Chapter 354: Little Bell

They made a brief stop to rest on a riverbank. After setting up campfires, several large pots were brought to a boil at the same time. First, the soldiers' wooden bowls and spoons were tossed in to boil, then redistributed. Next, chickens and sheep were slaughtered in measured portions, thrown into the large pots to stew, and then pickled vegetables and broken-up hardtack were added. What came out was a meaty porridge — decent flavor, but terrible texture.

Zhao Jin noticed a few men on Liang San's side seemed to be mocking them, but Liang San scolded them into silence. Zhao Jin paid it no mind. Doing everything after boiling could prevent stomach trouble from delaying matters. If unclean food caused casualties, every man lost meant one less chance at victory. In this territory where the Kong Family Estate horse team roamed, it could even be said that every man lost meant one greater chance of survival. Compared to that, these procedures couldn't be called troublesome.

They used boiling water to scrub clean the jars they'd bought, then filled them full of boiled water. The main force of the Zhao Character Battalion advanced once more. After days of hardtack and pickled vegetables, tonight's piping hot meat porridge had everyone in good spirits. Though it was night, their marching speed actually increased.

The significance of these dozen-plus large carts was not only to let the Zhao Character Battalion advance light, but also to allow them to move more openly and aboveboard.

Flying the Xu family's banner already guaranteed they'd be shown courtesy everywhere, while the Kong Family Estate's tiger-head recognition flag ensured no one anywhere would come provoke them. So they could march a while longer than in previous days.

At dawn and dusk, there were never many travelers on the road. Even if someone spotted a dozen-plus large carts and several hundred men, the Zhao Character Battalion were all dressed in laborers' work clothes, and their weapons lay covered on the carts. No one could see anything amiss.

"Old Liang, we're only half a day's march from Zhuwang Crossing. Why haven't we seen any patrols from the Kong Family Estate horse team?" Dong Bingfeng asked, quite puzzled.

As he asked this, Liu Yong, standing nearby, fixed his eyes on Liang San, observing the man's every change of expression. The Zhao Character Battalion had certainly marched cautiously the whole way, but they hadn't encountered a single thing along the road. It was all a bit too quiet.

"Gentlemen, this humble one has heard that when merchant caravans go beyond the passes and out of the border, they sometimes travel for days without meeting a soul — and that's in enemy territory. Here on Xu Prefecture ground, who would maintain such tight security?" Liang San countered with a wry smile.

Dong Bingfeng and Liu Yong exchanged a glance, then nodded and said, "The Zhao Character Battalion is just like that."

The Zhao Character Battalion's horse team and all those who could ride had daily rotation shifts, relaying messages to and from the prefectural city and circling He Family Estate on guard and reconnaissance duty. Their security was truly airtight. Before they had done this, the Kong Family Estate horse team and Cloud Mountain Monastery's monk soldiers had caught them completely off guard.

Hearing this answer, Liang San coughed a few times and said with a rueful laugh, "Young masters, that Kong Family Estate is also called the Tiger's Den. Old Tiger Kong's fearsome reputation is renowned — who in the surrounding countryside would dare provoke him? Besides, what do you ride horses and carry blades for? To drink, eat meat, and live merrily every day — not to toil all day without a moment's leisure. With everything peaceful right now, why would that bunch come out?"

Seeing that Dong Bingfeng and Liu Yong still looked like they didn't quite understand, Liang San shook his head and said, "If you were that Old Tiger Kong or one of his men, would you imagine us coming here?"

Dong Bingfeng pondered for a moment, then answered, "No. Leaving your own territory to march a hundred li by night and fight on ground where the enemy holds the advantage — unless your brain is broken, no one would do that!"

Liang San clapped his hands together and said with a grin, "That's exactly the brilliance of Master Jin. How could Old Tiger Kong possibly imagine you coming? Since he's taken no precautions, and right now he's like a toad lusting after a swan's flesh, scheming after my family's young miss — even if he does send men out, they'll only head toward Jingshan."

By the time these words were spoken, it was already deep into the night. Soft snores could be heard around them. They had marched by night these past few days, but tonight they rested in the dark, because this spot was now less than twenty li from Kong Family Estate. Once they left this stretch of hilly woodland, the terrain ahead opened into flat, unobstructed plains. The great manors were all built on terrain like that.

While those three chatted in low voices over there, Zhao Jin and Chen Sheng had already woken. They walked over and stood behind the group, listening for a while, then switched shifts to rest.

"Covered head to toe in mosquito bites, and we don't dare burn mugwort to smoke them away. Itches like mad," Chen Sheng cursed under his breath.

Zhao Jin naturally hadn't escaped the biting insects either. He'd bound his cuffs and trouser legs tight, but there were still places left exposed. He scratched a few times with his hand and said in a low laugh, "Haven't had a chance to wash these past few days — sticky and miserable all over. We'll clean up properly when we get back. Bear with it. Once we return from this trip, we'll be able to take it easy for a spell."

"Every time you say we'll take it easy, but we've never once been idle. Still, that's fine — at our age, what would we want idleness for?" Chen Sheng said with a scoffing laugh.

Zhao Jin smiled but said nothing. The two of them moved lightly and quietly, checking the surroundings. The family guards on night watch were all doing their duty conscientiously. Some were even feeding fodder to the draft animals pulling the large carts, following the instructions of the Tatar hires.

"I heard what Liang San was saying just now too. This Old Tiger Kong should count as the most capable fighting force on Xu Prefecture ground, but compared to our Zhao Character Battalion, he's still slack and lax. We saw those garrison troops the other day too — even the soldiers under the Regional Commander's command didn't seem any stronger. Could it be that our Zhao Character Battalion is really this strong?" Chen Sheng said, a bit bewildered.

"How big a place is Xu Prefecture, anyway? Even if we're the strongest in Xu Prefecture, what of it?" Zhao Jin countered with a laugh.

He could sense his companions growing more and more confident. Victory after victory, time after time defeating the many with the few, and seeing forces they'd once thought so powerful reveal their true faces — like the Xu Prefecture Guard, like the Regional Commander's encampment. It made everyone, amid their pride, feel a sense of strangeness. The Zhao Character Battalion had trained for so short a time — how could they possess such might? Was it just coincidence and luck?

Just as they were speaking, someone came striding quickly over, stopped before them, and said in a low voice, "Master Jin, the hour has come."

The several Tatars also stood watch in rotation. They had developed many habits and skills on the steppe — things of little use in daily life, but very useful at times like this, such as telling the time at night, especially when the moon was hidden behind clouds.

"Rouse everyone and get ready!" Zhao Jin gave the order curtly.

The quiet camp instantly stirred with noise, but even this clamor was well restrained.

Liang San, who had only just lain down not long before, came over rubbing his eyes. Zhao Jin said coolly, "Once we leave this area, if your contact man doesn't show, we turn back immediately."

Liang San nodded and answered solemnly, "Please set your mind at ease, Master Jin. If the man on my side has run into trouble, then grave danger is surely upon us. When that time comes, I will lead men to hold the rear guard!"

No wonder he was Xu Zhenzhen's trusted confidant — this Liang San had a way with words. What he had just said was, in effect, staking his life as guarantee.

The Zhao Character Battalion had more or less grown accustomed to nighttime preparations; they were no longer as flustered as they'd been days before. Five large carts, escorted by cavalry, went out first. They were to go about five li ahead, build fires, and start cooking. By the time the main force arrived, the meal would already be ready.

Because they had been advancing light the entire way, each man's carried rations were strictly rationed. Even with the supplements from those dozen-plus large carts, they couldn't provide an unlimited supply. This final meal before battle, however, was given in full measure. Liang San had originally suggested saving one more meal's worth, but Zhao Jin refused.

"If we take it, we can get supplies directly inside Kong Family Estate. If we can't take it, we either won't need supplies, or we won't need to hide our tracks — we can resupply everywhere along the way." Zhao Jin spoke very pragmatically.

After eating, the pots, stoves, and utensils were buried on the spot. But the armor remained on the carts. The main force continued advancing. They hadn't gone far when, by the starlight and moonlight filtering through gaps in the clouds, they could see the surrounding terrain had become utterly flat. Farmland stretched in every direction, the fields thick with crops.

In the distance, a few points of lamplight were visible — likely lanterns hung from tall poles, marking the location of Kong Family Estate. All around was silence. Even the croaking of frogs and chirping of insects had momentarily ceased, startled into stillness by the Zhao Character Battalion's arrival.

The starlight and moonlight slipping through the cloud gaps weren't enough to let anyone see the road clearly. But on this flat, open terrain, if they marched carrying lanterns and torches, they would certainly be extremely conspicuous — easily spotted by the sentries in Kong Family Estate's watchtowers.

The Zhao Character Battalion lit a dozen or so lanterns. Half of each lantern was painted black, while the other half faced toward the column. Though this still gave off light, the chance of being seen from a distance was much reduced.

The lanterns were held by the cart drivers, who led the draft animals at a slow walk. Behind each large cart followed thirty or forty family guards, forming a long column that filed forward in order.

Every twenty paces, each squad's leader would turn back and have the family guards count off, ensuring no one fell behind in the darkness. As for the cavalry, they followed at the very rear of the column, their horses' hooves wrapped in cloth, their mouths fitted with bits, the riders leading the horses on foot.

As they marched, a few abrupt bird calls rang out ahead. Zhao Jin and his companions all tightened their grips on their weapons. Liang San, however, looked pleased and hurriedly answered with three calls of his own.

"Third Brother, it's me!" A soft greeting came from up ahead. Chen Sheng slowly drew his long blade, and Zhao Jin leveled his long spear. In this pitch-black night, they had to prepare for the worst.

A young man dressed like a merchant emerged from the crop fields beside the road. Liang San strode quickly forward to meet him. Once the man was brought before them, Zhao Jin and the others got a clear look at his face. It was utterly ordinary — the kind of face you'd lose in a crowd and never pick out again.

"Greetings, masters!"

"Any unusual activity at Kong Family Estate?" Zhao Jin didn't stand on ceremony with the man, asking directly and to the point.

"Same as any other day. Day before yesterday, thirty-some men rode out to the manor over by Yutai — said there was some trouble there." This young man knew quite a bit.

Zhao Jin nodded, then asked, "Are you familiar with the layout of Kong Family Estate?"

"Familiar. Every corner, inside and out — I know it all!" The young man's voice grew a little louder. Liu Yong's brow immediately furrowed, and he asked in a low voice, "Are you familiar with the Kong family's inner residence too?"

"My whole family works as servants inside. I grew up there — of course I'm familiar with it!" the young man answered through gritted teeth.