Sishui County. The army had set up camp.
Making arrangements for two thousand men was a considerable undertaking. Xie Xuanying had never been taught how to do it, so he entrusted the entire task to another guard.
The guard was named Tian Bei, a veteran who had served under the Marquis of Jinghai and fought alongside him and even the old marquis before him. His martial prowess was difficult to judge, but he was certainly an experienced campaigner.
He knew which places were suitable for setting up camp, where to fetch water, how to organize the men’s rest shifts and patrols, and even where the latrines ought to be dug. There were rules and considerations for everything.
His younger brother, Tian Nan, was also part of the company. He served as a scout, nimble on his feet and experienced at reconnaissance, saving Xie Xuanying a great deal of trouble.
This went to show that the Marquis of Jinghai had not been entirely unkind to this son. It was simply that, compared with his eldest and second sons, who both had well-established entourages of their own, he had not invested quite as much effort in him.
Xie Xuanying had long since grown accustomed to such favoritism and harbored no resentment over it.
Whatever he was given, he would make the most of. Whatever he was denied, he would earn for himself.
“Thank you for your hard work, Guard Tian.”
When Tian Bei returned after making his rounds, Xie Xuanying handed him a cup of hot tea. Tian Bei smiled to himself. The Third Young Master might have a cold disposition, but he was considerate at heart and knew how to win the loyalty of his subordinates.
The Second Young Master was the heir to the marquisate. The marquis had been so concerned that his stepmother might mistreat him that he had prepared an entire entourage for him in advance. His late wife’s family had also sent no shortage of people to serve him. Those of them without influential connections were inevitably relegated to second place.
Still, following the Third Young Master wasn’t a bad choice either. Who could say which of them might rise to prominence in the future?
“Thank you, Young Master. It was no trouble at all,” Tian Bei replied respectfully. “Everything has been settled. You’ve been travelling all day, so you should get some rest early tonight. You’ll need to be well-rested to continue the journey tomorrow.”
Li Bowu looked as though he wanted to say something, but hesitated.
Tian Bei cast him a sidelong glance. He knew Li Bowu. The man was skilled in martial arts and capable in many respects, but his most outstanding quality was his loyalty. He had even turned down the Second Young Master’s attempts to recruit him. The marquis had placed him at the Third Young Master’s side partly in the hope that he would keep the young master in check and offer him guidance.
What was it he wanted to say?
“Brother Tian,” Li Bowu said with a wry smile, “the young master just said that he doesn’t want to go to Xintai to rendezvous with the Commissioner. He wants to head for Mengyin instead.”
Tian Bei was taken aback. “Why is that?”
Xie Xuanying fell silent for a moment before slowly answering, “Xintai may be a trap.”
The guards were immediately taken aback.
However, he offered no further explanation. It was not until Centurion Zheng, Commander Wu, and another deputy chiliarch surnamed Liu arrived that he finally said, “Everyone here is one of our own, so I’ll speak frankly.”
Xie Xuanying was the commander-in-chief of the two-thousand-strong cavalry force, with overall authority over the entire army. Commander Wu served as his deputy. He had effectively been assigned by the emperor and was in charge of a thousand men. Centurion Zheng was temporarily filling the role of deputy chiliarch, commanding five hundred men. Deputy Chiliarch Liu had once served under Xie Xuanying before being transferred to the Divine Pivot Camp. However, like Commander Jiang, he still considered himself one of Xie Xuanying’s former subordinates and had taken it upon himself to remain loyal to him. Thus, he had also been brought along, with five hundred men under his command.
As for Li Bowu and the others, they were members of Xie Xuanying’s personal retinue. Although they held no official rank, their prospects had never depended on climbing the official hierarchy. As long as they distinguished themselves through military service, they would naturally have a path forward. For the time being, they could be set aside.
However, whether Commander Wu, Centurion Zheng, or Deputy Chiliarch Liu, now that they had been assigned under Xie Xuanying, they would, barring unforeseen circumstances, be serving under his command from here on.
Deputy Chiliarch Liu had not accompanied the others on their earlier trip to Yanzhou Prefecture. Now, eager to demonstrate his loyalty, he promptly said, “Please speak, General.”
“I suspect Xintai County is a decoy set by the rebel army. Their intention is to lure the naval forces into Mengyin.” Xie Xuanying unfolded the map and pointed to several locations. “The attack on Xintai was launched in great haste. Even if we manage to capture it, its location makes it extremely dangerous. Cavalry can ride straight in, while the naval forces can sail directly there along the Chaiwen River.”
Deputy Chiliarch Liu nodded repeatedly. “That is indeed the case.”
Xie Xuanying continued, “Mengyin is easy to defend but difficult to attack, and the rebels have spent over a month fortifying it. By every measure, it is the more suitable place to engage them. Suppose the enemy retreats after the naval forces reach Xintai. Will our forces pursue them or not?”
Everyone fell into thought.
The Chaiwen River ran right up to the outskirts of Xintai. Beyond that point, however, it split into two tributaries flowing north (strictly speaking, these two tributaries were actually the river’s sources), while another branch flowed south into the mountains, passing through Mengyin.
The Dongwen River near Mengyin had no connection to the river running through Xintai.
If the naval forces wanted to attack Mengyin, they would have no choice but to disembark and fight as infantry.
“Commander Jiang wouldn’t go that far,” Li Bowu said objectively. “Once Xintai has been brought under control, the Commander will wait for the young master to join him. Then they’ll attack Mengyin together.”
Xie Xuanying shook his head. He did not mention that Commander Jiang was, in fact, somewhat prone to underestimating the enemy. Instead, he simply said, “Prince Lu.”
Everyone present immediately changed color.
Although the Prince Lu’s residence had announced his death and even held a funeral for him, rumors had persisted that he had been taken hostage by the rebels. If the enemy were to use him as a hostage to threaten or bargain with their forces, might Commander Jiang be compelled to attack Mengyin ahead of schedule, either to secure military merit or because he had no other choice?
“I know the mountain roads are difficult to traverse,” Xie Xuanying said. “But going to Xintai to rendezvous with them would waste too much time. We’ll head to Pingyi instead, then take a direct route through the mountain trails, crossing the Yimeng Mountains.”
The others exchanged uncertain glances.
Tian Bei steeled himself and spoke frankly. “Young Master, that’s far too risky.”
How should he put it? The plan was a perfect illustration of a novice’s reckless bravery. A newly assembled army couldn’t simply be expected to make its way through mountains and forests. Men could become separated from the main force, suffer casualties, or lose their way. Any of these could prove disastrous.
Xie Xuanying, however, simply replied, “I know.”
“But gentlemen, you didn’t come with me to Shandong just to fight some inconsequential battle and earn a few paltry merits that will make no difference to your careers.” Beneath the glow of the campfire, his eyes shone like stars. “This is a rare opportunity. I’m willing to take the gamble. Are you not?”
Commander Wu, Centurion Zheng, and Deputy Chiliarch Liu fell silent.
Serving in the Emperor’s personal guard might sound prestigious, but without any battles to fight, they could only remain in the positions their fathers had held. They could neither advance nor make any real progress, and eventually, their positions would be passed down to the next generation in exactly the same way.
Living in the capital was no easy matter. What meaning was there in being a man if one could never make something of oneself?
Centurion Zheng thought of his own predicament and gritted his teeth. “I trust the General’s judgement.”
Deputy Chiliarch Liu remained silent for a moment before cautiously saying, “We’ll need a guide who knows the area and can be trusted.”
“I’ve already thought of that,” Xie Xuanying replied. “Most followers of the Wusheng Cult are displaced peasants who have lost their land. Sishui and Pingyi lie deep in the mountains, with little arable land. The Wusheng Cult has most likely never spread its teachings there. We’ll proceed carefully and choose men from the same families, such as fathers and sons or brothers, to travel together.”
Commander Wu had been very cooperative on the journey to Yanzhou, but now he was considerably more cautious. “The mountain roads are difficult to traverse. We’ll likely lose some horses and men along the way.”
“Isn’t that all the better?” Xie Xuanying replied calmly. “How can a blade kill without first being sharpened?”
Cheng Danruo suspected that Prince Lu was somehow involved in the Wusheng Cult’s rebellion.
This was no baseless speculation, but a reasonable deduction drawn from the clues already available. It was known that Prince Lu might have been abducted on the eighteenth. After the Princess Dowager returned to the residence, she immediately had nearly a hundred people silenced. They were either the Prince Lu’s personal attendants or the concubines who had served in the East Garden.
If it had been nothing more than a straightforward kidnapping, there would have been no reason for her to do such a thing. Something extremely serious must have happened for the Princess Dowager to have so many people killed at once and then openly declare that her son was dead.
Just look at the things Prince Lu had done. He had committed so many heinous acts, yet even his own mother had been willing to tolerate them. It made no sense for her to disown her own son simply because he had been abducted.
Unless Prince Lu had intended to rebel.
But any rebellion required a banner to rally behind. Being abducted and then supposedly forced into rebellion was strange no matter how one looked at it.
There was a missing piece to the puzzle.
Cheng Danruo wanted to uncover the secrets hidden beneath the surface, but unfortunately, her movements were restricted to the inner quarters, leaving her with few leads to pursue. After much thought, she decided to try questioning the commandery princess again.
There might be something about the girl that she didn’t know.
It was worth noting that Cheng Danruo arrived at this deduction on precisely the same day Xie Xuanying passed through Shimen Mountain.
The distance from Shimen Mountain to Yanzhou Prefecture was approximately forty-five kilometers by modern measurements. In ancient times, news of the entire decoy force being wiped out would have taken no more than three days to arrive.
Two days later.
Cheng Danruo spent an entire hour in the study without seeing a single person from the commandery princess’s residence. There was no doubt about it: the Princess Dowager had placed the girl under strict surveillance and forbidden anyone from speaking with her in private.
Cheng Danruo was wondering whether she should resort to more drastic measures and try to trick someone close to the Princess Dowager into revealing something, when the answer came knocking at her door.
“Official Cheng, the Princess Dowager requests your presence.”
A palace maid Cheng Danruo did not recognize stood before her, her head bowed and her manner deferential.
Cheng Danruo looked surprised. “Why has the Princess Dowager summoned me so suddenly? Is something the matter?”
“The plum blossoms in the East Garden are in bloom. Her Highness would like you to accompany her to admire them,” the maid replied.
Cheng Danruo considered this for a moment before saying, “Allow me to change first.”
“The Princess Dowager is in a hurry. Your attire is perfectly appropriate. Please come with me.”
“Very well. It’s not often that Her Highness is in the mood for an outing.” Cheng Danruo smiled and closed the books in her hands. “Xiao Yu, take these two poetry collections back to my room, and warm a pot of wine for me. I’ll be back shortly.”
The little palace maid waiting outside acknowledged her instructions, took the poetry collections from her hands, and left without the slightest suspicion.
Cheng Danruo put on her hooded cloak. “Let’s go.”
The maid smiled at her and led the way.
Passing through the moon gate beside the study led to the narrow path connecting to the East Garden. Cheng Danruo discreetly glanced towards the entrance. The guards who had been stationed there were gone.
She slowed her pace and gradually made her way into the East Garden. The place had only recently undergone renovations, leaving the vegetation in disarray. Muddy footprints marked the base of the walls, and the whole area was filthy and untidy.
Two eunuchs stood waiting behind a door. Both kept their heads lowered, not even looking at her. They simply stepped forward to lead the way when they saw her approaching.
Cheng Danruo glanced back and ventured, “This area hasn’t been tidied up yet. It’s such a mess. Why don’t we take another route? I don’t mind going the long way around. We wouldn’t want to disturb anything.”
The palace maid suddenly stepped forward, pressing a cold blade against her throat. “Stop wasting your breath. Move.”
Cheng Danruo said, “Who are you…”
“Move,” the maid ordered. “Try calling for help, and you’ll regret it.”
Cheng Danruo composed herself. “All right, I won’t call out. We can talk this through.” She then shifted ever so slightly to the side, but her captor noticed immediately and pressed the blade harder against her throat. The edge sliced through her skin, and a thin line of blood welled up.
Cheng Danruo furrowed her brows but said nothing.
“Good,” the maid said. “Keep walking.”
She did as instructed.
There wasn’t another soul along the way. They reached the side gate without obstruction, where a carriage was already waiting.
Cheng Danruo stopped, her voice trembling slightly. “If you’re going to kill me, then do it. I absolutely refuse to go with you.”
“Stop talking and get in,” the maid ordered.
“Just kill me.” Her face had gone deathly pale. “I’d rather die than suffer such humiliation.”
The maid froze for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to sell you off. As long as you do as you’re told, I’ll let you go later.”
Cheng Danruo asked, “Are you a member of the Wusheng Cult?”
“I am the reincarnation of the Eternal Venerable Mother. My secular name is Bai Mingyue.” The palace maid smiled faintly. “I have a message I want you to deliver to the Emperor of Great Xia.”
Cheng Danruo looked astonished, glancing at her several times.
But Bai Mingyue would no longer allow her to stall. She gave her a forceful shove. “Get in the carriage.”
Cheng Danruo had no choice but to climb aboard.
The carriage was completely sealed, not letting in even a sliver of light. She only felt someone suddenly lunge at her, pressing a pungent-smelling handkerchief over her mouth and nose.
Cheng Danruo: “??”
What kind of anesthetic was this? Would it even work? But she quickly realized that the problem wasn’t the drug.
The other person was pressing far too hard, clamping her mouth and nose so tightly that she couldn’t draw in any air.
She was being deprived of oxygen.
She hurriedly pretended to lose consciousness, letting her head fall limply to one side.
The other person kept the handkerchief pressed against her face for a little longer. Only after confirming that she was no longer moving did they loosen their grip slightly.
“Divine Mother, the drug seems to have worked rather well.”
“It won’t last long. We must leave Yanzhou as quickly as possible.” Bai Mingyue climbed into the carriage and instructed the driver, “Hurry. We must be out of the city before nightfall.”
