Chapter 58: Heavenly Questions (10)

People often exhibit quick wits in desperate situations.
Gao Shi was already a clever man, and under Li Kuo’s pressure, he came up with a solution that satisfied both sides.
“It’s not quite like that…”
Gao Shi sighed and said, “Qilang, how about this? I’ll guarantee the safety of the old lady and the others. You should put down your weapons too, and we can sit down and talk properly. My thinking is this: the emperor merely suspects you of disloyalty, which is why he sent Lord Wei to supervise you. But I know you would never rise in rebellion, so I’m willing to write a memorial to vouch for you and ask the court not to take away your military authority.”
Upon hearing this, Li Kuo asked, “What concessions does Lord Li need to make?”
Gao Shi replied, “It’s just a gesture. Since you refuse to hand over your military authority, if you want to show some sincerity, it would be better to return Tangzhou, Nanyang, and other provinces to the court.”
Boom!
Li Kuo felt his brain buzz as a faint smirk appeared on his lips.
What a ruthless idea! If he handed over Nanyang, Tangzhou, and other places he had worked hard to build over the years, even with ten thousand cavalry at his disposal, he would be nothing but a stray dog. Right now, the court and the rebels were engaged in a fierce battle and had no time to deal with him. But once the rebellion was quelled? With the rebels suffering repeated defeats and on the verge of losing even Yecheng, if they lost, the wise and mighty emperor in the Daming Palace would likely rush to break his agreement and order his arrest throughout the land.
Oh, no—he had forgotten that from beginning to end, it was the mighty emperor who hadn’t made any promises; it was Gao Shi who had.
Haha, hahaha…
Li Kuo felt as if a sharp knife was pressed hard against his back, leaving him in a dilemma.
Regarding Gao Shi’s suggestion, although Wei Lin was slightly dissatisfied, he didn’t show it. After all, his life was in Li Kuo’s hands. With just a flick of Li Kuo’s finger, Wang Xiaochun would undoubtedly behead him. Though he appeared very assertive, it was because he had enough strength to challenge Li Kuo. But everything has its limits; crossing that limit might prove costly.
Wei Lin wasn’t stubborn, so he certainly wouldn’t commit foolish loyalty.
His life belonged to him—why risk it for a hollow title?
“I have no objections to that! But General Li must ensure his troops refrain from harming the local people along the way!”
After thinking it through, Wei Lin took a deep breath and expressed his views.

Li Kuo shook his head and said, “Uncle Gao, I need a promise!”
Wei Lin was baffled. “A promise? Hasn’t Governor Gao already given you one? What more promise do you want?”
Li Kuo replied calmly, “It’s not enough. I need official permits for passage along the way, and I also need Uncle Gao to provide 20,000 warhorses as fodder for the entire army for four months. Of course, each soldier must be equipped with a crossblade, a long spear, a wooden shield, a two-stone hardbow, and three pots of feather arrows.”
Li Kuo listed all his demands in one go, leaving Wei Lin shocked as he exclaimed, “Why do you need so many military supplies?”
“You don’t need to worry about that, Lord Wei. Since I can’t return to Tangzhou now, I must secure my back. Do you really want to see me forced to side with the rebels?”
Unfazed, Li Kuo shut down Wei Lin’s objections with just a few words, leaving Wei Lin fuming but unable to find any fault in his words.
“And I’ll take them away right now. As for reporting this to the imperial court, as you wish. You can keep the territories of Tangzhou and Nanyang as well. But let me emphasize once again—I won’t stay in Yangzhou waiting for an imperial edict. I’m leaving now.”
“This…”
Gao Shi looked at Wei Lin with difficulty. Seeing that Wei Lin remained silent with his eyes closed, Gao Shi realized he wanted to shift all the responsibility onto him, using himself as a scapegoat if things went wrong. But since it was his own idea, he naturally had to take responsibility! Gao Shi sighed and said, “I agree to your terms!”
Li Kuo let out a long sigh, his hand that had been reaching for his sword scabbard relaxing. This was exactly what he wanted from Gao Shi. In truth, though Nanyang and Tangzhou were important to him, they weren’t indispensable. After all, these places had no natural defenses. They might hold up against small scouting parties, but they couldn’t resist a full-scale attack from the imperial forces for long.
Making such a deal with the Tang court might be in his best interest.
“The items I need must be prepared within a day. Also, Uncle Gao, it would be best if you ordered the infantry outside the mansion to withdraw. I don’t want to accidentally harm my men and give others something to gossip about,” Li Kuo added disdainfully, glancing at Wei Lin beside him.
“No problem. All these can be arranged,” Gao Shi said.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Gao Shi said gravely, “I’ll have my people deliver what belongs to my wife right away. But I need to calculate how much fodder is required for 10,000 cavalry for four months. It will be prepared and sent to the camp later.”
“In that case, I thank you, Uncle Gao!”
Li Kuo bowed to Gao Shi and then left. …

“In this pouch is a message from me for you; open it once you arrive in Shule!”
“It is Geshu Han who wants to harm you! I advise you to head west straight after leaving Yumen Pass, and never look back!”
“The most unpredictable thing in this world is human hearts. In the imperial court, the powerful have never killed without using a knife—be careful not to offend them on your journey to Shule!”
In the military camp south of the city, Li Kuo sat alone on a soft couch, recalling the words Gao Shi had once spoken to him, filled with sighs and regret.
Why? Why had his uncle, who had once risked offending Geshu Han to protect him, become a governor obsessed only with power and profit? Why had that bold and heroic Gao Daifu turned into someone who would compromise at all costs?
Why? Why had his uncle, who had earnestly warned him to be wary of others, become someone who schemed against him?
“The noble steed departs for battle; relying on the emperor’s wrath and the general’s strength. Thunderous drums shake the earth, and thousands of flags flutter in the wind. The sun hangs over frosty spears, and the moon shines over carved bows. Battle clouds surround Qinghai, and the black mountains are filled with fighting spirit. During battle, the sun seems high; after battle, the banners lie empty. Willing to die across thousands of miles, achieving success in one day. Painted in the Qilin Pavilion, entering the Mingguang Palace…” (Note 1)
That free-spirited and righteous Gao Daifu, that bold and magnanimous Gao Shi, were growing further away from him, replaced by a governor who held power over Jianghuai and by prominent officials wearing purple robes and gold fish bags.
It turned out Wuze was right—people truly change.
Note 1: This poem is “Songs of the Frontier” by Gao Shi.