Chapter 40: Mutual Flattery

Page 1 of 3

The court was locked in a struggle over the choice of Minister of War, whether Southern Governor Hu Zongxian should be permitted to enter the capital and present his prisoners, the appointment of the imperial salt-inspection commissioner, the construction of the Three Great Halls, and the state treasury’s finances.

The Yan faction, which had dominated the court for years, had uncharacteristically slipped a little this time, leaving many officials somewhat surprised.

Could it be that the faction’s recent Daoist petitions and literary compositions had been disappointing, causing the Emperor to grow dissatisfied with them?

By contrast, Lu Bing, a military officer, had recently been dazzling in his literary output. Heaven only knew where he had found such a gifted ghostwriter.

Yet the movements of the upper ranks seemed a world away from Embroidered Uniform Guard Captain Bai Yu. Bai Captain had merely poured several basins of oil onto the fire, then gone back to struggling with his own modest existence.

In any case, Lu Bing had his back. Even if the sky fell, it would not land on Bai Yu’s head.

Just as his household was nearly out of food, the salary for the third month was finally distributed.

A regular Embroidered Uniform Guard post in the Bai household came with a monthly stipend of five pecks of rice—roughly ninety-odd pounds by later standards, though not quite a hundred.

Bai Yu was rather lazy, so he summoned two men from the same courtyard to help carry the salary rice.

One was surnamed Xia, nicknamed Big Xia. He was a sedan bearer who waited for work by the roadside, something like a taxi in later times; fares started at twenty copper coins.

The other was surnamed Jiang, nicknamed Black Jiang the Second. He worked as a laborer at the freight yard outside Xuanwu Gate.

Both men were marginal figures in the crowded courtyard compound, their standing even lower than that of Old Li the bricklayer, whose trade at least required technical skill.

When Bai Yu had first changed careers and become a captain, the two men had tried to draw close to him. They had even asked their families to help look after Bai Yu’s injured father, who was confined to bed.

Because the Embroidered Uniform Guard had many men drawing imperial salaries, as well as a special status, it possessed a warehouse of its own.

After waiting in line for half an hour, they collected the rice. Bai Captain then directed Big Xia and Black Jiang the Second to transport the five pecks back to his home.

He gave each man two pounds of rice as a token of gratitude.

Once they had gone outside, Black Jiang the Second could not help saying to Big Xia, “We may have backed the wrong man. Brother Yu doesn’t look prosperous to me at all.”

Big Xia replied, “What could a man with your limited experience possibly see? A captain cannot be a fake.”

Black Jiang the Second said, “I may not know much, but Master Yan does. He once said that anyone who truly prospers is bound to become rich overnight. Look at the Bai household—their life is still painfully tight. So Brother Yu probably cannot be called prosperous.

“What good is there in currying favor with his family, then? We even had our people help care for Old Bai. Wouldn’t all that effort have been wasted?”

Big Xia said, “Whatever the case, we accepted the written promise and agreed to look after Old Bai for two months. We have to honor our commitment.”

But Black Jiang the Second was already having second thoughts. “We have cared for Old Bai for more than half a month. As neighbors, we have shown sufficient goodwill. I do not intend to continue from now on. Tell Brother Yu for me.”

Bai Yu had no idea the two men were discussing him outside. He was busy arguing with his father.

Page 2 of 3

Old Bai wanted to exchange most of the rice for coarse grains and household necessities. That was how they had always managed their lives.

Bai Yu, however, insisted on keeping all the rice to eat. He had already had enough of coarse-grain porridge and meals for an entire month.

Old Bai flew into a rage and cursed him as a wastrel, then raised a very practical question: “If we keep all the rice for ourselves, what will we use to exchange for everything else?”

That brought them back to the matter of money. Captain Bai had originally planned to sell poetry in West Courtyard Alley, where the brothel “talented ladies” who had an urgent demand for verse all belonged to the high-income class and could certainly afford it.

But plans could not keep pace with changing circumstances. The Commander had ordered that his literary talent be kept strictly confidential, so that avenue was closed.

Besides, the county examination was only half a month away. Bai Yu had been preparing for the exam lately, spending every spare moment practicing calligraphy.

He truly had no energy to launch another venture on the side, nor did he want to dabble in this and that for fear of affecting his examination.

Thus Bai Yu suggested, “We could borrow a little money from our relatives for the time being. I will definitely be able to repay it later.”

“No!” Old Bai rejected the idea outright. “If our relatives learn that we cannot even maintain a normal household, what will become of my dignity?”

Seeing his father begin to tie himself into knots again, Bai Yu could not be bothered to argue. “Forget it. I’ll go find a way to get money!”

With that, Bai Yu headed outside, but Big Xia and Black Jiang the Second stopped him in the courtyard.

Bai Yu asked in confusion, “Is there something else?”

Big Xia smiled apologetically. “Old Jiang has a matter to deal with at home. His family cannot help care for your honored father for the time being.”

Bai Yu glanced at Black Jiang the Second, then asked Big Xia, “What about you?”

Big Xia answered firmly, “Brother Yu, don’t worry. My family will continue. Your honored father cannot be left unattended, after all.”

Bai Yu said nothing more. He continued out of the gate and headed straight for the main headquarters of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

After entering the headquarters, he went to the Office of Administrative Affairs to visit its secretary, Shi Chaobin.

Bai Yu remained deeply grateful to the man who had first supported him. He took the initiative to salute and continued to address him respectfully as “Master Secretary.”

When Secretary Shi saw Bai Yu, his feelings were rather complicated. The Commander had not summoned him to ghostwrite dreadful compositions lately.

Previously, whenever he had been pressed into writing such rubbish, he had been thoroughly annoyed. Now that he was no longer needed, however, he felt inexplicably disappointed.

If even the writing of bad prose no longer required him, what was the point of remaining in the Embroidered Uniform Guard as a two-time metropolitan graduate?

Thus Secretary Shi confided, “To tell you the truth, I have been considering resigning and returning home.”

Bai Yu said in astonishment, “Surely not? Why have all the civil officials I have dealt with lately been talking about resigning? And what is your reason, Master Secretary?”

Secretary Shi replied, “I took this post in the first place to repay the Commander for saving my life. Now that the Commander no longer needs me to write on his behalf, it is naturally time for me to leave.”

Page 3 of 3

Bai Yu said thoughtfully, “Now would be a good time to resign. You should leave as soon as possible.”

Secretary Shi: “…”

Was that polite? He had not even bothered to put on a show of trying to retain him.

Did Bai Yu think he was so capable that he could casually force him out?

“Master Secretary, please do not misunderstand!” Bai Yu hurriedly explained. “I mean that the Commander may not be able to defeat the Yan family. If you leave early, you may yet protect yourself through prudent withdrawal.”

With Secretary Shi, Bai Yu could afford to speak a little more honestly. Their relationship was, after all, rather unusual.

“You believe the Commander will ultimately lose?” Secretary Shi asked curiously.

Bai Yu answered vaguely, “It is hard to say whether he will lose or not. It is merely my personal feeling that the Commander will not ultimately prove a match for the Yan family.”

Whenever Bai Yu thought of Lu Bing now, two labels immediately filled his mind: “skilled at scheming, lacking in decisiveness,” and “hesitant to risk himself when undertaking great things.”

Secretary Shi still placed some faith in Bai Yu’s judgment.

In Secretary Shi’s eyes, Bai Yu was a prodigy with an almost supernatural air about him.

“Then I cannot resign.” Secretary Shi changed his mind and said firmly, “The Commander once saved me. No matter what, I must assist him to the very end, so that I may repay the debt of gratitude in full.”

Bai Yu stared at him for a moment. Was this the integrity people spoke of in legends?

“By the way,” Secretary Shi asked, “you came to visit quite suddenly today. What brings you here?”

Bai Yu hemmed and hawed for a long while before finally squeezing out, “Could I borrow a little silver? Five ounces will do.”

Secretary Shi: “…”

Did that pitiful face he wore when asking for money match his usual swaggering manner?

Where had the haughty, unyielding Bai Yu who had stood before the Commander gone?

If Bai Yu had not stubbornly refused the Commander’s attempts to draw him closer, would he really have ended up needing to borrow even five ounces of silver?

Thinking of this, Secretary Shi found himself admiring Bai Yu. Even after becoming so desperately poor, he had still dared to reject the Commander’s degrading offer to serve as one of his personal retainers.

He had insisted on maintaining his independence, and had nearly been sent by the Commander to repair the Great Wall—yet he had refused to yield.

Could this be what the sages meant by refusing food offered with contempt?

In the end, one man regarded the other as a person of integrity, while the other regarded his companion as a man of principle. Quite naturally, they began flattering one another in a mutually beneficial exchange.