Chapter 57: Section Five

After tying the horses outside the Liu River, Huang Shi left a few men to guard them and, taking three personal guards, groped his way through the dark to Old Zhang’s house.

Once the door was knocked open, Old Zhang and his wife were so startled they nearly cried out, and hurriedly ushered them inside. Seeing that Huang Shi was still dressed in Ming Army uniform, Old Zhang scolded him relentlessly. Only then did Huang Shi learn that the Later Jin had posted bounties and that his own name was actually on the list — a staggering one thousand taels, with his head alone worth five hundred taels.

Old Zhang’s wife eyed Huang Shi’s personal guards with suspicion. Huang Shi introduced them: “These are my three loyal subordinates. They have endured much hardship following me.”

Huang Shi’s exploits in Guangning had long since spread. According to Old Zhang, the Later Jin side was furious, and a bounty was immediately placed on his head. The Liu River garrison was thrown into utter chaos because of it, and it only settled down when, days later, they confirmed that Huang Shi had fled together with the Prefect of Guangning and the others.

Old Zhang’s wife heated up some vegetable soup and brought it over: “Little Huang, how dare you come back?”

“Eat quickly, and leave as soon as you’re done.” Zhang Youdi’s tone was not the least bit friendly, and the look he directed at Huang Shi was full of reproach. “If anyone finds out you came here, our whole family is finished.”

“Uncle Zhang, seeing that you are all safe puts one of my worries to rest. But I still want to ask — would you be willing to go to Lüshun?”

“Lüshun? No, we’re not going!” Before Old Zhang could speak, Zhang Youdi cut in angrily: “My wife is pregnant and can’t travel. My parents are old and even less able to travel. So the whole family can’t go — otherwise, those left behind won’t survive.”

As Zhang Youdi said this, Old Zhang silently acquiesced to his eldest son’s words, then pointed to an unfamiliar woman and introduced her to Huang Shi. This was the newlywed wife of his second son, Youdi. Her father had just been appointed village head by the Later Jin, so even if the entire Zhang family fled, the in-laws would suffer for it.

Huang Shi’s gaze swept over Zhang Youdi and Zhang Zaidi. The two had originally been very close to him, but now they both avoided his eyes. It seemed their bond had run its course.

Huang Shi took out a bundle containing one hundred taels of silver — all the property he had left. After handing it to Old Zhang, he sat down and began drinking the vegetable soup. Having eaten almost no hot food during his journey of sleeping rough and eating in the open, a warmth immediately spread through his chest and belly, and the chill in his limbs was instantly dispelled.

“Aunt Zhang, please bring two more bowls.”

Before Old Zhang’s wife could answer, Zhang Zaidi ran off and brought back several bowls. Huang Shi divided the large bowl of vegetable soup into three portions and handed them to his three personal guards. They thanked him and began drinking in large gulps as well.

“Aiya, this is too much.” Old Zhang’s wife accepted the silver and quickly sent her two daughters-in-law to boil more water. A moment later, steaming hot food was brought over…

The scalding food made Huang Shi and his personal guards wolf it down ravenously. Zhang Youdi once again urged him to leave quickly, but was fiercely scolded by his mother.

“Don’t let the rebel Huang Shi get away!”

“Don’t let the rebel Huang Shi escape!”

Before they could finish the meal, a wave of shouting erupted outside the door. Old Zhang’s family and Huang Shi’s several personal guards all changed color abruptly. Outside the window, a blaze of torchlight suddenly flared up.

The moment the shouting started, Old Zhang sprang over, darted to the doorway, and peered out through the cracks.

Huang Shi gave a bitter smile, set down his chopsticks, and said to Old Zhang: “I’m sorry, Uncle Zhang. It seems I’ve brought trouble upon you.”

Hearing Huang Shi’s words, Old Zhang spat fiercely and cursed: “What’s the use of saying that now? Zaidi, go bring the knife for your master.”

Zhang Zaidi answered and was about to run to the back, but Huang Shi grabbed hold of him: “Little Brother, no need.”

Since coming to this world, Huang Shi asked himself if there was anyone he could not bring himself to strike down, but Old Zhang’s family was one he could not sacrifice. “Uncle Zhang, tie me up. You can claim to be the principal informant.”

“Nonsense.” The veins on Old Zhang’s neck bulged.

Huang Shi looked at Old Zhang, his eyes full of apology: “Uncle Zhang’s entire family, young and old, could never possibly escape.”

Old Zhang froze for a moment, then suddenly bellowed: “That still won’t do! Zaidi, go get the knife, quickly.”

The noise outside grew louder and louder, amounting to nothing more than demands that Old Zhang hand the man over at once. After Zhang Zaidi brought the knife, Huang Shi saw Zhang Youdi also feel for a club, and he looked coldly at Huang Shi: “If you can’t fight your way out, then our whole family will have died for nothing. And these past few years we’ll have saved you for nothing too. In the future, during the festivals and at year’s end, remember to offer for our whole family…”

“Bah, stop that unlucky talk. Protect your mother and younger brother and get out.” Old Zhang spat again. As he spoke to his son, he kept his eyes fixed on Huang Shi’s, and within them was nothing but a pleading look.

Distressed, Huang Shi turned his face away, suddenly drew his waist saber, and said through clenched teeth: “Uncle Zhang, rest assured — as long as I have life in me, I will not let them suffer.”

His three personal guards had long since gripped their blades. Seeing this, they let out a low shout in unison and moved to open the door and advance. At that very moment, Huang Shi heard Old Zhang’s wife behind him speak: “I was the one who told the second son’s wife to go report this.”

That one sentence made the weapons in the hands of the Zhang father and sons droop powerlessly. Huang Shi did not turn his head, only gave a hollow laugh and slowly slid the saber back into its scabbard. Only the three personal guards turned around and glared at her furiously.

Old Zhang turned his head and glanced at his wife, then threw down his knife without a word and sat down heavily on the ground. Zhang Youdi also slowly crouched down, swept two glances at Huang Shi, and then buried his head in his arms.

“Mother.” Zhang Zaidi called out once, then fell silent.

The second son, Zhang Youdi, hid behind his mother, not saying a word, his head drooping. When he saw Huang Shi stop his personal guards, he seemed to let out a long breath of relief.

Fury surged uncontrollably in Huang Shi’s heart. The betrothal gifts for this brat’s engagement and the expenses for his wedding had all come from him. But he kept his composure, gave two hollow laughs, walked over, and pushed open the window: “Fellow villagers, you all recognize me, Huang Shi. Now I am a rebel. Heh heh, let the one leading you come out and say a few words.”

The leader was the village head, who was also Old Zhang’s in-law, and his daughter stood beside him. The village head swaggeringly told Huang Shi not to resist hopelessly, that he certainly could not escape, and moreover, for the sake of the Zhang family and all these neighbors of many years, it would be best to come out and surrender immediately.

“I’ve heard that Huang Shi alive is worth an extra five hundred taels of silver. I can surrender, but there are two conditions for claiming that money.”

Hearing that Huang Shi was willing to surrender, an excited buzz rose among the villagers outside the door. The village head restrained the crowd for a moment, then shouted toward the house: “Speak.”

In that case, you certainly won’t live to collect it. Huang Shi sneered inwardly.

“First, the Zhang family counts as the principal informants. It was they who sincerely stalled me.”

The village head immediately agreed: “Fine.”

Huang Shi turned his head and swept a glance behind him. The Zhang father and his two sons were all sitting on the ground holding their heads. The second son and the eldest daughter-in-law were peeking over from behind Old Zhang’s wife.

The initial anger had already receded. Huang Shi’s chest felt cold, beginning to freeze into solid ice: “The second condition is that you let my three subordinates leave. The three of them have no bounty on their heads, so capturing them gains you nothing. After you let them go, I will come out and surrender, and you can take the one thousand taels for Huang Shi alive. If not, you’ll only get the five hundred taels for Huang Shi dead.”

The village head hesitated, and the familiar villagers around him also grew somewhat uneasy. Huang Shi smiled and said: “There are only three of them. What are you afraid of? Very well, I’ll have them swear an oath not to come back and trouble your village.”

Following Huang Shi’s order, the three personal guards swore loudly: “Let our ancestral spirits bear witness: if you grant the three of us a path to life, from this moment on we shall absolutely never set foot in this village again. Otherwise, may we die a wretched death.”

After they finished their oath, Huang Shi, in full view of everyone, took out some more loose silver and copper coins and gave it to them: “Only you three never abandoned me, following me for so long. Take this bit of silver.”

“You two.” Huang Shi casually pointed at two of them. “When I am no longer here, follow Zhao Manxiong’s orders.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Huang Shi sensed something was wrong and stole a glance at Zhang Zaidi behind him. Fortunately, he showed no reaction — it seemed he had not heard.

Those three personal guards were very sharp. After a brief pause, they understood Huang Shi’s meaning and nodded to show they had grasped it.

Huang Shi knew that if he was to escape this predicament, his subordinates absolutely could not fall into chaos. Jin Qiude’s way of handling matters made him very uneasy; if that man were in charge, Huang Shi feared he himself might end up perishing together with the enemy. Yang Zhiyuan was easily coerced and lacked quick wits, and he still did not know He Baodao very well.

If Zhao Manxiong took overall control, then everything should be fine. Huang Shi pondered this way, then shifted his gaze back to the village head. The village head directed the villagers to open a path for them, and the three personal guards immediately fled, covering their heads like rats.

Seeing them leave safely, Huang Shi promptly threw down his saber, his heart already seething with murderous intent.