Ning Chen thought a moment, then said,

"We were careful the whole way, true, but there's no guaranteeing we didn't give ourselves away somewhere without knowing it."

"The only thing I can come up with is Diaochan. I suspect Diaochan is where the trouble started."

Pan Yucheng said, "You're saying somebody recognized Diaochan for a warhorse?"

Ning Chen nodded slightly. "Xiuzhou is Prince Duan's ground, and Diaochan is too fine an animal not to draw the eye... Outside of the imperial kin and men in the army, who would dare ride a warhorse?"

"Somebody may have noticed Diaochan the moment we came into the city."

By the law of Great Xuan, any commoner who dared keep, ride or trade in a warhorse was beheaded, without exception.

Ning Chen smiled bitterly. "I'd gotten used to Diaochan being one of a kind, and it only came back to me once we reached Xiuzhou... A thousand precautions and one slip."

Pan Yucheng said, "We still don't know whether Diaochan is where the trouble started. And none of that matters much anyway... What matters is what we do next."

Ning Chen thought for a moment. "Since the cover is blown, there's nothing for it but to play our hand face up."

"Old Pan, I'll stall for time in Xiuzhou. You find a way back to the capital."

Pan Yucheng looked at him, not following.

Ning Chen's face was grave. "I'll keep Prince Duan busy. You get back to the capital and ask for an edict, now."

"First, ask His Majesty for an edict transferring a musket battalion to Xiuzhou."

"Second, ask His Majesty for an edict holding Xiuzhou's fifty thousand troops where they stand. Nobody moves them, whoever he is."

Pan Yucheng nodded slightly.

"Old Pan, I'll go to the Yangping County yamen first and make as much noise as I can, to pull Prince Duan's attention this way... You use it to get back to the capital."

Pan Yucheng said, low, "Then be careful."

Ning Chen nodded. "You too. The road back to the capital won't be an easy one."

Pan Yucheng said…