Qiao Chu

Zhang Gu had completed his official duties but did not immediately set off back to the capital.

This assignment had been exhausting both physically and mentally, so everyone needed a good rest before departing.

They were already quite familiar with the commandery city, so they mainly took the newcomer A Jiu around for amusement.

Coinciding with the market day, the city was bustling with crowds. Stalls were filled with goods ranging from fresh fabrics and silk flowers from the distant Central Plains to exotic spices and furs from Western Liang. There were acrobatic performances and cockfighting gambling dens, making the streets so packed that even in the harsh winter, one would break a sweat from the jostling.

But Zhang Gu and his companions were spared this annoyance, for as soon as A Jiu reached the city gate and spotted the cockfighting gambling stall, he plunged right in and refused to leave.

The young man tossed in one money pouch after another—losing and immediately throwing in another, winning and continuing just the same. This reckless squandering of money, like a fool with too much cash to burn, stirred up a thunderous uproar at the gambling stall, driving the gamblers into a frenzy.

The Couriers exchanged helpless glances.

"This kid simply doesn’t treat money as money," Zhang Gu remarked. But they couldn’t let him waste the entire day there. If they left him unchecked, he would surely linger until it was time to depart.

He and two other Couriers dragged A Jiu out from the crowd.

A Jiu was highly displeased. "I was just having fun!"

"There’s something even more entertaining," Zhang Gu said, pulling him forward.

A Jiu grumbled reluctantly, "What could be more fun than this? In the capital or back home, gambling dens operate like thieves, hidden away in shady corners. Playing there feels like sneaking around. But here in the Border Commandery, gambling out in the open under broad daylight is truly exhilarating! The Border Commandery is a wonderful place!"

Zhang Gu laughed and scolded, "Your words are just asking for a beating. Just because you can gamble freely, you call it a wonderful place? The commandery governor would have you whipped fifty lashes for that."

As A Jiu resisted and the group struggled, a voice called out from the crowd, "A Jiu."

Was there someone here who actually knew him? Zhang Gu and the others quickly turned to look and saw the crowded streets parting to make way for a troop of soldiers.

Though the Border Commandery was often chaotic and unruly in its customs, military discipline was strict. Civilians had to yield to troops on the move, or risk being trampled under hoof without consequence.

The officer at the front had a prominent scar on his face, which made the common folk shrink back even more.

"Vice General Zhong," Zhang Gu promptly saluted.

Vice General Zhong dismounted. "I couldn’t find you at the military camp, so you’ve come to the city to wander around."

Zhang Gu replied respectfully, "Yes, we came into the city to look around. Do you have any orders, Vice General Zhong?"

The other Couriers also saluted, but A Jiu merely tilted his nose upward, acting as though he neither recognized nor wished to see him.

Vice General Zhong snorted inwardly—who cared to see him anyway? He didn’t bother saying more and turned to pull a string of straw sandals from his horse.

"These are a specialty of our Luo City. They’re most suitable for us soldiers," he said. "General Chu asked me to bring them to you as a token of his appreciation."

A Jiu snickered behind them but didn’t get a chance to speak before two Couriers stepped on his feet, turning his words into a yelp: "You stepped on my feet!"

"It’s crowded here. Stop shoving around," Zhang Gu glared at them, then accepted the straw sandals with both hands and said gratefully, "Thank General Chu for us. We can wear these on our journey back."

Vice General Zhong didn’t care whether their gratitude was genuine or not—the matter was settled. "I wish you a smooth journey."

As he turned to remount, the clatter of hooves grew louder, and another troop of soldiers galloped up. Their leading officer reined in his horse and called out a greeting upon seeing him."Isn't this Deputy General Zhong?"

Deputy General Zhong looked over and saw a middle-aged officer wearing a bright red cloak, with a pale complexion and a short beard, looking down from his horse with a faint, mocking smile.

"Damn nuisance," Deputy General Zhong muttered under his breath.

The officer on horseback might not have heard, but Zhang Gu and the others standing nearby certainly did, widening their eyes in disbelief. This officer clearly held a high rank, yet Deputy General Zhong dared to be so openly disrespectful—

The group quickly shuffled backward. When immortals fight, lesser beings should keep their distance.

After his muttered curse, Deputy General Zhong raised his head and clasped his hands coldly. "Commander Zhou."

"Deputy General Zhong is quite the rare guest," Commander Zhou sneered. "Usually, it takes three or four invitations to get anyone from Luo City to show up."

The Cloud Central Commandery had four Grand Generals, each stationed in different locations. Only the Great Green Mountain Pass was garrisoned by Garrison General Chu Ling. In terms of troop deployment, Chu Ling was on equal footing with them, but in official rank, he was one level lower. Coupled with various other factors, Chu Ling's relationship with the four Grand Generals had been complex over the years.

Despite this, after years of adjustment, they maintained a surface-level civility—except for this Commander Zhou, who had recently arrived under the command of the Grand General of Valor. He was sharp-edged and disrespectful toward Chu Ling. Naturally, Chu Ling's forces refused to back down, leading to constant friction and several near-clashes.

Now, encountering each other at the city gate like sworn enemies, a war of words was inevitable.

Deputy General Zhong chuckled. "How embarrassing. I can't compare to Commander Zhou, who frequents the commandery city so often, getting reprimanded every other day. What brings you here this time? A mutiny in your camp, or another bandit raid in your jurisdiction?"

Commander Zhou's face instantly darkened.

Deputy General Zhong laughed heartily, pressing his advantage. "Did I hit a nerve? Commander Zhou, you mustn't take it too hard. We all understand—you're from the capital, a man of great ambitions. This little Border Commandery is no place for you to spread your wings. You should return home sooner rather than later."

"How dare you!" "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Commander Zhou's guards immediately barked, while Deputy General Zhong's guards stepped forward, refusing to yield.

"What's this?" "Can't handle your own affairs, so you're coming after us?"

The civilians at the city gate quickly cleared a large space, except for A Jiu, who eagerly tried to move closer but was firmly held back by Zhang Gu. From behind, he could only shout excitedly, "Fight!"

Fortunately, the city gate guards were familiar with such scenes and quickly intervened.

"Commander Zhou is here," they called out loudly. "Quickly, the Commandant is waiting for you."

A group of guards inserted themselves between Deputy General Zhong and Commander Zhou's entourage. Several junior officers saluted Deputy General Zhong and said with pained smiles, "Deputy General Zhong, if you have anything to say, why not discuss it inside?"

Commander Zhou did not make things difficult for the gate guards, signaling his men to fall back. He shot Deputy General Zhong one last glance.

"Indeed, there are bandits causing trouble in our territory. We can't compare to General Chu," he said coldly. "General Chu is a benefactor in the eyes of bandits, a revered deity they worship. Naturally, your territory remains peaceful and untroubled."

With that, he flicked his horsewhip and rode inward, his guards galloping after him in a cloud of dust.

The scar on Deputy General Zhong's face twitched several times, his expression shifting through a range of emotions before he finally spat heavily.

The gate guards breathed a sigh of relief and invited Deputy General Zhong to enter the city.

Deputy General Zhong replied coldly, "I'm not entering the city. My business here is done. I'm returning now."

The gate guard dared not press further and promptly withdrew. The flow of people in and out of the city gate soon returned to normal.A Jiu patted Zhang Gu's shoulder and asked curiously, "Listen, what did that person mean when they said General Chu is like a great immortal in the eyes of the bandits?"

What else could it mean? It was just about that old incident where Chu Ling privately released the bandits. Zhang Gu brushed his hand away and scolded, "Don't speak out of turn!"

At that moment, Deputy General Zhong turned around and cast a gloomy glance at them. Zhang Gu and the others hurriedly forced smiles and said, "Deputy General Zhong, please attend to your duties."

Deputy General Zhong didn't respond and turned to leave, but A Jiu squeezed forward as if trying to curry favor, handing him the reins. As he approached, he whispered, "There's someone across the way watching you."

Deputy General Zhong paused, but didn't immediately turn his head, only glancing sideways toward the opposite side. The crowd there was bustling with all sorts of people, and many were looking in their direction.

His expression darkened, and he showed no appreciation for A Jiu's warning.

"Lots of people watch me," he said, snatching the reins from A Jiu's hand and mounting his horse. "Do you think I'm afraid of being watched?"

He turned his horse around, cracked his whip, and the crowd quickly cleared a path as they watched the soldiers gallop away.

A Jiu watched their retreating figures, curled his lips, and sneered, "Just one look and you can tell he's unpopular."

Zhang Gu scolded him, "Keep your mouth shut. It's none of our business."

A Jiu laughed heartily, "I know it's none of our business, but watching the excitement—the more chaos, the better."

Zhang Gu shoved a pair of straw sandals into his hands. "Take your thank-you gift and stop talking."

Thank-you gift? A Jiu shook the straw sandals and snorted. Straw sandals? What did that mean? Was he implying he should be as tough as bulrushes, resilient as silk?

Really, no need to worry unnecessarily. It seemed both the father and daughter had offended plenty of people. They should worry about themselves!

He slung the straw sandals over his shoulder and glanced sideways toward the opposite side, where he saw a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old vendor carrying a pinwheel pole turn and head toward the city gate—

It had nothing to do with him.

A Jiu threw his arms over the shoulders of two Couriers and asked animatedly, "What other fun things are there in the city? Any cockfighting, dogfighting, or cricket fights?"

"Just settle down," Zhang Gu scolded. "If you lose yourself, we won't redeem you."

Laughing and joking, the group blended into the crowd and headed into the city.

The market inside the city was lively, and the roadside outside the city was no less bustling. Tea stalls, food vendors, and livestock sellers crowded the roadside, with many carts and horses chaotically parked among them.

The vendor carrying the pinwheel walked straight to the innermost parked carriage.

"I'm dying of thirst," he said, looking at the girl sitting on the carriage, swinging her legs and weaving a grasshopper from dried grass. "Xiao Man, give me some water, quick."

The girl called Xiao Man didn't even lift her eyelids. "No."

The vendor was about to retort angrily when a hand reached out from inside the carriage, offering a water pouch.

"Drink," a woman's voice said softly.

The vendor reached for it, but Xiao Man had already taken it first.

"Auntie," she complained, "why bother with him? Third Brother is always like this—ask him to do something, and he starts ordering people around."

The hand withdrew, and the woman's gentle voice came from behind the curtain. "That's only natural."

Xiao Man pursed her lips, shoved the water pouch at the vendor, and glared as she asked, "How did it go?"

The vendor took a sip of water first and wiped his mouth.

"I saw Deputy General Zhong," he said in a low voice, "but Miss Azhao wasn't with him."

Xiao Man stopped weaving the grasshopper. "This is the county's annual grand market. She came every year in the past."

A silence fell behind the carriage curtain.

The silence seemed to quiet everything around them.

Translator's note: The phrase "Phragmites is as tough as silk" is an allusion to a classical Chinese poem, often symbolizing resilience and flexibility. Here, A Jiu interprets the straw sandals as a metaphor for these qualities, though he seems dismissive of the implication.Xiao Man fell silent, and the vendor also stopped gulping down water, staring at the carriage curtain.

A moment later, a woman's voice came from behind the curtain: "Let's go back."