Nieguchuo dismounted and untied him, sighing. "Brother, you have brought down great trouble upon yourself."
Gu Shiyan feared no trouble for himself, but deeply regretted implicating Nieguchuo. "My recklessness has harmed you, Brother—"
Nieguchuo raised a hand to stop him. "We are brothers. Say no more of this. In my view, you must go into hiding. These eunuchs are vengeful over the slightest grievance; today we have deeply offended them. Let's return first and discuss. Mount up."
The two mounted. With the Uyghur warriors and imperial guards, they entered the West Straight Gate.
Gu Shiyan fumed, "These eunuchs bully beyond endurance! Is there no one to curb their wickedness?"
Nieguchuo cautioned, "Brother, you are still young and fiery. You don't grasp the world's dangers. Though I've been in the Tang only two years, I know this court belongs to the eunuchs. Even the Emperor ascended the throne with eunuch support, let alone others."
Gu Shiyan fell silent, knowing Nieguchuo spoke truth. This incident might cost Nieguchuo his place in Chang'an. "I am alone; I can leave easily. But you, Brother, bear the heavy task of restoring your kingdom—"
Nieguchuo said firmly, "If these eunuchs force my hand, I shall have no choice but to seek refuge with the Military Governor of Lulong. Within Tang borders, only the regional governors are beyond the eunuchs' reach."
Gu Shiyan felt profound guilt. "I will go to Linghu Tao to seek counsel. Perhaps this can still be mended."
Nieguchuo agreed, "That's wise. I hear Linghu Tao has close ties to the Duke of Wei, Ma Yuanzhi. If he intercedes for you, there might be room for maneuver."
They arrived at Linghu Tao's residence as the night watch drum sounded the third watch (around midnight).
Linghu Tao, rubbing sleep from his eyes, paled upon hearing Gu Shiyan had offended Jiang Shicheng. "Disastrous! Jiang Shicheng is Ma Yuanzhi's adopted son. This is a calamity!" He added, "You mentioned beating the Falconry servants half a month ago. I thought it had blown over. Who knew it would erupt now? But how did they know it was you?"
Gu Shiyan pondered, "Perhaps one of those eunuchs recognized me. But that doesn't make sense; why wait until now?"
Nieguchuo offered, "Because you've been away all these days. They couldn't find you."
Gu Shiyan recalled, "When I saw His Majesty yesterday, he said nothing."
Linghu Tao shook his head. "Brother Gu, forgive my bluntness, but you don't understand the court's perils. You think they need to accuse you before the Emperor? Eunuchs wield immense power. Killing someone in secret is as easy as crushing an ant."
Nieguchuo and Gu Shiyan exchanged grim looks.
Linghu Tao paced, thinking. "There might be a way. Only I fear Brother Gu, with his proud spirit, may not agree."
Nieguchuo pressed, "What way?"
Linghu Tao looked at Gu Shiyan. "The Duke of Wei, Ma Yuanzhi, is the chief eunuch. I will take you to beg his pardon. If he declares the matter closed, it will be. Of course, begging pardon requires humility. Ma Yuanzhi is somewhat eccentric. I worry Brother Gu cannot swallow his pride."
Gu Shiyan flushed with anger. "Thank you for your concern, Lord Linghu. Though I lack talent, I will never grovel before castrated lackeys!"
Linghu Tao was displeased. "You caused this trouble. Why indulge your temper and implicate the Right Jinwu General?"
Nieguchuo immediately retorted, "Lord Linghu, we've all heard of the Duke of Wei's capricious nature. If Brother Gu seeks pardon, he will surely be humiliated. At worst, we flee far away! I refuse to believe these eunuchs can have our heads!"
Linghu Tao remained silent.
The two took their leave. Mounting their horses, escorted by two Uyghur warriors, they headed back.
Nieguchuo suggested, "Brother Gu, come to my humble dwelling. We'll discuss our strategy."
Gu Shiyan felt uneasy but could say nothing.
Passing the Lingyan Pavilion, rounding the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, they approached the Right Jinwu General's residence. Suddenly, the clamor of men and horses erupted. Nieguchuo raised his right hand, and all four reined in.
Gu Shiyan dismounted first. "Brother, wait here with the others. I'll investigate." He moved towards the noise. Rounding a street corner, his eyes widened. Ahead, a dense mass of several thousand men blocked the view, hundreds of torches blazing brightly. They had surrounded the Right Jinwu General's residence like an iron barrel. Their uniforms—riding leopardskin saddles, wearing beast-patterned tunics—identified them as the Shence Army's elite Flying Dragon Cavalry.
Gu Shiyan was aghast. Concealing himself, he listened. A shrill, piercing voice rang out: "Nieguchuo is a Uyghur spy! He surrendered to our Great Tang plotting treachery! His heart is full of deceit! Worse, he has bribed the shameless scoundrel Gu Shiyan as his inside man! This man is a palace Go Academician, possessing some hollow fame, often entering the forbidden palace! His intent is to harm His Majesty! I discovered these two villains leading Jinwu Garrison troops deep into the night towards the Xuanwu Gate! I questioned them, but the villain was outrageously arrogant! Relying on superior numbers, he dared whip my Shence soldier! Think! Since Emperor Minghuang founded us, when have the Flying Dragon Cavalry of the Shence Army ever suffered such humiliation?! Today we must execute these two villains to ease His Majesty's worries!"
The voice, like a screech-owl's night cry, was unmistakably Jiang Shicheng's.
The thousands of Flying Dragon Cavalry roared together, menacing and bloodthirsty, ready to break down the gates and commence slaughter.
Gu Shiyan, frantic to prevent Nieguchuo's household from massacre, prepared to step forward. As his shoulders tensed, a hand gripped him from behind. He turned sharply—it was Nieguchuo, who had followed.
Nieguchuo whispered urgently, "Brother, don't be rash."
Gu Shiyan insisted, "Brother, this is my fault. If I don't show myself, those Flying Dragons will storm the residence."
Nieguchuo argued, "It's too late. Showing yourself now won't resolve it; you'll only throw your life away."
"Brother, who is that?" Gu Shiyan suddenly pointed behind Nieguchuo. As Nieguchuo turned to look, Gu Shiyan seized the chance. He leapt out and strode rapidly towards Jiang Shicheng, shouting loudly, "Gu Shiyan is here! Do not implicate the innocent!"
Instantly, dozens of Flying Dragon soldiers surrounded him. Gu Shiyan offered no resistance as they seized him.
Jiang Shicheng slowly rode closer, squinting at Gu Shiyan. Without warning, he lashed out with his whip. Gu Shiyan ducked. Crack! The whip struck his neck, sending waves of fiery pain through him.
Jiang Shicheng spat, "Blind fool! Daring to provoke the God of Tai Sui! Hey! Where's that General who backs you? Flying Dragon soldiers! Storm the residence! Capture Nieguchuo and punish him together!"
Gu Shiyan cried out, "This matter has nothing to do with General Nieguchuo! Let Gu Xun bear all responsibility alone!"
Jiang Shicheng mocked, "What? Sacrificing a stone? I hear you're good at Go. They say you value the overall situation, don't hesitate to sacrifice stones. Today you became the sacrifice yourself—discarded by the Right Jinwu General? Fine! This lord will enjoy 'playing' with this sacrificed stone right here! Let Nieguchuo see! Didn't he say you saved him? If he abandoned you, wouldn't he be an ungrateful villain?"
Gu Shiyan retorted defiantly, "Gentleman or villain, public judgment decides! Not the words of those too ashamed to face their ancestors!" The words struck the eunuchs' raw nerve. Jiang Shicheng flew into a rage. But a eunuch's rage differed from others—suppressed first, then seeking the most vicious, cruel outlet.
Jiang Shicheng nodded slowly. "You have a sharp tongue. It suits my taste. Men! Bring them forward."
Several young eunuchs stumbled out from the Shence ranks. They were the Falconry servants beaten by A'luotuo that day. Two, their fractures unhealed, still wore leg splints.
Seeing Gu Shiyan, they shrieked: "It's him! It's him! He ordered that black devil to break our legs! Lord Jiang, avenge us!"
Jiang Shicheng said casually, "Good. I've caught him. Vent your anger however you wish. Once his head is chopped off, there'll be no more play."
His tone was light, but the cruelty beneath made one shiver.
The Falconry eunuchs cheered. They huddled, whispering plans to torment Gu Shiyan.
Jiang Shicheng, atop his tall horse, glanced amusedly between Gu Shiyan and the little eunuchs, like a cat toying with a mouse. "Think harder. Come up with something fun, and I'll reward you."
Gu Shiyan, resigned to death, vowed not to give them satisfaction. He laughed too. "Dog eunuchs! Think hard! See if you can scare your master!"
The Falconry eunuchs sent their most articulate member forward. "Your servants have thought of a way to deal with this wretch. We await your judgment, Lord Jiang."
"Speak!"
"We servants enjoy reading history. We know Empress Lü Zhi of the Former Han dynasty turned Consort Qi into a 'human swine' ('人彘'). At first, we didn't understand what a 'human swine' was. We asked scholars from the Hanlin Academy. Turns out, it means cutting off hands and feet at the wrists, gouging out eyes, cutting off the tongue, and keeping them in a pigpen! This Gu dared assault us eunuchs—a crime deserving death beyond execution! Chopping his head off would be too merciful! So we thought of this method: make him a 'human swine'! Let him live unable to seek death, unable to beg for life! Keep him on the main street of Chang'an! Let everyone see the fate of those who offend us eunuchs!"
Jiang Shicheng clapped. "Excellent idea! Excellent!"
Gu Shiyan felt terror like never before. He knew eunuchs were cruel, but never imagined this extent. There were indeed things worse than death. He had to provoke them into killing him cleanly. Forcing calm, he laughed, "I have a good idea too. One that will let you humiliate me greatly."
The eunuchs were stunned. The thousands of Flying Dragon soldiers fell silent.
Gu Shiyan declared, "Min Province (Fujian) produces many eunuchs. I know most of you are Min people. The Min custom's ultimate humiliation is to urinate on someone. But you dog eunuchs, neither man nor woman, can only squat to piss! You can't use this ultimate move!"
The Falconry eunuchs flushed crimson with rage. They snatched knives from nearby soldiers, shrieking, "Today we will castrate you!" They lunged at Gu Shiyan, stabbing towards his groin.
Jiang Shicheng bellowed, "Halt!"
The little eunuchs turned, questioning, "Lord Jiang?"
Jiang Shicheng sneered, "The wretch is cunning! Don't fall for his trick! He fears becoming a 'human swine' and wants a quick death! If you castrate him now, he'll bleed to death. We shall learn from the ancients and innovate! Cut off hands, feet, gouge eyes, cut tongue—and castrate him! Make him a 'Eunuch Swine'!"
The eunuchs bowed in admiration. "Lord Jiang sees far! We almost fell for his trick!"
Gu Shiyan, horrified and enraged, felt blood surge in his chest. He let out a great cry. The old wound on his left chest burst open. He collapsed unconscious.
Meanwhile, Nieguchuo had rushed to Linghu Tao. Linghu Tao said immediately, "This is beyond me alone. Go quickly and invite Chancellor Bai Minzhong! He is Jiang Shicheng's benefactor. I'll go ahead. We mustn't let them kill Gu Xun." Nieguchuo sped off to the Bai residence. Linghu Tao hastily prepared a horse to rescue Gu Shiyan, unaware that astonishing events were unfolding at the Right Jinwu General's residence.
Jiang Shicheng saw Gu Shiyan's blood-soaked robes and unconscious state. "Though his tongue is sharp, he's still a coward at heart. Just the thought of becoming a 'Eunuch Swine' scared him half to death. Fine. Carry him back. Have the coroner turn him into a 'Eunuch Swine' immediately. Let him wake up to find himself in a living hell! He'll wonder: How did I get like this? Why can't I see? Why can't I stand? Must be a nightmare. Hmm, bite my finger, see if it hurts? Ah! My hands are gone too! Hahahaha! Utterly delightful!"
The deep night, the blazing torches— thousands of Shence soldiers shuddered.
Jiang Shicheng ordered soldiers to carry Gu Shiyan away on a stretcher. At that moment, a flock of crows flew over the residence gatehouse, their caws incessant. Jiang Shicheng was about to curse the ill omen when two consecutive explosions erupted! Thick, acrid smoke instantly enveloped the area, stinging eyes and noses, causing coughing fits and streaming tears. The Shence troops fell into chaos, blinded, crashing into each other, injuring many of their own.
Jiang Shicheng yelled, "Do not panic! Withdraw slowly!"
The strange smoke lasted roughly half the time of a cup of tea before dissipating. Jiang Shicheng rubbed his eyes. "Has Gu Shiyan escaped?"
The two Flying Dragon soldiers who had been holding him answered, "Reporting, Lord! He can't escape."
Jiang Shicheng sighed with relief. "Good. I thought it was his accomplices rescuing him. That smoke was bizarrely timed!" Suddenly, the two soldiers who had just spoken cried out, "What? What's this?"
Jiang Shicheng urged his horse closer. The two soldiers were firmly gripping one of the young Falconry eunuchs! The eunuch stood dumbstruck, clearly paralyzed by acupoint pressure. Gu Shiyan was gone!
Jiang Shicheng's face twisted with fury. He ordered the Flying Dragons to pursue in all directions, demanding Gu Shiyan be captured—alive to see the man, dead to see the corpse.
Linghu Tao arrived at this moment. Jiang Shicheng dared not slight him, cupping his fists respectfully. Learning Gu Shiyan had been rescued, Linghu Tao relaxed slightly.
Jiang Shicheng, displeased by Linghu Tao's intercession, nevertheless couldn't outright refuse this Emperor's favorite. "Lord Linghu, this is the Duke of Wei's order. Your humble servant merely obeys."
A soldier suddenly reported, "Chancellor Bai has arrived!"
Jiang Shicheng glanced at Linghu Tao, thinking Gu Shiyan has powerful connections to bring you and the Chancellor! He went forward to meet him.
(Background: Jiang Shicheng, impoverished as a child, was sold by his father to a local official. The official had him castrated, planning to take him to the capital—a Min Province custom famously condemned by Gu Shiyan's grandfather Gu Kuang. The official died en route, leaving Jiang Shicheng destitute. He suffered beatings and humiliations until rescued by Bai Juyi, then Prefect of Jiangzhou. Bai Minzhong is Bai Juyi's brother. When Bai Minzhong took office in the capital, he brought Jiang Shicheng, who entered the service of the powerful eunuch Ma Yuanzhi and rose rapidly. After gaining power, Jiang Shicheng hunted down his former tormentors with brutal vengeance. Yet he remained deeply grateful to the Bai brothers. Bai Juyi's peaceful retirement despite the fierce Niu-Li factional strife owed much to Jiang Shicheng's protection.)
Jiang Shicheng dismounted and approached Bai Minzhong's large sedan chair. He personally lifted the curtain and helped the Chancellor out. "Chancellor Bai! Why has Your Excellency come?"
Bai Minzhong, over sixty, held the posts of Vice-Minister of War and Chief Minister. Portly and slow-spoken, he cleared his throat. "Shicheng, I know of this matter. You have made it far too big."
Jiang Shicheng smiled obsequiously. "Your Excellency may not know. The Duke of Wei insists on pursuing this."
Bai Minzhong stated, "I will speak with the Duke of Wei. You are to cease pursuing it. Where is Gu Shiyan? Do not harm the boy's life. Two years ago, he even played Go with my Ninth Brother [Bai Juyi]. See, my Ninth Brother has been gone two years now. Life in this world passes like a white colt glimpsed through a crack..."
Jiang Shicheng replied, "Yes, yes. However, that Gu Shiyan has already been spirited away by someone unknown."