Undercover - In China - Book 7

Part 71 - Escape from Jiangling

Sure enough, we were awakened before dawn by the sound of Cho Ren's soldiers streaming out of Jiangling, all of them carrying bags of rice. We rushed to the outer wall near the south gate. The guardhouse was deserted. We were elated at the prospect of freedom. A thunderous beating of drums drew our attention to the southland soldiers pouring out of the war camp and chasing after Cho Ren's retreating army.

Zhou Yu and a few dozen horsemen rode directly into Jiangling through the open gate under our guard house. They trotted along the road between the outer and the inner walls and stopped at the inner gate which was closed. I felt a chill of apprehension as the sound of a watchman's rattle broke the silence. Suddenly, archers appeared from hiding places along the inner and outer walls. Arrows poured down onto Zhou Yu and his men as they tried desperately to escape. Zhou Yu was hit by a bolt from a crossbow which knocked him off his horse, but he was quickly picked up by two of his men and carried away. 

 Cho Ren was following Cho Cho secret instructions and Zhou Yu had fallen into the trap. The tide of war changed abruptly as Cho Ren's retreating soldiers turned and counter attacked the pursuing Southlanders. Cho Ren's forces hidden in the city came pouring out and the Southlanders, assailed from two sides, were forced to retreat back into their war camp. We watched Cho Ren lead his victorious soldiers back into Jiangling. 

 'There goes our chance of getting out of Jiangling.' Miguel said gloomily.

'It doesn't look good,' I agreed. 'Does anyone have an idea how we can get out of here?' 

 Wang Bang nodded thoughtfully as Kozak translated.  ''E 'as friends who'll lower us over ze wall for a little cash, but we must wait until the first watch after sunset.' 

 We told Wang Bang Dr Zhang was waiting for us with the cash. Which wasn't true but we were desperate. It was past sunset when Wang Bang came for us. It was so dark we could see nothing outside the range of our feeble lantern. We groped our way up a stairway to the top of the outer wall where two men waited. Licia scrambled into a large basket which the men lowered down the wall. A bright full moon appeared briefly through the racing clouds, lighting up the scene like day and the banners along the wall suddenly snapped in gust of wind. The two men almost dropped Licia but they recovered just before she reached the dry moat. She jumped out and they hauled the empty basket back up. Miguel went next and then Kozak and then it was my turn. I was already in the basket when Wang Bang started arguing with the two men about payment and they dropped me so fast I thought they had let go of the rope but they braked my fall just before I hit the ground. Licia helped me out of the basket as the rope landed beside us.

 We figured Wang Bang would be after us as soon as he found another rope. With the aid of intermittent moon light we hurried away, slipping and stumbling over obstacles, in the direction of the Immortal Mountain monastery hoping that Dr Zhang would look for us there.