Chapter 124: By the Book

"Uncle Qin!" Yun Hao cried out, his arms wide open as he sprinted toward Qin Qiong.

Fortunately, that shout saved him; just as Qin Qiong was about to stomp down on what he perceived to be a giant mink-like beast charging at him, he halted abruptly.

Tearing off his face mask and recognizing Yun Hao, a delighted Qin Qiong hoisted the boy into the air, spun him around a few times, and finally set him down beside a stunned Chai Shao.

"Kid, I heard you went to Jinyang. How did you manage to sneak into the Duke of Tang’s residence? You shouldn't be so mischievous in a noble household, or you’ll end up getting a beating," Qin Qiong said, affectionately pinching Yun Hao’s small nose.

"You two know each other?" Chai Shao looked from Qin Qiong to Yun Hao with suspicion. The man before him was tall and sturdy, dressed in the uniform of a military officer. Anyone sent by the Prince of Beiping to greet him must be a man of some standing in the prince's estate. How could Yun Hao possibly know such a person? Having just begun to feel at ease with Yun Hao, Chai Shao’s doubts were instantly rekindled.

"This boy is a benefactor of mine!" Qin Qiong, having seen many men in his time, caught the subtle shift in Chai Shao’s expression. He patted Yun Hao’s shoulder and smiled.

"Oh...!" Hearing the word "benefactor," Chai Shao became even more intrigued. The burly man before him was clearly a formidable warrior; how could the physically frail Yun Hao have become his benefactor?

"Chai Shao, let me introduce you. This is Qin Qiong, also known as Qin Shubao, the man who walks both banks of the Yellow River and whose twin maces have conquered all one hundred and eight counties of Shandong. Uncle Qin, this is Chai Shao, who will soon be the son-in-law of the Duke of Tang." Seeing Qin Qiong, Yun Hao was so excited that he began skipping about, reverting to his childlike demeanor.

"You little rascal, you’re mocking me again. Master Chai, don’t listen to his nonsense. I am no longer a constable; I currently serve as an officer under the Prince of Beiping. When the Prince heard that someone had arrived from the Duke of Tang’s estate, he sent me to welcome you. I never imagined I’d run into young Master Hao here. It is too cold to stand talking in this freezing weather; let us head into the city. After you have been received by the Prince, I will personally host a banquet for you and young Master Hao." Qin Qiong was naturally forthright and hearty. His casual attitude only made Chai Shao more suspicious, but it was not the place to ask questions at the city gate. He had no choice but to follow Qin Qiong into Beiping.

The Beiping of the present day was worlds apart from the imperial capital of later generations. While there were plenty of blue-brick tiled houses, there were also many thatched huts, and the most common structures were simple adobe dwellings with thatched roofs. There were few merchants along the roads, and even fewer hawkers in the streets. There were rarely even children playing; the most abundant sight was that of soldiers.

The northern lands were harsh and cold, plagued by the threat of the Turks. This had turned Beiping into a garrison city. Among the thirty-six towns of the north, Beiping Prefecture undoubtedly ranked in the top five in terms of military readiness.

Led by Qin Qiong, the group made their way through the streets and arrived before a towering gatehouse. Despite the biting cold, two squads of soldiers clad in full armor stood like pillars before the gate. They did not even glance at the group as they passed, a testament to the strict discipline of Luo Yi’s army. However, Yun Hao preferred to believe that these men were simply frozen stiff; standing outside in such weather while wearing heavy armor was surely no pleasant experience.

Once past the ornate archway, it became clear that this was the main gate of the military camp. If one were to violate military law, it was likely their head would end up hanging from this very structure. Yun Hao couldn't help but shiver; it went without saying that many heads had likely decorated this arch before. The dark, stained spots on the wood looked increasingly like dried blood.

A short distance past the gate stood a row of blue-brick tiled buildings. The layout resembled the courtyard houses of later times, though it lacked a gatehouse. Two more rows of armored soldiers stood at the entrance, their presence so chilling and stern that one dared not look them in the eye.

"Master Chai, this is the commander’s headquarters. Please announce your name before entering!" Qin Qiong gestured politely. Seeing Chai Shao hesitate, he whispered, "My commander’s military discipline is ironclad; everyone who enters this tent must announce their name."

"Oh, I see!" Chai Shao realized. He announced in a loud voice, "Chai Shao of the Jinyang Garrison Office, here to pay respects to the Prince of Beiping!"

As Chai Shao did not currently hold an official post, he naturally identified himself by his association with Li Yuan. A voice boomed from within the tent: "Enter!" The voice was deep and resonant, full of inner strength—a clear sign that the speaker was a martial arts master.

"Jinyang Garris—! Ugh!" Yun Hao tried to imitate Chai Shao and announce his name, but Qin Qiong was quick to cover his mouth.

"Uncle Qin, why won't you let me announce my name?"

"You're not old enough! You haven't even grown your first whiskers, don't go chirping like a bird," Qin Qiong said with a look of disdain.

In truth, Yun Hao technically held a non-official rank; as a medical officer for the Jinyang Garrison, he was technically a personal subordinate of Li Yuan. By rights, he could have announced himself, but he and Qin Qiong had only just met and hadn't yet discussed his recent history. Qin Qiong had no way of knowing Yun Hao held such a position.

As they followed Chai Shao into the headquarters, they found the tent warmed by numerous braziers. Huge, thick candles lined both sides, casting a light so bright that "well-lit" would be an understatement.

At the center sat a command desk, upon which rested a golden seal, documents, and other official items. Luo Yi sat behind the desk, with a stone-faced warrior standing on either side, their hands resting on their swords as if ready to strike at the slightest provocation. Judging by the murderous aura they exuded, they had certainly claimed more than a few heads in their time.

Luo Yi was a burly man with a thick, unkempt beard that obscured his features. Even inside the tent, he remained fully armored. The candlelight reflected in his tiger-like eyes, flickering like twin flames.

"Chai Shao pays his respects to the Prince of Beiping!" Chai Shao bowed quickly upon seeing Luo Yi.

"I heard the Duke of Tang found a fine son-in-law. Seeing you today, you are indeed a man of talent," Luo Yi said, nodding as he studied Chai Shao.

"The Prince is too kind! I have come under the orders of my lady to offer birthday congratulations to the Princess of Beiping. Here is the gift list for your inspection, Your Highness." Luo Yi had chosen to receive Chai Shao in the military headquarters, clearly intending to keep matters strictly professional. It was likely that rumors from the capital had already reached his ears, and he felt the need to avoid any appearance of impropriety. Chai Shao was a man of the world and kept his speech formal and precise.

An officer stepped forward, accepted the gift list with both hands, and passed it to Luo Yi. Luo Yi did not even glance at it; he simply set it on the desk and said, "You have had a long journey. Qin Qiong, go find Luo Cheng and arrange a banquet to welcome Master Chai. You are all young men; an old fellow like me will not intrude."

"Understood!" Qin Qiong acknowledged the order and immediately turned to Chai Shao. "Master Chai, this way, please!" Though it was a private matter, the entire affair was handled with the cold precision of official business.