Chapter Thirteen: An Extraordinary Old Gentleman!

May 13th—A day of auspicious fortune: Favorable for going out, making friends, and encountering benefactors.

In the early morning, after breakfast, Li Zhao first practiced martial arts for a while, then spent some time training his fighting cocks, and afterward began to consider where to spend the day. Chang'an, so prosperous and affluent, offered countless places of amusement: the Eastern and Western Markets, the Great and Small Wild Goose Pagodas, the snowy willows of Ba, the flowing waters of Qujiang, the northern Dragonhead Plain, the southern Fragrant Accumulation Temple…

Before Li Zhao could make up his mind, Cui Zongzhi arrived, teeth clenched in indignation. "Jade Lad, you must avenge me today!"

"Cat Servant, who has bullied you?"

"That's right, someone has been tormenting me. Relying on a few fierce fighting cocks, he finds amusement at my expense and has made me lose twenty-seven consecutive matches. You must help me reclaim my honor, or I won't rest in peace!"

Li Zhao was startled at first, thinking someone had dared to provoke the imperial son-in-law himself. Only when Cui Zongzhi explained did he realize it was all about cockfighting—Cui had lost repeatedly and had come seeking reinforcements.

Of course, Li Zhao would help. Cockfighting was one of his favorite games, and he'd long hoped to test his skills against the best in Chang'an. This was the perfect opportunity.

"Cat Servant, who is your opponent?"

"His surname is Jin. He's an elderly gentleman, well-versed in the art of cockfighting. I've arranged a match with him today at Qujiang Pool, best of three rounds."

"Very well, let's head to Qujiang Pool."

Li Zhao nodded and instructed Bai Mo and Bai Rishu to bring all eleven fighting cocks. Together with Cui Zongzhi, he took a carriage to Qujiang Pool, eager to meet this Jin.

It must be said that Cui Zongzhi was an accomplished player, his cockfighting skills formidable. For someone to defeat him twenty-seven times in a row, the opponent was no ordinary figure. Moreover, anyone who played with the imperial son-in-law must possess considerable status.

...

Qujiang Pool lay in the southeast corner of Chang'an, vast in expanse, occupying two whole districts. Its rippling waters and winding banks, reminiscent of the broad Yangzhou river, gave it its name: Qujiang.

In the early Kaiyuan era, the court undertook extensive construction at Qujiang Pool—digging canals, opening imperial gardens, building walls—turning it into the city’s premier scenic spot, spanning a thousand acres. From nobles to commoners, all flocked here whenever leisure permitted.

Now, at the height of summer, Qujiang Pool was teeming with visitors. Some drifted on boats, others strolled the banks, while groups gathered for merriment: drinking, tea-tasting, reciting poetry, painting, and writing. The revelry was endless.

Such a place naturally lifted the spirits. Yet, as Li Zhao enjoyed the scenery, he noticed something amiss. Around the pool’s vantage points, entrances, corridors, and doorways, burly men moved back and forth.

Though dressed plainly, these men bore sharp gazes and robust figures. Some had bulges at their waists—clearly concealed weapons.

Having once served as a soldier, Li Zhao instantly recognized their kinship, sensing they were on a protection detail. Some important figure must have come to Qujiang Pool incognito; otherwise, they wouldn’t bring so many guards. Judging by the display, at least a prince—perhaps even a royal duke. But who exactly?

Upon reflection, what did it matter? Even if the Emperor himself appeared, it was none of Li Zhao’s concern. In life, the joy of play was paramount.

—

Led by Cui Zongzhi, the group reached the southeastern part of Qujiang Pool, where the scenery was even more beautiful though fewer visitors lingered.

Qujiang Pool was divided into zones: the northern section for commoners, the southern for nobility. The further south one went, the higher the status of its guests. At the pool’s southernmost end stood the River-viewing Pavilion, five stories tall and over thirty feet high, reserved for imperial banquets and feasts for newly appointed scholars—commoners could not approach.

Not far from the pavilion was an octagonal sandalwood kiosk, antique and imposing—their destination.

Inside, on a wooden bench, sat a handsome man in his fifties, wearing a white jade crown and a purple-gold robe. His face was radiant as spring, his demeanor refined, and every gesture exuded noble bearing.

Beside him sat a lady, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, adorned with a jade hairpin and dressed in white. Her features were delicate, her makeup understated, like a plum blossom blooming amidst a snowy landscape, inspiring awe.

Judging by their seats, they were clearly husband and wife.

Standing respectfully nearby was an elderly man with a pale face and no beard, evidently a steward or similar figure.

Over twenty attendants were stationed inside and outside the kiosk, all burly and armed. On the ground sat a dozen chicken cages, veiled with light gauze, through which the shapes of roosters could be glimpsed.

"Cat Servant, you’ve finally come. I have awaited you for some time," the elder said.

"I was delayed on the way. Thank you for waiting, Elder. Allow me to introduce: this is Elder Jin, my late father’s dear friend; this is Lady Mei, and Steward Feng. This is my good friend, Li Zhao, courtesy name Jade Lad."

"Junior Jade Lad greets Elder Jin!"

Li Zhao stepped forward, hands clasped in salute, meeting the elder’s gaze. Instantly, a strange sensation seized him: his heart raced, scalp tingled, knees went weak, as if the figure before him was not mortal but divine, compelling reverence and the urge to kneel. How could this be?

Fortunately, Li Zhao’s military background endowed him with a stubborn will. He forced his knees straight, steadied his emotions, and betrayed not a hint of awkwardness.

He then saluted Lady Mei and Steward Feng. Though the latter was a servant, he commanded respect.

"Excellent—dignified, spirited, with a mind as steadfast as a rock. It has been long since I met such a youth. Surely your future will be bright... Ah, this is your dog—majestic and sharp-eyed, clearly extraordinary. How about selling it to me for one hundred gold taels?"

The elder sized up Li Zhao, nodding in approval, then fixed his gaze on Yasha, utterly captivated and eager to purchase.

"Sorry, not for sale!"

"Three hundred gold taels?"

"Not for sale!"

"One thousand gold taels?"

"Not for sale, absolutely not. Yasha is like a brother to me; even if you offered mountains of gold, I would never betray him. Please, Elder, don't ask again."

Despite the elder’s repeated offers, Li Zhao only shook his head, stroking Yasha, who nudged Li Zhao’s leg in return.

Man and dog, their affection was plain to see.

The elder, unwilling to give up, was about to press further when Lady Mei spoke, her voice as melodious as an oriole’s song: "The ancients said, ‘The virtuous do not flaunt their strengths, and the noble do not take what others cherish.’ My lord has always been magnanimous; why insist on claiming what belongs to another? Besides, I’ve heard that a spirit dog recognizes only one master in its lifetime. If taken from Jade Lad, it would surely waste away. Wouldn’t that be a pity?"

—

"Indeed, my lady’s words are wise. I shall not persist... Let us begin the cockfighting!"

With Lady Mei’s gentle persuasion, the elder abandoned his pursuit of Yasha and again appraised Li Zhao, his gaze full of admiration. Someone so loyal to his dog would surely never betray his friends—a man worth befriending.

Meanwhile, the attendants removed the gauze, revealing the fighting cocks inside—each with glossy feathers, tall combs, and lively spirits. All were premium birds.

Li Zhao was astonished.

Cockfighting cocks were ranked: common, good, superior, premium, and exceptional, each with its own price. In Chang'an, a premium fighting cock cost at least a thousand strings of cash, more than its weight in gold. Only the highest nobility could afford them, and they were so rare as to be almost unobtainable.

Elder Jin had brought over a dozen, all premium stock—a clear sign of his extraordinary status: wealthy and noble beyond measure.

For some things, money alone cannot buy; only those occupying the highest positions possess them. Was Elder Jin a prince or even a royal duke?

No matter. Those in high places are but men—one nose, two eyes, two ears. In death, all occupy a coffin and a patch of earth. People may not be born equal, but in death they certainly are; none live forever, and none die twice!

Li Zhao quickly composed himself and signaled Bai Mo and Bai Rishu to present his eleven fighting cocks. Their feathers were equally vibrant and spirits high, no less impressive than Elder Jin’s.

"Youth, your fighting cocks are first-rate. Where did you acquire them?"

"To be honest, Elder, I was short on funds and couldn’t afford good fighting cocks. So I bought a dozen chicks and raised and trained them myself. Please don't laugh."

"Oh, you raised and trained them yourself? Remarkable, truly remarkable—no less skilled than Jia Chang!"

"Elder flatters me. How could I compare to the famed ‘Cock Master Child’?"

In the Tang dynasty, anyone fond of cockfighting knew Jia Chang—a poor boy gifted with an extraordinary ability to understand birds’ language, especially adept at cockfighting, hence nicknamed Cock Master Child.

Once, the current Emperor Li Longji witnessed Jia Chang’s cockfighting display on his tour. Impressed by his talent, the Emperor summoned him to the palace to train the imperial fighting cocks.

Jia Chang's skills were unparalleled; he trained the cocks as obedient as elite soldiers, forming neat ranks, advancing and retreating in order. He often performed for the nobility at banquets, winning endless applause.

Thus, the Emperor greatly favored Jia Chang, bestowing countless rewards, even gifting palace maidens as his wives—envied by all. A popular verse circulated:

Raise sons not for learning letters,
Cockfighting and horse-racing outshine reading.
Jia’s boy, thirteen years old,
Riches and glory surpass all others.

Now, Elder Jin compared Li Zhao to the Cock Master Child—Jia Chang—a sign that he fully recognized Li Zhao’s prowess in training fighting cocks.

Meanwhile, Li Zhao, though modest, sensed from their conversation that Elder Jin was familiar with Jia Chang. Could it be that these fighting cocks were trained by Jia Chang himself?