Chapter 8: Forming a Plan
"Any news of Captain Li's little brother, Shen-Li?"
"I'm afraid not, your Majesty."
"I fear that Captain Tang may have had some other motive for asking Fa Mulan to take him with her."
"At this point, we don't even know where to begin to look. But I will keep my eyes and ears open for any clue. What do you want to do about Tang right now?"
"Let him be. As far as we know, he is our only link to the boy. And I do not believe that he is master minding whatever plot is afoot here. There is someone else that he is willing to answer to. We need to weed out who it is before we dispatch with Tang."
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Mulan guided Khan through the forest quietly. She found ground that was damp and stuck to those parts of the forest so that his trotting wouldn't be audible and she had decided to travel at night and into the early dawn during her journey.
As the day came up, she found a place in the forest that was thick with trees and rather dark. She got Khan fed then hid him in a clump of vegetation. Then she climbed up one of the trees with thick branches and slept for a few hours.
When she woke up in the early evening Mushu had joined her.
"I found Chen. The family he's with is in on this whole thing. Their name is Xin. There's a man, a woman and their little girl. We heard them talking about setting up an ambush for you. But of course, you're traveling a different route."
"How's Chen doing?"
"Fine. Cri-Kee's with him. And the little girl is his new friend."
Mulan laughed. Then she became serious as she turned a thought over in her mind.
"What is the woman dressed like?"
"Like you. A black cloak with a hood. She's about your size, too."
"Good."
"You have a plan?"
"Possibly. I have to think it through more, though. How was the man dressed?"
"Black hooded cloak."
"Was he large? Small?"
"Medium."
"Can you tell me anything else, Mushu?"
"The little girl has a wooden toy dragon. Chen found that it had a false bottom in it. That kid is really something else. He touched the thing and got one of his eerie feelings from it."
"Was there anything inside?"
"The kids found a piece of paper. They couldn't read it, though, and they were disappointed that it wasn't a treasure. But according to what the little girl told Chen, the family goes to this place all the time. Supposedly to visit a relative. It's a lie though. The little girl said that her parents just disappear with the wooden dragon in the town."
"That poor little girl," Mulan murmured to herself. "They're using her. This family is carrying the messages back and forth."
"I know. Do you want me to get the paper and bring it to you?"
"No. If the girl's parents happen to go to retrieve it and it isn't there they will know something is up. And the little girl may get in trouble."
She was silent for a moment, deep in thought. Then she finally spoke.
"Mushu, I know that I am the only one who can see and hear you since you are my guardian, except for Chen who we know is unusual. Everyone else can't see or hear you."
"Right."
"Can you make someone else see and hear you?"
"I don't know. I never tried. Who do you want me to make see me?"
"Shang. He should be here to help."
"He's supposed to be at the palace, though, guarding the Emperor."
"There are other soldiers there. Besides, I will need him if this plan that I'm coming up with is going to work. I will wait here hidden, but close to the road so I can keep an eye out for when the Xin family returns this way. If you can, bring Shang here. Get him a hooded black cloak that will fit him so that he looks like the girl's father. If you are able to get him to see you and hear you, explain about the Xin family, the wooden dragon with the papers and that I am here. Do not mention Chen yet."
Mushu looked at her.
"The village is a week away on horseback. That gives us almost two weeks before they come back this way."
"Are you sure you don't want me to tell Shang about Chen?"
"Yes."
"Do you mind if I ask why? He's already distraught about Chen. At least if he knows, he won't be in the dark anymore."
"But he might be more upset that Chen ended up in the middle of this. No. Don't say anything yet. As soon as the right moment comes and Chen is safe, I will let Shang know that he is okay. That is it."
"Alright," Mushu sighed. "Now, what do you want me to do if I can't make him see or hear me?"
"Maybe you can do it subconsciously?"
Mushu scowled at her.
"Well, I don't know. I'm not an immortal. But a lot depends on this, Mushu. We need his help. We may need more help, possibly. If the rumors of the rebels are true, they may be coming with reinforcements. Whatever you do, find a way to get Shang here."
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A week had passed already. Shang was second in command to Captain Tang. He already disliked Tang intensely. At first he thought that maybe it was because he wasn't used to being second in command now and felt resentful. But on second thought he knew it was more than that. There was something about the man that was not to be trusted.
Chen and Mulan had both completely disappeared the night of the banquet and Shang was beside himself with worry. It had been so crowded in the hall and Chen had managed to disappear without anyone noticing. He couldn't fathom where Chen had wandered off to and he imagined the worst, especially after the look he'd seen pass between the Emperor and his number one council member.
Grandfather had stayed in the palace and went home the next day. Shang told him that as soon as he heard anything he would send word.
He knew Mulan had been given another assignment, and it was discussed with her alone. He had no idea what it was or where it was, but realized that she had most likely gone already. He couldn't believe that she would just leave like that without saying anything to him. But he realized with an uneasy feeling that maybe she'd had no choice. He felt a sickening sensation in the pit of his stomach as he thought of that. But at least he knew she could take care of herself.
Chen couldn't. He was only eight years old. He had tried to speak to Captain Tang about going to look for Chen, but Captain Tang merely apologized and said that it wasn't possible. All men were needed at the palace. Shang didn't argue with that; he'd never think of it. He'd been taught all of his life that his duty and his country were more important than his own personal problems.
Shang buried his face in his hands, sick with worry as he thought about Chen.
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They arrived in the village after a week. Chen hid under the blankets again when Su's parents came to take Shio. Su hopped out of the carriage then and watched her parents disappear. Then she coaxed Chen to come out and they walked to the river together to go swimming. Su stripped off her clothes and jumped into the water. She turned and beckoned to Chen. Chen waited on the bank hesitantly.
"Come on. What are you waiting for?"
Chen hesitated for another moment. Then he stripped and jumped in after her. She swam toward him and splashed him in the face. He began to giggle and splashed her back. The splashing fight continued until they finally got tired of it.
"I like you, Chen."
Chen grinned. "Me, too."
Su began to float on her back. "This is the most fun I get to have. When my parents go with Shio and I can go swimming."
"How long are they going to be?"
"I don't know."
They swam for a long time, laughing and playing in the water.
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Xin Shen-Shu and Xin Jia-Nin entered the small room where the group was gathered and set the wooden dragon down on the table in the middle of the room. The leader acknowledged him and opened the bottom of the dragon, pulling out the paper. He read it and smiled.
"It will be just three days, my friends, and then we move out. Next week at this time, there will be chaos in the capital and we will be able to move in and put our own leader in place."
"A scout has been sent from Chang'an and an ambush has been set up along the road between there and here."
"Very good. You and Jia-Nin will stay overnight. I will have a message for you to bring back to Chang'an tomorrow. And the rest of us will be two days behind you."
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Chen noticed that Su-Tan's parents were back at the carriage. He pointed and she whirled around. Then she hurried out and got dressed.
"Are you going back to the Imperial City now?"
"I guess so. Maybe tomorrow. Sometimes we stay here. Do you want to come to the Imperial City?"
"I have to, Su. My family is there. They don't know where I am."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"If we're leaving, I'll leave the door open so you can come back in. You may have to wait until we're already moving. If you see us walking away, it means we're staying here overnight."
Chen got out and dressed, then headed toward the carriage. He saw that Su-Tan was being led off somewhere to an inn by her parents. He climbed into the carriage and prepared to spend another night there.
He began to feel a little sad, but cheered up as he saw Cri-Kee come out of hiding to talk to him.
Cri-Kee was a little difficult to talk to, since he chirped in his own language and did not speak his language like Mushu did. But Chen had a sense of what Cri-Kee was saying, and he passed the evening enjoying his talk with the sweet little cricket.
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"Chen?"
"Hi, Su."
"Here, I brought you breakfast. I'm sorry I couldn't get you dinner last night. I couldn't get away from my parents. But I brought you lots of food now. Here, I got you water, too."
Chen thanked her and ate ravenously, then gulped the water she'd brought him.
"Thanks, Su." He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
She touched her cheek, looking surprised, then smiled.
They both stopped as the sound of voices got closer outside of the carriage.
Chen hid under the blankets as Su's father came back to give her Shio. He shut the door then. After a minute the carriage began to move and they settled down. Su picked up Shio and immediately opened the bottom now that she knew the dragon opened. She reached in and pulled out paper still.
"I guess it's different paper," she said, disappointedly.
"It is."
"Can you try to read it?"
"I'll try."
Chen took the paper and tried to see if he recognized anything.
"Chi Fu," he read.
"What's that?"
"That's who the letter is addressed to."
"Who is he?"
"He lives in the palace. I think I saw him at the party. He's a bad man."
"Oh, really?"
"Well, my brother says nobody likes him."
They put the paper back into Shio and closed the bottom back up.
