Futile Devices Scans

With two deep tiger-tooth marks denting his cheek, Li Si dejectedly ate his noodle-piece soup. His face hurt and itched, and after eating for a while, he could not help stopping to rub it.

Now he finally knew why his face had hurt so much when he woke up the morning before yesterday!

But what did I do wrong?

And what did I do wrong the day before yesterday?

That little colt brain of his was never going to untangle the mystery on its own. Relying on himself, he would never be able to figure it out. But Brother Xiao refused to tell him either!

How can Brother Xiao be this bad!

After Brother Xiao finished biting him, he went off by himself to wash and dress. Now he sat across from Li Si with his head lowered, eating noodle-piece soup and occasionally sneaking a glance up at him. But the moment Li Si looked back, Brother Xiao lowered his eyes again.

＊

After the meal, Zhang San helped him pack his bundle. There was not much to pack: a few changes of clothes, the late Commander’s money pouch, oil paste for maintaining weapons, coarse cloth, wooden picks, and the small jar of wound medicine Zhang San had prepared for him in Kuiyuan City.

From between the folded clothes, a small grayish-green square suddenly fell out. Zhang San picked it up and unfolded it.

It was a dried lotus leaf.

Holding the dried leaf between his fingers, Zhang San said in amusement, “Why did you even keep this?”

Li Si reached out to snatch it back. Zhang San turned sideways to dodge, then looped his other arm around him and took the opportunity to pull him fully into his embrace.

Like a bully snatching something from a child, Zhang San held him in his arms with one hand and brought the lotus leaf to his nose with the other, sniffing it. It still carried a faint sweetness from the cane sugar.

“The sugar Brother Xu gave you, and you’re this reluctant to part with it?”

Li Si’s face wrinkled in grievance. The flatbread and sugar had indeed been given by Brother Xu, but the person who had crushed the warm flatbread, dipped it in sugar, and fed it to him bite by bite had been Brother Xiao. He had kept the lotus leaf because he could not bear to part with Brother Xiao. Ahem, of course, I’m also just a tiny bit reluctant to part with Brother Xu. Brother Xu, please don’t be angry.

He reached out to snatch it again, but Zhang San stretched his arm away and swayed it left and right to tease him, making him so angry that he punched Zhang San’s shoulder again.

“Hahahaha! All right, all right, I’ll give it back.”

＊

After all that fooling around, the simple bundle was finally packed.

Zhang San tucked the dragon-patterned jade pendant into Li Si’s lapel, put away his smile, and said seriously, “Keep this safe for A’Shen. Give it to him after you reach the capital, so he doesn’t lose it on the road again.”

He added, “That ten-man squad leader under you, the one named Tao Shi, is sincere and honest. You can rely on him more. The others aren’t bad either; they’re all good men. But remember, you still need to keep some caution toward everyone. Don’t trust anyone completely, especially after you enter officialdom in the future.”

This was already the second time Li Si had heard something similar. He simply nodded, obedient as ever.

Zhang San gave him several more reminders, all of them nothing more than warnings to be careful along the road.

Cook Wu and her husband also came in. Knowing that the young master was leaving, they had risen early that morning and made quite a few dry flatbreads for him to take along. Zhang San helped him wrap them up and put them into his bundle.

Now that the young master was leaving, Cook Wu could not help wiping the corners of her eyes. Zhang San hurriedly said, “Sister Wu, don’t make him cry. Look, his tears are already welling up too.”

With tears gathered in his eyes, Li Si reluctantly thanked Cook Wu and her husband, then prepared to go with Zhang San to Elder Sister’s house to pick up Qiao Shen.

＊

Before the two could leave the county yamen, Junior Clerk Chen hurried after them with a pigeon tucked in his arms. “Commander! Another message has come!”

Zhang San thought for a moment. Worried that the military situation might be urgent, he said, “Sisi, you go pick up A’Shen first, then go to the North City Gate and meet up with your comrades and General She. Yesterday, I already sent someone to tell them and arranged for everyone to meet there early this morning. After I read the letter, I’ll go straight to the North City Gate to see you off. Wait until I arrive before leaving.”

Li Si nodded and went to Elder Sister’s house by himself.

＊

Together with Liu Wu, Zhang San stood by as Chen Lu decoded the newly arrived secret letter. Only yesterday, he had had Chen Lu report the great victory in defending the city to Kuiyuan and had expected the reply to contain the next set of instructions and plans.

However, once Chen Lu decoded the characters and pieced them together, his entire body instantly went limp. He slumped backward and nearly toppled from the stool.

Liu Wu reacted quickly and caught him. Chen Lu stumbled and tried to stand, his hands and feet flailing in panic and knocking over the brush and inkstone. Ink spread across the writing on the paper, soaking it into a complete mess.

“Absurd… shameless…” Chen Lu murmured, his face bloodless.

＊

Li Si picked up Qiao Shen and made a final farewell to Elder Sister and Brother-in-law.

Before they left, Elder Sister held Qiao Shen and said, “If you become an imperial relative and a high official in the future, you must think more of the common people. You’ve eaten the food of common people, so you should understand the hardships common people endure.”

Qiao Shen nodded with tears in his eyes.

“Sister doesn’t need you to buy me any shop. Running a shop is exhausting! Sister and your brother-in-law have lived simple, ordinary lives, and we’re content. Live properly in the capital. As long as you’re safe and well, Sister will be at ease. If you don’t live well there, if you aren’t happy, then you may come back too. Sister will always have a mouthful of food here for you.”

Qiao Shen was holding back tears and was about to cry. “Sister…” But Elder Sister glared at him with a fierce tiger-like expression and frightened the tears back.

“What are you crying for! Leave happily!”

“Yes…”

Hardening her heart, Elder Sister pushed her little brother toward his fourth brother. “Take him away! Safe travels!” Then she cast Li Si a look urging him to hurry. Li Si himself had originally been on the verge of tears as well, but since he now had to shoulder the responsibility of being the elder brother, he did not dare cry either. Obediently, he tugged Qiao Shen by the sleeve and pulled him away.

Elder Sister stood at the courtyard gate, watching her two younger brothers until their figures disappeared around the corner of the street. Only then did she withdraw her gaze, lower her head, and secretly wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes.

Then she looked beside her and saw Brother-in-law crying with snot and tears streaming down his face, his whole body trembling like a weak willow in a storm.

She shoved the weak willow back into the courtyard with one slap. “Stop howling! Go wash the dishes!”

＊

Li Si and Qiao Shen hurried to the North City Gate. The twenty-two Imperial Guard soldiers who had come to Ant County with him and the two Imperial City Directorate subordinates were all waiting there.

At the front stood a ten-man squad leader with thick black brows, square features, and an honest, sincere appearance. He was precisely the “sincere and honest” Tao Shi whom Brother Xiao had mentioned.

General She Ke Cun stood beside Tao Shi, and his complexion looked much rosier than it had several days earlier. Although he was still injured and found it somewhat inconvenient to move, he refused to be supported and stood upright by himself.

At the edge of the crowd stood three more people: the pig-headed Strongman and his two subordinates. The soldiers did not care much for the three of them, and the Strongman himself knew that times were different now and that all his former glory was gone. Leaning on a wooden stick, he stood crookedly because the hole in his backside had not yet healed and kept tilting to one side.

Everyone saluted Envoy Li and the unfamiliar young master beside him. Li Si did not know how to introduce people, so he merely said, “This is Qiao Shen.”

With the solemnity of a little adult, Qiao Shen saluted all the older men. “This junior greets you.”

One Imperial City Directorate subordinate cautiously asked, “Envoy Li, is this young master the person His Majesty wants us to bring back? May I ask what background this young master has, and why His Majesty is searching for him?”

Li Si said, “He came from Kuiyuan. His Majesty wants him for a ritual.”

His explanation was vague, and confusion appeared on everyone’s faces. Fortunately, Qiao Shen himself was sharp-tongued and quick-witted and explained for himself, “This junior is a sixth-generation descendant of Great Xuan’s founding emperor, with a jade pendant as proof. Fo… Brother Sisi?”

After all, he was an imperial clansman, so it was not convenient for him to call Li Si “Fourth Brother” in front of outsiders, and he changed his form of address on the spot.

Li Si took out the jade pendant and handed it to Qiao Shen. Qiao Shen showed it to each of the men, but quickly took it back and handed it to Li Si in front of everyone. “May I trouble Brother Sisi to keep this safe for me.”

In truth, this was his way of clearly showing everyone that the person he trusted most was Li Si, and that he respected Li Si’s status as Envoy.

Then he addressed the crowd again. “His Majesty issued a secret decree to find me and bring me back to the capital. As for why, that naturally depends on His Majesty’s will. All elder brothers need do is escort this junior there safely, and you will have completed His Majesty’s entrusted task. In the days ahead, I will have to trouble you all.”

He was both imperial kin and noble blood, yet remained so courteous to everyone. The crowd immediately grew uneasy and all said they did not dare accept such words, becoming much more respectful toward him.

＊

The group waited at the North City Gate for nearly another half stick of incense. They waited until the pig-headed Strongman’s backside hurt too much for him to remain standing, so he found a nearby rock and sat down. Seeing that General She also seemed somewhat exhausted, Li Si helped him sit down nearby as well.

Only then did Commander Zhang finally arrive, followed by County Commandant Liu and Junior Clerk Chen.

For some reason, all three wore extremely grave expressions. Yet they forced themselves to look composed, saluted everyone in farewell, and exchanged the appropriate words. Zhang San once again thanked everyone for the help they had given Ant County and General She, saying that it was truly a great kindness and that he was endlessly grateful.

Seeing Li Si staring straight at him, Zhang San naturally walked to his side while speaking, grasped his wrist, and pressed it lightly, signaling for him to wait. Then he said to General She, “General, there is an urgent military order from Kuiyuan. May I ask you to step aside for a few words?”

Everyone else then left through the city gate and waited along the mountain road, leaving General She seated on the rock and speaking privately with Commander Zhang.

Li Si kept looking back every few steps. Standing far away, he could not hear what the two were saying, but General She’s expression also sank all at once.

The two exchanged a few grave words. General She nodded, as though promising Zhang San something.

Once their conversation ended, Zhang San supported General She and walked out beyond the city.

“It’s getting late. Please set off quickly, everyone,” he said to the group.

Then he continued, “Envoy Li, may I trouble you to stay behind and speak a few more words with me. Your pace is fast. You can catch up with everyone in a little while.”

Li Si had waited so long, and finally it was his turn. Grievance swelled in his chest until he could barely bear it, and he seized Zhang San’s hand without caring that twenty or thirty people were watching.

＊

Not far away, standing beside the city gate, Liu Wu’s eyelid twitched.

Chen Lu said hopefully, “Brother Wuzhi…”

Liu Wu said, “Ahem, don’t join in the fuss! Hold hands again after we go back.”

＊

At this point, Zhang San no longer cared about face. He openly held Sisi’s hand and watched everyone set off along the mountain road. Only after they had walked a long distance away did he lead Sisi behind a towering tree by the roadside, also keeping Liu Wu and Chen Lu at the city gate from seeing them.

Li Si looked at him eagerly, only to see the calm on Brother Xiao’s face collapse all at once. His eyes were full of tenderness and reluctance—and for some unknown reason, a heavy trace of sorrow lay hidden at their depths.

Li Si blinked, suddenly feeling uneasy. “Brother Xiao, did something happen?”

Brother Xiao wrapped one arm around his waist and cupped his cheek with the other hand, stroking it gently. His voice was hoarse. “Nothing. You don’t need to worry. Kuiyuan… Prefect Zhang and Chief Commander Wang have some new arrangements. They merely asked General She to pass some words to his elder brother.”

Li Si asked worriedly, “Is something happening on Ant County’s side? Are you going to fight another battle?”

Brother Xiao shook his head. “We’re still doing the same as before, helping the She Family Army retake Tianmen Pass. Let’s not talk about these things. Let me look at you a little longer.”

Li Si did not understand what Brother Xiao wanted to look at. But Brother Xiao stroked his face and quietly looked at him for a long time, then touched his ears, neck, shoulders, and arms, and in the end still held his hand tightly.

Seeing Brother Xiao’s bloodshot eyes and the tears glimmering at their corners, Li Si’s throat turned sour and tight. For the first time, he said such words to Brother Xiao. “Don’t cry.”

He hugged Brother Xiao and pressed Brother Xiao’s face onto his own shoulder. “After I return to the capital, settle Grandma down, and ask His Majesty for a transfer order, I’ll come back to find you, all right?”

Brother Xiao shook his head hard against his shoulder, both arms wrapped tightly around him and refusing to let Li Si see his face. “Don’t come back. Be good. Wait for me in the capital. When the war… when the war is over, I’ll come see you.”

When Brother Xiao had said these words the first time, Li Si’s heart had been filled with hope. But now, with Zhang San trembling and choking as he repeated them, Li Si was left with only a heart full of unease and sorrow.

“Really?”

“Really… When the war is over, I… I’ll bring Elder Sister and Brother-in-law with me to see you.”

Li Si lifted Brother Xiao’s face and saw that it was wet all over. This was the first time he had ever seen Brother Xiao cry. Even when he thought he could only see Elder Sister one final time, even when he faced the unjust deaths of two thousand cavalrymen, this incomparably tough, incomparably tenacious man had never shed tears.

Li Si knew these tears held deep reluctance to part with him, but with the intuition of a small animal, he felt that Brother Xiao’s grief was not only because of that. At the bottom of Zhang San’s eyes, he even saw a trace of despair and anger.

He looked more carefully in confusion, but Brother Xiao quickly lowered his gaze and hid it.

Brother Xiao released him, stepped back, turned his head aside, and wiped away his tears harshly. Forcing a smile, he said, “It’s been a long time since I cried. I’ve let you see something laughable. It’s getting late. Hurry and go.”

Li Si wanted to step closer, but Brother Xiao retreated another step. Perhaps because he feared he could no longer hide the emotions in his eyes, Brother Xiao kept his head turned away and refused to look at him. Instead, he fumbled absently at his clothes.

“I don’t know when we’ll meet again. I originally wanted to give you something, but I really don’t have anything good…”

Zhang San looked around and spotted a wild white plum growing alone from the mountain wall beside the road. There was little soil in the crack between the rocks, so it had only grown a few thin, slender branches. Thick ice and snow pressed down upon its delicate frame, yet it neither bent nor broke. It stood quietly amid the wind and snow, gently swaying its white flowering branches and sending a faint fragrance into the air.

At the center of the snow-white petals glowed golden stamens, making the flower look even cleaner and lovelier, pure and innocent.

Zhang San quickly walked over, chose the freshest and brightest little white blossom, and carefully carried it back in both hands.

“I heard that in the capital, whether men or women, it’s fashionable to wear flowers in their hair.”

He stroked Li Si’s temple hair and signaled for him to lower his head, then gently inserted the little white plum blossom at the base of his hair bun.

Lowering his arm, he stepped back slightly and examined him carefully.

Then he smiled through his tears. “Beautiful.”

Li Si smiled too, shy and bashful.

Zhang San stared blankly for a moment, then finally hugged him tightly one last time, breathed in the faint fragrance of white plum at the crown of his hair, and pushed him away.

“Go!”

Li Si still had so much reluctance in his heart, but Zhang San pushed him toward the mountain road again.

He had always listened to Brother Xiao, so he could only walk along the path, looking back every three steps. Behind him, Brother Xiao shouted again, “Don’t look back!”

Li Si felt both wronged and sorrowful and forced himself not to look back again, his steps gradually quickening.

He heard the wind, heard the rustling of the forest as it swept through the leaves, and heard his own hurried breathing and racing heartbeat. The road before him grew blurry and indistinct. Tears rolled one after another down his cheeks and fell into his trembling lapel.

Behind his ear, the wind suddenly tightened, and someone grabbed him from behind.

He was yanked backward. Turning around, he saw Brother Xiao’s wet eyes.

Brother Xiao, who in the end still could not stop himself from chasing after him, said hoarsely, “Little fool, I’ll bully you one last time.”

Li Si’s eyes widened in surprise.

Brother Xiao held his face and leaned close, biting his lips.

＊

Li Si was frightened stupid, so frightened that even his tears forgot to fall.

He thought Brother Xiao really was going to eat him, beginning with his mouth, biting his entire body into pieces and swallowing him whole.

Brother Xiao pinched his chin and forced him to open his mouth. His tiger teeth fiercely gnawed at Li Si’s lips, and his tiger tongue pressed and licked hard against Li Si’s tongue, like a cat’s tongue covered in barbs. Everywhere it sucked and licked became sore, itchy, stinging, and painful. Li Si stood there stupidly, his eyes open in a daze, quietly being “eaten” for a very, very long time—so long that when he could no longer breathe, his knees finally went weak and he almost fell, only to be caught around the waist and lifted upright by Brother Xiao.

Zhang San bit hard once more at the corner of his lips, licked away a trace of moisture, and finally released him. Holding Li Si by both arms, he turned the little colt who had been “bullied” stupid back around, pushed him firmly from behind, and once again sent him toward the mountain road.

“Go! Don’t look back again!”

＊

Zhang San himself also turned around and walked away without looking back. The farther he walked, the faster he went, until he was practically fleeing as he ran back toward the North City Gate.

Liu Wu and Chen Lu were both clinging to the city gate, staring stupidly as Commander Zhang hurriedly returned. When Commander Zhang had been speaking privately with Envoy Li earlier, he had indeed hidden behind the tree. But later, when he chased after him and took liberties with him, he had done it openly on the mountain road, and the two had seen everything clearly from beginning to end.

Chen Lu said hopefully again, “Brother Wuzhi…”

Liu Wu said, “Colleagues in the capital don’t do this!!”

＊

While the two were speaking, Commander Zhang strode back. His tiger eyes were still red, and his tiger lips were still wet.

The two subordinates did not dare meet his gaze and awkwardly pretended they had seen nothing at all.

Zhang San’s face was thicker than the newly repaired city wall. Calmly and openly, he wiped away his tears, then shamelessly wiped the corner of his mouth as well.

He wiped away the final trace of grief, straightened his expression, and said, “Summon every civil and military official, clerk, yamen runner, village headman, and local notable in the county, and announce this to all the people—”

＊

The sound of gongs and drums, accompanied by hurried footsteps, spread throughout the entire mountain city.

The archers keeping watch atop the city wall, the civil clerks tallying military supplies, and the craftsmen repairing the city gate all stopped what they were doing.

The students studying bitterly in the school, the worshippers burning incense in the Daoist temple, and the cooks chopping vegetables by their stoves all lifted their heads.

The old men herding cattle in the mountains, the women feeding chickens in small courtyards, and the children gathering firewood in the forest all gradually gathered before the county yamen.

＊

“The court is cowardly and, in order to preserve itself, has ordered Kuiyuan, Zhongshan, and Hejian—these three military towns—ceded to the Xiao bandits, abandoning the people of Hedong and Hebei and handing us over to become slaves of the Xiao! Prefect Zhang Xiao and Chief Commander Wang Qi of Kuiyuan have refused the order and would rather die than surrender! I, Zhang San, Commander of Ant County, will also defend this place to the death!

“Before long, I will open a clear road. Anyone who wishes may leave the county and relocate to Lanzhou or Fuzhou to take temporary refuge. Whether soldiers, civilians, officials, or runners, all may depart of their own accord!

“Those who remain, whether men or women, old or young, are all my comrades-in-arms. We will live and die together with Ant County and defend our homes and our nation with our own hands!”