The first time Zhang Zongheng met Tie Niaofei, he had not paid the merchant much attention at all.
At the time, Tie Niaofei had merely been one more wealthy trader passing through, nothing particularly noteworthy. Yet now, as Zhang Zongheng looked again at Tie Niaofei, or rather, as his gaze slid past the man himself and settled on the fifty heavily laden carts of grain lined up behind him, his feelings changed completely. In that instant, Tie Niaofei became the most agreeable person Zhang Zongheng had encountered in the past year, perhaps even longer.
"Master Tie," Sun Chuanting said sincerely, stepping forward, "you have truly delivered aid at the most critical moment."
Zhang Zongheng followed up at once, his tone calm but probing. "Master Tie, on your journey north, did you encounter any attacks by rebel forces?"
Tie Niaofei laughed, waving his hand dismissively. "Oh, there were a few small bands along the way, nothing worth mentioning. I travel with three hundred guards, so we drove them off easily. There were no real problems."
He had no intention of inviting trouble for himself. Naturally, he made no mention of having defeated a major rebel leader like Cao Cao, instead brushing it off as skirmishes with insignificant rabble.
Just as he expected, neither Zhang Zongheng nor Sun Chuanting showed the slightest suspicion.
Zhang Zongheng glanced toward the three hundred cavalrymen stationed behind Tie Niaofei, his thoughts turning quietly. With that many cavalry, even several small rebel bands would pose no threat at all. Still, this merchant is unusually well equipped. How does an ordinary trader command three hundred mounted troops?
Sensing the faint trace of doubt, Tie Niaofei smiled and explained smoothly, "I come from the Hedong Circuit, and I have some connections with Xing Honglang of Yongji. As you both know, she was once a rebel herself, so… well, I borrowed some cavalry from her."
At once, realization dawned on both Zhang Zongheng and Sun Chuanting.
They were well aware of Xing Honglang's background. She had begun as a salt smuggler, risen to become a rebel leader, then later accepted pacification under Yang He, the Supreme Commander of the three border regions of Shaanxi. She was now garrisoned in Puzhou, and only days earlier she had rendered great service and been promoted to Military Preparations Commissioner of Hedong. For someone like her, whose forces far exceeded those of many regular Ming officers, lending out three hundred cavalry was hardly surprising.
And yet…
Now that she had been pacified, her troops were technically part of the official forces of the Great Ming.
How could official troops be lent out to escort a merchant caravan?
The situation was absurd beyond words.
Only someone with the recklessness of a former rebel would dare act this way. A proper, orthodox military officer would never.
Zhang Zongheng and Sun Chuanting both felt a surge of helpless exasperation. The Datong border army had run out of grain because of rebels, and now it had grain because of rebels. Who could possibly make sense of such a twisted reality?
Still, there was no point dwelling on it. Grain had arrived, and that alone was cause for celebration.
With supplies finally secured, Zhang Zongheng no longer felt any need to tolerate traitors lurking in the shadows. He lowered his voice and spoke to his adjutant. "We can deal with Tian Shenglan now. Take the border fortress he bribed as well."
The adjutant clasped his fists in acknowledgment and turned to leave.
Just then, Tie Niaofei let out a soft chuckle. "Your Excellency the Governor-General, I have a small request. It may be somewhat impolite."
Zhang Zongheng raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Speak."
Tie Niaofei replied calmly, "There is a… rather old grudge between Tian Shenglan and myself."
Zhang Zongheng understood at once. "You wish to handle him personally?"
Tie Niaofei's grin widened. "Exactly."
Zhang Zongheng was no fool. In exchange for fifty carts of grain, granting such a minor favor cost him nothing. He nodded. "Very well. You may go with my men. If Tian Shenglan is captured alive, he will be handed over to you to deal with as you see fit."
Tie Niaofei was delighted.
—
Red Stone Dam took its name from a stretch of crimson-colored rocks that stained the earth like dried blood.
Upon those rocks stood a small border fortress, known as Red Stone Fort.
A detachment of Ming soldiers garrisoned the fort, and a solitary beacon tower rose above it, stark against the sky.
This was one of the Great Ming's eight hundred and twenty-three border forts, located more than one hundred and twenty li south of Datong Prefecture. To the north, only twenty li away, lay the grazing lands of the Mongol Chahar tribe.
In truth, it was closer to the Mongols than it was to Datong.
At this moment, the forty-five soldiers stationed at Red Stone Fort were gathered around several large cooking pots, eating their fill.
While other border garrisons were starving, freezing, and counting grains of rice to survive, these forty-five men feasted on rich, fragrant dishes, their faces flushed with satisfaction.
The reason was simple.
They had long since sold their loyalty.
Tian Shenglan had bribed the garrison of Red Stone Fort. At regular intervals, his caravans would arrive beneath the fortress, waiting for the Mongols of the Chahar tribe to appear. When both sides were present, the transaction would take place openly.
Money for goods, handed over directly.
The Mongols obtained grain, salt, tea, iron pots, and other necessities, while Tian Shenglan received vast quantities of gold, silver, and precious jewels, many of them still stained with blood.
Anyone with half a brain knew that Mongolia produced no gold, silver, or jewels. These treasures were spoils seized from Han people during raids inside the passes.
To plunder the Han, then use their blood-soaked wealth to buy goods from them again was a cruelty bordering on mockery.
Anyone with even the slightest sense of morality would recoil from such profit.
But Tian Shenglan possessed none.
To him, only money mattered. Its origin was irrelevant. Blood or no blood, he did not care.
Betray the country? As long as he did not betray money, he was willing to do anything.
At this moment, Tian Shenglan stood atop the beacon tower of Red Stone Fort, gazing northward.
Another hundred shi of grain had just been acquired and was stacked below the fort. He had already sent word to the Mongols of the Chahar tribe and was now waiting for them to arrive and complete the exchange.
The setting sun sank slowly behind the distant mountains.
The soldiers who had been eating and drinking now leaned back, bellies full, burping contentedly, smug expressions plastered across their faces.
On the northern grasslands, a large group of mounted figures appeared on the horizon.
The Mongols had arrived.
Seeing them, Tian Shenglan broke into a broad smile, waving enthusiastically as though greeting close relatives.
The Mongols waved back, both sides signaling to one another beneath the fading light of the sunset, like lovers eagerly rushing into each other's arms.
And meanwhile…
Hidden among the rocks of the northern grasslands, Tie Niaofei lay prone beside Bai An, a trusted general under Zhang Zongheng, both men peering toward the fortress.
Tie Niaofei held a telescope in his hand, chuckling softly as he observed the scene. "They're here. The Mongols have arrived. We'll strike once the transaction is underway and catch them red-handed with the goods."
Bai An's expression twisted awkwardly. "What kind of treasure is that thing? Let me see."
Still smiling, Tie Niaofei handed him the telescope.
Bai An took it and immediately exclaimed in amazement, "I can even see the pimples on their faces. I really want to squeeze them out for him."
Tie Niaofei cried out in alarm. "Hey!"
Bai An shot back without shame, "Don't you ever feel the urge to squeeze pimples when you see them?"
Tie Niaofei replied helplessly, "I only want to squeeze my own. I don't think about squeezing other people's. Wait, why are we even talking about this?"
Bai An coughed and hastily reined in his bizarre line of thought. "This thing is incredible, brother. Can you sell it to me?"
Tie Niaofei grinned instinctively. "Name your price."
The words had barely left his mouth before his heart jolted. No, no, no. This isn't my personal item. This is military equipment issued by Gao Family Village. Selling it privately would be a serious offense. I'd be finished when I got back.
He shook his head vigorously. "Not for sale. No matter the price."
Bai An frowned. "I was just about to make an offer. Are you playing games with me?"
Tie Niaofei wiped his forehead. "It's not mine. I spoke without thinking."
Bai An sighed deeply. "What a pity. I really wanted one."
Tie Niaofei looked at him in disbelief. "Can you please focus on what actually matters right now?"
Bai An straightened at once. "Ah, right. Focus. Let me look again… They're about to start trading. Good. Give the order. Our men can begin the encirclement."