Volume Three: The Hero Falls Silent, Heaven and Earth Grow Old – 11. Southern Liaoning II

When officers from the Guan Duo faction are present, it is considered official business. Pan Mei had made thoughtful arrangements, so Deng She no longer declined. After processing the documents on his desk, he summoned his personal guards, and the group departed for the provincial government office.

The Louwai Lou (Tower Beyond the Tower) was located on Flower and Willow Street. Although it was late, the street was ablaze with lights, crowded with people, and exceptionally lively—a stark contrast to the rest of the city. Pan Mei, who had many acquaintances, greeted people as he walked, and before long, they arrived in front of a tall building.

Deng She looked up to see a structure of two or three stories, each adorned with large red lanterns that made the entire tower glow crimson in the night. The windows on the upper floors were open, revealing the faint silhouettes of singing girls and dancing maidens, while the sounds of laughter and flirtatious banter drifted down. Seven or eight procuresses wrapped in green headscarves stood outside to welcome guests. Pan Mei dismounted and said to Deng She with a smile, "We have arrived. Commander Deng, what do you think?"

Deng She pointed to the couplets flanking the door and recited, "Bamboo leaves poured in the cup; peach blossoms reflected on the face. Haha, truly a place for both wine and beauty. The place chosen by General Pan is naturally excellent." With that, he also dismounted, and Pan Mei took his hand as they entered the tower.

Inside, the air was filled with the sounds of song and chatter. The main hall was packed with guests, and on a high stage in front, a band was performing. Amidst the music of strings and flutes, two heavily made-up songstresses were singing softly. Deng She, who had a passing knowledge of popular tunes, recognized the melody as a Yuan Qu piece, "Xiao Tao Hong" by Ma Zhiyuan. They happened to be singing the final lines: "The host loves his guests, receiving them with customary grace, while the parrot waits in its golden cage."

The performance was well-received, and the music was followed by thunderous applause. Pan Mei laughed heartily, "A 'host who loves his guests, receiving them with customary grace'—well sung!" He cast a glance around the room and suddenly raised his voice, asking, "But I wonder, where is the host?"

The hall fell silent for a moment, and countless eyes turned toward them. Although the guests were in civilian clothes, Deng She could tell that most were military officers. Had any ordinary person been this brash, they would have been thrown out long ago.

However, as the adopted son of Pan Cheng, Pan Mei held a position of high status despite his modest rank; in Liaoyang, aside from the three Chancellors and a few others, no one outranked him. After recognizing him, those who were acquainted continued their revelry, while those who knew him well approached to offer greetings regardless of rank.

A man pushed through the crowd and hurried over, laughing from a distance, "General Pan, you’ve finally arrived! You’ve kept us waiting." He was short and stout, and the way he scurried on his short legs was quite comical. Deng She recognized him as an official from the Left and Right Bureaus. It turned out these brothels on Flower and Willow Street were state-run. Given their booming business, they clearly generated significant revenue, which explained why Fang Buzhen had repeatedly remonstrated against them, yet Guan Duo had been reluctant to ban them.

Pan Mei scolded with a smile, "You old turtle, what kind of airs are you putting on? Did I have to call for you personally?" The man approached and bowed deeply, saying, "General Pan, you know how it is. I am a busy man, and by nightfall, I’m running off my feet. Forgive my lack of manners." Seeing Deng She, he quickly bowed again and said, "Commander Deng is here too? Please, come in, come in."

Deng She nodded with a smile. The night was stifling, and the tower was packed, the heat rising until sweat streamed down everyone's faces. The official was sharp-eyed and shouted for attendants. Two men wearing black headscarves and black shirts brought basins and towels, inviting them to wash their hands and cool off.

Pan Mei wiped his face carelessly, tossed the towel aside, and asked, "Have they arrived?" The man replied, "They have been here for a while. Following your instructions, General, I have arranged for them to be upstairs." Pan Mei nodded and said, "Commander Deng, please." He bowed to the surrounding crowd, "Enjoy yourselves, gentlemen, I am heading upstairs." He paused and added with a smile, "With the great battle approaching, everyone should take it easy—don't pull a muscle and provoke the ire of our superiors."

The crowd erupted in laughter and made way. Pan Mei took Deng She’s arm, and they followed the short, stout man through the hall to the third floor. Knowing this was Deng She's first time, he introduced the place: "The Louwai Lou is the finest house on Flower and Willow Street, and it has different rules from other places. The first and second floors are open to anyone with money. Only this third floor is reserved for officials. If you lack an official title or rank below the seventh grade, no amount of money will get you in."

Deng She nodded, understanding that Guan Duo’s intention was merely to create distinctions and win hearts. The third floor consisted entirely of private rooms, and the thick carpets in the hallways muffled their footsteps. Outside each room stood maids and attendants waiting to serve; when the stout man appeared, everyone knelt, bowing their heads so low they dared not look up.

The stout man ignored them and walked straight to the largest room at the end of the hall. Opening the door, he revealed seven or eight people who stood up to greet them. This was Deng She’s third time meeting them—the first at Guan Duo’s military council, the second that morning—so he returned the salute. Scanning the room, he saw that Pan Mei was right; there were indeed several officers from the Guan Duo faction.

Two were familiar: the stutterer "Old Li," whose name was Li Jing, and the man who had provoked him earlier, who spoke with a Henan accent and was named Xu Ren. After the introductions, the guests and host took their seats. The stout man asked, "General Pan, are all the guests here?" Pan Mei nodded and said, "Bring the wine and food!" He looked at the man and laughed, "I know you’re busy, so I won't trouble you to stay. Get back to your turtle shell!" The man replied without offense, smiling as he closed the door.

A thin officer laughed, "That fellow surnamed Wang has a thick skin. Hiding here among the brothel girls, he seems quite content. For Chancellor Guan to put him in charge of Flower and Willow Street is a true case of knowing how to use people."

Li Jing, famous for his loose tongue, chimed in, "Chancellor Guan's... use of personnel... is beyond reproach. As for... Old Wang, he has performed great service for our army." Pan Mei asked with a smile, "How so?" Li Jing said, "According to... rumors, the monthly income of this Louwai Lou alone... is enough to rival the tax revenue of a small city."

Deng She was shocked. Someone expressed doubt, saying, "Old Li, you’re fine in every other way, but you do love to brag!" Old Li retorted, "Everyone knows my reputation as the 'Information Broker'; I never speak empty words."

Pan Mei knew Old Li was telling the truth. Firstly, after the Liaoyang Red Turbans ravaged the frontier and captured many cities—especially Shangdu earlier that year, which was unimaginably wealthy—the officers had grown rich from the spoils. Secondly, the government-provided courtesans were mostly the wives and daughters of high-ranking officials from those captured cities. Their beauty might be average, but their past status was a major draw for officers who had risen from the ranks. With no other entertainment in the city, Flower and Willow Street had become the only place to squander their wealth.

Pan Mei laughed, "Old Li, Old Li, it’s a pity you share a name with a famous general; instead of thinking about how to fight, what’s going on in your head all day? If Chancellor Guan is so good at using people, why didn't he send you to the scouts? That would truly be worthy of your title."

Li Jing chuckled and said no more. Deng She watched coolly, noting that despite sitting together, their factions were distinct. With mid-level officers of Pan Mei’s faction, things were fine, but when facing Pan Mei, Li Jing—as a direct subordinate of Guan Duo—could not help but look somewhat uncomfortable.

As they talked, the feast was laid out. The maids withdrew, and the stout man returned, leading a group of courtesans to sit with the guests. Except for Deng She, everyone was a regular, and the man knew their preferences perfectly, ensuring everyone was satisfied.

Finally, he bowed to Deng She and said, "Since this is Commander Deng’s first time, I am unsure of your preferences. I have long heard that Korean women are peerless in the art of serving guests. The girls in my establishment are merely rustic types, and I fear none can compare..."

He gestured toward the woman seated next to Deng She and said, "Fortunately, the Japanese from Jinzhou presented us with a few of their women to foster good relations. Chancellor Guan sent one over—an untouched girl, never tasted by anyone. It is a foreign flavor, at least. Commander Deng, please enjoy yourself. If you are not satisfied, I will bring another." As a prominent figure in Korea and a favorite of Guan Duo, Deng She was clearly being flattered by the man.

Deng She’s heart stirred. He looked at the Japanese woman; she was quite pretty. He smiled, "Thank you, Magistrate Wang." He thought to himself, *Sent from Jinzhou? That means Guan Duo has already established contact with the Japanese pirates in Jin and Fu. I wonder what they discussed?* He suspected it was either to appease their fear, persuade them to remain neutral, or form an alliance to attack Gaizhou. *Truly calculating. He doesn't move easily, but when he does, he strikes with full force.*

Deng She was satisfied, but Pan Mei was not. He frowned and asked, "Where is Zhu Lianxiu?" The man replied, "General Pan, please wait a moment. She is changing her attire and will be here shortly." Pan Mei said no more and dismissed the man. Raising his glass, he said, "Commander Deng has been in Korea and we have seen little of each other. Even if you don't mind, we subordinates must not forget our place. Tonight, there is no other purpose but to take this opportunity to flatter you, so that when we are in the heat of battle, you might grant us an easier task. Haha!"

As soon as he finished, everyone stood up, wine cups in hand, eager to toast Deng She. Having been caught off guard once before, Deng She would not be fooled again. He stood up quickly and laughed, "You generals are all heroic men; I have long admired your exploits in the north and south. I am truly gratified to share wine with you today. However, my capacity for alcohol is low, and with the war approaching, we must rise early tomorrow. How about this: we finish one cup together, and that shall be it, yes?"

As their superior, his words carried weight, and the others had their own agendas. After a slight persuasion, they took the opportunity to clink glasses.

Deng She showed the bottom of his cup to everyone and said, "Actually, I must thank General Pan. Ever since returning to Liaoyang, I have wanted to meet you all, but I never found the time until now." He gestured, "Please, everyone, sit." As he set his empty cup down, a courtesan poured him more wine.

The conversation flowed, and as soldiers, the topic inevitably turned to the upcoming battle in Southern Liaoning. Compared to the likes of Hu Zhong, these men were the core of the Chancellor’s faction, and their insights were far superior. Zuo Li said, "The day before yesterday at the provincial office, I ran into a scout who just returned from Gaizhou. We were in the same camp when we took Liaozhou, so we are acquaintances."

This immediately piqued everyone's interest. Xu Ren, who had provoked Li Jing, asked, "What is the situation in Gaizhou?" Zuo Li glanced at Pan Mei and said, "The military situation in Gaizhou is a classified matter, and that fellow didn't dare say much. He only said one thing: 'Our army is preparing for war, while Gao Jianu is completely oblivious. The situation is excellent; we are certain to win.'"

Li Jing stuttered, "Attacking... Gaizhou is none of our business. But Shenyang... if Nahachu decides to stake everything on one throw, there will surely be a bloody battle." Pan Mei agreed, "Old Li is right. The key to Gaizhou lies in the routes through Shenyang and Liaoxi." He turned to Deng She and smiled, "Ignoring Liaoxi, you must already have a plan for how to defend Shenyang, don't you, Commander?"

Deng She smiled, "Defending on three routes and attacking on one is the decision of the three Chancellors. We shall obey orders regardless of how the battle is fought." He knew that too many words lead to mistakes. With the factions of Guan and Pan both present, he was determined to speak little and observe much, hoping to better understand the relationships between the factions and navigate the undercurrents hidden beneath the harmony of Liaoyang.

Someone curled his lips, "Commander Deng, you are being modest. You’ve been back for less than half a month, and the tales of your prowess in Korea have spread throughout the army. Starting with eight hundred men and conquering eight hundred miles of territory—truly divine military strategy. Honestly, many people are envious that I get to serve under you in the Gaizhou campaign!"

*Eight hundred men conquering eight hundred miles?* Deng She was startled; the rumors had become absurdly exaggerated. He waved his hands repeatedly and laughed, "Rumors stop with the wise. Everyone, just listen to that as a story; don't take it as truth." He glanced at Pan Mei, who was smiling silently, sighed, and continued, "To tell the truth, after the defeat at Fengzhou, I was like a stray dog, fleeing to Korea out of sheer desperation. Any cities I managed to capture were entirely due to the prestige of the three Chancellors. Without them watching over Liaodong, the Tatars from the south and Shenyang would have devoured me long ago."

This was the honest truth, and the others nodded. Pan Mei said, "Commander, there is no need for such humility. The three Chancellors are indeed our foundation, but why didn't someone else conquer Korea? That is a matter of skill, gentlemen. Come, let us toast the Commander once more."

They clinked glasses and drank. The sound of jade ornaments jingled outside, and a woman entered. She was about thirty, with a lithe figure and an elegant grace. She held a bamboo flute in her fair hands. Her eyes, like black crystals, darted around the room, taking in every face. She curtsied and said in a sweet voice, "I am Zhu Lianxiu, greetings to all the generals."

Pan Mei, an old acquaintance, slapped the table in feigned anger, "You vixen, how many tables have you visited? You’re only arriving now! I’ve gone to the trouble of inviting a distinguished guest, and you won't even give me face?" Zhu Lianxiu cried out in grievance, "It was precisely because General Pan was here that I dared not embarrass you; I spent too long dressing up to look my best." She shot a flirtatious look at Pan Mei and said coaxingly, "General, don't be angry. Later, I shall make it up to you properly."

Pan Mei laughed and said, "Come here and sit." He introduced Deng She, "This is Commander Deng of the Shuangcheng Bureau, the first of our Liaoyang youth to be so capable. You don't need to make it up to me—just serve him well, and I will be happy."

The Japanese woman from earlier did not understand their language. Pan Mei, taking matters into his own hands, waved her away and said to Deng She, "She’s like a wooden statue, sitting there without saying a word. What’s the point? Commander, try the finest beauty of Liaodong, Zhu Lianxiu."

Deng She had no objections and invited her to sit. A head courtesan was a head courtesan; as soon as she arrived, the atmosphere changed. She was tactful and charming, sparking laughter throughout the room. The officers, being of soldierly stock, had long been suppressing their desires, but now, with a few cups of wine, they let go, playing games and flirting openly.

Zhu Lianxiu had heard of Deng She’s rising reputation from other patrons and made a point to flatter him. Deng She had little interest in the scene and went through the motions with a smile. Occasionally, he caught Pan Mei's eye, and both would smile. Deng She knew that this banquet was not purely for wine and song. Seeing Pan Mei constantly urging Li Jing and the others to drink, he thought, *Is he trying to get the others drunk so he can speak freely?*

He was wrong. After three rounds of wine and several courses, with Zhu Lianxiu performing several flute pieces, the atmosphere reached a climax. Pan Mei clapped his hands, set down his cup, and sighed, "Gentlemen, you all know Commander Deng's character. As the saying goes, one's drinking reflects one's character. I ask you: is the Commander a man of heroic spirit?"

The half-drunk crowd clamored; Li Jing gave a thumbs up, stuttering, "He... heroic! If Commander Deng isn't heroic, then no one is!" Pan Mei asked, "Is he one of us?" Someone replied, "Naturally." Pan Mei said, "In that case, we should be open. Commander, there is a heaven-shaking disaster—should I tell you about it?"

Deng She’s mind raced. He had heard these words before and recalled Hu Zhong’s alarmist talk. He guessed his intentions but wondered why he would dare try to win him over in front of Guan Duo’s loyalists. He smiled, "What heaven-shaking disaster? Please, General Pan, speak."

Pan Mei said sternly, "Don't laugh, Commander. Do you think I am being an alarmist?" Deng She replied, "Naturally not." He played dumb, "General, are you talking about Shenyang?" Pan Mei shook his head, "Nahachu in Shenyang has many horses but lacks prestige; he is not worth mentioning. Commander, do you know a man named Li Dunru?"

"Who is he?"

The room fell silent as everyone listened to Pan Mei. He enunciated clearly, "Li Dunru."

Deng She was stunned. This was unexpected. What could he mean by bringing up Li Dunru? He slowly picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "The husband of Lady Li? I have met him once." He glanced around. The core of Pan Cheng’s faction remained expressionless, but the loyalists of Guan Duo—Li Jing and Xu Ren—showed subtle changes in their expressions.

Pan Mei said, "Exactly. You have met him. What do you think of him?" Deng She replied, "How should I say? I am not close to him, so I cannot judge. From what I hear in the army, everyone praises him; he is talented in administration and highly valued by Chancellor Guan. He is a pillar of our Liaoyang."

Pan Mei said, "He is indeed highly valued by Chancellor Guan and is a pillar of our Liaoyang. That is true. But, Commander, have you offended him?" Deng She felt increasingly confused, laughing, "How so? I have only met him once. How could I have offended him?"

Pan Mei said, "If you haven't offended him, why would he slander you in front of Chancellor Guan?" Deng She realized then that Pan Mei was trying to sow discord. But one thing still didn't make sense: if he wanted to sow discord, wouldn't it be better to do it in private? Why not avoid the ears of Li Jing and the others, not to mention the courtesans?

His mind raced, and he replied, "Slander? General, you must be joking." Pan Mei said, "You don't believe me? Old Liu, you tell him." The thin officer responded, "Commander, what the General says is true. I obtained this information from the scout mentioned earlier. When he was secretly reporting to the Chancellor, Li was present. As he entered, he overheard a sentence."

Pan Mei asked, "What sentence?"

Old Liu said, "It was Li telling the Chancellor that he had heard six words clearly. Commander, you should think carefully." Pan Mei asked, "Which six words?" Zuo Li said significantly, "'Liaoyang is near; Korea is far.'"

"That is a heart-stabbing remark! Commander, what does 'Liaoyang is near' mean? What does 'Korea is far' mean? He wants to see you dead!"

Deng She threw back his head and laughed. The generals looked at each other, and Pan Mei was stunned, asking angrily, "Why are you laughing, Commander?"

Deng She said slowly, "General Pan, General Zuo, you startled me. It turns out it was just those six words. What is wrong with that? Liaoyang is indeed closer than Korea..." He noticed Li Jing and Xu Ren exchange a look. Xu Ren pretended not to hear, hugging a courtesan and whispering to her, while Li Jing, who had less composure, could not help but glance at him.

His expression remained unchanged. Regardless of whether the matter was true or false, he could not follow Pan Mei’s lead. He decided to pick up the topic of Shenyang again, "Actually, I was thinking about this at the office this afternoon. To defend Shenyang, 'Liaoyang is near and Korea is far.' Although Korea has sent troops, the main force must rely on Liaoyang. Gentlemen, what is your opinion?"

He had shifted the topic skillfully. Pan Mei stared at him for a long time before erupting into a hearty laugh, "Since you are the commander, your perspective is truly different from ours." He praised him twice, dropped the subject, and began to toast him again.

However, after that interlude, the atmosphere could not be restored. After a few more rounds of games and music, the party ended, and everyone dispersed.

Pan Mei and Deng She lived not far from each other, so they walked home together in the cool breeze. Neither mentioned Li Dunru again. They parted ways at an intersection, and Deng She returned to his residence, still unable to fathom Pan Mei’s actions that night.

The weather was stifling. As the maids helped him bathe, he suddenly realized the truth. He gasped, thinking to himself, *You cunning Pan Mei, using retreat as a means of advance—you’re trying to force my hand.*