Chapter 664: Assassinating Ma

On the Yangping Pass battlefield between Wei and Shu, besides the Guanzhong and Longyou troops, there was also a special "Di contingent." Mostly drawn from the Di people of Wudu and Longyou, they wore their hair in topknots, their armor a motley assortment, and were stationed to camp on the hills south of the Mian River.

Their Colonel was Qi Zhongliu, chieftain of the White Horse Di of Wudu. Long trusted by all the Di and commanding the respect of every chieftain, he had been turned by Wei spies several years earlier, leading his Di followers in revolt against Gongsun Shu and buying time for Ma Yuan to seize Wudu. Afterward, Diwu Lun made an exception and enfeoffed him as Baron of the White Horse Di. Now, with war reignited in Hanzhong, Qi Zhongliu had brought a brigade of Di troops to lend support.

But by Wei custom, even Di and Qiang "mercenaries" required a "man of their own" to oversee them. After layers of screening, a minor Battalion Commander named "A Yun" was chosen as the Deputy Colonel for this Di contingent.

It was said that both Front General Wan Xiu and Grand General of the Northern Garrison Wu Han had recommended him. Wan Xiu noted: "He enlisted in the second year of Wude, during the pacification of Longyou. His nature is loyal and earnest, and he is fluent in the Xia tongue."

Wu Han was even more effusive in his praise: "Though of Di origin, when he followed me to Hexi and attacked Bingzhou, he proved exceptionally brave and often distinguished himself. He is also eager to learn and can now roughly read and write."

In terms of seniority and ability, A Yun was beyond reproach, so he was promoted from Battalion Commander to Deputy Colonel and transferred from his home in Tianshui, Longyou, to serve at the front.

A Yun held little real authority; his duty was to supervise Qi Zhongliu and keep the Di troops in check. Ma Yuan's assault on Yangping Pass was not particularly fierce, so the Di brigade was not thrown into the meat grinder but merely tasked with guarding the flank.

One day, the Di soldiers captured several Shu deserters who had changed clothes and fled from the direction of Yangping Pass. When they were handed over to A Yun for interrogation, the deserters' familiar accent momentarily transported him back to Western Shu... That was the land where he had spent his youth.

A Yun was originally a Di youth from the western frontier of Shu. Later, tribal warfare killed his entire family, and he was sold into slavery in Chengdu, where a miserable fate awaited him. But in the slave pens, he met his benefactor — a gallant knight-errant of uncommon bearing who, with a single glance, picked out A Yun, whose eyes were full of defiance.

That savior's name was Jing Han. He gave the famished A Yun food and bought him clothes to cover his body. A group of youths with similar experiences were ransomed alongside him and taken to a secret location in the Qionglai Mountains for training, each given a sharp dagger. From the very first day, Jing Han told them all:

"The one who saved you is Lord Gongsun, Rectifier of Daojiang. You shall swear to serve him unto death!"

From that day on, A Yun became one of "Gongsun's sworn men." Through grueling training, even killing his own best friend with his own hands, he distinguished himself and was soon given a mission: "Infiltrate Longyou, find a way to join the Wei army, and await an opportunity to assassinate the Wei general Wan Xiu!"

What happened next is not worth recounting. By a twist of fate, A Yun was transferred away from Wan Xiu's command and followed Wu Han to attack Longxi, losing contact with his handler at the same time. He could only carefully conceal his identity and blend in among the Wei troops...

Today, stirred by a familiar accent, the past came rushing back — truly too painful to recall! A Yun collected himself, questioned the men several times, and had them tortured. He discovered that these men were indeed deserters who had slipped away out of fear of battle, planning to follow the south bank of the Mian River back to Shu.

He coughed and said, "It seems there are indeed many trails through these mountains leading to Dingjun Mountain, southeast of Yangping Pass. Detain them for now; they may serve as guides for our army."

After the soldiers led the deserters away, A Yun sighed privately: "Three years, then another three years, and another three years."

"It's been nearly nine years now..."

Of course, A Yun had no idea that his luck was already far better than that of the assassin sent by Gongsun Shu to escort pandas to Chang'an as a gift, with the aim of finding a chance to assassinate Diwu Lun.

Since the pair of pandas were delivered to Shanglin Park a decade ago, Diwu Lun had inspected them once and never returned. The assassin never got his chance with Diwu Lun, but he did manage to wait until the pandas died!

There was no helping it. The Little Ice Age that began in the late Former Han was still ongoing; vast swaths of bamboo and trees in Guanzhong withered and shriveled. Finding food for the pandas was difficult — not a single bamboo shoot could be found in the hills! Diwu Lun, ever stingy, was unwilling to spend a fortune shipping bamboo from the south, saying: "When the common people still go hungry, how dare I concern myself with the lives of beasts?"

The national treasures were born in the wrong era and ultimately died of sickness and starvation! The assassin was instantly out of a job. The officials at Shanglin Park, citing the principle that "His Majesty keeps no idlers," sent him out among the common folk, granting him fifty mu of land outside the park to farm on his own. Nothing more was ever heard of him...

Compared to that panda assassin, A Yun was fortunate — at least he had returned to the battlefield where Wei and Shu clashed.

Yet even though he was so close, it felt like an impassable chasm. A Yun had been in Wei too long and had been shuffled around too far, completely losing contact with his handler. Even though his benefactor, General Jing Han, was right behind Yangping Pass, they could not exchange letters. Though A Yun had muddled along for nine years and become a mid-ranking officer, he had few confidants around him to whom he could entrust his life. Unless he went in person, he dared not risk sending a message and being betrayed.

By now, the various Wei forces had largely assembled. Yangping Pass, though formidable, was not entirely without gaps. Just as A Yun was agonizing over how to assist Jing Han, he suddenly heard from the patrols...

"Today, a strange flag has been raised over Yangping Pass!"

It was a bloodstained dagger, sewn onto white cloth, erected atop Yangping Pass and fluttering in the wind.

Every banner in the army has its meaning, but this flag had never been seen before. Neither the main Wei force nor Qi Zhongliu, the Di Colonel camped on the south bank of the Western Han River, could identify it.

"Deputy Colonel Yun, do you recognize it?" Qi Zhongliu asked A Yun. A Yun only shook his head blankly, but in his heart, he was screaming:

"This flag is called 'The Dagger Revealed When the Map Is Unrolled'!"

Of course he recognized it. General Jing Han was a descendant of the great Warring States knight-errant Jing Ke and had told them the story of his ancestor's attempt to assassinate the King of Qin. Nine years ago, before their departure, General Jing Han had agreed with A Yun and the others that this would be the "signal to act."

"When the two armies are locked in battle, the moment this flag appears, the sworn men of the White Emperor, wherever they may be, shall act at once upon seeing it! Kill Wei officers and generals, prioritizing the commanding general! Aid our own forces!"

After nine years lying dormant, he had finally seen the signal. The moment he recognized the Dagger-Revealed flag, A Yun's heart surged with emotion. He immediately returned to his tent, dismissed the guards and attendants, and began sharpening his dagger. Once the fine, thirty-times-forged steel blade could sever a floating hair, he pulled an unremarkable little wooden box from beneath his mattress.

Opening it, he took out a sealed celadon bottle and began expertly smearing poison onto the dagger...

His movements were fluid and seamless, as if he himself were this long-hidden dagger, waiting nine years to drink human blood again!

But just as A Yun concealed the dagger and was about to don his armor and leave, he hesitated. He sat back down on the couch and reached under his pillow...

This time, what he pulled out was not a dagger or poison, but a meticulously woven sachet.

When he opened it, inside, besides dried orchid grass, was a baby tooth shed by a child. This was a Longdi custom, said to protect a soldier's safety.

Smelling that familiar scent and stroking the small, angular tooth, a flicker of trembling appeared in A Yun's eyes!

Five years ago, after the Battle of Juyan Lake with Wu Han, to mask his identity and avoid suspicion, he had married a woman from Longyou in his capacity as a Wei Battalion Commander. The match was arranged by his superior. The woman's family was not exceedingly wealthy or noble, but they were descendants of a famous Han-era official, owning estates and land. His father-in-law did not mind his Di origins. After five years of marriage, they had a son.

This was a comfort and tranquility A Yun had never imagined: fine fields and a beautiful home, a lovely wife in his arms, a beloved son playing in the courtyard. It all felt like another lifetime.

But every night after falling asleep, he was still trapped in the cages of the Chengdu slave market, or soaring over the rugged mountain paths of Qionglai, or dreaming of brandishing his dagger and stabbing a Wei general, only to be pierced through the heart by spears and halberds, fulfilling his mission with his life...

The experiences of his first twenty years and the last nine tore at his reason without cease. A Yun could feel his resolve wavering, and for a moment, he panicked.

A Yun hastily stuffed the sachet back under his pillow, tucked away his hidden dagger, hurried out of his tent, mounted his horse, and rode toward Ma Yuan's main camp on the north bank of the Western Han River.

But his heart did not calm down because of this. As a Shu spy, A Yun was sensitive to certain things. Over the past five years, Wei had rested and recuperated, showing a clear upward momentum — he had witnessed all of this. Along the way, he saw even more clearly the strict discipline of the Wei camps and their high morale.

Meanwhile, the Cheng clan of his former homeland had been in steady decline. A Yun often heard news of famine there and that the iron coins were worthless. Deserters from the Shu army inside Yangping Pass were growing more numerous; he heard they could not even get enough to eat there.

This contrast, combined with his own situation — being merely a "dagger" in Shu, yet rising through his own efforts in Wei to join the upper ranks — filled A Yun with a tumult of emotions.

Should he be loyal to the "fealty to the sovereign" instilled in him since childhood and resolutely give his life? Or should he consider his role as a father and husband and cherish the wealth and status before him?

No, he could not falter any longer. As an assassin, he should know that hesitation means defeat! General Jing Han had told the story of Qin Wuyang — had he forgotten it?

Amid these wild thoughts, he arrived at Ma Yuan's main camp. As a Deputy Colonel, as long as he had a suitable reason, he would not be stopped or questioned.

"The Di brigade has captured several Shu deserters who have divulged important information. Colonel Qi has ordered me to report to the Grand General."

A Yun tried his utmost to keep his voice from trembling. He had occasionally accompanied Qi Zhongliu here for meetings and briefings, so his face was familiar, and his token was in order. He was quickly granted passage.

From what A Yun knew of Ma Yuan, opportunities to assassinate him were actually plentiful.

This had to do with Ma Yuan's character. As several Longyou-born Colonels put it: "Though General Ma hails from a prestigious family, he is every inch a Longyou gallant!"

Magnanimous — that was the word A Yun often heard used to praise Ma Yuan. As a great general, whether laughing and drinking calmly upon hearing of unrest in his garrison, riding a thousand li to behead the Western Qiang, or trekking half a month to raid the Shu army and secure Wudu, he always acted without the slightest hesitation.

When commanding his troops, Ma Yuan was also very approachable. For example, if another general encountered soldiers gambling in camp, a strict one might drag the participants straight out of the camp gate and behead them. Ma Yuan, however, would stop to watch. After watching a while, his hands would itch, and he would borrow money from the soldiers to place bets. Having roamed the jianghu for years, he was proficient in every gambling trick and could win all the bets of an entire camp's veterans. Then he would use their own money to treat them to meat, leaving the men feasting heartily while groaning in misery, never daring to gamble in front of the Grand General again.

In terms of marching and encampment, he was strict on the outside but lax within, completely unguarded against his own men. As it happened, when A Yun entered the camp, they did not even ask him to remove his sword, let alone the cold gleam of the dagger hidden against his chest!

"I've also heard Qi Zhongliu say that Ma Yuan likes to speak from the heart when talking with others. Even a common foot soldier can approach within three paces. Even if there are attendants and clerks in the tent, I will still have a chance to strike!"

The only thing to worry about was Ma Yuan's martial prowess. It was said that in his early years, his skill was exceptional; he had once led a band of horse bandits across Xin Qinzhong. After becoming a general under Diwu Lun, he often personally joined the fray in tough battles. In the campaign against the Western Qiang, he had personally taken the heads of several Qiang chieftains.

But Ma Yuan was also getting on in years — nearly twice A Yun's age. Perhaps he was not what he used to be?

As he thought this, A Yun drew closer and closer to Ma Yuan's tent. By now dusk was falling, and lamplight flickered within the great tent ahead. The personal guards stopped A Yun and once again inspected his token, then said that Ma Yuan was seeing someone else and he would have to wait a while…

"I've waited nine years — I can wait a little longer." A Yun found that his hands were slick with sweat. These years wallowing in wealth and ease had truly made him soft…

But it didn't matter. In a moment, A Yun would fulfill his duty. Whether he succeeded or failed, he would have served Jing Han and the Gongsun Emperor!

Yet just as A Yun was straining to steel his nerves, the lamplight inside the tent suddenly flickered, followed by someone's agonized scream — and then a spray of hot blood splashed across the tent wall!

"Assassin!"

The personal guards were instantly alarmed, but they were well-trained, and in the crisis their division of labor was clear: some drew blades and stood outside, watching A Yun and the people rushing over at the commotion with sharp vigilance, while the rest swiftly entered the tent.

The whole thing happened so suddenly that A Yun was stunned — but he quickly figured it out.

"With word cut off for so many years, Shu probably thinks I'm already dead."

"I know Jing Han is behind Yangping Pass, but General Jing has no idea I'm here!"

"That signal on the pass wall — 'the map unrolled, the dagger revealed' — wasn't meant for me. I'm not the only Gongsun death-sworn agent hiding among the Wei army!"

After the Wei army took Wudu, they would inevitably have to employ locals. For Chengjia spies and assassins stranded in the region, infiltrating actually became easier. Perhaps one or two had even worked their way close to Ma Yuan, waiting for the right moment to strike.

By the time A Yun came back to himself, the surging guards had already pushed him to the outer edge. He could only stare fixedly through the gaps between heads at the tent entrance, secretly hoping for something! If only that man had succeeded!

The first to emerge were the personal guards, their faces grim. They were carrying a corpse — it looked like some minor clerk in charge of grain supplies. His hand dangled limply, blood streaming from his chest and dripping drop by drop.

A Yun's heart sank — and then he heard a burst of hearty laughter ring out from within the tent.

"Ha ha ha."

It was Ma Yuan, striding out. He wore informal clothes and looked completely at ease. In one hand he held an ink-dipped brush; with the other, he tossed a dagger onto the corpse and said, lightly and casually: "This man sought to emulate the deeds of Yao Li and Zhuan Zhu. Using the pretext of reporting his superior's corruption, he came seeking an audience, then suddenly sprang up to assassinate me — and was slain by my own hand instead."

With that, Grand General Ma waved everyone off as if shooing chickens: "My paperwork isn't finished — I still have a memorial to draft for His Majesty. If you gentlemen have nothing of great importance, then disperse and be on your way!"

This time, A Yun did not hesitate in the slightest. He assented along with the crowd, then turned and left!