Chapter Seventy-Three: Creating Something from Nothing

Wang Pu led his men to rescue Scarface, then made a round at the Wang family manor outside the city where the family retainers were stationed. By the time he returned to the main family residence, night had already fallen. By then, Wang Ju and Wang Hua had already heard about how Wang Pu had stormed the Pleasure House with his troops earlier that day. No sooner had Wang Pu set foot inside than the two brothers arrived at his door.

Wang Ju asked, “Third Brother, I heard you beat up Zhao Santai at the Pleasure House?”

Wang Pu replied, “That’s true.”

Wang Hua added, “And you ransomed Jiaoniang and Hongxing from the Pleasure House for only four thousand taels of silver?”

Wang Pu answered, “Yes.”

“Ah, I really don’t know what to say to you,” Wang Hua said with a wry smile. “On the surface, the Pleasure House is independently run, but who doesn’t know it actually belongs to the Prince of Dai? Without his approval, who would dare ransom Jiaoniang and Hongxing? What’s more, you only gave four thousand taels. Third Brother, you’ve really offended the Prince of Dai this time.”

Wang Ju said, “When Father was alive, he always taught us to keep a low profile and avoid making enemies when possible. You used to be so discreet, Third Brother. But ever since your trip to Liaodong, you’ve changed. In just a few days back in Datong, you’ve managed to offend both the Prince of Dai and Zhao Santai.”

Wang Hua chimed in, “There’s a saying that even a mighty dragon can’t suppress a local snake. When the mourning period is over, you’ll be heading to the capital to take your position as Inspector General, but your elder brothers and the whole family still have to remain in Datong, don’t they?”

“Second Brother, it’s not as serious as you think.” Wang Pu said with indifference, “I can guarantee, in all of Datong, no one would dare cause trouble for the Wang family! As for Eunuch Zhang, I’ve already spoken to him. Zhao Santai is just a deputy general; even with the Minister of War Chen Xinjia backing him, he can’t stir up much trouble.”

“What about the Prince of Dai?” Wang Hua pressed.

Wang Pu replied, “The Prince of Dai? He wouldn’t make an enemy out of our family over a couple of courtesans.”

Though he spoke so, Wang Pu thought to himself that once he had built up his own army, the Prince of Dai would be of little consequence.

Wang Hua said, “The Prince of Dai doesn’t usually meddle in local affairs, but if he so much as frowns upon us, the Wang family would have nowhere to stand in Datong.”

“You overstate it, Second Brother,” Wang Pu replied. “The Prince of Dai has a reputation for virtue; he wouldn’t stoop to oppressing the people. Besides, it’s getting late. I’m sure your wives and the children are waiting for you to come home for dinner. Let’s talk about this tomorrow.”

Wang Ju and Wang Hua wanted to continue, but Wang Pu forcefully ushered them out.

Back inside, Wang Pu let out a long sigh and reclined on the heated brick bed. Amidst the soft sound of footsteps, Chen Yuanyuan, dressed in mourning white, glided out from the inner room.

“My lord, you must be tired,” she said gently.

Wang Pu looked at Chen Yuanyuan and thought of the old saying that a woman’s beauty shines even more in mourning attire. He had grown accustomed to seeing her in bright red, but now, clad in pure white, she was even more dazzling. Her delicate features and fair complexion shone like snow and frost, all the more alluring in the simple garb.

“My lord, let me massage your feet,” Chen Yuanyuan offered, swaying her slender waist as she approached. Her every movement, no matter what she wore, was full of grace and charm. Just watching her made Wang Pu’s heart itch with a thousand tiny ants.

“Nennian, bring the hot water,” he called.

“Yes, coming,” came the prompt reply.

Nennian soon entered with a steaming basin of water. Chen Yuanyuan helped Wang Pu sit up and gently removed his boots and socks.

“My lord, soak your feet first. I’ll massage them for you to help you relax,” she said softly.

“Very well,” Wang Pu replied, blinking in a daze.

Chen Yuanyuan guided Wang Pu’s feet into the basin, ladling hot water over them. “Is the water too hot?” she asked.

A wave of warmth, unlike anything Wang Pu had felt before, welled up in his heart. He shook his head. “No, it’s fine.”

Only then did Chen Yuanyuan carefully immerse his feet fully into the water. She turned and said, “Nennian, go fetch some coarse salt to dissolve. It will help remove any odor.”

“Yes,” Nennian answered crisply and left.

At that moment, a voice called from outside, “Your humble servant Zhen Youcai requests an audience with the general.”

“Come in,” Wang Pu said, not in the best of moods.

Chen Yuanyuan didn’t mind washing Wang Pu’s feet in front of others and continued to gently ladle hot water over his feet. Zhen Youcai shuffled in, not daring to look directly at the kneeling beauty. He approached Wang Pu and asked, “General, I heard you dealt with Deputy General Zhao Santai at the Pleasure House today? And you ransomed the two top courtesans for Scarface?”

“That’s right,” Wang Pu replied irritably. “Are you here to scold me as well?”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Zhen Youcai replied respectfully. “In fact, I think you did exactly the right thing! Especially at this critical moment—your actions have solved many problems at once.”

“Are you praising me or mocking me?” Wang Pu asked, confused. “I’m not as devious as you—just say what you mean.”

Zhen Youcai asked slyly, “General, are you planning not to return to the capital?”

Wang Pu was silent for a moment, then suddenly turned to Chen Yuanyuan. “Yuanyuan, the water’s getting cool. Please fetch some more hot water.”

Chen Yuanyuan, quick-witted as always, understood at once and left the room. Wang Pu trusted her, but there were some matters women need not know.

Once she was gone, Wang Pu asked, “How did you know I wasn’t planning to return to the capital?”

Zhen Youcai tapped his head and grinned. “I guessed.”

“And your reasoning?”

Zhen Youcai said, “General, you are destined for great things, but in the capital there are too many who could hinder or even kill you! So I dare say, now that you’ve returned to Datong, you won’t be going back anytime soon—perhaps one day, many years from now, you will, but not for a long while.”

Wang Pu stared at him for a long time before suddenly saying, “You’re right. You guessed it.”

Zhen Youcai smirked. “After the hundred days’ mourning is over, if you still don’t want to return to the capital, you’ll need a good excuse—and an army that is both battle-hardened and absolutely loyal to you. But to raise such a force in a hundred days is no easy feat.”

Wang Pu sighed. “Excuses are easy to come by, but raising an army is hard. The key is, there aren’t enough veteran soldiers.”

“That’s why I said your actions at the Pleasure House were so timely,” Zhen Youcai said. “Now, the lack of old soldiers won’t be a problem.”

“How so?” Wang Pu asked.

Zhen Youcai explained, “Word of what you did today will quickly spread through Datong—how you beat Zhao Santai to protect your men, and risked offending the Prince of Dai to ransom those two courtesans. News has also spread of how you distributed pay and provided for the families of fallen soldiers. What do you think the old soldiers of Datong will make of all this?”

“And what will they think?” Wang Pu asked.

“They’ll realize there’s no future fighting for the court, but with you, there’s hope!” Zhen Youcai said.

Wang Pu pondered this. “But those old soldiers are all regular troops of Datong. If I try to poach them, Zhao Santai will object first. Even if Zhang Zi’an took my silver, he wouldn’t keep it secret from His Majesty. If I’m accused of harboring deserters, I’ll be ruined.”

“No need for you to recruit them—they’ll cause trouble themselves,” Zhen Youcai said.

“What do you mean?” Wang Pu asked.

“Scarface and the others told me that when you were still General of Datong, the border troops hadn’t been paid in over six months. Imagine if rumors spread that a shipment of silver from the court had arrived to pay the arrears, but Zhang Zi’an and Zhao Santai embezzled it. What do you think would happen?”

“If that’s true, the garrison would mutiny,” Wang Pu said gravely. “But the court hasn’t sent any silver.”

Zhen Youcai grinned wickedly. “Just spread the rumor—truth matters less than belief. When tens of thousands of border troops rise up, who will listen to Zhang Zi’an and Zhao Santai’s explanations? That’s called making something out of nothing! When that happens, they’ll lose control and come begging you to restore order.”

“Go on,” Wang Pu urged.

“Once they come to you for help, it’s up to you how to pacify the mutineers and how the back pay is to be handled. Even though you’re no longer the official general, the troops will still obey your command.”

“Excellent!” Wang Pu said in a low voice. “You handle this matter.”

“Don’t worry, General,” Zhen Youcai replied with a sly grin. “I’ll take care of everything, not a single flaw.”