Chapter Seventeen: A Single Word Reveals the Truth of a Hundred Warriors

After passing Red Leaf Isle, the journey continued smoothly with the wind at their backs; the boat sped swiftly along, and aside from nearly colliding with the stone steps along the Grand Canal when making a sharp right turn away from the creek, there were no further incidents. Zuo Wen had arranged a tight defensive system to guard against the elusive Fei Yao and An Yao, whose whereabouts remained unknown. In particular, as they passed the Jiazhu Dock, he acted as though facing a formidable enemy, personally leading his most trusted men to shield Xu You in the cabin, while torches were lit on both decks, turning the night as bright as day, lest any assassin slip aboard in darkness and carry out a deed like that of Zhuan Zhu or Yao Li.

Not until the Jiazhu Dock disappeared from sight did anything abnormal occur. After Deng Tao completed his inspection and reported back, Zuo Wen finally relaxed and praised sincerely, “Just as you said, my lord, neither Fei Yao nor An Yao are here.”

Feng Tong, who had been cooped up in the cabin all day and was feeling irritable, snorted coldly at Zuo Wen’s words, “Naturally, who would dare throw their lives away after witnessing the might of the Yuan family? Fortunately, those two villains know their place, or they’d never leave here alive.”

Xu You merely smiled, sipping his tea in silence. Deng Tao, who had not been present for Xu and Zuo’s earlier conversation on deck, was confused and quickly sought clarification from Zuo Wen. After Zuo Wen explained Xu You’s analysis, Deng Tao echoed, “A man of great talent, my lord!”

Xu You’s countenance turned serious. “You both flatter me. If not for your bloody efforts, I would have long since fled in panic—how could I now sit here at ease? Yet we are still several dozen miles from Jinling. As the saying goes, strength overcomes poverty, and caution averts disaster. On every stretch of water ahead, Fei Yao and An Yao may appear. Do not let down your guard!”

These words, taken from the “Essential Techniques for the Common People,” mean that diligence overcomes poverty, and caution can ward off misfortune. Although that book would not be compiled until the end of the Northern Wei, its meaning was plain and instantly understood. Both Zuo Wen and Deng Tao stood at once, armor clinking as they cupped their fists and responded in unison:

“At your command!”

“Enough, sit down!” Xu You smiled broadly. “This isn’t a military assembly; there’s no need for such formalities. I have some questions for you—please, take your seats.”

Zuo Wen and Deng Tao exchanged glances and realized that in just one day, their attitude toward Xu You had transformed into genuine respect, or they would not have unconsciously offered him a military salute.

Once both men sat cross-legged, Xu You asked, “Is there a Chi Horse on board?”

The Chi Horse was a small boat, painted entirely red and renowned for its speed—hence its name, likened to a horse galloping on land. In the Chu navy, Chi Horses typically served as scout ships, dispatched twenty miles ahead during expeditions, carrying ten men to observe water conditions, terrain, scout enemy movements, and relay information among ships.

“This isn’t a warship—why would we have a Chi Horse?” Feng Tong replied sarcastically. “Young Master Xu, having grown up in Yixing, you must be used to all sorts of warships, but our Yuan household values dignity and comfort over speed; we would never bring a Chi Horse on such a trip.”

Xu You smiled faintly. “So the steward’s knowledge is broader than I thought. I assumed you spent your days confined to the Yuan household, preoccupied with servants and maids, and wouldn’t know a Chi Horse from a rowboat.”

Feng Tong was momentarily at a loss, glaring but unable to retort. In the end, he simply snorted, gulped down his tea, and sat in sullen silence.

Zuo Wen, pleased to see Xu You put Feng Tong in his place, said, “I don’t know your purpose, my lord, but we always keep a Lurrow on board.”

“A Lurrow?”

“Yes, the Lurrow is even smaller and swifter than a Chi Horse, carrying three to five people. It’s commonly used in the Yuan estates for patrolling the lakes, to guard against bold outsiders coming to poach fish. If you intend to use it for scouting, it’s hardly inferior to the Chi Horse—especially since its hull is painted black, making it even more concealed at night.”

“Hmph!” Feng Tong was greatly displeased by Zuo Wen’s words, feeling as though he had been deliberately upstaged: he’d just said there was no Chi Horse, and now Zuo Wen produced something even better, making him look a fool. Fine, Zuo Wen, just wait until we return to the Yuan household—I’ll see how you fare.

“That’s perfect!” Xu You paid Feng Tong no heed, delighted. “Captain, please select three men—brave, attentive, skilled swimmers with keen eyesight. Have them take the Lurrow and maintain a distance of about ten miles ahead of the main vessel. Should they see anything amiss—especially anyone resembling Fei Yao in build or appearance—they must report back immediately!”

Zuo Wen rose to carry out the order. Xu You then turned to Feng Tong. “Steward Feng, I have a few words to discuss privately with Captain Deng. Why don’t you return to your cabin and rest? If my guess is right, another battle awaits us soon.”

Feng Tong’s suppressed anger flared up, but just as he was about to object, Deng Tao coughed pointedly. The sarcastic retort died in his throat, leaving him red-faced and comical.

“Talk all you want, then.”

With a shake of his sleeves, Feng Tong stood and slammed the cabin door behind him. Xu You was unperturbed, gazing at Deng Tao’s imposing figure, silent for a moment. Deng Tao lowered his gaze, broad hands resting calmly on his knees. “If you have orders, my lord, I will obey them to the death.”

“It’s not that serious!” Xu You laughed. “I only want you, if Fei Yao really attacks, to withstand three of his arrows—no matter what.”

Deng Tao was silent. After a moment, he spoke quietly, “I do not fear death, but I have a question for you, my lord.”

“Go ahead.”

“I am but a humble captain, while Fei Yao is a famed master. To withstand even one of his arrows would be a stroke of luck. Why are you so confident I could survive three?”

Xu You’s eyes narrowed, a cold gleam flashing through them as he smiled. “Because I still can’t see through your true abilities, Captain Deng, and that gives me confidence.”

Deng Tao looked up, startled. “Why do you say that, my lord?”

“At first, when Captain Zuo spoke of you, he said you were at the upper ninth rank. Yet you killed Yue Yao with a single spear and severed Sha Yao’s arm with another. Both of them should have been in the mid to upper sixth rank. Although they were injured, with a gap of three full ranks between you, it should have been almost impossible—even with surprise—to dispatch them so cleanly. That’s the first point. Second, as you yourself said, you’re just one captain among perhaps two or three hundred in the Yuan household. Why, then, does Steward Feng, who holds a much higher position, defer to you? And third, while you respect Zuo Wen, there’s no fear in it; you treat him almost as your subordinate, not your superior. As for Feng Tong, you barely acknowledge him, yet he seems quite afraid of you.”

Deng Tao was silent for a long time before saying, “So, just from these three points, you believe I can take three of Fei Yao’s arrows?”

“I can’t be certain, but with the Yuan family’s exalted status, it’s hardly surprising if they have hidden masters. What does surprise me is that someone of your caliber would remain content with such a lowly post as a household officer.”

Suddenly, Deng Tao laughed—a first since Xu You boarded the boat. The chiseled features of his face revealed a strange charisma. Though he remained kneeling as before, in that instant, he seemed to transform into a mountain, a towering city wall—imposing, remote, vast and deep.

“The rumors say that the seventh son of the Xu family is an uncouth, illiterate, arrogant boor, riding about the city all day bullying the innocent, and if not for some martial talent, would be entirely worthless…”

Xu You poured tea for both of them, smiling. “Thank you for your hard work, Captain. To find even a single merit in someone as awful as me is no small feat.”

“Hahaha!” Deng Tao laughed heartily, embodying robust cheer. “Those who gossip ought to come aboard themselves and see how the so-called boorish scoundrel seizes command, steadies the troops, and step by step traps and destroys both Yue and Sha Yao…”

“That’s simply the art of war—nothing but trifling tricks picked up from elders’ idle talk at home. You give me too much credit, Captain.”

Deng Tao’s eyes shone as he stared at Xu You. “Victorious yet not proud, defeated yet not resentful, gracious and modest, elegant in bearing, your words are eloquent, your gait like a crane’s. My lord, if I didn’t know you so well, I’d suspect you had been replaced by another entirely.”

Xu You’s heart skipped a beat, his brows raising, but instead of dwelling on the “replacement,” he seized on the flaw in Deng Tao’s words. “Know me so well?”

Deng Tao smiled. “Forgive me, my lord. Ever since you became engaged to Miss Yuan, I was ordered to visit Yixing dozens of times. The reports on you would stack three feet high upon a desk.”

He spoke quickly, and at the mention of “Miss Ji—” he deftly corrected himself to “Miss Yuan,” so Xu You did not notice. If it had been the old Xu You, he would have flown into a rage at such surveillance and invasion of privacy. But Xu You was unbothered, for in his own era, background checks were the norm for every financial operation—sometimes done with methods far more ruthless than Deng Tao’s.

“Ordered? By whom? Lord Yuan?”

Deng Tao admired Xu You’s composure—he could see it in his eyes. “I’m afraid I cannot answer that, my lord. But rest assured, I mean you no harm. In fact, you should know, the team sent by the Yuan family to escort you wasn’t originally ours. I pulled some strings to have our hundred-man unit assigned at the last moment.”

In other words, Deng Tao had arranged to be at Xu You’s side on purpose. Xu You smiled. “I believe you mean no harm, or you wouldn’t be speaking so candidly. But what is your true objective?”

“My aim is simple: to see you safely delivered to Jinling City!”