Last night’s heavy rain washed away all fatigue. The guards of the three families began donning helmets and armor. The black armor plates were polished bright and shining. The warhorses were also washed clean, their manes carefully braided into a row of small knots by attentive maids. Equipped with all accessories, they appeared magnificent and splendid. With mountain-like robust bodies and tall, sturdy warhorses on their backs, this could be said to be an elite force luxurious to the extreme and armed to the teeth. The bluestone road still had puddles of rainwater accumulated in the worn middle sections, splashing everywhere when trampled by horse hooves.
The thirty-mile journey passed in an instant. Luoyang’s huge and towering city gate was already visible in the distance. The great banners of the Yun, Cheng, and Niu families had been unfurled. The procession of over two hundred people slowly walked toward the city gate.
The stewards of the three families in Luoyang had long been waiting at the city gate. Seeing the convoy appear, they hurried forward to greet them. Yun Ye and the other two sat on their horses, looking at the heavily guarded city gate with some displeasure. They said to the stewards, “Our family’s travel documents for making incense offerings at Shaolin Temple have already been delivered to the Prefect of Luoyang. Why are the city gates still so heavily guarded? Do they take us for bandits?”
Seeing their masters angry, the stewards of the three families quickly knelt down. The Yun family steward hurriedly explained, “My lord, the travel documents were delivered to the prefect’s office three days ago. Prefect Liu also promised to come greet you today. Who knew that just yesterday evening, a fierce bandit entered through the west gate, wielding a long blade. In Huanshou Ward, he consecutively cut down sixty-three people, completely exterminating a Luoyang street gang, then leisurely departed through the east gate. Prefect Liu has already reported this matter to General Hou, the Luoyang Garrison Commander. He’s still at the garrison office awaiting a response, so he cannot come. Instead, he sent Luoyang Assistant Administrator Wei Shou and Chief Clerk Du Yan to respectfully await Your Lordship, Young Lord, and Young Marquis.”
Since there were local officials, Yun Ye dismounted and walked forward slowly. Cheng Chumo and Niu Jianhu followed behind. Following the Yun family steward were two middle-aged men. Before Yun Ye could ask questions, they clasped their hands in salute: “This official Wei Shou, serving as Luoyang Assistant Administrator, pays respects to Marquis Yun, Commander Cheng, and Commander Niu. Yesterday’s incident in Luoyang was unfortunate and has made Marquis Yun witness a spectacle. Please be magnanimous regarding any improprieties.”
“As a martial marquis, local affairs have nothing to do with me. This marquis is only going to Shaolin Temple to make incense offerings. I will not concern myself with anything else, nor will I involve myself.” Knowing what this fellow was thinking—he was worried Yun Ye would interfere in this matter again, causing waves in something that could have been suppressed. The civil and military officials of the Great Tang were not very harmonious to begin with, and they had done plenty of adding insult to injury to each other.
Yun Ye wished nothing more than for this matter to be deeply buried underground. Last night, Dan Ying’s actions had given him quite a shock. Sixty-three people were killed cleanly by him in an instant—this was damn near reaching heaven.
Seeing that Yun Ye had no intention of managing this matter, Wei Shou was overjoyed. He exchanged glances with Chief Clerk Du Yan. Du Yan smiled and stepped forward, clasping his hands: “I’ve often heard of Marquis Yun in family letters. I never expected to meet you in person today. It truly is fortunate beyond measure.”
This fellow didn’t use official protocol but the etiquette between peers. Who knew whose junior he was? The Yun Manor steward quickly reminded him: “My lord, Chief Clerk Du is the blood nephew of Minister Du. Our family’s business in Luoyang has received much care from the chief clerk.”
Yun Ye laughed heartily and took Du Yan’s hand, saying, “So it’s Brother Du! Little brother has only heard your name but never met you in person! Minister Du is currently recuperating from a lung ailment at Yushan. Before I left, he specifically told me that if I had any difficulties, I could seek Brother Du’s assistance. Now I’m an unwelcome guest at your door—I only hope Brother Du won’t chase me away.”
Hearing Yun Ye mention his elder, Du Yan stepped back and bowed respectfully: “I wonder if my uncle’s health is well?”
Yun Ye straightened his body and said seriously, “Minister Du only has a slight indisposition. Now with Divine Physician Sun treating him, he should be fine. When I left, I still saw Minister Du taking a bamboo raft with Sir Zhao Yanling, laughing and drinking tea together. He’s quite well.”
Hearing Yun Ye say this, Du Yan also breathed a sigh of relief. The Du family now relied entirely on Du Ruhui for support and absolutely couldn’t have any problems. Just as he was about to thank Yun Ye, he heard Cheng Chumo say, “You’ve been exchanging pleasantries for ages. Are you done yet? The people of three families are still waiting to enter the city.”
Yun Ye and Du Yan looked at each other and smiled. Du Yan made a gesture of invitation. Before his hand fell, Cheng Chumo and Niu Jianhu had already mounted their horses and were about to enter the city, treating the assistant administrator and chief clerk as if they were nothing.
Yun Ye smiled bitterly at Wei Shou and Du Yan, saying, “You two, please don’t take offense. These two have been like this in Chang’an. I really can’t control them.”
Wei Shou was an old fox who had been immersed in officialdom for many years. His joy and anger had long ceased to show on his face. As for their discourtesy, he wasn’t surprised at all. Smiling, he said, “This official has prepared modest wine at Spring Breeze First-Class Tower to welcome Marquis Yun. I wonder if that would be acceptable?”
“Yun Ye has come this time under orders from my grandmother to make incense offerings at Shaolin Temple. How dare I feast and be discourteous? I beg the assistant administrator’s understanding.”
Wei Shou had long anticipated this outcome and didn’t insist further. He walked together with Yun Ye into Luoyang.
Luoyang truly lived up to its reputation as a mighty city under heaven. The city wall was eight zhang high, second only to Chang’an. The moat under the city wall had swift currents and was fully three zhang wide. The city wall was mottled and worn, with traces of chopping, hacking, and burning still visible—all recording the cruelty of war.
Stroking those remnants, Yun Ye imagined the scene of the eighteen rebel kings jointly attacking Luoyang—arrows like locusts, lives like straw, bodies constantly sliding down from the city wall, splashing up a spray of water in the moat before disappearing.
Victory piled up with corpses—Li’er had won by the narrowest margin. The bones of those rebel kings had long since been fed to wild dogs.
“The city is not too low, the moat is not too shallow, the weapons and armor are not inadequate or dull, the grain is not insufficient. Yet they abandoned it and left. This is because geographical advantage is not as good as human harmony. Therefore it is said: To retain the people, do not rely on the boundaries of territory. To secure the state, do not rely on the险险 险险 of mountains and streams. To awe the realm, do not rely on the strength of weapons and armor.”
Yun Ye didn’t know why he thought of Mencius’ famous words. He recited them involuntarily. Hearing applause, he discovered it was Wei Shou and Du Yan clapping softly in approval. He smiled and said, “Upon first seeing Luoyang, I thought of His Majesty’s past deed of battling Dou Jiande with a hundred cavalry. Imagining His Majesty’s heroic bearing, moving freely among ten thousand troops, invincible in all directions—even such formidable passes and long roads could not stop His Majesty’s footsteps. It truly inspires longing.”
“Marquis Yun is learned and talented, having read extensively through the hundred schools of thought. I didn’t expect you to be so thoroughly familiar with Mencius as well. Just now in meditation you must have gained insights. This old man has long since retired, keeping company with Luoyang daily, yet gaining nothing. This is truly life’s regret.” Wei Shou’s speech was witty. Conversing with such a person wasn’t tedious at all. After together wishing the great Emperor His Majesty Li’er boundless longevity, the three rode together into the city.
Even though a violent man had entered the city to kill, Luoyang’s prosperity was not diminished in the slightest. People came and went on the streets. Without Chang’an’s restraint, it had more free expression. With less gravitas, it had more romance. The eastern and western markets could long ago no longer contain the merchants’ desire for profit. Though they couldn’t set up stalls, it didn’t prevent them from balancing goods in baskets on their heads to peddle to passersby. Peddlers carrying shoulder poles and shaking hand drums had selling cries that rhymed melodiously and were quite pleasant to hear. There were even beautiful Sogdian girls holding wine jars, casting flirtatious glances at passersby, wanting them to taste their newly arrived fine wine.
“You gentlemen are truly capable officials. Just looking at this citywide prosperity, one knows how much heart and soul you’ve poured in. Yun Ye admires you.”
He must resolve the evil Dan Ying had caused, otherwise it would always be a hidden danger. That bastard—killing one Long San would have been fine, but he had to wipe out the whole nest. How were Prefect Liu, Assistant Administrator Wei, and Chief Clerk Du supposed to cover for him?
“We only hate that violent thief for being too arrogant, spilling blood in Luoyang in broad daylight. We old men have already prepared memorials of self-reproach, awaiting the court’s punishment.” Speaking of this, Wei Shou’s face showed his dejection unmistakably. Du Yan also had a face full of ashen color.
“Were civilian casualties severe?” Yun Ye was furious beyond restraint.
“Not at all. They were all vicious thugs. It’s just that the authorities lacked conclusive evidence and couldn’t bring them to justice. Who could have thought they would provoke someone they shouldn’t have? It can be considered reaping what they sowed. The violent man struck once and hit his target, then fled thousands of miles away. In this vast realm, how are we to pursue and capture him?”
Du Yan also came from a powerful clan and didn’t hide anything from Yun Ye. He spoke his true thoughts.
“I thought innocent common people had been killed without cause and was prepared to have my family generals pursue him. So it was just a few street thugs—if they died, they died. What’s the big deal? How can officials control gang fights? A while ago, the great fire in Chang’an was caused by these bastard things. His Majesty was furious and uprooted the entire White Tiger Alliance. They actually discovered siege crossbows in their lair! So your little matter here isn’t even a matter.”
He had wanted to find them an excuse to shirk responsibility. These officials of the early Tang hadn’t yet learned to deceive superiors and conceal from subordinates. This kind of bureaucratic convention wouldn’t work anywhere. Each one was as clear as water, as bright as a mirror. How the hell was the Yun family supposed to get by?
Sure enough, both men’s eyes immediately brightened. They asked in unison, “Is what Marquis Yun says true?” Li’er considered this matter shameful and hadn’t publicly announced it to the realm. Not many people knew. The external commissioned officials of Luoyang didn’t yet have the qualifications to know.
“Brother Du, Minister Du knows the details of this matter very well. You need only send a fast horse to seek confirmation from Minister Du. What’s so difficult about it? A few street thugs died—Luoyang’s order will only be better.” Yun Ye continued enlightening these two officials. He didn’t know how they had mixed their way to being local leaders.
Both bowed deeply to Yun Ye, then after settling him in, apologized and hurriedly departed. Presumably they were going to find Prefect Liu to discuss together the possibility of making this big matter small and the small matter disappear.
Yun Ye was full of confidence in them. This was the instinct of local officials. He had merely awakened their most primitive instinct. They would certainly handle this matter properly and thoroughly themselves without Yun Ye needing to rack his brains.
Cheng Chumo, Niu Jianhu, and Dan Ying sat in the great hall waiting for Yun Ye. Each wore a gloomy expression. Even Dan Ying showed annoyance. He had originally only wanted to kill Long San alone. Who knew he would happen upon these fellows stuffing some children into jars? Having been accustomed to the underworld, how could Dan Ying not know this was manufacturing dwarves to sell to acrobatic troupes in a few years for everyone’s entertainment?
No one cared about those children’s suffering, so in great fury he went on a killing spree, exterminating all these fellows completely. He broke the jars and released all the children, distributed money and goods to them, and let them go home by themselves.
It was precisely because of this reason that Yun Ye, Cheng Chumo, and Niu Jianhu didn’t blame Dan Ying. They knew that if they themselves had encountered such tragedy, they would have struck even more ruthlessly. Now the only worry was the authorities’ investigation. If they put their hearts into it, there were no permanent secrets in this world.