How Can I Yield to the Traitor! - Chapter 11

Tian Fan pondered over potential solutions. “Disguise might be our best bet. I have some old clothes in the house; I can have you and Eunuch Fu dress as a scholar traveling to visit relatives and his servant. However, Young Master, your natural air of nobility… you must try to suppress it further. As for travel permits…”

He sighed. “Hu Biao’s men are guarding the checkpoints. Ordinary permits likely won’t work and might even invite harsher interrogation. We need to take an alternative route.”

“What kind of alternative route?” Qi Zhan pressed. He only had one life, after all; if he could “crouch” and survive, he would.

Tian Fan hesitated, knowing that path wasn’t exactly safe either, but there were no better options. Finally, he whispered, “There is a hidden trail south of the town that bypasses the main gorge. In the past, villagers used it to dodge tax collectors. It’s rugged and difficult to travel, but it should lead outside. However, I’ve heard rumors of deserters and bandits appearing at the exit recently. The risk is significant.”

Choosing the lesser of two evils.

Qi Zhan didn’t hesitate. “We take the trail. Better to fight for a slim chance of survival in the mountains than to walk right into a trap at the checkpoint.”

“Young Master, you are decisive.” Tian Fan was momentarily stunned by his quick resolve. In a life-or-death moment, few people possessed such guts. He said with relief, “Then tomorrow morning, I will prepare clothes and rations for you, along with a simple hand-drawn map. Uncle Tian used to walk the mountain paths frequently in his youth; he can lead you for a stretch until it’s safe.”

“No,” Qi Zhan immediately refused. “Uncle Tian is elderly. How can I let him risk his life for me again? You have already risked everything just to shelter me. If I cause you any more trouble, how can I live with myself? The map will be enough.”

Tian Fan tried to argue, but Qi Zhan remained firm. Tian Fan eventually relented, his respect for this fallen prince’s benevolence growing even deeper.

The next morning, before the sky had fully brightened, a dense morning mist hung in the air. Tian Fan had prepared two sets of old green cotton robes and some dry rations and water. Qi Zhan and Fu’an changed quickly, smearing more dirt on their faces and hands to look more like destitute commoners.

Qi Zhan took the longsword he valued as his life and wrapped it in layers of coarse cloth, slinging it across his back. It looked like a long staff or a carrying pole for luggage. He split their remaining gold and silver, hiding some in hidden pockets in their undergarments, but pushed the majority of it back toward Tian Fan without hesitation.

“Doctor,” Qi Zhan whispered, “you must take these. Our path ahead is uncertain; carrying this much would only be a burden. Keep it to handle local officials or help the townspeople consider it our way of repaying your kindness.”

Tian Fan was shocked and tried to refuse. “How can I? You are in exile; you need these resources!”

Qi Zhan insisted, “Doctor, take it. We cannot carry so much. You, staying here, might need it more than we do. If you truly wish to help, use it to protect a few more of Qi’s people.”

Unable to refuse further, Tian Fan accepted with tears in his eyes. Overcome with emotion, he knelt once more. “This subject, Tian Fan, will not fail your trust!”

After a hasty breakfast at dawn, Tian Fan tucked a hand-drawn map into Qi Zhan’s hand, carefully pointing out the landmarks. He also gave them a packet of defensive powder; if they met bandits, throwing it into their eyes would keep them blind for quite a while.

“Young Master, be careful! Once you exit the trail and head southeast, take the first left at the fork. After about a day and a half of travel, you should see Qingya Mountain. The terrain is steep; the fortress is built upon it and is easy to defend but hard to attack.”

“Take care, Doctor.” Qi Zhan bowed solemnly. “I will never forget this kindness. If I am fortunate in the future, I will repay you tenfold!”

“You overstate it, Young Master! Go now, while the town gates have just opened and the streets are still empty.” Tian Fan didn’t dare look too long, fearing he might be noticed. He urged them out through the back courtyard.

Uncle Tian had already peeked out the back door and confirmed the coast was clear. Qi Zhan and Fu’an gave one final bow to Tian Fan, led their horses into the sparse crowd of the waking town, and quickly vanished into the crisscrossing alleys.

Tian Fan leaned against the doorframe, watching the direction they vanished for a long time. Heaven, please protect them. Let a sliver of hope remain for the restoration of the State of Qi.

Following the map, Qi Zhan and Fu’an quickly found the entrance to the hidden trail south of town, concealed behind a thicket of thorns. The road was indeed rugged it could hardly be called a road at all, just a path worn down by mountain villagers. At its narrowest, only one person could pass, with steep slopes and dense forest on either side.

The two traveled in silence, heads down, hearing only their footsteps and the occasional bird call. The atmosphere was oppressive; every step felt like it might land on an unknown danger.

After about an hour, the sun rose higher and the forest grew sweltering. Walking in front, Qi Zhan suddenly halted. His instincts were on high alert. He raised a hand to signal. Fu’an’s heart tightened as he strained his ears.

From a short distance ahead came the muffled sound of voices, mixed with coarse laughter and cursing. Qi Zhan’s face darkened. He gestured for Fu’an to stay silent and hide.

Trouble has arrived.

Qi Zhan’s heart leaped into his throat. He signaled Fu’an to hold the horses’ reins tightly while he silently crouched low, using the bushes and rocks as cover to creep forward.

Parting the thick leaves, he saw a small, flat clearing not far ahead. Seven or eight soldiers were gathered there. They didn’t wear uniform armor their gear was a mismatched mess and their weapons were varied. They sat around a small fire, roasting ducks and chickens likely stolen from somewhere, laughing and cursing crudely.

“Dammit, that bastard Hu Biao just wants us to rot in this godforsaken place and eat the wind while he and his inner circle take all the loot!”

“Exactly! There’s plenty of fat to be picked in the town, but none for us!”

“Stop complaining. It’s better than meeting a main force of the Yan or Wei army. With just us here, we’d be stuck between their teeth!”

“Bah! I’d rather go rob someone than stay here and starve!”

Listening to their complaints, Qi Zhan felt a slight relief. It seemed this was just a group of disorganized stragglers under Hu Biao’s command, sent to this remote trail to set up a checkpoint because they were marginalized. Their morale was low, and their discipline was non-existent. They didn’t seem to have orders to catch anyone specific; they were just there to extort some “oil and water” as per routine.

Since no one knew they were here, the soldiers weren’t on guard. However, it was impossible for Qi Zhan and Fu’an to pass silently. The trail was too narrow to circle around.

Qi Zhan retreated to Fu’an’s side, his face grave. “There’s a checkpoint ahead. Seven or eight men. They don’t look elite, but a direct charge won’t work.”

Fu’an’s face went white. “What… what do we do? Young Master, do we go back?”

“Going back is more dangerous.” Qi Zhan shook his head. Tian Fan’s town likely wasn’t safe anymore. His gaze swept over the horses and luggage, then at the rugged path, his mind racing.

A direct confrontation or a bribe were both too risky. These thugs might take the money and kill them anyway. He had to think of a more stable way to use the current situation. His eyes fell on the discarded chicken bones and wine skins these were typical bandits-turned-soldiers. He had to bluff them.

“Fu’an,” Qi Zhan whispered, “we can’t use force, and we can’t rely entirely on money. We have to make them invite us through.”

Fu’an was baffled. “Young Master, how could they…”

“Listen to me,” Qi Zhan instructed quickly. “Hide here and stay absolutely silent. I’ll be back soon. If I’m not back in half an hour, retreat to the town immediately and find Dr. Tian. Tell him I might have been captured by Yan scouts and let him make his own plans!”

He spoke with exaggerated gravity to keep Fu’an from doing anything impulsive. Without waiting for a protest, Qi Zhan quickly made himself look even more disheveled, smearing dirt on his face and tearing his clothes. He took a deep breath. Instead of looking like a panicked fugitive, he put on a face of sheer, desperate terror. He circled around to the other side of the trail and came stumbling out, screaming in a raspy, tearful voice:

“Help! Help! It’s terrible!”

His sudden appearance and shouting immediately froze the soldiers, who were busy drinking and eating. They stared at him in confusion.

“Where’d this kid come from? What are you yelling about!” the leader roared impatiently.

Qi Zhan ran up to them, deliberately panting as if his lungs were bursting, his face pale with fright. “Lords! The… the barbarians! The barbarian cavalry is coming! So many horses! They’re right behind me!”

“What?!”

“Barbarians?!”

“Nonsense! How could barbarians reach this mountain valley?!”

the soldiers exploded into a frenzy of confusion and fear. They had just been complaining about their fear of the Yan and Wei armies; hearing this news now, they were inclined to believe it.

“It’s true!” Qi Zhan went into full acting mode, pointing back the way he came, his hands shaking violently. “I… I was just cutting wood in the mountains ahead, and I saw so many cavalry in black armor! They were carrying a Wolf-Head Banner! They’re launching a sneak attack! They’re moving so fast! I was so scared I ran back to report it! Otherwise, it’ll be too late!”

The Wolf-Head Banner was indeed a common symbol for the Yuwen tribe’s cavalry of the State of Yan. Qi Zhan had learned about the Yan scouts from Tian Fan, and now he was using it to terrify these stragglers.

The leader’s expression shifted wildly. He glared at Qi Zhan. “Kid, is this the truth? If you’re lying to us, I’ll chop you up!”

“It’s the absolute truth!” Qi Zhan pointed at the dirt and scratches on his body. “Look at me! I got these from falling while running! There are too many of them, and they look so fierce! Lords, I have to get back to town to tell my grand-uncle!”

As he spoke, he made a move as if to run past the checkpoint toward the town.

“Stop!” the leader barked, but his tone lacked its previous aggression. He and the other soldiers exchanged looks, and they all saw the same thing: pure terror. They only had seven or eight men with poor equipment; if they met elite Yan cavalry, they were dead meat.

“Boss, what do we do?” one soldier whispered.

“What else? We retreat!” another urged frantically. “Who cares if it’s true or false? What if it is true? You want to die here?”

The leader looked at the pale, shivering Qi Zhan, then at the empty mountain road behind him, as if he could already hear the thunder of hooves. Greed for life was their nature.

“Dammit! What bad luck!” the leader cursed, finally making a decision. “Pack up! Retreat! Report back to town no, forget that, just go hide in the western mountain valley!”

He didn’t even bother with reporting to town; he just wanted to save his own skin.