Chapter 111: Huining

By rights, Zhao Yu was a prince and the representative of the Liao Empire. The Jurchens should at least have arranged a respectable ceremony to receive him, if not an elaborate one.

Unfortunately, the only person sent to greet him was a lowly post-station official. There was no ceremony, nor even a welcoming delegation.

Clearly, the Jurchens were humiliating Zhao Yu—not only targeting him personally, but also insulting both the Liao and Song Empires.

Zhao Yu did not care in the slightest. With Yan Qing and Han Shizhong beside him, he rode through the streets of Huining as though strolling through a marketplace, accompanied by the post official. He looked about with apparent curiosity, but his eyes were filled with contempt.

What a wretched place. Sooner or later, I’ll raze it to the ground...

The post official was a Han Chinese named Tao Wuge. Perhaps he had grown too accustomed to serving the Jurchens, for in front of Zhao Yu, another Han Chinese, he carried himself with blatant impatience and hauteur.

“I heard you used to be a prince yourself. Why do you look like such a bumpkin? Surely we Jurchens frightened you out of your wits, didn’t we? Ha ha...”

Zhao Yu smiled faintly. “Come here. I’ll tell you a secret.”

Tao Wuge, suspecting nothing, foolishly moved closer. Before he could approach too near, however, a dark blur flashed past, and Zhao Yu’s riding crop struck him hard across the face.

“Ah! How dare you hit me?”

“Hit you? I’ll beat you to death!”

Zhao Yu did not stop. Wielding his riding crop, he lashed Tao Wuge savagely, striking him indiscriminately across the head and face.

Tao Wuge had two attendants with him. When they saw their master being beaten, they were about to shout, but discovered that steel blades were already pressed against their throats. Yan Qing and Han Shizhong had blocked them.

Zhao Yu continued until he had delivered more than twenty blows. Only when his arm had gone numb with fatigue did he finally stop, breathing heavily.

Pointing the riding crop at Tao Wuge’s battered, bleeding face, he shouted, “Why don’t you take a piss and look at your own reflection? What kind of thing are you, to dare speak to me like that? If there’s a next time, I’ll cut you down myself!”

The commotion Zhao Yu had caused was so great that many passersby stopped to watch.

The attire of the three men was rather incongruous. Their clothes were in the Khitan style, yet their hair was arranged in the distinctive fashion of the Han Chinese.

The onlookers could not help wondering where these men had come from. They actually dared to beat a government official in the middle of the street...

Several patrol soldiers arrived. They, too, were taken aback by Zhao Yu and the others’ attire. After questioning Tao Wuge’s attendants, the soldiers hesitated. This matter now involved relations between two nations—far beyond what men of their rank could handle.

Zhao Yu had wanted precisely this result. This might be Jurchen territory, but they could forget about making him bow his head.

He turned to Yan Qing. “Go to the inn and reserve two of the finest rooms. We’ve come to mourn the Great Jin Emperor, not to be treated like dirt.”

There happened to be an inn beside the street. Yan Qing acknowledged him, dismounted, and walked over.

“Bah! What a worthless piece of trash!”

Only after spitting squarely in Tao Wuge’s face did Zhao Yu dismount with Han Shizhong and head toward the inn.

Beaten in front of the entire street, Tao Wuge was both humiliated and enraged. Pointing at Zhao Yu’s retreating back, he shouted, “You southern barbarian! Just you wait!”

The inn was also run by Han Chinese. The Jurchens disdained such petty commerce.

The innkeeper was far more perceptive than Tao Wuge. He warmly ordered the attendants to take the horses to the rear courtyard, then swiftly brought out steaming wine and dishes.

“Your Highness, please forgive us. Our establishment is small, and if anything is lacking in our hospitality, I beg your pardon.”

Yan Qing had already revealed Zhao Yu’s identity to the innkeeper, just as they had previously agreed. Everyone had to know that Zhao Yu was a mourning envoy. That way, for the sake of their reputation, the Jurchen leadership would not dare move against him lightly.

After taking his seat, Zhao Yu nodded with a smile. “To see fellow countrymen so many miles from home truly warms the heart. Brother Xiaoyi, pay the innkeeper double for our food and lodging.”

The innkeeper was stunned by his words. He instinctively glanced around, and only after confirming that no Jurchens were nearby did he lower his voice and say, “Your Highness, you must be careful with your words here.”

Zhao Yu knew that the Han Chinese living in this place had been enslaved by the Jurchens for far too long. They had probably long since lost their courage.

He nodded. “In a little while, I’ll trouble you to purchase a few things for me. I intend to pay a visit to Lord Xieye, the Bojilie.”

On the way here, Wanyan Ang had given Zhao Yu a general account of Huining’s situation. Zhao Yu could tell that Wanyan Ang still favored his brother Wanyan Gao, while doing everything he could to disparage Wanyan Zonggan.

The enemy of one’s enemy is a friend. Zhao Yu had no intention of following Wanyan Gao’s wishes.

At present, defeating the Jurchens on the battlefield was practically impossible. The best strategy was therefore to sow division and mistrust among them.

Wherever there were people, there were rivalries. The saying applied everywhere.

“If Your Highness intends to purchase gifts, then I advise you not to bother,” the innkeeper said. “As far as I know, Lord Zonggan is especially fond of Han women. May I ask whether Your Highness has anyone among your entourage whom you can offer him?”

The innkeeper’s words plunged Zhao Yu into thought. He still knew far too little about this place. Realizing this, he studied the innkeeper deeply for a few moments before smiling.

“I’m rather tired. The rooms have been prepared, I assume?”

At the same time, Wanyan Ang arrived at Wanyan Xiyin’s residence.

“Xiyin, this young man is a rare talent. If he cannot be of use to our Great Jin, kill him outright.”

Wanyan Ang recounted everything to Wanyan Xiyin in detail—how he had met Zhao Yu, what they had discussed along the way, and everything else—before reaching that conclusion.

The description of Wanyan Gao as someone who pretended to be a fool in order to outwit his enemies was not at all unfair. By cultivating a hot temper and making himself disliked, he appeared to have withdrawn from the center of power. Yet this was undoubtedly a means of protecting himself.

Others did not understand him, but Wanyan Xiyin knew him better than anyone. That was why the two men were so close.

Wanyan Xiyin frowned and pondered for a moment. “Do you think he might have been responsible for that incident?”

“Highly unlikely. Though this young man is clever, he is not a Liao man and has no grudge against us. We can even be considered allies of the Great Song, so he had no reason to do something so thankless. Besides, when the Great Khan met with disaster, he had already been abandoned by the Song. This was certainly the work of the Liao.”

Wanyan Ang paused, then gave a sinister smile.

“I heard that this young man found the Great Song Emperor’s lost treasure in less than half a day. If we put him in charge of investigating this matter, we may achieve an unexpected result.”

Wanyan Xiyin smiled as well and nodded. “That is an excellent idea. Moreover, this young man already holds official titles in both the Song and the Liao. If we merely grant him an honorary position, would that not damage the prestige of our Jurchen nation?”

“Ha ha! Brother Xiyin, your wisdom is truly impressive.”

Before Wanyan Ang had finished speaking, a guard hurried in from outside.

“My lords, we have just received word that the envoy from the Liao, for some unknown reason, lashed the post official in the middle of the street. The Meng’an under Lord Loushi’s command did not dare act without authorization, so he came to ask whether the Liao envoy should be arrested.”

Upon hearing this, Wanyan Xiyin could not help laughing. He turned to Wanyan Ang and said, “Just as you said—the young man truly is no steady character.”

“Tell the Meng’an under Loushi not to interfere. A guest who has traveled from afar must be treated as a guest. Besides, we were the ones who neglected him first. Also, send someone to inform His Highness, the Prince of Song, that we shall host a welcoming banquet for him tomorrow evening.”