Chapter 10: A Clumsy Pleader

Chapter 10: A Clumsy Pleader

The reason Yang Huaiyu made a special trip to Qiao Manor was actually to find Tie Xinyuan.

Instead of passing through the Nanxun Gate, he should have headed straight from Xinzheng in the west directly to the Ministry of War. Not only was the distance shorter, but the roads were also less congested.

Being a military officer, he could have reached the offices of the Ministry of War in the time it took to burn a stick of incense simply by taking the military post road.

During his previous three visits home, after paying his respects to the nearly centennial matriarch of his household, he would usually bring Su Mei to stay at Qiao Manor as a guest for a while.

Coming straight here this time, and even forcing himself to plunge into the circle of literati that he found most distressing, was highly unusual and not his customary style.

Liu Jing smiled and said, "I originally intended to play the tune 'General's Command' for him, but he looked down on it. However, isn't a general like this the kind who actually slays the enemy?"

Tie Xinyuan looked suspiciously at Liu Jing and asked, "Why do I smell a conspiracy? You have always been aloof and proud; it is rare for you to praise someone like this."

Liu Jing smiled. "I want to go to Qiuci! That is the true homeland of dance and music. In writing contemporary prose, I am not your match; in rummaging through old paper stacks, I am not Qian Mu's match; in matters of resourcefulness, I am not Mali's match. Only in the realm of dance and music can I find some solace to while away my days."

Mali shook his head and said, "Once you step out of Qingjian City, everything outside is foreign territory. Even if Yang Huaiyu manages to get you out of Lanzhou, should you encounter the Western Xia's elite capture-units, your best outcome will be to become a musical slave to the Tangut people."

Liu Jing shook his head. "In the fourth year of the Jingyou reign, the state of Qiuci sent envoys to offer tribute to our Emperor. I was fortunate enough to witness Qiuci song and dance at the residence of Chancellor Yan, and they truly lived up to their reputation. Even back then, I was moved by the desire to go to Qiuci.

It was just that I had recently married, and my humble wife was with child and could not easily leave. Now that my child has grown, and hearing that the envoys from Qiuci have already arrived in the Western Capital, I believe the opportunity has matured, and I can leave Bianjing in the company of the Qiuci envoys."

Qian Mu frowned. "There must be countless difficulties along the way. I never believe in unfounded guesswork."

Mali glanced at the distant wheat fields, waved his hand impatiently, and said, "How tedious this world has already become. Since Brother Liu wishes to live a more splendid life, it is no great matter. I say he should be allowed to leave."

Tie Xinyuan bowed formally and said, "I once heard someone say that if a person has no ideals, they are no different from a salted fish. Here, Tie Xinyuan wishes Brother Liu a smooth journey."

Liu Jing smiled and returned the bow, finished drinking a bowl of wine slowly, and then took a small flask of Jiannan Shunchun wine from the table. He stooped to pick up a fish from beside the fire pit and walked away toward the distant wheat fields, eating the fish and drinking the wine as he went.

Xiaohua looked at Tie Xinyuan, appearing somewhat guilty. In the end, she handed him the bowl of seasoned shepherd's purse.

Seeing Tie Xinyuan glare fiercely at her, she smiled instead, clutched her pipa, and hurried off after Liu Jing.

Qian Mu suddenly shouted loudly toward Xiaohua, "Liu Jing has the thinnest skin of anyone! You just need to pester him relentlessly, and there is no way it won't succeed!"

Tie Xinyuan shook his head, carrying his basin of vegetables into the midst of the classmates who were drinking and eating fish, and began to shout loudly as they scrambled for the food...

Xiaohua was free, and he had no right whatsoever to make any decisions on her behalf. The reason he had wanted her to go to Qiao Manor in the first place was to lend her a hand, hoping to provide this ill-fated woman with a temporary place of rest.

Now, she had left with Liu Jing, who was single-mindedly determined to go to Qiuci. Heaven only knew what kind of destiny awaited her.

After the classmates had eaten and drunk their fill, they departed one by one. Supported by Shu Zhu'er, Tie Xinyuan arrived at Qiao Manor, collapsed onto Qiaoge's bed, and cursed furiously. It was unclear whom he was cursing, but his brilliant string of profanities contained many phrases that Qiaoge simply could not comprehend or understand.

When he woke up from his hangover the next day, Tie Xinyuan remembered nothing of the incident. It was not until Qiaoge asked him what the term "idiot" meant that he felt a twinge of regret for his uninhibited behavior of the previous day.

"It doesn't mean much, just someone being forced to do things by a fool," Tie Xinyuan said carefully, poking at his teeth with a willow twig. In an era without oral healthcare, ensuring one had a good set of teeth was extremely important.

He had gone to sleep last night without washing up, leaving a few strands of chicken meat caught between his teeth. Only after spitting them out did he feel how bright and pleasant the morning was.

Qiaoge knew Tie Xinyuan was fobbing him off. When talking to Tie Xinyuan, he paid no attention to the literal words coming out of his mouth; he cared only about the tone and expression with which he spoke. The emotions conveyed by those two elements were far more accurate and sincere than his actual words.

"What are you planning to do today? Aren't you going to class at the Imperial Academy? I remember you never skipped classes."

Tie Xinyuan yawned and said, "I didn't sleep well last night. After I wash up and grab a bite, I plan to go back to sleep. Yang Huaiyu will probably be coming."

Qiaoge pulled a calling card from his tunic and said, "Not only is Yang Huaiyu coming, but Cao Fang is coming as well. Since those two fellows are coming, Gao Yuanzan and Huyan Shou will surely come too. Over the past few years, the four of them have practically been tied together."

"What's their purpose?"

"They're probably after that heavy crossbow of ours with the eccentric wheel. Since you made one for Yang Huaiyu, keeping it a secret was simply impossible."

Tie Xinyuan shook his head and said, "Don't tell them the mechanics. Just say you made it by accident and can't explain the principles behind it. If they want to use them, let them copy them themselves; we won't get involved."

Qiaoge smiled. "You probably won't be able to dodge the trouble. Just think, who was it that dragged you out of the Three Locust Hall and straight into the Imperial Academy?

Your maternal great-uncle is the libationer of the Imperial Academy. The civil and military officials of the imperial court, including those censors who love nothing more than to stir up trouble without reason, have never used this matter to attack your uncle..."

"Alright, I know the affairs of the court better than you. I'm washing my hands of it. I'm going to sleep by the haystacks right now. You didn't occupy my hay-cave when you were trysting with Madame Wang, did you?"

Qiaoge shook his head and replied, "No, your hay-cave is too small; I couldn't stretch out in it."

Tie Xinyuan nodded in satisfaction, wriggled his sore body against the rising morning sun, and directly carried a thin quilt toward the granary.

Qiao Manor was not particularly large, but its geographical location was exceptionally prime. The estate had originally belonged to the Prince of Runan, and Wang Jian had secured it to give to Tie Xinyuan as remuneration.

Three years ago, when the Prince of Runan and his entire family emerged emaciated and skin-and-bones from the Tongtian Temple, they had wanted this estate back and had even submitted a formal memorial to the throne.

As a result, the Emperor had them locked back up in the Tongtian Temple for another three months. From then on, the Prince of Runan never uttered another word about where his formerly vast properties had gone.

Because of the Prince of Runan's affair, countless court officials criticized the Emperor for handling the matter too ruthlessly, to the point of damaging familial ties, but the Emperor remained unmoved.

Whenever anyone suggested selecting one or two princes of the imperial lineage to enter the palace as crown princes, the Emperor would ruthlessly bring up the Prince of Runan.

After several repetitions of this, no one dared to bring the matter up again. In recent years, the Emperor's intentions seemed impossible for anyone to guess, and his authority had become increasingly unchallengeable.

Sleeping inside the hay-cave was not a particularly good idea, but Tie Xinyuan simply loved the absolute quiet there.

Lying on the soft, dry hay, there was a faint, sweet-and-musty smell of decay. For reasons unknown, Tie Xinyuan simply loved the smell of it; whenever he lay inside the hay-cave, his heart grew as still as a graveyard at midnight.

The fox burrowed in from outside, expertly curling up beside Tie Xinyuan and even managing to use its snout to pull the thin quilt over itself.

Since the fox had come in, Tie Xinyuan had no choice but to go out. The creature's scent was currently extremely pungent; the hotter the weather, the more unbearable the smell became.

Yang Huaiyu was sitting cross-legged on the haystack. Seeing Tie Xinyuan pop his head out, he smiled and said, "I simply don't believe you can share a blanket with a fox."

"How could Su Mei allow you to crawl out from under the covers so early in the morning?"

Yang Huaiyu said shamelessly, "She was still sleeping soundly when I got up, so naturally she couldn't stop me. Little Tie, I want to equip the three thousand elite soldiers under my command entirely with the gear you made. What do you think?"

Tie Xinyuan snorted coldly. "That is a terrible idea. First, you are a pauper and cannot afford that much silver and cash.

Second, the Ministry of War's Bureau of Punishments and Administration will think you are plotting a rebellion and have your entire family beheaded.

Third, I don't believe you can convince your family matriarch, your parents, and your wife to take such a risk with you.

Fourth, what makes you think you can drag me and Qiaoge down to take risks with you? And risks worthy of decapitation at that?"

Yang Huaiyu shook his head. "The situation at the border is not optimistic. The Hengshan defense line has already fallen back by one hundred and forty miles; if we retreat any further, the Western Xia troops will be at our city gates.

The Tibetans of Qingtang also sit upon the Huangshui River valleys, looking down from a commanding height to eye our ancestral lands in Hedong.

I have also heard that the Jiaozhi bandits penetrated into our Song Dynasty's Liuzhou, pillaging and burning for over half a month before leisurely retreating.

I have the heart to slay the bandits, but lack the power to turn the tide. I can only rely on elite and formidable troops to await the Emperor's summons, hoping for a day when I can engage the bandits in a fierce and satisfying battle to the death."

Tie Xinyuan smiled bitterly. "Knowing full well that I have no ability to help you, why must you force a difficult task upon me? This is hardly the behavior of a gentleman.

You people harbor grand ambitions, always keeping words like 'family and country' upon your lips. Since you've said it, go out and do it.

You have the actual armor, and you also have the heavy crossbow retrofitted with an eccentric wheel; just find craftsmen to manufacture them yourself. Neither Qiaoge nor I have ever forbidden you from making them."

Yang Huaiyu tapped his head. "My purpose in coming to the capital this time is precisely to train fierce troops. Just as you said, I have no money, no status, and no manpower, making these tasks extremely difficult.

Yesterday, I met with Vice Minister of War Nan Ni and explained my thoughts, only to be severely reprimanded and strictly forbidden from ever raising the matter again.

I had already grown disheartened, but yesterday Mei'er said you would surely have a way, so I came directly."

Tie Xinyuan yawned and said, "It was probably Cao Fang who got you to come and persuade me with grand righteousness about the country and the family.

His brain must have been kicked by a donkey if he thought I would be moved by such things.

Don't you think the words you just spoke sounded dry and utterly devoid of any motivational power?

Just yesterday, right outside the palace gates, I used my eyes to threaten a high-ranking official. Right now, I don't want to do anything at all."