Chapter 51: Mutual Curiosity
A flicker of firelight within the inn illuminated the fierce faces of the riders outside.
Xiao Yi felt no fear and instead proactively inquired.
“May I ask if the Commander Cao, who pacified the three garrisons and was the first to cross the river, is the one arriving soon?”
“That’s right, you have some insight?”
“Who in the military doesn’t know of Commander Cao’s reputation? I have admired him for a long time.” Xiao Yi bowed, feigning admiration, and asked, “General, you are a hero under Commander Cao’s command, may I ask your name?”
“I am the Guard General under the Commander’s banner, Cao Li, sent ahead to scout.”
“You’ve had a difficult journey. I will arrange for your rest immediately, so as not to disturb Commander Cao.”
“Be quick.”
Cao Li nodded sternly and directly grabbed the reins.
“Go! Report back to Envoy Liu that Wei Cheng Inn has accommodations!”
The horses’ hooves vanished into the distance in an instant.
Xiao Yi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly disposed of the bodies.
He then unhurriedly confiscated Mu Gong’s talisman and retrieved the bag of gold.
“Tie Ya, Zhan Zhao, go to the kitchen to start a fire and boil water. Smear your faces with charcoal ash.”
“But I don’t know how…”
“Come with me!”
Lu You said, “Commander, my cooking skills are passable.”
“First, splash away the bloodstains, open the doors and windows for ventilation, and bring in a few braziers.”
Before long, the thunderous sound of hooves approached from afar. A cavalry force of over a hundred men surged to the inn, swiftly securing all key routes with strict vigilance.
Soldiers surrounded a General as he dismounted, striding towards the inn’s entrance.
Cao Wei, around forty years old, wore a thick cloak over his armor. He was not particularly tall, but his steps were steady, his shoulders broad, exuding a seasoned battlefield dignity.
His face was chiseled, his skin dark, his beard short, stiff, and rough. His eyes shone with piercing intensity, radiating brilliance with every blink, befitting an archer by origin. However, his gaze held a thoughtful expression, hinting at a grave worry.
Xiao Yi stepped forward, cupped his fists, and said, “Xiao Yi, Deputy Commander of the Left Wing of the Control Crane Guard, greets Commander Cao.”
“Hm.”
Cao Wei nodded slightly, intending to enter the hall directly.
But as his gaze swept over them with palpable substance, it finally settled on Xiao Yi, and he asked an additional question.
“Someone from the Imperial Uncle’s retinue? What are you doing here?”
Xiao Yi mused that just as he was curious about Cao Wei’s purpose in heading north, Cao Wei was equally curious about his own mission.
Various explanations flashed through his mind. He decided to tell the truth to avoid any blunders.
“Your subordinate was ordered to travel to Chan Prefecture on official business and passed through here, encountering some unruly bandits.”
“What sort of unruly bandits?” Cao Wei’s eyes clearly showed contemplation, but his expression remained unreadable. He said, “Where are the bodies? Lead the way.”
Just as Xiao Yi was about to respond, someone spoke.
“Commander, you still have to travel tomorrow. Why trouble yourself with such a trivial matter? The Imperial Uncle’s men can handle it.”
The speaker was a Deputy General behind Cao Wei.
This man had an ape-like body and a leopard-like face, with an arrow scar on his left cheek. His eyes were sharp as a falcon’s, with upturned corners, giving him a stern, tense appearance. Beneath his fine armor, he wore a brocade robe with attractive patterns visible at the edges.
Xiao Yi thought the pattern on the brocade robe looked familiar. Where had he seen it before?
It was the brocade robe that Emperor had bestowed upon the actor, which Shi Hongzhao had stripped off.
This meant he was a close confidant of the Son of Heaven.
Seeing Xiao Yi’s gaze, the other man met his eyes, and for a moment, there was an uncharacteristic hint of goodwill in his expression.
“Liu Jirong, Deputy Envoy of the Xuanhuiyuan and Deputy Commander of the Fengguo Army. If you have matters to report, you can tell me.”
“Yes, greetings, Envoy Liu.”
Liu Jirong nodded, gesturing for Cao Wei to go upstairs, saying, “Commander, please.”
Xiao Yi quickly said, “The guest rooms are ready.”
He thought that given Liu Jirong’s official position, there was no need for him to be polite to a mere Deputy Commander like himself, unless they were somehow connected.
However, as Cao Wei went upstairs, a guard soldier tried to go up first and bumped lightly into Cao Wei, showing a distinct lack of coordination, one might even say unfamiliarity.
An old general venturing out, and his personal guards seemed like newcomers?
Observing more closely, the eyes and stances of the other guards subtly suggested a monitoring role. Although Cao Wei carried himself with authority, his brow was perpetually slightly furrowed, and a hint of suppressed frustration and fatigue lingered deep within his eyes.
“May I ask, Commander, which direction are you heading?” Xiao Yi asked naturally, making conversation. “If it’s on your way, perhaps I could accompany you for a stretch?”
Cao Wei waved his hand and did not answer.
Liu Jirong, however, said, “You are going to Chan Prefecture, you can travel with us until Baima Port.”
“That’s great.”
Xiao Yi knew they had to cross the Yellow River to head north and didn’t ask further questions.
He went downstairs and saw that the Fengguo Army cavalry had taken over guard duties at key positions. The rest either crowded into the communal beds or gathered by the braziers in the main hall, lying down, looking tired and worn from their rapid journey.
Cao Li removed his helmet, yawned, and asked, “Are there any empty rooms upstairs?”
“Yes.”
“Where will your men stay?”
“We can squeeze into the woodshed.” Xiao Yi asked, “General, would you like some wine to warm yourself up?”
“Bring it.”
He uncorked the remaining wine jug, distributed it to the soldiers, and then they leaned against the counter, drinking and chatting.
“Control Crane Guard, are you working for the Imperial Uncle?” Cao Li said, “I have a brother who was just transferred there a few days ago.”
“Oh? Could it be that his surname is also Cao, named Dang?”
“That’s right.”
“What a coincidence, he is our Commander. He has already left for Chan Prefecture.” Xiao Yi’s face lit up with a smile, as if he had met a hometown friend, and asked, “Are you and our Commander brothers?”
“Not sworn brothers, but closer than brothers. We are all soldiers under the Commander, having shared life and death.”
“Then you are my elder brother too. I toast you, elder brother!”
“Haha, bottoms up!”
Xiao Yi seized the opportunity to ask, “Is your trip also on His Majesty’s orders?”
Cao Li’s eyebrows shot up. “You’re quite well-informed, aren’t you?”
Xiao Yi pulled out the secret edict from his satchel and waved it, then put it back. He whispered, “We’re all in the same boat.”
“Heh.” Cao Li scoffed. “What I’m doing is a matter of earth-shattering importance.”
Seeing he wouldn’t elaborate, Xiao Yi continued his probing, “But I see… Commander Cao seems somewhat unwilling?”
“If it weren’t for us old brothers ‘persuading’ him to serve the Emperor, he might have lost his head this time. Heh, how to put it, he still has some lingering attachments from the past. It’s good he’s come to his senses.”
“The last sip of wine.” Xiao Yi raised his bowl and naturally said, “Elder brother, your journey to Ye Du is still long, I won’t keep you from resting.”
Cao Li, unsuspecting of the trap in his words, casually clinked bowls with him and downed the remaining wine.
A knowing glint flashed in Xiao Yi’s eyes, and he left the main hall, heading towards the woodshed.
Closing the door, the smile faded from his face.
He beckoned his subordinates and whispered, “Bring them a few more basins of hot water.”
“Understood.”
“Zhan Zhao, you don’t go. Tie Ya, you stay too.”
“Oh.”
Guo Xin donned his armor, feeling completely undetectable, and wanted to follow, but Xiao Yi called him back. Guo Xin then pulled Xiao Yi aside and whispered.
“Listen to me, the person outside is Cao Wei, right? I met him once. He fought under my father before and respected him very much. Shall I go persuade him to surrender? Perhaps he’s even going to join my father, then the road ahead will be easier.”
Xiao Yi shook his head. “Cao Wei is going to Ye Du, but I’m afraid it’s to assassinate Commander Guo.”
“How is that possible?” Guo Xin asked. “He has a good relationship with my father. Why do you say that?”
Xiao Yi gave Guo Xin a deep look, thinking that the Imperial Court had killed the entire Guo family, and then sent someone to Ye Du. It couldn’t be for appeasement, and Cao Wei didn’t look like someone who had escaped on his own.
Eliminating all other possibilities, it had to be an assassination.
“Why are you looking at me?” Guo Xin said. “You tell me, there must be a reason.”
“In any case, I’m ninety percent sure.” Xiao Yi said, “Here’s what we’ll do. You and Tie Ya head north immediately, without stopping, and reach Ye Du as quickly as possible.”
“Then what about you and Wu… no, Qing Wen and Ming Yan?”
“I will escort them. You get there early and send someone to pick us up. Remember, you must see Commander Guo first and warn him to beware of Cao Wei’s assassination. Also, give him this letter; it contains the expectations of the court officials for him. And this, it’s a letter from your sister-in-law to your elder brother.”
Xiao Yi took out the letters from his satchel and handed them to Guo Xin.
“Alas, you’re not leaving with me again?”
“Stop the nonsense. Tie Ya, you must protect him well. When you see Commander Guo, tell him about the Shi Residence’s fate yourself.”
“Don’t worry, as long as I have a breath left, this brat won’t die.”
“Leave tonight. You take six horses and use this as your pass.”
Xiao Yi then handed Mu Gong’s talisman and the military order to Zhang Mantun.
He led the two away from the woodshed and went to the stable.
At this time, the inn was guarded by the Fengguo Army, but they only prevented others from entering, not from leaving.
“I’ll send two people to scout ahead and report back.”
“You do as you please.”
After seeing Zhang Mantun and Guo Xin onto the official road, Xiao Yi pressed two gold ingots into each of their hands. “There’s no time to pack. If you lack anything, you can get it after crossing the Yellow River.”
“It doesn’t matter, I’m not picky.”
“I’m not picky either. The sky is my canopy, the earth my mat.”
Xiao Yi instructed, “Be careful on your journey. Everyone’s achievements and future depend on you.”
Zhang Mantun patted his chest and said, “Don’t worry!”
“Then my father will surely reward you handsomely,” Guo Xin instructed. “You must take good care of Qing Wen and Ming Yan.”
“Alright, see you in Ye Du.”
“Farewell.”
“Giddy up!”
The sound of hooves receded.
Under the moonlight, the official road wound its way, and soon the figures of the two vanished from sight.
