Bai Yuan exited the tent shared by Cao Wenzhao and his nephew and headed back toward Luoyang. He had only just reached the city gate when he noticed someone approaching from the opposite direction.
Fan Shangzheng.
The two met by coincidence just outside the gate.
Fan Shangzheng raised a hand in greeting. "Mister Bai. How are General Cao and his nephew's injuries?"
"They are fine," Bai Yuan replied with a smile. "Full of energy already. They are back to arguing over trivial matters as if nothing ever happened."
Fan Shangzheng's expression stiffened for a brief instant, but he quickly let it go. He lowered his voice. "That is good to hear. However, another matter has come up. Another imperial unit has retreated to Luoyang. I need to deal with it. Would you care to come along?"
Bai Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Who retreated this time?"
"He Renlong," Fan Shangzheng answered.
The name was familiar.
Years ago, He Renlong had escorted three thousand surrendered rebels captured by Hong Chengchou to Huanglong Mountain Prison. He had even personally visited the Huanglong Mountain Labor Reform Camp.
Bai Yuan frowned.
At the same moment, far above the diorama, Li Daoxuan's gaze followed his expression, and his own brows knit together.
He Renlong had once been infamous among rebels. Ruthless, relentless, a butcher who never showed mercy. To the rebel bands, his name alone had once been enough to inspire terror.
And now he was retreating.
Time truly changed everything. As the saying went, thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. Even rebels who once fled in rags could rise, while famed generals could fall.
"Let's go take a look," Bai Yuan said.
The two left the city together and headed south along the main road. Before long, they spotted an encampment pitched by the roadside.
Two banners hung crookedly above it. One bore the character "He." The other bore "Gao."
The atmosphere around the camp was heavy, thick with defeat and embarrassment.
As Fan Shangzheng approached the entrance, two figures came out to meet them.
He Renlong.
And Gao Jie.
He Renlong bowed deeply. "Governor Fan. This general has suffered a temporary setback. We withdrew to the outskirts of Luoyang to regroup. Once the men recover and morale stabilizes, we will resume our pursuit of the rebels."
Fan Shangzheng nodded. "You have worked hard, General."
The two imperial officials began speaking in low tones about troop movements and logistics. Bai Yuan, having nothing to contribute to that discussion, turned his attention to Gao Jie instead.
Gao Jie was an old acquaintance of Gao Family Village, at least in reputation.
Years earlier, when Shanxi was still plagued by rebel activity, Gao Jie had gone by the alias Fan Shan Yao. Under that name, he had led an assault on Pingyang Prefecture, which at the time had been defended by Wang Er and Bai Mao.
Back then, Dao Xuan Tianzun had issued a now legendary instruction.
"If he is handsome, aim for his face."
The story had spread like wildfire among Gao Family Village's troops and had since become a running joke. Bai Yuan had heard it many times, but this was his first time seeing Gao Jie in person.
He looked him over carefully.
From the left. Truly handsome.
From the right. Still handsome. Excessively so.
Bai Yuan sighed inwardly. Damn it. Is he actually better looking than me?
Gao Jie noticed his stare and frowned. "What are you staring at?"
The moment he spoke, something changed.
When silent, he was striking enough to turn heads. Once he opened his mouth, however, the refinement vanished completely. What remained was a crude, unruly presence that felt straight out of a bandit camp.
Bai Yuan's heart sank, then immediately lifted again.
Good. Very good, he thought. He might outshine me when quiet, but once he starts talking, victory is clearly mine.
He flicked open his folding fan, covering half his face. The character "Gentleman" was written boldly across it.
"I have long heard that General Gao is a dragon among men," Bai Yuan said pleasantly. "As handsome as Pan An himself. Seeing you today exceeds all expectations."
Gao Jie completely missed the irony. He straightened proudly. "Naturally. A truly handsome man never needs to serve himself food."
"Oh?" Bai Yuan asked. "Why is that?"
Gao Jie laughed loudly. "Because women do it for me."
"I am deeply impressed," Bai Yuan replied sincerely.
Gao Jie glanced at him again. "You do not look like a court official. What do you do?"
"My surname is Bai," Bai Yuan said. "I oversee the local militia."
"A militia commander?" Gao Jie nodded thoughtfully. Luoyang is the center of the realm. Wealthy families are everywhere. Anyone managing the militia here must be backed by a powerful clan.
When he was a rebel, he had robbed noble families. Now that he served the court, he needed to reverse course and make connections instead.
He cupped his fists. "Mister Bai, I hope to receive your guidance in the future."
"The pleasure is mine," Bai Yuan replied.
By then, Fan Shangzheng and He Renlong had finished their discussion and returned.
As they walked away together, Fan Shangzheng leaned closer and lowered his voice. "He Renlong told me something strange. His unit keeps getting singled out. The rebels chase them day and night, even splitting forces to encircle them. It is as if they will not rest until he is dead. He does not understand why, and it has left him humiliated and helpless."
Bai Yuan let out a soft chuckle.
If only you had seen that Gao Family Village news segment about the Dashing General being cuckolded, he thought. That broadcast had aired only once before being immediately suppressed. Only the inner circle knew about it. Fan Shangzheng clearly was not among them.
Bai Yuan said nothing aloud, only chuckled twice more. Then he paused, feeling a trace of guilt. Perhaps I really should strike "ritual propriety" from my list of cultivated virtues.
Far above, outside the diorama box, Li Daoxuan's attention sharpened.
Gao Jie had now entered his field of view.
With a single thought, he could strike him down.
But should he?
Gao Jie was not like most pacified rebels.
Most so called surrenders were temporary. Those men merely waited, rebuilt their strength, and rebelled again once the Manchus invaded and imperial troops moved north.
Gao Jie was different.
History recorded that he truly surrendered.
After cuckolding Li Zicheng, there had been no path back to the rebel ranks. Redemption was his only option. From that point on, he never rebelled again. Instead, he fought fiercely against bandits and rebels, eventually becoming one of the Four Garrisons of the Southern Ming. One of the last pillars resisting the Qing.
That hope ended with his death.
To kill him now felt unjust.
Perhaps, with guidance, he could still be useful.
Li Daoxuan made his decision.
His consciousness descended and merged into the embroidered image of Dao Xuan Tianzun on Bai Yuan's chest. His voice echoed directly in Fan Shangzheng's mind.
"Fan Shangzheng. You do not need to worry about He Renlong."
Fan Shangzheng stiffened. "Then who should I watch?"
"Gao Jie," Dao Xuan Tianzun said calmly. "He is a pacified rebel who lacks restraint. Watch his arrogance, his cruelty, his disregard for discipline, and his tendency to allow his troops to plunder civilians."
Fan Shangzheng straightened immediately. "Understood. I will warn him at once."
"A warning alone is insufficient," Dao Xuan Tianzun replied. "Give him a copy of Dao Xuan Tianzun's Tale of Demon Extermination. Let him read it. Tell him this."
A pause.
"Luoyang is under my protection."