Meng's Revenge: Vol.4 of Life Among Clouds WangXian Series

To The Death

An old man lay prostated before Meng Shi. Looming behind him was his son, a big, hulking figure, well over 6 feet and weighting in at a koku of rice. He was glaring at his surroundings, at the people around him. At her, which she found amusing and highly desirable. Anger below the surface and unafraid. He also did not look stupid, if anything he seemed shrewdly intelligent. He stared down at his father in scorn. Therefore she decided to offer a healthy reward for services rendered. She spoke sharply to the old man.

"Get up. Interpret for me."

The old man scrambled to his feet. In a home-fashioned set of signals, he spelled out what Meng Shi demanded.

"You are a slave, correct? Good. I could order you to do this but I am requesting it and offering the following.

First. If you are successful, I will give you your freedom." His eyes began to gleam.

"Second. I will present you with this. " A wooden chest filled with gold coins,, threaded on iron rods was opened. He looked at her in surprise.

"Yes, more than you can use in a lifetime. Third, I will give you your own blacksmith shop in Yunmeng or Gusu and your pick of any woman in the town to be your wife. They will be spoils of war, after all. You may also choose six slaves to take with you. Your father will be one of them. If I am right, he has been less that loving to you in this lifetime"

He grinned at his father who paled in terror at her words, then stepped forward, looking down at Meng Shi, falling slowly to his knees in assent. She smiled. and gently patted his head. He looked up at her like a rescued mastiff. She had him. He would do anthing she asked.

"Bring the weapons. "

An array was placed on the floor befor the kneeling giant. A bronze dau, with a wickedly sharp recurve. A double-edged sword made of heavy iron. a cudgel and a vicious, copper and bronze Fu, with axe blades on both sides of the shaft and a foot-long pike on the end.

" Choose one."

He never hesitated. He reached out and grasped the Fu, glorious in it's lethal beauty. She motioned him to the window. Meng Shi slowly purused the ensuing battle, then pointed out the figure of Anshi, sitting on his horse and recharging, waiting for his next target."There. That man in the fur-trimmed hat. You most go where we direct you because he will be called into action again. You must seek him out and kill him. When I have his head at my feet, you will recieve your reward."

                                                                                                                  ******

Lan XiChen ordered the Nie and Qian factions into play and they smoothly took up the rear positions as the Meng reinforcements attempted to encircle the main body of combatants directly in front of the open gates . The forces merged in a butchering frenzy and the fighting became furious as the Lan fought their way into the courtyard. The elite guard that sheltered Meng Shi's Keep was massive, concentrated below and throughout the edifice. They were as hardened as any Lan and equally as devoted to their leader. They stood their ground and the numbers within the walls were fairly even. Lan XiChen assessed his situation. He wanted this over. With most of her elite forces trapped within these walls Lan XiChen could choose a longer and more prolonged battle or use Anshi as his way to a quicker victory. He also wanted to save as many of his army as possible. Wei Ying and Lan Zhan nodded their assent and the call went out to Anshi. A golden flare from the Sect Master's own bow split the afternoon sky and General Nie and Minister Han ordered their forces to split the the combatants right down the middle, compelling them off to the sides as their forces fashioned a corridor from the trees to the gates