Chapter 56: The Baigou Canal
A little less than half an hour felt like an eternity. The sun was setting, and the wind and snow grew fiercer. The soldiers shivered but endured.
Xiao Yi and Fan Si stood close, moving their fingers occasionally to maintain their grip on their sabers.
The dull sound of hooves approached from afar, making the ground tremble slightly.
They’re here!
Over a hundred riders appeared in the distance, galloping towards them.
Xiao Yi dared not make a sound, letting them approach the old forest about a hundred and fifty paces ahead at the crossroads.
Fan Si slowly drew an arrow, nocked it, and strung his bow, producing a faint creak.
Waiting, waiting.
“Attack!”
A sudden, loud shout was heard.
“By order, we shall execute the traitor Liu Jirong! The rest, dismount and surrender!”
Chen Guang Sui’s roar was like a thunderclap.
Following closely was Cao Wei’s steady but more lethal command.
“My men! Liu Jirong is wicked and lawless; follow me to execute him!”
“…”
Xiao Yi could only see the scene unfolding through the reeds.
The guards around Liu Jirong shielded him, their spears forming a forest.
Chen Guang Sui’s twenty-odd riders did not charge blindly. Instead, they incited chaos, waving numerous flags to create the impression of a large force, while simultaneously shooting at those near Liu Jirong.
The Fengguo Army’s ranks were in utter disarray, like a disturbed beehive, making it impossible to distinguish friend from foe.
“Kill the traitor!”
Finally, Chen Guang Sui shouted and led a group to charge, the clash of sabers and spears, the neighing of warhorses, the dying screams, and the terrified curses blending into a cacophony.
Liu Jirong quickly shouted repeatedly.
“This is rebellion, rebellion! Cao Wei has rebelled!”
“Kill these rebels…”
In the reed bed, Old Pan whispered, “Attack!”
Over a dozen men brought out their warhorses, mounted them, but did not rush. They first created a great commotion, using their momentum to continue to intimidate.
“Charge!”
Liu Jirong’s confidantes’ morale plummeted once more.
Subsequently, Cao Wei personally slew a guard, completely solidifying the situation.
Xiao Yi and his men then moved through the reeds to cut off the retreating soldiers’ escape route.
His gaze fixed on Liu Jirong’s brightly colored cloak in the distance, he saw Liu Jirong flustered like a headless chicken, trying to flee several times only to be pulled back by Cao Li.
Cao Li was indeed a fierce general. Wielding a long spear, he struck down two Chan Prefecture soldiers blocking their path, protected Liu Jirong, and with four or five guards, turned his horse and retreated.
“They’re coming!”
“Stop them!”
Old Pan whispered, leading his men to flank them from the side, occasionally loosing arrows.
“Captain, watch this.”
Fan Si spoke, and then an arrow flew.
Immediately, a horse neighed, and Cao Li’s mount, struck by an arrow, fell heavily to the ground.
Liu Jirong was greatly alarmed. He whipped his mount fiercely and galloped forward.
Xiao Yi rode to intercept, meeting him head-on.
“Captain Xiao?!”
Liu Jirong’s panicked face, however, showed a glimmer of joy. Like a drowning man grasping the last straw, he desperately charged towards Xiao Yi, his voice hoarse as he cried for help.
“Captain, save me…”
Xiao Yi spurred his Wuzhui horse forward to meet him.
He held the reins in one hand and his saber in the other. When they were only a few paces apart, he pulled tightly on the reins.
The warhorse neighed, reared up, its front hooves carving two afterimages in the air.
Xiao Yi leaned his body slightly.
Gathering strength, he swung his saber.
His right arm suddenly swung out.
The saber carved a cold, sharp arc, precise and deadly.
“Splat—”
Liu Jirong’s cry for help abruptly ceased. For a moment, his eyes seemed to drift downwards, but perhaps he could only see his horse galloping onward with his body.
Blood spurted like a spring from his severed neck.
Xiao Yi twisted his wrist, retracting the saber. Blood dripped from the blade, hitting the snow and instantly freezing into tiny droplets.
The Wuzhui horse landed on its front hooves.
“Thump.”
At the same time, a head fell to the ground.
Xiao Yi looked back. Liu Jirong’s headless body swayed on his horse and then tumbled off.
The riderless horse let out a panicked neigh and galloped away.
Two of Liu Jirong’s guards, witnessing this scene, their faces stiffened, and they shouted, “We surrender, we surrender…”
“Kill!”
Xiao Yi uttered a single word, as cold as the wind and snow.
Soon, only Cao Li was left resisting on the battlefield. His right leg was injured by the fallen horse, and his spear was broken in half. He still clutched the wooden handle, fighting valiantly, covered in blood.
Old Pan, with four Chan Prefecture soldiers, surrounded him, forming a tight formation, their spears thrusting out periodically.
Cao Li was brave but could only parry and thrust, constantly sustaining new wounds, gradually bleeding to death.
“Captain Xiao… we are brothers… Cao Dang is someone I would trust with my life…”
Xiao Yi remained silent, his eyes cold and unfeeling.
If not for knowing the course of history, he might have also been loyal to the Emperor and Li Ye. It must be understood that behind the astute decisions of Cao Wei, Wang Yin, and Li Hongwei lay too much intelligence that ordinary people could not obtain.
However, having experienced too many failures, he knew even better that heaven and earth were heartless and did not tolerate weakness.
Then… let the curtain fall.
Before long, Cao Li was stabbed and covered in blood. He staggered and fell heavily onto the snow.
Old Pan stepped forward, kicked the corpse, and confirmed he had no breath.
“This man was indeed a fierce warrior, but he chose the wrong path.”
“Wrap up the head Captain Xiao cut off as well. Marinate it with salt and wrap it in oilcloth.”
Old Pan swiftly decapitated Cao Li with his saber and tossed the head to his subordinate.
His tone was casual, as if he were discussing the preparation of freshly acquired ingredients.
After the struggle, the area by the Baigou Canal returned to deathly silence. Only the wind whimpered, carrying the scent of blood and snowflakes, sweeping over the withered reed beds.
Cao Wei, escorted by two guards, approached, his dark cloak splattered with splotches of blood.
His gaze swept over Cao Li’s head. A hint of regret flashed across his stern face, a barely audible sigh that was soon dispersed by the wind and snow.
Then, he looked at Xiao Yi and nodded.
“You did well.”
“I have not failed in my mission,” Xiao Yi replied, cupping his fist in return. “I am glad General Cao is unharmed.”
They spoke briefly of the Chan Prefecture affair and relayed that Wang Yin had already sent people to Kaifeng to protect the Cao family dependents.
Cao Wei’s expression finally relaxed. His gaze turned towards Ye Du, and he showed a sign of renewed spirit.
He summoned the officers and soldiers. When he spoke again, it was like issuing a military order.
“With matters here concluded, we must travel to Ye Du posthaste to meet the Marshal. We will rest briefly here, then depart immediately!”
Xiao Yi pondered for a moment, then reached into his robes and retrieved an object wrapped in oilcloth from his inner pocket.
Upon opening it, the Imperial Guard Military Tally and the Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs’ seal gleamed with a cold luster in the light of the setting sun and torches.
“Please have Commander Cao take this item as well and present it to Commander Guo.”
Cao Wei took it and looked, surprise flashing across his face. He asked in a deep voice, “Where did you obtain such a weighty item?”
“Your subordinate was originally an adopted son of the Prime Minister’s mansion and later a servant in the Shi Residence, so I obtained it from the Shi Residence.”
“This item concerns the deployment of all the empire’s troops. Why do you not present it to the Marshal yourself?”
Cao Wei, unusually, softened his tone, as if afraid Xiao Yi didn’t understand the merit this item could bring.
Xiao Yi glanced at the talisman seal and spoke calmly and firmly.
“Grand Tutor Shi already publicly stated that he would hand over the command seal to Commander Guo. It is fortunate that it can be returned to its rightful owner. Having Commander Cao deliver it resolves Commander Guo’s urgent need and also avoids the appearance of me overstepping my bounds. Moreover…”
He paused and looked back.
“Before I left the capital, I was entrusted by Madam Chai to protect two women and children of the Guo family. They are behind us. I must fulfill the trust placed in me. They are still making their way through hardships. If I were to go to Ye Du first for the talisman seal, it would be a betrayal of my original intention.”
“Don’t regret it.”
“Objects are dead, but people are alive,” Xiao Yi said. “I believe that for Commander Guo, his family is more important than these pieces of brass.”
Cao Wei was stunned for a moment, then suddenly broke into a smile.
“Well done, little monkey!”
He said no more, casually tucking the talisman seal into his robes. He looked around, beckoned Chen Guang Sui, and said, “Arrange a detachment to escort Captain Xiao and the rear guard to proceed slowly.”
“Yes.”
Chen Guang Sui looked around and pointed to a captain with a resolute expression. “Xu Sheng, take your men and stay behind to protect Captain Xiao and care for the wounded.”
Xu Sheng blinked and retorted, “General, the brothers worked hard to get here from Chan Prefecture, didn’t we? Just to forge a future? The credit for beheading the enemy leader went to Old Pan, and now we have to…”
“Silence!”
Chen Guang Sui was furious. He threw his sword scabbard and cursed, “You son of a bitch! You’re making me lose face in front of Commander Cao, aren’t you?!”
Xu Sheng dared not say more, clenching his fists, clearly resentful.
Seeing this, Old Pan quickly spoke, his voice hoarse and somewhat steady. “General, let Captain Xu go. I can’t run anymore, so I’ll stay to look after the wounded and tidy up the bodies of our comrades.”
“Approved. Select your men.”
“Yes.”
Old Pan turned his head. Soldier after soldier lowered their heads.
Xiao Yi followed his gaze and saw only two willing to stay: one was a new recruit called Wu Gouzi, his left arm wrapped in a blood-soaked cloth; the other was a scout nicknamed Hu Deng, who walked with a limp.
“It’ll be these two then,” Old Pan said.
“Count me in.”
Another scout, Xi Hou, darted out, grinning. “I’ll stay and keep Hu Deng company. I know the ditches and gullies of the Hebei region like the back of my hand, I’ll be your guide.”
“Approved. Old Pan, this is up to you.”
Chen Guang Sui glared at Xu Sheng again, his gaze like ice, freezing Xu Sheng into silence.
“Move! If anyone dares to speak out on the road again, you’ll be dealt with by military law!”
Xiao Yi looked at Fan Si behind him and said, “You go with Commander Cao to Ye Du and collect your merits first.”
Fan Si, however, shook his head without hesitation and moved closer to Xiao Yi.
“Captain, I’ll follow you. You don’t seem quite yourself.”
Xiao Yi saw the determination in his eyes and a warmth spread in his heart. He said no more and nodded.
On the other side, the main contingent no longer delayed. The sound of hooves like thunder echoed on the official road, quickly disappearing into the dim wilderness at dusk.
