The horse carts traveled along the official road, raising clouds of dust. After the locusts passed, Guanzhong hadn’t received a single drop of rain. The millet in the fields drooped listlessly with curled leaves. From the looks of it, before long they would be dried out by the scorching sun overhead. In the fields, women and children were carrying water to irrigate the land. Ladleful after ladleful of water poured into the earth vanished without a trace in an instant. The fields in back had just been watered, yet the previously irrigated land in front still gaped with parched, cracked mouths. Having just passed the locust plague, now came a great drought—this murderous heaven simply didn’t want people to live!
Xu Jingzong was relatively at ease. From these past few days since leaving Chang’an, it appeared Yun Ye had no intention of doing away with him. He just wanted to keep him by his side under watch, not wanting him to harm the academy. I, Xu Jingzong, am at least a well-read scholar who has studied poetry and books through hardship. Why guard against me so severely? Could it be that you can see through my thoughts?
Watching from afar at Yun Ye wearing his straw woven hat, Xu Jingzong could only suppress the doubts in his heart and continue hurrying along with the convoy.
Old Niu took down his water pouch, gulped a mouthful of water, and instructed his subordinate officers to quicken the pace. Otherwise they wouldn’t reach the camping ground tonight. As a veteran, his marching experience was naturally extremely seasoned. The weather was sultry now. He estimated that before long, heavy rain would fall. While this might hinder the march, for the seedlings in the fields, it was the best possible news.
“Uncle Niu, our destination is Shuofang City. How many days until we arrive? Your nephew can hardly bear it anymore.” Yun Ye untied the cloth from around his neck, wiping away sweat while complaining.
“Who told you to bring so many things? We’re going to war, not to play. Bringing medicinal materials is one thing, but why bring so many seasonings as well? When will that mouth of yours adapt to coarse military rations?”
“It’ll still take ten days’ journey to reach Shuofang. Endure it slowly. Shuofang City was only pacified last year. Chai Shao and Xue Wanche nearly slaughtered all the barbarians in the city. Now you can’t even see a few ghosts. You still plan to do business?”
“Your nephew is just going to be a scrap collector. Whatever the military doesn’t want, hand it all over to your nephew. When the time comes, there will be benefits you can’t imagine.”
“Bah! You little brat actually want to bribe this old man? You’ve gone blind, dog eyes! Is this old man someone you can sway with a few coins?” Old Niu was somewhat angry.
“What use is bribing you alone? This youngster plans to bribe the entire Northern Route army—twenty thousand men from top to bottom. Grease every palm. I refuse to believe there’s anything I can’t accomplish.”
“Don’t you dare act recklessly!” Old Niu became greatly alarmed. If Yun Ye said this, he would do it, and it might even succeed. If a little petty profit affected the grand plan to campaign against the Turks, even a hundred deaths couldn’t redeem his crime. At that time, exterminating his family and clan wouldn’t be far off.
“Don’t worry. What your nephew does will only increase the army’s combat strength and absolutely won’t harm it. Your nephew merely wants to procure some military rations to sell to the commander, then help the soldiers send their scattered money back to their families. Benefiting both sides—what’s wrong with that?”
“Military rations? You’re certain you can procure military rations? Right now Shuofang City is far from Guannei Circuit. Transporting military rations isn’t easy, and the losses are alarmingly high. If ten portions of grain are transported there, less than three portions remain. The rest are all lost along the way. If you have this capability, it counts as a great merit.” Upon hearing this, Old Niu suddenly had thoughts about doing business.
He didn’t care where Yun Ye procured the grain. As long as the army had grain, Li Jing wouldn’t need to run to that place Mayi to obtain provisions. This was advantageous for the Tang army that needed to suddenly launch an attack. After all, Shuofang was closer to Xiangcheng than Mayi. The key point was not having to rush to occupy Eyang Ridge first. This was an extremely significant variable that required serious consideration.
“Boy, tell this old man first how you’ll conjure up military rations so I can calculate it.”
Yun Ye pulled out a square object from his pocket and handed it to Old Niu, indicating he should taste it.
Old Niu unwrapped the thing wrapped in lotus leaves and smelled it at his nose. The fragrant scent of scallions immediately assailed his nostrils. Taking a bite, amid the saltiness was a hint of sweetness. The flavor was quite good. Inside there seemed to be meat powder as well. After finishing it in a few bites, he felt thirsty. After drinking several large mouthfuls of water, he discovered that his stomach, which had been crying out just moments ago, now felt not the slightest bit of hunger. He looked back at Yun Ye in surprise and asked: “What food is this that such a small piece can satisfy hunger?”
“When your nephew was about to leave, I made some of this thing. I used soybeans, millet, flour, sugar, salt. Most importantly, your nephew added a large amount of locust powder. These several foods are steamed, then placed under large stones to press into shape, then dried, and it becomes this thing. What do you think?”
Yun Ye was grinning mischievously. This expedition wasn’t about going to the battlefield to show his prowess—that was within the capability scope of Cheng Chumo and the others. The academy’s development had reached a bottleneck state. The narrowest point of the bottleneck was having no students, no sufficient teachers, and no sufficient reputation to support the academy’s development. Old Li Gang had already exhausted all his efforts, even mobilizing his most treasured connections at the bottom of his chest, to achieve the current scale. If he himself didn’t have sufficient prestige, after Li Gang departed, the academy would fall into a tragically fractured state.
“Why didn’t you speak of this when leaving? Don’t you know this is a grave crime of delaying military operations?” Old Niu’s face flushed red. He didn’t care how much locust powder was added to these cakes. He only cared whether they could fill bellies, only cared why Yun Ye waited until now to speak of such an important matter.
“You’re not unaware of how strict the procurement of military rations is, especially this kind of new military ration. Without inspection, how would the Yun family dare privately peddle to the army? What you ate was your nephew’s private stock, prepared for myself to eat. You can’t place such a big hat on me. Your nephew is timid and can’t withstand frightening.”
Old Niu had spoken without thinking and frightened him with military law again. Yun Ye also held a belly full of anger. A perfectly good academy, and they forcibly stuffed a bedbug into it. Instead of settling accounts with Li Er, I’m supposed to give him benefits?
“Got a temper now, haven’t you? Daring to speak to an elder this way. If it weren’t for the fact that you’re now betrothed and an adult, this old man would have to beat you again.”
“Don’t worry. The women and children at home are making this thing day and night without rest. In some days, it might be transported to Shuofang. Your nephew is just casually venting his temper and won’t delay major matters. In your nephew’s view, only matters involving the academy are major matters. Other things aren’t worth discussing.”
Yun Ye was thoroughly sick of being used by people back and forth. Although in the future there was a famous saying that if people use you, it proves you still have value to be used, and if no one uses you, that’s the real tragedy. This bullshit saying, which Yun Ye had previously regarded as truth, now seemed utterly stupid.
“Boy, be careful! This is harboring resentment! It’s fine to speak in front of this old man and vent your temper, but on public occasions you absolutely mustn’t speak recklessly. Once you’ve put on the mask, don’t think about taking it off again. Since you have arrangements, this old man will let you make trouble as you please. We’ll see what fortune you have.”
Old Niu spurred his horse forward to the front of the formation, loudly ordering full speed ahead. He was an honest man who didn’t want to hear any bad words about Li Er.
A great wind suddenly rose from the level ground, making the banners flap loudly. Yellow earth blinded the eyes. Everyone bowed their heads and pressed forward. The heaven and earth that just moments ago had been brightly sunlit instantly became rolling with dust. Huge raindrops, just as the wind’s force passed, came crashing down. Located on a plain with not even a single tree around, everyone could only endure and hurry through the rain.
This time Yun Ye was the leading military officer, so he had no way to hide in a horse cart like last time. Rainwater drilled through the gaps in his iron armor into his clothing. In just a moment his entire body was soaked through. The wet cowhide gradually swelled. Sitting on the saddle was like riding on a piece of rotting meat—slippery and uncomfortable.
Wiping the rainwater from his face, through the vast curtain of water, he vaguely saw Old Niu loudly shouting something, but couldn’t make out what he was calling. It wasn’t until a messenger notified him that he learned Old Niu had ordered the baggage train to form a circle, stretch oilcloth over the carts, and let everyone temporarily shelter from the rain. The rain really was falling too heavily.
Without Yun Ye’s instructions, the Yun family veterans had already prepared. They stretched open a large oilcloth, temporarily forming a place where they could barely shelter from the rain. They also draped oilcloth over the livestock, fearing they would fall ill. Everyone huddled shivering under the oilcloth. Yun Ye was no exception. Being in the military, things weren’t as particular as at home.
At an inappropriate location, at an inappropriate time, some inappropriate people always appear. For instance, this one.
Xi Tong was delivered to Yun Ye’s location trussed up tightly. Naturally one would be delighted to see an old friend, but why was he bound up securely every time they met? Could it be his fate was entangled with rope? Only after listening to Old Niu’s personal guard’s account did he learn that this fellow had been standing alone on horseback. Although drenched miserably in the heavy rain, his heroic spirit still hadn’t fallen. Facing the army, he still dared to shout loudly. Under heaven, there was probably only this one person.
Hearing he had come to seek Marquis Yun to atone for his crimes, Old Niu naturally wasn’t polite and had people tie him up, then sent him to Yun Ye’s location.
Guanzhong people were sometimes beyond words. Whether it was ox stubbornness or listening to too many chivalrous tales, in any case they never regarded their own lives as important. Now Yun Ye began to believe there really were two fellows who, to compete over who was tougher, sat in a tavern and each took turns slicing meat from their own legs to eat with wine.
Slicing one’s thigh to drink wine together, chatting and laughing while ghosts and spirits are startled. What would they discuss? Debating whose meat was more delicious? Suitable for roasting? Or for boiling? With Xi Tong’s existence, Yun Ye believed the idiots plus perverts described in the poem must truly exist, and moreover were endless throughout the Guanzhong lands.
“My lord, I, Xi Tong, wronged you. You truly are a good person, not as bad as they said. Take this life!” He spoke with light and cheerful ease, as if discussing the fate of a pig rather than his own life. In his eyes was guilt, but not a trace of fear.
The eight-chi tall man kneeling on the ground still held his back ramrod straight. Yun Ye estimated his back had never bent for another person.
Chasing over a thousand li, only to come deliver his life, simply because of guilt—what an excellent henchman this was! Look at him, tall and robust, with large eyes and a large mouth. He was truly the perfect choice for blocking arrows on the battlefield and blocking blades in close combat. Old Zhuang and the others couldn’t compare with Xi Tong.
His mind made up—not recruiting such a subordinate would be intolerable to heaven’s principles! Today I can finally use my whole body’s righteous spirit to win over a true subordinate. Yun Ye pushed back the hair stuck to his face by rainwater, took out his small knife, cut the ropes on Xi Tong’s body, patted his shoulder, and used the deepest voice to say to him: “You came from a thousand li to offer your life, possessing the heroic chivalrous demeanor of the ancients who valued promises worth a thousand gold pieces. This marquis greatly admires this. Killing such a righteous man would be inauspicious. This marquis naturally cannot do such a thing that angers heaven and provokes resentment. How about we settle our misunderstanding here and now?”
“You won’t kill me?”
“Naturally!”
“Our grievances are all written off from now on?”
“Seeing you value righteousness so highly, who could bring themselves to do it?”
Having finished speaking, Yun Ye stood tall and upright waiting for Xi Tong to bow his head in allegiance. After a long time with no movement, he looked back only to discover Xi Tong’s tall and sturdy figure gradually disappearing into the torrential rain, with the faint sound of singing drifting back…
Concealing his own embarrassment, Yun Ye said to Old Zhuang: “This is a truly free man.”