Chapter 49: Wei Cheng Inn
The wind and snow whipped at them, like knives scraping their faces, making it impossible to open their eyes.
Xiao Yi led his men at a gallop for nearly an hour. Ahead, a solitary small inn stood by the official road.
Hearing the commotion from afar, he looked towards it, seeing merchants, travelers, and even officials being driven out of the inn. He quickly urged his horse to speed up.
“Giddy up!”
The small inn was built against the dirt slope beside the official road. Its courtyard walls were made of rammed yellow earth. Two unpainted old wooden doors hung a wooden sign with the words “Wei Cheng Inn” inscribed on it, so worn they were almost illegible.
The stable was built in the adjacent courtyard, with several horses tied inside.
Xiao Yi did not dismount, but rode directly into the pitted courtyard. He saw several more horses in the yard, and within the inn’s main hall, soldiers could be faintly seen surrounding a few people.
The voices from inside carried clearly.
“Captain Mu, you are mistaken. This subordinate is merely taking my family north to visit relatives.”
“Grandfather has no time to waste with a good-for-nothing like you, Guo Sanlang. Put down your saber.”
“You are only pursuing me, Guo Xin, alone. Let them go!”
“Impossible.”
“Brother-in-law, who do you think you are, Guo Xin?”
“Wuwu! What are you doing, my dear husband?”
Several people spoke at once, chattering like a market.
Xiao Yi rode to the outside of the hall and saw thirteen soldiers controlling the inn’s doors, windows, and stairs. The seven being surrounded were Guo Xin, Guo Xin, Guo Xin, Guo Zongyi, and a woman who, like a mother hen protecting her chicks, was clutching a pair of children.
Guo Xin held Hua Nong’s saber, his expression one of utter desperation.
Guo Xin, holding a sword in one hand, tightly shielded Guo Zongyi, whose small face was pale and who was trembling all over, behind her.
She was the first to see Xiao Yi, and surprise bloomed in her eyes. She was about to call out.
Xiao Yi made a silencing gesture and shouted, “Stop!”
At this moment, he finally managed to rein in his horse. The warhorse reared, neighing, and everyone in the inn turned to look.
“Ah! It’s…”
Guo Zongyi also recognized him and almost shouted out, but Guo Xin quickly covered the child’s mouth.
Xiao Yi exchanged a glance with her for a moment, then immediately stated, “Xiao Yi, Deputy Commander of the Left Wing of the Control Crane Guard, is here on official business. Which military unit are you from?!”
Hua Nong stood in front of the women and children, squinting his eyes, not quite recognizing him. He clearly didn’t understand how Xiao Yi had suddenly become a captain in just two days, leading several fierce soldiers, considering he had been a flag bearer in the military for half his life. After a while, he let out a long sigh of relief, a joyous smile appearing on his face.
Guo Xin was overjoyed, grinning foolishly without a sound.
The soldier in charge turned his head, looking Xiao Yi up and down, and spoke with an arrogant tone.
“Mu Gong, Commander of the Fifth Division of the Third Army, Right Wing, Dragon Leap Guard, Cavalry Formation, Imperial Bodyguard. I am here on orders to apprehend a fugitive. Please go elsewhere to rest.”
“So, it’s Captain Mu.”
Xiao Yi dismounted and strode inside. He clasped his hands lightly, his gaze sweeping over Guo Xin, and asked, “May I ask, Captain Mu, are these the family members of Guo Wei, the Ye Du Garrison Commander?”
Mu Gong replied, “And if they are?”
Xiao Yi, his face expressionless, revealed the talisman of the Control Crane Guard. His voice was stern, “I am here on a secret edict to apprehend these criminals. I request that Captain Mu hand them over to me.”
“You wish.”
“What do you mean by that, Captain Mu?”
“Get lost.”
Xiao Yi sneered, took out the secret edict from his inner garments, and unfurled a corner, allowing Mu Gong to see the imperial seal stamped on it.
“How about now?”
Mu Gong’s expression changed, and he reached out to snatch it for a closer look.
Xiao Yi directly withdrew his hand, rolled up the silk, and put it in his inner garments, saying indifferently, “This is a secret edict, not convenient for you to examine.”
“If I don’t see it, how can I know what your mission is? What if you’re trying to steal credit from us?”
“If you delay the Emperor’s business, can you bear the consequences?”
Mu Gong’s expression was ugly, his eyes shifting uncertainly. Finally, he declared resolutely, “I will not, based on this alone, hand over the culprits I have captured to you. Even if we go to the Emperor, there is no such logic!”
“What if I insist?”
“Then I will tell you two principles: first come, first served, and the few cannot defeat the many.”
Xiao Yi let out a scoff.
Zhang Mantun immediately stepped forward with his saber, Fan Si drew an arrow from his quiver, and Lu You and Wei Liang also reacted, drawing their sabers.
“You dare?” Mu Gong roared.
His twelve subordinates turned around, their hands on their saber hilts, their expressions unfriendly.
The atmosphere was tense.
Xiao Yi quickly surveyed the inn’s environment.
Besides the front courtyard, there was a back courtyard with a mule cart. The kitchen and woodshed were faintly visible in the rear auxiliary rooms, and there was definitely a back door.
Four square tables were arranged in the main hall. By the counter near the door, a fat postmaster and two thin inn attendants huddled. Wine jars were placed in a corner. To the east were two communal bedrooms, and to the west was a staircase leading to the second floor, with three guest rooms on the east and west sides upstairs.
His mind raced. He slowed his tone and said, “How about this: I only need a statement. You can temporarily detain the culprits here at the inn for me to interrogate for one night. Captain Mu and your brothers can also rest for a while, and the food and wine will be on me. Tomorrow morning, you can escort the culprits back to Kaifeng for merit, and I will use the statement to report to my superiors. It’s a win-win situation, why not?”
Mu Gong’s fleshy face twitched. “Why should we hand over the people we caught for you to interrogate?”
Xiao Yi beckoned to Lu You and said, “Get Captain Mu a bag of yellow fish.”
Lu You then took a small bag of gold from Cao Dang’s saddlebags and tossed it over.
Mu Gong took it and looked, a hint of calculation flashing in his eyes.
“Not enough. Give me a copy of the interrogation results as well. We brothers will earn merit together.”
“This involves state secrets. If Brother Mu knows too much, it might not be good for you. Perhaps you could just make things convenient?”
Since he had called them brothers, Xiao Yi’s tone became a little more polite, but his gaze became even colder, as if Mu Gong would not be treated politely if he refused.
Several soldiers from the Dragon Leap Guard, seeing the gold, went to Mu Gong’s side and whispered a few words.
In the end, Mu Gong nodded.
“Very well. We are all fellow soldiers. We will make things convenient for you.”
“Thank you, Brother Mu.”
Xiao Yi clasped his hands lightly and said to Zhang Mantun, “Put away your saber and escort the prisoners.”
“Understood!”
Zhang Mantun casually tucked his saber into his waist, stretched his muscles, and walked towards Guo Xin, muttering, “You dog monkey, I’ll fight you bare-handed. If you lose, honestly…”
“Go to hell!”
Guo Xin stole a glance at Xiao Yi and roared, slashing at Zhang Mantun.
With a dull thud, he was kicked flying by Zhang Mantun, landing on a desk. His saber clattered to the floor.
Two soldiers immediately stepped forward and bound him tightly.
Seeing this, Mu Gong couldn’t help but sneer and spit, “Damn it, I thought he was tough. Just a show.”
Guo Xin spat back, “We’ll see, you idiot.”
Xiao Yi stepped forward, slapped Guo Xin, and ordered, “Shut his stinking mouth and take him up.”
“Understood.” Zhang Mantun lifted Guo Xin and went upstairs, saying, “Little monkey, let’s go.”
“Arrest them too and keep them all in the East Wing.”
“Understood!”
“Postmaster, serve good wine and food to the brothers of the Dragon Leap Guard.”
“Hahaha, thanks to Captain Xiao’s favor, shall we stable your horses for you?”
“No need, we’ll do it ourselves.”
The thirteen Dragon Leap Guards, seemingly carefree, occupied the main hall and guarded the front and back doors.
Xiao Yi and Lu You stabled their horses and went upstairs with their luggage.
Ascending the stairs, they saw Wei Liang and Fan Si guarding the East Wing room door, whispering to each other.
“I bet half a string of coins that the squinting one is the noble person the captain mentioned. He looks educated. And there are four children, but the wife is a bit fierce.”
Fan Si shook his head. “I bet a string. I think Brother Tie Ya can handle that one. He’s quite skilled.”
“Foolish donkey.” Zhang Mantun happened to come out. “That’s me, being not ordinary.”
“Tie Ya, guard the stairs. Don’t let anyone come up.”
“Don’t worry!”
Xiao Yi nodded and walked to the outside of the East Wing room, hearing the woman crying and nagging incessantly.
“It’s all your fault! It was bad enough that you were useless before, but what possessed you to abandon your good job and become an outlaw? Wuwu, the children are still so young, bringing them to this frozen wasteland, and now their lives are not even safe…”
Entering the room, it was simple and permeated with cold air.
Xiao Yi saw Hua Nong’s troubled face, completely unable to comfort his wife. He said, “Are you Sister-in-law? Don’t worry, don’t worry. I am one of your own. Not only will your lives be saved, but you will also have great fortune.”
“You… Officer, spare my life.”
The woman only dared to scold Hua Nong. Seeing Xiao Yi’s armor, she was too frightened to look up and continued to cry profusely.
Hua Nong squinted his eyes, a smile appearing on his face. “Young Master has indeed come. It’s a pity I am useless and was captured after only bringing them this far. I have failed Young Master’s trust.”
“It’s not your fault. They are women and children, after all. It’s natural they couldn’t escape the mounted soldiers.”
“Er Niang, this is Young Master Xiao. He is very remarkable, and I intend to follow him to achieve great things. Young Master, this is my humble wife, Madam Jiang. Our daughter is Ah Wan, and our son is Ah Heng. Quickly, greet Young Master.”
“No need for formalities.”
Xiao Yi looked. Madam Jiang had a strong commoner’s aura, her face weathered, clearly indicating that managing the household was not easy. Hua Wan was two years older than Guo Xin, a young woman just past her coming-of-age, not particularly attractive, and cowered behind her mother. Hua Heng looked about seven or eight years old, also not handsome, but his small eyes were bright and spirited, appearing quite clever.
“Young Master, are you the elder brother Ah Yi mentioned?” Hua Heng asked curiously. “Weren’t you a fugitive? How did you become a soldier? You’re really amazing.”
“I was never a fugitive. We are going to join the loyal officials persecuted by the court and eliminate the corrupt officials.”
“Oh, I understand now. Father could never explain it clearly.”
Xiao Yi smiled, patted Hua Heng’s head, and signaled Lu You to bring out the provisions from the luggage. “You all eat something first.”
“Okay.”
Seeing this, Guo Zongyi hurried to Hua Heng’s side, smiling happily at Xiao Yi. Xiao Yi then patted his head as well.
Guo Xin had been wanting to speak but his mouth was gagged, making muffled sounds.
As for Guo Xin, she sat in the corner hugging her knees, having not found an opportunity to speak, but her eyes were shining, filled with joy.
After they had all eaten their fill and the joy of reunion had settled, Xiao Yi beckoned his subordinates and gave them quiet instructions.
“Get Mu Gong and the others drunk. Make your move at night. Leave no one alive.”
