“General Wang, for the safety of the hundreds of thousands of people in the city, please bear with us a little. Once we’ve completed the identification and confirmed there’s no issue with you and your men, I’ll open the gate myself, respectfully welcoming you and your brothers into the city. At that time, I’ll personally prostrate myself before you and your men in a grand gesture of apology and respect.”
Facing General Wang’s arrogant, overbearing tirade, the deputy, sweating profusely, explained the situation from atop the wall.
“Get lost, don’t give me this nonsense! If it’s about the hundreds of thousands of people in the city, then me and my thousand-plus soldiers, braving bone-chilling cold, the pirates’ counterattacks, and their traps, resolutely marched out to pursue them, risking our lives and bodies—that’s what it means to truly care for the city’s people! You, a coward hiding on the wall, not daring to step out, what right do you have to talk about the city’s people in front of us?! Hurry up and get down here to open the gate, prepare all the chicken, duck, fish, and steaming meat broth for my brothers—I’m going to reward them well!”
General Wang, whip in hand, pointed at the deputy on the wall, cursing him out furiously and ordering him down to open the gate.
“General…” The deputy, nearly unable to lift his head under the barrage, struggled to offer more persuasion.
“General my foot! Are you the general, or am I? If you still recognize me as your general, get down here and open the gate for me now! In this damn freezing weather, we just fought the pirates, sweating buckets in the fray, and now that sweat’s turned to ice—I’m half frozen to death! My brothers are half frozen too! Stop yapping and get down here to open the gate!”
General Wang lashed his horse’s flank hard, urging it forward a couple of steps, pulling the reins tight, and berating the deputy aggressively.
Unable to respond, the deputy turned awkwardly, casting a pleading glance at Prefect Shang, who had just arrived.
“Was General Wang always this overbearing?” Prefect Shang of Suzhou, newly arrived, asked as he walked toward the parapet.
“The general’s usually fine, but when subordinates voice dissent, he tends to get harsher,” the deputy hesitated, explaining quietly.
It was unclear whether he spoke from the heart or against it.
Prefect Shang nodded noncommittally, strode to the parapet, and called out to General Wang below with a hearty laugh, “Haha, why’s General Wang so fired up?”
“I…”
General Wang was about to unleash another tirade at the teasing remark, but looking up and seeing Prefect Shang, he swallowed his curses, clasped his fists in salute, and said, “I didn’t know it was you, Lord Prefect. Forgive me for not offering a full bow in my armor—please pardon my offense.”
“No need for formalities, General Wang. In this critical time of resisting the pirates, why bother with empty courtesies?” Prefect Shang waved a hand, smiling.
“Thank you, Lord Prefect. You just asked why I’m so fired up—it’s because I feel wronged. My own grievances are secondary, but I’m truly upset for my brothers. With the pirates pressing the city, the lives of hundreds of thousands hanging by a thread, you care for the people, and I carry the duty of defending our borders!”
“Today, the pirates attacked again and were repelled by me and my men. In their madness, they mimicked Lord Zhu outside the city, using cannonballs to assault us. They loaded a cart with explosives and charged the gate. At the critical moment, my arrow startled them, causing them to drop their torch and ignite the bombs prematurely, killing and injuring swathes of them. Their morale shattered, and they fled in disarray. To finish the job and prevent them from repeating the tactic, I had no choice but to risk life and limb for the city’s safety, leading the chase to crush them and keep them from eyeing Suzhou again. Understanding the stakes, I rallied my thousand men—heads tucked in their belts—and followed me out to pursue the pirates.”
“After leaving the city, we fought over thirty skirmishes, charging through forests of blades and storms of arrows. Our swords dulled from slashing, our quivers emptied, nearly every brother wounded… We risked our lives to protect Suzhou City, yet after all that fighting, returning to the city we bled to defend, hoping for a hot soup and a warm meal, we’re locked out?! And now we need identification—like we’re traitors or pirates after risking our lives to drive them off?!”
“I’m wronged, and even more so for my brothers, Lord Prefect! The city we fought tooth and nail to protect treats us like this—honestly, it’s chilling. If I can’t even get my men a hot soup and meal inside, how can I face them and ask them to risk their lives again?!”
General Wang shouted his grievances to Prefect Shang with intense emotion, his eyes moistening as he reached the peak of his fervor.
“I understand your feelings, General Wang, and I won’t let you or your men feel wronged. I’ve already ordered the city’s largest tavern to prepare the finest feast for you, and I’ve summoned the best mutton soup chef in town with fifty assistants to cook ten huge pots of mutton soup and two thousand mutton-and-scallion flatbreads. I’ve also had a hundred jars of aged yellow wine brought from the brewery—guaranteed to satisfy your hunger and thirst. Plus, after the war, I’ll reward you all based on your merits, and I won’t let you down.”
Prefect Shang, looking at General Wang and his men below, waved grandly and promised loudly.
“Thank you, Lord Prefect,” General Wang saluted with clasped fists, then turned and shouted to his men, “What are you standing around for? Thank the Lord Prefect!”
“Thank you, Lord Prefect!”
“Hahaha, did you hear that? We’ve got meat soup, flatbreads, and wine—and rewards to boot! It wasn’t for nothing that we risked our necks following the general to chase those pirates!”
“Thank you, Lord Prefect! We’d die for you!”
General Wang’s men erupted in cheers, shouting excitedly.
“Zhang Heizi, you coward, did you hear the Prefect? He’s ordered food, wine, mutton soup, flatbreads, and aged yellow wine prepared for us! Get down here and open the gate so we can enjoy it!” General Wang seized on Prefect Shang’s words, waving at the deputy on the wall again, ordering him down without hesitation.
“No rush, no rush, General Wang—calm down. The tavern needs time to prepare the meal, and the mutton soup needs a bit longer to simmer. Before inviting you in, we’ll do a simple identification—it’s our responsibility to the hundreds of thousands of townsfolk inside. I’m sure General Wang can understand, right?” Prefect Shang said, smiling outwardly.
“Identification again?” General Wang froze for a moment.
“Is there a problem, General Wang? Feel free to speak,” Prefect Shang said, still smiling.
“No, no problem. Identify away—just please hurry, Lord Prefect. We’re out here hungry, thirsty, tired, and freezing,” General Wang shook his head, sounding helpless.
“Of course, of course,” Prefect Shang nodded, smiling.
