Chapter 49: Damn, I've Been Looked Down Upon

“The Emperor decrees: Now in Cai Family Village of Chang’an resides Cai Cong, a youth of keen intelligence, great courage, and remarkable strategy. I am much pleased with him. From a young age, he has been resolute and enterprising, rendering outstanding service to the nation. Therefore, he is hereby ennobled as the founding Earl of Chang’an County, to enjoy a fief of two hundred households, a hundred taels of gold, and a perpetual estate of one thousand acres. Thus is my will!”

This edict conferring a title upon Cai Cong was the vaguest ever penned since the founding of the Great Tang. Ordinarily, such imperial favors would be extolled with lavish rhetoric, enumerating a benefactor’s deeds in grandiose terms, for the edict was meant to proclaim to the world the reason this man was admitted to the ranks of the nobility.

Yet, Cai Cong’s edict was not only brief but brushed over his achievements with the lightest of strokes. Anyone unfamiliar with the situation might well curse the Secretariat for its negligence and wonder what drivel they had written.

Only after three refusals and three invitations did Cai Cong finally accept the decree, expressing his gratitude: “Your subject was but a humble weed among the masses, yet received Her Majesty’s great favor, being granted the unprecedented honor of having my mother titled as Lady of the Fourth Rank and my wife bestowed a noble title as well. My mother and I are already overwhelmed with gratitude. Now, to receive Your Majesty’s further grace in conferring an earldom—I vow henceforth to serve the Great Tang with all my strength until death claims me.”

Li Shimin nodded in satisfaction, saying nothing. Yan Dong then produced another imperial edict from his sleeve and announced, “Cai Cong, Earl of Chang’an County, heed the decree…” Without hesitation, Cai Cong knelt again. Old Li was assigning him a post; his days of leisure were at an end.

“The Emperor decrees: The Earl of Chang’an County is hereby appointed Commander of the Left Guard of the Crown Prince, to lead a thousand soldiers and protect the Eastern Palace. However, as the new army is weak, the Commander is specially ordered to drill the troops for three months. At the end of three months, their performance will be inspected: if they are elite soldiers, there shall be ample reward; if they are found lacking and timid, severe punishment shall follow.”

Yan Dong’s stern voice echoed through the grand hall. All present sensed the Emperor was admonishing Cai Cong, hoping he would remain humble and vigilant. Having just received such favor, Cai Cong was expected to show resolve. Kneeling, he declared, “I accept Your Majesty’s will. In three months, I request to pit my troops against the Black Armored Army. Let both sides pitch camp and simulate battle. May Your Majesty not refuse.”

“Well said, Earl of Chang’an! You dare challenge My Black Armored Army? Granted. In three months, I shall lead the officials to watch the contest myself and see how you greenhorns are routed.”

Li Shimin laughed heartily, and the other ministers erupted in laughter as well, entirely forgetting themselves before the Emperor. Even a few censors were doubled over with mirth.

Ignorance knows no fear! The Black Armored Army had once followed Li Shimin to conquer the realm—each was a blood-soaked god of war. For Cai Cong to challenge them was like lighting a lamp in an outhouse.

Cai Cong ground his teeth at their laughter. Go ahead and laugh—when your heads are rolling, we’ll see who laughs then.

“Enough—go to the Left Guard! Drill your troops well. I wish to see what immortal art you possess to shape a gaggle of rookies into a force that could defeat the strongest army of the Great Tang in three months.” Li Shimin waved his hand, dismissing Cai Cong. To look down on his Black Armored Cavalry—those eight hundred horsemen who broke ten thousand foes—was Li Shimin’s pride.

“Then I take my leave!” Cai Cong replied glumly, as if a child chastised by his elders.

No sooner had he left the grand hall than he was surrounded by palace maids. The lead maid said nothing, simply scooped him up and dashed away.

Hearing Cai Cong’s startled cries from afar, the assembled ministers could not help but muse: That boy must be His Majesty’s illegitimate son—how else would the Empress favor him so? She was indeed magnanimous.

Carried in the maid’s arms to the Palace of Pure Tranquility, Cai Cong struggled all the way—not to take advantage, but because it was mortifying. What nobleman, at the age of eight, was still carried about like a child? It was an affront to the dignity of the state!

The Empress Changsun was laughing and conversing with a young boy dressed in a dragon-embroidered robe. The boy seemed distracted, sneaking glances at the approaching Cai Cong with a touch of admiration in his eyes. Changsun noticed but said nothing.

Once set down before her, Cai Cong immediately raised his voice, “Greetings, Your Majesty. I must protest! I am an earl—how can you have me carried about like a child? It’s shameful—a disgrace to the realm!”

“A tiny official, and you dare speak of disgrace to the realm? Shameless! Even if you were a duke, as long as you’re not grown, you’re under my charge. Not only can I carry you about, if you misbehave, I could pull down your trousers and spank you.” Changsun said with a teasing smile, glancing at his backside. Terrified, Cai Cong clapped both chubby hands over his rear.

Chuckling, Changsun had a maid bring out two sets of child-sized official robes, clearly custom-made. “The first time I saw you, my heart ached. Such a small boy drowning in oversized robes—I feared you’d trip and fall. So I ordered these made for you. Your mother, honestly—doesn’t she know how to care for you?”

“Ah, isn’t that the truth? But my mother spoils me so much, whatever I want, she agrees. If she doesn’t know how to take care of me, so be it!” Cai Cong replied with a world-weary air, his face radiating happiness—enough to inspire jealousy.

Li Chengqian, watching this scene, couldn’t help but laugh. His admiration for Cai Cong faded—he was just like himself, not some demigod, still afraid of his own mother.

“Come, let me introduce you. This is the Crown Prince, my son Chengqian. Crown Prince, this is the Earl of Chang’an County, Cai Cong. You’re about the same age, and Cai Cong is now your Left Guard Commander. You two must get along. Especially you, Cai Cong—don’t go leading the Crown Prince astray with your mischief, understand?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Greetings, Your Highness.” Cai Cong replied earnestly, thinking to himself: Mencius was right after all—human nature is originally good! This cherubic little imp before him was nothing like the cruel tyrant described in later histories.

“Rise. I’ve heard of you—can you tell me how you drove off that enemy army with a single stratagem?” Li Chengqian could not suppress his curiosity.

History should have seen Li Chengqian witnessing the Turks besieging Chang’an and his father forced to abase himself in surrender, thus planting in his heart a longing for the steppe life. But Cai Cong’s appearance had changed the course of events. How strong could a Turkic army be if they were scared off by a child?

“That’s nothing. I just made a bet with His Majesty—I’ll train my troops to defeat the Black Armored Cavalry in three months. Your Highness, would you like to join me in training?”

Cai Cong said boldly. Li Chengqian stared, open-mouthed. Changsun rapped Cai Cong smartly on the head, eyebrows arched in mock anger. “Didn’t I just warn you not to corrupt the Crown Prince? And now you dare brag in front of me—do you want a spanking?”

“Ow, that hurts!” Cai Cong cried, rubbing his head in exaggerated pain. Changsun couldn’t help but laugh, for she hadn’t used any force at all.

“Your Majesty, you wrong the little earl—standing outside, I heard it all. He really did challenge the Black Armored Cavalry, and the entire court was laughing so hard they could barely breathe,” said Changsun’s personal attendant with a smile. The little earl was simply too endearing.

“Hahaha! Son, you see now? Never imitate such a fool. Your father’s Black Armored Cavalry is unmatched, and yet he claims he’ll defeat them in three months. If he’d said three years, I might believe him!” Changsun laughed until tears came, turning to Li Chengqian with a serious expression.

Cai Cong’s face darkened at once. He was being perfectly serious—how could they not believe him?

“Yes, Mother. Father’s Black Armored Cavalry is invincible. Cai Cong can’t possibly beat them,” Li Chengqian agreed fervently, having no faith in Cai Cong’s chances.

“Such a blow—your subject takes his leave to train the troops. I guarantee you’ll be astonished in three months,” Cai Cong said, dejected. In truth, even after three years of training, if these new recruits had never seen blood or battle, they’d be lambs before those veteran killers—not that he could blame them for laughing.

But the men he would train were special forces—experts in infiltration, assassination, poisoning, endurance. In those arts, the others combined were no match for him; he could handle them all single-handedly. As Cai Cong imagined this, a glint of pride returned to his face.

“It’s just as well—the Crown Prince must return to the Eastern Palace. You two may go together,” Changsun said dismissively, unconcerned with their feelings. Facts were facts; let the two boys amuse themselves.

“My mother didn’t mean to embarrass you—can you not be angry with her? She’s really very kind,” Li Chengqian said as they walked, seeing Cai Cong deep in thought and mistaking his silence for hurt feelings. After much hesitation, he spoke up, heedless of his own dignity.

“What are you talking about? How could I be angry? Your father and mother treat me very well. I’m just thinking how to defeat the Black Armored Army. They look down on children—well, I’ll show them what I can do!” Cai Cong replied, shaking his fist.

“You’re really brave. Everyone says you’ll lose, but you still think of winning,” Li Chengqian said admiringly. The Black Armored Army’s fame was legendary—if Cai Cong stood on the streets of Chang’an and declared he’d topple them, the people would laugh for a year.