Chapter 25: Section Four

Old Zhang had always hoped Huang Shi would pull the Zhang brothers into his unit, but Huang Shi, after thinking it over carefully, felt that what he was about to do still carried great risk. If anything happened to the Zhang brothers, he felt he would have no way to explain it to Old Zhang. Most critically, those two loudmouths of the Zhang family were not exactly reliable sorts. So Huang Shi hardened his heart and repeatedly refused Old Zhang's many requests. This time he had specially prepared a gift, hoping to slightly soothe the Zhang family's resentment. It was clearly for their own good, yet he could not say so — this left Huang Shi very displeased.

"Fine. Tomorrow you will both come with me. Wear your most presentable clothes."

"Yes, my lord."

The next day Huang Shi took all eight of his personal guards to Liuhe Guard. Every one of them was in gleaming armor, and the bright shining mail and scarlet cloaks made all the guard battalion households look on with deep respect. For good luck, the common people of China generally chose the morning to welcome the bride, but here, as in all guard battalions, welcoming the bride and the wedding feast both began in the afternoon.

Huang Shi was invited to the seat of honor, and his several personal guards were also given the finest wine and dishes. He, however, merely offered a simple toast, and while the others went wild teasing the newlyweds in the bridal chamber, he sat smiling in silence the whole time. Once the newlyweds had entered the bridal chamber, Old Zhang, beside Huang Shi, hesitated a moment before speaking up.

"Shitou." Old Zhang now used this form of address at a very low volume.

"Uncle Zhang, please speak." Huang Shi was very glad that Old Zhang could still use this form of address. His former neighbors all now insisted on calling him Garrison Commander Huang, and those less familiar with him even tried to call him Lord Huang.

"Could Youdi and Youdi go to Guangning to see a bit of the world?" Old Zhang once again brought up the old topic.

The timing of this question gave Huang Shi a great headache. By rights, one should not speak of disappointing things today, but then again, today was even less the right moment to ask such a question. It seemed Old Zhang was determined to get his way. Huang Shi could not think of a good reply for a long time. Watching Old Zhang's eyes gradually fill with disappointment, he finally steeled his heart.

"Uncle Zhang, you know that all my personal guards are appointed from above. There is one Zhao Manxiong, but he was not originally a military householder. I cannot arbitrarily transfer guard battalion soldiers."

"Yes, yes, Shitou, you have your difficulties. I know, I know." Old Zhang very reluctantly expressed understanding. Every time Huang Shi refused him, Old Zhang said the same thing.

Old Zhang's disappointed expression made Huang Shi's heart ache as well. This was his lifesaver, yet he had to make him so sad, and on the great joyous day of his son's wedding. Huang Shi sat stunned for a long time. Old Zhang, for his part, again urged him to eat and drink. He looked at this kind-hearted man, who had helped him build a house and even helped arrange a wife for him. Huang Shi finally yielded to the traditions of this era — he no longer cared about the happiness of the children.

"Uncles and aunts, I have a few words to say." Huang Shi stood up, and his resonant voice instantly drew everyone's attention. "Today is a day of celebration, so I hope to take this chance to confirm another happy matter."

"As you all know, my life was saved by Uncle Zhang, who rescued me from the wilderness in a great snowstorm. This kindness is one I, Huang Shi, can never repay, no matter what, so there is no need to speak further. If Uncle Zhang had not later helped me find a military post, I, Huang Shi, would still be begging on the streets. This kindness Uncle Zhang also does not ask me to repay, only making one agreement with me." He paused, then continued, addressing the roomful of people who were all listening with rapt attention: "Today I ask all you neighbors and friends to bear witness to this matter — that is, my, Huang Shi's, eldest daughter is promised to the Zhang family as a wife."

Hearing Huang Shi's words, Old Zhang stood up somewhat at a loss. The enormous change in Huang Shi's status and position made him worry. He said with some hesitation, "When the time comes, I wonder if the families will still be of equal standing."

Even the grace of saving a life cannot offset the difference in rank? Huang Shi felt a surge of anger at these words. He said loudly, "Never mind that I am merely a minor Garrison Commander — even if one day I become an Assistant Regional Commander, a Vice Regional Commander, or a Regional Commander, I would never dare forget Uncle Zhang's kindness. The blue heavens above, the thick earth below — today everyone here is a witness. So long as Uncle Zhang agrees, this marriage is settled."

On the road back to Guangning, Yang Luhuo pondered for a while, then said to Huang Shi, "My lord, your subordinate understands your feelings, but there is still something that must be said. Given my lord's future status, marrying your daughter to a military householder is not appropriate. There are many ways to repay kindness, but this is absolutely, absolutely inappropriate. Even a daughter born of a concubine will not do. My lord will be ridiculed for a lifetime."

"I have already spoken."

"No one will take it seriously, and the Zhang family will never dare bring up this marriage."

Seeing that Huang Shi remained silent, Yang Luhuo added, "My lord, although the Zhang brothers have no achievements and their physiques are nothing special, as long as the higher-ups do not inquire, transferring one into our unit as a Squad Commander should pose no great problem."

"No," Huang Shi said decisively. "Lord Sun has instructed that he wants a vigorous, crack army. Someone who cannot command the respect of the men cannot serve as a Squad Commander."

"My lord must always think of ways to promote them," Yang Luhuo said anxiously. "If they could become officers like Company Commander or Squad Commander, it might at least be passable in terms of face."

Huang Shi smiled and sighed with emotion. "Lord Sun also has shown me kindness, so I must repay him in public affairs. The Zhang family's kindness I repay in private affairs. Although I draw a clear line between public and private, I still understand the principle that the grace of a drop of water should be repaid with a gushing spring."

Yang Luhuo glanced at Huang Shi's expression, inwardly disagreeing strongly with his superior's attitude. "My lord draws a clear line between public and private — your subordinate admires that."

Back at his residence, Huang Shi took out a silver ingot and gave it to his personal guards to divide among themselves. "You have worked hard today, accompanying me on such a long trip."

"We subordinates dare not accept this." The personal guards were first taken aback, then all began to laugh. "Didn't we lowly ones also get a meal and wine out of it?"

"You didn't dare drink freely, so drinking like that was more a torment than a pleasure." Huang Shi stuffed the silver into Yang Luhuo's hands. "Take it and divide it up or buy wine. Today you did a great deal to earn me face. I am very satisfied — this is merit!"

Because Huang Shi had long ago told Sun Degong that he was going to attend a wedding feast, Sun Degong, after inspecting the troops the next day, casually asked how the drinking had gone yesterday and why he showed no signs of a hangover at all. Huang Shi frankly admitted he had drunk very little, and as he chatted idly with Sun Degong, he recounted the events of the previous day in broad outline.

"Transferring the Zhang brothers here is indeed no great problem," Sun Degong said after pondering for a moment.

"A business where one risks beheading — how dare I be careless? Once the great matter is accomplished, will I fear there is no opportunity?"

Sun Degong also remembered what Huang Shi had said before: if the Zhang brothers refused to join the cause, Huang Shi would have no choice but to kill his own lifesaver. That was rather hard to justify, and Sun Degong naturally did not wish to complicate matters. "Speaking of which, Huang Shi, when do you intend to marry my daughter?"

Huang Shi smiled sheepishly. "Replying to my lord, that is still for my lord to decide."

"You jest. How can such a matter be decided by me? It would be terribly unlucky. You are not marrying into my family as a son-in-law, so of course it is for you to decide." Sun Degong looked at Huang Shi in surprise for a moment, then his face broke into a teasing smile. "Do you wish to marry into my family? If you do, I certainly will not object."

"My lord's misplaced affection — your subordinate is unworthy." Huang Shi also laughed. "But your subordinate truly does not understand these matters at all. Could I ask my lord to offer some guidance on the date and such?"

"No." Sun Degong flatly refused. "Go find someone yourself to set the date, then give it to me. If I object, I will say so at that time, but beforehand I will not offer any opinion. It would be terribly unlucky."

"Furthermore, if the Zhang family ultimately refuses to serve the Great Jin, you absolutely must not promise your daughter to their family." Sun Degong added with emphasis, "If the Zhang family's children cannot rise above others, I will absolutely not agree!"

Huang Shi was in truth not in a great hurry to marry Sun Degong's daughter, because he had already resolved to secretly strike against Sun Degong. But before taking that step, he had to confirm whether this girl valued her father or her husband more.