Chapter 116: Offering Help

Chapter 116: Offering Help

Zhao Xiping led a team to chop wood overnight and make coffins. After three days, they had crafted fifty-three coffins for the fallen soldiers who had accompanied Officer Chang from Chang'an. The coffins were carried halfway up the mountain and buried, with the gravestones facing east, so that the spirits could look toward home.

The slain Xiongnu were buried by the Wusun people, who dug pits and burned the bodies. The battlefield was filled with smoke and the smell of burning flesh for seven days straight. After the burials were completed, the Wusun army set off on their return journey with the captives in tow.

The horses and camels seized from the Xiongnu carried the wounded soldiers, while the captives followed on foot. The return trip took seven more days than the journey there, and when they arrived back in Wusun, it was nearly July.

The King of Wusun held a victory banquet for the returning warriors. As one of the few members of the Han Army, Zhao Xiping had the privilege of entering the palace. While walking around, he carefully observed everything, planning to tell Sui Yu about it later.

As night fell and the banquet came to an end, Zhao Xiping left the palace with the other soldiers. As an anonymous soldier, he had not been approached much during the feast, spending most of the evening eating and drinking his fill.

Stepping out of the palace gates, he looked back at the brightly lit palace. A cool night breeze blew through dark alleyways, carrying faint sounds of crying and laughter.

"Brother Zhao, want to take a walk down the street?" a fellow soldier invited him.

Zhao Xiping thought for a moment, then followed, saying, "Sure, I'm too full to sleep anyway."

Wusun borders the desert to the south, and the night breeze in summer is much cooler than during the day. Many residents had come out to sit under trees or lay mats on the ground, sleeping outside their homes.

As Zhao Xiping and his companions passed by, some of the chatting residents noticed them and recognized their Han faces. One of them asked in broken Han, "Did you come from the battlefield?"

A soldier at the front asked, "Old man, what's the matter?"

The old man from Wusun spoke rapidly, occasionally using words like "people" and "return." No one understood, so the leading soldier apologized and led the group away.

After walking a distance, the leading soldier explained, "That old man's son also went to the battlefield. He was asking if everyone has returned yet. His son hasn't come home."

Zhao Xiping felt as if he had returned to the battlefield, with the smell of blood and the sight of severed limbs and heads. He took deep breaths to suppress the rising anger.

"I want to go back and rest," Zhao Xiping stopped, "I suddenly feel tired and don't want to walk anymore."

"Hold on, let me show you a good place," a soldier two steps ahead said, "Have you been waking up every night since the battle? We'll take you somewhere to relax."

Zhao Xiping remained silent but continued walking with them.

With the victorious army's return, the night market was bustling. Many people were still out, and Zhao Xiping saw Han merchants selling goods. Merchants truly lived up to their reputation, willing to go anywhere for profit.

Passing through the market, the leading soldier turned into a dark alleyway. Emerging from the alley, the sound of lutes and pipas filled the air, along with the singing of courtesans and the clinking of cups.

Zhao Xiping realized where they were going and stopped, saying, "Suddenly remembered something I need to do. I'll head back now."

"Come on, we're already here," a soldier blocked him, "You've been in Dunhuang for years. You haven't seen such a place before. The courtesans are enchanting; we'll introduce you to the world."

Zhao Xiping firmly refused, turning into the alleyway, saying, "I'm married. I need to see her soon. I can't do anything to betray her."

"Tch! What a stubborn one," the soldier cursed, seeing Zhao Xiping's footsteps fade away, and they walked into the alley disappointed.

Zhao Xiping wandered alone through the market, eventually heading back to the official residence.

People in the residence were still awake. Some of the soldiers who had parted ways at the palace gate were surprised to see Zhao Xiping return alone, one of them asked, "Back so soon? Only you?"

"Yes, I didn't go," Zhao Xiping sat down with a straw mat and asked, "Do you know when we're leaving? I want to go back."

"A grown man missing home?" someone laughed.

Zhao Xiping smiled, not arguing. He did miss home, Sui Yu, and wanted nothing more than to stop fighting.

"We'll probably leave in two or three days. It gets cold on the road if we delay," Gong Cao said, looking at Zhao Xiping, "You came at the right time. Accompanying us to Wusun was a good move. If you had joined the fifteen thousand troops, it wouldn't have been the same."

Zhao Xiping stroked his chin, thinking, "What kind of reward might we get?"

"It depends on the vacancies in your city's garrison. You might be promoted to a commander of a thousand. If lucky, if the Military Officer is transferred or dies, you could take his place."

Zhao Xiping understood. With no northern battles, the officer wouldn't die anytime soon, so he would likely become a commander of a thousand.

"What about the guy who captured the flag?" another soldier asked.

Gong Cao laughed and shook his head, "I need to report this to Officer Chang. It's quite amusing..."

"What do you need to report to me?" Officer Chang entered with his subordinates.

"Sir."

The soldiers sitting in the courtyard stood up to greet him.

Officer Chang waved his hand, and a servant brought a low couch and a mat. He removed his shoes and sat down, asking, "Tell me, what needs reporting?"

Gong Cao sat below him and said, "The flag-capturing merchant wants to use his war merits to free a friend's enslaved kin. The slaves are serving sentences in Dunhuang, descendants of the Jiangling Prefect Sui Jiushan, who was executed four years ago."

Zhao Xiping trembled at the mention of "Sui." Another Sui in Dunhuang, he guessed the identity of the flag-capturer.

Officer Chang remained silent, reading the records by lamplight. An attendant suggested, "Sir, it's late. Why not sleep now and handle business tomorrow?"

Gong Cao apologized, "My fault, sir."

Officer Chang waved his hand, putting down the bamboo slips, "Bring him to me tomorrow."

"Yes."

That night, Zhao Xiping couldn't sleep well again. He woke up in the middle of the night, got up to drink water, and looked out the half-open window, recalling the events before bed. He never imagined Sui Wen'an would fight for military merits to free his clan. This showed he had a conscience. If Sui Jiushan hadn't committed a crime, the Sui clan would have thrived under Sui Wen'an's leadership.

...

The next morning, after breakfast, Gong Cao led Sui Wen'an to Officer Chang's courtyard.

Soldiers waiting in the hallway curiously watched the injured hero, whose face bore a gruesome scar from his nose to his left jaw. The wound, still infected and swollen, made half of his face and nose puffy.

Seeing Zhao Xiping, Sui Wen'an's eyes tightened, and his heart grew even more anxious.

Gong Cao bowed to the crowd and led a limping man into the room. A moment later, he came out and called, "Everyone, the Officer invites you inside to listen."

Zhao Xiping followed the other eight soldiers in and chose a seat close to Sui Wen'an.

"Let's hear it," the Officer gestured toward Sui Wen'an and asked, "What is your name, sir?"

Sui Wen'an clenched his hands in his sleeves. Yesterday, he had considered fabricating a false identity but worried that it would be discovered upon investigation back home.

"This humble one's name is Wen'an," Sui Wen'an said with a trembling heart, choosing to tell the truth.

"What is your relationship with Sui Jiushan, the former magistrate of Jiangling?"

"This humble one was close friends with his son. My friend always felt guilty towards his clan before his passing, so I promised him that if I had the chance, I would help free his clan from slavery." Sui Wen'an broke out in a sweat and lowered his head, continuing, "After my friend died, I stayed in Dunhuang feeling sorrowful. Last year, I traveled west with a merchant caravan and spent the winter in Wensuguo. In spring, I arrived in Wusun and then heard news of the Xiongnu invasion. When I learned that our envoys were coming, I suddenly thought of trying my luck on the battlefield. If I could achieve some merit, it would fulfill my friend's wish and keep my promise. If I die in battle, killing the Xiongnu would indeed be a blessing for this humble one."

With these words, the room fell silent.

"Sir, please accept my bow." Gong Cao bowed down and stood up, saying, "Your friend must have been truly fortunate to have such a loyal friend."

Sui Wen'an managed a weak smile.

The Officer asked, "What was your friend's name? How many clan members did he have?"

Sui Wen'an's face turned pale; he couldn't evade the question.

"Do you know Sui Yu?" Zhao Xiping spoke up, facing the officer and bowing, "To be honest, sir, three years ago, I married a wife who was a criminal slave due to the mischief of a hundred-household officer. She also bears the surname Sui and is originally from Yu County."

Sui Wen'an nodded, saying, "I don't know her personally, but I've heard her name."

The Officer sighed, "What a coincidence! Let me think, last year when you returned from Wusun, didn't you tell me you wanted to free your wife from slavery?"

"You remembered correctly, sir," Zhao Xiping sighed regretfully, "If I had known Wen'an had the same intention, I wouldn't have gone through all that trouble last year. If I had become a hundred-household officer last year, I might have become an Officer this year after earning military merit."

The Officer laughed and scolded him for being greedy.

Zhao Xiping glanced at Sui Wen'an and said, "According to what I know, there aren't many survivors left in the Sui clan. There are only four camp prostitutes, and there can't be many male slaves left either."

"When this humble one left Dunhuang, there were fewer than ten male slaves alive. Another year has passed, and with the battles and travels, there are likely even fewer survivors now." Sui Wen'an added, bowing with his injured leg and arm, pleading, "Please grant me this favor."

Pardoning a dozen or so criminal slaves is far less valuable than granting official positions or rewards. The Officer pondered for a moment and said, "Gong Cao, make a note. When we return to Chang'an, you will report this."

Pardoning criminal slaves and distributing rewards are handled by specialized officials. The Officer directly reports to the emperor about military affairs, and such minor matters are not within his purview; at most, he might mention it as a novelty.

Gong Cao acknowledged and, seeing that the Officer had no more to say, led Sui Wen'an out, followed by the other soldiers.

Two days later, the Officer left Wusun with the captives. Soldiers with severe injuries remained in Wusun to recover. Sui Wen'an's injuries were on his leg, arm, and face, but they did not hinder travel. He rode a camel and followed the Han Army back.

During a break, Sui Wen'an found Zhao Xiping to thank him.

Zhao Xiping shook his head, saying, "It's not because of you, but because of people like Sui Yu, Sui Liang, and Tong Huaer, who have suffered due to your clan. Even if they used your family's influence to do wrong in the past, their crimes do not warrant such punishment."