Like a whirlwind, more than twenty Sumo warriors charged into the courtyard of the inner palace prison. The leader was the long-legged female general Zong Xianghua. The first to meet them face-to-face were Ba Fenghan and Xu Ziling, who were standing outside the door.

Zong Xianghua shouted tenderly, she pulled the rein of the extremely divine spirited warhorse she was sitting on that it reared on its hind legs. The warriors coming with her hurriedly reined in their horse, so that momentarily the horses were neighing repeatedly. Merely this commotion was enough to alarm the other guards in the palace. Translated by foxs

If Ba Fenghan and Xu Ziling did not come into contact with this long-legged female general outside the Xiao Hui Yuan just a moment ago, this moment their only choice would be to take the risk to fight, hoping to rely on thunderbolt-reaching-the-ear rapid action to take care of the other side, and then waited for an opportunity to escape.

Naturally this would be their least preferred choice; forget about Zong Xianghua’s swordsmanship would enable her to fight for at least eight to ten styles, her more than twenty personal guards could also entangle them for a period of time. The worst part was that they would need some time to free Shuwen and the others from their bondage. By the time they were able to leave the inner palace, the other warriors would have heard the sound of fighting and rushed over. Perhaps the four of them would be able to get away, but Shuwen and the others definitely would not be lucky enough to escape.

‘Qiang! Qiang!’ One after another the warriors drew their weapons.

‘Clack’

The lock of the prison iron-bar gate was opened, but since Xu Ziling signaled him with his eyes, Kou Zhong did not dare to open the gate.

Four men’s, separated by the iron-bar gate – eight eyes met, they did not dare to move half a finger.

The front legs of the horse Zong Xianghua was sitting on landed back to the ground. She stretched both arms to stop her men from making their move. Her eyes swept across the eight guards who sprawled in disorder outside the inner palace prison door because their acupoints were sealed, and then she glanced at the four men separated by the door, standing and staring blankly. Her face showed an exhausted expression, as if she was overwhelmed by the unbearable burden before her eyes. She sighed and said, “What are you guys doing in here?”

As soon as she started speaking, Xu Ziling immediately knew very well that she did not rush over here specifically to stop them from breaking into the jail, he hurriedly replied, “We just want to rescue our innocent brothers who are held prisoners here, definitely no intention to harm people.”

Kou Zhong and Song Shidao felt that the relationship between Xu Ziling and Zong Xianghua’s was not purely as enemies, hence they knew not to interrupt. The atmosphere was fantastic but weird.

Zong Xianghua’s pretty face alternated between red and white, evidently two different thoughts were fighting in her heart, it was difficult for her to make up her mind. Translated by foxs

All her men were waiting for action after having acc.u.mulated power; as soon as their chief issued the order they would immediately charge toward Ba and Xu, two men.

Ba Fenghan spoke indifferently, “Shiwei Zhang [imperial bodyguard chief] came here for what?”

A layer of cold frost appeared on Zong Xianghua’s pretty face, she spoke coldly, “Where is Gongqi? Wasn’t he going to send the Pingyao merchants to the palace jail?”

Ba Fenghan and Xu Ziling were stunned; they were beginning to understand a little as to why Kou Zhong suddenly appeared at this moment.

Kou Zhong chuckled and said, “I saw that all year long Gong Jiangjun disguised himself as the wolf-bandit, breaking into houses for robbery, killing and burning. When he was back at the palace, he was working nonstop day and night, with no time to rest, so I had to ask him to take a nap elsewhere, ha …”

“Nonsense!” Zong Xianghua furiously said.

The murderous aura in Ba Fenghan’s pair of eyes was flaring greatly, obviously he was very angry and would not hesitate to fight. He spoke heavily, “Shiwei Zhang ought to know that we are not shameless people who make false accusations against others. Shiwei Zhang, please tell me whether Gongqi was really outside all year round? Whether he and that bunch of personal guards of his belong to Huihe Da Ming Zun Jiao? Whether his relationship with Ma Ji is especially close? If all the answers are not negative, Shiwei Zhang ought to know that we are not shooting without aiming. Longquan’s tax is very low; exiting and entering the city, people do not need to pay taxes. Your honorable Da w.a.n.g establishing his army and building ships, where did the funds come from? Not to mention that merely dealing with the Tujue’s harsh demands have already made you extremely dest.i.tute. What happened to the Pingyao merchants who were unfortunate to encounter bitter experience, Shiwei Zhang ought to have heard?”

Tenderly gasping for breath, Zong Xianghua shouted, “Stop talking!”

Everybody’s eyes were focused on her, waiting for her to make the decision.

Kou Zhong sighed and said, “Presently, in the city of Longquan, only Bai Ziting, one person does not believe that the great momentum has already gone. I cannot bear to conceal it from you either, Han Chao’an and I have just reached an agreement; not only he is going to hand over Da Zuorong to Xiaodi, he will also immediately withdraw from Gesuwen and return to Gaoli. Shiwei Zhang’s enemies are outside the city and not here at all, killing us will only make the Sumo tribe no longer have any leeway to turn around against the Tujue. Would Shiwei Zhang please give thought to the common people in the entire city of Longquan?”

Zong Xianghua’s jade countenance turned gloomy, her men were also affected by this speech, perhaps they were thinking about their father and mother, wife and children at home? The hands that held the weapons were no longer firm and powerful, the blade of their weapons was sagging. Translated by foxs

Ba Fenghan said, “Shiwei Zhang did not come here by chance, did you?”

As if she had just been awakened from a dream, Zong Xianghua’s tender body slightly shook. Hanging down her cicada head, she spoke in low voice, “I promised Xiufang Dajia to see Song Er Gongzi off.”

Astonished, Xu Ziling asked, “Zong Shiwei Zhang is not afraid Da w.a.n.g will blame you?”

Zong Xianghua revealed a determined expression; she spoke coldly, “How Da w.a.n.g is going to punish me, that’s his business; I only do what I think I should do.” And then she issued an order to her men, “Get two horses for Shaoshuai.”

Four of her men hesitated for half a day, but they finally accepted the order and left.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Kou Zhong asked, “Can we come out now?”

Zong Xianghua sighed and said, “Da w.a.n.g is inspecting the city defense. I can guarantee you safe pa.s.sage in leaving the Palace City, but the hurdle outside the city, how are you going to pa.s.s it?”

Ba Fenghan smiled and said, “As long as we can leave the palace, we have a way to depart. Da Ming Zun Jiao people already evacuated the city via the secret tunnel, I wonder if Shiwei Zhang has any knowledge of it?”

While Song Shidao went back inside to release Shuwen and the others, Kou Zhong opened the gate and came out of the jail. Together with Ba Fenghan and Xu Ziling, he came over to Zong Xianghua and spoke in low voice, “Pingyao merchants, sixteen men, are at the west garden waiting for Xiaodi. I wonder if we could get a batch of warhorses and army uniform to facilitate our movement?”

Zong Xianghua pondered for a moment. She first summoned her men, ordering them to bring Pingyao merchants over, and then she spoke resolutely, “Da w.a.n.g is not here, I am in charge in the palace. I want to send anybody out of the palace, who would dare to stop me? Ay!”

Xu Ziling said, “But by doing so, first of all, it is tantamount to Zong Shiwei Zhang is betraying Da w.a.n.g. The heaven’s might is hard to fathom.”

Zong Xianghua revealed her proud character, she coldly cut him off, “On that, no need to worry for me. Whatever I already decided to do, I will do. Humph, the extermination of the entire Sumo tribe is at hand, even if I, Zong Xianghua will have to die, I will die an honorable death; I won’t give people any pretext for gossip.”

Kou Zhong asked in low voice, “Xiufang Dajia, she …”

Zong Xianghua resolutely said, “I advised her, but she refused to listen. She believed firmly without any doubt that you, Shaoshuai will be able to save Longquan.”

Kou Zhong could only respond with a wry smile. Bai Ziting has lost his mind, tomorrow’s battle was like an arrow off the bowstring, even immortals would be hard to alter it. The only hope remaining now was Da Zuorong. Translated by foxs

But Ba Fenghan and Xu Ziling were thinking about Kesubie. In such a short period of time, could he persuade the other high-ranking military officers to rise in mutiny?

Xu Ziling asked another question, “When Zong Shiwei Zhang left Longquan this morning, my friend Yin Xianhe was following behind Shiwei Zhang’s horse, he …”

Apparently Zong Xianghua was in a very bad mood, once again she impatiently cut him off, “That friend of yours’ brains must have some problem; at that time I wanted very much to cut your dead bodies into ten thousand pieces, yet he chased after me to ask whether I can remember who he is? Whether I have any impression on him? I told him to get lost, and then he stopped following me!”

Hearing that, the three men looked at each other in surprise. They guessed that because Yin Xianhe came across this long-legged beauty in Longquan, he was, startling the heaven and men – secretly in love with her. But listening to the tone of Zong Xianghua’s voice, naturally there was another inside story.

Kou Zhong knew a bit more than Ba Fenghan and Xu Ziling, so he asked, “How could Shiwei Zhang not remember him? Didn’t you mention his name to Xiufang Dajia?”

Zong Xianghua spoke in displeasure, “That’s why I said he is not normal. Many years ago, for more than ten consecutive days, each time I went out of the palace to patrol the city in the morning, he always stood at the palace gate like a specter, staring blankly at me. I sent someone to drive him away and hit him, but he did not hit back. The day before yesterday I saw him again, thereupon I mentioned him to Xiufang Dajia. Ay, I don’t want to talk about this man anymore.”

This moment Song Shidao and Shuwen and the others came out from inside the prison. Everybody seeing each other, there was joy all around. Soon Luo Yi, Ou Liangcai, and the other Pingyao merchants were brought in. Everybody felt the delight of coming back into the world of the living.

The horses neighed in joy. Ten-thousand-Li Spot and Taklamakan saw their masters, they rushed over affectionately toward the two men.

Ba Fenghan wrapped his arms around the horse’s neck, he sighed and said, “My darling, if you met unexpected misfortune, I would definitely open wide the monastic discipline against killing.”

Looking back, he noticed that Xu Ziling’s, who was doing similar thing to his horse – expression was heavy; he could not help asking, “How come your expression is so weird? Now that everything has, more or less, been resolved, don’t you think it worth rejoicing?”

Lowering his voice, Xu Ziling spoke heavily, “Things are developing favorably, which is beyond our expectation. But for some reason I feel ominous premonition instead? At first glance it looks like Laotianye ingeniously arranged for everything; suddenly all things are like bamboo splits when it meets the knife’s edge. When adversity reaches the extreme, it will transform into prosperity; when happiness reaches the extreme, it may produce grief. I am a bit not daring to believe that we are this lucky.” Translated by foxs

“Do you suspect Zong Xianghua?” Ba Fenghan asked in low voice.

Xu Ziling shook his head.

Ba Fenghan said, “Another possibility is Han Chao’an is betraying us? But by doing that, it would bring him more harm than good; he can’t possibly be that stupid?”

Xu Ziling shook his head again. He sighed and said, “Perhaps I am worrying too much.”

This moment Kou Zhong’s voice was heard, “Brothers! Let’s go!”

Because of Xu Ziling’s ominous premonition, Ba Fenghan and Kou Zhong persuaded Zong Xianghua to change the plan, so that everybody was wearing military uniform and riding on warhorse, disguising themselves as the palace guards under her command, as they galloped out of the imperial palace.

When the Vermillion Bird Gate was in sight, Kou Zhong, whose face was covered by his helmet, said to Xu Ziling, “Do you feel like someone is watching us in secret?”

On the other side, Ba Fenghan spoke in displeasure, “This is a strategic location, the main entrance to the imperial city, the only pa.s.sage to the outer city, both covert and undercover officers are keeping watch over the entire area. It would be strange indeed if no one is paying attention.”

Kou Zhong’s gaze fell on the four arrow towers standing on the left and right of the Vermilion Bird Main Gate, and then it moved to the heavily guarded, about three-zhang long, gateway to the city; he sighed and said, “This is called I am panicking that I don’t select my words carefully, but if there is any mishap, the four of us might be able to force our way out of encirclement, but our old friends, at least half won’t be protected, our horses may also suffer calamity. Thinking about it makes my heart alarmed, my body leaping. Ling Shao, do you still have that ominous feeling?”

Before Xu Ziling had any chance to answer, they heard the sound of drum, followed by several hundred Sumo warriors charging wildly from the main gate, while at the same time countless archers appeared on the arrow towers; suddenly their only way out was sealed completely.

Song Shidao, who was bringing up the rear, shouted loudly, “Watch out!”

Kou Zhong turned his head to look, another crowd of warriors, like tidal waves, rushed forth from two of the official buildings behind them, blocking their retreat path. Everybody had bent bow and arrow on the string, ready to shoot at them any moment.

Zong Xianghua was exceptionally calm; reining her horse, she shouted tenderly, “Everybody, don’t move.”

The crowd had no other choice but to obey her. Two of the Pingyao merchants groaned, unexpectedly they were so scared that they pa.s.sed out and rolled down the horse. In an instant, everybody found that they had fallen inside a heavy siege, with thousands of arrows aimed at them. The situation developed into a thousand-jun, it could elevate into bloodshed phase any moment. Translated by foxs

Amidst a loud laughter, Bai Ziting, with four, five high-ranking military officers crowding around him, urged his horse out of the Vermilion Bird Gate. And then his laughter stopped, his countenance sank, he shouted, “I never expected that the woman that I, Bai Ziting, trust the most is unexpectedly the first person to betray me!”

The number of warriors surrounding them reached five thousand, but no one uttered the least bit of noise; however, the pressure generated from such silence was enough to make people’s heart trembling, their guts turned cold.

Zong Xianghua’s jade countenance remained cold and detached; she slowly dismounted the horse. She kowtowed to Bai Ziting three times first, before rising to her full height and coldly, yet calmly said, “Zong Xianghua is not the person Da w.a.n.g trusted the most at all. The one you trusted are Ma Ji and Gongqi, who were able to acc.u.mulate wealth for you, or maybe Funantuo in the past. Da w.a.n.g, just order the arrows to be released! I will definitely not retaliate. Going one step quicker or one step later, the difference is just an instant.”

Bai Ziting was so furious that his countenance was deathly pale. Suddenly he pointed his finger in anger and said, “In vain I painstakingly cultivated you; look what you have become now. Not only you dare to disrespect your superior, you even stealthily released our Longquan’s public enemy and help them to escape.”

Kou Zhong could not stand it any longer. Pulling off his helmet, he urged his horse to Zong Xianghua’s side, and shouted angrily, “Bai Ziting, clearly you know that you are the most stupid person in the world …”

Bai Ziting cut him off with a cold sneer, “Who is the fool? I already guessed that you guys were only pretending to leave the city, and then ceaselessly determined to come back to rescue your people. Therefore, I deliberately pulled out the guard while sending people to monitor from the distance. Only I never thought that she might betray me.” Speaking the last sentence, his voice and countenance were stern, he pointed his finger to Zong Xianghua.

Zong Xianghua proudly looked at him face to face, but the tone of her voice was tranquil without any ripple; she said, “Who dare to face the Golden Wolf Army’s magnificent army with thousands of men and horses [orig. thousands army ten thousand horses] and not afraid? Who can disregard life and death only because they don’t want disaster to reach innocent children? They never wanted to be our enemy; they just wanted to retrieve their lost belongings. Yet hoodwinked by Funantuo and Gongqi, Da w.a.n.g dealt with them unscrupulously. Sumo warriors, listen to me. Even if we have to die in battle and be buried with the city, we will die like them, brave hero.”

Ba Fenghan and the others, who did not dare to move half a finger, raised their eyes to sweep over the enemies surrounding them. Although they remained silent, but some of the arrow tips were no longer aimed at them, instead, they were tilted toward the ground. In fact, the situation was still as precarious as a pile of eggs; if one accidentally released the arrow from the bowstring, the consequences would be too horrible to contemplate. Translated by foxs

Hearing their boss’ speech, the more than twenty personal guards who came with Zong Xianghua shouted in unison, “We are going to die like heroes!” Their shout reverberated across the s.p.a.cious plaza inside the Vermilion Bird Gate, causing the people’s blood to be boiling.

The two fainted Pingyao merchants were still curling on the ground, but no one dared to look at them, for fear that they might provoke terrifying misunderstanding and consequences; they could only hold their horses to stand still so that they would not trample the fainted men.

Bai Ziting’s anger was flaring even greater. The moment he was about to disregard everything and issue the order to release the arrows, Xu Ziling’s gentle voice rang, “Da w.a.n.g should know that Han Chao’an and Gesuwen are withdrawing back to Gaoli, Da Ming Zun Jiao has secretly left the city via the secret tunnel in the Xiao Hui Yuan, Longquan has become a lone city; has Da w.a.n.g given thought to the life of the innocent people here?”

Kou Zhong seized the opportunity to shout loudly, “Therefore, we are your only hope. If you still want to fight, I know that a lot of us cannot survive, but I can a.s.sure you that those who survive will stake everything and fight to the last drop of blood, let’s see how many of you we will be able to kill! And your darling little boy Da Zuorong will surely be brought in as sacrificial offering for our burial. If we died, even if you kneel and offer the Five-Colored Stone or even your, LaoGe’s head, Tuli will surely ma.s.sacre everyone in the captured city to make reprisals. Tell me, don’t you think you are the most stupid person on earth?”

Xu Ziling did not give Bai Ziting any chance to speak, he continued on, “Shaoshuai already promised Xiufang Dajia that he wants to put an end to the disaster of the entire city of Longquan being exterminated. If you don’t believe me just invite Xiufang Dajia to come over here and ask her clearly.”

This was precisely the usual tactic that Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling used to deal with other little ruffians of Yangzhou since they were little; they echoed one another, one acted as the good guy, the other as the bad guy. And the moment they could no longer withstand, they would unleash their marvelous lotus tongue skill, hoping to persuade Bai Ziting to escape the great catastrophe.

Ba Fenghan spoke indifferently, “If Da w.a.n.g still ready to go to war, I swear that I, Ba Fenghan, will not leave before I kill the whole city clean.”

The plaza was quiet without any noise. The only thing that could be heard was everybody’s heavy breathing. The atmosphere was extremely heavy and tense. On top of the city wall, the torches were crackling.

Bai Ziting was staring fixedly at Kou Zhong, a hint of disdainful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. Kou Zhong and the others cried ‘Bad!’ inwardly. They were about to rush to make the move first, the sound of hoof beats suddenly rang out from outside of the Vermilion Bird Gate, coming near.

The warriors moved aside to give way. More than a dozen riders, led by Kesubie, rushed in. Kesubie shouted loudly, “Tujue Wolf Army are coming!”

The warriors were in uproar. Although they knew very well that the Tujue would arrive tonight, but they came in such a way that the G.o.ds did not know the ghosts did not perceive, naturally it created a tremendous pressure. Translated by foxs

Kesubie and the thirteen generals who came with him stopped their horses and dismounted, they dropped on their knees to salute Bai Ziting.

Bai Ziting’s countenance turned uglier than ugly; it alternated between red and white, obviously his mind was in chaos.

And then Kesubie and the crowd of generals stood up, and then with their back toward Kou Zhong and the others, who were surrounded in the middle of the plaza, they retreated to within their midst.

Stunned, Bai Ziting asked, “What are you guys doing?”

While walking backward, Kesubie said, “Da w.a.n.g was confused by Tianzhu demonic monk’s deceit, you have your feet deep in the mire, dragging our tribe into the land consigned to eternal d.a.m.nation. Now it should be the time to wake up from your dream.”

Even more people’s bows and arrows drooped down, but there were still nearly half of the men holding their bows as firm as before. It could be seen that Bai Ziting still held strong prestige in their hearts, a sentiment that not one morning and one evening could change, not a few words could erase.

Severely shaken, Bai Ziting said, “Rebellion! Rebellion! Even you are betraying me at this moment?”

Kesubie and the others retreated to Kou Zhong and Zong Xianghua’s left and right. Kesubie shook his head and said with a sigh, “Loyal advice jars the ears. Not only today did Weichen [this small official/humble servant] speak these words, but before, they were always met with reprimands. Who’s our Sumo people’s enemy, who’s our Sumo people’s friend, this moment Da w.a.n.g ought to be able to understand clearly. I hope Da w.a.n.g will calmly think about it. If in a period of anger you rush to kill Tuli’s brothers, what would the outcome be?”

Another long and heavy silence ensured. Thousands of pairs of eyes across the field, all were focused on Bai Ziting’s face, quietly waiting for him to make decision on the life or death of Kou Zhong and the others, as well as the survival of the Sumo tribe.

Bai Ziting’s countenance turned dark and sank down. Suddenly he threw his head back and let out a long laughter, saying, “If I, Bai Ziting, am scared of anybody, afraid of any threat, I would never have decided that tomorrow morning is the time to establish my kingdom. No one can delude me. I, Bai Ziting, did not become the Bai Ziting of today by receiving other people’s influence. Kou Zhong, your Central Earth’s successive generations’ various kingdoms, which one was more powerful than Qin Shihuang? However, ‘although Chu has three households, but the death of Qin will be Chu’ [idiom[1]]. Too bad you will not be alive to witness me, Bai Ziting, beating back the Wolf Army; otherwise you would blame yourselves for being shortsighted.”

His expression apathetic, Ba Fenghan said, “If I don’t kill you, Bai Ziting, I, Ba Fenghan is not a human.” His voice exuded an advancing-courageously determination and self-confidence. Translated by foxs

Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, and Song Shidao, none did not sigh inwardly, knowing that it was difficult to escape calamity; Xu Ziling ominous premonition has indeed come true.

The murderous aura in Bai Ziting’s pair of eyes flaring greatly, he nodded and said, “Good! Good! We’ll see whether you have that ability.”

Anybody would know that Bai Ziting undoubtedly would issue the order for the bloodbath.

[1] The cla.s.sical quotation of ‘three households will be the death of Qin’ originated from the famous saying of the Qin Dynasty, referring to the resistance against the Qin Dynasty’s unification of the world (i.e. China). It came from Sima Qian of the Western Han Dynasty’s ‘Shi Ji, Xian Yu Ben Ji’ [lit. Records of the Grand Historian, the biographical sketch of the emperor Xiang Yu]. It means that even if the State of Chu only has three clans left, they can still destroy the State of Qin. Figuratively: even though small and weak, unity can succeed. It represents one kind of emotional and firm belief. The King of Chu’s clan surname was Mi, but originally he was of the Xiong Clan, which was divided into Zhao (Zhaoyang), Qu (Quyuan), and Jing (Jingchai), three clans (three households). It was really not just a few households and a few people that later generations are referring to. (Source: Baike Baidu)