Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The war games had always been the climax of the annual Tournament of the Royal Court, and especially so when the war between the Central Plains and Norland was about to start. But this year’s war games were extremely disappointing.
The kings seemed to have little enthusiasm, and their men were also in low spirits, as represented by their humble behavior on the court. The officials who were responsible for judging the outcome were struggling to find reasons to praise the teams.
In the end, King Shengri’s army, which had been at the bottom of the list for more than a decade, had the fewest number of soldiers fall off of their horses as they charged and thus won the race.
There were very few cheers from the audience. Most people had left before the game was over.
The Dragon King’s guards, who had gone to the tournament, however, returned with fruitful results. Most of the kung fu experts of the Central Plains and the Western Regions had been expelled. The Norland people, though full of vim and vigor on horseback, were poor at fist and saber techniques on the ground. The swordsmen of Big Snow Mountain had easily won all kinds of competitions and brought back many horses and cattle, some of which were sold on the spot and changed into gold and silver.
Gu Shenwei divided the guards into two groups, appointed captains, and ordered them to take turns to be on duty tonight. Although he did not explain, the fifty or so swordsmen understood that the battle was about to begin.
The guards remained undaunted even in a foreign country. They drew their grandswords and honed them carefully.
Shangguan Fei and Old Man Mu brought back the news that Zhang Ji had left the Royal Court with only three killers and that no one knew where he had gone. Gu Shenwei already knew this so he didn’t inquire any more into it.
Fang Wenshi returned the latest and it was already dark when he came to see the Dragon King. As soon as he entered the tent, he cried out, “This is not good! This is not good!”
“Which lord is going to make a move first?”
“All of them at the same time.” Fang Wenshi took out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead before continuing. “Rumor has it that King Kuari and King Rizhu have agreed to fight to the death tonight and that the cavalry on both sides are ready. The officials are all panicking and looking for an excuse to move out of the Royal Court temporarily but they can’t do so openly. They can only sneak away, and several of them want to stay in our camp. Dragon King…”
Liman and Wild Horse came inside uninvited before Fang Wenshi could finish talking.
Although Liman was Prince Duodun’s good friend, he remained ostensibly loyal to King Rizhu. With a full military uniform and a serious look, he nodded to the Dragon King and said with a businesslike tone, “King Rizhu has ordered the whole army to be on guard, and the lord wants to know if the Dragon King would like to be the vanguard.”
“Yes, I’d like to.”
“Tonight at the third night watch period, the Dragon King and Wild Horse will go to assassinate King Kuari. My own men will join with the Dragon King’s guards to storm into the camp of Golden Roc Castle and wipe them all out.”
“Great.”
Liman was a bit surprised that the Dragon King would agree so readily. Fang Wenshi, who was even more surprised, interrupted. “The Khan’s side …”
“Don’t worry about the Khan. He will support the winner of tonight, and the victory will surely belong to King Rizhu,” Liman said with certainty.
“Really?” Fang Wenshi asked in a low voice.
“My lord has won the support of four kings and another three kings who are remaining neutral have already withdrawn from the Royal Court with their soldiers. King Kuari is a loner except for King Riyao who’s dead set on following him. So, who do you think will win?”
“King Rizhu will win.” Gu Shenwei answered for Fang Wenshi before he gave an order. “Counselor Fang doesn’t know kung fu, so it’s better for him to hide in the camp on the west for a while.”
“But…” Fang Wenshi still wanted to say something but immediately changed his mind when he saw the Dragon King’s stern look, and acquiesced without a struggle. “Yes.”
“I’ll get you some guards.”
Gu Shenwei walked out, and Fang Wenshi followed closely behind. Liman and Wild Horse followed them to the door, their eyes on the Dragon King.
Gu Shenwei assigned five guards to escort Fang Wenshi, saying, “Tell the female soldiers to stay alert and to not panic. No matter what happens outside, they must keep the camp under a strict guard. Do not let anyone go out and do not allow anyone to come in.”
Fang Wenshi tacitly nodded.
Liman had really brought a group of about three hundred people with him, who were not Norland Cavalry. Instead of being equipped with bow and arrows, they were armed with different types of sabers and swords. Part of them crowded into the Dragon Army while the rest stopped outside the camp in a formation that seemed to surround Golden Roc Castle’s camp on the opposite side.
Most of the kung fu practitioners of the Central Plains and the Western Regions had been banished. No one knew where these people had come from but Gu Shenwei felt a strong sense of banditry from them.
All of the guards walked out of their tents to guard the Dragon King’s tent while keeping a watchful eye on the intruders. It was not until the Dragon King nodded to them that they moved their hands away from their sword hilts.
The camp of Golden Roc Castle appeared to be even quieter than the day time, but Gu Shenwei knew that it was because the killers were preparing for battle.
In the midst of the tension, only Old Man Mu looked relaxed and carefree. He looked around and walked to the Dragon King, asking loudly, “So we are going to have a fight? Dragon King, how many people can I kill tonight?”
“None.”
“Ah? I was hoping that I could show my capabilities and make a big contribution for the Dragon King.
“Your mission is to protect General Liman.”
Old Man Mu glanced at Liman in armor and coldly said, “I? Protect him? Will King Rizhu be happy?”
“I don’t need his protection,” answered Liman unyieldingly. Old Man Mu was the enemy of King Rizhu, and naturally the enemy of the whole Naihang Tribe.
Without giving either of the two a choice, Gu Shenwei sternly said, “This is my order. Keep General Liman safe and sound or I’ll drive you out of the Dragon Army.”
Old Man Mu jumped up, and exclaimed, “You’re not being serious, are you?” Then he put on a flattering smile. “Please rest assured, Dragon King. He’ll definitely be unscathed with me around.”
Liman, who originally wanted to refuse, was also affected by the Dragon King’s sharp tone. He opened and closed his mouth several times but didn’t utter a sound. He secretly made up his mind that he would never accept any protection from Old Man Mu.
Shangguan Fei’s excitement was long gone. As he followed behind Old Man Mu, he seemed to want to say something but stopped on second thought, flinching and cowering.
Looking at him, Gu Shenwei’s tone was sterner. “Shangguan Fei, tonight’s mission is to attack the Golden Roc Castle’s camp. Can you do it? If you dare not go, then hide in the women’s camp.”
“Yes, I can,” Shangguan Fei hastily replied. Feeling that his voice was a bit shaky, he straightened up and added, “Dragon King, please give me a number. I’ll ask for punishment if I can’t make it.”
Gu Shenwei ignored him. “Old Man Mu, I’ll give you another task. Keep an eye on Shangguan Fei for me. If he’s double-minded or hesitant, he’ll be the only one you can kill tonight.”
“No problem.” Old Man Mu readily agreed and patted the dumbfounded Shangguan Fei on the legs twice. “If you really want to please me and make me happy, just show some disloyalty so that I can kill you.”
Shangguan Fei felt both aggrieved and perplexed. “Dragon King, you still don’t believe me after I’ve done so much…”
“All the things you’ve done have nothing to do with Golden Roc Castle. I can’t trust you unless you can prove that you’ve completely broken ties with Golden Roc Castle.”
Shangguan Fei hung his head in dismay, wanting to argue but not daring to open his mouth.
The Dragon King was becoming harsher. He ordered the guards to follow Liman’s orders before he turned to Liman and asked, “Has General Liman already made a detailed plan for the attack?”
“Yes.” Liman was a little flustered as if the questioner was King Rizhu, and he was not well prepared.
The Dragon King appeared quite different from before when he behaved as if he were faced with a formidable enemy. Liman was unconsciously influenced. He had been ordered to control the guards of the Dragon King but he was now more like a subordinate under the command of the Dragon King.
“Call all the chieftains over. I’d like to hear your plan.”
Wild Horse glanced at Liman and motioned him for not to fall into the trap, but Liman had decided to not confront the Dragon King.
The attack plan was drawn up in great detail. The three hundred people were divided into ten teams with ten chieftains, and each had their own responsibilities. Gu Shenwei made many specific suggestions, especially reminding them to pay attention to the killer’s habits, always beware of their flanks, and to always act ruthlessly.
Wild Horse had been standing in the doorway and watching outside while listening to the Dragon King’s instructions. He had to admit that there was no subtle plot, so he nodded to Liman.
“Let’s go now.” Gu Shenwei gave orders to Wild Horse at last.
There was still some time to go before the third night watch period, but since it was an assassination, they had to prepare thoroughly in advance. After all, it would be doubly difficult to sneak into the camp of King Kuari tonight.
“Wild Horse has a clever assassination plan.” Liman rushed to say, not wanting the Dragon King to think that they were merely taking a risk.”
“I’ll ask him on the way.” Gu Shenwei left the tent first.
Liman was relieved that things went more smoothly than he had expected. The Dragon King was really somebody and if Prince Duodun could win him over, he would be a great aid.
As the night wore on, the Royal Court became strangely quiet. The ordinary people did not know of the coming riots, and the officials and nobles who had premonitions waited patiently as the victor of tonight would still need their support regardless of who it was.
Fang Wenshi had ridden away at top speed. He had understood the hidden meaning of the Dragon King back in the camp and was even surer after thinking it through during his ride.
“There’s probably a surprise attack tonight.”
The female officers appeared quite calm. Upon hearing the counselor’s reminder, one person immediately went to order the guards to improve their vigilance while the other left to inquire more details.
“There’s going to be a war in the Royal Court tonight, and the Dragon King thinks that Golden Roc Castle will probably come to snatch Shangguan Yun away.”
“Isn’t Shangguan Yun staying here voluntarily?” The female officer was a bit surprised.
“That was then and this is now. Anyways, tie him up as hard as you can and send more people to keep an eye on him. We should work hard and not rest during the evening to prepare for the attack.”
“Is this what the Dragon King’s meaning is?”
“The Dragon King gave the order himself.” Fang Wenshi was full of confidence in this. The Dragon King had made it very clear to ‘not let anyone out’. As for the word ‘anyone’ in the phrase, the counselor also understood that it meant people of their own side could enter.
The camp of the Land of Fragrance quickly entered a state of combat readiness.
In the Dragon Army camp, Old Man Mu also believed that he had figured out what the Dragon King really meant, so he walked towards Liman with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face.
Liman was staring at the Golden Roc Castle camp across the road. Although he was not part of the main fighting force tonight, the thought of facing a group of strange killers still made him a little nervous. According to King Rizhu’s plan, he would order the Dragon King’s guards to rush in first and wait until the two sides had worn each other out. Then he would send the three hundred people he had brought here to clean up the mess.
Although he supported Prince Duodun who was far away in the Western Regions, he would never openly break with the lord of his own tribe.
Liman barely noticed Old Man Mu. Seeing that he was waving his hand under his nose, Liman couldn’t help but cast a look of disgust.
Old Man Mu continued waving his hand, and Liman reluctantly bent down.
“The Dragon King asked me to keep you safe,” whispered Old Man Mu.
“There’s no need …”
Old Man Mu interrupted Liman and said, “But I don’t think it’s safe here, so I’d better take you somewhere else to hide for a while.”
“You …” Liman could barely spit out a word in anger before he found that it was hard to breathe and the rest of the words got stuck in his throat.
Almost at the same time, Gu Shenwei and Wild Horse approached King Kuari’s Office. Wild Horse looked at the Dragon King, and his eyes were obviously asking, “When are you going to show your true colors?”
To his amazement, the true colors revealed by the Dragon King were not what he had expected at all.
“You and I are going to assassinate the Khan,” replied Gu Shenwei in a low voice.
