The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Second Watch

Beneath Lingbi County in Xuzhou, upon a road of yellow mud, a young man bearing a heavy burden on his shoulders walked from the direction of the distant county seat.

The young man wore upon his head a bamboo conical hat customarily utilized by woodcutters in the mountains, the brim pressed exceptionally low, exposing only the lower half of his face; nonetheless, it remained discernible that he possessed a handsome countenance. His frame was towering, his shoulders broad, his back thick, and his bone joints massive, yet the joints of his body were agile and supple. Though bearing a heavy burden upon his shoulders, he still strode forward with large paces, as though unencumbered by any load. The garments upon his person were very old, yet they had been washed exceedingly clean; the places at the elbows that had broken were mended with neat patches, the needlework fine, dense, and regular, rendering it evident that there was a woman skilled in needlework within his household.

This young man was none other than Bi Zhi. He and Da Qiao had already settled down within a hunting village at the foot of the mountains. With Old Man Wang offering a fraction of guidance, he had very rapidly become an excellent hunter. The household lacked no meat, but grain and salt required a trip to the market to barter. Early this morning during the fourth watch, he had emerged from the mountains, bringing along the pelts and furs he had accumulated some time prior to the market, bartering them for this sack of new millet upon his shoulders.

Had he bartered for old millet, he would have been able to add one more hu. To Bi Zhi himself, it mattered not. He was capable of consuming tree bark and leaves to satisfy his hunger without changing his countenance, if he were truly famished.

Yet he bartered for new millet. He desired to permit Da Qiao, who had been accustomed to refined foods and finely minced meats in the past, to consume items that were as good as possible. Within the mountains, there were inexhaustible wild beasts to be hunted, and he himself possessed inexhaustible strength. To barter for a sack of new millet was to him merely a matter of hunting a few more animal pelts.

His luck had been quite good days prior; he had hunted an exceptionally beautiful fox pelt, the fur regular, sleek, and glossy. Originally he had intended to cure it and retain it for Da Qiao's use when winter arrived, but Da Qiao refused it, insisting that he bring it to the market to sell. He could only comply with her wishes. After selling the pelt in the morning, a bit of superfluous money remained, so he casually purchased a few chi of cloth for Da Qiao.

Upon his return, he was bound to be chided by her. Yet Bi Zhi was exceedingly willing to let her lecture him.

There were still over twenty li of road remaining until the village. He cast a glance at the sun, which was beginning to slant westward; fearing that if he returned late Da Qiao would grow worried, he accelerated his pace even further. Just at this juncture, a column of horses and men approached from the opposite direction. A dozen or so soldiers clad in ocher garments, with swords girded at their waists and spears grasped in their hands, were driving a cohort of people linked together by ropes, walking slowly toward the direction of the county seat. The individual at the very front was mounted on horseback, presumably a military headman. Those within the ranks whose hands were bound by ropes were all males. Aside from men in their prime, there were white-haired old men, as well as several frail, emaciated youths who appeared to be a mere eight or nine years of age.

"Officer, show mercy and release this old soul... This old soul is nearly fifty; how can I still march with the army and fight in battles?"

An old man was forced forward as he was prodded by a long spear from behind, continuously turning his head to plead bitterly. A soldier stated: "The registry records three sons in your household, and at present not a single one is within the ranks; it is evident they have all deserted. If the sons do not come, the father takes their place—this is perfectly natural and right!"

The old man wept: "Officer knows not, this old soul had three sons; the eldest died in the seventh year of Yanyou during Master Xue's campaign against Qingzhou, the second died alongside him in battle during the third year of Dingkang, and the youngest son fell ill and died abruptly last year. The village chief can testify on behalf of this old soul. It matters not if this old soul departs, but within the household there remains an old woman bedridden with illness..."

The soldier grew impatient and lashed the old man with a whip: "If you are bidden to enlist, you enlist! If you starve to death at home, enlisting at least guarantees full meals! Why all this rambling chatter!"

The old man suffered the pain, daring not cry out further; wiping away his tears, he moved forward with stumbling steps.

Bi Zhi was aware that this was the Governor of Xuzhou, Xue Tai, forcefully conscripting soldiers once again. Within the county market, he had heard the people nearby discussing this matter.

From beneath the brim of his hat, he cast a glance at the sorrowfully weeping, white-haired old man, then looked toward the several ragged, vacant-eyed children linked together behind the elderly man, before finally withdrawing his gaze.

Xue Tai of Xuzhou was one of the military warlords from prominent clans possessing the most formidable power across the Huai River basin, employing troops perennially. Fighting battles required dead men, and when men died, the source of soldiers required replenishment; when the able-bodied men were depleted, they actually refrained from sparing even old men and children.

Bi Zhi felt great sympathy for these individuals forced into conscription, yet an affair of this nature was not something he was capable of managing.

Da Qiao was still within the house awaiting his return.

He pressed down the brim of his hat, accelerating his pace to walk forward. As he brushed past the leading military headman, the headman nonetheless noticed him, and a long halberd swung across, blocking before his chest.

"Who goes there?"

"A hunter."

"Raise your head."

Bi Zhi slowly raised his head. Encountering that green eye of his, the headman startled slightly. Promptly utilizing the tip of the halberd to poke the cloth sack upon his shoulder, he demanded: "What is within?"

"Millet."

Yet the cloth sack had already been punctured, and yellow, new millet trickled out from the opening, scattering across the ground.

The headman sized Bi Zhi up and down: "Enlist with me!"

Bi Zhi remained motionless: "May the officer pass me over. I am not a household of this locality, and bear no responsibility to answer the conscription call."

The headman sneered: "Do you know that Master Xue shall soon raise troops to launch a military campaign against Yanzhou? It is because I cherish talent that I invite you to enlist. Yanzhou possesses vast territory and abundant resources; once it is captured, wealth, properties, and women shall be easily within reach. You are actually unwilling?"

The light within Bi Zhi's eyes shifted subtly, and he pushed aside that long halberd still spanning across his chest: "Please let the officer pass me over. I still have affairs; I shall depart first."

He pinched shut the punctured opening of the grain sack upon his shoulder, bypassing the headman's mount to continue walking forward. Seeing that he had slighted his dignity, the headman grew infuriated, swinging his halberd from behind to stab toward the center of his back. Bi Zhi turned his head, grasping the shaft of the halberd with a single arm. With a yank, the headman was dragged down from his horse, falling flat on his back. Turned frantic with shame and anger, he bellowed commands for the soldiers to apprehend him. Those dozen or so soldiers immediately ran forward, surrounding Bi Zhi completely as they launched a collective assault.

Bi Zhi knew that the affair of today could not be concluded amicably; setting down the grain sack upon his shoulder, he swiftly wrested the long halberd from the headman's grasp, sweeping it toward the soldiers assaulting him. A fierce combat ensued, and he actually overthrew those dozen or so soldiers to the ground through the strength of a single individual; the injured individuals clutched their legs, rolling and howling, their groans rising and falling one after another. The headman had not anticipated that he would be as fierce as a predatory beast, and terror arose within his heart; seeing him grasping the long halberd as he strode toward him with furious eyes, looking as though he were about to spear him to death, he was greatly alarmed, scrambling up to vault onto his horse and fleeing in panic. Seeing that even the headman had fled, how could the remaining soldiers be willing to remain behind to seek suffering? They fled in succession, dispersing entirely in the blink of an eye, leaving behind only a few scattered spears and swords upon the ground that they had lacked the time to gather up.

This fierce combat struck those conscripted commoners dumb with astonishment; only when they witnessed the cohort of soldiers flee and scatter did they recover their senses, kneeling down and bowing their heads toward Bi Zhi one after another, calling him their benefactor and a brave warrior, requesting assistance to untie the ropes.

Bi Zhi picked up a discarded sword from the ground, stepping forward to cut open the ropes binding the crowd. The crowd obtained their liberation, offering him repeated bows of gratitude before scattering like birds and beasts.

Bi Zhi scooped back the millet that had fallen to the ground, shed his outer garment, and wrapped it together with that punctured grain bag before hoisting it back onto his shoulders, departing with rapid steps.

By the time he returned to the village, the sky was just turning dark; the multi-hued birds within the mountains were returning to their nests, and the people were likewise returning to their respective homes. Da Qiao had long since cooked the evening meal and was presently craning her neck within the wicker gate awaiting her husband. Seeing his silhouette appear upon the mountain path from afar, she ran out to greet him. Receiving her husband back into the house, the two of them consumed a simple evening meal together beneath the lamp. Bi Zhi recounted to her a few remarks regarding his observations within the county seat during the day, merely refraining from mentioning the mishap upon his return road, and finally brought out the cloth he had purchased.

Within her heart, Da Qiao was exceedingly pleased, yet from her mouth she indeed chided him for spending money recklessly; Bi Zhi merely smiled as he let her lecture him. In the end, Da Qiao still gathered it up, and brought out a pair of newly stitched shoes. She remarked that his feet were large, and since he climbed mountains and walked every day, the pair originally made had already broken, bidding him change into the new shoes.

The moon rose over the mountain mist, and the spring insects murmured. The two of them were young, and furthermore had not long been united; it was inevitable that their affection was consistently deep and intimate, and they would engage in intimate relations nearly every single night. Tonight, following their close and tender coupling, Da Qiao closed her eyes, pillowed upon Bi Zhi's chest, and inquired: "Does Husband harbor some thought that he is concealing from me? I see that since you returned home from the county, your words have been fewer than usual."

Bi Zhi had always been taciturn, originally a man of few words, yet tonight he was even scarcer than usual.

Bi Zhi hesitated briefly, then stated: "Upon the road back, I occasionally overheard remarks claiming that the Governor of Xuzhou, Xue Tai, intends to launch a military campaign against Yanzhou."

Da Qiao was greatly startled, sitting up abruptly: "While at home, I never heard that my family harbored any enmity with Xue Tai; why would Xue Tai suddenly choose to launch a military campaign against Yanzhou out of nowhere? Have you not heard incorrectly?"

Bi Zhi then recounted the mishap upon the road simply. Da Qiao instantly fell into a state of panic: "If my father is unaware and completely unprepared, what is to be done?"

Bi Zhi stated: "Do not panic. Perchance it was merely a casual remark spoken by the military headman. Tomorrow I shall covertly slip into the county seat once more to make inquiries. If there truly is such an affair, I shall proceed to Yanzhou to deliver the message as rapidly as possible, permitting the Master to possess some defense."

Only then did Da Qiao steady her mind a fraction. Bi Zhi offered her further consolation. The night was spent awaiting the dawn. Early the following morning, Bi Zhi entered the city once more. Returning after night fell, he informed Da Qiao that he had apprehended a military officer during the day, and through interrogation had learned that this piece of intelligence was indubitably certain.

Xue Tai was currently preparing grain, forage, horses, and weapons, intending to dispatch one hundred thousand troops to seize Yanzhou. At present, the grain and forage had already set out, and the grand army would likewise depart within days.

...

On the twelfth day of this month, the marketplaces of Dongjun remained as bustling and crowded as usual, presenting an atmosphere of thorough peace and harmony. Within the grand assembly hall of the Governor's office, however, the atmosphere was exceptionally grim.

Qiao Yue, Qiao Ping, and a cohort of strategists, ministers, and generals within the government office were currently deliberating over a piece of intelligence that resembled a bolt from the blue.

Several days prior, someone within the government office had submitted an anonymous report, claiming that Xue Tai of Xuzhou had dispatched one hundred thousand troops and was currently marching toward Yanzhou, covering fifty li a day and bound to arrive within half a month.

Qiao Yue initially refused to believe it. The Qiao family and Xue Tai had always minded their own business without interference, let alone friction. Although Xue Tai was boundlessly ambitious and possessed a notorious reputation, his strategic objectives had consistently remained around the Huai River region; he knew not why he would suddenly dispatch one hundred thousand troops to launch a military campaign against Yanzhou. He immediately dispatched scouts. This morning, a swift courier returned with the report, stating that the intelligence was indeed genuine. Xue Tai's grand army had already arrived at Tengdi, and within another ten days or so would draw near Yanzhou.

Qiao Yue was greatly alarmed, hastily convening an assembly to deliberate on countermeasures. The crowd failed to arrive at a consensus, leaving Qiao Yue even more devoid of a course of action.

Zhang Pu stated: "May the Master refrain from panic. I possess a strategy that can resolve this disaster." Qiao Yue inquired as to the details.

"Xue Tai has always possessed the reputation of a vicious tiger, his troops strong and his horses sturdy, moreover coming with torrential momentum; Yanzhou cannot resist him head-on. At present, we must dispatch someone as rapidly as possible to deliver the intelligence to the station of the Marquis of Yan. The Wei and Qiao families are bound by a matrimonial alliance; if he refrains from rescue, it constitutes a betrayal of trust and righteousness, and all the people under heaven shall collectively spit upon him."

Qiao Yue was instantly reminded; hastily commanding the Chief Clerk to draft a letter, it was sealed with flaming wax and dispatched by swift horse traveling day and night to be delivered into Wei Shao's hands.

As to why Xue Tai of Xuzhou had suddenly raised troops to launch an incursion, Qiao Ping was likewise utterly perplexed. He was not exceptionally willing to open his mouth to beg for rescue from Wei Shao once again. Last time, because Zhou Qun of Rencheng came to launch a campaign, he could only send out his beloved daughter. This time, Xue Tai came to invade, and they were required to request troops from Wei Shao yet again. Supposing Wei Shao cherished his daughter, at worst it was merely that they—the heads of the Qiao family—would possess no face. But supposing Wei Shao possessed no affection for his daughter, this requesting of assistance time and time again would, he feared, only cause him to look down upon his daughter even further, and his daughter's status within the Wei family would become even more degraded. It was merely that his elder brother was cowardly and he himself was a solitary palm unable to clap; with one hundred thousand troops pressing upon the borders, Yanzhou was indeed in imminent peril. He could only return in a thoroughly displeased mood, yet failed to locate his son, Qiao Ci. Only then did he learn that because he was uneasy regarding his elder sister, he had actually concealed it from him to accompany the envoy on a swift horse heading toward Youzhou. Greatly alarmed, he hastily ordered people to pursue him, yet Qiao Ci had long since rided a swift horse out of the city gates; how could he possibly be pursued and brought back?

...

On this day, Wei Shao concluded his inspection of the frontier cities, finally returning to Yuyang from Mayi.

On this journey, he had been out for half a month already. Amidst the clopping sound of horse hooves, he passed through the northern gate of Yuyang City, returning to this city with which he was familiar.

His mood was quite good. Upon entering the city, he dismissed his accompanying generals; neither did he proceed to the government office, but strode directly back to the estate. Entering the western wing, he failed to locate Xiao Qiao upon crossing the door, and Nanny Chun was likewise absent. Inquiring of the maidservants, he only then learned that the young mistress had accepted an invitation to proceed to the Grand Hall of the Queen Mother of the West in the east of the city, to inscribe characters for a mural of the Queen Mother there.

At present, Buddhism and Daoism flourished together; among the populace, aside from believing in Buddhism, there were also many people who worshiped Daoism. The Queen Mother was the head of the female immortals, protecting favorable weather. The local populace had lived in stability for many years and wealthy households were numerous, so they pooled resources to construct the hall. Although Madame Xu worshiped Buddhism, upon hearing the intelligence, she had also generously rendered assistance. Just some time prior, the grand hall had reached completion, constructed beautifully. Before the grand hall, a mural wall had furthermore been erected, upon which was painted the divine image of the Queen Mother. The individual executing the painting was none other than the "Crown of Bohai," Gao Heng, who had previously come to celebrate Madame Xu's longevity. Gao Heng had been invited to execute the painting at the time, and also intended to leave his ink brush marks within Yuyang, gladly giving his assent. At present, the mural was nearing completion; at the hour of inscribing characters, he suddenly thought of how the young mistress of the Wei estate wrote a fine hand of calligraphy, and if she were to come to inscribe characters for the mural of the Queen Mother, it could be described as complementing his painting beautifully, adding splendor to the splendor. He was also an ingenious person, executing what he thought of. Two days prior, he had paid a visit to the estate. Madame Xu, upon learning of his intention, assented in a single word. Since Madame Xu had nodded her head, Xiao Qiao did not refuse either; these past two days, she had departed the estate to proceed over there, and having gone over today, she had not yet returned at this moment.

Wei Shao consequently experienced a bit of disappointment. Within his heart, he also felt slightly displeased. Upon his countenance, however, he failed to manifest it a single fraction.

He had been out for half a month, moving between various cities without halt every day; upon his return, he was long since covered in the dust of travel. Concluding his washing and grooming of his appearance and changing his garments, he proceeded first to the northern quarters to pay his respects to his grandmother, Madame Xu.

Seeing that he had returned, Madame Xu was exceedingly pleased, commanding him to sit beside her to converse. Wei Shao accompanied her in conversation, his words also few. He merely occasionally echoed Madame Xu once or twice.

Madame Xu made mention of Lady Zhu, saying that just two days prior, she had permitted her to return from the ancestral quarters. She stated: "Zhonglin, your mother is the principal mistress of my Wei family. This much is whatever; if only for the sake of your face, I originally ought not to have conducted affairs in this manner. It is merely that her actions on this occasion were truly altogether too excessive. I hope she commits the lesson firmly to heart, and henceforth refrains from committing muddle-headed errors again."

Although the matter had already passed for some days, when Madame Xu brought it up at this moment, her tone could nonetheless still be perceived to carry a trace of vexation.

Wei Shao echoed her once more.

Madame Xu flashed her eye to cast a glance at him; reflecting for a moment, a faint smile appeared across her face: "You ought to be aware by now; your bride was borrowed out by Grandmother two days prior. The sky is also no longer early; if she has not yet returned, there is no harm in you going to fetch her back. There is no need to accompany this old woman to grind teeth here."

Wei Shao's expression remained grave: "This grandson shall see according to the situation. If there are no affairs, I shall proceed over according to Grandmother's instructions."

Madame Xu nodded her head, urging him to depart. Wei Shao bowed to his grandmother, and only then arose to emerge.

He strode out of the northern quarters, his paces gradually accelerating. Arriving at the fork in the road leading toward the eastern quarters, he paused to turn his face and cast a glance over; hesitating briefly, in the end he nonetheless continued forward, and finally crossing straight out of the grand gates, he immediately commanded men to prepare a horse, intending to proceed to the east of the city.