Chapter 207: A Foothold

"Hold your horses!"

Just as Heifu had his driver steer the cart out through the city gate tunnel, a figure planted himself in front of it, tilted his head up for a look, and exclaimed in delighted surprise, "It really is the Five Hundred Leader!"

The voice sounded familiar. Heifu fixed his eyes on him — wasn't this the very same Nan Commandery Hundred Leader, Man Yao, who had fought alongside him at Tongyang in Chu?

Back then there had been four Hundred Leaders inside Tongyang city. Xu Yang had lost his wits from terror and suddenly mutinied, imprisoning Zhai Chong and Tu Si. It was this Man who had kept his wits about him, feigning compliance at the time, and when Gong Ao stabbed Xu Yang with his sword, Man had leapt out to turn his blade and strike back, saving Gong Ao's life in the process.

By now Man had also confirmed that the newcomer was Heifu. He let out a delighted whoop, and the six or seven men who had been waiting a long while at the north gate of Ying County gathered around — all of them Nan Commandery soldiers and clerks who had lived through the battle of Tongyang. If Heifu remembered correctly, Man included, every one of them was a local from Ying County or Jiangling.

In the battle of Tongyang, Heifu had not only led his Anlu County townsmen to win merit and become officials — every one of the several hundred Nan Commandery soldiers who survived that battle had also gained a rank of nobility. Although Heifu had yielded the main credit to Li You, not one of these Nan Commandery soldiers failed to remember Heifu's "kindness."

They remembered that it was Heifu who had risked his life to enter the enemy camp under a false surrender, lulling the Chu army into lowering its guard; they also remembered that it was Heifu who had stood atop the market stalls, burned the grain, cut off their retreat, raised his arm, and shouted to them all, "I will bring you home!"

He had done exactly as he said. The men had rallied around Heifu and charged the Chu lines without fear — a thunderous eruption after long-suppressed frustration. None of them could forget the feeling of that moment; it was as if they had simply followed Heifu in one reckless rush, and the Chu army had truly been routed, just like a dream.

Once they had truly returned home, the man they felt most grateful to in their hearts was none other than Heifu.

Now, seeing Heifu again, the men were all deeply stirred, and so they followed Man's lead and bowed to the ground before Heifu!

This was something Heifu had not anticipated. He hurriedly got down from the cart and raised them up, saying with emotion:

"Gentlemen, get up, quickly! A month apart feels like three autumns — I never imagined I would meet you all again here!"

Man grinned. "I'm serving in the Commandant's office. I got word that the Five Hundred Leader was coming to Ying County for an appointment, and reckoned by the timing you'd arrive today. Since morning, I've brought everyone here to wait — we've been standing by for quite a while!"

While they were staging this reunion of comrades-in-arms, the driver of a carriage behind them cracked his whip impatiently — Heifu and his group were blocking the road.

The soldiers' faces darkened, and they were about to make a scene, but Heifu stopped them. He had his driver and the others move together to the left side of the road, clearing the way for the carriages and pedestrians behind them to enter the city.

One of the men, a Second-Rank Noble, had just begun grumbling, "I heard from Hundred Leader Man that the Five Hundred Leader is coming here to be Left Military Clerk — that's a four-hundred-bushel post. What do we have to fear from them?"

But when he got a clear look at the scale of that procession behind them, he couldn't help sucking in a sharp breath.

Heifu had already noticed when entering the city that queued behind him was a carriage procession: a war chariot at the front and another at the rear, each with a single shaft and a pair of horses, and in the middle a four-horse covered carriage.

War chariots were open-topped — the one Heifu had bought for twenty thousand cash was this type. It could serve as transport but offered no shelter from wind or rain.

A covered carriage, by contrast, had an enclosed cabin that kept out wind and rain. Its body was larger, and the interior was furnished with bedding and fittings — one could recline, dwell, or ride in it, and it was relatively comfortable. In short, it was identical in form to the No. 1 and No. 2 carriages unearthed from the First Emperor of Qin's tomb.

A covered carriage was clearly far more costly than a war chariot; together with the horses, a single one was worth over a hundred thousand cash, something only households of great wealth and rank could possess.

What's more, this covered carriage was lacquered black and drawn by four dappled horses, which meant that only someone holding the rank of Fifth Grand Master or above, or their sons and younger kin, was permitted to ride in it.

Apart from the war chariots and the covered carriage, there were also two supply wagons bringing up the rear carrying goods. Scattered around the procession were more than ten armed attendants — some on horseback with lances, others on foot with swords at their waists. Another four or five women dressed as maidservants followed closely behind the carriages, all of them with haughty bearing, not deigning to spare a glance for the people by the roadside.

After Heifu and his group voluntarily moved to the left side of the road, that procession of men and horses passed by with neighing and bustle. During that time, the curtain of the covered carriage was lifted, and inside, a young man with a face like crowned jade cupped his hands slightly toward Heifu.

Heifu likewise cupped his hands in return from a distance. Once the procession had gone off into the distance along the main road, Man, standing beside him, gave that rash soldier a scolding:

"Have you gone blind? Look at the scale of that procession — not only is the driver in sumptuous attire, the knightly attendants and servants behind all carry long swords at their sides, and even the maidservants are dressed in silk gauze and satin slippers. That young gentleman seated in the covered carriage is certainly no ordinary personage…"

Man was right. That these people had not barreled straight through at a gallop, and had even opened their window to salute them in thanks, already counted as extremely well-bred. Heifu was newly arrived and had yet to pay his respects to Li You — why would he clash with nobles on the road over some trifle?

Scenes of bumping into dandies on the main street and starting a fight over a cross word were hardly likely to occur in Qin. Because Qin law was strict — back in the day, Shang Yang had directly prosecuted the Qin crown prince for galloping his horse through the streets, making an example for all to see. Over a hundred years had passed since then, and except for couriers delivering urgent military dispatches, no noble scion from any house dared act so recklessly again, galloping through the streets, let alone getting into quarrels and clashes — that would count as private brawling…

The rich and noble knew the laws and ordinances even better than the poor and lowly, and were even more meticulously cautious.

Still, this little interlude had once again reminded Heifu that although he could lord it over Anlu, once he came to the commandery seat, his bit of rank and office counted for very little.

After this interlude, the group chatted a while longer by the roadside, catching up on old times. Man said that he was now serving as a Commandant Clerk in the Commandant's office, and the other six or seven men each reported their current posts in turn — some were platoon leaders in the army, some were village heads, and there was even one who had become a hamlet chief.

"What's wrong with being a hamlet chief?"

That man, whose post was the lowest among them and who felt he was losing face, protested loudly, "I still manage several dozen households — it's far better than being a mere First-Rank Corporal before the war!"

Hearing this, Heifu could not help being somewhat moved. Each of these men had his own duties, yet today they had gathered together to welcome him — that was proof enough of their gratitude and admiration for him. Heifu's heart, too, was deeply gratified; the effort he had put in back then had at last reaped a rich reward.

"Though most of these men are only petty clerks and minor functionaries for now, they are the very cornerstone on which I will establish myself in Ying County!"

And this was only Ying County. According to Man, there were also more than ten others over in Jiangling. Extending outward, the several hundred soldiers who had followed Heifu in breaking through the siege and fighting on the move that day had now all been promoted in rank and appointed to posts, spread across all eighteen counties of Nan Commandery.

"Perhaps this will become my first real political asset!"

With that thought, the lonely feeling of having bid farewell to fellow townsmen and subordinates like Li Xian, Ji Ying, and Dongmen Bao, and coming all alone to take up a post in a strange place, vanished entirely. In Heifu's heart, only a surge of heroic spirit arose.

"With these Nan Commandery soldiers as my base, which of the eighteen counties of Nan Commandery can I not go to?"

……

After this incident, Heifu's confidence in serving in the Military Office and helping Li You train the troops grew by a few more degrees.

The men had all taken temporary leave to come out and welcome Heifu, and Heifu also had to hurry and report to the Commandant's office before sundown. So they agreed to set another day to gather together with their brothers-in-arms from Jiangling and hold a welcome banquet for Heifu, then bid each other farewell and hurried back to their respective posts.

Only Man remained, riding ahead on horseback to guide Heifu to the Commandant's office.

"I never expected that Commandant Li would be posted to Nan Commandery."

Man chuckled cheerfully. "After he arrived, the Commandant transferred me over to serve as a Commandant Clerk. Today as well, it was at the Commandant's behest that I came to welcome the Five Hundred Leader… the Grandee of Official Service."

Man could vaguely guess at the "deal" that Heifu and Li You had struck, but he was a clever man — he saw through it without speaking of it. When Li You had come to Nan Commandery, all those who had followed him in breaking through the siege and returning home had become his direct affiliates. Someone like Man, whose name Li You could still remember, had been promoted and given a new post at once.

This was precisely the "long-term benefit" Heifu had calculated when he yielded the credit back then — not only did he alone reap the advantage, but everyone could gain from it.

Before long, the two of them had arrived at the Commandant's office. They saw that it was a large compound with deep residences, lofty halls and carved walls — very imposing, and lavishly decorated.

"Our County Commandant's office back in Anlu is a cramped little compound — it simply can't compare to this," Heifu remarked with feeling. A provincial-level agency really was on a different scale.

Man was a local and had long since grown used to it. He laughed heartily. "Ying County was originally the Chu royal palace city; only later was it converted into a county seat. Every government office here was once a chamber or hall of the Chu royal palace — how could they not be grand and magnificent? In the city center, there are still several even larger palace gardens and high terraces that stand empty to this day. They're too presumptuous — no commandery governor or commandant dares to live in them, so they can only be kept as traveling palaces for the king, though the king has never come to stay in them to this day…"

"He will come…" Heifu thought to himself. The First Emperor of Qin was hardly the sort to sit still — after he became emperor, he spent half his time touring the realm.

Just then, Heifu also noticed that in the carriage park packed with vehicles and horses outside the Commandery Governor's residence gate, the very same covered carriage they had encountered at the city gate was prominently present. After all, a carriage drawn by four dappled horses at once — they had not seen another one the whole way, so there was no mistaking it.

"Could that jade-faced gentleman also be headed to the Commandant's office?"

There was no time to ponder further. Man had already stepped forward familiarly and stated their purpose to the halberd-bearing armored soldiers at the office gate. Heifu also once again presented his identification, travel permit, and the letter of summons.

The Hundred Leader on duty at the gate looked astonished; the stern, wooden expression on his face vanished in an instant. He said with an ingratiating smile, "So you, sir, are the newly arrived Left Military Clerk! I have long looked forward to meeting you! Please wait a moment — I will go announce you at once."

Watching him bow and scrape as he went off, Heifu was somewhat baffled. He had only just arrived — how could anyone have "long looked forward" to meeting him?

He looked at Man. "What did you tell them?"

Man grinned. "Why would I need to say anything? The Five Hundred Leader's heroic deeds have long since spread throughout Nan Commandery. What's more, a man personally recommended by Commandant Li — when the people in the Commandant's office see him, how could they not show respect?"

Through Man's account, Heifu learned that three days after taking up his post, Li You had found an excuse to transfer the previous Left Military Clerk — who had no real backing — to the Bandit Office, and had personally recommended Heifu to the Commandery Governor and the Merit Evaluator…

Personal recommendation was also a path to appointment as an official in Qin, but it carried enormous risk. Because Qin law stipulated that if the recommended person broke the law or neglected his duties before being promoted, the recommender would also be held jointly liable and punished. Back then, when Du Xian had taken a liking to Heifu and wanted to make him a clerk, he had not dared to personally recommend him, but instead had gone through the roundabout route of asking the county magistrate to summon him.

By doing this, Li You was clearly treating Heifu as his most trusted aide, so the clerks of the Commandant's office had long been curious, guessing just what sort of person Heifu really was…

"So, though Master Five Hundred has yet to arrive, his name already fills half the city," Man said.

"Now I've truly boarded the Li family's pirate ship."

Heifu was resigned. Now Li You had become his recommender; the two of them were bound tightly together — glory for one, ruin for both. But wasn't this exactly what he had hoped for? A great tree makes for fine shade.

Sure enough, before long, the Hundred-Man Commander guarding the gate returned and invited Heifu to enter.

The Commandant's residence was indeed worthy of being a corner of the former Chu royal palace — vast in scale, with pink-washed walls and vermilion doors, roofs of grey brick and dark tile, and lush, spreading banyan trees alongside emerald bamboo and plantains standing tall and straight. Walking deeper inside, the compound was divided into several sections, each separated by a moon gate; every courtyard seemed to be a small office. Following the covered corridor inward, all along the way were tiered terraces and pavilions, winding waters and cool kiosks, with trees casting deep shade.

Without someone to guide him, Heifu feared he would have been utterly lost. At the same time, he sighed inwardly — the successive kings of Chu had toiled bitterly to squeeze the fat and blood from the people to build these lavish halls, only for them to end up as a wedding dress for Qin officials. What was the point?

After a long, winding detour, they finally arrived before a tall, imposing building. Looking up, its eaves soared like wings. Gazing ahead, a dozen halberd-bearing guards stood facing each other before the wide-open main doors, eyeing Heifu with curiosity.

Heifu straightened his clothes and cap. As he removed his shoes at the door, he noticed a pair of pointed-toe shoes already there, inlaid with fine jade — clearly out of the ordinary.

Without giving it much thought, he lifted his head, strode forward, and ascended the steps. Upon entering the hall, he spotted Li You at once, seated in the center. Li You wore a black robe and a tall cap, and was speaking with a young man dressed in a white deep robe and a swallow-tail cap. Seeing Heifu enter, he broke off his conversation, rose with a hearty laugh, and pointed at Heifu.

"Heifu, ah, Heifu! You've finally come!"

Heifu immediately bowed low. "What virtue or ability does this humble clerk possess, that the Commandant himself would recommend me? I am truly overwhelmed with trepidation. I only regret arriving somewhat late, and beg the Commandant's forgiveness!"

"You set out the moment the letter arrived — what crime is there in that?"

As he spoke, Li You helped Heifu up and introduced him. "Ziyang, this is Heifu, the one who helped me break through the siege at Tongyang and cross three hundred li of Chu territory. He is also my Left Military Clerk!"

The jade-capped young man smiled. "The Left Military Clerk and I happened to cross paths at the city gate. I never imagined we were heading the same way. Had I known, we could have traveled together."

Heifu hurriedly said he dared not presume.

"Oh? You've already met. What a coincidence."

Li You also pointed to the young man and introduced him. "Heifu, this is Feng Jing, son of the Fifth Grand Master Wuzhe. Though he has only just come of age and been registered, he is bright and eager to learn. He has come to Nan Commandery to serve as my Civil Clerk. From now on, you two shall be colleagues!"

PS: Ahahaha, that was close, so close.

(End of chapter)