First, the cavalry band inside the fortress lit their torches and rode out through the main gate, heading straight for the enemy camp several miles away, as if they could engage the enemy in a single charge. Then, the entire fortress lit up, from east to west, and even the Yun Tower and Mei Tower, several hundred meters away on either side, were ablaze with lights. This was a full mobilization of the fortress; even the soldiers stationed at Yun Tower and Mei Tower received orders and all came over to support.

However, immediately after, Charles Benson encountered a huge problem—no one was willing to lead the infantry out of the city to provide support!

The reason was simple: the enemy camp was already in chaos, and even if the cavalry failed, they could still fight their way through the camp and retreat to Liucheng or Yangle behind enemy lines, so there was always a way out. But what about the infantry? If the enemy regrouped and counterattacked, what would happen to the infantry under the city walls?

Open the gates to support them?

Don’t be ridiculous. This is Lulong Fortress, the strategic throat of Hebei. Even if everyone outside died, you couldn’t risk opening the gates in front of the pursuing enemy. Otherwise, with the Hebei plains wide open, it would cause a catastrophe.

Of course, the most crucial point was that after all this commotion, everyone from the military Sima down to the main officers could see that the real superior, James Benson, had been pushed into this situation by his own nephew. This night raid was clearly the result of some people acting on their own!

Since that was the case, it would be fine if they won, but what if they lost? All of them were imperial officials—why risk their lives for this?

“Out of over a thousand soldiers in Lulong Fortress, are there only thirty brave men?!” Charles Benson was so anxious that his face twisted with rage. The commotion in the distant enemy camp had already reached the central command; it was obvious that by now, many Han captives were taking the opportunity to escape this way, and his own elder brother was still trapped in the enemy camp. What would happen if there was no infantry support? “Uncle! You are the Chief Historian of Right Beiping, and all of Lulong Fortress is under your command. Please, quickly call the roll!”

Several band commanders and the military Sima hurriedly turned their heads away, while James Benson stammered helplessly... clearly both incompetent and cowardly to the extreme. As for Charles Benson, though furious, he was still young and didn’t know what to do.

But just then, a young clerk in blue, who had been following James Benson for who knows how long, suddenly stepped forward, knelt down, and requested to fight: “When the lord is worried, the minister should die. I am John Price, a subordinate official under the Chief Historian of Right Beiping. Though I am unworthy, I am willing to lead troops out of the fortress to kill the enemy for the country.”

For a moment, everyone in the tower turned to look.

……

“John Price, styled Demou, was a native of Tuyin in Right Beiping. He first served as a local official in the province, was handsome and resourceful, and skilled in handling affairs.” — Old Book of Yan, Volume 69, Biographies 19

Chapter Seven: Breaking the Camp

“So your name is John Price.” Charles Benson looked at the young official with a square face before him, unable to help but waver a little. Could he really entrust his elder brother’s life to this low-ranking clerk?

But seeing his clan uncle beside him unable to utter a word, and with no one else available, the young and unconvincing Charles Benson seemed to have no choice but to trust this man.

“I am.” This John Price was just a minor clerk, yet facing Charles Benson, who was commanding in place of the local Chief Historian, and such a sudden crisis inside and outside the fortress, he managed to remain calm throughout.

“Very well.” Charles Benson raised his hand and pointed toward the now-boiling enemy camp outside, asking sternly, “John Price, I’ll give you two bands of infantry, four hundred men. Are you willing to go out of the fortress to support my brother’s return?!”

“Though I am but a minor official,” John Price bowed deeply upon hearing this, “I still understand the meaning of loyalty and trust! Killing the enemy for the country is my duty, and since my lord and the young master are willing to trust me, how could I dare betray that? I am willing to go out of the fortress at once to provide support, fulfilling all loyalty and trust!”

“Good!” Seeing the other’s bold acceptance, Charles Benson finally believed him somewhat. With a sudden motion, he drew the sword at James Benson’s side, startling his clan uncle so much that his face turned pale, and making the senior officers nearby jump. “This is my uncle’s sword. The two elite bands at the gate have already assembled; I entrust them all to you. If there are any arrogant or disobedient soldiers, you may execute first and report later—my uncle will take responsibility... Go quickly! The ones leading the thirty cavalry to raid the camp are my elder brother Edward Benson and the squad leader Thomas Harris. Their lives are now in your hands, John Price!”

The clerk named John Price took the sword without a word and went straight downstairs. The officers who had avoided battle looked at each other in silence.

“Run toward Lulong Fortress!” Edward Benson thrust his spear through a Xianbei warrior clad in leather armor, then turned and shouted loudly to several Han captives who were frozen in fear. “They’ve already sent troops to support us! Wait under the fortress until dawn and you’ll have a chance to live!”

With that, not caring about their reaction, Edward Benson quickly urged his horse forward to aid a Han cavalryman who had fallen nearby.

“Watch out!” Thomas Harris galloped over, shooting down a Xianbei soldier who was trying to ambush the cavalryman. “Young master, the enemy camp is already in chaos, but if the central commander Ke Zuique is still there, he might be able to stabilize the situation. The outcome of this battle is still uncertain.”

“Then let’s kill him!” Soaked and hot, not knowing whether it was sweat or blood, Edward Benson drew his spear and answered fiercely.

“But the situation is already chaotic. We don’t know where the routed soldiers are, or where our men are. I’m afraid it’s just the three of us now!” Thomas Harris said anxiously.