Chapter Twenty-Six: Ordered to Guard the Frontier

Xiao Zhi had tried his best to write clearly; his mind and eyes knew where the brush strokes should go, but his hand was not entirely cooperative.

He wrote one character first, quickly crumpled it up, and handed it to the princess. The princess understood and tucked it into her sleeve. He then wrote another sheet. After reading it, the princess could not help but laugh, though she quickly composed herself and turned to leave with a cold, stern face. Even that feigned look of anger was exceptionally beautiful. Holding the paper, she headed straight for the imperial palace.

The two had staged their little performance for amusement, never imagining that everything had been observed. No sooner had the princess left than a captain from the Imperial Guard appeared before Xiao Zhi.

"Sir, someone was following you and the princess earlier." As long as the princess was present, they naturally dared not interfere.

"Who?"

"Zhai Cuo."

"Could he have heard what the princess and I were saying?" Xiao Zhi asked.

The captain replied, "There was some distance between you; he shouldn't have been able to hear."

Even if Zhai Cuo had overheard his plan, so what? Would Xiao Zhi commit murder just because of that? Forget it. Since it was unlikely he heard anything, let him be. "Ignore him. Let’s return to the Imperial Guard headquarters."

Not long after they returned, Eunuch Hu arrived. "Master Xiao, you really are a man of leisure. I don't have such luxury."

Eunuch Hu joked, and Xiao Zhi invited Hu Bao to sit. After a few pleasantries, the eunuch produced an imperial edict. "This is for you: your sixth-rank title is stripped, and you are ordered to guard the frontier."

Xiao Zhi opened the edict. It contained only four characters: "Act at discretion."

"These four characters mean 'guarding the frontier'?" Xiao Zhi laughed. The Emperor had only seen the single character "rob" that Xiao Zhi had written, without even hearing his explanation—was he already that confident in Xiao Zhi's plan?

"Tell me about it." Eunuch Hu sipped the tea Xiao Zhi had poured and raised an eyebrow, seemingly satisfied with the quality. Xiao Zhi gave a look to the captain nearby, who understood and immediately went to prepare a gift of tea.

Once the captain left, Xiao Zhi said, "Regarding the disaster relief in Shandong and Jiangsu, exploitation at every level is inevitable. But as long as they don't go too far and disrupt the relief process or let too many people starve, His Majesty can indulge them for now, and settle the accounts after the autumn harvest."

"Of course, if anyone is blind enough to overstep, His Majesty should make an example of them to warn the others."

Eunuch Hu asked, "And you, Master Xiao?"

"I, naturally, will obey the edict and head to the frontier. However, it just so happens that a band of brigands will appear in Shandong and Jiangsu. They will commit all kinds of atrocities, specifically robbing noble families and killing corrupt officials. Alas, I truly worry for those people."

Eunuch Hu thought for a moment and then laughed. This was truly Xiao Zhi’s style—straightforward. Having understood the situation, Eunuch Hu produced a token. "This is a gift from His Majesty. It allows you to use the imperial relay stations for 400-li urgent dispatches. While you are away, you may report to His Majesty at any time."

Xiao Zhi took it with both hands and wiped it against his clothes. Although it was only for the relay stations, it was a valuable item.

Eunuch Hu stood up. "The Emperor expects you to depart immediately. Do not make things difficult for him by delaying."

If Xiao Zhi accepted the order to guard the frontier but failed to leave, he would inevitably be impeached. At that point, the Emperor would find it hard to play deaf and dumb, especially since, on the surface, Xiao Zhi had offended Princess Changping and incurred the Emperor's wrath.

Eunuch Hu left, taking with him the tea Xiao Zhi had prepared, along with a thick stack of banknotes. Although they were on friendly terms, Xiao Zhi knew all too well that in the face of money, everything else was nonsense. This attendant by the Emperor's side, a man without heirs, had nothing to rely on but wealth. Rely on the Emperor? The Emperor might be the very one to kill him someday. In this world, nothing is more heartless than an emperor. Hu Bao was greedy, but having taken his benefits, he would look out for him.

From then on, Xiao Zhi was busy. He sent all the Imperial Guard captains and officers out—some to the West Market for steeds, others to the East Market for long whips—preparing for the long journey. Chest after chest was moved into the headquarters. Xiao Zhi locked himself in his room, busy for an entire day. He had fashioned his own carbon sticks; though they left black smudges everywhere, they were much easier to use than a brush.

He called for Mu Weihu. "You will accompany me as I leave the capital. Matters here must be left to someone trustworthy, preferably someone older." Older people were relatively steady, and the physical toll of traveling was harder on the young.

"Prepare a bundle of rattan for me. Treat it simply so it doesn't prick anyone."

"Arrange a small team now to find a secluded spot near Mount Tai to build a workshop. Prepare plenty of materials and don't skimp on provisions; supply lines cannot be neglected."

"Also..." Xiao Zhi took out a piece of paper. "Prepare everything written here. I need it today."

As the arrangements were made, Xiao Zhi thought of the valley he had just begun developing. It was his base of operations; he could not let construction stop while he was away.

"I have already arranged for men to go to that valley; they start work in a day or two," Mu Weihu said.

Xiao Zhi nodded. "From now on, call that valley 'Ghost Valley'."

Xiao Zhi did not aspire to be a sage like Guiguzi; he simply used the name to make outsiders think it was a place to avoid, hoping to keep its secrets hidden—even if, for now, there were no secrets to keep.

At the residence of Shi Weigong, the Minister of Revenue, Shi stared intensely at Zhai Cuo, an official from the Ministry of Works.

"Why didn't you report this news to Minister Geng?"

Zhai Cuo belonged to the Ministry of Works, yet he had appeared at the Minister of Revenue's mansion with news that Shi Weigong could not ignore: Xiao Zhi was strolling through the bustling market with Princess Changping.

Shi Weigong voiced his skepticism. Zhai Cuo knelt on the ground, his face pressed against the floor, his posture submissive. "Minister, for the past two days, Geng Wenshi has often spoken of Xiao Zhi with considerable admiration. Your subordinate knew that you, Minister, would have more use for this information."

Shi Weigong nodded with a thin smile and signaled his steward. "Go with the steward and collect your reward."

Zhai Cuo left, offering endless thanks. Shi Weigong immediately wrote a few lines on a piece of paper and called for a servant. "Go to the Ministry of War and deliver this personally to Minister Song."

The servant left. Shi Weigong toyed with his jade thumb ring, a cold sneer spreading across his face. "No man is good for a thousand days, and no flower blooms for a hundred. Xiao Zhi, so your day has finally come!"

Before Zhai Cuo had even delivered the news, the edict stripping Xiao Zhi of his sixth-rank title and ordering him to the frontier had already been circulated among the Six Ministries. At first, Shi Weigong hadn't believed it, firmly convinced it was a ruse by Xiao Zhi. Song Qi hadn't believed it either—how could Princess Changping, who had failed to marry twice, suddenly become involved with Xiao Zhi? Perhaps it was just a smokescreen.

But regardless of their doubts, the edict was issued. Xiao Zhi's departure for the frontier was a settled fact; the Emperor would not joke with imperial decrees.

Without Xiao Zhi acting as a nuisance, the relief efforts in Shandong and Jiangsu could finally be handled as they pleased. This was nothing short of wonderful news. Before this, many had been worried that Xiao Zhi might interfere with their profit-making.