Chapter 51: The Night Hawk Calls Amidst Spears and Arrows

“How are you feeling today?”
Ye Chang, whose face was pale from the pain in his groin, addressed Xiao Bailang atop Lao Wu’s Tavern in Xuanping Ward.
The smile on Xiao Bailang’s face had not faded for a moment; today he had achieved both fame and fortune—a stroke of luck he had never known in his life.
In the enclosed private room, only Ye Chang and he were present; even Qin Qinshou was absent, and Shanshi was enjoying himself with Xiao Bailang’s companions outside, their boisterous laughter and shouts clearly audible through the door. Not only had Xiao Bailang never been so illustrious, but neither had his brothers—when had they ever basked in such glory?
“If not for Eleventh Gentleman, how could I, Xiao Bailang, have such a day?” Xiao Bailang raised his cup. “I drink in your honor, many thanks, Eleventh Gentleman!”
“I have a matter to trouble you with, Fifth Brother. I wonder, would you be willing?” Ye Chang went straight to the point.
“Eleventh Gentleman need only speak his wishes. If my brow so much as furrows, then I am not worthy to be called a man!”
Xiao Bailang agreed generously, and Ye Chang, unhurried, began to recount the matter concerning his elder brother, Ye Shu. He explained how his brother had died at the hands of Yang Fu, servant to Princess Xianyi’s consort, Yang Hui, then fixed his gaze on Xiao Bailang. “I only wish to know why my brother died, and to clear his name… Fifth Brother, this matter will entail some risk for you, but not mortal danger. If conducted discreetly, perhaps…”
“Eleventh Gentleman need not say more. I have already told you—no matter what the task, I shall shoulder it!”
Xiao Bailang cut Ye Chang off, rose to his feet, and said, “In the Western Market, I know a few fellows who make their living on the streets. They are sure to know about this. Grant me three days, and I will return with the truth.”
Matters others dared not speak of, these ruffians and wanderers would. They were like foxes and rats in the city, in close contact with the servants and underlings of every household. They could ferret out everything—from which master slept with which maid, to which lady stole away with which groom.
It was a force unnoticed by most.
“Well then, I won’t thank you, Fifth Brother.” Ye Chang narrowed his eyes. “Besides, there is one more thing. Based on today’s match, it’s still quite difficult for you to catch the Emperor’s eye. I have a suggestion: you might confer with Manager Qin to organize a Chang’an League.”
The so-called Chang’an League would be based on the wards of Chang’an; each ward would field a football team to compete. The most important function of today’s match at Qinglong Temple was to spread the rules of football throughout Chang’an. Next, someone could stir up excitement, propose such a league, and put up a hundred or so strings of cash as prizes. The playful, carefree idlers of Chang’an would surely flock to join.
“For each match, you can charge admission—say, a penny or two per person for the best seats, while those who don’t pay get only the less desirable spots. In this way, each game could bring in a couple of strings of cash. Then, you could let merchants in Chang’an hang their banners in the arena, charging several hundred coins up to a string for each. There’s more—sell snacks, small dishes, soups outside the field…”
Ye Chang laid out his ideas, and Xiao Bailang’s eyes grew ever wider; by the end, they nearly bulged from his head!
According to Ye Chang’s plan, a football match, under ideal conditions, could bring in dozens of strings of cash—enough not only to cover expenses, but to yield enormous profits! There had been football and polo matches in Chang’an before, but no one had thought to run them as a commercial venture; everyone simply considered them entertainment. Yet Ye Chang offered Xiao Bailang a wholly new vision!
This vision, once put forth, signaled a new era in cultural entertainment for the Great Tang.
With a population of a million, Chang’an boasted at least ten thousand wealthy households, numbering some tens of thousands of people, and over a hundred thousand families of moderate means or better—some four or five hundred thousand people. It was a vast consumer base, whose spending power had barely been tapped. As Ye Chang spoke, his own mind grew clearer. Previously, he had no clear goals as to what he could do in the Great Tang, or what suited his temperament. Now, Ye Chang felt he had found his direction.
“There are so many avenues here! If we schedule matches every ten days on rest days, that’s a yearly revenue of a hundred thousand strings!” By the end, Xiao Bailang was utterly stupefied, his mind awash with the clattering of a hundred thousand strings of coin. A hundred thousand strings! To be girded with a hundred thousand strings, to ride a crane to Yangzhou—this was the dream of the age!
“That’s the ideal scenario, which won’t be fully realized. I estimate that, with a four-tier league, annual revenues would be about sixty thousand strings. But with such profits, it’s impossible for the powerful not to covet a share. You will need support from certain figures—such as Princess Yuzhen.”
“Will you handle matters with Princess Yuzhen, Eleventh Gentleman?” Xiao Bailang understood; he had connections, Qin Qinshou had money thanks to steady profits from the folding fan, and Ye Chang had wisdom. Now all they lacked was someone with authority.
“I will act only as adviser, not participate directly.” Ye Chang shook his head. “If I have the chance, I’ll mention it to Princess Yuzhen, but the details of negotiation and profit sharing are yours to manage.”
“Why so, Eleventh Gentleman? Even divided four ways, you could earn over ten thousand strings a year—and it’s a lasting enterprise, something you could pass on to your descendants!”
“My ambitions lie elsewhere.”

Xiao Bailang thought for a moment, then understood: “Of course, Eleventh Gentleman is destined for the office of prime minister. Naturally, he wouldn’t be bound by such ordinary affairs.”
“Prime minister? No, that is not my ambition either.” Ye Chang replied with a smile.
“Hiss!” Xiao Bailang drew in a sharp breath, his gaze toward Ye Chang tinged with fear.
If the office of prime minister could not satisfy Ye Chang, did he mean… his ambition was the throne itself, that jeweled seat in the Ming Palace?
“I have no interest in rebellion. My ambition… is to be Chief Architect.” Ye Chang laughed heartily.
Chief Architect—one who determined the future path and destiny of the Great Tang, even all of China—was that not more thrilling than being a mere emperor?
“Chief Architect? What kind of office is that?”
“You’ll understand in time.” Ye Chang stood up. “I entrust my brother’s affair to you. Now, I must go pay respects to Lord He. I was somewhat excessive today.”
Xiao Bailang did not know why Ye Chang said he had been excessive, but by now he had a deep trust in him. He respectfully escorted Ye Chang from the tavern; before leaving, Ye Chang greeted the bald, greedy fellows feasting noisily, and pulled the reluctant Shanshi along.
“Why so eager to leave? We haven’t eaten our fill!”
“Monk, it’s so late. If we don’t go now, we won’t be able to see the road.”
“We’re still in this ward, there’s no curfew to fear. We could eat until midnight without trouble.”
“Still, we injured Lord He today. We ought to go apologize.”
The two had developed a certain rapport. Though simple, Shanshi was not stupid; he knew Ye Chang was genuinely good to those around him, so even if Ye Chang didn’t cook, he stuck by his side.
They left Lao Wu’s Tavern, passed by Qin Qinshou’s shop, and headed toward the residence of He Zhizhang. It was already deep into the night, and the alley was empty save for them. The lantern in Ye Chang’s hand cast a dim glow, barely lighting their path. They stumbled along, careful not to step into the ditch.
As they chatted, suddenly Shanshi grabbed Ye Chang and drew him close.
“Hey, monk, what’s the meaning of this? Even if you want a woman, you shouldn’t look to me…”
Ye Chang thought Shanshi was acting out because he had lost the argument, joking as he spoke. But then came a “whir” sound.
The lantern in his hand had been snatched away by Shanshi and thrown. With a whir, it flew back and slammed into a wall beside the alley!
By the lantern’s dying flame, Ye Chang saw the tail of an arrow quivering violently. The buzzing sound came from the trembling fletching, and in the night, it sounded like the wailing of ghosts from afar.
Ye Chang’s face turned ashen, and his tone cut off at once.
That arrow had been aimed at him. If not for Shanshi’s quick reflexes and early suspicion of an ambush, the arrow would have pierced his chest!
Death had been so close to him. Since arriving in this era, it was the first time Ye Chang had felt a mortal threat. Even with thirteen hundred years of wisdom and insight, before one of mankind’s earliest weapons, he was no match.
Ye Chang had never truly experienced such a thing; at first, he was so frightened he froze, not knowing what to do. It was Shanshi who pinned him to the wall, then kicked out to extinguish the lantern.
Suddenly, darkness enveloped them. Another twang of the bowstring sounded, and Ye Chang felt something brush past his face and embed itself in the wall.
He finally realized what was happening and let out a loud, short scream, as if struck by a fatal arrow.
At the same time, he clung tightly to Shanshi.
The assailant had a bow and was an expert shot. Even if Shanshi was brave and skilled, there was no advantage when the enemy was hidden and they were exposed. The best course was to wait for the enemy to approach.

Shanshi was startled by Ye Chang’s scream. “Eleventh Gentleman, what’s wrong?”
Ye Chang grabbed his hand and pressed it firmly; Shanshi sensed Ye Chang must have some clever plan, and as long as he was unharmed, he kept quiet.
In the distance, hurried footsteps echoed, then quickly faded; judging by the sound, there were at least seven or eight people.
Ye Chang whispered for Shanshi to stay silent. After a while, there were more faint footsteps; Shanshi’s respect for Ye Chang grew—though he’d panicked at first, once calm, his predictions about the enemy were remarkably accurate.
“We’ll walk in the dark.” After waiting a bit longer, Ye Chang said quietly, “Let’s hurry to Lord He’s residence.”
“Who could it be?” Shanshi asked.
He knew Ye Chang had only been in Chang’an six or seven days; in such a short time, who hated him enough to arrange an assassination here? An attack with bows and arrows, no less—if word spread, even the prefect Han Chaozong might be implicated!
Shanshi didn’t know how deep the intrigue ran, but he realized how dangerous these hidden enemies were for Ye Chang.
“I don’t know. I’ve only been in Chang’an a few days—who could I have offended?”
“You haven’t offended many?” The monk sneered. Ye Chang was a walking generator of enmity. Since arriving, he had tangled with Xiao Bailang, then Lu Qi and Yuan Zai, and today had annoyed a noblewoman in Princess Yuzhen’s circle, caused displeasure to the Emperor’s twenty-ninth daughter, Chongniang, and his brother’s affair involved Princess Xianyi.
On average, Ye Chang managed to provoke a powerful foe every day.
Any of these people might target him. Lu Qi and Yuan Zai’s reputations were ruined in Chang’an because of Ye Chang; Princess Yuzhen’s noblewoman had been publicly rebuked and lost face; Chongniang, unpredictable as she was, could do anything. Even Xiao Bailang—Shanshi didn’t know of the grand schemes Ye Chang had drawn for him, only that now Xiao Bailang’s name and football fame would spread throughout Chang’an, and Ye Chang was of no further use to him; their old grudges were ripe for settling.
Ye Chang sighed gloomily; indeed, he had attracted plenty of trouble. Yet he felt none of these conflicts were truly life-and-death enmities, and every time he’d only reacted defensively—he had never initiated any of it.
“Who is so narrow-minded as to want my life over such petty grievances?” he wondered gloomily.
If he didn’t uncover this enemy, he would be in grave danger.
As they passed through the alley back to Lord He’s residence, in a corner of Xuanping Ward, the door of an ordinary house was pushed open. Three men entered, and seven or eight others were already waiting in the courtyard.
“Was it successful?” someone asked.
“We heard a scream, but can’t confirm if it worked.” one of the newcomers replied.
“That man has ties to the powerful, even met Princess Yuzhen. Let’s hope he hasn’t had time to say anything yet.” The first speaker continued, “Regardless of success or failure, none of you are to make any further moves in the capital. The Marshal’s business is settled; you will leave the city at dawn tomorrow. I will handle that man myself!”
“Xi Daxun, have you grown timid from living among the Tang in Chang’an? If tonight’s attempt failed, we must try again. Surely his luck won’t hold forever!”
“What do you know? Do you realize who the current prime minister is? Li Linfu, Li Genu! That man is ruthless and shrewd. You used bows—if this gets out, you won’t be solving trouble for the Marshal, but inviting disaster!”
At this, the group fell silent. Xi Daxun continued, “The Marshal is a frontier general of the Great Tang; you are Tang soldiers, not free to act as you would in your own tribe. If you can’t remember that, don’t come back after this trip!”
“Yes!” they replied quietly.