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Chapter 211 The Li Family Caravan
A cool night breeze swept by, lifting a few sparks from the campfire, which swirled and flew into the deep night sky, as if trying to merge into the vast starry sky.

In the distance, around several campfires where soldiers sat, some soldiers struck iron basins or wooden shields with short swords, their rough voices singing unknown northern folk songs.

For a moment, the deep, desolate, bold and simple singing voice echoed in the night breeze and the aroma of meat.

Until the banquet ended and everyone dispersed, the officials and servants orderly cleared away the mess of cups and plates.

Civil and military officials, along with their accompanying soldiers, dragged their weary bodies in twos and threes to their makeshift tents to rest.

According to the original plan, the emperor and his officials were to stay overnight at the Circular Mound Altar, and the imperial entourage would return to the city early tomorrow morning to pay homage to the ancestors at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Li Yi lay fully clothed in the cramped marching tent. The unique noises of the camp—the sound of the night patrol's clapper, the occasional snorting of warhorses, and the indistinct commands from distant sentries—seeped into his ears through the gaps in the tent fabric.

His thoughts quickly began to wander like a wild horse in the not-so-quiet night.

In fact, the emperor's decision to bestow honors and rewards upon Li Yi during this suburban sacrifice was not merely about reassigning him to a regional military governorship.

At the same time, he was promoted in his honorary rank and the title of Inspector: from Silver-Green Grand Master of the Palace to Gold-Purple Grand Master of the Palace, and from Inspector Minister of War to Inspector Minister of Education.

At first glance, these two titles seem to be more honorary than practical.

In particular, the title of Inspector has been indiscriminately bestowed since the mid-to-late Tang Dynasty. Even clerks and officers in the military governorships of the regional military governors could obtain titles such as Inspector Assistant Minister or Inspector Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.

So much so that it was often said in street gossip: "Ministers of the Ministry of Personnel are everywhere, while Ministers of the Imperial Secretariat are no better than dogs."

The titles of "仆射" and "尚书" mentioned here are honorary titles, as they are different from actual appointments.

However, on the other hand, these honorary titles are not entirely worthless.

Even though it has the words "Inspector" in front of it, "Situ" is still one of the Three Dukes... Such a title, when placed on a name card and displayed in front of people, is quite impressive.

As for the honorary title of Grand Master of the Palace, it was even more prestigious. Although it did not have any actual duties, it granted the holder the corresponding salary and political status.

For example, in Tang Dynasty historical records, it is common to see emperors bestowing purple-gold fish-shaped pouches and scarlet-silver fish-shaped pouches. This was a special favor bestowed upon those who had not yet reached the corresponding rank, granting them the honor of wearing purple or scarlet.

To be honest, Li Yi's promotion to Grand Master of the Palace with Golden Purple Robes this time is the only way he can be considered to have truly entered the ranks of the third rank.

Because his nominal position as Jiedushi of Desheng Army and his post as Commander of the Palace Cavalry were actually just official posts and assignments, they did not have a fixed rank at present.

If we measure rank and status and enjoy corresponding treatment according to the system of rites, such as whether one can wear a purple robe and carry a gold fish bag, it mainly depends on the rank of the official.

Even on the epitaphs and spirit tablets of many officials after their death, their official ranks were often listed first.

Thinking of this, Li Yi couldn't help but recall Jing Fan, the former prime minister who had concurrently served as the judge of the Three Departments.

Last year, the other party requested to retire on the grounds of returning to his hometown to bury his father. After Emperor Shizong Chai Rong granted his request, in order to show his favor, in addition to giving him the title of Attendant-in-Ordinary, he was also granted the title of Silver Seal Grand Master.

Even a high-ranking official like him, upon retirement, only held the rank of a third-grade official.

Li Yinian was only in his early twenties, yet he had already been promoted to Grand Master of the Palace... Looking around the court, among the civil and military officials of his age, who else could receive such an honor?
Although during the Five Dynasties period, the emperors treated military generals particularly well, and the rewards they bestowed upon them were far greater than those upon civil officials.

However, it is still extremely rare for someone like Li Yi, who is young and inexperienced, to receive such a prestigious position.

The emperor had indeed given him the maximum reward he could.

Li Yi counted on his fingers his current official titles and honors—Grand Master of the Palace, Military Governor of Desheng Army, Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guards, Senior Protector of the Army, and Inspector of the Ministry of Works…

Outside the tent, all sounds gradually subsided, leaving only the occasional popping of the campfire.

A deep drowsiness finally overwhelmed Li Yi, engulfing him like a tide. His chaotic thoughts dissipated, leaving only the faint glow of the embers casting his silhouette on the curtains.

……

The next morning, in the chilly morning wind, the imperial carriage departed from the Circular Mound Altar.

However, the massive ceremonial procession did not return to the palace, but instead went directly to the Imperial Ancestral Temple. With the same piety and determination, the emperor conveyed his will to his ancestors.

After two days of ceremonies, everything returned to normal.

The first priority was to resolve the issues of the Wuyue Kingdom and the Wuping Army. Although news of Wuyue's defeat and Wang Kui's death reached Tokyo, the Later Zhou court did not respond immediately.

It wasn't until the third day after the suburban sacrificial ceremony that specific countermeasures were discussed and agreed upon.

The main approach to the Wuping regime in the southwest was to appease it. An envoy was sent to Tanzhou to appoint Zhou Xingfeng as the military governor of Wuping and the prefect of Tanzhou, with the additional title of Grand Commandant.

According to the court officials led by Chancellor Fan Zhi, before the Southern Tang conquered Ma Chu, Wang Kui served as the commander of Jingjiang Army, and Zhou Xingfeng was Wang Kui's deputy.

After Liu Yan was enthroned as the military governor of Wuping, Wang Kui was appointed as the military governor of Wu'an, and Zhou Xingfeng became Wang Kui's military advisor.

Later, when Wang Kui assassinated Liu Yan and declared himself the military governor of Wuping, he ordered Zhou Xingfeng to guard Tanzhou, while he himself was stationed in Langzhou. This shows how close the two were.

Now that Wang Kui has died unexpectedly, Zhou Xingfeng is undoubtedly the most prestigious and powerful figure in the Wuping Army, and he is also the most likely to inherit Wang Kui's territory.

Therefore, since Hou Zhou doesn't have the energy to intervene at the moment, he can only acquiesce and let Zhou Xingfeng "act as he sees fit."

To put it bluntly, if you have the ability to suppress the internal opposition, then the position of acting governor can be officially recognized immediately, and the Later Zhou court will only need to issue a formal appointment.

But if you don't have the ability, then in the end, whoever wins will be appointed.

However, regardless of the outcome, it's unlikely that the Wuping Army will be able to send troops to assist in the attack on the Southern Tang in the short term.

As for Qian Hongchu of Wuyue, the Later Zhou court obviously paid more attention to him and sent a team of dozens of people to Wuyue.

Firstly, Wuyue was stronger than Wuping Army, and had always been quite respectful to the Central Plains court. It had also contributed a lot to the attack on Southern Tang.

Secondly, apart from Qian Hongchu of Wuyue, there are no other forces in the south that can be relied upon to help restrain the Southern Tang.

Therefore, Emperor Shizong Chai Rong naturally had to treat him with sufficient courtesy to appease him and persuade him to continue sending troops to assist in the attack on the Southern Tang. However, the matter of sending an envoy to Wuyue did not seem to be easy at the moment.

They had to risk great accidents, traversing thousands of miles, passing through several prefectures under the control of the Southern Tang, and then heading south via Jiangyin to reach Hangzhou.

Moreover, once they arrived in Hangzhou, they would have to find a way to persuade Qian Hongchu and dispel his intention to back down.

The final choice of envoy by the imperial court surprised Li Yi somewhat – it was Cao Bin, the Left Supervisor of the Imperial Guard and the Envoy of the Western Upper Gate.

According to Li Yi, he learned from Xiang Xun that Cao Bin had volunteered for this position and petitioned the emperor for it.

On the morning of the seventh day of the first lunar month, the well-prepared delegation, led by Cao Bin, boarded a boat at the dock outside the East Water Gate and headed south along the Bian River.

……

Meanwhile, in Junzhou, about 800 or 900 miles away from Kaifeng, a caravan of dozens of boats slowly anchored at a ferry crossing on the Han River within Fengli County.

On the bow of the lead sand barge, a cloth banner bearing the name "Li" fluttered, indicating that it was the merchant caravan of Li Erniang, a merchant from Sichuan.

Their journey began in Chengdu, Shu Kingdom, carrying Shu brocade, tea, wine, and money. They passed through Jianmen Pass to Xingyuan Prefecture in Hanzhong, and then transferred to sand boats to travel downstream along the Han River.

At this moment, the area around the ferry crossing was bustling with activity: porters shouted as they waited to unload their goods, steam rose from the vendors' crates, and merchants' hangers-on moved about, inquiring about the goods.

Fengli Ferry, located on a vital route connecting Sichuan and Jingzhou, is bustling with activity year-round. Caravans travel north and south, and travelers come and go in an endless stream, and a spontaneous market has long formed along the riverbank.

Just as the fleet docked, two people from the crowd on the shore came to greet them.

The man appeared to be in his early thirties, dressed in a blue cloth robe and wearing a square turban. His gait exuded the refined and composed air of a scholar.

The other was a middle-aged man with a thick, bushy beard.

Behind the two were several burly young men, all dressed in coarse cloth round-necked casual clothes, but they exuded a fierce aura.

The group was led by Zhao Pu and Wang Renzhan. Several days ago, they had been ordered by Li Yi to ride at full speed from Kaifeng with a few personal guards to meet Li Erniang's caravan here in advance.

Before the boat was even fully aboard, Wang Renzhan stepped forward and called out loudly to the ship, "We have been waiting here for a long time on the orders of the commander-in-chief. Is this the fleet of Li Erniangzi from Chengdu Prefecture?"

A lean, foreman-like man on the ship was directing the sailors to moor the ropes.

Hearing the sound, he quickly stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the group of people on the shore, paying particular attention to the young men.

Hearing the other party accurately state the name and origin of his business, the lean man did not completely relax.

He pondered to himself: I didn't make any arrangements here beforehand, so who exactly are these mysterious figures in front of me?
Thinking this, the lean man stood at the bow of the boat, cupped his hands in greeting, and replied tentatively with a tone of caution and politeness: "Indeed, our company comes from Chengdu Prefecture, and our owner is indeed known as 'Li Er Niangzi'. But may I ask what brings you gentlemen here?"

Wang Renzhan frowned, about to introduce himself again, when Zhao Pu, who was standing to the side, spoke first: "My lord is the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard of the Great Zhou Dynasty. He has a deep connection with your second wife. This trip is of great importance, so he specially sent us to meet and protect her."

As he spoke, Zhao Pu reached into his robes and took out a wooden talisman and a letter sealed with wax.

"Before we depart, the commander personally bestowed upon us a token and a letter as proof. Please verify them."

Upon hearing Li Yi's name and seeing the token held high in Zhao Pu's hand, the lean man's doubts dissipated considerably.

He quickly stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "Oh dear! So you are all under Commander Li's command. I was blind and have been negligent. Please forgive me."

Zhao Pu said, "It's alright. It's only right to be cautious when traveling."

The lean man accepted the token with both hands and apologized, saying, "Please wait here for a moment. My second wife and husband are also on the boat. I will go and fetch them right away."

……

Inside the sand barge, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Light streamed through the small portholes, casting soft streaks of light.

The boat swayed gently with the waves, making a soft creaking sound. The air was filled with the rich fragrance of the stove, mixed with the slightly damp smell of the boat's wood.

Two people sat silently facing each other beside a low table covered with a blue velvet carpet by the window.

One of them was a young girl in her prime, wearing a light blue silk dress with a hem that spread out like ripples on water, and the edges of the sleeves were embroidered with intertwined branches in slightly darker silk thread.

A silver hairpin adorned with pearl flowers was tucked diagonally into the girl's dark hair, making her skin appear even whiter than snow.

At this moment, Li Erniang lowered her head slightly, her long eyelashes casting shadows on her delicate cheeks, as if she were immersed in her own thoughts, exuding a girlish elegance and tranquility, but also a faint, imperceptible sense of confusion.

Sitting opposite her was a young man who appeared to be around twenty years old.

The man wore a finely crafted dark blue plain shirt, with a dark tanned belt around his waist, from which hung a lustrous jade ornament.

He was tall and slender, casually leaning against the back of the brocade cushion, his posture both relaxed and self-possessed. His handsome features were well-defined, with a high nose bridge. His fingers were unconsciously tapping lightly on the low tabletop. Although his gaze seemed to be fixed on the shimmering water outside the window, his thoughts had already wandered elsewhere.

If you look closely at their eyes and eyebrows, you will find that their facial features and temperament are similar.

In the brief silence, the man turned his head slightly and looked back at the girl opposite him.

He frowned slightly, his casual demeanor softening as he sat up a bit straighter and said, "This time, the caravan is carrying far more wealth than ever before on its journey to Tokyo, Zhou Kingdom... If it weren't for your insistence on persuading Mother to agree, I would never have let you act so recklessly."

After speaking, he paused, then reiterated his concerns, "Although I have never been to the Central Plains, I have heard of it. It is said that it is a country ruled by warriors, where soldiers are crude and tyrannical, only knowing how to levy exorbitant taxes and treating the common people like ants and weeds. Why should we, merchants from Shu, bother getting involved in such a dangerous place? Wouldn't it be better to operate peacefully in the southwest?"

Hearing her brother's words, Li Erniang remained silent for a moment, then sighed softly, her cherry lips parting slightly as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Just then, several knocks came from outside the cabin door: "Reporting to my lord and my lady, the people sent by Commander Li of Tokyo to meet us are already waiting at the ferry crossing, and they have also brought Commander Li's token... Would you like to personally inspect it?"

Before the words outside the door had even finished, Li Erniang's clear eyes suddenly snapped open, a genuine look of surprise flashing across them.

(End of this chapter)