Chapter 221: A Flock of Crows

"I've told you all before — ask anywhere in Anqing City, who dares cross me, Tan Ya? Now that I've joined the Canal Gang, I'm here to help the gang make its mark."

In a food stall on the west side of Anqing, Tan Laizi stood high on a bench, holding a bowl of wine, surrounded by a crowd of Canal Gang porters, all looking up at this former broker newly inducted into the gang.

This lowest-level broker, no one knew quite how, had become a member of the Canal Gang after meeting Jiang Fan once, and had even been given the nominal post of cudgel gang leader. Today he was treating the Canal Gang porters he usually knew to wine in celebration.

"Never mind a few Green-Skin Da Hang thugs — even if the Roving Bandits came, I, Tan Ya, wouldn't give them a second glance. Just like this time... well, I still can't tell you. Lord Pang repeatedly instructed me, it can't be spoken of for another two or three months. All you brothers in the gang, drink up, drink up!"

Tan Laizi raised his bowl and drained it in one go. Drinking a bowl of cold wine in this freezing winter made Tan Laizi shiver and bare his teeth. A chorus of cheers rose around him, and the many Canal Gang porters followed suit, raising their wine and drinking it dry.

Suddenly someone at the doorway said, "Tan Laizi, what nonsense are you bragging about now? Believe me or not, I'll have you begging for mercy right here."

Tan Laizi shuddered and turned to look — it was none other than that Boat Dock Master surnamed Cao, leading three of his men into the food stall. Likely the docks had closed and he too had taken refuge in the city, only to run into him here.

Seeing this nemesis, Tan Laizi instinctively wanted to step down from the bench, but out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of the Canal Gang porters around him. Tan Laizi suddenly straightened his back. "What do you intend to do? I am a dignified cudgel gang leader of the Canal Gang — will I let you bully me?"

Hearing this, the Canal Gang members below all turned their eyes toward the Boat Dock Master, and some even stood up.

Dock Master Cao froze for a moment. Inside the room sat two tables of men, and looking them over, they were indeed all dock Canal Gang types. Now that Anqing was under martial law, these Canal Gang men had been assigned to help defend the city walls, every one of them bearing weapons, not much different from a military unit.

Dock Master Cao had not expected Tan Laizi to have become a Canal Gang man. He weighed the situation — these porters used to all defer to the Boat Dock Master's whims, but ever since that Jiang Fan took control of the docks, the Boat Dock Master instead had to watch the Canal Gang's mood. Delivery disputes were minor; offending the Garrison Commander's battalion behind them was major trouble.

At a time when the Canal Gang was helping defend the city, he certainly could not start a conflict with them. He glared fiercely at Tan Laizi. "I'll deal with you back at the docks."

With that, Dock Master Cao turned and walked out the door. The Canal Gang inside the shop burst into mocking laughter. Tan Laizi remained on the bench in a daze. His nemesis of so many years — every time they met before, he had to take a beating and beg for mercy just to get away — this time had been scared off by nothing more than the name of the Canal Gang. Tan Laizi could not quite adjust to it yet.

"Drink! Shopkeeper, bring me three more jars of wine!"

Tan Laizi shouted and jumped down from the bench. The porters around him, getting free wine, all cheered loudly.

One of the older porters shouted, "Tan Laizi, did you bring enough silver? Don't pull the same stunt as last time, eating and then not being able to leave."

"Lao Kang, you dare look down on me, Tan Ya? Go ask around all of Anqing about Tan Ya's reputation. I'll tell you..." Tan Laizi pulled silver from his bosom and slapped it onto the table with a crack. "Today I'm just happy. I'm putting this ten taels of silver right here. Shopkeeper, just bring the best wine and best dishes. No matter how much we eat or drink, it's all on me."

A heartfelt gasp of wonder filled the room. That was unmistakably a single ten-tael silver ingot. None of the porters here had ever possessed such a large sum. Now every man looked at Tan Laizi with reverence.

The old porter leaned in and carefully touched the silver ingot with his hand. "cudgel gang leader Tan, where did you pick this up?"

"What do you mean, 'pick this up'? Lao Kang, can't you speak properly? This was personally given by Gang Leader Jiang, as a gift of courtesy for inviting me into the Canal Gang." Tan Laizi sighed with an "Ai." "Gang Leader Jiang's earnest goodwill — I could no longer keep up an air of reluctance. At the time, Gang Leader Jiang said that from now on, whenever there's anything important, he'd always think of entrusting it to me first."

A head poked in at the doorway and shouted, "Tan Laizi, finally found you. Gang Leader Jiang wants you at the docks to talk — something important to handle with the Silver Estate."

Another wave of amazement swept the room. Sure enough, this Tan Laizi was a man who handled big matters. The Gang Leader himself had come looking for him, and it was to handle business with the Silver Estate, no less. The Silver Estate — what was that? The people inside were all high-level intellectuals, worlds apart from the Canal Gang.

"The Silver Estate must have something they don't understand and need to consult me about." Tan Laizi tucked the silver back into his bosom. "Everyone, eat up first. When I'm back, we'll keep drinking."

The old porter grabbed Tan Laizi. "How about settling the bill for the food and wine first."

"What, you afraid I, Master Tan, am going to run off? Important business is in my hands — it'll take a quarter of an hour at most. I'm coming back to drink more."

The others chimed in with reproach. Tan Laizi flicked his sleeve. Lao Kang let go, a bit sheepishly, but still added uneasily, "Then cudgel gang leader Tan, go quickly and come back soon."

Tan Laizi strode out the door and hurried to keep up beside the messenger, slipping him two mace of silver. "Brother, do you know what important business Gang Leader Jiang wants me for?"

The man said in a low voice, "A good assignment. It seems to be some errand downstream. This trip comes with quite a bit of silver. Walk faster — the Silver Estate people are already waiting at the docks."

Tan Laizi scratched his head with deep satisfaction. It seemed he had entered the fast lane of life — good assignments one after another, and a large sum of silver soon to follow. The cost of the food and wine at the stall was saved, too.

He hurriedly followed the man out of the city. With a Canal Gang member leading the way, even the martial-law city gate could be passed. The ones opening the gate were a group of Wusong Troops, their clothes tattered and ragged, huddled inside the gate tunnel warming themselves by a fire, looking like beggars — their fighting strength seemed even worse than the Canal Gang's.

With a strong sense of superiority, Tan Laizi walked out of Sheng-Tang Gate. Arriving at the docks and looking over, sure enough, a boat was already preparing to raise its sail. Liu Ruogu and Jiang Fan were talking with several Silver Estate men. Liu Ruogu managed the Brokerage and was his former superior. Tan Laizi had not fared well under him back then, so he did not greet him now and went straight to Jiang Fan.

"Greetings, master Jiang."

Jiang Fan glanced back and simply pointed at the boat. "Now that you're here, get on board. Someone on the boat will brief you."

With that, he turned back to his conversation with Liu Ruogu and paid Tan Laizi no further attention.

This treatment fell somewhat short of what Tan Laizi had imagined, but he dared not take issue with Jiang Fan. Once he boarded, the grain transport ship immediately cast off from the bank.

On the boat, several Silver Estate men each returned to their cabins, leaving seven or eight Canal Gang men on deck. Tan Laizi looked them over — their expressions all seemed rather grim. A sudden bad premonition struck Tan Laizi: this was not going to be a good assignment.

The leader was one of Jiang Fan's trusted men. He addressed the group: "For this assignment, the Silver Estate is buying grain along the southern bank of the Great River. The Canal Gang will act as Sitting Spies at various points north of the river. When we detect where the Roving Bandits are heading, we cross the river to report. Each man gets three taels of silver for expenses upfront. Cao Peng goes to Quanjiao, Liu Wanhe to Jiangpu, Chen Guangzu to Liuhe, Tan Laizi to Hezhou. Brothers, don't be afraid. The Roving Bandits and all that — most likely they won't come north of the river..."

On the eighteenth day of the twelfth month, at Liu Family Market in Huoqiu County, the vast snowy ground around the Official Road was covered with thousands upon thousands of black fire pits, like bald scabs upon the land. Nothing left in the village could be burned — not a single tree, not a single withered blade of grass remained. Only the still-standing broken walls could still show that human life had once existed here.

Around the fire pits lay scattered corpses. Flocks of crows and sparrows perched on the bodies, cawing as they pecked at the remaining flesh. From time to time, new crows hurried over, swooping down into the flock and causing a brief commotion.

The sound of hoofbeats came from the distance. Several mounted figures approached from the north. The flock of crows burst into flight, then settled back onto the corpses. Over the past few days, they had grown accustomed to the stir of horse hooves.

The three riders in red had no intention of stopping. Their horses' speed did not slow; they prepared to pass straight through this market town on the verge of vanishing.

Suddenly, a woman ran out from behind a mud-and-broken-wall ruin. She wore a bulky, patterned cotton jacket on top, with a skirt hem showing below, her hair disheveled, stumbling unevenly as she fled toward the western side of the market town.

The three Horse Soldiers let out a loud shout and spurred their horses after the woman, strange cries pouring from their mouths. The woman grew even more panicked. After falling once on the ground and getting up, she seemed to realize she could not outrun horses in the open, and turned south into a patch of ruins, her figure blocked by a section of brick wall.

The Horse Soldiers controlled their mounts with practiced skill, swiftly reaching the spot where the woman had disappeared. The lead Horse Soldier slowed his speed, veering around the corner with a strange cry. Before him lay an alleyway. Their mounts' momentum carried the three into the narrow lane. Just as they were still adjusting to the new scene, a sudden ambush erupted from the left.

The spinning black shadow of a Throwing Axe rapidly expanded before his eyes. The lead Horse Soldier instinctively jerked his head aside to dodge. A violent force scraped past his face — his head spun with dizziness as a cold sensation spread across his cheek, and then searing pain erupted from his face.

A sharp, agonized scream rang through the ruined town. Across the ruins and the open fields, the dense mass of crows rose into the air, their wings stirring up snow powder that swirled in all directions.

A tearing pain on his face, and warm liquid flowing down his chin — the lead Horse Soldier had no time to inspect his wound. From the sounds, he knew the two behind him had been attacked simultaneously. The attack came from the side; several dark figures moved among the ruins — the attackers were not few. Blocked by his companions behind him, he was certain he could not retreat backward, and ahead there were no attackers, only a half-collapsed low wall. The Horse Soldier made a snap decision, fiercely spurring his horse to bolt forward. The sound of splitting wind came from behind. The Horse Soldier swiftly flattened his body against the horse's back. A Javelin passed over his head from the rear flank and thudded into the earthen wall ahead.

He was already at the low wall. The Horse Soldier lashed his horse and pulled the reins with all his strength. His mount did not fail his daily care, leaping cleanly over the low wall. As the front hooves touched down, the Horse Soldier had already rapidly surveyed the new surroundings — to the left, a road led to the Official Road. His confidence in escape grew considerably.

He pulled the reins to the left. His mount veered left with speed, curving in an arc toward that small path. Once he entered that path, with walls on both sides for cover, it would be difficult for the enemy to attack him further.

He gave the horse's rump a fierce lash. The mount surged forward with all its might. Only a few steps remained to the safety of the small path. Another hoof-fall, and the mount's front hoof finally stepped into the path. The Horse Soldier fixed his eyes on that spot — one more hoof-fall and he would be safe.

In the instant before his figure cut into the small path, a Light Arrow flashed in from the side. The sharp arrowhead pierced through the Horse Soldier's two layers of cotton clothing, tore through the muscles on the side of his chest, and drove deep into his thoracic cavity before coming to a stop. The Horse Soldier crashed to the ground with a thud. His mount galloped away down the path on its own.

The Horse Soldier lay on the ground, coughing blood continuously. Through the wall, he could hear the sounds of combat on the other side — his two companions were likely doomed as well. Enduring the searing pain, he struggled to crawl outward, hoping only that the horse had not run far. Driven by the instinct to survive, the Horse Soldier crawled slowly. Blood flowed from his face and mouth, smeared further by his body, leaving a broad trail of blood across the snow.

Before long, the sounds of fighting on the other side ceased. The Horse Soldier's strength was also nearly gone. The horse did not reappear, but before his eyes appeared a pair of black felt boots.

Yang Xueshi looked down, his head lowered. The Roving Bandit had had his left cheek shorn off by the Throwing Axe. Blood now gushed continuously from the wound, and white bone was faintly visible amidst the red flesh and blood. The Horse Soldier raised his head to look at him, his eyes filled with a pleading expression.

Soon, several others came to stand beside him. Chen Rulie, still wearing the woman's clothing, had taken a blade cut to his left arm. The outer patterned cotton jacket was torn, revealing the white cotton stuffing, but the Cotton Armor underneath had blocked the attack.

Yang Xueshi nodded at him. Chen Rulie's boot stomped down onto the Roving Bandit's cheek wound. The exposed nerves of the Roving Bandit were scraped across a wide area. The excruciating pain made his entire body convulse violently. His mouth gaped wide open, yet he could make no sound. Chen Rulie pressed down relentlessly, blood spraying continuously from the edges of the boot. The other Scout Cavalrymen, seeing this, all averted their gazes slightly.

Chen Rulie cursed loudly, "Do you know pain now? When you killed all those common people, did you know they felt pain!"

Only after the man had convulsed for a long while did Chen Rulie lift his foot. The wound was now filled with much grit and filth. Blood welled up again immediately. The Roving Bandit's eyes bulged wide, his body still trembling uncontrollably.

Once he had caught his breath slightly, Chen Rulie grabbed him and propped him against the wall nearby.

"Do you want to live?"

The roving bandit was breathing in short, rapid gasps and gave a faint nod. Everyone else present knew that even if they did him no further harm, this man would not survive; only he himself, in the depths of his severe wounds, could no longer grasp his own condition.

Afraid the man would die at any moment, Chen Rulie asked without a moment's delay, "Answer the questions and you'll live. What's your master called?"

"Yao… Yao Tian… Dong." The horse soldier coughed up a mouthful of blood and spoke in broken fragments.

"Where are you headed?"

"Luzhou… attack… Luzhou."

"After attacking Luzhou, where to? Are you going to Anqing?"

"Don't know… following Gao… Bazi."

"Did Gao Bazi not go to Kaifeng?"

"Kaifeng… fake… a trick… to make Commander Lu go save it… so he'd stop chasing us."

Bloody water streamed down the horse soldier's face, following his beard and staining the front of his padded cotton coat red. The light in his eyes grew more and more scattered.

Chen Rulie grabbed the left side of his face and roughly rubbed his thumb across the wound.

The searing pain made the horse soldier's whole body convulse, and his gaze briefly focused again, but the convulsions grew increasingly rhythmic, showing no sign of stopping.

"Think hard — did your master ever mention anywhere else you're going?"

"Going… to Yangzhou… good place… if we seize boats… then cross the river… plunder Jiangnan… Jiangnan's a good place too… no boats, we go back inside the pass… come out again after autumn… our old home's inside the pass… good place… past Tong Pass, walk a hundred and thirty li." The roving bandit's convulsions grew weaker and weaker, yet his speech became faster and faster. Because his cheek was torn open, his words were somewhat slurred, and as he spoke, flecks of bloody foam occasionally flew from the wound in his cheek.

"Think again — did he say anything about Anqing?" Chen Rulie released his wound and shook him by the shoulders without stopping.

The horse soldier's head lolled to one side, his eyes slowly losing focus, but then suddenly they seemed to take on a strange, vivid light. He no longer answered the question, but instead murmured to himself, "I never lived a single good day… no one left in my family… killed people too… can't go back home… live one day… that's one day of pleasure… live one year… that's one year…"

His voice gradually faded and sank away, until at last there was no sound at all. His head drooped down, and bloody water still dripped from his cheek and from his mouth and nose.

Chen Rulie tore off his own flower-patterned padded coat, scooped up a handful of snow, and rubbed it between his hands to wash off the bloodstains. None of the scout cavalrymen made a sound. Above the ruins, the crows flocked back in masses, as if they knew there was new food.

After Chen Rulie stood up, Yang Xueshi said, "Collect their gear and horses."

The men nodded in acknowledgment and dispersed to gather the spoils.

Yang Xueshi exhaled a puff of white breath. This Shouzhou was noticeably much colder than Anqing, and it made him somewhat uncomfortable.

After leaving Zhengyang Town, they had been hiding out in Huoqiu. The main force of the roving bandits had surged through like a tide, swallowing everything in its path. The scale of the bandit force this time far exceeded the invasion of Tongcheng at the start of the year, and the range of their foraging was also wider, to sustain such an enormous population.

The group had been forced to keep far from the official road. Twice they had attacked small foraging squads of roving bandits, but those were all servants who had no idea where the main force was headed. Only after the main bandit force had passed through did they return to the vicinity of the official road. The ruined villages had been ravaged yet again, corpses left everywhere. In the wilderness, there were also many dead servants. In this world of ice and snow, whether from wounds, sickness, or hunger, those of weaker constitution were weeded out.

By Yang Xueshi's estimation, the bandits would need mounted scouts to probe for government troops pursuing from the rear, so at the tail of the column it was also possible to intercept horse soldiers. These men were the bandits' elite and would certainly know more detailed intelligence. Only today had they found an opportunity.

The flock of crows wheeled and danced nearby, filling the air with a cacophony of harsh caws.

By now, his several subordinates had all walked over. In an attack two days earlier, one scout cavalryman had been killed, so only four men remained now. Five men had nine horses. Yang Xueshi glanced back and said, "We'll head south today. The roving bandits really do intend to cross the river. We must inform Lord Pang as soon as possible. Chen Rulie takes point; Li Sanfu brings up the rear."

Each man led his horse and set out in order, following the alley toward the official road. Yang Xueshi lowered his head and looked once more at the horse soldier. The blood on his face had already congealed, clumping into a mass of red along his beard. Soon it would become a frozen, icy clot of blood.

Yang Xueshi sighed softly, led his horse, and walked toward the official road. Behind him, the circling flock of crows swooped down. Amid a clamor of cawing, they densely blanketed the dead horse soldier's entire body.