The Longest Day in Chang'an

Chapter 26: Wei Chu (13:00-14:59) Part 5

Translator: DragonRider

Dong dong dong, dong, dong dong dong, dong...

The rhythmed sound of drums spread to every corner of the southeast of Chang’an. According to Tang laws, the moment the Nine Blockade Drum rang, Scouts stationed on streets should block the streets and crossroads in the surrounding nine fangs.

However, in Lantern Festival, everyone was in the great mood for fun, including the scouts on duty who were slow in action even after hearing the drums. Not until quite a moment later did some scouts wake up their fellow colleagues in sleep or in cards game, slack in action.

Fortunately, Cui Qi never placed his hope on these fools. He specially dispatched over a dozen soldiers from Lubi Army, with identity token, to each Scout Station to make sure the scouts would act in time. To guarantee the strict execution of orders, he even sent about five groups of elite chivalry men to patrol the peripheral streets. Therefore, even if the Turks breached the blockade, they would bump right into the patrolling walls of chivalry men.

For a time, there was quite a stir in the nine Fangs. Scouts hurried to place the barricades and thorn walls, setting temporary security posts cross the streets. And the chivalry men galloped along the streets, their sharp eyes scanning every corner on both sides of the road. Pedestrians all halted their steps in surprise, confused about what was happening. They were still allowed to pass, only to be checked thoroughly at each street entrance.

A huge net fell over the neighboring areas around Xiuzheng Fang. However, Mag’er and his men just disappeared. Reports from every street stayed the same, “No sign of them.”

Cui Qi roared to the messenger, “This can’t be! They don’t have wings! Even if they do, they couldn’t escape from being noticed by Watchtower.”

No matter they ran away by horse, carriage or on foot, they were not able to escape more than two Li (a unit of distance, about 500 meters) as the whole area was under the strictest range of watch. So there were only two possibilities as to their whereabouts, either they got out by bribing the guards at each security post or they were hiding in a fang around Xiuzheng Fang. Either possibility would lead to an extremely tricky situation.

Right at this point came the news from Wang’s Mansion: Jiedu Wang’s daughter, Wang Yunxiu, went out on a ride for her newly obtained carriage, whereabouts unknown.

In the meanwhile, another news from Jing’an Department came: An accident happened in Jingshan Fang that a wood cart crashed with a Hu carriage, where only the dead bodies of the cart driver and about a dozen scouts were found.

This must be Turkish Wolves’ doing. Only they were ruthless and vicious as this.

Cui Qi’s stomach turned as if being gripped by a hand upon hearing the news. Wang Zhongsi was important official at court. Severe disorder would result if anything bad happened to his daughter.

Completely at loss, Cui Qi walked over to Zhang Xiaojing who was about to leave and folded his hands, “Commander Zhang, we lost track of the Wolves. What should we do?”

Given any other option, Cui Qi would never expose his weakness and turned to this condemned prisoner. But at the moment he had no other choice. This guy alone had managed to uncover Wolves’ tail in less than four hours, which was by no means what someone ordinary could achieve. It suddenly occurred to Cui Qi that only if Zhang Xiaojing, by virtue of his tactics and experience, caught the Wolves would he be able to survive the possible catastrophe. So “Mr. Zhang” was replaced by “Commander Zhang” when he talked to Zhang Xiaojing.

Zhang Xiaojing, though well aware of what was in Cui’s mind, didn’t point it out. He snapped his finger and said, “Get on the Watchtower first.”

The two were fast to reach the top of Watchtower in Xiuzheng Fang, taking into view everything in the neighboring eight Fangs. The streets outside Fangs and the buildings in them were all clearly seen as if being displayed on sand table. On each street entrance crowded a large group of commoners which were delayed by the security post. With great eyesight, they could even discern the clothes people were wearing.

There was no way that Turks could escape under such a strong surveillance.

Cui Qi, his eyes wide open, looked around in anxiety and tended to believe every one he saw suspicious. Zhang Xiaojing narrowed his only eye and scanned around in great detail before he came to a stop in a direction. Lifting his hand to point at the southeast, he said, “Qujiang Pond.”

Cui Qi was still confused but then came to a realization when his eyes followed Zhang Xiaojing’s finger.

The southeast of Xiuzheng Fang was where one of the most popular tourist site, Qujiang Pond, located. One half of the pond was in the city, extending into two Fangs; while the other half of it reached far out of the city to connect with Shaoling Plateau. Inside the pond, watercourses wound up through the numerous buildings surrounded by forests and flowers dotted by wriggling pathlets. It was a great place for both sightseeing and hiding.

Qujiang Pond was governed by a special division, Shangchi Office, which, free from the management from Fangs, wouldn’t take order from the drum on Watchtower. It was likely that Turkish Wolves had taken the chance to escape into the mazy gardens in Qujiang Pond after climbing over the fans between each Fang.

Chang’an was generally designed in horizontal and vertical line, except the southeast corner where Qujiang Pond outstretched like a bulge in a rice bag. To make sure the pond wouldn’t be divided in half, no walls were constructed on the outskirts of the city, which were instead surrounded by several canals. Though carriage and horses were not able to pass, but it wasn’t a problem for two or three to get out on foot.

Judging from this, Turks had made great preparation before choosing Xiuzheng Fang as their hideout.

Cui Qi asked, “So you’re saying that they would cross the Qujiang River to get out of the city?”

With that, he felt quite relived in heart as it wasn’t necessarily something worse. As long as Turks were out, Jing’an Department could send elite chivalry men to spread the search without any hinderance. The outskirts of Chang’an City were plain without a place to hide. It was only a matter of time before they caught a few Turks.

Zhang Xiaojing’s brows stayed knitted as he stared at the water in Qujiang River, believing that Turks must be plotting something more complicate. It made no sense that they would run out of the city as their intention was to destroy Chang’an. But kidnapping or scorching the city, which was their final goal? Zhang spread the fang map and squated down to study it in detail as he just found these Turkish moves quite contradictory.

However, Cui Qi couldn’t wait to wave the flag signals to report to Jing’an Department, asking for more men to search the outskirts of Chang’an. Li Bi, eyes fixed on the sand table, didn’t hasten to dispatch Lubi Army after getting the signals, because he had this same doubt as Zhang Xiaojing.

These Wolves from grassland did throw them a problem hard to crack.

Cui Qi was getting anxious as he didn’t understand why Sicheng Li, someone wiser than Commander Zhang, couldn’t issue an order for such an obvious act. Time was tickling and each second passing by would provide the enemy better chance to run away.

The whole net of besiege quieted down. Cui Qi looked at Zhang in ponderation then the Watchtower not far away, his fingers rubbing the copper bulge on the sheath of his broadsword out of anxiety. And he began to plan in his heart that if no order were issued, it might be a good choice to dispatch several groups of caravans first.

However, Cui Qi, as a solider, was not used to do things without orders. While he was hesitating Zhang Xiaojing stood up and shook the map in his hand, his only eye glistening. Meanwhile, the signal flag on the watchtower came the same message as Zhang Xiaojing said, “It is the wolves’ trick to cloud our judgement. Wolves would return to the city by the nearest gate after getting out of Qujiang River.”

The nearest city gate around Qujiang River were Qixia Gate at the south and Yanxing Gate at the east, each about 500 meters away. Turkish wolves could enter the city publically by these two gates after getting out from the southeastern corner. By doing so, they could easily escape the besiege of the drums and watchtowers.

Cold sweat broke out from Cui Qi’s forehead as he thanked god for not having made the wrong decision, or he would be thoroughly wrong. With that thought, he immediately sent alarms to the two gates by the flag on the watchtower to lift the blockade in these nine Fangs and led his men towards the two gates.

However, Jing’an Department spent too much time in arranging the blockade in Xiuzheng Fang. Lifting it in such a haste caused quite a stir, and a slow enforcement of the order.

Qixia Gate and Yanxing Gate were the main passages for commoners from Jidong to enter Chang’an to enjoy Lantern Show. Now was the time for the heaviest traffic. Soon news came from the two gates, stating that the cunning Turks had already blended in the crowd and entered Chang’an. They were a step late. So the clue ended here, again. Yet time kept tickling.

Cui Qi hurried to write a confidential report and had it sent to Jing’an Department as he deemed it way too crucial to be concealed to himself. Then he turned to Zhang, “Commander Zhang, what shall we do?” His tone was unwittingly respectful and humble as he addressed Zhang Xiaoijng.

“Give me a second,” said Zhang Xiaojing as he kneeled on the ground, his body half prone to the ground to sniff like a hound.

Cui Qi, puzzled by what he was doing yet daring not to ask, had to wait by the side in panic, his breathing getting heavier.

Funny that back when he was in Longshan, he had lived the life of blood and death at ease, facing death without any fear. The cozy life in Chang’an didn’t corrode his fight capability, yet eroded his courage. It was true that when a man owned too much, he would no longer be able to face death at ease. Cui Qi, ashamed, realized that he was trying to mask his fear for being punished for claiming to revenge for his brother.

“So my career and fate are now in the hands of a condemned prisoner?” Cui Qi thought, unreconciled.

Zhang Xiaojing looked up abruptly and asked an irrelevant question, “Do you know anyone in Xuanhui Department?”

Cui Qi was rendered in bewilderment. Xuanhui Department was under the administration of the imperial palace, not a bit related with city security. Why did Zhang Xiaojing mention it?

Zhang Xiaojing added, “If my memory serves me right, Xuanghui Department controls five Fangs that tame eagle, falcon, hawk, harrier, and dog for His Majesty. If we can borrow several hounds with sharp noses from the Dog Fang, we might still stand a chance.” With that, he grabbed a handful of dust and sniffed it by the nose.

Incenses from Wen’s Incense were of high quality, the fragrance of which was renowned in West Market for lasting for several hours.

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