The Innocent Heart - Chapter 97

Li Ting’s angry slaying of the subordinate official caused no significant stir within the military camp. Huo Qubing had intentionally avoided the aftermath, leading Guan Yueyao away from the banquet early; thus, they did not know how Li Ting and the others ultimately disposed of the official’s corpse.

The two simply walked briskly toward the courtyard where they resided, neither speaking a word along the way.

Upon entering the courtyard, they found Chen Zhi—who should have been lying in bed—pacing back and forth wrapped in a thick mink fur cloak, appearing as though he were taking a stroll. Seeing Huo Qubing and Guan Yueyao return, he approached and asked, “What, was today’s banquet not to your liking?” There was a hint of resentment in his tone.

Likely seeing that the two could go out for amusement while he was trapped in the courtyard recovering from illness, he felt quite disgruntled. Seeing the two remain silent and fail to answer, Chen Zhi finally sensed something was wrong, and his tone turned anxious: “What exactly happened? Speak up!”

“Just now during the banquet, Commandant Li actually stabbed that official to death on the spot because he spoke disrespectfully of General Li…” Guan Yueyao could not restrain herself and told Chen Zhi everything that had occurred at the feast.

To her surprise, Chen Zhi showed a look of indifference upon hearing this.

“Is that all? Is such a trivial matter worth the two of you acting as if you are facing a formidable enemy? If you ask me, a mere petty official who dares to speak insolently of General Li deserves to die. He brought it upon himself; he can blame no one else.”

Guan Yueyao still found it difficult to agree with Chen Zhi’s words. To kill someone over a mere verbal dispute—whether for the killer or the killed—seemed a waste.

However, Huo Qubing’s concerns did not lie there. Regarding the death of the official, his thoughts were actually no different from Chen Zhi’s. He had not taken that matter to heart at all; what worried him was the news the official had brought.

“I feel we should perhaps prepare ourselves for what is to come. Who knows what will happen next,” Huo Qubing said after a brief deliberation, voicing his thoughts.

“What do you mean by that?” Both Guan Yueyao and Chen Zhi were somewhat puzzled, turning in unison to look at Huo Qubing.

“This is not the place to talk. Let us go inside first.” Huo Qubing did not directly answer their confusion. He pointed toward the room and, without waiting for a response, strode toward his own wing.

Guan Yueyao followed Huo Qubing’s lead without hesitation. Chen Zhi paused for a moment, finding that he still couldn’t understand. Although he was somewhat reluctant, he eventually stepped forward and followed them.

The dwellings in Juyong Pass—whether in scale or interior decoration—were far inferior to the manors of the Wei and Chen families in the capital. The three huddled together, closing the doors and windows tightly, looking as if they were handing over state secrets.

“Qubing, can you speak now?” Guan Yueyao asked in a hushed, low voice.

Looking at the two of them acting this way, Huo Qubing was truly speechless. He glanced at his friend and pushed him slightly outward from his side.

“You are leaning too close. Sit properly before you speak.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Zhi straightened up first. “I said it, didn’t I? What great matter could there be to require such secrecy? Guan Yueyao, are you tricking me?!”

“Hahahahahaha! How did you only just realize!” Seeing her “sinister” intentions seen through, Guan Yueyao felt no guilt; instead, she laughed even louder.

“Stop fooling around, I am being serious. According to the news from the front, of the four armies, two are already defeated. Only the two led by Uncle and my second uncle [Wei Qing] remain without word. Regardless of success or failure, Ayao, do you remember what else that official said today?”

Huo Qubing’s face remained dark and serious. This caused Guan Yueyao and Chen Zhi, who were in the mood for play a moment ago, to stop their antics and stare at him expectantly.

“I… I don’t remember. What else did he say?” Guan Yueyao felt a bit sheepish. Her mind at the time had been entirely on the delicacies at the banquet; she truly hadn’t listened closely to the official.

“After General Gongsun’s army was defeated, the Xiongnu pursued them all the way to Dai Commandery. The Xiongnu entered the Pass and engaged in another round of burning, killing, and looting. The casualties were severe…”

The atmosphere in the room chilled instantly at Huo Qubing’s words.

“Qubing, are you worried that regardless of the outcome, Shanggu Commandery—being on the border—might also invite Xiongnu retaliation?” Guan Yueyao was the first to react, asking a counter-question.

“Exactly.” Huo Qubing nodded with a grave expression, looking thoughtfully out the window. “I have been observing carefully lately and found the defenses at Juyong Pass to be lax. If the Xiongnu truly attack, I fear it will be difficult to hold. Today, that official’s words confirmed my fears from a few days ago. I intend to go and present this to Commandant Li shortly; he must be made to take this matter seriously.”

“Qubing, why must you be so pessimistic? Perhaps Lord Wei has already annihilated the enemy and is on his way back in triumph? If that is the case, those Xiongnu might not dare to invade this place. You should have faith in Lord Wei,” Guan Yueyao said with a forced smile. Although she had experience in killing, none of the three had experienced true war. Therefore, Guan Yueyao subconsciously wanted to avoid the very real possibility of such a threat.

“No. Even if my uncle is victorious, the Xiongnu might not refrain from retaliation. General Li had poor luck and encountered the Xiongnu main force, leading to his capture. But the Han people have always been on the passive defense; today we suddenly took the initiative to strike. If you were the Chanyu, after defeating two enemy armies, would you choose to strike back to teach your increasingly restless opponent a lesson?”

Huo Qubing’s words were logical, and Guan Yueyao could find no good reason to refute them; her heart also began to fill with anxiety.

“Have you been pondering these things while you were idle these past few days?” Chen Zhi also put away his nonchalant expression, asking with no small amount of admiration.

“What else? Since I petitioned the Son of Heaven to come to the border, the opportunity is rare. Naturally, I must listen more, see more, and think more. Otherwise, would it not be a waste of time? If that were the case, I might as well have stayed in Chang’an; why come to this bitter cold place to suffer?”

Huo Qubing answered as if it were a matter of course, while Guan Yueyao and Chen Zhi lowered their heads in a bit of shame. Guan Yueyao’s trip, truthfully, was driven more by curiosity and the desire to accompany her friend than by a yearning for military life. As for Chen Zhi, it went without saying; without even deep thought, it was certain he only came to join the fun because he heard Huo Qubing was leaving with the army.

Huo Qubing did not expose them, but continued with a heart full of worry: “Based on the intelligence we received earlier, the direction my uncle took has the highest probability of encountering the forces led by the Worthy King of the Left. To be fair, I think if my uncle truly faced the Xiongnu Worthy King of the Left, the odds of victory would be fifty-fifty. But the forces of the Worthy King of the Left are no minor power, and they are so close to Juyong Pass. Looking at the situation in Dai Commandery and Yunzhong, should we still harbor the hope that Shanggu Commandery can avoid this calamity?”

Huo Qubing’s words were resonant and convincing. Guan Yueyao and Chen Zhi no longer spoke, but simply lowered their heads in silence, lost in thought.

“Then what should we do now?” After a long pause, Guan Yueyao looked toward her friend and asked helplessly.

“We have no real power and no prestige within Juyong Pass; likely no one would believe us even if we spoke. Our only plan now… is to try and persuade Commandant Li Ting. I hope that while he increases his vigilance, he will also write to the nearby counties and townships, urging them to strengthen their defenses.”

Huo Qubing’s logic was so clear that it was impossible to refute. Furthermore, the combined wits of Guan Yueyao and Chen Zhi were not as agile or calm as Huo Qubing’s alone.

“Then… then we shall do that! If it doesn’t work, I’ll bring up my grandmother. No matter what, he must be made to strengthen the defenses!” Chen Zhi stood up first, hurriedly preparing to rush toward the room where Li Ting stayed.

“Wait. They are likely still dealing with the petty official’s corpse right now. Chen Zhi, send a servant to keep watch outside. We can go once things have settled down out there.”

Hearing Huo Qubing’s words, Chen Zhi did not think twice. He nodded and left immediately to give the order. Without even realizing it, Huo Qubing had become the backbone of their three-person group.

The three waited in the room for another half-day with anxious hearts. It was only when the sun began to dip toward the west that they saw Li Ting return to the fortress on horseback with several confidants. Chen Zhi’s servant kept his master’s instructions in mind and rushed back into the courtyard to report the moment the group appeared.

“Let’s go!” As soon as the words were spoken, Huo Qubing had already risen and headed out.

This inadvertent action suggested that his heart was not as steady as his face appeared. But clearly, Guan Yueyao and Chen Zhi were far more flustered than he was and did not notice this small detail.

Li Ting was quite surprised to hear the soldier’s report. But remembering the “understanding” Huo Qubing and the others had shown during the day, he worried they had come because of the earlier incident. Daring not to be careless, he hurried to have the soldiers invite the three into the inner chamber.

“I wonder why the three of you wish to see me?” He wore a smile as he looked at the three youths standing before him, yet saw their expressions were grave, as if they had come to discuss a matter of great importance.

Li Ting’s heart sank. He put away his smile and looked at them seriously, but did not speak, waiting for them to open the conversation. Huo Qubing did not delay, explaining his anxieties clearly and concisely. He could converse and laugh before the Son of Heaven, so a mere Commandant was nothing by comparison.

Upon hearing this, Li Ting’s heart eased. So it is for this matter. These young lords from Chang’an truly cherish their lives, he couldn’t help but think.

“You need not worry. Juyong Pass is situated in a place of extreme peril, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Even if the Xiongnu choose to raid, they rarely choose to attack through here. However, Attendant Huo’s concerns are not without reason. I shall immediately write a letter to inform the Commandery Governor and ask him to strengthen border defenses.”

But for this one night, a distance of sixty miles would take at least half an hour to cover by galloping horse. By then, the curfew would be in effect, and the gates of Juyang City would be locked. Even if the Commandery Governor received the news and wished to respond, it would likely be a matter for tomorrow.

Li Ting’s handling of the situation clearly showed he had not taken Huo Qubing’s words to heart.

At this moment, Huo Qubing’s words carried little weight. In this Juyong Pass, despite having countless ideas, he had no authority to make decisions and could only leave things to others. It seems some things I must do myself; I cannot pin all my hopes on others, Huo Qubing thought. He did not argue with Li Ting, but led Guan Yueyao and Chen Zhi out of the inner chamber.