Chapter Thirty-Nine: The White-Washed Serpent

"White snake?"

At these words, the room fell instantly silent. A strange light flickered in Zhan Wenjun’s eyes as she gazed at Xu You and asked softly, “Why does Master Xu seek a white snake?”

“A white snake is a spiritual creature in this world—naturally, it has marvelous uses…” With the scientific understanding of a later era as his foundation, Xu You knew that a white snake was nothing more than an albino mutation; any species of snake could possibly turn entirely white, though it was merely a matter of probability, and had nothing to do with immortals. Yet, such things could not be spoken openly—for only if the world believed the white snake to be a spiritual being could Du Jingzhi’s desperate situation be resolved.

Zhan Wenjun did not reply, but lowered her head in thought, clearly troubled by something difficult to decide.

Qianqin frowned and said, “White snakes are rarely seen. Though they are recorded throughout history, those who have truly seen one are few indeed. If one were to search for years without rest, perhaps one might chance upon one, but where, in a mere moment, could we find such a thing?”

Baihua giggled and said, “Could it be that Master Xu has no real plan, and so offers such a difficult demand as his first condition?”

Xu You smiled. “You wrong me, ladies. Of course, a true white snake would be best. But if not, as I said, necessity breeds change, and change leads to opportunity—find a python, paint it with white lacquer, and so long as it’s viewed from thirty feet away without close inspection, it will serve just as well!”

The Classic of Mountains and Seas, in “The Classic of Regions Within the Seas: The Southern Section,” notes: ‘The Ba-serpent eats elephants, and after three years, their bones are expelled; a gentleman who consumes it is cured of abdominal ailments.’ In “Heavenly Questions” of the Songs of Chu, it is also said: ‘The Spirit-Serpent swallows the elephant; how great is it?’ The so-called ‘Ba-serpent’ or ‘Spirit-Serpent’ is likely a kind of python known today, native to the southern regions south of the Qinling and Daba Mountains. Xu You had researched this, and determined there were roughly two main locations. One is Daba Mountain, at the border of Sichuan and Shaanxi, also called Snake Mountain. According to the Annotated Water Classic and Records of Famous Sites in Shu, the north of Daba Mountain has ‘Shen-snake Mo,’ and the south has ‘Ba-serpent Cave’—all ancient place names, with countless legends about the Ba-serpent.

The other place is much closer to Qiantang. The Essential Canon of the Huainanzi records: ‘In the time of Yao… the Feng and Xiu snakes were both plagues among the people. Yao thus sent Yi… who slew the Xiu-snake at Dongting.’ The Xiu-snake is a long serpent, namely the Ba-serpent. Yu Zhongyong of the Song dynasty wrote, ‘Yi slew the Ba-serpent at Dongting; its bones were as great as mounds, hence the name Baling.’ Thus, in ancient times, the Ba-serpent was found or its remains discovered in the region around Dongting Lake, and was not especially rare.

“Ba-serpent…”

Baihua tilted her head in thought, then clapped her hands. “I remember! Last year, during the dragon boat races at Mi River, I saw a country snake-catcher with such a serpent—it took more than ten men to carry it. Still, it wasn’t as large as the legends say…”

The Classic of Mountains and Seas claims the Ba-serpent is eight hundred feet long—clearly an exaggeration. Generally, they are about four meters, with the longest reaching seven meters, already a giant among snakes.

As for the Mi River, it is a tributary of the Miluo River—north is Luo River, south is Mi River, and they unite to flow into Dongting Lake, the very place where Qu Yuan drowned himself.

Hearing Baihua’s words, Xu You was certain the Ba-serpent dwelled near Dongting, and felt assured. “If you have seen it yourself, then surely there are still some near the Mi River. I must trouble Madame to send someone at once to purchase a Ba-serpent from that area.”

Qianqin, ever ready to oppose Xu You, retorted, “Even if there is one, it isn’t so easily bought…”

“With enough gold, what cannot be bought?” Xu You looked at Zhan Wenjun, who had been lost in thought, silent and unlike her usual self—he grew a little suspicious. “But this must be done in secret. What does Madame think?”

Zhan Wenjun raised her head. “The Ba-serpent is not difficult to find. But if Master Xu intends to coat it with white lacquer, I fear that before so many witnesses, someone may well notice the deception…”

In The Book of Odes, “The Qin Airs” says, ‘On the slope grows lacquer, in the marsh grows chestnut,’ pushing China’s use of lacquer back thousands of years. Through the Xia, Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, and even the Wei and Jin, lacquerwork advanced by leaps and bounds, reaching unimaginable heights. The craft of white lacquer in particular is simple and practical—durable, moisture-proof, unfading. If one were to paint a Ba-serpent white, unless someone seized it and inspected it up close, no one could tell the real from the false.

Xu You’s eyes brightened. “Does Madame have a better method?”

He had a faint suspicion, but could hardly believe such a coincidence. Zhan Wenjun nodded. “Three years ago, my uncle traveled to Bazhong in Yizhou, transporting silk brocade to the Three Wu. He lost his way and lodged for the night in a place of beautiful mountains and water. That night, thunder and lightning raged, the stream suddenly flooded, and many of his retainers perished. Only my uncle and two most trusted men escaped to high ground in the forest—where, by chance, they discovered a white snake resting in the grass…”

“Ah?” The exclamation came from Baihua, and Qianqin beside her looked equally astounded. Even Wanqi, normally cold as ice, frowned ever so slightly.

Even they knew nothing of this matter!

In the world Xu You came from, the rock white snakes of Japan had been bred by passing on the albino gene through advanced techniques, making them a kind of white snake that could be artificially cultivated. News-followers would recall the white snake in Hebei struck dead by lightning, or the white python kept by a company in Langxia Town, Jinshan District. As for albino snakes found at snake farms, they were too numerous to count.

By analogy, even if there were no dedicated snake farms in this era, the individual number of white snakes could not be too small; only in ancient times, so many places were inaccessible to humans and information travelled slowly. Even if a villager in some deep mountain forest found a white snake, it would rarely reach the civilized world.

Thus, with Guo Mian’s vast wealth and his frequent travels, it was entirely possible he might have encountered a white snake!

Xu You was overjoyed. “Even better! May I ask, Madame, is the white snake still alive? Has anyone else learned of it?”

Zhan Wenjun shook her head. “That night, only two trusted retainers were present, and both were strictly forbidden to speak of the white snake. So for these three years, the white snake has been kept at a hidden residence on Mingyu Mountain, thirty li outside Qiantang. Other than my uncle and myself, no one has seen it.”

Xu You laughed heartily. “Clearly, heaven favors you, Madame. No matter how cunning Du Jingzhi may be, he must drink from Madame’s… ah, if the white snake appears, will it not enrage Lord Guo?” As he spoke, he remembered that a woman’s feet were private, and for a man to drink the water used to wash them was an open flirtation, so he swallowed his words.

Zhan Wenjun replied resolutely, “In dire peril, when even one’s own life is not secure, why spare a mere snake?”

“Very well, let it be so. Next, Madame must find twenty literate persons—eloquent, clear of speech, and amenable to control. When you have found them, gather them in a remote house, forbid them to leave, and wait for my instructions.”

Qianqin could not bear Xu You’s commanding tone and snorted, “What do you mean by ‘amenable to control’?”

Xu You only smiled. He would not stoop to quarrel with a young maid. But He Ru was less accommodating. “Those with families, those greedy for money or lust, those who fear death—all such can be controlled.”

Qianqin pressed, “And how, exactly, would you control them?”

“Those with families can be threatened through their kin; the greedy, tempted with wealth or pleasure; the fearful, with the sword at their necks. Such is control—what do you think?”

Qianqin sneered, “So ruthless, Master He—what kind of classics did you read?”

Zhan Wenjun rose. “Another word of reckless insult to our honored guests, and you’ll no longer follow me. Baihua, tomorrow find her a household and marry her off!”

Baihua laughed. “Yes, Sister. Do you prefer a fair and delicate gentleman, or a simple, honest farmer?”

Qianqin shot her a glare and quickly knelt, silent. Zhan Wenjun strode to Xu You, saluted with both hands, and said gravely, “Give me one day, and I will fulfill all Master Xu’s commands.”

Back in the second-floor chamber, the three sat together. Zuo Wen asked, “Why was Guo Mian so anxious to keep the white snake a secret? Not only did he not announce it, he hid it so carefully. White snakes are spiritual beings—shouldn’t he present it as an auspicious omen to his liege, or at least keep it at home and make himself famous in Wu? I saw him flaunting himself on the golden-flagged ship—he doesn’t seem the modest type.”

Xu You smiled. “You’re not wrong, Fenghu, but you’re missing something.”

“Please enlighten me, Master.”

Xu You looked to He Ru. “You explain.”

He Ru sneered. “Isn’t it obvious? Guo Mian’s ambitions are greater than fame or fortune. If I’m right, he’s waiting for the day he can present the white snake to the Prince of Jiangxia.”

Zuo Wen was puzzled. “But isn’t Guo Mian close to the Prince of Jiangxia? If he wanted to offer the snake, he could have done so three years ago. Why wait?”

“He’s waiting for the right moment! Remember, the Han founder gained the empire only after slaying the white snake…”

Zuo Wen understood, and before he could voice his amazement, He Ru turned to Xu You. “Seventh Master, if it was just a guess before, the matter of the white snake shows Guo Mian’s ambition. And as the Prince of Jiangxia’s right hand, his ambition is but an extension of his lord’s. So, this heaven-sent opportunity must be seized—we must save the Zhan family from the tiger’s jaws and forge a bond with Guo Mian!”

Xu You stretched lazily. “Do you know what the people of Jiangdong love most?”

He and Zuo Wen shook their heads.

“Ghosts and spirits!”