Chapter 80: Flag Capture
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Seven days were enough for the wound on He Yan’s leg to heal, although the injuries on her hands hadn’t fully recovered yet. As long as she didn’t engage in activities like archery or spear practice, it didn’t hinder her daily tasks.
Within these seven days of waiting, the day of the flag capture finally arrived.
On the night before the contest, Liang Ping came to check on He Yan’s condition. He asked how she was doing, and He Yan, fearing that he might prevent her from participating in the contest, quickly replied, “I’m fine, very good, extremely good. Instructor Liang, would you like to spar with me for a bit?”
Liang Ping, recalling their previous comparison in mounted archery, couldn’t help but cough lightly, “No need, as long as you’re okay, tomorrow, follow the group to the mountain.”
After he left, He Yan almost couldn’t help but shout in excitement.
Hong Shan laughed, “Now you’ve finally fulfilled your wish.”
“I wonder what the flag capture will be like,” Xiao Mai looked at He Yan pleadingly, “After you come down from the mountain, will you tell us everything, Brother Ah He?”
“Why are you only asking Brother Ah He? Isn’t your brother also going up the mountain?” Hong Shan retorted.
“My brother wouldn’t tell me,” Xiao Mai pouted.
With tens of thousands of new recruits in the Liangzhou Garrison, not everyone could go up the mountain for the flag capture. Moreover, they were selecting people for the Vanguard Camp, only choosing those who had performed exceptionally well in the training ground. Xiao Mai and Hong Shan could only be considered average in terms of aptitude and were not part of the selected few. Among the people in their room, only Shitou and He Yan were chosen to go up the mountain.
“Your hand injury isn’t fully healed yet,” Hong Shan worried for He Yan, “Don’t push yourself too hard. If you can’t win, just retreat. Understand? Everyone in the Liangzhou Garrison knows how capable you are, and they won’t care about the outcome of this contest.”
“That would be unfair to Brother Ah He,” Xiao Mai grumbled, “If Brother Ah He weren’t injured, he would surely be the first.”
“Don’t worry,” He Yan reassured them, “Even with my injury, I’m still certain I’ll be the first.”
Hearing this, everyone in the room burst into laughter.
“Here we go again! Our Great Challenger He is going to set up the ring on the mountain. Anyone want to bet dry biscuits?”
“Forget about betting, I still haven’t settled my debt from last time!”
Amidst the noisy banter, He Yan felt slightly more relaxed. In fact, she hadn’t participated in a “flag capture” in a long time, and her memory of the last contest wasn’t that great. She wasn’t the most outstanding participant that time, so the outcome of this contest was uncertain.
However, more important than the outcome of the contest was her performance during it. Entering the Nine Banner Battalion wasn’t solely determined by the result of this contest; it was likely that all the instructors on White Moon Mountain were watching in secret, assessing the performance of each individual. The one who performed the best might have a chance to enter the Nine Banner Battalion.
In other words, rather than a competition, this was more like a play, with the only audience being Second Young Master Xiao. She had to give it her all, every step she took needed to be well-executed and thoughtful, in order to win Xiao Jue’s favor.
She should be able to do it.
…
Outside the garrison, Shen Han bowed to Xiao Jue, “Commander, everything is ready.”
Green Ear, standing nearby, kicked the ground a couple of times, and Xiao Jue stroked its head, saying, “Let’s head out.”
Shen Han nodded, then suddenly remembered something, “What about Young Master Cheng…”
“I’ve arranged for someone to protect him in secret, no need to worry.” He looked towards White Moon Mountain, “It’s about time, have them set out immediately.”
Shen Han responded, “Understood.”
…
He Yan arrived at the training ground and didn’t see Liang Ping, but she did see Du Mao. Holding a booklet in his hand, Du Mao pointed out He Yan’s and Shitou’s names. The two of them stepped forward and noticed that Jiang Jiao, Huang Xiong, and Wang Ba were also standing nearby.
“Five recruits per team for the flag capture, you’re in the same group.” Du Mao said, “After the incense stick burns out, you’ll depart from here on foot, heading towards White Moon Mountain. Don’t cross the mountain; there are red flags planted throughout the mountain. Before sunset, you must return to this spot.” He paused and added, “In this flag capture, thirty teams of new recruits will be heading up the mountain. The team with the most red flags returned here will win.”
“Weapons are available on the rack, choose a suitable one quickly. No bows or crossbows are allowed. During the flag capture on White Moon Mountain, do not harm your fellow recruits. Stop once you’ve scored a point. Avoid causing serious injuries; consider your camaraderie.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Jiang Jiao picked up a spear, Huang Xiong carried his large golden-backed saber, and though Wang Ba excelled in archery and crossbows, they were prohibited in this contest, so he chose a Phoenix-Headed Axe instead, looking quite dashing. Shitou picked up an iron-tipped staff, and everyone looked at He Yan, expecting her to pick up the pair of Mandarin Duck Blades. To their surprise, she chose a nine-section whip hanging on the rack.
“You…” Shitou hesitated. They all knew He Yan was skilled with blades, bows, and spears, but they didn’t know how she would perform with a whip. After all, a whip didn’t have the imposing presence of a blade.
“You’ll see when we get to the mountain,” He Yan smiled, “Let’s go.”
Each of them took their selected weapons and headed quickly towards White Moon Mountain.
Du Mao called out after them with a hearty laugh, “I’ll be waiting here for your good news. Off you go, lads!”
Birds scattered and flew in all directions as the people entered the forest. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared. Ma Damei and Liang Ping walked over from a distance, each leading a horse. Ma Damei said to Liang Ping, “It’s about time, let’s set out as well.”
…
Thirty groups of people, over a hundred new recruits, were like fish in the vast sea of White Moon Mountain, invisible to the eye. Just as they entered the woods, Wang Ba suddenly spoke up, “Wait!”
They all stopped and looked at him, “What’s wrong?”
“What if someone else entered the mountain before us? What if they’re lying in ambush in the forest? What if we fall into a trap?” Wang Ba voiced his concerns.
“Don’t worry,” He Yan smiled, “The flag capture has just begun, and everyone is busy trying to capture flags. We don’t even have a flag in our hands right now, so there’s no use ambushing us. I guess most of the others who went in before us are probably heading towards… the south side of the mountain, near the White Stone.”
“Why the south side of the mountain near White Stone?” Jiang Jiao asked.
“Shitou, show them the map,” He Yan turned to Shitou.
Shitou took out a rolled-up paper from his pocket and slowly unfolded it, revealing several red dots hastily drawn on it, indicating rough locations. Each group of flag capture people had a map with the flag positions marked, but only roughly. The maps were crudely drawn, lacking even the symbols for trees and rivers, only showing the four cardinal directions.
“Look here, there are twenty flags in total,” He Yan pointed to the bottom red dot, “The one closest to the base of the mountain should be around the middle section. When the new recruits enter the mountain, they would naturally try to find the nearest flag to secure their victory. The south side of the mountain near the White Stone has a small creek and an open area with no trees, making this flag the easiest to locate. So, I assume that most of our fellow competitors who entered before us are probably going after this flag.”
“How did you know it’s the south side of the mountain near White Stone?” Huang Xiong questioned skeptically, “There’s only a single dot here.”
“It’s just a guess, but don’t worry. During our earlier patrol, I memorized the route. So even if there’s some deviation, we should be able to find it by searching.”
“But didn’t you get chased by wolves during that patrol?” Wang Ba couldn’t help but ask, “And you still remember the way?”
“Yeah, I took a look at the route when I was being chased by the wolves, and when I returned, I went over it again. I’m quite familiar with it.” He Yan smiled at him, squinting, “You have to trust your Boss. it’ll be fine.”
Upon hearing this, Wang Ba turned away in frustration, refusing to look at He Yan.
He Yan chuckled. Remembering the terrain and the various paths on the battlefield was essential. She had spent time in the Vanguard Camp before; one of the most crucial aspects was understanding the enemy’s situation and the surrounding environment at the start of an operation, to make informed decisions.
“So, why are we still waiting? Let’s head straight to the south side of the mountain near White Stone and capture the flag!” Huang Xiong slung his large blade on his back, “Which way do we go?”
He Yan: “…” That’s a person who didn’t know the way.
“We’re not heading in that direction,” He Yan said.
“Why not?” Huang Xiong frowned.
“There must be a lot of people there right now, all trying to grab the same flag. With so many competitors, it’s not a good deal for us to join that commotion,” He Yan shook her head, “Let’s go in a different direction.” She pointed in the opposite direction from before, towards another red dot on the map.
“This area has dense woods, steep paths, and is easy to get lost in. I’ve thought about it; unless someone has a clear memory of the route, it’s hard to find this flag. Therefore, it’s likely not easy for anyone to take it. Let’s go directly and secure this flag first.”
“With only twenty flags in total, I think if we manage to capture more than half, we’ll win. So, from the start, let’s go after the flags that are hidden and less likely to be noticed, to save some effort. After all, in this flag capture, it’s not just about physical strength; it’s also about here.” She pointed to her head.
Were these her clever ways of praising herself? The others were a bit speechless. Huang Xiong asked, “Do you really remember the way?”
“Absolutely,” He Yan blinked and said, “I never forget a route I’ve taken.”
Dressed in a red martial outfit, the young man, although thin and weak, had an unusually sly and agile pair of eyes. The sunlight filtering through the gaps in the trees fell upon him, making him appear radiant.
“Alright, alright, let’s go,” Wang Ba was the first to speak, “Hurry up, or others will grab all the flags. What’s the point of arguing like birds, anyway?”
Shitou and He Yan were a team, so they naturally didn’t object. Jiang Jiao was young and, since he admired He Yan’s performance with the spear from before, he didn’t object either. Everyone agreed, and even the oldest among them, Huang Xiong, didn’t say anything. The most important thing was that he was completely clueless about directions. Without someone to lead the way, he could wander around for three days and nights.
Thus, these five people unconsciously followed He Yan as their leader.
Together, they headed up the mountain. Without horses, the mountain path was rugged. At first, the others were concerned that He Yan might not keep up, but they noticed that she moved gracefully and with ease. She didn’t appear strained at all. Gradually, they put their minds at ease, realizing that He Yan’s stamina should be more than sufficient to reach the mountaintop.
And just as He Yan had said, it was as if she had walked the paths of White Moon Mountain countless times before, with every little trail engraved in her memory. She avoided the main roads where encounters with other groups were likely and opted for the smaller paths. These paths were more challenging to traverse but were much shorter in distance. Moreover, she skillfully cleared her way through seemingly impassable thickets, unveiling hidden trails.
“In everything you do, you need to think a few steps ahead,” He Yan sighed, “Does a road always have to be straight? Can’t it be winding? Do people always have to walk on the ground? Can’t they crawl on walls like geckos? Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. Use your intelligence; many things aren’t as complicated as they seem.”
The others: “…”
Huang Xiong muttered, “I’m forty-six this year.”
He Yan continued walking, “Hmm.”
“You’re only sixteen.”
Implied in his words was the question, what can a sixteen-year-old kid possibly teach his elders? Elders have experienced more than you can imagine!
He Yan responded, “Yet you’re still bad with directions.”
Huang Xiong was at a loss for words. Who was this person? It was as if nothing could penetrate his stubbornness.
As they continued their conversation, they climbed over a small hill and saw a small flag hidden among the bushes, standing alone on the ground.
“We found it!” Jiang Jiao’s eyes lit up. He took a few steps forward and held the flag in his hand, “It’s really here!”
“It was actually found,” Wang Ba grumbled. He saw the young man leaning against a tree in the distance and said nonchalantly, “I told you, I never forget a route I’ve taken.”
A monitor hidden in the nearby bushes saw this and took a couple of steps back, whispering to himself, “What’s going on? Why was it found so quickly?”
In theory, this flag should have been well-hidden and difficult to reach. At this point, most people should have gone after the flag near the White Stone on the south side of the mountain. However, their group had gone straight for this one from the beginning, and they hadn’t encountered any obstacles on the way. Did they… know where the flag was placed in advance?
“Never mind, just send a message back quickly,” the monitor hastily wrote a few words on a piece of paper and sealed it in a copper tube tied to a pigeon’s leg.
…
In a room at the garrison, black and white pieces were scattered across a chessboard as two people played a game.
A pigeon landed on a young man’s shoulder and cooed twice. He took the copper tube from its leg, extracted the paper, and read it.
Shen Han looked on with curiosity.
Xiao Jue handed him the note, and after reading it, Shen Han exclaimed in astonishment, “They found it so quickly?”
“As expected,” Xiao Jue smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He said, “Considering the time, he must have headed straight there from the beginning.”
On White Moon Mountain, there were twenty flags in total. The nearest one was on the south side near the White Stone. Although someone had already found it early on, it was still contested, and there was no clear winner yet. Unexpectedly, the first flag to be found was the one held by He Yan’s group, as no one else had come to claim it.
“He remembers the way?” Shen Han raised an eyebrow skeptically. Even with their initial patrol, it was unlikely that someone could remember the route so well. Besides, the new recruits weren’t aware of the significance of patrolling at the start, so they wouldn’t have consciously memorized the route. It was impressive to remember even half of it.
“Perhaps, maybe,” Xiao Jue mused, “He simply knew the location of today’s flag in advance.”
Knowing in advance, they would have made sure to memorize it during the patrol, or to go a step further, He Yan might have had access to the specific map of White Moon Mountain from the start. Therefore, upon seeing the flag, she would know its exact position.
Shen Han furrowed his brows, “If that’s the case, he indeed has some suspicions. What should we do next?”
“Continue,” Xiao Jue smiled faintly, placing a chess piece on the board with an unhurried manner, “It’s not over yet. The outcome remains uncertain until the very end. We’ll know the result when it’s all said and done. No need to rush.”
…
After finding this flag, He Yan led the other four to continue ascending the mountain. It seemed that her path was even closer to their destination than those of the others. Occasionally, they would unavoidably run into other groups of recruits on the way, but before they could notice, He Yan had everyone crouch behind grass or bushes to avoid direct encounters.
Wang Ba was somewhat dissatisfied. He had been accustomed to being the leader of the mountain bandits, and he couldn’t understand why they were acting so cautiously now. He said, “We’re not afraid of them, so why should we hide? I say we don’t hide, and instead, we go up and snatch it!”
“It’s still too early,” He Yan patiently explained to him. “The other new recruits we might encounter may not have flags, but we do. If a conflict arises, even if we win, there may not be any spoils of war, but if we lose, we’ll also lose the flags in our hands. That wouldn’t be a good deal, would it?”
Seeing that Wang Ba was still reluctant, she unfolded the map in her hand and showed it to him. “I’ve checked it out. Like the one we just got, there are a total of three flags hidden deep in the forest. We’ve already obtained one, and there are two more to go. If we take this path, we should be able to find them easily, and the last one is near the mountain top.”
“We’ll get these three first, and once we have them, we’ll reach the mountain top,” she said. “Once we’re at the top, we can discuss what to do next.”
This somewhat convinced Wang Ba. He said, “You said it, there are still two more. If we can’t find them…” He raised his fist and threatened, “I’ll make you regret it!”
He Yan wasn’t the least bit afraid and cheerfully moved his fist away. “Little brother, you shouldn’t be so disrespectful to the boss.” She looked into the distance and said, “Let’s go.”
The sun was getting higher.
Even though the deep forest wasn’t as hot as the base of the mountain, the rough mountain roads had caused everyone to break a sweat. There were many birds, beasts, insects, and ants on the mountain, and they even encountered a few snakes along the way. Surprisingly, He Yan handled these unexpected situations with ease. She seemed more like a mountain bandit leader here than Wang Ba. If it weren’t for the fact that everyone knew He Yan was a new recruit from Shuo Jing, they might have mistaken her for a native hunter from White Moon Mountain.
She hadn’t lied. The path she led them on, though rough, indeed turned out to be smooth sailing, and she effortlessly found the other two flags, just like she had said. The last flag was taken by Jiang Jiao. Huang Xiong looked ahead and said somewhat uncertainly, “The mountain top is just up ahead.”
He Yan nodded, “Correct.” She looked down the mountain, “Taking the shortcut, we haven’t encountered any other group faster than us along the way. Considering those aiming for the mountaintop, we should be the first ones here.”
While other recruits were busy contending for the flags, their group had avoided others and only focused on finding the flags. This not only made things convenient but also saved them a lot of time.
Wang Ba sat down under a tree, unscrewed his water flask, took a big sip, and said, “We’ve done nothing except kill two snakes along the way. It feels like I got two axes for nothing. I thought we were here to find something, not steal something?”
Hiding from others and searching for items like this did feel a bit frustrating. Although Huang Xiong and Jiang Jiao didn’t voice their thoughts, their expressions seemed to agree with Wang Ba’s sentiment.
Shitou chimed in, “As long as we win, the method doesn’t matter.”
“Shitou is right,” He Yan chuckled, “If you want to compete, why not challenge someone in the training grounds? The flag capture isn’t about individual skills.”
She clapped her hands and smiled at everyone, “However, I never said we have to keep hiding here.” He Yan continued, “Let’s get ready.”
“Get ready for what?” Jiang Jiao asked, confused.
With a faint smile, He Yan replied, “Robbery.”
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