Chapter Sixty-Four: Time Waits for No One
The carriage sped along the road for a while before gradually coming to a halt. Li Mao, with half a chicken leg still stuffed in his mouth, felt his own carriage stop and was instantly seized by terror, thinking his captors were about to make a move against him. At that moment, the person who had first peeked inside lifted the curtain and entered the carriage. He personally poured Li Mao a bowl of wine and handed it to him.
Li Mao carefully scrutinized the man before him. He was exactly the same as the one who had peeked in earlier—his face still concealed by a black cloth, refusing to reveal his true identity. Having eaten his fill and regained some spirit, Li Mao curiously asked the man in black, “Did my elder brother send you to rescue me? Could you leave your name? In the future, I will make sure my brother repays your kindness.”
The man in black shook his head and replied, “We are strangers to your brother. Long ago, when we brothers were down and out, it was your father’s generosity that saved us. When we learned you’d been thrown into the dungeon, we risked our lives to rescue you, only to repay the debt we owe your father. Now, we hide here, avoiding the soldiers on the main road. Once dawn breaks and the gates of Wuwei County open, we can escort you safely back to the Li residence. There is one message you must relay to your brother: The imperial court recently issued an edict, instructing the Western Region’s commander, Li Wenyuan, to thoroughly investigate your brother for plotting rebellion. Tell him to prepare early.”
Li Mao was startled, but stubbornly cursed, “It must be that servant of Li Wenyuan who reported this to the court, intent on ruining our plans. I’ll inform my brother as soon as I return. Thank you for the warning.”
Soon after, the gates of Wuwei County swung open, and those who had waited outside for ages began to pour into the city. The man in black said to Li Mao, “Stay in the carriage, eat and drink as you please. Leave the rest to us. As long as you keep quiet, all will be well.”
Li Mao nodded politely, and the man left the carriage without another word. Sounds of stirring came from outside, and Li Mao guessed the men were changing their attire to slip into the city. Sure enough, before long, the driver urged the horses forward, and the carriage resumed its journey on the main road.
Having spent a sleepless night and just escaped danger, Li Mao’s nerves began to relax. The carriage’s gentle rocking made him drowsy, and he soon drifted off, unsure how much time had passed when the shouts of soldiers outside jolted him awake: “Halt! What’s in the carriage?”
Li Mao, barely alert, heard the voice of the man in black addressing the soldiers: “Are you blind? If the carriage doesn’t carry people, what else would it contain?”
An angry soldier retorted, “You insolent servant! Our commander suspects your carriage hides contraband. We must conduct a proper inspection. Brothers, get to it!”
Li Mao trembled with fear inside the carriage. News of his escape from the dungeon must have reached Wuwei County by now, and his portrait likely posted at every city gate for his capture. If discovered by these soldiers, he would have nowhere to run.
Just as Li Mao’s anxiety peaked, the man in black’s voice rang out again: “Look here! What is this? Open your eyes and see it clearly! You dare stop a carriage from Lord Li Gui’s residence? You must be bold indeed. Lord Li Gui is the chief general of Wuwei County’s Eagle Command. If his carriage carries contraband, are you suggesting my lord is plotting rebellion?”
Seeing the man in black present Li Gui’s token, the soldiers were visibly rattled, their tone softening, “Ah, so this is Lord Li Gui’s carriage. There’s no need for a thorough search. We’re only carrying out our duties, as city defense is paramount. If we have offended you, please forgive us.”
The man in black pressed, “In that case, shall I invite you to inspect the carriage and see what contraband is hidden?”
“No need, no need. We wouldn’t dare delay your duties. Brothers, let them pass!” the soldier replied hastily.
A disdainful snort was heard, and the man in black climbed onto the driver’s seat, instructing the driver to move on. The carriage rolled forward, and before long, the clamor of voices faded away, leaving the surroundings tranquil once more. Then, the carriage stopped, and the man in black poked his head in, saying, “We’ve arrived. Get out.”
Li Mao climbed down and found himself in a narrow alley. Looking about, he realized he was at the rear gate of Li Gui’s residence. After bidding farewell to the man in black, he pushed open the gate and entered directly.
Within the residence, Li Mao spotted the steward in the backyard and hurriedly asked, “Where is my brother? Take me to him at once. I have urgent news.”
The steward stared at Li Mao for a while before recognizing the emaciated figure as his master’s younger brother. He sent a servant to notify Li Gui and led Li Mao to the inner quarters. Li Gui, overjoyed at his brother’s safe return, rushed out to greet him, grabbing his hand with concern.
“Where have you been all this time? I was worried sick. How did you fare with the matters I entrusted to you?”
Li Mao, hearing his brother’s inquiry, felt a pang of sorrow and replied with a quiver in his voice, “Dear brother, you have no idea how close I came to dying in that sunless dungeon!” He recounted everything that had happened in Yongdeng County and informed Li Gui that Li Wenyuan had likely discovered their secret dealings with the Turks, plotting to establish their own kingdom.
Upon hearing this, Li Gui finally understood, “So that’s how Li Wenyuan—freshly arrived and suddenly able to acquire tens of thousands of cattle and sheep—pulled it off. He must have captured the Khan’s son in exchange.”
Li Mao drank a sip of water to steady himself, then continued, “Later, a group of men came—black-clad, risking their lives to rescue me from the dungeon because our father once saved them. They went to great lengths to bring me here and asked me to warn you: The imperial court is aware of our plan and has issued an edict for Li Wenyuan to investigate. The decree has left the capital and will soon reach the Western Region. We must prepare at once.”
Li Gui was puzzled; so many recent events were strangely coincidental. Yet his father had indeed been generous and righteous, helping countless others, so it was hard to tell if the man’s story was true. He replied, “Stay here and rest well. I’ll send someone to Moon Lake to investigate. We’ll discuss our next steps later.”