Chapter 174 Life and Death - He fell!
Bai Jianping's pupils trembled slightly, and then he heard himself ask in a calm tone, "What makes you say that, Mistress?"
Strangely, although he should have been speechless with astonishment, his surprise was inexplicably shallow, like the rising tide on the beach, seemingly surging, but when you step on it, it doesn't even reach your knees.
Dai Li hesitated and said, “There’s something wrong with the incense in my room. When the windows are closed, I feel drowsy, as if my consciousness is sinking into the water and I can’t float up; but if I open the window to look at the river view or go outside, I feel much more energetic. Later, I asked the maid to remove their incense burners, and almost immediately, that drowsy feeling that made me feel tired disappeared.”
As she finished speaking, she noticed the muscles in Bai Jianping's cheeks tighten, and added, "Of course, that was just my suspicion. They could also say they lit the incense so I could rest more and avoid seasickness. Besides..."
Dai Li's voice lowered a notch, "I think I saw a few crossbows on the deck today. Would civilian ships have these? I don't have much experience traveling by ship, so I'm not sure."
Bai Jianping seemed to hear a "clang," oh, it turned out that the sharp sword hanging high above had fallen down.
Ordinary hunters use the most common longbow. The crossbow mechanism is much more complex, requiring a mechanism cast in bronze.
Are these kinds of controlled substances so easy to obtain?
Bai Jianping said without hesitation, "Mistress, Zhang Danchen and the others are following behind us. I'll find a reason to let the two ships pass each other."
Dai Li stopped her, saying, "It's late now, and this Zhou-surname ship owner has a large ship. Who knows how many people are actually on board? Rushing to inform the rear will only alert them. It would be better to wait until we reach the next town and then suddenly change our minds and say we want to replace them."
Bai Jianping didn't speak, but just stared at Dai Li, then suddenly blurted out, "Mistress, did you already know?"
Dai Li was taken aback, her eyes flashing slightly. "Know what?"
“Many things. For example, there might be problems with this ship, or our journey by water might not be smooth,” Bai Jianping said.
Dai Li raised her hand to smooth her hair, her voice gentle, "Commander Bai is joking. I am not a god, how could I have the ability to predict the future? Besides, Lord Jun and I are husband and wife, one entity, our interests are closely intertwined. How could I knowingly walk into the tiger's den?"
Bai Jianping choked up; he actually had many questions he wanted to ask.
He wanted to ask her why she saw the crossbow on the deck but didn't tell him immediately. It was daytime then, wasn't it? Many things that are too late now weren't too late then. He also wanted to ask her why she insisted on dividing the troops. Why did she delay sending the letter? And he wanted to ask what caused all these anomalies.
But I couldn't bring myself to ask any of these questions.
Even if he were qualified, the mistress who had previously denied it might not be honest about it.
"It's getting late, I'll go back and rest now," Dai Li said, taking her leave.
After leaving the room, she didn't go straight back, but walked all the way to the end of the third floor.
Looking out from here, you can see decks piled high with cargo and tall masts, the white flag atop which has been replaced with a red one. The bright red flag flutters in the wind, its arc resembling surging waves of blood.
A dark figure stood on the small disc at the base of the mast, used for observation, but due to the height difference, Dai Li could not clearly see the other person's face.
But she knew he was there.
Starting from Wuwen, it would take two nights and three days to reach the next town. However, the town was crowded, making it an unsuitable location for an uprising.
The first night is over, only tonight remains...
She can wait, but the Green Lotus Sect cannot.
How many days have passed since the envoy set off for Chang'an? Oh, it's been seven days. If reinforcements hurry on their way, they will arrive in two more days.
She had a feeling it would happen tonight!
A thin mist rose over the river, obscuring the surrounding boats and blurring the green hills on both banks, making them appear like indifferent bystanders.
Dai Li turned and went back to her room.
The hints have been given, the arrangements have been made, now all that's left is to wait and see, and let them fall into the trap!
Dai Li changed her clothes and went to sleep fully clothed. She had something on her mind and didn't sleep very soundly that night, so she woke up immediately when the first unusual sound rang out.
Holding the blanket, Dai Li sat up, shook her head, and soon heard someone banging on the door outside.
"Madam!" It was Nianxia's voice, very urgent. "It seems we've encountered river bandits."
Almost as soon as the last word was uttered, the door was suddenly pulled open. Nianxia was stunned, astonished by how quickly the person inside had opened the door, and...
The lady had actually changed her dress!
She was dressed in a black riding outfit, and her belt was tied very neatly, not at all like it was hastily put on.
Nianxia stood there, stunned.
Dai Li walked past her and went out. She leaned on the railing at the door and looked down. She saw several dark figures darting across the deck below. They were rushing towards the building and inevitably ran into the crew along the way.
The snow blades clashed and clanged, and sharp shouts echoed through the darkness, startling countless sleepers.
Chaos quickly erupted below.
But more than the struggle on the deck, Dai Li was concerned about the small boats that were rapidly approaching or already clinging to the side of the ship.
A series of dark figures rode on the boat. These people quickly swung the grappling hooks upwards, and the multi-clawed iron hooks snagged on the side of the boat. The ropes tightened, and the people below climbed up like geckos.
Some of the men in black who had already boarded the ship did not rush forward. They were arranged in a strip around the ship, efficiently assisting their companions who were boarding.
Everything was in a smooth and orderly manner.
It's clear that this wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather a carefully planned one.
"Madam, the bandits are coming in strong, and their numbers look like they could easily exceed a hundred! What should we do?" Nianxia also saw the chaos below.
Dai Li remained silent, instead casting her gaze further into the distance, trying to locate the origin of the small boats. However, her field of vision was limited; she could only glimpse the night travelers continuously emerging from the "edges" on both sides, but could not see anything more specific.
Dark clouds drifted across the sky, obscuring half the bright moon, and the fog on the river seemed to thicken even more.
Heavy, hurried footsteps pounded on the wooden planks as Bai Jianping, a long sword at his waist, rushed over. Seeing Dai Li already dressed in riding attire, a deep shock rose in his eyes. Many things he hadn't dared to imagine before were now surfacing like fish in a summer pond, their heads bobbing up and down.
“Mistress, bandits are attacking. The next hour will be quite turbulent. Please prioritize your safety and stay in your room. Do not wander around.” He emphasized the last sentence.
Dai Li didn't look at him. She squinted and looked down, where the dark figures on the deck were entangled in battle with the crew and the Xuanxiao cavalry who were arriving one after another.
The distance was quite far, and as the fighting went on, Dai Li could no longer distinguish between the crew members and her soldiers.
"It probably won't be resolved in an hour." Dai Li stared at a certain spot below. "Two against two, with crew members assisting, and we still can't take them down quickly. If it's not because fighting on the ship hinders our ability to exert our strength, then there must be a traitor within..."
"Bang!" A loud explosion suddenly erupted below.
A piece of wood suddenly flew off a wooden crate that had been lying still on the deck. One after another, like a domino effect, the crates on both sides burst open, about 80 or 90 percent of them.
One after another, dark figures darted out of the wooden crates, carrying heavy loads and brandishing gleaming snow-white weapons as they joined the battle.
Chaos reigned below.
Bai Jianping's expression changed drastically in an instant.
It wasn't just a few petty thieves; there was a whole group hiding in the shadows. What else was unclear? They had indeed boarded a pirate ship!
The situation gradually changed, the balance slowly tilted, and the original overwhelming advantage gradually disappeared.
"Xuanxiao Cavalry, be on alert for all crew members and martial artists!" Bai Jianping's voice boomed, and even some soldiers who had not yet descended onto the deck heard it.
“Mistress, please don’t worry too much. Although the enemy outnumbers us, the stairwell is narrow. As long as we hold the stairs, we can hold off a thousand men.” Bai Jianping comforted her.
They have nearly thirty Xuanxiao cavalrymen, and when the time comes, they will send a small portion of their forces to suppress the bandits, so as not to be caught in the crossfire.
“‘Defense’ is a good approach, but everything depends on the ship’s stability.” Dai Li looked at the sudden burst of flames below, her eyes flashing with a dark light. “Someone has set it on fire. It’s hard to say whether the ship can hold out until sunrise tomorrow.”
Bai Jianping's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked down.
Just as I expected!
On the deck, where the wooden crates were originally stacked, fiery snakes suddenly sprang up, tracing the path of the spilled oil and quickly licking across a large area.
"Mistress, where is Commandant Qin?" Bai Jianping belatedly realized that Qin Yanzhou was not there.
The rooms of the mother and son were separated only by a maid. There was no reason why the mistress was awake while the second young master was still asleep.
Dai Li replied, "Zhouzhou went to help."
Bai Jianping made a quick decision, "Mistress, please stay on the third floor and do not wander around. I will lead people to extinguish the enemy and put out the fire."
This ship must not sink!
He called out to several soldiers who hadn't come downstairs, instructing them to stay close to Dai Li, while Bai Jianping himself led a few men downstairs in a grand manner.
The area downstairs was a complete mess.
Bloodstains were everywhere, and decapitated bodies lay scattered haphazardly. Old cargo crates, hacked to pieces in the struggle, were a scene of utter chaos.
Bai Jianping looked around, initially thinking that finding Qin Yanzhou by the light of the fire wouldn't be difficult. However, after visiting several places and asking many soldiers, he received only negative answers.
Never seen it before?
How strange! Where did the Second Young Master go?
He casually slit the throat of a petty thief who had ambushed him. Just as Bai Jianping was about to send a few men to put out the fire, he suddenly heard someone shout in horror:
"Oh no, they're scutting the ship!"
Bai Jianping's heart pounded wildly. Listening carefully, he could indeed hear a series of clanging sounds mixed in with the clashing of swords. Forgetting about putting out the fire, he immediately sent men to search for someone who was slashing the boat.
"Have you seen the Second Young Master?...No? Then keep an eye out. Once you spot him, make sure he's not alone."
On the observation deck, propped high by the mast, a tall figure kept observing the scene below.
He took in all the small boats that kept approaching the large ship, the flying iron grappling hooks, the two groups of people fighting each other, and even the people secretly chiseling at the ship from the shadows.
The young man kept quiet and let Bai Jianping lead the group around. After a long search, they finally found the boat-digger.
The enemy came prepared, and with a traitor on board, Bai Jianping was ultimately too late. The hole was wide enough that the planks were removed, and a steady stream of river water poured in.
The massive ship emitted a mournful cry like a sinking whale, and the once stable multi-story vessel slowly tilted to one side.
At that moment, Qin Yanzhou leaped down, stepping onto the hemp rope net hanging down from the mast, and quickly descended from the observation deck.
He was spotted by Song Asan not long after he came down.
"Commander Qin, Commander Bai has been looking for you for a long time. So you're here!" Song A'san was overjoyed.
Qin Yanzhou: "Where is he? I have urgent business with him."
"This way."
The group fought their way through the ship and went down to the hold, where they finally found Bai Jianping, looking disheveled, in a leaky part of the cabin.
Bai Jianping was overjoyed to see Qin Yanzhou, but didn't bother to ask where he had been. "Captain Qin, this ship is beyond saving; it's only a matter of time before it sinks. We must evacuate as soon as possible! There are small boats that were prepared beforehand, as well as wooden barrels and boxes, and we can also use the flatboats that the bandits are using. In addition, Zhang Danchen's ships are ahead, so evacuation shouldn't be difficult. There's just one problem..."
Bai Jianping couldn't help but feel heartbroken, "This time we need to travel light, and I'm afraid we won't be able to bring any baggage."
The mistress's trunks will likely all be at the bottom of the river after tonight. Thankfully, the carriage wasn't on the boat, otherwise…
Bai Jianping suddenly froze. A strange thought flashed through his mind for a moment, but just as he grasped it, he suddenly heard the young man in front of him say, "Commander Bai, the other side has spared no effort in setting up this trap. They are probably going all in and will not give up until they achieve their goal. We probably won't be able to escape by simply retreating. Why don't we try to cut off their supply lines?"
Without a trace of thought, Bai Jianping subconsciously asked, "How can we eliminate the threat from the root?"
Qin Yanzhou: "The enemy's warship is directly behind us, no more than a hundred paces away. Why don't we turn around and ram it? We can exchange one damaged ship for one intact one and completely eliminate the hidden danger on the river."
Bai Jianping was terrified, unsure whether to ask how he knew the enemy's exact location or to ask if he had considered the consequences. "But...but..."
"This is the only best option," Qin Yanzhou said in a deep voice. "If we just make a normal evacuation, how can our small boats compete with the warships behind us? We don't even know how many more people are still on board. Only by destroying their main camp in one fell swoop can we have a chance of survival."
Bai Jianping remained silent.
Song Asan gasped, his face showing hesitation.
"There's no time to lose. If we delay any longer, the ship will have no chance to turn around, and we'll be nothing but fish on the chopping block, at their mercy!" Qin Yanzhou was exceptionally assertive. "Song Asan, you and your men come with me."
When Song Asan saw the calm expression on the man's face, his dark pupils, and his eyes as sharp as cold knives, Song Asan was greatly shocked and couldn't help but respond.
Realizing something was amiss after responding, Song Asan looked at his direct superior. In the darkness, he could vaguely see the other man's brows furrowed.
"Time is of the essence, don't hesitate any longer!"
Bai Jianping let out a long breath, "Yes."
The team split into two: one team took up their knives and headed for the helm, while the other team charged back onto the deck, climbed the hemp net, and rolled up the drooping canvas.
To turn the boat around, you have to let go of its forward momentum. Xuanxiao's cavalry were agile and coordinated perfectly, and they rolled up the sail in a few moments.
At first, the men in black and the boatmen on the deck were confused, until the deck slowly turned.
Those with quick wits saw Qin Yanzhou's intention: "Oh no, they're turning around!"
This multi-story ship is a hot potato; if you hit it, you'll be in trouble. But if you take the initiative to ram it and prevent it from turning around, that won't work either. If you ram a perfectly good ship, won't you both take on water?
It cannot be touched from the outside; the only way is to stop it from the inside.
"Quickly, seize the ship's rudder!"
...
Dai Li lives on the third floor, a high place with a wide view, where she can take in the chaos below.
Amidst the clanging of swords, the bow of the ship turned, and she saw, in the misty river, a boat faintly visible in the distance.
Dai Li felt relieved, knowing that the plan was already more than halfway done.
*
Not far away.
"Sir, the ship ahead has changed course!" The man leaning on the railing on the second floor of the ship at the rear stared wide-eyed. "How could this be? They've coordinated from the inside and outside, laid a trap, and outnumber the northern forces by more than three times. They've also been acting stealthily at night. How could they not capture them despite such a surprise attack? Sir, what should we do?"
This was a serious matter, and Di Ting also boarded the ship. Upon seeing the situation, he hesitated for only a moment before ordering the ship to turn around as well.
The enemy's ship is likely already riddled with holes on all sides and is doomed to sink sooner or later. The key is simply to "drag" it down; it's a matter of time before they sink without bloodshed.
"Quickly, furl the sails and turn around!"
The wind is blowing from the north tonight, not from the east or west, so as long as the angle of the canvas is adjusted properly, it doesn't matter much whether it's from the south or the north.
"Damn it, we're too close. I'm afraid we won't make it in time."
"Stay calm and don't panic. Our ships are smaller than theirs, so we can turn much more nimbly. As long as we don't make any mistakes, we'll definitely be able to escape unscathed." However, as soon as Di Ting finished speaking, his expression changed.
Like land cracked after a severe drought, calmly and self-possessed, it crumbles into irreparable fissures, listening intently as it raises its hand in disbelief.
The wind slipped through his fingers from the front, causing the back of his shirt to flutter and rustle.
The wind direction has changed.
The wind was blowing from the north, but now it's blowing from the east! This section of the river runs east to west, so any combination of east or west winds will affect them.
The ship ahead successfully turned around, raised its sails again, and charged forward with fire and wind. Knowing there was no way to avoid it, Di Ting hurriedly ordered backup, "Quickly send down a few advance ships!"
In the blink of an eye, the already close distance between the two ships was quickly reduced, and the two ships collided, creating a loud bang on the river in the dead of night.
The river surged with towering waves, scattering wood chips that were quickly swept away, and the people and cargo on the boats tilted precariously.
Qin Yanzhou was prepared. He ordered the people around him to tie him to the wooden fence with hemp rope. After the initial shock, he immediately untied the rope and said, "Come with me."
The large ship is not fast enough and does not have enough impact force to directly ram the other ship in half. At this time, the bow of the large ship is embedded in the hull of the other ship, forming a "T" shape.
The impact caused fundamental damage; the two ends of the "T" gradually cracked and slowly tilted inward, while the large ship also began to list.
Qin Yanzhou led his men to the bow of the ship and leaped from the point where the two ships met onto the opposite ship. "The leader of the other side is a young man of about twenty-three or twenty-four years old. He likes to wear white. Find him and kill him quickly!"
Song Asan, who was accompanying him, was not in a position to think about why the Second Young Master knew so much about this.
Chaos reigned on the ship; someone had set it on fire, and the flames engulfed half the sky. Qin Yanzhou swiftly passed through various locations, even arresting many people for questioning.
“Sir, you just fell down,” said one of the people who had been caught.
Qin Yanzhou's eyes sharpened, and he quickly walked to the side and peered down. Amidst the crashing waves, he saw a floating expanse of white.
Something's not right...
A sudden alarm bell rang in Qin Yanzhou's mind. He turned around and parried, deflecting an arrow with a clang with his longsword. He looked up sharply and saw a young man in his undergarments holding a longbow not far away. When the young man saw him looking over, he quickly drew the bowstring taut and released a second arrow.
Di heard that the second arrow missed and was slightly disappointed. He threw down his longbow and drew his longsword: "Mingdeng, how have you been?"
"Has Liu Dao arrived?" Qin Yanzhou asked coldly.
Di Ting chuckled softly, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this time I'm the only one who fell into your trap."
Now that things have unfolded this way, how could he not realize it was a trap? If it weren't a trap, how could the other party have known beforehand?
Ah, the wife of the Grand Commandant, only one step away from becoming the mother of the nation, yet she risked her life.
Qin Yanzhou drew his sword and stepped forward to slash.
Di Ting shifted his footing, sliding three inches to avoid the blade, and said at the same time, "Mingdeng, although we are not born of the same root, we have been brothers for many years. Do you really want to kill me? If I hadn't begged you so earnestly back then, how could my uncle have raised you as his own son!"
Qin Yanzhou's sword moved faster and faster, the tip even leaving afterimages. It was quenched with fire, like a demon's scythe, leaving bloody marks on Di Ting's arms and shoulders wherever it went. "What I owed you, I have already paid back. Also, you have been neglecting your training."
Di Ting tried his best to resist, but his wrist holding the knife kept going numb and trembling, and in the end he couldn't hold the knife anymore.
Qin Yanzhou flicked away Di Ting's weapon, and as he parried, the tip of his blade pierced the opponent's chest slightly.
Di Ting was jolted, clutched his chest and quickly retreated. Knowing that there was no point in saying anything more, he flipped backward and deliberately fell into the river.
The boat was still tilting, gradually tilting from horizontal to a right angle. Qin Yanzhou saw Di Ting enter the river, took two steps to the railing and looked down. The river was surging, and he could vaguely see Di Ting's figure.
The young man took a deep breath, moved a wooden bucket and smashed it down, but missed.
They tried smashing the wooden crate again, but still failed.
Upon hearing this, Di Ting below laughed heartily, "Ming Deng, it seems there's always a way out! We'll meet again someday."
Qin Yanzhou's gaze was cold and deep. Many thoughts flashed through his mind, but only one remained clear. He quickly unloaded the knife and other heavy objects, braced his arms against the wooden railing, and jumped off the boat as Di Ting's expression changed drastically.
Water splashed as the young man surfaced quickly after entering the river. He swam to the side with his long arms, reached Di Ting, and pushed his head back into the water.
Di Ting struggled frantically, and seeing that it couldn't break free, it simply pulled Qin Yanzhou down with it.
Violent waves surged up, spreading a crimson hue, as if dragons and snakes were dancing underwater, but slowly, the ripples subsided. After a while, a figure emerged with a "whoosh" and hugged the wooden bucket.
Author's Note: I'm back! I wonder how many of you are still waiting for me. I'll randomly send out some small red envelopes to see what happens. [droopy-eared rabbit head emoji]
Next chapter will switch to Lao Qin's perspective [doge head with a rose in its mouth]
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