Chapter Thirty-Two: Paths That Never Cross

Zhang Zuolin still clung to his last shred of hope. "Yang the Spook! If you have to stoop to such lowly tricks to beat me, what skill is that? If you have the guts, face me one-on-one. Do you dare?"

Even as he said this, Zhang Zuolin knew there was little hope left. But unexpectedly, the surrounding bandits paused, and Yang Xiaolin replied, "Fine. We'll duel, one gun each. But my rule is bullets are unlimited. Do you agree, Commander?"

Zhang Zuolin's heart leapt with joy. "Your word is your bond!"

"It is! And if any of my men help me, I'll never show my face in the Changbai Mountains again!"

Zhang Zuolin's eyes brightened. He drew a breath, pulled out his Russian-made revolver, loaded all six bullets, and whispered, "Brother, I'm counting on you."

He stepped out from behind the tree, flicked his gun, and was about to aim at Yang Xiaolin—only to see a Maxim heavy machine gun set up before his opponent, the ammunition belt ready, the barrel pointed straight at him!

Yang Xiaolin gripped the machine gun, a cigar clenched between his teeth, his face twisted into a wicked smile. "Commander, I'm starting!"

Zhang Zuolin was no stranger to the world; he knew the terror of a Maxim. His reaction was swift—he flung aside his revolver and turned to run!

As Yang Xiaolin squeezed the trigger, bullets chased Zhang Zuolin, whizzing past his heels as he stumbled and crawled away.

At last, a large rock offered him shelter. Bullets clattered against it, pinning him down so that he did not dare lift his head. All the while, Yang Xiaolin shouted, "Old Five Zhang! Come out and duel like a man!"

Zhang Zuolin's heart felt as cold and desolate as the night. This battle had been a humiliation; he hadn't even been given a fair chance to fight back. And who could he blame? That cursed Tang Dahuo. If not for him, how could he have ended up in such a plight? But it was too late for regrets; now he had to think about survival. Clearly, his opponents had the upper hand—sometimes a wise man must bend.

"Stop shooting! Enough! I surrender!"

He shouted several times before Yang Xiaolin finally released the machine gun, the gunfire ceased, and Zhang Zuolin slowly emerged from behind the rock, his appearance utterly disheveled. "Yang the Spook, you win. Kill me or do as you wish, but I beg you, show some honor and spare my men."

Wang Jinhan and the others were deeply moved. "Big Brother!" Their voices were laden with sorrow, stirring Zhang Zuolin's own sense of grief. He sighed, "Jinhan, if only I'd listened to your good advice. This disaster is all my fault—I was blinded by a moment's folly..."

Yang Xiaolin approached, grinning broadly, his sense of triumph obvious. His expression clearly grated on Zhang Zuolin's already fragile nerves. Two bandits came forward and tightly bound him; Zhang Zuolin did not resist but lifted his head. "Yang the Spook, if you have any backbone, don't humiliate me!"

Truth be told, Yang Xiaolin was tempted to humiliate Zhang Zuolin, to make this defeat unforgettable. But on second thought, it would gain him nothing. He was still pondering Zhang Zuolin's fate when Tang Yulin's voice called out from behind, "Old Five, are you hurt?"

Yang Xiaolin turned, cupped his hands in salute. "Big Brother Tang, as you ordered, I didn't harm him."

Tang Yulin approached with several attendants. Zhang Zuolin glared away, refusing to look at him, his face set in anger.

Yang Xiaolin gave Zhang Zuolin a slap on the head. "Still playing tough? Listen, Old Five Zhang, you’d better know what’s good for you. If Big Brother Tang hadn’t pleaded for you, that last burst would've finished you. Did you really think you could outrun bullets?"

Zhang Zuolin turned his head, his face full of defiance. Gazing up at the night sky, he addressed Tang Yulin, "Humph. Thank you, Big Brother, for sparing my life. Your kindness is etched in my heart!"

His words clearly implied something else. Yang Xiaolin raised his hand to strike again, but Tang Yulin intervened. "Enough, Yang. My brother is just stubborn by nature. Let me speak to him."

Tang Yulin stood before Zhang Zuolin and, seeing his sorry state, couldn’t help but sigh. "Old Five, it’s not that I wouldn’t help you this time, but you broke the rules, do you understand? Any grudge you had with Yang should have been settled between you. He bore you no ill will, but you sided with the officials and the Russians to hunt him down. That wasn’t right!"

Zhang Zuolin shifted uncomfortably. "You have the gun, I’m tied up—say whatever you like, I’ll listen."

His demeanor made it clear Zhang Zuolin was not convinced. No matter what, the future Warlord of the Northeast was still young and hot-blooded, and he would not forgive Tang Yulin for betraying him.

Zhang Zuolin was nothing if not stubborn. Once he was convinced a path was right, as when Zhao Zhanyuan had shown him the way, he would walk it to the end, never looking back.

Yang Xiaolin sighed inwardly. What was there to say? Their paths simply diverged. Perhaps Zhang Zuolin harbored ambitions as grand as his own, but the roads they walked were utterly different.

Then let them part ways. Tang Yulin wanted to say more, but Yang Xiaolin stepped forward. "Big Brother Tang, enough talk. Decide—do we kill him or let him go?"

Tang Yulin hesitated, then finally waved his hand. "Let him go. He’s about to become a father—I can’t let my nephew be born without ever seeing his father."

Yang Xiaolin gave Zhang Zuolin another slap on the head. "Be a man—take your men and leave. The guns and provisions stay; you lot get out!"

The bandits released the captured militia. Zhang Zuolin's force had numbered two hundred when they entered the mountains; now, barely twenty remained at his side, most of them wounded like Wang Jinhan. The sight filled Zhang Zuolin with sorrow.

He obeyed Yang Xiaolin, leaving behind all weapons and supplies. Each man took only a little food. Zhang Zuolin cupped his fist to Yang Xiaolin. "Chief Yang, until we meet again."

Thus ended the first encounter between Yang Xiaolin and Zhang Zuolin, the future Warlord of the Northeast. In truth, it might be better to say it marked the beginning of their game. Yang Xiaolin knew Zhang Zuolin was not one to admit defeat lightly; after tending his wounds, he would surely return.

For Yang Xiaolin, this victory was just the beginning. Zhang Zuolin was but a minor threat—the real danger lay with the Russians and the Qing court. Watching Zhang Zuolin and his battered men disappear into the night, Yang Xiaolin knew more important matters now awaited.

He gathered his thoughts, turned to Tang Yulin, and said, "Big Brother Tang, let’s go fight the Russians together."