Volume 3: Heroes Fade in Silence as the World Grows Old 3. Guan Duo III

The warm, gentle breeze stirred the paper window, and the scent of flowers and birds, lulled to sleep by the sun, lazily knocked upon someone’s dream.

From a great distance came the sound of war drums and horns; great banners unfurled, accompanied by the faint, muffled cries of battle. Suddenly, the scene seemed to draw near: countless soldiers stood in phalanxes, their bristling halberds and spears flashing with a dazzling light. Across from them, thousands of horses galloped over the black earth, kicking up a boundless, suffocating dust.

Hideous faces appeared right before his eyes as Mongol cavalrymen shouted and raised their long javelins. "Kill, kill, kill!" The sound was deafening. He tightened his grip on his spear, bracing for the fight. Suddenly, a saber pierced him from behind, the tip protruding from his chest. He turned his head in shock to see a soldier wrapped in a red headscarf, his face twisted with hatred: "He is not one of us! He does not belong here! Kill him, kill him!"

Countless people surrounded him. He stared at them in terror, recognizing many familiar faces: Chen Hu, Wen Huaguo, Zhao Guo, Hong Jixun. Yesterday’s comrades had turned into enemies, and innumerable blades were raised against the sun, blindingly bright.

Deng She woke up abruptly, drenched in cold sweat. The glaring sunlight forced him to instinctively cover his face with his hand. The comfortable bedding beneath him reminded him that he was still alive. His heart, which had been leaping in his chest, slowly settled back into place; his head throbbed with a splitting pain. The bedding was warm because he was not the only one there. Deng She stared for a moment at the woman still fast asleep beside him; she looked somewhat familiar.

He remembered the banquet from the night before; she was the maid who had served him. Deng She turned and sat up, the sound of birds chirping filling the air. His movement was too abrupt and woke the maid. She opened her sleep-drugged eyes, likely emerging from a dream of her own, and lingered for a moment before returning to reality. Seeing Deng She’s gaze, she shuddered. She had been sleeping on her stomach, and she scrambled to sit up.

For a maid to wake up later than her master was a bit excessive. Her face flushed a nervous red, and she muttered softly, "General..." She hurried out of bed, grabbing whatever was at hand to cover her naked body, turned, and offered a hasty bow. "Does the General wish to rise? I shall attend to your dressing."

Deng She waved her away. "I can do it myself." Holding his temples, he struggled to recall the previous night's banquet. He only remembered everyone taking turns offering toasts, and the last cup seemed to have been offered by Guan Duo. After that, it was a blank. He could remember nothing else.

As he sat lost in thought, the maid remained, unsure whether to stay or go. Agitated and awkward, she said, "I will fetch water for the General to wash." Having finally found a task, she dressed quickly and turned to leave. Deng She called her back: "Where is this?"

"In the General's manor," the maid replied.

"My manor?"

"It was bestowed upon the General by Commissioner Guan."

That was to be expected; Guan Duo would never let him stay in the palace. Deng She threw on a robe and went to the window. Opening it, he looked outside; the courtyard was quite large, with rockeries and clear springs, where three or four young servants were cleaning. Along the veranda, a dozen soldiers stood guard—his personal troops.

"Where is Bi Qianniu? Call him here," Deng She called out to his guards through the window.

"Yes, General." Seeing that Deng She was awake, the guards split into two groups; some hurried off to find Bi Qianniu, while others ran over to report, "Several men sent by Commissioner Guan came this morning, saying that as soon as the General awoke, we were to ask you to see him immediately."

"Did they say what for?"

"No."

Deng She grunted in acknowledgment. As the guards prepared to return to their posts, Deng She remembered something and asked, "What time did I return from the palace yesterday?"

"Around the second watch."

Deng She was speechless. The last moment in his memory was the lighting of the candles. Summer nights grew dark late, meaning it was at most the first watch. From the first to the second watch—two hours—what had he been doing in the palace? What had he said? Deng She usually only slept after drinking; he hoped that was the case this time.

Damn that Guan Duo, was he trying to intimidate him? To pull this off the moment he arrived in Liaoyang was truly unexpected, completely outside his prior calculations. The dream he had before waking drifted back into his mind. Why today of all days? A common explanation: what one thinks about by day, one dreams of by night. The problem was, he had never thought about such things—that he might one day be betrayed by his brothers—as he had always considered them trustworthy. Why have such a dream?

Too much pressure? Deng She was not superstitious, but for anyone in his position—surrounded by hostile crowds, drunk, and suffering from a memory lapse—it was inevitable to become suspicious and paranoid. The cold sweat on his forehead had not faded, and now a cold sweat of guilt began to rise. He could have said anything, but he prayed he hadn't blurted out what Hong Jixun had deduced: that Guan Duo was planning to rebel!

On second thought, if he had truly said that, his head would likely not still be on his shoulders. Deng She paced back and forth, hands behind his back. Then he thought, even if he had said it, Guan Duo might have seen he was drunk and spared him. But beyond that, he had too many secrets: his origins, his identity...

He had been confident in his habit of sleeping after drinking, but the more he thought, the less secure he felt. Pacing the room twice, he grew agitated and anxious. He drew his saber from the desk, intending to strike the table. Just as the blade was about to hit, he stopped himself. There must be spies for Guan Duo in the manor. Splitting a table might relieve his immediate stress, but once it reached Guan Duo’s ears, who knew what he would suspect?

Footsteps approached the door, and Bi Qianniu pushed it open. "General, did you call for me?" He stopped, surprised to see Deng She disheveled and holding a saber. Deng She suppressed his anxiety, sat down, gripped the hilt with his right hand and the hem of his robe with his left, pretending to clean the blade. "I haven't practiced with the blade for a long time, and my hands have grown a bit rusty," he said casually.

While cleaning the blade, he asked, "Have there been any messages from Yang Wanhu or He Guangxiu?"

"General Yang sent word early this morning that everything has been settled. They should have sent word last night, but the city gates were closed early, and they couldn't get in." Bi Qianniu stood by the door, looked out, stepped back inside, and closed it, whispering, "General Yang said the garrison outside the city totals no less than fifty thousand men. The position Commissioner Guan reserved for our army is on the left side of the camp, backed against the wall. To reach the main gate, we must pass through three or four thousand-man units' camps, and there is another army on either side, only a few hundred meters away."

Deng She smiled; five or six thousand men wouldn't be on Guan Duo's mind. If he really wanted to monitor him, Yang Wanhu wouldn't have been able to send the message. He pondered for a moment; Guan Duo's intentions were truly hard to guess. It was Deng She's character not to guess if he couldn't figure it out. When the ship reached the bridge, it would go straight. He gently sheathed his saber, tossed it onto the desk, stood up, and straightened his clothes. "Come, help me with my armor."

Once dressed and after washing with the warm water brought by the maid, he ate a little. Seeing it was still early before noon, he decided to see Guan Duo. He had not gone far from his room when he met Fang Buzhen walking across the courtyard. Deng She looked toward Bi Qianniu, who whispered, "Magistrate Fang also lives in the manor."

"You are up early, General," Fang Buzhen said, taking two quick steps and bowing with his hands clasped. "Did you sleep well? You were the star of the show at the welcome banquet, drinking everyone under the table. Truly impressive." Deng She shook his head repeatedly. "Magistrate Fang, you jest. You saw my drunken state. To be honest, I don't even remember when the banquet ended."

"Oh? Then do you remember the Commissioner asking the generals about their ambitions?"

A bolt of lightning struck through the heavy night. Deng She was shocked. "Asking about their ambitions"? Right, that had happened. Fang Buzhen seemed to want to be a lone, upright official; Mao Jujing seemed to want to command ten thousand men. Everyone had spoken, and Guan Duo had given each of them a poem... What had he said? What had he said? He remembered absolutely nothing. What ambition could he have? Deng She asked himself: he only wanted to survive.

He looked up and saw Fang Buzhen's inscrutable smile. He hesitated and muttered, "If that was what I said, it shouldn't be anything to laugh at, right?" He couldn't make up his mind.

Fang Buzhen’s eyes were large, and with his black pupils lost in a sea of white, he looked frightening when he laughed. "Laughing like a ghost," Deng She thought. He coughed and said, "I said I was drunk, so how could I remember! The Commissioner has summoned me, so I won't keep you company, Magistrate Fang. I must go."

"Wait, the Commissioner is not in the palace; he has gone to the provincial government office. You don't know the way, General. I shall accompany you."

"Very well, very well."

Fang Buzhen led the way, and Deng She followed, full of heavy thoughts. Leaving the manor, Deng She rode his horse while Fang Buzhen sat in a sedan chair. Bi Qianniu, remembering Hong Jixun’s warnings, brought dozens of personal guards to protect him closely. There were few pedestrians on the street; the most common sight was soldiers. Most shops were closed, and Deng She noticed that even those open had very little stock on their shelves.

The palace was in the southeast corner, and the provincial government office was in the southwest. As they crossed several desolate streets, the sound of hoofbeats echoed far and wide. Suddenly, a lively noise drifted on the wind. Deng She knew without looking that it was either a brothel or a slave market.

Whether in a time of peace or chaos, there were only two businesses in this world that never lacked trade. In fact, the more chaotic the world, the more prosperous they became: one was selling oneself, the other was selling others. As they approached, the scent of heavy perfume hit them. Two or three brothels towered ahead, and seven or eight attendants were greeting guests. Though it was only morning, there were already many customers entering and exiting, mostly brawny officers or wealthy locals dressed in silk and satin.

Bi Qianniu rode ahead to clear the path, shouting at those who stood too close or didn't move. Other than that, Deng She had instructed him not to rush the horses or use the whip. Liaoyang was not like Shuangcheng; in Shuangcheng, Deng She was the master, but in Liaoyang, there were fifty or sixty thousand-man commanders, not to mention countless other civil and military officials. To be honest, someone like him was neither here nor there—not particularly significant.

Fang Buzhen lifted the curtain of his sedan chair, spat outside, and grumbled, "Living in a dream, parasites! Scum." He pulled his head back in, stomped on the bottom of the chair, and urged his bearers to hurry. Deng She disagreed, thinking, "He really wants to be that lone, upright official."

He wondered if Fang Buzhen had been like this back in Jiashan. He had never heard Zhao Guo mention it. But given Zhao Guo’s stoic nature, even if Fang Buzhen had been cursing to his face, he probably wouldn't have told Deng She as long as Fang wasn't harming local military or political affairs.

The street was quite long, and the brothels took up only a small part. A short way further, Fang Buzhen led them onto a side road. Sitting on his horse, Deng She could see far, and as they turned the corner, he caught a glimpse of a large market behind the brothels. It was likely a vegetable market, covered in filth.

Amidst the vegetable stalls, two or three men and women with straw tags stuck to their backs knelt on the ground. They had chosen a good spot; in a sense, weren't humans just like vegetables? Deng She remembered something Deng San had said a long time ago: "If you keep them, they can work; if you kill them, you can eat the meat. They're smarter than mules and can speak human language. If you find a young girl, you can have some fun. Where else can you find a better bargain?"

After passing two or three more streets, they reached the provincial government office.

Fang Buzhen exited his sedan, Deng She dismounted and removed his saber, and Bi Qianniu remained at the gate. The two men walked in. The gatekeeper recognized Fang Buzhen and asked who Deng She was, but he didn't block them, saying, "The Commissioner said that when you two arrived, you were not to be announced and should go straight in."

The office had originally been a Mongol government building, and Guan Duo had taken it over without changing the layout. During the siege, there had been a battle at the office, and signs of the destruction remained. Past the second gate, there was a pavilion in the center of the walkway leading to the main hall, known as the "Jieshi Pavilion" (Pavilion of Warning Stones).

The pavilion was small, housing a stone stele that looked as if it had been scorched by fire, now a blackened mass. Fang Buzhen said, "The Mongol officials wouldn't surrender, which angered the Commissioner, so he tied them all to the stele and burned them." He recited the inscription: "'Your salary and your grain come from the fat and blood of the people. It is easy to oppress the commoners, but difficult to deceive Heaven.' Ha! Do you know, General? The fat that dripped out during the burning was quite a lot; I collected it, and it provided enough for three days of candles." He continued to recite: "'It is easy to oppress the commoners, but difficult to deceive Heaven.' Heh heh, I think it's the exact opposite; it should be 'It is easy to deceive Heaven, but difficult to oppress the commoners.'"

The inscription on the stele had been obscured by the fire, but Deng She knew it was a standard "warning stone" found everywhere. It wasn't surprising that Fang Buzhen knew the text without looking.

"It is easy to deceive Heaven, but difficult to oppress the commoners." Deng She repeated Fang Buzhen’s modified couplet, savoring the meaning, and felt a chill. As he looked at Fang Buzhen, he felt a sudden sense of respect.

They continued forward. The office was busy, and they frequently passed civil and military officials in a hurry. Fang Buzhen didn't seem very popular; many who clearly recognized him acted as if they didn't see him, and he coldly ignored them in return.

In terms of popularity, Fang Buzhen was even worse off than Deng She. At least three or four officials who had seen Deng She the day before were very enthusiastic. Yet, Deng She felt that their enthusiasm was strange, mirroring Fang Buzhen's inscrutable smile. He became increasingly anxious: what exactly had he said at the banquet last night? When Guan Duo asked about his ambition, what had he replied?

Guan Duo trying to get him drunk was indeed a clever move. First, people speak the truth when drunk; second, even if they don't, the mere fact of being drunk and having something to hide makes one anxious upon waking. It was like two armies preparing for battle—before the lines were even drawn, his side was already exposed, putting him at a disadvantage. If he were truly exposed, he could just burn his ships and fight to the death, but the problem was, he didn't know if he was exposed at all.

"Enough, enough. Let him have his schemes; I will just respond as they come. Who takes the ramblings of a drunkard seriously?" Deng She calmed his heart and took a deep breath. They arrived outside the main hall. Fang Buzhen cleared his throat and said, "Deng She, commander of the Shuangcheng Ten-Thousand-Man Office, and I, Fang Buzhen, have come to see you."

Guan Duo’s gentle voice came from within: "Come in."

Stepping into the hall, Deng She knelt: "I pay my respects, Commissioner." Guan Duo said, "Rise, quickly." Deng She stood and glanced around. Besides Guan Duo, Mao Jujing and a bearded general were present, along with two civil officials hunched over a desk piled with documents, busy with something.

"General Deng, you drank quite a bit last night. Why not sleep a little longer today?"

"I am used to the military life and waking early; even if I wanted to sleep, I couldn't," Deng She replied respectfully. He stole a glance at Guan Duo’s expression; it was smiling and showed nothing unusual. Guan Duo said, "Dancing with the sword at the crowing of the rooster—the true character of a military officer. Good, good. Ha ha, were you pleased with the maid I sent you?"

"Many thanks, Commissioner. But I was so drunk last night..." Guan Duo laughed heartily. "A pity for such a beautiful night." As they spoke, Fang Buzhen stepped forward, knelt down again, and said loudly, "Commissioner, I have something to say." Guan Duo was startled. "What is it? Rise and speak."

Fang Buzhen did not rise. "On the way here, I passed through the brothel street." He pointed toward the sun outside the hall. "The sun is not yet at its zenith, and the streets are bustling with people." Guan Duo said, "What is strange about that? Since the brothels are open, there will naturally be customers."

"Commissioner, you didn't see—eight out of ten customers were soldiers. Commissioner, with a strong enemy before us, the soldiers are not training but seeking pleasure day and night. If there is an enemy attack, what then?" Guan Duo pondered and asked, "What do you suggest?" Fang Buzhen said, "Commissioner, you should issue a military order: in these extraordinary times, close the brothels and forbid soldiers from leaving the camp to prevent the decline of our morale."

Mao Jujing said, "Magistrate Fang, that is not appropriate." Fang Buzhen held his head high, rolled his eyes, and asked, "What is inappropriate about it?" Mao Jujing bowed to Guan Duo. "It is precisely because these are extraordinary times that I believe the brothels should not be closed." Fang Buzhen’s face turned red. "Why not?" Mao Jujing ignored him and said to Guan Duo, "The pressure is immense, and they need an outlet. Isn't that the purpose of the brothels? Besides, the soldiers who visit them, as I know, are all off-duty; it does not interfere with defense or patrols, so why bother? Magistrate Fang’s talk of declining morale is just talk on paper."

"Wah-ya-ya!" Fang Buzhen was furious. He jumped up, pointed at Mao Jujing, and blurted out, "You sycophant! If you dare to confuse the Commissioner's mind with your clever words again, be careful, or I will spit on you!"

Deng She watched in shock. They were just having a debate, so why did the mood suddenly change so drastically? He didn't know Fang Buzhen’s official rank, but it certainly wasn't higher than Mao Jujing’s. How could he be so insolent in front of Guan Duo? Yet, Guan Duo, Mao Jujing, and the bearded general didn't change their expressions, and the two civil officials at the desk didn't even look up. It was clear they were long accustomed to this.

With a temper like that, it was no wonder he wasn't well-liked.

Guan Duo laughed. "A minor matter, let's set it aside and talk about it another day." Fang Buzhen was aggrieved and unwilling, wanting to continue, but Guan Duo said, "I called you all here today to discuss something of great importance." After soothing him, Fang Buzhen reluctantly stepped back.

Guan Duo called Deng She forward and got to the point. "Yesterday I was so happy I forgot to ask—how many troops did you bring?"

"Six thousand." Deng She had been waiting for this question since yesterday and prepared to give his carefully crafted explanation. Guan Duo continued, "Six thousand? More than I expected. General Yao said you just conquered Pyongyang. Isn't it risky to leave so few troops in Goryeo?" Deng She swallowed the explanation he had prepared and replied, "We have just reached a peace treaty with Goryeo, and with General Yao in command, there should be no problem. Pyongyang..."

Guan Duo nodded. "A peace treaty with Goryeo? The Goryeo people are notorious for not keeping their word and are masters of going back on their promises. You must be careful and not take it at face value." His tone was earnest, that of an elder speaking to a junior. Deng She swallowed his words about Pyongyang again. "I have already stationed heavy troops along the southern border and prepared a navy, contacting the Japanese pirates to harass their south day and night..."

Guan Duo nodded. "A good strategy, a good strategy. General Yao’s praise was not misplaced; you have both courage and wisdom." He changed the subject. "You just gained Pyongyang, and Shuangcheng is barren. Are you lacking in grain, weapons, or supplies?" Deng She’s mind raced. Was he going to send supplies? Or was he using this as an excuse to send more troops into Goryeo? He replied, "It is the autumn harvest, so grain is not a problem for now. As for weapons, they are barely sufficient."

"Six thousand is too many to bring; Liaoyang has no major battles right now, so we don't need that many. I will provide you with a thousand sets of spears and armor; bows and arrows will also be provided for a thousand men; I don't have many firearms, but I will give you three hundred. Tomorrow morning, have your thousand men take them back to Goryeo."

This was far beyond Deng She's expectations. "Many thanks for your kindness, Commissioner..." Guan Duo picked up a document from the desk and smiled. "I heard your Goryeo army is no less than twenty thousand strong. You are the only ten-thousand-man commander in our court who commands twenty thousand." Mao Jujing took the document and handed it to Deng She. He opened it and scanned it; it was an appointment letter upgrading the Shuangcheng Ten-Thousand-Man Office to a General Command Office, with Deng She promoted to General Commander.

Deng She knelt in a hurry. "General, I..." Guan Duo shook his head, blaming himself. "No need to say anything; the fault is mine."

"What do you mean, Commissioner?"

"I promoted you too slowly! General Yao’s last letter even teased me for having a fierce general and not knowing how to use him, leaving a commander of your rank as a mere ten-thousand-man leader... That said, one step at a time. If I promoted you too quickly, it wouldn't be good for you. There will be major battles soon; work hard, and if you earn two or three merits, the rank of Marshal will be within your grasp."

"I never dared to dream of being a General Commander. I am deeply grateful for your cultivation, Commissioner."

"Why be grateful to me? I only recognize two words in how I handle things: justice. If you have great merit, how can there be no reward? If you want to be grateful, thank yourself. Ha ha!" Guan Duo laughed loudly, accidentally bumping his leg against the desk. He let out an "ouch" and sucked in a breath. Everyone rushed over, but Guan Duo waved them off. "No need, it's nothing, just accidentally bumped my injured leg."

Mao Jujing said, "Should we have a doctor look at it?"

Guan Duo shook his head. "What for?" The bearded general said angrily, "That bastard Bolo is truly detestable! He even poisoned the arrowheads; a petty, despicable person, not at all honorable." Guan Duo said, "How can poisoned arrows be considered petty? Don't we use poisoned arrows in the Liaoyang army?" He sighed. "I am old. At fifty, one knows the mandate of heaven, and I am nearly sixty. Living in such chaotic times, I am already satisfied to have lived this long."

Everyone knelt. Mao Jujing said, "Commissioner, why say such things? It's just a little poison; the doctor said that as long as you take your medicine on time, you will recover. Your health has always been strong; once the poison is gone and you rest for a while, you will be a fine man again."

Guan Duo laughed until wrinkles formed at the corners of his eyes. He looked at everyone kindly and said, "When a person gets old, all sorts of illnesses appear; you are young and don't understand this. Rise, all of you." He sighed again. "Yesterday I asked about your ambitions, and you all spoke very well. I am pleased." Deng She felt his heart skip a beat as he felt Guan Duo’s gaze linger on him for a moment before turning away. He heard him continue, "Do you know what my ambition is?"

"We have never heard you speak of it, Commissioner, but judging by your daily words and actions, I can guess a little," Mao Jujing replied. Guan Duo was interested. "Tell me." Mao Jujing said, "Your ambition, Commissioner, must be to drive out the barbarians, restore China, clear the world of chaos, stop the killing, save the people from the sea of suffering, and serve a wise master to rule the world."

Guan Duo laughed heartily: "Ha ha, well said! Good for you, Mao Jujing; you are usually quiet, but you have studied me quite well. Good, good!" Fang Buzhen said, "Your concern for the world and its people, Commissioner, is truly a blessing for all." Guan Duo said, "The world is in turmoil, and our people are suffering. Those who know me say I am troubled; those who do not know me ask what I seek."

The first part of his sentence had been spoken by Yao Haogu; the second part had been spoken by Deng She. Deng She couldn't help but be moved. He listened as Guan Duo continued: "How can a person live a lifetime without an ambition? Why are there differences between people? Is it in learning? In fame? In wealth? Not so. High learning does not guarantee virtue; those who eat meat are not necessarily noble; having a fortune is not as good as being a man of iron will.

"What is a man of iron will? Is it hard fists? Having high and distant ambitions makes one a man of iron will. If one has such ambitions and can persist in them, the sages say: 'Though foolish, one will surely be wise; though soft, one will surely be strong.' That is the meaning. Therefore, the difference between people is not in learning, not in fame, not in wealth, but in the ambition in your heart. This is why I suddenly asked about your ambitions yesterday."

He spoke softly and clearly, as an elder sharing life experience with a junior. Deng She had occasionally thought about these truths, but not as thoroughly as Guan Duo had explained them. He felt a sudden realization, and Fang Buzhen nodded repeatedly.

Mao Jujing said, "We are foolish; if you hadn't spoken, we would never have reached this level of understanding." Guan Duo chuckled and pointed at Mao Jujing. "You, you don't learn the good things, only how to flatter." He patted his head. "Oops, off-topic, off-topic. General Deng, do you know the current situation in Bianliang?"

Just like the night before, the initiative in the conversation remained firmly in Guan Duo’s hands. He jumped from one topic to another. "Ginger is still spicier when it's old," Deng She thought, replying, "I was just about to ask you, Commissioner."

"At the end of last month, Bianliang city fell."

—
1. Jieshi (Warning Stone): Existed since the Shang and Zhou dynasties. At that time, the criminal laws for punishing corrupt officials were written on the side of the officials' seats to "warn those in office." The Northern Dynasties began using stone steles, and from the Tang Xuanzong period, the content of the warning stones was unified and popularized throughout the country. Later, Meng Chang, the ruler of the Later Shu state, wrote the "Jieshi Ci" (Warning Stone Poem), a four-character verse consisting of twenty-four lines. When the Song Dynasty was founded, Emperor Taizu extracted four lines from it: "Your salary and your grain come from the fat and blood of the people. It is easy to oppress the commoners, but difficult to deceive Heaven," which was used until the Qing Dynasty.