Having a great knowledge of military operations – Liu Hei began to gather his army from former herders and ploughmen, blacksmiths and potters. He took them to the training yard, forcing them to learn to resist the princely squads, trying to introduce the tactics of ambush war, knowing well that in an open field, his "army" would be nothing more than prey.
They might not be the best soldiers, but they were warriors. They were fighting for their lives, for their future. And freedom was their reward. Walking past dozens of tents and huts, where motley-dressed people were sitting around fires, cooking dinner, the travellers found themselves in front of a larger tent. Tang signalled to wait and disappeared inside.
Li glanced around and saw that everyone was staring at them.
He was not offended: his armour was supposed to have an irritating effect on the inhabitants of the camp. The guards were not treated very well here. At that moment, the curtain fell back, and Tang invited them inside. Li bent down and entered the low passage, habitually closing his eyes so as not to become blind from the bright outer light. Liu Hei greeted the guests. A pair of oil lamps burned on the sides. Even in the wild forest, the former tax collector could not give up his secular habits: ordinary men did not use interior lighting, as lamp oil was an unaffordable luxury.
At the sight of those who entered, the Chief of the rebels rose and bowed, casting a tenacious glance at the intruders. He pointed to the opposite seats while agile Liang hastily put bowls of rice and cups of rice wine in front of them. Li took a second to get accustomed to their surroundings.
Liu himself wore a faded robe, his hair militarily tied in a tight knot. He looked like a man in his thirties. Old Luo Yang didn't seem to pay attention to anything until silent Liu Hei said:
"I'm glad that fate has brought famous Luo Yang to my home."
"That's because we are now waling on the same paths," the old master smiled thinly. Liu also smiled.
"Yet we are here, and I have a lot of questions for you if you don't mind…"
"There is only one, and the main question: will I have so many answers? After all, I myself travel in search of the truth."
Liu nodded.
"We came across many burned-down villages along the way. Death is in the valleys, Chief. How are you going to fight it? With these several dozen unfortunates?"
Liu Hei frowned, then a clear sadness appeared on his face. "I don't know, wise man. I think about it every day and night. These people entrusted their destinies to me, and we don't care what happens to us; we only live for our children. Today our task is to save them. We'll think about the rest tomorrow if the sun rises."
"That's reasonable," Luo Yang muttered, overwhelmed by the inner strength that sounded in this simple phrase.
"What choice did they have?" The Chief of the rebels finished his thought, nodding towards the tent exit. Yang nodded.
"Of course, they had none. But you had. What prompted a former successful tax collector, a respected person, to leave a sedate existence and run through the forests?"
Liu Hei paused, rubbing his clean-shaven chin, stroking his thin moustache. Then he said in a simple tone:
"Probably, otherwise, my conscience would not allow me to live."
The old man nodded gravely.
"You will be given a tent; rest now. Tomorrow we will continue."
"Thank you, Master Liu, that's what we'll do," Li Zicheng stood up. Luo Yang followed him. The owner of the tent jumped to his feet with the obvious intention of accompanying them, but the wise man stopped him with a gesture.
"It is unworthy of a Chief to engage in the life of lonely travellers. Let young Liang accompany us. We became friends on the way."
"So be it," Liu Hei agreed and invited Liang, who happily accompanied the guests to their tent.
The next morning, they met again in the Chief's tent.
"Heaven sent you to me," the owner of the tent began with the traditional form of polite address. "In my case, this is not that much of an exaggeration. Yesterday you had a chance to note the tragedy of the situation. People entrusted their lives to me, I am responsible for them, but I am afraid they are not ready. I need your guidance?"
Leaving his empty cup aside, Luo Yang started smoking his pipe made from juniper wood. The smoke rose in circles, playing in the streaks of sunlight, penetrating through the holes in the tent canvas. It was impossible to see what exactly the old man was thinking about. Li, nor Liu dared to interfere with the thoughts of an old man.
Zicheng took a deep breath and said:
"At other times, I would say what you already know yourself very well: your "army" is doomed to defeat. But, in addition to simple arithmetic, which takes into account large numbers, equality and inequality, there is also fate and the talent of a commander… And luck… of course, if you believe in one."
"I do believe," Liu replied with a grin. "Otherwise, I wouldn't be here."
"Then everything gets easier. You will not be able to withstand an open battle against the imperial army. But you can deliver short, pinpoint strikes to individual units, merely the same as governor sends people like you to collect taxes from the weakest villages. Catching a squad on a narrow path and destroying it will not be that difficult. Besides, there are mainly soldiers who are on foot, which means that the cavalry will not chase you. The governor will not notice the loss of one or even several units immediately. Commanders tend to ignore the weakest detachments.
It will take some time, a very considerable one if we are lucky, before the news of the incomprehensible disappearances reaches him, before someone starts moving, comparing the facts, wanting to know where exactly a particular detachment disappeared. This time will be sufficient for you to strengthen your squad as much as possible by distributing captured weapons to your men, training them to the best of your knowledge and their abilities.
With that, you will be able to withstand greater forces, especially if you are mobile.
You will not constantly stay in one place but will force the enemy to chase you. You will be able to divert the attention of the dignitaries from the squad, give them a break, the opportunity to plant and grow crops in good weather. And by then, everything might settle down by itself. However, in that other life, there will no longer be a place for you and your soldiers because they stood against the Emperor all the same."
Liu Hei shook his head.
"Spend the rest of our lives on the run?"
"Not necessarily," the old man interfered in the conversation. "Our Emperor is still very young – he barely turned seventeen. So far, he lives not by his mind but by the slander of the courtiers. He doesn't care about any particular province until it becomes a threat to his power like the Jurchens.
"I will help you, leader, prepare your fighters for open battle. Just promise me that you will avoid it until I tell you. You carry the Blood Debt to your soldiers, and to fulfil it, you have to go through a very difficult path. But I'll be there, I promise."
"Thank you!" Liu Hei jumped up and firmly shook hands with the wise man and the warrior. "When will we start training?"
"Right after breakfast," Luo Yang interjected grumpily. "Breakfast is sacred for both sages and warriors."
He winked at Liu Hei, got up and walked out of the tent, followed by two cheerful looks.
From that day on, from dawn to evening, Li Zicheng drove Liu Hei's army to a sweat. He forced soldiers to move granite blocks, crush the smooth river pebbles with their fingers to strengthen their grip. He showed the techniques of sword handling, using wooden sticks in the absence of such. And gradually, the former "mean" people began to feel like real fighters, at least on their own level. It was until the first real fight with the