Chapter 29: The Unusual
“The prisoner walked from Zhu Jiaqiao to Cao Gate. I kept a close eye on him the whole way and he didn’t stop. The item shouldn’t be nearby.”
“Search Zhu Jiaqiao immediately!”
“Yes!”
“Who shouted to attack first?”
“I don’t know. The prisoner was fierce, and I was afraid he would escape, so I waited for reinforcements.”
“Let’s find the horses first…”
Listening to the footsteps of the Imperial Guard recede, Xiao Yi stood up from the crowd, brushed the snowflakes from his official robe, and his eyes showed thought.
“Ah, my legs are numb,” Guo Xin also stood up and said, “Now that they’ve caught the person, they should open the city gate, right?”
“No, they haven’t found the item they want yet.”
“What item?”
Xiao Yi recalled Zhang Mantun’s words and thought that since the Imperial Guard was controlled by the Emperor, Liu Zhu wouldn’t be so nervous about the Imperial Guard Military Tally. He then thought of Guo Tong’s whispered remark, so he pulled Guo Xin over and asked in a low voice.
“Is the Command Seal still in Commander Guo’s hands?”
“How would I know?” Guo Xin said, “I heard that the Grand Tutor, against everyone’s advice, gave the Command Seal to Father, didn’t he?”
Xiao Yi shook his head, still unsure.
It seemed that whether Guo Wei had the Command Seal or not made little difference; he relied on military strength and popular support. Thus, he decided to put this matter aside for the time being.
“Let’s go, we’ll go to the South City again.”
“The city gate isn’t opening anyway, what are we going to do there?”
“See if there’s an opportunity.”
As they were leaving, Xiao Yi glanced back at the guards at Cao Gate. Seeing that they all had stern faces, they looked like they couldn’t be bribed…
South of the city, Weishi Gate.
By the time they arrived, the city gate was already crowded with people.
Xiao Yi remained astride his horse, his gaze sweeping over the scene.
His plan was simple: either hide until the city gate opened, or bribe a guard.
It was nearing noon, and the blocked pedestrians became increasingly noisy, complaining incessantly. This finally annoyed the city guards, who drew their swords and shouted sternly.
“Get lost!”
“The city gate isn’t opening today, so go back where you came from!”
“If you don’t disperse, don’t blame my blade for showing no mercy.”
The two reprimands did not quell the clamor; instead, screams erupted at the city gate, and the crowd descended into chaos.
Xiao Yi, with his good vantage point from horseback, could see clearly. An old farmer carrying a basket of vegetables was pushed forward by people eager to leave the city. The basket bumped into a guard, who without hesitation stabbed him. The old farmer immediately collapsed in a pool of blood, writhing.
The crowd retreated.
Guo Xin’s horse, agitated by the crowd, restlessly pawed the ground. He tightened the reins and said, “Shall we go?”
“No rush.”
Xiao Yi’s gaze fell upon another soldier running from the steps of the city wall. The soldier knelt beside the old farmer, attempting to stop the bleeding and treat his wound, shouting urgently.
“Quick! Someone help!”
This soldier carried several command flags on his back; he must have been a flag bearer.
While treating the old farmer, he leaned very close, his eyes narrowed to slits. When he took out the healing ointment, he practically shoved the porcelain bottle to his nose, suggesting he was nearsighted.
Nearsightedness existed even now, but it was strange for a nearsighted person to be a flag bearer. Perhaps he had some connections.
The man was thin, with a dark complexion, his face full of anxious urgency to save the old farmer. When he shouted, he revealed neat teeth, unlike the dark and yellow teeth of other soldiers.
Looking at his attire, he wore an ordinary military robe, very old but clean, covered with lamellar armor, and neatly dressed. His boots were covered in snow stains, indicating he had been running around all morning.
Having seen many of the Five Dynasties’ soldiers disregard human life, he encountered an anomaly today.
“I’ll go take a look. You all stay here and don’t move.”
“No, what if you’re discovered… Ah, damn it, you’re really bold.”
Before Guo Xin could finish, Xiao Yi urged his horse forward.
He saw other soldiers gathered around the flag bearer, but none were helping.
“You idiot, stop wasting your effort.”
“The bleeding won’t stop. Someone help me hold it!”
“Don’t you think about it, can this kind of lowly peasant recover from his injuries and survive the winter?”
“Save him first.”
“Sigh, you idiot, you just love busywork…”
Xiao Yi dismounted, rolled up his sleeves, and directly pressed down on the old farmer’s wound from which blood was gushing.
The flag bearer looked up, squinted at him, and was startled. He continued to apply the hemostatic agent with trembling hands.
After a while, Xiao Yi could no longer feel the old farmer trembling, and the warmth of the blood gradually cooled.
“He’s dead.”
“Dead again?”
The flag bearer was stunned for only a moment, his expression turning dejected.
After taking a breath, he leaned in, glanced at Xiao Yi’s official robe, and quickly stood up, cupping his fists. “This… Your Excellency…”
“I am Xiao Yi, a compiler. I am out of the city on official business on the orders of my mentor. May I ask when the city gate will open?”
“Master Xiao, you are too kind. We are merely following orders; we don’t know when the city will open. I apologize for not being able to resolve this for you, Master Xiao… Master Xiao, allow me to clean your hands with my water skin.”
Xiao Yi could sense the flag bearer’s goodwill towards him. It was rare to see such a sentiment in an era where military men governed the country.
He then asked a few more questions.
“May I ask this long-serving official his surname and given name?”
“I wouldn’t dare claim such a title. I am Hua Nong. Nong, as in the Nong in ‘Nong Xian De Zhong, Xiu Duan He Du’ from the Luo Shen Fu, meaning abundant and slender in balance, tall and short in proportion. My courtesy name is Zi Mao, and my ancestral home is Xijing. I believe I have said too much.”
“A good name.”
Hua Nong seemed flattered and gave a simple laugh. His smile, born of humility, made him appear somewhat plain.
Xiao Yi continued the conversation, asking, “Does Hua Changxing enjoy reading?”
“That is my only hobby.” Hua Nong’s eyes lit up and he said, “Master Xiao looks so young, you must have passed the imperial examination this year, right? If I could learn from you, then…” Ah, forgive my rudeness.”
“It’s alright. Since we can’t leave the city today, and I have nothing else to do, perhaps after Hua Changxing finishes his duty, we can have a long talk?”
“That would be wonderful! Where can I visit Master Xiao?”
“I will go see you.”
“If Master Xiao doesn’t mind the simplicity, my home is in Anye Ward, about a mile from here. Follow the street to Hangtu Alley, turn east, walk about a hundred steps, then turn into Liuxi Alley to the north. In the alley, there’s an old well and a stone trough shared by the neighbors. My home is the third house at the end of the alley. It doesn’t have a fancy entrance, just a bamboo fence.”
Hua Nong spoke in great detail. Before Xiao Yi could ask, he continued.
“I am on duty this month during the middle shift. I arrive at the beginning of the Chen hour and leave at the end of the Wei hour, so there are about three hours left. After changing shifts, handing over and accounting for the flags, and reporting the city guard’s trivial matters to the captain, it will take about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. I should be home by the beginning of the Shen hour. I will boil some coarse tea and await Master Xiao.”
This was a thorough person. Xiao Yi raised his hand in a bow and said, “See you then.”
“Alright, Master Xiao, walk slowly.”
Xiao Yi mounted his horse and rode away, holding the reins.
The blood on his hands had dried, making him uncomfortable, but he wasn’t in a hurry to wash it off. After all, in these times when lives were as cheap as grass, it was rare to have tried to save an innocent life with someone.
Guo Xin was craning his neck to look. Seeing him return, he asked, “Do you know that person? What were you whispering about?”
“We didn’t know each other before, but now we do.”
“You’re really brave.”
“If we don’t gather more intelligence now, it will be too late when they start searching for us.”
“By then, we’ll have already escaped Kaifeng City.”
Xiao Yi said, “Perhaps.”
Guo Xin said, “Since we can’t leave anyway, let’s go home first.”
“No,” Xiao Yi’s attitude was firm. “We’ll find an inn nearby and leave immediately when the city gate opens.”
“But…”
“Remember, Madam asked me to take you north, so strictly follow my orders. Don’t cause trouble, and don’t let her worry about you on top of managing the entire family.”
“Got it.”
“Let’s go,” Xiao Yi said, “First, let’s buy some things. Take me to the market.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
Guo Xin responded loudly, as if venting his dissatisfaction.
They arrived at the southern market. This area was adjacent to the Bian River, with boats coming and going. Warehouses lined both sides of the street, their signs fluttering. The sounds of shouting, bargaining, and porters’ calls were incessant, and people buying New Year Goods jostled shoulder to shoulder.
Walking while leading the horses, they smelled a complex aroma mixed with animal manure, spices, and various ingredients and goods.
“Grumble—”
Xiao Yi looked towards Guo Xin’s stomach at the sound.
“Young Master, my stomach is really not good. Can we eat something warm?”
“Okay, what do you want to eat?”
“Leave the choosing to me.” Guo Xin was overjoyed, looked around, raised his hand, and pointed. “Eat that.”
Following his finger, they saw a stall with four jujube wood poles forming a canopy, covered with only two layers of linen cloth for wind protection, and no sign. An old woman was busy at a stove, shouting, “Dumplings! Freshly made Nirvana Pouches, steamed right here!”
“Eat.”
The four of them sat around a small table on small stools, their heads almost touching. The three members of the Guo family each ordered a basket of pork-filled dumplings, while Xiao Yi ordered three baskets of fish-filled dumplings. He then went to a nearby soup noodle stall and bought a basket of eggs.
“I’ll treat,” Guo Xin said with bravado, turning to Guo Xin, tilting his chin. “You pay first, and I’ll give you eight percent interest later. Let me tell you, the lamb dumplings at banquets are truly delicious.”
A basket of pork dumplings cost five coins, while a basket of fish dumplings cost ten coins, a meal that ordinary people would have to grit their teeth to afford.
According to Xiao Yi’s rough understanding, the monthly pay of a typical soldier was only one to two thousand coins, which was already beyond the reach of most families.
Speaking of which, Zhang Mantun was quite valuable, one thousand strings of cash, one million coins.
What a pity.
A moment later, the dumplings were served, steaming hot.
Guo Xin picked up his chopsticks, took a deep sniff, and said, “Be careful, it’s hot. The soup inside is the most flavorful. Suck it in like this first… Delicious!”
Xiao Yi, being well-traveled, didn’t feel that a few soup dumplings required slow savoring. He ate them calmly and unhurriedly.
He ate with focus and quickly finished the three baskets of dumplings. The next moment, Guo Zongyi pushed the steamer basket over.
“Young Master, you eat more. Ming Yan can’t eat anymore.”
“You little brat,” Guo Xin couldn’t help but say, “Why aren’t you thinking of me? Look how much he’s already eaten.”
Guo Zongyi lowered his head bashfully, occasionally glancing at Xiao Yi with eyes full of admiration.
This was the first warm meal Xiao Yi had eaten in Kaifeng.
