“River bandits?!”
As soon as Qin’er heard this, she slammed the window shut and pulled the Ninth Princess backwards. “Your Highness, hurry to the inner cabin!”
This wooden vessel had been specially prepared for the Ninth Princess by the Governor of Fengxiang. It had once belonged to a salt merchant and been converted so that the inner cabin functioned as a strongroom. Even if bandits boarded, they could not breach it quickly.
The Ninth Princess knew this was no time to be wilful. She cooperated at once and entered the inner cabin.
Her face, however, showed little panic. Instead she frowned in thought for a moment, then said to Qin’er, “Go and fetch the boat master.”
Qin’er hesitated briefly, then opened the cabin door and stepped out.
On deck, hundreds of soldiers poured from the lower hold and rushed to every part of the vessel.
Every one of them wore fine armour. Their eyes were sharp, their movements swift yet orderly. At a glance it was clear they were veteran troops who had survived the slaughter of battlefields.
They were the princess’s personal guard, and also part of her dowry.
When Qin’er opened the door, the guard captain hurried over. “Miss Qin’er, why are you out here instead of staying inside with Her Highness?”
“Her Highness wishes to see the boat master,” Qin’er replied.
“See the boat master…”
The captain glanced awkwardly at the helmsman, who was busy directing the crew.
As the most favoured daughter of Emperor Chen Ji of Great Kang, the Ninth Princess was being sent far away to marry in Tubo. Naturally the emperor’s heart ached for her, so the guard detail assigned to her had been hand-picked elites from the Imperial Guard.
The Imperial Guard’s chief duty was defending the capital; they were among Great Kang’s most effective fighting forces.
Along the journey, several groups of shortsighted bandits had tried to waylay the princess’s party and had been effortlessly crushed by this guard.
Unfortunately, while formidable on land, they were out of their element on water. Now they had to rely on the boat master to shake off the river bandits.
For the princess to summon the boat master at this critical moment, was that not making trouble?
Qin’er also saw how busy the master was, yet she offered no explanation.
In truth she herself did not know why the princess wanted him now.
But anything the princess ordered, Qin’er would carry out.
If the captain refused, she would personally drag the boat master over.
Seeing the determination on Qin’er’s face, the captain gave a helpless sigh and ran to the bow.
After an animated exchange of gestures with the boat master, the man trotted over, bowed low, and followed Qin’er into the cabin.
“Your Highness, the boat master is here.”
“This humble commoner, Zhang Heitou, pays respects to Your Highness the Princess!”
The boat master dropped to his knees and kowtowed to the Ninth Princess.
He remained kneeling, head lowered, not daring to look at her.
The princess had only meant for any crew member to be brought. She had not expected Qin’er to fetch the master himself.
She said nothing about it, however, and asked calmly, “Are river bandits normally a serious problem here?”
“Well…”
The boat master was unsure how to answer.
Those who lived by the mountains fed themselves from the mountains; those who lived by the water fed themselves from the water. When mountain folk could no longer survive, they became bandits in the hills. When fishermen could no longer survive, they became river bandits.
In recent years, with taxes constantly rising, the number of river bandits had soared.
To speak the truth would be to slap the court in the face.
Yet to claim there were few bandits was plainly false when a band was right outside.
His silence was itself an answer.
The Ninth Princess gave a slight nod. “Then there must be quite a lot.”
Then she asked abruptly asked, “Before we set out, did you not pay protection money?”
“Your Highness, forgive me! This band must have formed only in the last few days!”
The boat master assumed she was angry and hastily kowtowed again.
He was deeply depressed.
More than half a month earlier he had received notice that he was to carry an important passenger to Jinchuan. To avoid trouble on the journey, he had made a special trip beforehand and paid off every river bandit group he encountered.
The bandits had taken the money and, to their credit, kept their word. Until now, whenever they recognised his vessel, they had stayed away.
The boat master had been secretly congratulating himself.
Who could have foreseen that, almost at the destination, a new band would suddenly appear?
“Very well, I understand. You may return to your duties.”
The Ninth Princess waved a hand. A thoughtful look appeared in her eyes.
“This commoner takes his leave!”
The boat master backed out of the cabin.
Only after the door closed did he raise an arm to wipe the cold sweat from his brow.
Given the princess’s status, she could have him killed without even needing a reason, a mere flick of her hand would suffice.
What was worse, he had just lied to her.
He had claimed this band was newly formed, but it was not.
The pursuing bandits had at least six narrow boats. A brand-new band would never possess so many men and vessels.
Either he had missed this group when paying protection earlier, or they were simply greedy and wanted a second bite.
At this thought, the boat master hurried towards the stern.
The large vessel had been slowing continually for stability, while the bandits’ narrow craft were swift. They were already almost alongside the stern.
When he reached the stern, he saw that all the bandits had their faces covered. An ominous feeling rose in his heart.
Ordinary river bandits did not mask their faces. Masks meant they intended murder.
But it was too late for regrets. He could only steel himself and shout, “Good sirs, there is a noble personage aboard this ship! I beg you to show mercy and withdraw. My brothers will reward you handsomely afterwards…”
Before he could finish, an arrow cut through the rain and buried itself in his chest.
Even the guard captain had not expected this. By the time he reached the stern, the boat master was already dead.
“Father!”
The boat master’s son let out a anguished howl and rushed forward.
But before he reached the body, more arrows flew from the bandit boats.
The son took three arrows and collapsed on the deck at the stern. After a few convulsions he lay still.
Blood stained the planks, only to be washed away by the rain.
The princess’s guards wore excellent armour. Arrows struck with metallic clangs yet could not penetrate.
Faces, however, were unprotected. All the soldiers instinctively turned their heads, fearing an arrow in the cheek.
At that moment the bandits’ boats drew right alongside.
“Watch out, they’re boarding!”
The guard captain shouted, drew his sword, and readied himself for combat.
Yet the bandits showed no intention of boarding. They simply clung close to the hull, and soon the sound of heavy thuds echoed along the ship’s side.
“No! They’re scuttling the ship!”
The captain’s face blanched.
He had been wearing armour and had not feared a boarding action.
The bandits’ boats were fast but small. Even with all six boats combined, they could never match the guard detachment.
But if they sank the ship, it was a different story. Almost all the guards, like him, could not swim. Once the vessel went down, no amount of skill would save them.
“Shoot them with bows!”
The guard captain roared at the top of his lungs.
The guards sheathed their swords, unslung the bows from their backs, and took aim at the bandits below.
