Harbhara frowned ferociously. “That’s easy enough, but how are we going to sneak you guys out without anyone discovering?”
Qin Yining tightened her pale lips and thought for a moment. “We’ll create a diversion.”
Lu Heng nodded with a smile. “Great minds think alike.”
……
The late khan’s funeral was grand and ceremonious, but at the same time rather crude because of how unexpected it was. Tatar’s royal family had been heavily pruned when Anari was the regent, and now there was no living member at all. Combined with Siqin’s benevolent and valiant reputation—the officials unanimously voted for him to take the throne.
After a short preparatory period and a solemn coronation ceremony, Siqin didn’t need to do much to consolidate the rest of Tatar political authority. He exercised a firm grasp on military power in the first place.
His first act upon enthronement was to decree the title of his reign as ‘Jianan’. Since his surname was Utkin, he was hailed as Utkin Khan. Such was the name on his first official proclamation, vowing vengeance for Anari and commanding that the entire nation be on the alert for her murderers. He also sent an official denunciation to Great Zhou, scathingly rebuking the nation for assassinating Anari and declaring that the price must be paid in blood.
Fires of fury and hate thoroughly fanned, the people grimly promised vengeance for their late khan and immense appreciation of Utkin Khan’s merciful policies. The nation was as united as they’d never been before, and everyone sang the praises of their noble and mighty khan.
After another day of public adoration and favor, Siqin received a report around dusk. His men sent word of having located Qin Yining and Lu Heng, and had already surrounded their premises.
“Have them brought back alive. This khan will have them die from a thousand cuts to comfort Anari’s soul in heaven!”
“Understood!” His man turned to leave when Siqin objected, “Wait, this khan will go myself!”
He changed into light robes and made quick time with his men to where the two were. All of his guards and followers were silently moved by the great love between their khan and the late Anari.
They arrived at an out-of-the way residence in the southern part of town. Seeing that only his men were present and all lights were out in the house, Siqin sneered and kicked his horse forward.
“Bring out those inside.”
“Understood!” A contingent of men leapt forward with overwhelming momentum and crashed into the house. A woman’s shriek sounded shortly thereafter, and two figures were shoved out into the moonlight-dappled yard.
After long periods of being on the run, though one could just make out that their clothing was made of the finest silks, all was ripped and stained, and even their hair a bedraggled, knotted mess.
Siqin called out in the Great Zhou language, “Second Master Lu, this khan had thought you someone to be friends with and trusted you a great deal. Who would’ve thought that you’d be unappreciative and ungrateful to double-cross us for a woman! You are such a disappointment.”
Lu Heng kept his head down and he shook slightly. Siqin narrowed his eyes, feeling that something was off. He jumped down his horse and ran forward to grip a handful of the princess consort’s hair, bringing into view the face of a middle-aged woman covered in scars.
Hate blazing in her eyes, she pulled out the dagger hidden in her sleeves and stabbed downward with it.
Flying into a rage, Siqin immediately understood that he’d fallen for a trap. He kicked out viciously at the woman’s chest, caving it in before the dagger touched his skin. She flew out six meters, spewing out blood before falling down dead.
Lu Heng’s trembling became even more pronounced and he tumbled to the ground. Siqin hauled him up by his collar and discovered the man was an elder roughly sixty years old, and blind in one eye.
“The Minuo tribe! Quick, send men to the city gates at once!”
“Understood!” His followers sprinted to the four city gates, as if wild beasts were after them.
It was time for the gates to be closed, and the guards on duty hadn’t noticed anything out of place all day. They didn’t recall who’d entered or left, and could only resolve to be even more strict from now on.
Siqin gave another order when he heard the report back. “Go the Minuo campground outside of Khanbaliq and arrest them all!”
Chapter 504.1: Faith
When Siqin gave his order, he’d assumed the Minuo were already prepared for such a situation. It was likely his men would find nothing, but he hadn't anticipated the tribe’s camp to be completely vacated. They were gone without a trace!
When the messenger reported back to the khan, he feared deeply for his life. Under Anari's rule, her volatile temper meant that calling for her subordinate's head when angered was nothing out of the ordinary. Though the new khan was benevolent, who could say for certain if he would change once he took the helm of the nation?
Siqin, however, assuaged his worries. It was just as the rumors had said—though the Minuo treason angered him, he didn't take out his displeasure on those beneath him. He even offered warm words of thanks. "The times lately have been rough. I thank you all for your diligence."
This greatly warmed the hearts of all those who’d lived under Anari's tyrannical rule. For the lofty khan to speak to them in such an approachable manner moved them beyond description.
Fueled by gratitude, the search party doubled down on their efforts and dug nine meters into the grounds of the Minuo tribe's dwelling. Eventually, they discovered a cellar beneath the broken vat.
The group wrung their hands; they’d smashed that big vat to pieces that day, yet they didn't think to inspect what was underneath. If they’d been more careful, perhaps they would've already caught the two killers!
The entire tribe had vanished.
Once they had confirmed this, Siqin ordered the search party to withdraw.
"There's no need in continuing to search the city. They must’ve escaped with the Minuo. It’s impossible for such a large group to vanish into thin air, and very few of them are able-bodied. They’re mostly comprised of elderly, women, children and the weak, thus limiting their mobility. Furthermore, four thousand people moving in such cold weather are sure to leave traces behind. Keep an eye out for such signs, and don’t let any clues go unnoticed!"
The more forgiving the khan was, the guiltier these hotblooded men grew. His graciousness shamed them, as it was their oversight that’d allowed Anari's murderers to escape. But the khan didn't hold it against them. They couldn't answer to their guilty consciences if they didn't step up their game.
While Siqin scoured the land for the Minuo tribe's whereabouts, Qin Yining led them through the snow-covered wilderness with Lu Heng, Harbhara and Caganbhara.
"It’s impossible for such a large group not to leave any tracks," Qin Yining noted to Lu Heng, worried. "I only hope they won’t catch up too quickly."
Lu Heng trudged onward, snow crunching with every panting step.
"Siqin will definitely get to the bottom of this since he’s just assumed the throne, and because we’re a convenient scapegoat for him. If he orders his army to come after us when his anger gets the better of him, I fear none of us will escape with our lives. I’ll discuss with the brothers when we make camp tonight. It’s understandable why they would want to move away, but it is far too risky for them to run away with us fugitives."
"In other words, we got them involved in our troubles." Qin Yining felt rather guilty.
"They’ve also been driven to desperation due to Anari's oppression," Lu Heng replied. "Even if we weren’t around, they would’ve had to move regardless."
"That may be so, but they’re in more danger because they’re with us. Siqin’s probably sent his soldiers already. If they leave us now, the soldiers are unlikely to go to the trouble of chasing down a group of elderly and weak people."
"That’s true." Lu Heng found Qin Yining's reasoning rath
er logical, so he immediately sought out Harbhara and Caganbhara to confer with them.
After repeating the princess consort’s analysis, he added, "My primary concern is dragging you down with us. If we go our separate ways before we enter the desert, you only need to tell the soldiers that we abandoned you a long time ago. I trust Siqin won’t hurt you in order to maintain his reputation as a just ruler, seeing as he’s just assumed the throne.
"But if you stay with us for the entire trip through the desert, we'll lose at least half of our number. You already have many in feeble health. How much of the tribe will make it out of the desert with their lives? Furthermore, a group this large travelling and living together will become a bigger target. The soldiers will likely catch up with us, which will mean the end of the entire Minuo tribe."
In truth, Harbhara and Caganbhara were already quietly discussing this issue among themselves when Qin Yining and Lu Heng brought it up. They’d summoned all the strength they had to take their people away from Khanbaliq, so that the Tatar royals could oppress them no longer. Once they left, they would have a chance to recuperate outside of the city. Had they stayed, they would’ve been devoured one by one.
But of the four thousand members of the tribe, most were elderly, weak, women or children. Only a few of them were men, and even then, some of their number were disabled from past injuries.
The Minuo didn't have many horses, nor did they possess sufficient supplies. They moved at an uneven pace; the physical condition of each person differed, so those who could walk quickly had to wait for the slower ones. Even then, the elderly and the weak lagged behind.
If they were to ensure no one was left behind, it wouldn't take long for Siqin's men to catch up with them. But if they abandoned those lagging behind in the desert, those people were sure to be thoroughly investigated by Siqin, most likely via torture.
The skies had already darkened. Winds of the barren fields howled into the night, stirring delicate flurries of snow into an icy storm. The cold winds scraped their faces like knives.
The group shivered from the cold. Qin Yining and Lu Heng were fairing relatively well—though they weren’t garbed in fanciful robes, at least their clothes were made of cotton. Even as they were pelted by ice, they gritted their teeth and managed to endure their ordeal.
Behind them, however, were women and children who’d labored under Anari for over a year and were only clothed in a single layer of rags. Some were still wearing straw sandals, their toes and skin red and blistering from frostbite. How were they to survive the desert like this when the temperature changes between night and day were so drastic?
Chapter 504.2: Faith
"You're right." Teeth clenched from the cold, Harbhara looked at the haziness around them and rubbed his chapped hands together. "We can't go on like this. If we press on, I don't think anyone will be able to withstand the trials of the desert. We were trying to go as fast as we could to shake them off, but with the way things are, the entire tribe might just fall apart."
Caganbhara nodded, his tongue practically frozen stiff. "How about we set up camp for the day and build a fire so that everyone can get warm? Then we can calm down and think of our next course of action."
In truth, it would've been better if they had pressed onward instead of stopping. But if they continued like this, they would lose a good number of their weak and elderly before their pursuers even caught up with them. Their hearts ached at the thought of their people dying in such a manner.
More importantly, the morale of the group would take a heavy hit if so many died. Who would still have the courage to rebel if they then had to stand up against Siqin?
They were truly stuck between a rock and a hard place. To ensure the majority would live, they had no choice but to stop and make camp, using what simple supplies they had to set up tents. The four thousand of them threw themselves into a frenzy. Though they were starving and freezing amidst a blizzard, they got straight to work as soon as they heard they could rest.
Qin Yining, Lu Heng, Caganbhara, Harbhara, a few elders and a former battalion commander who’d lost an arm gathered in Harbhara's tent. Silence fell as they huddled around a campfire.
As Qin Yining couldn't speak the Tatar tongue, she had to leave the talking to Lu Heng.
Lu Heng coughed into his fist several times, face turning red from exertion. "What I mean is that we can’t have the tribespeople throwing their lives away for nothing. Things will go wrong even if we attempt such a major move sufficiently prepared. Furthermore, we still have the soldiers in pursuit to consider."
"My thoughts exactly," said Alham, the amputee. "It's nearly impossible to get everyone to charge across the desert. I'm suggesting we leave some of our able men behind to protect the weak and elderly who can't keep up. They can find a vacant place and temporarily move in. Then, they will wait for our good news."
Harbhara nodded. "I agree with Uncle Alham's proposition. A majority of us can traverse the desert together and find sanctuary within Great Zhou's borders. Once we've settled in, we can come back for the others."
"But won't the others feel like we’ve abandoned them?" Caganbhara piped up, concerned. "We finally made it through everything. If they’re left behind just like this, won’t they feel hurt?"
"But if we bring them along, I fear their deaths will become a certainty. If they stay behind, perhaps the new khan will take pity on the women and children, and thus spare their lives." Lu Heng glanced at Qin Yining, who’d stayed quiet, and translated their conversation thus far.
Qin Yining pondered. "To be honest, I don’t think resentment will arise because those of us crossing the desert are doing so to seek out a better life for everyone. The Minuo once stood tall and strong and could provide for themselves, but they now live as slaves that are lower than even swine and dogs. Even one of Anari's horses is worth more than a person.
"If those people stay behind, perhaps we'll be able to survive. But is a life of crawling in the dust truly what everyone desires? Is the revival of the Minuo tribe not what everyone really cares about?"
Of everyone else in the tent, no one understood Qin Yining save for the amputee, Uncle Alham.
In a stilted rendition of the Great Zhou tongue, he replied. "As you say. We can't be khan's slaves forever. Minuo tribe is big tribe. If we go down like this, and disappear, we have no face to meet ancestors when we die."
Qin Yining dimpled and nodded. "Uncle is quite right. We must be able to breathe freely, not struggle for our lives face down in the dirt. If we fold now, our descendants will have to live under the khan's oppression as slaves for their entire lives, which will continue for generations. If that’s the case, it would be so awful for our children.
"We’re fighting back for that breath of fresh air so that our future generations may stand tall and hold their head high! Men, women, the elderly, children—everyone must be present if a tribe is to be complete. Every person embodies the hope of their tribe. Though I would advise those who aren't physically capable to remain outside the desert—that means most of the elderly, women and children. But they are the tribe’s greatest asset when the time comes for us to rebuild our home.
"I trust that if we tell them this, they will understand. After all, those of us journeying across the desert do so as courageous warriors who fight for the greater good of the tribe."
Chapter 505.1: Denouncement
Lu Heng looked at Qin Yining with burning eyes and nodded approvingly. “You’re right.” His dry throat prompted a fit of coughing before he could continue. “I trust that everyone will understand this if we tell them. They’ll agree to our plan as well.”
When he and the princess consort conversed, Uncle Alham conveyed their gist to the Caganbhara brothers and others who didn't understand the Great Zhou tongue. They all nodded, agreement on their faces and gratitude in their hearts. Worries and concerns had swirled in all of their minds. Scurrying around and being herded around like rats wasn’t a future full of hope. W
hat awaited ahead was an even harsher desert, and they were the woeful souls caught between a rock and a hard place.
They were worried and frightened, thoughts all snarled up with trepidation. Qin Yining’s clear analysis at this time cleared away the fog and laid out the most optimal path forward for the tribe.
All of them were the hope of the Minuo. They shouldered the task of revitalizing the tribe and keeping everyone alive. Now wasn’t the time to sacrifice the weak, the elderly, the women and children. Bringing them into the desert would be an act of hubris that would ultimately cost their lives.
The group discussed a bit longer before splitting up to their respective tents and spreading the word. Putting thought of how the tribesmen would take their decision out of her mind, Qin Yining took Lu Heng aside when everyone else was gone.
“You’ve been coughing all day—you must’ve caught a cold while we were running. I have some anti-fever and cooling medicines that I took a while ago. You take that first so your cold doesn’t get worse. We still need to make it past the desert, and your body won’t make it through if you fall sick.”
She opened her bundle as she spoke, rifling through it for the medicines. As Lu Heng watched Qin Yining’s yet-thin form despite heavy cotton clothing, the look in his eyes grew deep and soft. She cared about him, which delighted him.
He was a shrewd person and had built everything he owned today from scratch, adopting a bit of a businessman’s mindset in the process. At the same time, he possessed an upright moral character with a clear bottom line of what he would or would not do.
Qin Yining’s looks had caught his attention the first time he saw her, but it’d been her intelligence, methods, wits, and decisiveness that won him over when he got to know her more. He hadn’t hated her at all even when he’d fallen for her fake treasure map. On the contrary, he’d been amused and felt the thrill of meeting an opponent in stratagems.
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