Chapter 109: Night Raid

It was nearly sunset by the time Zhang Chi returned to the post house, having spent the entire day discussing matters at the Prince of Chengdu’s mansion and attending two separate banquets. Luo An had originally intended to move Zhang Chi to a residence in the eastern part of the city today, but seeing how late it had grown, he decided to postpone the move until the following day.

After escorting Zhang Chi back and exchanging a few polite words, promising to return the next morning, Luo An took his leave. However, he did not head toward his own home; instead, he went straight to the Prince of Chengdu’s mansion.

The Prince of Chengdu had been waiting for him for quite some time. Upon seeing the Prince, Luo An respectfully recounted every detail of how Zhang Chi had persuaded the Governor of Yizhou, omitting nothing from start to finish.

Luo An possessed no particular talents, but he was truly loyal to the Prince of Chengdu. Whatever task the Prince entrusted to him, even if not always completed perfectly, was pursued with the utmost dedication and effort.

For a man of the Prince of Chengdu’s station, he required men of intellect, but he valued loyal subjects like Luo An even more. The Prince knew that while men of wisdom were hard to find, loyal subjects were equally rare; thus, he had always entrusted Luo An with important responsibilities.

When Luo An finished describing how Zhang Chi, facing the ambush of soldiers prepared by the Governor of Yizhou, had remained calm and composed, the Prince of Chengdu could not help but nod. "He is worthy of the esteem Lady Wang held for him," the Prince said. "Although young, this lad possesses an extraordinary mind. He handles crises with ease and is indeed capable of great things."

Luo An knew little else, but having heard Zhang Chi’s quick-witted responses both in the grand hall and at the Governor’s residence, he was already completely in awe of the young man’s eloquence.

"It is only a pity that although the Governor of Yizhou is willing to mobilize his troops, he will only provide a show of force and refuses to commit his strength to fight the Hu. It serves little purpose," Luo An sighed.

The Prince of Chengdu, however, seemed unconcerned. He waved a hand and said, "Do not worry about that. No matter how things develop, it will surely benefit us and cause no harm. Furthermore, I trust that Zhang Chi will never let me down."

The Prince smiled knowingly, his expression confident—a far cry from the indecisive figure he had presented to his ministers earlier that morning.

***

The new moon hung like a hook in the sky.

Darkness had fallen, and the moon was high in the heavens. Zhang Chi stood by the window, wine cup in hand, gazing at the moon with a thousand thoughts swirling in his mind.

Nearby, the Wine Maiden stood silently, pouring his wine. Dark Blade sat quietly to one side, polishing her three-foot-long sword.

When Zhang Chi had first traveled to this era, it was late spring; now, it was the beginning of summer. He remembered when he first met the old Taoist, Zhan Taiqi, who had cast a fortune for him: "Seeking blossoms in the spring, seeing flowers bloom; each one worth plucking, every branch worth planting." The old man had suggested he was destined for an enviable string of romantic encounters.

True to those words, the women he had encountered were all breathtaking beauties. It was a pity that Lady Wang had died in Jiankang. Though she had never explicitly expressed her feelings to him, Zhang Chi could sense her deep devotion. Failing to save her remained a lingering regret.

Thinking of Lady Wang led him to reflect on the current situation in Shu. Lady Wang had once urged him to use the region as a foundation for his ambitions, but did she know the true state of affairs in Shu? The governors of the Yi and Liang provinces each held their own spheres of influence, yet neither was truly willing to resist the Hu. What could he possibly do to prevent the Hu from entering Shu while simultaneously establishing a firm foothold for himself?

In truth, Zhang Chi was not a man naturally gifted with political maneuvering. It was simply that the fate he had stepped into forced him down this path. He appeared composed in front of others, but in solitude, his heart was often in turmoil, just like anyone else’s.

However, he knew he was not alone. He had others around him, and he was their pillar of strength. If he, too, were to fall into disarray, what would become of them? Perhaps he did not realize that this very trait was the mark of a true leader’s charisma.

In troubled times, to achieve hegemony, one might lack peerless martial arts or superhuman schemes, but one cannot lack the courage to shoulder great burdens or the magnanimity to embrace the world.

"Master Zhang," a voice interrupted his thoughts. Turning around, he saw Qin Bo. Seeing Zhang Chi drinking in silence, Qin Bo assumed he was worried about the refusal of the two governors to commit their troops. "Master, do not worry," Qin Bo urged. "There are many heroes in Shu, and surely many with hot blood. Once we raise the banner of resistance, we will undoubtedly see a gathering of followers."

Zhang Chi nodded with a faint smile. That was all they could do for now. Lacking military expertise, and knowing he would have to attend the court tomorrow to discuss the deployment of troops with the Prince of Chengdu, he felt he needed to understand the situation better. "The hour is still early," he said to Qin Bo. "Since we must meet the Prince tomorrow to discuss the campaign against the Hu, why don't you give me a detailed overview of the situation in the north?"

"Please look, Master," Qin Bo said, military strategy being his forte. He arranged several cups on the table as a makeshift map. "Here is the northern part of Shu: the six commanderies of Lueyang, Tianshui, Fufeng, Shiping, Wudu, and Yinping. Unfortunately, they have all fallen into the hands of the Hu."

Qin Bo laid two chopsticks across the bottom. "This is the Bashan Mountain range, stretching for a thousand miles. The Hu intend to cross these mountains to seize Wuping. Wuping is now the final line of defense for Shu. If it falls, the Hu will enter the fertile plains of Shu, where there are no more natural barriers to hold them back."

Zhang Chi nodded. Qin Bo continued, "The Hu have many soldiers, but as you said in the hall today, they are unfamiliar with the terrain. The rugged landscape of Bashan is our advantage. If we use the terrain wisely, defeating them is not impossible. Perhaps we might even take the opportunity to recover the six northern commanderies."

As he spoke, Qin Bo detailed the routes to Wuping. Since the Hu were heading straight there, the first battle would inevitably occur in its vicinity. Zhang Chi listened intently, but just as they reached the critical point, Dark Blade suddenly cried out from the side, "Something is wrong!"

Startled, Zhang Chi asked, "What happened?"

Dark Blade had stopped polishing her sword and held it in her hand, listening intently. Ignoring Zhang Chi, she made a gesture for silence and listened for a moment longer before saying urgently, "Prepare yourselves! We are under attack!"

Qin Bo, knowing Dark Blade’s exceptional martial prowess, trusted that she could hear movements in the quiet night that others might miss. "How many are there?" he asked, alarmed.

Dark Blade shook her head. "I cannot judge the exact number, but there are certainly many."

As she spoke, she moved to Zhang Chi’s side. The post house was located outside the city, and at this hour, no one should have been nearby. A disturbance at this time boded ill.

Qin Bo quickly set down the cups and rushed outside, shouting, "Where are the guards? Prepare for battle!"

He had brought a hundred soldiers with him, and he moved to assemble them immediately. But before his voice had even died away, the sound of arrows piercing the air echoed, and countless fire arrows rained down upon the post house.

The post house was constructed of wood, with a roof of thatch; as the fire arrows struck, flames erupted everywhere. "Divide into two groups!" Qin Bo roared. "One group to protect the Master, the other to follow me and charge out!"

The post house had few rooms and a limited footprint, with only one main gate. With the surrounding walls already engulfed in flames, the only path of escape was the gate.

A hundred soldiers surged forward, but as they reached the gate, they were met with a volley of fire arrows from heavy crossbows. The lead soldiers fell instantly. Another attempt was made, only to be met by another barrage of arrows, leaving the front line dead.

Faced with such carnage, the soldiers hesitated, paralyzed by the fear of death.

The fire within the post house grew more intense, the smoke becoming suffocating. Qin Bo knew that if they did not break out, they would either be shot down or burn to death. Making a decisive choice, he shouted, "We cannot stay here! If we are to die, let us die fighting! There is still a glimmer of hope!"

With that, Qin Bo led the charge, leaping out the gate first. Seeing their commander so fearless, the soldiers followed without hesitation.

The attackers numbered only a few hundred. They had intended to trap the group inside with fire and arrows, ensuring their destruction. They had not anticipated Qin Bo’s ferocity. He charged out, his weapon deflecting the arrows, and the soldiers surged behind him.

Once outside, Qin Bo charged directly toward the archers. He knew the post house was lost; his only goal was to scatter the enemy so the Master could escape.

Qin Bo fought with peerless courage, his momentum unstoppable. Though he left a squad to guard Zhang Chi, his small force managed to throw the archers into disarray.

Qin Bo let out a sigh of relief. If the arrows stopped, the Master might make it out alive.

Just then, a thunderous crash erupted behind him. Turning back, he saw several of the post house’s buildings collapsing into the inferno.

"Oh no! Back to save the Master!" Qin Bo cried.

But before his voice could fade, a horse’s shrill neigh pierced the air. As the post house walls crumbled, a white horse burst forth from the raging flames.

Riding the white horse was Zhang Chi.