Su Yan and Jinghong Zhui mounted their horses and left the fortress before the soldiers arrived, but they didn’t go far.
After watching Yan Chang chase the soldiers into the fortress, Su Yan stopped a panting clerk trailing behind and asked, “Is that Commander Zhang of the Ningxia Garrison? The park chief mentioned he came to requisition horses. What’s happening?”
The clerk, recognizing Su Yan as someone he had let in earlier, didn’t hide the truth. “That’s right. Commander Zhang demanded a thousand warhorses but complained that the horses were underfed and unfit for battle. He said riding these half-starved nags into a charge would be pointless, and he insisted on better horses. We don’t have any to give, so they argued, and now he’s stormed into the stables to pick for himself.”
Su Yan pondered for a moment and tentatively offered, “How about giving my five hundred horses to the garrison first?”
“No way!” The clerk was alarmed, fearing the loss of his cut from the deal. After all, if the park chief profited, the clerks would also get a share. He blurted out, “A deal’s a deal. Young Master Su, don’t concern yourself with other matters. We’ll handle this.”
“If the border troops lack horses, the cavalry can’t fight. Aren’t you worried the Tatars will invade?”
The clerk replied indifferently, “The Tatars raid every year. They mostly steal horses, supplies, and women before retreating. Sometimes they burn villages, but we’re used to it. Besides, the ranch is far from the border defenses—they won’t get this far.”
Su Yan lowered his voice, a trace of concern in his tone: “I’m just worried—what if our business deal causes the Ningxia Garrison to fall? What then? They say even a thousand-mile dike can collapse from an ant hole…”
The clerk thought to himself, You’re just a merchant—focus on making your money. Why concern yourself with state affairs? All the other pastures do this, and the border hasn’t fallen yet. But, out of respect for Su Yan’s financial clout, he offered a conciliatory smile and said, “Young Master Su truly carries the worries of the world on your shoulders. But we common folk—what can we do? Our priority is to make a living and ensure our own families have enough.”
Ignorant and short-sighted! Greedy and selfish! A true pest of the nation! Anger flared in Su Yan’s heart, and his fists unconsciously tightened. Jinghong Zhui, standing behind him, placed a hand on his shoulder and called softly, “Young master.”
Now wasn’t the time for confrontation. Su Yan reminded himself to keep the bigger picture in mind. Let them revel for now; the reckoning will come later. His expression softened into a smile. “Well, I feel reassured, then.”
The clerk nodded. “Please, Young Master Su, return to the yamen and rest. We’ll handle Commander Zhang, but it’d be best if you didn’t run into him directly—it might be hard to explain.”
With a polite farewell, Su Yan and Jinghong Zhui headed to where Wang Chen was buried.
The bandit leader was still planted in the grass like a mushroom, the only part of him free to move being his head, which tilted skyward in a silent lament. His pale lips and ashen complexion painted a pitiful picture.
Su Yan couldn’t help but chuckle as he gestured for Jinghong Zhui to dig him out.
Wang Chen, still bound with his hands behind his back, climbed to his feet, his face smeared with dirt. He glared at Su Yan with a mix of anger and indignation. “I thought you were really going to bury me alive! Where’s my brother?”
“Captured. Locked in prison. He’ll be executed come autumn.”
“What?! If you dare kill him, I’ll kill you!” Wang Chen lunged, but his bonds held him back. Like an enraged rhino, he charged toward Su Yan, hoping to ram him.
Startled, Su Yan dodged aside. “I’m joking! Your brother ran off and left you for us to deal with.”
“Impossible! My brother wouldn’t abandon me. You’re lying again!”
“This time, I’m not lying. He didn’t come back to save you, did he? The moment he saw those soldiers arrive, he bolted faster than a rabbit.”
“—Don’t think I can’t see through your petty tricks to sow discord, you dog of an official!”
Su Yan laughed. “You’ve read military texts? Impressive. With that kind of knowledge, wouldn’t serving the army and defending the nation be better than playing a bandit?”
Wang Chen spat at him. “I’d be a fool to trust you again! Now give me back my necklace.”
“I noticed your brother had one just like it. Matching necklaces for brothers—how trendy.”
Wang Chen’s face twitched in fury. “Stop spewing nonsense! That’s the first wolf we hunted together as kids. We made the teeth into necklaces as a symbol of unity and strength. Not like you, whose mind is full of… of…” He clenched his teeth in frustration, silently cursing himself for ever thinking this man’s refined looks and frank demeanor were admirable.
Su Yan knew he could be infuriating at times. Perhaps it stemmed from his past life of carefree banter on the internet, where snarky remarks came as second nature. Now, in ancient times, he could maintain decorum with high-ranking officials, but when the situation was under his control, he couldn’t help but let loose—especially around Ah Zhui.
So what? Ever since his first day at court, where he had inadvertently offended a powerful minister and narrowly escaped execution, Su Yan had learned to tread carefully in official circles. His vigilance was exhausting. Wasn’t he allowed to unwind in private?
He chuckled lightly. “That necklace? Left it in the camp. I think your brother picked it up. But since you’re off to prison, you won’t get it back. Maybe when I lock your brother up too, you can ask him for it.”
Wang Chen’s anger boiled over, and he lunged again, only to be yanked back by Jinghong Zhui, who coldly warned, “If you so much as touch the master, I’ll chop off whichever finger you used.”
“Let’s head back to the yamen,” Su Yan said. “We’ll see how Chu Yuan and the others are progressing with the inventory.”
At the yamen, nineteen Embroidered Uniform Guard agents and two servants were working with local clerks to sort the horses. By midday, they had separated about two hundred horses, all bearing official branding marks. These horses were in far better condition than the free-roaming ones and had been herded into a small, designated paddock for inspection.
Su Yan knew they wouldn’t finish inventorying all the horses in one day—and frankly, he didn’t want them to. After all, he had no intention of paying the 15,000 taels he’d promised for the horses.
The horse trade was merely a pretext to investigate the pasture’s operations. Now that he had gleaned most of the details, he was ready to leave.
He told a clerk, “The yamen head is busy dealing with Commander Zhang, and it wouldn’t be polite to disturb him. The day is getting late, so I’ll return to my quarters and come back tomorrow to sort out the rest.”
The clerk hastily replied, “No need to trouble yourself, Young Master Su. We’ll work through the night to finish sorting the remaining horses and move them all to Paddock C. Tomorrow, you can pick them up, pay, and finalize the deal.”
That suggestion suited Su Yan perfectly. He had already devised a plan for those five hundred horses. Smiling, he said, “It’s settled then—Paddock C.”
After leaving the yamen, he instructed Chu Yuan, “Take a few men and gather some dry horse manure. Wrap it up and bring it along.”
Chu Yuan was puzzled but obeyed without question.
Su Yan and his men departed the pasture, stowing Wang Chen in the second carriage. After traveling a few miles along the main road, they stopped near a forest. Su Yan told his guards, “Let’s rest here in the shade and wait for the fish to bite.”
Chu Yuan, still perplexed, asked, “What fish?”
Su Yan smirked, keeping his plans to himself.
The group, tired from their day’s work, settled under the trees to eat and drink. Meanwhile, bandit scouts who had been tailing them returned to report to Wang Wu. “They’ve stopped to rest in the forest by the road. Shall we attack now and rescue the second chief?”
Wang Wu hesitated. “He knows I’ve stationed my men nearby and still dared to stop—could it be a trap?”
“They only have about twenty people. We’ve got over a thousand. What’s there to worry about, boss?”
“Yes, hurry and rescue the Second Chief. If he’s thrown into the county jail, breaking him out later will be much harder.”
Hearing their unanimous persuasion, Wang Wu hesitated no longer. Although Su Yan’s group was small, that sword-wielding guard, Jinghong Zhui, was a one-man army who could take on a hundred. Furthermore, the other twenty armed guards were no pushovers. Skilled in combat and adept at coordinated attacks, they had once routed three hundred of Wang Wu’s men, killing or wounding seventy to eighty of them, without losing a single soldier. Su Yan’s group was now blatantly putting on an unguarded act, making Wang Wu suspect a trap.
He voiced his doubts, but most of the bandits dismissed them as overcautious. “There are only twenty-odd people. Even if each one is as strong as Nezha with three heads and six arms, they can’t withstand the might of a thousand. If we don’t rescue him now, when will we?”
Persuaded, Wang Wu decided to surround the forest and attack Su Yan’s group to rescue Wang Chen.
Meanwhile, Gao Shuo, a covert agent of the Embroidered Uniform Guard caliber, had been tailing the bandit scouts unnoticed. Maintaining the exceptional stealth of an elite operative, he returned promptly with news of the impending ambush.
After clarifying the distance and timing, Su Yan, with a theatrical air, made a gesture as if calculating divination. In reality, he subtly checked his pocket watch and estimated that the bandits would attack in about fifteen minutes. He issued an order: “In a quarter of an hour, we’ll face an ambush. Gather the horse dung you collected earlier, pile it by the roadside, and set it on fire.”
Chu Yuan was startled. “An ambush? Lord Su, you must leave immediately. We will defend you with our lives.”
Su Yan waved his hand dismissively. “No, no, I’m staying. Others will handle this for us. Follow my instructions quickly!”
Chu Yuan knew that Su Yan was decisive in serious matters, and while he might seem easygoing over minor issues, he tolerated no questioning when making significant decisions. Thus, he obeyed.
The burning horse dung produced thick black smoke, rising in a column like a signal fire. Su Yan folded his arms and gazed at the billowing smoke.
Jinghong Zhui asked, “My lord, are you trying to draw out… Commander Zhang from Qingping Park?”
Su Yan nodded. “Ningxia Garrison is a critical border defense post, constantly on guard against northern barbarians. The commanding officers are likely to be highly vigilant about anything resembling a wolf smoke signal. Whether or not they fully believe it, they’ll prepare for battle and come to investigate.”
Sure enough, fifteen minutes later, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder and louder as a large group surrounded the area. The terrain of the forest was unsuitable for cavalry, and the bandits lacked enough horses, so most of them advanced on foot.
Su Yan ordered, “Regroup and move toward the main road. If there’s resistance, break through and don’t linger.”
The twenty guards encircled Su Yan and the two carriages. Swords and sabers flashed as they cut through the encirclement like a sharp arrow, quickly breaking free and reaching the main road. Behind them, waves of armed bandits shouted and charged like a tidal wave.
Bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, Su Yan squinted toward Qingping Park. Seeing dust clouds rising in the distance, he shouted, “Protect the carriages and don’t let Wang Chen be taken. Bring me a horse!”
Mounting the horse, Su Yan galloped ahead. Jinghong Zhui thrust his sword through a bandit, leaping onto the horse behind Su Yan to shield him.
Spurring his horse forward, Su Yan quickly closed the several-hundred-zhang distance and shouted toward an approaching group of armored cavalry, “Bandits are attacking a merchant caravan! I beg Lord Commander to lend us aid!”
The cavalry leader, a brawny man with leopard-like eyes and a ring of facial hair, whipped his horse forward. Seeing the young, handsome nobleman on horseback, guarded by a loyal retainer, he barked, “How do you know who I am?”
Panting slightly, Su Yan replied, “I just came from Qingping Park, where I overheard Park Chief Yan Chang addressing you as ‘Commander Zhang of Ningxia Garrison.’ I did not expect to be targeted by bandits along the way. I humbly request your help to save us from this plight.”
Commander Zhang snapped his whip and grunted, “Enough with the fancy talk—I don’t understand all that. You’re just asking me to save your life, right?”
Su Yan quickly nodded. “Yes, exactly. I plead for Lord Commander’s aid. I will offer a generous reward in return.”
Even without a reward, Commander Zhang was already inclined to act. These bandits had previously raided Yanan City, breaking into the prison and killing many guards, prompting a province-wide warrant for the capture of the Wang brothers, the bandit leaders. The reward? A thousand taels of gold for civilians or a military promotion for officers.
If the bandit chief happened to be among this group, Commander Zhang could secure a promotion to Deputy Director of Ningxia Garrison. Why not help?
Resolved, Commander Zhang declared, “When armies clash, stay out of the way to avoid stray arrows.”
Su Yan said firmly, “My men and the carriages are still behind. I cannot abandon them. I will follow Lord Commander into battle.”
Commander Zhang gave him a surprised look, silently admiring the young noble’s composure and courage. Raising his arm, he shouted, “Kill the bandits and save the people! Brothers, charge!”
The five hundred cavalry soldiers roared in unison, “Charge!” Like a dragon in flight, they surged forward, slicing into the bandits from behind.
Jinghong Zhui tightened his grip on the reins and asked, “My lord, should I assist in the fight?”
Placing a hand on Jinghong Zhui’s forearm, Su Yan said calmly, “No need. Let’s just watch. The flat terrain here gives the five hundred well-trained cavalry soldiers a significant advantage over ten times as many foot soldiers. These bandits, being an unruly mob without proper training, are no match. It won’t be long before they scatter in defeat. Just watch.”
Indeed, the bandits were caught off guard and overwhelmed. Many fell to the arrows, spears, and swords of the cavalry. Corpses littered the ground, and within half an hour, hundreds of bandits lay dead. Panic spread among the rest, who, disregarding their leader’s orders, fled in disarray.
Realizing the battle was lost, Wang Wu abandoned thoughts of rescuing his brother and fought his way out, leading the remnants of his forces into the forested hills.
The hilly terrain made it difficult for cavalry to pursue, forcing Commander Zhang to give up the chase. Although disappointed at missing the chance to capture the bandit leader, he was satisfied with the significant military achievement of the operation.
As the dust settled, Su Yan rushed back to the carriages to check on his men. Not a single one was missing. Around the carriages, a ring of bandit corpses lay as evidence of Chu Yuan and the others’ valor. Even Xiaobei and Xiaojing, hiding inside the carriage, were unharmed. Su Yan let out a deep sigh of relief.
Wang Chen not being abducted was undoubtedly a bonus, but even if he had been taken, it wouldn’t have been an irreparable loss. What truly mattered to Su Yan was the safety of the guards and the servants.
Su Yan walked over to Commander Zhang, bowed deeply, and expressed his gratitude: “Many thanks, Lord Commander! As promised, I will deliver five hundred warhorses to you as a token of my appreciation.”
Commander Zhang’s expression changed dramatically. He pointed his spear at Su Yan and barked, “Who are you? Where did you get those horses?”
“I’m just a traveling merchant,” Su Yan replied with humility. “I recently closed a deal and acquired five hundred horses for transportation. They may not be the finest steeds, but they are serviceable for riding. As a gesture of gratitude, I wish to donate these horses to the soldiers of Ningxia Garrison, contributing a small effort to defend our homeland.”
Hearing this explanation, Commander Zhang’s tense demeanor relaxed slightly, though he remained skeptical. “Five hundred horses is no small number. Where are they?”
Su Yan smiled. “They’re in Paddock No. C at Qingping Park. However, they are still being selected and sorted. Tomorrow morning, you can quietly approach the stable and see the gift for yourself.”
Commander Zhang’s mind worked furiously, trying to piece things together. It seemed Su Yan was setting a trap for someone—but not for him. On the contrary, Su Yan truly appeared to be giving him a generous gift.
His eyes widened in disbelief, and he asked again, “Are you… are you a smuggler?”
Su Yan modestly shook his head. “Actually, I’m a con artist.”
