Chapter 54: Deterrence
It was night in Chan Prefecture. He pushed open the door and stepped out. The north wind, carrying snow pellets, struck the soldier’s uniform and armor at the courtyard gate, adding to the grim atmosphere.
Wang Yin raised his hand and adjusted the collar of his dark robe. “Let’s go,” he said, “I’ll take you to see Li Hongwei.”
Xiao Yi looked at his attire. He didn’t look like a general of the army, but rather like a wealthy gentleman visiting friends. He couldn’t help but ask, “Are you going like this, Commander?”
“Scared?”
Wang Yin picked up a dim, yellow lamb-horn lantern with his own hands, seemingly not even planning to bring any guards.
The light particles fell on the old scar on his lips, making it appear even more ferocious.
“I’m not afraid,” Xiao Yi said, “If things go wrong, I can pretend I was ordered to approach you, hand the secret edict to Li Hongwei, and complete the Son of Heaven’s decree. You, Commander, are the one who will be labeled a traitor and risk your life.”
“A clever little monkey,” Wang Yin’s voice rumbled with a rough laugh, mixed with the sound of the wind and snow. “If it comes to that, do as you say. Survival in chaotic times is nothing to be ashamed of.”
The two of them then left the mansion as they were, walking through the streets and alleys, treading on the ankle-deep snow.
It wasn’t long before they arrived at the Military Governor’s Mansion of Zhenning Army.
The vermilion gates were high and wide, inlaid with copper studs. Lanterns hung under the eaves, covered with light Rong gauze, casting a soft and expensive glow that dyed the snow-covered ground with a hazy, warm color.
Two rows of guards stood outside the gate, guarding strictly. Upon seeing Wang Yin, they bowed and saluted with deliberate respect.
Wang Yin entered without waiting for an announcement, and Xiao Yi followed closely behind. With a glance from the corner of his eye, he saw that the guards did not follow.
As if noticing his subtle movement, Wang Yin smiled and said in a low voice, “Those are Li Hongwei’s old troops from Hedong. He brought five hundred guards with him to take office. I’ve already bought over most of them. Only about twenty people in the mansion live and eat with him. If we make a move tonight, you don’t need to pay attention to the people outside the gate.”
Xiao Yi’s heart tightened, but he detected a hint of amusement in Wang Yin’s tone.
They arrived at the main hall, and soon, two beautiful maids walked out gracefully, dressed in green Hangzhou silk jackets and silver fox vests. Their voices were so soft and sweet they could drip with water.
“Master is waiting in the study. Please follow us, Duke Wang.”
They walked through several covered corridors, with large charcoal basins placed at every corner, the charcoal burning brightly.
The air was filled with a faint fragrance, mixed with the sweet scent of powder from the rustling skirts of the maids, which was very pleasant.
The study was as warm as spring. The rosewood bookshelves on all four walls were filled with books, but they looked so new, as if they were displays from a bookshop.
On the multi-treasure cabinet, celadon was warm and moist, with a Han Dynasty bronze lamp standing beside it.
Li Hongwei rose from behind the rosewood desk. His dark purple silk robe clung to his portly body, and his jade belt was cinched tightly, causing his excess flesh to tremble slightly as he moved.
“Brother Wang is here, please sit!”
His voice was loud and enthusiastic. His gaze swept over Xiao Yi’s uniform and armor, and he instructed the beautiful maids, “Brew some Guzhu purple bamboo shoots.”
Wang Yin casually cupped his hands and sat down in the main seat without any pretense, not even taking off his cloak, as if he were the owner of the place.
“An envoy has arrived from Kaifeng with an edict for you.”
Seeing him so calmly order him to proclaim the edict, Xiao Yi also became less formal. He took out the bright yellow silk from his inner garment, stood up straight, and announced loudly, “Li Hongwei, Military Governor of Zhenning Army, receive the edict.”
Li Hongwei was surprised, his eyebrows raised. He performed the ceremony and said, “Your subordinate respectfully awaits the imperial decree.”
“Wang Yin controls troops in Chan Prefecture, forming factions and gathering scholars, plotting rebellion and betraying the country. You have always been loyal and righteous. You are now ordered to seize him at an opportune moment and execute him on the spot. This matter must be kept secret and not revealed in the slightest. My decision is made, you must endeavor to fulfill it.”
Xiao Yi’s voice was calm, as cold as an ice pick.
Li Hongwei was first astonished. As he listened to the latter part, his shoulders began to tremble, and his stout body shook uncontrollably.
Xiao Yi saw him glance sideways towards the wall and followed his gaze, spotting a short sword hanging on the wall, its scabbard inlaid with turquoise.
The study was deathly silent, with only the crackling of the charcoal basin.
After a while, a crisp, faint clinking sound could be heard.
Wang Yin slowly picked up the tea cup and asked, “Imperial Uncle, why have you not yet accepted the edict?”
Li Hongwei looked up.
The look of surprise on his face seemed frozen. Perhaps he hadn’t figured out what other expression to put on.
Xiao Yi then took a step forward and handed the secret edict to him.
Their eyes met.
Li Hongwei’s hand moved slightly, then he quickly stopped.
“This… I cannot accept this edict.”
“Why?” Wang Yin stirred the tea foam and said, “Imperial Uncle can arrest me now and execute me on the spot.”
“Brother Wang, stop joking.”
Li Hongwei’s face was full of embarrassment, as if he were about to cry, but there was still a hint of thought in his eyes.
Wang Yin took a sip of tea, his movements very slow, as if afraid the tea would leak from his scar.
In the interval of their conversation, Xiao Yi was also thinking. What would happen if Li Hongwei captured and killed Wang Yin? Would he be able to control Wang Yin’s subordinates?
Soon, the answer was before him.
“This is a forged edict,” Li Hongwei said, shaking his head. “A forged edict… I won’t accept it.”
Xiao Yi could not let this old rogue turn against him. His expression turned stern, and he asked indifferently, “Imperial Uncle means to say that I am falsely delivering the imperial decree?”
“No, no… it’s Li Ye. My youngest brother has been deserving of death since childhood.”
Li Hongwei finally thought of an excuse.
The fear and embarrassment on his face vanished, replaced by an expression of righteous indignation.
“His Majesty lives secluded in the palace, blinded by Li Ye and his band of traitors. Brother Wang, you and I are true brothers, jointly guarding Hebei, bound by brotherhood. How can we fight each other over a rebellious order, playing right into the hands of the petty officials in the court and making the Khitans laugh?”
Wang Yin put down his tea cup and said, “Xiao Yi, put away the secret edict. Look how you’ve scared Brother Li! Tell him about the changes in the court.”
Xiao Yi muttered to himself that it wasn’t him who had scared Li Hongwei like this.
He rolled up the secret edict again, put it back in his inner garment, and began to speak slowly about the death of Shi Hongzhao.
He spoke very simply, as he guessed Li Hongwei must have his own sources of information.
“This scoundrel Li Ye deserves to be cut into a thousand pieces,” Li Hongwei roared, wiping the fine sweat from his forehead. “My family has produced such a scoundrel, who killed the late emperor’s confidant. I am ashamed to face the late Emperor. Brother Wang and Duke Guo are both meritorious officials of the nation. How could they be persecuted? Although I am dull-witted, I know the general trend cannot be reversed. I am willing to follow Brother Wang, destroy my own kin for the sake of righteousness. The troops, money, and grain of the Zhenning Army are yours to command, without question!”
Wang Yin stood up and walked in front of Li Hongwei. He patted his shoulder and said with emotion, “Brother Li understands righteousness profoundly, which is truly a blessing to the nation. To prevent Li Ye from causing further trouble and sowing discord between us, please let Brother Li temporarily entrust the military tally and seal of the Zhenning Army to my management. When the imperial court clarifies the truth and sets things right, I will return them to you intact. What do you say?”
“Of course, absolutely!”
Li Hongwei looked as if he had been granted a great amnesty. A smile appeared on his face. He took two steps and rushed to the back of the desk, retrieved a gilded bronze box with a mythical beast knob, and held it high above his head with both hands.
“The military tally and seal are both here. Please accept them, Brother Wang.”
Wang Yin took them and handed them directly to Xiao Yi, as if they were ordinary trinkets.
Xiao Yi opened them. The military tally was forged from fine iron, engraved with the words “Zhenning Army Left Wing.” The copper seal had a turtle knob on top. When turned over, the seal surface was engraved with seven characters in nine-fold seal script: “Seal of the Military Governor of Zhenning Army.”
He then nodded to Wang Yin.
It was done, and it was so simple that it surprised him.
“In that case, I won’t disturb Brother Li’s rest.” Wang Yin nodded slightly.
“Then…”
Li Hongwei probably wanted to ask about the next steps.
Wang Yin raised his hand to stop him and walked out with his hands behind his back.
Xiao Yi followed closely. As he stepped over the threshold, the cold wind hit him like ice water.
After walking a distance from Li’s mansion, Xiao Yi asked, “Were you really not worried that Commander Wang would make a move against you just now?”
Wang Yin stopped and looked back at the brightly lit mansion. He murmured, “I have been stationed in Chan Prefecture seven times in my life. From the grand military supplies and appointment of generals to the price of firewood and rice and market gossip, there is nothing in this city that escapes my knowledge.”
He didn’t need to prove anything to Xiao Yi, but he still asked Xiao Yi to walk alongside him, talking as they walked, like a lonely old man.
“Li Hongwei ate lamb stew this morning. His guard Zhang Qian is having an affair with his concubine Hongxing… He would make a move against me? How would he make a move? In Chan Prefecture, those who oppose me only have death as their fate. He understands this better than you do.”
He said this calmly, yet it carried the weight of life and death.
Xiao Yi’s bones grew cold, and his understanding suddenly dawned.
He clearly felt what power was. It wasn’t just courage and status, but the all-pervading control and deterrence built from countless details. Wang Yin’s visit tonight didn’t depend on how many soldiers he brought, but on his lifetime of prestige in the army and years of meticulous, leak-proof management.
“But what about the Emperor and Li Ye killing the Grand Tutor?”
Wang Yin was startled, shook his head, and gave a wry smile, sighing, “That is greed blinding reason, madness.”
The two continued to walk. When they reached outside the mansion, Wang Yin suddenly stopped and looked up at the lintel, sighing, and asked Xiao Yi to return to the study with him.
“Leave the military tally and seal of the Zhenning Army here.”
“Yes.”
Xiao Yi placed the bronze box down.
Wang Yin picked up the Imperial Guard Military Tally and the Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs’ Seal and handed them out, saying, “Take these to Guo Que’er.”
Xiao Yi was stunned and did not immediately take them.
“Do you know why I’m having you give them to him?”
“I do,” Xiao Yi said. “This military tally and seal were not obtained by Wang Erlang, but were taken by your subordinate from the Shi Residence.”
“That’s right. You must forget what Erlang said today.”
“Rest assured, Commander. I will keep my mouth shut.” Xiao Yi asked, “However, I wonder…”
He was indeed curious. Why would Wang Yin, with such important tools, the foundation for vying for power under heaven, readily hand them over to someone else?
“I did consider fighting for it, but I cannot afford to.”
Wang Yin sighed deeply, his voice filled with weariness, yet firm and calm.
He slumped onto the chair and massaged his leg.
“I am over fifty, and my health is not what it used to be. Last year, I coughed up blood for half the night in Dai Prefecture. My two sons, Cheng Hui is weak, and Cheng Xun is reckless. Neither can handle the big picture. Guo Que’er is a capable man, with strong troops and great prestige. More importantly, he is open-minded, can tolerate people, and can use people. He is stronger than I am.”
Xiao Yi knew the historical trajectory and had intended to join Guo Wei from the start. Hearing Wang Yin’s foresight now, he sighed in admiration and said, “Commander is wise.”
“What wisdom is there? It’s nothing more than being weakened by illness and having no other choice.”
Wang Yin looked out at the dark, chaotic snow curtain beyond the door and murmured, “For over a hundred years of turmoil, there have been countless people who have claimed kingship or emperorship. But looking around, aren’t people still eating their children and cooking with human bones? I don’t know if Guo Que’er can suppress chaos and establish prosperity, but at least he is stronger than I am and has a better chance. Consider it… a little hope from this old soldier who has fought his whole life for this world.”
