Double Jade's fate

The number of soldiers are slected and their names are submitted to the Six Ministries. The Tang flag is now flying high on the flag pole for all to see. Her soldiers are all prepare for this escort assignment. They are brief on the night before dinner. Everyone pack either own food enough for a five days walk. They estimated the time the miners should arrive near Tong mountains. Everything seems to be in place. Tang Li is on her horse and she is looking around, she spot the troublemaker as one of the escort team.

"Man Chun, what is troublemaker doing there?"

"He is going to follow the team."

She stare at Man Chun "Are you crazy. Don't you know he is a troublemaker."

"Yes general we all know. He promise that he will do his part on escorting and nothing more. He wants to earn more points for the military examinations and learn how to escort. " 

"Make sure he does only that and nothing more. Don't want to hear any news about hm later. " 

In a line of two, the soldiers and Tang Li march out in the camp into the vas green ahead of them. Soon they are on a rocky road. The soldiers march under the hot sun, later she stop the march and allow them to hid under the shade and drink or eat. After the sun is not above their heads, they start the journey again. At night, they arrive at a spot where there is an open grass. The cook made easy porridge for everyone to eat. Without a tent just a sleeping bag, they use their own bags as pillows to sleep on. Some lean agains the tree and sleep. 

In the dead of the night, Yan Rui walks quietly to Tang Li and sit beside her. She gets up and look at him. "What do you want?"

"This, i make this this last night. It's good for woman. "

"How do you know all these?"

"I asked my nanny through a letter. She told me what to cook and put in. Here, is an apple for you too." He push everything he have into her hands. He got up and walk away but he turn around look at her. He smile and give a kiss gesture, he runs after that. Tang Li sit there speechless. "Indeed a troublemaker" She stare at the bamboo container. Not wanting to waste food, she open and drink it up. Surprisingly it taste good. 

The next two days, they continue the journey as the same as everyday. Finally on the third day the ores wagon can be seen approaching from the distance. The handover is fast and smooth. There is twenty eight wagons all in total. Immediately after the handover, Tang Li order to head back capital. In the dark windy night, Tang Li walk around and check the wagons and her men. Those are awake bow and report everything is in place. In the morning, before the sun is up, they continue to march back. Tang Li is half asleep on her horse and trying to keep her eyes open. Man Chun who is on his horse beside her try to guide her horse on the correct direction to go. "It's fine Man Chun, I am still awake. Watch where you are heading." He nodded and run in front to lead the way. She turn to see the Tang banner still fly high in the pole. Feeling satisfied, she look to the front. Twenty minutes into the march, she sense something is not right. She call Man Chun and give him the eye signal. He understood and ride off. In a few minutes, there are screams and arrows flying in. Tan Li manage to avoid the arrows and draw her sword out. The bandits come running in from the forest and the hills. Screaming and shouting from all corners. "Draw your swords and defence yourself!" She sees from the distance where the arrows are coming from. She ride as fast she can towards the source of attack. Once the horse lift, she used her sword to swing through. It is successful and two men are taken down in a short time. While there is another hiding in the bush shooting as fast as he can. She runs and doge and hit with her screaming. Now they are left with the ground attackers. Everyone was trying to defence themselves but the new recruit are having a hard time. She and Man Chun meet up and try to kill as many attackers as possible. Unfortunately there are more arrows shooting out from nowhere. Again, she try to look where are the attackers are shoot from. She spot one and rush up to take him down. Everyone can hear her screaming and Yan Rui who is busy trying to fend off the attackers and helping his comrades. He pull those who are injured aside and give them a bow an arrow. He run hide and attack. Yan Rui try to find Tang Li in the mess but he keep helping out the others. In the end, he have a blooded hands and face. While trying to catch his own breath, he spot Tang Li in a distance. With all his strength, he rush there. The soldiers behind him see what he is seeing too, They rush up as group. However at that moment, an arrow comes flying in. It hits Tang Li and she flies back and disappear in the green grass.