Chapter Eight: Armory

"Oh, the rebel bandits have arrived so quickly! What are we to do?" He Zhonghou paced back and forth, frantic.

"Great-uncle, do we still want this fur robe?"

"Of course we do! It's fox fur." He Zhonghou grabbed it and stuffed it into a wooden chest. Suddenly looking up, he noticed a pair of vases on the table and hurriedly said, "Shunzi, bring those two vases over here."

"Yes," Lu Shun replied, quickly reaching out to scoop them both into his arms.

"You little ancestor, be careful! These are treasures from the Song Dynasty; don't you dare drop them."

Just then, Gu Zhenhua strode in. Seeing He Zhonghou still busy packing, his brows furrowed. "Sixth Uncle, are you planning to move house?"

"Is that not what we are doing?"

"Of course not!" Gu Zhenhua said urgently. "We are fleeing for our lives. Li Zicheng’s massive army is already outside the city walls and may begin the assault at any moment. Whether we can even fight our way out is uncertain; how can we carry so much baggage?"

"This..." He Zhonghou sighed. "I understand, but I have used these old things for so many years. It is hard to just throw them away."

"Hard or not, you must!" Gu Zhenhua said bluntly. "Sixth Uncle, as long as we survive this ordeal, we can have anything. If we don't, we won't even be alive to care about these trinkets!"

As they spoke, a thunderous boom erupted in the distance, sounding like a muffled peal of thunder.

"What was that?" He Zhonghou asked, startled.

"Great-uncle, could it be the Chuang King launching his attack?" Lu Shun asked, his face pale.

After the first shot, the shelling became relentless. The ground seemed to vibrate with each impact, tossing the people about like a small boat on a stormy sea.

He Zhonghou finally realized the gravity of the situation. "Shunzi, stop rummaging. The two of us, one old and one young, are already a burden. Saving our heads is more important than anything else!"

Gu Zhenhua added, "Sixth Uncle, you had best bring the important ledgers so we know where we stand after we get out of the city."

"Understood." Although He Zhonghou still held a shred of loyalty to Duke Zhu Chunchen, the situation left him no choice but to look out for his own survival. He nodded without hesitation.

As he hurriedly organized the accounts, a series of rapid footsteps approached. It was Lu Yong.

"Old Fourth, the Duke has ordered all guards and retainers to draw weapons and prepare to defend the manor. You come with me."

"Fine," Gu Zhenhua said. "I was just lacking a decent weapon."

"I want one too!" Lu Shun chimed in. "Second Uncle, get me a weapon as well."

"What is a child doing, trying to join the fray? Stay obediently with your Great-uncle and just follow us when it’s time to break out."

Lu Shun shook his head like a rattle. "I'm not a child! I’ll be fifteen at the New Year. I am a man, and I won't be a coward!"

"Hahaha, good lad!" Gu Zhenhua laughed. "Second Brother, since Shunzi has the heart for it, don't stop him. In these chaotic times, even if it's just a matchlock, it might save his life at a critical moment."

Hearing this, Lu Shun excitedly grabbed his arm. "Fourth Uncle is the only one who is reasonable."

"Hmph, you brat, don't just be happy now—don't go crying when it's time to fight for your life." After saying this, Lu Yong turned and left, with Gu Zhenhua and Lu Shun following closely behind.

They reached the rear garden, where a dozen storehouses lined the wall. A large crowd of manor guards had gathered, waiting for their weapons to be issued.

"Brother Yong, Brother Zhenhua, you're here too!" Luan Hu, a burly man, was the first to run over. Three days ago, Gu Zhenhua and the others had helped Luan Hu move his mother out of the city. With the old woman out of danger, the simple-minded Luan Hu was deeply grateful to Gu Zhenhua.

The other guards greeted them as well. A few days ago, some had been skeptical, believing Li Zicheng would never reach the capital or break the city defenses. These people, harboring wishful thinking, had refused to move their families and ignored Gu Zhenhua’s warnings.

But now that the reality was upon them, fear had set in. The earth-shattering shelling outside the city made their hearts tremble.

Gu Zhenhua smiled and walked into the crowd, when suddenly a large man rushed over and fell to his knees.

"Brother Lu, Brother Gu, I, Tang Zhanxiong, was a fool. I didn't listen to your advice, and my entire family is still trapped in the city. Now that the rebel bandits are breaking in, I fear they are doomed. I only beg you to help me find a way to save them..."

Tang Zhanxiong kowtowed repeatedly. He was not alone; other guards who had failed to move their families crowded around, pleading for help and treating Gu Zhenhua as their only hope.

With dozens of guards and their families, there were over a hundred people. Gu Zhenhua was not certain he could lead them all to safety, but at a time like this, strength was vital. He had to take the gamble.

"Brother Tang, get up. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, I will do my absolute best. Rest assured." Gu Zhenhua gritted his teeth and made the promise.

Tang Zhanxiong and the others were overjoyed. Lu Yong cleared his throat and said, "Brothers, we are old friends. I have only one demand: absolute obedience to orders. If anyone tries to play games, they will not only harm themselves but everyone else. If I find any such rot among us, I will show no mercy!"

"Rest assured, Brother Lu, we will obey," Tang Zhanxiong vowed, and the others nodded in agreement.

Just then, several men arrived in a rush, led by Zhu Wang. Having finished managing the property, he was now tasked with organizing the guards to defend the manor. Feeling favored by his master, the man was exceptionally arrogant.

He curled his lip and said, "Brothers, you have been fed for a thousand days to be used in this one moment. The Duke has been immensely kind to all of you; now is the time to repay him. Everyone must follow orders, or don't blame me for being heartless!"

"He treats a feather as a command arrow," Luan Hu muttered under his breath. Gu Zhenhua remained calm, paying him no mind.

Satisfied with his speech, Zhu Wang continued, "Listen up! Collect your weapons now—one long and one short weapon per person, and your choice of leather armor."

The Duke's guards usually only performed patrols in the capital and were not heavily armed. Now, however, the situation demanded better equipment. Zhu Wang personally oversaw the distribution. Gu Zhenhua received a broadsword and a suit of armor.

But upon weighing them, Gu Zhenhua frowned. The armor was incredibly light, and upon closer inspection, it was riddled with moth holes. He drew the broadsword—it was rusted, with several notches along the blade.

"This?" Gu Zhenhua was shocked. How could they fight with such weapons?

Looking around, he saw everyone else had the same junk: spears without heads, swords snapped in half, and armor that was falling apart. Everyone began to look grim.

As they stood in stunned silence, Luan Hu strode over to Zhu Wang and grabbed him by the chest.

"Zhu Wang, are you trying to get us killed?"

Caught off guard, Zhu Wang tried to maintain his composure. "Luan Hu, are you trying to mutiny? You use what you are given—what is with all the nonsense?"

"Nonsense? You're playing with my life! Do you believe I'll tear your head off right now?" Luan Hu reached for his throat.

As they scuffled, Lu Yong stepped in, pulled Luan Hu back, and glared at Zhu Wang. "Zhu, let's skip the past. Look at what time it is! How dare you try to fool us with this trash? Do you want us all dead?"

His words hit the mark. The guards glared at him, and the hot-tempered ones like Tang Zhanxiong began to close in.

Zhu Wang grew fearful but stubbornly insisted, "This is all there is! Take it or leave it. If you have the guts, go find the Duke..."

Before he could finish, he felt a sharp chill—a dagger was pressed against his throat, the blade cutting into his skin. It was Gu Zhenhua. Weapons were their only lifeline; he wouldn't let this slide.

"Hmph! A grand Duke's manor with no decent weapons? That's a lie. I'll count to three. If you don't bring out the real gear, your head comes off!"

"You!"

"One..."

"Let me go! I want to see the Duke!"

"Two..." Gu Zhenhua counted expressionlessly, cold sweat beading on Zhu Wang's forehead.

"I'll tell, I'll tell!" Zhu Wang stammered in panic. "In the eighth room—that's the Duke’s personal armory! That has all the best equipment!"

Gu Zhenhua lowered the dagger and shouted, "Brothers, don't be shy! Let’s go see what the Duke has been hiding!"

"Right!" The crowd followed him, rushing straight toward the storehouse.