Chapter 100: Pursuit

When a man's luck runs out, even drinking cold water gets stuck in his teeth, and a fart can blow off his heel.

"Boss, move fast — the Jianzhou barbarians' pursuit is closing in behind us. Over a hundred and twenty riders, every one of them an elite. Each man has two horses. They're about a hundred li out."

Watching the scout racing in from the distance, Xiong Sen spat and cursed his luck inwardly.

They'd just crossed out of Liaoyang territory and were about to reach the borders of the Southern Four Prefectures, yet these dog-fucking Jianzhou barbarians had still managed to latch onto them.

As for a hundred li — for Jianzhou cavalry riding two horses per man, that was a distance they could cover in the time it takes to let out a fart.

On his side, counting Consort Wan, her maidservant, plus Minister of War Cui Chengxiu and the interpreter — those five couldn't fight. The total manpower he could actually deploy amounted to a single squad.

Even if every man was an elite who could take on ten, the hundred-plus pursuers behind them wouldn't be so easy to deal with — unless the Jianzhou barbarians were stupid enough to fight them on foot.

As for the dozen or so men beside them, dressed like estate guards just as they were, those were escorts the Duke of Hu had given to Consort Wan. He had no idea whether he could command them or not.

Knowing in his heart that he was unlikely to survive the day, Xiong Sen simply walked up to Wanyan Yuzhuo's carriage and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, your humble servant has a matter to report."

From within the carriage came Wanyan Yuzhuo's voice — halting but still clear enough: "Speak. What is it?" Thanks to Wanyan Hong's tutelage since childhood, Wanyan Yuzhuo's Ming court speech was not particularly good, but she could at least manage normal communication.

Xiong Sen said quietly, "To report to Your Highness: the Jianzhou barbarians' pursuit is less than a hundred li away. In a moment, your humble servant will hold them off with his life. If Your Highness can ride, it would be best to switch to a horse and make for Dongjiang at speed."

The voice from the carriage sounded again, this time asking, "How many pursuers?"

Xiong Sen said, "To report to Your Highness: the Jianzhou barbarians' pursuit numbers roughly a hundred and twenty riders."

The carriage fell silent for a moment, then suddenly a burst of Xibe speech rang out, and a dozen or so Xibe riders gathered around.

Only then did the voice from the carriage issue another set of instructions. The Xibe riders' leader answered, also in Xibe, leaving Xiong Sen completely baffled.

Seeing the interpreter and Cui Chengxiu hurrying over, Xiong Sen hastily grabbed the interpreter and said, "Listen, and tell Old Xiong here — what is Her Highness saying?"

The interpreter listened for a while, then said, "Her Highness says there are pursuers coming and asks whether they can hold them off. That fellow is saying the Jianzhou barbarians are too many — he fears they can't.

Her Highness then ordered the fellow to bring horses; she intends to abandon the carriage and ride."

The interpreter had barely finished speaking when the carriage slowly came to a halt. The Xibe riders also spread out, and their leader brought two horses over.

At that moment, Wanyan Yuzhuo, dressed as a young lady of a wealthy house, emerged from the carriage, took the reins, and swung herself onto the horse in one fluid motion. The maidservant behind her did the same.

Xiong Sen and Cui Chengxiu did not dare to look too long and both lowered their heads. Xiong Sen said, "Your humble servant will send men at once to escort Your Highness to Dongjiang."

With that, Xiong Sen shouted, "Zhu Gang!"

Once a thirty-year-old man in the sharp dress of an estate guard came over, Xiong Sen said, "Take Her Highness and Minister Cui to Dongjiang first. If things turn desperate, kill Minister Cui first — don't let him fall into the Jianzhou barbarians' hands.

You must guarantee Her Highness's safety. Do you understand?"

The man called Zhu Gang was utterly deadpan. Hearing this, he merely nodded and said, "Understood. Protect Her Highness's safety. If things turn desperate, kill Minister Cui."

Only then did Xiong Sen nod and say, "Go." He then clasped his fist to Wanyan Yuzhuo and said, "I beg Your Highness to follow this man to Dongjiang. Once you reach Dongjiang, someone will naturally receive you. Your humble servant will stay behind to hold the rear."

Only at this moment did Wanyan Yuzhuo truly realize that among the Ming people, there were men of iron and blood as well.

These men, complete strangers, were willing to guard her safety with their lives, heedless of death — simply because she was to become the woman of their master. In that instant, a deep curiosity about that distant Chongzhen in the capital stirred within Wanyan Yuzhuo.

Casting a deep look at the Embroidered Uniform Guard men present, Wanyan Yuzhuo wasted no words. She wheeled her horse around directly, gave a light shout of "Hyah!" and rode off at the head.

Seeing that Wanyan Yuzhuo and her maidservant had already spurred their horses south, Zhu Gang and Cui Chengxiu promptly kicked their horses' bellies and followed.

Cui Chengxiu, however, asked Zhu Gang, "If the Jianzhou barbarians truly catch up, would you really kill this old man?"

Zhu Gang sized Cui Chengxiu up and said, "Yes."

Cui Chengxiu felt his scalp prickle under that gaze. In those utterly emotionless eyes, it was as if he were already a dead man, and that sizing-up was merely to judge where best to make the cut.

Forcing himself to calm down, Cui Chengxiu nevertheless cried out with a mix of shame and anger, "I am the Minister of War!"

Zhu Gang's voice remained entirely devoid of feeling as he simply replied, "You know more."

At those words, Cui Chengxiu could not help but choke with fury. What kind of dogshit logic was that? Never mind that his words showed not the slightest deference to him as Minister of War — he was supposed to die first just because he knew too much?

Cui Chengxiu said helplessly, "We've been together from inside the Pass to Liaodong and all the way here — nearly three months in all. Could you really bring yourself to do it?"

At this, Zhu Gang kept that same corpse-like face and merely answered, "Yes. I am a soldier of the Son of Heaven's own army. Her Highness's safety is paramount. You, Minister Cui, rank second."

With that answer, Cui Chengxiu more or less understood the situation in his heart. These Embroidered Uniform Guard men, from top to bottom, now obeyed only the Son of Heaven's orders.

Never mind a mere Minister of War like himself — even Wei Zhongxian, Eunuch Wei, if the Emperor wanted him dead by the third watch, he would absolutely never live to see the fifth.

In the present circumstances, if Consort Wan were not here, he himself would be the number-one target these men were protecting. With Consort Wan present, he counted for nothing.

Having received an answer he had long expected, Cui Chengxiu was still somewhat unwilling to let it go. He asked, "Cui is no groveling beggar for his life. But as Minister of War, when the moment comes, could you at least give Cui a blade and let Cui die on the field of battle?"

The man called Zhu Gang, hearing this, looked at Cui Chengxiu with some surprise and laughed.

"I only fear that when the time comes, you, Minister Cui, will find your hands too weak to hold a blade.

Better that I do the deed myself — I guarantee you a swift departure. If you and I manage to escape with our lives, I shall lay out a banquet to apologize to you, Minister Cui.

What do you say?"

Cui Chengxiu, however, laughed and cursed, "Bah! You murderous lout, you've got a fine scheme — a mere Embroidered Uniform Guard lieutenant wants to befriend this official? This official will simply refuse to give you face!"

But after he finished, Cui Chengxiu added one more line: "How about the Clear Wind Pavilion? Can you afford it?"

At this, Zhu Gang let out a hearty laugh and said nothing more. He simply drove his horse onward, keeping a single horse-length behind Wanyan Yuzhuo — never overtaking, never falling behind.

PS: Lately some people have been stirring up trouble in the comments section. We wish to tell you all: if you have criticisms to point out, We welcome them. As for those gutless little men who do nothing but spew nonsense and stir up trouble — watch if you like. If you're so damn good, you write it.

(End of chapter)