The Splendor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 52 Frankness

Xiao Yi returned to the woodshed, told Lü You, Fan Si, and Wei Liang to rest, and then took some flatbread, water pouches, and felt blankets before going to the cellar.

The underground area was cold and damp, filled with the smell of rotting vegetable leaves and soil.

A faint candlelight illuminated several pitiful figures.

The old postmaster and the other two were tied up in a corner, their mouths gagged, and huddled together in fear.

Guo Zongyi and his siblings Hua Wan and Hua Heng were squatting there, playing with pebbles and having a great time.

Jiang Erniang was quietly criticizing Hua Nong when she heard the noise and turned around nervously.

Guo Xin displayed a maturity beyond her years, holding her sword and guarding the outermost edge, her bright eyes fixed on Xiao Yi.

"Are you okay?"

"Relax, they're not here for us. Even if you're discovered, just say you're guests and that you're hiding out of fear... Here are some blankets for you."

Xiao Yi distributed the felt blankets, turned around, and whispered to Guo Xin, "I sent Zhan Zhao and someone else to Yedu to deliver the message. Cao Wei is outside. Do you know him?"

"I've heard some things. He was a valiant general under my father in his early years. His wife, Madam Qin, was a close friend of my mother, and they occasionally visited each other. That's all I know."

"He must have been kidnapped and is being used to assassinate Commander Guo. This group will only stay at the inn for one night and will set off at dawn. Wait until they leave before you come out. I will leave two people to protect you and leave the horses and luggage behind. Follow the trail of the group, about half a day behind. If you encounter any danger, come find me immediately."

Guo Xin hurriedly asked, "Aren't you coming with us?"

Xiao Yi said, "I'll try to contact Cao Wei. If I can help him solve his problem, things will go much smoother from here on out."

Otherwise, he would have to protect the women and children and walk slowly behind Cao Wei, which was not his style, and the longer he stayed, the greater the risk might become.

"Then you should be careful too."

"This is the token of the head of the Crane Control Guard. If you need anything, come to me with this."

"Alright, then I'll be Chief Qingwen."

Xiao Yi walked towards Hua Nong and his wife, and first said to Jiang Erniang, "Sister-in-law, don't worry, the road ahead will only get easier."

"But he killed so many people..."

"This is a chaotic world." Although Xiao Yi's attitude was friendly, his tone was firm. He said, "Fortune and honor are found in danger. Sister-in-law used to complain that Hua Nong was not ambitious enough, but now that he is pursuing a great future, why don't you support him?"

Jiang Erniang muttered something silently, lowered her head, and dared not speak.

Hua Nong smiled wryly, "My lord, please don't mind her. She's just an ignorant woman... Ouch, that hurts! It's alright, it's alright. Don't worry, my lord, I will definitely protect these two. It's just that this postmaster has been quite kind to us..."

"Alright, we won't kill them. You can leave tomorrow. There's no need to untie them. Let's buy them some more time."

"it is good."

Xiao Yi then said to the fat postmaster, "If any soldiers come to ask later, tell them that Commander Cao killed them all, and you will be fine. If you dare to betray us, when Commander Guo's army returns, I will use the three of you as a sacrifice to the flag, understand?"

The three nodded repeatedly, as if pounding garlic.

"gone."

Just as Xiao Yi was about to leave the cellar, his coarse cloth cloak was grabbed.

Turning his head, he saw Guo Zongyi looking at him expectantly and whispering, "We finally reunited."

"Okay, stay a little longer then."

Although he was hiding, the situation wasn't tense, so Xiao Yi found a comfortable corner to sit in, wrapped in a blanket.

He didn't say anything more, just stayed there, which was enough to reassure everyone else.

Soon, Guo Zongyi relaxed a lot and said, "Young master, my third uncle said your singing is terrible."

“He’s talking nonsense. If you don’t believe me, ask Hua Nong.”

"Uncle Hua, really?"

A smile appeared on Hua Nong's face, but her tone was weak as she said, "My lord's singing... is beautiful."

"I want to hear it."

"I'll get some sleep." Xiao Yi yawned. "Make sure to wake me up before midnight..."

After saying that, he fell asleep without realizing it, until Guo Xin woke him up.

Everyone else was already asleep. Guo Xin escorted him to the cellar entrance and asked softly, "Are you leaving as soon as it's light?"

"Yes, don't worry, we're not far apart."

"Go, Deputy Commander."

Guo Xin shook the headman's token in her hand.

Xiao Yi left the cellar, covered it with wooden planks, and the candlelight immediately went out. He tightened his cloak, feeling the intense cold outside.

The crowing of roosters could be heard from afar, and the Fengguo Army was preparing to set off.

Xiao Yi instructed Lü You and Wei Liang to stay and protect Hua Nong and her group. He then mingled with Cao Wei's troops and ate porridge together. In the hazy light, they set off onto the snow-covered official road.

The caravan galloped north.

Xiao Yi wanted to find out Cao Wei's intentions, but he couldn't find an opportunity. He thought to himself that he would miss the chance once he got to the Yellow River.

More than an hour later, Cao Wei suddenly pulled on the reins.

"Eh-"

The horse neighed and reared up.

One by one, the cavalrymen failed to rein in their horses in time and charged past.

"Xu."

Xiao Yi reined in his horse and asked, "General Cao, what's wrong?"

"The horse stepped into a snow hole and injured its hoof."

"I support the General."

Xiao Yi helped Cao Wei off his horse and stood aside.

A groom from the group came to check and reported, "General, the horseshoe is bent; it needs to be removed first."

Seeing the coachman searching for tools, Xiao Yi casually handed him a dagger.

Cao Wei stared at him with his bright, sharp eyes for a moment, then suddenly asked, "You went to Chanzhou on official business, could it be... related to Wang Yin?"

Xiao Yi thought for a moment, then showed just the right amount of difficulty on his face and said, "To be honest, General, this matter is of great importance, and I dare not speak recklessly."

"Is it of great importance?"

"It's nothing more than running errands, checking military supplies inventory, and delivering some unimportant documents."

Xiao Yi's words were incoherent, and Cao Wei, seemingly senile, didn't understand, asking, "Oh? To whom?"

"Perhaps it was to prevent the Khitan from attacking from the south that the court had given instructions to the military governor of Zhenning."

Liu Jirong led over a horse, interrupting the conversation, "General, change your horse. Perhaps we can cross the Yellow River today."

Cao Wei strode away, glancing back as he left.

When their eyes met, Xiao Yi could see the wariness, the probing, and the hesitation in his eyes—a desire to trust but a reluctance to fully trust.

In the afternoon, the team arrived at Baimajin.

The section of the Yellow River ahead is frozen over.

Liu Jirong personally led a team to inspect the river crossing arrangements.

Cao Wei said he was tired and stopped at Baima Post Station to rest. As he entered, he remarked, "This is where Zhu Wen killed more than thirty high-ranking officials of the Tang Dynasty in one night and dumped their bodies in the river."

The inn was rudimentary, but at least it provided shelter from the wind and snow.

Xiao Yi and Fan Si ate some millet porridge, wiped the frost off their armor, and strolled around the inn to digest their food. After observing for a while, they still couldn't find an opportunity to speak with Cao Wei.

After a while, he would have no reason to follow Cao Wei anymore.

As he strolled into the backyard, someone suddenly patted him on the shoulder.

"Shhh."

Before him stood an old soldier, who lowered his voice and said, "Come with me."

Xiao Yi's mind stirred, but he didn't show it. He followed him through a long corridor and arrived at the postmaster's residence.

Pushing open the door, I entered a dimly lit room with only a single candle lit.

Cao Wei was playing chess with the old postmaster, with no one else around.

Seeing someone arrive, the old postmaster stood up and said, "This old man will go and warm a cup of wine for the military commander."

Xiao Yi entered and heard the door close behind him.

"Sit down." Cao Wei gestured to the folding chair opposite him and asked, "Do you know how to play chess?"

"will not."

"Your name is 'Yi,' yet you can't play chess. Your name doesn't do you justice."

Xiao Yi was an orphan in his previous life. He didn't have a name when he was taken in. People only knew that his father's surname was Xiao and his mother's surname was Yi, so they named him that.

His background was insignificant, he smiled slightly and said, "This humble servant is merely a pawn and cannot see the big picture."

Cao Wei picked up a chess piece, his eyes thoughtful, and then slowly sighed.

"We are both pawns."

"This humble servant is not comparable to the military commander."

Cao Wei said, "Your statement at Weicheng Post Station yesterday was full of holes."

Xiao Yi did not deny it, but asked, "Lord Liu also noticed it?"

"Don't worry, he's only interested in his own interests and has no patience for your business."

“Then…this humble servant is guilty, please punish me, Commander Cao.”

The candlelight flickered, illuminating the two people's faces, which were indistinct and uncertain.

Cao Wei remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.

"If you are to be punished, you should first be charged with the crime of harming your superior."

Xiao Yi was startled, but his face remained calm as he asked, "What do you mean?"

“Cao Dang was my personal soldier. He had just joined Li Ye and was transferred to the position of commander of the Crane Control Guard. His dagger was left behind by a comrade who died in battle, and he never parted with it. If you took his dagger, you must have already killed him.”

The air seemed to freeze.

Xiao Yi tensed up, waiting to see Cao Wei's reaction, while also preparing for the worst.

The room was silent until a soft sound broke the silence.

"despair."

Cao Wei finally made his move.

The black piece wobbled slightly on the board before settling into place, as if determined to make a showdown.

"You... did well to kill him!"

"Cao Dang is a treacherous brat, ungrateful and opportunistic. He deserves to die!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The General has gone north to Yedu. Could it be that he is ordered to kill Guo Wei?"

"Indeed, you went to Chanzhou to deliver a message to Li Hongwei, requesting the execution of Wang Yin?"

"Yes."

Cao Wei picked up the wine cup, rubbed it in his hand, and slowly asked, "What are your plans?"

"I originally intended to go north to serve under General Guo and seek a better future," Xiao Yi said sarcastically. "But I fear that by the time I arrive in Yedu, he will have already been killed by General Cao."

Cao Wei was straightforward. He shook his head and said, "I followed the commander-in-chief to pacify the three towns. He appreciated and promoted me, and we shared life and death. How can I betray him? But my whole family is under the threat of death. If I don't obey the imperial order..."

He finished his sentence in one gulp and let out a soft sigh that carried immense weight.

"Even heroes have their moments of weakness."

Cao Wei's knuckles turned white as he gripped the wine glass. His chest heaved, and his eyes held resentment, along with a hint of fear and helplessness.

Xiao Yi knew he wasn't there to gossip, so he asked, "What are your plans, Commander?"

"Let me see the letter you're delivering."

"it is good."

Xiao Yi took out the secret edict.

Cao Wei looked at it, shook his head, and said, "You can save Wang Yin; he will surely benefit your future."

Xiao Yi, unsure of how to save him or how great the risks were, remained silent, waiting for what would happen next.

Cao Wei said, "After the Grand Tutor was brutally killed, Wang Yin became a crucial figure in the Imperial Guards. Li Ye clearly had a plan in mind, transferring him and Li Hongwei to Chanzhou several months in advance. This was because to kill Wang Yin, he had to entrust the task to his closest confidants. However, Li Ye overlooked one thing."

"what?"

“Li Hongwei is cowardly and indecisive, and may not dare to make a move,” Cao Wei said. “You should first present the emperor’s secret edict to Wang Yin, and he will surely be able to capture Li Hongwei.”

"Is the commander confirmed?"

"A headcount guarantee is available."

Cao Wei's tone was firm, carrying an undeniable authority.

He tapped the chessboard lightly with his fingers and said, "This will be our first move to turn the tide."

"and then?"

"Once Wang Yin has the situation under control, I will have him send someone to Kaifeng to rescue my family and dispatch a troop of elite troops to help me kill Liu Jirong. Then I will head north to Yedu to ask General Guo to raise an army to purge the court of corrupt officials!"

These words struck a chord with Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi didn't immediately believe Cao Wei. Regardless of whether the other party was testing him, even if things really developed that way, he, this little pawn, could still be used and sacrificed. Afterwards, Guo Wei's posthumous conferment of honors on him would be of no use.

"Why would a mere deputy captain like you tell me such things? We've only known each other for less than a day. Aren't you afraid I'll turn around and tell the Emperor's brother-in-law?"

Cao Wei said calmly, "If I didn't even have this much insight, I would have died on the battlefield long ago."

After saying that, he took out a letter and said, "Take this with you, in case you can't see Wang Yin smoothly."

It's another messenger mission. Well, let him go. Guo Wei started out as a messenger himself.

Xiao Yi took it and asked, "Liu Jirong..."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and the old postmaster said from outside, "General, the wine is warmed up, you must drink it while it's hot."

Cao Wei stood up and, as if issuing a military order, uttered a single sentence.

"Forty li north of Liyang County, at Baigou Canal, Liu Jirong was executed."

(End of this chapter)