Hand Over the King of Shache

The night was cool as water, and a full moon hung at the edge of the sky.

The Kucha army had gathered behind a sand dune. For two li around, fires burned everywhere, clustered in heaps.

The soldiers had marched all day. Exhausted in body and spirit, they all lay down to rest.

A figure suddenly emerged from the darkness. The two Kucha scouts who had been sent out failed to notice him and were suddenly subdued.

Their bodies went rigid with fear, their eyes widening. They thought the man's dagger would slit their throats the next second, but he said in the Kuchean language, "Stay quiet and you will live."

Unable to move, they naturally remained obediently still.

The man stripped one of them of his armor and clothes and put them on himself. He even kindly covered the man with a blanket, then mounted a horse with the other man and vanished into the night.

The Shache and Kucha forces were clearly divided. Although Kucha had been occupied by Shache, the people still harbored resentment. Only Kucha soldiers were stationed in this area.

Jiang Hao rode into the Kucha encampment, glanced around, and forced the Kucha soldier he had subdued to tell him where the general's command tent was.

The Kucha soldier obediently pointed out the direction. Jiang Hao headed toward the large tent, but as soon as he reached the entrance, the guards outside stopped him. "What business do you have?"

"I am a scout. I have urgent news to report to General Hachi."

The man looked Jiang Hao over, then went inside to report. Before long, he came back and led Jiang Hao in. Once inside, Jiang Hao saw General Hachi, who wore a black beard.

"What military matter do you wish to report?" Hachi asked.