Zhao Wujiu was well-versed in military strategy and famously a man of action, yet he never imagined a day would come when he'd have to apply those tactics to some brash young fellow.
As stated in the "Cao Lu Jing Lue" chapter on advancing troops: When advancing an army, one cannot act rashly. One must first understand the terrain's difficulty, the availability of supplies, the number of troops, the alignment of popular sentiment, the sturdiness of city walls, the competence of defending generals, the strictness of preparations, the orderliness of governance, and the subtleties of the situation. One may feint east and strike west; or halt briefly then advance rapidly; or pretend to retreat then suddenly press forward; or launch a surprise attack with hidden troops; or strike at the enemy's weak point; or openly engage in a fierce assault to break the enemy's stronghold with sheer force; or display formidable might to daunt the enemy with an imposing reputation; or seize their supplies to ensure the army is well-fed and free from hunger; or occupy their strategic cities to gain a reliable advantageous position.
Without understanding Bai Shiqi's circumstances, he had rashly made demands of this lad, not only hitting a wall but also letting her grow smug and arrogant. The next day, after the mast-climbing competition, she insolently patted Yu Jinsheng's shoulder in a show of force: "Brother, you still need a few more years of practice."
The defeat was utter and complete, even tarnishing Yu Jinsheng's golden reputation.
Zhao Wujiu had originally been wallowing in his own predicament. After returning to the capital, he hadn't wanted to step outside his room even half a step. Yet, ever since meeting Bai Shiqi, many of his self-imposed restrictions had been broken. Suddenly, he felt a surge of fighting spirit, preparing to subdue this unruly youngster, and in doing so, he cast his own illness and pain to the back of his mind.
Bai Shiqi was born with a thick skin and fearless audacity. She ignored his cold demeanor, dared to act on her own authority, and... seemed to possess a set of peculiar skills. Although only hints had been revealed so far, even the little she had shown was enough to astonish him.
After the mast-climbing competition ended, the canal workers kept egging them on, all demanding that the Young Gang Leader compete with Qin Liu'er. Their tone was particularly provoking: "Young Gang Leader, just climb once! Consider it broadening Qin Liu'er's horizons. Otherwise, this kid really thinks he's the best under heaven!" Clearly, they were a bunch of die-hard fans, utterly in awe of her abilities.
Bai Shiqi and her good brother Zhao Ziheng were cracking melon seeds and watching the fun. She even pulled over Qiu Yunping's ledger to calculate the prize money she had to pay out, lounging lazily in an armchair, unwilling to move: "No way, no way. Even if I win, no one's giving me a prize!"
The canal workers clamored in unison: "We'll give one! Ten coppers each, winner takes all!"
Qiu Yunping, evidently prepared, pulled out a wicker basket from under the table. Like a street performer under the capital's Heaven Bridge, he went around collecting money in the basket. In no time, coins clattered in, filling half the basket.
He paused in front of Zhao Wujiu, seeming a bit uncertain of this man's attitude, and was just about to skip him when, unexpectedly, Zhao Wujiu untied a jade pendant from his waist and tossed it into the basket.
Zhao Ziheng: "Cous... cousin?" That jade pendant was an imperial gift, carried by him for many years. But how could these rough boatmen recognize an imperial object? Seeing such a valuable prize, their excitement only grew louder. Even Qin Liu'er was stirred, his dark, thin face flushing crimson. He stammered a request: "Young Gang Leader, won't you compete with me just once?"
A rare hint of a smile touched Zhao Wujiu's eyes: "It's fine."
Having already contributed a prize, when Qiu Yunping reached Zhao Ziheng with the basket, he had even less reason to refuse. After all, he had to show face for his brother.
Zhao Ziheng took off the mutton-fat jade thumb ring from his hand and placed it in the basket, insisting repeatedly: "Shiqi, this thumb ring was a birthday gift from my father. You absolutely must win it back for me."
Bai Shiqi gritted her teeth: "You really are my good brother!" Why join in the ruckus?
Zhao Ziheng said with sincere emotion: "Of course! While I might not take a knife for a brother, I'm willing to part with some worldly possessions." His gaze followed the basket in Qiu Yunping's hands, watching as Shu Changfeng and the other guards all tossed in bits of loose silver before finally looking away.
Qiu Yunping's round of collection was quite fruitful. He carried the entire pot of prize money over to Bai Shiqi, offering a thin, sarcastic smile: "Young Gang Leader, if you please!"
Bai Shiqi rubbed her forehead, then raised a hand to quiet the boisterous crowd of canal workers: "Alright, alright, alright! If I win today, I'll treat everyone to meat!"
The canal workers' faces flushed with excitement, cheering her on: "Young Gang Leader, you're sure to win!"
"Young Gang Leader, if we win, can we have wine too? Meat without wine is a bit bland!"
"Get lost, you wish!" She stood up and threw away the melon seed shells in her hand. The canal workers fell silent, the atmosphere suddenly turning solemn.
Zhao Wujiu thought to himself: This kid usually seems glib-tongued and full of cunning ideas, blending right in with the canal workers. But in reality, for someone so young to be entrusted with escorting tribute grain north and commanding these rough men on several canal boats, she must possess formidable skills. Otherwise, how could she manage it?
Bai Shiqi was wearing loose robes with wide sleeves that day. Standing with Qin Liu'er beneath the mast, she waited for Uncle Guan's gong strike. Then, clinging to the mast, she shot upwards. Zhao Wujiu, sitting in his wheelchair, had to crane his neck back in a blink. Her feet seemed like hooks, retracting and extending with perfect control, not slipping on the mast at all. With a light tap, she would shoot up another two feet, light as a swallow. Even Qin Liu'er, the champion of the mast-climbing competition, was left in the dust, instantly left far behind.
And she even had the leisure to look back, blowing a kiss to the crowd below, her manner utterly dashing and rakish, her eyes brimming with the cocky arrogance of youth. Whoosh, she shot up another two feet. The canal workers below erupted in cheers, shouting all sorts of things. Someone even teased her: "Young Gang Leader, which pleasure boat sister did you pick up that habit from?"
"If the Gang Leader finds out, he'll probably break her legs!"
Clearly, everyone was accustomed to the Gang Leader's rough methods of disciplining his child, discussing it naturally without a care for damaging their Young Gang Leader's dignity.
Zhao Wujiu's brow furrowed involuntarily: Frivolous brat! What terrible habits are these!
In contrast, Zhao Ziheng below kept clapping and cheering, wishing he had his good brother's skills so he could climb high and do the same for the crowd. He didn't expect Zhao Wujiu to give him a sharp smack on the forehead: "Learn something proper!"
Zhao Ziheng was quite aggrieved: "Cousin, I'm just learning from Shiqi!"
Zhao Wujiu looked up at the youngster about to reach the top. He didn't even need to interrogate Zhao Ziheng to know what he was thinking: "What you're learning isn't Bai Shiqi's skills, but his frivolous and slick manner, right?"
Zhao Ziheng's eyes were practically red with envy, desperately wanting his approval: "Cousin, have you ever considered that maybe the young ladies actually like someone like Shiqi?"
Zhao Wujiu put on a stern face to scold him: "Nonsense! What respectable young lady from a good family wouldn't want to entrust herself to a proper gentleman? With behavior so frivolous, what family would dare marry their daughter to him?"
Zhao Ziheng shrunk his neck, muttering in a small voice: "...Who plays with respectable young ladies anyway? It's the girls outside, naturally."
The young ladies of the pleasure quarters were open-minded, enthusiastic, and appreciative. Why insist on seeking discomfort with respectable young ladies?
Zhao Wujiu thought: It seems not only does Bai Shiqi need the Gang Leader's methods of discipline; Zhao Ziheng could use them too!
He looked up to see that Bai Shiqi had already climbed to the top of the mast, standing with her arms wide open against the wind. The fiery red hem of her robe billowed and fluttered, her sleeves flying, and she was like a great fiery red bird soaring with wings spread, her face picturesque, as if about to tread upon the clouds and depart...
The young person's smile was brilliantly dazzling and unrestrained, blooming wantonly like the scorching sun overhead, forcing him to involuntarily narrow his eyes. Yet, he also held his breath for her, fearing she might fall and shatter that triumphant air. Even after she slid down the mast and landed on the deck, he remained lost in thought for a long time.
She picked up the jade pendant from the basket and handed it over: "It was merely a game, cousin, no need to take it seriously."
Zhao Wujiu met her clear eyes brimming with laughter; that same spirited liveliness still danced within her gaze. Yet, the person herself stood with an air of casual ease, hands clasped behind her back. Just as she had said, it was nothing but a game to her. But for him, it was entirely different, effectively overturning his previous understanding of this fellow. Despite her many flaws, she truly possessed exceptional skills.
The words he had originally prepared to reprimand her for improper, somewhat frivolous behavior did a turn in his throat and were swallowed back. His mind was still filled with the image of her treading the clouds at the masthead. He smiled slightly and said, "How can a prize once offered be taken back? Consider it a gift for your amusement."
Bai Shiqi was never one for false modesty and accepted it readily, saying with a grin, "Then many thanks for cousin's reward!" Her gaze swept over the basket. Zhao Ziheng hurriedly fished out his own thumb ring from it and put it on his thumb: "Between us brothers, what's yours is mine, right?"
The money-grubber Qiu Yunping hastily objected: "Young Master Zhao, how can that be?"
Bai Shiqi laughed heartily: "Let him be." She fished out a piece of broken silver worth about two taels from the basket and tossed it to her defeated opponent, Qin Liu'er: "A reward for you!"
Qin Liu'er hadn't expected to receive a reward even after losing to the young gang leader. His face flushed red instantly, and he was at a loss. "Thank you, Young Gang Leader!"
Bai Shiqi said, "Qiu Yunping, count the rest of the money. Extra rations for everyone today."
The canal workers crowded around Qiu Yunping and noisily headed off, already engaged in a heated debate about tonight's menu, their direction clearly towards the kitchen.
Zhao Wujiu thought to himself that actually, he had made a mistake from the very beginning, but it wasn't too late to correct it now.
He said, "Shiqi, could I trouble you with something?"
"Cousin, please speak freely."
Zhao Wujiu said, "The men under my command are all landlubbers. I wonder if you'd be willing to teach them how to swim?" His attitude was almost impossible to refuse. "And Ziheng too."
Zhao Ziheng was so frightened he nearly shrieked: "No, no! I won't learn! Cousin, I don't want to learn!"
Unfortunately, his objections were ineffective.
