Chapter 379 — Heart to Heart

He said quickly, "I will not hide it from you, my lord. These past few years the Prince of Liao has cultivated the goodwill of the ministers, and has shown especial favor to the Divine Machine Battalion. Some days ago, someone put the very question to me that you have just put. I hold the same view as you, my lord, but a man's hands are tied by his gifts, and his tongue is softened by his meals — I dared not answer so. I meant to fob him off with something vague, but the fellow would not have it and insisted I speak plain. You know how it is — our Divine Machine Battalion has always looked to Lord Wang for guidance. I thought to sound him out, and steered the conversation round to the question several times, but each time Lord Wang turned it aside as lightly as a feather. I was in desperate straits, and had no choice but to resort to this poor stratagem — sending my wife, my children, and my elders back to my hometown..." As he spoke, he set down the exquisite little blue-and-white cup and pulled the wine jar beside him close. He broke the clay seal and took a great gurgling draught. "My lord, I was not wrong about you — you are an upright man. I will say no more. Where you go, I follow."

At least he would not be schemed against by his own companions.

The gloom that had hung over him these past days was gone; his brow and eyes looked a good deal more spirited.

Song Dan said, "You would come with me? And if I have chosen the wrong road?"

Ma Youming laughed heartily. "I made the choice myself. Win or lose, king or bandit, old Ma has at least that much breadth of heart."

The talk he had had with Dou Chu the night before had opened his eyes.

He should not keep fretting over how to pull himself out of this mire; he should strike first, think about the defenses of Liaodong from the Prince of Liao's standpoint, and so keep clear of the struggle over the succession.

Since the Divine Machine Battalion was a place the Prince of Liao could not get around, why not begin there?

Song Yan raised his cup with a smile. "I will finish mine; drink as you please!" He drained it in one go.

Ma Youming was taken aback for a moment. Then he roared with laughter, seized the wine jar, and poured the wine down his throat.

Song Dan watched him empty the whole jar, and only then said, slowly, "In a few days you had better bring your wife and children back. Your reactions are too plain — mind that they do not set a new snare."

Since neither side had proof of the Prince of Liao's ambitions, there was nothing for it but to plan before acting.

Ma Youming's conduct would only put the other side on their guard; they might even use the post of colonel of the Divine Machine Battalion to trap Ma Youming in disgrace.

Ma Youming agreed readily, then said with a sheepish laugh, "I know well enough it was unwise — if they mean to move against me, they will never spare my family. But I could not stop myself from nursing a little hope."

"That is only human nature." Song Dan sighed sympathetically with Ma Youming a while, then turned to the matter of Jiang Yi. "Does it not strike you as a little contrary to reason that he left the Divine Machine Battalion?"

Ma Youming's brows knitted tight.

Song Yan said gravely, "From what I know, he once served as a clerk under Wang Xu, and Wang Xu promoted him step by step until he became a company commander. By rights their private friendship should be close, and Jiang Yi ought to have been a frequent visitor at Wang Xu's gate. Tell me — could it be that Jiang Yi learned something, and to avoid suspicion chose to give up a fine future and beg you to intercede with me for a transfer to the Five Wards Command?"

At that Ma Youming slapped his thigh, furious and repentant at once. "That little whelp! And me treating him so well — the moment he hears something that important, he slips off without a word and washes his own hands clean!"

Song Dan said, "And how many men can speak as plainly to one another as you and I do?"

"True enough!" Ma Youming thought it over and sighed. "Lucky I have a bold streak, or I would still be there tangling myself up in knots!"

Song Dan said, "I think we ought to have a proper talk with Jiang Yi."

Ma Youming hesitated. "Every man for himself, and heaven strikes down the man who is not. We have no way out — we cannot dodge it. But he is young and low in station. I say we leave him out of it."

Song Ke nodded to himself and smiled. "That may not be for us to decide — we must know, after all, just where Wang Xu stands."

Ma Youming looked ashamed. "I will go fetch Jiang Yi at once."

Song Yan nodded.

Jiang Yi arrived before long.

Song Yan noticed a chill coming off him, and asked, betraying nothing, "Are you not on duty tonight? Is it all right for you to walk off like this?"

Since Song Yan still held supervisory authority over the Xuan Shuo City Command, Jiang Yi did not dare be careless.

He smiled and poured wine for Song Yan and Ma Youming, then said respectfully, "Our Five Wards Command works in five-day rotations, and today happens to be my rest day."

Song Yan said gently, "Then why is your hair wet the moment you step into the private room?"

Though it was already mid-spring, the temperature in the capital still swung sharply between morning and evening. In a fine establishment like the Drunken Immortal Tavern the heated floors were still running; a man who had been out in the cold a long while would find the chill on him turning to water once he came inside.

Jiang Yi looked flustered, yet he did not argue; he only pressed his lips tight together and stood there, his face full of misery, saying nothing.

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