Shi Xiangsong was the Prefect of Luoyang City. Today, he had invited several close friends to his home for a gathering.
Only people of the same social stratum could become truly close. The guests today, besides the Inspector Liao Pingwei, included Shi Xiangsong's own subordinates—the Merit Officer and the Registrar—as well as a few others he was usually on good terms with.
It could be said that the most important officials of Luoyang City were all gathered in the Prefect's residence today.
In truth, a small meeting with such a complete attendance had only been held once before by Shi Xiangsong. The reason for their gathering this time was none other than this: since the day Huo Tingshan took up residence in Luoyang, not a single invitation from them had successfully made its way into the Governor's mansion.
"Brother Shi, what do you suppose his intentions are? Governor Huo has been in Luoyang for over a month now, yet he hasn't accepted a single banquet invitation. Even when we visit in person, he refuses to see us. What kind of game is he playing?"
"Regardless of what game he's playing, his current silence is good news. It proves he has no intention of replacing us."
"That's true. Stability and smooth sailing are blessings right now. We mustn't let anything happen at this critical juncture. If we hold our positions and remain quiet, perhaps seeing our compliance, he might even decide not to change the existing personnel..."
However, just as Merit Officer Li finished speaking, a servant hurried in from outside. "Prefect Shi, the young master has returned. It looks like he's been bullied."
Everyone in the residence knew that Shi Xiangsong and his wife had two sons and a daughter in their earlier years. Then, in their later years, his wife, like an old clam producing a pearl, gave birth to another son.
This son was Shi Chenglei.
Being both the youngest and a child of his parents' old age, Young Master Shi enjoyed the utmost affection in the household. Loyal servants naturally also doted on him like a precious jewel. Therefore, when Shi Chenglei returned home in such a disheveled state, the servants were heartbroken.
Prefect Shi saw his son covered in dust and grime, his hair and clothes soaking wet, water still dripping from him. He immediately rose from his seat, both shocked and furious. "My son, who has dared to bully you like this?"
The officials nearby chimed in one after another, "Nephew, what on earth happened?"
Liao Pingwei recalled that his own son seemed to have gone out with Shi Chenglei today, so he asked, "Where did you and Wenbo go today?"
Thud.
Shi Chenglei directly knelt down, his face deathly pale. "Father, we've caused trouble. We inadvertently offended Governor Huo..."
His words shocked everyone present.
The phrase "we" made Liao Pingwei's eyelids twitch violently. Shi Chenglei had called upon friends today; there were quite a few in his party, and his son Liao Wenbo was definitely among them.
In a small, ashamed voice, Shi Chenglei recounted the course of events. Finally, he listed the names of his companions one by one. With each name uttered, someone in the room changed color. By the end, nearly eight or nine out of ten guests invited by Prefect Shi looked ashen-faced.
The memory from an hour ago came to an abrupt halt—
Prefect Shi looked at the empty main hall, the host nowhere to be seen, and his already sagging cheeks trembled slightly.
They had managed to enter the Governor's mansion, but the master of the house was absent.
What did it mean to leave them waiting like this?
His thoughts were complex, and anxiety crept onto his face. As the Prefect of Luoyang, Shi Xiangsong hadn't felt this lost and uneasy for a long time. He was like a pancake on a hot griddle, fried on one side, then flipped to fry the other.
Maids from the Governor's mansion served tea, but Shi Xiangsong and the others dared not take a seat, let alone drink the tea. They stood in the main hall, leading their unfilial sons who had already been given one round of punishment and now sported bruised and swollen faces.
They stood properly in place, waiting stiffly.
Time passed slowly. Clearly, only two quarters of an hour had gone by, yet it felt like an eternity to Shi Xiangsong and the others.
Finally, after half an hour, a figure emerged from the side corridor.
The light that had just sparked in Shi Xiangsong's eyes dimmed by half.
The newcomer was a young man with deep-set brow bones, dark phoenix eyes, and long eyebrows that nearly reached his temples. He wore a light cyan robe, its collar and cuffs embroidered with gold cloud-patterned trim. His bearing was truly majestic and noble.
Well-informed, Shi Xiangsong naturally knew that Huo Tingshan's eldest son was also in Luoyang. He immediately bowed deeply. "Your humble official, Shi Xiangsong, pays his respects to Commander Huo."
Huo Mingji currently held the post of Commander. While his rank was high, the exact extent of his authority and responsibilities was still determined by Huo Tingshan.
Following Shi Xiangsong's lead, the others all bowed in greeting. Instantly, the hall echoed with sounds of homage.
Not mentioning at all that he had kept them waiting for half an hour, Huo Mingji asked knowingly, "I wonder what brings you all here today?"
Shi Xiangsong spoke with humility and remorse, "Today, my unworthy son and his friends, while out enjoying themselves, inadvertently offended Governor Huo and the Governor's Lady. I have brought this good-for-nothing here to apologize. If only Governor Huo can be appeased, even if he were to beat this wretched child to death, I would have not a single word of complaint."
Although his father had instructed him earlier to use retreat as a form of advance, truly hearing that he was to be handed over still made Shi Chenglei's heart pound with fear.
After Shi Xiangsong spoke, Liao Pingwei and the others quickly echoed his sentiments.
Huo Mingji sat in the seat of honor, a slight smile curling his lips as he observed the expressions of the people below.
They were clearly divided into two factions.
One faction was the old foxes, led by Shi Xiangsong, who held official posts. The other faction was the young foxes who had not yet attained such status. The old foxes were full of anguish and righteous indignation, seemingly wishing they could beat the scoundrels beside them to death on the spot. The already battered young foxes trembled with fear, looking at their fathers with dread and worry.
After they had finished their speeches, Huo Mingji finally spoke, unhurriedly, "My father and mother returned late today. I have not yet paid my respects to them and have only heard a brief account from the guards. I am not entirely clear on how exactly your sons offended, to the point that all you pillars of the state have come in person."
The flesh on Shi Xiangsong's face twitched. He cursed inwardly, Little fox, and then cursed his own youngest son.
Always causing trouble, and not even knowing who can be provoked and who cannot.
Yet, on the surface, Shi Xiangsong remained extremely humble. Just as he was about to speak, the person in the seat of honor said, "Young Master Shi, perhaps you should tell it yourself."
Shi Chenglei broke out in a cold sweat. "At the time, I did not know it was Governor Huo, so I argued with him over a pleasure boat. My words were somewhat disrespectful..."
Huo Mingji nodded slightly, his tone turning cold. "I also heard you asked my mother to sing a tune for you."
"It wasn't me who said it! It was Liao Wenbo who said it!" Shi Chenglei blurted out.
As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of a certain father and son instantly turned the color of liver.
"I... I..." Liao Wenbo could no longer stand firm, his knees giving way.
Huo Mingji said calmly, "Since these young gentlemen have not properly learned propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame at home, nor do they understand respect for superiors and distinctions of rank, they shall come to the Governor's mansion to study for a period of time. The Governor's mansion has food and drink; they will not suffer hardship. Moreover, the mansion is heavily guarded. Ordinary thieves would find it difficult to enter. Prefect Shi and the rest of you need not worry."
This time, it wasn't just Liao Pingwei and his son whose expressions changed; all the old foxes lost their composure.
Was this directly taking them hostage?
And "heavily guarded, ordinary thieves would find it difficult to enter"? Why add the word "ordinary"? Was it because "extraordinary" things could also happen?
Everyone's faces turned ashen.
However, Huo Mingji gave them no chance to speak, raising his voice directly to announce the guests' dismissal.
Immediately, a large number of guards with swords poured out from the side corridors ahead and from behind, a classic pincer movement. Like picking up little chicks, each guard grabbed a young master and hauled them away, leaving the group of old men staring helplessly.
"Commander Huo!"
"Commander Huo, this... this is improper. My son is unruly. If he stays here, I fear he will disturb Governor Huo and the Governor's Lady."
"No matter. My father is most hospitable and welcomes the young masters' arrival. It's settled then." After leaving these words, Huo Mingji turned and left.
The guards who had taken the young men also swiftly left the hall. In the blink of an eye, only the older generation, like Shi Xiangsong, remained in the hall.
"Brother Shi, what should we do?" someone asked.
Shi Xiangsong stood rooted to the spot for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before finally saying, "Let's return for now."
Among the captured young masters was the sole heir of his family. His father was now frantic with worry: "So we just leave them be?"
Shi Xiangsong shot him a glance. "Handle it? How do you propose we handle it? Charge inside and demand that man return our sons, or chase after those guards, overpower them, and bring the boys back?"
The man was speechless.
"Let's go back first. This matter requires careful planning," Shi said.
Once the leader decided to withdraw, the others had no choice but to follow. Soon, the hall was completely empty.
Meanwhile.
Dragged to a courtyard, Shi Chenglei and the others were shoved inside. Guo Dajiang said with an expressionless face, "You will stay here for the time being."
Shi Chenglei stumbled, a thought suddenly flashing through his mind.
Normally, apart from chartering, the pleasure boats at "On the Water" didn't require reservations. And it should be known that the "Fair Lady" pleasure boat wasn't often chartered; even young nobles like them had to pool their money to barely afford it.
They had reserved the "Fair Lady" boat three days in advance. How was it that he had coincidentally chosen the very same day they had booked?
Couldn't he have chosen the day before or after? There weren't many people chartering boats.
"There are so many of us. One courtyard probably won't be enough," someone whispered, interrupting Shi Chenglei's train of thought.
Guo Dajiang sneered, "You don't actually think you're here for a holiday, do you?"
The group of young lads instantly shrank like quails.
"Rest well tonight. Tomorrow, such good days will be over." Guo Dajiang said meaningfully.
Shi Chenglei shivered. "Tomorrow? What will happen tomorrow?"
"Sir, my chest hurts terribly. Could we please summon a physician?" The speaker was Liao Wenbo. He had been clutching his chest since earlier, his face as pale as a ghost, swaying as if he could barely stand.
He was the first one kicked by Huo Tingshan, and also the one kicked the hardest. After saying that, Liao Wenbo actually vomited a mouthful of blood.
Guo Dajiang frowned slightly, said nothing about summoning a physician, and turned to leave.
Main Residence.
After hearing his eldest son's report, Huo Tingshan smiled. "Excellent. Start their training tomorrow. Unless they shed a layer of skin, they won't set foot outside this Governor's mansion."
He paused, recalling, and asked his son, "That young man in white, with the slanted eyes, looking like a monkey—which family is he from?"
Huo Mingji thought for a moment. "That is Liao Wenbo, son of the Supervisor Liao Pingwei."
Huo Tingshan said with a cold laugh, "Take special care of that one."
Huo Mingji nodded. "I understand, Father."
"Your father and I won't be dining in the main hall this evening," Pei Ying said then.
Huo Tingshan raised a brow at her words but didn't comment further. After his eldest son left, the man smiled and moved closer, sitting beside Pei Ying. "Why has my lady suddenly decided not to go to the main hall for the evening meal today?"
Pei Ying knew he was feigning ignorance. "Aren't you uncomfortable? Go back and lie down."
This man was proud, unwilling to show the slightest weakness in front of his son. When Huo Mingji had come by earlier, he had forced himself to sit up.
Huo Tingshan: "I'm feeling much better now."
Pei Ying studied his complexion for a moment, then pulled him up from the soft seat. With Huo Tingshan's build, if he truly didn't want to get up, two Pei Yings couldn't have moved him. But he rose, following her lead as she guided him to the bedside.
"Rest," Pei Ying said, giving him a push.
Huo Tingshan fell back onto the bed. As he did, one hand caught the edge of Pei Ying's wide sleeve as she tried to pull it back, holding onto just a corner. "My lady is worried about me."
He looked directly at her, his gaze intense.
"Why does someone who isn't feeling well have so much to say?" Pei Ying felt uneasy under his stare. She fetched a thin blanket to cover his abdomen. "Rest for a while. I have other matters to attend to."
He still held onto that corner of her sleeve. "What matter is so urgent?"
Pei Ying tried to tug her sleeve back, to no avail. She countered, "Aren't you anxious about the ship matter?"
She thought he would let go then, but she was mistaken. He laughed. "Not exactly. It is urgent, of course. Autumn and winter are the best times to start a campaign. Once that window passes, things become more troublesome later."
Autumn was the harvest season, ensuring ample provisions. Moreover, after the harvest, more farmers were free from fieldwork, making it ideal for warfare.
"However, it's not so urgent that we must act immediately. We need to let those old fellows stew a little longer, to ensure they serve me with their utmost effort." Huo Tingshan said with a smile.
Looking at the curve of his lips, Pei Ying suddenly had a suspicion. "Huo Tingshan, did you know all along there would be a conflict with those young masters?"
Otherwise, why was he so composed, as if he had already planned the subsequent steps?
The man didn't speak, merely chuckled softly.
Pei Ying understood instantly.
So it really was like that.
Back at the dock, the boat agent had said they would refund the deposit threefold to those second-generation youths. So, those young masters had booked the boat first. Huo Tingshan, upon learning this, had deliberately gone to intercept it. Using his authority to pressure others, the boat owner naturally, without a second thought, canceled the young masters' booking and arranged the boat for him.
The Prefect's son was used to throwing his weight around in Luoyang. Combined with his youth and fiery temper, having his pleasure boat snatched away was bound to make him furious.
Anger leads to conflict.
With conflict, Huo Tingshan had a legitimate pretext to detain them.
Catching the whole group of second-generation heirs in one net, holding them as hostages—wouldn't their fathers then work diligently for him?
Pei Ying fell into a speechless silence for a moment. "Actually, even without this act of yours, they wouldn't dare not carry out your orders."
Huo Tingshan used a bit of deft force to guide her to the edge of the couch and had Pei Ying sit down. "We dare not neglect the task, but how it is carried out and how much time it takes—these matters involve great nuance. We have only recently taken control of Sizhou, and having spent more time in Jingzhou before, our own people have not yet completely replaced the existing administration here. Shi Xiangsong has been an official in Luoyang for over twenty years; his influence has long seeped into every minute detail. It cannot be cleaned out thoroughly in a short while. With a major campaign imminent, now is not the time for large-scale personnel changes. We can only proceed like this for now."
If the methods were too forceful, mishaps would be inevitable. Some might even buckle under the pressure and secretly contact forces from other provinces, such as those in Chang'an.
It wasn't that they feared Chang'an reaching its hand over, but with the attack on Yanzhou already on the agenda, it was better to avoid extra complications at this moment.
Pei Ying couldn't help but sigh. "Being your opponent must require keeping one's heart in one's throat and one's eyes wide open at all times. It's best to steer clear if possible. Otherwise, one might be ensnared by your schemes without even realizing it."
Huo Tingshan held her hand, idly kneading her fingertips. "I don't mind if others steer clear, but my lady must not."
