Ding Wu spoke while untying the bundle on the fallen soldier’s back. “Look, this bundle appears stuffed from the outside, as if packed with luggage for a long journey. But inside, there’s only a thickly padded coat and trousers—not even a pair of shoes. Besides, Yunnan is spring-like all year round; there’s no need for heavy winter clothes. It’s all just for show.”
He pulled out a money pouch and counted the coins inside. “A few broken pieces of silver and half a string of cash—hardly enough for travel expenses to Yunnan. Moreover, you’d have to stay at free courier stations along the way, which requires a permit issued by the Embroidered Uniform Guard for the stationmaster to let you in. Where is that permit? It doesn’t exist. If I hadn’t seen through the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s scheme of kicking down the ladder, Wuli Tun would have been your burial ground.”
Wu Dianyong immediately knelt and bowed. “Thank you, Boss Ding, for saving my life! I thought you had forgotten about me after your release from prison. I never expected you to be so righteous and remember to help me escape.”
“Don’t thank me so quickly. I saved you out of self-interest, not out of chivalry.” Ding Wu warily scanned the surroundings, every rustle and bird call making him suspect enemies lurking everywhere. He kicked the fallen soldier into the ditch by the roadside and covered the bloodstains on the ground with fallen leaves. “Let’s leave this troubled place first. I’ll explain everything to you slowly later.”
Wu Dianyong, still shaken and seeing threats everywhere, was unfamiliar with the paths of Wuli Tun. He had no choice but to follow Ding Wu in his flight.
After the sound of their footsteps faded away, the soldier who had rolled into the ditch and appeared lifeless opened his eyes and climbed out. He pulled the blade from his chest with his bare hands—it was made of cardboard, deceptively realistic and glued to his clothes to mimic a stab wound. The blood was dog’s blood. The soldier had acted well, not making a sound when pushed into the ditch.
Ding Wu had pushed him down out of concern that Wu Dianyong might notice the flaw in his feigned death. After all, living people breathe, and careful observation would reveal the rise and fall of his chest.
The big fish had taken the bait. The soldier immediately returned to report.
Ding Wu led the panicked Wu Dianyong through the woods to a wheat field. They followed a small river northward through the field until it merged into a larger river—the Tongzhou River. They had reached the Tongzhou canal transport area, where summer grain shipped from the south arrived day and night at Tongzhou Port to supply the capital. Though the Ming dynasty had moved its capital a century ago, the north had never produced enough grain to support its large population, necessitating annual shipments from the south via water routes.
Along the way, Ding Wu told Wu Dianyong about his father, Ding Rukui, who had died of illness in prison, and how he himself had been abandoned by all and become notorious in the capital.
Wu Dianyong comforted him, “Boss Ding, please accept my condolences. They were blind, allowing a pearl like you to be covered in dust.”
Ding Wu laughed mockingly. “With my father dead, there’s no hope for rehabilitation. The Embroidered Uniform Guard still plans to send me back to that bitter cold place, Tieling. My sworn sister was of some use and intervened, so they agreed to delay my repatriation until after the forty-nine-day mourning period for my father. I despise Tieling—how can it compare to the capital’s prosperity? Once I go, I’ll never return. So—”Ding Wu halted in his tracks, staring directly into Wu Dianyong’s eyes. "I’ve come to a realization. The Ming Dynasty abandoned my father and me, caused my mother’s death, and left me with nowhere to turn. Why should I cling to notions of loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness? I want you to help me join the White Lotus Sect and seek refuge with Anda Khan."
Wu Dianyong recoiled in shock, stepping back repeatedly. "The Four Great Disciples are a thing of the past. I’ve long since abandoned that dark path for the light. Besides, because of me, the entire Temple branch was wiped out. The Sect Leader will never let me off—he must have issued a kill order within the sect. Whoever takes my life will be credited with a great achievement and rewarded. Now, neither the court nor the White Lotus Sect can tolerate me. I plan to live out the rest of my days under an assumed name. How dare I show my face again?"
Indeed, the people of the capital harbored the deepest hatred for the White Lotus Sect members who had guided Anda Khan’s troops. This time, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had successfully raided two White Lotus Sect strongholds in a single night. Although they hadn’t captured Sect Leader Zhao Quan, it was still a major victory. Those White Lotus followers who were captured alive were tortured for information, after which the Jiajing Emperor marked them for execution with his vermilion brush. They were sent through the "expedited death channel," bypassing the year-end death penalty review, and beheaded publicly on Chessboard Street at Great Ming Gate.
On the day of the execution, the crowds were massive—all were commoners who had lost loved ones during the Gengxu Rebellion a decade earlier.
Fifty-seven heads were severed that day, yet none belonged to the highest-ranking Branch Leader, Wu Dianyong. Even if Sect Leader Zhao Quan thought with his toes, he could deduce that Wu Dianyong was the traitor who had betrayed the White Lotus Sect and led to the annihilation of the Temple branch.
Ding Wu pressed forward step by step. "As I said earlier, don’t rush to thank me. I saved you out of self-interest, and this is that self-interest. I intend to join the White Lotus Sect and Anda Khan, to work with them to overthrow the Ming and wash away the shame I’ve endured all these years. But I have no one to recommend me and no way to seek them out. You don’t need to show yourself—just take me to where the White Lotus Sect gathers, point out the location, and I’ll go on my own. Once that’s done, you can flee far away."
Wu Dianyong replied, "It’s not that I don’t want to help you, but I’ve already confessed all the White Lotus Sect strongholds and spies I knew of within the Ming. Even the Embroidered Uniform Guard couldn’t squeeze anything more out of me, which is why they cast me aside like worthless trash."
Ding Wu said, "If there are none left within the Ming, there must be some beyond its borders, in Anda Khan’s territory, right? Take me to the northwest. I’m determined to pledge myself to him."
Wu Dianyong still refused. "In Anda Khan’s domain, the White Lotus Sect isn’t considered a heretical cult—it’s a recognized religion by the Khanate Court, allowed to gather publicly, hold ceremonies, and recruit new followers. Once you cross the border, you can simply ask around."
Ding Wu countered, "It’s easy for you to say as a former Branch Leader. I’m an exile who killed an Embroidered Uniform Guard and rescued a White Lotus Branch Leader. Even crossing the border smoothly is a problem for me. Right now, apart from some silver, I have nothing—not even a Household Certificate to pass through checkpoints. I need your help with everything."Wu Dianyong was a selfish man. Though Ding Wu had just saved him, his only concern was self-preservation. He quickly said, "Boss Ding, I truly wish to help you, but staying with me is dangerous. If the Embroidered Uniform Guard doesn’t see their assassins return to report, they will surely send people to Wuli Village to investigate. Their greyhounds are formidable—once they find the slain soldiers, they’ll know I’ve escaped and will issue a nationwide warrant for my arrest. Soon, my portrait will be plastered everywhere. If we travel together, I’ll only drag you down. You’d be better off finding your own way across the mountains and sneaking out of the pass. You won’t need a household certificate or transit documents—the smugglers do it this way all the time."
Ding Wu insisted on accompanying him, saying, "You think you’re the only one with a warrant? My father’s seventh-week memorial is at the end of this month. When the Embroidered Uniform Guard comes to arrest me and deport me to Tieling, they’ll discover I’ve already packed my valuables and fled."
Wu Dianyong found even more reason to refuse: "So we’re both wanted criminals—doubling the risk. That’s all the more reason not to travel together. Besides, we were imprisoned together. The Embroidered Uniform Guard will likely assume we’re in cahoots—no, I mean, like-minded. If we join forces, wouldn’t we just be making it easier for them to capture us both at once?"
Ding Wu replied, "Shopkeeper Wu, Branch Leader Wu, with your skills, you must have accumulated considerable private savings over the years and prepared multiple escape routes—a cunning rabbit has three burrows. You surely have everything ready: new household certificates, travel passes, transit documents, tools and clothes for disguise. You were just unlucky enough to be caught by the Embroidered Uniform Guard before you could use any of your burrows. I saved you—now help me in return. Give me a new identity and show me a way out. Otherwise—" Ding Wu pointed at the endless stream of people in Tongzhou Port, "I’ll shout it out loud, and both our heads will end up on Chessboard Street."
Wu Dianyong was incredulous. "You—how could you do this? What was the point of saving me if you’re just going to drag yourself down with me? That soldier was killed by you—it has nothing to do with me!"
Ding Wu said, "If I don’t take this gamble, I’ll be deported to Tieling. By saving you and tying my fate to yours, I can borrow your ‘boat’ to cross the river. Killing that soldier was my pledge—proof of my sincerity in cooperating with you. Do good things just fall from the sky? I can’t have taken on a murder charge for you without expecting something in return."
Neither of them was a pushover; each was using the other.
Wu Dianyong thought to himself: He’s right. Someone like Ding Wu, who lives off others, wouldn’t help me without expecting something in return. If he were genuinely kind-hearted and helped me for no reason, I’d suspect he had ulterior motives! Since it’s an exchange of interests, that makes things simpler.
Wu Dianyong sighed. "Follow me."
He bought a shovel and took Ding Wu to a mass grave on the outskirts of the capital. They found a crooked-neck pine tree on a hill, beneath which was an unmarked grave. Taking turns digging, they uncovered a chest. Wu Dianyong opened it to find a pouch of broken silver, household certificates, travel passes, transit documents, and several sets of clothing—both men’s and women’s attire.
Wu Dianyong put on the women’s clothes, disguising himself as a coarse peasant woman. He shaved off his eyebrows and replaced them with delicate willow-leaf-shaped ones, cleverly covering the black mole between his brows.Wu Dianyong handed the new household certificate to Ding Wu. "I am your mother, a mute. You are my son, and your father is dead. We two, mother and child, are heading north to seek refuge with relatives."
As expected, Wu Dianyong had long prepared an escape route, but had never had the chance to use it.
Traveling as mother and son was more discreet and less likely to arouse suspicion. Looking at the household certificate, Ding Wu couldn't help but admire the plan and said, "With this, we will surely pass undetected."
Wu Dianyong sighed. "By tomorrow, my wanted posters will likely be plastered everywhere. Staying in the Great Ming is too dangerous—living in constant fear, always at risk of being captured by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. I plan to take the northwest route, travel far to the Western Regions, and become a wealthy merchant. When I'm old, I'll return to settle down. By then, everything will have settled, the White Lotus Sect might even be gone, I'll be old, and no one will recognize me."
Ding Wu praised, "Manager Wu, your idea is truly ingenious. With the White Lotus Sect issuing a kill order, they'll assume you're still in the Great Ming. So, Anda Khan's territory is actually the safest place—no one would expect you to go against the grain."
Wu Dianyong laughed. "Staying alive is what matters most. We're in the same boat now—we can't turn on each other, or neither of us will survive. You saved me, and I'll help you cross the border. When we reach Fengzhou (present-day Hohhot), where the White Lotus Sect's main altar is located, our mother-son relationship ends there. You go to the White Lotus Sect, and I'll head to the Western Regions—we part ways. If fate allows, we'll meet again."
The two bought horses and traveled northward. Along the way, they played the roles of a loving mother and devoted son, deceiving checkpoint after checkpoint until they finally arrived in Fengzhou, a prosperous city under Anda Khan's rule.
It was the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a time when the capital would be enjoying mooncakes and admiring the moon, but in Fengcheng, autumn was already deepening, and the grass had begun to yellow.
"I won't enter the city," Wu Dianyong said. "Just ask any passerby—they all know where the White Lotus Sect's main altar is."
Ding Wu bought a jug of wine and toasted Wu Dianyong. "I urge you to drink one more cup of wine; west of Yang Pass, you'll meet no more old friends. This journey has been possible only thanks to 'Mother's' care—otherwise, your son would have died long ago. Mother, your son toasts you."
Wu Dianyong took the cup and drank it in one gulp.
Ding Wu said, "Your son would like to borrow one more thing from Mother."
The northern liquor was strong—just one sip went straight to the head. Wu Dianyong felt dizzy and rubbed his forehead. "If it's money, forget it. With your status as the former Minister of War's son, defecting to Anda Khan is a slap in the face to the Great Ming. You'll surely receive a high official position and endless luxuries. But I still need capital to trade in the Western Regions."
Ding Wu shook his head. "No, it's not money."
Wu Dianyong asked, "What do you want to borrow?"
Ding Wu said, "Your life."
"You—" Wu Dianyong tried to pull the hairpin from his bun—inside was hidden a slender spike—but his body felt weak, and he tumbled from the chair. "You set me up!"
"I can't go empty-handed to meet the leader of the White Lotus Sect's main altar. That would be too disrespectful," Ding Wu said, taking out a rope to bind Wu Dianyong. "The White Lotus Sect's kill order states that whoever kills you can become a Branch Leader and receive a thousand taels of silver. Tell me, how could I let such a fat prize slip away?"
"You are my letter of recommendation, and the best gift I could bring."
Author's note: Ding Wu is about to begin his overpowered undercover career.
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