Chapter 82: Bribery Is a Tradition Since Ancient Time

“Ya, Ya!”

A convoy of two carriages and several carts surrounded by a dozen guards slowly passes through dark streets.

A middle-aged man in early thirties on an old horse takes the lead.

He wears a cloth robe and seems to be in haste.

“Hurry, hurry!” The convoy speeds up a little as the man looks back and urges it to go faster.

The middle-aged man is wearing a hard look. He has spent countless money on lobbying the Zhao and Qin, and finally got the Lady Hua Yang to recognize Ying Yi’ren as her adopted son, and persuaded the king of Zhao to release him.

Lord An’guo (Ying Zhu) is the current crown prince of Qin, and Lady Hua Yang is his first wife. Therefore, since he already recognized Lady Hua Yang as her mother, Ying Yi’ren will become a successor once he returns to Qin.

All of that takes money and effort!

This time, right after Qin has regained vitality, it is preparing to attack other kingdoms once again. Feeling his kingdom in danger, the king of Zhao has grown the intention to kill Ying Yi’ren.

So, they must leave now; otherwise, all their previous efforts will be wasted.

He is a merchant and he understands that he is investing in a lord as well as a future king. Should he achieve success in this investment, there will be rewards far beyond the amount of money he put in.

But, at the moment, he dares not imagine any future gains.

Sitting inside a carriage among the convoy, Ying Yi’ren wears a pale look, beads of sweat all over his forehead.

“Yi ge’er.” A beautiful woman at his side places her hand on his, her skin pristine and ivory, eyes bright and crystal clear.

Within her arms lies a toddler of but 2 years in age, prattling: “Daddy.”

With a light smile, Ying Yi’ren gently pats the woman’s hand, and then caresses the child’s face.

“It will be fine. Don’t worry. It has to be fine.”

As long as they can cross the border and reach the place where general Wang He and his army of Qin station, they will be safe.

That place is not far from here and they can get there before daybreak. However, before they get here, it will be a journey full of danger.

“Stop!”

From the city gate ahead of them, soldiers on guard yell at them.

“Woah…”

The place is instantly filled with the noise of horses and carts pulling into halt, yet no sound can be heard from the two carriages.

“It is already late at night. Why are you still on the road?”

The captain of the squad guarding the gate frowns at the middle-aged man at the front of the convoy.

“Sir, this little one has an emergency at home and must return as soon as possible.” The middle-aged man jumps off the horse, bows to the captain, and waves at the people behind him.

Then, several guards soon carry a crate forward, and puts it in between of the two.

The captain lifts his eyebrows in suspicion, as the middle-aged man gently laughs: “This is but some insignificant gift, please accept it, sir.”

Saying so, he flips the crate open.

The sparkling gleam shining from the crate makes the captain squint his eyes: “It cannot be helped that you have an emergency at home. Brothers, we should not be concerned about them.”
 

Then, he calls out: “Someone, open the gate!”

“Woo—”

The gate slow opens.

The middle-aged man pays a hasty salute to the guards: “Thank you, brothers.”

Then, he hops onto the horse: “Let’s go!”

The convoy moves out of the city and into the darkness.

The captain orders the soldiers to carry the crate to the foot of the city wall. This is such an unexpected wealth that is worth years of his wages.

However, he is yet to realize that unexpected wealth usually comes with unexpected disaster.

Soon, after a while it takes an incense stick to burn, a troop of cavalry arrives.

Numerous soldiers holding blades and horses neighing turns the night lively, but frightens the guards at the gate, as they watch a commandant approach them.

A commandant is the position that can command at most five thousand men, and thus the captain does not even dare to raise his head to face him.

“Sir…” The captain is nervous as he wonders why so many people are crossing the gate tonight. When he relates it to the convoy that just left, he suddenly feels a thump in his mind.

He steps forward and asks: “For what matters do you sir come here?”

Seeing the captain’s pale expression, the commandant furrows his brows. “When you were guarding the gate, did you see someone leave the city?”
 

……

The captain shivers. It really is about that group of people. Damn it! They screw me up bad!

“Report to you sir; ye…yes, there were people that left the city.” The captain shuts his eyes, his legs trembling, since this is a matter that can get him killed.

“Why do you let them go!” Dangerous gleam shines of the commandant’s eyes.

“Do you even know their identities!?”
 

He wants to kill this person right here. But on second thought, there is a more important matter at hand. If he cannot properly handle it, his career as an official will be doomed. Yet, should he successfully get it done, he will receive a return more than a mere promotion or reward of wealth.

“Huh, open the gate quickly! I will come back to you later!”

“Yes, yes.” The captain hurriedly orders the guards to open the gate.

The calvary of thousands of people storms out of the city.

On the other side, the convoy led by the middle-aged man has arrived at a plain field of the outskirt. This is the designated location where, by the Lady Hua Yang’s message, they will rendezvous with a division of guards who will escort them to general Wang He’s place.

Where are they…

The middle-aged man looks around, and sees a young general in white robe not far away.

The young general on a black horse for some reason wears a robe of mourning white color. The face is covered by a mask inscribed with the expression of a vicious beast.

The spear in hand startles the middle-aged man as it looks so heavy that it can only be wielded by one with extraordinary strength.

After he orders the convoy to move forward, he has a clear sight of the army stationed there.

They are but a few hundred in number, all cladded in black armors, each at their back carrying a great shield that must weigh a lot just by the look. Also, each of them is equipped with a long spear, a sharp sword, and a compact crossbow.

Hundreds of men just stand there motionlessly, like an array of stone statues with great solemnity.

The white robed general looks at him.

The middle-aged man swallows hard, as he steps forward: “I am Lü Buwei. Is your division the one dispatched by the king of Qin to escort us?

The gaze from the young general sends chill to Lü Buwei’s limbs, as she finally nods.

“Yes, we should leave.”

“But…” Lü Buwei hesitates, “the pursuit from Zhao must be cavalries.”

Saying so, he looks at the hundreds of men, all infantries, small in number.

It does not matter even if they are elites. They cannot outrun cavalries.

Upon Lü Buwei’s comment, hundreds of glares fall onto him. Like blades at his throat, the mere contempt looks from the soldiers send shivering feeling all over his body as if he is submerged in an ice cave.

The white robed young general curls up her lips: “That does not concern you gentleman. Just get on the way, and leave the pursuers to us.”
 

Then, glares from the hundreds of men shift away, returning the lively feeling back to Lü Buwei’s body, as he roughly gasps for air and turns to look at the soldiers with lingering fear.

The kingdom of Qin is known to be ruthless and brutal. This army is a true incarnation of such spirit.

No wonder it can rival all other kingdoms by itself.