Chapter 52: Open And Frank Discussion
Xiao Yi returned to the woodshed, ordered Lu You, Fan Si, and Wei Liang to rest, took some Hu bing, a water skin, and a felt blanket, and went to the cellar.
The underground was cold and damp, filled with the smell of rotten vegetable leaves and soil.
A faint candlelight illuminated a few pitiable figures.
The old postmaster and two others were bound in the corner, gagged, and huddled fearfully together.
Guo Zongyi and the siblings Hua Guan and Hua Heng were squatting there, playing with stones, seeming to be having a great time.
Jiang Er Niang, who had been softly scolding Hua Nong, turned her head nervously upon hearing the sound.
Guo Xin, however, displayed a maturity beyond her years, guarding the outermost area with a sword, her eyes bright and fixed on Xiao Yi.
“Are you alright?”
“Relax, they aren’t here for us. Even if you’re discovered, just say it’s the belongings of guests who hid out of fear… Here are the blankets for you.”
Xiao Yi distributed the felt blankets, turned back, and whispered to Guo Xin, “I’ve sent Zhan Zhao and one other person ahead to Ye Du to report. Outside is Cao Wei. Do you know him?”
“I’ve heard a little. He was a fierce general under Father in his early years, and his wife, Madam Qin, is a close friend of my mother. They visited occasionally. That’s all I know.”
“He’s likely been coerced. They’re going to assassinate Commander Guo. This group is only staying at the inn for one night and will depart at dawn. Wait until they’ve left before you come out. I’ll leave two guards for you, along with the horses and luggage. Follow their tracks, keeping about half a day behind. If you encounter any danger, come find me immediately.”
Guo Xin quickly asked, “Aren’t you coming with us?”
Xiao Yi said, “I’ll try to talk to Cao Wei. If I can help him solve his problems, the road ahead will be smoother.”
If not, he would only be able to escort the women and children slowly behind Cao Wei, which was not his style of operation, and with the long night ahead, the risks might be even greater.
“Then you be careful too.”
“This is the talisman of the Control Crane Guard Captain. If anything happens, use this to find me.”
“Alright, then I am Captain Qing Wen.”
Xiao Yi walked towards Hua Nong and his wife. First, he said to Jiang Er Niang, “Sister-in-law, you don’t need to worry. The road ahead will only get easier.”
“But they killed so many people…”
“This is a chaotic time,” Xiao Yi said, his tone firm despite his kind demeanor. “Fortune favors the bold. You used to complain about Hua Nong not being ambitious, but now he’s striving for a great future, why aren’t you supporting him?”
Jiang Er Niang mumbled something silently, lowered her head, and dared not speak.
Hua Nong gave a wry smile and said, “Young Master, please don’t mind her. She’s just an ignorant woman… Ow, it hurts, it’s fine, it’s fine. Young Master, don’t worry, I will definitely protect these two. It’s just that this postmaster took good care of us…”
“Alright, no killing. You leave tomorrow. Don’t untie them. That will buy us more time.”
“Okay.”
Xiao Yi then said to the fat postmaster, “If any officers and soldiers come asking later, tell them Commander Cao killed everyone. You’ll be fine. If you dare to betray us, when Commander Guo’s army returns, I’ll be the first to use you three to make an example. Do you understand?”
The three quickly nodded their heads repeatedly, like pounding garlic.
“I’m leaving.”
Just as Xiao Yi was about to leave the cellar, his rough cloth cloak was grabbed.
Turning his head, he saw Guo Zongyi looking at him pleadingly and saying in a small voice, “We finally met up.”
“Alright, I’ll stay a little longer then.”
Although they were hiding, the situation wasn’t tense, so Xiao Yi found a comfortable corner to lean against, wrapped in the felt blanket.
He didn’t say anything more, but his presence alone was enough to reassure everyone.
Soon, Guo Zongyi also relaxed considerably and said, “Young Master, Third Uncle said your singing is terrible.”
“He’s talking nonsense. Don’t believe him, ask Hua Nong.”
“Uncle Hua, is that true?”
A smile appeared on Hua Nong’s face, but his tone was weak. “The Young Master’s singing… is very good.”
“I want to hear it.”
“Sleep for a while,” Xiao Yi yawned. “Make sure to wake me before the third watch…”
After saying that, he unknowingly fell asleep until he was woken by Guo Xin.
Everyone else was asleep. Guo Xin saw him to the cellar entrance and asked in a low voice, “Are you leaving directly when dawn breaks?”
“Yes. Don’t worry, we won’t be far apart.”
“Go, Deputy Commander.”
Guo Xin shook the Captain’s talisman in her hand.
Xiao Yi exited the cellar and closed the wooden board. The faint candlelight disappeared. He tightened his cloak, feeling how bitterly cold it was outside.
The crowing of roosters could be heard in the distance; the Fengguo Army was preparing to depart.
Xiao Yi ordered Lu You and Wei Liang to stay and protect Hua Nong’s group, and took Fan Si to blend in with Cao Wei’s contingent, eating porridge with them. In the dim morning light, they stepped onto the official road covered with snow.
The troops galloped north.
Xiao Yi wanted to gauge Cao Wei’s intentions but hadn’t found an opportunity. He mused that by the time they reached the Yellow River, there would be no more chances.
After more than an hour, Cao Wei suddenly reined in his horse.
“Neigh—”
The fine horse neighed loudly and reared up.
Many cavalrymen, unable to rein in their horses in time, charged past.
“Whoa.”
Xiao Yi reined in his horse and asked, “Commander Cao, what’s wrong?”
“It stepped into a snow pit and injured its hoof.”
“I’ll help the Commander.”
Xiao Yi helped Cao Wei dismount and stood to the side.
A groom from the contingent came to examine the horse and reported, “Commander, the horseshoe is bent. It needs to be removed first.”
Seeing the groom looking for tools, Xiao Yi casually handed him his dagger.
Cao Wei stared at him with his bright, sharp eyes for a moment, then suddenly asked, “You’re going to Chan Prefecture on official business. Could it be… related to Wang Yin?”
Xiao Yi thought for a moment, then showed a look of appropriate difficulty on his face. “To tell the truth, Commander, this matter is of great importance, and I wouldn’t dare speak rashly.”
“Of great importance?”
“It’s nothing more than running errands, checking military provisions, and delivering some unimportant documents.”
Xiao Yi’s words were disjointed, and Cao Wei, as if confused, didn’t catch on and asked, “Oh? Delivering to whom?”
“Perhaps to prevent Khitan raids from the south, the Imperial Court has military orders for the Military Governor of Zhenning.”
Liu Jirong led a horse over and interrupted their conversation, “Commander, please switch horses. We might be able to cross the Yellow River today.”
Cao Wei strode away, glancing back as he left.
Their gazes met, and Xiao Yi could see the deep vigilance and probing in his eyes, as well as the hesitation of wanting to trust but not quite being able to.
In the afternoon, the troops arrived at Baima Port.
The Yellow River ahead was partially frozen.
Liu Jirong personally led men to inspect the crossing.
Cao Wei, saying he was tired, stopped temporarily at the Baima Inn, remarking as he entered.
“This is where Zhu Wen killed over thirty high officials of the Tang Dynasty in one night and threw their bodies into the river.”
The inn was simply furnished but offered shelter from the wind and snow.
Xiao Yi and Fan Si ate millet porridge, wiped the frost from their armor, and paced in the inn to aid digestion. After observing for a while, they still couldn’t find an opportunity to speak with Cao Wei.
In a little while longer, he would have no reason to continue following Cao Wei.
As he paced towards the back courtyard, someone suddenly patted his shoulder.
“Hush.”
In front of him stood an old soldier, who said in a low voice, “Follow me.”
Xiao Yi’s heart stirred, and without showing it, he followed the old soldier through a corridor to the postmaster’s residence.
Pushing open the door, he entered a dim room lit by a single candle.
Cao Wei was sitting opposite the old postmaster, playing chess, with no one else present.
Seeing someone arrive, the old postmaster stood up and said, “This old man will go warm up a cup of wine for the Commander.”
Xiao Yi entered, hearing the sound of the door closing behind him.
“Sit,” Cao Wei said, pointing to a cushion opposite him, and asked, “Do you play chess?”
“No.”
“Your name is ‘Yi,’ yet you don’t play chess. Your name is not fitting.”
Xiao Yi was an orphan in his previous life. He had no name when he was taken in. Others only knew his father’s surname was Xiao and his mother’s surname was Yi, so that’s how he was named.
His background was insignificant. He smiled slightly and said, “Your subordinate is merely a chess piece; he cannot see the entire board.”
Cao Wei picked up a chess piece, looked thoughtfully at him, and then sighed slowly.
“We are both chess pieces.”
“Your subordinate cannot be compared to the Commander.”
Cao Wei said, “Yesterday at Wei Cheng Inn, your explanation was full of loopholes.”
Xiao Yi did not deny it but asked, “Did Envoy Liu also see through it?”
“Don’t worry, he’s only interested in personal gain and has no patience to concern himself with your affairs.”
“Then… your subordinate is guilty. Please punish me, Commander Cao.”
The candlelight flickered, illuminating their faces, which were filled with shifting emotions.
Cao Wei was silent for a long time before speaking.
“If I were to punish you, it would first be for the crime of harming a superior.”
Xiao Yi was startled, but his face remained impassive. He asked, “What do you mean?”
“Cao Dang is my child soldier. He just joined Li Ye and was transferred to be the Control Crane Guard Captain. His dagger was left by a fallen comrade. He never parted with it. Since you took his dagger, you must have killed him.”
The air seemed to freeze.
Xiao Yi’s body tensed, awaiting Cao Wei’s reaction, prepared for the worst.
The room was silent until it was broken by a faint sound.
“Tap.”
Cao Wei finally made his move.
The black piece on the chessboard trembled slightly, then slowly settled, as if with the resolve of a showdown.
“You… killed him well!”
“That boy Cao Dang was ungrateful and opportunistic. He deserved to die!”
Hearing this, Xiao Yi let out a long sigh and asked, “Commander, are you going north to Ye Du on imperial orders to execute Guo Wei?”
“That’s right. And you, going to Chan Prefecture, are you delivering a message to Li Hongwei to execute Wang Yin?”
“Yes.”
Cao Wei picked up his wine cup, rubbed it between his hands, and slowly asked, “What are your plans?”
“I originally intended to go north to serve Commander Guo and seek a future for myself,” Xiao Yi said playfully. “I fear by the time I reach Ye Du, he will have already been executed by Commander Cao.”
Cao Wei was straightforward. He shook his head and said, “I followed the Marshal to pacify the three garrisons. The kindness of promotion and the loyalty of sharing life and death… would I betray him? But with my family’s elders and young ones held at sword’s point, if I don’t obey the imperial decree…”
He stopped halfway through his sentence, drained his wine, and let out a soft sigh that carried immense weight.
“The spirit of a hero is short-lived.”
His knuckles turned white as he gripped the wine cup. Cao Wei’s chest heaved, his eyes filled with indignation, fear, and helplessness.
Xiao Yi knew he wasn’t here for idle chatter and asked, “Commander, what are your plans?”
“Let me see the letter you are to deliver.”
“Alright.”
Xiao Yi produced the secret edict.
Cao Wei looked at it, shook his head, and said, “You can save Wang Yin. He will surely offer you a future.”
Xiao Yi didn’t know how to save him or how great the risk would be, so he remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
Cao Wei said, “After Grand Tutor was brutally killed, Wang Yin became a crucial figure in the Imperial Guard. Li Ye clearly had plans long ago, transferring him and Li Hongwei to Chan Prefecture several months in advance. To kill Wang Yin, it had to be entrusted to someone closest to him. However, Li Ye overlooked one point.”
“What?”
“Li Hongwei is a weak and indecisive person. He might not dare to act.” Cao Wei said, “If you present the Son of Heaven’s secret edict to Wang Yin first, he will surely be able to apprehend Li Hongwei.”
“Are you sure, Commander?”
“I can guarantee it with my head.”
Cao Wei’s tone was resolute, carrying an undeniable power.
He tapped the chessboard lightly with his finger and said, “This will be our first step to turning the tables.”
“And then?”
“Once Wang Yin controls the situation, have him send someone to Kaifeng to rescue my family. Then, dispatch an elite force to help me kill Liu Jirong. I will then go north to Ye Du to ask Commander Guo to raise an army and remove corrupt officials!”
His words struck a chord with Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi didn’t immediately trust Cao Wei. Aside from whether he was testing him, even if events unfolded as described, he, a small chess piece, could still be used or sacrificed. Any posthumous honors from Guo Wei would be meaningless.
“Commander, why are you telling all this to a mere Deputy Commander like me? We’ve known each other for less than a day. Aren’t you afraid I’ll turn around and report you to the Imperial Uncle?”
Cao Wei said calmly, “If I didn’t have this level of insight, I would have died on the battlefield long ago.”
After speaking, he directly produced a letter and said, “Take this. It’s in case you can’t meet Wang Yin smoothly.”
Another letter to deliver. So be it. Guo Wei himself started out as a postman.
Xiao Yi took it and asked, “Liu Jirong…”
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. The old postmaster said from outside, “Commander, the wine is warm. It needs to be drunk while it’s hot.”
Cao Wei stood up, and at the same time, as if issuing a military order, he threw down a sentence.
“Forty li north of Liyang County, at Baigou Canal, kill Liu Jirong.”
