Chapter Nine: The Pride of the Mule Cart

“Execution! What I need is a horse, not a mule!”

The moment he saw the mules, a sense of humiliation as though he’d been slapped in the face in the street surged through Eunuch Guo’s heart. If his kick earlier was merely to scare, now he truly felt murderous intent.

Who was he? He was the Grand Eunuch Guo, personally appointed by the Emperor as the Chief Commander of the official school at Datong!

And what was this station master? Nothing more than a lowly, insignificant functionary, not even worthy of being called a sesame seed official!

Now, a petty official dared disregard him, the imperial eunuch, sent to find horses and instead brought two mules. Wasn’t this deliberate mockery?

He deserved death! Beating him to death wouldn’t be too much!

To mistake mules for horses—this was almost akin to calling a deer a horse, yet the nature of the offense was vastly different. Seeing the eunuch’s face darken like charcoal, Lu Qing was afraid he might actually call for violence, so he hurried forward to confront Sun You-song and the others: “His Excellency requests horses. Why have you brought two mules?”

“Your honor, it’s not that we meant to neglect His Excellency. Everyone in town is busy hiding from the Tartars, and it’s truly impossible to find horses at the moment. His Excellency pressed us urgently, so we had no choice but to bring these two mules. If His Excellency doesn’t mind their slower pace, they can serve as mounts for now.”

Sun You-song, attentive to the situation, knew that young Lu Qing was easier to reason with than Eunuch Guo, so he wore a pleading expression, hoping Lu Qing might speak for him. Behind him, Zhao Da and Zhao Er hovered anxiously, the latter’s legs trembling, terrified that this elderly eunuch might actually be murderous.

Lu Qing understood Sun You-song’s predicament. Though young in body, he was over thirty in his previous life; he hadn’t achieved much, but he knew the value of leniency and convenience for all, and that helping others was helping oneself. Besides, Sun You-song genuinely couldn’t find horses—it wasn’t intentional neglect—so Lu Qing didn’t wish to make things hard for him.

Seeing Eunuch Guo’s eyebrows and beard bristling in rage, Lu Qing advised, “Your Excellency, since the station master truly cannot find horses, let’s make do with these mules. They may not be as swift as horses, but they’re rideable. Once we reach the next station, we can switch to horses.”

“How can one ride a mule?”

Eunuch Guo was thoroughly displeased, unhappy that Lu Qing didn’t stand up for him, but instead spoke for the station master, urging him to use mules as transport.

Since the days of Emperor Xuande, as a minor eunuch, Guo had always traveled by four-bearer sedan chair; after rising to regional command, it was an eight-bearer grand sedan. Even when the army marched, as supervising eunuch, he rode the finest steeds; never mind mules, he had never ridden a donkey!

A mule was simply not acceptable! If word spread that Guo Jing rode a mule, where would his face be? It wasn’t just his own dignity at stake, but the dignity of the Imperial family itself! Compared to the Imperial face, his own was nothing. If the Emperor learned that Guo Jing arrived to report riding a mule, he’d be finished!

“No! I cannot ride such beasts! Tell them to find horses! I cannot bear such disgrace!” Eunuch Guo was resolute, refusing to ride any but a horse, though he no longer called for violence, knowing that, at this moment, all he could do was protest.

At a time like this, you’re still worried about dignity? Lu Qing shook his head inwardly. Yet, in this Ming Dynasty, mules—the offspring of horses and donkeys—were truly despised beasts. Not only eunuchs of Guo’s status, comparable to regional governors, but even common folk looked down on riding mules; even donkeys were more respectable mounts. There was Old Zhang, famed for riding a donkey backward, but who had ever heard of riding a mule backward? If the commoners saw mules this way, how much more so would Guo Jing, a representative of the Imperial face.

But this wasn’t a question of the mule’s worth, but one of movement. No matter how lowly, a mule could serve as transport. Who knew how far the next station was? Would an old man and a youth really trudge under the blazing sun to meet the Emperor? If so, the opportunity would be lost; the disaster at Tumu could pass, and even the defense of the capital might be over!

Thinking of the impending disaster at Tumu, Lu Qing grew anxious, urging again: “Your Excellency, it is unsafe to linger here. The Tartars could strike at any moment; every extra moment means greater danger. Now is not the time for pride. For the sake of urgent military matters, please ride the mule and let us depart!”

At the mention of the Tartars attacking at any moment, Eunuch Guo wavered. Compared to dignity, life seemed more important, yet he still hesitated, unable to decide whether to ride or not.

Sensing Guo Jing’s worries, Lu Qing pressed further: “If Your Excellency is mindful of the Emperor’s safety, how could His Majesty begrudge you such a minor breach of protocol?”

At these words, Eunuch Guo hesitated no longer. Indeed, if the Emperor heard that Guo Jing had braved hardship, riding a mule to deliver urgent news, he might even be moved.

However, Eunuch Guo still didn’t agree to ride the mule, but instead fretted: “You’re right, but I’ve only ever ridden horses, never these hybrid beasts. Besides, there isn’t even a saddle. How am I to ride?”

Lu Qing was struck dumb. He’d been so focused on persuading the eunuch to leave, he hadn’t considered whether Guo could actually ride a mule. He’d assumed that if Guo could ride a horse, he could ride a mule. Though mules were descendants of horses, they were hybrids, and their size differed greatly. Besides, there was no saddle, and Guo was an elderly man—riding wouldn’t be easy. If he fell along the way, Lu Qing’s plans would be wasted.

After pondering a moment, Lu Qing turned to Sun You-song: “If His Excellency cannot ride, do you have a large cart that can be harnessed?”

“Yes, yes!”

Sun You-song was relieved. As long as Eunuch Guo accepted the mules, it was a blessing. As for harnessing them to a cart, the station had two ready-made wagons used for hauling grain; if they wanted them harnessed, so be it.

Sun You-song quickly led Zhao Da and Zhao Er, along with a few station hands, to attach the cart. When all was arranged, it looked from a distance like a proper carriage. The cart was a large flatbed used for hauling grain, with no compartment—plain and uncomfortable. Following Lu Qing’s suggestion, Sun You-song had straw laid on the boards, covered with blankets, and cut several branches to shade the sun, making it look somewhat presentable. They also placed two jugs of water and some dry rations in the cart.

When everything was ready, Lu Qing invited Eunuch Guo aboard. Guo circled the mule cart, looking it over with deep displeasure, unable to vent his anger, and finally snorted before, with Lu Qing’s help, reluctantly climbing aboard.

Sun You-song led Zhao Da, Zhao Er, and the station hands who’d harnessed the cart to stand respectfully by the roadside, heads bowed to send off the venerable Datong eunuch. Yet after waiting a long while, the cart did not move. Curious, they looked up to see Lu Qing pointing at them: “His Excellency requests two station men to pull the cart. When his affairs are done, there will be generous rewards.”

“Understood!”

Without a word, Sun You-song pushed Zhao Da and Zhao Er forward. “Did you hear? Take good care of His Excellency on the road—when you return, the station won’t treat you poorly.”

“Station master!”

Zhao Da and Zhao Er’s faces turned green. Old Sun was too shameless—of all people, he picked them! The person in the cart was no easy guest to serve!

Sun You-song ignored their protests. Under his glare, Zhao Da and Zhao Er, mournful as if facing a funeral, reluctantly moved forward, dragging their feet until Lu Qing barked at them, prompting them to lead the mules and set off.

Once the mule cart disappeared from sight, Sun You-song finally relaxed, nearly collapsing to the ground, saved only by a quick-handed station hand.

“Did you all see that? That’s a palace man, Datong’s guardian eunuch. Today Zhao family’s brothers get to serve him—it’s a blessing from their ancestors. If they serve well, perhaps His Excellency will help them, maybe even grant them official posts. When they return, we might have to call them ‘sir.’”

Everyone chimed in, saying the Zhao brothers were truly lucky, blessed by their ancestors to get such a good post. That eunuch was a favored confidant of the Emperor—if pleased, he might reward them, allowing them to return home in glory. Such fortune was truly enviable.

Amidst the chorus of envy, a thin-faced station hand muttered, “Station master, the Zhao brothers weren’t chosen themselves—you pushed them. If it’s such a good thing, why didn’t you go?”

“You little rascal... I’m old now, even a great opportunity doesn’t tempt me. When the Tartars retreat, I’ll ask Lord Li if it’s time to retire, go home, and enjoy my grandchildren.”

At the mention of the Tartars, the station hands all began discussing rumors heard from fleeing townsfolk. Some said in the battle at Yanghekou, tens of thousands of Datong border troops were slaughtered by the Tartars, who piled their corpses outside Datong’s walls, terrifying the townsfolk into not daring to look.

Others countered that the Tartars couldn’t have the strength or time for such foolishness—how could they drag bodies to Datong the day after the battle? Did the Tartars possess magic?

Still others questioned, if the Tartars were truly at Datong, why was there no urgent plea for aid sent by fast horse? Don’t believe the townsfolk’s wild chatter; the defeat wasn’t confirmed, and who knew the truth? Wait for the urgent report before believing anything.

Everyone spoke, but nothing was certain or convincing. Sun You-song listened for a while, then shook his head and returned inside to busy himself. The townsfolk were fleeing, but as station master, he could not; preparations had to be made, for an urgent report could arrive at any moment—food and drink, fodder for horses, all had to be ready to prevent chaos.

Yet, as he thought of these things, his eyelids twitched uncontrollably. He didn’t believe the ignorant border folk’s rumors, nor that the border troops were truly defeated, but recalling the ragged, blood-stained Datong guardian eunuch, his heart could not be settled.

The dignified Datong guardian eunuch was in tatters, covered in blood, as if he’d crawled from a heap of corpses. Could it be that the border troops really had lost at Yanghekou? Yet earlier, Datong’s Deputy General Shi hadn’t said the army was defeated, only that the Tartars were approaching the Great Wall and he had to organize resistance...