Chapter 28: Across the Wilds

"So, you want to leave now that the snow has stopped?"

Zhao Huaian stroked his short beard, pondering Fei Yanggu's words. Fei Yanggu had just approached him with a request: the mountain woodsmen, feeling they had fulfilled their duty by hauling the cargo to Qiongzhou, wanted to collect their reward and return to the mountains. They had been reluctant to stay in the first place, but the heavy snowfall upon their arrival had trapped them there. Spending two days in the tents had only deepened their anxiety, and as soon as the snow cleared, they sent Fei Yanggu to negotiate with Zhao Huaian, even offering to forgo their payment if it meant they could leave.

When asked by Zhao Huaian, Fei Yanggu nodded hastily. "My lord, we have been away from home for too long, and our families are waiting for us. Might I ask when we can receive our reward?" Although they were willing to give it up, Fei Yanggu, long accustomed to poverty, couldn't help but ask. Seeing Zhao Huaian shake his head, he quickly backtracked, "My lord, we didn't exert much effort on the latter half of the journey, and we even made a small profit following you. If it’s too much trouble, we can just forget about the reward."

During the earlier ambush of the Nanzhao, although the main spoils were taken by the Zhongwu Army, the mountain woodsmen were cunning enough to seize clothing and shoes for themselves, which they considered a decent gain. Hearing Fei Yanggu’s words, Zhao Huaian felt insulted and patted him on the shoulder, exclaiming, "Old Fei, what are you saying? My word is as good as gold; do you take me for a man who would embezzle your pay?"

He spoke with great conviction, but his next sentence was, "It’s just that I’m currently short on cash. I had planned to sell the furs for coin, but with the snow, I haven’t had the chance. How about this: stay a few more days. Once I’ve sold the furs, I’ll pay you, and we’ll hold a bonfire party so you can return home in high spirits."

Upon hearing that he had to stay longer, Fei Yanggu’s expression shifted. He glanced around cautiously before pulling Zhao Huaian aside for a frank talk. "My lord, let’s be blunt. We fled into the mountains specifically because we refuse to be slaves to others. Please, don't waste your efforts—only a few in our camp are willing to follow you. The rest of us truly must return."

Zhao Huaian, thick-skinned as he was, did not blush when his intentions were laid bare. It was true that he had his eye on these men, but since they were so direct, he knew he couldn't force them. He nodded. "Fine. Commissioner Song gave me some coarse salt; I will use that as your travel money. I’ll give it to you as soon as I return from the main camp."

Fei Yanggu was deeply grateful, genuinely believing that this Lord Zhao was a decent man. By now, they had reached the outer gate of the camp. Since Fei Yanggu lacked a military pass, he couldn't enter, so Zhao Huaian bid him farewell there. As Fei Yanggu turned to leave, Zhao Huaian made one last attempt. "Old Fei, you really won't stay with me?"

Fei Yanggu was moved but remained firm. "My lord, life in the mountains is hard, but every grain of rice we eat is our own. The land down here may be fertile, but even if the granaries are full, it’s only for the benefit of the wealthy officials. You are a good man, and if you ever need us in the future, we will certainly help, but this is not for us."

At that moment, Zhao Huaian gained a new respect for Fei Yanggu; the freedom and clarity he displayed were nothing short of wisdom. Unable to recruit him, Zhao sighed, patted him on the shoulder, and led Lu Zhongyuan and Zhou Dexing through the gate. Fei Yanggu stood watching until they were inside before turning to run back with a light, quick step.

...

Zhao Huaian handed his identity tag to the gate guard, along with a travel permit sent by Xianyu Yue, and surrendered his blade before being allowed entry. Watching Fei Yanggu leave, Lu Zhongyuan wrinkled his nose and said to Zhao Huaian, "My lord, those people won't be able to leave."

Zhao Huaian, still feeling a touch of sadness from the farewell—having spent over half a month with them—was caught off guard. Zhou Dexing explained from the other side, "My lord, even though they only entered the outer camp, they are now subject to military law. To leave the camp now would be considered desertion, and that is a capital offense."

Zhao Huaian hadn't realized this, but upon reflection, it made sense. Although they had only been there for two days, they had seen enough of the camp's layout that letting them go would risk them being executed as Nanzhao spies. Even with his thick skin, Zhao Huaian felt a pang of guilt. He understood their desire to avoid servitude; if they were conscripted into the army, they might never be released, unlike the common soldiers who could return home after the war. He had inadvertently walked them into a trap.

As Zhao Huaian wallowed in self-reproach, Lu Zhongyuan added, "This is perfect. We are short on men; we can recruit them into our ranks as vanguard soldiers."

Zhao Huaian’s face darkened. *Damn, this old soldier is truly a scoundrel, always looking to press-gang men to fill the lines.* He was about to scold him, but seeing Zhou Dexing nodding in agreement, he realized this might just be standard practice for Tang military men.

After a moment's thought, Zhao Huaian said cautiously, "We must be honorable. A resentful force is useless. It would be better to let them go, but since they are bound by military law, I will find another way. I cannot break my word to them."

To his surprise, Lu Zhongyuan and Zhou Dexing nodded. Lu Zhongyuan, being the sharpest, realized his previous suggestion hadn't suited his new lord's temperament and quickly changed his tune: "My lord is truly benevolent. Those woodsmen are lucky to have met a noble person like you."

Zhao Huaian understood then that these two were fair-weather followers, gaining a deeper insight into the lower-level Tang military. Putting those thoughts aside, he patted Lu Zhongyuan on the shoulder, signaling that nothing more needed to be said.

...

Inside the gate, soldiers were clearing snow between the rows of tents. They glanced at the trio with indifference before returning to their work. Zhao Huaian, fascinated, observed the encampment—his first time seeing a formal Tang army formation. Tents were arranged in a grid, square and round. He counted seven rows, each with at least a dozen tents. If each held ten men, there were over a thousand soldiers here. *My word, so this is the main force of the Tang army.*

Zhao Huaian didn't realize that his curious, prying behavior made him look exactly like a spy. Though the gate guards had cleared him, a soldier soon approached, wielding a wooden shovel. "Which unit are you from? Why are you gawking around the camp?"

The man’s voice was thunderous. Startled, Zhao Huaian watched as the quick-witted Lu Zhongyuan handed over the permit. The soldier was robust and wore only light clothing despite the freezing weather, revealing his formidable constitution. He inspected the permit and Zhao Huaian before handing it back with a frown. "What is your business here? Next time, have someone guide you. Don't wander about; if you see something you shouldn't, you'll lose your head."

Zhao Huaian, realizing the man was giving sound advice, bowed and said, "I am Zhao Huaian, a tooth-general of the Lizhou Army. May I ask your name, comrade?"

The soldier, having seen the permit, knew Zhao was from the Lizhou Army. He actually admired the Lizhou Army’s performance at the Dadu River, which was why he had issued the warning. He nodded and replied casually, "Zeng Yuanyu of the Hengye Army."

Zhao Huaian remained smiling, oblivious, but Lu Zhongyuan and Zhou Dexing were terrified. They dropped to their knees, shouting, "Subordinates pay respects to General Zeng!"

Seeing his men's reaction, Zhao Huaian realized this was a high-ranking official and quickly knelt on one knee. Zeng Yuanyu waved a hand dismissively. "Who are you looking for? I'll have someone guide you."

Zhao Huaian mentioned he was looking for Song Jian, but at the name, Zeng Yuanyu’s expression darkened. He snorted, "You’re the soldier who saved Song the Third?"

The tone was icy. Zhao Huaian, baffled by the sudden shift, could only nod. Zeng Yuanyu looked him up and down, clearly unwilling to speak further, and pointed to a warrior to lead them before walking away.

Left feeling bewildered by Zeng Yuanyu's initial courtesy and sudden hostility, Zhao Huaian followed the Hengye soldier. The guide was equally rude, pointing to a tent area from a distance before leaving them. Zhao Huaian felt his temper rising, but Lu Zhongyuan grabbed him.

Lu Zhongyuan looked around nervously and whispered, "My lord, Zeng Yuanyu is a great general of the Hengye Army. Four years ago, he reinforced Western Sichuan and beheaded over two thousand Nanzhao soldiers at Xindu. He is a fierce general—be careful not to antagonize him in this crowded camp."

Lu Zhongyuan was terrified. He had hoped that serving Zhao Huaian, who had the favor of Commissioner Song, would lead to a bright future, but he now feared he was serving a hothead.

At that moment, the eight-foot-tall Zhou Dexing muttered, "So what if he's a great general? If the master is insulted, the servant dies. Even if he holds a high position, can he not be killed by a single blade?"

It was the first time Zhou Dexing had spoken so boldly. Lu Zhongyuan suddenly realized that Zhou Dexing came from the Yanhai Army, formerly part of the Pinglu regional command. Men like him, just like the cutthroats in Hebei, had no regard for the law and treated killing a superior as casually as eating or drinking. Lu Zhongyuan felt a chill; his own Dingtian Army, known as the "Shield of Western Sichuan," mostly dealt in trade and dirty work, making them seem like saints compared to these Pinglu killers.

To Lu's further shock, Zhao Huaian didn't seem afraid. "Old Zhou, don't be so hot-headed. He didn't do anything truly egregious. If he has a bad attitude, we can just curse him—no need to draw blades."

Lu Zhongyuan was stunned. *How much has he been drinking to be this reckless?*

Zhao Huaian then turned to Lu Zhongyuan and asked, "I've forgotten to ask: what is Commissioner Song's reputation like?"

Lu Zhongyuan, sensing a test of loyalty, answered honestly, "My lord, Commissioner Song is a good man, but four years ago, his uncle stole credit for a military victory from General Zeng. They have been at odds ever since, which is likely why he reacted that way."

Zhao Huaian realized the truth, though he remained skeptical of Lu’s full account. He had sensed a flicker of pity in Zeng Yuanyu's eyes—the general was pitying *him*. What exactly did this Commissioner Song want with him?