Xi'an. The Chang'an Factory.
Vice Director Binsheng was walking through the small garden of the workers' residential compound with his wife Yanzi, heading toward their apartment building.
The couple had quarreled a little while ago because of Binsheng's background. But after the argument, Yanzi accepted his apology, and strangely enough their relationship became even better than before.
Still, the incident had spread his old secret everywhere.
The entire factory now knew that Binsheng had once been a spy.
Not only that, people also knew about the ten men who had once served under him.
That knowledge brought a new kind of trouble.
They constantly worried people might secretly look down on them or distrust them.
Yanzi spoke softly to comfort him.
"Husband, you really do not need to worry. Anyone who has been influenced by Gao Family Village has a broad mind. There is a saying, a prodigal who returns is worth more than gold. Even in this factory there are countless people who used to be labor camp prisoners. Even Vice Director Qi Cheng once lived as a bandit. No one will mind your background."
Binsheng sighed.
"Bandits are still Ming people. But my background as an Ujen Chaoha soldier means I was once an outsider. I am afraid people will not say anything openly, but will stab our backs with their words."
Yanzi shook her head.
"That will not happen."
Just as they were speaking, a worker suddenly came running toward them.
"Director Bin! Director Bin! Director Gao is looking for you. He asked you and your ten former subordinates to come to the director's office immediately."
Binsheng jumped in fright.
"Ah? Director Gao wants to see me? And my ten old subordinates too?"
Yanzi also froze.
"Why? If even your subordinates are summoned, it cannot be factory business, right?"
Binsheng's expression turned uneasy.
"It clearly is not factory business. If it were, they would only call me. If all of us are summoned, it probably has nothing to do with the factory at all. It might be a reckoning about our backgrounds."
Yanzi became pale.
"I will go with you and listen."
Binsheng turned to the worker.
"Can my wife come along?"
The worker shrugged.
"The director did not say she could not."
Binsheng's heart was uneasy as he hurried toward the director's office with Yanzi.
When they reached the door, they found his ten former spy subordinates already waiting outside.
Every single one of them looked nervous.
No one knew what was happening.
One of them leaned toward Binsheng and whispered.
"Boss… do you think the factory is going to fire us?"
"I am worried too."
"Our spy identities were exposed. They probably cannot allow us to remain here so close to the production data for the Great Iron Wagons."
"Maybe they will even expel us from Dao Xuan Tianzun's liberated territory. Heaven help us."
The whole group was panicking.
Binsheng took a deep breath.
"Now that things have reached this point, fear is useless. Face it calmly. Our identities were exposed while helping capture spies from the Jinyiwei. We contributed to Gao Family Village. I believe the director will not be unreasonable."
His subordinates nodded.
"Right."
Even so, everyone was still very nervous.
They cautiously entered the office.
The director of Chang'an Factory, Gao Yiyi, was sitting behind his desk, looking at them with a faint smile.
Gao Yiyi was one of the original forty-two villagers from Gao Family Village. In the eyes of outsiders, that alone made him an extremely important figure.
Facing him, Binsheng and his group felt enormous pressure.
In truth, Gao Yiyi himself did not consider his abilities extraordinary. He was originally just an ordinary village blacksmith.
He gestured for everyone to sit down before speaking.
"Little Bin, and everyone else. There is no need to be so nervous. I called you here because there is indeed a matter. But this matter requires complete respect for your personal choice."
"Ah?" Yanzi blinked in confusion. "If you are firing my husband, you still ask for his personal choice? Dismissal is this humane now?"
Gao Yiyi stared at her in surprise.
"Firing? Who said anything about firing you?"
"You did!"
"I did not!"
Everyone let out a long breath of relief.
Yanzi asked, "Then why did you call us here?"
Gao Yiyi sighed.
"The situation is this. The village currently has a very difficult mission that needs someone to carry it out. After much discussion, the most suitable people appear to be you. However, you are workers now, not soldiers. We cannot order you to do it. The village committee wishes to ask your opinion. If you are willing, you may accept. If you are unwilling, you may refuse. I guarantee with my personal honor that no one in the village will punish you for declining."
Now everyone was even more curious.
"What mission is it?"
Gao Yiyi explained.
"When Joseon was conquered by the Qing, the Jianzhou people took two hostages back with them. The Crown Prince Sohyeon and Prince Bongrim. If those two hostages are not rescued, Joseon will never dare break with the Qing and return to Ming."
Binsheng understood instantly.
"You need a special operations team to infiltrate Shenyang and rescue the Crown Prince Sohyeon and Prince Bongrim."
Gao Yiyi nodded.
"Exactly."
"This task should normally be assigned to the village militia. But after careful consideration, the village committee believes it may be more suitable for you. Of course, as I said before, it must be your own choice."
Yanzi did not hesitate even for a moment.
"We refuse!"
The words had barely left her mouth when Binsheng reached back and gently pulled her behind him.
"I accept."
Behind him, the ten men almost spoke in unison.
"We accept."
Yanzi panicked.
"Wait! Wait! Husband, how can you accept? This is practically a suicide mission."
Binsheng answered calmly.
"If the militia goes, it truly will be a nine-deaths-one-life mission. But if we go, the chance of death decreases greatly, and the chance of survival rises."
Yanzi froze.
Normally she might act stubborn or quarrel with him, like she did before about his identity. But when something truly serious happened, once her husband made his decision, she did not argue anymore.
She simply stood there, worried and silent.
Gao Yiyi sighed.
"You are correct. That was also the committee's conclusion. If others go, it is nine deaths and one life. If you go, perhaps it becomes five deaths and five lives. That is why we asked you."
He paused.
"I did not expect you would truly dare accept."
Binsheng looked completely calm.
"Why would I not dare? This was my profession before."
The ten men behind him spoke together.
"If we were timid people, we would never have come here. We are here because we are brave."
Binsheng continued.
"Only after coming here did we understand what it means to be respected. What it means for effort to receive reward. Only here did we truly taste the beauty of being alive."
His expression softened slightly.
"If it is to protect this beautiful future, we are willing to risk everything."
Then he suddenly smiled.
"But the committee made one small mistake in its analysis. If we do this mission, it will not be nine deaths and one life. It will not even be five deaths and five lives."
His voice carried absolute confidence.
"I am certain we can make it one death and nine lives."
"We will come back alive."