Rage
Jiangling Castle.
Meanwhile, at Jiangling—where Xu Shu, Feng Xi, and the others had led the main force out—Xin Tan still remained behind.
Only the garrison troops are left in the castle, and the Wu army should be advancing this way by now.
His prediction proved correct. The detached forces under Zhu Huan and Quan Zong were indeed marching on Jiangling.
The final stroke of the plan was to open the gates from within at the proper moment and welcome the Wu army inside.
If I pull this off cleanly, I can live in luxury in Wu for the rest of my days. But before that…
He judged that an even greater merit lay in capturing Liu Shan, the Crown Prince of Shu.
If I take Liu Shan prisoner, I can use him to great advantage in future diplomacy and campaigns. The castle is empty now—this is my chance. That Huang Hao fellow said he would contact me the moment he spotted an opening.
Just then the eunuch Huang Hao came scurrying toward him on quick little steps.
“General Xin Tan. It is this humble one, Huang Hao.”
“Ah, I’ve been waiting. Well? What of Liu Shan?”
“His Highness the Crown Prince is preparing to go out for a boat outing, sir.”
“Is he now. The boy really is a fool.”
“Yes, sir. He will leave the castle shortly. The boat outing is to take place at a quiet stretch of the river, so if we mean to seize him, now is the moment.”
“Good. Lead the way. I will follow with my men.”
“Of course, of course. Where he goes for his little pleasures is all in the palm of this Huang Hao’s hand. Simply follow me, General.”
Judging the opportunity ripe, Xin Tan gathered his subordinates and trailed after Huang Hao.
Xin Tan and his soldiers smeared ash over the blades of their spears and swords so the moonlight would not catch the steel, then set out in pursuit of Liu Shan.
“How did you manage to slip away, by the way? Aren’t you the eunuch who stays at Liu Shan’s side?”
“I made an excuse that I was going to fetch the musicians, sir. I told him I had recently discovered some truly marvelous players and that they would make the boat outing far more delightful. He gave his permission at once. Heh-heh-heh.”
Huang Hao spoke with proud satisfaction, letting out a cloying little laugh. Xin Tan laughed along, though he wrinkled his brow ever so slightly.
The man was hardly someone Xin Tan found agreeable, yet he never forgot that Huang Hao’s cooperation was indispensable for the kidnapping of Liu Shan.
“Well done. But you’re certain Liu Shan took this road?”
“Oh my, of course, of course. Absolutely certain, sir. The Crown Prince of Shu most definitely went out this way for his excursion. He is fond of nighttime boat outings, so if we go now we shall find them still preparing. See here—there are tracks of carriages and people, are there not?”
“Mm, so there are.”
Xin Tan nodded. Huang Hao’s words were true; the road still held the clear imprint of men and horses, every mark laid bare under the moonlight.
“Yet there will be guards around the Crown Prince, will there not?”
“Their numbers are few. A sudden assault with the force we have will be more than enough to sweep them aside.”
“And if they have already boarded and cast off?”
“Then so much the better, sir. There are several boats at the landing. We simply take one and give chase. On the water they cannot flee swiftly; we will overtake them in no time. Surround the boat, seize it, and sail straight into Wu territory. That is all.”
“Heh-heh-heh. Excellent.”
Hearing Huang Hao’s scheme, Xin Tan’s face never lost its smile.
If I capture the Crown Prince and take him to Wu, my path to advancement is assured. I cannot remain content with a petty general’s post forever.
“General, that is the place. Once we pass that path we are at the landing itself.”
“Good. Listen, all of you. We seize only the Crown Prince and withdraw at once. By now the Wu army should be near Jiangling Castle. Capture the prince and join them immediately.”
Other conspirators inside Jiangling had already arranged to answer Wu’s call. When the Wu army appeared, the rebel faction would open the gates and receive them. Once Wu occupied the empty castle, Xin Tan would hand over the Crown Prince and cross into Wu to claim his reward.
That was the ambition he cradled in his breast. One more step and the treasure that would fulfill it would be in his hands.
“Just past there, sir. Look—you can see the river.”
Where Huang Hao pointed, beyond the thicket, the river glittered under the moonlight. It felt as though he had discovered gold.
Perfect.
“That’s enough. All of you, advance! Surround them and attack! Capture only the Crown Prince of Shu! Kill the rest if you must!”
As the thicket nearly ended, Xin Tan shouted with swaggering confidence. His men gripped their weapons and charged forward. In the darkness Xin Tan’s teeth flashed white.
Yes, Liu Shan! At last you fall into Xin Tan’s hands!
Bursting from the undergrowth, his eyes caught a myriad of starlight—and then he saw no one at the landing. No sign of Liu Shan’s party at all.
“What is the meaning of this?!”
Not so much as an ant stirred at the landing. Only a few boats bobbed gently on the water.
The soldiers who had charged out so boldly now stood frozen along the riverbank, staring about in bewilderment.
“Huang Hao, you dog! What is going on? Did you deceive me?!”
“Th-that cannot be, sir! This is impossible…”
“There is no one here! Explain yourself at once, or I will cut you down!”
“Th-they may be hiding inside the boats, sir!”
“Do you call that an answer?! Not even a shadow of a person is in sight!”
“Th-they might be concealed in the cabins. I-I would never dream of deceiving you, General! At least let us search…”
While Xin Tan and Huang Hao stood gaping and bickering, one of Xin Tan’s men spoke up.
“G-General Xin Tan. Something is coming from that direction.”
“What?”
Where the soldier pointed, something truly was approaching.
“Is that a carriage?”
It was indeed a carriage—and a rather lavishly decorated one at that.
“Huang Hao. Is that Liu Shan’s carriage by any chance?”
“Eh? Ah, no, sir. That looks like a carriage for a lady.”
“Damn it. What in the world is this?”
Paying no heed to their confusion, the carriage rolled leisurely closer, its wheels turning at an unhurried pace.
Xin Tan muttered curses under his breath and strode toward it.
A young servant was driving; several other attendants followed behind.
“You there! Who the hell are you?!”
Xin Tan’s furious voice rode the wind and filled the riverbank.
The young driver climbed down and protested.
“Wh-who are you to block the road like this? Do you not know such conduct is unspeakably rude?”
“Rude or not, I asked who you are! Did you spirit them away?!”
“Spirit them away? What are you talking about? Spirit what away? O-our young lady is a person of consequence—how dare you raise such a ruckus! Apologize at once!”
“Apologize, my ass! You lot—drag the woman out of that carriage! Looks like some rich man’s daughter. Since things have come to this, we’ll take her for ransom.”
“Yes, sir!”
In a fit of temper Xin Tan gave the order, and his men swarmed the carriage.
“Wh-what is the meaning of this?!”
The servants protested, but the soldiers paid them no mind.
One soldier stepped close and forced the carriage door open.
“Since it’s come to this, we’ll take every beauty left in Jiangling! Kidnap them and just—”
The soldier leaned in to peer inside. In that instant he seemed to see something and froze solid.
“Huh?”
A split second later—
Bang!
“Aaaagh!”
With a dying scream the soldier flew backward as though kicked by a horse’s hind legs. A thin arc of crimson blood from his nose traced a line through the air.
He hit the ground spread-eagled and lost consciousness on the spot.
“Wh-what was that?”
Startled by the sudden violence, Xin Tan and his men stumbled back in confusion.
What? Was the person inside not a woman after all?
While Xin Tan was still thinking that, the figure within the carriage stepped out.
“What?”
Contrary to the burly giant they had expected, the person who appeared was a woman. She was tall, yet her slender frame looked far removed from any display of brute strength.
She was dressed in sumptuous robes and ornaments, her face veiled by a light gauze.
“Honestly.”
She clicked her tongue as though the whole affair were beyond belief and stepped down from the carriage.
“Kidnapping ordinary people for ransom? You really are the lowest sort of scum.”
With those words she flung the veil aside. The gauze fluttered for a moment in the air before drifting to the ground.
“Eh?”
A face of beauty so exquisite that even the word “exquisite” fell short was revealed beneath the moonlight. Yet that peerless face was unmistakably dark with rage.
Her complexion was somewhat pale and her features a little gaunt; under the moonlight the contrast of light and shadow only sharpened, making those who faced her full-on flinch.
“Betrayal, the attempted kidnapping of His Highness the Crown Prince—and now you would lay hands on powerless commoners as well? Have you discarded even the least scrap of a warrior’s conscience?”
Her voice was low and quiet, yet it trembled finely with fury. The sheer dignity and force of it made Xin Tan and his men shrink back step by step.
Zheng Sui and the subordinates who had never once seen her in a true rage swallowed hard.
“Y-y-you—who are you?!”
Xin Tan forced out the words with what courage he could muster, but she answered only with silent, seething wrath.
A chill air drifted over the dark riverbank.