Volume 5, Chapter 16: Walking Right into a Trap

On the twenty-fourth day of the third month of the first year of Longsheng, the fifteenth year of the sixty-year cycle, the Prince of Qi reorganized his army and advanced upon Anze. The Northern Han army retreated to defend Qinyuan

Zizhi Tongjian

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Yong Records Volume Three

While I was comfortable soaking in the hot springs with my eyes closed, enjoying this hard-to-come-by leisure time, a bleak singing voice drifted over from the shore:

Eagles flock not with the less sublime,

As it has been since the olden times.

A circle fits not with square design,

Their different ways could not be merged with mine.

Yet humbling the spirit and curbing the pride,

Bearing the shame and enduring the snides,

But remaining pure and honest til the dying days:

Such conduct the wise men of yore greatly praised.

1

I was so startled that I started and plunged into the spring. Ji Xuan was truly too excessive. He went far enough to make me red in the face during our previous discussions on the classics over the past two days. After all, he was a recognized master of the classics. I was more than willing to admit defeat. However, the venerable sirs ill temper had grown with each passing day. If he had nothing better to do, he would frequently recite poetry and sing songs. This by itself was not problematic. All

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were fond of elegance and refinement; that was understandable. However, there was no need for him to constantly recite the poetry of Qu Yuan.

By reciting verses like Long did I sigh and wipe away my tears, / To see my people bowed by griefs and fears or It is this that my heart takes most delight in, / And though I died nine times, I shant regret it,

2

he was clearly mocking me for turning my back to Chu and defecting to Yong. Fine. That I could endure. Once I had rendezvoused with main Yong army, there was no need for me to stay with him in the same place. In the future, I only needed to deliver him to the emperors side and ensure that I kept away from him.

After shooting the old man a nasty glare, I lost all interest in taking a bath. Turning to Xiaoshunzi standing on dry land, I remarked, Help me get out. I want to get dressed.

Under my influence, Xiaoshunzi had learned much about poetry and literature. As such, he was well aware of Ji Xuans overt and covert mockery. However, since I myself could do nothing about it, he could only watch. After all, this elderly scholar was not an extremely fierce enemy who was evil to the extreme. He was only an old man who was fond of his reputation. With Zhao Liang present, there was no way the old man would do anything too excessive. As a result, even if I suffered a bit, Xiaoshunzi was only there observing with amusement.

Seeing Xiaoshunzi snickering, I felt only gloom inside. After climbing out of the spring and putting on the clothing handed me by Xiaoshunzi, I spoke as I wiped the remaining water droplets off using a body towel, Today is already the twenty-third. The Prince of Qi should have regrouped. Su Qing has gone out to scout for military intelligence. Presumably, we should be able to rendezvous with the army in a few days. When the time comes, have the Prince of Qi deliver the two of them to Zezhou. Out of sight, out of mind. What do you think?

Something flashed in Xiaoshunzis eyes. He glanced in the direction of Ji Xuan, pacing in the distance, and Zhao Liang, standing alongside awkward. He sneered, Young master is seeking trouble. Venerable Sir Jis temperament is stubborn. Were it not for Zhao Liang also being in our hands, he would likely not be so formal. If this kind of individual gains the Emperors deep trust and this elderly gentleman continues to shoot his mouth off, it will likely harm young masters reputation. In my opinion, it is best to kill them. Whats the point of going to such trouble?

I trembled in my heart. I stole a glance over. Seeing that the two of them shouldnt be able to hear Xiaoshunzis voice, I whispered, How can we do such a thing? If we kill them, I will likely have a notorious reputation amidst Northern Hans scholarly circles. Its nothing if I suffer as long as they are of use to Great Yong. Besides, Ji Xuan believes firmly in the principle of If poor, they attend to their own virtue in solitude; if advanced to dignity, they make the whole kingdom virtuous as well.

3

At the time, his dissatisfaction with Liu Sheng founding Northern Hanrefusing to submitting a petition to directly criticize nor holding a sinecure, instead going into seclusionclearly shows that he is not a foolishly loyal individual. Right now, by ridiculing me, he is also showing the discontent in his own heart. He is seeking to sound out my character. If I bickered over this matter, wouldnt that cause him to look down upon the entirety of the Yong court? As a result, I absolutely must not argue with him about this matter.

Xiaoshunzi nodded his head silently, no longer trying to convince me to kill the two of them. In fact, Xiaoshunzi probably understood the rationale. However, he treated me as his father and elder brother, and was unwilling to watch me be humiliated. I smiled wryly inside. There was another matter that I did not raise. In the minds of those scholars who were unquestioningly loyal and filial, my reputation likely was already quite notorious. It didnt matter if Ji Xuan got included in the mix.

***

Gazing at the distant banner of the Prince of Qi, Su Qing finally breathed a sigh of relief. Spurring her horse forward, she said to the gate guards, This general is Su Qing. On the orders of the Army Supervisor

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, Ive come to seek an audience with His Imperial Highness, the Prince of Qi.

When the officer on duty saw Su Qing and learned she was sent by Jiang Zhe, he immediately beamed with joy. Over these last several days, the Prince of Qi had been busy reorganizing the army. Although the prince had not flown into a terrible rage, his face was always gloomy, making all who saw him tremble with fear. Everyone also knew that the prince deeply respected the army supervisor. As long as the army supervisor was in good health, the Prince of Qi would definitely be happy and make the lives of the officers and soldiers of the Zezhou army a little easier. While the officer dispatched a m