Volume Two: With One Knock, I Stir Heaven and Earth 32. The Trade Route II

Returning to the city, the twilight had deepened.

The return of the farmers finishing their day’s work coincided with his arrival. Soldiers supervised them as they formed two long queues—one of men, one of women. The dust kicked up by their feet, stirred by the evening breeze, hung in a gray haze everywhere. Though they dared not speak loudly, the dual cities had been liberated for some time; among them, the bolder ones could not help but whisper, creating a noisy, bustling gathering.

Deng She pulled his horse to the side to yield the path, letting them enter the city first. Two sharp-eyed centurions hurried over to invite him to proceed, but he refused. He knew that simply yielding the road to civilians would not immediately win the natives’ support and devotion, but it was certainly better than competing for passage. Besides, isn't a person's image in the eyes of others built upon the accumulation of such details?

The procession of thousands moved slowly. It was not until night fell that the city gate grew quiet. The moonlight was clear and bright, and lanterns were lit one by one. The city was filled with the smoke of cooking fires and the fragrance of food. With the exception of Luo Guoqi and Lu Qian-twelve, who were on night watch, the others rode back to their respective residences.

Outside his gate, he met Wu Henian, who had been waiting for some time. Wu was efficient; the gifts prepared for Lady Wang were ready. He produced the gift list for Deng She to review. By the light of a soldier’s torch, Deng She took a look. It was quite good—jewelry and local specialties; it was both valuable and thoughtful, a generous offering.

Recalling something, Deng She said, "The mine is short-handed, and the iron being excavated cannot keep up with demand. The Mainland Chiliarch will come to you to borrow some labor; do not delay him." The "Mainland Chiliarch" was Lu Qian-five. To distinguish them, the army called him and his brother, Lu Qian-twelve, the "Mainland Chiliarch" and the "Little Mainland Chiliarch."

"Understood," Wu Henian replied. Having learned his lesson after nearly being thrashed by Deng She that morning, he was much more docile and dared not ask a single extra question. After a pause, he added, "I heard that Supervisor Yao went to see you this afternoon, My Lord." His face was full of self-reproach as he sincerely reviewed his mistake, "It is all the fault of this lowly one for failing to act effectively. I heard the news too late to stop him, and he went to disturb you again."

Deng She said, "It is not your concern." He praised him briefly, "The gifts are well prepared; I am very satisfied. As for the matter of the officers taking concubines, attend to it quickly. Send word to the wealthy families with daughters and the surrendered officials in each city so they may prepare early." The intention behind the officers taking concubines was to win over the local populace, and since Wu Henian had good penmanship and was a civil official, he was the most suitable person to handle the betrothal papers.

Wu Henian bowed and accepted the order. Deng She ignored him further and rode into the residence.

His earlier remark about the mine being short-handed had a reason. While inspecting the manufacturing of firearms that afternoon, he had a sudden inspiration and, for some reason, thought of landmines. He had roughly described the appearance and purpose of a landmine to Lu Qian-five and asked if it could be built. After considering for a long time, Lu Qian-five felt it was worth a try.

The output from the mine was already insufficient to meet the daily needs of smelting and the production of swords and spears; with the addition of landmine testing, it was even less so. Regardless, there were plenty of able-bodied men now; he might as well conscript more.

Usually, Lady Wang would accompany him during meals. Tonight, however, she was nowhere to be seen. It was just as well; Deng She felt a sense of relief. To be honest, her behavior the previous night had been truly awkward. Facing her again, Deng She really did not know what to say.

Lady Wang was beautiful, born into a prominent family, and possessed a natural air of nobility in her demeanor. She knew how to dress and adorn herself; when they first met, she was so haughty she seemed beyond reach. Even now, in front of the others like Wen, Chen, or Hong, she remained high and mighty, as if a glance from her were a charitable act. Yet, in private, she would soften her voice, calling him "this slave," putting aside her status to serve him. Those various charming, seductive ways—she didn't even need to speak; with a mere look, she served him in every way that made him feel comfortable.

Deng She had been in the military since he was a child and had never experienced such tenderness. Recalling it now, there was a strange, lingering feeling in his heart. He asked himself: was he truly too lazy to refuse her service at the time, or was there a subconscious part of him that was reluctant to give up the pleasure? Deng She was startled and quickly stopped his train of thought, not daring to dwell on it.

He finished his meal in a few bites, pushed away the bowl and chopsticks, and Luo Guannu and Li Zhunu came over to clean up.

As he stood up and paced slowly, he felt as if someone were watching him. When he turned back, Luo Guannu quickly lowered her eyes, pretending she was not the one peeking. Being young, she couldn't pull it off; she was flustered and nearly dropped the plate, which clattered loudly. Perhaps afraid of drawing Deng She's attention, she quickly looked up again, stealing a glance at him.

Having bested Yao Haogu earlier that day, Deng She was in a good mood. Seeing how cute Luo Guannu looked, he asked, "What? Is there a flower growing on my face?" Unfortunately, he had no talent for joking. Luo Guannu’s face turned bright red, and she said in a panic, "Father is a great hero; flowers do not grow on a hero's face." Thinking for a moment, she felt this sounded like she was contradicting him, so she stammered an explanation, "Only girls have flowers on their faces, like Nunu..." she gestured toward Li Zhunu, "...like us, we are the ones who have them."

This made Deng She laugh. He asked her, "Who told you I am a great hero?"

"Nunu's real father."

He had expected as much; Luo Lilang must have taught Luo Guannu to use this to curry favor with him. Deng She smiled and stopped teasing her. Luo Guannu had something on her mind that she couldn't keep hidden. After hesitating, she finally gathered her courage and asked, "Father, are you going to marry us to the generals?"

She had learned of his decision that morning by the evening. There was no one else who could have told her but Luo Lilang. Deng She frowned. Occupied with military and civil affairs, he had never worried about the inner workings of his residence, nor had he set any rules. Lady Wang had managed it, but perhaps with her imminent departure, she had lost interest, and the lack of constraints allowed outsiders to see the maids. Even if they were father and daughter, it was inappropriate. He made a mental note to instruct his personal guards: without special orders, no one was to have contact with the residence.

Luo Guannu was only thirteen or fourteen; there was no need to be angry with her. Deng She nodded and said, "I have that intention. Staying in the residence forever is not a solution. Finding you a good family is better than being a servant."

Seeing Li Zhunu secretly tug at Luo Guannu's skirt, Deng She reacted quickly and guessed why Luo Guannu asked. Indeed, the little girl asked again, "Nunu's real father said that if Father keeps Nunu, will Father also keep Zhunu?" She was naive and had sold Luo Lilang out directly.

If any other maid had asked this, Deng She would have been furious—were military matters for slaves to inquire about? But he liked Luo Guannu's innocence and lack of guile, so he didn't flare up. He said, "Zhunu?" Then to Li Zhunu, "I have already chosen the best general for you." Li Zhunu's beauty was among the best of the maids, and she was young; being a cousin to Luo Guannu, keeping her by his side was a waste, and giving her to just anyone was not worth it. Deng She planned to bestow her upon Zhao Guo.

Li Zhunu's face turned pale. Luo Guannu was anxious and said, "Father, my aunt's family only has her as a daughter..." Before she could finish, Deng She interrupted, "Luo Lilang taught you to say that, didn't he?"

"Yes. Nunu's real father said..."

Deng She interrupted her again and called in Bi Qianniu, ordering, "Go find Wu Henian and tell him to keep his house officials in check. If he is reluctant to part with his daughter, he can take her back. Those sent into my residence are my servants. This is the first and last time; if it happens again, give him twenty strokes."

Bi Qianniu loudly acknowledged the order and turned to leave.

Luo Guannu was brave, but she was still a naive little girl; she wasn't without fear. Seeing Deng She’s stern expression, she was terrified. Knowing she had caused a great disaster, she stood there motionless, head lowered, gripping her belt, pitifully waiting for punishment.

Deng She would not lower himself to the level of a young girl; without Luo Lilang, she would never have reached this point. He hadn't expected Luo Lilang, who was usually as timid as a mouse, to dare to interfere in military affairs. Connecting this with Wu Henian’s actions, Deng She wondered, "Have I been too lenient and not strict enough in my rule?" He needed to adjust his methods.

He had never been higher than a centurion before, and his subordinates were all old horse-thief brothers; he truly had no experience in governing.

Setting these thoughts aside, Deng She asked Luo Guannu, "Luo Lilang is your real father, so what am I to you?"

Luo Guannu thought for a moment and said, "You are also Nunu's father."

Deng She was left speechless. She was just a little girl; he wanted her to know who her master was, but she answered like that. Since that was how she understood it, he decided not to correct her. He went along with it: "How can a person have two fathers? Remember, once you enter my residence, I am your master, and you must only listen to me. No matter how close Luo Lilang is, he is an outsider—if he says anything else to you, answer him like that." Luo Guannu remained silent, and Deng She asked, "Do you understand?"

Luo Guannu nodded reluctantly, saying, "I understand." Even with her best efforts to hide it, one could see she was upset. The principle of being a servant was that the master was heaven; everyone knew this. Deng She was baffled and even more dissatisfied. As a military leader, he knew there were no small matters when it came to his inner circle; the closer the person, the stricter the control required. He pressed, "What have you understood?"

"Father is an outsider; the master is Nunu's real father," the little girl said aggrievedly.

"...You two may go."

Watching them leave, Deng She shook his head. They were too young, pampered and sheltered, growing up in a gilded cage without contact with the outside world, like blank sheets of paper. They were difficult to talk to. He wondered if he should replace them with two older ones.

With his hands behind his back, he paced to the window. The night curfew was approaching, and the noisy city was gradually quieting down. The rolling eaves of the roofs cast dark shadows, deepening the summer night. A few stars were scattered across the deep blue sky. Night birds chirped crisply, carrying in wisps of warm breeze, and the scent of human activity mixed with the smell of wheat fields and grass from outside the city drifted toward him.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, accompanied by the clatter of armor plates. The personal guards wore light armor with few plates; clearly, the visitor was a chiliarch-level officer. Who could be coming at such a late hour?

***

Deng She was about to turn around when he caught a glimpse of two or three shadows flickering at the street corner outside the building, seemingly circling toward the back door. He hurried to look, but soldiers on night patrol arrived, their torches illuminating a large area, yet the figures were gone.

He vaguely remembered that a month or so ago, this scene seemed to have occurred once before. Suspicion rose in his heart—night curfew was beginning, who would still be out? Bi Qianniu entered to report: "General, Chiliarch Tong requests an audience." Deng She had previously instructed his guards that Hong, Wen, Chen, Zhao, and Tong were to be admitted without delay.

"Invite him in quickly." Deng She glanced out the window again. Still uneasy, he whispered to Bi Qianniu before Tong Doulan could enter, "There are idlers wandering the street outside, seemingly heading for the back door. Take a few men and check thoroughly."

Bi Qianniu was startled. As the leader of the brothers' team, his power was equivalent to a deputy for Zuo Che'er. To fulfill his duty of protecting Deng She, he often consulted Zuo Che'er, not only practicing martial arts but also focusing on learning experience. Hearing Deng She’s words, he understood the importance and hurried away.

Hong Jixun had set the military discipline: weapons were forbidden in the general's private quarters. Tong Doulan removed his armor and sword outside the door before entering. He rarely initiated private visits, and Deng She was quite surprised. He welcomed him with a smile, saying, "Could it be that the long night is boring, and General Tong’s hands are itching, wanting to play another few games of chess?"

He had grown up among the Jurchens and was not very literate, but he had one elegant hobby: he liked to play chess. He didn't know how to play Go, only Xiangqi. Deng She had some background and could play; he had played with him several times but was far inferior, never having won a single game.

Tong Doulan laughed, "The General has just returned from a great battle and has not yet rested. Chess is mentally taxing; wait until the General is well-rested, and I will come to ask for a match again." As he spoke, Deng She invited him to sit, personally poured tea, and, because of the heat, called for a guard to fetch chilled *she'erbie* from the well. The original supply from Yongping had long been finished, but this was obtained from Dechuan.

After some idle chatter, they heard the soldiers in the city beating gongs, and a bell rang from a nearby temple—it was the first watch, and the curfew had begun.

Tong Doulan said, "I should have come last night, but I did not want to disturb the General. After several consecutive victories, I am here to congratulate you, General."

"General Tong, why the formality? To be honest, General Wen reported your merits yesterday and spoke very highly of you. Your three scattered elite cavalry truly performed great service. It is just that with the new army recently recruited, silver is tight. I am afraid the rewards do not match the merits; I hope you will understand."

Tong Doulan had followed Wen Huaguo to conquer several cities, and his contributions in mobile guerrilla tactics, intercepting reinforcements, and blocking escapes were significant. Deng She was being polite, but the silver he had already rewarded him with was exceptionally generous.

"What merit do I have? The main force for the sieges was all General Wen's. The army is currently in need of silver, and the reward you gave me was too much. I came here precisely to ask you to take it back. Otherwise, I will not be at ease."

Deng She said, "General Tong, your lack of arrogance despite your achievements makes me admire you greatly." After a slight hesitation, he wondered: could it be that he still thought it was too little? At this juncture of fostering alliances and borrowing strength, a little money was trivial. He smiled and said, "However, could it be that you are only thinking of yourself and forgetting me?"

"What does the General mean by that?"

"If you do not want the money, you have style, of course; but wouldn't my reputation for rewarding merit be ruined as a result?" Giving money was an art—making the recipient feel that they were not accepting it for themselves, but for the sake of the other party. It was a way to gain both profit and a good reputation.

Deng She had learned these tactics from Deng San—to sit firmly as a bandit leader, knowing how to kill and burn was not enough. He continued, "Therefore, not only will I not take it back, but I will double it for you. This will serve as a model for everyone in our army."

His words were well-chosen. Tong Doulan secretly gave a thumbs-up but insisted, "I am a straightforward person and do not know how to be polite. I truly feel this way. I have been in the dual cities for a long time, and all my food and supplies have been provided by the General. For such meager merit, how can I accept such a heavy reward?"

His attitude was resolute, and Deng She was unsure. He probed, "Even if you do not want it, why not think of your men? How about this: I will double it again, not for you, but as a gift to your subordinates, how about that?"

"The army has food and drink, and the men in my camp are used to the bitter life in the tribe; even if they had money, they wouldn't know how to use it." Suddenly mentioning his tribe's hardships, a topic that seemed unrelated, Deng She vaguely guessed his intention. Tong Doulan paused and continued, "Just now, you praised me for high moral character, which makes me feel ashamed. To be honest, I was not the first to suggest returning the reward."

"Oh? Then who was it?"

"It was the men in my camp."

As soon as these words were spoken, Deng She guessed his intention seven or eight tenths. While trying to figure out how to respond, he asked, "And why is that?"

"General, you don't know, but my tribe is different from the Wild Jurchens. Although we hunt and fish, our three meals a day come mostly from farming. The land in Sansan is frozen and barren; we often plant grain, but with one wind or snowstorm, most of it freezes to death. Our people's lives are not easy."

Deng She understood his mindset. A month ago, when the Jiashan Jurchens came to surrender, they were given plenty of land, and he had stood by watching coldly without mentioning anything. Raising it now was nothing more than seeing the Red Turban army developing smoothly and gaining a firm foothold.

Deng She said, "Although I have never been to Sansan, I have often heard Mr. Hong speak of it. That place is indeed poor. It is my failure that the people suffer so. ...Does your tribe have ten thousand people?"

"Thirteen thousand and more." Tong Doulan’s tribe was the largest in the Sansan area and quite famous. The reason smaller Jurchen tribes from places like Jiashan had come one after another was partly because of Deng She's benefits, but primarily because Tong Doulan had been the first to surrender.

"Thirteen thousand?" The number was too large, making it difficult to settle them. Deng She asked, "What are General Tong's plans?"

"If the General is willing, I would like to exchange your rewards for some land in the dual cities and migrate some of my people here, just to be fed and warm."

Deng She was overjoyed but frowned, saying, "The land in the dual cities has mostly been distributed. There are only a few hundred acres left, not enough to settle your people."

He welcomed Tong Doulan’s people, but even if they only sent three thousand, he couldn't put them all in the dual cities. The Jiashan Jurchens had already migrated over two thousand people; if they all banded together, it would be too dangerous. It was said that one should not have the heart to harm others, but one must have the heart to guard against them.

Deng She picked up his teacup and took two distracted sips. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "How about this? Dingzhou and Dechuan are on the front lines and cannot be used for your people. Changjin and Sam-su are as poor as Sansan, so they are out of the question. However, Xichuan and Maengsan are far from the front lines and can be called wealthy. They have just been conquered, and there is still plenty of land that hasn't been distributed. What do you think?"

Xichuan and Maengsan were located on either side of Ningyuan and Maengsan, with Jiangjie to the north and mountains to the west and south. Placing them there meant that if something happened, he could call for reinforcements from four sides; if nothing happened, the roads were easily cut off, so he didn't need to worry about rebellion.

On the surface, Deng She’s reasoning was very sound. Tong Doulan lowered his head and thought about it. He knew there was no chance of getting land in the dual cities; it was already distributed, and he couldn't ask him to drive out the Jiashan Jurchens. Even if Deng She were willing, he wouldn't be—not only would he invite a feud, but it would also greatly damage his reputation. Who could he blame? He could only blame himself for his hesitation and late decision.

"How much land in Xichuan and Maengsan can the General give me?"

"Ninety percent of the land in those two places is in my hands. The population in the city is not large, and although the land distribution hasn't been finalized, I expect there will be plenty left." Deng She glanced at him and smiled, "Even if you move your whole clan, it wouldn't be a problem."

Don't put all your eggs in one basket; even the small Jiashan Jurchen tribes knew not to migrate entirely, let alone Tong Doulan. He said, "General, I am deeply grateful for your kindness. I have long wanted to move my whole clan, but since we have lived in Sansan for generations, the elders might not be willing, and I cannot force them. I think it would be better to move two or three thousand people first and settle them here. Once they see the benefits, they will naturally want to come."

His family had been hereditary golden-tablet chiliarchs for generations; how could he lack even this bit of prestige? Deng She saw through his lie but nodded in agreement, "General Tong, honoring the elderly and respected is as it should be. I will send orders to Xichuan and Maengsan to prepare fertile land for three thousand people."

"On behalf of my entire clan, I thank the General for your great kindness." Tong Doulan knelt to bow. Deng She helped him up and laughed heartily, "Since you have surrendered to me, your people are my own people. It is only right to seek land for one's own people!"

Tong Doulan brought up the old topic, "I will send your silver rewards to you tomorrow."

"We are our own people, why talk of exchanging money for land? The land is yours, and I will not take the silver. General Tong, you first saved my dual cities, and then helped me conquer the Maengsan area; your contributions are great, and you must be rewarded. The army has set rules for rewards and punishments; do not make it difficult for me."

Tong Doulan firmly refused, "I know my own situation. For such minor battle merits, to have received the General's grant of land already makes me feel uneasy. It is not worth such a heavy reward from you."

Deng She laughed, "If that is the case, then as you wish. Wealth is an external thing; as for the rest of your people, whenever you want to bring them over, just give me a word in advance, and I will have everything prepared for you."

Leveraging the merit of saving the dual cities that Deng She had mentioned, Tong Doulan said, "I have one more presumptuous request."

"Please, speak freely."

"In Sansan, we are poor, and we also lack iron. My people are doing okay, but other small tribes still use bone arrowheads. Sansan is wild and full of fierce beasts; without iron arrows, we cannot survive. If I could get some iron from the General, the whole tribe would be eternally grateful." After saying this, he stared intently at Deng She.

Deng She was already worried about the shortage of iron, and this request was truly presumptuous. Without hesitation, Deng She said, "That is a small matter. I will write you a note; however much you need, the Mainland Chiliarch will provide."

The Red Turban army was expanding and preparing for war, and iron production could not keep up; Tong Doulan knew this clearly. This request was thought of on the spot—half out of necessity, half as a test. He hadn't expected Deng She to agree without a second thought. Relieved, he knelt again and thanked him repeatedly. Deng She smiled and didn't take it to heart.

After chatting a while longer, the second watch struck outside. Tong Doulan rose to take his leave. The night curfew forbade movement, even for officers. Besides the note for Lu Qian-five, Deng She took out his Chiliarch seal and wrote an official document allowing night travel for official business, sending him out of the residence before turning back.

On the surface, he and Tong Doulan were in harmony, but in reality, they had already engaged in several silent rounds of confrontation during their conversation.

When Deng She said, "Since you have surrendered to me, you are my own people; you get the land and the reward," he was testing whether Tong Doulan had any intention of changing his cooperation into a true surrender. Tong Doulan skillfully deflected this by saying, "I know my own situation," clearly stating his attitude: you are you, and I am I.

Deng She understood and replied, "Since that is the case, as you wish; wealth is an external thing, and there is plenty of land for you to use." This subtly pointed out that he respected Tong Doulan's intentions, and as long as they cooperated, he would not treat him unfairly regarding land.

Tong Doulan’s request for iron was not thought of upon arrival, but after Deng She gave him the land in Xichuan and Maengsan. He had followed the army to conquer those places, and he was fully aware of Deng She’s caution, which was reasonable.

But what if Deng She wasn't just cautious, but had other schemes? He had to be prepared. Therefore, knowing the Red Turban army lacked iron, he specifically asked for it, stating it was for arrowheads, just to see Deng She’s reaction.

Deng She hadn't thought of that at first; he only thought Tong Doulan wanted iron because of his two great contributions—the siege and the rescue. After the rescue, Deng She had rewarded him, and he guessed Tong Doulan felt it wasn't enough, which was why he made two requests. He had used this to further express his cooperative stance: one merit for one item.

Back in his room and up on the loft, the more he thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong. Connecting the events, he suddenly realized the truth. A cold sweat broke out on his back. If he had hesitated for even a moment, triggering Tong Doulan’s suspicion, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

The night wind gradually grew chilly, but the tea on the table was still warm. Deng She was stunned for a long time. A leader of a Jurchen tribe had such scheming; what kind of people were the other heroes of the world?

The only person he knew who could be called a hero of the world was Guan Duo. His thoughts then turned from Guan Duo to Yao Haogu. In the power struggle in the dual cities, he seemed to have won a round, but had Yao Haogu made a move? He must have. So, what was the move?

The joy of his earlier victory vanished. He was restless; if it hadn't been so late, he would have immediately sent for Hong Jixun.

"General?"

Deng She looked up. Bi Qianniu had entered at some point. He reported, "This lowly one led a team of brothers, searched the nearby streets, and inspected the residence thoroughly, but saw no one. I have left a ten-man team to strengthen the guard at the back door."

Deng She nodded, "Forget it if you didn't find anyone. It's dark; perhaps I was mistaken." His mind was full of Guan Duo and Yao Haogu; the shadow on the street was a trivial matter now. Since Bi Qianniu had gone to such trouble, he had to reward him, "I remember, it's not your turn on watch tonight, is it?"

"No, it is not."

"You've been with me all day, go get some rest."

Bi Qianniu stepped back to leave. Deng She called him back, picked up the two remaining unopened bottles of *she'erbie* on the table, and handed them over: "It's hot, and it's easy to get inflamed. Drink more soup and take care of your health. Take the medicinal paste General Chen sent me from Ningyuan and distribute it to the brothers." His tone was casual, without the air of a superior bestowing a reward, more like a chat between friends.

Bi Qianniu respectfully responded. Chen Hu, Zhao Guo, Zhang Daier, and others often sent local specialties and tonics, which Deng She rarely used. He would keep a little at most and distribute the rest to the generals and guards in the city. Refusals were useless; it had almost become a convention.

Bit by bit, these small acts gathered into deep gratitude. As time passed, how could one ever repay them?