Chapter 95: Imperial Guard Daily Life
Xiao Yi had wanted a quiet day, but was disturbed again and felt a touch of regret, saying, “Why have you come so early?”
“I didn’t see you all day yesterday, I missed you.”
Guo Xin was informal, sat by the bed, and asked, “Have you been sleeping the whole time? You didn’t go to the celebration. The taverns in the city were all full last night.”
“Resting was comfortable.”
Xiao Yi stretched, and this sleep was so comfortable it made him feel like he had grown taller.
Guo Xin said, “I didn’t drink either. Let’s go today, clear our heads.”
“We need to give rewards to the brothers.”
“Ha, I’m so smart, I already got the reward money back. Hua Nong is distributing it. We had the most military achievements, and also served with the Imperial Guard, so we’ll receive double pay from now on. Everyone is overjoyed.”
Xiao Yi listened closely and indeed, there was jubilant shouting outside the dormitory.
He got up, walked around the screen, and naturally took the umbrella from Guo Xin’s hand, put it aside, and asked, “Did Brother Chong Jin ask you for it?”
“Ah?”
Guo Xin was taken aback, clearly not having seen Li Chongjin, and said, “I was using it for the wind and snow.”
She took the umbrella back and put it by her feet.
The siblings sat down at the tea table.
Guo Xin put a small bundle on the table with a “smack.”
“Father said that the Empress Dowager got ahead of him by rewarding you with an official post, which made things difficult for him. If he didn’t promote you, he’d seem petty, but promoting you too quickly would harm you. For now, you’ll concurrently hold the positions in the Tianxiong Army and the Inner Palace Guard. We’ll discuss it further once everything is settled. You understand what you need to do.”
“I understand the Marshal’s grace.”
“Heh, that’s good. You even added Acting Libationer of the Imperial Academy. Your literary talent isn’t as good as mine, making a fool of yourself, right?”
“It’s just an empty title, not worth much.”
Xiao Yi was quite calm. During this period, he had only met three Grand Tutors. Shi Deyu became Minister of Works as soon as he entered officialdom, making it seem like Grand Tutors were everywhere.
As for literary talent, he was certainly superior to Guo Xin, so there was no need to argue.
The most crucial sentence in their conversation was “once everything is settled,” meaning Guo Wei’s identity needed to be established first.
It wasn’t appropriate to pry into such matters, so he didn’t ask.
“However, Father said you had great merit and added a military honor for you.” Guo Xin took out the official document, talisman, and other items from the bundle, saying, “Riding Commandant, from the fourth rank. Heh heh, is General Xiao satisfied?”
“Gaining a high position so suddenly makes me a little worried.”
“You’re talking nonsense again. A Riding Commandant doesn’t add much to your meager pay, and it’s still a long way until you receive your salary. I was afraid you’d be short on cash, so I collected the rewards for your kills for you.”
Guo Xin took out a large bag of silver and poured it onto the table with a clatter.
“You killed many enemies, and they didn’t count them all. I got fifty taels. Don’t give it away again. As you said last time, the Nian Battalion kept a portion of the war trophies as public funds. Hua Nong made a list. In any case, keep this for your expenses.”
“And you? No promotion?”
“No, I’m still a Captain under your command, heh heh.”
Guo Xin was happy not to hold an official position and said carelessly, “I’ve already thought it through. Once Father is done with his busy affairs, I’ll travel the world. No need to rush into establishing a family line.”
Xiao Yi initially wanted to remind him, but then changed his mind and let it go.
Not only was Guo Xin unprepared for his new identity, but he himself felt a bit uneasy. The merit he had earned this time was significant, but he had no foundation and had offended Wang Jun. Who knew if it would be a blessing or a curse.
He glanced at Guo Xin and asked, “Madam and the others… have they been buried?”
Guo Xin lowered her head and softly replied, “Earlier, Empress Dowager Li issued an edict for their burial. We went to pay our respects yesterday.”
“Madam treated me very kindly. I also want to pay my respects.”
“Alright, we’ll take you.”
Xiao Yi quickly washed up and ate some breakfast.
Before leaving, he sent Lu You to the Yi Cheng Army to inquire about Lu Chou’s whereabouts.
He and the Guo siblings went without any escorts and met the joint grave of the Guo family at an open space behind Fengxian Temple in the southeastern corner of Kaifeng City.
He had originally intended to strengthen his ties with the Guo family. After offering a stick of incense, he inexplicably felt at peace.
“Madam Chai, the matter you entrusted to me has been handled by your junior.”
He had done his duty faithfully and had a clear conscience. Whatever his future official career held, so be it.
After paying their respects, as they were about to leave, he turned and suddenly saw someone standing there.
The person’s boots and knees were covered in mud. The faded old military robe on his upper body was clean, with several patches. He wore no headwear, revealing his graying hair. Judging by his clothes, he looked like a down-and-out soldier, but his figure was imposing, and his aura was intimidating. It was Guo Wei.
He stooped with a dejected posture, holding a wine pot in his hand.
Logically, Guo Wei should be busy consolidating his power at this time. He hadn’t expected to find him here.
“Father.”
“Greetings, Marshal.”
“There is no Marshal here, only Guo Que’er.”
Guo Wei raised the hand holding the wine pot and waved, saying, “Go, I don’t have much time. I need to say a few words to them.”
“Yes.”
Guo Xin, being a thoughtful daughter, stayed because she was worried about her father, holding her umbrella and standing in the distance.
Guo Xin, quite intimidated by Guo Wei, pulled Xiao Yi away.
Xiao Yi didn’t say much and looked back to see Guo Wei sitting by the grave, drinking wine in silence.
On the way to the inner city, they frequently saw civil and military officials flocking towards the Imperial City, their faces alight with the excitement of achieving merit by following the dragon emperor, their discussions echoing incessantly.
With great undertakings before them, countless individuals were full of ambition, which only made the silhouette before the grave seem somewhat lonely…
“General!”
As soon as they left Fengxian Temple, Lu You hurried over and said, “I’ve found out. Ah Chou isn’t in the prisoner-of-war camp. He’s been taken to the Kaifeng Prefecture prison!”
“Don’t rush,” Xiao Yi turned and asked, “Is Mister Wei in charge of Kaifeng Prefecture?”
“No,” Guo Xin said, “Mister Wei has taken over the Ministry of Revenue. Last night, I heard him tell Father that he would post a notice in the West Market, selling fifty shi of grain daily at one hundred fifty wen per shi, to prevent grain merchants from hoarding and speculating during the chaos.”
“Then who is in charge of Kaifeng Prefecture?”
“This is a difficult matter,” Guo Xin said irritably, “It’s the person I dislike the most among Father’s subordinates, old man Wang Jun.”
“Let’s go and take a look.”
They had just arrived at Kaifeng Prefecture when they heard a cry of grief.
“Let me go! I am the Vice Minister of Personnel. I have no connection with Li Ye, Su Fengji, and the like…”
Xiao Yi looked in the direction of the voice. The speaker was a middle-aged man in luxurious attire, very agitated. Various keys hung from his belt, jingling as he struggled.
This person was probably extremely wealthy and had fallen into Wang Jun’s sights, likely to lose money to escape disaster.
Guo Xin couldn’t help but say, “What a good old man, Wang Jun. If you don’t let him plunder, he’ll start shaking people down again.”
“Don’t jump to conclusions. Look.”
Xiao Yi raised his hand and pointed. Many poor people were at the yamen, expressing their gratitude.
Upon inquiring, it turned out that Wang Jun had re-examined old cases and released over a hundred poor people who had been imprisoned for tax arrears during Su Fengji and Wang Zhang’s tenure.
As for a small portion of the powerful and influential, they were arrested on charges of being traitors.
Xiao Yi thought that Wang Jun was quite skilled in this regard.
It was a pity that Wang Jun harbored animosity towards him. The more formidable his methods, the less favorable it was. Political opponents who always clashed in their stances were more reassuring.
Dismissing the thought, he asked an yamen runner about Lu Chou’s whereabouts.
“Nie Wenjin’s guards are classified as ‘accomplices awaiting punishment.’ General, do you know why they are imprisoned in Kaifeng Prefecture prison instead of the prisoner-of-war camp?”
“Please enlighten me.”
“Those who can join the Imperial Guard often have considerable family wealth, and their military pay is also generous. As long as it is verified that they have committed no grave offenses, they can pay a ransom. Eighty guan.”
“So expensive?!”
A month’s salary for an Imperial Guard, including grain and miscellaneous items, totaled only three guan. This would indeed drain their family fortunes.
Lu You’s family were butchers and did have some wealth. Xiao Yi lent him some more and helped Lu Chou pay the ransom.
Not long after, Lu Chou came out with a bitter expression, tears streaming down his face.
“Thank you, Vice Commander Xiao… General Xiao, for saving my life. I can never repay this debt of gratitude.”
“You’re welcome. I have a question for you: among the guards captured with you, are there any who are reliable, honest, and obedient?”
“There are some.”
“Ask them if they are willing to serve under me. If they are, and if the ransom money is not enough, I can pay it first, and it will be deducted from their pay later.”
“Yes!” Lu Chou said, “By the way, the hundred guan reward money you entrusted me to use for buying a house is still here. I’ll go get it…”
Finally, nine individuals with no blemishes and considerable strength were chosen.
The guards indeed had some family wealth. Xiao Yi spent all fifty taels of silver, and Guo Xin borrowed a bit more. It was all put towards their ransoms.
During this process, he happened to see Yan Jinqing being escorted for interrogation. His charges had not yet been determined.
Xiao Yi thought for a moment and decided to request an audience with Wang Jun, not only to intercede but also to show that he harbored no ill will towards Wang Jun and was willing to discuss matters rationally.
Upon meeting, Wang Jun’s face was grim, and his gaze towards Xiao Yi remained unfriendly.
“Indeed, Xiao Lang is everywhere. You are quite the young man, quick on your feet.”
“You flatter me, your junior doesn’t dare.”
Xiao Yi’s attitude was calm as he spoke about Yan Jinqing tipping off the Shi Residence.
He didn’t mention anything else, wanting to see if Wang Jun would be fair.
The case was investigated quickly. Wang Jun examined the evidence and conducted further interrogations, concluding that Yan Jinqing was merely coerced by the Son of Heaven. He ordered Yan Jinqing to pay a thousand guan as an official compensation for ransom.
Xiao Yi was already out of money and could not help.
After dealing with this matter, he left Kaifeng Prefecture and immediately went to the Imperial Guard Headquarters, intending to transfer Li Chongju to the Inner Palace Guard.
Unexpectedly, Li Chongju had already been assigned as a guard by Guo Wei the previous day.
With no other choice, he recruited thirty Imperial Guards recommended by Lu You, Fan Ji, and others. Thus, he had over a hundred men under his command and planned to train them thoroughly before filling the remaining troop numbers.
His experience was still shallow; it was better to have fewer but better soldiers.
On the way back to the Xuanwu Gate quarters, he saw Zhang Mantun from a distance, standing under a willow tree talking to his family.
Xiao Yi had never seen Zhang Mantun’s family before and initially thought he was a bachelor. Only now did he realize he had a large brood of children.
He hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, but loud voices carried from that direction.
“Don’t blame me for being stubborn. If I had confessed back then, the rebels would have killed you all.”
“Of course, we can’t betray our masters. We owe the Shi Residence a great debt of gratitude, and we must hold firm even if it costs us our lives. I’m worried the boys will have their toes cut off and won’t be able to learn martial arts. How will they get married and establish themselves in the future?”
Zhang Mantun’s wife, clearly from a Shi family servant background, was quite formidable and spoke with stern conviction.
“What is there to fear? I can earn enough military pay to support them even if they do nothing.”
“The girls are just like you, growing big and strong at such a young age. I fear they’ll be difficult to marry off, and we’ll have to pay a hefty dowry.”
“Marry them? I’ll support them my whole life.”
“Easy for you to say! I won’t harp on about the future. Let’s talk about now. What will we do without the Shi Residence’s support? The deed to the previous house belonged to the Shi Residence, so we can’t go back. Go and ask Guo Que’er for help.”
“Can’t you see I’m annoyed? Is Guo Que’er still a subordinate of my Master? Tens of thousands of mouths are waiting to be fed. I can’t say it.”
“Then will we three sleep on the streets?”
“Here, take all of this, and this! Rent a large house for now, and when I kill more enemies and earn more merit…”
Xiao Yi silently walked away, thinking that this was the consequence of marrying a servant and having servant children.
He would help them out a bit in the future.
Upon returning to his dormitory, Li Chongjin, who was next door, saw him and exclaimed, “Xiao Lang, what a coincidence! I haven’t seen Wu Niang all day. I’ll go and get her back from you tomorrow.”
Not long after, Zhang Mantun also returned, and the soldiers immediately erupted in revelry.
“Tie Ya, didn’t you go to buy wine? Where’s the wine?”
“I didn’t buy it!”
“Then where’s the money for everyone’s wine?”
“I spent it. I’ll make it up to you next time we get rewards.”
“You have so much reward money, yet you’re still coveting our small change? Whose bed did you crawl into so quickly? Or did your hands get itchy and feed the dice?”
“Nonsense! I don’t gamble, nor do I have a fondness for women. I just want to kill enemies. Everyone, start training! The General is right, train hard in peacetime to bleed less on the battlefield!”
Xiao Yi couldn’t help but nod at this.
After a frantic half-month of effort, it was time for rigorous training. He immediately stretched his muscles and bones, grabbed the eaves beam at random, and did pull-ups to warm up.
