Chapter 45: Cooperation
“You scoundrels, hurry! Ride forty li before it gets dark.”
Accompanied by Cao Dang’s stern shouts, a group of people galloped north on horseback.
Xiao Yi urged his horse on, observing the troop.
Including Shi Deyu and Zhang Mantun, there were sixteen people, twenty horses, and four riderless horses carrying provisions, felt blankets, and other military supplies.
This trip was not to the battlefield, so no one carried long weapons; they were all armed with sabres, and four of them were archers.
Cao Dang’s sabre was longer and much heavier than the others’, likely weighing five or six jin. Additionally, he had a hand crossbow tucked into his saddlebag, not standard issue for the Imperial Guard.
As a captain, he wore a coarse cloth cloak to ward off wind and keep warm, and it also made him more identifiable.
Shi Deyu and Zhang Mantun were neither armored nor armed.
Due to the lockdown in Kaifeng, there weren’t many travelers on the official road. The farmland on both sides was desolate, with half of the wheat stubble buried under snow. Smoke curled faintly from distant villages, but no dogs barked.
Bu Hai sometimes deliberately reined in his horse, riding slower, letting the snow particles splashed by the hooves land on Xiao Yi’s armor with a “shasha” sound.
Xiao Yi ignored him, not in a hurry to deal with him yet.
After riding for less than half an hour, Xiao Yi looked back and saw Shi Deyu’s pale face. He called out, “Captain!”
“What is it?”
“The horse is too bumpy. Young Master Shi’s wound might have reopened.”
“Never mind him,” Cao Dang said. “We don’t have much time. If you don’t want to ride into the night and take a tumble, hurry up, all of you!”
Xiao Yi, however, still reined in his horse and shouted, “Everyone stop!”
Zhang Mantun and Shi Deyu quickly stopped.
“Whoa—”
Cao Dang yanked hard on the reins, and his warhorse reared up with a neigh. He turned and glared at Xiao Yi, the flesh on his face twitching, and snapped, “What the hell is it now?!”
“He can’t take it anymore!”
Xiao Yi dismounted, rubbing the frost from his face, and walked to Shi Deyu’s horse. He saw that Shi Deyu’s complexion was as pale as paper, his lips were purple, his body trembled slightly, and a large area of his robes was soaked through with dark red blood, dripping onto the snow, a shocking sight.
“He’s lost too much blood. He’ll die.”
“Damn woman.”
Cao Dang frowned and cursed, but he still dismounted, pulled down his face-covering scarf, and strode over.
Xiao Yi stepped aside, allowing him to see Shi Deyu’s injury with his own eyes.
“Damn it, a hole the size of a coin, where’s all this blood coming from? Is she on her period?”
“If he dies before we reach our destination, this mission will be half botched.”
“I know,” Cao Dang said impatiently. “There’s a derelict River God Temple about two or three li ahead by the road. We’ll rest there.”
Xiao Yi shook his head. “He can’t walk two or three li.”
“Dou Da, Dou Er, help this woman into the woods and find a spot out of the wind and snow to sit.”
Cao Dang finally gave the order, his tone harsh. He then glanced at the sky.
Xiao Yi followed his gaze upward. The clouds were heavy; there was likely to be a strong wind and snow tonight.
Cao Dang added, “Xu Rang, take two men, change horses, and ride ahead to the River God Temple to start a fire and boil some hot water.”
“Understood! Baozi, Wei Liang, come with me!”
Xu Rang and the other two changed horses and galloped off with their luggage, soon disappearing down the official road.
“In this weather, let the horses rest. I’ll go bandage him.” Cao Dang scooped up some clean snow and walked into the woods to Shi Deyu’s side, muttering, “Damn it, it’s too dark in the woods. Wu Jiu, light a fire.”
Fan Si was quicker, nimbly lighting a torch and intending to hand it over, but Wu Jiu kicked him and snatched the torch.
“Give it to me.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Xiao Yi noticed that Wu Jiu glared fiercely at Fan Si, with a hint of warning.
Cao Dang then cut open Shi Deyu’s clothes and roughly wiped the wound with snow, causing Shi Deyu to writhe and cry out in pain.
Xiao Yi and Zhang Mantun followed to watch.
He glanced around out of the corner of his eye, seeing everyone either peeking at Cao Dang’s bandaging, tidying equipment, or resting. He then quietly slipped his dagger into Zhang Mantun’s hand.
Zhang Mantun, who had been watching with concern, suddenly opened his swollen eyes. He looked deeply at Xiao Yi, his gaze becoming resolute.
Xiao Yi’s eyes met his briefly. He opened his mouth and silently mouthed “to relieve himself,” then gestured with his eyes towards Shi Deyu.
Zhang Mantun nodded, indicating he understood.
“Cooperate a little, don’t mess things up.”
With that, Xiao Yi walked towards Cao Dang and asked, “How is it?”
Cao Dang spat on the ground and said, “Too delicate. The wound is torn open.”
Xiao Yi said, “It’s only two or three li. We can help him walk there, rest at the River God Temple for the night, and figure something out tomorrow?”
“No need. He won’t die from the bumps. Let him rest, then ride there. I’ll find him a cart tomorrow.”
“That’s fine too.”
Cao Dang stood up and walked to the side, wiping his blood-stained hands on a tree trunk.
“Young Master, what is it? What did you want to say?” Zhang Mantun went over, whispered into Shi Deyu’s ear, and then yelled, “My young master needs to relieve himself.”
Cao Dang said, “Go ahead.”
Zhang Mantun angrily retorted, “Do you think my young master is like you, a wild dog, to defecate anywhere?”
“Tie Ya, do not be impudent.” Shi Deyu’s voice was weak. He pleaded, “Captain Cao, please grant me a little dignity and let me go somewhere secluded… to relieve myself. Don’t worry, I won’t escape.”
“Dou Da, Dou Er, take him behind the bushes.” Cao Dang said, “Wu Jiu, you go keep an eye on him too.”
“Understood.”
Xiao Yi glanced at the backs of Zhang Mantun and Shi Deyu as they walked with difficulty, supporting each other. The woods were very dark on this snowy day, and soon it was too dark to see them clearly, only to hear their sounds.
Turning to look west, the sun was setting rapidly.
By the side of the official road, Bu Hai embraced Luo Erhu and shouted to Fan Si from afar, “I heard you outshot Captain Wu in the last military drill. What are you thinking?”
“I didn’t.”
Xiao Yi deliberately walked over and bumped into Bu Hai, his armor making a dull thud.
“What is it?” Bu Hai asked with ill intent, “Were we blocking the Deputy Commander’s path?”
“If you know, then move aside.”
Xiao Yi mounted his horse and tugged on the reins.
He feigned poor riding skill, his boot tips repeatedly nudging the horse’s belly, causing the horse to bump into the horse in front.
Ahead, Cao Dang’s horse was already temperamental. Upon being nudged, it bucked.
The horseshoe, as large as a bowl, struck Luo Erhu’s lower leg heavily.
“Aow!”
Luo Erhu fell to the ground, clutching his leg and screaming in pain. Blood flowed profusely from his leg.
Bu Hai roared in anger, “You did that on purpose!”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
Xiao Yi unceremoniously kicked Bu Hai in the face.
“What are you all going crazy about?!”
Cao Dang rushed forward, grabbing Bu Hai’s shoulder with one hand and pointing at Xiao Yi with the other, shouting, “Don’t cause me trouble.”
“Understood.”
“Captain, he deliberately spurred his horse to kick Erhu…”
“Shut up.”
Cao Dang bent down to examine Luo Erhu’s injury.
Xiao Yi pulled on his agitated horse and said, “I’m going to see if Shi Deyu is alright.”
Without waiting for Cao Dang’s reply, he spurred his horse directly into the woods.
The light immediately dimmed. The snow covered fallen leaves, and the horse’s hooves made crunching sounds as they stepped on them.
Ahead, Zhang Mantun, Wu Jiu, Dou Da, and Dou Er were gathered around a thicket.
Xiao Yi observed the situation again and decided to act.
He took a deep breath and, with feigned surprise, shouted.
“Who’s there?!”
As if he had discovered someone in the woods.
Wu Jiu turned around in confusion.
The next moment, Zhang Mantun suddenly lunged, and the dagger in his hand plunged into Wu Jiu’s throat, blood gushing out like a pillar.
Dou Da and Dou Er were shocked. One immediately lunged at Zhang Mantun, while the other, who had intended to turn, hesitated for a moment before also lunging at Zhang Mantun.
“Ambush!”
Xiao Yi shouted, urged his horse forward, drew his sabre, and swung it down, cutting into Dou Er’s neck.
He nimbly dismounted and thrust his sabre at Dou Da, who was grappling with Zhang Mantun. Without pausing, he reached into the pool of blood with his left hand, clutched his right arm, and turned to run back.
“Quick, someone is trying to abduct Shi Deyu!”
He had a flesh wound on his leg, making him stumble. His hands were covered in blood, as if he had been repelled.
“Neigh—”
The sound of horse hooves echoed behind him. It was Zhang Mantun, having escaped with Shi Deyu on his horse.
“What’s going on?!”
In an instant, Cao Dang and the others rushed into the woods.
Xiao Yi collapsed onto the ground, shouting angrily, “There was an ambush! They took Shi Deyu… I’m injured.”
“Pursue!”
Cao Dang drew his sabre and ran past him, leading his men into the woods in pursuit.
Xiao Yi struggled to his feet, his gaze falling on the side of the official road.
Bu Hai was bent over examining Luo Erhu’s injury. Seeing this, he stood up and walked towards Xiao Yi, a cold smile on his face.
“Deputy Commander Xiao, the more I think about it, the stranger it seems. How could a mere scholar…”
“Ching—”
A flash of steel.
The sharp blade cut through his throat.
The questioning look on Bu Hai’s face froze, replaced by astonishment and rage.
He futilely covered his spurting neck with his hands, his throat making gurgling sounds. His body went limp and fell, the light in his eyes quickly fading.
Luo Erhu, lying nearby, turned to look, his face a mask of horror.
“Help! No, no, don’t kill me, I’ll follow Deputy Commander Xiao…”
“Thwack.”
Xiao Yi thrust his blade twice, directly ending his life.
The pleas for mercy stopped abruptly. The horses were still leisurely snorting, exhaling thick white mist, and idly shaking their heads.
Xiao Yi sheathed his sabre, picked up a bow, slung on an arrow quiver, and led a warhorse, heading back into the depths of the woods.
