Chapter 74
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Just when Ming Yu thought he was about to suffocate, a faint light finally emerged. Then, someone roughly pulled him out and shoved him into a carriage.
The man named Uncle Ping removed the cloth from his mouth. Before he could say anything, he was forced to drink a bowl of bitter herbal juice. It choked him, causing him to cough violently, even tears streaming down.
Uncle Ping chuckled, “Wang Ye, don’t blame this humble one. This medicine will only make your limbs weak and render you unable to speak for a while. Hunle Wang Ye invited Duan Wang to visit with good intentions. As long as Wang Ye cooperates, we will treat you with respect.”
Nonsense! Ming Yu glared furiously. Faced with Ming Yu’s almost murderous gaze, Uncle Ping’s smile became even more brazen. He opened a wooden basket beside him, filled with bottles and jars of various sizes. He reached in, selecting a few.
Then, those eyes scrutinized Ming Yu from top to bottom. Ming Yu involuntarily shrank his neck. What is he planning now?
“Wang Ye possesses balanced features, gentle bone structure, and delicate, snow-white skin. If dressed as a woman, there should be no discordant feeling. Please bear with us for a while, Wang Ye. My skills will put Wang Ye at ease.” Uncle Ping added this last sentence.
“…” At this moment, Ming Yu only wished to curse his (Uncle Ping) eight generations of ancestors. A woman? What the hell! You and your whole family should be dressed as women!
However, his protests were in vain. Uncle Ping paid no attention to him and directly started applying cosmetics to his face. After half an hour, he even redid Ming Yu’s hair into a woman’s bun and dressed him in a set of attire. Only then was the process complete.
Uncle Ping was very satisfied. Now, even someone close wouldn’t recognize him face-to-face, right?
And Ming Yu decided to go along with it, biding his time. Once he turned the tables, he would settle this score.
The distance from Liangcheng to Shi Chongguan wasn’t too far. It would take two or three days at a slow pace, or a day on fast horses.
The group of people didn’t dare to be careless. Pretending to be a civilian welcoming procession, they headed slowly toward Shi Chongguan.
Shi Chongguan is nestled within treacherous mountains, renowned as the most formidable border pass. It has always been a contested location for military strategists. Only one narrow passage allows the passage of people, animals, and carts. Naturally, the defense of this pass is crucial.
If the Suixi Kingdom wanted to invade the Great Yan, they must breach this pass to launch a large-scale invasion. Hunle Wang managed to breach Shi Chongguan a few years ago by employing covert operations to strike from both inside and outside, catching the border garrison off-guard. It was a lightning-fast and unexpected attack that took advantage of the unpreparedness of the border garrison, ultimately succeeding.
As for the smaller groups of barbarian invaders, in order to go unnoticed by the garrison, they must take a longer route, crossing the Chong Mountain to enter the Liangzhou region of the Great Yan. Due to the challenging terrain, large armies cannot march through, so only small groups of invaders can enter for looting.
Now, Great General Wei has already established checkpoints at the border. Every border resident must undergo strict inspection when entering or exiting. Despite the stand-off between the two countries’ armies, intermingling and intermarriage among the border residents remain common. Completely isolating the two regions is an impossible task.
Uncle Ping currently disguises himself as a child, remarkably without any flaws. Although Ming Yu is curious about how he managed this, he cannot speak to ask questions. Throughout the journey, Ming Yu was prohibited from speaking, and Uncle Ping remained silent, ignoring everyone around.
It’s evident that as they draw closer to Shi Chongguan, Uncle Ping becomes more tense, evident from his increasingly rigid posture.
Ming Yu didn’t care anymore. He’s become much more composed than at the start. Dressed in women’s clothing, lying in the carriage with a thin blanket over him, Uncle Ping sat beside him, gripping a dagger concealed within the blanket, its blade pressing against Ming Yu’s waist.
“Don’t even think about trying anything.” Uncle Ping’s voice adopted a high-pitched, childlike tone, remarkably similar to a child’s speech. Clearly, he had practiced to a degree that made it hard to detect any flaws. However, the impact of his words diminished due to the childlike tone.
Seeing Ming Yu’s calm expression, which evidently showed how he didn’t treat the situation seriously, Uncle Ping harrumphed, “Don’t blame me for not warning you in advance. As long as you dare to make any sudden moves, know that this knife in my hand isn’t for show. If I, a humble person, can exchange my life for the life of Duan Wang of the Great Yan, it’s a fair trade.”
Having said that, he gently pushed the dagger forward. The cold blade tip made contact with Ming Yu’s skin. Ming Yu frowned; if he could speak, he would be swearing right now. He’s completely restricted, how could he make any sudden moves?
Uncle Ping was just trying to intimidate him, not harm him. Seeing Ming Yu’s reaction, he relaxed his grip a bit, retracting the dagger slightly. Yet, his expression remained tense.
General Xie Yixiu personally led the Red Robe Army to inspect the pass entrance, thoroughly checking everyone who intended to leave.
“Why are the reasons for your leave?” The carriage was halted, and A Bing, looking stern, inquired. Since General Xie informed him about Wang Ye, he had been in a state of deep worry. Wang Ye had bestowed him with an everlasting favour, and now that Wang Ye’s whereabouts were unknown, how could he rest easy?
“Sir, this humble one’s family resides outside the pass. Originally engaged in trade in Liangcheng, now my wife is ill. There aren’t enough hands to care for them, so I had to send my wife’s child back home to be looked after by our parents. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be at ease.” Tuoba Jiu, now a bearded man, looked just like any ordinary border folk.
“Isn’t the medical treatment in Liangcheng better than outside the pass? Why not have her treated in Liangcheng rather than bringing her outside?” A Bing questioned with a hint of skepticism.
Tuoba Jiu’s face wore a pained expression. “Sir, you might not know, but we’ve had many doctors examine her illness, spending quite a sum of money. They’ve said that this ailment can only be treated through proper rest and care. Even the most precious medicines won’t have much effect. Since it’s come to this, I had to send her home to recuperate.”
Upon hearing this, Xie Yixiu approached, “What’s going on?”
A Bing recounted the situation in detail. Xie Yixiu nodded, “Inspect everyone thoroughly.”
“Yes, sir! Please.” Tuoba Jiu nodded and bowed slightly. “My wife’s illness is sensitive to wind, so both she and my child are inside the carriage.”
Xie Yixiu’s face remained impassive as he walked towards the simple carriage. Tuoba Jiu clenched his fist, hidden in his sleeve. His expression, however, did not betray his emotions.
Uncle Ping shifted his body and pulled up the thin blanket covering Ming Yu, nearly covering his chin.
At the same time, the curtain of the carriage was lifted. Due to the tightly arranged interior of the carriage, the light was dim. At this moment, when the curtain was lifted, the sudden influx of light caused Ming Yu to squint his eyes.
Then, Xie Yixiu’s imposing presence appeared before them, his cold face showing no signs of anger. Suddenly seeing a familiar face, Ming Yu almost felt like crying, but the cold blade at his waist prevented him from moving. He didn’t have the strength to struggle; he couldn’t even utter a cry for help.
Xie Yixiu glanced inside the carriage, his eyes scanning briefly. It was true, inside the carriage was a pale and haggard woman along with a trembling child.
“It’s fine, you may proceed.” As he let go of the curtain, his fingers unconsciously rubbed together. He then turned his head and signaled to A Bing.
Ming Yu watched helplessly as Xie Yixiu glanced inside and left without much thought. He wanted to struggle with all his might, but he was restrained by Uncle Ping. Uncle Ping, hearing Xie Yixiu’s permission to proceed, finally breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that their plan had no flaws. As long as they could pass through the gate, someone would be there to assist them, and their mission would be a success.
While Tuoba Jiu appeared humble, driving the carriage forward, Ming Yu seized the opportunity when Uncle Ping wasn’t paying attention. He managed to slip a few pieces of dried fruit, which he had carried with him, through the narrow gap between the wooden boards under the thin blanket. These past two days, Ming Yu had been exploring for opportunities. He hoped that they would be attentive enough to notice the gift. Although he wasn’t entirely sure, he felt it was better to do something rather than nothing at all.
A Bing watched as the carriage slowly moved away, puzzled by why General Xie Yixiu had simply taken a glance and allowed it to pass. Normally, one would need to present official documents to gain passage.
Meanwhile, Xie Yixiu noticed the few pieces of dried fruit that had fallen on the ground. He crouched down to pick them up, after days of tension, his emotions finally began to ease a bit. “Give the order, execute the first plan immediately.”
A puzzled expression crossed over A Bing’s face as he took a moment to comprehend the situation. He couldn’t believe it. “General, what about Wang Ye? Should I go after him?”
He had been following Xie Yixiu for quite some time, so he was well aware of the general’s instructions. From the events on the carriage, A Bing was certain that General Xie had discovered something that prompted him to execute their pre-planned strategy.
A Bing conveyed the orders and Xie Yixiu mounted his horse, determined to prevent any harm from befalling Wang Ye, no matter the circumstances.
Outside Shi Chongguan, Xie Yixiu had already arranged for troops to lay in ambush. As long as the others let their guard down, their hidden forces would strike once they entered the trap, subduing them and making further action easier.
At the same time, another group of troops was racing toward the location. They were the Hunle Wang’s men sent to provide support. Once they reached the grasslands, the Great Yan’s Duan Wang would become their bargaining chip, any loss was strictly prohibited.
Now that the situation seemed more stable, even Uncle Ping relaxed a bit. There was no need to constantly keep a watchful eye on Ming Yu. He sat together with Tuoba Jiu in the front of the carriage. The interior of the carriage felt stifling, taking a breath of fresh air was a small relief.
“Uncle Ping, do you think that after this accomplishment of capturing Duan Wang, I won’t have to return to the Great Yan?” Tuoba Jiu’s eyes shimmered with a trace of longing. Their father, the Khan, had already departed to the realm beyond, and in the current situation, Tuoba Hongze had become the Khan. As for Hunle Wang, Tuoba Ren, he was Tuoba Hongze’s same-mother brother. Their relationship was naturally different. Tuoba Jiu wasn’t asking for much; he simply hoped that his elder brother would recognize his contributions and grant him a piece of land. He wouldn’t mind tending to cattle and horses – he just wanted a peaceful life for the rest of his days.
“Rest assured,” the thin and childlike voice of Uncle Ping reassured, “You’re still a prince of Suixi Kingdom after all. Khan treats his brothers well, and I’ve even heard Khan express regret when mentioning the Ninth Prince. He hopes for your early return.”
Tuoba Jiu’s excitement grew, “Is that true? Is my elder brother really thinking of me? I knew it, even when I was bullied as a child, my elder brother spoke up for me.” His voice carried a hint of choked emotion, whether from the excitement of being remembered or the memories of his childhood treatment.
“Of course it’s true. Khan is magnanimous and trusting, even towards us true Yan people. Naturally, he cares for his own brothers as well,” Uncle Ping casually comforted.
Tuoba Jiu nodded repeatedly, having spent so long away in Liangcheng, he was unfamiliar with his brothers’ true personalities. Hearing these words brought a sense of relief.
“You’re right, both you and your young master are capable individuals. This success is largely thanks to your planning and strategy. Otherwise, how could everything have gone so smoothly? So, being recognized by elder brother is well-deserved. After committing to Suixi Kingdom, you will surely have a bright future ahead.” The principle of “everybody helps a thriving business” was clear to everyone. Having lived in Liangcheng for so longTuoba Jiu had developed the cautious nature of someone from the lower class. He held high hopes for those with great potential, showing that he hadn’t fully embraced his identity as a prince.
“Yes, you’re right.” Uncle Ping didn’t want to dwell on the topic and replied in an offhand manner.
Listening to their conversation, Ming Yu couldn’t help but feel frustrated. This was such an obvious attempt at manipulation, wasn’t it? He had been attentively listening to their conversation, hoping to glean some useful information. This “Uncle Ping” person was a person of the Great Yan, yet had recently joined forces with his master to serve under Hunle Wang. They were undoubtedly instrumental in his capture this time. However, he had no idea about the true identity of his master.
Contemplating his situation, Ming Yu’s expression grew more troubled. As he traveled farther west, his hope diminished further. He wondered if General Xie had noticed him or if the items he left behind would be disregarded. After all, he hadn’t explicitly written “help” on them. Ai!
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