Chapter 88: The Wisdom of Going All-In Part 3

Han Ding said no more. He led Gu and Pei through several courtyards, down winding paths, and through several turns before stopping at a secluded door in the back garden.

Han Ding stepped forward and knocked five times in a rhythmic code.

The door creaked open, revealing a man with deep-set eyes and thick brows, wearing silk Hu robes and thick braids coiled around his forehead.

The man scowled, his Han speech heavily accented. “Governor Han, why have you brought strangers to see me?”

Han Ding started to introduce them. “This is—”

Gu Huaiyu raised a hand to stop him, saying nonchalantly, “The Lord Chancellor of Great Chen, Gu Huaiyu.”

He then flicked a glance at Pei Jingyi beside him. “And this is my disobedient little dog, Pei Du.”

Pei Jingyi, who had been sizing up Amula, saw his lips twitch at the “little dog” remark. “Chancellor, could you perhaps leave out the ‘little’ next time?”

Gu Huaiyu did it specifically to tease him, but now wasn’t the time to play with his hound. He looked at Amula. “General Amula, are you willing to have a detailed chat with me?”

Amula’s eyes went wide. He knew exactly who was standing before him—who in the Eastern Liao court hadn’t heard the name of Great Chen’s Lord Chancellor?

Recently, when the Eastern Liao delegation returned to Xijing, the originally ruthless Regent had become a different person. He had begun treating subordinates with courtesy, showing leniency to political rivals, and even imitating Han speech and manners. He even went around saying things like “governing through virtue.”

Sabutai had spies in the court. The secret reports said that Yelü Chi’s current behavior was a complete imitation of this Great Chen official.

Amula’s thick nostrils flared as he snorted. He couldn’t understand how the man Yelü Chi was so desperate to copy could be such a thin, frail person.

“Chat about what!” He slammed his hand against the scimitar at his waist. “If you’re going to fight, then fight! Our Khan Sabutai will support you!”

Pei Jingyi’s thumb pressed against the guard of his blade. With a crisp clink, the sword slid out an inch. “It’s been years, you barbarian. You’ve only grown more impolite.”

Amula had suffered at Pei’s hands before. His expression shifted slightly, and he gave a rough huff, turning his head away.

Gu Huaiyu remained patient. He asked calmly, “Since Khan Sabutai wants to surround the Yelü clan, surely he would want to know where Great Chen’s blades will strike, and when?”

Though Amula’s Han speech was stiff, he understood the meaning. He turned and strode into the room.

Han Ding looked angry. “Chancellor, these barbarians…”

Gu Huaiyu raised a hand to silence him and followed the man inside with composed steps.

The room reeked of mutton. Several braided warriors were busy counting crates. The boxes were filled with a messy assortment of goods—sheepskins, cheese, scimitars, and saddles. They were clearly disguised as a merchant caravan to sneak into the city.

Amula sat directly in the central high seat. He waved a hand aggressively. “Fine! Say it! How do you Han people plan to fight?”

Gu Huaiyu’s gaze swept over the other warriors, his eyes giving a slight signal.

Amula understood. He sneered. “What? Afraid we’ll leak your secrets? The Sabutai tribe isn’t like you Han; we don’t enjoy being traitors.”

A dog’s mouth spits no ivory, Gu Huaiyu thought, ignoring the insult. He reached out and pressed down on Pei Jingyi’s restless shoulder, smiling thinly. “Isn’t the very reason Khan Sabutai sent you to Great Chen to be an insider against Eastern Liao?”

Amula’s bronze face turned a sudden shade of red. He barked a few lines of the Eastern Liao tongue, driving all his subordinates out.

Just as Gu Huaiyu was about to withdraw his hand, Pei Jingyi flipped his own hand over, catching Gu’s and giving it a gentle squeeze.

Pei Jingyi arched an eyebrow at him, flirting brazenly.

Han Ding and Amula merely thought it was a display of a deep master-servant bond, unaware of the underlying tension.

“Speak!” Amula slammed the table impatiently.

Gu Huaiyu looked at the high seat Amula was occupying. The corners of his lips quirked up. “General Amula, are you still comfortable sitting there?”

Amula blinked. “What do you mean?”

Gu Huaiyu disliked standing while talking to others, and he was not used to being in a subordinate position. He lazily stretched his back. “My legs are tired. General Amula, why don’t you stand up while we talk?”

Amula’s expression shifted rapidly as he stared intently at Gu.

Gu Huaiyu wasn’t in a hurry. He said slowly, “I can afford to wait. But I wonder… can Khan Sabutai’s tribe afford to wait?”

Bang!

Amula slammed his palm on the table and stood up abruptly, making the teacups rattle. “If we won’t cooperate, so be it! It is Great Chen that doesn’t know what’s good for it!”

He stomped toward the door, his heavy steps making the floorboards thud.

Han Ding instinctively tried to block him, but a look from Gu Huaiyu stopped him.

Pei Jingyi leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. He watched as Amula reached the threshold, only to suddenly slow down. His back practically screamed hesitation.

Pei couldn’t help but chuckle softly. In a battle of wits, who could possibly beat Gu Huaiyu?

Amula’s feet stopped right at the doorstep. His fists clenched, and he spun around, his expression looking as though he had swallowed something foul.