Chapter Fifty-Four: The Horse Tail Tactic
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Just as Qingyun had predicted, that fire which alarmed the entire Nangong camp was indeed started by Kaiming.
She used the excuse of needing to change clothes to send away the guards, then deftly made a slit in the tent with a small knife, peering out to survey the situation. When no one was watching, she widened the cut, slipped out noiselessly, and left her confinement unnoticed.
All around, soldiers were busy packing their gear and saddling their warhorses, feeding them as they worked. Helmets and armor were scattered everywhere. She quickly picked up a helmet, covering half her face, and felt a bit more at ease as she began to look around.
Carts of provisions rolled past her, horses wandered at leisure, and some soldiers stood in formation, listening to their officers’ instructions—essentially, they were told that today they’d be returning home and needed to prepare accordingly. Watching the idly pacing horses, a plan began to form in her mind.
“Brother, do you have a fire striker?” She stopped a scrawny young soldier passing by, who was carrying a bundle of straw, clearly on his way to feed the horses.
The soldier glanced at her nervously, his voice uncertain as he inquired, “It’s broad daylight. What do you need that for?”
“Why do you care?” she snapped, then, seeing his apprehension, grinned. “Honestly, I’m just craving a smoke. You know how hard it is to resist once the urge hits. I thought I’d sneak one before we break camp.”
To her surprise, the young soldier nodded seriously, as if he’d seen many a man tormented by the urge to smoke. “Come with me. I don’t have one on me, but there’s an oil lamp by the stables—there might be something there.”
“The stables?” Her eyes lit up. “Even better.”
She followed closely, keeping out of sight as much as possible, and stole a glance at the guards who had been watching her—their absence had been noticed, and they were now rushing out, organizing a search. She smiled to herself, maneuvering behind the young soldier to hide completely.
The makeshift stables had already been dismantled; straw and uprooted stakes littered the ground. The young soldier called out to a few others as he passed, and Kaiming turned her face away, focusing on finding what she needed.
She found a battered oil lamp, but it was disappointing—there was no fire striker to be found. She hesitated, unsure of what to do next, when the young soldier suddenly put down his straw, came over, and squatted to examine her closely.
“Which unit are you from?” he asked. “I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”
She replied testily, “There are so many people here. How could you know everyone?”
He looked at her suspiciously. “I may not have many talents, but I never forget a face. I’m certain I’ve never seen you.”
Kaiming was unfazed by this shorter soldier. She swiftly grabbed him by the throat, sneering, “If I kill you now, you’ll never have to know me.”
The young man suddenly laughed, as if she were only playing. “You’re really going to kill a Nangong soldier in broad daylight, in the middle of their own camp? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Kaiming started, withdrawing her hand—he was right. In her haste, she had forgotten where she was.
The young soldier stared at her, his earlier timidity gone, his gaze sharp. “Are you a spy sent from another palace, sneaking into our ranks?”
“Don’t spout nonsense, or I really will silence you! I’m no spy. I’m a captured prisoner, just looking for a way to survive, is that so wrong?” she snapped.
He sighed, shaking his head. “Honestly, you’re far too green to be a spy. Whoever sent you must be terribly unlucky.”
“Enough!” she retorted, stung by the insult from a mere stable hand. “Just get lost—and don’t breathe a word of this, or else…”
He grinned, as if challenging her to say what she would do.
She raised her fist, then lowered it, glaring at him as if to say: Go away! Don’t get in my way!
Suddenly, the young soldier thrust his hand toward her. Startled, she instinctively shrank back.
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His eyes were full of disdain, but before she could retaliate, she saw that in his palm was exactly what she needed—a fire striker.
“You little brat, you had it all along!” She snatched it eagerly, still grumbling.
He looked at her with amusement, as though she were hopeless—showing no caution even among enemies.
“Why would I give it to you? So you could set our camp on fire?” he said, pouting.
“Enough with your nonsense!” she retorted, giving him a shove. “You’re done here, now go!”
“No way, I saw everything, so I’m involved too. Whatever you’re planning, let’s do it together!” To her surprise, he sidled up to her, grinning.
Kaiming shot him a sidelong glance—this boy wasn’t afraid of death, even wanted to join in the fun.
She deliberately eyed him up and down, speaking slowly, “Well, if you insist. Here’s my plan: I’ll douse you with oil, light you up, and push you into the straw heap. What do you think?”
“That idea’s terrible!” He waved his hands in protest. “No matter how ruthless, you can’t sacrifice your companion at a time like this, right?”
“With whom are you a companion?” she scoffed.
“How about I make a suggestion?” His eyes sparkled with mischief. “With all these horses, if a fire breaks out and they panic, what do you suppose will happen in the camp?”
She clapped her hands. “Good idea! In the chaos, I could easily escape.”
“Pretty clever, aren’t I?” he beamed.
Kaiming smacked him on the head. “Who said it was your idea? At best, we’re thinking alike. The fire attack was my brainchild.”
He feigned obedience. “Yes, ma’am, whatever you say.”
She couldn’t help laughing. “You’re a sharp kid—so why waste your talents tending horses?”
“Am I?” he replied insincerely. “Others have said so too, but I take it as a compliment.”
Kaiming stopped bantering, not bothering to wonder why a soldier from the enemy camp would help a prisoner like her. She turned her attention to the heaps of straw, deep in thought.
“What are you thinking about, sister?” he whispered.
“How to make things even messier,” she replied absently, then suddenly realized what he’d just called her—sister?!
He grinned wickedly. “It’s easy to tell,” he said, reaching for her throat, his fingers pausing at her neck. “No Adam’s apple. Even if puberty was late, it wouldn’t be completely absent.”
She was too stunned to react, his icy fingers making her skin crawl. Before she could strike back, he snatched off her helmet and burst out laughing. “Since you’re a prisoner from the Central Palace, and with their famed female generals, it’s no surprise if their captives are women.”
The helmet caught in her disheveled hair, a few strands torn away. She ignored her appearance, focusing all her anger, determined to kill this boy first, no matter what.
Sensing her murderous intent, the young soldier backed away. “Hey, better hurry up and set the fire! You don’t have much time, do you?”
Reminded of her purpose, Kaiming glared at him, grabbed a bundle of straw, and barked, “Help me out!”
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The young soldier skipped over, eager to help. “What do you need?”
“Tether the horses so they don’t scatter, and bring a few more over.”
He did as told, watching her curiously.
She quickly tied straw to the horses’ tails. The boy immediately understood, hurriedly gathering a few more horses and keeping a watchful eye out. “Are we starting?” he whispered.
Kaiming grinned at him, then rapped him smartly on the head. He yelped, rubbing his head, but dared not shout.
“That’s for your insolence,” she said, feeling a bit better. Ignoring his wounded look, she struck the fire striker, and with a sweep at the horses’ tails, ignited the straw. In an instant, the tails of five or six horses were ablaze, crackling and snapping.
The startled warhorses bolted, rearing and galloping in every direction, whinnying and kicking up their hooves. Flames spread wherever they ran. Soldiers, believing the camp under attack, collided and tumbled over one another. The camp was thrown into utter chaos.
Kaiming was just beginning to exult when, through the smoke, a warhorse burst toward her. The young soldier’s voice called out from above, “Hurry, let’s go!”
This boy was not bad, she thought, appreciating his loyalty. Gripping his outstretched hand, she vaulted onto his horse behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist without ceremony. He was surprisingly slender.
“Easy!” he protested, twisting around. “You’ll snap my waist!”
“Shut up, brat! You should be grateful for the privilege!” she retorted, poking him in the back of the head.
He chuckled, “Not sure who’s the lucky one here.” With a squeeze of his legs, he expertly spurred the horse, and they galloped out of the camp under the cover of chaos, meeting no resistance.
As the camp gates fell away behind them, Kaiming breathed a sigh of relief. “This is far enough, kid. You’d better head back.”
He agreed, dismounted, and looked up at her seriously. “That idea of burning the horses’ tails—not bad. On the battlefield, it would probably work just as well.”
“On the battlefield?” Kaiming relaxed, and, seeing his earnest face, decided to tease him. “If two armies faced off, burning the horses’ tails would just waste good horses. Besides, horses are intelligent—if not handled well, they could trample your own ranks.”
He fell into thoughtful silence. “So this clever tactic is useless?”
She couldn’t help but laugh, covering her mouth. “But if you used other animals, say, water buffaloes—cattle are much duller. Throughout history, many tactics have involved cattle. If you set their tails alight and drove them forward as the vanguard, it’d certainly catch the enemy off guard.”
His eyes lit up, and he gazed at her in admiration. “You’re brilliant, sister.”
Kaiming laughed aloud. “It’s just armchair strategy—hardly worth taking seriously.”
He smiled slyly. “Not necessarily.”
Kaiming thought nothing of it, dismissing her own offhand comment. Yet, much later, in a battle against this very enemy, it was this seemingly trivial idea—one she herself had unwittingly taught him—that turned the tide against her. Only then did she realize that this inconspicuous young soldier was not someone to be underestimated.
“You little spy,” she said, flicking her whip lightly across his sleeve as she smiled at him. “You’re no stable hand. You must be a spy from another kingdom, hiding among the Nangong ranks. Am I right?”
He grinned, neither confirming nor denying, but offering a compliment instead. “You’re as clever as they say, sister. Whatever you say must be true.”
She accepted the praise, smiling. “Farewell, little one. May we never meet again.”