Chapter 8: Section Seven

Wealth and rank press upon the body, leaving no freedom.

Huang Shi did not have to wait long. A soldier in blue emerged from the gate, the round heart-protector on his chest gleaming snow-bright, his padded armor neatly inlaid with diamond-shaped metal plates, and brand-new jet-black military boots on his feet. Without sizing Huang Shi up, he said flatly, "Follow me," then turned and headed inside. Huang Shi hurriedly quickened his pace to catch up.

The mansion grounds were filled with terraces and pavilions, red brick and green tile. A long covered walkway stretched before the terraces, with white jade balustrades and bluestone steps. Beyond the walkway, on the left, lay a newly built garden. At the garden's center sat a pool of emerald-green water, from which rose a cluster of mountain rocks. At the top, a low spring bubbled up, sending two clear streams trickling down the stone face like tears.

The blue-clad soldier stopped before a redwood door, bowed toward it, and announced, "Son-in-law, the visitor has arrived."

"Bring him in."

By the time he arrived here, Huang Shi, who had been glancing at sights along the way, felt his mind was as clear as a mirror, leaving only a series of cold sneers directed at Wang Huazhen. Hearing the order from within, he quickly composed himself and followed the soldier inside.

Once he heard the door close behind him, Huang Shi immediately knelt and kowtowed toward the desk. "General Li, your humble servant brings a letter."

"Present it."

Huang Shi rose at the sound of the voice, drew a wax pill from his bosom, and approached holding it in both hands. He placed it respectfully on the desk, then, without so much as lifting his eyelids, stepped back and stood at attention.

"Raise your head."

Huang Shi obediently looked up and studied this old friend of Nurhaci. The man had a square head and large ears, a long beard on his chin, and thick brows over big eyes — quite a masculine bearing. Li Yongfang stroked his beard and regarded Huang Shi for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly, then broke open the wax pill and began reading the letter. After a moment, he chuckled. "Such audacity — a spy daring to visit in broad daylight."

"My master and General Li are old friends. I am merely delivering a letter between two old friends. Is General Li unwilling to see a letter from my master?" Huang Shi had long since made up his mind: the more repetitive his phrasing, the better, and the more coarse and unlettered he appeared, the better.

Li Yongfang's sharp gaze circled over Huang Shi for a long while. "How dare you come in broad daylight?"

"I thought that General Li's residence would surely be heavily guarded at night, with many eyes and ears. By coming in broad daylight, the General would not expect it, and others would expect it even less."

A flash of surprise crossed Li Yongfang's hawk-like eyes. "What is your name?"

"Your humble servant is Huang Shi."

"Are you not afraid of being beheaded?"

"My master told me that General Li is a good friend who values loyalty. Besides, when two states are at war, envoys are not executed."

That idiom made Li Yongfang pause. Then he released his beard and burst out laughing. "Quite right — envoys are not executed. Precisely so. Sit!" As he spoke, Li Yongfang cursed inwardly: An uncultured, coarse military lout. What kind of envoy are you? You are plainly a spy.

Huang Shi thanked him and sat down on the very edge of a chair. He kept his head lowered for a long while, then lifted his eyes once — and met Li Yongfang's gaze directly. He hurriedly lowered his head even further.

Li Yongfang casually asked about the situation in Guangning and Sun Degong's appearance and bearing. Huang Shi answered fluently, without the slightest hesitation. Then Li Yongfang asked about what Huang Shi had seen and heard along the way — the people's livelihood, local conditions — but these questions left Huang Shi staring blankly, his words failing to convey any meaning.

Seeing that this Huang Shi knew little of such matters, Li Yongfang asked no further. In their exchange, there was not the slightest reference to Guangning's military situation or troop strength, and even less mention of how he had come to Liaoyang. After a few more casual remarks, Li Yongfang summoned the guards and ordered them to take Huang Shi away and see that he was properly settled.

At dinner, Li Yongfang again called Huang Shi to join him. After the two were seated as host and guest, Huang Shi, seated in the lower position, was served sumptuous dishes and the finest wines. After three rounds of wine, Li Yongfang clapped his hands and summoned singing girls to dance in the hall — slender and full-figured alike, a dazzling array of beauties. When one of the singing girls came to offer wine, Huang Shi could not help staring blankly. She was even more beautiful than the maid he had seen the day before, and for a moment he could not even lift his wine bowl.

"Huang Shi, since you have come, stay here a few days first. There is no hurry — let me consider everything thoroughly before we make further plans." Li Yongfang's words pulled Huang Shi back from his dazed state. He hastily voiced his agreement. Seeing that the hour was growing late, Li Yongfang selected two other singing girls to accompany Huang Shi back — these two were no less stunning than the one who had offered wine.

In the room, sandalwood incense curled faintly, and the gauze bed curtains hung like mist. This stay lasted three days. For those days, the two serving girls accompanied Huang Shi as he roamed the mansion grounds. Though he knew many places were off-limits, by the time Li Yongfang summoned him again, the sights he had seen still left him longing for more.

This time, Li Yongfang rewarded him with an ingot of gold and gave him a few instructions. Huang Shi bowed his head in obedience, then left the son-in-law's mansion and retraced his original route back to the merchant's front door.

"My ambition is to win the realm. For that, I cannot afford the slightest hesitation or scruple." Huang Shi reaffirmed his goal once more in his heart, then knocked the brass ring on the gate.

The merchant was both startled and overjoyed to see Huang Shi return. He hurriedly led him to the inner chamber while calling for the maid to serve tea. He could barely wait until Huang Shi was seated and had taken half a sip of water before asking impatiently, "How did the matter that brought you to Liaoyang turn out?"

"A complete success."

"Then will you be returning to Guangning?"

Huang Shi set down his tea bowl and said with a grin, "If possible, I would leave today. I must trouble you to make the arrangements quickly."

"Very well, I shall go and arrange it at once." After saying this, the merchant rubbed his hands together and his eyes darted about. "However, I have one presumptuous request."

"Speak freely. I am all ears."

"Please sit comfortably and wait a moment."

The merchant then hurried out. Before a single cup of tea had cooled, he returned leading a boy of about ten. The merchant placed both hands on the child's shoulders. "This is my youngest son. I hope you can take him to Guangning, to preserve the incense of our ancestors. Our entire family will be grateful for your great kindness."

Huang Shi looked at the boy for a moment. The boy's lips were pressed tightly together, his hands clenched in fists at his sides, and his still-childish face revealed an intriguing expression of resolve. Huang Shi sighed inwardly. "Very well. Your noble loyalty moves me deeply. This small matter is, of course, no problem."

"Many thanks."

The merchant then led the child out by the hand. A moment later, he returned alone. "My son has gone to bid farewell to his mother, elder brother, and sisters. I must trouble you for the journey ahead."

After bowing to Huang Shi, the merchant placed a packet of silver on the table. "A trifling sum for travel expenses. Please accept it with a smile."

Huang Shi hesitated briefly, then rose with a smile and put away the silver, saying coolly, "To decline would be disrespectful; to accept makes me feel unworthy."

Not waiting for the merchant to thank him again, Huang Shi asked with some impatience, "Now that your great matter is settled, can you tell me how to leave Liaoyang?"

Though some bitterness still lingered in his heart, a great weight had finally been lifted. The merchant forced a smile and said, "Please sit, and allow me to explain slowly..."

As the merchant spoke, Huang Shi took up brush and paper and noted everything down. After verifying there were no errors, he stood. "May I open the window and gaze upon Liaoyang city one more time?"

He walked over and pushed open the window, taking in the entire street market before his eyes. In his heart, he consoled himself: "I will certainly win the realm. Of this I am utterly convinced. No matter how great the sacrifice, I can make amends. For the sake of millions of Han commoners, the sacrifice of a few individuals is, from the start, unavoidable."

Then, without closing the window, Huang Shi said coldly to the merchant, "You too, take one last look at Liaoyang city."