Volume Two, Chapter Three: Amidst Fourfold Clamor, a Deep Sigh Resounds

The man who volunteered was Li Shandao.

Though he had nine battalion commanders under him, few were truly fit for great responsibility. Of those who were, Nie Heita, for instance, would certainly have to accompany the force against Lihu. In truth, in Xu Shiji’s mind, Li Shandao was also the best choice to harry Puyang.

Gold shines wherever it is found.

Li Shandao was just such a piece of gold.

His conduct in several matters—seizing Kang Sanzang, repelling Luo Shixin, and leading his own troops to collect tribute—had already proved him capable of shouldering great responsibility.

Xu Shiji was delighted. “Good! Since you’ve volunteered, Second Brother, I’ll entrust this important task to you.” He stroked his full beard, considered a moment, then added, “But your force is a little small. Very well, I’ll assign you some more men.”

These additional men would not come from the troops of the other eight battalion commanders, but from the new recruits.

Xu Shiji’s younger brother, Xu Shibi, and the two local magnates Shen Shimao and Dai Chuyue, who had earned merit by acting as inside men, had each gathered a number of followers before the plan was put into action. Besides their men, after Xu Shiji entered the city, local knights-errant, young ruffians, and idle vagabonds had flocked to join him. He had been inside for less than an hour, yet nearly a hundred people had already come seeking to enlist.

Li Shandao bowed in thanks. “Many thanks, Big Brother!” Straightening, he declared, “You have nothing to worry about. I’ll make sure Puyang stays in check. If the people of Puyang dare send troops to relieve Lihu, I won’t let them interfere with you!”

“Second Brother, how do you plan to keep Puyang in check?”

Li Shandao had already settled on a plan. Without hesitation, he replied beneath the gaze of everyone in the hall, “Even if you assign me more men, Big Brother, I still won’t have enough to surround Puyang. I’ve been thinking it over, and it would be better not to besiege the city. When we reach Puyang, we’ll make a show of force outside its walls, so those inside won’t know how strong we are and won’t dare send help. If they do come out, I’ll avoid a direct engagement and harry them from behind.”

Xu Shiji was pleased. “Your plan is exactly what I had in mind. That’s how it should be.”

And so it was settled. The following morning, they would divide their forces in two: Xu Shiji would lead the main army against Lihu, while Li Shandao would take his men to harry Puyang.

It was almost the fourth watch when the meeting broke up. Nie Heita and two other battalion commanders were assigned to keep watch over the city until dawn; the rest could get some rest. Since Li Shandao’s home was in Weinan, he had no need to sleep at the county office, so he and Gao Chounu went home.

Even inside the county office, the turmoil throughout the city could already be heard. Once they stepped outside and reached the street, the uproar grew clearer still.

Li Shandao paused outside the county office, one hand resting on his belt, and gazed around at the county town sunk in the deep night.

Gao Chounu heard him let out a faint sigh and asked, “My lord, what’s wrong?”

“Chounu, you seem pretty cheerful.”

Gao Chounu grinned. “We took the city in less than one night. How could I not be happy? Aren’t you happy, my lord?”

“I am.” Li Shandao sighed again and gestured toward the city. “It’s just that although we took it in less than a night, and our casualties were few, the people of this city have suffered tonight.”

“So that’s what you were sighing about,” Gao Chounu said. “Big Brother Xu has already ordered that the troops are to stop looting the people after dawn.”

“Weinan isn’t a big city. There are only three or four thousand households here, Chounu. Do we really need two or three days to plunder them?”

Gao Chounu did not understand what Li Shandao meant at first. While he was still trying to make sense of it, Li Shandao had already started walking.

He hurried after him. “You mean it wouldn’t take two or three days to rob the people in our own city—one day, one night would be enough?” Xu Shiji’s force numbered around two thousand, and they were all inside the city. With only three or four thousand households, each soldier would have to rob just two households apiece. It really would not take long; one night would be enough to ransack the place. Gao Chounu added, “Ah, you’re right. If that’s so, then Big Brother Xu saying the troops can’t loot anymore starting tomorrow is…”

“Big Brother has his reasons. Don’t say any more about it, Chounu.”

From the lanes on either side came the ceaseless sounds of women and children weeping, men begging for mercy, and more.

Li Shandao quickened his pace and soon reached the lane where his home stood.

Compared with the neighboring lanes, this one was remarkably quiet. There were children crying, dogs barking, and roosters and hens stirring, but none of the sounds of looting. Qin Jingsi, Jiao Yanlang, and the others were guarding the entrance. When they saw Li Shandao return, they hurried over from a distance to meet him.

“Has no one come to loot the lane?” Li Shandao asked.

Jiao Yanlang pointed to the black banner planted by the entrance. “With Second Brother’s banner here, who would dare?”

“What about your families? Have you brought them all here?”

Qin Jingsi answered, “We have.”

“Big Brother Xu has decided to lead the main force against Lihu tomorrow. I’ve been assigned to harry Puyang. We’ll set out tomorrow morning. Don’t all stand guard at the entrance. Take turns and get some rest.” Li Shandao peered into the lane but saw no sign of Wang Xuda and the others. “Where are Third Brother Wang, Fourth Brother Luo, and Fifth Brother Chen?”

“After we entered the city, I haven’t seen them,” Qin Jingsi replied.

Li Shandao knew that Wang Xuda and the others must have taken their own men and scattered through the city to loot.

Since ancient times, whenever a city was taken, whether by government troops or bandits, burning, killing, and plundering had been unavoidable.

Weinan was Xu Shiji’s hometown, yet Xu Shiji had not forbidden his men to loot that night. He surely had his reasons. Since he had not explained them, Li Shandao could hardly presume to guess. But at that moment, he felt deeply torn.

He did not let his conflict show. After hearing Qin Jingsi’s answer, he said, “Take a few men and search the city for Wang Xuda and the others. When you find them, bring them to me.”

Qin Jingsi agreed, called for Yao Agui and several others, and went off to search the city.

Li Shandao entered the lane. It was packed with people, old and young alike. Looking down the narrow passage, he saw nothing but a sea of dark heads.

Some were residents of Wang Xingde’s lane, some were relatives and friends of Qin Jingsi and the others, and some were people who lived there.

They all knew Li Shandao. As he came in, the adults hurriedly covered the mouths of their crying children. Even men and women in their fifties or sixties backed away in fear, their deference mingled with apprehension, making way for him.

As he walked, Li Shandao greeted those he knew. When he reached his own doorway, he stopped, turned to face the people on either side of the lane, and called out, “You have nothing to fear. Don’t panic. We’re all neighbors here. Big Brother Xu has ordered the troops to stop looting. Bear with this for tonight and stay here for now. Tomorrow, you’ll be able to go home.”

He clasped his hands in salute and added, “I’m sorry for the trouble you’ve suffered tonight.” Then he told Gao Chounu, “How can we leave the elderly and children out here in the cold? Open the doors of the houses in the lane. Let the elders and children go inside and rest.”

He bowed to the people once more, then turned and entered the courtyard.

He had barely stepped inside when grateful cries of “Thank you, Second Brother!” rang out from the lane.

A man in his thirties came out into the courtyard with three or four others.

The man was Li Shandao’s elder brother, Li Shanren.

The brothers looked much alike. Li Shanren was tall, with thick brows and large eyes, but unlike Li Shandao, who wore a short mustache, he had a curved mustache that turned upward at both ends.

“Second Brother…” Li Shanren began, then faltered.

Li Shandao bowed. “Elder Brother, before we entered the city, I wanted to send word to you first. But I was afraid the news might leak, so I decided not to warn you. As soon as we got in, I sent Jingsi, Chounu, and the others home to protect you. At least you weren’t caught unawares.”

What kind of thing was that to say? A thousand or two bandits had entered the city in the middle of the night. Even if Qin Jingsi and the others had arrived in time, how could Li Shanren not have been terrified? But with Wang Xingde and the others present, he could hardly say more, so he let it pass. “Never mind. Second Brother, hurry and pay your respects to Elder Wang.”

How could Wang Xingde accept a bow from Li Shandao at that moment? He hurriedly bowed first, saying again and again, “If not for your help, everyone in my household would surely have suffered at the hands of those—those…” He could not bring himself to say “bandits,” yet could think of no other word, so he let the matter pass vaguely before continuing, “I don’t know how I could ever repay you for saving our lives!”

“Elder Wang, we were almost father-in-law and son-in-law. This is nothing worth mentioning,” Li Shandao said with a joking smile.

In the side room, Wang Jiaojiao had been listening. Her heart tightened at once. With so many people in the courtyard, how mortifying would it be to go out and apologize to that libertine? Besides, apologize for what? She had never wanted to marry him, but she had not been the one to break off the engagement! She clutched her mother’s hand, pleading for help.

Fortunately, Li Shandao’s voice reached her.

“If anyone should apologize, it’s me to Elder Wang. I broke off the engagement back then to keep him from being implicated. I hope he won’t hold it against me.”

When she listened further, Li Shandao had already turned to speak to Li Shanren. “Elder Brother, let’s go inside and talk. There’s something I need to discuss with you.”

Through the crack in the door, Wang Jiaojiao watched as Li Shanren and the others helped Li Shandao remove his bright armor. Then, with Li Shanren, Wang Xingde, and the others surrounding him, he strode into the main hall.

It must have been her imagination, but for a moment Li Shandao seemed almost imposing.