The Emperor's Prey

by Jeremy Han

  Of course there was another reason for his haste to depart from the empire’s port and into the great ocean. It was the climax of his treason. Half of him wished that Jian Wen’s little party would, for some reason, miss the extraction but the other half cheered for them to complete the escape, seeing his master one more time, knowing he had done right. His guilty conscience pricked him. He took a deep breath; the die was cast. Allah, not Yong Le, held his eternity. Restitution must be done for one’s sins. He had learnt to see beyond the earthly wealth and power, and its meaning and implications. All in all, he wished he could turn the fleet around and sail far far away. He balled his fist and then uncurled his fingers. His adjutant came up to him quietly, “Lord, have some tea.” Zheng accepted without looking at the man, gazing ahead, not moving until they docked.

  As the ship docked, Zheng’s naval officers attached to land duties were there to greet him. Amidst the fluttering pennants and flags, the admiral disembarked. He towered over all his subordinates and without breaking stride, announced to all he had no time to waste. He spoke in the clip manner of a military man, “Let’s go. Brief me in the carriage. To the governor’s palace.”

  Everyone fell in place behind the great man.

  By the time he got into the governor’s palace, the governor was already waiting for his illustrious guest. Zheng strode in. His face was red. He was fuming at the stories of delays and obstructions to loading caused by the Dong Chang. Of course he knew the real reason why they had put such a tight clamp onto his operations: they were on to him, or at least, on to the escape. If they knew his role, they would have arrested him even before he sailed from Suzhou. Or perhaps they unravelled the plot while he was at sea and now they awaited him with an imperial edict to execute him for treason? He took a deep breath; he must play his cards right. He must put on the best show of his lifetime. An angry admiral would be a formidable force, and he must be one today. Everything depended on it. His battle instincts were aroused. The deep sense of survival that sharpened the senses, that cleared all perception until one could see the enemy’s true intentions behind its deception, the guts that kept him alive until today, all of it came clearly as he turned to face his adversary. Ji Gang, commander of the Eastern Depot arrived at the same time as Zheng He.

  Ji’s gut feelings told him that Zheng was involved somehow. Since their last meeting at Suzhou, the Eastern depot had been watching the admiral. Piecing together the whole thing from start to end and how the fugitives were heading here so coincidentally at the same time the admiral sailed in; he knew it was too serendipitous to be true. He must shake the admiral and see what came out. Would he be able to intimidate the admiral enough to reveal something? How could he trap a tiger? With guile or with force? When he entered the room, Zheng He was waiting for him. They faced each other.

  “Commander Ji.”

  “Grand Admiral Zheng.”

  Protocol: Like bowing to your opponent before a fight to the death.

  The governor had shrunk into a corner of the office. He was like a useless referee who knew he could not contain the two fighters who would destroy each other. Instead, he was glad that the attention of these two tigers was onto each other and not on him. Rather than handle Zheng’s opening salvo, he gladly allowed Ji to face it. He thought he was indeed clever to have requested Ji to come. All he wanted was to let these two titans get what they want and get out of his territory so that he could become king again. A jackal could only rule when the lions were gone. Though he was the governor, he knew he counted for nothing between these two men. Zheng He fired the first shot.

  “What is this that I hear about the Dong Chang preventing the travelling parties to enter the city? And delaying the loading of goods onto my ships?” The travelling parties were part of Zheng’s entourage of monks and merchants. They had permits to enter the port city, but was dismissed by the Eastern Depot and subjected to searching and questioning just like everyone else.

  “Admiral. I beg your pardon for the delays.” Ji replied coolly. He was just being polite. He was not sorry at all. Before he continued, he turned to the governor and waved his hand, dismissing the man. The official was only too pleased. He scuttled out. When the governor had gone, Ji spoke without restraint,

  “We have reason to believe that the emperor Jian Wen is alive and will attempt to leave the empire by hiding within the vastness of your entourage. The Eastern Depot must ensure that will never happen.”

  “You know we sail according to the tides. If we missed it, the emperor will hear of how the Eastern Depot had caused the delay of the expedition.”

  “It is not our intention to slow you down. But we have to ensure that Jian Wen is not going to escape. The Eastern Depot will not fail in this.” His voiced lowered as he took a menacing step closer to Zheng, “Bear in mind admiral, I carry out the emperor’s orders directly. Stop me, and you are committing treason.”

  “I carry the imperial seal too!” Zheng bellowed. “Stop your games Ji Gang. Conduct all the checks you need to. But the Treasure Fleet will sail in three days.”

  Suddenly changing tack, Ji said, “You are not hiding him are you, admiral?”

  Now it was Zheng’s turn to smile. He knew Ji wanted to rattle him; use reverse psychology to force Zheng to give in. “Commander Ji, we sail in three days. I will not stop your searches, but if Jian Wen happens to appear on my fleet after that, it is your failure. And I shall plainly say it is so when I report directly to the emperor. After all the inconvenienced caused, the Eastern Depot still failed.”

  Ji decided to push it. He needed to keep the offensive going on. “Admiral, I was even thinking of searching your flagship. Surely you have no objections?”

  “Of course you may.” Zheng turned and face him. “You may search all three hundred of my ships and boats and the twenty thousand people who sail with me. But I will still sail in three days.”

  “Don’t be too quick to say that Admiral. The Dong Chang always catches their man. You don’t want to be implicated, do you? When we do, you would want to be seen as cooperative instead of being cast as an accomplice due to your obstinate behaviour.”

  “Threaten all you like, Ji. I am not the typical dog servant that the Eastern Depot bullies in the capital. I sail in three days. I suggest you make good use of your time instead of barking here. Every second you waste, your fugitive could have escaped. Three days.” Zheng emphasised by lifting three fingers.

  Ji continued as though Zheng had said nothing, “If you sail without my permission, I would not hesitate to stop you with force. I have the authority to command the city’s garrison to arrest your men.” Ji was going to find the proof he needed and nothing was going to stop him from fulfilling his duty.

  “And my fleet carries naval marines from my base in Suzhou who do not fall under the command of the city.” He added pointedly, “Or the Dong Chang’s.” Their duty is to ensure that the fleet’s imperial orders are carried out and it is safe from all threats. All threats.”

  Zheng walked out of the room with his officers in tow. Ji did not stop him. Both their points had been made. Both were men of action capable of doing what they claimed.

  SIXTY EIGHT

  The night before Zheng He arrived, Jian Wen’s humble entourage camped outside the city. Spring in the south was mild, so they did not suffer too badly sleeping in the open. The people who could not get into the city before the gates were shut at sunset clustered in groups based on familiarity or common purpose. They came with the group of monks, so they settled with them. They had their evening meal of wheat buns and then with nothing to do, they slept or pretended to. Jian Wen meditated and prayed. As they came closer to the end of the journey, or their lives, he ached for those who were with him. He saw in his mind’s eyes those terrible days of running from his uncle. Even though a monk should have let the past go, he was still human. He knew what horrible consequences awaited Zhao and his men if they failed. He anguished for Li Po, so young yet already so much misery.
The child could not understand the bigger picture except that her father was a good man being punished for being honourable. Every daughter believes that their father is the best and indeed Li Jing was, but how long could he prevail against the forces who wanted their lives? How would she comprehend politics and the hunger for power that turned man into beast? Can a lamb understand a wolf? Someone of her innocence could only be devoured but for the strength of righteous men. Yet how much longer can the valiant efforts of Zhao and his men keep the wolves at bay? The child was innocent. His dispute with his uncle had dragged so many people who had nothing to do with it like a whirlpool. Innocent bystanders, kind hearted people who gave them refuge, loyal and honourable men and their families all paid the price for regicide. Was it karma that brought them into the consequences of something not of their doing? Was it because the strong always stepped on the weak? Or good and evil is diametrically opposite so they must always clash and suck the innocent into its vortex? Jian Wen prayed for mercy and asked that good prevail over evil this time. At this moment, he realised that he was still very much concerned with the things on earth such as good and evil. He had not achieved nirvana yet.

  Zhao Qi counted the stars. He knew he would not be able to sleep because tomorrow, everything they had strived for could come to the end at the gates of Quanzhou. He had no knowledge of the place, no way he could find a way into the city except through the gates: under the very eyes of the Dong Chang. He suddenly thought of Fang Xiaoju. The man whom everyone thought was mad, and maybe he was. But without someone wise and resourceful like that, Zhao could not help but think that tomorrow would be a fateful day. As a commander, he could not help but feel that the burden of his people’s life lain squarely upon his shoulders. If only the imperial agents were late for just one day, everything would be different. It was hard for him not to despair. He looked into the vast sky and wondered if anyone out there could help? He needed a miracle; something that would shut the eyes of the Eastern Depot. It was true that leaders don’t have the answers every time.

  Li Jing stole a glance at Li Po and saw that she was sleeping soundly. The girl was used to a life of a nomad and could sleep anywhere. While it was convenient, it was also not the kind of life any father wished for his child. Li ran through the options in his head. They were with a group of monks and tradesmen. They had ‘passes’ issued to them. At a glance, they passed muster. Unless someone knew who to look out for, it was a mean task sifting a needle from the haystack of faces. How could he make it harder for those looking? Surely there must be a way. He knew that his failure would not be borne by him alone but by his only child. He said a silent prayer,

  “She has suffered enough. Tian, please let us through tomorrow. We have come so far. All these years she has suffered. Take me if someone has to pay the price for the emperor’s freedom but not her. Let her live. Let her know what life is like without having to run from danger. Let her not have to face fear and uncertainty, let her grow up to marry and live happily.”

  He prayed. Then suddenly he had a plan. His stomach was filled with butterflies as he worked out the details. The Farmer knew that his best friend was not asleep. He also knew what was keeping him awake. The small man thought of what life would be like if they got through tomorrow. A land far away from prosecution where he could rear his beloved chickens: something he had been doing since he was a child. All his life, he had been a simple person until the complexities of the world sucked him into its vortex. Being small, he was bullied until he learnt how to fight from an old man with an unnamed style that allowed the weak to overcome the strong. The style looked gentle but deadly, it was. He trained and became good at it; so good that when war came and he was drafted, he had used it with distinction. The reward was to be alive and to be noticed for a posting to the palace guards despite his smaller stature. But all he wanted was a peaceful life. He wanted to become a farmer again so badly. But he thought of tomorrow and then he looked at his friend and something warm filled his heart: if someone must pay the price for freedom, he would gladly do it for Li Jing and Li Po.

  Dawn broke over the eastern sky over the sea. If they were in the city, they could have seen the orange light struggle to assert its place against the darkness. The light brought hope for a new day for many as they prepared to enter the city. People stirred. Some fires were put out as people got ready to form up and queue at the gates. Zhao stretched himself, reminding himself ruefully that he might have to fight later. He came to his awakening party and handed out the last of their buns. Li Jing broke his into half, and gave it to his daughter. He said to her gently, “Eat my child. The queue is long and we won’t get food again until we enter the city.” He did not talk about the alternative. And then they were on their way as part of the thousand-foot millipede marching toward the city. He looked up and saw to his dismay, An Deli with Yong Ju scrutinizing the people like hawks entering the city in the early morning. He wondered if these damned secret agents ever sleep.

  An woke early. Tension was in the air as news of Zheng He’s impending arrival caused the governor to pressure him to speed up the checking and let the people with passes in quickly. Yet at the same time, they knew if the infiltrators were coming, it would be within these few days; he must not let his guard down. He stood on the balcony of the gate tower and let the cool morning air wash over him. Already the noise was building up as men and animals push against each other. Soon the sweet air would be fouled by the perspiration of men and the dung of animals. Horses and bullock did not discriminate where they shit. They would shit onto the boots of the emperor even. The people shuffled and the guards checked each one of them before letting them into the city. Suddenly, he heard anxious footsteps behind him. He turned and saw a nervous soldier running up.

  “Sir. The governor calls for you now.”

  “Damn it!” An knew what it was. The governor would be saying the same old thing again. He hated that old lady of a man but could not disregard his rank. How nice it would be if he could end the nagging with a single stroke of his sword. But this time, it was different. The anxiety of the governor was real.

  “Sir! The Grand Admiral’s ship is docking. The governor wants you to inform your commander that an urgent meeting is being called for at his office now.”

  So that was it. Zheng He had arrived and the cowardly grandmother of a man was scared to face the eunuch who walked like a tiger. An thought to himself, how ironic. The one with the balls was afraid of the one without. He turned to Yong Ju. This was one battle he could not fight, and did not want to. Let Ji deal with the Grand Admiral.

  “Yong Ju. You know what to do. I will be in the governor’s office with Lord Ji. It seems our friend, the esteemed admiral has arrived.”

  “Yes Sir.” Yong replied with his head bowed. Then An went off.

  Li Jing looked up and saw that it was almost their turned to reach the sentries. Before him, he saw the officer shouting at his men to check the passes stringently, asking the people entering the city several questions before he waved them in. They were heavily armed and the guard had been doubled. His gut tightened. He was taking a big risk. He looked around and saw his target. Perfect. Then movement above caught his eye: He saw An Deli speaking to a soldier. The junior soldier seemed nervous and An looked frustrated. Then An left, following him. Li’s heart leapt. What a stroke of luck. His chances of success increased. Yong Ju served after their time so had less chances of recognising them, but still he could not take the risk.