20demayo Chapter 74 Escape
Chapter 74 Escape
Chapter 74 Escape
The night was deep.
The column headed north, not very fast, and the sound of hooves was slow and drawn out, as if they were conserving horsepower.
More than twenty riders dispersed, forming a broken line, with three carriages in the middle, inside which were the bound Lord Jianxin and about a dozen nobles from Handan.
The carriage curtains fluttered in the night wind, occasionally revealing a corner through which one could see that the people inside were all disheveled and their faces filled with fear. Some huddled in corners trembling, while others closed their eyes and muttered incantations, whether in prayer or curses, it was unclear.
Most of the horsemen were masked; some wore straw hats, while others covered their mouths and noses with cloths, leaving only their eyes visible. The leader was a burly man with a half-face mask covering his face, the eye sockets of which were black holes, obscuring his expression.
Two or three miles behind them, torches stretched out in a winding serpent of light. Zhao cavalry, bandits, private soldiers of the Jianxin Lord's mansion, and guards of the Yan hostage residence—all these forces mingled together, their hooves thundering in a chaotic cacophony.
Several times, some men from Jianxin Jun's residence attempted to charge forward on horseback, but were stopped by the commanding officer. Those men reined in their horses, circled twice in frustration, and then retreated.
Only five or six riders were truly close by, at a distance of thirty or forty paces. By the moonlight, they could see the outline of the column ahead, but any closer and the assassins would turn around and shoot arrows, forcing them back. They maintained this distance, neither daring to approach nor willing to leave.
Jianxin huddled in the second carriage. The carriage was cramped, with rough wooden walls and only a thin mat under his buttocks, making his bones ache from the jolting. His hands were tied behind his back, the hemp rope digging into his wrists and chafing them raw, causing a sharp pain with every jolt.
He tried to break free several times, but the rope only pierced deeper, digging into his flesh and causing him to grimace in pain, making him afraid to move any further.
He hadn't had a drop of water since evening and was extremely thirsty, with a bitter taste in his mouth. This made Jianxin, who usually only drank honey water, feel very uncomfortable; it felt like there was a wad of dry grass stuck in his throat.
There was no light in the carriage, only a sliver of moonlight seeping in through the gap in the curtain, flickering in and out as the carriage swayed.
Jianxin stared at the slit of light, his mind racing with only one thought—how did things come to this?
He had originally gone to a banquet at Lord Pingyuan's residence. He drank a few extra cups of wine and had a great time. He was playing games with the guests who flattered him. But these games were just ways for these people to lose money to him.
Just as he was winning game after game, the gold coins in front of him piled up into a small mountain. In high spirits, he was about to accept the invitation to go to a second game when suddenly there was an uproar at the entrance of the hall.
Before he could react, several servants kicked him to the ground, then dragged him off the mat and tied him up. The kick was quite hard; his lower back still aches faintly, as if he had been hit with a hammer.
The carriage jolted again. The back of his head hit the carriage wall with a dull thud, causing Jianxin Jun, whose consciousness was still somewhat hazy, to curse softly, but he dared not raise his voice, for fear that the thieves outside would hear.
The sound of horses' hooves came from outside the carriage, approaching and then receding again. Someone turned their horse from the front of the procession to the back. Jianxin Jun struggled to listen, but couldn't make out what they were hearing. The hoofbeats stopped at the rear of the procession, followed by a few whispers. A moment later, footsteps approached his carriage.
Jianxinjun panicked and quickly shrank back, pressing himself tightly against the car wall.
The carriage curtain was abruptly ripped open from the outside, letting in a night breeze that carried a faint smell of blood. A hand reached in, grabbed him by the back of his collar, and lifted him out like a chick.
Jianxin stumbled and fell to the ground, his legs went weak, and he almost knelt down. When he looked up, he saw that he had been dragged in front of the bandit leader who wore a half-face mask.
Seeing the man sitting on horseback, he quickly forced a smile and said hastily, "Brave warriors, you've had a long and arduous journey. If you're after wealth, my household has plenty to spare. I can even afford a thousand yi of gold. Just let me go back, and everything is negotiable."
The bandit leader did not respond.
His men loosened his collar and turned to walk toward another carriage.
Jianxin was held up by two men and couldn't move. He could only turn his head to look and saw a thief dragging a person out of the car.
He vaguely recognized the man; he was a low-ranking official from the State of Zhao, surnamed Zhou. He had seen him a few times in the court, but they weren't particularly close. The man didn't flatter him much, and he only remembered that the man liked to quote classical texts when he spoke.
At that moment, Doctor Zhou was dragged to the side of the road by the back of his collar. His legs were kicking on the ground, and one of his shoes had fallen off. He was mumbling something indistinctly, as if he was begging for mercy or reciting a poem.
The bandit leader drew his sword and, without saying a word, plunged it into the man's stomach right in front of Jianxin Jun.
The sword pierced straight through from front to back, and Doctor Zhou's voice suddenly rose and then stopped abruptly.
The bandit leader drew his sword, and Doctor Zhou curled up on the ground, twitched twice, and then lay still. Blood gushed from the hole in his stomach, flowing down the slope of the road and slowly seeping into the soil.
The bandit leader wiped the sword clean on the corpse's robe, rubbing it back and forth a couple of times to remove the bloodstains. Only then did he turn to look at Jianxin Jun.
Jianxin's legs were trembling. He didn't want to tremble, but his legs wouldn't obey him, and he only managed to stay upright because two people were supporting him on either side. His crotch was wet and warm, and a warm liquid was flowing down his inner thighs, quickly turning cool and sticking to his skin.
He knew he had lost control of his bladder, but he couldn't care less about the shame; his mind was completely blank with fear.
The bandit leader chuckled, but with a hint of politeness, said, "Just now at the city gate, it was only thanks to your persuasion that the garrison commander agreed to open the gate and let us pass. We will remember this."
Jianxin's lips trembled; he wanted to say something, but no sound came out.
The bandit leader continued, "But these people are following too closely right now, and I'm afraid we'll have to trouble Your Majesty again. Please ask them not to escort you any further. After dawn, once we've reached a safe area, we will release Your Majesty to return."
He paused, glanced down at the corpse by the roadside, then looked up again and smiled at Jianxin Jun. But the smile sent a chill down Jianxin Jun's spine: "If not, then this is the example."
Jianxin nodded vigorously: "What you say is true, what you say is true. I will go and tell them, oh no, I will go and tell them right now."
The bandit leader tilted his head, signaling his men to loosen their grip. The two men released Jianxin Jun's arms, and he swayed, barely managing to stand. The bandit leader had someone bring over a horse, mounted it himself, and then had his men help Jianxin Jun onto another horse.
With his hands bound, Jianxin almost slipped off his horse as he mounted, only managing to stay upright after someone caught him from under his ribs. The bandit leader rode closer, his sword held against the back of Jianxin's neck, the blade brushing against his skin, sending a chill down his spine.
Four henchmen flanked the bandit leader as they walked towards the back of the group.
At the very back of the procession, about thirty or forty paces away, were five or six riders carrying torches.
Upon seeing people approaching, the riders immediately reined in. In the firelight, it was clear that their hands were on the hilts of their swords, and their horses trotted about, their breath turning into white mist.
The bandit leader reined in his horse and said, "Tell them to stop following us."
Jianxin felt the sword behind his neck tighten, and he first shrank his neck. Then he saw that some of the riders opposite him were still inching forward, and his anger surged. He stopped shrinking his neck and immediately started cursing.
"Are you trying to kill me by getting so close?! Or are you deliberately trying to watch me die here?!" His voice was shrill and piercing, exploding in the night sky. "Get away from me! All of you, get away from me! Tell everyone behind you to get away from me!"
Whether out of fear or some other reason, Jianxin cursed with spittle flying. His voice cracked and rose and fell. The sword behind his neck grazed his skin several times, but he was completely unaware, preoccupied with his cursing.
The riders opposite him were silenced by his insults. The man who had been probing forward had retreated, his horse taking two steps back. The men exchanged glances, then one of them turned his horse around and galloped towards the main force behind them, the sound of hooves fading into the distance.
Jianxin was still panting, and feeling the sword still pressed against his neck, his momentum immediately deflated. He then cautiously turned around, a smile plastered on his face.
"Brave warrior, was what I said just now appropriate?"
The bandit leader did not answer. After a moment of silence, a voice came from behind the mask.
"We don't have enough spare horses. Have them send some over later."
Jianxin readily agreed.
"Leave this to me. Rest assured, sir."
The bandit leader fell silent. His men stopped where they were and waited.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the sound of hooves started again from behind.
The man who had turned back earlier returned, followed by three riders. The four horses reined in themselves a dozen paces away, and the riders dismounted. The man in the lead was about forty years old, of medium build, wearing palace robes, with a sword hanging at his waist.
Lord Jianxin recognized him as Li Shen, the chief minister. Knowing that the King of Zhao had sent someone, he felt relieved but dared not speak, only staring at him expectantly.
Li Shen stepped forward alone and bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.
"I am Li Shen, and I have a few words to say to you, brave warrior, on the orders of the King."
The bandit leader looked at him without saying a word.
Li Shen continued, "The king has decreed that as long as the brave warriors release Prince Heng, the army will immediately withdraw, without pursuit or hindrance. The king's word is law; the brave warriors can rest assured."
The bandit leader's men were all taken aback, then exchanged glances.
The bandit leader narrowed his eyes, the eye in the mask's eyeholes contracting slightly, but then he let out a cold laugh.
"Your Excellency has a wishful thinking. Prince Heng is the grandson of the King of Zhao. Among all those present, who is more precious than him? If I hand him over, and you all dare to attack without restraint, how will we survive? Do you think we are three-year-old children?"
When Jianxin Jun heard the name "Gongzi Heng," he visibly paused. He opened his mouth, as if to say something. Suddenly, the sword behind his neck tightened, its chilling edge piercing him. He immediately shut his mouth and dared not move again.
Li Shen remained silent for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Brave warriors, you misunderstand. His Majesty's word is indeed as good as gold. As long as Prince Heng is released, you warriors can leave safely. I can guarantee it with my life."
The bandit leader didn't respond. He seemed to be deep in thought, his mask slightly lowered as he looked at the mane on the horse's neck. After a long while, he finally raised his head again.
"I can hand over Young Master Heng, but I don't trust you yet. However, before that, I can release two people as a sign of sincerity."
Li Shen's eyes flickered.
"Please speak, brave warrior."
"Have your main force retreat five li. I will then advance another five li and release two more men. After you receive them, retreat another five li. Repeat this process until, in the end, I release Prince Heng, and you will be unable to catch up. Only then will I feel at ease."
Li Shen frowned and pondered for a moment, then looked at Jianxin Jun.
Jianxin's eyes were full of expectation, his mouth was open but he dared not speak, he could only look at him with red eyes, like a dog on a leash looking at its master. Li Shen looked away and nodded.
"For the first batch, please release Jianxin Jun."
The bandit leader chuckled mockingly, then shook his head.
"Jianxin is also a distinguished person; how can he be released in the first batch?"
He tilted his head slightly. Two of his men understood and went to the back, pulling two men out of the third carriage. The two men were minor nobles of Zhao, one in his early thirties and the other in his early twenties. Their hands were tied behind their backs, and they were pushed forward, staggering, by the horses.
The man in his early thirties was too frightened to speak, his whole body trembling. The woman in her twenties was less out of control, her back still relatively straight, but she didn't dare utter any harsh words, her face was just pale.
The bandit leader didn't look at them, but said to Li Shen, "Please, Magistrate Li, retreat five li first. I will release the people afterward."
Li Shen glanced at Jianxin Jun, hesitated for a moment, and finally bowed.
"Very well. We shall do as the brave warrior says."
He turned around, walked back, and mounted his horse.
At this moment, the bandit leader tightened his grip on the sword at Jianxin Jun's neck and said, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten something?"
Jianxin shuddered, then, as if suddenly remembering something, hurriedly shouted, "Li Lingcheng!"
Li Shen reined in his horse and turned around.
Jianxin swallowed hard.
"The brave warriors have traveled all night and their horses are exhausted. Please, Magistrate Li, send some horses."
Li Shen's face twitched, his gaze lingered on Jianxin Jun's face for a long while, before he finally spoke.
"----good."
Li Shen turned his horse around and galloped into the night.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the torches at the back began to move backward. At first, there were only a few scattered ones, then more and more, and the entire serpent of light slowly retreated, like the receding tide. The sounds of hooves, wheels, and voices mingled together, carrying from afar, gradually fading and becoming indistinct.
The bandit leader left two hostages behind and continued north with Jianxin Jun and the rest of his men.
After traveling about five miles, the bandit leader reined in his horse and left two men behind, but this time he also left two of his men holding hostages.
Two men held the two men captive until Zhao Jun had retreated a sufficient distance, then they released them. After observing from a distance to confirm that Zhao Jun had indeed retreated, they rode back to their own unit.
They then headed north.
Every so often, the bandit leader would release two people as agreed. Sometimes they were minor nobles from Zhao, sometimes attendants of officials, and sometimes guests of Lord Pingyuan's household. The number of hostages dwindled, and the ranks gradually emptied. Each time, the leader would release the hostage first, then leave his men to observe the Zhao army's retreat, only leaving after confirming everything was alright.
Jianxin Jun would watch longingly as someone was taken away, but it was never his turn.
After traveling about twenty li, only Jianxin Jun and two other people remained in the carriage. On both sides of the road were mulberry groves, their branches swaying in the night breeze. The moon had already begun to set in the west, and its light slanted down, casting long shadows of the mulberry trees onto the road, like countless thin, dry hands.
The bandit leader rode up to an inconspicuous carriage.
The carriage walked in the middle of the procession, protected by people in front and behind, but it looked no different from the other carriages, and no one paid any special attention to it.
The gang leader ordered his men to spread out to the left and right, forming a circle a few steps away, facing outwards in a defensive posture. He then leaned close to the car window and lowered his voice.
"Crown Prince."
There was no immediate response from inside the car. After a while, the curtain was lifted slightly from the inside, revealing half a face.
Yan Dan had changed into a coarse cloth short-sleeved shirt, his face covered in dust, making him look no different from the other hostages in the group. He was wiping his face carefully with a damp cloth.
"How is it?" Yan Dan asked.
Gao Ranyi, now the leader of the bandits, lowered his voice to report, his voice so low that only Yan Dan could hear him.
"According to the Crown Prince's plan, the Zhao army has retreated to a safe distance. Now, only Jianxin Jun and two others remain as hostages. However, the Zhao army seems to believe that we still have Prince Heng in our hands—"
Yan Dan paused, puzzled, and frowned slightly, pausing her wiping motion. "Young Master Heng? You mean Zhao Heng?"
Gao Ran then briefly recounted how Zhao Jun had demanded the young master during the negotiations, and then speculated that Zhao Jun, for some reason, thought they had also kidnapped the young master Heng.
Yan Dan thought for a moment. After a while, he smiled strangely, a playful smirk playing on his lips: "This is interesting. But since they think they're there, then let them be. It doesn't matter."
Gao Ran then asked again, "Jianxin Jun, what should we do? This man is an important minister of Zhao. Is it inappropriate to send him back?"
Why not just leave it at that?
He raised his hand and gestured to his neck.
Yan Dan shook her head.
"Lord Jianxin is more useful to the State of Zhao than to be killed. Such a talent should be left to the King of Zhao's command. Release him." He paused, "Keep the other two alive to mislead them, so that when they discover their bodies, along with mine, that will be the clues."
Gao Ran accepted the order and turned to the carriage where Jianxin Jun was riding. He did not immediately lift the curtain, but stood outside the carriage and knocked twice on the carriage wall.
"Your Majesty."
Jianxin's trembling voice came from inside the car.
"Yes, yes."
Gao Ran lifted a corner of the carriage curtain. She didn't lift it all the way, just enough to reveal half of her face, which was covered by a mask.
"Your Majesty, please be seated. The journey has been peaceful so far; I hope Your Majesty will not cause any unpleasantness at the last moment."
.
Jianxin's voice came from inside the carriage, urgent and fast.
"No, no. I would never cause trouble. Rest assured, brave warrior."
Gao Ran then continued.
"Please do not lift the carriage curtain or ask any questions later. Just sit quietly."
"Yes, yes. I've noted it down."
Gao Ran nodded in satisfaction, then lowered the carriage curtain, and the sound of her footsteps faded into the distance.
Jianxin waited in the car for a long time.
At first, he could still hear sounds outside—hoofingers, footsteps, and occasional whispers. Gradually, these sounds grew fainter and sparser. Eventually, he could hear nothing at all. Only the rustling of the wind through the mulberry grove remained.
He couldn't sit still any longer.
He turned his head, pressed his ear against the car wall, and held his breath, listening for a long time. Nothing. He switched sides, but still nothing.
He waited for who knows how long. He simply couldn't wait any longer.
With his hands bound, he could only rub against the carriage curtain with his shoulder. After a few rubs, the curtain opened a crack. He leaned closer and squinted to look outside.
Moonlight shone on the empty road. A few mulberry trees stood by the roadside, their branches swaying. There was no one. No horses.
There was nothing there.
Just as he was about to pry the carriage curtain open a little more, a sound suddenly came from outside.
"bass"
It was the sound of a sword being drawn.
Jianxin recoiled as if he had been burned, his back hitting the side of the train, causing the carriage to shake.
He closed his eyes and hurriedly cried out, "I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare!"
Gao Ran's voice came in from outside, unhurried and even with a hint of amusement, as if she were teasing a pet.
"As I just said, Your Majesty, please sit still and don't look around. I suppose Your Majesty is used to being high and mighty and doesn't take the words of someone like me seriously, which is understandable. Let it go this time, but once is not enough. If there is a second time, don't blame me for being unruly."
Jianxin dared not move again, shrinking into the corner, barely daring to breathe, and repeatedly agreed.
As night gradually faded, the eastern horizon began to lighten.
Jianxin huddled in the corner of the carriage. Cold, hungry, and scared, he was completely numb, and even the pain in his back was unbearable. His mind was blank, empty, like a gourd that had been hollowed out.
He didn't know how long he had been sitting in the car. He only knew that there was no sound outside. It was as quiet as if the whole world had disappeared.
Until he heard the rapid sound of horses' hooves coming from the south, growing louder as they approached.
Then, the carriage curtain was hurriedly lifted from the outside.
The sunlight was blinding. Jianxin Jun squinted, and it took him a while to make out the face. It was a young Zhao soldier, his face covered in sweat, peering in.
"Your Majesty—?"
Jianxin was stunned for a long time. Then he slumped down, as if his bones had been removed, and slid down the side of the car, landing hard on the floor of the carriage.
The soldiers untied Jianxin Jun's ropes; the ropes were so tight they had dug into his flesh, and he gasped in pain when they were removed. They helped him down from the carriage. Jianxin Jun's legs were still weak, his knees trembling, and he needed two people to support him to stand, like a lump of mud. He squinted, gradually adjusting to the morning light.
Daylight had broken. The road was marked with messy ruts and hoofprints, stretching northward and disappearing at the edge of the mulberry grove.
Several empty carriages lay on the ground, their curtains drawn, the inside completely bare.
Jianxin Jun took a deep breath, coughed twice, and then had someone bring him dry biscuits and water. The biscuits were hard and dry, like gnawing on bricks, and the water was cold, but he wolfed them down as if they were a delicacy.
After he had eaten and drunk his fill, his stomach was full of things that even the dogs at home wouldn't eat, and his senses began to return a little.
He looked down at his robes; the muddy footprint on his back was still there, completely dried and hardened into a crust on the brocade. He reached out and patted it off, the mud falling away, but the mark remained, deeply embedded in the fabric's texture. He patted it off a couple more times, but still couldn't get it off.
He looked up, gritting his teeth, and asked, "Where did the assassin go? Which way?"
Before the soldiers could answer, a commanding officer strode over. His armor was damp with dew, and his eyes were dark-rimmed, clearly indicating that he too hadn't slept all night. He approached Jianxin Jun and clasped his hands in a salute.
"Your Majesty has been frightened. This humble general—"
—
"Which way did the assassin go?" Jianxin interrupted him angrily, his voice sharp and shrill.
The officer froze for a moment, his clenched fist hanging in mid-air.
"Head north. However, Prince Heng and the Crown Prince of Yan have not yet been released, so this general dares not rashly pursue them."
Before he could finish speaking, Jianxin Jun interrupted, "That bandit leader has always kept me by his side. If Zhao Heng had truly been captured, wouldn't he have refused to see him? I haven't even seen Zhao Heng, so he's definitely not in their hands!"
At this point, he was clearly furious, and his voice suddenly rose.
"Besides, Yan Dan is just a hostage from a foreign land, what's the big deal! These traitors have tarnished the reputation of my Zhao state. If we let them leave like this, what will become of Zhao's dignity?!"
The officer was still hesitating.
"But it is the king's command—"
—
Enraged, Jianxin Jun kicked the officer in the chest. Caught off guard, the officer fell to the ground, his armor hitting the pavement with a dull thud.
"I'll take full responsibility. You go after them now!" Lord Jianxin pointed at his nose and said coldly, "If the thief escapes, you will be held responsible!"
The officer got up, bowed his head, and accepted the order. Before long, several dozen horsemen turned their horses around and galloped north.
Lord Jianxin stood in the middle of the road, watching the cavalrymen disappear into the distance. A morning breeze blew, causing the muddy footprints on his robes to tremble slightly. He looked down at the footprints again, reached out and brushed them off, but they wouldn't come off.
Someone handed him a water pouch. He took it, uncorked it, and took a large gulp. Then, as he drank, he suddenly became inexplicably furious, slamming the water pouch onto the ground. The pouch bounced, and water gushed out from the stopper, soaking a patch of dirt.
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