The Mandate of Heaven by Murgatroyd Tim

Author:Murgatroyd, Tim
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Myrmidon
Published: 2013-11-23T16:00:00+00:00

Soon the lights of Chenglingji appeared on the eastern horizon and Hsiung grunted with pleasure. All was progressing in line with a plan that relied upon exactly timed arrivals and departures. The lanterns had been extinguished on the Yueh Fei vessels, despite the risk of ships colliding – for the next hour they must trust in starlight glowing on wave and foam to guide them.

‘Captain P’ao!’ he called. ‘Signal to the other ships. Form the line!’

A single, blue lantern flashed in the darkness and any drunken New Year reveller gazing at the lake from Chenglingji might have wondered if a water dragon was winking. Gradually the Yueh Fei fleet closed up and turned north, drawing nearer to the shore. Hsiung stared into the darkness for a signal. Time passed agonisingly. Had they missed the landing point? Turning the fleet round would take an hour in the darkness, assuming they did not run aground. He peered to the east. Could that be a glimmer of dawn?

‘Look!’ cried P’ao beside him. ‘Over there! Three fires alongside each other!’

‘Helmsman,’ called Hsiung, ‘light the rear lantern and make no mistakes as you approach the shore.’

There was a loud creak as the sailors scurried to adjust the rigid sails of the long junk, then a rattle as oars were run out.

‘Quickly!’ ordered Hsiung. ‘Why are they so slow?’

‘Best let the sailors manage it,’ murmured P’ao and Hsiung fell silent.

Soon the fleet had clustered round a shore of fetid mud and shingle. Lightly armoured men waded ashore while Guards in heavy lamellar armour were ferried from the larger junks in dozens of small boats. A breeze carried the bitter tang of reeds and the sweetness of decaying vegetation.

Hsiung stood beside the three fires as their flames cracked and waved with the wind. Chao and Hua knelt in the mud before him, foreheads pressed to the earth.

‘Look around you!’ he roared. ‘Do you think we came here to wet our boots then go home again?’

Hua lifted his head. ‘Noble Count, we cannot be blamed! When we sent messages to say the guards had been bought, we referred to different guards. All have been transferred unexpectedly!’

Hsiung tried to make sense of this. His entire plan rested on a gate through the city walls being left open by guards bribed at considerable expense. ‘How can we gain entry to the town?’ he demanded.

Now Chao looked up. ‘The walls are lower than you might expect, Noble Count,’ he said, ‘and the ditches are in disrepair. You see, the family who rule Chenglingji – the Zhongs – steal all the public funds for their own use. Perhaps you can storm the walls?’

Hua scowled at his partner and interjected, ‘Nevertheless these Zhongs are a most trustworthy clan, sire! If they divert funds it is because they hate the Mongols and long for a just ruler like yourself.’

Hsiung turned to examine the fleet. He could not care less about the Zhongs. Dawn was only three hours away by his calculation; one of those

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