Chapter 20: The Celebration Feast

Wang Ziteng pondered deeply for a long while, hesitant and cautious.

First and foremost, if he wished to keep the secret of the honeycomb coal’s fuel-saving properties before seizing the West Hill coal mine, he had to ensure the absolute safety of Wu Tiande and his "Truly Delicious" snack shop. Otherwise, if word leaked to those with ulterior motives, he might lose his chance to monopolize the coal supply in Beiping.

As the Commander of the Metropolitan Garrison, he was a close confidant of the Emperor, but despite his high position and power, there were many who were even more prominent. Men like Prince Zhongshun, Qi Qin; the Senior Grand Secretary, Yu Tingyi; the Chief Official of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Zhao Quan; and the Chief Eunuch of the Daming Palace, Dai Quan—none of these men were easy to deal with. As for the faction of the Four Kings and Eight Dukes, though their strength was not what it once was, their collective influence remained formidable, and they were more than capable of stepping in to fight for a share of the prize. Wang Ziteng dared not risk letting such people get wind of his plans.

Secondly, the matter of Jia She and Jia Zhen coveting Wu Tiande’s snack business was originally none of Wang Ziteng’s concern. Although Wu Tiande’s father and brothers had once saved Wang Zida’s life, it was, after all, the duty of a servant to shield his master. Moreover, Wang Zida had already repaid that debt; it was not for Wang Ziteng to dwell on it. The problem was that at this critical juncture, when the Wang family of Jinling was moving to seize the West Hill mine, if he did not show some form of retaliation against the overstepping actions of Jia She and Jia Zhen, others would think him a pushover, which could negatively impact the Wang family's industrial layout. It seemed imperative that he teach these troublemakers from the Jia household a lesson, whether large or small, to serve as a warning to others and extinguish any improper ambitions.

Furthermore, Wu Tiande had rendered great service to the Wang family of Jinling this time. Such matters could be hidden for a day, but not forever. People would be watching closely to see what rewards the Wang family would bestow upon him. Admittedly, Wu had his own little schemes, but when judging a man, one looks at his actions rather than his heart; if one were to judge hearts, no one would be perfect. At the decisive moment, he had not bowed to the pressure of the Rong and Ning mansions, but had instead turned to the warm embrace of the Wang family. As his patron, Wang Ziteng had to grant him some benefits to encourage others to continue serving loyally.

Finally, Wang Ziteng wanted to cause some trouble for Wu Tiande as a punishment for his divided loyalties. Why had he waited until the last moment to reveal such a lucrative opportunity? Did he have no awareness of his status as a former servant of the Wang family?

To manage all these factors was a difficult task. After much deliberation, Wang Ziteng finally made his decision: he would promote Wu Tiande to the rank of Trial Baihu (Assistant Company Commander) in the Divine Strategy Camp and assign him twenty elite soldiers, allowing him to recruit for any remaining vacancies himself. However, Wang Ziteng also set him a daunting task. Wu Tiande was to make an example of the Rong and Ning mansions, representing the Wang family in showing their sharp claws to all. By doing so, Wu would be forced into direct opposition with the faction of the Four Kings and Eight Dukes, leaving him no choice but to follow Wang Ziteng’s lead in the future.

"Isn't this task a bit too difficult?" Wu Tiande bargained. "To move against a noble house, one needs an imperial decree or a direct order from the Emperor. Otherwise, as a mere Trial Baihu, I wouldn't even be able to set foot inside the gate of a Duke’s mansion without the consent of the Jia family elders. How am I supposed to teach them a lesson?"

"Who told you to attack them? I only said to give them a hard time," Wang Ziteng explained. "You previously mentioned that Lai Er and Yu Lu of the Ning mansion, along with others from the Rong mansion, participated in the attack on the Divine Strategy Camp soldiers. Simply arrest them and bring them to justice. Make a scene of it; kill the chicken to scare the monkeys. Surely you can manage that?"

"This subordinate understands," Wu Tiande replied happily. Previously, he had addressed Wang Ziteng as "Junior" out of respect for their master-servant ties; now, by calling himself "Subordinate," he acknowledged the favor of his promotion.

"However," Wu Tiande suggested, "Lai Er and Yu Lu are trusted aides to Master Zhen of the Ning mansion. They will likely be hidden away inside the mansion to avoid the storm. I cannot enter to search. If I cannot catch them, may I take others into custody instead? I wouldn't want this to end in a whimper and compromise your reputation, General."

"That is true," Wang Ziteng said, clearly agitated. "These people of the Jia household rely on the merits of their ancestors and are all arrogant and lawless. It is quite possible they would stoop to such obstruction. If you cannot catch them, arrest others from the Rong and Ning mansions instead. If anyone dares to openly resist arrest, show them this jade pendant as proof of my authority, and demonstrate my resolve to act impartially and without regard for personal ties."

If he could not even arrest a few servants of the Jia household, what prestige would the Divine Strategy Camp and the Metropolitan Garrison have left? And how could he, Wang Ziteng, maintain his image of putting public duty above private interest before the court?

"Hehe, with this jade pendant from the General, my work will be much easier," Wu Tiande said, beaming with joy.

Wu Tiande’s swift transformation from a Flag Officer to a Trial Baihu greatly reassured Deng Gang. Since Wang Ziteng, the Commander of the Metropolitan Garrison, had intervened, Deng Gang's confrontation with the Jia household servants was now fully justified. His actions now carried the weight of Wang Ziteng’s personal will; it mattered not whether it was the Ning mansion or the Rong mansion.

When Wu Tiande produced the arrest warrant signed by Wang Ziteng and requested further assistance in capturing Lai Er and Yu Lu, Deng Gang readily agreed. As long as he could win Wang Ziteng’s favor, he would do anything.

However, Jia Zhen was bold enough to hide Lai Er and Yu Lu inside the mansion. Wu and Deng set up several hidden sentries outside, waiting for the pair to emerge. But the targets remained locked inside, leaving the two men at an impasse.

"These birds are just like turtles tucking their heads in; it’s really hard to handle," Deng Gang grumbled.

"No matter. Brother Deng, hold the line for one more day; we can withdraw by dusk," Wu Tiande said with a smile.

"If we don't catch them, won't it look bad for General Wang?" Deng Gang worried.

"The General only said to catch the ringleaders if possible. But if we can't, arresting others will suffice to close the case," Wu assured him.

"But it's not the same," Deng muttered. "Jia Zhen is cunning. He's only sent a couple of maidservants out these past few days. We can't claim the Divine Strategy Camp was attacked by women with bound feet, can we? That would be a joke."

"Those maids won't work, but there is one woman who can surely provoke Jia Zhen and help the General regain his face," Wu said confidently.

"A woman? Who do you mean?" Deng asked, his curiosity piqued.

"You'll know tonight. I invite you to my shop for a victory celebration," Wu laughed.

By dusk, the setting sun painted the city towers a deep crimson. The watchman’s clapper signaled that curfew was only an hour away. Deng Gang walked toward the familiar sentry post, but it was empty; the soldiers had gone to Wu’s shop for the "victory wine." Skeptical, Deng followed.

The sign for "Truly Delicious" swayed in the twilight, adorned with red silk balls. Even the dusty window lattices were decorated with gold-pressed "Double Happiness" characters. Two clerks in new clothes greeted him warmly. As he stepped inside, the aroma of wine, food, and perfume hit him. The hall was filled with ten tables, each covered in red cloth and laden with steaming dishes.

"Brother Deng! You're finally here!" Wu Tiande stepped forward, dressed in a crimson brocade robe, a "Double Happiness" character embroidered on his chest. Behind him stood a woman in a red dress with a red veil, holding a silk ribbon—clearly a bride.

Deng Gang was stunned. "Brother Wu, this is..."

"Haha, didn't you know?" Wu clapped his shoulder. "Today is not just a victory celebration, but my wedding feast! Thanks to the brothers' help, I decided to take this opportunity to settle my marriage as well!"

Deng Gang’s doubts vanished. He handed over a heavy purse as a wedding gift. Wu introduced the bride as his wife, Madam Qin.

As they moved deeper into the hall, Deng saw many officers from the Divine Strategy Camp, as well as wealthy young nobles like Wang Ren and Jia Lian. Jia Lian beckoned Deng over, and Deng, eager to connect with such influential figures, joined their table.

"Brother Deng, I've heard you are a man of great martial skill," Wang Ren said.

Flattered, Deng drank heartily. As the night went on, the wine took its toll. He grew dizzy, and when Wu Tiande came to toast him, Deng almost collapsed.

"Brother Deng is drunk," Wu said. "Quick, take him to the guest room in the middle courtyard to rest."

As he was carried away, Deng caught a glimpse of the backyard. The red candles were bright, and Qin, the new bride, was standing in the courtyard, her veil removed, revealing a delicate, shy face. He admired Wu's good fortune before falling into a deep, drunken sleep. His last thought was of how he would thank Wu for the chance to meet such influential men. Soon, he sank into a hazy, dreamless void.