The tent of General Zhang Wuwei of Ganliang was vastly different from Li Bo's; in terms of area alone, it was three or four times larger. General Zhang Wuwei, despite being a military man, was an avid collector of embroidery. Almost every possible surface in the tent was embroidered, and the craftsmanship was exquisite. Of course, these were all gifts from Crown Prince Jiancheng. The last emperor of the Sui Dynasty, Yang Guang, was extravagant enough to rival his predecessors, and the Tang Dynasty inherited much of the Sui's wealth. Moreover, Crown Prince Jiancheng was undoubtedly a generous man—when he needed to be. And Zhang Wuwei was certainly someone he could be generous to.
Despite Zhang Wuwei's fondness for embroidery, he is an absolute warrior. He rose through the ranks of the imperial guards, earning merit through countless battles, and his current position as Grand General was earned through his own hard work and dedication. Therefore, he feels entitled to enjoy these embroidered items and the Crown Prince's respect, even if that respect is tinged with a desire to win him over.
What dissatisfied him most was the imperial court. It wasn't that the court shouldn't have attempted to establish the Beiting Protectorate, but the preparation and management shouldn't have been left to General Zhang. Garrisoning Gansu and Liangzhou was a crucial responsibility for border defense; if the northwest were secured, wouldn't his position as General Zhang be greatly threatened?
So he robbed the grain and framed Li Bo, not because he thought highly of Li Bo, but because those who command armies, if they wish to maintain their authority, must first cultivate "bandits," or at least create them. And Li Bo, coincidentally, did indeed rob the second batch of grain; if he wasn't a bandit, then who was? With bandits comes the need for suppression, and with suppression comes status. General Zhang had everything planned out; this was a brilliant move by him and Crown Prince Jiancheng to counter Prince Qin Shimin's ambition to conquer the Northwest.
Therefore, he had every right to be satisfied. Zhang Wuwei, with his charcoal-black hair held high, got up early. The vanguard of the frontier had brought him a woman. He had heard that the woman was beautiful and well-dressed, and should definitely be an important woman by Li Bo's side.
General Zhang was very satisfied, for the large tent, for the good news, and for the woman.
The main camp was a mile away from the main tent, where the gate was located. A 40,000-strong army naturally required a large area, and the gate was of paramount importance, so General Zhang's most trusted lieutenant, Wei Hualing, was assigned to oversee it. This lieutenant was responsible for monitoring the army's entry and exit and alerting them to any enemy activity. However, Wei Hualing never expected that—indeed, an alarm would be raised.
Who dares to offend the General of Gansu and Liangzhou?
There were only a few people, just one carriage with only one person inside. The man was travel-worn, with long eyebrows and narrow eyes; though weary from his journey, the brilliance in his narrow eyes was undeniable. Upon receiving the alarm, Wei Hualing headed for the gate, eager to see who dared to storm it in broad daylight. His small eyes scanned the distance, and he saw the carriage speeding towards them. The man wielding the whip was skilled; with a few swift strokes of the whip, the carriage was already close. Wei Hualing shouted, "Prepare arrows!" His officers immediately drew their bows and nocked arrows. Then Wei Hualing called out, "State your names!" The hundred-odd officers shouted in unison, "State your names!"
The person who arrived was still speeding along when he heard the voice and shouted, "Special Envoy of the Tang Emperor!"
Wei Hualing scoffed inwardly: Even if you were the Tang Emperor's special envoy, you wouldn't be able to act so arrogantly among this army. He waved his hand, ordering his officers to lower their bows and open the gate, while he himself stood in the center of the gate. Chen Si had arrived in the blink of an eye, seemingly not even stopping at the gate. Wei Hualing gave a loud "Whoa!" to the horses pulling the carriage, his breath extremely rough, startling them and causing them to stop abruptly. A surge of anger rose within Wei Hualing, and he roared, "Who goes there!"
Chen Si seemed rather impatient, coldly showing his waist token. His token was specially bestowed by Li Yuan, with a dragon flying in the sky on it, and the words "like the emperor" engraved in intaglio on the front. He flicked the reins, ready to move forward, but Wei Hualing had already reached out and grabbed the reins, angrily saying, "Don't run around like that."
Chen Si said coldly, "Can you afford to delay military operations?"
Wei Hualing served in the army for fifteen years and killed over a thousand people, yet few dared to face his wrath and turn back.
He glared at her and said angrily, "Even military secrets must be reported, and even urgent express mail must be forwarded to me first. Even if you are the special envoy of the Tang Emperor, have you not heard the story of Zhou Yafu's camp at Xiliu?"
Zhou Yafu was a famous general of the Han Dynasty, who made great contributions in suppressing the Rebellion of the Seven States. Emperor Jing of Han once personally visited the army to comfort the troops, but Zhou Yafu stormed the gate and was beheaded as a warning. Chen Si sneered inwardly. He, the General of Martial Might, dared to compare himself to Zhou Yafu? Wasn't he afraid of instigating a rebellion for the crown prince? He chuckled and said, "Now that the world is at peace, and the emperor has risen from the ranks of soldiers, don't bring up those Han Dynasty stories. The times are different now, and the current emperor is no longer the weak and incompetent ruler he once was. Do you think my token can't be used to execute you?"
As he spoke, he pulled on the reins, ready to charge forward. Wei Hualing reached out and grabbed the bridle, about to lead the horse. Chen Si lashed out with his whip, striking his wrist. Though young, he had honed his skills over many years, and in this chaotic world, he had endured much hardship. The whip whistled through the air, causing considerable pain. Wei Hualing hadn't expected this refined-looking young man to be so bold, and instinctively withdrew his hand.
Chen Si cracked his whip, and the bicycle sped straight ahead.
In that brief delay, a junior officer had already gone to report to the central command tent. Chen Si and the junior officer entered the tent almost simultaneously. He had been riding at breakneck speed, changing horses three times in the process. From Yemajing to Zhangye was over four hundred li, and he had been riding continuously for three days and nights, his temper growing increasingly fierce. Zhang Wuwei had just finished hearing the report when a man wearing a Turkic robe entered the tent. The junior officer at the tent entrance tried to stop him, but Chen Si flicked his hand, pushing aside the long axe, and stepped into the tent. After entering, Chen Si lifted his robe, revealing his waist badge, and announced in a loud voice, "Chen Si, Special Envoy of the Tang Emperor, greets the General of Gansu and Liangzhou."
Although Zhang Wuwei was in the army, many 江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) figures had gathered there since the end of the Sui Dynasty, so he was quite familiar with Chen Si's name. He glanced up and saw that this man showed no fear among his 40,000 troops, and couldn't help but admire him inwardly. Indeed, meeting him was better than hearing about him! He gestured respectfully: "Does Your Majesty have any decrees?"
Chen Si glanced around, and Zhang Wuwei waved his hand, dismissing the beautiful women who had been standing by his side. Chen Si shook his head, smoothing his disheveled hair with the shake, before calmly saying, "I have come here to discuss the matter of the general's hasty dispatch of troops."
Zhang Wuwei pondered for a moment. He had known about Chen Si's entry into Gansu beforehand and had even dispatched his Ten Mighty Guards to pursue him. However, in the past few days, the Ten Mighty Guards had not sent any news, which he found quite strange, and he had no idea why this fellow had come to him on his own. Although he had the support of Crown Prince Jiancheng, he couldn't easily fall out with the Tang King's special envoy. He laughed and said, "I see." Then he instructed his men to set up seats for Chen Si before saying, "Brother Chen, this is what happened. Under my jurisdiction, there was a rebellious and unruly man named Li Bo from the late Sui Dynasty. Ten years ago, he formed some kind of 'Five Heroes of Jingtie Mountain' with Zhang Jiuchang, Ma Yang, Shi Zhen, and Qiao Hua, gathering on the border and acting without any benevolence or righteousness. This time, he dared to defy the world and offend the Emperor's majesty, robbing the court of over 200,000 dan of grain transported to Suyab a month and a half ago. Gansu and Liangzhou are under my jurisdiction. If we don't punish them, how can we repay the Emperor's grace and face the people? That's why I sent troops to suppress them."
"Once my army arrives, this clown will be reduced to dust in no time. This is hardly a proper military tactic. Brother, I bear the heavy responsibility of maintaining order in this region, and have no choice but to act this way. What do you think, Brother Chen?"
Chen Si remained silent. He sat down at the table, quietly took out ten iron plaques from his robes, and placed them neatly on the table. Without uttering a word, he simply stared at the ten plaques. He thought coldly to himself: Why is it that no matter how despicable and sordid these people are, they always speak so grandly and righteously?
Zhang Wuwei's expression changed. Those ten tokens were none other than the personal waist tokens of the Ten Mighty Guards, whom he had dispatched. The Ten Mighty Guards were no ordinary men under his command in Ganliang; they were his personal bodyguards. When he issued these ten tokens, there was an instruction: "The token is the person; the token dies, the person dies." He was slightly taken aback, looking at the rather thin man before him, finding it hard to believe—could it be that even his elite Ten Mighty Guards had been taken down by this young man?
Chen Si took a small sip of tea. He hadn't had a proper cup of tea in many days, and judging from his expression, he seemed quite pleased with this cup of hot tea. Then he subtly revealed a scroll from his robes, containing his notes from the past few days' investigation. He then said calmly, "Was all the grain really seized by Li Bo? With your wisdom, General, I'm afraid the truth is not so."
As he spoke, he tapped the iron plaque in front of him lightly with his finger and said in a clear voice, "The evidence I have is not limited to this. General Zhang, let's be frank and speak frankly."
Zhang Wuwei's face showed surprise, then a moment of stunned silence, before he laughed heartily. Chen Si knew that he was filled with doubt and hesitation, and this was the brief opportunity he needed to seize. However, he remained expressionless and said calmly, "Actually, with His Majesty's wisdom, he has long suspected this matter; otherwise, he wouldn't have asked me to reinvestigate. I haven't been idle for the past month. General Zhang, according to my investigation, it is indeed his men who robbed the 150,000 dan of grain in your family's Shawo, and he has confessed to it. But what about the 100,000 dan of grain in Hongliuyuan and the 200 soldiers who were escorting the carts? Hehe, and these Mighty Ten Guards, General, haven't you been a little too lenient with me?"
His words were neither humble nor arrogant, but his face subtly mocked, causing Zhang Wuwei's anger to falter, leaving him speechless for a moment. He truly didn't know whether the Ten Guards of Weiwu had been captured or killed by this young man. If they were killed, so be it; he had many brave warriors under his command and wouldn't be too bothered. But if they were captured and taken back to Chang'an, this secret assassination of the imperial envoy was a clandestine affair, and even with Crown Prince Jiancheng's protection, it would likely cause considerable trouble. Thinking this, he quickly changed his tune, first avoiding the main issue with a laugh, "Brother Chen, you're truly remarkable. You've investigated so many things so quickly, truly living up to the Emperor's expectations. I've long admired Brother Chen's name, but it's a pity we've never had the chance to meet. Attendants... hurry up and prepare some wine for Brother Chen!" He glared at the junior officer beside him, then smiled and said, "Brother Chen, this is a small border region; please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality."
Then he sighed and said, "Brother, I did make some mistakes in this matter. However, Brother Chen, you have never been to the frontier, so I don't know the hardships we soldiers stationed there face. Alas, it's a long story. Brother Chen, you have been working hard for many days, and I'm afraid you must be tired now. Take a rest, and we can talk about the important matters later. Someone, send word to prepare a meal."
Chen Si, observing the man's demeanor and noticing his evasive remarks, knew he harbored some fear. Seizing the opportunity, he tightened his grip on the conversation while maintaining a calm demeanor, saying, "Thank you, General. His Majesty has also secretly instructed me to come here to investigate this unsolved case..."
He sighed softly, as if hinting at Li Yuan's predicament: "...General Ganliang is indeed a man who has rendered great service to the court. However, he is a military man who does not understand the intricacies of matters, and I'm afraid he will do many things without much thought."
In any case, he really shouldn't have gotten involved in the conflict between my two sons. You must investigate this matter thoroughly, as it concerns the dignity of the court and the overall situation of border defense. However, as long as it's not too excessive and doesn't disrupt the overall situation in Gansu and Liangzhou, I, as the emperor, am willing to let it pass if possible. If General Zhang is momentarily confused, I can forgive him; I earnestly hope that Young Master Chen can understand my intentions and handle this matter properly."
He relayed Li Yuan's original words. He said that Li Yuan addressed him as Young Master Chen not to elevate his status, but because the court had just been established, and many reclusive scholars and heroes from the countryside had not yet been recruited by the Tang family. Li Yuan and his son still held a respectful attitude towards the virtuous and learned. Chen Si had come at Li Yuan's private request. Zhang Wuwei's expression softened upon hearing this. Chen Si sighed inwardly. He knew the current emperor's predicament. His two sons were vying for the throne. Crown Prince Jiancheng, being the eldest, had been chosen, while the younger son, Shimin, had made great contributions, putting him, as a father, in a difficult position. He wasn't just lamenting their Li family's affairs, but rather thinking that with the empire newly established and everything waiting to be rebuilt, there was a chance for peace. However, this struggle between the legitimate and illegitimate sons might become a major hidden crisis for the court and even the entire country, with connections that could brew a huge upheaval. If this upheaval were only a matter for his Li family, it wouldn't matter, and he wouldn't want to interfere. But this change clearly involved the chaos and turmoil of the world. From the day Chen Siyi mastered his skills, he regarded himself as someone who took it upon himself to ensure the well-being of all people. In such a situation, he could not ignore it.
Zhang Wuwei also understood that the Emperor was unwilling to truly expose the struggle between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qin to the public, lest it escalate beyond control, and he felt relieved. At this moment, Chen Si slammed his hand on the table and continued relaying Li Yuan's words: "...While I cannot persuade the brothers to reconcile them for the time being, if any unscrupulous individuals deliberately cause trouble below, forming their own factions for personal gain, please inform them, Young Master Chen, that I, Li Yuan, am not a weak and merciful ruler, nor am I some emperor who inherited the throne during a time of peace!"
'..."
His words carried great weight; as soon as they were spoken, his eyes gleamed, staring directly at General Zhang. Although he was merely a commoner in the current court, his words and actions, aligned with righteousness, possessed an inherent air of dignity. He spoke calmly and deliberately, relaying Li Yuan's words with perfect precision, causing Zhang Wuwei to break out in a sweat. He had long known Li Yuan's power and couldn't help but feel worried. Just as he was caught in this internal conflict, Chen Si sighed softly, "General Zhang, there are some things I don't need to say for you to understand the implications. The world is newly at peace, and everything is beginning anew. Although I am but a commoner, I hope General Zhang will consider the well-being of the people and refrain from hastily starting wars, lest you plunge the masses into misery for the sake of personal power. The Emperor sent me here specifically to entrust with the full authority to handle the Li Bo matter."
General Zhang's sudden and forceful departure has escalated the matter significantly. If this situation is to escalate further, it will likely no longer be a minor issue concerning the Five Heroes of Mirror Iron Mountain; the ensuing conflict will likely be beyond our control. General Zhang's disobedience to orders and his decision to march into battle has not only put me in a difficult position, but also the Emperor; and not only the Emperor, but also the Prince of Qin and the Crown Prince will likely face considerable difficulties.
He knew the gravity of the situation, and his words were brief and to the point. Although Zhang Wuwei was imposing, his palms suddenly began to sweat.
Then Chen Si looked directly at Zhang Wuwei and said quietly, "His Majesty specially sent you here to try and salvage this situation that may be difficult for everyone. General Zhang is shrewd despite his rough exterior, and has always been a pillar of the nation. He should know the importance of this matter. Don't think that His Majesty is just a magnanimous ruler who can forgive everything. If he were to unleash his fury, I'm afraid that no one in the court, including General Zhang and the Crown Prince, could bear the consequences. Moreover, if someone were to disrupt this rare period of peace in the world, even if His Majesty agreed, the people might not. Even if the people were powerless, there are still many courageous men in the countryside. Although they may not have troops at their disposal, the sharpness of their swords would deter others from taking any chances."
Zhang Wuwei was taken aback, never expecting such a clear threat in his words. Who was Chen Si? How dare he threaten the commander-in-chief amidst 40,000 troops? Zhang Wuwei felt a surge of anger and resentment, yet was too embarrassed to speak. Given his temperament, he should have reacted, but given the current situation, he feared he couldn't. He could only awkwardly say, "Hehe, what Brother Chen says is certainly true… Drink some tea, drink some tea," while simultaneously scolding the junior officer beside him, "Brother Chen's tea is almost gone, why aren't you refilling it?"
Chen Si smiled, knowing that his words had touched the heart of this general guarding the border. He took a sip of the freshly poured tea, remaining silent for a moment, needing time to build up pressure on Zhang Wuwei and also to give himself a chance to think.
Zhang Wuwei's mind was indeed racing. Though his expression remained impassive, he was weighing the pros and cons: should he heed Chen Si's words or not? Suddenly, he heard Chen Si angrily say, "General, what's that fly on your left shoulder? Heh, a noble person like you deserves some peace and quiet, yet you, a mere creature, dare to disturb you! How despicable! Don't you know your own life is in danger!"
Before Zhang Wuwei could react, Chen Si suddenly leaped up. He held a flute in his left hand, and with his right, he pulled something from it. Its light was dim, and its nature was unclear—it was the strange weapon "A Thread" that Li Xiaomei had seen that day. Before Zhang Wuwei could even react, Chen Si flicked his wrist, and the glint of light pierced through the air. He was quite far from Zhang Wuwei, but with this thrust, the fly was struck. Chen Si lightly flicked his wrist, and the fly landed on the table in front of Zhang Wuwei. Chen Si chuckled and said, "Alright, this clown dares to disturb General Zhang's esteemed presence. General Zhang, have some tea."
Before Zhang Wuwei could even see the weapon in his hand, Chen Si had already returned to his seat, sheathing his blade and putting it into his flute. His face remained calm and composed, as if he had never moved at all. This move was clearly the same "Thousand-Mile Courtyard Step" he had displayed in Li Bo's tent that day. A chill ran down Zhang Wuwei's back, and cold sweat dripped down his back. He was originally from humble origins, but he was also skilled in martial arts and agile, yet he never expected Chen Si to move so quickly, killing a fly on his shoulder without him even flinching. His mind raced, growing increasingly fearful, and he could only laugh and say, "Drink, drink."
The banquet lasted from noon until late afternoon. Beautiful women sang and danced, their beauty exquisite; it was likely another gift from Crown Prince Jiancheng to General Zhang. Chen Si outwardly appeared compliant and agreeable, but inwardly he was filled with emotion, though he remained silent. Zhang Wuwei only spoke of wine and food, and the two never mentioned their true business. Just as Zhang Wuwei was wondering how to deal with this eccentric young man, Chen Si pushed his wine aside and said with a smile, "General, this is the best meal I've had in days. Thank you so much for your kindness, General Zhang."
As he spoke, he mentioned, seemingly casually, "Before I came here, I heard that a junior officer under General Zhang captured a woman from Li Bo's side? If so, I'd like to see her and see if you can take her with you and make direct contact with Li Bo and his men. The Emperor's intention is that this grain robbery cannot be abandoned, but after demonstrating his power, it should be quelled without bloodshed."
Zhang Wuwei was taken aback, not expecting this kid to be so quick to spread the word. He immediately laughed and said, "It seems there is such a thing. I haven't even had a chance to ask yet, and Brother Chen already knows."
As he spoke, he deliberately asked those around him, "Is this really true?"
A lieutenant stepped forward and reported, "That is indeed the case."
Zhang Wuwei clapped his hands and laughed, "Bring that woman up here and let Brother Chen see her. Brother Chen is the Emperor's special envoy."
He had already made up his mind. Since it was inconvenient for him to turn against the man now, he might as well go all the way and send him away satisfied. Thinking of this, a cold feeling ran through him. Heh, this kid, let him go however he pleases today; if we have the chance to meet again someday, then… General Zhang's eyes hardened secretly. He would never forget the humiliation he had suffered today.
Chen Si's expression remained impassive, but his heart was inexplicably in turmoil. He had never been flustered when facing a commander with 40,000 troops, so why did the thought of seeing the captured woman cause him such turmoil? It was a strange turmoil, a mixture of surprise and joy, fear and trepidation, unlike anything he had ever experienced in his twenty-odd years of life.
—Why is this happening? Why is this happening? Chen Si's palms were sweating: If that woman really is Li Xiaomei, given her temperament, he really doesn't know how to face her. What kind of expression would she show? And given her pride, this meeting would be quite awkward for both of them, wouldn't it?
He lowered his eyes slightly, recalling Li Xiaomei's expression. In his mind, he seemed to replay the scene of her turning around on horseback and shooting an arrow, the sunlight shining on her, her long skirt fluttering, and her gaze full of affection. All the sunlight seemed to be concentrated on that arrow. Chen Si suddenly felt a surge of heat in his heart, and he heard Zhang Wuwei call out, "Brother Chen."
Chen Si looked up and saw that the woman had already arrived, her head bowed, her hair disheveled, her face like a pear blossom, yet...
It wasn't Li Xiaomei. For some reason, Chen Si felt a mixture of joy and disappointment. He even wondered if he would have rushed here so quickly and with such focused attention if he had known beforehand that it wasn't Li Xiaomei who had been captured. He masked his disappointment with a soft "Oh" and asked, "Who are you?"
The woman whispered, "I am Jiu Yue'er."
—When Li Xiaomei rode away that day, everyone was worried. Almost everyone in her cavalry went out to search for her. Although Jiuyue'er was a bit delicate and not skilled at riding, Li Xiaomei had treated her so well that she didn't want to lag behind. Unexpectedly, she had only ridden a few dozen miles when she was captured and brought here. These past two days have been filled with anxiety and fear, not knowing what misfortune awaited her next. Unexpectedly, the man that Xiaomei wanted to shoot suddenly appeared.
Chen Si thought for a moment, seemingly recognizing the woman somewhat, as if he had seen her at Li Bo's place. It seemed Zhang Wuwei wasn't lying. Since this woman was indeed Li Bo's man, he naturally intended to take her away. Thinking it over, he stepped forward and gently pinched the rope binding Jiu Yue'er. His thumb, with its slightly extended nail, taut the tendons of his hand, and with a slight exertion, he snapped the thin rope, barely the length of a little finger. Even the soldiers holding Jiu Yue'er couldn't help but secretly applaud his skill. Chen Si pulled the rope away and turned to Zhang Wuwei, saying, "Brother has important duties and responsibilities, so I won't disturb you any longer. General Zhang, I will go deal with Li Bo's matter now. I also request that General Zhang withdraw his troops thirty li and return to camp in a few days."
As he spoke, he stared intently at Zhang Wuwei, not allowing him to easily make excuses.
Zhang Wuwei was taken aback, then after a long pause, he hardened his heart and said, "Fine!"
Chen Si clasped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, General Zhang." With that, he took Jiu Yue'er by the hand and, without any attempt to avoid suspicion, led her out of the tent.