Volume One, Chapter One: Jiaojiao’s Bitter Longing to Marry a Rogue

The Year 612 of the Sui Dynasty.

In early spring, wildflowers bloomed profusely, grasses grew lush, and trees flourished along the road. Hawks and sparrows soared in the sky. Li Shimin lifted his eyes and saw the prefectural seat of Mayi, Shanyang, already within sight.

Not long ago, the Turks had breached the frontier. His father, Li Yuan, was currently leading troops here, joining forces with Wang Rengong, the governor of Mayi, to resist the invasion. The Turkic forces were numerous, while Li Yuan and Wang Rengong had only a few soldiers. Concerned for his father’s safety, Li Shimin had hurried here to assist.

Yet, his visit was not solely for this purpose; he carried a greater mission in his heart.

Though spring had arrived, the evening winds at the Mayi border still carried a blade-like chill. Yet this cold breeze blew against him, stirring his cloak, and Li Shimin felt it to be just right.

He glanced back along the wide official road stretching southward into the heartland of Shanxi and the vast Central Plains of the empire.

The emperor had launched grand projects and waged two campaigns against Goguryeo, draining the people’s strength without regard for their suffering. Now, the Central Plains were aflame with uprisings, the great Sui empire’s realm teetering on the brink of disaster. This was the time for heroes to rise. As a noble of the Li family from Guanzhong, how could they not seize this opportunity?

His greater purpose in coming was to persuade his father, Li Yuan, that he must not linger long at the border. They had to find a way to leave Mayi and secure a better, more suitable post before this chance slipped away.

But would Li Yuan heed his counsel?

The saying goes, “No one knows a son better than his father,” yet “No one knows a father better than his son.” As Li Yuan’s son, Li Shimin believed he understood his father’s ambition well enough and was not overly worried.

Shanyang City was now close at hand. Locals, both Han and Hu, entered and exited the city—some with hair bound in cloth, others with braided hair pinned to the left—leading horses or herding sheep. The bustle grew steadily livelier.

Li Shimin no longer hesitated. Facing the blade-like cold evening wind, he cracked his whip and spurred his horse forward, accompanied by his brightly clad retainers, riding proud steeds and armed with bows and swords, galloping toward the city gate.

The vast desert smoke rose straight; the long river embraced the round setting sun.

Night was deepening. The border’s sunset was sinking low, and bathing in the afterglow stood Li Shimin, only seventeen years old, radiating youthful vigor from every pore. His galloping figure was striking, like a newly risen morning sun.

...

From Mayi heading southeast, crossing Yanmen Commandery, traversing the Taihang Mountains, passing through various Hebei commanderies, and crossing the Yellow River—a journey of over a thousand li—lay the eastern commanderies of the Sui, including Henan.

At the very moment Li Shimin rode into Shanyang City, in Weinan County of the Eastern Commandery, a household sheltered a young girl about his age. Unlike Li Shimin’s lofty ambition and pride in riding horses, she wore a furrowed brow, tears brimming in her eyes.

The girl was around fifteen or sixteen years old, delicate and petite. She stared at the scissors on the table again and again, as though steeling herself. Wiping away her tears, she picked them up and held them near her neck. Before the scissors touched her flesh, a chill prickled her skin, causing her to shudder involuntarily. Ultimately, she lacked the courage to plunge the scissors into her throat.

Tears flowed uncontrollably. She set down the scissors and picked up a bronze mirror instead.

How was it that such a lovely girl had been promised by her father and mother to that prodigal son Li Shandao?

Yet her father and mother had already consented to the marriage alliance with the Li family, accepted the betrothal gifts, and promised her to Li Shandao.

What was she to do?

As she wept in sorrow, voices came from outside the courtyard.

Her parents had both gone out, and she was alone at home. Wang Jiajiao had intended to ignore the callers, but they persisted relentlessly. She could only stop crying, wipe her tears, glance once more in the bronze mirror—fortunately, her eyes were not swollen yet—and went to the courtyard, calling out, “Who is it?” Her voice was slightly hoarse from crying, though her eyes remained clear.

Outside, a muffled voice replied, “Lady Wang? It’s me, Chou Nu, the ugly servant.”

Wang Jiajiao’s expression darkened instantly. “Chou Nu,” known as “Ugly Servant,” was no one else but the chief servant of that detestable prodigal Li Shandao, his most loyal henchman. She snapped, “What do you want?”

“Please inform Lady Wang that my master has written a letter to your father and asked me to deliver it.”

Wang Jiajiao was taken aback. “What letter?”

“Open the door, and I will give you the letter.”

Wang Jiajiao disliked everything about the Li family, including Chou Nu, and had no desire to see him. “My father and mother are not home. Please leave for now. When they return, you can come again.”

Silence fell outside. Whether Chou Nu left or not, Wang Jiajiao could not hear. If he wanted to stay outside, let him stay! She turned and moved back inside, intending to cry some more.

Before she could decide to accept or reject, a letter was slipped through the crack beneath the door.

Wang Jiajiao stopped, surprised, and called out, “That prodigal… Your master is leaving today? Where to?”

Chou Nu, having just delivered the letter, was leaving the Wang household but hadn’t gone far. Hearing her question, he called back, “Wagang.”

“Wagang?” Wang Jiajiao repeated, shocked. “Why would he go to that den of thieves? Could it be that he...?”

What was Wagang?

Though a young woman, Wang Jiajiao knew well. Wagang was the name of a bandit stronghold. Weinan County bordered the Yellow River to the west, and Wagang Village lay on the opposite bank in the mighty Dapi Mountain.

It had been an ordinary mountain before, but in recent years, it changed.

The change was due to one man: Zhai Rang of Weicheng.

Zhai Rang had been a magistrate in the Eastern Commandery, sentenced to death for a crime. Luckily, the jailer Huang Junhan saved him, turning him into a fugitive. He gathered a band of warriors and vigilantes under his banner. Today, Wagang was notorious far and wide as a bandit nest.

Wang Jiajiao hurried to the gate and picked up the letter Chou Nu had slipped in. She recognized the handwriting at once—it was Li Shandao’s.

The letter’s tone was half literary, half colloquial, roughly stating that the realm was in turmoil and it was a time for heroes to wield their arms. Zhai Rang had rallied forces at Wagang, recruiting the valiant, and the powerful local magnate Xu Shiji had already joined him. Li Shandao therefore also decided to go and join them. Should his mission succeed, there would be no need to say more. But if it failed, he feared it might implicate the Wang family and thus requested to cancel his engagement to Wang Jiajiao.

It was, in fact, a letter dissolving their marriage contract!

After reading, Wang Jiajiao stood stunned for a long while, murmuring, “That prodigal is truly going to join Zhai Rang’s bandits!”

For a moment, she felt a strange mix of emotions. The unexpected cancellation brought relief, lifting the heavy burden she had borne for days, making her feel lighthearted. Yet, an inexplicable sense of loss lingered.

Why the loss?

Even Wang Jiajiao herself found it puzzling and gave up trying to understand. She read the letter once more, focusing on the phrase “a time for heroes to wield their arms.” She spat and said, “Whoever it is, they all call themselves heroes now? Still, at least he has some conscience to worry about implicating my family!”

Clutching the letter, she returned indoors, cheerfully awaiting her parents’ return.

Meanwhile, Chou Nu left the Wang household and hurried back to the Li family.

Just inside the Li compound, he encountered a young man exiting—it was none other than Li Shandao himself.

Chou Nu saluted and said, “Master, the letter has been delivered.”

Li Shandao wore a soft cloth headwrap, a white round-collared robe, with a waist sash holding various trinkets and a sword. His short leather boots complemented his strong, martial demeanor. His thick eyebrows and large eyes gave him a handsome appearance.

Hearing the report, Li Shandao asked, “What did Master Wang say?”

“Chou Nu, be honest with me: is my reputation in the county really that bad?”

Chou Nu hesitated, scratching his head and stammering, “Well… Master, in the county…”

Li Shandao interrupted, “Chou Nu, what were you just about to say?”

“What’s the difference?” Li Shandao laughed, stroking his chin beard. Not catching Chou Nu’s unfinished words, he glanced at the sky and changed the subject. “Chou Nu, you came back just in time. Had you been late, you’d have had to chase after me out of town.”

Chou Nu was simple-minded and easily distracted. “Master, are we setting out now?”

Li Shandao said, “Qin San and the others are already waiting outside the city. We shouldn’t keep them waiting. Besides, I have nothing to pack.” He patted the sword at his waist, then smiled at the tall and sturdy Chou Nu. “With this sword and you, that’s all I need! Let’s go. We’re leaving now!”

He strode briskly, followed by two or three servants and Chou Nu, who led a horse out of the courtyard.

Li Shandao instructed the servants at the gate, “When Da Lang returns home, tell him I have gone to Wagang. He need not worry about me.”

“Da Lang” was Li Shandao’s elder brother, Li Shanren, who was honest and upright, very different from Li Shandao. The marriage to the Wang family had been arranged by Li Shanren. Li Shandao chose this dusk departure to slip away while Li Shanren was out inspecting the fields, thus evading detection.

The servants exchanged nervous glances, wanting to advise Li Shandao against secretly joining the bandits at Wagang, but knowing his temper and fearing a beating, they dared not speak and merely nodded in obedience.

As dusk deepened, before the city gates closed, Li Shandao and Chou Nu departed Weinan County.

A few miles south of the city, beyond a stream by the fields, about a dozen strong men sat playing. Seeing Li Shandao approach on horseback, they quickly rose to greet him. Though different in height and age, all were vigorous and bore the rugged air of outlaws.

Near Li Shandao’s horse, they clasped their hands together in salute and said in unison, “Master has arrived!”

“Are all assembled?” Li Shandao asked.

The eldest replied, “Thirteen in total, none missing, all here. We only await your arrival to set out.”

This man was Qin San.

Li Shandao waved his hand grandly and declared, “I’ve arrived. What are we waiting for? Brothers, let’s go!”

With his command, the thirteen men and Chou Nu formed a group behind him, following on foot as they headed southward.

Weinan County lay west of the Yellow River. The Wagang stronghold in Dapi Mountain was just on the river’s western bank, across the river and not far from the county seat—only about a hundred li away.

After more than a day’s journey, Li Shandao and his followers reached the outskirts of Wagang Village.