Chapter 76: The Stratagem
Yu Hualiang, confident in his plan, knew that this was the only way forward in their current predicament.
“What do you want me to promise you?” Cao Zhiling asked.
The sharp-faced adjutant cautioned him kindly, “The general is from Mo Country, after all!”
“I may be from Mo Country, but your General Cao saved my life. How could I repay kindness with betrayal?” Yu Hualiang declared, righteous anger filling his voice. Cao Zhiling sighed.
He said, “We have two thousand soldiers, but behind us stand millions of civilians. We can risk our lives, but we cannot fully protect them. If his plan works, we might as well try it.”
The sharp-faced adjutant fell silent; after all, the Seventh Prince, upon finishing his campaign at Nine Passes, would soon march toward Fengping Mountain, where Cao Zhiling was stationed.
A sycophantic officer vacated a seat, saying, “Please, Adjutant Yu, sit.”
Yu Hualiang laughed at his flattery and, observing Cao Zhiling’s gestures, waited for his approval. Cao Zhiling waved him over.
Only then did Yu Hualiang seat himself with the air of a lord, savoring the authority of an adjutant.
The sharp-faced adjutant noted his growing arrogance and coughed twice to bring him back to focus. “Now you can tell us your plan, right?”
Yu Hualiang replied, “Do you know the Three Kingdoms?”
The officers looked utterly confused. Yu Hualiang guessed they didn’t, so he abandoned the reference. “Let me put it this way—Fanhe is unlikely to hold out. Why not seek help from the neighboring great country... What is it called?”
“Xia Country,” Cao Zhiling reminded him.
“Yes, yes, Xia Country. Instead of waiting, you should ask for aid from Xia. I heard Xia and Mo are hostile. If Mo attacks you, seek refuge with Xia.”
The sharp-faced adjutant asked cautiously, “What if Xia refuses us?”
“Fanhe will fall eventually. You should lead the people to surrender to Xia, at least then you and the civilians will be safe.”
The adjutant worried, “Wouldn’t surrendering to Xia be disrespectful to our ruler? That would be treason!”
Yu Hualiang clicked his tongue, “Open your eyes and see: two thousand lives, millions of people, Mo’s army is about to strike. Has your king sent reinforcements?”
The adjutant had no answer. Yu Hualiang sneered, “I suppose he’s just a clay idol crossing a river, barely able to save himself.”
Cao Zhiling, deep in thought, asked, “What do you suggest we do?”
Yu Hualiang continued, “Use me as bait.”
“Hm?” The adjutant asked, “How will you lure the enemy?”
Yu Hualiang sighed, looking to Cao Zhiling. “There’s something I need you to help me with.”
“Speak,” Cao Zhiling said.
“That day, I saw an old man climb up from the bottom of the Thousand-Fathom Cliff. What was that about?”
The adjutant pressed anxiously, “Can you get to the point first?”
Cao Zhiling shot him a cold glance before turning back to Yu Hualiang. “Though it’s called the Thousand-Fathom Cliff, there’s a gentle slope two fathoms down. Because of the cold air in the mountains, mist shrouds the area just one fathom below, hiding the slope from view. Whether from above or below, it’s invisible.”
“So from above, it appears to be an endless abyss.”
Cao Zhiling finished his explanation. Yu Hualiang exhaled in relief, “I want to jump off the cliff and make the Seventh Prince believe I’ve died.”
“Why?” Cao Zhiling asked in concern.
Yu Hualiang replied, “I promised not to follow him. The Seventh Prince is the sort who, if he doesn’t believe I’m dead, will hunt me down no matter what.”
Cao Zhiling lowered his gaze. Yu Hualiang’s willingness to go through with this genuinely surprised him. “What do you need me to do?”
Yu Hualiang smiled, “I want you to wait for me below the cliff ahead of time. When I fall, carry me back up.”
He looked regretfully at his arms, “I simply can’t climb up on my own.”
Cao Zhiling understood. Yu Hualiang’s wounds, though not deep, were severe. The military doctor said even after healing, Yu Hualiang couldn’t do heavy work and would need two or three years for full recovery.
“And your plan to lure the enemy?” the adjutant interrupted.
Yu Hualiang said, “Have General Cao send word to the Seventh Prince, tell him you know where I am. Then have a soldier set fire to the camp, using the blaze to cover your retreat.”
He looked at the sharp-faced adjutant, “I know you’re prudent and understand the greater good. Please lead the people and soldiers in retreat.”
The adjutant was suddenly honored, but not quite used to it. He looked only at Cao Zhiling, awaiting his command.
Cao Zhiling spoke, “Follow Adjutant Yu’s plan.”
The adjutant accepted his orders.
Yu Hualiang said, “The Seventh Prince will definitely capture the soldier and let him lead him to the Thousand-Fathom Cliff.”
“When should we act?” Cao Zhiling asked.
The adjutant was urgent, “Yes, Mo’s army could arrive any day, ten days at most.”
“Withdraw tonight,” Yu Hualiang replied.
The adjutant understood and sought permission from Cao Zhiling, “General Cao, I’ll begin preparations immediately.”
Cao Zhiling nodded; the matter was settled. He knew Yu Hualiang was gambling again—gambling on the Seventh Prince’s feelings for him.
That night, Yu Hualiang watched his soldiers depart slowly from atop the Thousand-Fathom Cliff, letting out a long sigh. Cao Zhiling stood nearby, observing him for a while before speaking, “Are you really going to do this?”
“Do you mean helping you, or faking my death?” Yu Hualiang turned with a smile, countering.
Cao Zhiling ignored him, continuing, “No regrets?”
Yu Hualiang had only meant to tease him, but now, with Cao Zhiling’s earnest question, he retorted, “Didn’t you want me to leave him?”
“I only said as much. You should know, if you want to return, I can’t stop you.”
Yu Hualiang smiled, “What if I take it seriously?”
Cao Zhiling knew Yu Hualiang didn’t want to discuss it, purposely joking; he didn’t want to press further and went off to sleep.
Truthfully, Yu Hualiang felt he would regret it, but staying with the Seventh Prince was simply too dangerous. Despite following him for so long, he still couldn’t see through him.
There was always something mysterious about the Seventh Prince, an elusive quality that unsettled Yu Hualiang. Thus, he had never been able to open up to him as he could with Cao Zhiling.
But his heart... was undeniably tied to him. Yu Hualiang never imagined he would fall so deeply. The Seventh Prince’s smile lingered in his mind, impossible to dispel.
Standing atop the cliff, gazing down at the mist swirling beneath, it truly seemed like an endless abyss—a sight that tempted him to jump.
Looking up at the sky, the moon was beautiful tonight. A silent tear slid down Yu Hualiang’s cheek, the moonlight turning it into a glowing gem as it fell into the depths below.
Yu Hualiang knew that tomorrow night would be their final meeting.
Cao Zhiling watched him from the shadows, seeing the tears on his face. He understood—Yu Hualiang’s affection for the Seventh Prince was no less than the prince’s for him.
It was simply that their ways of expressing it differed. Yu Hualiang was like the moon above, gentle and radiant.
The next day, news arrived: victory at Nine Passes. Only three remained in the camp. Yu Hualiang nodded, “He’s been told I’m here, right? Tonight, burn the camp.”
With that, Yu Hualiang headed to the cliff, waiting until evening. Cao Zhiling watched, standing nearby, neither speaking nor moving.
As the sun set and the moon rose, Yu Hualiang’s silhouette grew ever lonelier, tugging at the heart.
Cao Zhiling glanced back at the burning camps, sighed in regret, and was first to leap down to the base of the cliff.
As expected, the Seventh Prince led his army to the scene, still seated in his chariot due to his unhealed leg. Though victorious, his face was drawn and haggard.
“Report to the Seventh Prince: we’ve captured the soldier who set the fire.”
“Bring him here.” The Seventh Prince’s tone was icy.
The soldier, seeing the prince looming above, trembled in fear.
The adjutant beside the prince asked, “Where are the others?”
The soldier stammered, “They… ran.”
“Where?” the adjutant pressed.
“Xia Country,” the soldier replied.
The Seventh Prince spoke coldly, “Pursue them.”
Seeing things turning dire, Ye Fang, beside the prince, drew his blade to kill the soldier. Terrified, the soldier cried out, “Adjutant Yu! Adjutant Yu! I know where he is!”
At the mention of Yu’s name, the Seventh Prince’s eyes lit up. He stared at the soldier, “Where?”
“He’s at the Thousand-Fathom Cliff! He ordered the camp burned!” the soldier replied.
The Seventh Prince frowned. “Thousand-Fathom Cliff… What did you do to him?”
The soldier caught his breath, “General Cao insisted we do nothing to Adjutant Yu. He told me to wait here for you, to tell you he’s at the cliff.”
“Go! To the Thousand-Fathom Cliff!” The Seventh Prince, nearly frantic, drove his chariot in the direction indicated.
He hadn't known what Yu Hualiang had done to convince Cao Zhiling to spare him, but when he awoke to find the token tied to his hand, a foreboding feeling settled in his heart.
He could tell Cao Zhiling harbored feelings for Yu Hualiang and suspected some agreement had been struck—a promise to keep Yu Hualiang from ever returning to his side. Hence, he had attacked Fanhe with such fervor, desperate to find Yu Hualiang.
But so much time had passed, with no sign of him. The prince had even feared Yu Hualiang was dead. Yet, hearing the soldier’s words, it seemed Cao Zhiling had not harmed him.
The heavy burden on the prince’s heart eased a little. As he walked up the cliff, he saw a solitary figure in white standing at the edge, heartbreakingly desolate.
The Seventh Prince recognized Yu Hualiang instantly and, supported by Ye Fang, hurried towards him.
“Ziliang!”
Hearing the familiar call, Yu Hualiang knew it was time to say farewell. He sighed, raising his voice, “Don’t come closer.”
The Seventh Prince halted, a foreboding dread rising within him.
“Ziliang… Come here,” he pleaded softly.
Yu Hualiang slowly turned, the breeze lifting his hair, the moonlight softening his features. His eyes shone as they had at first meeting, reflecting the prince’s weary face and his own reluctance.
“Seventh Prince… I am the spy you named… Will you have me torn apart by five horses?” Yu Hualiang asked with a gentle laugh, tears shimmering in his eyes, unable to hide his sorrow.