Chapter 503: Loyal Bones Are Buried in Every Green Hill—Why Must a Horsehide Shroud Bring Them Home?

That day, just after nightfall, Wang Zhongsi, who was stationed in the western city of Taiyuan, returned to the government office with a grave expression.

He shut himself alone in the study, spread out a large sheet of paper, picked up his brush and was about to write something, but then suddenly set the brush aside and could not help letting out a long sigh.

His brows were furrowed so deeply they formed the character for "river."

Wang Zhongsi understood very well in his heart that the mighty and prosperous Great Tang was probably about to slip further and further away.

Yet universal peace was still nowhere in sight. The Great Tang had been founded for over a century and had accumulated far too many contradictions. Once an age of chaos began, countless demons and monsters would emerge to stir up trouble.

Settling old scores, avenging old grievances.

The first and most pressing issue: the question of authority between Brother Ji and Crown Prince Li Chang had not even been settled.

The nation had not yet even established a legitimate Son of Heaven to command the four quarters—how could universal peace be so easily achieved!

Wang Zhongsi thought for a moment, then picked up his brush and wrote swiftly on the paper in one fluid motion.

After hesitating repeatedly, he finally added a few characters at the end:

Wang Zhongsi's last words.

He had a premonition that his days were numbered.

The day Brother Ji failed would be the day he was buried with him.

From a very young age, Wang Zhongsi had been raised by Brother Ji in the palace, receiving the same top-tier education as the imperial princes.

Though he was not an imperial prince, he was treated as one in all but name.

Brother Ji's grace to him could never be repaid in a lifetime. If things proved beyond remedy, Wang Zhongsi could only die to thank the world, fulfilling the way of loyalty and filial piety.

Ensuring the proper succession of the throne is the loyalty of a minister;

Not forgetting Brother Ji's grace of raising him is the filial piety of an adopted son.

Among the various armies and generals of Hedong, anyone could lay down their life for Li Chang—Wang Zhongsi alone could not.

After sealing the letter and applying wax, he summoned a household slave who had followed the Wang family army and handed the letter to him.

"Make a trip to Bianzhou and deliver this letter to Xiuniang."

Wang Zhongsi pondered for a moment, then pulled out a pouch of gold leaves from his sleeve, pressed it into the man's hand, and continued: "I've explained in the letter—once you deliver it, you will no longer be a slave of the Wang family. Take this money and find a place free of war to live out your days in peace."

"Master! What do you mean by this!"

The slave dropped to his knees and cried out in alarm, taking the letter with both hands but refusing to accept the pouch of gold leaves.

"These are not things you should ask about. Go now, do not hesitate."

Wang Zhongsi waved his hand impatiently.

The slave had no choice but to go on his way, never once touching the money pouch from start to finish.

Wang Zhongsi helplessly put the money pouch away, rested his chin on both hands, and stared blankly at the oil lamp, his thoughts drifting far away.

Right now, the officers and soldiers harbored enormous resentment toward Brother Ji—those who wanted to make money saw no money, and those who wanted to ride the dragon found no dragon.

From the time of departure until now, they had gained almost nothing. Could such an army win a battle?

Wang Zhongsi did not dare to think too deeply about it; the more he thought, the colder he felt all over.

Just then, the great drum outside the government office was being pounded furiously, the rhythm extremely urgent, as if beating right beside one's ears, making one's scalp tingle!

Something had happened!

Dong dong dong! Dong dong dong!

Dong dong dong! Dong dong dong!

Wang Zhongsi's expression shifted slightly, then he took his sword down from the wall and sat upright at his desk.

He appeared very calm, without the slightest sign of panic.

Hurried footsteps drew closer and closer. Soon, the study door was pushed open. Bai Xiaode, drenched in sweat, rushed in with several personal guards and shouted to Wang Zhongsi: "Commander, the Hexi Chishui Army and the Dadou Army have joined forces in a mutiny! The rebel soldiers have already taken over every city gate within the city, and they're about to storm the government office!"

Bai Xiaode's voice trembled as he spoke. In truth, he did not want to die defending the position either, but the fact that these troops had mutinied without anyone coming to buy him off already said everything. This was also the most important reason he had come to notify Wang Zhongsi.

The most pitiful thing in life was not even having the value to be bought off—wanting to betray someone but finding no way in.

In fact, this scene unfolding was nothing unusual.

Before coming to Hedong, Wang Zhongsi had directly commanded the forces of Anxi and Beiting, and with his adopted son Li Guangbi serving as the Hexi Military Commissioner, his military strength was superior and he held absolute authority within the army.

But unfortunately, those forces had all been transferred away by Brother Ji.

As for why Brother Ji wanted to transfer these armies away, it was actually quite easy to understand—it was at least partly to guard against Wang Zhongsi establishing himself independently.

The Chishui Army had thirty thousand men, the Dadou Army had five thousand who came to Hedong, and the other armies were scattered, fragmented units, such as those under the Longyou Military Commissioner.

The Hedong Circuit garrison had also been dispatched to garrison other locations.

Now that the two Hexi armies had joined forces in mutiny, even an immortal within Taiyuan City could not stop them.

Because according to the rotation schedule in Taiyuan City, although the army units had been broken up and reshuffled, the officers and soldiers on city defense and patrol duty, on any given day, always included personnel from these two armies—and in organized units at that.

At this moment, Wang Zhongsi could not even be bothered to move. With his eyes closed, he already knew who was stirring up trouble.

Led by the An clan of Liangzhou, along with a host of Hexi localist factions, they did not want to go down with Brother Ji's sinking ship and become "rebels."

As long as Chang'an sent a persuader over and promised them high office and generous pay, they could be easily bought. What these people wanted was actually not much—they merely wanted to "advance."

People die for wealth, just as birds perish for food.

Wang Zhongsi silently said this to himself.

The sound of armor rubbing together was chaotic and very loud.

There were also footsteps, sounding like a great many people.

The scabbards of the waist-swords clattered against the armor plates near their thighs as they moved, producing that uniquely grating sound.

The main gate of the government office seemed to have been opened as well. Normally only the center gate was opened, so the gate's pivot had always been somewhat stiff. That teeth-grating sound was the noise produced by the decayed door pivot grinding against the great gate.

Though Wang Zhongsi had his eyes closed, it was as if he could see the Chishui Army, clad in iron armor and bearing weapons, dressed in black military uniforms, surging in like a tide.

There was no sound of blades piercing flesh, no crying or screaming, no battle cries, not even any cursing.

Everything was so peaceful.

Perhaps because no one resisted.

Wang Zhongsi could not help but sigh. He had nothing to regret—the people's hearts had made their choice, and no matter how many contingencies he had prepared, nothing could be changed.

Only the sound of footsteps outside was terrifyingly loud.

So many people—so many people must have come.

Wang Zhongsi suddenly opened his eyes and saw that the door to the study was wide open. Bai Xiaode and several personal guards beside him had already drawn their horizontal blades, standing guard at his side.

Outside the door, it was empty.

The mutinous soldiers had not yet reached the study, but the sound of footsteps grew ever closer, seemingly within arm's reach.

"Put down your blades. Don't throw your lives away for nothing."

Wang Zhongsi, his expression calm, instructed Bai Xiaode and the personal guards beside him.

Hearing these words, the latter's face visibly flushed red then went pale. His thoughts had been seen through at a glance by Wang Zhongsi; any further explanation would be futile.

Bai Xiaode dropped his saber to the ground with a long sigh, not daring to meet Wang Zhongsi's eyes.

Seeing Bai Xiaode disarm, the personal guards all tossed their sabers to the ground as well.

They were not afraid of death—they only feared dying ignobly, dying without meaning.

A sorrowful mood permeated the study.

Before long, An Chongzhang walked at the very front, leading fully armed elite soldiers of the Red Water Army—though without bows and crossbows—to the entrance of the prefectural study.

Not a single person stepped over the threshold.

Wang Zhongsi sat upright before his desk, immovable as a mountain, making these men dare not approach.

"Since you've come, why don't you dare enter?"

Wang Zhongsi looked into An Chongzhang's eyes and asked in return, commanding authority without anger.

Seeing this, the personal guards beside An Chongzhang could not help but take a step back.

"Heh, the Red Water Army that shook the world and dominated Liangzhou—has it now come to this?"

Wang Zhongsi could not help but scoff, then roared at An Chongzhang: "All of you, get in here before this commander!"

His voice rang like a great bell. A single shout left An Chongzhang and the subordinate generals and personal guards beside him with ringing ears, nearly unable to stand steady.

Even so, An Chongzhang gritted his teeth and strode into the study, meeting Wang Zhongsi's gaze.

For a moment, the atmosphere was extraordinarily tense.

Wang Zhongsi gently waved his hand at Bai Xiaode and the others beside him. The latter had no choice but to lead the personal guards out in single file, like deserting soldiers.

They stood guard at the doorway, neither able to enter nor willing to leave.

"General An, bringing so many men to the prefectural office—what is it you wish to say to this commander?"

Wang Zhongsi looked at An Chongzhang with a half-smile, his tone like that of a Court of Judicature official interrogating a prisoner. Anyone who did not know the actual situation would have thought that An Chongzhang was the one who had violated military law, and that the Red Water Army soldiers behind him were Wang Zhongsi's yamen runners.

"Commander Wang, this subordinate has come to stage an armed remonstration. If I have given offense, I beg your forgiveness."

An Chongzhang cupped his fists and spoke to Wang Zhongsi, his gaze flickering, not daring to meet the other man's eyes.

"Was it this commander who failed to distribute grain, or pushed you to your deaths before Shi Siming, that warrants you putting on this spectacle of an armed remonstration?"

A trace of mockery appeared on Wang Zhongsi's face as he fired back with a direct question.

An Chongzhang was speechless. He did not want to tear apart all pretenses, yet Wang Zhongsi seemed iron-willed about following Brother Ji to the bitter end!

He had no other choice!

"Commander Wang, straightforward people do not speak in veiled terms. The situation before us is not what the officers and soldiers of Hexi wished to see.

The Son of Heaven has already ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor in Chang'an. The Retired Emperor acted perversely, disregarding the safety of the realm—he should have abdicated and yielded to the worthy long ago.

The officers and soldiers no longer wish to follow this benighted ruler in his misdeeds. I ask the Commander for your understanding!"

An Chongzhang steeled himself, cupped his fists in a salute, and spoke.

Wang Zhongsi paid him no heed, only looking coldly at everyone in the study, his face full of disdain.

"For a minister, the two words 'loyalty' and 'righteousness' are the most difficult to uphold."

He sighed softly, shook his head with some disappointment, and continued looking at An Chongzhang: "The Sage has treated the An clan of Liangzhou well. The large number of An clan sons who entered the court to serve as officials—all of that was the Sage's patronage. Not to mention others, just speak of yourself. Were it not for the Sage's promotion, could you, An, have what you have today? To fail to repay kindness received, and instead stab someone in the back—that is unrighteous!"

These words made the veins on An Chongzhang's face bulge, yet he could not refute them. He clenched his fists tightly, wishing he could step forward and punch Wang Zhongsi in the face to make him shut up.

But An Chongzhang did not dare. He could not tear apart all pretenses either.

Wang Zhongsi could not have cared less whether he was pleased or not, and continued: "Succession to the throne has its own laws. The Crown Prince staged a palace coup in Chang'an, deposing the Emperor and setting himself up in his place. To support such a new ruler is disloyal. Today there is a Crown Prince who deposes the Emperor; tomorrow there will surely be others who follow suit. As the saying goes, shall the one who started it not have descendants? You lot, driven only by profit, aid the tyrant in his evil—that is disloyal!"

After finishing, he pointed at An Chongzhang and cursed: "You, this disloyal and unrighteous wretch—what qualifications do you have to speak of armed remonstration before this commander?"

He ground out each word through clenched teeth: "Do! You! Deserve! It!"

"Shut your mouth!"

An Chongzhang, berated past his breaking point, drew the horizontal blade from his waist and pointed it at Wang Zhongsi, but still he did not dare charge forward and cut him down.

Even though the man just sat there motionless, utterly unarmed.

In truth, in An Chongzhang's plan, Wang Zhongsi absolutely could not die!

If he died, it would shake the army's morale and would make the An clan of Liangzhou offend a great many people.

If those people came to settle accounts later, the trouble would be endless!

An Chongzhang suppressed the fury in his heart, as well as the fear of having his thoughts seen through. His chest heaved violently, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Wang Zhongsi.

After a long while, An Chongzhang finally suppressed the anger within and squeezed out a smile on his face—though no matter how you looked at it, the smile was forced.

"Commander, you have already been relieved of your post by the Son of Heaven. You are no longer the Commander, and you should not be in the prefectural office now. You should find a quiet place to rest.

Once the situation settles, you may return to your hometown to recuperate.

Since things have come to this, this subordinate hopes you will not persist in your own course. The brothers are only seeking a way to survive and do not wish to make things difficult for you. I also hope you will not make things difficult for us."

An Chongzhang struggled to explain, making a gesture of invitation.

Wang Zhongsi would be placed under house arrest, well-fed and well-provided for.

Let us all part on good terms; there is no need to take things to the extreme.

"This commander has never considered a backstabber to be any kind of brother.

An Zhongzhang, this commander asks you: right now there are thirty thousand men in the Red Water Army and five thousand in the Great Dou Army. Are all these armored, weapon-bearing soldiers not enough to give you face?

If you want to strike, then strike here! What are you trying to do, dithering like a woman?

You want to eat fish but fear the stench, is that it?"

Wang Zhongsi patted his own chest, eyes wide open as he stared at An Zhongzhang!

The latter dared not meet his gaze, turned his head aside, and took a step back.

Wang Zhongsi then looked around at everyone present; every person in the room lowered their head, not daring to meet his eyes.

His face was filled with disappointment. Bracing his hands on his thighs, he looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh:

"In the second year of Wude, when the High Ancestor still reigned, the Red Water Army already swept across the six directions, roaming freely across the eight wastes.

Garrisoned at Liangzhou, repelling the Turks to the north and blocking the Tibetans to the south, it was the Great Tang's greatest pillar in the Western Regions.

A common saying goes: among the great armies of the realm, none compares to the Red Water. The tiger is called the great bug; the greatest is king!

The Red Water Army is a king's army — at least, it once was.

The ten thousand li of the Western Regions are like a silk ribbon, and the Red Water Army is an iron nail, nailed fast to this end of the ribbon, holding up the Great Tang's ten thousand li of territory in the Western Regions.

Unmoved by wind, unshaken by rain, unburied by sand — what a man's spirit that was.

Yet now, you who serve in the Red Water Army have become petty schemers, disloyal and unjust, deceiving the sovereign and betraying your superiors, all for the sake of scrambling for power and profit.

This commander once served as commander of the Red Water Army, and once felt proud of it.

But now, this commander is ashamed to be counted among you! I feel deeply disgraced!

From now on, you must never tell anyone that I, Wang, ever served in the Red Water Army!

An Zhongzhang, is it not the commander's seal you want? It is right there on the desk — take it yourself!

Wang takes his leave!"

With that, Wang Zhongsi swiftly drew the sword from the desk and slashed it across his own throat.

His body went limp and slumped over the desk, as if he had fallen asleep.

Fresh blood splattered across the desk, a swath of crimson.

"Commander Wang!"

An Zhongzhang cried out, his eyes about to split from their sockets! He was so terrified his face turned deathly pale!

His knees gave way and he collapsed to the ground, utterly dumbfounded.

Driving Wang Zhongsi to his death was absolutely not what he had wanted to see!

Wang Zhongsi had risen very early in his career and enjoyed considerable prestige in the army; moreover, he loved his soldiers as his own children.

Stripping him of his military authority so that everyone could part on good terms — after all, those who walk different paths cannot work together — was something most people could in fact accept.

After all, the bonds of fellowship from years past could hardly compare to the livelihood of one's entire family and one's own future prospects.

One could only say "I'm sorry" in one's heart.

But driving Wang Zhongsi to his death was an entirely different matter! Those who had once received Wang Zhongsi's patronage in the army were not just one or two!

Driving your benefactor to his death — is this how you repay a debt of gratitude?

From now on, the An clan of Liangzhou would truly be known as those who repay kindness with enmity! A person lives for face — how would the world regard the An clan of Liangzhou?

This was something An Zhongzhang could not accept under any circumstances.

Thud!

Everyone in the study immediately dropped to their knees! Quite a few of them began to sob.

Grief, tension, panic, and retrospective fear — all sorts of emotions filled every heart, constantly shifting.

No one had expected Wang Zhongsi to be so fiercely resolute, choosing death over house arrest!

How can the swallow and sparrow understand the ambition of the swan? When the eagle of the sky falls to earth it dies — how could the sparrows on the ground possibly comprehend the eagle's integrity?

"Give Commander Wang an honorable burial."

An Zhongzhang rose to his feet and let out a long sigh, instructing the personal guards beside him.

No one answered. Everyone knelt on the ground, unwilling to rise, as though standing up would tarnish the honor of the Red Water Army.

Bai Xiaode, who had been standing outside the door without entering, now walked in slowly.

He looked at An Zhongzhang expressionlessly and said, "General An, I wish to take Commander Wang back to his hometown of Zheng County in Huazhou for burial — fallen leaves return to their roots."

With that, Bai Xiaode paid no heed to whether An Zhongzhang agreed or not, stepped forward, hoisted Wang Zhongsi's corpse onto his back, and walked out of the study.

The densely packed elite soldiers of the Red Water Army standing within the prefectural office dared not obstruct Bai Xiaode and the few personal guards behind him. An Zhongzhang even followed behind him, all the way "escorting" Bai Xiaode out of the prefectural office, before slumping weakly against the wall, his eyes vacant and unable to utter a single word.

Still less did he dare rush forward to stop Bai Xiaode.

"Among the great armies of the realm, none compares to the Red Water. Of all creatures and all bugs, the tiger is called the great bug; the Red Water Army is a king's army..."

An Zhongzhang muttered to himself, like a man whose soul had been extracted by a demon, bereft of his senses.