Chapter Twenty-One: The Kidnapping

"Seize them!" At Gao Wanqing’s command, a dozen constables surged forward with shackles and manacles, ready to bind Chen Ying and his companions.

Seeing the officers about to lay hands on them, Chen Huairen’s courage completely deserted him. Trembling, he cupped his hands and pleaded, "Kind sirs, we are all men of good family, not ruffians!"

A resounding slap cut him short—Gao Wanqing’s hand struck Chen Huairen’s face with force, and he cursed with deep resentment, "How dare you cause trouble on my turf? You must have a death wish!"

Fury blazed in Chen Ying’s eyes. Chen Huairen might be timid, but he was, after all, a traveling physician—his nature explained his fear. Still, as the saying goes, even a dog’s owner must be respected; this slap landed on Chen Huairen’s cheek, but it was Chen Ying’s reputation that was affronted.

With a cold, commanding tone, Chen Ying barked, "Gao Wanqing, stand down at once!"

Gao Wanqing sneered, "You bastard! You little rabbit, stop pretending to be a wolf before me. Seize them!"

A flush of shame and rage colored Chen Ying’s face; old humiliations surged up anew.

"Beat them!" Gao Wanqing shouted.

Liang Zan, unable to restrain himself, launched a powerful kick at Gao Wanqing’s chest, sending him sprawling to the floor. The man lay stunned for a long moment, unable to rise. Before the other constables could react, Zhang Huaiwei and You Ziying tore into them like tigers among sheep, raining down blows. They held back enough to avoid serious harm, but left Gao Wanqing and his men battered and bruised.

Gao Wanqing sputtered, "You dare rebel?"

Another slap—Zhang Huaiwei struck Gao Wanqing soundly across the face. "Rebel against you? Look carefully at who I am."

Gao Wanqing, eyes wide, broke out in a cold sweat. In Zhang Huaiwei’s hand was a bronze identification plaque. The front bore the title "Commander of the Guard," the reverse was engraved with Zhang Huaiwei’s name.

The material of these plaques was a key indicator of status in this era. Commoners’ plaques were wooden, those of noble families were at best iron. Holders of official rank below the seventh grade bore bronze; from sixth down to fourth, silver; from third to first, gold. Dukes and princes had plaques of jade.

Though Chen Ying and his companions weren’t in official dress, they all held rank. Zhang Huaiwei and You Ziying revealed their bronze plaques—both held the full rank of Commander of the Guard, seventh grade. Liang Zan displayed his eighth-grade Commandant’s plaque, and even Chen Huairen produced his ninth-grade plaque as a valiant officer.

Gao Wanqing was dumbfounded. Among the seven of them were two full seventh-grade military officers, one eighth, and one ninth. Though Chen Ying himself did not show his plaque, seeing Zhang Huaiwei, You Ziying, and Liang Zan defer to him, it was clear he was their leader and likely of even higher status.

If this were the Ming or Song dynasties, even with a seventh-grade plaque, Gao Wanqing—a seventh-grade county constable—would have dared to act. But this was the Tang, where martial prowess ruled the realm and military men outranked scholars. Gao Wanqing dared not provoke Zhang Huaiwei. Even his superior, Su Hu, the sixth-grade magistrate of Wannian County, would hesitate before crossing a full seventh-grade military officer.

Of course, if Zhang Huaiwei had committed some grave crime, it would be a different matter. But so far, all they’d done was rough up a few local toughs—hardly enough even to be called disturbing the peace.

"I was blind to your status!" Gao Wanqing forced a pained smile, bowing to Zhang Huaiwei. "Gentlemen, today’s expenses are on my account—"

"And what are you to presume that I need charity? Think I can't afford a meal?" Zhang Huaiwei retorted.

"Yes, yes, I’ll take my leave at once!" Gao Wanqing quickly withdrew with his constables.

Yet even as the officers left Xu’s Inn, Chen Ying felt a growing unease. The plaque could frighten off Gao Wanqing, but Su Hu would not be so easily cowed. Su Hu already nursed a grudge—Chen Ying had struck him on the forehead, and the story had made him a laughingstock among the nobles of Chang’an. There was no chance he would let this go.

With that in mind, Chen Ying called, "Liang Zan!"

"At your service!"

"Go to the Princess of Pingyang’s residence. Tell them I invite Lord Ma Sanbao for a drink."

"Understood!" Liang Zan cast a wistful look at the food and drink on the table, swallowing hard.

As he rose to leave, Chen Ying stopped him. "Wait!"

He handed Liang Zan a leg of lamb weighing nearly two pounds. "Eat this on the way."

Without hesitation, Liang Zan grabbed the lamb and strode out.

...

Although Magistrate Su Hu of Wannian County had a mansion in Chang’an, he usually stayed in the magistrate’s official quarters. It was not out of devotion to duty or the people, but because his wife hailed from the Dou family—the third sister of General Dou Xi. Dou Xi, however, was not descended from Dou Yi, the father of Empress Dowager Dou, but from Dou Chi, Dou Yi’s elder brother. By relation, Su Hu’s wife was a cousin of Empress Dou, wife of Li Yuan, making her a cousin to Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng.

Since Su Hu’s father cast his lot with the infamous Yuwen Huaji, the Su clan had fallen into decline. The Dou family, on the other hand, became kin to the imperial house of Tang, and Su Hu’s status soared overnight. Yet Lady Dou was far from virtuous—middle-aged, her looks faded, and her temper fierce, Su Hu had long since lost interest in her.

Moreover, Lady Dou was notoriously jealous. Any concubine who caught Su Hu’s fancy was either abused or sold off to a brothel. Unable to contend with her, Su Hu simply avoided trouble by staying away from home, indulging himself in the magistrate’s quarters.

Since Chen Ying had injured him, Su Hu had behaved for a few days, but soon enough, his old ways returned. He bought a delicate young boy to serve as a page, and though not as handsome as Chen Ying, the boy was gentle and compliant in every respect.

One day, as Su Hu was engaged in games of pleasure with his young page, a sudden, urgent knocking sounded at the door.

"Master! Master!"

Hearing his trusted man, Gao Wanqing, call out in distress, Su Hu panicked, fearing his wife had tracked him down, and lost all composure.

The young page fumbled to dress himself in haste, while cold sweat broke out on Su Hu’s forehead.

"W-what is it?" he managed to call out.

"I’ve found Chen Ying, the fugitive slave!"

"What?" Su Hu’s anxiety melted away; it was not his wife. He flung open the door, a malicious gleam in his eye. "So that dog is still alive?"

"Alive and well!"

"Fool! Why didn’t you seize him? I’ll make him pay dearly!"

Gao Wanqing, affronted, replied, "That fugitive, somehow, has found protection with two Commanders of the Guard. With them shielding him, how could I dare lay hands on him?"

"That little wretch has probably climbed into a commander’s bed. Imbecile! If force won’t work, can’t you use your head?" Su Hu roared, jabbing a finger at Gao Wanqing. "You have enough desperate men under you—would it be so hard to stage an abduction? Even tigers nod off at times. Keep a close watch on Chen Ying; the moment he’s alone, snatch him for me!"