Volume One: Is There a Path for Mortals in Troubled Times? 20. The Lady II

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The Blue Army were all infantry, and for the moment, Zhao Guo had them blocked inside the inn, unable to escape. Deng She rushed forward, listening to the loud, excited shouts from the leaders inside—none of it sounded like the accents of the Central Plains.

Summoning all his strength, Zhao Guo held the inn door shut, the veins on his forehead and neck bulging like serpents. Deng She saw that the Red Inn had two or three broken windows, and as a few blue-turbaned heads bobbed up, ready to climb out, he hurled his spear, piercing through one man’s neck. The man fell without a sound, headfirst to the ground, and the others instantly withdrew.

He quickly ordered the soldiers who had followed him: “Split up and guard the windows and back door. Don’t let anyone escape.” Glancing back at the road, he saw a dark mass of reinforcements approaching, already less than a mile away.

He unsheathed his saber, signaling Zhao Guo to let go. Three or four guards dropped their long weapons and switched to sabers and short blades. Once they were ready, Zhao Guo released the door and sprang aside, stooping to retrieve the weapon he’d dropped. Two or three blue-clad soldiers who had been pulling on the door lost their footing and fell backward; chaos erupted inside, and four or five men burst out.

The leader was short and stocky, shouting in a strange tongue, brandishing a broad blade as he charged at Deng She. Deng She sidestepped and, with a swift upward swing of his saber, severed the man’s head cleanly. The guards sent by Captain Zheng were veteran soldiers, hardened by countless battles, skilled and coordinated. In just a few moves, they dispatched the remaining blue-clad soldiers like chopping vegetables.

The guards at the back door arrived late, unable to fend off the attackers, and retreated, shouting, “They’ve broken through!”

A dozen or so Blue Army soldiers, brandishing blades and staves, chased after the retreating guard, yelling in a language Deng She couldn’t understand, fierce and intimidating. Deng She whistled, pulled Zhao Guo with him, and retreated. By then, Captain Zheng’s reinforcements had already swept past the spot where they’d left their horses, now mere steps away.

The Blue Army, seeing the incoming cavalry, faltered and turned to flee. More soldiers poured out from the back and front doors. Those in front tried to retreat, while those in the back, unaware, surged forward. Confusion reigned.

Deng She even found time to retrieve his spear.

Leading the charge was Monk Li. Monk Li rode at the head, flanked by twenty loyal followers. Their bald heads gleamed in the night, making them easy targets. The skilled archers among the cavalry drew their bows, and at close range, their arrows struck true; Blue Army soldiers fell with cries of pain.

Deng She and Zhao Guo ran back to their horses and mounted quickly. Some of their guards lagged behind, some turned back to fight, and only a few who had stayed to watch the horses remained at their side.

—

Deng She glanced up and saw Captain Zheng on horseback atop a small rise several hundred meters from the Red Inn, directing Huang Donkey, Luo Guoqi, Guan Shirong, and others to encircle the enemy. He shouted, “Don’t get too close! Archers to the front—don’t let anyone escape!” He called to Monk Li’s junior, Li Zi Fan, “Where are the torches? Hurry!”

They had hurried along the road earlier, keeping torches unlit to avoid attention. Deng She realized Captain Zheng’s intention was to set the Red Inn ablaze.

The Blue Army likely guessed the Red Turbans’ plan and intensified their breakout attempts. Shields were set up by the windows, archers organized behind them, shooting out under cover. One archer, especially skilled, drew a strong bow and fired hard arrows, felling two or three Red Turban archers in quick succession, causing considerable panic.

Now was the moment—if not now, then when? Deng She shouted, “Charge and cut him down!” He whipped his horse and rushed forward, instantly blending into the mass of Red Turbans circling the inn. With a quick maneuver, he shook off most of Captain Zheng’s guards, leaving only Zhao Guo and another close behind. Swinging around to the back of the inn, out of Captain Zheng’s sight, they vanished into the tumult of horses, unnoticed.

Zhao Guo, silent, pulled up alongside the guard, grabbing him. Before he could stab the man, an enemy arrow flew by; Zhao Guo used the guard as a shield. The arrow struck the guard’s arm, and he cried out, his body paralyzed, unable to utter another sound before death.

Zhao Guo was puzzled, sniffed the arrowhead, and said, “It’s poisoned.” Tossing the guard aside, Deng She and he prepared to break away and head east. Just then, from the front of the inn, came cries of alarm. Monk Li’s coarse voice rang out: “Captain Zheng! Captain Zheng!” The sound receded, as he ran from the inn toward the small rise.

Deng She’s mind raced—Captain Zheng must have been struck by an arrow. Judging by the dead guard, the poison was fierce; Captain Zheng was surely doomed. The wounded Commander Xu was not among this group either. A leaderless force. Lady Wang, a mere woman, had shown her selfishness before, and Deng She knew many soldiers were dissatisfied.

If he could take these three hundred battle-hardened veterans under his command and join Wen Huaguo and Chen Hu, even if the Yuan army behind couldn’t be shaken off completely, their chances of survival would be better. If the Yuan army had already been left behind, they needn’t worry about being tracked; with no pursuit, they had time to erase all traces.

Previously, Deng She had chosen to split from Lady Wang and Captain Zheng precisely because, with Captain Zheng present, he had no authority. Now, he thought swiftly of the personalities of Luo Guoqi, Guan Shirong, Huang Donkey, and Monk Li. He made his decision at once. He returned on horseback, following the Red Turbans to the front of the inn.

He rode straight to Captain Zheng’s side. Captain Zheng lay on the ground, an arrow in his thigh, Lady Wang standing helpless beside him, a guard urgently tending the wound. The injury was blackened, and the blood ran dark. His face was pale, breath weak, anxiety etched in his expression. Seeing Deng She approach, his face relaxed and he smiled—he was still afraid Deng She would slip away.

He struggled to sit up, reaching for Deng She’s hand, speaking haltingly: “Little Captain Deng, please, please protect the lady and escort her to Shangdu.”

Deng She, unwilling to let him die in pain, nodded in agreement.

Captain Zheng was overjoyed, as if a weight had been lifted, and slumped to the ground. His hand still raised, lips moving, murmuring something too low to hear. Deng She leaned in and heard: “Little Captain Deng, your kindness cannot be repaid in this life. In the next, let us become sworn brothers, bound by eight rites.”

—

Deng She could not help but smile at Captain Zheng’s fading voice, yet he admired his loyalty. He respectfully saluted, then turned to Lady Wang: “Captain Zheng has passed. Madam, please take command.”

Lady Wang’s eyes reddened, tears about to fall—not so much for Captain Zheng’s pain, but for the sudden loss of a servant who had always managed everything for her, leaving her at a loss as to what to do next.

Monk Li stepped forward: “Madam, do not grieve. I am here and can protect you just as well.”

Captain Zheng’s death was a golden opportunity.

In idle moments, he had long observed Lady Wang’s two hundred guards. Aside from Captain Zheng, he had never seen a second commanding officer. Listening to their conversations, he knew only about ten had followed Lady Wang from Yunnei to Dongsheng and survived the breakout. The rest, including the hundred or so gunners, had been assigned to her temporarily before Commander Xu left the city.

With Captain Zheng alive, Monk Li dared not dream. But now, why shouldn’t he take Captain Zheng’s place? It would be a double gain—he’d never commanded three hundred men before! Most importantly, if he ingratiated himself with Lady Wang and became a trusted confidant like Captain Zheng, his rise would be assured.

Having said this, he ignored Deng She and Huang Donkey, who had gathered around Lady Wang. He even ignored Luo Guoqi, remembering how Luo had refused to support him in dealing with Deng San and Deng She during the village council. Still, for the sake of the bigger picture, he nodded and smiled at Luo.

He barked orders at Li Zi Fan to quickly distribute torches among the troops and throw them into the inn, while he greeted Guan Shirong, “Brother Guan, I’ll stay to care for the lady. Please lead the encirclement.” He earnestly reminded him, “Be cautious of the archers—don’t let them retaliate in their final moments.”

Guan Shirong said nothing and went off. Monk Li then asked Lady Wang to step back: “Don’t let stray arrows harm you, madam. Please watch as I crush the enemy—one hundred Blue Army thieves will be wiped out as easily as turning my hand!”

Lady Wang complied, retreating. She was not weak by nature, and quickly regained her composure, saying with satisfaction, “You are excellent, General Li.”

Bald heads crowded around, glancing left and right. Deng She and Zhao Guo stood silent, Huang Donkey and Luo Guoqi on either side. Having received Lady Wang’s praise, Monk Li felt a surge of pride and confidence, as though nothing could stop him.