Chapter 11: Even the Northern Command Has Its Simple-Minded Generals

When Zhang Chi rode back, he was surprised to see a large number of troops and horses encamped near the merchant caravan.

While Zhang Chi was still puzzling over this, Du Ximing caught up and took hold of his horse’s bridle, saying, “Young Master Zhang, you have finally returned. My lady is in the general’s tent and has ordered me to bring you to her as soon as you arrived.”

“From your words, Commander Du, did you all expect I would return safely?”

“I certainly couldn’t have guessed, but that’s what my lady said. Dao Xuan and Santong were clamoring to ride out and search for you, but my lady told us there was no need, and that she was sure you’d return unharmed. I said then that my lady’s words are always true, and now, as it turns out, she was right yet again.” Du Ximing spoke as he led Zhang Chi forward.

Zhang Chi was more confused than ever. From the moment he’d met that fortune-telling Taoist in Huainan City, everything he had encountered had been so strange, as if he were a piece in some elaborate game, his every move accounted for by unseen hands. But he kept his thoughts to himself. Since he had just crossed into this world, and was caught up in its affairs, he understood that any attempt to grasp the whole picture would be like peering through a narrow tube at only a fragment. Better, then, to let things take their course and adapt as best he could.

“Where did all these soldiers come from?” Zhang Chi asked, noticing the sudden influx of troops.

“These are Northern Provincial Army troops, come to our aid after hearing of horse thieves in the area.”

Du Ximing led Zhang Chi toward the general’s tent. Zhang Chi had already heard from Santong and the other mountain bandits that the Northern Provincial Army was invincible in battle, and now, seeing them for himself, he was struck by their overwhelming presence.

In no time, they arrived at the general’s tent. As they approached, Du Ximing called out, “My lady, Young Master Zhang has returned safely, just as you said he would!”

Before he had even finished speaking, Dao Xuan and Santong burst out from the tent. Seeing that it truly was Zhang Chi, both were overjoyed. Santong rushed forward, clapped Zhang Chi on the shoulder, and laughed, “I knew you had a lucky fate, brother—death doesn’t come easily to you.”

“When you fell from your horse, I wanted to ride after you, but Lady Wang said she already had things arranged, and there was no need to worry, that you would return safely. I didn’t quite believe it, but now I see she truly has insight beyond compare,” Dao Xuan added with a broad smile.

Seeing Dao Xuan and Santong’s concern for him, Zhang Chi felt sincerely grateful. He patted both men on the shoulder and said, “Let’s go inside and greet Lady Wang.”

At that moment, Lady Wang and Daoyuan had already stepped out to meet him. Lady Wang regarded Zhang Chi with a faint, meaningful smile but said nothing. Daoyuan, hands pressed together in a gesture of blessing, intoned, “Amitabha. Benefactor, you have returned safe and sound—this is a great blessing indeed.”

“You truly are blessed with a long life,” Huan Heng interjected coldly, stepping out at that inopportune moment with a snort.

Zhang Chi ignored him completely, passing by as if he hadn’t seen him, and approached Lady Wang and Daoyuan. He spoke sincerely, “Master, Lady Wang, I am grateful for your concern.”

…

Gao Yazhi was beside himself with frustration. He was perhaps the most renowned young general in the Northern Provincial Army, famed for his elegance and charm, often likened to the great general Zhou Yu of the Three Kingdoms era, and carried the nickname “Little Zhou Lang.” Wherever he went, none dared slight him. Yet here, it seemed even this humble, robe-clad monk was treated with more respect than he.

When he first arrived, he had explained that he came to provide aid upon hearing of the horse thieves, but the reception had been lukewarm. Now, as everyone was gathering in the tent to drink and discuss matters, a plainly dressed commoner arrived—at which point the entire company rushed out to greet him, leaving Gao Yazhi and a certain “Foolish Young Master” alone in the tent. How could he not be vexed?

The “Foolish Young Master” in question was, of course, Young Master Pei. But Pei cared nothing for how others viewed him. After the harrowing ordeal, he was now fully at ease and eating and drinking heartily, his clothes soaked with spilt wine.

If there was anything that interested Young Master Pei, it was only two things: good food and beautiful women.

The more Gao Yazhi thought about it, the angrier he became. So when Lady Wang and the others returned to the tent, he gave a heavy snort and said, “I thought some great personage had arrived, but it turns out he’s just another commoner.”

Zhang Chi was not one to stoop to petty argument, especially since he didn’t know what relationship this man had with Lady Wang, so he stayed silent.

Lady Wang, as if she hadn’t heard, made the introductions: “This is Young Master Zhang, whose learning and talent are seldom matched in my experience. Young Master Zhang, this is General Gao Yazhi of the Northern Provincial Army.”

Gao Yazhi nearly exploded at this. Lady Wang’s introduction of Zhang Chi was full of praise, while his own was reduced to a simple statement of rank. He snorted again, more fiercely this time.

Zhang Chi said nothing, but Dao Xuan, who had always admired him and was never one to shrink from confrontation, especially as a martial artist in his prime, spoke up: “General, were you born in the year of the pig?”

Gao Yazhi was baffled. “Why do you ask?”

Dao Xuan replied, “If not, why do you keep snorting like one?”

Lady Wang couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Gao Yazhi was now livid, but just as he was about to lose his temper, Lady Wang intervened calmly: “Dao Xuan spoke without thinking, General. There’s no need to lower yourself to the level of a young monk.”

“Amitabha,” Daoyuan said, “Brother, as a monk, how can you speak so mockingly? Apologize to the General at once.”

Dao Xuan, though reluctant, could not defy his senior and gave a curt bow, though said nothing.

Gao Yazhi was sweating with fury, but seeing Lady Wang and Daoyuan both speak thus, he was left in a quandary—angry, yet unable to vent it, his pride thoroughly bruised. Still, as a seasoned general, he restrained himself. “I have no wish to quarrel with impetuous youths,” he said with a cold snort.

Then, drawing his sword, he sliced a corner off the nearby table in one stroke, striking a pose he thought impressive and declared, “But let me show you all what a true general’s sword is. That way, none may look down on me, a mere general, again.”

As he spoke, his eyes swept coldly over Dao Xuan, Zhang Chi, and the others, a clear threat in his gaze.

“That is but a brute’s sword—how can it be called a general’s blade?” Zhang Chi, easygoing as he was, did not like to be threatened. At last he could not hold his tongue.

“And what, pray tell, is the sword of a general?” Lady Wang asked with perfect timing, turning to Zhang Chi with a subtle smile.

With Lady Wang’s tacit encouragement, Zhang Chi laughed aloud—he was never one to back down from debate. He spoke at length, “A general’s sword takes heroes as its edge, the valiant as its spine, the wise as its guard. Such a sword is not to be shown lightly. When drawn, it gathers armies from a thousand miles and commands all soldiers to follow. It feints with misdirection, strikes with advantage, advances with resolve, and arrives before all others. It moves with the seasons and encompasses all directions. Where its point leads, Luoyang falls for the taking, and before its edge is sheathed, Chang’an awaits. Its reach pierces the clouds and roots itself in the earth. Kept hidden, it deters the disloyal; drawn, it brings peace to the north. Only such a sword is worthy of a general. If one relies solely on brute force and violence, what claim has he to the title of general? He is no more than a common ruffian.”

“Well said!” Lady Wang could not help but applaud.

In the Wei and Jin dynasties, refinement was highly prized—even men would powder their faces. So, though Gao Yazhi was fuming, his complexion remained as fair as a woman’s.

Gao Yazhi held back only because of Lady Wang. After all, how many in the world could disregard this brilliant, powerful, and beautiful woman? Even the undefeated Northern Provincial Army deferred to her.

Moreover, Gao Yazhi was just an ordinary general in the army, not its supreme commander. His vision was narrow, but his sense of the bigger picture was not lacking—otherwise, how could he have become a general at such a young age? He knew this was not the time to fall out with Lady Wang.

So he snorted again and said, “I came because I heard my lady was attacked by horse thieves and needed aid, but I see now my presence was unnecessary. I take my leave.”

With that, he strode out of the tent. The discipline of the Northern Provincial Army was as formidable as their reputation; at his command, the soldiers withdrew in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Just then, Manager Li entered the tent, unaware of what had transpired. Seeing the withdrawal of so many troops, he lamented, “If we’d known the Northern Provincial Army was so close, we might have held on a little longer—perhaps we could have saved those three thousand war horses.”

“Do you really believe the Northern Provincial Army came to rescue us?” Lady Wang shook her head.

“If not to rescue us, then why did they come?” he asked.

“If the horses hadn’t been lost, the army would not have come at all,” Lady Wang replied.

Manager Li was at a loss, but Du Ximing, a little more astute, considered for a moment and asked, “My lady, is it possible that the ones who came for the horses were the Northern Provincial Army themselves?”

“If that were the case, a few hundred elite riders would have sufficed for the task—it would have been all too easy. For now, they will not act so openly,” Lady Wang said, shaking her head.

To some, Lady Wang’s words might have seemed to slight the five hundred guards, but Du Ximing trusted her deeply. He nodded in agreement, pondering to himself: if it wasn’t the Northern Provincial Army, then who were the thousands that came for the horses?