They galloped for most of the night, and arrived atthe Manchu camp at dawn. The envoy ushered PrincessFragrance and Chen into a tent to rest then went offalone to see General Zhao Wei. As he bowed before thegeneral, he noticed a military official seated besidehim wearing the uniform of a Deputy Commander of theImperial Bodyguard.

　　"My report, General," he said. "I delivered theultimatum and their reply was perverse. They refuse tosurrender and have sent someone to present you withtheir answer."Zhao Wei grunted. "These people are truly ignorantunto death," he said, and turned to one of hisattendants. "Prepare for an audience," he ordered.

　　Horns blew and drums rolled and all the seniorofficers of the army gathered in the great tent. Thenthree hundred armoured troops formed two lines outsideand the Muslim envoy was summoned.

　　Princess Fragrance walked fearlessly in ahead of Chen.

　　The officers recognized them instantly as the two theyhad seen the day before crossing their lines, and allfelt surprised. Zhao Wei had planned to overawe theenvoy with a show of military might, and was takenaback for a moment when a beautiful girl appeared.

　　Princess Fragrance bowed before the general, then tookout her father's note and offered it to him with bothhands.

　　One of Zhao Wei's bodyguards moved forward to acceptthe letter. As he neared her, he was overwhelmed byher sweet fragrance and lowered his head, not daringto look at her directly. His eyes lighted on herflawless white hands, and he stood stock still,completely flustered.

　　"Bring the letter here!" Zhao Wei shouted.

　　The bodyguard started in fright, then stumbled andalmost fell. The Princess placed the letter in hishands and smiled at him. The bodyguard gazed at her,oblivious of all else. Only after Princess pointed atZhao Wei and gave him a slight push, did he go andplace the letter on the table in front of the general.

　　Zhao Wei was furious at the sight of his bodyguard sospell-bound. "Take him out and behead him!" he roared.

　　Several soldiers ran forward and dragged the bodyguardoutside the tent, and a moment later, a bloody headwas brought in on a plate and presented to thegeneral.

　　"Put it on public display!" Zhao Wei ordered, and thesoldiers began to retire. But the Princess washeart-broken at the sight of such cruelty and at thethought that the bodyguard had died because of her.

　　She took the plate from the soldiers and gazed at thehead, tears falling one after another down her cheeksonto the floor.

　　The officers in the tent were by now completelycarried away by the sight of her, and any one of themwould have willingly died for her. "If she criedbefore my head, would not death be welcome?" theythought. Suddenly, the soldier who had performed theexecution, greatly distressed at the sight of hercrying, shouted: "I did wrong to kill him. Don't cry!"He slashed his sword across his own neck and fell tothe ground, dead.

　　Princess Fragrance became even more upset. Chen wasuneasy about the situation: an envoy should not cry insuch a fashion, and he leaned forward to comfort her.

　　Zhao Wei was a man of great cruelty and brutality, buteven his heart softened at the sight of her tears.

　　"Bury these two properly," he said to his attendants.

　　He opened the letter and read it with a grunt.

　　"Right," he said. "We fight tomorrow. You may leave.""General," the officer sitting next to him suddenlyinterrupted. "I think this girl may be the one theEmperor wants."Chen's attention had been directed entirely atPrincess Fragrance, but hearing the officer speak, helooked up and saw it was Zhang Zhaozhong. At the sameinstant Zhang also recognised Chen, despite his Muslimdisguise.

　　They stared at each other, amazed at finding the otherin such a place.

　　"Well, Great Helmsman," Zhang said, and laughedcoldly. "Fancy meeting you here."Chen grabbed Princess Fragrance's hand and turned toleave, but as he did so, Zhang bounded over and struckout at him with all his might. Chen picked thePrincess up in his left hand, deflected Zhang's blowwith his right and charged out of the tent with Zhangclose on his heels. None of the other officers orsoldiers intervened to stop Chen. All were dazzled bythe Princess, and considered this Imperial Guardsmanwas interfering in matters that should not concernhim.

　　Chen ran for their horses, and as Zhang closed in, hethrew six chess pieces at him. "I'll keep him busy,"he shouted to Princess Fragrance. "You escape on thehorse!""No, I'll wait for you to beat him."Chen had no time to explain, and dumped her on thesaddle of the chestnut horse as Zhang dodged theprojectiles and attacked again. Not daring to face himhead on, Chen crouched down underneath the white horseand punched it in the belly. The horse kicked out withits back legs in fright, straight at Zhang, who justmanaged to jump clear.

　　"Go!" shouted Chen as Zhang grabbed for PrincessFragrance, and her horse leapt forward just in time.

　　Chen knew he was no match for Zhang on equal terms, sohe drew his dagger and thrust out with it. Zhangcaught his wrist and the two fell to the ground,rolling together, neither daring to let go of theother.

　　The officers crowded out of the tent to watch, and theFour Tigers, who had great respect for Chen and wereannoyed at the way he was being treated, ran ove............