Chapter Twelve: The Hunter and the Prey

“Deng Baijiang, how much does your single-handed spear weigh?” Xu You turned his gaze to Deng Tao, who had remained silent all this while.

Deng Tao’s voice was soft and lingering, a stark contrast to his imposing appearance. “Forty-eight jin,” he replied.

Fighting with a weapon that heavy? Could anyone’s biceps withstand that strain?

Xu You was momentarily taken aback, then realized that in this era, one jin was roughly equivalent to 222.73 grams in later times. This meant Deng Tao’s spear weighed about twenty modern pounds. One must not underestimate those twenty pounds—after all, even the much-vaunted Green Dragon Crescent Blade wielded by Guan Yu in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, when converted, barely exceeded forty pounds. In the age of cold steel, every extra inch and every extra pound was an advantage. Heavier weapons offered an edge in both slashing and hacking, increasing one’s chances of victory.

“Is it also made of refined iron?”

“The shaft is forged from a century-old tak wood from Gun Prefecture and wrapped with hundred-folded steel. If you are asking whether I can withstand a thrust from Feiyao’s heavy spear or arrow, I would not dare deceive you—I have, at most, a thirty percent chance.”

“Thirty percent?” Feng Tong exclaimed in a shrill voice, “Isn’t that the same as saying you have almost no chance at all?” As soon as the words left her mouth, she seemed to realize her mistake. She glanced nervously at Deng Tao, saw no change in his expression, and immediately fell silent.

“Thirty percent is already quite good,” Xu You said, not noticing Feng Tong’s little slip. He was far more interested in the ‘tak wood’ Deng Tao mentioned. Known as Golden Wood for the shimmering gold threads in its grain, tak wood grows slowly and is exceedingly rare, earning the saying ‘Ten taks, nine bends; ten taks, nine hollows.’ Finding a shaft of the right length, thickness, and straightness for a single-handed spear was no easy task. For Deng Tao to have acquired the finest century-old tak wood from Gun Prefecture must have required considerable effort—not to mention a sum surely surprising to most.

Yet Deng Tao was but a low-ranking officer; where had he found the connections and wealth to acquire such an exceptional weapon?

Xu You glanced at him inadvertently. If not for the fact that this man was a retainer of the Yuan household, one might have suspected he was Feiyao himself—after all, in these times, giants over two meters tall were not as common as street thugs.

Deng Tao remained composed, meeting Xu You’s scrutiny without a hint of unease. Such calmness was hardly typical for an ordinary soldier.

“Marshal Zuo, where do you think we should begin our preparations?” Xu You suddenly turned to Zuo Wen with the question.

Zuo Wen pondered for a moment, dipped his forefinger in water, and drew a winding line on the table. “This is Hongye Shoal. From here, after traveling another ten or so li, we’ll reach Jiazhu Wharf. By then, night will have fallen. Once darkness descends and our eyes fail us, our numerical advantage will vanish—thus we lose the advantage of timing. If we press on through the night, the twisting waterways along the route could all serve as battlegrounds of our enemy’s choosing—then we lose the advantage of terrain. With both time and place against us, facing experts like the Four Arrows, morale will inevitably falter. Without unity, even the God of War himself could not win such a battle. In my humble opinion, it would be better to rest for the night at Jiazhu Wharf, and set out early tomorrow. In broad daylight, with proper arrangements, if the Four Arrows dare show themselves, none shall return alive.”

“You are truly a man of war,” Xu You praised. The God of War referred to Bai Qi of Qin, a legendary general. He then turned to Deng Tao. “What does Baijiang think?”

“I only know to obey orders. I await your command, sir,” Deng Tao replied.

Xu You shook his head. “The wisdom of one is less than the folly of many; the vision of a single eye is less than the clarity of many. Our enemy is formidable—this is the time for all minds to unite. If you have any thoughts, speak freely. I am not narrow-minded, nor is Marshal Zuo jealous of talent. We must work together to overcome this crisis.”

For the first time, a glimmer of something different flashed in Deng Tao’s usually tranquil eyes. He was silent for a moment, then bowed to Zuo Wen. “Marshal, forgive me, but in my humble opinion, the Four Arrows may be hoping we’ll spend the night at Jiazhu Wharf.”

Zuo Wen frowned. “Why do you say so?” Though Deng Tao had only recently been assigned to his command, his diligence and valor had already earned Zuo Wen’s appreciation, so he was not offended by the dissent.

“I was listening to your account of the seven assassination attempts—some took place in the heart of military camps, some at prominent households, some in wild mountains, but never on these vast river waters,” Deng Tao said.

Zuo Wen’s eyes lit up, grasping his meaning. “You’re suggesting the Four Arrows are not adept at water combat?”

“I cannot say for certain. Perhaps their targets have simply never been on the water. But tonight’s sudden arrow from Yueyao seemed reckless, unlike their usual carefully calculated, fatal strikes. Perhaps it was meant to alarm us, to send us into a panic so we would avoid traveling by night and instead stop at Jiazhu Wharf.”

“Or perhaps Yueyao saw you alone at the prow and thought fortune had presented a golden opportunity, prompting a desperate gamble,” Zuo Wen countered.

“Indeed, you are not wrong, Marshal. But one can never be too careful. Even the slightest chance should not be risked; if it is a trap, Jiazhu Wharf would be our grave,” Deng Tao said, turning to Xu You. “Sir, I do not know much about the Four Arrows, but to have made such a name for themselves, their cunning, intelligence, and martial skills must all be exceptional. They are not easy foes. Rather than staying in a crowded place like Jiazhu Wharf, where a thousand precautions may still fail, I believe it better to press on through the night and catch them off guard. Marshal, it’s true that traveling by night hampers our vision, but the deep darkness would hinder their archery even more. What’s more, beyond Jiazhu Wharf, the river opens into the broad, tranquil Canal, where the view is clear and wide—should they attempt an ambush there, our hundred retinue aboard would not easily be threatened.”

Zuo Wen found Deng Tao’s reasoning persuasive, but could not make up his mind. After a moment’s hesitation, he said to Xu You, “Sir, Baijiang favors boldness, I prefer caution. On balance, I still lean toward resting at Jiazhu Wharf. The crowds matter not; as long as we set up a perimeter, clear out idlers, and arrange proper shifts, the assassins will find no opening.”

Xu You rose, pacing a few steps before turning back with resolve. “Both of you are right, but your perspectives focus on defense. Judging by the Four Arrows’ past feats, their greatest strength is killing their mark within the tightest security. Against such foes, defense alone will not suffice. Whether we rest at the Wharf or travel through the night, both could be within their calculations. To win, we must retaliate in kind—we must unsettle them as they seek to unsettle us.”

Zuo Wen and Deng Tao both looked to him, waiting for his next words.

“As the Art of War says, ‘Engage with the orthodox, win with the unorthodox.’ If we are to prevail, we must employ the unexpected!” Xu You declared resolutely. “Zuo Wen, Deng Tao, hear my command!”

Both men stood at attention, fists clasped, heads bowed. “Your orders, sir!”