Chapter 101: The Beginning of the Double Agent

Most of the tribes on the grasslands were composed of many smaller clans. Each small clan had its own leader, who, aside from being oppressed by the larger tribe, was essentially a local tyrant.

Dole was one such local tyrant.

Early one morning, inexplicably full of rage, he stepped out of his tent and saw a shepherd couple carrying a lamb. He beckoned to them, “Come here.”

The shepherds turned around and respectfully approached.

Dole pointed at the woman. “Follow me.”

The shepherd’s expression changed. “That’s not possible…”

Dole sneered, “Whip!”

Someone handed him a leather whip. The woman quickly knelt down, “I’m willing, I’m willing.”

The shepherd man regretted it too, but Dole’s anger shifted from the woman to him.

“You’re worse than pigs and dogs!”

After a brutal whipping, the shepherd’s screams turned into groans.

“You wretch!” Dole dragged the woman by her hair, preparing to go inside.

Just then, a guard hurried over. “Chief, a blind man has come. He says he sees some kind of aura here.”

Dole, panting, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the guard. “What kind of aura?”

The guard shook his head. “Not sure, but it looks very...”

“Mysterious?”

“Yes.”

The blind man was brought forward.

“How do you see the aura?” Dole’s anger shifted onto the blind man as he approached slowly, whip in hand.

The blind man remained calm. “I’m blind, can’t see people, only sense their aura and feel their bones. Hmm! Who’s ahead? I seem to sense… noble energy?”

Dole was startled and stepped closer to examine the blind man’s eyes.

The blind man’s pupils were dull. Dole waved his hand in front of them—no reaction.

“What kind of aura? Speak quietly.” Dole whispered.

“Noble energy,” the blind man said.

“You can read bones too?”

“Yes.”

“Touch.”

A rustling sound followed.

The blind man stepped back. “A noble person, nobility beyond words.”

“If you’re lying…” Dole sneered.

The blind man shook his head. “I see the aura, and above the noble energy, a white aura as tangible as substance. White aura signifies disaster. This year, the noble one must be cautious. Farewell.”

Dole, half-doubting, paused. “You want no payment?”

The blind man smiled faintly, an ethereal aura emanating from him. “I wander the wilderness. Why would I want money?”

Dole was moved. “Take some dry food.”

The blind man shook his head. “If I reveal too many heavenly secrets, and Heaven wishes me to starve, I won’t find food. If Heaven shows mercy, the wilderness will provide sustenance. Farewell.”

Outside the tent, the smaller clan leaders who had come upon hearing the news wore varied expressions.

When the blind man left, he glanced several times at one of them, a look of surprise on his face.

Dole gathered the small chiefs for a meeting. After he spoke, everyone knelt down in prayer.

Grassland tribes held deep faith in spirits; hearing that the blind man took nothing and left, all trusted his words implicitly.

“If the chief advances further, we too shall rise with the tide.”

“This… must be a deity descending to guide us.”

“Yes!”

Devout followers prayed fervently.

But Dole was deeply worried. “The wise man said the white aura spells disaster.”

“White aura? Snow, perhaps? Could it mean a snow disaster this year?”

“Heavens, if so, our cattle and sheep will suffer terribly. Who knows how many will perish.”

“What shall we do?”

“Sell them!”

“In spring, maybe. But who would buy cattle and sheep at this time of year?”

“Exactly. Buy them now, and without food or shelter, they’ll starve and die.”

After two days of anxiety.

“Chief, someone is buying cattle and sheep.”

“Oh!”

Dole was delighted. “Bring him here.”

A middle-aged man approached slowly. Just one glance told Dole this was an honorable man.

“Greetings, Chief,” the man bowed.

Dole asked, “Where will you take the cattle and sheep at this season?”

The man replied, “To offer as sacrifices to the gods.”

Dole smiled with relief. “What’s the price?”

The man smiled gently. “What price does the Chief propose?”

After bargaining, they settled on sixty percent of the usual price.

Dole commanded, “Send over ten riders to accompany him.”

If the purpose was to sacrifice to the gods, that was one thing. Otherwise…

Dole sneered.

The riders followed the man under the pretext of escorting the herd.

“Where’s Mangke?” Dole noticed one small chief missing.

“He said he went to visit relatives.”

Several dozen miles away, Mangke caught up with the blind man.

The blind man, leaning on his wooden staff, strode forward with his head held high, as if he could walk through fire and blades unscathed.

“A true sage,” Mangke said, approaching.

“Why did the sage glance at me several times that day?” Mangke asked.

The blind man’s face bore the weariness of many years. “Why ask?”

Mangke knelt, devoutly. “Please, wise one, guide me.”

There were charlatans on the grasslands too, but they sought money. This sage took nothing—not even food—showing he was a man of true virtue.

Mangke raised his arm. “Please feel my bones.”

The blind man sighed. “Enough. I’ll just touch your skull.”

Mangke lifted his head reverently. The blind man felt the skull then sat silently.

After a long moment, he smiled bitterly. “When I left the tent that day, I sensed noble energy. I thought a small clan could not hold two noble auras. Now I see—it is you.”

Mangke was ecstatic. “What does my noble energy mean?”

“Ah!” The blind man shook his head. “I see weapons like a forest, blood splattering like rain.”

Mangke bowed deeply. “Thank you, wise one.”

The blind man turned away and soon met his companions.

“Where’s Old Cao?”

Old Cao had just finished killing.

More than ten mounted warriors lay dead around, while several accompanying soldiers dug pits.

The next day, the old bandit came to meet.

“You told me to watch the other small chiefs more closely. I wondered why… and sure enough, someone caught up within days.”

Cao Ying spoke calmly, “Did you say everything I told you?”

“Yes.” The old bandit sighed. “Now I understand your intention. That small chief was stirred by my words, his blood boiling with belief in destiny. If he returns, it will be a bloodbath. Oh, Old Cao, why must you be so ruthless when buying sheep?”

Cao Ying looked south from his horse. “We bought many cattle and sheep at a shockingly cheap price. But that tribe will likely starve this winter…”

The old bandit carelessly said, “What does that have to do with your poison? They kill… kill…”

The old bandit shuddered. “What do you mean?”

“The lord’s great cause is just beginning. We must accumulate virtue for him.”

The old bandit said, “Is killing people also accumulating virtue?”

“The more who die, the fewer will starve.” Cao Ying clasped his hands in devotion. “The gods are merciful.”

Meanwhile, in the small tribes, flames rose high, and cries of battle echoed.

Mangke, covered in blood, grinned fiercely outside Dole’s tent.

“Come out!”

Dole, gripping his long knife, stumbled out, roaring, “Mangke, I have treated you well! Why betray me?”

Mangke said nothing. The two clashed fiercely.

Dole, long accustomed to luxury, was no match and fell to the ground, a wound on his belly spilling forth. He gasped, “Why?”

Mangke bent down, smiling. “You have noble energy, and so do I. But one tribe cannot harbor two noble ones. Killing you makes me the sole noble.”

…

The cattle and sheep were brought back.

“The price is good.”

Yang Xuan was pleased.

Cao Ying knelt to the side, respectfully. “My lord, we must prepare fodder for the cattle and sheep while the season lasts, or they won’t survive the winter.”

“Send the people to collect it,” Yang Xuan said.

“Wise lord.” Cao Ying smiled. “The people idle all day; giving them work is good.”

Outside the room, Yiniang was ahead.

“These past days, my lord has been poring over maps. I dared not ask. You’ve just returned… how is the situation outside?”

Cao Ying said, “Zhangyu County harbors hostility towards us. The province lacks strength—this is our reality. As for our enemies, the bandits are defeated, which is good news, but the foreign tribes are restless.”

Yiniang’s heart chilled. “The foreign tribes—how strong?”

“Very powerful.”

“How strong exactly?” Yiniang asked.

Cao Ying pondered. “If they disregard Tang’s retaliation, the whole Chen Prefecture will be trampled under their hooves.”

Yiniang bitterly smiled. “My lord’s great cause… how arduous it is.”

“Like walking on thin ice,” Cao Ying added. “My lord understands the big picture, yet remains calm—that is the composure of one facing great matters. Yiniang, having such a lord fills me with joy.”

Yiniang sighed. “I’d rather my lord stay in Chang’an, at least it’s less perilous.”

“Chang’an is not peaceful.” Cao Ying’s tone grew sarcastic. “The nobles there fight fiercely. The four great families expected the pretender emperor to first eliminate the left prime minister and others before suppressing them, but the pretender acted immediately.”

“Deceit and betrayal.” Yiniang sneered. “The five great families are no easy foes. The emperor has shown his fangs—they won’t surrender quietly. Chang’an will be a lively place.”

Cao Ying smiled, a sharp glint like a blade in his eyes. “Let them fight, spill blood and break heads. When my lord seizes the realm, we’ll see whose kingdom it truly is!”

“My lord has come out.”

Yang Xuan stepped out, stretching.

Cao Ying and Yiniang bowed.

“Greetings, my lord.”

Yang Xuan nodded. “I’ll take a stroll through the city.”

He felt like a great landowner, always wanting to wander his fields.

At the front courtyard, Jiang Zhen was coming out.

“Greetings, Prefect.”

Yang Xuan smiled. “I’ve heard you’ve been working hard lately. Take care of your health. I’ll have someone bring you some dried meat later—don’t be stingy with yourself.”

“Yes.”

Jiang Zhen watched him leave the county office, then returned to his room.

He peered out from the door crack, then listened carefully.

No one was around.

Across the way, on a rooftop, the old bandit lay sideways, chewing on a blade of grass, legs crossed.

Jiang Zhen began to write.

—Purchased several hundred cattle and sheep…

He paused, the image of Yang Xuan’s kind face appearing in his mind.

The Prefect truly cares for me.

He switched to a new sheet.

—Purchased over a hundred cattle and sheep…