Chapter 118: Forced Partnership
Chang’an City.
The soldiers galloped with the Imperial decree, heading straight for the West Market proclamation board, shouting as they ran.
“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees—”
“Former Prime Minister Su Bei’s ten crimes: corruption, selling office, arson, murder of his wife, deception, factionalism, slandering the Sovereign, stockpiling an army, collusion with the enemy, and treason. These crimes are unforgivable. His clan is to be executed immediately. This decree is announced to the world!”
The commoners crowded around the proclamation boards on every street. The atmosphere in the capital was tense. The people had originally come out to try their luck and see if they could buy food.
Hearing of this massive event, the wall of people grew thicker and thicker, the chatter and discussion rising and falling.
“Su Bei is dead?”
“I knew long ago he was no good. Good riddance!”
“Is the Little Prime Minister Su to be executed as well?”
Hearing that Su Xueyi was to be implicated, several men showed expressions of pity. Though Su Xueyi was harsh with his colleagues, the commoners were not his colleagues. The people believed Su Xueyi possessed genuine talent.
A busybody chimed in, “Like father, like son; they’re likely birds of a feather. Besides, colluding with the Xiongnu—with a crime like that, even the Heavens couldn’t save him!”
“Not so, not so. I heard it was the Little Prime Minister Su who reported the Great Traitor. He’s bound to be pardoned.”
“But wouldn’t that be the same as killing one’s father?”
“The father killed the mother, and the son turned in the father. The Su family drama is truly spectacular.”
“I don’t care about that. Is the grain shop open today?”
“…”
The commoners watched the drama for a while before returning to the reality of making a living.
The price of rice was five hundred coins per dou, and salt was three hundred and seventy coins per dou. These were numbers the average citizen simply couldn’t afford. No one had known why the prices in Chang’an had suddenly skyrocketed and why the wealthy families had closed their shops to stop doing business.
Those with little grain left at home feared further price hikes and were scraping together every penny they had to buy grain from the black-hearted merchants. The people of Chang’an were once again struggling for survival.
The Vice Minister of Revenue rode into the West Market, accompanied by the troops responsible for seizing the Su family residence.
The official from the Ministry of Revenue held the keys to the grain shops, announcing in a loud voice, “All Su family property has been confiscated. The shops are now under government control. The grain shops and bookstores will operate as usual.”
“Anyone who price-gouges or disrupts the people’s morale will be charged with the same crime as Su Bei on the spot!”
With that, the official dismounted and personally opened the grain shop. A few workers were huddled inside, clutching their heads in terror, and were immediately taken away by the army.
A commoner boldly asked, “My Lord, how much is the grain?”
The Vice Minister replied calmly, “Rice is thirty, salt is thirty-five.”
Those were the market prices before the shops closed. The crowd looked at each other in relief and began to form an orderly queue.
The official added calmly, “The tribute transport is about to be cleared. The late-season new rice will be on the market soon. There is no need to panic-buy or hoard grain.”
New rice was naturally more fragrant and better. The people grew even more at ease. The cautious ones continued to buy, while the more carefree ones went off to watch the excitement elsewhere.
Those who were being extra careful as they bought their grain still had to ask, “Can the tribute grain really arrive?”
“It can!”
The throat of the north and south, the backbone of the realm—Jingzhou connected three lines along a single river.
Storm clouds rolled over the Heyin Tribute Bureau. Countless sacks of late-season rice were piled on the dock’s open ground, and the tribute boats had all been scuttled.
Private soldiers of the Lu family patrolled with blades. The Tribute Commissioner was trembling, clutching a teacup and sitting on pins and needles. On one hand, he hoped his family could settle this mess quickly so he wouldn’t die of fright. On the other, he worried about the situation in Chang’an. If they cut off Ying Xi’s food, could they defeat him?
Suddenly, lightning flashed across the sky, followed by rumbling autumn thunder. The Tribute Commissioner looked out the window and dropped his cup with a splash.
He thought he saw some grain sacks moving in the distance. He assumed it was just a water bird and didn’t pay it much mind, thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him. He sat back down, his teeth still chattering.
But those were not water birds. They were the Jingzhou Navy, cloaked in straw raincoats, slowly approaching the Tribute Bureau.
The mission to seize the tribute grain was vital and required stability; the grain could not be stained with blood.
Xie Meng held his patience, moving forward slowly with his lieutenant. He was so stifled he wanted to throw off his raincoat and start swinging his blade.
The lieutenant advised, “General, be patient. If you waste the grain, it would not only be a waste of Heaven’s gifts but would also worry the Emperor and damage the Xie family’s reputation.”
Xie Meng nodded. Compared to the Su family facing execution, the Xie clan was doing quite well this year. He had to be steady; Ju’er hadn’t even married a wife yet!
An older brother is like a father; Xie Meng felt he was doing a fine job as a cousin.
Xie Meng crawled into the optimal position for archery. From here, he could just see the Tribute Commissioner’s head through the window.
“Bring the bow.”
The lieutenant handed over a heavy bow. Xie Meng drew the bow and notched an arrow. The arrow flew, and the Tribute Commissioner died instantly!
The Jingzhou Navy finally revealed themselves, their shouts rising as they instantly occupied the dock. They loaded the grain onto warships and sent them directly to the Grand Granary.
Xie Meng boarded his ship in high spirits. He had earned another merit for the Xie family. Ju’er really needed to marry a beautiful wife. Since he wasn’t planning on marrying the Princess, he hoped Ju’er would be the one in charge in the future.
Chang’an was supposed to be in total chaos, yet with several armies acting simultaneously to enforce control, order was gradually returning to the city.
A black falcon spread its wings and soared over the water. The falcon had flown in from Mount Cuihua.
Little Black landed on Xie Qianli’s right shoulder, a letter from Lian Qing tied to its leg: “Found the Peach Blossom Spring. Killed Lady Lu and the children born of the second wife. Found two thousand blades, five hundred horses, and five hundred sets of armor. Also engaged in combat with Xiongnu soldiers.”
Su Bei was the primary culprit; executing the clan meant no survivors. Xie Qianli suppressed his pity and looked at the second half of the note.
If Su Bei had only traded goods for money with the Xiongnu, it might have been manageable. But he had actually brought Xiongnu soldiers into the borders!
Were these Xiongnu soldiers merely hired by Su Bei, or did they have another purpose, like gathering intelligence on the court?
Xie Qianli wasn’t sure. He put away the note. They were currently on the water. Their large ship was sailing toward the Wei River.
The sky was gloomy, and the Dragon Flags on the ship flapped loudly.
The heads of the aristocratic families who had participated in opposing the court had vanished overnight without a trace. The Longwu Army had searched the entire capital region and found nothing. The search had been thorough—they had used hounds and mobilized the commoners. No one should have dared to hide them. Could they have simply vanished into thin air?
Su Xueyi, knowing the families’ secrets, suggested, “The Lu family has boats.”
The Lu family had managed the tribute transport for years; it was no surprise they had a private ship or two. The only large river in Chang’an where one could hide was the Wei River. Once a ship entered the vast Wei River, it would vanish from the sight of those on shore.
Xie Qianli deployed dozens of warships to hunt down Su Bei. The river rolled on as lookouts stood on high ground, searching for suspicious vessels.
On the front deck, Xie Qianli and Su Xueyi stood side-by-side, maintained at a distance that was neither too far nor too close.
Su Xueyi gazed toward the end of the river. As a criminal official, he couldn’t wear his court robes and had taken a peacock-blue single robe trimmed with gold thread from the Secretariat.
The early autumn rain was like ink, and that touch of blue blended perfectly with the water and sky. One would expect the wearer to look modest and gentle. However, the highlight was the gold thread woven into the fabric. Even under the faint sunlight, Su Xueyi’s body shimmered with points of light, drawing everyone’s eye.
Xie Qianli glanced at Su Xueyi as if by accident, and then his gaze moved unnoticed to his own bright silver armor.
Silver light dazzled, and gold light sparkled like stars. The two types of radiance vied for dominance. Xie Qianli withdrew his gaze, his lips pursed.
At that moment, he noticed he wasn’t the only one secretly observing Su Xueyi. Su Xueyi was far more ruthless than Fan Zhiai; Fan Zhiai only harmed others, while Su Xueyi had slaughtered his own kin.
People of the time valued loyalty and filial piety. As for Su Xueyi’s reporting of Su Bei—whether it was out of “righteousness over family” or a desperate move to save his own life—the Longwu Army knew the truth.
If he killed Su Bei now, it would be parricide.
The soldiers’ gazes were subtle, containing a hint of disdain and disgust that was hard to detect unless one looked closely. But having noticed it, Xie Qianli turned to glare at the soldiers, who took the hint and stood properly.
The lookout shouted at the top of his lungs, “General Xie! About two li ahead, there is a target sailing east with the current. Suspected rebel ship!”
Xie Qianli estimated the position. The people on that ship with Su Bei were surely trying to escape.
Those family heads must have heard that the Su residence had been seized and the situation was under the court’s control, so they had panicked and planned to flee south. They wouldn’t be lacking for money. If they escaped Chang’an, the land was vast; how easy would it be to find them again?
Not to mention there might be Xiongnu on that boat!
“Full speed ahead. Prepare for battle.”
The archers notched their arrows. These large ships were equipped with ballistae. The warships forged ahead, the ballistae winding tight and aiming at the enemy hull. Large arrows were fired, exploding with loud crashes upon the water.
In the distance, the screams from the enemy ship were mixed with the Xiongnu language. Several Xiongnu men, dressed in Central Plains clothing but with braided hair and thick beards, fell into the Wei River. The enemy soldiers returned fire, a rain of arrows flying back toward them. The Longwu Army immediately raised their shields.
Clanging sounds filled the deck.
Su Xueyi took a half-step back, his voice dry. “General Xie, give me back my sword.”
When the Longwu Army had “stolen” Su Xueyi under Imperial orders, they had taken his sword. The eight-sided Han sword now hung from Xie Qianli’s waist—slender, elegant, and the king of all weapons.
Such a sword paired with Su Xueyi seemed only to add to his natural splendor.
Xie Qianli acted strictly on business. “Prime Minister Su is a criminal subject; it is not appropriate to return your weapon.”
“I betrayed them. Those on the other side must hate me to the bone.” Su Xueyi, usually so spirited, had exceptionally pale lips. “I cannot die. His Majesty needs me, and my sister is waiting for me.”
Xiao Xi gave the order: Su Xueyi is important.
Xiao Xi was never wrong. But that word “needs” still rankled.
Su Xueyi said transparently, “When I return to the capital this time, countless people will spit on me, countless restless ghosts will haunt me, and the descendants of the implicated families will want to kill me. I only believe in myself. Give me the sword.”
The meaning was clear: even if a fight broke out, he didn’t need the Longwu Army’s protection.
A young Longwu officer said angrily, “Lord Su still puts on airs? If we threw you over there right now, let’s see if they’d tear you apart alive?”
Xie Qianli raised his hand and returned the sword.
The eight-sided Han sword rested in Su Xueyi’s palm, its edge gleaming. If one ignored his recent actions, looking at this man alone would bring to mind many beautiful descriptions of gentlemen from ancient texts.
But if Su Xueyi personally killed his father to avenge his mother—no matter the reason—it would become the fatal flaw for which he would be condemned by thousands in the future.
Xie Qianli rubbed the hilt of his Youlong Edge.
The ships caught up!
Four warships circled to block the path, and the main ship rammed the enemy vessel to a halt. The two sides engaged as the Longwu Army boarded.
The private soldiers of the great families saw Su Xueyi and their eyes turned red with hate, wishing they could swallow him whole. Su Xueyi used his long sword to defend himself, breaking through the ranks as a sharp, blue shadow leaping across the deck.
With extensive experience in naval combat, the Longwu Army performed superbly. In a short time, they had wiped out the Xiongnu soldiers on the deck.
The soldiers surrounded them!
Surrounded by several Xiongnu soldiers, Su Bei stood in leather armor with his back to the crowd. “Move the boat to the left! Pass through the gap between the two warships! Do not fear battle; as long as we break the encirclement, they can’t catch us…”
The Longwu Army had already surrounded Su Bei. Su Bei was still shouting, as if he were commanding a battle of tens of thousands. Everyone on the deck stared at him.
Only Su Bei himself finally realized something was wrong. His voice was completely raspy as he turned and cut off his words.
“You all…”
His allies had once sworn to stand by him through thick and thin. Now, the heads of the great families were all being bound with ropes, one by one, waiting to be taken back to Chang’an.
Su Bei’s expression froze for a moment before he narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath. He suddenly spotted Su Xueyi in the crowd and asked with a tone that was neither a cry nor a laugh, “You brought these people to join your father in our great cause?”
Su Xueyi said gloomily, “Father, I am sending you to atone for your sins to my mother.”
“Yi-er, you want to kill me?” Su Bei’s brows flared. Having lost his status as the leader of the families, he was now about to lose his authority as a father.
Su Bei raised his voice, wanting to completely consume Su Xueyi: “Is it because you wanted to avenge that wretched woman that you joined Ying Xi and exposed the Su family’s secrets!?”
“And you anticipated the Lu family had boats and brought the Longwu Army here?”
“How could your mother allow you to commit such a treasonous act? How will Yin-yin stand in Chang’an? I am your father, and I am Yin-yin’s father! Yi-er, I know you still have a way. Yi-er—”
“Your birth gave your father infinite hope.”
“I never failed you in any way. You were the most dazzling noble son of Chang’an.”
“Su Xueyi! If you kill your father, you will dare to kill the Sovereign! You will never have Ying Xi’s trust! You will die a horrible death!!!”
“…”
Su Bei’s voice grew smaller and smaller until it turned into a tremble, and he collapsed onto the deck. He could be heard murmuring, “I, too, once touched the clouds. I was the most prominent person in Chang’an.”
Su Xueyi had been full of hate, but seeing his father like this, his sword pointed low, he felt his father’s life had been a tragedy. His talent couldn’t match his ambition, and greed had led him to fall step by step to this point.
In the end, was it his father he resented, or the unfair treatment his father had once suffered?
He couldn’t bring himself to take his revenge personally. Su Xueyi closed his eyes.
Xie Qianli’s brow darkened. He waved his hand, and the Longwu Army released ten thousand arrows at once, instantly pinning Su Bei into a metal hedgehog.
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