060. Dragon Brothers, Tiger Siblings 0635: Settling Down

Zhao Xiao’s conversation with Li Xi was nothing of great importance; he simply asked that if Li Xi saw anything rare, odd, or amusing in Shaozhou, he should bring some back to the capital as a tribute to Prince E, Li Zhan. Li Xi thought to himself, “Is there any need for your instructions? Li Zhan is destined to become emperor one day—how could I not seek his favor?” Realizing that Zhao Xiao was highly favored by Li Zhan, and that he would need his help to climb that lofty tree, Li Xi naturally listened attentively to his words.

After a bit of hushed conversation, Zhao Xiao pulled a bronze token from his sleeve and handed it to Li Xi, whispering, “This is the waist token of the Five Wards. Take it with you. If you come across anything curious, just claim it in the name of the Five Wards—see who dares refuse you.”

During the Kaiyuan era of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, the post of Director of the Five Palace Wards was established, an institution responsible for managing the imperial gardens—cultivating and maintaining the trees and flowers, and tending to the rare birds and exotic beasts contributed from across the realm. The Five Wards referred to the Hawk Ward, Falcon Ward, Eagle Ward, Harrier Ward, and Dog Ward.

These hawks, falcons, eagles, harriers, and dogs were all specially trained for the emperor’s hunts. After the nineteenth year of Kaiyuan, men such as Niu Xianke, Li Yuanyou, Wei Qu, Lü Chonggui, Li Fuguo, Peng Tiying, and Yao Zi’ang successively held this office—either senior officials of the court or eunuchs within the palace, all trusted confidants of the emperor. Thereafter, the Five Wards were moved within the palace, entrusted exclusively to eunuchs, becoming one of the inner directorates.

The boys serving in these wards were all remarkably handsome, clever, and quick-witted, commonly called “Five Wards boys” by their contemporaries. Relying on imperial favor, they behaved with utter impunity throughout the capital and beyond; no officials or commoners dared to provoke them. Zhao Xiao had once served in the Five Wards himself, so it was no surprise he possessed such a token. Though Li Xi despised the misdeeds of these boys, he understood well the usefulness of the token.

Since Zhao Xiao offered it, he accepted it without protest.

After a farewell cup of wine, Li Xi turned to the young eunuch and asked, “Have we met before, sir?”

The young eunuch smiled. “Your honor does not know me, nor did I know you before this morning. But now we are acquainted. I am Wang Fuhai, here on the orders of Lord Qiu to offer a cup of farewell wine.”

Li Xi was startled. “Forgive me, forgive me! So you are from Lord Qiu’s retinue.” He hastily drank the wine proffered by Wang Fuhai, saying, “I am honored by Lord Qiu’s kindness. Please convey my gratitude to him.”

After drinking from five or six cups, Li Xi’s cheeks were tinged red. He cupped his hands to the assembly, saying, “The green hills remain, the waters flow on—we shall meet again someday.”

Wei Mo praised, “A true man of the rivers and lakes! My friend, you will surely soar to great heights after this journey—hahaha…”

Li Xi had already mounted his horse, and with another gesture of farewell to the group, he prepared to ride south. At that moment, Liu Motong drew near and teased, “What’s your story with Qiu Shiliang? He even sent someone to see you off. And as for Prince E, Director Zhao Xiao himself came. Those jade bracelets are worth at least two thousand strings of cash—you’re quite the man of influence.”

Hearing that the bracelets were worth a fortune, Li Xi hurriedly turned to Wang Cai and said, “Give the items Director Zhao presented to Madam for safekeeping.” He watched Wang Cai dismount to deliver the box to Cui Yingying and, feeling relieved, answered Liu Motong, “Wang Fuhai’s visit was as unexpected to me as to you. I can’t guess what Qiu Shiliang’s intentions are—perhaps it’s gratitude for when I helped him out at Taiji Palace. As for Zhao Xiao, he’s currying favor with Prince E and wants me to find some oddities for him in Lingnan; the bracelets are nothing but earnest money. There’s nothing improper between us.”

Liu Motong said, “Qiu Shiliang has been much favored these last years, but whether he’ll truly rise remains to be seen. He’s recruiting people everywhere—a man with too much ambition. Be careful.”

Li Xi replied, “I understand. Thank you for the warning.”

Five li to the south, they came upon a small river that wound gently through the land. There wasn’t a single tree on its banks—only yellowing grass, which must be beautiful when green, yet even now had its own peculiar charm.

A stone bridge spanned the river, and beside it stood a newly erected pavilion of mats. Beneath it gathered a company of twenty-three young men in embroidered robes, led by Guo Zhonggong and Mei Rong. It turned out that the brothers of the Embroidered Garment Society had been waiting here to bid farewell to Li Xi and Li Laosan.

Guo Zhonggong approached with a wine flask, seized Li Xi’s reins, and called to his companions, “Come, let us all toast our great benefactor of the Embroidered Garment Society with a cup of farewell wine!”

With a noisy clamor, they pressed to offer their toasts. Li Xi panicked and held up his hand, protesting, “Gentlemen, wait a moment! You’ve come all this way to see me off, and I am deeply grateful. But let’s set one thing straight: if we are brothers, I am more than glad. But to call me the benefactor of your society—I have done no such thing and dare not accept the title.”

Guo Zhonggong replied, “Brother, no need for false modesty. You acted as the go-between and helped us befriend the Beggars’ Guild—is that not a great favor? You think I, Guo Zhonggong, am too proud to want to befriend the Beggars’ Guild? It was only that some petty men caused trouble. With your help, it’s settled—Huang Dalong has invited me to swear an oath of alliance in the southern suburbs next month. Our society will formally join hands with the Beggars’ Guild. Who will rule Chang’an in the future if not our two families? You have worked for our sake—how are you not our benefactor?”

He turned to the others, who all cried out, “Indeed!”

Mei Rong, feigning coyness, raised his cup before Li Xi’s horse. “What an important benefactor you are, sitting tall and aloof while we all offer you wine.”

Li Xi replied, “Brother Mei, I’m more than happy to accept my brothers’ toasts, but let’s be clear—bringing the Embroidered Garment Society and the Beggars’ Guild together was your and Brother Liu’s work. What has it to do with me? I won’t claim the credit.”

Mei Rong said, “Even if you claim no credit, you put in the effort. Didn’t Zhonggong say so? Whoever thinks kindly of us is our benefactor. Now, tell us, do you truly hold us in your heart, or are you always plotting against us?”

At that, the crowd erupted in laughter. Two young men, seizing the moment while Li Xi was distracted, slipped behind his horse—one pushed, the other yanked. Even if Li Xi had been an expert rider, he would have toppled, let alone with his mediocre horsemanship.

Li Xi tumbled from his horse, but did not hit the ground. A tangle of hands caught him, and before he knew what was happening, the group had tossed him high into the air—again and again.

Up and up he went, just as they had once done to Old Third Li before.

“Again?” Li Xi cried out in terror, his face drained of color.

Fortunately, nothing truly dreadful happened. After tossing him a few dozen times, the Embroidered Garment Society’s brothers finally set him down, though Li Xi was left dizzy and shaky, his legs trembling, barely able to stand.

The Embroidered Garment Society was certainly overbearing—once they decided you were their benefactor, you had no choice in the matter. Li Xi had no recourse but to accept the title, however unwillingly.

With that, Guo Zhonggong, on behalf of all the brothers, solemnly presented him with a roughly wrought bronze ring, engraved with the words “Embroidered Garment Society,” “Chang’an,” and “Yang.” Guo Zhonggong pledged that as the society’s benefactor, Li Xi could, with this ring, command up to twenty brothers for any task short of murder, and forever enjoy a seventy-percent discount at any business run by the society.

Li Xi was moved, though at the sight of the humble ring, he asked Guo Zhonggong, “Why not make it of gold? How much gold could a single ring require? Isn’t bronze a bit shabby?” Guo Zhonggong smiled sheepishly and said nothing, but Mei Rong waved his hand, “We can’t use gold. Zhonggong gives away more than a thousand of these every year—if we used gold or silver, we’d be ruined.”

Li Xi squinted at Guo Zhonggong. “This really gets me a seventy-percent discount?”

Guo Zhonggong thumped his chest. “Absolutely.”

A realization dawned on Li Xi—perhaps this was why the society’s lucrative enterprises always seemed to plod along rather than flourish. He asked Guo Zhonggong, “Do you have any businesses in Shaozhou?”

Guo Zhonggong shook his head. “And in Guangzhou?”

Another shake. “Then in any county of Lingnan?”

Guo Zhonggong answered cheerfully, “None at all.”

Mei Rong interjected, “What, you really plan to stay in that barren land forever? Don’t you mean to return to Chang’an? The ring is bronze; it won’t rot in a few years. Hold on to it and use it when you come back. But let’s be clear—there’s only one ring. If you lose it, don’t expect another.”

Li Xi glanced at the crude bronze ring, then gave Mei Rong a thumbs-up, admiring his foresight.

Liu Motong, Cui Yudong, and Mei Rong, together with the brothers of the Embroidered Garment Society, bid Li Xi farewell at the bridge. Guo Zhonggong alone escorted him a little way further. Though Li Xi urged him several times to turn back, Guo Zhonggong refused.

After crossing a low hill, they entered a small pine grove. Guo Zhonggong, seeing no one about, whistled sharply, and two men emerged from the woods, leading horses and carrying luggage.

Guo Zhonggong dismounted and, grinning, brought the two over to greet Li Xi. Blushing, he explained, “These two are my sworn brothers. They got into some trouble in Chang’an, and the authorities are after them. Would you mind taking them with you to Lingnan for a while? Once things quiet down in three or five years, I’ll arrange for them to return. What do you say?”

Li Xi smiled to himself, suddenly understanding why Guo Zhonggong had been so attentive—he needed a favor. “Got into some trouble,” indeed—who knew what crimes they had committed.

He looked the two men over. Both were in their early twenties, with cold, determined faces, sturdy frames, and an extraordinary presence—clearly no ordinary men. He also noticed they wore curved knives at their waists rather than the elegant long swords favored by the fashionable, which made them all the more remarkable.

He asked their names. Guo Zhonggong smiled, “Their real names needn’t be said. Brother, why not give them names you like?”

Li Xi pondered for a moment. “Both of you possess the strength and spirit of dragons and tigers. Why not call you Zhang Long and Zhao Hu?”

The two bowed and gladly accepted.

After bidding farewell to Guo Zhonggong, Li Xi rode across the little stone bridge. Chang’an was already behind him, as was the past. Southward he journeyed, toward that unknown land of hope—never once looking back.