135. That Ray of Light at Dawn

Zhang Xuan looked at Uncle Tong and the other four. Aside from Zhao Yun and the Yan family servants who were protecting their mistress, his entire combat force was gathered here. Zhang Xuan gestured to Yuwen Chengdu, who, upon seeing it, walked directly to his side. "Second Brother, do Uncle Tong and the others know about what happened to Brother Nie Zheng?"

Yuwen Chengdu nodded. "Not only do they know, but after hearing what Nie Rong had to say, Uncle Tong and Uncle Yang are both furious."

After hearing this, Zhang Xuan walked over to Uncle Tong and Uncle Yang and signaled for everyone to gather around. "Today's events are a long story, so I will keep it brief. Everyone knows what the Nie brothers suffered. Right now, there are twenty or thirty other children in that stockade suffering just as Nie Zheng did. Therefore, Uncle Tong, Uncle Yang, please lead us in razing that den of iniquity to the ground, so that these children need not suffer any longer!" Having said this, Zhang Xuan bowed to Uncle Tong and Uncle Yang. Seeing Zhang Xuan bow, Yang Zaixing and the others followed suit.

Nie Zheng watched this scene, thinking to himself: *Wasn't today just about scouting the path? Xuan-ge was talking about heading back and dealing with it later. How is it that since these two gentlemen arrived, Xuan-ge suddenly dares to raze the entire stockade?*

"Little Xuan, how do you intend to raze this stockade? What do you need me to do?" Uncle Tong also wanted to flatten the place, especially after hearing of the atrocities committed by the overseer.

Zhang Xuan paused, muttering to himself, *You are the most prestigious person here! You should be the one charging into battle, while we kids just cheer from behind!* But he kept that to himself. After a moment of thought, he said, "Based on what I've learned, there are twenty or thirty human traffickers in the stockade. To raze it, I have two methods: a direct assault and a tactical infiltration. The infiltration has two variations. Which would you like to hear?"

"Just tell us the two infiltration methods, and stop showing off your intelligence."

Zhang Xuan produced five wooden tablets, each marked with a plum blossom pattern and what the recently deceased overseer had called a serial number.

It was the first time Uncle Tong and the others had seen such tokens. They took one from Zhang Xuan to examine it, while Nie Rong shrank back at the sight of them.

Zhang Xuan continued, "These tokens act as passes for the stockade. Every trafficker must present one when bringing a child inside. Uncle Tong and Uncle Yang, you could each take one and pose as traffickers, with us acting as the children you've abducted. We would slip in first, and once inside, immediately secure the front gate. With your skills, that should be more than enough, right?"

Uncle Tong, Uncle Yang, and the others considered this and agreed it was a viable plan.

"However, there is a drawback. While I know these are passes, I don't know if there are secret passwords required. If there are, this plan could fail before we even get through the door."

"Then tell us the second infiltration method. Let's keep this one as a backup."

"The second method requires waiting an hour or two. Nie Zheng, tell us, when do they usually sleep in the stockade?" Zhang Xuan turned to look at him.

Nie Zheng thought for a moment. "At this hour, there are still people walking about. In another hour, the whole place will be quiet. They are actually quite complacent; aside from the guards at the front, I've never seen them patrol at night."

"And the cooking area—is there anyone there, especially at night?"

Nie Zheng shook his head. "I don't know. We are always taken back to the cells at night. I'm not sure about the cooking area, though I doubt anyone goes there unless they're hungry in the middle of the night."

Zhang Xuan listened and weighed the feasibility of his plan. "The second method is to use the hole Nie Zheng escaped through. Brother, Second Brother, Tiger, and I will handle this. Nie Zheng, you lead the way, and once you've shown us, you and your brother should find a place to hide. As for Uncle Tong and Uncle Yang, wait at the front gate until we open it."

"Can the four of you handle it? Isn't it too dangerous? What if someone is in the cooking area or patrolling?" Uncle Tong was concerned about the risk of sending just the four of them.

"While that's possible, the people in that stockade have been comfortable for too long. Besides, we'll strike in the dead of night when they are most exhausted. Uncle Tong, you must have faith in us. They say a great teacher produces brilliant students, and you are a very famous teacher. Even if they were wide awake, the four of us could easily take on five men each."

Uncle Tong wanted to say more, but held back. After a moment, he said, "Be careful. Remember, your first priority is to eliminate the guards at the front gate and open it for Uncle Yang and me. Do you understand?"

"Don't worry, Uncle Tong, I guarantee it will go smoothly. You must trust us and learn to let go; after all, we have to walk our own paths eventually. Now, I am going to be the light for those trapped children before dawn, leading them to break through their fear and cross this hellish darkness."