Chapter 33: Stone Cloud Tiger Breaks Free

Behind a low hill near Quanliang Mountain, Shi Yunhu leaned against the slope with a pale face and closed eyes. The few rebels beside him were filled with panic, their faces etched with exhaustion.

"Chief, wake up. Eat a piece of flatbread to settle your stomach." Ma Yunjiu emerged from somewhere, pulled a dry piece of bread from a cloth bag, and handed it over.

Shi Yunhu opened his eyes, swallowed hard at the sight of the bread, took it, and began to devour it. The bread was dry and hard, crumbling as he bit into it, but he chewed and swallowed with force. The other rebels nearby stared at the bread, their throats bobbing as they swallowed their own saliva.

Once the palm-sized piece of bread was down, Shi Yunhu grabbed his waterskin to wash it down. Only then did he ask Ma Yunjiu, "Have Li Shuheng and Liu Heng arrived yet?"

Ma Yunjiu shook his head slightly.

Seeing this, Shi Yunhu furrowed his brows and said coldly, "What about Zhao Yutu? Did he send anyone?"

Ma Yunjiu hesitated for a moment before saying, "Chief, I don't know if I should say this."

"Speak!"

"Based on my speculation, Li Shuheng and Liu Heng will not be coming. It has been almost a day since we sent our messengers; it is impossible they haven't received word. The fact that they haven't shown up yet means they..." He stopped there, looking at Shi Yunhu.

Though the rest remained unsaid, the meaning was clear.

Shi Yunhu slammed his fist into the ground. "I should have dealt with them sooner, along with that Zhao Yutu—an ungrateful wolf that cannot be tamed."

"Calm yourself, Chief. Our top priority is to figure out how to break through the imperial army's encirclement," Ma Yunjiu urged. "They have kept us trapped here for a full day. Once dawn breaks, they will surely launch an assault. With our current numbers, we are no match for them. It would be better to take advantage of the darkness now; I will lead the cavalry to escort you out tonight."

Shi Yunhu sat in silence, saying nothing. Ma Yunjiu could not help but press him, "Chief, please make a decision quickly. Once the sun rises, we will have no chance to escape."

Shi Yunhu raised his head and looked at the rebels around him and those further away. "What will happen to the others if I leave?"

Seeing Shi Yunhu waver, Ma Yunjiu advised, "As long as the green hills remain, there is no fear of running out of firewood. As long as you are alive, Chief, there is no worry about raising another army."

"It seems that is the only way." Shi Yunhu knew that staying any longer was useless and would only mean being buried with them. Escaping tonight might be his only chance to survive.

Having made his decision, he stood up. Just as he was about to leave with Ma Yunjiu, he felt his hem being tugged.

"Please, Chief, take us with you! We are willing to serve you faithfully."

The rebels around him pleaded bitterly, grabbing at his clothes; everyone knew that staying meant certain death.

Shi Yunhu’s eyes turned cold, then he smiled warmly. "Don't worry, if I go, I will naturally take you along. Come, follow me, but be quiet. Do not alert the others."

"Thank you, Chief! Thank you!"

The rebels kowtowed in gratitude, scrambled to their feet, and followed closely behind Shi Yunhu and Ma Yunjiu. Many other rebels hiding behind the slope saw them coming, but few stood to greet them. Having gone a day without food, they were listless, and with the imperial army surrounding them, most had become numb.

Ma Yunjiu led Shi Yunhu through the crowd of rebels and into a grove of sparse trees. Upon arriving, Shi Yunhu saw twenty-some men and twenty-some horses hidden there. The horses' hooves were wrapped in cloth, and the men were all cavalrymen.

"Chief, Captain," Ma Yunjiu’s lieutenant, Li Zhong, greeted them. Shi Yunhu nodded in acknowledgment.

Ma Yunjiu asked, "Are the horses ready? Make sure there are no issues along the way."

Li Zhong patted his chest. "Don't worry, Captain. They’ve just been fed black beans and flatbread; they have plenty of energy."

Ma Yunjiu turned to Shi Yunhu. "Chief, let’s mount up."

"Good." Shi Yunhu started to walk, then suddenly turned to the rebels he had brought. "You lot choose your mounts first. Those who cannot ride, share a horse with a cavalryman."

"Chief, this—" Li Zhong began to protest, but Ma Yunjiu shot him a look. The rebels, eyes fixed on the horses, noticed nothing.

"Brothers, pick whatever you like. Once you're ready, I'll have my riders take you up," Li Zhong said, signaling the other cavalrymen with a slashing gesture.

"Come, brother, look at this horse of mine. Strong limbs, sturdy build—it can carry both of us without any trouble," one rider said, draping an arm over a rebel’s shoulder and pointing to his mount.

As the rebel looked up at the horse, the rider covered the man's mouth from behind and plunged a dagger into his chest, stabbing him repeatedly. The rebel struggled for a moment, then went limp and slid to the ground. The rider let go and tossed the corpse aside.

The same scene played out by the other horses. The rebels had no chance to cry out before being butchered by the riders beside them.

Li Zhong walked over to Shi Yunhu. "Chief, let’s mount up. We should get on our way while the moonlight lasts."

"Chief, your horse is ready." Ma Yunjiu led Shi Yunhu to a tall, brown steed. Shi Yunhu grabbed the saddle, vaulted onto the horse's back, and took the reins.

"Everyone, mount up!" Ma Yunjiu commanded, then climbed onto his own horse.

Shi Yunhu looked back at the spots where the rebels were resting, then raised his blade and chopped off a tree branch beside him. His voice was icy. "Li Shuheng, Liu Heng, and Zhao Yutu—I have recorded this debt today. As long as I live, I will return to settle this score."

"Let's go, Chief. Any more delay and we might be discovered," Ma Yunjiu urged.

Shi Yunhu turned his gaze away, raised his sword, and declared, "Let’s go. Move out."

The cavalry, having waited long, slowly rode out of the grove under the moonlight and vanished into the night.

***

"Report!"

A messenger rushed into the Ming army's main tent.

"What is it?"

A military officer sat in the center of the tent, dressed in a scarlet robe with a tiger embroidered on his chest. A suit of scale armor hung on a wooden rack nearby.

The messenger knelt on one knee. "Reporting to the Commander, news has just come from the Northern Camp. Twenty-some riders broke through the camp under the cover of night. The guards were caught off guard and let them escape."

"A bunch of useless trash!" The officer overturned the desk in front of him. "Who are the commanders of the Northern Camp?"

"Assistant Commissioner Huang and Battalion Commander Zheng."

"Tell them to come see me tonight—no, just tell Assistant Commissioner Huang to come. Tell Battalion Commander Zheng to hold the camp tight. If one more person escapes, I will personally report him to the Governor."

The messenger bowed and exited the tent.