Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Wolf’s Ambition

Pei Min suppressed the shock in his heart and maintained a calm demeanor as he discussed swordsmanship with Li Wuyi. As their conversation went on, Li Wuyi shifted the topic to the many figures of the martial world in Youzhou, knowing that Pei Min was fond of the sword, and spoke at length about the swordsmen and sword masters of the region.

The sword is lauded as the king of all weapons, and the ancient texts give it special mention: “The sword, a sacred artifact of antiquity, supreme and revered by both men and gods. It is the ancestor of short weapons, a tool for close combat, and, owing to the depth of its artistry, has entered the realm of legend.” In truth, its popularity stems from its lightness, the elegance with which it is worn, and the swiftness with which it is used. Throughout the dynasties, royalty, scholars, knights, merchants, and commoners alike have all taken pride in bearing the sword.

This was no exaggeration. In the vast realm of the martial world, where heroes abound, if one were to name the most commonly used weapon, it would undeniably be the sword.

When it came to the swordsmen of Youzhou, Li Wuyi effortlessly rattled off more than thirty names, detailing their strengths, weaknesses, and fighting techniques as if reciting a cherished collection. Even though Pei Min harbored suspicion toward Li Wuyi, he could not help but be impressed by Li Wuyi’s extensive experience and wide circle of acquaintances.

As the conversation drew to a close, Li Wuyi suddenly said, “Five days from now is my birthday. I will be hosting a banquet at my residence, inviting heroes from all over Youzhou. Among those invited, there are more than a hundred renowned martial artists. As for those who will come without invitation, there may be even more. Of those present, half are masters of the sword, just like you. It is a rare occasion—would you join us, Brother Pei? To drink and discuss swordsmanship with such a gathering of heroes is one of life’s greatest pleasures.” His gaze burned as he looked at Pei Min. People of the martial world have always been keen to compete for honor, unbound by ritual or propriety. With only the slightest provocation, many would surely challenge Pei Min. With a little tampering with the food and drink, and an “accidental” mishap during a contest, there would be no shortage of ways for Pei Min to meet an untimely and mysterious end.

Pei Min paused for a moment and said, “The examinations are approaching... but for a day, I suppose it would be fine. I will certainly attend the banquet...” He feigned hesitation, then nodded in agreement.

“That’s the spirit, my good brother!” Li Wuyi said with a hearty laugh. “I’ve disturbed you enough for today—I won’t keep you from your studies. I shall await you at my residence in five days’ time.”

“Please!” Pei Min personally saw Li Wuyi and Li Yide out of the Yuan residence, closing the door behind them. Leaning against the door, he closed his eyes and reflected on the day’s events, pondering Li Wuyi’s unusual behavior and the information he had gathered. His thoughts grew ever clearer, the threads of reasoning more distinct, and unconsciously his left fist beat against his right palm, again and again...

That evening, Pei Min once more sought out Xue Ne.

Xue Ne received Pei Min in his study as usual. By then, it was late, and the elderly Xue Ne, fond of his sleep, had already gone to bed. But upon hearing of Pei Min’s arrival, he donned his robe and came out to meet him. His first words were, “Has the fish taken the bait?”

“Almost! I am now eighty percent certain that Li Wuyi is the traitor. But we have all been wrong—so wrong, in fact, that from the very beginning we’ve been chasing shadows. No wonder the Grand Commander has labored for so many years without result,” Pei Min said, shaking his head at the fatal mistake they had all made. Something so simple, and yet they had not realized—they had fallen into a trap of their own making.

Xue Ne looked at Pei Min in confusion, utterly lost.

Pei Min said, “The traitor has repeatedly assisted the Xi and Khitan in opposing our Tang, leaking military secrets and sabotaging our campaigns. We instinctively assumed the traitor must have been planted by the Xi or Khitan, and so we set our sights there, only to ensnare ourselves.”

Xue Ne still did not understand. “Isn’t that the case?”

“Of course not!” Pei Min replied firmly. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Whoever profits from our Tang’s secrets being divulged and our subsequent defeat—any beneficiary could be our enemy. That’s the proper way to look at it, not merely focusing on the Xi and Khitan. Besides them, there is also Silla in the northeast, and we have completely overlooked Silla. With Youzhou’s military power greatly diminished, Silla stands to gain the most.”

Xue Ne was stunned for a moment, his expression changing slightly. He hesitated, then said, “That can’t be. Silla is our ally. All these years, they’ve never stopped presenting tribute to our court.”

Pei Min saw that a map lay spread across the desk. He walked over and said, “It’s true that Silla’s tribute has never ceased, but tribute does not equate to genuine submission. Grand Commander, come and look!” He pointed to the map. “Years ago, the Emperor Taizong led a campaign eastward, recovering Liaodong, which had been lost to Goguryeo for a century. His son, Emperor Gaozong, continued his work, sending your father, General Xue Rengui, and General Li Ji to destroy Goguryeo in one campaign. The Protectorate of Andong was established upon the ruins of Goguryeo, and your father was appointed Inspector-in-Chief, stabilizing the northeast. Peace reigned for years, but it was Silla’s ambition that once again plunged the region into turmoil. Baekje was destroyed by Silla, and our Tang entered into new hostilities with Silla. With your father and Liu Rengui in charge, Silla gained nothing and could only rule across the river from us. Since then, peace returned and Silla once more submitted to our Tang, sending tribute every year. But I have always believed that one cannot tolerate a rival at one’s bedside. Silla cannot have relinquished its ambitions for Goguryeo’s former lands. If they had truly been content, they would never have rebelled against us in the first place.”

As he spoke, his finger traced across the map towards Liaodong. “Here is Silla, and here is our Protectorate of Andong. Now the Xi and Khitan have settled here... Their rebellion has cut off our connection with the Protectorate. The Protectorate is now isolated. For the moment, things may seem stable, but in time, who knows what changes may occur? Especially with Youzhou now badly weakened, it can no longer exert any influence over the northeast.”

Xue Ne’s face grew grave as he asked, “How did you realize this?”

“It was a coincidence,” Pei Min replied with a smile. “Today, Li Wuyi gifted me a sword forged by Silla craftsmen. To be honest, the blade was poorly made, and I couldn’t help but mock the small kingdom of Silla. Apparently, I struck a nerve with Li Wuyi, and he reacted, involuntarily. Spies like him are almost always subjected to intense brainwashing, making them utterly loyal and patriotic toward their homeland. My ridicule of his country naturally provoked a reaction, and that was when I sensed something was amiss.” In truth, he had always harbored a deep dislike for Silla. In later times, many who lacked an understanding of history often conflated Goguryeo and Goryeo, but the two were entirely separate countries. Goguryeo had already been destroyed during the Tang dynasty, while Goryeo was founded by the illegitimate son of Silla’s forty-seventh king, who rebelled against Silla. Goryeo was the predecessor of modern Korea. Therefore, Silla is Korea’s true ancestor—a fact often deliberately ignored in Korea’s search for its roots, as they insist on claiming an unrelated Goguryeo as their forebear.

Pei Min had long grown accustomed to Korea’s confusion over its ancestry, but as a student of Chinese literature, he was keenly aware of the relationship between Silla and Korea. He held no fondness for the progenitor of the “stick country,” and seized every opportunity to deride it.

Anyone with a shred of patriotism could not remain unmoved in the face of such mockery—least of all someone who had been brainwashed.