Chapter 82: An Open Skylight

Lei Xianchu did not dare casually say he was leaving, while Song Xianggong stared at Pang Tianci with a look of astonishment, smiling insincerely.

"Magistrate Pang, you have come from afar, and you mean to leave as soon as you enter the city, without even a sip of water?

That will not do, that will not do. If I let you go back just like that, would people not say that I, the prefect, am a poor host and have failed in courtesy?"

As he spoke, he made as if to take Pang Tianci by the arm.

The false smile on Song Xianggong's face was utterly unconcealed, and the sight of it made Pang Tianci's anger flare. He sidestepped to avoid the fake prefect and looked hopefully at Lei Xianchu.

"My lord!"

In his urgency, he wished Lei Xianchu would turn his horse around and ride out of the city at once.

Lei Xianchu did not look at Song Xianggong. He only fixed his gaze on Zhou Shixiang, putting on an air of deliberation, as though weighing Pang Tianci's request, his expression full of hesitation.

Zhou Shixiang gave a light cough. Song Xianggong smiled faintly at this, clasped his hands behind his back, and stepped back two paces. Seeing this, Lei Xianchu understood at once: it seemed this Taiping Camp truly did take this Zhou fledgling as its leader, and what others said counted for nothing.

After Song Xianggong stepped back, Pang Tianci at once felt the weight lift from him. Song Xianggong's false enthusiasm earlier had put no small pressure on him, and now that the other man had withdrawn, he could not help but feel much more at ease.

Looking again at the fake prefect, dressed all in a scholar's robe and putting on a sanctimonious air as though he were a man of learning, he could not fathom why such a man would mix with bandits. It truly disgraced the face of all scholars.

Cupping his hands toward Lei Xianchu on horseback, Zhou Shixiang said, "Lord Lei and Lord Pang have come on behalf of the Governor.

Though we once held this mountain as outlaws, we have now been moved by the great righteousness of the court, and have moreover been graciously granted by the court the post of Assistant Regional Commander of Luoding, giving us the chance to serve the court.

Since you two have come representing the Governor, you have come representing the court. Whether or not you think well of us, and whether or not you approve of what our Taiping Camp does, we shall treat you as honored guests.

I ask you both to come sit in the yamen, so that our Taiping Camp may do its small duty as hosts!"

Translated into the language of later generations, this meant: before, we were outside the system; now we have entered the system, and from here on we all eat from the same pot.

As for whether you two have come this time to smash our bowl or snatch our chopsticks, it does not matter — let us set that aside for now. Whoever comes is a guest; can we eat first?

Song Xianggong chimed in with a smile, "Right, right, right. This is no place for talk. You two lords had better come to the yamen. I have already ordered wine and food prepared to welcome you and wash off the dust of the road."

At these words, Pang Tianci's mouth twisted, and he said with a look of contempt, "I would not dare. I am a County Magistrate, and you are a prefect. How could there be any principle in the world of a superior welcoming an inferior and washing off the dust of the road?"

At this barbed remark, Song Xianggong pretended not to hear, and only looked at Pang Tianci with a smile on his face, until the other man grew rather awkward.

"Lord Lei?"

Zhou Shixiang called Lei Xianchu again, his tone heavier. He could not let Lei Xianchu leave just like that.

Seeing the other man's solemn expression, Lei Xianchu reckoned that even if he wanted to leave now, he probably could not. Since he had already come, he might as well go sit for a while.

Could these bandits really dare to kill him? If it truly came to that, then he would count himself unlucky — dying before his mission was accomplished.

"Very well. Since I have come, there are some matters I ought to speak to you about, lest you fail to know what is good for you."

"We are just waiting to receive your lordship's instruction."

At once, Zhou Shixiang and Song Xianggong led Lei Xianchu toward the prefectural yamen. Though Pang Tianci was unwilling to go, since Lei Xianchu was going, how could he, as the deputy envoy, not go?

He could only hold his nose and go along. The soldiers of each unit withdrew under their own platoon commanders — those who were to patrol went on patrol, and those who were to train went to train.

As for the two hundred Gaozhou soldiers Lei Xianchu had brought, they too were taken to the prefectural yamen, but "escorted" by two companies of men under Shao Jiugong.

Along the way they were not allowed to look around at all, and upon reaching the prefectural yamen they were led straight to the rear — not imprisoned, but seated at a dozen or so tables laid with wine and meat for them to eat and drink.

These Gaozhou soldiers were all city lads Lei Xianchu had recruited in Gaozhou. They had no skill in battle, but they had a trick or two when it came to preying on the common people, and not a few of them were of rascal stock.

Before coming, every one of them had thought they were following their Mobile Corps Commander to Luoding to make a fortune. How could they have imagined that these bandits were stronger than them and more numerous as well?

Looking at those black-clad bandit soldiers, they seemed to carry a murderous air, as though they had seen blood.

By comparison, since their own Mobile Corps Commander said nothing, they could only steel themselves and obey the arrangements, their hearts in their throats the whole way.

A few of the officers, however, kept their wits about them, carefully observing the terrain along the way so that if their Mobile Corps Commander failed to reach an agreement with the bandits and things turned sour, they would have a road of escape.

They never expected that the Taiping Camp would lay out wine and meat for them. In no time the Gaozhou soldiers showed their true colors — some played finger-guessing games, some matched each other drink for drink, eating and drinking their fill with great relish.

Under the vigorous urging of the Taiping Camp officers who kept them company at the feast, even the officers who had kept their wits about them could not help drinking a few cups too many.

One by one their faces turned red, they belched with the smell of wine, and they swayed as they walked.

Outside they ate and drank, and inside they ate and drank as well. Compared with the big bowls of wine and meat outside, the banquet inside had a bit more variety. Large bowls and small dishes were laid out in abundance, with both meat and vegetable dishes, a sight that truly made one's mouth water.

Fine as the wine and food were, the people eating had little heart for it. Each was guessing at the other's intentions, and so the meal naturally passed in heavy silence.

During the meal, although Song Xianggong deliberately told a few jokes to try to liven the atmosphere, the earlier incident had already cast a shadow over Lei Xianchu and Pang Tianci, so no matter what he said, the two remained unmoved, and the atmosphere naturally could not be enlivened.

After Zhou Shixiang made a token toast of two cups, he stopped feigning courtesy with Lei Xianchu. He buried his head and hastily ate a few mouthfuls of rice, then set down his chopsticks.

Seeing him set down his chopsticks, Lei Xianchu and Pang Tianci also set down theirs at the same time. Seeing that none of them had the heart to eat any more, Zhou Shixiang simply ordered the banquet cleared away, and then had tea served.

After picking up his tea bowl and taking a sip, Zhou Shixiang glanced at Lei Xianchu and Pang Tianci, but found himself with nothing to say. By some strange impulse, he actually said, "Is the Governor in good health?"

The question startled both Lei Xianchu and Pang Tianci. Anyone who did not know better, upon hearing such a question, would first want to know what relation the speaker had to the Governor.

Yet it was plainly obvious that the Zhou Shixiang before them had no relation whatsoever to Governor Zhang far away in Gaozhou, and so his presumptuous question left them momentarily at a loss.

After a moment, it was Pang Tianci who said, "The Governor is in good health. Thank you for your concern."

"Good that he is well, good that he is well."

Zhou Shixiang gave two dry laughs, knowing that his question had been abrupt.

Seeing this, Song Xianggong stepped in and said, "May I ask what instructions Lord Zhang gave you two in coming to Luoding?"

Lei Xianchu considered for a moment, then said, "The Governor originally sent me to discuss the matter of the Luoding garrison with Assistant Regional Commander Hu. I did not expect that Assistant Regional Commander Hu would already be dead.

In this sudden turn, I do not know with whom to discuss the matter here, and must return to Gaozhou to ask the Governor's will before deciding."

Hearing this, Zhou Shixiang said, "Lord Lei, there are no outsiders here. Let us open the skylight and speak plainly. Did you come this time harboring the intention of swallowing up our Taiping Camp?"