Chapter Sixty-Three: The Gathering Storm

Time passed little by little. The scouts under Li Wenyuan’s command had successfully discovered the hidden site deep in the desert where Li Gui was manufacturing military equipment, and they kept it under close surveillance. Meanwhile, the night owls lurking in the capital sent word that after Yang Guang heard the prophecy, he fell into silent contemplation, his brow deeply furrowed.

Li Wenyuan knew his opportunity had come. He immediately wrote a memorial and sent it, along with the carefully engraved jade piece, to the capital.

Although the weather in the capital could not compare to the bitter cold of the Western Regions, it was still bone-chilling at this time. In the hall where Yang Guang reviewed memorials, braziers had long been lit, making the room as warm as spring. Since his ascension, Yang Guang personally reviewed all state documents, no matter how trivial. Today was no exception.

A eunuch entered carrying a wooden box and a memorial, knelt before Yang Guang, and raised both items above his head. “Your Majesty, this is an urgent memorial sent by Li Wenyuan, Governor of the Western Regions.”

Yang Guang immediately set aside his brush and the memorial he had been reading, rose, and walked to the eunuch. He took the wooden box, opened it, and saw the white jade from the Kingdom of Qusadana, painstakingly carved by Zhao Shisheng at Li Wenyuan’s request. Placing the jade on the table, he took Li Wenyuan’s memorial and began to read.

The memorial was filled with the usual official language. Li Wenyuan recounted his observations, insights, and plans in the Western Regions, all of which required imperial approval before implementation. He reported that his recent investigations had only covered Wuwei Commandery, where he had discovered the site Li Gui used for the clandestine manufacture of weapons. He also recounted how, in Yongdeng County, Li Mao had incited the local magistrate to extort wealth from the populace to fund military supplies for Li Gui.

At the end of the memorial, Li Wenyuan mentioned that the jade was found while he led farmers to dredge and clear silt from the river during winter. Since no one recognized the inscription, and strange prophecies had recently been spreading in the Western Regions, he believed the jade might be of great significance. He therefore cleaned it, wrapped it in cloth, and respectfully submitted it to His Majesty for disposition.

Yang Guang sat in his chair, turning the jade over and over in his hands. Though he could not identify the exact script, he knew it was ancient seal script from the Qin era. After studying the jade intently for some time, he looked up and said to the eunuch, “Summon Yu Shiji, Gentleman Attendant-in-Ordinary, to see me.”

Before long, Yu Shiji stood before Yang Guang, who said, “It is said you are learned and possessed of great talent, both wise in ancient lore and contemporary affairs. Examine the inscription on this jade and tell me what it says.” With that, he handed the jade to Yu Shiji.

Yu Shiji received the jade with both hands and studied it carefully. Suddenly, he fell to his knees. “Your Majesty, forgive me.”

Yang Guang was surprised. “Why do you beg pardon?”

Yu Shiji replied, “Your Majesty, the inscription on this jade is the very prophecy that has long circulated in the capital!”

Yang Guang’s expression darkened. “So the prophecies now spreading in the Western Regions are not unfounded?”

Yu Shiji dared not even raise his head. Throughout history, prophecies such as these had always brought storms of blood and terror; high officials rarely dared discuss them. Since the Emperor had asked, however, Yu Shiji could not avoid answering. He chose his words carefully: “Your Majesty, the script is indeed from the Qin era, the strokes vigorous and archaic—it does not appear to be a forgery.”

Yang Guang nodded, then shook his head. “Draft an edict. Order Li Wenyuan to investigate this matter thoroughly. If what he reports is true, he may execute the traitor on the spot without the need to send him to the capital.”

Yu Shiji accepted the order and departed. Within half a day, the imperial edict was drawn up and presented for Yang Guang’s seal. The Emperor affixed his great seal and ordered the Censorate to carry the edict to Wuwei Commandery in the Western Regions, instructing them to deliver the imperial will directly to Li Wenyuan. No sooner had the edict left the capital than Li Wenyuan received word from the night owls.

Meanwhile, Li Mao sat in his prison cell, staring into emptiness. Previously, the adjacent cell had been occupied by Huru, and the two could at least converse. But last autumn, Huru had been taken away in exchange for cattle and sheep and had returned to the steppe, never to come back. Now, Li Mao was left alone, his only companions the cockroaches and rats, and after the lamps were extinguished, endless darkness.

One day, Li Mao lay on his back in the cell. The dungeon saw no sunlight, so he had no sense of the time outside. The lamp in his cell had long since burned out, and he passed his time recalling the taste of the food he had eaten before his capture—his only form of solace.

Suddenly, screams rang out at the door. Moments later, someone appeared at his cell with a lantern, smashing the lock on the door with a weapon. The intruder rushed in, seized Li Mao’s hand, and said, “Quick, come with me! Horses and carriages are waiting at the gate!”

Li Mao stared blankly, unmoved. The rescuer put away his weapon, heaved Li Mao over his shoulder, and carried him out. Just before they exited, the man warned, “Close your eyes. After so long in darkness, sudden light will blind you.”

Hearing this, Li Mao squeezed his eyes shut, not daring to look at his surroundings, letting himself be carried through the darkness. Soon enough, a fresh breeze brushed his face, and a waft of air, free from the musty stench of the dungeon, filled his nostrils. Li Mao realized he had been rescued.

He was set down on a hard wooden plank. Peeking through barely opened eyes, he saw he was in a carriage. The sound of the coachman urging on the horses confirmed his guess. A small table of food was set before him in the cramped space. Someone outside lifted the curtain and said, “Please eat something first. We’ll take you back to Wuwei Commandery, to Lord Li’s residence.”

The meager fare of the dungeon had never satisfied his hunger, and now, ravenous and parched, Li Mao cared nothing for the possibility of poison in the food—better to eat than die starving.

Outside the dungeon, Li Wenyuan watched all this unfold and, smiling, said to Qiu Niang at his side, “Your tactic of ‘letting him go to catch him’ appears to be working so far. But can Li Mao really deliver our message to Li Gui as we intend?”

Qiu Niang poured another cup of wine for Li Wenyuan and replied with a laugh, “Rest assured, Governor. Even a fool wouldn’t risk his life in this matter. Once he knows what’s at stake, he will relay our message to Li Gui word for word—perhaps even exaggerate it—and won’t try to conceal a thing.”