Chapter 252: Section Nine: Trajectory

Mang Gurtai did not understand Chinese. He stared blankly at the episode unfolding before him and asked, baffled: "What's going on here? Do they know each other?"

"Shh—" Hong Taiji immediately cut off Mang Gurtai's question. As he cocked an ear toward the west, he fixed his gaze intently on the Ming army's formation. Even his ever-composed face betrayed a trace of tension and excitement.

From the moment he spotted the Zhao sisters, Huang Shi had broken out in a cold sweat, but under Hong Taiji's piercing stare, he absolutely could not show the slightest alarm or hesitation. Huang Shi swept his gaze over the officers and men around him; he understood he had only one choice. After hearing Zhang Minghe's words, he gave a cold laugh and shot back at Hong Antong: "Company Commander Hong, do you truly believe I would place my soldiers in danger?"

"All of you, follow me." Without waiting for Hong Antong or Zhang Minghe to speak after his question, Huang Shi turned his horse's head and rode south, repeating the order with added emphasis: "All of you, follow me."

Huang Shi urged his horse forward slowly, and the Ming officers and soldiers all lifted their reins and fell in behind him. Riding at the front, Huang Shi felt sweat pouring like a stream beneath his helmet, soaking through his collar. He rode on without looking back, muttering under his breath: "Are the Zhao family all mad?"

Hong Antong, following close behind Huang Shi, caught these words exactly. He leaned forward slightly and whispered to Huang Shi: "My lord, your insight is keen. This subordinate believes the Jianzhou slaves opposite us are acting very strangely as well."

"I know." Huang Shi cut Hong Antong off impatiently. He shook his head and said: "But I dare not test it, because if I make one wrong move—" Huang Shi raised his head toward the front and let out a long sigh: "Opposite us is the Banner Lord of the Plain White Banner. Hong Taiji is no easy opponent; we must be ten thousand times cautious with him."

Watching the distant Ming army slowly move away, Hong Taiji's expression shifted repeatedly. His horsewhip rose several times and fell several times. Mang Gurtai beside him could not help but ask in wonder: "Eighth Brother, what are you doing?"

Hong Taiji spoke while pondering: "Fifth Brother, don't you find Huang Shi's actions very strange? Perhaps he truly has no ambush troops, no reinforcements at all — just a light force come to rally the scattered soldiers."

"Then why don't we pursue—" Mang Gurtai's words were barely half out before he suddenly swallowed them back. If Hong Taiji had indeed guessed right, and if they wanted to pursue Huang Shi, then right now they could only rely on the two brothers and the hundred men beside them — first rush forward to tie the opponent down, then rely on the cavalry behind to come up and attack. But what if Hong Taiji had guessed wrong, and there were troops behind Huang Shi? Their hundred men charging in would surely be chopped into mincemeat. Every time they had crossed hands with Huang Shi before, their schemes had backfired and brought disaster on themselves. At this thought, Mang Gurtai's spirits deflated at once: "That Huang Shi is exceedingly crafty. And Ming military officers don't seem to have that kind of nerve anyway."

Hong Taiji nodded at these words. The raised horsewhip finally fell back down, limp. He said in agreement: "Huang Shi is indeed rather seasoned and prudent; he probably wouldn't place himself in danger... Hmm, though it's been many years since we've seen a military officer like this, there are still plenty of bold ones among the Ming. Perhaps..."

After biting down on her younger sister's clothes for a while, the eldest Miss Zhao realized that the man who had seized the two sisters had already fled in panic. Ignoring the pain all over her body, she struggled to sit up, just in time to see Huang Shi's banner disappear behind the mountain ridge. The eldest Miss Zhao stared blankly at the spot where the Ming army's banner had vanished, scarcely able to believe her eyes. Suddenly, a rope tightened around her mouth from behind her head, and her mouth was gagged tightly shut once more...

Hong Taiji lowered his head, recalling the shouts he had just heard, carefully savoring the meaning within them. He abruptly raised his head and looked west. That Later Jin soldier had already subdued the woman who had cried for help and was now binding her feet. Hong Taiji glanced south again; the Ming army had vanished completely from sight. He softly asked Mang Gurtai beside him: "Fifth Brother, tell me — in the end, do we pursue or not?"

"I don't know. Don't ask me. You decide." Mang Gurtai rumbled. A moment later, he suddenly gritted his teeth: "I'll go pursue. Eighth Brother, you stay here. If anything should happen to me, you can still lead the troops and withdraw..."

"Forget it, Fifth Brother." Hong Taiji looked north and shook his head, then glanced at the sun sinking in the west: "Even if we pursue now, it's too late. We'd best withdraw quickly. At least the main army is safe now."

By the time Huang Shi returned to Juehua, the sky was already pitch black. Jin Guan and the others had set out much earlier than him, yet they too had only just returned to Juehua — it seemed their withdrawal had been very steady indeed. All the Juehua officers were waiting respectfully outside the command tent gate for Huang Shi's return. Seeing this, Huang Shi hurriedly dismounted and clasped his hands in salute toward the officers of the Juehua Guan-Ning Army, great and small: "Gentlemen, your banners were not disordered, your dust did not rise, and so the Jianzhou slaves did not see through the true strength of our forces. That Huang was able to escape danger safely today is truly thanks to the efforts of you all."

At once, before the command tent gate, there came the clang of armor as everyone returned the salute. Jin Guan and the others said with the utmost respect: "Lord Huang, your words are too weighty." After speaking, they all raised their chins high, and not one turned his head to glance at Assistant Regional Commander Yao beside them.

The memorial ceremony for the officers and soldiers who had fallen in battle that day was also presided over by Huang Shi. He completed the series of sacrificial rites in solemn silence. In China, the dead are held in the highest regard, and soldiers who fall fighting for victory are treated with the utmost gravity in the army. Today's battle, whether in everyone's minds or in how it played out, had been a Ming defeat first and a victory later. The several Guan-Ning Army officers stood behind Huang Shi, each holding incense in hand, following Huang Shi in performing the solemn grand rites of prostration.

Once the solemn memorial ceremony was complete, it was time to celebrate the victory. Assistant Regional Commander Jin had arranged for a soldier to come running up at the right moment bearing a bowl of wine. Huang Shi took the brimming bowl, paused briefly, and then declared in a ringing voice: "Though I belong to Dongjiang, I have long drunk in the fragrant reputations of you gentlemen of the Liao Garrison.

Today, relying on the majesty and virtue of the Sacred Son of Heaven, I have been able to join hands with you gentlemen to defeat the bandits and strike terror into the enemy's hearts — what incomparable delight! With this wine, I offer congratulations to the Sacred Son of Heaven, congratulations to the Great Ming, and congratulations to the Liao Garrison!"

With that, Huang Shi drained the wine in the bowl in one gulp. The Guan-Ning officers, all holding wine bowls as well, followed in unison with the pledge: "Congratulations to the Dongjiang Garrison!"

Yao Yuxian, who had not taken part in the pursuit, seemed somewhat ill at ease. His voice when he spoke was not loud, and he was too embarrassed to stand in the center of the crowd. The seat of honor that had always belonged to Assistant Regional Commander Yao was now occupied by Assistant Regional Commander Jin, and even Zhang Guoqing no longer looked him straight in the eye. Once Huang Shi had led everyone in drinking the celebratory wine, Assistant Regional Commander Jin sprang forward in one stride to Huang Shi's side, ready to usher him into the banquet, while Assistant Regional Commander Yao could only stand to the side and watch with longing eyes.

By all accounts, Yao Yuxian had done nothing wrong — he had not schemed behind the Changsheng Army's back, nor had he stolen Zhang Minghe's firelocks. But now Assistant Regional Commander Jin and his faction had clearly formed a united front against Vice Assistant Regional Commander Yao. Seeing the Guan-Ning Army in this state, Huang Shi found it awkward to express an opinion, nor could he very well oppose the group. Besides, Assistant Regional Commander Jin and the others had fought quite bravely that afternoon.

Entering the military camp, Huang Shi saw that the civil officials of Juehua had all arrived. Two large banquet tables had been set up in the very center. The seat of honor on the left was naturally prepared for the guest commander Huang Shi. Zhao Yingong sat upright and proper in the right-hand seat, while the other civil officials were seated in order down from him, filling the right side of the banquet.

Upon entering, Huang Shi was just thinking about how to report the whereabouts of Assistant Prefect Zhao's two younger sisters, but before he could open his mouth, Zhao Yingong first waved his hand and quietly told Huang Shi they would discuss the matter after the banquet — for now, it was best not to dampen the spirits of the Juehua civil and military officers. Huang Shi waited a long while, restless and fidgeting, and finally seized the chance when Zhao Yingong rose from his seat to follow him outside. There he stopped him and recounted the day's events in full detail.

Since Huang Shi had given him a warning that morning, Zhao Yingong had been somewhat mentally prepared for what might befall his eldest younger sister, but the actions of the second Miss Zhao were utterly beyond his expectations. All day, Zhao Yingong had been busy providing logistics for the soldiers and attending to Juehua affairs, so he had had no time to go home and check. Now, hearing Huang Shi recount the course of events, Assistant Prefect Zhao's face first turned pale, then ashen as death.

Zhao Yingong stood there dumbstruck for a long time before catching his breath. He stood rooted to the spot, feeling his whole body stiff, his hands and feet ice-cold, at a complete loss. Over and over he murmured to himself: "Those two sisters are especially close. Since they were little, they've always fretted over each other, never willing to let the other suffer the slightest hardship."

The anguish in Zhao Yingong's eyes made Huang Shi feel sorrowful and desolate just looking at him. He had wanted to reach out and pat this pitiable man on the shoulder, but on second thought, it turned into a sympathetic sigh, and he returned helplessly to the banquet. The wretched Assistant Prefect Zhao was left outside, distraught and adrift.

Back at the banquet, Huang Shi told those around him that Zhao Yingong was probably overtired and had gone back to rest because he was feeling unwell. As he spoke, he noticed Hu Yining's gaze carefully linger on his face for a moment, then dart away swiftly.

The moment he saw Hong Taiji enter the tent, Mang Gurtai, who had long been waiting inside, jumped up: "Well?"

Hong Taiji nodded and let out a long breath: "The younger one insists through clenched teeth that she has no connection whatsoever to Huang Shi. No matter how I threatened her, she showed no fear. But the older one is rather timid — she confessed everything before I even asked. It turns out that younger sister is Huang Shi's betrothed wife."

"Huang Shi's betrothed wife?" Mang Gurtai was so shocked he could barely speak. They had originally suspected the pair of sisters might have some connection to an important figure, that their family might have official dealings with Huang Shi, but they had never imagined they could catch such a big fish. Mang Gurtai asked, full of doubt: "How could Huang Shi let his betrothed wife go onto the battlefield? And how could he abandon his wife and sister-in-law on the battlefield and ignore them? You haven't been deceived, have you?"

"It is indeed shocking. But that older sister described in clear detail when Huang Shi proposed marriage, whom he sent, and what the betrothal gifts were. To confirm it, I questioned her over and over several times. Several times she answered without even thinking, repeating it word for word without a single mistake — absolutely not like a lie made up on the spot. I'd say this is nine-tenths credible. Also, according to the older sister, the person who proposed to her younger sister on Huang Shi's behalf was a man named Zhang Zaidi. Although this man is Huang Shi's closest confidant and sworn brother, very few people in Juehua should know about him. The older sister wasn't very clear on Zhang Zaidi's identity either, yet she named him offhand, and the description of his appearance and age was roughly correct. If there hadn't really been a marriage proposal, this is something she could never have fabricated."

Hong Taiji looked at the dumbfounded Mang Gurtai and gave a self-mocking laugh: "Today we were fooled by that scoundrel again. Huang Shi is truly a ruthless character — he can even abandon his betrothed wife without a care."

Next, Hong Taiji recounted how the two sisters had come to be on the battlefield, along with the bondservant's confession. Finally, he gave a cold laugh and summed it up: "The elder brother of these two sisters is now the head of the civil officials in Juehua. Barring accidents, their brother will be promoted as well. Truly a rare prize."

"Slow down, slow down." Mang Gurtai marked out a new category in his little notebook, then filled in all the important information he had just heard. After upgrading and maintaining his data, Mang Gurtai gnawed on his fingernails and thought for a moment: "What do you plan to do with them?"

Hong Taiji lowered his head and paced a circle inside the tent, then shook his head and said: "I don't know yet. But first we must find a way to verify their story. We can't just take their one-sided word for it. After all, we've never heard that Huang Shi has a betrothed wife — never heard a thing about it."

Mang Gurtai slapped his thigh and said fiercely:

"Right! If we find out they've told lies, we'll make sure they regret it when it's too late!"

No sooner had he finished his fierce words than a look of shame suddenly appeared on Mang Gurtai's face, and his tone turned dejected: "If what they say is true... If we had beaten Huang Shi till he pissed his pants every time, then even dividing up his wife and children among us wouldn't matter. But so far we haven't won a single battle against him. Now to rely on threatening him by seizing his wife... that's a bit, a bit too close to being scoundrels. It truly damages my, Mang Gurtai's, good name."

Looking up and catching the half-smiling, half-mocking expression on Hong Taiji's face, the shame on Mang Gurtai's face deepened. He scratched his head in embarrassment: "Ah, of course I have no intention of letting them go back. Eighth Brother, your mind is sharper — you decide how to handle it."

"Their situation cannot be known to Father Khan for now. If Father Khan's temper flares up, we won't be able to stop him."

"That goes without saying. I understand perfectly."

"I've kept Huang Shi's house in Liaoyang for him all this time. If it's confirmed that this is indeed his betrothed wife, let the two sisters live there. One must not push things to the absolute limit in all matters; we must leave room for future dealings with Huang Shi."

Mang Gurtai nodded and pressed: "And then?"

"Then we'll take it one step at a time. It's been nearly five years now. Those two women Li Yongfang gave to Huang Shi — I've never allowed anyone to touch them, and they still live in that house. This time, let Huang Shi's betrothed wife take charge of them. That way, no one can fault us on propriety, and it will also let them get to know each other. Hmm, the urgent task once we return to Liaoyang is still to investigate thoroughly whether this betrothal really exists. That younger sister has denied it through clenched teeth the whole time, and she does seem somewhat genuine."

With Zhao Yingong absent, the burden of keeping the banquet from going cold fell entirely on Huang Shi's shoulders alone. Although the personal guards accompanying him had already blocked several rounds of toasts for him, when heavyweights like Assistant Regional Commander Yao and Assistant Regional Commander Jin came to offer toasts, he certainly couldn't rely on his attendants to fend them off. Round after round, Huang Shi felt he was nearly done for; crawling under the table seemed only a matter of time.

"Lord Huang, your martial prowess is matchless. This lowly general offers another bowl."

Assistant Regional Commander Jin was especially lively tonight. Seeing yet another round of toasts coming, Huang Shi groaned inwardly but had no choice but to brace himself and hold out. He had just stood up with a smile when someone suddenly stepped in, blocking his way and saying to Jin Guan with a smile: "General Jin, it seems you haven't toasted me yet tonight."

"Lord Zhao, forgive me — the fault is entirely this lowly general's."

Huang Shi retreated to his seat and sat down. Zhao Yingong moved through the crowd, offering toasts in turn, and at once the atmosphere in the room livened up again. Among the Juehua civil and military officers, there were quite a few who loved a lively scene, and having drunk a fair amount, they loudly clamored — Assistant Prefect Zhao had left the table for so long, he ought to be penalized with wine.

Huang Shi had wanted to go over and help him out, but Zhao Yingong readily agreed. After downing three cups in a row, Assistant Prefect Zhao pressed his lips tightly together and showed the empty cup to everyone by turning it in a full circle, drawing a burst of cheers. But the more he acted this way, the more uncomfortable Huang Shi felt inside.

Assistant Regional Commander Hu Yining also seemed somewhat restless, constantly fidgeting in his seat. When Zhao Yingong offered him a toast, the smile on Assistant Regional Commander Hu's face was very strained.

When Zhao Yingong finally turned back and took his seat, Huang Shi hurriedly leaned over to urge him to go rest first. But as if anticipating what Huang Shi was about to say, Zhao Yingong spoke softly before he could utter a word: "Tonight is a victory celebration. To ensure every civil and military officer of Juehua enjoys himself fully, this official dares not let private matters interfere with public duty. General Huang, you need say no more." Zhao Yingong's words made Huang Shi withdraw with a sigh of admiration.

After speaking, Assistant Prefect Zhao began chatting and laughing with the other officials. A while later, he raised his cup again and walked over to personally offer congratulations to Assistant Regional Commander Jin and the others. Huang Shi watched Zhao Yingong for a while. This civil official, whom he had always found somewhat disagreeable, gave him a completely different impression tonight. Zhao Yingong's refined and cultured bearing, which Huang Shi had always felt was mere posturing, now gave him the feeling of a noble young gentleman in a degenerate age.

Over the next two days, Huang Shi felt that Zhao Yingong seemed to be numbing himself with work constantly. All day he was either immersed in the military camp or handling official business in his study; he even ate sporadically, barely managing a few meals. Huang Shi felt awkward and so stopped seeking Zhao Yingong out.

The other Juehua officials were still unaware of the Zhao family's affairs. Since the start of the campaign, whether in battalion affairs or logistics supply, Zhao Yingong had performed outstandingly. Most officials were full of praise behind his back, and even colleagues who had personal grudges against Assistant Prefect Zhao had nothing to say. Now, most people on Juehua Island believed Assistant Prefect Zhao was on the verge of promotion, so they were all the more unstinting in their flattery. To all these praises and adulations, Zhao Yingong responded only with a faint smile.

The last day of the fifth year of the Tianqi reign.

Huang Shi invited Zhao Yin, who had come calling at his door, to take a seat, then had the inner guards serve tea. Once seated, Vice Prefect Zhao took a small sip of tea with elegant poise, and only then, without the slightest ripple of emotion, stated the purpose of his visit today. It turned out that Ningyuan Fort had now also returned to normal. Tomorrow would be the first day of the first month of the sixth year of Tianqi, and Zhao Yin wished to invite Huang Shi to go with him to Ningyuan Fort to offer New Year greetings, and to jointly draft a memorial reporting the entire Ningyuan–Juehua campaign to the imperial court.

Huang Shi smiled faintly. "That would be excellent. I, your general, have long wished to meet with His Excellency Yuan of the Ningqian Circuit."

At these words, Zhao Yin gave a faint smile. "It is my pleasure to inform Your Excellency Huang that the imperial court has already promoted His Excellency Yuan to Provincial Surveillance Commissioner."

"Provincial Surveillance Commissioner?" As he asked, Huang Shi's face betrayed no change, but inwardly he was utterly shocked.