Chapter 137: The First Year Of Guangshun
In the first year of Guangshun of the Great Zhou, on the fifth day of the first lunar month.
On the drill ground, the accumulated snow was shoveled to the sides, and the rammed earth was frozen hard.
With a burst of urgent hoofbeats, at the instant the two horses passed each other, Xiao Yi, holding a long spear, thrust it out. The spearhead was wrapped in a cloth soaked in red ink and struck Zhang Mantun’s chest.
“Good!”
“The General wins the fifth match!”
“That doesn’t count, my horse wasn’t good enough to carry me.”
“Get down, who’s next?”
“Please, General, guide me.”
Xiao Yi reined in the horse with his left hand and, with his right, performed a flourish of the spear, secretly annoyed that he hadn’t broken himself of these flashy moves.
He circled back and, seeing Lu You riding onto the field, found it uninteresting.
He then pointed the cloth-wrapped spearhead at Lu Chou.
“You two brothers, come at me together.”
“Yes!”
Soon, the Lu brothers attacked from both sides, one slamming a club towards his helmet, the other sweeping horizontally towards his waist.
Xiao Yi feigned a spear thrust, forcing Lu Chou to block, then quickly changed to a straight thrust, aiming directly at Lu Chou’s face.
The Pear Blossom Spear technique gained some of Liu Jiye’s fierce momentum.
“Don’t hit my face!”
Lu Chou immediately became flustered, threw his head back, and fell off his horse.
Xiao Yi, certain that Lu Chou wouldn’t dare let his face be injured, made this thrust a feint, used the momentum to spin, and swept towards Lu You.
However, Lu You was too short. He ducked down, moved closer, and poked with his club.
Xiao Yi yanked on the reins. The white horse suddenly reared up, frightening Lu You’s horse into not daring to approach. Xiao Yi then lifted his spear and knocked Lu You off.
“Good!”
“The General wins the sixth match!”
“That was because the General’s horsemanship was good…”
After practicing for an hour, Xiao Yi was also drenched in sweat. The heat from his body escaped through the gaps in his armor, creating white mist in the winter cold.
He had a drive within him, not wanting to be second-rate. Thus, for the past few days, he had done nothing but train himself and his soldiers.
It was just that besides Zhang Mantun, everyone around him was not first-rate, and sparring with them progressed too slowly. He should find Tang Jin to spar with when he had the chance.
“Is the sparring over there finished?”
“Reporting to the General, it is finished.”
Xiao Yi looked at the soldiers under his command and saw that Shou Tao, Yu Douzi, and Tang Bing were still the worst in terms of physical fitness and martial arts. He reprimanded them a few times, letting them know that if they always finished last, they would be punished.
Over there, Lu Chou was still lying on the ground, groaning and unable to get up.
“Ow, I’m injured. Can I have half a day off?”
“General, don’t pay him any mind,” Xi Hou said. “He wants to leave the palace to meet his lover.”
“How do you know?”
“Who do you think I am?”
Old Pan then walked over, kicked Lu Chou, and said, “Stop rolling around in the dirt. Today is your scheduled half-day off.”
“Really? Guarding this palace gate all day is killing me…”
Although Xiao Yi didn’t fear hardship or boredom, he had to leave the palace today.
Li Tao had invited him to his residence for a meal three times already. If he declined again, it would be impolite. Moreover, he should talk to Li Fang about the telescope.
He changed out of his sweat-soaked clothes, felt his hair, which he hadn’t washed in three days, and took a bath before leaving, changing into clean clothes.
He hadn’t had clothes tailored in a long time. His inner garment was the Shu brocade Li Hanmei had given him last time, his outer robe was fine linen he bought with the Guo siblings before fleeing the city, and he put on a crane cloak over it.
On the outside, he looked like a poor scholar, but the good fabric inside wouldn’t chafe his skin. Few people in this era would dress this way.
Just as he exited the Xuanwu Gate, he saw a thin, pale young man stumbling towards him and bowing deeply.
“This servant greets General Xiao. The General has already prepared to attend the banquet.”
“You are… Zhang Dejun?”
“The General remembers this servant?!”
Zhang Dejun was pleasantly surprised, so much so that he didn’t know where to put his hands. He gave a shy smile and said in a low voice, “His Majesty has summoned the General to the Prince’s Residence for a meal.”
“This subject obeys the decree.”
Xiao Yi had no choice but to ask Old Pan to explain to Li Tao’s residence, stating he would visit another time.
Looking at Zhang Dejun again, he was pale from the pain of his recent castration and could barely stand steadily.
“Did you just enter the palace? Why didn’t you come by carriage?”
“His Majesty sent me to invite you, so I came. I didn’t know who to ask for a carriage and was afraid of being scolded.”
“Can you ride a horse?”
“No.”
Xiao Yi then called over Hua Nong and said, “You give Eunuch Zhang a ride.”
Zhang Dejun’s eyes showed fear, but he responded appropriately, saying, “General Xiao’s great kindness and virtue will be remembered forever by this servant.”
Riding side by side, Xiao Yi asked, “Do you have a godfather?”
“Godfather? Oh, yes. My surname was originally Wang, but I took my adoptive father’s surname, Zhang.”
“What is his official position?”
“My adoptive father is an agent in the East Market of Shaan Prefecture.”
“I’m asking if you have an adoptive father in the palace.”
“Reporting to the General, no.”
“The Deputy Envoy of the Gate, Wang Yan, is a good person. You can ask him if you don’t understand anything.”
“This servant thanks the General for his guidance.”
Xiao Yi felt sorry for Zhang Dejun and helped him out of kindness. This person served Guo Wei, so it was good to leave a good impression.
After that, he didn’t talk anymore for the rest of the journey.
As they neared the Guo Residence, many officials were guarding the vicinity of the alley.
Xiao Yi’s white horse suddenly became agitated, rearing its front hooves and even trying to nuzzle him. Knowing it was his fault, he dismounted and took a look. The horseshoe was about to fall off, so he used his dagger to pry it open.
He faintly heard hushed conversations behind him.
“It’s the flower spear, isn’t it?”
“He can’t get in either, so he’s waiting here.”
“They say he had an affair with the previous Empress and angered the new Emperor…”
But when Xiao Yi looked back, everyone was either admiring the snow with their hands behind their backs, browsing goods at a stall, or discussing state affairs. He didn’t know who was gossiping.
“Please make way.”
Suddenly, a carriage squeezed out from the crowd, heading towards the Guo Residence gate.
Xiao Yi also led his horse to the side.
A young and handsome man alighted from the carriage, walked up to him, and bowed respectfully, saying, “May I ask if you are Xiao Lang?”
Xiao Yi looked and saw a man in his early twenties, handsome, tall, and well-mannered, who immediately gave the impression of being excellent in all aspects.
However, he inexplicably gave a sense of being bland, like a model student from his previous life.
“May I ask who you are, sir?”
“I am Zhang Yongde, courtesy name Baoyi, from Yangqu, Bingzhou. The person in the carriage is my wife, Guo Siniang.”
“So, it’s Imperial Son-in-law Zhang.”
“I dare not accept such praise. My father-in-law has not yet been enfeoffed. Xiao Lang and I can address each other as brothers. It’s inconvenient to talk here, shall we go inside together? Please.”
“Please.”
Upon arriving at the side door of the Guo Residence, Zhang Yongde solicitously helped Guo Siniang out of the carriage. Although Guo Siniang was not fully in mourning attire, she was dressed modestly.
“My dear wife, this is the Xiao Lang I mentioned in my letters.”
“Thank you, Young Master Xiao, for saving my family.”
“Princess, please don’t be so polite.”
Stepping into the mansion, an eunuch greeted them, immediately closed the gate, and after a series of greetings, escorted Guo Siniang to the back courtyard, leaving two young men to talk in a side room in the front courtyard.
“When the Capital underwent changes, my wife and I happened to be in Luzhou, celebrating the birthday of Chang Si, the Military Governor of Zhaoyi. After my father-in-law staged his uprising, Wang Pu came to Luzhou, and Chang Si let us return. We just happened to cross paths with Xiao Lang. Today, I finally meet my benefactor and righteous man!”
“I imagine persuading Chang Si to surrender, Brother Baoyi, you contributed greatly. If Chang Si had not surrendered, General Li Rong and I arriving in Luzhou would have been certain death. In that sense, Brother Baoyi, you are also my benefactor.”
“Since we are on the same side, we don’t need to thank each other,” Zhang Yongde said. “Today, I was supposed to pick up Li Chongjin at the South Gate, but my wife wanted to go out for a stroll, and I was afraid she would be cold, so I returned without picking him up.”
“I see. Brother Chongjin is returning to the Capital today? He has achieved great merit on this southern expedition.”
“Not only has he achieved merit, but he has also married a virtuous wife. Congratulations.”
“Congratulations.”
Zhang Yongde possessed a neat and proper demeanor, and his speech was the same, perhaps his life was too.
Xiao Yi chatted with him, and it was bearable, but it felt like visiting relatives during the New Year.
He unconsciously wanted to yawn, so he took a sip of tea to cover it up.
“Brother Baoyi, your martial arts are very strong, aren’t they?”
“My father taught me literature and martial arts since childhood; I have some skill in fist and foot techniques.”
“Well, wait around. Shall we spar?”
“We cannot. Elders are talking in the main hall and may summon us at any time.”
“Indeed.”
Finally, Li Chongjin arrived.
A figure carrying the chill of wind and snow pushed the door open, a dark face with an expression of wanting to speak but hesitating.
Without saying a word, just looking at him was more lively than Zhang Yongde.
“Haha, you two are hiding here, what are you looking at me for? I don’t have flowers on my face.”
“Congratulations on your wedding,” Zhang Yongde said formally, and asked, “Where is your wife?”
“She went to the back courtyard.”
Xiao Yi also offered his congratulations, and at the same time, his gaze appraised Li Chongjin, observing whether he was satisfied with the new bride.
Li Chongjin smiled sheepishly, punched him in the arm, and cursed, “What are you looking at me for? I heard you got into trouble.”
“How did you hear about it, Brother Chongjin?”
“I heard it from the guard at the city gate when I entered the city. You and Empress An…”
“That’s not true. I requested a female official from His Majesty.”
“We’ll discuss your matter later. What about the thing I asked you to investigate?”
Wang Pu suddenly appeared at the door and knocked, then said with a smile, “The three of you, please enter the hall.”
Xiao Yi realized that today was actually a family banquet with Guo Wei’s son-in-law and nephew.
In the main hall, only Wang Jun and Wei Renpu were speaking with Guo Wei.
Currently, Guo Chongwei remained in Hebei guarding against Liu Chong, and Wang Yin was not present. Those in attendance were considered the closest confidants.
However, upon entering the hall, Wang Jun was speaking to Guo Wei in a lecturing tone.
“His Majesty is being foolish again. Without Wang Zhang supplying the military’s needs, can you pacify three prefectures and fight the Khitan? If it’s abolished, and you can’t pay the wages, aren’t you afraid the officers will revolt?”
“It must be abolished, otherwise all the people will starve. Why else would I be Emperor?”
“I am not against reducing or exempting taxes, I only ask where the funds will come from to compensate? There must be a solution first.”
“Save.”
“Save?”
“I am a poor person, and it is my first time being Emperor. Besides fighting wars, I don’t know how to govern. Today, I make one statement: I will lead in frugality. The taxes I reduce for the people will start saving from myself.”
“Your Majesty is truly…”
“Alright, alright, I’m afraid, Brother Xiufeng. The juniors have arrived. It’s the New Year, let’s not talk about state affairs.”
Xiao Yi felt that the situation of this audience was different from what he remembered from his previous life; it felt more like visiting relatives.
He saw Wang Jun turn his head to look, his eyes unfriendly. He knew his recent incident had displeased Wang Jun. Upon closer inspection, Wang Jun did not look kindly upon Li Chongjin either.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
“Don’t be so restrained here. Sit down and wait for the banquet to begin.”
Although they said they wouldn’t talk about state affairs, the topic never left them.
As soon as Xiao Yi sat down, Guo Wei pointed at him.
“This kid, he requested to resign from his other official positions, only retaining the 20th Command of the Tianxiong Army. But now, can he really send all the Tianxiong Army soldiers back to Ye Du?”
With one sentence, Xiao Yi immediately understood. As Li Hanmei had said, “strengthen the trunk and weaken the branches,” this was a reform of the military system.
His first assignment was likely to be here…
