Chapter 17: Uproar

At dawn, the sun rose as usual from the east, and layers of soft light pierced through the last darkness before daybreak, shining upon the sturdy walls of Jinyang. Soon, the sky was covered with layers of brilliant morning clouds, gorgeous and colorful. Among the trees outside the city, crisp birdsong had already begun to ring out, and who knew how many early-rising insects had already been eaten.

It was still early, and already some commoners waiting to enter the city had gathered beneath the main eastern gate. On the gate tower, the young captain on duty rubbed his eyes, swept a glance over the orderly crowd waiting below, revealed a somewhat satisfied expression, yawned, and called out to his subordinates: "Prepare to open the gates!"

"Something's happening!" At this moment, the sentry atop the watchtower shouted a warning.

"What's going on?"

"Captain, look!" The sentry pointed into the distance toward the east.

Clattering up the watchtower steps several at a time, the captain peered into the distance to assess the situation, and soon his expression changed. To the east of the city, the view was wide open, and though the distance was great, one could clearly see an army marching in neat formation toward the city of Jinyang.

"Report this at once!" Seeing this, the captain decisively ordered: "On alert!"

The guards atop the wall immediately drew their blades and nocked their arrows. The atmosphere suddenly grew tense, and the commoners below also sensed that something was wrong, scattering in a panic, eager to get as far away as possible.

When that army drew near, the gate captain grew puzzled. The force outside the city numbered only a little over two hundred men, all dressed in Hedong army uniforms — clearly their own people — and they carried no weapons. Suppressing the suspicion in his heart, the captain shouted loudly to halt them: "Halt where you stand! Who are you?"

The one leading them below was none other than Zhang Yanwei. Hearing the challenge, he stepped directly out of formation, raised his head, and called out: "I am Zhang Yanwei, Chief Inspector of the Longqi Army. We have urgent business and must enter the city to seek an audience with the Prince of Beiping."

Hearing this, the captain's expression remained doubtful. After a moment's deliberation, he replied: "If General Zhang enters the city alone, there is naturally no objection, but as for the soldiers you lead, I dare not permit them passage. I ask that the general disperse his men!"

Hearing such an answer, Zhang Yanwei's expression shifted slightly, and he could not help muttering inwardly: Didn't they say everything had been arranged!

A sense of irritation welled up in his heart, and Zhang Yanwei could not help raising his voice to the fullest and continuing: "We truly have urgent business! Brothers on the wall, please open the gates and let us in! If you delay a matter of great importance, I fear you cannot bear the responsibility!"

The captain on the watchtower remained faithful to his duty, and his tone likewise hardened as he said coldly: "I beg General Zhang's forgiveness, but my duty binds me — I dare not open the gates lightly! I ask the general to halt, dismiss his men, or else do not blame me for being discourteous!"

Clearly, the gate captain had already determined that Zhang Yanwei and his men were up to something. After the warning, he immediately had his archers draw their bows and take aim at Zhang Yanwei and the others. Seeing this, Zhang Yanwei cursed inwardly: What kind of job have they done? They can't even arrange a proper "gatekeeper"!

"Let them in!" Amid the tense standoff above and below the gate tower, a lazy voice sounded beside the captain's ear.

Turning his head, he saw that the battalion Commander had come in person. The captain was greatly startled and confirmed with him: "What did you say?"

"I said open the gates and let them in!" The battalion Commander repeated, this time clearly reaching the captain's ears.

The captain's face changed as he pointed below the wall: "But they—"

Facing his subordinate's doubt, the battalion Commander would not listen to his prattle and forcefully cut him off: "This is a matter for those above — how dare a mere captain like you make a fuss here? They carry no weapons; even if you let them in, what could possibly happen? Open the gates!"

Accompanied by a dull rumbling sound, the heavy city gates finally opened. Zhang Yanwei, who had been stewing with frustration outside the walls, paid no heed to anything else and immediately led his men inside, heading straight for the Prince of Beiping's residence.

In the rear courtyard of the prince's residence, at the dwelling of the matriarch Lady Li, the mother and her sons were having their morning meal. Liu Chengyou had come as usual to mooch a meal. His third younger brother Liu Chenghsun was also there, but the eldest, Liu Chengxun, had not come — probably too busy these past few days.

"Second son, have an egg." Lady Li, her face full of tenderness, personally peeled an egg for Liu Chengyou and gently placed it on the plate before him.

"Thank you, Mother!" Liu Chengyou took a sip of millet porridge and said in a muffled voice.

"You, now — frugality is a virtue, but don't be too hard on yourself. You're still young; the affairs of military and government are for your father and elder brother to worry over. Don't work too hard. In this time, I can see you've grown so much thinner!" Lady Li's kind gaze fell upon Liu Chengyou as she gently chattered on.

In Liu Chengyou's impression, Lady Li had always been a very wise and sensible woman. His own nature of overthinking made him sensitive to her words and read more into them. "Let your father and elder brother do the worrying" — could this be a hint to him?

He looked up at Lady Li, only to meet the concerned gaze in his mother's eyes — that surely could not be feigned. Letting out a soft breath, Liu Chengyou nodded to Lady Li: "To have Mother worry is my fault as a son. I will be careful."

With Lady Li's wisdom, how could she not see that Liu Chengyou was merely humoring her? Yet she could only sigh helplessly: "Eat your egg! It's getting cold."

He picked up the peeled egg with two fingers — it was fine and smooth, still wafting a few wisps of steam. It was a pigeon egg. This thing, it nourishes the kidneys and benefits essence...

"I want one too!" On the other side, third brother Liu Chenghsun could not help speaking up to Lady Li, looking at her with eager eyes, wearing an expression that begged for affection. Lady Li naturally would not play favorites; laughing and scolding, she picked up an egg and set to work.

"Second brother, when will you take me to the army camp for a visit!" Liu Chenghsun was still young, yet he was the liveliest of the three brothers. Unable to sit still, he looked at Liu Chengyou with anticipation.

"Once you obtain Father's consent, I'll take you!" Liu Chengyou replied flatly.

Hearing this, Liu Chenghsun's little face immediately fell. He stuck out his tongue at Liu Chengyou and muttered: "Then forget it — I might as well sneak out on my own..."

"What did you say!" His words reached Lady Li's ears, and her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as she glared at him with reproach.

"N-nothing!" Liu Chenghsun immediately shook his head in denial and gave an awkward smile.

Liu Chengyou, however, was sizing up this third brother of his — a thirteen-year-old youth, full of childishness, with a sturdy, tigerish look about him, a fine physique, and the makings of a good military officer. Gazing at this youth, Liu Chengyou's thoughts could not help drifting far away.

He vaguely remembered that there was a passage in the history books, roughly to the effect: Guo Wei led the Ye army south to "purge the court of evil ministers," the Emperor Yin died outside the capital, and since the state could not be without a ruler, they requested that the emperor's younger brother Hsun be enthroned. The Empress Dowager refused on the grounds that the imperial younger brother Hsun was gravely ill. Wei and the others went to pay their respects and found it indeed so, whereupon they deliberated and installed Liu Yun, who was Liu Zhiyuan's adopted son. Afterwards, Liu Yun was deposed and killed. Liu Chenghsun also died the following year, but the records did not say whether it was from illness or some other cause.

Looking at the vigorous youth before him, Liu Chengyou's heart grew several degrees colder, and that humble, cautious, solemn face surfaced in his mind. Guo Wei, heh heh...

As his thoughts drifted, a sudden commotion came from outside the prince's residence. Even deep within the courtyard, one could faintly hear shouts of "Prince of Beiping."

Everyone in the hall looked at one another in bewilderment. Lady Li's phoenix brows knitted together as she instructed a steward attending within: "Go ask what's going on!"

Liu Chengyou set down his chopsticks, picked up a silk handkerchief, and wiped his mouth, looking very composed.

Before long, the steward who had gone out to investigate returned in haste and reported nervously: "Madam, a large crowd of soldiers and commoners has gathered outside the residence. They are clamoring to see the Prince!"

"Is that so? I want to go see!" Liu Chenghsun, upon hearing this, grew excited and eagerly expressed his desire to join the commotion.

"You stay right here! You're not going anywhere!" He was suppressed by a single sentence from Lady Li.

Liu Chengyou, unhurried, rose and took his leave of Lady Li with a bow, going to see what was happening. Noting her second son's composed demeanor, the furrow between Lady Li's brows gradually relaxed. She looked out toward the hall and let out a soft sigh.

Turning her face, she began to discipline her restless third son.