Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Two quarters of an hour later, I finally appeared at the entrance to the camp.
A mass of government soldiers and several carts and horses had blocked the only way in or out.
The man standing at the very front wore official robes. Attendants on either side held umbrellas over him, keeping him perfectly dry. When he saw me, he bowed with considerable respect. “This humble minister is Han Sheng, Prefect of Hongzhou. Greetings, Princess Roujia.”
Ignoring the many startled looks around me, I asked calmly, “You recognize me?”
“When this humble minister served in the capital, I had the honor of seeing Your Highness once. Hearing that the disaster here was severe, the regional inspector knew that since Your Highness was still in Tanzhou, you would surely go to the disaster area in person, just as Prince Duan once did. Thus, he specially sent his subordinates to gather supplies and come to your aid.”
“With wind and rain bearing down on us, our two prefectures drink from the same river. Yet Hongzhou can remain untouched by this disaster and even spare the strength to offer support?”
“Your Highness overstates the matter. You and Prince Chu are blood relatives, and the people of our two prefectures are as close as one family. When a brother is in trouble, of course we must do all we can to help.”
Han Sheng appeared respectful and humble, but there was not the slightest trace of fear in his words or manner. He had even mentioned imperial kin twice. The men who had come with him all wore armor beneath their raincoats, their equipment neat and complete. It seemed the people on that side were truly getting desperate.
I lifted my chin slightly. The people beside me understood and stepped forward, but Han Sheng remained unmoved, showing no intention of handing anything over.
“Prefect Han, what exactly are you trying to do?”
“Flood and fire show no mercy. I ask that Your Highness leave this place with me, lest an accident occur.”
I let out a cold laugh. “I ask you a question, and you dare give me orders instead.”
“This lowly official is merely a small local prefect. How could I dare order Your Highness? I am only concerned for your safety and offering a solution that satisfies both sides.”
What both sides? I truly had no patience left to keep fencing with him. I said directly, “I will never leave with you. What do you intend to do about that?”
Han Sheng remained composed, as immovable as a mountain in a gale. “Why must Your Highness act on impulse? The grain you brought should not last more than three days, should it?”
The moment those words left his mouth, the villagers around us began to stir uneasily. Han Sheng continued to fan the flames. “Whether it comes from the imperial court or is transferred from elsewhere, not a single grain of rice will be able to reach you. Aside from leaving with me, you have no other choice. Your Highness-!”
A bolt of lightning tore across the sky. By then, I had already drawn the blade from the guard beside Han Sheng and laid it across his neck.
The soldiers behind him were too slow to react. Only when his words came to an abrupt halt did they draw their weapons one after another.
“I have tolerated quite enough from you already. That alone makes me exceptionally benevolent. Now, either obediently hand over the grain, or I throw your head into the Hongzhou prefectural yamen.”
He swallowed nervously. As his throat moved, his neck brushed against the edge of the blade, and his eyelids twitched violently.
“How could an official as insignificant as I possibly control such a large situation? How could I have the nerve to threaten the imperial family? If I die, these men will not follow your commands either. Why waste your efforts on something useless?”
Expressionless, I nodded. “Then I can only take it by force.”
He had been somewhat frightened at first, but when he heard me say that, he actually laughed aloud. “And what will you use to take it? The soldiers behind me are fully armed and armored. The few dozen men you brought have lacked food and medicine for days, and they still have to protect the old, the weak, the women, and the children. How much chance of victory do you think you have?”
The corner of my mouth lifted slightly in an unreadable smile. A rush of arrows whistled through the air, followed by screams. Then came the clash of weapons as many figures leaped out from the mountain forests on both sides of the road, surrounding these uninvited guests in a tight ring.
At the risk of having his throat cut, Han Sheng turned his head. He saw that his once orderly formation of soldiers had suddenly thinned. The missing half all lay on the ground, their blood diluted by the rain as it flowed all the way to his feet.
“I have been here for many days. I know the terrain well, and the elites I brought with me have already grown used to this environment. They strike a step faster. Now, Prefect Han, how much chance of victory do you think you have?”
He stiffly turned his head back. His face was deathly pale, and his lips trembled. “You arranged your troops and set an ambush long ago?”
I stepped closer to him, and the blade pressed in another fraction. The smile on my face deepened. “What did you think I learned from the National Preceptor? There are not that many rules of etiquette in this world-certainly not enough to study for seven whole years.”