Chapter Ninety-Three: The Bloodstained Saber, Part Four

In truth, Li Xuan was a decisive man who never dallied. He certainly admired Kong Sheng’s mastery of both civil and martial arts, and his status as the renowned disciple of Si Ma Chengzhen, but if Kong Sheng refused to accept the offer and submit himself in service, Li Xuan would show him no mercy. After all, this mission was of immense importance. It concerned the food that would keep alive the more than one hundred thousand soldiers and civilians of Pengcheng, and it concerned the very outcome of the struggle between the court army and the bandits. If word leaked out, it would mean ruin beyond redemption.

Li Xuan was making an open offer of recruitment and an unvarnished threat at the same time.

For an ordinary man, this might not have been such a complicated or difficult choice. To bow one’s head for the sake of survival, at least for the moment, what of it? But Kong Sheng was different. He was an imperial official not yet taken up his post, proud of spirit and high of ambition. How could he bow before a woman of doubtful identity and serve as her attendant?

Moreover, this contingent of government troops from north of the river had disguised themselves as merchants and moved in secrecy. They might not be honest men at all; perhaps they were even outlaws within the northern army, using military power to conduct profitable trade for their own gain.

For all these reasons, let alone Li Xuan’s threats and coercion, even if he had pleaded with soft words, Kong Sheng would never have agreed.

Of course, if Kong Sheng had known that these people had disguised themselves and come south to transport provisions not for private gain but on official business, the outcome might well have been different. But Li Xuan could not possibly explain, and Kong Sheng’s suspicions ran deep; by a cruel twist of fate, the situation was forced into confrontation.

Li Xuan’s expression turned stern. He planted the broad-bladed spear in the ground once more, clasped his hands behind his back, and stood against the wind.

He did not fear that Kong Sheng and the others would flee or resist. Of the drivers and guards in his merchant caravan, there were nearly two hundred in all, every one of them a fierce northern soldier in disguise. If Kong Sheng and the three others made the slightest move, they would be met with a merciless slaughter like a sudden storm.

Mu Changfeng cast Kong Sheng a covert glance and murmured, barely moving his lips, “Young master, seize the horses first. We can fight our way out!”

Kong Sheng gave a silent shake of the head. His face remained calm, unruffled by the turmoil around him. The brothers Wu Xian and Wu Jie were inwardly tense, their hands trembling on the hilts of their curved sabers. They had not lacked battlefield experience, but there were simply too many of the enemy. Outnumbered and surrounded like this, could there still be any way to live?

With light steps, Kong Sheng walked over, drew the bloodstained broad-bladed spear from the ground, and held it horizontally before him as he praised it softly, “A fine weapon indeed, forged through a hundred refinings into steel. Once drawn, it drinks blood at once, full of murderous spirit.”

“Such a sharp long weapon can only be found in the army. If I am not mistaken, then Young Master Li and your party must be government troops from north of the river.”

Li Xuan folded his hands with a relaxed air and lowered his voice in reply. “Just so. Let us speak plainly. I am in the service of Prince Guo. If you are willing to enter my service, I can recommend you to the prince.”

Kong Sheng’s brow lifted. So he is one of Prince Guo’s men? Does Prince Guo have a female commander at his side? Is this true or false?

He half believed and half doubted Li Xuan’s words.

But so what if they were Prince Guo’s people? Kong Sheng had never held any good opinion of Prince Guo Li Ju, that incompetent and ruinous man. If not for Li Ju’s selfishness, Suiyang might not have fallen, had he only sent troops in time. Even if this Li Xuan belonged to Li Ju, even if she might even be his trusted aide or kin, what of it?

Kong Sheng immediately understood. The reason Li Xuan had so boldly admitted to being a man from the northern army, and had revealed his origins without the slightest restraint, was clearly that he had complete confidence and believed Kong Sheng could not escape his grasp. In this way, both sides had reached the point where the knives were drawn and the hidden weapons exposed; there was no room left for compromise.

Li Xuan had no retreat. Kong Sheng could only resist with all his might.

Kong Sheng sighed again. “So Young Master Li has such an impressive background after all, a man of Prince Guo’s household. Truly, we humble common folk are made to tremble in awe.”

Li Xuan said impatiently, “There is no need for you to be coy and speak in riddles. Will you submit or will you not? My patience is limited.”

“You want my answer? This is my answer!”

Kong Sheng raised the broad-bladed spear high in his hand. The thin traces of blood on the blade’s surface slowly ran down along its keen edge, gleaming with a cold, ghastly sheen in the sunlight.

A trace of icy contempt appeared at the corner of Li Xuan’s mouth. Knowing there could be no reconciliation, he slowly stepped back twice and waved his hand.

At once, more than a dozen fierce disguised soldiers near and far cast aside their pretenses, revealed savage expressions, and drew broad-bladed spears from their carts, advancing with their weapons to encircle them.

The faces of Wu Xian and Wu Jie darkened at once. This was actually a properly formed squad of broad-bladed spear troops; judging by their formation and momentum, they were surely seasoned, battle-hardened men of exceptional valor. To stand against such a force could only end in disaster.

Mu Changfeng, however, showed not the slightest fear. He laughed loudly and shot a glance at Wu Xian and Wu Jie, signaling that if they moved at all, they must first seize the horses. Once mounted, with the four of them working together, they would surely be able to break through.

Wu Xian and Wu Jie pressed their lips together and nodded silently. They understood Mu Changfeng’s plan. Since Kong Sheng would not yield to Li Xuan, their only hope now was to fight a bloody path through the encirclement and carve out a way to survive.

The two had been at some distance and had not heard Li Xuan’s confession of origin. They only guessed that these people were likely scoundrels from within the government forces, illicit men profiting by smuggling grain and supplies. In these times, such things were not uncommon.

“Must Brother Kong make me his enemy? Do you know that all the men under me are veterans of countless battles, each one a hero capable of standing against ten thousand? You may have some skill, but in the end... death is your only road.” Li Xuan’s voice gradually turned cold and merciless.

“It is not that I insist on making Young Master Li my enemy. It is... that Kong Sheng has never accepted threats!” Kong Sheng gave a frosty laugh and lifted the broad-bladed spear with heroic resolve, shifting slowly to the left while allowing the more than a dozen burly men under Li Xuan’s command to encircle him completely with their own broad-bladed spears.

Seeing this, Mu Changfeng understood that Kong Sheng was using himself as bait, drawing the attention of most of the soldiers and creating an opening for the three of them to seize the horses and charge through the encirclement.

Mu Changfeng and the brothers Wu Xian and Wu Jie quietly retreated toward the direction of the stable. As long as they could get onto horseback, there was a very good chance of breaking out.

The owner and assistants of the roadside tavern had long since seen that the situation was turning bad; they had already abandoned their livelihood and slipped away. If fighting broke out, swords and blades would show no mercy, and if they happened to be caught in the slaughter between the two sides, they would be wrongfully killed to their deaths.

Kong Sheng, standing within the encirclement, swept his gaze around and had already made up his mind. Though the other side had many men, only a dozen or so were directly in front of him. Their caravan stretched far ahead, unable to watch both head and tail at once, and they could not gather everyone immediately. With only those dozen men, they could not amount to much.

Out of the corner of his eye, Kong Sheng saw that Mu Changfeng and the others had already quietly withdrawn to the edge of the stable, and a composed smile slowly appeared on his lips. He smiled at the fierce soldiers surrounding him and said softly, “Then, gentlemen, if you still will not act, when do you intend to wait until?”