Chapter Eighteen: Probing

Shangguan Wan'er had grown accustomed to the strange looks of those around her since she was very young, as her entire family were enemies of the Empress. Yet, a few years later, those strange looks evolved; beyond disgust and alienation, there was now a hint of covetousness and greed.

Early on, however, she realized that her beauty was not her vulnerability, but her weapon.

Under Wu An’s gaze, she extended one foot, revealing a delicate ankle from beneath her skirt. Following the line of her leg, one could see a small arch encased in a silk stocking, slightly curled.

"Forget it."

Wu An spoke suddenly. He had become completely certain that the two concubines were women sent from the palace, and the reason they were placed by his side was, in all likelihood, surveillance.

The Empress was not as benevolent as she appeared on the surface. Even among the legitimate members of the Wu clan, such as Wu Chengsi, there were likely similar figures—the Empress distrusted everyone equally.

Shangguan Wan'er did not stop her movements; instead, she continued as if to remove her stocking.

"It's dirty," Wu An said.

Shangguan Wan'er: "..."

As she withdrew her foot, she let out a mocking chuckle. Lowering her head to adjust her skirt, she said indifferently, "Have you ever been with a woman in Hexi?"

"There are no women in Hexi, only cattle, horses, and sheep."

Realizing the implication of his words, Shangguan Wan'er looked up at him abruptly. Wu An sighed, "Those livestock can also serve as military rations in times of crisis."

"Ugh..."

...

Wu An would occasionally leave Yongning Ward to wander the nearby area. At such times, the guards or servants in his mansion would spontaneously follow behind him, appearing on the surface like a group of loyal retainers.

Wu An was well aware of their intentions, but he did not expose them; whenever a purchase needed to be made, he simply let them pay.

It was said that Chang'an could hold a population of one million, and Wu An did indeed see noisy crowds everywhere. Beyond the fine horses and ox carts on the streets, there were always corners in the bustling markets where the poor and beggars festered.

They certainly wouldn't puff out their chests thinking of the Great Tang’s power extending to the four corners of the world. Wu An saw in their eyes a desperate hunger to survive—a look all too common on the battlefield.

When a person’s only goal is to survive, what is there that they would not do?

"My Lord, don't go near them," the servant beside him warned. "Those people are used to swindling and cheating, and they are so filthy they carry diseases."

Wu An did not answer. Instead, he squatted in front of a woman whose clothes were in tatters. The large patches of exposed skin were not alluring; frostbite was visible everywhere, a particularly shocking sight on this cold winter day.

The woman raised her young face, looking indifferently at the young man squatting before her, yet she forced herself to squeeze out a fawning smile.

Several beggars nearby saw the texture of the fabric of Wu An’s clothes, and their initial urge to swarm him vanished instantly. They could clearly see the sword hanging at the young man’s waist and the official boots on his feet.

Every dynasty overthrows the one before it, but none can ever solve the problem of beggars.

Certain issues within the Guanzhong region were already showing signs of strain, the most lethal being the shortage of grain.

Chang'an was the capital, so it naturally demanded that the entire world bleed to feed it. Even so, the current Emperor had finally begun, albeit reluctantly, to face reality. Whenever the grain shortage became severe, he would take his ministers and court consorts and leave Guanzhong for Luoyang to spend a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

The proud and stubborn character of the Tang people was on full display in Chang'an. The imperial court still had not issued any decrees to resolve the situation, and any grievances from the common people were viewed as treasonous.

Wu An first thought of water transport, then of reforms like those of Wang Meng of the Former Qin to restore the land of Guanzhong, or perhaps implementing policies to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. In the end, however, he only sneered inwardly.

Li Jingxuan could, out of personal spite, erase the death benefits of dozens or hundreds of soldiers, while the Emperor played the part of one who did not know and could not see, indifferent to the suffering of the people, continuing to pursue his Taoist practices.

In a way, the two were cut from the same cloth.

As the grain shortages in Guanzhong became more frequent, the court ordered the conscription of 180,000 troops and vast amounts of civilian labor to be sent to Hexi, where battles of varying scales broke out along the frontier.

If such a war was necessary for the overall interests of the state, why send a waste of a commander like Li Jingxuan to oversee the big picture?

And if the war was unnecessary, how many hungry mouths could the wasted grain and money have fed?

Wu An reached his hand out behind him, signaling for money. The servant whispered, "My Lord, she won't live long in this state. It would be better to let her stop holding onto hope and let her die quickly. If you give her money, it will be snatched away by others immediately. These unruly people are born to this fate. You are kindhearted, but how many can you really save?"

Wu An frowned and said, "When I went to Hexi this year, the ministers sent by the court said we were killing to protect the common people behind us. Now that the common people are right in front of me, why should I ignore them?"

"There are thousands upon thousands of people in Chang'an who go hungry. I know you are merciful, but if you look at the accounts, how many can you afford to support?" The servant was getting on in years; though his tone was cautious and fawning, his attitude was clear.

Seeing Wu An stand up slowly without looking at the woman on the ground again, the servant quickly stepped aside to clear the way.

"Then let’s start by saving this one."

Wu An said without looking back, "Bring her back to Yongning Ward, see that she is fed, and find her some work."

The servant clearly had seen such things before; he just smiled helplessly and signaled for his companions to help the ragged woman up.

Wu An paused. Before him lay the East Market of Chang'an.

The wave of sound rushing toward him almost separated the place into two worlds—shops decorated with lanterns, hawking peddlers, foreigners from various lands performing in the streets, and countless Tang commoners enjoying the festive atmosphere.

Wu An stood there in silence, watching the scene. Had he not seen those huddled in the corners, his mood might have been quite pleasant.

If he truly managed to kill Li Jingxuan and get his revenge, what would he do afterward?

Just as he was pondering this, a few scented sachets wrapped in silk fell into his arms. Wu An instinctively looked up and saw two young women in fur cloaks in the distance smiling at him; the shorter one was even waving.

Tang women were always bold, and their attire clearly marked them as daughters of wealthy or official families, with attendants trailing behind them.

Wu An did not compare them to the beggar woman from earlier. He simply smiled back, tucked away the sachets, bowed, and turned to leave.

...

At the relay station.

The servant lit the heater, and before the warm air could fill the room, Heichi Changzhi was already impatiently ordering the preparation of a meal.

"I didn't expect you to actually make it out alive. I also heard that in a few days, the current Left Chancellor is going to face a great catastrophe. When that time comes, it should implicate Li Jingxuan, right?" he asked.

Wu An nodded. Before Heichi Changzhi could laugh, he said, "I need you to do me a favor. Send a few trusted men to help me gather the families of those comrades who died in battle. If there are parents or brothers at home, help me provide an extra portion of compensation money. If there are only orphans, boys or girls alike, send them all to me in Chang'an."