Chapter 117

Chapter 113: Reunion (Part 2)

With the meal almost finished, Kong Ling arranged for a courtyard to be cleared for the weary travelers to rest. It was already late at night, so Shen Zechuan asked Ding Tao to escort Ji Gang to his quarters. The leaders, each with matters to report, stood in the entrance, preparing to enter one by one.

"Come in and sit down together. Let's discuss everything," Shen Zechuan said as he sat in the main seat. He first addressed Chen Yang, "How did the preparations for military provisions go?"

Chen Yang sat upright, organizing his words before responding, "It wasn't smooth, just as Young Master predicted before my departure. The officials of Huai Prefecture were evasive and reluctant to provide assistance. With the Northern campaign intensifying and Lord's two-day deadline approaching, I was worried sick. It was only through the intervention of General Jiang, the defender of Luoxia Pass, that Huai Prefecture finally agreed to release the grain. Fortunately, we managed to meet the deadline, and the grain was transported directly via the Grain and Horse Road, without delaying military affairs." After a moment of silence, he continued, "I met with the Crown Prince in Libei. His injuries were severe, and upon hearing that Lord was trapped in Qudu, he wished to lead troops to rescue him. Unfortunately, his request was denied by the Duke."

Shen Zechuan didn't inquire further about the details but turned to Gu Jin instead, "When you came to Cizhou to requisition grain, Zhou Gui was not as troublesome as the Huai Prefecture governor. Why do you now look so concerned?"

Gu Jin, upon hearing his name, appeared genuinely startled. Everyone present noticed his distraction. Shen Zechuan gazed at him and said, "…I was indeed dispatched to Cizhou to oversee the preparations of military provisions. I didn't encounter any obstacles. The supplies were promptly delivered to the frontlines, and I even had the chance to meet the Duke in the Hongyan Mountains."

He spoke slowly, pausing for a long moment in hesitation.

"I had heard that our master had left Qudu and had been eagerly awaiting his return. It wasn't until I met Chen Yang in the army that I learned our master had stopped in Cizhou, which is why I hurried here."

Lianbei was located north of Cizhou; logically, they should have arrived before Qiao Tianya.

Shen Zechuan's fingers tapped gently on the tabletop, then he glanced past Gu Jin, addressing Qiao Tianya, "What about you? Please elaborate."

Qiao Tianya leaned on the armrest of his chair and promptly replied, "I was ordered by my master to search for someone. While investigating at Xue's residence, I found out that Xue Xiuzhuo had moved Master to the East Dragon Tooth Exchange, but Mr. Ding was nowhere to be seen. We were one step too late… The city gates were closed, so we had no choice but to hide within Qiu Capital." He then looked at Fei Sheng and continued, "Coincidentally, he was also hiding from the aristocratic families' search. We tried every means possible to leave the city, but Han Cheng had sealed off all exits. We had nowhere else to go, so we hid in Lord Marquis's plum residence. While there, I happened to discover the map of Qiu Capital's official drainage system that Lord Marquis had acquired from Pan Lin."

This item had been obtained by Xiao Chiye during his investiture feast from Pan Lin's hands. Initially, he had planned to keep it as a precaution, but unexpectedly, it became the key for Qiao Tianya and the others to escape Qiu Capital.

"We crawled out through the official drainage system," Fei Sheng said, stretching out his hand to illustrate with his fingers. "The channels under each main street were newly dug, and I wonder if it was Lord Marquis's intention. They were narrow on the outside and wider inside, and some even had candles and dried food in the dry areas. Our group of over fifty people relied on this food to evade the Eight Banners for more than ten days before finally escaping Qiu Capital near Feng Mountain."

"After leaving, we realized that the inspection on the official roads between the eight cities of Qiu Capital was strict. So, we pawned our gold and jade accessories, disguised ourselves as traveling merchants, and went around Chu City to the south, then rushed to Ci State from there." Qiao Tianya continued, "When we arrived in Chu State two weeks ago, we heard that Han Cheng had already sent the heir to the palace. But after leaving Chu State, communication was cut off, so we lost track of any updates. For more detailed information, we'll have to wait for Ge Qingqing's letter."

Lost in thought, Shen Zechuan was undisturbed. He heard Ding Tao moving about in the corridor. When Ding Tao reached the door, Shen Zechuan said, "Both of you must be tired as well. Follow Ding Tao to rest for the night."

Fei Sheng, perceptive as ever, refrained from making an earnest declaration of loyalty this very night. Instead, he rose with crisp efficiency, joined Qiao Tianya in bidding their lord farewell, and withdrew gracefully.

* * *

The candle flame flickered slightly, casting a delicate dance of shadows.

Gu Jin remained steadfastly silent, never once lifting his gaze. He was engulfed in the dim glow, where the flickering shadows of candles danced upon his profile, resembling two tiny figures locked in a tumultuous struggle.

Unusually composed, Shen Zechuan asked, "What happened to the both of you in Libei?"

Chen Yang lifted his hand to partially cover his face, resting his elbow on the armrest of the chair. He said, "…Nothing happened to me in the prince's presence. It was Gu Jin."

In the oppressive silence, Gu Jin unbuttoned his clothes and removed his upper garment, turning his back to expose his entire back to Shen Zechuan. He continued, "I should have reported these matters directly to my lord, but since he won't be back for a few days, I was instructed by his orders in Qidu to first report to you. When I reached the most intense battlefield, both the prince and the Left Commander were safe. After the military grain inspection, I temporarily resumed my original role as the vanguard of the scout detachment, dealing daily with the Horseback Clan's cavalry. I can't recall the exact day, but while returning from the eastern mountains with my squad, we were ambushed."

The back was badly corroded, with the worst areas scraped clean, and blood still seeping through the bandages.

"I was shot with an arrow but managed to escape. I initially thought it was the Horseback Clan, so I led the remaining two hundred brothers around their grazing grounds and back towards Tudalong Banner through the swamps. But that very night, we were ambushed again in Tudalong Banner." Gu Jin pulled up his shirt again, buttoning it, and said, "Young Master, I'm a scout by trade. I was chosen by the prince to join the personal guard because of my eyes and ears. Although life in Qidu hasn't been as good as before, after my lord's reminder, I dared not be careless, especially on the battlefield. That night, I didn't discuss my marching route with anyone, yet we were ambushed twice, which made me suspect that there was a spy from the Horseback Clan within our ranks."

"On my second escape, I discovered that the arrow was laced with snake venom, a poison that Ding Tao had once used on a steel needle, something from the Western Crane Mountains. My back was in terrible shape, and being chased in the swamp, I was bitten by some poisonous insects. I couldn't hold out and started running a fever at dawn."

Gu Jin paused again here.

He spoke in a gloomy tone, stopping repeatedly as if to verify his words, wary of saying anything wrong, knowing the gravity of what he was about to reveal.

"Our horses sank into the swamp, and I couldn't go on. A dozen miles south of Tudalong Banner is the permanent camp of the Northern Iron Cavalry. Strangely, there was no patrol that day. I sent a trusted officer ahead to return for reinforcements while I waited at the site. However, from dusk until dawn, no one came. I feared that the spy might use this opportunity to infiltrate the permanent camp, so I struggled back. I barely made it back to the camp but was disarmed and detained in the prison shed where border captives were held. The next day, I was brought before the main tent for interrogation by the commander of the permanent camp, Guo Weili."

Gu Jin omitted the details of the interrogation, as he didn't wish to recall it. To him, it wasn't physical pain but the collapse of a particular belief.

He whispered softly, "They accused me of colluding with the Horseback Clan, causing the annihilation of the vanguard detachment east of Tudalong Banner that night. They stripped me of my military rank and demanded to know if I was acting under someone's instructions. I couldn't admit to something I didn't do. I questioned why the permanent camp ignored my distress signals twice, and they claimed not to have received them. According to military law, I would have needed to undergo a trial by three generals and receive the current commander's approval for execution. But Guo Weili insisted that the prince was severely injured and unable to act, giving them the authority to make decisions. If Chen Yang hadn't arrived that day, I wouldn't be standing here before you."

Shen Zechuan extinguished the candle with a silver needle, casting the room into partial darkness. He stared at the candle, its flame resembling a tear, and countless thoughts raced through his mind in an instant. Without needing reminders from Chen Yang or Gu Jin, he recalled that in the military records, Guo Weili was a man Xiao Jiming had personally promoted.

* * *

Xiao Chiye followed Lei Jingzhe's trail north to the old campsite. He dismounted and grabbed a handful of soil, narrowing his eyes as he looked ahead.

Tan Taihu surveyed the mountains and said, "If we continue north, we'll be stepping on the border of Li Bei. They wouldn't dare go that way, so they must have split up. Master, I suspect he's leading us on; it's too exhausting to chase like this."

"He is indeed herding us," Xiao Chiye released his grip, "and with small groups scattering, a wide net won't work. But if we split up, we'd fall right into their trap. He refuses a direct confrontation because he can't withstand the charge of the Imperial Guards and fears losing cohesion among his men. They're familiar with this area, so they're doing everything possible to lure us into separating, making it easier for them to defeat us one by one."

"We don't have enough cavalry," Tan Taihu assessed the terrain, "that damn thief is too cunning!"

"Let's not rush," Xiao Chiye stood up.

Meng Ling returned swiftly, landing on Xiao Chiye's shoulder as they both stood together in the night breeze. The wind rustled through the grass, carrying a few strands of willow leaves toward them.

"Of the five weapons, fire is the most fierce," Xiao Chiye mounted his horse again, "I'll set a fire that leaves him nowhere to hide."

Tan Taihu mounted his own horse and said, "But there are many trees here. If it catches fire, the flames might spread to the Li Bei grasslands."

Xiao Chiye chuckled on his horse and said to Tan Taihu, "I didn't tell you to burn this place down. Come, let's go to the villages along the way and have them post notices. Anyone who harbors bandits shall be executed on the spot. But if they report to the imperial guards, they'll be rewarded with copper coins according to the number of heads. Tell them that Jizhou is about to issue a draft notice. If they join, they'll be provided with three meals a day, with priority given to those who have received rewards from the imperial guards before. Since Lei Jingzhe doesn't want us to find him, I'll make him come to us."

Tan Taihu hesitated but still spoke up, "But aren't we out of money…?"

"Report the expenses to Lan Zhou when we get back," Xiao Chiye spurred his horse forward, then turned back and asked, "Can't Second Young Master even afford a few copper coins?"

Tan Taihu looked sheepish.

Xiao Chiye twirled his ring and said coldly, "Oh, I see."

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Author's Note:

1. "Jixiao Xinshu"