Chapter 009: Buying Passage

To his surprise, after their discussion, they actually changed the method of sending people to their deaths from one to two. Deng Ming asked himself whether collaborating with Zhou Kaihuang to deceive was meant to save more Ming soldiers from peril, rather than to increase his own chances of survival. Of course, Deng Ming wanted to survive, but he would not allow hundreds or thousands of people to die in vain just for his own escape.

... ...

And let them live for another day, haha. Although he made such a judgment, Tan Hong felt no concern for the Ming army at all. Today, the report from downstream indicated that Wen An was retreating, which showed that he had received news of his defeat and halted his advance. Tomorrow, Tan Hong would be able to use the boats to scout upstream and ascertain the scale and strength of the remaining Ming forces. Tan Hong's camp was filled with provisions, while the Ming army upstream could only drink the wind and dew; he was in no hurry to launch an attack. Tomorrow, Tan Hong would be able to use the boats to scout upstream and ascertain the scale and strength of the remaining Ming forces. Tan Hong's camp was filled with provisions, while the Ming army upstream could only drink the wind and dew; he was in no hurry to launch an attack.

"I bet they won't shoot," Deng Ming said, allowing twenty guards to remain at a safe distance. He strode confidently to the front of the camp wall, ensuring that the opposing side could clearly see his face, while Zhao Tianba followed behind him, carrying a bow.

However, Deng Ming did not quite understand his polite words. The contradiction between the other person's language and expression left him somewhat confused, so he furrowed his brows and asked, "Is it really ordinary, or are you being modest?"

Zhou Kaihuang pondered that Deng Ming seemed unwilling to acknowledge the identity of the Third Prince, and indeed, this identity was too sensational. The questions it raised would likely be no fewer than those it could quell. Since Yuan Zongdi and Zhao Tianba had spoken so highly of that string of beads, wouldn't it suffice for someone knowledgeable on the other side to convince everyone?

Upon hearing this call, the soldiers on the ramparts did not dare to act on their own accord, and immediately someone went to the central command tent to report to Tan Hong

Qin Xiucai shook his head and said: "I don't recognize him at all, but this young man looks quite decent and appears to be generous and composed"

The increasing pressure made Deng Ming feel the need to further gain people's trust, but he did not know how to express it, so he had to seek help from Zhou Kaihuang: "Zhou Qian, how did you know?"

As he spoke, Tan Hong brought the pearl together in his palms, slightly loosening a small gap, wanting to see if it would glow in the dark

Zhou Kaihuang shook his head. Yesterday, he caught a few small animals in the woods and caught some fish. Everyone just shared a little. Today, they are all feeling very hungry. If they do not fight today, and are blown by the cold wind tonight, by tomorrow, even if they have the will to fight, they will lack the strength to do so

Outside Tan Hong's camp, Deng Ming, Zhao Tianba, and twenty other Ming soldiers slowly approached the sentry. They had no intention of concealing their movements and stopped when they were a bow's length away from the camp wall. The twenty soldiers shouted in unison: "The Crown Prince of Han is here, please let the Marquis of Xinjing come out for a meeting"

At that moment, a foolish fellow suddenly spoke up. He had been stretching his neck behind Tan Hong, trying to catch a glimpse, but he had not been able to see the pearl's luster: "Why can't I see it? Isn't this pearl supposed to be very bright?"

It is still possible. Li Xinghan sighed deeply and said: "Our lives were all saved by His Highness. After nightfall, I will lead a team to dive over and seize the ship for His Highness. If we succeed, His Highness can escape. If we do not return, Brother Zhou should lead the others to attack the camp, allowing His Highness to escape via the mountain path"

Tan Hongyi's eyes lit up as soon as he received that string of beads. Coming from a family of military lineage, he had seen his grandmother's and mother's jewelry since childhood. His grandmother possessed two pearl hairpins, each adorned with a single pearl, which were her treasured possessions, carefully kept in a jewelry box. Later, those hairpins were passed down to his mother, and now they belong to his wife, only worn on significant occasions such as relatives' birthdays or weddings to show off.

How many of you are there? Li Xinghan asked

This straightforward question left Zhao Tianba somewhat unaccustomed, and he could only clarify: "Please give your instructions, Your Highness, and I will certainly not fail in my mission"

At this point, Deng Ming took the string of beads off his neck and handed it to Li Xinghan, saying, "Please take a look, General Li."

"The bandit Tan has dug a trench, and there are still patrols; my men cannot get that close." Zhou Kaihuang also felt that this was a possibility

Zhou Kaihuang and Zhao Tianba thought to themselves: Do you still not know that it is invaluable

Even Qin Xiucai vaguely felt that he saw the luster of the luminous pearl emanating from Tan Hong's palm, and he immediately exclaimed: "The royal treasures are truly eye-opening; the marquis is indeed well-informed and knowledgeable. If it were not for the marquis's guidance, how would we recognize the luminous pearl?"

One is worth a fortune, so this string must be worth at least a province

Zhou Kaihuang furrowed his brow, muttering to himself: "If you are unwilling to speak, then so be it; no one can force you to do so. That Li Xinghan seems to have already believed it, and his subordinates are making a ruckus, but naturally, there is a leader managing them, keeping them in check. However, your question feels as if you are cross-examining me, asking me to provide a reason on your behalf."

What does Your Highness wish to do?" Zhou Kaihuang and Li Xinghan asked loudly at the same time

Standing for a moment under the scrutinizing gaze of the other party, Deng Ming spoke loudly to the general: "I know that the Marquis wishes to become a noble of the new dynasty. Everyone has their own aspirations, and I cannot impose mine upon you. However, my family has nurtured the world for three hundred years, and I believe we have some obligations to the Marquis. I hope that, considering this relationship, the Marquis will grant me and my guards a way to survive"

Zhou Kaihuang and Li Xinghan discerned Deng Ming's opposition and understood that the hope for success was slim. However, they both realized that there was no opportunity to breach Tan Hong's defenses and escape. The recent skirmish that nearly occurred between Zhou Kaihuang and Li Xinghan made this point even clearer to them. Zhou Kaihuang was unable to effectively command the entire army to launch an attack, and Li Xinghan faced the same issue. Moreover, the latter's troops were still scattered along the several miles of road behind and had not all arrived.

"This is a treasure of the sea, a true pearl! You see, it appears silver, but with just a shake, it reveals various colors like pink, blue, and yellow, just like in a picture book. Only the pearls that grow inside sea shells possess such brilliance; only sea pearls exhibit this metallic luster," Tan Hong said, pointing to the pearl coated with a layer of metallic film, gently caressing it with a finger, "Such a large pearl is truly unprecedented; this string is indeed a royal treasure, extraordinary!"

"Is there such a thing in the world?" Tan Hong said decisively, pausing for a moment before adding, "Hmm, it might still be a night pearl."

Tan Hong did not have many boats; some were borrowed by Tan Yi. The few remaining boats were dispatched yesterday and today to monitor the movements of Wen Anzhi downstream or to relay messages and orders to the north bank. Otherwise, Zhou Kaihuang and Li Xinghan's two groups would have likely been discovered long ago

We have 15 swords, over 200 knives, and 11 guns, and we picked up some axes on the way (from a farmer's house)." After listening to Zhou Kaihuang's introduction, Li Xinghan took the initiative to report to Deng Ming: "There are also 3 matchlocks (three-barreled guns), although there is no gunpowder left, they can still be used as hammers.

Tan Hong cautiously peered through the narrow crack for quite some time, yet he could not ascertain whether the bead truly emitted light. However, behind him, a personal guard exclaimed, "Oh my, it really does emit light! I have truly opened my eyes; my life has not been lived in vain."

Zhao Tianba secured the beads with a fine string, carefully inspected them, then bent the bow and nocked the arrow, shooting it with a whoosh up against the camp wall

"Do you think my beads are very valuable?" Deng Mingteng stood up eagerly and asked Zhou Kaihuang. He had just recalled a story of escape that bore some resemblance to the current situation. Although he could not say for certain that it would be effective, he thought it best to try anything, even if it was a dead horse being treated as a live one. After asking, Deng Ming looked at Zhao Tianba and said, "Do you think so too?"

Deng Ming gazed at a resplendent general in armor on the camp wall and stepped forward. Zhao Tianba advised, "Your Highness need not put yourself in danger; I can go in your stead."

Zhou Kaihuang believed that in the past at the camp in Chongqing, Deng Ming and Yuan Zongdi had many conversations, in which Deng Ming's words almost implicitly acknowledged it.

Tan Hong nodded: "I feel the same way."

After the formal greetings, everyone put away the large sticks and wooden rods. The soldiers sat down to rest, while the officers gathered in a circle under the tree, allowing Deng Ming to sit in the center. Li Xinghan and other officers from the Tan unit made up half of the group.

With this voice of approval, many others also chimed in, expressing that they too had seen it. Even the distant outer guards claimed to have caught a glimpse of the shimmering light, and began to enthusiastically praise it.

... ...

If it is truly possible to avoid death, then it is certainly better not to die. Li Xinghan then asked Zhou Kaihuang, "Do you have any food?"

After speaking, Deng Ming turned and handed the bead to Zhao Tianba beside him. As the latter tied it to the arrow shaft, Deng Ming continued to explain loudly to Tan Hong: "There is no need for the lord to send someone to collect it; my long official will shoot it onto the camp wall. After a while, there is no need for the lord to see me off; just send one or two people to row the boat out and hand it over to me."

It seems that an army is approaching. Tan Hong smiled as he provided his analysis to the steward Qin Xiucai. The Ming army, having suffered defeat in Chongqing, has no place to settle, no food or clothing, and will certainly move downstream as quickly as possible. Based on the distance calculations, Tan Hong believes that more stragglers should be captured this afternoon, with a peak expected to occur tomorrow. Now that the Ming stragglers have suddenly disappeared, it is certain that a restored Ming army has intervened to prevent the stragglers from acting independently. Tan Hong, based on the distance calculations, believes that more stragglers should be captured this afternoon, with a peak expected to occur tomorrow. Now that the Ming stragglers have suddenly disappeared, it is certain that a restored Ming army has intervened to prevent the stragglers from acting independently.

After the arrow flew into the camp, someone immediately rushed to pick it up. Tan Hong looked seriously at Deng Ming below and quietly asked Qin Xiucai beside him, "What do you think?"

Deng Ming hoped that Zhou Kaihuang would help him cover up his lie, coming up with a reasonable explanation—something he certainly could not provide himself. He was counting on Zhou Kaihuang to once again demonstrate his quick wit to navigate through the current predicament

Li Xinghan's ancestors were ordinary people who adhered to proper conduct, unlike Yuan Zongdi or Zhao Tianba's father, who had participated in the robbery of the royal palace and had seen the royal treasures. He received the pearls from Deng Ming with both hands, observing them with a completely untrained eye. The artificial pearls, due to their coated surface, appeared even more dazzling than natural shells, sparkling and translucent, making one immediately perceive them as fine goods

Master Qin Xiucai also could not recall a Han Young Master, equally filled with suspicion: "Could it be an impersonation? But what benefit would there be in impersonating someone? Surely, if he claims to be Han Young Master, we would not just let him pass by."

"Are you certain this is a royal item, my lord?" The unknowledgeable Qin Xiucai, upon hearing Tan Hong's confident assertion, began to believe a bit more in Deng Ming's identity

The night pearl, still a long string

Alright, select ten, no, twenty elite soldiers, put on their armor and take their weapons. You also take a good bow and come with me to meet Tan Hong. This is the first time since my arrival in this world that Deng Ming has given orders to others, and he must admit that this feeling is very good

Continuing to inquire about Tan Hong's defensive situation, Zhou Kaihuang elaborated in detail on what he had learned, and also mentioned his own action plan. Li Xinghan nodded silently. Now that he was aware of Deng Ming's identity, Zhou Kaihuang's plan to breach the camp was not difficult to understand. Li Xinghan realized that this fellow who was attempting to infiltrate the camp had quite a sense of loyalty, and his manner of address towards him had changed.

After speaking, Deng Ming slowly took the pearl from around his neck, held it high for Tan Hongxian to see, and then said loudly: "This is the precious pearl bestowed by Emperor Taizu Gao to the Han royal family, passed down through generations for three hundred years. Today, I wish to present it to the Marquis, and I hope the Marquis will graciously accept it, granting me a vessel that can carry me and those around me."

The surrounding terrain creates a situation that is extremely advantageous for the defending side. The attackers can only effectively utilize a narrow stretch of riverbank along the river, while the other areas are complex and difficult to traverse, filled with vegetation that is conducive to concealment and ambush. The attackers are unable to deploy their forces and find it challenging to communicate and command. Even if Zhou Kaihuang and Li Xinghan possess sufficient weapons, by the time they walk several miles along the muddy riverbank to reach Tan Hong's camp, their soldiers would have exhausted their stamina and would inevitably be slaughtered by the waiting defenders.

Li Xinghan did not understand, and others understood even less. They only knew that Deng Ming had an extraordinary item. Amidst the chatter of astonishment from the crowd, Deng Ming put the string of beads back around his neck

What is this? However, Qin Xiucai does not understand

"Ordinary and unremarkable, I wonder what Your Highness commands." Zhao Tianba wore a proud expression, standing tall with his back straight, indicating that his archery skills were quite exceptional, which was indeed the case. The Yongli court selected him to escort important envoys to Sichuan precisely because of his boldness, meticulousness, and exceptional martial arts skills.

Seeing Tan Hong so delighted, Qin Xiucai quickly shook his head and made a dazed expression, his mouth wide open for a long time without closing. The bodyguards all gathered around to see how the night pearl glowed

After a moment of contemplation, Li Xinghan asked, "Are there any boats near the camp of the bandit Tan?"

This response was within Li Xinghan's expectations; this group of people had also gone a day without food, merely hoping to endure and escape the perilous situation before seeking something to satisfy their hunger

Upon hearing these words, Tan Hong also found them reasonable. He had only heard of the luminous pearl but had never seen one himself. However, as everyone said, no matter how good the pearl was, it could not shine as brightly as a torch. Since everyone had seen it, it must be true. After all, there was plenty of time; he could take his time to examine the pearl in his own hands throughout the night. The immediate priority now was—

This afternoon's situation made Tan Hong feel suspicious. Yesterday and this morning, there had been a steady influx of Ming army deserters captured and killed by his subordinates, and the numbers were gradually increasing as he had anticipated. However, this momentum came to an abrupt halt in the afternoon. From the afternoon until dusk, Tan Hong did not capture a single Ming soldier.

Why not take out that precious pearl, Your Highness, to avoid raising suspicions among everyone

More than 1,200. Zhou did not conceal his efforts in land reclamation.

Hearing Zhou Kaihuang mention the pearls, Deng Ming felt a sense of relief: "So it is this string of pearls! I didn't expect my pearls to be so valuable. Perhaps in this era, all pearls are naturally formed, and no one has even heard of basic cultivation techniques; pearls are still quite rare. In any case, I will follow Zhou Kaihuang's lead, get through this immediate crisis first, and after escaping, I will apologize to this Li Qianzhong."

It really shines

On the ground, a simple defense map of Tan Hong was drawn. Li Xinghan pondered for a moment, then raised his head and resolutely said: "Wait a moment, I will charge through the barriers with Brother Zhou, allowing His Highness and that... that person from the Western Camp to take the mountain path together."

327 knives, 20 swords, 46 long spears, 15 bows, and over 300 iron-tipped arrows

Your Highness, do you not possess a string of precious beads? I have seen them with the illustrations and books...

"It doesn't hurt to take a look." Tan Hong was momentarily at a loss.

"Wait a moment." Upon hearing this, Deng Ming became anxious. After all, it was not easy to gather over 1,000 reinforcements, yet they still had to go to Tan Hong's camp to face death. Before Zhou Kaihuang could speak, he interjected, "There are only a thousand days of being a thief, but there are no thousand days of guarding against thieves. We can make it; we just need to wait for the right opportunity."

My lord! A guard rushed over, presenting both the pearl and the arrow.

I? '' Deng Ming chuckled lightly, holding the string of pearls in his hand: `` I will go buy the way for everyone. ''

"If we hadn't seen it, we wouldn't have survived to this day," Zhou Kaihuang immediately replied

How many knives and guns

Zhou Kaihuang suddenly recalled the praises of Yuan Zongdi and Zhao Tianba regarding that string of beads; they had deduced that Deng Ming possessed a noble background based on that rare treasure. Perhaps among the many people in the Tan Wen department, there are some who can recognize its value

However, since Deng Ming asked, Zhou Kaihuang replied: "Of course I know..."

There should still be a few, after all, we must leave two for the messenger, or prepare for an emergency escape," Li Xinghan murmured, pointing at the location of Tan Hong's camp on the map drawn in the mud: "Isn't it hidden at the edge of the camp where you didn't see it?

Not only Zhou Kaihuang, but also Deng Ming noticed the whispers among the crowd, and these murmurs grew louder. Some began to question whether it was a scam, mentioning that the intruders and the Western Camp were utterly untrustworthy. Seeing Li Xinghan remain silent and not echo these doubts, Deng Ming wondered how long this apparent neutrality of Li Xinghan could last

Upon seeing the expressions of the two individuals, Deng Ming slightly nodded, took the bead out of his bosom once again, and asked Zhao Tianba: "How is your archery skill?"

I do know about King Han; he was in Fengjie some time ago. However, I haven't heard of a Prince Han. Upon hearing the report, Tan Hong was also puzzled, but since the visitor called out like that, he decided to go and take a look.

Tan Hong placed the beads into his bosom and, looking at Deng Ming beneath the camp wall, his face was already filled with a fierce light

Upon thinking of this, Li Xinghan no longer gazed further and respectfully returned the string of beads with both hands, saying: "I humbly thank Your Highness for the privilege of reading."

As Tang Hong led Qin Xiu to the camp wall, the soldiers beside him immediately shouted back: "The lord is here, speak if you have something to say."

Tan Hong was filled with doubt as everyone praised him for his discerning eye. He felt as if he had not seen the beads glowing, yet everyone was lauding his ability to recognize the valuable gems. As he looked more intently, he seemed to catch a glimpse of a faint light or white glow, unsure if it was merely an illusion.

I have long heard that a single good pearl can be worth a fortune. I have not even seen an ordinary bead. Li Xinghan examined the string of beads and thought to himself: This Mr. Deng casually pulls out such a large string; he must have an impressive background, perhaps he is truly a prince.

Fool! A few bodyguards spat, "Do you think it will shine as brightly as the sun? Then it would not be a pearl but a torch!"