Chapter 523: Team Leader

A large, splayed hand broke the surface of the water, trembling toward the sky. After slowly rotating twice on the surface, Xu Zhu's terrified, contorted face emerged.

He spat out a mouthful of water with a splash, but before his gaping mouth could draw breath, a loud crash sounded behind him. A pitch-black figure burst from the water, pouncing onto Xu Zhu's back and forcing his head back under with a single shove. The two vanished together in the flying spray.

Dark currents churned ceaselessly on the surface. Only after a long while did they gradually calm, and a head slowly surfaced. Wang Dashan wiped his face with his left hand and let out a huge, panting breath.

Wang Dashan's head tilted back as his body floated up to the surface. His dripping face reflected the firelight from the shore. His right hand remained underwater, tightly gripping Xu Zhu's hair to keep the corpse from drifting away.

A faint, ambiguous smile lingered on Wang Dashan's face. His eyes gazed at the pitch-black night sky over Zongyang as he let out a low, keening wail that was half-laugh, half-sob. His right hand tugged back and forth rhythmically, making Xu Zhu's corpse sway along with it.

A low, deep whistle cut through the night sky. The faintly smiling Wang Dashan still showed no reaction whatsoever. Another whistle, this time closer — a splash sounded in the water not far away.

Wang Dashan flipped over abruptly, submerging his body. He treaded water with both feet, his right hand still gripping Xu Zhu's topknot in a death grip.

Floating in the river, Wang Dashan kept his head above the surface and looked around. He saw many dense clusters of figures charging out from Wharf. In an instant, it was all torches and lanterns; the glints of light trailing from brandished weapons of every kind left streaks of afterimages. The clanging of clashing blades and agonized screams rang out without end.

A voice with a northern accent shouted, "Old Camp Chief, go!"

Following that, a figure leaped from Wharf, throwing up a huge spray of water. Wang Dashan watched intently. Generally, only General Officers addressed someone as Old Camp Chief — even a gang leader wouldn't use that term. The only person here who could be called that was likely Liu Wenxiu. He couldn't help but edge a little closer to the shore.

"The bandit chief jumped in the river! Get him!"

Shouts in an Anqing accent rang out. Several figures rushed to the edge of Wharf, followed by a succession of splashing sounds.

Wang Dashan was in the darkened river channel. From his angle, he was looking directly toward the light on the shore and could see the position of the person who had jumped in earlier.

That person's skill in the water was unexpectedly good. After entering the water, he swam submerged for a very long stretch before surfacing. If Wang Dashan hadn't been facing the lamplight, he would have lost track of him.

Behind him, Anqing Army soldiers kept jumping in one after another. Since there were far fewer torches and lanterns on the opposite shore, most of what they saw when looking into the river channel was darkness, making it difficult to spot the person who had jumped in first.

A burst of horn calls came from the shore. Someone with an Anqing accent shouted, calling the Scout Boats on the river over to this section to catch the man. But the river channel was also in chaos, and those Scout Boats did not close in.

In the water, Wang Dashan fixed his eyes on the Old Camp Chief's position. He paddled without letting his arms break the surface. As he drew near, he heard the figure panting, an Arrow still embedded in his shoulder.

"Master Liu!" Wang Dashan called out tentatively in a low, forceful voice.

The figure paused, then said, "Who is it?"

Wang Dashan hurriedly said, "Wang Dashan, from the Rice Bean Shop run by Xiao Wazi's household head. I'll get you out of here, Laoye."

The figure finally approached. Wang Dashan suddenly remembered that Xu Zhu was still in his grip. He thrust his right hand, still clutching Xu Zhu's topknot, forward as his body moved to meet Liu Wenxiu, just managing to keep the corpse out of the way. He immediately reached out to support Liu Wenxiu.

Liu Wenxiu's panting voice said, "My shoulder's wounded. Get me to the boat."

"Master Liu, the boat was seized by the Government Troops."

Liu Wenxiu glanced toward the opposite shore, then said, looking downstream, "There are more boats. Head south."

At that moment, the sound of thrashing water filled the river channel. Looking toward the light from Wharf, at least seven or eight Anqing Army soldiers were searching in the water, and two or three of them were already swimming this way.

Wang Dashan shouted toward the river channel, "The bandit chief went north! Get him!"

The Anqing-accented cry echoed across the river's surface. Soon, someone to the north responded. The two or three pursuers all changed direction, the sound of thrashing water heading north.

Dragging Liu Wenxiu, Wang Dashan turned and swam toward the opposite shore. The water's surface outside Zongyang's Wharf was wide open. To avoid the bandits, many boats had not docked but were anchored mid-channel. After the killing started everywhere that night, many boatmen thought the Roving Bandits had arrived to slaughter and were setting sail one after another; the river channel was in complete disarray.

The two carefully dodged the boats in the river, heading toward the downstream area. To Wang Dashan's surprise, Liu Wenxiu's skill in the water was excellent; he showed no panic whatsoever in the river. Although his left shoulder was wounded, he cooperated with Wang Dashan's treading without a single grunt, sparing Wang Dashan from expending too much energy.

The lanterns of the Government Troops' Scout Boats swayed back and forth, illuminating the nearby water and intercepting the Grain Transport Ships that were setting sail to flee. The oars on both sides of the boats splashed as they rowed. There were also scattered individuals thrashing and swimming. Wang Dashan couldn't tell if they were bandits or soldiers. Both men swam quietly, keeping as far from the military boats as possible to avoid drawing attention.

"That one."

Wang Dashan looked. Three lanterns hung from that boat's mast, each with characters written on them. Wang Dashan couldn't read them. In the chaotic river channel at that moment, many boats were lighting torches and lanterns on deck to set sail and escape, so this boat did not stand out.

Liu Wenxiu had come to Zongyang on the same two boats as Wang Dashan. They were the first group and the largest. A later group had never shown itself. Wang Dashan had never seen this lantern-hung boat before; it was likely the escape route Liu Wenxiu had left for himself. There might even be other boats.

The surrounding boats were setting sail in chaos, and the Government Troops' Scout Boats were intercepting everywhere, but there were too many anchored Grain Transport Ships.

As they swam up and saw someone holding a lantern beside the deck, Wang Dashan raised a hand to call out. Liu Wenxiu said in a low voice, "Get a clear Understanding first."

Wang Dashan hastily stopped. By the light of the deck lantern, he finally saw clearly that it was someone he recognized. Liu Wenxiu also saw clearly for himself. He said to Wang Dashan in a low voice, "Get on the boat."

The two swam to the side of the boat and called out. The person on deck lowered the lantern. After clearly seeing Liu Wenxiu, he immediately pulled the two of them up.

A Team Leader promptly supported Liu Wenxiu into the cabin. Wang Dashan remained on deck. By now, the middle of the river channel was a scene of total chaos. The lanterns of the military boats swung wildly, shouts and curses filled the air everywhere, and occasionally there was the firecracker-like crackle of Fire Lance shots, causing instantaneous flashes across the river's surface.

Several Sailors worked the oars, steering clear of the patrolling military boats as they headed downstream. These few men were Western Camp personnel Liu Wenxiu had brought himself, mostly men from Huguang and Jiangbei who knew how to handle the water.

Wang Dashan's eyes swept over and spotted Old Li, who was rowing. Old Li also seemed to be observing Wang Dashan out of the corner of his eye.

The flame inside the lantern was blown out, and everything on deck turned blurry. Wang Dashan narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing that dark silhouette carefully.

After a moment, a voice from the cabin door said, "Wang Dashan, Master Liu wants you to come in and talk."

……

The Grain Transport Ship sailed on the calm river surface. Both shores were pitch black. This stretch of river still belonged to Zongyang and had not yet entered the Yangtze River, but it had already passed the Government Troops' military boat interception line.

Wang Dashan came out of the cabin door, carefully avoiding the crisscrossing ropes on deck, and headed straight to where Old Li was rowing.

That figure retreated slightly. Even in the darkness, Wang Dashan knew the person before him was Old Li.

He slowly leaned in close and said, "Xu Zhu is dead."

Old Li's body trembled slightly, and his head slowly turned.

"I killed him."

Wang Dashan's tone was calm, as if he were just chatting.

Old Li finally opened his Mouth and said, "You... you... Yu Baodao thought highly of Xu Zhu. He took him everywhere he went."

"The Government Troops were lying in Ambush all over Zongyang. You think the Prefectural City could be empty? The Rice Bean Shop is inside the city. Once the city gates close, he'd have nowhere to run. Don't count on Yu Baodao."

The beard on Old Li's Chin quivered incessantly. "What do you want? What do you... there's still Xiao Wazi's household head here. I'll tell him you killed Xu Liang..."

"Servants die in the battalion every day. Besides Xu Zhu, which household head cares that I killed Xu Liang?" Wang Dashan stared straight at Old Li, his eyes filled with utter calm. Even in the darkness, Old Li dared not meet his gaze. He averted his eyes and hung his head.

Wang Dashan's voice drew right up to his ear. "Xiao Wazi and the Second Chief haven't come back. Master Liu says I'm to take over Xiao Wazi's Team for now, in charge of the original Servants. You are now my Servant, Wang Dashan's Servant. The first Rule taught in Master Liu's battalion: a Team Leader gives orders, and the Servants obey. You go complain to your own household head — who wants to listen to you? Li Wuchu..."

Old Li raised his head slightly, not daring to look directly at Wang Dashan.

"Have you enjoyed yourself, ruining my wife all this year?"

Wang Dashan was very close. Old Li could feel the breath he exhaled. His body began to tremble slightly, and he dared not answer Wang Dashan's question.

"Kneel."

Old Li hesitated for a moment, then slowly knelt down before Wang Dashan.

"Call me household head."

"Household head, Wang… household head."

Wang Dashan's mouth hung slightly open as he watched Old Li trembling on the ground with satisfaction.

After a long while, Wang Dashan lifted one foot and planted it on top of Old Li's head. Old Li dared not resist, and following the direction of the trampling downward, his face finally pressed flat against the deck.

Wang Dashan looked down, slowly rubbing his bare foot over Old Li's face to expose the other man's profile.

"No sound!"

Trampled underfoot, Old Li's field of vision was already extremely narrow, and in the darkness he could see nothing at all. His ear was suddenly seized and twisted tight; amidst overwhelming terror, a sharp pain shot through the base of his ear.

Old Li's hoarse, agonized groan rang out in the darkness.

…

The sky was barely bright. Scattered corpses floated on the river outside Zongyang Town, and Water Army boats were salvaging them along the river channel.

Squads of soldiers patrolled the streets and alleys of Hongshazhou, checking bloodstains on the ground and searching for any Roving Bandits who might still be hiding.

Inside the military camp at Xiazongyangcang, a small squad of soldiers had just returned. This squad was rotating back for breakfast. They did not return to the barracks, but stood eating at the tables placed just inside the camp gate.

This camp was a camp ground for reserve troops, used to replenish the ranks of combat soldiers. According to the design of the military system, soldiers were not supposed to stay in such a camp for more than three months.

However, because most of the Camp Heads of the Anqing Battalion had been transferred out for combat and their stations constantly changed, no one had been transferred out for over half a year. Only a small portion of soldiers meeting the requirements for Heavy Armor Soldiers had been sent to replenish the already understrength Tongcheng Standard Troops Battalion. The remaining reserve troops had nearly become an independently organized Camp Head, and they were already very familiar with one another.

These new recruits had just fought their first battle and won a complete victory, so they were all somewhat excited. Some could not help violating discipline while eating, whispering to each other and exchanging descriptions of the Roving Bandits' deaths they had seen. The squad leader leading them did not stop it.

An old man with graying hair walked slowly past the tables carrying a water bucket, showing no interest whatsoever in what the soldiers were discussing. He went straight into the Stable Office on the southwest side of the parade ground.

This camp also had cavalry reserve troops, and the stable was not small in scale — about a hundred horses or so. There were riding horses for Relay Horses, warhorses for regular cavalry, and a small number of high-grade warhorses for mounted scouts.

The old man set down the wooden bucket outside the stall, first counted the horses, then unlocked a wooden bench with a key and took out a pottery jar. When he opened the jar's lid, it revealed salt packed full inside. He was preparing to supplement the horses' salt, something done every day when conditions allowed.

The old man peered inside the jar, then rummaged through the bench. It seemed the wooden scoop for measuring had gone missing. After circling twice, he closed the bench and prepared to return to his quarters to look for it.

Suddenly, a faint voice came from deep within the stable. "Master Ceng."

Ceng Zhimu froze in place. He stood stunned for a moment before slowly turning around, carefully stepping around the horse stalls one by one, heading in the direction the voice had come from.

A moment later he reached the corner of the stable. Amidst the haystack, Xiao Wazi's pale face emerged.

"Master Ceng, save me."