Chapter 36: Stealing The Order
Two candles were lit, standing on the desk.
The small hut became a little brighter.
The four sat around the broken square table, Guo Zongyi looking at Hua Nong, surprise shining in his eyes, as if he couldn’t believe this city guard had become one of them.
Xiao Yi did not reveal his and Guo Xin’s identities, not because he didn’t trust Hua Nong, but because there was no need to increase the risk.
“Hua Nong, you are a messenger. Can you find a way to deliver an order to temporarily open the city gate?”
Hua Nong’s tears had not yet dried, but his demeanor was greatly changed. He nodded vigorously and said, “Yes, although the city gate is closed, the documents and silver for the Imperial Court’s exchanges must pass. They have even been quite frequent these past two days. As long as there is an order from a superior.”
“Is it difficult to obtain an order?”
“Not too difficult. I often handle documents for Leader Sun, so I can use his seal to stamp one. There are also the usual orders for opening the city in the city tower.”
Xiao Yi said decisively, “I will pose as your brother-in-law and go with you to the city tower. Tonight, we will obtain the order, and after meeting up with my guard, Zhan Zhao, we will leave the city.”
“Alright.”
“When we leave the city, they will pose as your two children, and you and I will pose as Imperial envoys.”
“Alright.”
“Since your wife is outside the city and you have no worries, you will leave with us after exiting the city, and go to Ye Du.”
Hua Nong hesitated for a moment, glancing around the room.
Xiao Yi said, “There’s no need to be reluctant. When you reach Ye Du, you won’t regret this decision.”
“Young Master, please rest assured, I have no reluctance, only regret for these books.”
“There will be books again, and many more than these.”
“Will I have a study in the future?”
“More than just a study, you can even build a library if you wish.”
“What is a ‘library’?”
“We’ll talk about it when there’s time.”
Xiao Yi turned to Guo Xin and Guo Zongyi and said, “You two wait here, extinguish the candlelight, don’t make a sound, we will lock the outer door.”
“Alright.”
“I’ll leave the sword for you.”
Xiao Yi left his personal sword. After thinking, fearing a search, he also left Li Tao’s letter and Shi Residence’s talisman in his luggage.
Shi Deyuan’s jade pendant was useless, but he could carry it. He would sell it for cheap at dawn, and discard it anytime if searched.
Guo Xin asked with concern, “Your leg injury…”
“It’s nothing.”
“Wait, and your face.”
Guo Wuniang took out the prepared medicinal juice from the luggage and smeared it on Xiao Yi’s face.
“There, that’s less conspicuous. Give me your hand.”
“Revenge served?”
“Hmph, you deserve it.”
“Let’s go.”
“Young Master, please wait.”
Hua Nong rummaged through boxes and cabinets, finding a slightly worn military robe with patches. He said, “This is my old uniform. Please bear with me, Young Master, it will be more convenient on the city wall.”
Xiao Yi changed into the robe and saw a conical hat in the box. He took it and put it on.
“Alright.”
“Young Master, please.”
“I am your brother-in-law now. What is your wife’s surname? Do you actually have a brother-in-law?”
“Yes, my brother-in-law’s name is Xu Feng. He lives at Wa Po Village, about forty li northeast of Kaifeng City, and has a few acres of farmland.”
“Noted. Last month, I injured my foot with a hoe while farming and came into the city to buy medicine and some New Year goods… Lock the door.”
As they spoke, the two had already left the courtyard and merged into the cold night of Kaifeng City.
The night was as dark as ink. The wind and snow had slightly subsided, but the cold was even more intense. The patrols on the streets were also clearly more frequent. The sounds of the watchman’s beat and footsteps echoed in the distance, making it even more solemn.
Getting closer, soon, the silhouette of the tall barbican of Cao Gate appeared before their eyes.
The city tower was brightly lit with torches, figures moving about, the clashing of armor plates and the low shouts of officers occasionally heard, showing strict vigilance.
At the horse path on the city wall, a few guards huddled together, sharing a pot of strong liquor. Seeing Hua Nong, one said, “Here comes ‘Pusbag’, who did you bring?”
“My brother-in-law.”
“He’s a cripple, isn’t he? Did you send your wife back yet?”
“You’re joking, you’re joking.”
They climbed the steep horse path to the city wall. The cold wind hit their faces, and the view suddenly opened up.
The city lights spread out below; every ten paces along the parapet of the city wall stood a guard holding a halberd; the watchman carried a lantern, walking around the city wall and beating his watch; the figures of archers loomed in the shadows of the arrow tower.
The wilderness outside the city was black and stretched endlessly, with only the distant mountains like slumbering giant beasts.
Xiao Yi smelled a hint of freedom.
Four guards leaned casually at the entrance of the city tower. Seeing someone approach, they stood up, holding their spears.
“‘Pusbag’? Weren’t you on duty this month? What are you doing here?”
“They said Leader Sun had something to call me for.”
“And who is this person?”
“My brother-in-law. He came to Kaifeng to buy New Year goods and is staying at my home. The captain is short-handed tonight, so he’s letting him lend a hand.”
“Go on, I don’t have the patience to listen to your babbling. Go inside.”
Inside the city tower was a building shaped like the character “工” (gōng), divided into an inner and outer room. The outer room was a general hall for soldiers to rest and treat injuries, with stairs on both sides leading to the second floor. The inner room contained a desk piled with official documents and maps, presumably used for discussing military affairs.
Hua Nong raised his hand and pointed upwards, mouthing that Sun’s office was upstairs.
Xiao Yi nodded and peeked into the inner room. No one was there at night.
He then gestured, asking if the seal was inside.
Hua Nong whispered, “There might be an order to temporarily open the city gate on the desk.”
The military officer was lazy and didn’t bother to sign documents temporarily, so he didn’t file the military orders for opening the city. He just took them out when needed.
The two then tiptoed into the inner room, lit a candle, and looked through the documents on the desk.
Snoring could be heard through the floorboards from above, adding a touch of tension.
Xiao Yi’s gaze swept over the top two military orders and he picked them up.
“It is hereby ordered that rebels are absconding and causing great harm. All units are to search and apprehend this criminal, approximately twenty years old, with a handsome appearance. Any such individual found in the streets, residences, temples, or camps nearby is to be surrounded and reported to the authorities, without fail or delay. This criminal carries important items. Upon capture, they must be thoroughly sealed and brought to this office with the criminal. Those who dare to secretly harbor or allow escape will be executed immediately. Unit commanders who fail to supervise will be punished with demotion and their property confiscated.”
This must be about the search for Guo Xin.
Afterwards, he looked at the second order and found that the content was largely the same, but with strange subtle differences.
“Look.”
Hua Nong pressed his face against the military order and said, “These two military orders are the same.”
“No.”
Xiao Yi shook his head and pointed to the imprint of Nie Wenjin, the Commander of the Right Wing, and the seal of the Commander of the Right Wing’s Office on the first military order.
“Nie Wenjin is in charge of the Right Wing, yet he passed the order to the Left Wing. Furthermore, there is neither the seal of the Commander of the Imperial Bodyguard nor the seal of the Commissioner. Look at this one: it has the imprint of Liu Zhu, the Deputy Commander of the Infantry, and the seal of the Imperial Infantry. It is much more legitimate.”
“Indeed it is.”
“Both military orders state ‘the carried important items are to be escorted to this office.’ The problem is that the two ‘this office’ are different: one is Nie Wenjin, the other is Liu Zhu.”
“Young Master, are you saying… they are fighting for power?”
“Mm.”
“Leader Sun must have called you for this matter.”
“I see. Then if he asks me whose military order I followed, what should I say?”
“It’s not too late to worry about it after he catches the culprit. Why bother now? Take this opportunity to consolidate your military power by mobilizing personnel. He’s illiterate, so you’ll have to write the mobilization orders. You can then sign an order to leave the city.”
“Young Master is brilliant, I am in awe.”
Although Xiao Yi had a plan, he continued to search for documents that could be used to leave the city.
The two searched for a while longer when suddenly a shout came from outside.
“Who’s inside?!”
They immediately stopped their actions.
Xiao Yi handed the candle to Hua Nong and motioned for him to respond.
“It’s me.”
Hua Nong walked out, saying as he went, “Leader Sun called me here, but I haven’t seen him.”
“You ‘Pusbag’, why are you only arriving now? Commander Sun is already asleep. He’s upstairs. Come with me.”
“Alright.”
Without the candlelight, Xiao Yi calmly sat down in the inner room and waited.
Not long after, the snoring from the floorboards stopped, and a hoarse voice, slurred from just waking up, spoke.
“Hm? Hm! ‘Pusbag’ is here. Uh, take a look for me. The superiors have issued many military orders. It’s annoying to be promoted and not know how to read. Go take a look, yes, that one. Damn it, there’s so much text!”
“…”
“No wonder. I was wondering why there were two identical military orders, like a double yolk. So, should I escort the criminal to General Nie or Prefect Liu? It’s so difficult, so difficult!”
“…”
“Hm! That makes sense, let’s do it that way. You’ve become much more astute. You’ve got your eye on Old Zhao’s position and are finally willing to put in some effort. Don’t worry, hahaha! Sign a few military orders for me first, just as you said, mobilize troops to search and see which bastards are disobedient. That’s it.”
In a short while, snoring could be heard from the floorboards again.
When Hua Nong came down again, he was holding several military orders. He eagerly placed one in front of Xiao Yi, a pleased expression on his face.
Xiao Yi looked and indeed, it was an order to leave the city. He couldn’t help but smile slightly.
It was done.
Tomorrow, he would meet up with Guo Xin and could forge military orders to leave the city at any time.
Thus, Chai Shouyu’s entrustment had passed the first and most difficult hurdle.
The superiors prided themselves on Kaifeng’s defenses being as impenetrable as an iron bucket, but in reality, an iron bucket is made up of countless small individuals. Change their minds, and the defenses would crumble on their own.
The two quickly exited the city tower, breathing in the cold air from the city walls, and simultaneously let out a long sigh of relief.
“Young Master’s plans are divine. This subordinate has fortunately not failed my mission… I thought it would be very difficult to obtain, but it wasn’t difficult at all.”
“Finding the right person makes it easy,” Xiao Yi said. “But if you find the wrong person, it will be eternal damnation.”
Precisely because he knew this “eternal damnation,” he felt grateful. He patted Hua Nong’s shoulder and saw the aspiration for the future in Hua Nong’s narrowed eyes.
To be able to abandon everything and gamble on a future, such decisiveness was not easily achieved.
Xiao Yi intended to tell him that his efforts today would surely be worthwhile.
But as confidants, so much was unspoken between them.
The moon was like a hook. Under the moonlight, the city wall separated the myriad lights of the city from the grandeur of the mountains and rivers. On the city wall, the two looked at each other and laughed heartily.
