Chapter 52: Inviting a Guest Out of Respect

The twenty-four generals of Anxi were conferred titles in the Hanyuan Hall, causing a sensation throughout Chang’an. Teahouses and restaurants were filled with discussions about this event and their achievements. In particular, the names of Li Siye and Li Qing’an became widely known throughout the city. One was renowned for his formidable swordsmanship, while the other excelled in archery; they were hailed as the “Twin Tigers of Anxi.”

The Anxi army returned victorious, with everyone receiving rewards. Even He Yanming was appointed as a colonel and given 300 taels of silver. But the happiest of all was Han Jinping. Unlike the others, he was pardoned from his exile sentence. Thanks to his merits, Emperor Li Longji, moved by his status as a scholar who joined the army, appointed him as the magistrate of Dantu County, granted him 300 taels of silver, and allowed him to return home in glory.

Unfortunately, the Anxi reporting office had been burned down, and it would take time to rebuild. Everyone had to find alternative lodging, but Li Linfu had already arranged something for them—a vacant house also located in Chongren Fang. It had originally been Wu Sansi’s secondary residence, covering nearly a hundred acres with over a dozen courtyards. What pleased the Anxi army the most was that there was a polo field nearby where they could practice.

Yet today, no one’s mind was on polo. They went their separate ways to handle matters. Li Siye was invited by the Jinyu Guard to teach swordsmanship. Duan Xiushi and Bai Yuanguang agreed to go buy a house. Li Feiyuanli, having plenty of money, naturally headed to the brothels for pleasure.

Li Qing’an took He Yanming and Han Jinping to a restaurant in the East Market. Han Jinping would be returning to his hometown the day after tomorrow, and Li Qing’an wanted to hold a farewell banquet for him.

“General, I raise this cup to you. Without you, I, Han Jinping, would still be suffering in the garrison—there would be no such day as today.”

Han Jinping raised a cup of wine and offered it to Li Qing’an. Li Qing’an drank it in one gulp and smiled slightly. “I thought you’d be appointed as a civilian officer in the Anxi army, but I never expected you to become the magistrate of Dantu County. Old Han, fate is truly strange!”

He Yanming, curious, asked, “Old Han, how far is Dantu County from your hometown?”

“Not far—just over a hundred li. It takes a day by horseback. Little He, do you want to come with me to take a look?”

“I’d like to…” He Yanming glanced at Li Qing’an. It all depended on whether he approved.

Li Qing’an pulled his hair and scolded him, laughing, “Stop dreaming, kid. Stay in Chang’an and be honest.”

The young women at the neighboring table saw He Yanming get beaten up and couldn’t help but laugh. Humiliated, He Yanming rubbed the back of his head and muttered, “If it’s not allowed, then it’s not allowed. Why hit me? I’m still a colonel after all.”

“Oh! I forgot—you’re now General He. General He, shall I give you another military salute?” Li Qing’an said with a half-smile.
If Li Qing’an had cursed at him, He Yanming wouldn’t have feared it, but this half-smile of his made him feel uneasy. He didn’t dare look into Li Qing’an’s eyes and said in a low voice, “What General He? It sounds like calling someone else. ‘Little He’ makes me feel more at ease.”
“Hmph! You think you know what ‘at ease’ means? Let me tell you one last time—no matter what rank you gain or how many rewards you receive, you must still treat yourself as a squad leader.”
Han Jinping also patted He Yanming’s arm and advised, “Little He, the general is doing this for your own good. You’re only nineteen years old, and you’ve only been in the army for three years before becoming a captain. Think about it—how many people will be envious of you? Moreover, you don’t have any relatives who are high-ranking officers in the army. It’s all because the general is protecting you. If you’re ungrateful and arrogant, you might lose your position by tomorrow.”
He Yanming lowered his head, not daring to speak. Li Qing’an glanced at him and then said more gently, “Starting tomorrow, we’ll begin training with balls. Your task is to lead people to gather information elsewhere and understand the enemy’s strengths and weaknesses. Understood?”
“I understand.”
Li Qing’an nodded and raised his cup to Han Jinping, saying, “Old Han, I drink to your safety on this journey and to your early reunion with your wife and children. I hope we’ll meet again in the future.”
Han Jinping also raised his cup and said, “I too wish the general continued success and that you’ll soon become the ruler of Anxi.”
…
After drinking, Han Jinping went to the Ministry of Personnel to handle some procedures, while Li Qing’an took He Yanming back to their residence. As soon as they reached the gate, the gatekeeper called out loudly, “General Li, someone is looking for you. They’ve been waiting for a long time.”
On the steps stood a middle-aged man dressed as a butler. He smiled and ran down to greet them, saying, “Excuse me, are you General Li Qing’an?”
Li Qing’an had never met this man before, so he nodded and smiled, “I am Li Qing’an. May I ask who you are?”
“I am the butler of General Dugu, the commander of the Qianniu Guard. My master admires General Li’s reputation and has sent me to deliver an invitation. He hopes General Li will kindly accept it.”
With that, he respectfully handed the invitation to Li Qing’an. Li Qing’an took it and saw that it was an invitation from General Dugu to attend a banquet at his residence that night. He frowned. The Dugu family had been a noble family in the Tang Dynasty for over a hundred years, holding a prominent status. Although he had been appointed as a lieutenant general in the Qianniu Guard today, it was merely a title—he actually had no connection to the Qianniu Guard at all. Why would he invite him to a meal?

Though puzzled, Li Qingan still nodded and smiled, saying, “Please convey to General Dugu that I will definitely pay him a visit on time tonight.”
“Very well, then I’ll be going. General Li, please don’t forget.”
After giving a few final instructions, the butler took his leave. Li Qingan returned to his room and stood there in thought for a while. He had never visited a wealthy family in the Tang Dynasty before and knew nothing about their customs. One thing was certain, however—he couldn’t show up empty-handed.
But what should he buy? Li Qingan was now quite wealthy. He had received 1,500 guan as a reward from Gao Lishi, and today he had added another 3,000 taels of silver and 500 bolts of silk to his wealth. In the Tang Dynasty, this would make him a quite affluent man.
After pondering for a moment, Li Qingan decided that something characteristic of Anxi would be best—ram heads didn’t look good to carry and might scare children. Wine and glowing cups seemed unsuitable; wine wasn’t something he could easily present, and glowing cups—ah! Jewelry from the Hezhong region was both precious and a specialty of the Western Regions. It could be found in Chang’an as well, perfect for giving to Dugu Shi’s wife and daughters.
Li Qingan pulled out a wooden box to get some money. As he did, he picked up a wooden box from inside—it contained the mysterious flame gem he had possessed for nearly two years without ever knowing its true nature. Could anyone in Chang’an know about it? Since he was already going to buy jewelry, he might as well ask someone knowledgeable.
Taking a few pieces of silver, Li Qingan rode his horse to the Eastern Market. Although he had been there the previous morning, he had only stopped at the entrance without going inside. Today was his first time entering this historically famous giant market.
The Eastern Market, being close to the three imperial palaces (the Western Palace of Taiji, the Eastern Palace of Daming, and the Southern Palace of Xingqing), and surrounded by residences of the royal family, nobles, and high-ranking officials, sold mostly high-end luxury goods to meet their needs.
The Eastern Market covered an area roughly equivalent to one square kilometer in later times, with four main roads running in each direction, allowing several carriages to pass side by side. Goods were grouped by category—silk fabrics, jewelry, precious stones, top-quality writing materials, and instruments made by famous craftsmen—all available in numerous shops. In the center were government agencies: the Granary, the Market Office, and the Price Regulation Office, arranged in sequence. Compared to the bustling Western Market, the Eastern Market appeared quieter, though occasionally magnificently decorated carriages could be seen passing by.
After asking around, Li Qingan headed to the jewelry shop area in the northeast corner.