Volume One, Chapter Nine: Each Has Their Own Merits
The commanders of the Imperial Guards and the Feathered Forest Guard, upon learning that Li Tianqing would leave the palace today, had arrived early at the training ground to await him. As Li Tianqing approached, both commanders hurried forward to greet him, dropping to one knee. “Your humble servants greet Your Highness, Prince Jing.”
“No need for such ceremony,” Li Tianqing said, making a gesture to lift them, indicating they should rise.
“I am newly arrived and not yet familiar with your names. May I ask you to share them with me?” Li Tianqing regarded them with a gentle smile.
No sooner had he spoken than both replied in unison.
“Your humble servant, Xue Tai, Commander of the Imperial Guards.”
“Your humble servant, Lu Chuan, Commander of the Feathered Forest Guard.”
Li Tianqing nodded slightly, committing their names to memory.
He studied the two men before him; they were strikingly different in demeanor. Xue Tai, the Imperial Guard commander, was broad-shouldered and imposing, his gaze sharp and fierce, clearly a seasoned warrior. Lu Chuan, the Feathered Forest commander, was tall and slender, with a refined, scholarly air, more like a gentleman than a soldier.
Yet Li Tianqing dared not underestimate this commander; after all, to be chosen by Emperor Zhou as leader of the Feathered Forest Guard was no ordinary feat. He was not so foolish as to believe Lu Chuan was simply a man of letters—for one to command the Feathered Forest Guard could not possibly be a frail scholar lacking martial prowess.
Li Tianqing mused silently; each commander had his merits and might prove useful in days to come.
“As I am new here, I hope the two generals will look after me in the future,” Li Tianqing said with a smile.
“Commanders, I am not yet familiar with the Imperial Guards and the Feathered Forest Guard. Would you kindly introduce them to me?”
Xue Tai and Lu Chuan exchanged glances, then Xue Tai spoke. “Your Highness, the Imperial Guards and Feathered Forest Guard are both part of the Great Zhou’s elite forces, but their duties differ. The Imperial Guards are primarily responsible for defending the Imperial City, while the Feathered Forest Guard secures the palace itself.”
Li Tianqing nodded, gaining a general understanding of the two forces. “Between the two, which possesses greater fighting strength?”
“Your Highness, both have their strengths; it is difficult to compare them directly,” Lu Chuan answered with a smile.
His reply was as vague as it was polite.
Li Tianqing raised an eyebrow at Lu Chuan. “If we speak purely of martial prowess, in single combat, who is superior?”
The two commanders exchanged another glance, then Lu Chuan replied, “Your Highness, the Imperial Guards and Feathered Forest Guard are similar in numbers, equipment, and training. But if it comes to martial skill alone, the Imperial Guards are superior. However…”
“However what?” Li Tianqing asked, intrigued.
Lu Chuan considered his words. “However, when it comes to handling difficult and special tasks, the Feathered Forest Guard may excel.”
Li Tianqing nodded slightly, indicating he understood. This outcome was much as he had expected. The Imperial Guards were traditional warriors, suited to matters in the open; poisonings and assassinations—dirty work—were the specialty of the Feathered Forest Guard.
He had already weighed the matter in his heart, looking at Xue Tai and Lu Chuan. “Commanders, I hope you will take care of me in the future.”
These men would accompany him to Northern Yan, so he must win their loyalty.
Upon hearing this, Xue Tai and Lu Chuan replied in unison, fists clasped. “Your humble servants will do their utmost to protect Your Highness.”
If he could secure these men’s loyalty, his journey to Northern Yan would be much safer.
The trip to Northern Yan was fraught with danger; the fifty Imperial Guards and fifty Feathered Forest Guard were Li Tianqing’s greatest support at present.
Li Tianqing pondered silently how best to win over these two elite forces.
“You two may return to your duties. I am merely taking a stroll,” Li Tianqing said with a smile.
Xue Tai and Lu Chuan saluted and departed, returning to their training. Li Tianqing, accompanied by Steward Lin, continued to wander idly through the prince’s residence.
At midday, Li Tianqing took a simple meal and rested for a while.
He lay on the soft couch, hands behind his head, eyes half closed, contemplating his next steps.
He had previously rescued a monk skilled in Iron Palm, now housed at an inn; it was time to bring him into the prince’s residence.
Li Tianqing made up his mind.
He slowly opened his eyes and looked to Steward Lin. “Steward Lin.”
Seeing Li Tianqing deep in thought, Steward Lin ventured, “Your Highness, do you have any commands?”
“Prepare the carriage. I wish to go out for a while.”
Steward Lin withdrew, and before long, accompanied Li Tianqing as he left the residence.
Inside the carriage, Li Tianqing rested his eyes, fingers lightly tapping.
Suddenly, a commotion sounded from outside.
Li Tianqing opened his eyes, lifted the curtain, and looked out.
Not far away, a group of ragged, disheveled people were kneeling on the ground, crying out for something.
Vagrants were not uncommon in ancient times, but so many gathered within the Imperial City was rare.
It seemed the Great Zhou Dynasty was strong on the outside but weak within; its internal troubles were deeper than he had imagined.
Li Tianqing narrowed his eyes, forming a rough estimation of the dynasty’s actual strength.
“Why have these vagrants gathered in the Imperial City?” he asked Steward Lin.
The group was clad in tattered clothes, faces gaunt and yellowed, many bearing injuries.
Though not a benevolent man by nature, the sight of these homeless and displaced people stirred a discomfort within him.
Steward Lin glanced at Li Tianqing, hesitated, then answered, “Your Highness, these vagrants have fled here from all over.”
“Move along, move along, don’t block the road!” The bailiffs were driving the vagrants away.
One bailiff swung his stick and struck a ragged, disheveled woman hard.
Li Tianqing frowned at the scene, a strange irritation rising within him.
The woman fell to the ground, clutching a child in her arms, her frail shoulders trembling.
The bailiff cursed, “Get out of here, or don’t blame me for being merciless.”
The child in her arms wailed, the cry piercing and desperate.
“Please, I beg you, give me some food, my child hasn’t eaten for days, please have mercy,” the woman pleaded.
“Enough nonsense, if your child starves, it’s none of my concern,” the bailiff replied impatiently, raising his stick to strike again.
The woman, hopeless, hugged her child and closed her eyes.
Just as the stick was about to land on the woman and child, a voice called out, “Stop.”
The bailiff paused, then turned to look at Li Tianqing’s carriage, frowning. “Who are you to meddle in my affairs?”
“Impudent!” Steward Lin scolded, “Do you know who sits in that carriage?”
Li Tianqing stepped down from the carriage, his expression icy as he stared at the bailiff. “I told you to stop. Did you not hear me?”
The bailiff, seeing Li Tianqing’s fine attire and commanding presence, suspected his identity, and immediately grew flustered, cold sweat breaking out.