The Xing army rested at the Li River. At that time, the Minghu navy sailed upstream, gathering on the waters, as if a river battle was about to erupt. Yet Huyang Wang sent an envoy, inviting Xing Muzheng to meet him alone in the middle of the river.
Among his officers, debate was fierce. Some said it was surely a Hongmen feast, a trap to lure Xing Muzheng alone. Others believed it a gesture of goodwill, that perhaps the Prince, seeing Xing’s army unstoppable, now sought to ally with him.
Qian Jiaoniang was present in the command tent. After some thought, she said, “To set the feast on the river—it does show some sincerity. If there is trickery, it can only come from below the water.”
“Mm, you speak true.” Xing Muzheng turned to her, his tone gentle.
His old comrades dearly wished Qian Jiaoniang could be present every day. Only then would they hear even a hint of their commander’s thoughts—for otherwise he was a closed gourd, listening in silence from start to finish, never uttering a word until the end.
Xing Muzheng then turned to ask Xing Pingchun, “And what do you think?”
Xing Pingchun said: “Son believes this Huyang Wang is timid as a mouse. Though he harbors disloyalty toward the Emperor, he only dares to play petty tricks in secret, never daring to confront Father head-on. He chose such a relatively safe place—surely intending to secretly negotiate with you, Father.”
“How does General Xing know that this Huyang Wang is timid as a mouse, and not one who endures humiliation to bear a greater burden?” Jiang Shuzhi asked.
Xing Pingchun replied: “If he were truly enduring humiliation for a greater purpose, then in the battle at Li River he would have acted like the mantis stalking the cicada—waiting until our army and the enemy had fought hard, then swooping in with his men. But he only dared order retreat, never even showing his face. Therefore I guess this move of his is just to increase his bargaining chips—he wants to take a share of the big pie.”
“And does the young marquis know what portion of the pie he wants?” A somewhat unfamiliar voice came from outside the tent. At that moment the flap was lifted—Ah Da led two people inside. One was Wang Yong, and the other Qian Jiaoniang had never seen before.
“Strategist Huang!” Xing Muzheng’s old subordinates recognized him immediately and greeted him joyfully.
“Lord Huang!” Xing Pingchun also cried out in surprise.
So this was the strategist. Qian Jiaoniang suddenly understood.
It turned out that the one escorted out of Yongan by Wang Yong, who had been hiding in wait, was none other than Xing Muzheng’s former military advisor, Huang Gong. Smiling, Huang Gong greeted everyone and solemnly knelt to pay respects to Xing Muzheng. Xing Muzheng rose, personally helping him up. Looking at his plain clothing and gaunt face, he asked:
“Ziqing, how is it that you are here?”
Huang Gong shook his head and sighed. Seeing this, Xing Muzheng let him sit and speak slowly.
It turned out that all of this was the doing of that timid yet suspicious young Emperor. Seeing Xing Muzheng and Xing Pingchun escape Yongan, he had grown increasingly irritable and deranged. Regardless of evidence, as long as someone had once served under Xing Muzheng or had dealings with the Xing family, he ordered the Imperial Guards to seize and throw them into prison. Even Ma Dongchang, scion of an aristocratic family, was arrested and interrogated. Caught in mortal peril, Huang Gong sought out Hong Tai, who was about to march out with troops. Hong Tai hid him in his mansion, and thus Huang Gong disguised himself as one of his retainers and escaped Yongan with Wang Yong.
Huang Gong sighed: “Brother Hong is without doubt a true man of righteousness and courage. Only… too blindly loyal. Pitiful, lamentable.”
Everyone fell into sorrow.
Li Zhong said angrily: “All of this is the fault of that dog Emperor! I’ll make him pay with his life!”
Xing Pingchun asked Wang Yong: “Uncle Yong, what of Mister Cao and the others…?”
“Don’t worry, Chou’er. Mister Cao and the rest are safe in the Hang residence.”
“And will the Hang household be implicated?”
Wang Yong hesitated, glanced at Qian Jiaoniang, and reluctantly said: “The Emperor is forcing Prime Minister Hang to divorce Madam Hang.”
“Absurd.” Qian Jiaoniang frowned deeply.
Huang Gong looked toward the only woman in the tent. He could easily guess she was the Commander’s wife, the young marquis’ mother. Though he had never seen Qian Jiaoniang before, he had long heard many stories about her. Huang Gong stepped forward and bowed. Xing Muzheng turned to Qian Jiaoniang and said: “Jiaoniang, this is Mister Huang.”
Qian Jiaoniang rose with a smile and returned the salute. “Mister Huang.”
“Mister Huang, this is my wife, Lady Qian.”
“Madam.” Huang Gong bowed again.
The two studied each other. Qian Jiaoniang noticed the depth in Huang Gong’s gaze, as if he wanted to see straight through her. She glanced at Xing Muzheng. Xing Muzheng smiled and said: “Mister Huang is best at reading people.”
Huang Gong seemed to come back to himself, quickly apologized for the discourtesy, and stepped back two paces.
After greetings, the group returned to the topic. Li Zhong, quite interested, asked: “Little General, just now Mister Huang asked—what is the portion of the pie the Huyang Wang wants to eat?”
Xing Pingchun scratched his head. “That I haven’t figured out yet. I must ask for Mister’s instruction.”
Huang Gong stroked his beard and smiled faintly, just about to speak—when he suddenly noticed Xing Muzheng’s sharp, warning gaze from behind. Huang Gong immediately changed his words: “Shameful to say, I too have not thought it through.”
Li Zhong exclaimed: “Ai, Mister Huang, that’s the same as saying nothing at all!”
Huang Gong replied: “I only hoped everyone might think it over together.”
Xu Yizhao said: “In my view, since this fellow is not setting a Hongmen banquet, then let’s just hear from Huyang Wang himself!”
But Xing Muzheng said: “No need.”
Everyone looked over at him. Xing Muzheng’s expression remained unchanged. “I’ve no interest in tangling with Huyang Wang, nor in being led by the nose. I will not go to his meeting. Send him a letter persuading surrender. If he yields, he’ll have his benefits. If he does not, then we take the city.”
“Commander!” Everyone was shocked. They had all thought Xing Muzheng would accept the invitation. After all, his very words were: If war can be avoided, avoid it. If it must be fought, strike once for decisive victory. Now Huyang Wang commanded deserters, along with the troops stationed in his fief—altogether perhaps four or five hundred thousand. And Huyang Prefecture was the enemy’s stronghold. He was defending, they attacking—already more difficult. Since Huyang Wang had shown goodwill, why not accept it?
But Xing Muzheng gave no explanation. He only ordered a welcome feast prepared for Huang Gong and Wang Yong, then left first with Qian Jiaoniang.
Once he was gone, everyone crowded around Huang Gong, hoping the strategist, who best understood Xing Muzheng, could explain. Huang Gong pleaded: “I’m no worm in the Commander’s belly. How could I know what’s in his heart? Let me ask him carefully, then I’ll tell you generals.”
Xing Pingchun, sharp-eyed, had noticed the look Xing Muzheng gave Huang Gong. He thought the two already shared an understanding, only hiding it from the rest. Xing Pingchun frowned, wondering what it was they were concealing.
Qian Jiaoniang also could not make sense of it. Back in their tent, she asked directly: “Why would you not at least go and hear him out?”
Xing Muzheng said: “Why should I listen? Chou’er already said it—he wants a big pie.”
“But Huyang Wang and Huyang Prefecture, they both have the means to claim such a pie, don’t they?” Huyang Wang was of the imperial clan. If he surrendered peacefully, would it not be a huge blow to the Xie Dynasty? Besides, he held so many troops—on their side they would be like wings to a tiger, but in enemy hands they were a dire threat.
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