Sharing a Pavilion With You
Chapter 155: Lure the Tiger Down the Mountain

Chapter 155: Lure the Tiger Down the Mountain

[Suggested song for this Chapter - Distance, by Two Lanes]

Tan Bowen stared unseeingly out across the sparkling lights of the capital, his mind elsewhere, ruminating on how much he would be hurting the young and innocent Miss Wang, when she finally understood what he had done...

"And what of you, Mei Meili?" he asked her softly. "You’re fading away on me. You’re clearly not okay. You know that your brothers and friends away at the front wouldn’t like to see you like this. You must be strong for their sakes," he urged her. "Try not to worry so much about what you can’t control."

"How can I not be anxious? My third and fourth brothers have just left for the front, where they’ve joined First and Second. Bai Li’s there, leading the army. And I’ve just heard from First that Sofya narrowly escaped death... or worse, heading into that war zone," her voice hitched as she recounted the weight of her concerns.

It was Tan Bowen’s turn to comfort her, he realised, as he sat back up from her lap and drew the girl’s head against his chest, careful not to take liberties, as he tried to provide the shoulder to cry on that she so clearly needed.

"I’m so scared, Tan Bowen," she sobbed against his chest. "I love them all so much. The thought of losing any one of them just breaks my heart."

"Bai Li is an amazing military leader, Mei Meili. Don’t underestimate him for a moment. He’ll bring them all home safely, you just wait and see."

Tan Bowen truly did have every confidence in his friend’s prodigious martial talents.

"I hope you’re right, Tan Bowen, I really do. I just won’t feel truly at ease until they’re all back home where they belong," she sniffed.

"And such has been the lot of women while their men go to war, for as long as man has existed on this earth. The womenfolk must keep the home fires burning. I know that’s no real comfort, Mei Meili, but remember, you have a job to do as much as the men do. While they’re putting their bodies and lives on the line fighting our enemies to keep the People safe, your job is to keep a stiff upper lip and carry on living well at home, doing your duty in the Palace, and caring for your parents while your brothers are away at war."

"I know it is, Tan Bowen," she said with a shaky breath. "You’re right, and I need to be stronger... I will be stronger," she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and sat up straight, staring out across the city with a renewed determination.

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MILITARY CAMP, XINGHE COUNTY

Bai Li unfurled a message from the Emperor.

Commander Bai,

Despite your early success, the clamouring grows louder back here at Court. A warning for you - you don’t have much time left to silence the naysayers. You, and I, need a dramatic win which defeats all opposition. Tell Mei Renlong now is the time to implement big sweeping plans. Place your bets and bring me a rapid and decisive win.

By order of the Emperor.

He read the message twice, before calling for Lieutenant Ju.

"Bring Mei Renlong here," he ordered the man.

"Sir," the Lieutenant saluted, disappearing into the night.

Ju Rong returned a few minutes later with First Brother behind him.

"Sit down, Mei Renlong," Bai Li gestured to the man he hoped to call brother-in-law, to be seated across his desk from him. "Lieutenant, leave us, and clear the surrounds of anyone within earshot," he looked meaningfully at Ju Rong.

His Lieutenant marched quickly from the tent, pushing the guards at the door out a few metres and walking the tent perimeter himself to check for unwanted ears. It was rare for his Commander to be so secretive. Something important was clearly about to happen.

"I’ve had a message from the Emperor," Bai Li told First. "Our political runway is about to run out. He needs us to win this war decisively for him in the next few days. He’s asked me to tell you it’s time for your big sweeping plans and to place a bet. I know I’m putting you on the spot, but give me some options to consider?"

Mei Renlong’s eyes widened imperceptibly. He understood the order, and that failure was not an option for them.

To return home with only the one win and Arughtai still at large, would be considered an ignominious defeat, and someone more experienced would be given the next chance.

It would also undermine the Emperor’s power base further. He had gone out on a limb against those Ministers who advised that the expense of the campaign was too much for the treasury to bear. Not to mention it would be a slight against the Emperor’s selection of him and young Commander Bai to lead this expedition, giving his enemies more power to use against him in Court.

"Arughtai has overrun the frontier fortress at Xinghe," Mei Renlong commented. "This will be an embarrassment to our Lord. The opposing Ministers who his Majesty went against when they said this war would be too expensive, will be making hay while the sun shines, saying that Arughtai has made fools of us and is now holed up in one of our own forts. Every day he sits safely in that fort is another day of expense the treasury cannot bear. We need to draw him out, Commander, and win a decisive victory. Arughtai must lose all of his men, or his own life, for us to succeed for His Majesty and the Empire."

Bai Li nodded his agreement. "Mm. There can be no escape for him this time. But how do we extract the man from the safety of the fortress? He would have to be crazy to leave it."

"We must sacrifice some men to draw him out. This time, we must lure the tiger down the mountain."

"Do you have ideas for a feint?"

Mei Renlong nodded. "I do, but it won’t be easy. It will require great discipline and bravery on the part of the men."

"That goes without saying, Mei Renlong, but at this stage we have no choice. Our backs are to the wall in the Forbidden City. We must pull out all stops to win this war for the Emperor. I’ll call the Assault Commanders. We stay up all night if we must, until we have mapped our winning plan."

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