735 Abduction (1/2)
The arrow stuck in the ground flickered, as if it were resonating with the sneering expression on the faces of the nearby Court Attendants Army soldiers.
They had once ruthlessly reaped the lives of several lords, along with hundreds of aristocratic officers, as sacrifices to the deceased Khan; that very killing spree was one of the major reason why this so-called ”His Highness” had succeeded the throne, so the soldiers had every reason to despise him.
Shulitu could feel his legs trembling. That strange soldier was acting like his severe grandpa used to, which made him feel both useless and furious at the same time –
He never expressed his anger in front his grandpa, not even a little bit, but today, he was going to make an exception.
Shulitu stepped over the threatening arrow, and asked as calmly as he could, ”Is the Norland cavalry allowed to betray their oath? You have already abandoned the name of the Court Attendants Army and pledged your allegiance to Shulitu. Aas that a lie? Or do you have your own unique interpretation of the word 'allegiance'? I command you. Dismount, admit your guilt, and get out of my way.”
The soldier panicked slightly. Obviously he didn't expect that prince Shulitu would dare be so commanding. He cast an inquiring look towards his fellows, but they had betrayed him, turning their horses aside and lowering their heads to the child respectfully.
The soldier seemed to also give in. He looked like he was about to get down from his horse, but at the last moment, he suddenly turned his horse all the way around and rode away, deep into the camp.
Regardless of the ending, this was still a little victory. Shulitu began to understand the old Khan's words: people were born with power, but until they held it in their hands, that power is nothing but useless waste lying before their eyes.
Shulitu tried hard to calm down. Then he turned around and found that he was terribly wrong – it wasn't his tough words that had scared the soldier away, but rather a large group of common soldiers.
There were nearly a hundred soldiers streaming in from nearby places. They had gathered behind him, each holding a saber or drawing a bow. They'd long been discontent with the egocentricity and superiority of those Court Attendants soldiers, and would love to express their feelings with this opportunity.
Mo Lin was still watching from away. How Shulitu would deal with these soldiers who had come out for him was the true test.
Shulitu straightened himself. His eyes swept through these soldiers, with a brief pause on each face; from this moment on, he would try to remember the face of everyone that might be helpful to him, and afterwards, their names as well.
The soldiers felt valued by his actions. So they bowed, put away their weapons, and backed off.
Mo Lin came over, and together they entered the semi-restricted camp of the Court Attendants Army.
”You did well, Your Highness.”
”But that soldier ran away anyway.”
”Your Highness, the Court Attendants Army has become undisciplined. You need to refamiliarize them with discipline again.”
”They've indeed slacked in their diligence.”
”Shulitu looked around and all he saw was unconcern and arrogance – the soldiers were sitting or standing with their weapons casually tossed to the side; they watched the two ”outsiders” indifferently, with no respect in their eyes at all.
”It won't be long before they forget how to fight as soldiers and regress into a group of bandits who can do nothing but charge and shoot wildly.”
Far away, a dozen soldier were carrying something and slowly heading towards a bonfire.
”What's that?”Shulitu asked.
”Looks like an officer.”
”Azheba.”Shulitu recognized the man and started running towards him.
Azheba hadn't given up hope and was yelling in a loud voice. ”The Khan's passed away and hasn't even been interred yet. Don't you have any concerns about it?”
”The Khan's immortal, and he is now a god in heaven.” The soldiers carrying him always gave the same answer.
”If you don't believe it, we can send you up there and let you see for yourself,” another soldier offered.
Shulitu opened his arms in the middle of the path and desperately gasped out, ”Stop! Are you insane? You're going to burn your own general alive in your camp?”
”The Khan needs him,” the soldiers answered calmly.
More and more soldiers gathered around. One of them said, ”He's the Khan's great-grandson.” All the others nodded their heads.
Shulitu felt his heart skip a beat, realizing that he might be ”needed” by the Khan as well.
Gu Shenwei was busy making arrangements for an archery contest that was to be held several days later when a soldier suddenly rushed in and reported that Shulitu along with Azheba had been kidnapped by a group of Court Attendants soldiers.
On his way to the rescue, Gu Shenwei ran into Fan Wensh. The look on his face clearly said 'I knew it' without needing to open his mouth. He had never trusted the Court Attendants Army, believing that their allegiance had always been temporary.
The Court Attendants soldiers guarding the passage swelled into the hundreds, and a similar number of common soldiers were confronting them. As news of this incident spread, the numbers of soldiers on both sides kept increasing.
The first order that Gu Shenwei gave was to dismiss the common soldiers.Then he handed over his sword and saber to Long Fanyun before walking into the Court Attendants camp alone.
It would actually be a little too dramatic to call this situation a kidnapping, as Shulitu and Azheba had merely been surrounded, and not actually tied up. Shulitu was having an intense debate with those Court Attendants soldiers, fiercely stating, ”Azheba is the best archer on our side, and we need him in the contest against King Shengri. If you burn him to death, you're basically cutting off our own hands. How is that any different from colluding with enemy? Or would you rather die on the battlefield?”
The soldiers' answers were always brief. ”We're not afraid of death.” ”The Khan needs him.”
However, the Dragon King's presence instantly calmed the crowds down. Many of them unconsciously raised their heads, looking for that giant roc.
”Someone talk to me,” Gu Shenwei's mien was just as cold as those of the Court Attendants soldiers'.