Chapter 23
Mountain Pass
Still far, but the band of brothers spies see a mounted army of a thousand troops. Flags are raised, and the horses' hooves are marching as they approach the southern edge of the Yanbei mountains, entering what they call the "First Mountain Pass" under the heavens, the gateway to the Eastern empire.
One spy whistles a distinct signal to warn Zuo Zong of the impending danger.
It was their first alarm, and Yuwen Yue knew and expected that anything could happen at any moment.
"Master brother, troops are coming. The band of brothers is aware, and we are ready to attack or disengage," said Zuo Zong, gasping for air as he runs toward Yuwen Yue, who is extinguishing a tea candle and preparing to leave.
It is dawn, and their walking cavalry is always ready and alert. They had already packed up their tents, and Yuwen Yue's was the last to be dismantled. Yuwen Yue helped his brothers take it down while Zuo Zong stood by, waiting for instructions.
Yuwen Yue had already taught his brothers the rules of engagement and set their expectations, just as he had. He also introduced them to the concept of truces and other military terms, ensuring that everyone was prepared for any future encounters.
Meanwhile, Zuo Zong's training focused on tactical movements, including offensive and defensive strategies their band of brothers might use in the face of war or ambush. Yuwen Yue gained these principles during his three years of training at Xiaoqi camp under the command of Wei's Royal 7th Prince, Yuan Che.
Their military expedition gave him enough experience to become one of Wei's most esteemed generals. Yuwen Yue is the golden egg, the key to Prince Yuan Che's success.
With Yuwen Yue's fifty or so brothers, their chances of survival would be slim against a thousand troops. They would be like ants biting a giant's feet. Yuwen Yue asked Zuo Zong, "How many?"
"We are unsure of the exact number, but we estimate it to be around a thousand," Zuo Zong replied, seemingly unworried.
"Since when?" asked Yuwen Yue.
"Our spies blended in with their troops two nights ago. They returned at dawn and reported that the troops have been moving towards us. They confirmed they would pass through our grid coordinates," Zuo Zong replied.
Yuwen Yue, dressed in his faded dark blue peasant fighting clothes, with foxy fur from his hunting adventures during training with his brothers, stood tall and cold-eyed. He had already sent men to scout the terrain of the mountains and the sea near the unfinished wall.
He developed maps and identified possible hideouts in case of an encounter. Yuwen Yue unrolled a map, calculated distances, and looked toward the Bohei mountains. He closed his eyes, knowing winter was nearing as autumn came to an end.
Zuo divided the spies and the band of brothers. He ordered the rapid blades, flying daggers, and flashing spears to move toward the mountains. He also assigned a spy to accompany them as their pulse and guide to their meeting point after the event.
They took their assigned hideout posts while Zuo Zong, the remaining stick warriors, and two other spies stayed behind.
Yuwen Yue and his cold warriors were prepared to execute a tactical maneuver called smoke screening. However, instead of creating clouds of smoke to conceal their band, this time they would use the smoke to lure the enemy. If successful, the enemy would lose their vision.
The advance party wouldn't suspect anyone had camped by the shore of the unfinished walls.
It was so clean that no one would ever think a cavalry had stayed there for days and nights. Their advantage was that, since they were neither heavily armed nor mounted on horses, they could flee quickly and follow instructions with speed.
"We cannot attack nor let them see us, as we are outnumbered. Everyone, you all know what to do," Yuwen Yue gave his final reminder.
Zuo Zong added, "Brothers, we meet at the place we told you about. Whoever gets there first waits for the others. If anything goes wrong, the spies must be the first to know and flee to inform everyone."
Quickly, Yuwen Yue gave the signal, which Zuo passed to the ranking brothers, and they set off on foot.
Yuwen's parrot was freed from its cage and landed on Yuwen Yue's shoulder. The bird, trained for crises, looked almost like a commanding general itself, knowing what to do in moments of danger.
The advancing cavalry saw smoke rising from the mountainside. It wasn't the heavy smoke of concealment but a thin vertical plume, leading them to believe a small group was nearby, too insignificant to pose a threat.
However, the ground commander, wary, deployed his men to investigate. Nearly a thousand troops were approaching the First Mountain Pass.
"Maybe it's just an amateur hunter," said one of the archer generals.
"We can't be sure. Follow standard procedure," the ground commander replied, tapping his horse and moving to the front of his cavalry. The troops remained calm; there was no sign of danger, only the cold wind blowing across the mountains.
Yuwen Yue had carefully prepared his men. Before the mounted troops could pass, his band of brothers had already retreated to their positions. Though outnumbered, they were not intimidated by the presence of the marching army. Yuwen Yue's strategy ensured his men were neither on the defensive nor alarmed.
A spy returned, informing Zuo that someone was approaching their position, but then found himself alone. He scratched his head in confusion until Zuo, watching from a distance, approached and playfully slapped the back of his neck. "We're here," Zuo grinned.
The startled junior spy quickly drew his small dagger, aiming it at Zuo's neck.
"Easy, easy, brother," Zuo said calmly.
Still shaken, the junior spy realized Zuo was disguised with dried grass on his head, giving him a wild appearance. "My bad," the spy stammered, "I didn't recognize you. You look like a ghost!"
Yuwen Yue chuckled softly, overhearing the exchange. Zuo laughed as well but, with restraint, handed the spy more materials for concealment. "Here, take these. You can't die early, you're the first to know and the first to flee if anything goes wrong."
Yuwen Yue smiled, his eyes brightening. "You've done well, both of you. You even fooled your own brother."
Then, his tone shifted. "Back to business. Let's move." He hid in the forest, and his men took their positions, some climbing trees, others setting traps, all camouflaged and prepared. Yuwen Yue had taught them to rely on offense, as they were cold warriors. They could not afford mistakes or to exhaust their limited weapons supply. If forced into defense, they would be doomed.
Their goal was simple: let the enemy pass without detection. If the hour passed without incident, the ground commander would be deceived, and the troops would safely move through the perimeter.
Yuwen Yue, calm and sharp, did not falter. His blood surged as the crucial moment approached.
Soon, the advance party neared, but Yuwen Yue and his brothers seemed invisible. One soldier thought he saw something, causing Yuwen Yue to tense, his cold eyes narrowing. The soldier was about to blow their cover when the stick warrior activated plan B.
The stick warrior, acting in a dramatic manner, groaned loudly from a nearby spot. The soldiers turned to see a young boy, dressed in dirty clothes, limping in pain with a pricked foot.
"What are you doing here, boy?" one of the soldiers asked.
The boy, pretending to be mute, gestured helplessly toward the distance. Amused, the soldiers laughed and said, "A mute boy, he's harmless. He must've been left behind by his friends."
The boy exaggerated his expressions, and the soldiers, thoroughly entertained, dismissed any suspicion. "He can't harm our troops. Let's report back to the General. All's clear."
As one soldier ran to report, Yuwen Yue didn't relax until the entire company had passed the unfinished wall. The thousand-foot soldiers marched in uniform, trumpets blaring, drums thundering. Each step sounded like a victory, their shields and blades gleaming in the daylight.
Yuwen Yue, recalling this moment, noticed their leader, a princely figure riding a brilliant white horse, clad in a white robe with a thick fur-lined cape. His long black hair, jade-like skin, and cold eyes gave him an almost god-like presence. Yuwen Yue had never seen him before, but he could only guess that this man was of royal blood.
As the leader passed, Yuwen Yue's brothers couldn't help but glance back and forth between him and Yuwen Yue, noticing the uncanny resemblance. Zuo Zong winked, and the others blinked in confusion.
Yuwen Yue, growing irritated, finally broke the silence: "What are you all staring at?"
Zuo grinned. "The man who passed by looks like you, but older."
The others nodded in agreement.
Yuwen Yue, catching the jest, replied, "Maybe he's my brother," and the group laughed.
"The stick warrior saved us all," Yuwen Yue added with a grin.
Zuo laughed too. "I told you he could act. At the Shaolin temple, he'd always perform for fun, even in moments like this!" He patted the stick warrior on the back, and the group shared another laugh as the stick warrior reenacted his earlier performance.
Yuwen Yue, still smiling, said, "Well done, everyone. Let's meet the others waiting on the other side."
Just as they were about to leave, an arrow shot through the trees, narrowly missing Yuwen Yue. He felt the cold wind against his face and immediately signaled everyone to stay put.
He waited for another attack, but none came. Instead, a woman appeared, wearing a thin red mask and a pitch-black dress. She moved so swiftly that Yuwen Yue couldn't catch her before,
Bang! A loud thud echoed through the forest.
The stick warrior, laughing victoriously, had caught the woman in a trap. One of her feet was suspended in a rope, leaving her hanging upside down beneath a pine tree.
Yuwen Yue, still cautious, didn't approach too closely. The woman, her mask covering her eyes and only her lips exposed, looked ominous as she dangled before him.
Zuo Zong moved to take off her mask, but Yuwen Yue stopped him: "Zuo, wait!"
Suddenly, another woman appeared, leaping high into the air and slicing the rope with her sword. Yuwen Yue reacted quickly, grabbing the indigo scarf of the second woman as she tried to escape. He twisted the scarf around his left arm, pulling her toward him, their eyes meeting.
He placed a firm finger against her abdomen, causing her to drop her sword in mild pain. Her face was veiled, revealing only her eyes and beaded forehead. Dressed in a flowing white outfit, she resembled Princess Jasmine from the tales of Aladdin.
Yuwen Yue, still holding the scarf and the woman in his arms, couldn't help but notice the scent of plum blossoms, which stirred memories of his home.
Meanwhile, Zuo Zong caught the first woman, who had fallen into his arms. Just as the situation escalated, one of Yuwen Yue's cold warriors released an arrow, aiming at the red-masked woman.
Yuwen Yue quickly intercepted the arrow, picking up the fallen sword to deflect it. The red-masked woman grabbed the arrow and attempted to strike Zuo, but he countered her attack. They engaged in a fierce fight, Zuo's martial arts skills impressing even Yuwen Yue and the others.
The red-masked woman fought skillfully, using her long whip to bind Zuo's feet, causing him to fall. Yuwen Yue swiftly cut the whip with the sword and saved Zuo from further harm.
But before they could finish the battle, the red-masked woman unbound Zuo and, with the other woman, disappeared in a flash. Yuwen Yue barely registered what had happened, but the scent of plum blossoms lingered in his memory.
The band of brothers stood frozen, unable to believe what they had witnessed. All eyes turned to Yuwen Yue's hand, still holding the indigo scarf.
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