After breaking out of the ring, Xin Yan followed theroute Chen had indicated, galloped to the Muslim campand presented the letter to Muzhuolun. The old man hadbeen frantic with worry, and jumped up joyfully as heread his daughter's note.

　　"Call the troops together!" he ordered.

　　"How many Manchu troops were there surrounding you?"Huo Qingtong asked Xin Yan.

　　"Four or five thousand altogether."Huo Qingtong bit her lip and paced from one side ofthe tent to the other, deep in thought. Horns soundedoutside as the soldiers began to gather, and Muzhuolunwas just about to go out to join them when HuoQingtong suddenly turned to him.

　　"Father, we can't go," she said.

　　Muzhuolun looked at her in astonishment, uncertain ifhe had heard correctly. "What....what did you say?""I said we can't go."He was about to fly into a rage, but then rememberedhow clear-thinking and intelligent his daughterusually was. "Why?" he asked.

　　"Zhao Wei is a very capable general. He would notdispatch four or five thousand troops just to captureour two envoys. It must be a trap.""Even if it is a trap, how can we stand by and let theManchus kill your sister and our Red Flower Societyfriends?"Huo Qingtong hung her head and said nothing. "I amafraid that if we go, we will not only fail to rescuethem, but will sacrifice several thousand more livesas well." she said finally.

　　Muzhuolun slapped his thigh in exasperation. "But sheis your own flesh and blood!" he cried. "And we oweMaster Chen and the others a great debt. Even if wedied trying to save them, what would it matter?

　　You....you...." He was both angry and hurt by hisdaughter's ungratefulness.

　　"Father, listen to me. It may be possible to save themand win a great victory as well."Muzhuolun's expression changed immediately. "Well, whydidn't you say so earlier, child?" he said. "How canwe do it? I will do whatever you say.""Father, are you truly willing to do whatever I say?""I was talking nonsense a moment ago. Don't pay anyattention. How should we proceed? Tell me quickly!""Well, give me the Command Arrow. I will command thisbattle." Muzhuolun hesitated for a second then handedit to her. Huo Qingtong knelt to receive it, thenprostrated herself on the ground, praying to Allah.

　　"Father," she said when she stood up. "You and Brothermust follow my orders.""If you can save them and beat the Manchus, I will doanything," he replied.

　　"All right, then it is settled." She walked out of thetent with her father and over to the troops, alreadywaiting in ranks with their commanders.

　　"Brothers!" Muzhuolun called out to them. "Today, wewill fight the Manchus to the death. The battle willbe commanded by Mistress Huo Qingtong."The soldiers raised their sabres and roared: "May theTrue God protect her and lead us to victory!""Right," said Huo Qingtong flourishing her CommandArrow. "Everyone return to their tents to rest." Thecommanders led their troops away. Muzhuolun was toostunned to speak.

　　They went back inside the tent and Xin Yan prostratedhimself before Huo Qingtong and kowtowed frantically.

　　"Mistress, if you don't send troops to save them, mymaster will surely die," he pleaded.

　　"Get up. I didn't say I wouldn't save them.""There are only nine of them, of whom your sister doesnot know kung fu," he cried. "But the enemy isnumbered in thousands. If we delay even for a moment,they will be, they will be...""Have the Manchu armoured troops charged them yet?"Huo Qingtong interrupted him.

　　"Not when I had left, but I'm afraid they will havedone so by now." Huo Qingtong frowned silently. XinYan cried even more mournfully and Muzhuolun pacedabout the tent, uncertain of what to do.

　　"Father, have you ever seen a wolf trap? A piece ofmutton is fastened to a metal hook, the wolf bites onit and pulls and the trap snaps shut. Zhao Wei sees usas the wolf and my sister as the mutton. No matter howbrave the Red Flower Society fighters are, they couldnot stop four or five thousand determined soldiers.

　　That means that Zhao Wei has purposely decided not toorder an attack." Muzhuolun nodded. "The Manchus letthis young man out on purpose to get us to send arescue force. Otherwise how could he have made italone through so many troops?""Well, let us attack Zhao Wei's forces from the sideand catch them unawares," he replied.

　　"They have more than forty thousand troops while weonly have fifteen thousand," she pointed out. "In apitched battle we would certainly lose.""So from what you say, your sister and the others arebound to die," Muzhuolun exclaimed. "I cannot bear tolose your sister, and I refuse to leave our friends indanger. I will take five hundred men with me. If wecan rescue them, it will be because of Allah's help.

　　If we cannot, then we will die with them."Huo Qingtong said nothing.

　　Xin Yan began frantically kowtowing before her oncemore, his forehead striking the ground heavily. "Ifour master has done anything to offend you mistress,please forgive him," he cried.

　　Huo Qingtong realised he suspected her motives. "Don'ttalk such nonsense," she said angrily.

　　Xin Yan looked startled for a second, then jumped up.

　　"If you are determined to be so cruel, I will go anddie with my master," he said. He ran out of the tent,leapt on the white horse and galloped away.

　　"We must go and help them!" Muzhuolun pleaded.

　　"Fa............