Chapter 231
Book 21 Chap 2 – Risky Moves
When Xiang Shaolong work up, he realized he’s lying on a wooden bed in a village hut. Medication was applied to the wounds on his body and he’s changed into clean clothes. Such a feeling of comfort is really indescribable.
The village lady who was waiting by his bed saw him wake up and ran out in shock to call the others.
In a short while, the village leader Jing Nian and a few village elders came. They all treated him with the respect due to a deity. After listening to him relate what happened, Jing Nian said, "We did send out our men to find information. The soldiers are still searching for Master Xiang. We heard that if Master Xiang is captured, there is a reward of a hundred pieces of gold so they are all trying their best.
Xiang Shaolong sat up, eating the food on the bed and asking at the same time, "Does the whole village know that I am here?"
Jing Nian replied, "We won’t be so careless, a person’s heart is unfathomable. Luckily the person who found Master Xiang unconscious outside our village is my son, so only the few of us know about Master Xiang."
Another elder Jing Xiong added, "Master Xiang, just rest a.s.sured and stay here to tend to your injuries. Once the matter dies down a little, we’ll a.s.sign men to send you back to Qin."
Xiang Shaolong shook his head, "To return to Qin from here is even more difficult than ascending heaven. Also, I can’t stay here for long or I will bring you catastrophe."
Jing Xiong said, "In that case our whole clan might as well accompany Master Xiang back to Qin." All the elders nodded their head vigorously in agreement.
Xiang Shaolong said, "Of course I will welcome all of you to Qin, but now is not the right time. It’ll have to wait until I return to Qin, that’s the only way to ensure nothing will happen."
Another elder asked, "Then what should we do now?"
Xiang Shaolong thought hard for a while before answering, "I’ll have to trouble you to send out someone who is agile and totally trustworthy to go to Zhongmou and inform Teng Yi and Jing Jun that I am safe but can only go back after a period of time. Tell them to lead the army well and wait patiently."
Jing Xiong said, "That is easy, our villagers frequently go to Zhongmou to pick herbs. Not only are they familiar with the route, they are also friendly with the people there so they definitely won’t raise any suspicion."
Xiang Shaolong was relieved of one issue and said, "The soldiers will search their way here sooner or later. There are a lot of talents amongst the people after me. You can use my clothes and items to create an illusion that I have ran somewhere else. This will buy us another two to three days and I can take this time to recover and start my escape."
After some discussion, Jing Xiong and the elders all left the room.
Xiang Shaolong fell into a deep sleep and by the time he woke up it was the middle of the night and all was quiet except for the howling wind outside and the barking dogs. He can’t help but feel his emotions go on a roller coaster ride.
The first time he came to this place, it was the middle of winter and with him at that time was the royal Zhao Princess, Zhao Qian. They spent a loving night in each other’s arms them but how can they predict that their destiny will end with Zhao Qian’s horrible death.
He can’t help but feel a deep hatred for Lu Buwei welling up inside him.
He screamed in his heart: No matter what! I, Xiang Shaolong must return to Xianyang alive and witness Xiao Pan’s ascension to the throne and Lu Buwei’s horrible end.
When day broke, Jing Nian came with news that will make him glad.
Turns out that although his 2,000 strong army was totally exterminated, but their sacrifice was worth it, for it allowed the main bulk of the Qin army to return to Zhongmou safely. Right now Li Mu’s army is surrounding and attacking Zhongmou but there are news that he has suffered quite a lot of casualties as well.
Xiang Shaolong was relieved. They had predicted that the Zhaos will launch a counter-attack at Zhongmou so they’ve already stocked up on grains and fortified the city walls. Besides, with Huan Qi’s army to support them, even if the enemy is Li Mu, he’ll not find it easy to reclaim Zhongmou.
With Li Mu’s intelligence, the only way for him ultimately is to retreat back to Changcheng.
Jing Nian added, "I sent someone to Zhongmou yesterday, so there won’t be any problem with this issue. Hai!"
Xiang Shaolong knows that something is on his mind and said with a smile, "You’re elderly, please speak your mind."
Jing Nian said, "Master Xiang is right. Another troop of soldiers went to the Shang family village 50 miles from here yesterday and they were searching and s.n.a.t.c.hing things, even injuring a few of their people. The Shang family village saw that there were a lot of soldiers so they dare not make any comments although they were furious."
Xiang Shaolong secretly sighed and asked, "How long will it take to travel from there to here?"
Jing Nian said, "At least 2 days. Master Xiang can wait until tomorrow morning before you leave."
He paused and added, "It seems that the Han w.a.n.g’an have sent out a team of people from Nanzheng of d.u.c.h.eng who are expert in tracking in the wilderness to search for Master Xiang. Some of our people came back from Nanzheng and said that the two states of Zhao and Han already have secret meetings to discuss how to capture you."
He took out a map from his sleeve and pa.s.sed it to Xiang Shaolong, saying, "I drew this map personally over the last two days. It may be a little rough but I daresay that it’s generally correct."
Xiang Shaolong was overjoyed. He got dressed and came down the bed, feeling more than half of his energy coming back. If he have another day’s rest, he’ll have higher confidence that he will be able to escape.
The two of them sat down at the corner of a table and opened up the map to study it.
Jing Nian pointed at a cross in the middle of the map and said, "This is our Jing family village. On the upper right corner at the northeast, about a hundred miles away is the Capital of Han, Nanzheng. Another 200 miles northeast from there, that’s the Capital of the state of Wei, Daliang."
Xiang Shaolong said, "I’ll burn this map immediately after I’m done seeing it. Otherwise if someone else gets a hand on this map, they’ll know that you have been protecting me."
Jing Nian’s expression changed slightly, for this is a point that he had never considered.
After Xiang Shaolong let Jing Nian explain in detail the river and mountain terrain drawn on the map, he kept the map and said, "It’s best that even Grandpa Nian doesn’t know my escape route, then you won’t be able to accidentally reveal anything and incur other people’s suspicions."
Jing Nian nodded his head gladly.
Xiang Shaolong made the best use of time to rest and when he woke up, he memorized the map. After much thought and deliberation, he finally decided to take the risky route and