Master Li Gang appeared very calm. Li Chengqian bent down to consult the old gentleman’s opinion. The old master raised his head, glanced at Li Chengqian, and said, “In this vast world, nothing is too strange to exist. Since the Great Tang is the suzerain state, it must shoulder the responsibilities of a suzerain. War will always come to an end. No matter how much killing there is, it will pass. Living well is ultimately the mainstream. The people of Loulan are gone, but Loulan itself is not gone—one must distinguish clearly. The Academy can send Master Jin Zhu to Loulan. In his early years, he always wanted to go see the Western Regions but never had the opportunity. Going now would be quite good.”
“Your Highness, I don’t care what has happened in the Western Regions. The safety of the Academy’s masters and students must come first. Tell those murderous scoundrels in the Western Regions that if anything happens to the Academy’s people—no matter what kind of accident it is—I will hold them accountable.”
“Don’t think that the Academy is just a bunch of old men. If these old men become enraged, they will make those people regret it even in hell. If we don’t pursue their responsibility for a hundred years, the Academy will absolutely not let this matter rest!”
Li Chengqian was stunned. This was the first time he had heard the kind-faced old master speak so harshly, and with such finality. If anything happened to the Academy’s people, it seemed he wouldn’t even spare their descendants.
“Could it be that the Mountain Chancellor has perceived some clues in this matter?”
Li Gang angrily slapped the armrest of his chair and said furiously, “What else could it be? Nothing more than natural disasters and man-made calamities. This old man has doubts about natural disasters. No matter how great a natural disaster is, some people would survive. Since not a single person can be seen, then what about the cattle, sheep, pigs, dogs, chickens, and ducks—did they all die too? Even if it were a plague, people might contract disease, but would chickens and ducks also contract it?”
“Jin Zhu said it might be that the water source dried up. If the water source dried up, that would be a gradual process. The migration of people would also require a process. When they moved, would they not need pots, bowls, ladles, and basins? Are these things so cheap?”
“Hmph, hmph, hmph! These murderous scoundrels have become so crazed from capturing people that their eyes have turned red. Yun Ye once said there would be situations where sheep eat people—isn’t this exactly that? Each one wearing proper woolen clothes, yet they don’t think about where it all comes from. Han people don’t know how to herd livestock. This old man has heard that there are no more wandering herders on the grasslands—haven’t they all been captured to tend flocks?”
“Yun Ye, tell us—how many people are on your family’s pastures!”
Hearing the old master lose his temper, Yun Ye quickly came forward and said, “Student’s family pastures are at the foot of Yin Mountain. They’re all youths that Na Rimu took in to herd livestock. We absolutely didn’t go capturing people—probably just two or three hundred people.”
“Nonsense! Your steward Yun Jiu is now the number one supplier to the Academy’s textile workshop, accounting for seventy percent of the Academy’s wool supply. The Academy’s workshop alone has three hundred looms. Calculate it yourself—can two or three hundred people raising sheep supply such a large workshop operating day and night without stopping?”
If Yun Ye had been standing a bit closer, he would have received a mouthful of spit. Yun Ye scratched his head. Honestly, he truly didn’t know how many people were on his pastures. The pasture belonged to Na Rimu, and he had never inquired about it. However, possibly, it seemed that two or three hundred people really couldn’t raise that many sheep. To supply the Academy’s workshop—that was an astronomical number.
He happened to see Old Qian poking his head around the doorway, so he called him in and said, “Old Qian, tell the master exactly how many people are really on our family’s pastures. Speak clearly and don’t conceal anything.”
Old Qian shrank his head, looking at Yun Ye, then at the angry Li Gang, and stammered in a small voice, “Originally there were two hundred thirty-three people, including the guards and household retainers our family sent there. Now, now… perhaps it exceeds two thousand people. You know, the Second Madam has always liked to pick things up. After Yun Jiu went there, it seems she picked up some more.”
Li Gang said helplessly to Li Chengqian, “You hear that? In just three to five years, they’ve added nearly two thousand people—probably all able-bodied laborers. In the past, a medium-sized tribe on the grasslands that could muster two thousand bowmen was already remarkable. Now even a single Yun Family is like this—what do you expect other families on the grasslands to do?”
“This old man firmly believes they don’t have the guts to plunder Tang people, because they’d be beheaded by His Majesty. There are only so many people on the grasslands. Hou Junji killed for ten years—even if he didn’t kill them all, there aren’t many left. Where did all these people come from? Aren’t they plundered by the great army? Those who can be plundered are only Western Region people. This old man believes that nine times out of ten, this matter was done by the border troops.”
“If the Academy’s people investigate and discover the truth, they might very well be silenced. This old man must prepare early. For this trip to Loulan, Jin Zhu won’t lead the team—how can a softhearted good person face off against those murderous scoundrels? Xu Jingzong will go, and bring Yun Ye’s disciple Di Renjie. Jin Zhu will only be responsible for investigation. Also bring ten students from your command. When leaving, take Huang Shu along as well. It’s settled.”
After Li Gang finished speaking, both Yun Ye and Xiao Wu became anxious. Yun Ye quickly said, “Master, Di Renjie and Xiao Wu’s wedding is next month. Perhaps, could this disciple make the trip instead?”
Li Gang curled his lips and said, “Feeling the pain now? Di Renjie is also a disciple of the Academy—this old man can still command him. His life is a life—aren’t other people’s lives lives too? If we don’t send some clever people, something will go wrong sooner or later. What’s the problem with delaying a wedding by half a year?”
Di Renjie from the crowd quickly stepped forward and said to Yun Ye, “Master, since the Mountain Chancellor believes this disciple has some use, naturally I’ll obey. I’ve heard that the Western Regions have vast open vistas—it would be good for me to go and see them.”
Xiao Wu fiercely glared at Di Renjie, then immediately put on a charming smile. Just as she was about to speak to Li Gang, Di Renjie stepped forward, inserting himself between them, and bowed to Li Gang saying, “Student accepts the command!”
Li Gang smiled and patted Di Renjie on the shoulder, saying, “Well done. A true man must establish merit and achievement. Only then can he stand tall at home. Be careful and bring everyone back safely.”
Di Renjie lowered his body to make it more comfortable for Li Gang to pat him. Yun Ye sighed—he saw Xiao Wu pinching Di Renjie’s waist and didn’t know how he was enduring it.
He himself couldn’t go. That earlier statement was just to put Li Gang in a difficult position. The Grand Commander of the Lingnan Navy staying in Chang’an had already been criticized by people—what business did someone who played with ships have in the desert?
After hearing Li Gang’s words, Li Chengqian also felt the matter was highly suspicious. He planned to return and thoroughly interrogate the border troops’ messenger. This time, the personnel sent out by the Left Martial Guard for protection must be crack troops and strong generals…
On the way home, Di Renjie kept saying nice things to Xiao Wu, but Xiao Wu’s powdered face was so cold that frost could be scraped from it. No matter what Di Renjie said, her hand never left the tender flesh at his waist.
“Xiao Wu, don’t make things difficult for Xiao Jie anymore. You saw it too—today there was no way to refuse.” Yun Ye couldn’t watch anymore and spoke up.
“Master, Master Li Gang is extorting our family. Originally, Xiao Jie didn’t need to go, but he insisted on sending him—he’s scheming to get our family’s guards. When Xiao Jie goes, you definitely won’t bear to let him go alone. No matter what, you’ll send a few experts along, and then everyone’s safety will be guaranteed. Old fox!”
“Hmph, you’re the little fox! Without you thinking about it, Master already understands. When Xiao Jie goes to Loulan, he’ll definitely pass through Shanshan. Outside the east gate of Shanshan City, there’s a mutton restaurant called Donglaishun. When you enter the door, just say you want two jin of mutton hotpot and add half a jin of garlic to go with the wine, and someone will come to meet you. Keep this token safe—when he sees it, he’ll help you with all his strength.”
Xiao Wu looked in amazement as Master handed a rotten wooden token to Di Renjie. Although she didn’t know who would be meeting Di Renjie, since Master had kept this wooden token on his person all along, it proved this person was quite remarkable.
“When you go to the Western Regions, Gou Zi will go with you. Tie Dan will stay in Chang’an—take him along too. Xi Tong left his son behind because he wanted to find his son a way forward. He was too embarrassed to ask me for an official position, so leaving him here was entrusting me to find a solution. This time, we can give him a position legitimately. There are also three old soldiers from the Western Regions at home—bring them all.”
“I’ll ask Li Tai for gunpowder. I’ve heard he’s manufactured some new weapons. If necessary, bring fire oil too. Canned food, field rations—oh yes, I’ll teach you how to obtain water in the desert. Remember this: in the desert, you must never be without water. Water stored in leather pouches easily spoils, so stock up on more grape wine. I’ll also prepare glass bottles for storing water.”
“I don’t care whether you discover anything in the desert or not. Even if you cause tremendous trouble, as long as you return to Chang’an, Master will always have a solution. Preserving your life is what you need to do. I’m equipping you with these personnel and supplies not so you can establish merit and achievement, but to preserve your life. If you want to establish merit and achievement, there will be plenty of opportunities when you return to Chang’an.”
Di Renjie knelt on the carriage floor and, together with Xiao Wu, respectfully bowed to Yun Ye, saying with a choked voice, “Master is so concerned for Xiao Jie that I am deeply ashamed. This disciple will definitely return safe and sound and not fail Master’s trust.”
“That’s right. Everyone in our family must live to be a hundred years old. After ensuring your own safety, then you can speak of serving country and people. For people, victory and defeat are not determined in a moment. Sometimes, as long as you live longer than your opponent, you’ve won. Remember this: those murderous scoundrels in the Western Regions all embrace the principle of seeking wealth amid danger. We have no need for that. Not being ambitious is a hundred times better than such idiotic ideas. As long as you’re alive, there are ten thousand possibilities.”
With every sentence Yun Ye spoke, Xiao Wu nodded beside him, constantly instructing Di Renjie not to forget, repeatedly telling him that even if he had to flee back, it wouldn’t be shameful. As long as he returned, they would immediately get married, and there would absolutely be no question of anyone looking down on anyone else.
When they returned home, they learned why Old Qian had gone to the Academy to find him. It turned out Cheng Chumo had come over. This fellow had now entered the Left Martial Guard and bore the title of Captain, swaggering about all day. Who knew what matter brought him today?
“I heard the Left Martial Guard is deploying troops. I took on this assignment, planning to tour the Western Regions. I came to your house to scrounge some things to use out there.” Cheng Chumo, who was rummaging through the warehouse, said this out of the blue when he saw Yun Ye.