The hundred-odd bodies on the ground were of no concern to anyone. Not to Xiahou Zuo’s men, and certainly not to Prince Wu’s — they could even be logged as rebel fighters and used to pad the kill count.

Was Liu Wenju powerful? Of course he was powerful. A man who could rule a city single-handed — was that not power? Within Xinzhou’s walls, human lives meant nothing to him. In Xinzhou, he could summon the wind and call the rain.

But Liu Wenju dying here meant nothing more to Xiahou Zuo than ridding the world of a few thugs. To Prince Wu, it was even less — he didn’t care who had died, or why.

“There is only one thing left for us to do.”

Xiahou Zuo looked back at the border city and was quiet for a moment. “Those who are wounded go and have their wounds treated. Those who are not — I need several teams dispatched. Search every county in the vicinity: Daizhou, Xinzhou, all of them. Bring back every stonemason you can find. Recruit several hundred laborers as well. We are building a monument grove.”

The several hundred soldiers answered as one: “Yes!”

“An Song,” said Xiahou Zuo, “you will oversee it.”

Deputy An Song acknowledged the order, then asked: “Will the General be going out?”

Xiahou Zuo nodded.

An Song asked again: “And the fighting at Daizhou Pass…”

Xiahou Zuo looked back at Daizhou Pass once more. It was already being held by the well-equipped, high-spirited Left Martial Guard.

“That’s not our business anymore.”

“How many men remain in the personal guard?”

“Fifty-two, General.”

“Bring in a few dozen more. Select one hundred to come with me to Xinzhou.”

Xiahou Zuo looked at the chest sitting there — the brand-new general’s armor, beautiful beyond all proportion. He pointed at it with his riding crop. “Bring that too.”

—

*The steppe.*

Tang Pidi sat on a high slope and looked out. In the distance, cattle and sheep grazed in great herds, and a small river wound through the grassland like a jade sash. From this far away, the water looked as though it belonged to a painting.

His father appeared from behind him and sat down without a word, watching the animals and the river and the beautiful scene of the grassland for a long while in companionable silence.

At last his father looked at Tang Pidi and said: “The people of the steppe all say that a grown man is like an eagle that has spread its wings and taken to the sky. In my heart you are still a child. But I know — you can already soar.”

Tang Pidi knew his father had read his thoughts. He smiled a little.

“Since you came back, you have mentioned that Li Chi at least dozens of times. Every time, you say he is a hero — that he dared to charge into thousands of Black Wu cavalry with only a few hundred men to rescue your people. I’ll grant that he is a hero.”

His father smiled. “What I will not grant is that he is a greater hero than my son.”

Tang Pidi laughed. “Father, I genuinely feel he is remarkable. And in the years to come, he will only become more so.”

“You mean to go and find him?”

“Yes,” said Tang Pidi. “First, his people showed us a debt of gratitude, and you have always said a debt of gratitude must be repaid. Second, I believe working alongside him would bring real satisfaction. Third…” He paused. “I want to command soldiers.”

His father was quiet for a long time. Then he nodded. “Go if you wish. But be careful of Akin — he won’t let you leave without a fight. You are the mightiest warrior of this tribe. With you here, the other clans don’t dare come troubling us.”

Tang Pidi said: “I know. But Father — if I slip away quietly, Akin will blame you and make things difficult for you. A man of integrity doesn’t act that way. If I’m leaving, I’ll say it plainly.”

His father fell into silence again. After another long moment, he said: “I’ll follow your lead.”

His son hadn’t learned what people called cleverness or calculated yielding. He had thought about urging him toward it, then let it go.

The things his son hadn’t learned were the things his son had chosen not to learn. What had his son ever been unable to learn when he put his mind to it?

So if he had no interest in cunning or softness, and wished only to be a man of plain and open integrity, then let him be that, all his life.

“Go then.”

His father rested a hand on his son’s shoulder. “You’ve already decided you’re leaving. Your father is old — can’t keep pace with you, can’t lift a weapon to fight alongside you. I’d only be a burden to you. But I give you one thing to carry with you: when you go out and when you come back — still be yourself.”

Tang Pidi nodded fiercely. “I won’t forget it!”

—

*Xinzhou Pass.*

Word came back from Daizhou Pass that Li Chi had already left — probably returned to Jizhou. Yu Chaozong heard this and felt genuine regret. Failing to bring Li Chi into his fold immediately was, to his mind, the greatest loss he could have suffered.

Even gaining Xinzhou Pass didn’t make him happy without Li Chi. If it were an even trade, he would have given back this one fortress city for Li Chi without hesitation.

No — one fortress city was nothing. A talent like that young man — what it would amount to in years to come was ten cities, a hundred cities, was the whole world.

“Number Two,” said Yu Chaozong.

Zhuang Wudi, sitting nearby gnawing at a braised rib, didn’t respond. He still hadn’t fully adjusted to being the Yanshan Camp’s second-in-command.

Yu Chaozong tried again: “Number Seven.”

“Hm!” Zhuang Wudi looked up at once. “What is it, Big Brother?”

Yu Chaozong smiled helplessly. “You are the Yanshan Camp’s second-in-command now.”

Zhuang Wudi blinked and scratched his head with a slightly embarrassed grin. “Right, forgot. Still getting used to it. What are your orders, Big Brother?”

“Go to Jizhou City again.”

Yu Chaozong said: “Whether Li Chi has arrived or not — in my mind he is already the Yanshan Camp’s third-in-command. I’ve made that announcement. Even if he never comes, the position is his. But I’m afraid he might run.”

Zhuang Wudi snorted a laugh: “Big Brother wants me to tie him up and drag him here?”

“No, no, no — absolutely not rude about it. Treat him with proper courtesy. When you get there, try to persuade him properly. If he won’t hear you, don’t force it — stay in Jizhou and wait, however long it takes. Just don’t let anything happen to him.”

Zhuang Wudi chewed his meat. “The way you talk, Big Brother, I’m starting to feel a little jealous.”

Yu Chaozong gave him a look and said: “Take as many men as you need this time. Your pick from anyone — even my personal guard, you can take whoever you want.”

“Fine,” said Zhuang Wudi, “I’ll eat up and go have a look.”

“Take a good sum of silver too,” said Yu Chaozong.

Zhuang Wudi: “Big Brother, you’re being so shamelessly partial it’s getting excessive.”

Yu Chaozong laughed. “Everyone says Li Chi is young — not even twenty — and that he’s already been named our third-in-command without ever having set foot here. They all resent it, feel that he’s been handed an advantage for nothing. But I don’t see it that way. A man like Li Chi, if he is willing to come to the Yanshan Camp…” He paused. “Would be lowering himself.”

“If he hears you say that,” said Zhuang Wudi, “the arrogance on him will be insufferable.”

He put down his food, wiped his hands, and said: “Never mind picking anyone. All the men who went to Daizhou Pass and fought alongside him — I’ll take all of them. Leave the rest.”

Yu Chaozong understood immediately. Those men admired Li Chi. The right tool for the job.

“Done. As long as you get Li Chi into the Yanshan Camp, whatever you say goes.”

Zhuang Wudi sighed: “The man isn’t even here yet and he’s already the prized treasure. I haven’t even walked out the door yet and you’re already rushing me off. You really can’t treat people equally, can you.”

Yu Chaozong: “Out, out, out. Go.”

—

*Xinzhou City.*

Li Chi had finally agreed to attend Prefect Cui Hansheng’s banquet. The venue was the rear courtyard of the Xinzhou prefecture yamen. There were matters Cui Hansheng felt more comfortable discussing on his own ground — this yamen was his domain, and he could speak without restraint.

“Li Gongzi,” said Cui Hansheng, making conversation, “your venerable master the Daoist Changmei, and that Mister Yan, and the companion surnamed Yu who travels with you — why have they not come along?”

Li Chi thought it over. Did Yu Jiuling project the air of a personal attendant?

Greedy, cowardly, and prone to unnecessary chatter — actually, that might tick all the relevant boxes.

He smiled and said: “My master took a great liking to the residence Lord Cui arranged and is busy getting it in order. He’s decided to spend the New Year there. So the others stayed back.”

“Work like that is not for honored guests to do themselves!”

Cui Hansheng said quickly. “Allow me to send people over.”

Li Chi waved a hand. “No need. My master likes to do everything himself. If you send people over, it will only irritate him. He has a particular quirk — whatever is his, he must arrange with his own hands.”

Cui Hansheng caught on immediately. “Of course, of course — as long as the Daoist is pleased. I’ll have the deed delivered to the Gongzi this evening. Yesterday’s haste made me forget — please forgive me, Gongzi.”

“My Lord is far too kind,” said Li Chi. “Receiving such a generous gift without having done anything to earn it makes me quite uneasy. What a heavy gift. My goodness…” He paused. “Have it brought over in a little while.”

Cui Hansheng’s mind went briefly blank. That conversational pivot had nearly thrown him from the saddle. Were they all like this in Jizhou?

Li Chi smiled. “Here is what I suggest — if I’m not mistaken, General Xiahou should arrive in Xinzhou in a few days. Not long after, His Highness should follow. Think about what arrangements to make — when the Prince and General Xiahou arrive, if you have your affairs in good order, I can put in a few extra words for you.”

“Many thanks, Li Gongzi!”

Cui Hansheng immediately rose and poured Li Chi a cup of wine. “My future prospects depend entirely on Li Gongzi’s generosity.”

A prefect of his standing, and he was calling Li Chi “superior” with every sentence.

Cui Hansheng ventured a careful question: “Might I ask — what does His Highness prefer? And what does General Xiahou favor?”

Li Chi reached over, took hold of Cui Hansheng’s right hand, and pointed to his thumb. “First: His Highness is fond of beautiful women. General Xiahou as well. When he arrives, round up every working woman from every establishment in Xinzhou City and bring them here to the yamen. Let the Prince and General choose at their leisure. Both will be satisfied.”

As he spoke, he slid the thumb ring off Cui Hansheng’s finger and fitted it onto his own.

“Second.” Li Chi pointed to another finger and began working the jade ring down it. “His Highness values peace and quiet. Do not disturb him — if not summoned, do not request an audience. Disturbing His Highness makes His Highness unhappy, and when His Highness is unhappy, no one is happy.”

Cui Hansheng’s heart ached quietly, but the smile remained fixed on his face. “Many thanks for the guidance, Li Gongzi.”

“Third…”

Li Chi had barely started when Cui Hansheng’s expression grew a little strained.

“Is there a third?”

Li Chi removed the jade pendant hanging at Cui Hansheng’s waist and said: “Third: don’t try to come up with clever, inventive gifts. Simply offer His Highness cash silver. The more the better.”

“Fourth…”

Cui Hansheng said quickly: “That is quite enough — this official will take it one lesson at a time…”

Li Chi had already worked the jeweled ring from Cui Hansheng’s other hand — it looked even more valuable than the jade ring. He slipped it onto his own finger and said: “Fourth — I haven’t thought of one yet.”

Cui Hansheng stared at him.