Chapter 32: The Warriors of Yiyang (Part II)

The night wind was cold as it swept past, gentle yet sharp as needles. The horse beneath him moved at a steady pace, and Cao Peng pulled his scarf higher, feeling a difficult-to-describe excitement stirring within him. Was being plotted against enough to make one’s blood boil? The answer was clear... Cao Peng himself didn’t know why—he only felt that, with this step, he would truly become a part of this era.

He gripped the steel blade at his side; a real man must be ready to kill!

“We’re here!”

Deng Ji, riding ahead, reined in his horse and then dismounted with a swift motion. Wang Mai and Cao Peng followed suit, stopping and looking ahead. In the dim night, the walls of Jiyang city loomed, faintly visible.

Beside the main road leading to Nine Maidens’ City, dozens of wagons and horses stood, along with more than thirty people. Judging by their attire, these were Jiyang prisoners. Each wagon had two drivers, and the prisoners stood beside the vehicles, their faces pale and exhausted, barely able to stand.

“Ah Fu!”

“Hm?”

“Look over there.”

Cao Peng followed Wang Mai’s pointing finger and saw several prisoners huddling behind a wagon, trying to escape the cold wind.

“What is it?”

“That fellow—isn’t that Ma Yu?”

Lanterns hung from the wagons, casting a dim light. Though it was hard to see clearly, the outlines were just discernible. Cao Peng honestly couldn’t recall Ma Yu’s appearance well. When Ma Yu had come raising trouble before, Cao Peng was still in the county town, talking to Kuai Zheng. By the time he returned, Ma Yu and his men had already been arrested, so Cao Peng hadn’t paid much attention. If Wang Mai hadn’t recognized him, Cao Peng would never have known Ma Yu was among them.

“Old master, I hope you are well.”

Cao Peng jumped down from his horse and approached Deng Ji, greeting him with a respectful bow.

The person responsible for the handover with Deng Ji was none other than Kuai Zheng’s old steward. Seeing Cao Peng in his current attire, the steward was momentarily surprised.

“Master Cao, what brings you here...?”

“Heh, to answer your question, old master, I am accompanying my brother-in-law to Nine Maidens’ City. As you know, my brother-in-law is an honest man—my sister fears he’ll suffer in the camp, so she asked us to escort him. I wonder, could you add our names to the roster? I’ve heard those summoned are allowed to bring escorts.”

“Ah, that’s no trouble at all!” The steward chuckled, then called for the roster and added Cao Peng and Wang Mai’s names.

“Please forgive me, Master Cao—it is not that our county magistrate lacks courtesy, but the orders from above cannot be disobeyed. You know well, Huang, the military registrar, holds the governor’s tiger tally; all local offices must give their utmost cooperation. Officials below county assistant can be directly summoned... That’s why Huang’s orders came so suddenly, without warning. But our magistrate thinks it may be a good thing for Deng, the assistant registrar, to be summoned this time.

He has talent but lacks opportunity.

Stuck in this little Jiyang county, he can hardly achieve anything great. Going to Nine Maidens’ City might just earn him some credit for the future.”

Even Kuai Zheng didn’t know what was going on!

All the more reason for Cao Peng to trust his suspicions—Huang’s summoning of Deng Ji was surely a case of the sword dance meant for someone else!

“A real man should serve his country—what grievance is there? Old master, you overstate things... But these wagons and prisoners, what are they for?”

“The wagons carry provisions and supplies.” The steward explained with a smile, “This time, the troops assembled at Nine Maidens’ City require supplies, which Jiyang and Yu county are responsible for. A few days ago, Huang’s staff reported a shortage of labor on their end.

So, thirty-seven prisoners were urgently transferred from the jail for service at Nine Maidens’ City.

Since Deng Ji was summoned, he’s entrusted with escorting them. Once at Nine Maidens’ City, someone will take charge of these convicts. You needn’t worry.”

“So that’s how it is!”

Cao Peng put on a look of sudden comprehension and glanced at the prisoners scattered beside the supply wagons.

Deng Ji clearly paid little mind to the prisoners, holding a checklist as he verified the provisions and supplies on the wagons.

Cao Peng’s mind turned, and he smiled, “Old master, I have a small request—would you help me?”

“Oh? Please speak, young master.”

“With all these wagons, there are only drivers, but no escorts.

The three of us must watch over the wagons and the prisoners. If there’s a slip, we might be held accountable at the camp.”

“Well... that is troublesome. Jiyang is different from other places—since Liu, the governor, took charge, Jiyang has no garrison. Elsewhere, there are local militia, but here it’s hard to find men, especially at year’s end.”

“I have a suggestion: take some strong ropes, tie both ends to two wagons, then make loops for each prisoner. Thirty-seven people will be fixed between two wagons, connected by ropes. If one tries to escape, the others will be hindered. Even if all thirty-seven run, they’ll be dragged by the wagons.”

The steward’s eyes lit up, clearly impressed by Cao Peng.

“You are truly clever, young master... I’ll have my men do it.”

He immediately ordered the prisoners to be tied up accordingly.

Deng Ji walked over to Cao Peng, whispering, “Ah Fu, is this really necessary? They’re all locals—won’t this be too harsh?”

“Brother-in-law, now is not the time for mercy. You saw Ma Yu’s gang among them... If they try anything or a few escape, we’ll be punished at Nine Maidens’ City. Think about our situation—sympathizing with them only brings us trouble. If anyone causes trouble, I won’t hesitate to take their head.”

Cao Peng spoke loudly, making sure the prisoners heard. Ma Yu clearly did, and shivered, submitting quietly to being bound.

Deng Ji wanted to argue, but realized Cao Peng had reason. Escorting convicts was troublesome—if one or two escaped en route, punishment was inevitable at Nine Maidens’ City.

This kind of labor was counted by heads—so long as the right number arrived, it was enough...

Forget it, better them than us. Ah Fu is right—he’s more decisive than I am.

Once the prisoners were counted, Deng Ji signed the roster and checklist, officially taking charge.

Cao Peng mounted his horse, his blade at his side, and swept past the thirty-seven prisoners, drawing his sword so its cold gleam made the prisoners, restless a moment ago, instantly behave.

“Thank you, old master. We’ll take our leave!”

“Take care, gentlemen!” The steward waved farewell to Deng Ji and his companions.

Cao Peng suddenly turned his horse, bowing from the saddle, “Old master, today is New Year’s Eve—allow me to wish you a happy New Year.”

“Ah... The same to you!” The steward was momentarily surprised, then quickly returned the gesture.

His fondness for Cao Peng grew stronger still. This young master was truly courteous—a worthy disciple of the Deer Gate...

――――――――――――――――――――――

The rumbling of wheels, mingled with the clatter of hooves and footsteps, echoed through the night.

Deng Ji rode alongside the lead wagon, while Cao Peng and Wang Mai brought up the rear, keeping a close eye on the prisoners bound between the wagons. The steward had used riverboat cables, as thick as a child’s arm. Each prisoner had a loop, unimpeded in movement, yet unable to escape. Thirty-seven convicts stumbled along, dragged by the wagons, while Wang Mai, spear in hand, rode past them from time to time. Even Ma Yu kept his wits about him, sticking close to the group.

Wang Mai was known for his reckless courage—Ma Yu had already experienced it.

Cao Peng...

Ma Yu had yet to face him directly, but he sensed that Cao Peng was likely even more ruthless than Wang Mai!

Circumstances were beyond his control. Though once a tyrant in Jiyang, now he had no choice but to behave, or lose his head.

From Jiyang county to Nine Maidens’ City was about half a day’s journey. The night wind was cold, but the roads were clear, and their progress was swift.

Near the hour of the tiger, Cao Peng and his companions reined in their horses atop a hill, gazing ahead. The outline of Nine Maidens’ City appeared in the distance, and Deng Ji finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Ah Fu, we’ve arrived!”

Deng Ji turned and smiled, though worry still lingered in his brow.

Cao Peng took a deep breath, stretching his chest atop the horse. The journey had not been easy—his mind was troubled, and he had to keep watch over Ma Yu and the others.

Now, with their destination in sight, he could finally relax a little.

Thanks to Liu Biao’s good governance, the road from Jiyang had been safe.

“Let’s go, down we go.”

Deng Ji spoke, urging his horse toward the slope.

“Brother-in-law!”

“Hm?”

“Happy New Year!”

Deng Ji turned, surprised, and saw Cao Peng’s radiant smile.

For some reason, Deng Ji always thought Cao Peng looked wonderful when he smiled. There seemed to be a magic in it that calmed his anxious heart.

“Ah Fu, happy New Year!”

“Tiger-head brother, happy New Year.”

“Heh, happy New Year to us all...”

The three exchanged bows atop the hill, offering each other New Year’s greetings.

In that instant, all their fear and unease melted away.

“Come, let’s report in.”

Deng Ji suddenly raised his whip, charging down the hill with heroic spirit.

As Deng Ji and Wang Mai descended, the smile vanished from Cao Peng’s face.

Huang She, I have arrived!

I will stand before you—what tricks do you have left?

His hand unconsciously tightened on the steel blade as he gazed into the distance. With a squeeze of his legs, he spurred the Flying Tiger Toad, shouting, “Hyah!”

Even a humble horse can be fierce—rearing with a wild neigh, it carried Cao Peng down the hill, racing toward the wagon convoy.