Chapter 116: Hostage
On the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, a fierce wind and heavy snow swept across the official road in the western suburbs of Xuzhou.
Xiao Yi reined in his horse, waiting for the entourage behind him. The Wuzhui horse was restless, its iron hooves stamping the frozen earth.
Looking back, the procession was vast, with Liu Yun’s imperial carriage adorned with canopies and ornate decorations, and a strict ceremonial guard.
The Son of Heaven’s ceremonial equipment was brought by him, with banners of the Grand Master of Ceremonies flying, demonstrating exceptional prestige.
By regulation, a Military Governor could take three hundred guards when leaving his post. Due to his status as successor lord, Liu Yun also brought his family, servants, imperial guards, attendants, advisors, officials, banners, and music, totaling nearly six hundred people.
“Does the general have any worries?”
Zhang Mei rode his horse over, matching Xiao Yi’s pace, and said, exhaling white mist, “Are you perhaps worried about the three hundred Xuzhou guards?”
Xiao Yi retorted, “Do I look worried?”
Zhang Mei said, “Although the general’s expression is calm, the warhorse beneath him is panting and pawing the ground.”
Xiao Yi smiled.
He was actually contemplating the significance of this assignment, believing that Guo Wei was unlikely to give the throne to Liu Yun. If that happened, not only would there be constant checks and balances, but it would also be inconvenient to later campaign against Liu Chong.
Campaigning against the Emperor’s biological father was not justifiable by any name.
Therefore, before leaving the capital, he had asked Wei Renpu if he intended to kill Liu Yun, but Wei Renpu did not seem to have such plans for the moment.
“Brother Xuangui, what do you think is the purpose of the successor lord’s journey?”
“I venture to guess that he will not be able to enter Kaifeng,” Zhang Mei said. “But if the Marshal campaigns against Hedong, he might take him along. You know, once Liu Yun leaves Xuzhou, he will be like a fish out of water. The only one truly to be concerned about is Liu Chong.”
Xiao Yi asked, “Are you sure the Marshal is going to send troops?”
“I heard that the Khitan are raiding Xing and Zhen prefectures.”
This coincided with Xiao Yi’s thoughts.
But recalling Wei Renpu’s attitude that day, his words were not definitive, perhaps indicating hesitation about campaigning against Hedong…
As they spoke, Lu Chou rode over from the rear of the procession and whispered.
“General, Mister Zhang, Xiao Tao just found an opportunity to send me a message.”
“Xiao Tao?” Zhang Mei chuckled. “The maidservant beside Madam Dong?”
“Yes. She said Liu Chong sent a secret envoy to inform Liu Yun that he plans to send a large army south to Kaifeng to help him ascend the throne.”
Xiao Yi thought to himself, as expected, Liu Chong did not intend to stand by and watch his son become a puppet.
He exchanged glances with Zhang Mei, seeing the gravity in his eyes.
“What does the general think?”
“Ultimately, it still requires the Grand Lord’s army to handle it.”
“Yes, all we can do is delay the situation slightly.”
“Brother Xuangui must already have a plan.”
Zhang Mei said, “Sow discord between father and son, making Liu Yun apprehensive and have him resolutely oppose it.”
Xiao Yi raised his hand, signaling that he would handle it.
Zhang Mei then whispered to Lu Chou, “Tell Xiao Tao to scare Madam Dong, saying that Liu Chong’s dispatch of troops is likely not to escort him, but to seize the opportunity to control Bianjing and become emperor himself. At that time, Liu Yun might not even be able to be the Crown Prince.”
“Mister is brilliant. I will find a way to pass on the message, and I guarantee Madam Dong will be more anxious than Liu Yun.”
After speaking, Lu Chou turned his horse around and naturally fell to the rear of the procession, heading towards the servant entourage.
That night, the procession arrived at the Dangshen Posthouse.
After settling in, Xiao Yi sat by the window in the upstairs room of the posthouse, contemplating while looking at a map, listening to the wind whistling through the bare branches of the locust tree in the courtyard.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of horses’ hooves, urgent and distant. He listened intently, discerning only two or three riders.
Not long after, Lu Chou entered the room, wrapped in the cold air, his face beaming.
“General, it’s done! Xiao Tao overheard his conversation with Madam Dong, and the couple are wary of Liu Chong. Liu Yun sent his confidant north overnight with his handwritten letter, telling Liu Chong not to come south, to avoid disturbing the region, and to avoid arousing the suspicion of Duke Guo and the Empress Dowager.”
Xiao Yi, without looking up, said, “Well done.”
Lu Chou smiled proudly, rubbing his frost-reddened cheeks. “Heh heh, if the general says so, then my appearance has served its purpose.”
“Yes, yes, among my subordinates, you are the most handsome.”
“After all, you are the general’s soldier.”
“Go now.”
Lu Chou did not leave, hesitating, wanting to speak but stopping.
Xiao Yi, annoyed that he was blocking the candlelight, said, “If you have something to say, then say it.”
“General, Xiao Tao heard some more news from Madam Dong, and I don’t know if I should say it.”
“Speak.”
“Then I will speak as Madam Dong said.” Lu Chou, imitating a woman’s voice, said in a high-pitched tone, “General Xiao must be having an affair with Empress An. It won’t be difficult to win them over by showing kindness to this pair of adulterous lovers later.”
Xiao Yi was speechless and continued to look at his map.
He had initially found An Yuanzhen a bit annoying. Recently, comparing her to Liu Luan, both of them being Shatuo people, their personalities were so different that An Yuanzhen was almost a little bit cute by comparison.
“Liu Yun said, ‘Show kindness? I’ll give him greater kindness. My little sister fancies him, I’ll enfeoff him as an Imperial Son-in-law.’ Madam Dong said, ‘But I don’t think he has any intention towards my little sister.’ Liu Yun said, ‘Is there anything my little sister fancies that she cannot obtain? Once we enter Kaifeng, watch how my little sister, with a bare blade, will take Empress An’s life…'”
Xiao Yi looked up.
Lu Chou inexplicably shivered and quickly said, “General, I am only relaying what was said.”
“I know.”
“Is the general looking at the Hedong map? I have an idea.” Lu Chou said cautiously, “I think Liu Luan admires the general. Why doesn’t the general persuade her? You can gain both the beauty and intelligence from Hedong…”
Xiao Yi interrupted him with a displeased look.
He was too lazy to say more, but seeing that Lu Chou was also good-looking, he asked, “You have many admirers, can you distinguish what you want and what you don’t want?”
“I,” Lu Chou lowered his head. “I never refuse anyone who comes my way.”
“If a woman is admired and then forced, is that happiness or sorrow?”
Lu Chou asked, “What does the general mean?”
“If she acts to harm me in the name of ‘admiring’ me, she is my enemy, and I will never tolerate it.”
Lu Chou startled and said, “I understand. The general is worried about Empress An and her other lover…”
“Get out.”
The lights were extinguished, and Xiao Yi lay down fully clothed.
That night, he dreamed of An Yuanzhen, who kept asking him if her skin was whiter than Liu Luan’s. In the end, An Yuanzhen died in his arms, crying coquettishly.
“Wuwu… I died unjustly…”
Someone outside the palace kept banging on the door, wanting to bury her in Yingling.
“Bang, bang, bang.”
Xiao Yi opened his eyes. It was already dawn, and someone was knocking on the door.
He opened the door, and it was Liu Luan, who had even dressed up. Her appearance was vastly different from her nature.
“What’s with that expression? Do you hate seeing me?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t care, this is for you. I haven’t finished speaking, a Shatuo woman giving a handmade gift…”
Xiao Yi glanced at her palm and saw an arrowhead made of a beast’s tooth. He said directly, “No.”
With that, he walked straight out.
Liu Luan insisted on giving it to him and chased after him, scolding, “Why don’t you want it?!”
Xiao Yi did not respond to such unreasonable words and ordered the soldiers, “Stop her, don’t let her get close to me.”
“Let go! Humph, I’m giving you a gift, and you dare not accept it. Next time, I’ll shoot it into your neck!”
“…”
They traveled all day.
In the evening, the procession entered Song Prefecture.
A scout rode up from the front, reporting that the Imperial Court had sent someone to welcome the successor lord.
Everyone originally thought it would be a civil official, but as snow dust arose, a troop of cavalry, about five hundred strong, galloped over, flying the Imperial Guard banners.
As they got closer, Xiao Yi recognized the leading general as Liu Tingrang.
The two processions merged, and the two men met, laughing at each other.
“Brother Liu has been promoted to Commander?”
“Not as good as your Inner Palace Guard. Come, let’s find a secluded place to talk.”
The two then rode their horses to a dirt slope, overlooking the official road.
Liu Tingrang confirmed that no one was around and said with a serious expression, “The Marshal has led his army out and is heading north to Chan Prefecture.”
“Khitan? Hedong?”
Liu Tingrang did not answer and said, “You don’t need to bring Liu Yun to the capital. Directly detour to Chan Prefecture to see the Marshal.”
Xiao Yi’s thoughts raced, realizing that it was as expected.
Liu Yun served two purposes: one to lull Liu Chong into complacency, and two, if an army was dispatched, to bring him along as a hostage, to be used at a crucial moment.
“Is General Guo still the vanguard?”
“Yes, leading a detachment to advance west from Huazhou, through Meng and Jin prefectures, to capture Jiang Prefecture, thus locking the southern gateway to Jinyang.”
Xiao Yi took out his silk map and unfolded it on his horse.
Indeed, Guo Wei’s northward march was not because of the Khitan incursions. Where would the main force go after reaching Chan Prefecture? And why should he bring Liu Yun there himself?
“Here.”
Liu Tingrang leaned over, his finger pointing to a spot on the map.
Xiao Yi nodded and said, “Luzhou.”
“The Marshal is likely planning to personally lead the main force, passing through Chan Prefecture and Xiang Prefecture, and directly attacking Luzhou via Fukou Pass. This is the throat of Hedong and a strategically crucial point. Once captured, Liu Chong will be like a turtle in a jar. Having us bring Liu Yun might be to use him to persuade the defenders of Luzhou to surrender, thus saving the losses from a siege.”
Having clarified the reasons, they then discussed what to do.
Xiao Yi reminded him, “Liu Yun brought three hundred guards, and they are elite. They are not to be trifled with.”
“Capture Liu Yun, and I don’t believe they can cause any trouble,” Liu Tingrang said. “There is Qingyang Posthouse thirty li ahead. Tonight, while their guards are disarmed and asleep, you take Liu Yun and issue his orders, and I will lead the troops to control the situation. Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without mercy.”
“He will be wary when he sees you. It would be better to wait until we reach Song Prefecture?”
“Speed is of the essence. The Marshal only gave us three days to reach Chan Prefecture. We cannot wait.”
“Alright.”
With the plan settled, the two returned to their respective entourages.
Xiao Yi’s expression remained normal. He asked Zhao Shangjiao to take the lead and guide Liu Yun’s carriage to Qingyang Posthouse.
Night fell.
However, the situation did not proceed according to Liu Tingrang’s plan. The appearance of his well-armored, elite cavalry, brimming with killing intent, made Zhang Lingchao very alert.
That night, they encamped at Qingyang Posthouse. Zhang Lingchao personally set up sentries, divided the guards into two shifts, alternating watch, and the entrances and exits of the posthouse were guarded by Xuzhou guards.
Seeing this situation, Xiao Yi advised Liu Tingrang, “Since they are on guard, a forceful action might lead to casualties. It would be better to wait a while longer until they let down their guard against you.”
Liu Tingrang frowned and said, “If we wait for Liu Yun to lower his guard, Liu Chong might react. Since we have left Xuzhou, we must capture the fish out of water first!”
Just as Xiao Yi was about to speak, he saw Lu Chou approaching from a distance.
“General, something is wrong! Xiao Tao said that Zhang Lingchao earnestly advised Liu Yun, and Liu Yun began to hesitate again. He discussed it with Madam Dong and wants to return to Xuzhou to bring more troops.”
Liu Tingrang said resolutely, “We won’t wait any longer, capture him!”
“Alright,” Xiao Yi agreed decisively. “We will act separately according to the plan.”
“Let’s move.”
Xiao Yi immediately assembled twelve soldiers and headed to the main courtyard of the posthouse where Liu Yun was staying.
In the courtyard, the torches made a faint rustling sound. Over twenty Xuzhou guards stood solemnly with their swords.
Dong Yi had just come out of the courtyard, his eyes filled with worry. Seeing Xiao Yi arrive, he quickly stepped forward and bowed, “General, what is the meaning of those five hundred soldiers?”
Xiao Yi said calmly, “The Imperial Court sent someone to welcome the successor lord, which is normal. If you are already scared, there will be fifty thousand Imperial Guards in the capital. I will explain to Your Highness.”
“Your Highness does not wish to see you.”
Xiao Yi took out an item and handed it over, saying, “Please trouble yourself to deliver this to His Highness.”
“What is this?”
“The Imperial Guard Military Tally. With the tally in hand, what else does Your Highness have to worry about?”
“Please wait, General.”
Dong Yi went into the courtyard to report.
Xiao Yi waited, warming his hands, lest they become too stiff when he had to act later.
He thought to himself, from the moment Liu Yun left Xuzhou, he transformed from Gaozu’s adopted son into a hostage. The world changes rapidly, and it is indeed a world where strength speaks.
