Chapter 74: The Frightened Dog

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"Your Highness, a person of such noble status should not sit beneath a collapsing hall. Please withdraw to the rear chamber; once the army outside arrives, Yuwen Shiji and his men will surely perish," Bie Shan said fearfully, holding back Li Youliang who was about to rush forward and kill. He was merely a scholar lost in daydreams, never before exposed to such scenes of carnage and bloodshed. His advice for Li Youliang to retreat was, in truth, also a desire to keep himself in a safe place.

"You are right. I must not risk my own life. Meng Da, you and your men hold the line. When this is over, I will reward you handsomely," Li Youliang said, suddenly enlightened, addressing Meng Baolai. With that, he led his band of cronies toward the rear chamber.

Yuwen Shiji watched this scene with delight in his heart. The opposing strategist was truly the worst kind of ally; in the midst of battle, he took the commander and fled.

As Li Youliang vanished at the end of the corridor, Yuwen Shiji shouted loudly, "Li Youliang has abandoned you all and run for his life. Anyone who lays down their arms shall be spared; those who resist will see their entire family executed."

Hearing Yuwen Shiji’s words, some turned to look and cried out in terror, "The prince... he really has escaped!"

Meng Baolai, grief-stricken, shouted, "I never imagined Li Youliang would be such a man. I thought he was a wise ruler... alas." With a heavy heart, he tossed his long blade to the ground.

The others, mere soldiers following orders, saw Meng Baolai relinquish his weapon and, hesitating, also laid down their arms, allowing themselves to be bound.

Li Youliang suddenly noticed the sound of fighting in the front hall had ceased. The world was so quiet he could hear his own heartbeat. A sense of foreboding crept over him as a crony stumbled in, saying, "Your Highness, Yuwen Shiji says you fled, and everyone has surrendered. They are coming to kill us; we must escape!"

Hearing this, Li Youliang roared in fury, "Bie Shan has ruined me!" Then, before Bie Shan’s disbelieving eyes, he slashed his neck with a blade.

"Follow me. Once we are out of the city and reach the camp, we can turn the tables. I will see Yuwen Shiji suffer a thousand cuts!" With that, he led his men in a desperate charge toward the city gates.

Yuwen Shiji, after tidying up the aftermath, heard that Li Youliang was fleeing toward the camp but showed no concern. Smiling, he said to Meng Baolai, "How desperate will he be when he finds the camp has changed allegiance?"

"I believe he'll head for the Turkic lands. But by then, his true despair will begin. The Lord has orchestrated everything; the Turks have no time for a powerless man like him," Meng Baolai replied, his tone measured.

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Meng Baolai spoke with calm dignity, his eyes filled with gratitude when mentioning Cai Cong. Had he remained an insignificant officer, not the chief instructor of the New Army, how could he converse as an equal with Yuwen Shiji?

"The Earl of Chang'an is a true sage; the world lies within his grasp. It's a pity I've never met him," Yuwen Shiji lamented. Meng Baolai nodded proudly—his formal role was Cai Cong's chief bodyguard, and he doubled as the chief instructor of the New Army.

Li Youliang broke out of the city and found no one pursuing him. Laughing, he said to his companions, "Yuwen Shiji must have too few men to chase us, likely staying to defend the city. We'll bypass him and attack other cities, catching him off guard."

The others echoed his laughter. As the group neared the camp, they saw banners fluttering in the wind emblazoned with the character for 'Cheng.' Their own Li family banners were nowhere to be seen. This unsettled him greatly. He quietly ordered his men to capture a soldier chopping wood.

"Speak! Why have the camp banners changed?" Li Youliang's men demanded, pressing a blade to the soldier's neck.

"Your Highness, early this morning Commander Meng, holding your military token, announced the Turks were approaching. You were ordered to hand over your troops to General Cheng Yaojin, who now commands the camp," the soldier stammered.

"How dare Meng Baolai betray me?" Li Youliang’s eyes blazed, and he hacked at the soldier as if he were Meng Baolai himself. Blow after blow left him shaken, and he sat dazed on the ground.

"Your Highness, we must go! The Tang army controls this place; they will surely hunt for us," a wandering swordsman urged, helping Li Youliang to his feet, his voice anxious.

"Where can we go? Now I am like a frightened dog—where in the world dares shelter me?" Li Youliang’s face was greasy, his clothes filthy, but he cared not, pushing the swordsman aside and gazing in despair at the endless forest.

"Go to the Turks, Your Highness. You know the Tang army’s deployments inside out. The Khan will surely treat you as an honored guest; you can borrow their troops and rise anew," the swordsman exclaimed, his eyes suddenly bright with hope.

A sharp whistle—

Before the joy faded from his face, an arrow pierced his neck, thudding into the tree behind him and vibrating ominously.

Li Youliang and his men were terrified; with the army surrounding them, escape was impossible. They hurriedly used the dense forest as cover, fleeing deeper into the woods.

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"I had wanted them to taste true despair, but if they wish to betray their country, I cannot let them reach the Turks. All troops, hear my command: dead or alive, seize Li Youliang and his men," Yuwen Shiji said coldly. The army behind him surged into the forest like a swarm of locusts—ten thousand men hunting a mere hundred. If they failed, Yuwen Shiji himself would face death.

On the gates of Liangzhou, dozens of heads hung. Meng Baolai, standing at the entrance, bowed to Yuwen Shiji and said, "Governor Yuwen, the matter here is settled. I must return and report to the Lord. Please hang these heads for seven days; the Lord decreed that anyone who harms the merchant caravans must die. These heads are the best warning."

"Of course, of course. Thank you for your assistance, Master Meng; this minor matter will not disappoint the Earl of Chang'an," Yuwen Shiji replied, bowing in thanks. He glanced around and then asked quietly, "I heard the merchant caravan is associated with Qingning Palace—is that true...?"

"Governor Yuwen, mind your words!" Before Yuwen Shiji could finish, Meng Baolai interrupted sharply and then whispered, "The business has nothing to do with Ningqing Palace. The Lord said the main patron is the Huang family. You know the 'Huang' family?"

"I understand. Hehe, as long as I am here in Liangzhou, the Cai family caravan will always pass unimpeded," Yuwen Shiji said with a smile, gifting a hundred taels of gold in thanks before seeing them off.

Once outside Liangzhou’s boundaries, Meng Baolai assumed a stern expression and addressed his companions, "The Lord’s secret order is for us to proceed immediately to Shandong and await further instructions. Are the horses Xiao Sanzi purchased ready?"

"Master, a total of sixty-two horses, all kept in a small village at the foot of the western hills. We can retrieve them now."

"Excellent. We started later than the Lord and the route is longer. Once we have the horses, three mounts per person, we ride day and night. We must catch up with the Lord." Meng Baolai said, squeezing his mount’s flanks and galloping westward.