Chapter 86: The Long Journey to Ningzhuo 2

Ningzhuo, northern Wei

Late in the night at a candlelit study, a robust-looking tall man sat at one end of a Go board, while a slender woman in red sat at the other end of the board. He held up a white go piece, silently calculating the right step to take. 

A lot of strategies ran through his might yet he couldn't decide on the right step to take. His opponent had him locked in an unfavourable position, he glanced at his opponent. Whose red lips curved up, on seeing his obvious indecision. Her delight at his current condition was obvious. 

She didn't even bother to hide it, "don't keep me waiting my dear, make your move".

The man shook his head and glanced at her for a second before he placed the white go piece on the Go board while following a set strategy. When a man in the light full body armour belonging to a military guard rush in and fell on one knee.

"Master, a message from the capital just came in," the guard said. He raised a small cylindrical-shaped black leather letter holder, with his head bowed low.

The man and woman tinted to him as soon as they heard the words message and capital.

"What a relief," the man thought with a crooked smile. He returned the Go piece to the small woven basket beside the Go board. He glanced at his partner, apart from her narrowed eyes, she looked calm. He stood, walked to the guard and took the black letter holder. "You may leave".

The guard nodded and left the room. The man unclamped the top of the leather jacket. He pulled out the rolled-up letter and spread out the letter.

The woman tapped the table gently, "who is it from?"

"It is from our contact in the capital" he replied and walked to the table.

The woman leaned her head in her hands and rubbed her temple gently, "Not the palace?"

"Yes!"

She sighed, "What does it say?"

"His Majesty has appointed a new military governor from the Capital"

"What? I thought he had decided to pick from someone here? Hasn't he been sending us the olive branch for the past few months" she slapped the table and stood? "Just what game is the lousy Emperor playing?"

"He must have decided to drop us because the new governor is General Lu Yaozhu"

"What! then who got the royal contract this time?"

"Who else"

"That Bastard! I knew that the stupid Emperor would betray us. Tell our men to all pull out" the woman said as she pulled the letter away from his hand and schemed through the letter.

"We are pulling out?"

She set brought the letter to the lit lamp on the small table next to the Go board, set it on fire and threw it into the ashtray on the ground. "Yes, his Majesty has made his choice. We will respect it".

"just like that, what if he comes after us?"

She laughed "he doesn't have the guts but if he does, we can join hands with someone else. The Emperor is such a detestable man, he doesn't have a shortage of enemies".

*******

Back at Su Liya's end.

The Imperial edict came the next day and five days later Lu Yaozhu and Su Liya left the Capital for Ningzhuo. They left the capital with a small military company of fifty soldiers from the Lu family's soldier. Lu Yaozhu didn't wish to show tge real mass of their army. He instructed the remaining soldiers to follow them closely in secret.

The Emperor made a show of support by meeting them at the city gates to see them off. Before leaving, Su Liya and Lu Yaozhu went up to the city gates to greet the Emperor before leaving the capital.

After greeting the Emperor, Lu Yaozhu and Su Liya returned to their horse and carriages. They left with three carriages, one was for their luggage, the second was for their female servants. While the last was for Su Liya and her maids.

The soldiers surrounded the carriages while Lu Yaozhu, Yu Tao and his generals rode in front. They travelled during the day and made camp at night to rest. They travelled at a slow rate because of the ladies. There had been reports of bandits attacks at a few small towns outside the capital so they were careful when travelling.

On the second day, they stopped at a village for the night. It was a small village and as soon as they arrived, the village chief arrived at the gates to greet them. 

"Welcome to Yul village, General", the village chief a plump elderly man in his fifties said bowing.

Lu Yaozhu pulled the horse rein closer and got down from his horse. Yu Tao and his right general Yang Wuze got down and followed him behind. Lu Yaozhu walked to the village chief and exchanged a salute with him.

"Please get up, chief. Don't stand on ceremony"

"Yes General. You have travelled for a long, please come in and rest. This lowly Chief is surnamed Wang, I am Minister Tian subordinate. I received a missive from minister Tian when you left the capital. I prepared some lounging for you and your wife, please make yourself at home" 

"I didn't know Minister Tian sent word to you, I will send him my thanks. Please lead the way" Lu Yaozhu said. 

Lu Yaozhu caught Yu Tao's eye and nodded before following the village chief into the village. Yu Tao rushed over to the wide carriage in the middle and knocked gently at the door.

Baozhai pulled the curtain up and said "Brother Yu Tao, we stopped suddenly. Is there any problem?"

"No, the village chief stopped at the gate to welcome us. He had already prepared a lounging for us, General Lu left with the village chief. I will lead you in" Yu Tao said with his eyes locked on the quiet woman by the other window. 

Su Liya looked up and nodded "thanks".

Yu Tao bowed and walked back to his horse. Minutes later they arrived at an Inn at the centre opposite the Townhall. Lu Yaozhu stood at the entrance of the Inn to welcome them. He helped her down from the carriage and led her in.

The inn was locked down for the night so it was only the both of their group lodged at the inn. Lu Yaozhu led her into the inn and introduced her to the village chief.

"Chief Wang, this is my wife Princess Ping nee Su"

Chief Wang looked at the beautiful young lady in Blue and bowed "Your Highness, welcome to Yul village. Please make yourself at home"

"Thanks for having us, Chief Wang" 

Su Liya was led to her room to wash up and settle in, while Lu Yaozhu left to discuss with Chief Wang. 

********

At a small tea room in the inn.

Lu Yaozhu sat opposite chief Wang at a small tea table. He quietly sipped his tea while listening to Chief Wang give reports of the conditions of the neighbouring villages. Since he would be passing through the villages, on his way to Ningzhuo. 

He had heard a few rumours concerning the actual conditions of those villages since he long suspected that the reports sent to the capital were altered by other officials. 

"Chief Wang, Have you heard anything concerning the events up north", Lu Yaozhu said as he placed the cup of tea on the table.

"Not much, General. The officials up north have been tightly lipped for some time but it is suspected that a few factions are fighting for power. Yesterday, we intercepted some communication between one of the factions and someone in the palace"

"Was there any news?"

"Yes, my Lord. There were some coordinates written in the missive" the chief walked closer and whispered, "there might be a spy in your company, my lord because those coordination were routes. The route all led to Ningzhuo, you have to be careful during your journey".

Lu Yaozhu was shocked to hear that, he had chosen to take the more hidden routes to Ningzhuo but it seemed that the either Emperor or the sixth prince's men had discovered them. 

"Taking the hidden routes may not be a good idea, I will inform my men to take the main routes. That way we wouldn't run into any trouble and get stuck on the road. Thank you, Chief, for drawing my attention to that" Lu Yaozhu said to the older man.

"There is no need to thank me, my lord. Like Minister Tian, I was an old subordinate of your father. Your father saved me a couple of times on the battlefield, this is what I should do" Chief Wang latter his arm. 

After speaking some more with Chief Wang, Lu Yaozhu returned to his room. He took off his black and silver light armoured and dressed in his inner garments walked through the dim inn to the bath. It was already late, everyone should be asleep apart from the guards on duty.

After washing up, Lu Yaozhu changed into some fresh clothes and walked back to his room. He heard a noise of glass breaking in Su Liya's room as he walked past the hallway to her room.