Chapter 123: A Fatal Arrow to the Throat
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On the broad official road below the hillside, several hundred men were jammed together at the junction where the road led up toward the slope. In the midst of the crowd, several men with booming voices and an imposing air were discussing their “strategy” for taking the hillside.
There were four leaders. Two were twin brothers whose appearances were remarkably similar. One wore a suit of battered armor, even the breastplate over his chest cracked through. The fourth seemed the least conspicuous of them all. His clothes were ordinary, and even his voice was much softer than those of his three companions.
Yet anyone who looked closely would notice that the man’s left hand had only three fingers. Despite that, his weapon was a broad-backed saber meant to be wielded with both hands.
“Do it my way, and I’ll fight. But if you want me, Wang Qing, to lead my brothers forward as stepping-stones, you can forget it. Not a chance.” The burly man in the ruined armor tugged at the reins in his hand. He cast a sidelong glance at the twin with a nearly invisible scar at the corner of his eye and once again shouted his objection. Then he sneered at him and continued provocatively, “Scarface Zhang, don’t think that just because you two have more men, you can treat our brothers like dirt. If you have the guts, the two of you can lead those three hundred men below and charge up yourselves. Take a good look at the banners on that hillside. The Zhang Merchant Guild’s goods are being escorted by the Miao Escort Agency. Those two forces have joined hands, and there are more than a hundred guards and escort fighters besides. Scarface Zhang, do you really think the appetites of you two brothers are big enough to swallow them whole?”
“Wang Qing, stop slandering us!” After hearing Wang Qing’s words, Scarface Zhang clearly fell silent. His younger brother, however, was unable to restrain his hot temper and immediately shouted back, “Don’t talk about stepping-stones. Yes, we brothers have more men below, but take a look at the situation yourself. Clearly, your sixty or seventy mounted men are better suited to lead the charge. Am I supposed to stand by and watch my brothers run up on foot and become living targets?”
“Hmph. Even so, don’t expect me to send all my brothers out. Even if I withdraw right now, I still won’t gamble with their lives.” Wang Qing knew he was somewhat in the wrong, but he had joined forces with the Zhang brothers only because he had recently heard rumors that the city had formed an anti-bandit army to deal with their various factions.
In truth, the two sides had never been on good terms. After all, two tigers could not share a single mountain. Moreover, Wang Qing’s forces were actually somewhat weaker. He had only a little over a hundred men. Though most of them were cavalry, he could barely afford the daily expense of maintaining them. The Zhang brothers, on the other hand, commanded more than three hundred men, giving them an overwhelming advantage in numbers alone.
“Heh heh, Brother Wang, don’t be so anxious. Don’t be anxious. Whatever the matter, we can discuss it properly.” Seeing how resolute Wang Qing was, the silent Scarface Zhang smiled obsequiously and waved lightly at him. At the same time, he shot his younger brother a meaningful glance, signaling him to stop arguing.
In Scarface Zhang’s eyes, the dozens of battle-tested warhorses under Wang Qing’s command were unquestionably worth more than dozens of ingots of gold. He had coveted them for a long time; he had simply never found an opportunity to swallow Wang Qing whole. Now, however, an excellent opportunity had appeared before him. But Wang Qing was no fool. After briefly weighing the gains and losses, the scar at the corner of Scarface Zhang’s eye twitched violently several times, and he decided to settle for second best.
“How about this, Brother Wang? We’ll follow your overall attack plan and send our three forces in together.” The sharp glint in Scarface Zhang’s eyes was hidden completely, but the scheming behind his smile could not be concealed. The fingerless man sitting on horseback frowned at this, yet still gave a slight nod to show that he could accept the arrangement.
As Wang Qing slowly nodded, Scarface Zhang suddenly changed tack, though the smile on his face did not diminish in the slightest.
“However, I do have a suggestion—or rather, a request that would benefit the attack plan.”
At that, Wang Qing suddenly realized that the old fox Scarface Zhang was setting a trap for him. But he had just nodded his agreement, and it would be awkward to contradict him outright. He merely gave a cold snort and said nothing.
The fingerless man, however, seemed to take an immediate interest. Seeing Scarface Zhang turn his gaze toward him, he smiled and nodded.
“If Brother Zhang has something to say, please do. We brothers are waiting to charge up the hill and claim our spoils.”
At this, the smile on Scarface Zhang’s face deepened. The little scheme in his heart was ticking away merrily. He twisted around, raised a hand, and pointed at the men nearby before declaring loudly, “Brother Wang was right just now. Since we are one army at present, there can be no distinction between you and me. Brother Wang said that my brother and I have the most men, so let me make my position clear. When we attack the convoy on the hillside, our first wave will consist of thirty cavalrymen and one hundred and fifty infantrymen.”
“Hiss…”
Before he had even finished speaking, the people around them drew in a collective breath, including the men under Scarface Zhang’s command. A force of one hundred and eighty men exceeded the strength of either Wang Qing or the fingerless man. Very soon, everyone began to assume—wishfully—that Scarface Zhang was showing his sincerity to the other two, or perhaps provoking Wang Qing, whose forces were smaller.
Sure enough, Wang Qing, whose temper was just as explosive, slapped his thigh the moment he heard this. His face full of defiance, he shouted at Scarface Zhang, “Scarface Zhang, if you truly send one hundred and eighty men in the first wave to attack the hillside, then I, Wang Qing, will send another thirty cavalrymen to lend you a hand. In the second wave, I’ll commit my remaining fifty cavalrymen, along with the rest of my brothers!”
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“Then I truly hope you won’t go back on your word, Brother Wang. Since I have said this, naturally I intend for us to seize that entire shipment on the hillside.” Scarface Zhang’s smile did not change, nor did his expression reveal anything unusual. Yet in his exchange with Wang Qing, there seemed to be a hidden urgency, as though he were pressing the other man to agree quickly.
Wang Qing did not disappoint him. He immediately waved his hand and answered loudly, “A gentleman’s word is his bond. I, Wang Qing, would never go back on my word.”
“Of course, of course.” Scarface Zhang hurriedly nodded and echoed him with a smile. Then he turned toward the fingerless man and, without letting his smile fade, asked for his opinion. “I wonder how many of your brothers, Brother Qin Mo, intend to send up to seize that shipment. Brother Wang and I have already made our decisions. We are only waiting for your word.”
“Brother Zhang, Brother Wang, I am merely someone who follows along and fights when victory is already assured. I don’t have many men under my command either. I am grateful for the esteem you show me, but please, do not ask me about such an important matter. You flatter me far too greatly.” Apart from the two missing fingers on his left hand, Qin Mo appeared an exceptionally mild man. There was even a faint scholarly air about him. As he answered Scarface Zhang, he repeatedly cupped his hands, shaking his head with an embarrassed smile. His self-effacement had nearly reached the point of inferiority.
Qin Mo’s men were indeed as few as he claimed—only a little over forty of them. However, they were all cavalry. Ever since Qin Mo had joined forces with the Zhang brothers and Wang Qing, he had maintained this almost servile humility. It had even reached the point where the men under the others’ command showed him neither respect nor fear whenever they encountered him.
Qin Mo cared nothing for that. The only thing he cared about was the brothers who had followed him across nearly a thousand miles and had narrowly escaped death among mountains of corpses and heaps of bones.
“Brother Qin Mo is being modest again.” A strange glimmer flashed through Scarface Zhang’s eyes, but he quickly pointed at Qin Mo’s embarrassed smile and teased him in a tone that was still quite courteous. “Brother Qin Mo, don’t blame me for failing to warn you. The spoils will be divided according to military merit. Although we are no longer in the army, I imagine everyone here is quite familiar with how battle merits are counted.”
As he spoke, Scarface Zhang pointed toward the convoy on the hillside in the distance and gave Qin Mo a meaningful look. His tone held a deliberate note of temptation as he continued, “Brother Qin Mo, you should take a good look. That is the Zhang Merchant Guild’s convoy. Even if you received only two or three wagons, it would probably be enough to let your men live as wealthy gentlemen for the rest of their lives. Think it over carefully. Once you make your decision, we will launch the attack.”
“Brother Scarface is too kind.” To Scarface Zhang’s surprise, Qin Mo’s expression did not change in the slightest. Calm and unruffled, he continued cupping his hands as he replied, “I am merely following behind you gentlemen to earn a living. I would not dare hope for too much. When the attack begins, I will certainly lead my brothers in giving you our full support. As for the spoils, I would not dare ask for much. I only hope that afterward, my brothers and I might receive a bowl of meat broth.”
“Hahahaha, Brother Qin Mo, you certainly know how to joke. That convoy ahead is worth far more than a bowl of meat broth. Gold and silver would not be an exaggeration.” Scarface Zhang laughed several times. The strange glimmer that had originally lain hidden in the depths of his eyes suddenly surfaced, then quickly vanished again. Qin Mo had only a few dozen men, and it could be said that no matter the circumstances, he would never be able to threaten the Zhang brothers’ position.
“Enough. It is getting late. It is time to deal with those fellows.” Scarface Zhang cast Wang Qing a meaningful glance, then deliberately raised his voice and shouted toward his younger brother, Zhang Wu, “Fifth Brother, take the men and set a good example. Seize that convoy ahead in one stroke!”
“All right! No problem. Leave it to me and the brothers!” Zhang Wu answered excitedly. He pulled on the reins, reached behind him, and lifted a metal hammer into his hand. Then he swung it forward and shouted, “Brothers, move in! Smash that convoy full of holes!”
The spoils—especially the spoils before them—were almost infinitely tempting to everyone, Scarface Zhang and the others included. As for Zhang Wu and his men, the manner in which the spoils would be divided only drove them to fight harder.
The first man to break through the convoy would be allowed to choose any three items from the spoils after the battle. He would also continue to receive a share in the subsequent distribution. The side that broke through first and ultimately routed the enemy would receive as much as seventy percent of the spoils in total.
That was only the reward on the surface. Those who fought with exceptional bravery would not only receive special prizes after the battle, but might also be promoted to an official rank.
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Although these men were no longer regular soldiers belonging to any army, the prospect of military merit could still stir their desires and fighting spirit to a profound degree.
Yet just as Zhang Wu led several trusted cavalrymen out of his formation at full gallop, an extremely shrill sound suddenly tore through the air, sharp enough to rend the eardrums. Everyone shuddered and instinctively turned their heads, searching for the source of the noise.
“Whoosh!”
“Thud!”
A muffled impact sounded. Blood burst into the air. Only two or three meters from Zhang Wu, one of his trusted riders was hurled backward from the saddle. Amid a dazzling spray of scarlet, he drifted lightly toward the ground.
“Brother Li! Brother Li!” On the hillside, Heizi, who had been aiming at the enemy ahead, abruptly whipped his head toward Ding Li. His eyes were so wide they seemed ready to burst from their sockets, and even the whites were filled with shock and disbelief.
Nearly one hundred and fifty paces—that was two hundred meters. No matter how he looked at it, Heizi could not believe that Ding Li had used the Qin crossbow he had only received that morning to kill an enemy with a single shot. And not merely kill him—a shot straight through the throat.
Everything before him had completely surpassed Heizi’s imagination. At that distance, he himself was not entirely incapable of making such a shot, but luck would play far too great a role.
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Tianjin
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