05 – Chapter 1
As the year’s end approached, distant sounds of firecrackers occasionally drifted from outside the barracks—likely youngsters setting them off secretly behind their families’ backs.
Yan Fuping poured another bowl of wine for Meng Jianqing, grinning as he said, “Come, Brother Meng, let’s drink again! That boy Hu Jinyong—why hasn’t he shown up yet? Even if he doesn’t give face to me, Old Yan, he should at least show respect to you, Brother Meng! When he gets here, we’ll have to make him down ten big bowls as punishment!”
Meng Jianqing smiled and raised his bowl.
After graduating from Jiangwu Hall, Yan Fuping had been transferred here and there through seven or eight postings. Recently, he’d been assigned to the Zhejiang Regional Military Commission to oversee the Zhejiang armory. There was a saying among later generations: “Armory, armory—both idle and wealthy.” Zhejiang was prosperous with no military conflicts, so these words “idle” and “wealthy” truly lived up to their reputation. With the help of his father-in-law, Yan Fuping had secured this comfortable position and was thoroughly satisfied. Looking at him with a cold eye, Meng Jianqing could see that compared to when they’d met last year, Yan Fuping had gained a full layer of fat, appearing even more round-headed and adorably simple-minded.
Hu Jinyong had entered Jiangwu Hall a year after them and was now the most capable roving commander under the Zhejiang Regional Military Commission. He’d always gotten along well with Yan Fuping, and they’d grown quite close. When Meng Jianqing suddenly arrived in Hangzhou, Yan Fuping naturally wanted to call over Hu Jinyong, who was also stationed in the same city, to drink together. Fortunately, with the year’s end approaching and no military affairs to attend to, Hu Jinyong had agreed to come early in the day. Unexpectedly, he’d delayed until this late hour without showing his face.
Just as they were talking, the doorway darkened, and Hu Jinyong entered. Instead of sitting immediately, he stood before the table and first downed three large bowls in one go, then said to Meng Jianqing, “Senior Meng, it’s been too long! I, Old Hu, arrived late, so I’ll punish myself with three bowls first! There’s someone outside who’d like to make your acquaintance, Senior Meng—”
Before he could finish speaking, Meng Jianqing had already stood up with a smile, saying, “Brother Hu, why be so formal? Since you’ve brought him here, he must be your friend, and your friend is our friend too. Quickly invite him in!”
Hu Jinyong turned and brought in his companion, introducing him as a secretary from the Zhejiang Provincial Governor’s office, surnamed Zhou, given name Zheng.
Though Secretary Zhou appeared somewhat weasel-faced, his conversation was quite eloquent and not at all disagreeable. Moreover, he was an excellent drinker. Hu Jinyong laughingly said they’d competed in drinking three times with no clear winner, which made both Meng Jianqing and Yan Fuping look at Secretary Zhou with new respect—Hu Jinyong’s drinking capacity had been famous even back at Jiangwu Hall.
As for Secretary Zhou’s intentions, Meng Jianqing was crystal clear about them. Though he was merely a Lieutenant, everyone in the Imperial Guard knew of Shen Guangli’s regard and even reliance on him. In official circles, news naturally traveled fast, so presumably the Zhejiang Provincial Governor had some matter and wanted to establish connections through Secretary Zhou, then work through Shen Guangli’s channels. Otherwise, local officials typically maintained a respectful distance from the Imperial Guard, rarely initiating contact. Secretary Zhou wouldn’t be so tactless as to force himself into a gathering of old Jiangwu Hall classmates.
Military drinking lacked female entertainment, but Yan Fuping had his methods. He summoned two young, refined-looking soldiers—one to pour wine and serve food, the other quite musical, carrying a short flute. The musician played several Jiangzhe folk tunes softly, then switched to a vertical bamboo flute, selecting a gentle, slow melody.
After draining a bowl, Yan Fuping laughed in his cups, “Hey, do you know the latest ranking of Jiangwu Hall’s Ten Greatest Villains has been released?”
Jiangwu Hall had operated for ten sessions so far. Though graduates were scattered across the realm, they stayed informed about each other’s situations through daily court reports and military dispatches. Consequently, some busybodies compiled an annual Ten Greatest Villains list, updated yearly and spread by word of mouth—many military officers had heard of it. With his well-informed ears and eyes, Secretary Zhou naturally knew of it too and leaned forward with a laugh, “This year’s came out rather early!”
Yan Fuping looked at Meng Jianqing with a grin. “Brother Meng was ranked seventh last year but rose to third this year.”
Meng Jianqing laughed dryly, “Really? I’m afraid I’ve benefited from the reputation of these robes!”
The Imperial Guard had handled several major cases this year, and throughout the court and beyond, mentioning the Imperial Guard made people fall silent like cicadas. No wonder Meng Jianqing’s ranking had risen with the tide.
Hu Jinyong shook his head, “Among ourselves, let’s not be overly modest. Whether you have the Imperial Guard’s tiger skin or not, what does it matter to you? Honestly, I think those who compiled the list still lack good judgment—you ranking only third!”
Meng Jianqing smiled without answering, but his heart suddenly jolted.
Like a wisp of dark cloud suddenly crossing a clear sky, a shadow flashed through his mind.
Was something not quite right?
Secretary Zhou immediately asked, “Who are the two ranked above Brother Meng?”
Yan Fuping laughed, “Second place is Guanxi. That fellow only knows fighting and killing. Originally, he wasn’t even qualified to appear at the list’s end, but unexpectedly became famous overnight!”
Meng Jianqing said, “Oh,” and asked, “You mean when he encountered a Mongol ambush during patrol, lost all his weapons, and tore apart three men and a horse with his bare hands?”
After that battle, Guanxi had vaguely become a fearsome deity that people avoided.
Yan Fuping said, “Exactly! So as I was saying, when fighting and killing skills reach a high level, they can indeed amount to something.” He then smiled at Meng Jianqing, “Guess who this year’s number one is?”
Meng Jianqing was too lazy to play guessing games with him.
Yan Fuping naturally continued on his own, “Do you remember a Li Hua from the fifth session? We always felt that boy looked familiar, but couldn’t place where we’d seen him?”
Hu Jinyong slapped his thigh, “So you also felt that boy seemed familiar!”
Yan Fuping sighed, “Guess whose son that boy is? Don’t think too far—just think within Jiangwu Hall.”
As the faces of various Jiangwu Hall instructors and even servants flashed through his mind, Meng Jianqing blurted out, “It couldn’t be—”
Hu Jinyong and Yan Fuping shouted in unison, “Bitter Vegetable Root!”
Cai Ben, Chief Instructor Cai.
Secretary Zhou was bewildered, not knowing who they were talking about, while the three of them burst into laughter. Yan Fuping laughed and gasped, “That fellow only resumed his original surname after graduation. He was assigned to the Huai River area, and apparently, he quite admired his father. He moved his father’s entire approach to the Huai River military, vowing to train truly elite troops who could ‘chew vegetable roots and accomplish anything’!”
Hu Jinyong laughed heartily, “I pity the soldiers under his command!”
Yan Fuping continued, “What do those soldiers call him behind his back? Guess!”
Meng Jianqing laughed loudly, “Still need to guess? ‘Hua’ means flower—”
Hu Jinyong and Yan Fuping chimed in, “Bitter Vegetable Flower!”
This time, all three laughed until they nearly fell over, and Secretary Zhou, having roughly understood, joined in the laughter. The soft vertical flute became inaudible amid the laughter and finally stopped.
Meng Jianqing’s expression suddenly changed. His mind barely moved before his left hand struck out. The flute-playing soldier’s unexpected knife thrust was blocked squarely by the wine bowl in his hand. Porcelain fragments flew, and as Meng Jianqing’s left hand reached through the debris, his index and middle fingers caught a shard of broken porcelain. The sharp fragment immediately sliced through the soldier’s right wrist artery. The soldier cried out in pain and dropped his short blade. Meng Jianqing’s left hand had already withdrawn, catching the short knife. With a flick of his wrist, the thin boning knife shot diagonally upward from below, piercing the soldier’s throat.
The soldier’s throat rattled as he staggered and fell.
Meng Jianqing slowly stood up.
Yan Fuping and Hu Jinyong stared at each other, while Secretary Zhou’s face turned pale.
The sound of the soldier falling alerted Meng Jianqing’s two guards, who were drinking in the adjacent room. They rushed in, shouting in unison, “What happened?”
Meng Jianqing gestured for them to drag out the soldier’s corpse, saying calmly, “Investigate this person and report to me tonight.”
The two guards acknowledged the order and withdrew.
Only now did Meng Jianqing understand that the sudden shadow in his heart had been the killing intent hidden in the soldier’s flute music.
Though he wasn’t versed in music, he absolutely couldn’t fail to sense that killing intent.
Yan Fuping muttered, “Good heavens, so Brother Meng, you’re already qualified to be an assassination target! Lucky that you and I know each other well—otherwise, with my subordinate turning into an assassin, I’d probably have the Imperial Guard skin me alive!”