Chapter 53: The Messenger
Dusk approached, and the four directions were dim.
Along the official road, starved corpses gnawed down to white bones were occasionally visible.
Scattered refugees, upon seeing two armored officers with three horses galloping towards them, fled into ditches and thickets as if avoiding snakes and scorpions.
Xiao Yi and Fan Si swept past, as swift as flying birds.
Finally.
In the distance, the silhouette of a grand city lay in the snow mist, with a few wisps of cooking smoke indicating life still existed in this land.
Chan Prefecture straddled the Yellow River, with cities on both banks; the prefecture seat was sometimes in the north and sometimes in the south. Currently, Wang Yin and Li Hongwei were stationed in the south city.
The city walls were majestic, the watchtowers numerous, the sentries vigilant. Large banners on the battlements fluttered in the wind and snow, and the glint of armor on the defenders was faintly visible, with stricter vigilance than in the prefectures and counties passed along the way.
Outside the city, however, the civilian residences were sparse, dilapidated, and desolate. There were only continuous camps and watchtowers, exuding an oppressive atmosphere of slaughter.
Xiao Yi reined in his horse and observed the inspection at the city gate. Although the gate was not closed, the guards appeared subtly vigilant.
“Fan Si, find a reliable inn outside the city to stay.”
“And you, Commander?”
“I will enter the city alone. We will meet here tomorrow. If I haven’t sent word by noon, you must immediately head north to Ye Du and find Tie Ya. Tell him there’s trouble in Chan Prefecture and to find a way to save me.”
Fan Si’s expression sharpened, and he clasped his fist. “Understood! Commander, please be careful in all matters.”
Xiao Yi nodded, handed him the reins of the extra horses, and urged his horse into the city.
At the city gate, the guards checked the talisman, and respectfully granted passage.
“Excuse me, where is Commander Wang’s mansion? He is the Commander of the Imperial Guards Infantry.”
Just as the guard was about to answer, he pointed towards the outside of the city. “The Young General has arrived. Commander, you can go with him.”
Over ten horsemen galloped over. The one in the lead was a young man in his early twenties, with a tall and straight bearing, sharp brows, and bright eyes. He wore exquisite scale armor over a brocade robe, exuding a confident air.
“Whoa—”
The Young General reined in his horse at the city gate, one hand on the reins. His horse’s hooves kicked up, narrowly missing the city guard. His horsemanship was clearly impressive.
“Hey, soldier, why are you pointing at me? Is there another courier from the capital?”
“Young General, you are truly remarkable. This Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard has a letter for the Commander.”
“Haha… A letter for me is just as good. I am Wang Chengxun, the second son of the Commander’s mansion.”
Xiao Yi also clasped his fist and stated his name. “This letter is important and must be delivered to the Commander personally.”
Looking at Wang Chengxun, Xiao Yi saw his eyes were bright and his demeanor was spirited.
Since he had just heard “another courier from the capital,” Xiao Yi scanned Wang Chengxun’s entourage and indeed saw a rider covered in snow, with muddy boots. This person was dressed as an Imperial Guard, and his armor was still stained with some blood.
Xiao Yi couldn’t help but recall Shi Deyu’s confession: the talisman seal had been tricked away by an Imperial Guard.
“Follow me, I’ll take you to see my father… Giddy up!”
Without waiting for him to mount, Wang Chengxun directly spurred his horse into the city, moving at a considerable speed but with ease, not colliding with any pedestrians.
Xiao Yi spurred his horse in pursuit.
The streets of Chan Prefecture were wide, and there weren’t many pedestrians, but their expressions were relatively calm. Most shops near the city gate were open, and the sounds of soldiers’ revelry could be heard from the taverns.
Overall, there was an atmosphere of tense order, with Wang Yin’s administrative skills evident in subtle details.
After galloping for about half a quarter of an hour, they reached an official yamen ahead. The entrance was heavily guarded, with over ten guards in helmets and armor, hands on their swords, exuding the fierce aura of seasoned veterans.
“Second Young Master.”
“Where is Father? There’s someone from the Imperial Guard.”
“The Commander is in the study discussing important matters with the Eldest Young Master and may not be convenient to receive guests.”
Wang Chengxun casually dropped his whip, turned to Xiao Yi, and praised with a smile, “Your horsemanship is truly remarkable.”
“You are too kind.”
“Father is busy. You can rest in the side room for now and have something to eat.”
Xiao Yi said, “The matter is urgent. May I trouble the Young General to announce my arrival?”
“Alright.” Wang Chengxun agreed very readily, led him to a side hall, and said, “Please wait here.”
With that, he strode inside and announced the arrival personally.
The time Xiao Yi waited was not long. Wang Chengxun returned with someone, but it wasn’t Wang Yin.
This man was nearly thirty, with an outstanding demeanor. He sported a short beard on his upper lip, adding a touch of maturity.
“This is my elder brother, Cheng Hui.”
“Deputy Commander Xiao comes from Kaifeng. May I ask whom you are dispatched by?”
Wang Cheng Hui’s gaze was sharp and scrutinizing, his voice clear and carrying an inherent authority.
Xiao Yi clasped his fist and replied, “I am dispatched by Imperial Uncle Li Ye, and also entrusted by Commander Cao Jieshuai.”
“What is it?”
“It concerns the lives of the entire Wang family.”
Wang Cheng Hui’s expression immediately became solemn.
“Elder Brother,” Wang Chengxun asked with a smile, “Did I guess correctly?”
Wang Cheng Hui did not answer. He solemnly bowed to Xiao Yi and said, “Deputy Commander Xiao, please.”
“Thank you.”
They passed through several courtyards and arrived at a quiet and elegant courtyard.
Wang Cheng Hui ascended the steps and said respectfully outside the door, “Father, I have brought the person.”
“At this hour, Elder Brother still adheres to etiquette.”
Wang Chengxun, without waiting for a response from the study, strode forward and pushed open the door directly.
Xiao Yi followed him inside and saw a man seated behind a large desk, about fifty years old. His face was angular, as if chiseled by a knife, and his tiger-like eyes radiated brilliance when they opened and closed, exuding an imposing presence even without anger. However, a large scar on his lips was striking.
“Father, he has a letter from Cao Wei.”
“Where is the letter?”
Xiao Yi presented the letter.
Wang Yin took the letter, tore open the envelope, and his gaze swept over it like lightning. His face showed no discernible emotion, only a barely perceptible twitch of the muscles on his cheek.
Finally, he placed the letter on the desk, raised his heavy gaze to look at Xiao Yi, and spoke, his voice hoarse, his tone somewhat eerie due to the old scar on his lips.
“The ‘disaster’ mentioned in the letter, where does it originate?”
Xiao Yi spoke directly and took out the secret edict. “To answer the Commander, this is a secret edict from Li Ye ordering me to deliver to Li Hongwei.”
Wang Cheng Hui first took it and carefully examined the silk material and the sealing wax and impression, confirming its authenticity before placing it on Wang Yin’s desk.
Wang Yin’s eyes narrowed slightly, like a sleeping tiger, and he remained silent for a long time.
This reaction was beyond Xiao Yi’s expectation. He had thought that this fifth-generation military man would erupt in anger upon seeing the Son of Heaven decree his execution, but instead, he just seemed dazed.
It couldn’t be presbyopia that made him unable to see clearly.
Wang Cheng Hui, who had clearly seen the contents of the secret edict, turned ashen, his hands trembling slightly. However, when he spoke, his voice was restrained, still carrying a hint of scrutiny.
“Deputy Commander Xiao, I have a question I wish to ask presumptuously: you are so young, why did Li Ye send you?”
“I am the adopted son of Prime Minister Li Gongsong, later reduced to slavery in the Shi residence. Then, the Shi residence underwent upheaval. Li Ye ordered me to come and deliver a letter to Marshal Wang.”
Wang Yin finally shifted his gaze from the secret edict to Xiao Yi and sighed, “At such a young age, to have experienced so many upheavals. This is truly a reflection of these chaotic times where people kill each other.”
Just as Xiao Yi was about to reply,
Wang Chengxun interjected first.
“Father, at this point, sighing and acting like a woman is of no use. Previously, when Li Ye sent both you and Li Hongwei to Chan Prefecture, I declared he had sinister intentions. Elder Brother thought it wouldn’t go this far, but am I proven right today?”
Wang Cheng Hui sighed, “Knowing his hidden malice, who could have known he would be driven to madness?”
“A decision must be made.” Wang Chengxun suddenly raised his voice. “The court is filled with corrupt officials, and the young ruler is ignorant, destroying his own foundation. In this world, should one offer their neck to be executed? Father commands the elite Imperial Guard, Chan Prefecture is well-supplied with troops and provisions. We should immediately muster our forces, march south, strike directly at Kaifeng, remove the corrupt officials, and rectify the imperial court.”
“Absolutely not!”
Wang Cheng Hui immediately interrupted, turning to Wang Yin, his tone urgent yet calm.
“Father, Kaifeng City is heavily fortified. Although Li Ye and Su Fengji are mediocre, they hold the capital and command a large army. To rashly raise an army would be considered rebellion. At that time, all the feudatories would stand by and watch, leaving us isolated outside the city. We would be unable to conquer the city, and we would have nowhere to retreat, bringing disaster upon our entire family.”
Wang Yin did not answer, his eyes filled with contemplation.
Wang Cheng Hui quickly turned to Xiao Yi and asked, “Commander Cao sent you here, presumably hoping my father would contact Commander Guo of Ye Du?”
“That is correct.” Xiao Yi replied in a deep voice. “General Cao said that Li Hongwei is hesitant and indecisive. If the Commander can control the situation in Chan Prefecture, he asks that a contingent of elites be sent to rescue the families of various officials. He can then seize the opportunity to eliminate Liu Jirong, head north, and join Commander Guo in this great endeavor.”
After speaking, he glanced at Wang Chengxun, guessing that this Second Young Master Wang must have some other stratagem yet to reveal.
As expected.
“Opportunity knocks but once, and time waits for no man.” Wang Chengxun spoke decisively. “To eliminate corrupt officials and quell chaos, success is achieved in an instant. How can we allow Elder Brother to slowly contact others and proceed gradually?”
“Commander Guo has a strong army and horses. Contacting him to jointly pursue this great undertaking is a stable method.”
“Then who will be the leader and who will be the subordinate? If one hesitates to act, one will be thrown into chaos. Father must act unexpectedly and strike first to seize control of the situation!”
“Nonsense! Without a foolproof plan, how can we lightly start a war and put our family in peril?”
“To achieve success, one must grasp the ever-changing situation in an instant. Is it possible to seek perfection in all matters? I have prepared something for Father. After Elder Brother has seen it, he can then deliberate further.”
With that, Wang Chengxun took out a small cloth bundle from his embrace and placed it on the desk.
Xiao Yi’s gaze sharpened, thinking to himself that it was as he suspected.
The item that Nie Wenjin, Liu Zhu, and others had desperately searched for was indeed in Wang Chengxun’s hands.
He shook the cloth bundle, and a brass Military Tally first fell out. It continued the Tang dynasty’s taboo against “Li Hu” by being shaped like a fish, about half a palm in length. On the desk, it split into two halves, with twelve fine serrations at the joint, arranged intricately and fitting perfectly. The right half was inscribed with “Commander of the Imperial Bodyguard,” and the left half was inscribed with “Made in Tianfu Ninth Year.” Both the command tally and the imperial tally were present, indicating Shi Hongzhao’s arrogance.
Next, a bronze Seal fell out, cast with a beast as its knob, with a hole in its mouth for a red ribbon. The seal face was carved with five characters, “Bureau of Military Affairs’ Seal,” in nine-tier seal script. Faint reddish ink marks remained around the edge of the seal face.
“Ding.”
With a light sound, like the clash of metal and horses, the power to command all under heaven seemed to be contained within this small area.
Wang Chengxun smiled and turned his head, his gaze fixed intently on Xiao Yi.
“Deputy Commander Xiao, the Emperor is being coerced by corrupt officials and has sent you with a secret edict, a Military Tally, and a Command Seal to Father, ordering him to raise troops and march into the capital to remove the corrupt officials and save the Son of Heaven from dire straits, is that not so?!”
Xiao Yi met Wang Chengxun’s gaze and saw a young man filled with righteous indignation and surging battle intent.
At that moment, he had genuinely considered whether he had altered the course of history, and whether the throne would not necessarily belong to Guo Wei, but perhaps to Wang Yin instead.
“Enough!”
Wang Yin let out a low roar, like a clap of thunder.
A cold light flashed in his eyes. He stood up, took two steps forward, raised his hand, and slapped his second son soundly.
“Slap!”
“Father?”
“Insolent fool who knows no bounds.”
“Does Father not know that whoever has the stronger army and more horses should be the one to do it? Is it by lineage?”
“Slap!”
Wang Yin’s hand shot out again, delivering another slap.
The study fell into dead silence.
After a moment, Wang Yin’s voice, hoarse, finally spoke.
“Eldest Young Master.”
“Your son is here.”
“Keep a close eye on this scoundrel, and then order Chen Guang Sui to assemble the guards and await orders.”
“Yes.”
Wang Yin snatched the secret edict from the desk. The Military Tally and Command Seal rolled to the side, making a light clatter.
He thrust the secret edict into Xiao Yi’s embrace and said, “You, come with this old man.”
