Chapter Fifty-One: Li Gui

After a short while, Li Gui entered the reception hall, dressed in a coarse linen robe and supported by servants. Li Wenyuan hurried forward to help him sit, expressing concern tinged with reproach.

“Ah, Brother Li, how have you fallen so gravely ill? If I’d known it was this serious, I should have come to visit you myself. How could I let you trouble yourself to come out?”

Li Gui was momentarily taken aback. He had expected that putting Li Wenyuan on the defensive would embarrass him, and that the other man would surely respond in kind. Yet Li Wenyuan’s reaction was unexpectedly courteous. Though surprised, Li Gui still replied with the usual pleasantries:

“You are too kind, Chief Steward. It’s nothing but a passing chill. This frail body simply failed me for a time, leaving me bedridden.”

Li Wenyuan took a sip of tea. “It’s nothing to worry about. General Li, your years of toil have brought on this illness, and you should be resting. It’s our fault for not knowing your condition and disturbing your convalescence.”

Seeing Li Wenyuan so tactful, Li Gui was secretly pleased, but was caught off guard when Li Wenyuan changed the subject: “Since your health is so poor, and you can no longer handle official duties, you should focus on recovery. I’ll find someone else to take over your role as general.”

Li Gui protested, “You must be joking, Chief Steward. This post was granted to me by His Majesty himself—I dare not shirk my duties, nor could anyone else replace me. Please, do not trouble yourself. A few more days of rest and I shall recover.”

“It’s quite all right, quite all right,” Li Wenyuan replied with a wave of his hand. “Before I came, I reported to His Majesty about the poor communication between the Western Regions and the Central Plains. Waiting for orders from the capital could delay urgent matters, so His Majesty has granted me authority to act at my own discretion. The Yingyang Command lies within the eight provinces of the Western Regions, and so falls within my remit. Please, General, take your time to recuperate.”

Li Gui’s expression darkened. After a moment, he said, “Very well, I’ll leave it to you, Chief Steward. I suddenly feel unwell and cannot keep you company any longer.” With that, he gestured to the steward. “See the Chief Steward out.”

Without another word to Li Wenyuan, Li Gui left the room, supported by his servants, while Li Wenyuan’s laughter echoed behind him—a laughter that spurred Li Gui to a hard resolve.

Li Wenyuan watched Li Gui depart with a smile, then left Li Gui’s residence himself, guided out by the steward.

A delicate chicken-head ewer crashed to the floor, shattering into eight pieces. Li Gui’s face was livid with rage. “Who does Li Wenyuan think he is, stripping me of my office? Damn him, I’ll have his head cut off!”

Suddenly remembering something, he called for a servant. “Has Li Mao not returned yet? He’s been gone much longer than usual.”

The servant answered honestly, “No, Master, he has not. And the tribute money from Yongdeng for this month hasn’t arrived either.”

“That little wretch must be up to something. When he returns, I’ll make sure he learns his lesson.” Li Gui fumed, “Have the steward take some men to Yongdeng County and find out where he’s gone. Bring him back, even if you have to drag him.”

The servant, kneeling and heedless of the porcelain shards cutting his fingers, gathered up the broken pieces and, head lowered, went out to relay Li Gui’s orders to the steward. By now, Li Gui’s anger had cooled somewhat. He had the servant bring him a fresh cup of hot tea, then sat back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest.

Li Wenyuan’s arrival in Wuwei Commandery had been oddly delayed by several days. The spies in Jincheng had reported that Li Wenyuan led his party west after leaving town. At the time, Li Gui had assumed he meant to cross the river at a gentle spot upstream, but in hindsight, no trace of him was found on the official road from Jincheng to Wuwei. Could he have taken the old Yongdeng road instead?

He also recalled how Li Wenyuan had shown no fear when threatened, which made him uneasy. Could Li Wenyuan have discovered some leverage against him? And with his cousin Li Mao missing for so long, his anxiety grew—could Li Mao have fallen into Li Wenyuan’s hands? But then he remembered: Li Mao had gone to secretly negotiate self-governance with Huru. While Huru had grown used to a life of luxury in the capital, his companion Batu was highly skilled in martial arts, so it was unlikely Li Wenyuan could have caught them. Comforted by this thought, Li Gui resolved to wait for news from the steward’s mission to Yongdeng.

After leaving Li Gui’s residence, Li Wenyuan pondered: Li Gui truly has become lawless. But back in Jincheng, he’d heard Li Gui was merely a deputy general at the Yingyang Command—how had he become its chief general in just a few days?

With this in mind, Li Wenyuan returned to the prefectural governor’s office, where Xue Renyue had established his base. Officials bustled about, compiling the materials Li Wenyuan had requested. Coincidentally, officers from the Yingyang Command were there to report to Xue Renyue, and Li Wenyuan caught them just as they arrived.

Li Wenyuan pulled one aside. “Are you from the Yingyang Command?”

Seeing Li Wenyuan’s chief steward’s badge, the man recognized him and bowed. “Yes, Chief Steward. I am the registrar of the Yingyang Command.”

“Who was the previous general of the command?” Li Wenyuan asked.

“The previous general was Liu Su,” the registrar replied.

“And where is Liu Su now?”

“Lord Liu died suddenly a few days ago.”

How convenient, Li Wenyuan thought, frowning. He pressed on, “Aside from Li Gui, has everyone else remained the same at the command?”

The registrar shook his head. “After Lord Li took office, he replaced almost the entire staff. Most of the previous officers were transferred to the frontier forces. All the current officers were appointed by Lord Li himself.”

Li Wenyuan nodded—that fit the pattern. “And where is Liu Su’s body?”

“Lord Li had it sent back to his hometown.”

Li Gui moves quickly, thought Li Wenyuan. If memory serves, Liu Su was from Lingnan. To investigate the cause of death there would take months, and even then, with the body delayed so long on the road, it would probably have decomposed beyond examination.

“Why weren’t you replaced as well?” Li Wenyuan suddenly remembered that this registrar had come with Liu Su, a fellow civil service candidate.

“Chief Steward, I have served as registrar since Liu Su’s tenure. I know every detail of the command’s affairs. No newcomer could manage this work without three to five years’ experience, so I have remained. Moreover—” The registrar glanced at the other officials, who were now entering to report to Xue Renyue, leaving the room nearly empty. He lowered his voice to Li Wenyuan’s ear, “I beg you, Chief Steward, please help clear Lord Liu’s unjust death.”