Chapter Twenty-Five: A Strong Scent of Jealousy

Chen Ying looked at Xu Jingzong and asked, "Do your four rough-hand maids include these two?"

Xu Jingzong replied coolly, "Of course not. These two, the elder called Green Pearl and the younger Red Sleeve, are the ones I intend to present to Feng Lun, the Palace Attendant."

At these words, the faces of Green Pearl and Red Sleeve turned deathly pale from fright. Even their usually skillful tea-making went awry, causing Xu Jingzong to frown repeatedly.

Xu Jingzong seemed to notice that Chen Ying's attention was drawn to the sisters, Green Pearl and Red Sleeve. After a pause, he continued, "If you, Master Chen, would be willing to recommend me to Her Highness Princess Pingyang, I could gift them to you instead."

Before Chen Ying could respond, Ma Sanbao immediately pressed his hand, signaling him not to accept.

Chen Ying knew that Princess Pingyang, unlike Princess Taiping, was not particularly keen on politics. If Xu Jingzong truly sought a recommendation to her, it was uncertain if she would even be willing to get involved.

Yet this pair of exquisite sisters, Green Pearl and Red Sleeve, were too precious to be handed over to Feng Lun. Chen Ying did not know who Feng Lun was, but anyone who could attain a central government position such as Palace Attendant was at least an old man well past fifty. Two fresh cabbages about to be devoured by a pig, he thought bitterly.

The thought of what was about to happen left Chen Ying with a heavy heart.

"Power-mad—willing to do anything for office!" Chen Ying silently attached this label to Xu Jingzong in his mind. Suddenly, a spark of inspiration flickered in his mind and he came up with an idea.

Chen Ying smiled faintly and said, "Mr. Xu, are you struggling to find a stepping stone for entering office in Great Tang?"

Xu Jingzong, his ambition laid bare by Chen Ying's words, showed no embarrassment. Instead, he nodded serenely.

Chen Ying asked, "In your opinion, if you present Red Sleeve and Green Pearl to Feng Lun, what kind of position might you obtain?"

Xu Jingzong replied, "I am neither able to pacify the realm with my pen nor defend the nation with force. If I could become even a lowly scribe in Great Tang, my ambition would be fulfilled."

One could say Xu Jingzong's life was a tragedy. He entered the Prince of Qin's retinue as one of the Eighteen Scholars, yet his status was always awkward. Later, as a retainer of Li Mi, the situation remained the same. Strategically, he was no match for Wei Zheng or Xu Shiji; in martial prowess, he could not compare to Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin, Shan Xiongxin, or Luo Shixin. In loyalty, he fell short of Wang Botang and Qiu Rui.

In this era, Xu Jingzong had neither family background nor reputation. To serve a new master, he needed achievements to show. Yet at this moment, he had nothing of substance to offer. The outcome of his career change was far from certain.

Chen Ying said, "I could provide you with a stepping stone. However..."

His words implied that there was no such thing as a free lunch—since they were mere acquaintances, appropriate compensation was only natural.

Xu Jingzong's eyes lit up at once.

If he could not catch Chen Ying's drift by now, he would not be Xu Jingzong. He had been fretting over his lack of credentials to present to the Tang court. Bribing Feng Lun was hardly secure—wealthy clans from Shandong or Guanlong could easily produce a million in cash, while Xu Jingzong, even straining himself, might scrape together a mere thousand strings of coins. That sounded considerable, but to the great houses, it was almost nothing.

Now, hearing that Chen Ying was willing to provide him with a stepping stone, joy filled Xu Jingzong's heart.

Of course, he had already noticed Chen Ying's interest in his residence, as well as the lingering gaze cast upon Green Pearl and Red Sleeve. If Xu Jingzong had failed to see through Chen Ying's thoughts after all these years, he would have lived in vain.

He stood up, gesturing around the tea room, and smiled at Chen Ying, "If you can solve my predicament, I will give you this house, along with Lan'er and all eleven people here."

Chen Ying smiled and turned to Ma Sanbao, "General Ma, could you clarify something for me?"

"We're brothers—no need for formality!" Ma Sanbao replied. "Ask away, Brother Chen."

Chen Ying asked, "If the Tang cavalry were to face the Western Qin cavalry with equal numbers, who would prevail?"

"Victory would mostly be ours!" Ma Sanbao's face flushed with embarrassment. He could hardly belittle his own side or boost the enemy. But the fact was, in cavalry-to-cavalry combat, the Western Qin were markedly superior. Whether it was Xue Ju or Zong Luohou, both were masters of cavalry warfare. Only Li Shimin's armored cavalry could fight them on even terms; other Tang units would lose nine out of ten times unless they had double the numbers.

Chen Ying continued, "If I had a way to raise the Tang cavalry's combat effectiveness by thirty percent, what kind of position do you think His Majesty would grant me?"

"Who can say?" Ma Sanbao replied. "It's possible you'd even be granted a title of nobility!"

At this, Xu Jingzong instantly began to breathe heavily.

Chen Ying asked, "What do you think of this as a stepping stone?"

Xu Jingzong, unable to contain himself, shoved the house deed and the contracts of sale for Lan'er, Green Pearl, Red Sleeve, and the other eleven directly into Chen Ying's hands.

Back in Jingyang, Chen Ying had noticed that Princess Pingyang and her cavalry used flat saddles and single-sided stirrups. At this time, Tang cavalry only used stirrups for mounting. (Some sources claim double-sided stirrups were invented in the Sixteen Kingdoms period; for this story's purposes, they are not yet present.)

The earliest stirrups were single-sided, gradually evolving into double-sided ones over time, freeing the rider's hands and, in a sense, altering the course of history.

The chief function of the stirrup was to free the rider's hands, allowing cavalrymen to maintain balance with their legs while charging, thrusting, slashing, or striking, greatly enhancing their combat power and possibly enabling them to defeat Europeans.

The stirrup was a groundbreaking invention in human history. After its advent, horses became easier to control, uniting man and mount as one. Riders' hands were freed, so they could shoot arrows at full gallop or swing wide to hack left and right in battle. This greatly elevated the strategic role of cavalry and transformed the history of warfare.

Previously, cavalrymen had to slow down or even dismount to shoot arrows, and in mounted melee, could not swing with full force for fear of losing balance and falling off. The invention of the stirrup provided a firm foothold for the rider's feet.

Combined with the high-pommel saddle, double-sided stirrups made cavalry training accessible; even Han Chinese with no prior experience could learn to ride in a short time, allowing for mass production of cavalrymen.

Ironically, both the high-pommel saddle and double-sided stirrups required little technical sophistication. Chen Ying could present this technology in exchange for an official post, but his age—barely sixteen—meant that no matter his merit, he was unlikely to be awarded rank. Rather than seeking rank, he decided to offer the idea to Xu Jingzong in exchange for a substantial benefit.

Once Ma Sanbao had helped Xu Jingzong transfer ownership of the house and servants at the county office, he returned to Princess Pingyang's residence.

Upon seeing Ma Sanbao, Princess Pingyang asked, "Out carousing again last night? You really should avoid such places—if you catch something, you'll have only yourself to blame. You ought to settle down and start a family!"

"Your Highness is right!" Ma Sanbao replied. "But I swear, I wasn't out carousing last night. I was drinking with Chief Steward Chen!"

"Oh?" Li Xiuning involuntarily pictured Chen Ying's handsome face, especially those eyes with their faint, melancholic charm, which seemed to possess a mysterious allure.

Ma Sanbao, oblivious to Li Xiuning's reaction, continued, "Your Highness, you don't know how wicked that rascal Chen Ying is! With two iron rings and a piece of scrap wood, he managed not only to acquire a grand mansion, but also a pair of lovely twin sisters..."

"What did you say? How could he behave so wantonly?" Li Xiuning did not realize how she had lost her composure.

"You scoundrel!"

"Despicable wretch, vile, shameless... Chen Ying, I'll kill you!"

Ma Sanbao was utterly dumbfounded—he watched as Li Xiuning erupted in fury, drawing her sword and hacking the flowers and plants in the garden to pieces.

Had the term "jealousy" been invented, Ma Sanbao might have recognized the unmistakable note of envy in Li Xiuning's words.