Chapter 167: Atop the City Gate |
The stairway inside the tower was crowded with fully armed soldiers, forcing those climbing up to move sideways. Meng E handed over her saber before being allowed to pass.
The spacious room at the top was similarly filled with guards. Han Ruzi scanned the room but didn’t immediately see his target. At the chief clerk’s prompting, he finally spotted his cousin Han Tong in a corner behind several guards.
The two had likely met before, one sitting on the emperor’s throne and the other standing among many imperial clan members. Thus, Han Tong recognized Han Ruzi, though the latter didn’t remember his face.
The clerk, persistently busy, took a few steps forward with a sycophantic smile, “General of the Left, the travel documents…”
Han Tong waved his arms dismissively, as if swatting away annoying insects. The clerk, more persistent than an insect, stepped forward again, ” General of the Left, without the documents, I cannot leave the pass. The general…”
Han Tong suddenly strode forward, right hand gripping his sword hilt, teeth clenched, “No one leaves the pass, not even a mouse.”
The clerk paled, regretting having handed over the seal, “But… but…”
“Guards! Guards!” Han Tong shouted as if facing a grave danger.
The outburst startled both the clerk and Han Ruzi, who couldn’t understand his cousin’s extreme reaction.
Two guards, brought by Han Tong from the Northern Army, stepped forward, grabbed the clerk’s arms, and began to drag him out. The bewildered and fearful clerk had no idea how he had offended the General of the Left.
Han Tong, around thirty years old, looked sullen and panicked but tried to maintain a facade of authority. He clenched his fists on the desk, avoiding eye contact with Han Ruzi, addressing him with downcast eyes, “So, you finally came. I knew you would.”
Han Ruzi was puzzled, “I arrived just recently. They said you arrived slightly earlier.”
“A bit earlier? Haha, just that bit earlier, and Divine Hero Pass is mine!” Han Tong declared.
Han Ruzi glanced at Meng E, signaling her to stay put, then took a couple of steps forward.
Han Tong grew even more nervous, despite the tall, strong guards around him. He lacked confidence, fearing his teenage cousin might harm him. His fists tightened, but he refrained from shouting, keeping his gaze down.
Han Ruzi sensed his cousin’s fear. “The Xiongnu army has already reached Shattered Iron City. What are your plans, General Tong?”
“The Xiongnu… the Xiongnu… how could there be Xiongnu?” Han Tong was still in shock from the news he had received that morning, having been unaware of the Xiongnu’s approach when he was dispatched to Divine Hero Pass.
“What are your plans, General Tong?” Han Ruzi repeated.
Han Tong sat slowly, clutching his head, “Plans? The Champion Marquis didn’t mention plans… he instructed me to guard Divine Hero Pass, to let no one through…”
Han Tong raised his head, finally meeting Han Ruzi’s gaze, “Especially not to let you through the pass back to the Capital.”
Han Ruzi smiled, “I have no intention of returning to the Capital. I’m here to request reinforcements.”
Han Tong also smiled, a bit crazily, “I thought I had missed it, but I got here just in time. Haha, the Champion Marquis foresaw everything. You cannot pass! You cannot…”
After his laughter subsided, Han Ruzi said, “Divine Hero Pass is easy to defend and hard to attack. Even if the Xiongnu come, they won’t take it quickly. There’s no need to panic.”
“The Xiongnu… easy to defend… how did you enter the pass? The north gate… the north gate should be closed immediately.”
Han Tong fumbled on the desk for paper and ink. A guard, seeing his struggle, stepped forward to assist. Han Tong quickly wrote an order, stamped it with the seal from his robe, and handed it to a guard, who rushed off.
Han Ruzi watched silently. When the guard left, he said, “I’m here now, standing before you, General Tong. Open the gates to let the civilians through, then gather the troops outside the pass to support Shattered Iron City immediately.”
Han Tong looked puzzled, as if wondering why Han Ruzi was still there, “I’ve sent word to the Champion Marquis. He will decide. My task is to guard the pass, and I won’t open the gates.”
Han Ruzi’s tone grew firmer, “Shattered Iron City is in imminent danger. Anyone else would send reinforcements immediately. Please, General Tong, act decisively.”
“My task is to guard the pass.”
“Shattered Iron City has thirty thousand Chu soldiers.”
“My task is to guard the pass.”
“Losing Shattered Iron City means the Chu army will be confined to Divine Hero Pass, unable to launch counterattacks.”
“My task is to guard the pass.”
“Shattered Iron City holds five hundred noble sons, each from distinguished families.”
“My task is to guard the pass.”
No matter what Han Ruzi said, Han Tong’s response remained the same.
Han Ruzi turned and glanced around. There were at least ten guards in the room. Meng E stood by the door, but she couldn’t protect him against ten men.
“Very well. When will the Champion Marquis arrive?”
“I’ve sent word to him. He will decide. My task is to guard the pass.”
Han Ruzi turned to leave, the guards making no move to stop him.
At the door, Meng E gave him a questioning look. Han Ruzi shook his head slightly; seizing the seal now was too risky with Han Tong so paranoid.
Downstairs, the group waited anxiously. The chief clerk looked disheartened, still in shock.
“Brother-in-law, did you get the… never mind, I see that you didn’t,” Cui Teng noted Han Ruzi’s empty hands.
Han Ruzi led the group away. The streets were crowded with people and vehicles. Many civilians, desperate to escape the approaching Xiongnu, clamored at the gate.
Han Ruzi stopped, “General Tong refuses to open the gate, gather reinforcements, or hand over the seal. He awaits the Champion Marquis’s orders.”
Cui Teng was astonished, “The Champion Marquis is hundreds of miles away. A round trip will take five or six days. By then, Shattered Iron City will have fallen to the Xiongnu!”
Han Ruzi asked the clerk, “How many soldiers are at Divine Hero Pass?”
The clerk, now directionless, replied quickly, “A thousand inside the pass, four to five thousand in the camps outside. More would require troops from other locations.”
“Without the command seal, how many can you gather?”
“Uh?” The clerk sensed trouble.
Cui Teng grabbed his collar, “Stop playing dumb. How many can you gather?”
The clerk smiled bitterly, “Without the seal… only the guards here in the office, twenty or so.”
“What about your household servants?”
“Old and young, around forty to fifty. They can’t fight.”
“Have them don armor and bring them here. Tell them they won’t need to fight, they just need to bolster our numbers.”
“I’m Chief Clerk to General Wu. I won’t get involved in disputes between the Northern Protection General and the General of the Left,” the clerk said, frightened.
“If you want to leave, do as I say. Whether we succeed or not, it won’t implicate you.”
Still hesitant, the clerk saw Cui Teng grab his collar again and quickly agreed, “Alright, alright. Please come with me, Lord Cui. Your presence carries more weight than mine.”
“Of course.” Cui Teng pushed the clerk towards the office. Han Ruzi dispatched five guards to accompany them.
He called Du Chuanyun over, “When I was upstairs, one of General Tong’s guards went downstairs to deliver orders. Did you see him?”
“I did.”
“Remember what he looked like?”
“I do.”
“Intercept him, and persuade him to take us up the tower. If he refuses…”
“I know what to do.” Du Chuanyun ran off.
Han Ruzi assigned five guards to follow, leaving him with ten guards, including Meng E, and the silent old General Fang Daye.
“Once we have the seal, you can leave, General Fang.”
“Yes.” Fang Daye said nothing more, walking away to blend in with the commoners on the street.
Han Ruzi and his guards waited. Nearby, a cart piled with bundles carried two crying children. Their parents, anxious, watched the gate, unable to comfort them.
Compared to the Martial Emperor’s era, the Chu empire had indeed declined, but it wasn’t yet powerless. Han Ruzi vowed to repel the Xiongnu, not merely defend the city.
Cui Teng and the clerk returned first, bringing over a hundred men, more than expected. It was unclear how Cui Teng had managed this.
“Let’s start the battle.” Cui Teng was eager, fearless. The soldiers and retainers, however, looked pale and anxious.
“Wait,” Han Ruzi said.
After a while, Du Chuanyun returned, “He wouldn’t cooperate, so I brought him back.” He pointed behind him, where five guards dragged the bound messenger. The street was chaotic; no one noticed the daylight kidnapping.
Just as Han Ruzi was about to issue orders, a commotion erupted at the gate. Many were shouting to open the gate, but when there was no response, they turned their anger towards the tower. A tall figure led the charge, demanding, “The gate officer is up there. Let him come out and explain!”
Fang Daye, disguised as a commoner, shouted, inciting the crowd.
Han Tong’s guards, about a hundred strong, drew their swords. But the mass of people was overwhelming, making the guards nervous.
Han Ruzi signaled for the captured messenger to call for help. The bruised and defiant messenger kept his mouth shut, shaking his head. Du Chuanyun took the lead, climbing onto a cart and pulling the messenger up, shouting, “There’s a Xiongnu spy in the north! Help is needed! Look, your man is hurt!”
The guards on and around the tower, seeing the injured messenger, panicked, further disarraying their ranks.
Han Ruzi turned to Cui Teng and the clerk, “Time to rescue the general.”
Cui Teng hesitated but quickly understood, “Yes, we must assist General Tong. Everyone, follow me! Rescue the General of the Left, and there will be rewards for all!”
Cui Teng led the men through the crowd towards the tower. The confused guards hesitated, some even moving aside to check on the situation at the north gate.
Han Ruzi watched the chaos he had created. Unlike past risky ventures, he felt genuinely calm this time, confident in victory.
Sometimes, a weak enemy can instill great confidence.
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