Volume 1, Chapter 20: Defeat Brings Shame to Xiongxin

Xu Gai was not particularly old, around fifty, with a face strikingly similar to that of his son, Xu Shiji. He sported a thick, full beard and possessed a commanding, formidable presence. However, this formidable air was limited to his face; his physique was a far cry from his son’s. Having long lived the life of a wealthy master, he had grown quite portly.

Seeing Li Shandao and Gao Chounu enter, Xu Gai rose personally to welcome them. As he was an elder and the father of Xu Shiji, Li Shandao paid him his formal respects, and Gao Chounu followed suit, bowing low.

Xu Gai helped them up and said, "Er-lang, Chounu, if not for you two that day, this old man would have lost his life! Er-lang, I later prepared a gift of gratitude and sent a servant to your house, but you had already come to Wagang."

Li Shandao smiled and replied, "Following your instructions to deliver a letter to the eldest young master, how could I have dared to delay?"

Xu Gai turned to Xu Shiji and asked, "A-Nu, did you thank Er-lang properly on your father's behalf?"

"Father, Er-lang is a man who values honor over wealth. He refused to accept the gift I brought him."

Having raised a son like Xu Shiji, Xu Gai was himself a man of heroic spirit. Hearing this, he did not dwell on the matter of the gift. Instead, he produced a letter and handed it to Li Shandao, saying with a smile, "Er-lang, since you would not accept the gift, you must at least accept this letter."

Li Shandao took the letter—it was from his elder brother, Li Shanren—and thanked Xu Gai, saying, "I have troubled you, Xu Gong, to carry this letter for me."

"What trouble is there? I was coming to the stronghold anyway; it was no effort at all. Your brother misses you dearly. You should read his letter first." Xu Gai stepped back two paces and looked up at Gao Chounu. "Chounu! Do you know what I said when I returned home after you saved me that day?"

Gao Chounu, standing nearly two heads taller than Xu Gai, stooped and replied, "Did you fly into a rage, Xu Gong, and have that ox slaughtered and eaten?"

"Haha! I did kill that ox, and I ate it too, but that is not what I meant. I said that although my house is full of servants, not one of them is worth a damn—none of them can compare to you, Chounu! I truly envy Er-lang for having a servant like you."

"I am but a man with two arms full of strength; I dare not compare myself to the worthy servants of your household."

Li Shanren’s letter was short. Having finished reading it, Li Shandao tucked it away and thanked Xu Gai once more for his kindness. Xu Gai returned to his seat and gestured for Li Shandao and the others to sit.

Once they were settled, Xu Gai gestured to Xu Shiji and another youth in the room. "Think of that foolish ox—weighing over a thousand catties, and once it went mad, who dared to stop it? If not for Er-lang and Chounu risking their lives to save me, you lot would no longer have a father! Why haven't you thanked them on your father's behalf?"

The youth was seventeen or eighteen, Xu Shiji’s younger brother, Xu Shiguan. The two brothers obeyed and went to bow before Li Shandao and Gao Chounu. Li Shandao, barely seated, hurriedly rose to stop them, grabbing each by the arm and exclaiming, "I dare not! I dare not! You must not heap such honor upon me!"

The brothers, both filial, insisted on the bow. As Li Shandao struggled to restrain them both, he said urgently, "Eldest brother, Third brother, even if Xu Gong were not a respected elder of the county, if any stranger saw an ox go wild, how could Chounu and I stand by and do nothing? It was a mere trifle, hardly worth mentioning! If you insist on bowing, then I shall have to bow as well!"

As the commotion continued, a soft, delicate voice came from the inner doorway: "Eldest brother, Third brother, Master Li is the benefactor who saved our father. It is only right to be joyful upon meeting a benefactor; such bickering is unbecoming. Father, since Master Li firmly refuses the gesture, please heed his wishes. Third brother and I have now joined Father at the stronghold, and there will be plenty of time to repay the debt of gratitude for saving Father."

Xu Gai laughed. "Very well. Er-lang is a man of honor; since he will not accept your thanks, you may rise."

***

Xu Shiji and Xu Shiguan ceased their efforts. After some shuffling, their clothes were disheveled. Once they straightened their attire and sat back down, Li Shandao took the opportunity to look toward the inner doorway.

Standing there was a young woman in a yellow dress. She had bright eyes, white teeth, and skin like smooth jade. Her elegant gaze was fixed on Li Shandao. He recognized her as Xu Shiji’s second elder sister, Xu Lan.

The Xu family had five children: two sisters and two brothers. The eldest sister, Xu Hui, had married into the Wang family of Langya. The second brother, Xu Shibi, had remained at home to manage the estate, while Xu Lan and Xu Shiguan had accompanied their father to the stronghold.

Xu Lan was slightly older than Li Shandao, about twenty-three or twenty-four, and had once been married, but her husband had passed away from illness a few years prior. Xu Gai adored her and had brought her home. Li Shandao had seen her occasionally back in the county and recognized her. Not daring to stare, he bowed to her in greeting. Xu Lan returned the courtesy with a graceful nod and retreated into the inner room.

The servants brought in broth. Xu Gai invited Li Shandao and Gao Chounu to be seated once more to drink and talk.

Li Shandao asked solicitously, "It has been raining all day and the mountain roads are slippery. Did you have any trouble on your way to the stronghold, sir?"

"I traveled by sedan chair, so I was fine. It was only hard on the men, Hei Ta and Hu’er, who carried me."

Li Shandao replied, "Everyone in the stronghold is overjoyed to hear of your arrival, and Zhai Gong is especially pleased. I myself am quite thrilled. Now that you are here, I can come to pay my respects often and listen to your teachings. Just thinking of it brings me great joy."

Xu Gai stroked his beard—a habitual gesture identical to his son’s—and said, "I have already heard from Shiji that you have performed great feats since arriving on the mountain and have already been promoted to commander by Zhai Gong. That is excellent! It brings honor to me as well."

Li Shandao had entered the stronghold relying on Xu Gai’s letter of introduction, which was why Xu Gai spoke so highly of him.

"What merit can I claim? It is thanks to the eldest young master for not seeing me as a dullard and allowing me to join your ranks that I am truly grateful," Li Shandao said humbly before asking, "Your arrival this time is due to the wild words of Wang Gui, the newly appointed administrator of Dongjun. May I ask, has this man dared to harass you in the county during this time?"

"He is new to his post and has too much to worry about; he has had no time to spare for me."

Li Shandao said, "You have the hearts of the people in the county, and with the eldest young master’s reputation, I expect he would not dare to bother you! If he were truly foolish enough to do so, it would be no matter—at one word from the eldest young master, the ten thousand tigers and wolves of this stronghold would crush his administrative office!"

Xu Gai laughed heartily. "I do not fear him. My reason for coming to the mountain is simply to seek some peace and quiet."

"Indeed, indeed. Though the stronghold is in the mountains, there is no shortage of daily necessities. With the eldest young master here, it shall be no different from when you were at home. If there is anything lacking, or if the eldest young master is busy with his duties, please do not hesitate to command me. I will see to it personally."

Xu Gai said, "Of course. Since I am new to the mountains and unfamiliar with things, I shall surely have to trouble you, Er-lang."

Just as they were speaking, several men burst in, their rain-slicked capes still on. Without a word, they knelt and bowed, saying in unison, "We welcome Father to the stronghold! We were late in arriving to greet you; please forgive our transgressions."

It was Shan Xiongxin and his confidants. His own branch of the stronghold had some business to attend to, and he had been unable to join Xu Shiji in welcoming Xu Gai. Since becoming sworn brothers with Xu Shiji, Shan Xiongxin had snuck into Weinan County several times to visit Xu Gai.

Xu Gai, well-acquainted with him, had Xu Shiji help him up and laughed. "I am only entering the stronghold; why such a stir? Er-lang, the last time I saw you was during the New Year, was it not? It has been over two months—stand up and let me have a look at you."

Shan Xiongxin stood and took off his wet cape. He spread his arms, and Xu Gai looked him over. Shan Xiongxin laughed, "Father, it has been two months, and you look better than ever! You look much younger than when I last visited!"

"You rogue, you always know what to say... what happened to the hem of your robe?" There was a smudge of blood on the edge of Shan Xiongxin’s clothing.

Shan Xiongxin looked down and cursed, "Oh, I didn't realize I had blood on me. I didn't change before coming to see you; how improper!"

Xu Gai asked with concern, "How did you get blood on you? Were you in a fight? Are you injured?"

Shan Xiongxin hesitated, seemingly reluctant to speak. Xu Gai said, "What is it? Is there something you cannot tell me? If it is inconvenient, then forget I asked. Just tell me, are you hurt?"

Despite being in Xu Gai’s presence, he couldn't help but let out a curse. "Damn those thieves! It is truly humiliating. It is not that I cannot tell you, but I am ashamed to show my face before you with such a shameful affair. If I ever run into that thief Qin Qiong, I will surely cut him down to prove myself a hero!"

"Did your men encounter Qin Qiong in Dongping?"

"I have heard of this Qin Qiong. They say he and Luo Shixin are the two fiercest generals under Zhang Xutuo, possessing the strength of ten thousand men. At the end of the year before last, when Zhang Xutuo fought the rebel leader Lu Mingyue in Zhu’a, Lu Mingyue’s forces numbered over a hundred thousand. It was only because Qin Qiong and Luo Shixin broke into Lu Mingyue’s camp and cut off his rear that Zhang Xutuo was victorious. He is indeed exceptionally brave."

Shan Xiongxin said unhappily, "Father, why do you build up the enemy’s morale and dampen our own?"

Xu Gai stroked his beard and laughed. "Er-lang, how could I be doing that? Everything I said is just what I have heard. I know your prowess well; with your long spear, no one can defeat you. Even if that Qin Qiong has a reputation for bravery, he is no match for you."

"Father, just watch—one day, when I encounter that thief Qin Qiong, I will take his head and present it to you!"

Xu Gai praised, "Er-lang, your spirit could swallow the mountains and rivers!"

As twilight deepened and the rainy weather made the room dim, the servants lit the lamps. Just as Shan Xiongxin and the others were about to be seated, more people arrived through the rain.

Two or three dozen burly men with spears and staves led the way, followed by over a hundred men in fine silks. In the center were a dozen people on horseback or in carriages. Upon reaching the courtyard, the men lined up on either side, and those riding dismounted to enter together. The hundred men shouted in unison, "Zhai Gong and all the great leaders respectfully invite Xu Gong to the banquet!" Zhai Zhai had prepared a feast and had come personally to invite Xu Gai.