Chapter 11: Gathering Followers

Gao Yuan looked into the distance and put on a deeply pained expression.

“Would Xu Mazi have dared do this without the chief’s approval? I won a great victory for the stronghold today, and tonight they want me dead! You’re no different from me. If they’ll do this to me, they’ll do it to you. Follow men like that, and you’re worth less than cattle!”

Sun Shuanghu and the other three fell silent. His words touched a deep chord of resentment and humiliation.

Seeing that he had stirred them, Gao continued, “Since they’ve shown no loyalty, they can’t blame me for doing the same. They want me dead? Then I’ll take the stronghold and make myself chief! Choose: follow me, or go down there and keep Yao Dachong company.”

Even if Gao took the stronghold, he could not run it alone. He needed as many allies as he could gather. Now he had to see what these men would choose.

Fourth Ding and the others stared. They had thought Gao intended to flee, not seize the stronghold.

“Brother Yuan,” Ding stammered, “there are hundreds of men in there. With just a few of us, wouldn’t that be suicide?” He was terrified. Refuse Gao and he might die immediately; follow him and he might still die in the fight.

Gao sneered. “Are there more men in Blackwind Stronghold than in Dangyang’s army? I drove Wu Xiangbei off today. Why would I fear a few bandits?” True or not, it was worth saying.

Fourth Ding’s expression shifted. Before he could speak again, Sun Shuanghu threw down his short blade and knelt on one knee.

“You’re right, Brother Yuan. The chiefs treat a man who’s earned them a victory like this? It’s enough to break anyone’s heart. To hell with Blackwind Stronghold! I’ll follow you!”

Sun had spent years as a bandit, doing his share of work and suffering his share of mistreatment. Rather than drift along waiting to die, he would gamble on Gao Yuan. If they won, he might become someone of standing in the stronghold.

Following his example, the other two bandits dropped their weapons and knelt. Fourth Ding looked around. He was the only one left standing, and the dagger in Gao’s hand seemed ready to take his head at any moment. Death either way. He might as well risk it. He knelt too.

Gao Yuan smiled. He went to Yao Dachong’s body and searched it, soon finding ten taels of silver. He had known Xu Mazi would reward Yao. He weighed the silver in his hand, then tossed it to Sun Shuanghu.

The men stared. Gao said evenly, “Divide it among yourselves. I’m not like them. Treat me sincerely, and when I have meat, I won’t leave my brothers with nothing but soup.”

Sun’s face trembled. The silver seemed to weigh as much as a stone. Still kneeling, he bowed his head lower. “Thank you, Brother Yuan!”

Yao had told them Xu Mazi had given him five taels, promising each man one after the deed was done. It had actually been ten. Gao Yuan, by contrast, had given them the lot. The difference was plain.

Fourth Ding’s eyes went wide at the sight of the silver. He sidled over to take some, but Sun slapped his hand away. “Later.” He had deferred to Ding before because of Yao Dachong. Now, who the hell was Ding?

“All right, all right.” Ding retreated sheepishly.

With that settled, Gao Yuan played with the dagger and called into the distance, “You’ve watched long enough. Isn’t it time you came out?”

Someone else was there? Sun and the others turned in alarm. A woman in red walked slowly toward them, martial bearing evident in her posture. Moonlight stretched her shadow long behind her, like a drawn sword.

It was Lin Hongxiu. She stopped less than five paces from Gao, her expression cool.

“I thought you’d step in earlier,” Gao said. “I didn’t expect you to watch until now.” He had spotted that flash of red as soon as he left the hall and assumed Feng Lingxue had sent her.

“I wanted to observe a little longer,” Lin replied. “If you couldn’t handle something this minor, there would be no point in working with you.”

Fourth Ding had not understood the situation. He jeered, “Brother Yuan, isn’t that the woman from your room? What’s she doing out—”

He stopped abruptly. A short blade was at his throat, its hilt in Lin Hongxiu’s hand. She had moved too fast for him to defend himself or dodge.

Ding swallowed. His legs shook, his bladder tightened, and he dropped to his knees again. “Mercy! Please!”

Sun Shuanghu stared. Was the man completely spineless? Perhaps he should suggest that Brother Yuan kill him now, before he caused trouble later.

Gao coughed. “No need to take offense at him.”

“Speak carelessly again and I’ll cut off your head and feed it to the dogs.” Lin withdrew her blade, her expression calm once more.

Gao narrowed his eyes. She was fierce. Even he might have suffered a cut from that move; her fighting ability really could rival Wu Xiangbei’s. Something must have been wrong with her when she was captured yesterday, or she would never have ended up here. He had wondered whether he might take liberties with her, but now that seemed unlikely.

“What next?” Lin asked.

“Any good ideas?”

She shook her head. “I’ll help you kill. Everything else is for you to arrange.”

Doesn’t she like thinking? Gao glanced instinctively at her chest. People said a large bust meant a small brain, but hers did not look particularly large.

He clicked his tongue. “Shuanghu, watch the hall and see when they disperse. The rest of you come back with me and get some rest.”

Hundreds of bandits were drinking in the hall. If their small group went in now, they would be swarmed; even victory would cost them dearly. Better to wait until the men had eaten and drunk their fill and let their guard down, then deal with them one by one.

They threw Yao Dachong’s body into the ravine and returned. Sun Shuanghu went to watch the hall, while the others gathered in the stone house.

Gao Yuan sat on the earthen platform with the women. Fourth Ding and the other two crouched in a corner, wiping down their weapons.

Mu Baizhi watched for a while, then gathered her courage and came over. “Gao Yuan, what are you going to do?”