The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 097 Youzhou City
Li Jingde was not one to idle. His visit to the posthouse was a deliberate gesture to meet Tang Shen, who had just arrived in Youzhou. After exchanging a few casual words, Li Jingde didn’t press Tang Shen about his duties. Instead, he said, “Last month, I received His Majesty’s decree. Whatever you need to do, just do it. Even if the Grand Marshal holds you accountable for any mistakes, it won’t be a big deal.”
Hearing this, Tang Shen was genuinely surprised. After a brief pause, he responded, “Thank you, General Li.”
Li Jingde didn’t linger and soon took his leave.
Though Li Jingde often claimed to be a rough, unrefined soldier, it was clear that someone who could rise to the rank of a second-rank general was far from foolish. While he didn’t know the exact purpose of Tang Shen and Su Wenyun’s visit to Youzhou, he understood that it was no trivial matter. Thus, he decided to give Tang Shen the freedom to act.
The saying "great wisdom appears as folly" seemed apt in this case.
Shortly after noon, another visitor arrived at the posthouse. Tang Shen met the newcomer in the main hall.
Standing in the room was a middle-aged man clad in armor, his posture straight and imposing. Outside, eight guards stood rigidly in the courtyard, their silver spears gleaming faintly with a bloody sheen. The eight stood like statues, unmoving. When Tang Shen stepped into the courtyard, their hands instinctively gripped their spears, but upon recognizing him, they discreetly relaxed.
As Tang Shen entered the hall, the middle-aged man lifted his sharp gaze and greeted him in a booming voice: “This subordinate, Lu Shen, greets the imperial envoy.”
Tang Shen had arrived in Youzhou under the guise of an imperial envoy, officially tasked with overseeing the establishment of the Silver Pull Division.
“So, it’s General Lu. Please, have a seat,” Tang Shen said.
Lu Shen cast a glance at Tang Shen, silently moved to a chair, and sat down.
Tang Shen said, “I was supposed to arrive in Youzhou last month, which must have kept General Lu waiting for an entire month.”
“You’re too kind, Imperial Envoy,” Lu Shen replied.
Tang Shen continued, “What has General Lu been up to over the past month?”
Lu Shen replied, “After receiving the imperial decree, I led troops to the Silver Pull Division to secure its safety and assist the envoy in inspecting the office.”
Tang Shen was surprised. “You’ve already been to the Silver Pull Divison?”
“Yes,” Lu Shen replied curtly.
Tang Shen furrowed his brows slightly, studying Lu Shen.
Lu Shen explained, “I brought eight soldiers to meet the envoy today and left ten stationed at the Silver Pull Division. To be honest, I wasn’t given much detail about my task when I received the decree a month ago. I await the envoy’s instructions.”
Tang Shen replied, “I must first meet with Su daren to discuss matters before making any decisions. General Lu, you may return for now.”
Lu Shen stood, cupped his hands in a slight bow at Tang Shen, and left without a word.
Once Lu Shen was gone, Tang Shen sighed heavily.
This Youzhou City was no less treacherous than the perilous Cizhou of years past—a veritable dragon’s den and tiger’s lair!
Tang Shen, now a fourth-rank Palace Secretariat official, was no longer the lowly chamberlain of years past. Not only had his rank risen, but he had also become one of the emperor’s trusted aides in Qinzheng Hall. His mission in Youzhou was not like his earlier one in Cizhou, where he was merely a pawn to spy and deflect trouble. This time, he had been sent to accomplish something significant.
Emperor Zhao Fu wouldn’t send him into such a dangerous mission alone. He issued a decree assigning Tang Shen an assistant from the Youzhou military camp: Lu Shen, a sixth-rank deputy general.
Upon meeting Lu Shen, Tang Shen could tell the man held some resentment toward him. This puzzled Tang Shen. They had never met before and had no prior grievances, so why the hostility? After much deliberation, Tang Shen concluded, Perhaps he doesn’t want this assignment? He shook his head with a wry smile.
Whatever the reason, his first day in Youzhou had already led to friction with his subordinates!
Fortunately, Tang Shen didn’t have to wait long. By evening, another visitor arrived at the posthouse. This time, it wasn’t one of Youzhou’s many military officials but an actual civil official.
Upon meeting Tang Shen, the visitor first bowed and introduced himself with a smile: “This lower official, Lin Xu, Director of the Silver Pull Division, greets Tang daren. I heard you had arrived earlier, but the busy affairs at the office kept me occupied. I’ve only now found time to pay my respects.”
Tang Shen was surprised. “So, it’s Lin daren. What brings you here?”
If Li Jingde had come out of familiarity and Lu Shen out of obligation, Tang Shen couldn’t fathom Lin Xu’s intentions.
Lin Xu smiled faintly, lowered his voice, and said mysteriously, “When I was stationed in Shengjing, I had the honor of meeting Minister Wang.”
“Minister Wang Quan, the Right Prime Minister?”
“No, Minister Wang Zhen of the Ministry of Revenue.”
Tang Shen’s lips parted slightly in surprise. He looked at Lin Xu, momentarily unsure how to respond.
Lin Xu continued with a smile, “I heard news of Tang daren's arrival before you came. Initially, I thought you’d arrive yesterday, so I hosted a banquet in your honor. However, a new shipment of military funds arrived today, keeping me too busy to greet daren at the city gate. It’s my fault entirely. If you’re unfamiliar with Youzhou, I’d be happy to show you around and provide any necessary explanations.”
Lin Xu’s claim to be associated with Wang Zhen convinced Tang Shen almost entirely. After all, someone who dared to make such a claim in Youzhou had to have a legitimate connection; otherwise, Wang Zhen would never allow him to hold such a position.
Tang Shen thought for a moment and asked, “Do you know anything about Lu Shen?”
Lin Xu’s expression turned slightly strange. “Of course I do.”
“What’s the matter? Is something amiss?”
Lin Xu replied with a wry smile, “That General Lu has been stationed at the Silver Pull Division for a month already with about twenty soldiers!”
Tang Shen coughed awkwardly, recounting Lu Shen’s earlier visit and adding, “...What exactly can you tell me about this Lu Shen?”
Lin Xu, sharp and perceptive as a subordinate of Wang Zhen, immediately understood Tang Shen’s concern: Lu Shen’s apparent hostility. He explained, “Tang daren, you may not know this, but General Lu’s behavior is to be expected. Do you know why? He isn’t a native Song citizen—he’s a gui zheng ren.” (TN: refer to chapter 79, a Han person returned to Song rule.)
Tang Shen’s brow furrowed slightly. “He is actually a gui zheng ren?”
“Precisely. Youzhou is unlike Shengjing or any other region in the Song Dynasty. The city has far more military officials than civil officials, and among those officials, gui zheng ren are particularly numerous. Lu Shen is one of the most famous among them—a troublemaker, to be precise.”
Lin Xu continued, “Before the Silver Pull Division was established, I had already been serving in Youzhou and am quite familiar with these military officials. Lu Shen, now forty-two years old, rose to his position as a sixth-rank deputy general due to his strength and bravery. However, his strategic acumen is lacking, so he hasn’t been entrusted with significant responsibilities. Despite this, he’s well-known, partly because he’s one of the few gui zheng ren who openly dislikes civil officials.”
Tang Shen asked, “He dislikes civil officials?”
“This is a long story, and I won’t bore you with the details. Suffice it to say, Lu Shen has clashed with Youzhou’s civil officials for years. I’ve had my own run-ins with him because he used to oversee the city gates. You can imagine the opportunities for personal gain that position offers. His dislike for you likely stems from two reasons: first, his general disdain for civil officials, particularly Song ones; and second, the fact that overseeing the gates was quite lucrative. Need I say more?”
Lin Xu left his explanation at that, leaving the unspoken meaning to be understood.
Tang Shen did not pursue the matter further. He sighed and said, “Lin daren, could you take me for a tour of Youzhou City?”
“Of course, daren. Please, this way.”
The two left the posthouse together.
Youzhou City, located in the northwest of the Song Dynasty, was a place where yellow sand filled the skies, leaving no trace of blue above.
As Tang Shen walked through the city, he noticed that most passersby had their hair wrapped in burlap cloth, regardless of gender. The sandstorms in Youzhou were so relentless that without such coverings, one’s hair would be caked in sand within a day. Having arrived unprepared, Tang Shen was reminded by Lin Xu to check his own hair. He ran a hand over it and found his palm covered with coarse grains of sand.
Lin Xu accompanied Tang Shen as they wandered around Youzhou City for half a day. As dusk fell, they returned to the posthouse.
“Tang daren, might you visit the Silver Pull Divison tomorrow?” Lin Xu asked.
“I was planning to.”
“Then I shall await you there.”
The two exchanged polite farewells.
When Tang Shen returned to the posthouse, the lanterns were already lit, and the full moon hung high in the sky. The spacious posthouse housed only a few workers: two attendants hunched over, sweeping the ground, and another government officer wearing a burlap head wrap, carefully watering the short trees in the courtyard. In a place like Youzhou, neglecting such chores would quickly result in a layer of fine sand covering everything.
As Tang Shen passed through the courtyard, he was about to enter his room when he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Turning, he gazed at the worker watering the trees.
The man stood nearly six feet tall, lean and wiry, with his head and face wrapped in thick burlap, leaving only a pair of eyes visible. He was focused on his task, never glancing in Tang Shen's direction. Yet upon closer observation, Tang Shen noticed the man's striking almond-shaped eyes, sharp at the corners, and neatly defined brows visible beneath the wrappings. Despite the dim light and his bowed posture, the man exuded an unmistakable air of composure. His back was straight, unlike the stockier figures of the other workers sweeping the ground.
Tang Shen stood motionless at his doorway, staring at the man’s back for a long time.
Finally, he spoke. “Su daren, when did you arrive?”
The watering attendant paused. He turned his head slightly and chuckled. “And when did Tang daren realize it was me?”
Tang Shen maintained a neutral expression as he bowed. “This lower official, Tang Shen, greets Su daren.”
Su Wenyun casually tossed the watering can aside, letting it roll across the ground. Without removing the burlap covering his face, he walked up to Tang Shen’s door, meeting his gaze directly.
“I naturally arrived last month,” Su Wenyun said lightly. “Unlike you, Tang daren, who tarried in Shengjing for an extra month. Truly, you enjoy His Majesty’s favor, always managing to surprise with your actions.”
Ignoring the veiled sarcasm, Tang Shen asked, “Why is Su daren dressed like this?”
Su Wenyun did not answer. Instead, he clapped his hands and turned to leave for his room.
After a brief silence, Tang Shen raised his voice. “Is Su daren here to spy on me?”
Su Wenyun stopped in his tracks, turned back, and looked at him with a puzzled expression. “What makes you think so?”
Tang Shen thought to himself, Who doesn’t know what kind of person Su Wenyun is? A high-ranking official of the third rank, the emperor’s confidant, and closer to the emperor than I could ever hope to be. Would someone like you stoop to wearing such shabby clothes and watering trees in a courtyard unless it was to monitor me?