The Sorceress' Revolt
Author: Toriumi Jinzō
Translator: Ainikki the Archivist
Ko Biji's Story
Part Seven: The Pewter Staff
Tanshi escaped from Sei Koko’s estate and followed a mountain stream to the southwest to Xiangzhou in Hubei Province. His Daoist robes drew attention from others. He thought about seeking refuge in a Daoist temple, but even temples struck him as unsafe. His decision to lay low was wise; all temples in the vicinity of Mt. Hua were thoroughly searched shortly after his escape.
The governors of all the nearby provinces received direct orders from the Imperial Court to find Tanshi, Ko Biji and Sei Koko. The search area included the Yongxing Road in Shānxi Province, the Jingxian Road in Hubei Province, the Jingbei Road in Henan Province, and the Qinfeng Road in Gansu Province. The Imperial Court cast a wide net, but Tanshi, Ko Biji and Sei Koko were not discovered.
The orders for the search came from Imperial Court eunuch Rai Ingyō. Rai Ingyō was a favorite of the previous emperor, Zhenzong, and now had the full trust of the Empress Dowager. Eunuchs were chiefly in charge of the Emperor’s harem, but Rai Ingyō held immense administrative power in addition to that.
The reason why the investigation was so extensive was probably because they expected Ryū Gen to assist Tanshi. They wanted to use Tanshi’s connection to Ryū Gen to eliminate the salt smugglers. It was known that Tanshi had escaped alone and that Ko Biji had been taken away by a Daoist priest who could use fire magic. Sei Koko was in the wind; no one knew where she’d disappeared or where she was now. As the search turned up nothing, the search area expanded, leading to the righteous frustration of the searchers. Tanshi would be found—it was only a matter of when, and by whom.
Tanshi stayed out of sight and sought refuge from the elements in abandoned farm sheds or barns. More often, he slept outside in the mountains. It was spring now, but there were still many bitterly cold days. If Tanshi had not been inured to travel by his previous long journeys, he would not have lasted more than three days living outside.
In the village of Chunhe in Hubei Province, Tanshi stopped by a riverbank for a drink and was mistaken for a Daoist monk. A young woman asked him to pray for the recovery of a sick child. He came up with a prayer on the spot and was paid for it. He used the money to obtain fresh clothing and food from the small village.
Tanshi didn’t stay in the village for long. He avoided the main roads during the day and cut through the mountains as much as possible. In his new clothes, he resembled a farmer at a distance. His eyes were sharp and alert.
As he traveled, he remembered what he’d said to Ko Biji about their destination after they escaped.
“We’re not safe here anymore. Yunmeng Mountain is the only place.”
If Ko Biji had gotten away safely, she might meet him there. Tanshi decided to go to Yunmeng Mountain, turning his steps to the south.
As he approached the road that led through Jiangling Prefecture in Hubei Province, Tanshi suddenly stopped in his tracks. There was a checkpoint ahead, and guards were questioning travelers. There were many travelers along this stretch of road during the spring, so there was a bit of a line. Tanshi stood by the roadside, hesitant to go any further. As he was pondering whether to wait until night and sneak through or to take a longer route around through the mountains, someone called out to him from behind.
“Ho there! Are you a traveler?”
Tanshi considered the man who’d called out to him with wary eyes. The man was a young monk, perhaps twenty-five or twenty-six years old.
“Are you talking to me?”
“Yes. Let me help you.”
Tanshi didn’t know what to say. How could the monk possibly help him? And why would he want to?
From his bearing, the monk seemed to be well-educated. He was also unusually clean—this was practically the middle of the mountains, and his uniform was immaculate.
Tanshi tried to dissemble and get the monk away from him, but the monk just smiled at him. “You have no need to be suspicious of me,” the monk said. “I’ll show you.”
The monk waved his hand behind him. A group of about ten monks and temple attendants approached, carrying a litter. The litter was a luxurious thing decorated with gold leaf and vermilion paint. Brocade curtains hung from three sides.
The young monk tapped the door of the litter, then gestured to Tanshi. “Well, come on now. Hop on in.”
“Thank you, but…” Tanshi had no idea why this monk would want to help him. He hadn’t explained himself at all.
“We must hurry, or else we’ll arouse suspicion. Come on, while no one is looking.”
Tanshi bowed his head in thanks. The monk didn’t seem like he had ill intentions, so Tanshi decided to trust him for the moment. “I shall follow your word.”
Somehow, the monk had seen through his farmer’s disguise. They were speaking as monks and equals. The young monk didn’t speak to Tanshi as if he were a farmer. Tanshi had only just noticed that.
“Then hurry,” the monk said, pulling back a curtain.
Tanshi got into the litter. The young monk followed him inside and shut the door, and then the entire procession set off. The curtains were down, so Tanshi couldn’t see what was going on outside. There was no guarantee that the guards at the checkpoint wouldn’t look inside. If they saw Tanshi riding in this luxurious litter in his peasant clothes, he’d arouse immediate suspicion.
Sure enough, several guardsmen stood in front of the procession and blocked the path. A man who appeared to be an officer stepped forward and asked, “It is my duty to secure this road. You are a monk. What is your name, sir?”
The officer spoke politely enough, doubtless because of the extravagance of the litter.
The young monk was equally polite when he answered, “This one is Kei Kai, the head priest of Guangming Temple.” He didn’t lift any of the curtains and kept Tanshi hidden.
“Pardon me, sir monk,” the officer said. Apparently the Kei Kai was well-known in the area.
The guardsmen didn’t move out of the road, though.
“I have specific orders,” the officer said, “so I’ll be searching the interior of your litter, sir.”
Tanshi gulped. Things were about to get complicated.
“But, sir, our orders—”
“Who dares block our way?” Kei Kai asked in an aged, quavering voice quite unlike his own.
The guardsmen flinched. The officer immediately got to his knees, followed by the others. “Great poet! We meant no disrespect,” the officer said. “Please forgive us for the presumption of questioning your passage.”
Fenyang Shanzhao was a favorite of the Empress Dowager. Blocking his passage and searching his litter would be considered a great insult by the Imperial Court. Not even China’s Prime Minister could go against the will of the Empress Dowager. The officer was too low-ranked to ask anything of such an illustrious personage.
“I’m glad you understand,” Kei Kai said in his older, quavering voice. “I’ll let the transgression go this time. Let us pass.”
The guardsmen bowed low, openly relieved. “Thank you very much,” the officer said. “I apologize for the trouble.” He gestured for the litter to move forward, and the other guardsmen moved out of the road.
The litter started moving again. Tanshi was impressed that the name of Fenyang Shanzhao carried so much weight. It was true that he was a famous monk and poet, and very aged at seventy-six years old. Tanshi didn’t know that he was a favorite of the Empress Dowager, so to him, the guardsmen moving out of the way made no sense. He’d heard Fenyang Shanzhao’s name from Jiun before and read some of his writings, but he’d never met the man.
Kei Kai’s story had thoroughly convinced the guardsmen. Tanshi was impressed by Kei Kai’s courage and convinced that the man truly wanted to help him.
***
Tanshi was safely transported to Guangming Temple, which was large and built on sprawling grounds. Kei Kai invited Tanshi up to his private study with a little laugh.
Kei Kai had been quiet and solemn for much of the trip, so this sudden change surprised Tanshi.
“That was fun, Tanshi,” Kei Kai said.
“Oh. I, uh, guess so.”
“I lied, but it was to help someone in need so I’m sure I’ll be forgiven by the Buddha. Tanshi, you’re not much of a conversationalist. Also, you stink. We should do something about that. We can talk more later.”
Tanshi flinched. How did Kei Kai know his name? He hadn’t told him. Kei Kai looked like a good and pious monk on the outside, but his casual speech could have come from the mouth of a bandit or a scoundrel.
Kei Kai called for Ri Chū, a young temple disciple, and ordered him to take care of Tanshi. Ri Chū led Tanshi to a bathhouse so that he could wash himself. Ri Chū brought Tanshi new clothes that looked like a wealthy merchant’s to dress in after his bath. Ri Chū had all the energy of a young, excited boy and all the precision that temple discipline could give him.
“I think it suits you, Tanshi the monk,” Ri Chū said when he saw Tanshi in his new clothes. His words were complimentary, but his tone was mocking.
“Does it? I’ve never been a merchant in my life, much less a rich one.”
“Hahaha…” Ri Chū laughed brightly.
Tanshi felt greatly refreshed after his bath, but still considered Ri Chū and Kei Kai very strange. I certainly change professions a lot, Tanshi thought. First I was a temple monk, then a wanderer. Then I went from being a wandering monk to a farmer to a merchant. Where will it end?
***
A large table was brought into Kei Kai’s study to accommodate Tanshi’s welcome feast. China was rich in coal, and this richness led to the invention of briquettes, which were used to smoke meat for a long time. The feast for Tanshi was made up of many of these smoked meats from the local area.
Who was Kei Kai? Tanshi knew his name and occupation, but little else. Kei Kai sat across the table from him, sampling all the meat. He took one look at Tanshi’s confused expression and grinned. “You haven’t figured it out yet, huh? Who else besides me knows you’re a monk?” Kei Kai asked.
“What?” Tanshi asked.
“You’re Ryū Gen’s sworn brother, right? That’s hard to tell. I would have thought a real monk like you would be able to peel back my devilish disguise.” He laughed. “Though I guess the same could be said for many of the monks who live in this temple.”
Kei Kai said all this because he knew exactly who Tanshi was, and that he had a strong connection to Ryū Gen. Kei Kai hadn’t revealed anything about his methods, but Tanshi understood that Kei Kai had assumed the name and face of a well-known monk—and that he wasn’t actually that monk. It was an impressive feat, if a bit unsettling. He was no closer to understanding the person he was talking to.
“This isn’t something I get to say very often, but I will ‘cuz it’s just you,” Kei Kai said. “This temple is an ideal strategic position. The salt smugglers unload here and we store it all in the cellar. But we’re also a real temple that gives blessings and takes donations. There’s nothing suspicious about our operations at all, at least on the surface of things. Our information network is top-notch; the Imperial Guard can hardly tie their shoes without us knowing, and they don’t know a thing about us. All we have to do is look legit and the authorities pass us right by.”
Guangming Temple was less of a temple and more of an outpost for the salt smugglers. The rear alcove of the main Buddhist temple concealed a large salt cellar underneath. Coffins that were usually used to transport the dead entered the temple filled to the brim with salt.
Kei Kai himself had some religious learning, but he was no monk. That wasn’t to say there were no real monks among the salt smugglers, because there were. Impoverished monks angry at the injustices of the world to the poor became salt smugglers all the time. As Ryū Gen had told Tanshi, the salt smugglers’ influence was vast, and growing. Kei Kai had built this temple as a front for the salt smugglers and was a very clever man. Monks were exempt from taxes, so temple activities were lightly monitored. Kei Kai had made a fortune from illegal salt smuggling, and so far, no one was the wiser.
“I saw Ryū Gen a year ago, but I haven’t heard from him since,” Tanshi said. He wanted to know where Ryū Gen was and how he was doing. They’d parted on awkward terms, but Ryū Gen was still his sworn brother.
“Lord Ryū Gen is the hero the world’s been waiting for,” Kei Kai said. “I can’t talk about it now, but he’s planning something big. It’s going to be mightily interesting.”
It was no news to Tanshi that Ryū Gen had lofty ambitions. He was irked that Kei Kai mentioned a grand plan but wouldn’t tell him anything about it.
“I heard about the girl you were with—Ko Biji, was it? Beautiful girl. You said you found her when you were a wandering monk? Well, I won’t ask for details. Though I could.” This was an indecent, if indirect, accusation to make to a monk, and Tanshi reddened. He wondered about the sources of Kei Kai’s information.
“Have you heard any news of her?” Tanshi asked.
“News? No. Though, wow, you’re really in love with her. It’s written all over your face.”
Tanshi looked away.
“You’re so naïve; it’s adorable,” Kei Kai said.
Kei Kai knew what everyone did: that Ko Biji had been abducted by a Daoist priest who could wield fire as a weapon. “We knew about the raid on the estate beforehand, but Ri Chū messed up. We didn’t expect the guards to light the estate on fire, and all our plans to rescue you went sideways. That fire-wielding maniac was just icing on the cake. Ri Chū followed the guy, but lost him in the woods. Ryū Gen said you were the top priority and sent me after you.”
There was no way for Tanshi to know that Ryū Gen would try to rescue him, so Tanshi and Ko Biji hadn’t been able to cooperate with Ryū Gen’s forces at all. Tanshi gave Kei Kai a slightly suspicious look.
“Don’t give me that face,” Kei Kai said. “Believe me or don’t believe me, but I got orders from Ryū Gen to help you, and he’s the man who cares about you more than anyone else in this world.”
Tanshi nodded cautiously. “I do believe you, I think. It sounds like something Master Ryū Gen would do.”
Ryū Gen had told Kei Kai to support Tanshi, even against the overwhelming force of the Imperial Guard’s search. Kei Kai feared that he would miss Tanshi in the mountains—he wasn’t a tracker by profession—so he’d requested Ri Chū’s assistance. Ri Chū found Tanshi when he was traveling out of Hunan Province but lost him again near Dongting Lake. No one knew if Tanshi had climbed Yunmeng Mountain or not. Ri Chū asked around on the salt smugglers’ information network and found out that Tanshi had broken through the checkpoint at Sanmenxia three months ago with Ko Biji.
“You gave Ri Chū quite the merry chase,” Kei Kai said.
After Tanshi was settled at the estate on Mt. Hua, Ri Chū had come to check in on him from time to time.
“We’re still looking for Ko Biji and that fire-breathing bastard. Ri Chū found three imperial soldiers dead in the road near the estate where you were staying—poisoned, most like. We think Sei Koko did it and got away. She’s a terrifying old bitch.”
Hearing about the dead guards didn’t shock Tanshi—not anymore, not after he’d seen Sei Koko commit murder with his own eyes. Sei Koko’s murderous cruelty was what had caused Ko Biji to cut ties with her.
“Anyway, we’ll catch Ko Biji soon. She’s a good girl, considering she’s the daughter of that bitch. She fought against some of the guards and nearly got free.”
Kei Kai was astonishingly well-informed. Tanshi supposed that proved just how effective the salt smugglers’ information network was.
Kei Kai sipped his sake and ate his food. “Ryū Gen is planning his next escapade, and I cannot interrupt that work at the moment. What will you do? You’re welcome to remain here as a guest for the time being.”
“I’m going to Yunmeng Mountain. If Ko Biji has escaped, I should be able to meet her there.”
“Okay, I’ll make sure you get to Yunmeng Mountain, then.”
Tanshi blinked. “Thank you.” He bowed his head deeply.
Kei Kai had a rude way of speaking, but his kindness was genuine. Tanshi had no choice but to rely on him, but he wasn’t as bothered by that prospect as he thought he’d be. Kei Kai was not a trustworthy man, but he was Ryū Gen’s ally—and that made him Tanshi’s ally, too.
***
The next day, Tanshi was hidden in a litter again and transported away from the temple. He dressed as a monk and was accompanied by Ri Chū and a large group of monks and disciples. The guards at various checkpoints on the road suspected nothing, as they believed that the litter was carrying Fenyang Shanzhao.
Kei Kai saw Tanshi off at the temple entrance. “Be careful out there,” he said, “and make sure you come back.” He emphasized this last part.
Tanshi left the group at the Yangtze River and continued his travels by boat. Ri Chū insisted on accompanying him, probably at Kei Kai’s instruction, but Tanshi refused. He thought it would be easier to move quickly and quietly if he made most of the voyage to Yunmeng Mountain by boat.
The chances of meeting Ko Biji there were slim, but Tanshi didn’t know what else to do. He didn’t want to stay with Kei Kai and wait helplessly for news.
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