Eight days after the Princess Consort’s passing. Jizhou City. The Yuanyang Inn.
The Yuanyang Inn was a celebrated establishment in Jizhou City, over a century old, sustained by a handful of signature dishes and a steady rotation of new menu offerings every six months. Through those hundred-plus years, it had stood firm and unshaken in Jizhou City.
Xu Yuanqing had been waiting at the Yuanyang Inn for roughly a quarter-hour when Young Lord Yang Zhuo arrived — timing that was, one had to admit, perfectly calibrated. This shaved a few degrees of contempt from Xu Yuanqing’s estimation of Yang Zhuo.
Men like them — in everything they did, everything they said — had to weigh far too many considerations. Ordinary folk would never give a second thought to matters that men like them had to think through again and again.
Take this banquet today, for instance. It was naturally proper for Xu Yuanqing to arrive first, given the hierarchy of their positions — the Young Lord must arrive later. But how much later was itself an art, something one could call profoundly subtle, or equally well, exhausting.
If Yang Zhuo had walked in on Xu Yuanqing’s heels the moment he entered the Yuanyang Inn, it would have made the Young Lord look eager; the Xu family would see plainly how desperately he needed their help. Arrive too late and keep a man waiting too long, and that bespoke arrogance — and insincerity of heart.
Whatever else one might say, the Young Lord, for all the nobility of his station, was still the one asking a favor.
After they took their seats according to rank, Xu Yuanqing personally poured a cup of wine for Young Lord Yang Zhuo. Yang Zhuo waved his hand. “My honored mother has only just passed. I cannot drink.”
“Your Highness must be heavy-hearted,” Xu Yuanqing said. “A few cups of wine ought to ease the pain somewhat. As for today’s meeting, this subordinate will not breathe a word of it to anyone.”
Yang Zhuo let out a sigh. “Lord Xu is truly considerate. I am indeed heavy-hearted…”
He picked up the cup Xu Yuanqing had poured and drained it in one draught.
“I’ll spare us both the pleasantries,” Yang Zhuo said, setting the cup down. “Let us speak plainly. I need the Xu family’s assistance. If there is anything Lord Xu needs in return, do not hesitate — simply say so.”
Xu Yuanqing had not expected Yang Zhuo to be so direct. By putting it that plainly, he had dispensed with a great deal of circling and probing.
Setting down his own cup, Xu Yuanqing said, “Your Highness the Young Lord, I am deeply honored by your regard. The Xu family has long been grateful for the Prince’s care and attention… Since Your Highness has asked so candidly, allow me to be equally frank.”
In a tone of earnest sincerity he continued: “Every member of the Xu family is willing to serve His Highness the Prince — whether it be money or manpower, the Xu family will not shirk or show indifference. So long as the Prince commands, so long as Your Highness has need, whatever strength the Xu family possesses, it will be given.”
In truth, these words carried no real substance. They were merely a declaration of intent.
Yang Zhuo understood perfectly. Xu Yuanqing, that old fox, was still waiting for him to state his terms outright. If the terms proved unsuitable, who knew how long the old fox would continue to dance around the point.
Xu Yuanqing’s words sounded heartfelt and forthright, yet in practice they were nothing but a wheel spinning in place.
“I wonder… whether the Xu family has any intention of joining my father’s campaign?”
Yang Zhuo tapped his fingers lightly on the table. “Let me be even plainer. The Xu family is full of talent — especially among the younger generation, where exceptional men emerge one after another. Yet at present, there are precious few Xu family members in the Jizhou army. One cannot help but feel that capable men are going unused.”
His fingers stilled, and his voice rose a degree.
“I have already petitioned my father. When the troops march, I will serve as Army Supervisor overseeing one corps. That supervisory post… will naturally require a great many men to assist.”
Xu Yuanqing rose hastily from his seat. “Many thanks, Your Highness, for your generosity. On behalf of the Xu family, I offer my deepest gratitude.”
Yang Zhuo reached out a hand to steady him, and smiled. “The post of Army Supervisor is one of tremendous responsibility. If the commanding general proves inadequate, the Supervisor is bound to have him replaced… which makes the position as thankless as it is demanding.”
Xu Yuanqing smiled at once. “Your Highness speaks truly. The Supervisor’s duties are weighty; the burden on your shoulders is immense. Your Highness bears much hardship.”
“I will arrange for Xu family members to be placed within the Jizhou army,” Yang Zhuo said. “In return, you would simply be helping me with a minor matter. We’ve come this far in the conversation — it may have grown a touch unrefined, but I have come here in good faith, and I believe Lord Xu is the same. So…”
Xu Yuanqing said immediately, “Your Highness the Young Lord, please speak your wishes.”
“There are a few people I dislike. Very much.”
“The first is naturally Xiahou Zuo,” Yang Zhuo said. “But I have ways of getting him out of Jizhou. Even if he leaves, his mother remains, his sister remains, and that sworn brother of his, Li Chi, remains — especially that Li Chi. A beggar once upon a time, and now he’s opened a transport firm and is making a name for himself.”
“I have heard of this Li Chi as well,” Xu Yuanqing said. “He is indeed rather disagreeable.”
He mentioned neither Xiahou Zuo, nor Xiahou Yili, nor Xiahou Zuo’s mother — only Li Chi. The meaning was quite plain to read. *You may be the Young Lord, but a few pretty words won’t get the Xu family to move against Xiahou Zuo — where in the world would one find such a convenient bargain? But to show the Xu family’s goodwill, leaving Xiahou Zuo untouched while dealing with a Li Chi — that presents no particular difficulty.*
The unspoken precondition, of course, was that whatever the Young Lord had promised must not remain empty words.
“That fellow truly is irritating.”
Yang Zhuo smiled. “Tomorrow I will begin forming the Supervisor’s Camp. My command will need no fewer than three thousand personal troops — otherwise the Army Supervisor carries no real weight. Three thousand men: three Senior Fifth Grade generals, six Junior Fifth Grade generals, over ten regimental commanders…”
His fingers resumed their light tapping on the tabletop, his smile carrying a quiet confidence. He knew well enough that the Xu family could not refuse such terms.
Xu Yuanqing did not follow up on Yang Zhuo’s words. Instead he smiled and said, “The transport trade is not easy work — especially in times like these, when the world is in turmoil. Heaven alone knows what accidents might befall, or what misfortunes might arise. Those who try to prop up a transport firm by sheer persistence tend to lose everything, down to the last coin — and may lose their lives in the bargain. Which is precisely why the Xu family has never had any interest in entering that line of business.”
Yang Zhuo laughed — a laugh of relief.
“Well said. The transport trade truly is no easy business.”
He reached for the wine flagon; Xu Yuanqing rose hastily once more. Yang Zhuo poured him a cup and said, “Tomorrow I will go to the training ground to select troops.”
Xu Yuanqing smiled. “This subordinate wishes Your Highness every success in your selection.”
—
The Northern Reaches. Yanshan Camp.
Yu Chaozong leapt down from his horse and handed the reins to his personal attendants without a second glance. Walking as he spoke, he asked, “Any news from Jizhou?”
Newly promoted Scout Corps commander Chang Dingsui fell in behind Yu Chaozong and replied, “Early this morning, our scouts came back from Jizhou saying the city gates have been abruptly shut — all six of them, sealed tight, no one going in or out. We still don’t know what happened exactly. But I’ve already dispatched more men to Jizhou; they’ll enter as soon as the gates open and make contact with the Second and Third Chiefs as quickly as possible.”
Yu Chaozong gave a grunt. “A few days ago, Prince Yu sent men over to say he would name me a Senior Third Grade general, granting me jurisdiction over Xinzhou Prefecture and Daizhou Prefecture. He also said he wanted me to raise troops and wipe out the other rebel forces within Jizhou…”
He looked over at Chang Dingsui. “Prince Yu is likely on the verge of mobilizing — yet he’s suddenly sealed the city gates… You’ve done well. But I’m still uneasy.”
He paused, then continued: “I’ve stationed your elder brother Chang Dingzhou to hold Xinzhou, and previously sent Xilizi with troops to garrison Daizhou Pass. With all domestic matters settled, there’s nothing stopping me, so…”
Chang Dingsui shook his head at once. “Elder brother, you cannot go to Jizhou.”
“I can.”
Yu Chaozong smiled. “No one would imagine I’d dare go to Jizhou. And that is precisely why I must go. Only when I see with my own eyes that the Second and Third are unharmed will my heart be at rest. Go and select your men. We set out at first light tomorrow.”
“But what if the city gates are still closed?” Chang Dingsui asked.
Yu Chaozong waved a hand. “Then we wait until they open.”
—
At the same time. Jizhou.
Young General Luo Jing sat in the high seat overlooking the training ground, watching his Tiger-Leopard Cavalry drill below. He found it dull.
He jumped down from the high seat and glanced at the stone locks arranged nearby — a range of sizes, the lightest at thirty catties, the heaviest at one hundred twenty.
He nudged one with his foot, flicked it upward, and caught the hundred-twenty-catty stone lock in one hand. He tossed it into the air, caught it cleanly as it fell, and walked on — tossing and catching as though taking a leisurely stroll.
“Nothing worth playing with.”
Luo Jing turned to his personal guard commander Luo Peng and said, “I’ve only just arrived in Jizhou. It isn’t like Youzhou, where everyone already knows my name. With the city gates shut, we can’t yet lead troops into battle. Tell me — what scheme can I cook up so that everyone in all of Jizhou City knows the name Luo Jing, and knows what I’m made of?”
Luo Peng smiled. “Young General, every commoner in Jizhou knows who you are. There isn’t a soul who hasn’t heard of your reputation.”
“It’s not the same.”
Luo Jing tossed the stone lock aside; it sailed more than two zhang before hitting the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.
“Hearing is one thing, seeing is another. I want the people of Jizhou to see for themselves.”
Luo Peng suddenly thought of an idea. He smiled and said, “The Young General could do as he did three years ago — set up a fighting stage here in Jizhou City. Anyone who can withstand ten of the Young General’s moves wins a handsome reward, and earns a place in the Young General’s ranks. Those dim-witted types on the Jizhou side ought to have a few who want to try their luck.”
“There’s also this: the Young General has been in Jizhou for seven or eight days now, yet Prince Yu has not once received him. If the Young General puts on a fine showing at the fighting stage, when Prince Yu hears of it, he’ll praise the Young General’s valor as well.”
“It’s a good idea,” Luo Jing said. “Do it as you say. Go have men post notices throughout the city — anyone who can withstand five of my moves gets a hundred taels of silver; anyone who lasts ten moves gets two hundred.”
Luo Peng complied immediately. “I’ll see to it at once.”
The next day, news that Luo Jing had ordered notices posted all across Jizhou City reached the Prince Yu Manor.
Prince Yu was sitting behind his writing desk, lost in his thoughts, when he heard. The color drained from his face at once, and his eyes went cold.
“That whelp from the Luo family — the Princess Consort has barely been laid to rest, and he’s setting up a fighting stage in Jizhou City?”
“What is he trying to say?” Prince Yu continued. “Is he telling me that with the manor still in mourning, he’s going to find himself some entertainment in Jizhou City?!”
The last few words came out in a sharp, sudden spike of pitch.
“Go fetch Zeng Ling. I want to ask Zeng Ling whether he brought Luo Jing back from Youzhou just to humiliate me.”
Prince Yu’s expression grew darker and darker.
“His father Luo Geng is an ingrate — a cur you can never truly tame. And this son of his is even worse.”
The more Prince Yu thought about it, the angrier he became. He slapped the table with a crack.
“I want to know — whose benefit is this fighting stage for.”
—