The cavalry of Xili had not gained their fearsome reputation for nothing. The clouds of dust they raised nearly obscured all sight of men. From time to time scouts came back with reports, their tone betraying agitation: “Too many enemies! Cavalry in front, infantry behind! Far too many of them!”
“The enemy is gaining quickly—we must go faster!”
Li Qingquan looked back toward the billowing dust not far behind. He could faintly make out countless brawny men urging their horses on with whips. With a heavy crack of his own whip, the eight-horse carriage sped ahead. Yet the pursuers only drew closer.
Qian Jiaoniang held her breath and steadied her mind. Though her body jolted with the carriage, her thoughts were exceptionally calm. From time to time she peered through the curtain, able to hear the raucous shouts of the barbarian pursuers.
“Are General Xu and his men behind us?”
“No news yet!”
“How far are we from Wuyou Valley?”
“At this pace, about two quarters of an hour.”
“Not far now.” Qian Jiaoniang rubbed her fingertip, speaking coolly. “Qingquan, you may slow a little—let them believe they can catch us.”
“But Madam,” Qiu Wu objected, “the scouts report the enemy numbers are immense. Slowing could be dangerous!”
“No matter—the more, the better. All the easier to trap them in one sweep!”
Her words had barely fallen when sharp sounds tore through the air, followed by cries of pain. Through the gap in the curtain she saw several cavalrymen fall, fire-tipped arrows streaking in from afar.
“They’re on us!” someone outside shouted.
“Watch out for fire arrows!”
“Madam, beware!” Two female guards flanked her protectively.
The Xili soldiers howled like wolves, hunters driving prey. Their crossbows spat fire-arrows ceaselessly. The horsemen escorting Qian Jiaoniang had to run full speed while swerving left and right. Even when arrows missed, oil-fed flames sent the horses into panic. The formation grew chaotic. Peng Shi, riding close by the carriage, shouted again and again, “Don’t panic! Keep formation!”
A fire arrow struck the carriage roof. Flames quickly took hold. Peng Shi tore off his cloak to smother it, but the blaze only grew, the dry weather and rushing wind feeding it. Two more arrows struck the rear.
“D*mn it—it’s on fire!” Xia Yi cried.
Li Qingquan cast a glance back at the blazing roof, then fixed his eyes again on the road. Peng Shi galloped up, hacking the arrows free and beating at the fire with his cloak to no avail. “The carriage is burning! With no water to quench it, it’s too dangerous for Madam inside!”
Li Qingquan shouted, “Madam, what should we do?”
Qian Jiaoniang decided instantly: “Abandon the carriage!”
Peng Shi called men forward, freeing two horses. Xia Yi leapt out first, mounting one. Qiu Wu shielded Qian Jiaoniang as she emerged. Xia Yi pulled her up before her on her horse. Qiu Wu mounted another. Li Qingquan ordered Peng Shi to change the formation, while he himself turned the flaming carriage back toward the enemy.
“Qingquan, be careful!” Qian Jiaoniang cried.
The Xili army pressed closer. They saw the burning carriage and their scouts had spotted Qian Jiaoniang leaving it. A cry rang out: “The woman in the red cloak—that’s the Lady of the Xing family!”
“The red cloak—that’s the Lady of the Xing family!”
“The red cloak—that’s the Lady of the Xing family!”
“These savages!” Xia Yi spat, lashing his whip fiercely.
Qian Jiaoniang pulled off her cloak and flung it back.
Word spread swiftly, reaching Meng Rang’s ears. He roared with laughter: “Warriors, charge! Whoever seizes the Xing family woman first will be rewarded with five hundred taels of silver!”
At this, the Xili soldiers chased like madmen. Meng Rang himself spurred his great horse forward, eyes fixed on the flash of red ahead. His confidant finally caught up to him. “My king, there are pursuers behind us!”
“How many?”
“The scouts say fewer than ten thousand!”
A cruel gleam flashed in Meng Rang’s eyes. “Let them chase! Once I capture that woman alive, we’ll turn and strike back, catch them completely off guard!” He raised his hand high. “Warriors, forward! Archers—loose!”
In an instant fire arrows blotted the sky, dyeing the dim heavens blood-red. Peng Shi shouted: “Scatter, scatter!”
The brunt of the arrows fell on Qian Jiaoniang’s position. Xia Yi, Peng Shi, and Qiu Wu shielded her on all sides, broken shafts raining down around them. Horses screamed in terror. Qian Jiaoniang nearly toppled from the saddle.
Thick smoke choked her nose. Pressed low against the horse’s neck, disheveled, she understood for the first time the life Xing Muzheng had lived: fire and steel, death on the battlefield. She knew she was right—no matter his strength, she would never let him be dragged back into blood-soaked war. She must capture Meng Rang herself!
“Xili soldiers are closing in!” someone shouted.
Meanwhile Li Qingquan drove the flaming carriage headlong into the enemy ranks. At the last instant he leapt to a comrade’s horse, leaving the eight panicked steeds to crash into the Xili army, throwing their pursuit into confusion.
“Hold this distance—into the valley!” Qian Jiaoniang commanded.
Peng Shi raised a whistle, blowing long and steady. The disordered riders gradually fell back into formation, charging swiftly into Wuyou Valley in order.
“After them, quickly!” Meng Rang would not watch his prey slip away. He brandished his whip. “Warriors, forward, forward!”
On either side of Wuyou Valley loomed towering mountains, dark and jagged like twin black swords. The once-silent gorge thundered with hooves and clamor, sending flocks of birds scattering. Qian Jiaoniang looked back, eyes fixed on the relentless Xili army. Peng Shi said, “Madam, we’re almost there.”
Qian Jiaoniang said, “Make sure Meng Rang is seized first—dead or alive! Peng Shi, fix your aim!”
Peng Shi gripped the whistle and answered in a low, steady voice.
Meng Rang charged into the valley. His confidant, seeing the terrain, felt a pang of unease. He wanted to rush forward to warn him, but the Xili cavalry had already gone mad with pursuit. Just as he opened his mouth to shout, a sharp whistle shrieked through the air, then was echoed twice in response. The confidant cried out, “No, it’s a trap!” At that moment, the Xili soldiers heard the rumble of boulders crashing down. In horror they looked up—massive rocks came tumbling from above!
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