identity, Kang Sumi switched to a foreign tongue to berate him. Though Sangsai still looked unwilling, he grudgingly bowed and apologized to Li Yuanji and the others, then stood behind Kang Sumi, effectively being taken into custody.
The Right Wu Hou Guard officers present were clearly all very familiar with Kang Sumi and exchanged greetings one by one. When Su Dingfang introduced Li Yuanji and his servant, not knowing the full situation, he simply called him “Imperial Secret Envoy, Fourteenth Young Lord Li.” Li Yuanji considered for a moment – since he had intended to make Kang Sumi’s acquaintance anyway, he might as well reveal his identity:
“To be frank, my name is Yuanji, currently enfeoffed as Prince of Wu and nominally serving as Prefecture Chief of Shouzhou. I am the fourteenth brother of the current Emperor.”
This announcement shocked everyone present. Kang Sumi rose again to perform the proper greeting for meeting royalty, offering many polite phrases about “having eyes but failing to recognize Mount Tai.” At this moment, Kang’s servants brought in several boxes of gold, silver, and precious objects, and the old Sabao explained that “these were originally meant as the fine to redeem Sangsai’s punishment, but not knowing Your Highness was present, I dare not offend your eyes with such modest gifts.”
Li Yuanji patiently waited for the ceremonial niceties to conclude before saying he had matters to discuss – the former Sui Dynasty’s Empress Xiao and her grandchildren had been sold, er, presented as captives to the Great Tang Khagan from the Turkish steppes by this old Sogdian Kang Sumi himself. After entering Chang’an together, the two households lived opposite each other, so Kang Sumi likely knew more about Empress Xiao’s movements than anyone else. The old merchant’s face brightened further:
“Whatever Your Highness wishes to know, old Kang will certainly tell all! But it’s too late today. Would Your Highness honor old Kang by staying the night at my humble residence? Tomorrow, after you’ve rested well, we can discuss everything over wine.”
After several days without proper sleep, though young and strong, Li Yuanji was feeling tired. Kang Sumi’s suggestion was quite appropriate. After exchanging a few modest phrases, he took Yang Xinzhi and left the Right Wu Hou Guard headquarters, following the group of foreigners on horseback toward the Zoroastrian temple.
During casual conversation along the way, Kang Sumi explained that one of his sisters had married into Tibet, and having trouble controlling her son Sangsai, that little monkey had sent him to Kang’s household to learn the business. But this foolish boy still ran wild every day, climbing walls and trees with abandon. Tonight, who knows what mischief he had planned by trying to sneak into Vice Director Yang’s residence – the home of Empress Xiao’s family was just opposite the temple, not far at all.
Speaking of the temple, he mentioned that the Buzheng Ward’s Zoroastrian priest had originally been surnamed An. In the fourth year of Zhenguan, when Kang Sumi brought Empress Xiao and her grandchildren to submit to Tang, in recognition of this great service, the court appointed him as Sabao and granted him a residence. He had known several frontier commanders like the Third Imperial Son-in-law Chai Shao since the Wude era, and with such noble support thereafter, this largest and oldest Zoroastrian temple in the capital had come under Kang Sumi’s supervision.
The Kang residence connected to the temple, a sprawling compound with several courtyards. While its exterior appeared similar to ordinary residences, entering revealed numerous domed structures, with what seemed to be many tents pitched in the courtyards. It was now very late, and darkness pervaded everywhere. Kang household servants led the way with torches, and just as they passed the main hall, a sudden howl came from nearby.
The sound wasn’t loud, seemingly just one person crying out in pain, like the death cry of a wounded wolf. In the depths of the night in an unfamiliar compound, it was blood-curdling.
Li Yuanji stopped in shock, gripping his sword hilt, while Yang Xinzhi immediately stepped forward to his rear, drawing his blade in protection.
Kang Sumi and the other foreigners also halted. In the flickering torchlight, the old merchant’s brows furrowed as he angrily shouted something in a foreign tongue. Several people responded and hurried away, and the howling quickly ceased.
“My apologies for frightening Your Highness!” Kang Sumi turned back to Li Yuanji with a smile and bowed, “One of my worthless slaves committed an offense and was being whipped – he woke up in the night from the pain and cried out. It’s nothing, nothing at all…”
Sangsai, who had been following them, suddenly spoke up, asking two questions in a foreign language. Kang Sumi replied in the same tongue, impatiently waving his hand. But Sangsai wouldn’t let it go, continuing to press the issue until anger showed on Kang Sumi’s face.
Li Yuanji silently observed. Though he couldn’t understand their conversation at all, he grew increasingly suspicious, noticing that Kang Sumi seemed to use different languages when speaking to his servants versus speaking to Sangsai.
Earlier, when Kang Sumi had shouted at and received responses from his servants, the pronunciation had been fluid and connected, as if merely rolling the tongue a few times in the mouth produced a string of foreign syllables. But when speaking with Sangsai, his pronunciation became much more distinct and harsh, less fluent and familiar, somewhat like speaking Chinese with a foreign accent, though the syllables were entirely different. Sangsai replied in the same foreign tongue, speaking more fluently and quickly, with quite an aggressive tone.
This foreign youth had maintained his defiant and proud demeanor since being captured, showing no deference to anyone, including Kang Sumi. Li Yuanji had heard that the Western Region merchants, who primarily engaged in trade, would rub their newborn infants’ mouths with concentrated “rock honey” and coat their hands with glue, hoping their children would grow up to speak honeyed words and hold tightly to money. The merchant foreigners Li Yuanji had met all wore practiced smiles and were naturally friendly – like Kang Sumi.
Sangsai’s behavior didn’t at all resemble someone raised in a merchant community, much less a junior subordinate to Kang Sumi.
Kang Sumi seemed to lose patience and said something in their language to two nearby men. The two servants bowed in acknowledgment, and one reached out to grab Sangsai, attempting to forcibly lead him away. The foreign youth angrily knocked away the servant’s hand and strode off, with the two servants hurriedly pursuing him. All three quickly vanished into the night.
“Damn that head-chopping son of a turtle!” Kang Sumi cursed at Sangsai’s retreating figure before turning to lead Li Yuanji and his servant onward, guiding them to a guest courtyard. Someone must have gone ahead to announce their arrival, as lanterns had been hung along the corridor, numerous servants stood ready with hands clasped, and warm lamplight shone through the windows of the main guest chamber.
Servants raised the felt curtains as the old merchant led the way, smilingly ushering Li Yuanji and Yang Xinzhi into the main room. As they passed a floor-length folding screen, Li Yuanji stopped abruptly, blood rushing to his head.
In the dim candlelight, with intoxicating exotic fragrances filling the air, two figures stood silently by the bed.