It seemed Mu Kuangda now considered him properly part of the manor as well, in part because of Wu Du’s show of loyalty. He quickly replied, “Yes, Your Excellency.”
Wu Du opened the letter and discovered it was a military report. Though it had no address or signature, it contained a record of military spending, weapons inventory, winter training plans, and even a report on the purchase of Ferghana warhorses from Western Liang for 14,800 taels of silver.
“Do you know this hand?” Mu Kuangda asked.
“It’s Bian Lingbai’s,” Wu Du said. “The commander of defense at Tong Pass, Guanxi’s Pacification Commissioner.”
“Correct,” Mu Kuangda said.
Duan Ling didn’t know this man’s background, so he remained silent. Why would Mu Kuangda show Wu Du this letter? Was he planning to send him out for an assassination?
“Bian Lingbai has been in the army for thirteen years,” Mu Kuangda explained. “He got his start in the Guandong Army, and he’s fought more than twenty battles against the Liao Empire, large and small, with both victories and defeats. When the imperial Yelü clan occupied Shangzi, his attack on the Khitan army’s rear earned him significant merit. After the capital was moved to Xichuan, he was transferred and became the commander in chief of the Guandong Army. Seven years ago, he joined forces with the Tiger General Han Bin and turned traitor at Jiangjun Ridge, where they attempted to usurp the late emperor Li Jianhong’s military power.”
“Kill him?” Wu Du asked lightly.
Mu Kuangda took another sip of tea, backlit by the sun coming through the window behind him. “He was loyal to Zhao Kui,” Mu Kuangda said. “The late emperor was happy to overlook this, but I fear I cannot. Bian Lingbai has been conspiring with Western Liang for some time, secretly expanding his army and buying up horses. The letter you hold in your hand is proof. It details every item in his hidden hoard of military equipment, the embezzlement of military funds, and the exchange with the Tanguts for warhorses. If we don’t take care of him now, he may grow overconfident with a private army behind him and refuse to obey our commands in the future.”
Mu Kuangda had always been one to consider the bigger picture.
“Understood,” said Wu Du. “I’ll set out in a few days.”
Uh oh, Duan Ling thought. What will I do if you leave?
“In addition to ending him, you must also collect evidence of his intent to rebel,” Mu Kuangda said.
Wu Du frowned and didn’t immediately respond.
“Wu Du,” Mu Kuangda gently chided. “Killing people cannot be your only skill.”
Mu Kuangda rose and stepped out into the corridor. The summer breeze blew past, jingling the wind chimes.
“I met Bian Lingbai once,” Wu Du said. “He’s ambitious, and given I’m to blame for General Zhao’s death, he surely doesn’t look favorably upon me. He’ll draw his knife before I even sit down.”
“Aren’t you skilled in the art of disguise?” Changliu-jun piped up.
“Disguising myself is only good for infiltration,” Wu Du replied. “If I want to collect evidence of his collusion with the Tanguts or his intent to rebel, I’ll have to interact with him. My speech and gestures won’t deceive his eyes for an extended period of time.”
Mu Kuangda mulled the problem over in silence.
“There’s another way,” Wu Du offered. “I arrest him and bring him back, interrogate him, then hand him over to you. Whether he confesses under torture or tells the truth will then have nothing to do with his feelings about me.”
“That won’t do.” Mu Kuangda slowly shook his head. “The emperor would certainly spare his life. Even if the evidence is incontrovertible, the worst punishment he would face is military conscription, which will only give him a chance to rally. I need him to die quietly at Tong Pass, not be killed with a fanfare that will incite his army to rebel.”
“What if I go too?” Duan Ling blurted out.
The room quieted in an instant. It was a ridiculous suggestion, but Duan Ling didn’t know what else to do—if Wu Du left, he was as good as a fish on a chopping block, free for Lang Junxia to slaughter.
“You?!” Wu Du exclaimed, as if he’d heard a bad joke. “This is an assassination!”
But Mu Kuangda appeared pleasantly surprised. He turned his attention to Duan Ling. “You certainly are bold. Let him speak, Wu Du. Tell us, what do you have in mind?”
“Um… I don’t have a definite plan,” Duan Ling said. “We would need to get there first. Tong Pass, right? Maybe if I pretend to be Zhao Kui’s…relative…and show my face instead, General Bian won’t be so suspicious?”
Mu Kuangda considered this. Wu Du frowned, ready to stop Duan Ling from speaking any further, but Duan Ling shot him a pleading look.
“It’s feasible,” Mu Kuangda said. Duan Ling’s suggestion had given Mu Kuangda a new idea. He continued, gazing thoughtfully at Duan Ling, “Last year, Bian Lingbai was transferred back to Tong Pass from Jiangjun Ridge. It’s been nearly a year since Zhao Kui’s death. What identity would you assume to meet him?”
His pointed interest slightly worried Duan Ling. What if the prime minister had noticed something amiss with him—what if he was struck by an epiphany and became suspicious? But this was a gamble he had to take; he reminded himself that Mu Kuangda was only scrutinizing him now because he was considering a suitable identity for him.
“It won’t work to pretend to be Zhao Kui’s son,” Mu Kuangda mused. “He had three sons and one daughter, and they were all beheaded. But what about an adopted son? Wu Du, what say you? Could we get what we want by inciting a rebellion ourselves?”
Such an incitement would be a shrewd and ruthless move.
“But how do we explain Wu Du’s reason for being there with me?” Duan Ling asked.
“Easily done,” Mu Kuangda said. “All you need is a letter. I will officially appoint Wu Du to locate the Guardian of the Realm; he will use this opportunity to contact Bian Lingbai. It’s a believable story.”
“Zhao Kui had a nephew named Zhao Rong,” Wu Du offered. “His father, Zhao Pu, was the vice admiral of the Naval Defense Patrol in Shandong. Four years ago, when Dongying pirates were raiding along the coast, Zhao Pu died of an arrow wound, and Zhao Rong was captured and drowned. Not many people know this; only Zhao Kui received the news of his nephew’s death. We should be able to use his name to establish contact with Bian Lingbai.”
“Excellent,” Mu Kuangda said. “Let me think a bit further on this; it’d be best to accomplish all our goals in one fell swoop. You two may return home and wait for word of my arrangements.”