Leaving Shanzhou, the escort company entered a mountain range. The mountain paths were difficult to traverse, “Once we get past these mountains we’ll arrive at the Jiannan area. We’ll be close to Yizhou then.” Wang Tianqi gazed at the mountains ahead, “The authorities are hard-pressed here, so there are more bandits than normal.” Wang Tianqi reminded in order to gather everyone’s energy as they went forward.
Yizhou was encircled by mountains like a big bowl, with Yizhou resting within its flat bottom. High ridges and lofty mountains surrounded it on all sides, so people of the past would sigh, “The road to Shu is difficult to climb.”[1]Part of a phrase 蜀道之难，难于上青天, which means ‘the road to Shu is more difficult to climb than to the sky’. Shu is the region they are in, currently known as Sichuan
Sunlight dappled the ground as it passed through the thick foliage. Bored to tears, Jiang Ling reclined on the cart’s cargo box, her eyes half-shut and one of her legs dangling off, “Wang-dage, this route is so quiet.”
Normally, when returning to Longxi, they would encounter a few bandits and beat them back, but this time when they entered the mountainous region of Jiannan it was strangely tranquil.
“If it’s too quiet, then something’s wrong.” Wang Tianqi spoke from experience. If there were no small bandit groups, then there must be a large group.
Into the night, the escort company found a flat, open piece of land to set up camp. Jiang Ling had rested too much during the day so she was responsible for keeping watch at night. She looked for a tree so she could keep an eye on the surroundings. Everything was peaceful as before. Being winter, even the insects were holed up, certain to not cry their song into the night.
In a daze, Jiang Ling sat on a tree bough, her head resting against the trunk.
“Who’s there?” Leaves rustled in the distance. Jiang Ling raised her guard, dropping to the ground, “Wang-dage, there seems to be some movement. I will go over and check.”
Wang Tianqi swiftly called over a few of his brothers, “If something’s wrong, come back immediately.”
“Mhm.” Jiang Ling entered the forest, approaching the area of movement with caution.
At that moment, the leaves again rustled in quick succession. The sound was unlike that of animals foraging for food and more like something leading Jiang Ling deeper into the wood. Jiang Ling left markings behind her as she followed closely in pursuit.
In the forest before her was the faint glow of fire; the mountains’ col concealed a bandit stronghold. Jiang Ling observed from a hidden location. This stronghold was larger than the one she had seen three years ago. Enormous logs formed an impenetrable barrier, the gate was closed shut, and two enormous barricades were placed in front of the entrance, their tips sharpened into points. Two tall observation towers stood on either side with sentries on patrol, and navy blue flags with the embroidered character ‘Kun’ flew on both towers.
Jiang Ling could not see the stronghold clearly, so she went to the top of the mountain. The stronghold was spacious inside and well-arranged, almost as if it was a mountain village. Bandits patrolled in twos and threes, carrying torches.
“Wang-dage was correct.” Jiang Ling followed her markings back to the escort company.
“Wang-dage, there’s a large fortress in the mountains before us. From what I could see there were many bandits.” Jiang Ling landed beside Wang Tianqi and hastened to inform him of her findings.
Wang Tianqi knitted his brows and pondered for a moment. After considering the circumstances between their two parties, he decided to take a detour. They were outmatched, and if they clashed, they could lose many of their company even if they abandoned the goods. However, the only cart-faring path was the one they were currently on. It was difficult to find a detour.
“What if a smaller group of us pretend to be going on our way with an empty cart, and when we draw their attention away, the remaining brothers will slip through the cracks?” Jiang Ling thought of an idea and asked for Wang Tianqi’s opinion. Then she continued her thoughts, “The brothers in the first group need to be skilled. Once we lure the bandits away, we’ll have to escape and meet up with the larger group later.”
Wang Tianqi thought that this idea was plausible: “Try to delay them for an incense stick’s time. We’ll be able to escape from the bandit’s territory, and then the threat that they pose won’t be high.”
Wang Tianqi then called over a few men to rearrange the goods and free up two carts and a few boxes. The empty boxes were filled with stones and covered with a layer of wild ginseng, completing the illusion. It really looked like an escorted cart. They dusted the cart with a bit of grass to cover it up.
Jiang Ling volunteered for the feint group. Wang Tianqi could not talk her out of it and acquiesced to her request. As the head of the escort company, Wang Tianqi would also act as the leader of the smaller group. He chose four men of high caliber to prepare so they could move come night. If they did not encounter any bandits, then A Qiu would bring the majority of the company with her. If they did encounter them, then she would wait for the bandits to bring them to their stronghold, then the rest of them could avail themselves of the nighttime to pass through.
Everything was prepared. Jiang Ling and Wang Tianqi set off with their own group. They did not use torches and by the weak moonlight slowly advanced forward. The cart’s wheels clacked, the noise deafening in the quiet forest.
Jiang Ling clenched her fists, gazing diligently around at her surroundings.
With a ‘clang’, the cart’s wheels got caught on a stone on the path, stopping it dead in its tracks.
“You four give it a push.” Wang Tianqi told the four men to go push the cart from behind, but it was stuck fast.
With no alternative, one of the men named A Biao lit a torch to check the situation, but just as he lit it, two large nets suddenly sprouted up from the leaf-strewn ground before them. Jiang Ling tucked into a forward roll and escaped the net. Her body was covered in leaves, evidently in a sorry state. Wang Tianqi and the other three men were divided between the two nets and hung up from the trees, struggling violently.
Only Jiang Ling and A Biao remained standing as they looked at each other blankly.
With a whoosh of sound on the mountainside, about thirty bandits emerged, some brandishing their blades, some with bows drawn.
The bandit leader, an ominous look in his eye, gestured with a slight tilt of his head. Two bandits strode forward, their blades in hand.
Holding his own blade, A Biao moved to stand in front of Jiang Ling and shouted: “Gentlemen, let’s talk it out.”
Wang Tianqi struggled without success. He gripped the net with both hands, “Gentlemen, my brothers and I are just passing through on some small business.”
The bandit leader wore a disappointed expression. He turned to the bandit underling beside him and said: “Tell the boss that it’s just some small fry. I can handle it.”
The underling acknowledged the order and ran off with a fire at his heel.
Those two bandits that had advanced forward paid no heed to A Biao or Jiang Ling as they swaggered toward them. A Biao had to shield Jiang Ling behind his body and retreat a few steps.
They leapt onto the cart and opened the boxes, “Deputy boss, it’s wild ginseng.” They sniffed it carefully, “Decent quality.”
Wang Tianqi smiled obsequiously: “Gentlemen, the wild ginseng is top-notch. Could you all leave us one box, and the rest can be our respects to your boss?”
“Pei, all of this here isn’t enough to pay respect, and you’re still thinking of keeping a box?” The deputy leader’s face was filled with disdain, “Men, kill them all.”
“Ai ai ai, don’t want it, don’t want it!” Wang Tianqi hurriedly begged for mercy.
At that moment, a few of the bandits lit torches. The deputy leader’s eyes narrowed as he inspected Wang Tianqi’s party.
When he saw Jiang Ling behind A Biao, his eyes lit up, “I could let you go. But you’ll have to meet one of my conditions.”
Jiang Ling: “What?”
The deputy leader’s expression was sly. He looked Jiang Ling up and down, making Jiang Ling feel entirely ill at ease, “This little sister looks quite good. Our boss just happens to be missing a bride. We’ll be family, so this box can be discussed.”
“Bullshit!” Wang Tianqi raged, “Go ahead and kill me. I’ll never sell out my sister!” He started to struggle again.
The deputy leader raised a hand and the bandits with bows took aim at Wang Tianqi, “Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!”[2]敬酒不吃吃罚酒, an expression meaning that you crumble under pressure after first rejecting them
The arrows were about to leave the bowstring.
“Wait!” Jiang Ling walked out from behind A Biao, “If I go with you, then you’ll let my brother and his men go?”
“Naturally. If you come with us, then after tomorrow, you’ll[3]switched to formal you in addressing JL be our sister-in-law. You brother will be our brother, so of course we won’t make it difficult on them.”
“A Ling! Don’t be foolish!” Wang Tianqi roared.
A Biao also came forward and rushed to stop Jiang Ling, “Miss!”
Jiang Ling threw off his hand, then walked up to the deputy leader, “Let them go now and I’ll follow you.”
“I can’t do that.” The deputy leader gestured for one of the bandits to tie up A Biao and lay him out on the side of the path, then had another bandit offload one of the boxes of wild ginseng, “As I’ve said, one box. The rest are to pay respects.”
The deputy leader turned toward Jiang Ling and softened his voice, “Sister-in-law, I will help untie your brother tomorrow. Now, come with me.”
Jiang Ling felt a chill go down her back at the use of ‘sister-in-law’, but she endured her disgust and nodded. She followed them toward the mountain stronghold.
Wang Tianqi shouted insults from the net but the deputy leader did not turn back as he led Jiang Ling away. Two bandits were left behind to keep catch on Wang Tianqi’s group and another two dragged the cart away.
“You’re going to free my brother tomorrow, right.” Jiang Ling said with a delicate pitifulness. The deputy leader could not help but say tenderly, “Sister-in-law, you still don’t believe me?”
The deputy leader was sure that Jiang Ling, a young woman, was frightened after being caught by bandits, “Sister-in-law, please rest easy. We’re the Paijing Gang, so we’ll follow through on our promises. Everyone knows this.” The deputy leader thumped his chest in pledge.
So they were the Paijing Gang. They did not succeed in controlling the waterways in Yuzhou, so they hid out in the mountains to seize the roads.[4]From chapter 2, I believe
Jiang Ling purposefully slowed her steps to buy time, “The Paijing Gang? I thought they were involved with the waterways. Why are you all in the mountains?”
The deputy leader merely thought she was trying to get an understanding of the Paijing Gang, sure that she was accepting her position as mistress of the stronghold. He dropped his guard significantly and started to explain, “Hai, we were involved with the waterways, but business turned bad and we entered the mountains. Sister-in-law, please rest assured, the mountains are just as good as the waterways and we have delicacies from all around, I promise.”
Jiang Ling walked slowly and this bunch of men was in no hurry, either. By the time they reached the entrance of the stronghold, the sky was already brightening. Jiang Ling watched as they raised the gate and pulled the cart inside. The leader of the Paijing Gang heard that the deputy leader had brought a radiant bride back for him and broke out in a grin, making his odious face even more distasteful, “Old Two[5]老二, ‘old’ as a form of closeness, ‘two’ referring to his status as second in command, you’re really considerate of this brother of yours.”
The leader patted the deputy leader on the back, “I’ll have to thank you properly.” As he spoke, he turned his head and looked at Jiang Ling lecherously, “Wife, you’re truly a beauty[6]国色天香, ethereal, godlike fragrance.”
He even drew close to kiss her. Jiang Ling felt a pang of nausea. She was driven to the end of her rope and pulled a dagger out of her sleeve, wanting to rid herself of this deplorable man.
Just then, the leader’s face twisted. Blue veins popped out on his forehead and broken syllables escaped his throat. He covered his neck with both hands and thumped to the ground, struggling bitterly for a few seconds before his eyes rolled up and he went to meet Yama[7]the king of hell.
The deputy leader reacted first. His eyes rounded, his face filled with fear, “The Tang Sect! It’s the Tang Sect!”
Footnotes
| ↑1 | Part of a phrase 蜀道之难，难于上青天, which means ‘the road to Shu is more difficult to climb than to the sky’. Shu is the region they are in, currently known as Sichuan |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | 敬酒不吃吃罚酒, an expression meaning that you crumble under pressure after first rejecting them |
| ↑3 | switched to formal you in addressing JL |
| ↑4 | From chapter 2, I believe |
| ↑5 | 老二, ‘old’ as a form of closeness, ‘two’ referring to his status as second in command |
| ↑6 | 国色天香, ethereal, godlike fragrance |
| ↑7 | the king of hell |