Translator: Foxs' Wuxia
Although Kou Zhong sculled the oar silently on the log raft, his mind transcended the raft and the Yi River, encompassing the upcoming decisive battle between Song Que and Ning Daoqi, even beyond the limits of the region, inside and outside the Great Wall, all the mountains and rivers’ geographical terrain, the customs and social relationship, the tangled and complicated relations between ethnic groups, between nations, everything was clear in his mind.
He had traveled all over the world, experienced large and small wars, defended and besieged cities, fled from danger and pursued and attacked. These many accumulated valuable experiences, combined with Song Que’s repeatedly guiding him patiently and systematically – have enabled him to grasp the strengths and weaknesses of the enemy and us in a transparent manner like a spiritual orifice brightly lit, just like his Moon in the Well, enabling him to see through various deceitful trick of the enemy’s like it was the truth.
There has never been a moment when he knew himself, and knew his enemy – better than this moment; the overall strategy of unifying the world emerged in his mind. He knew clearly that when he returned to Pengliang, he would put aside everything, including his personal joys and troubles, even Song Que’s life and death, to lead the Shao Shuai Army on the big road to unify the world.
He did not do this to satisfy his personal desires, but for the peace and happiness of the common people in the world. They have had enough! The time has come to end the suffering of long-term division and chaos of war.
The three men sat around the fire of the stove, continuing to enjoy the roast wolf meat banquet. Snow powder continuously rolled in, brought by the wind through the open wide main gate, blowing the fire in the stove that it flickered indeterminately. Such a snowy and cold night, it would give people a different, unforgettable feeling.
Ke Dazhi spoke emotionally, “Bashu has now become an ideal refuge for a lot of people. Shaoshuai was able to leave Luoyang alive to return to Pengliang, also obtained Song Que’s sending the troops to help him, his power is increasing greatly, sooner or later, the south will be his world. As long as it is not an ignoramus, anybody would know that his struggle against Chang’an will be the most tragic and its implication will be the widest since the fall of the Great Sui Dynasty. Apart from Bashu, I am afraid there won’t be many places in the Central Plains that can escape the fire of war.”
Xu Ziling wanted to ask him whether you, Tujue people were going to launch large-scale invasion to the south, but in the end he did not say anything.
Ke Dazhi continued, “Current situation is very favorable to Shaoshuai, although Li Shimin succeeded in destroying Dou Jiande, defeating Wang Shichong and acquiring Luoyang, but because you broke through the siege and escaped, furthermore, Liu Heita started to rise against the Tang with the support of Fan Yuan, Cao Zhan, and Gao Yaxian, and then he was slandered by Li Jiancheng and the imperial concubines in front of Li Yuan, saying that he remembered fondly his old friendship with you, and thus he lacked determination, Li Yuan was greatly furious. Three times he issued imperial order forcing him to return to Chang’an to report and explain. I hear that he is now on his way to return to Chang’an. If I were Li Shimin, I would simply lead my army back to attack Chang’an to vent my resentment. You are not benevolent, I don’t have to be righteous, so what if they are father and brothers?”
In his heart Xu Ziling sighed secretly, this is called Li Yuan was self-destructing the Great Wall; if Li Shimin was killed by the demonic school, the Tujue army would immediately launch a large-scale invasion, Li Tang’s situation would be dangerous.
He could not help asking, “How is Liu Heita’s situation?”
Showing a look of disdain, Ke Dazhi said, “In Li Shimin’s absence, the responsibility for leading the troops to attack Liu fell on Li Yuanji, with Li Shentong as his deputy. Before I left Chang’an, I heard the news that Li Yuanji and Li Shentong have joined forces with Youzhou [ancient province in north Hebei and Liaoning] Zongguan Li Yi, the combined force is over fifty-thousand men, they met Liu Heita’s army at Raoyang [county in Hengshui, Hebei], although victory or defeat is still unknown, Liu Heita’s name shakes Shandong, hence I don’t regard Li Yuanji, who suffered defeat in every battle, as having good prospects.”
Stunned, Xu Ziling said, “Unexpectedly Liu Heita’s power has expanded so quickly?”
Ke Dazhi said, “Li Yuanji’s execution of Dou Jiande in public was the biggest miscalculation, only Li Yuan pretended as if he hadn’t seen it. This incident made the common people of Shandong extremely indignant. Dou Jiande’s former subordinates are millions of people all of one mind [idiom: the people united] even more to demand justice for their master, a debt of blood must be paid in blood. In terms of strategy and the art of war, Liu Heita is indeed very remarkable, he occupied Zhangnan first, and then capture Baxian. Li Tang’s Weizhou provincial governor Quan Wei and Gangzhou provincial governor Guo Yuanxiang were both beheaded by Liu Heita. This step-by-step victory that is like a hot knife through butter made a lot of people realigning their allegiance to him. Xu Yuanlang, who had already surrendered to the House of Tang, after he detained the Tang Envoy Shi Shengyan, led his troops to respond to Liu Heita, and was conferred the title Da Xing Tai Yuanshuai [lit. Big-Marching-Supporting Marshall]. If Liu Heita can support Shao Shuai going up north, it would be difficult for Chang’an to escape the misfortune of the fall of the empire, so what if even there’s Li Shimin?”
He paused for a moment, and then said, “Rumor has it that Liu Heita has a close relationship with you guys, is it true?”
Xu Ziling felt big headache; the rise of Liu Heita has added more variables to the already chaotic world. He sighed, nodded his head, and said, “It is true, but how our relationship will develop in the future, I am afraid only Laotianye knows.”
Ke Dazhi’s gaze fell on Yin Xianhe, he smiled and said, “I did not expect Yin Xiong to be with Ziling; Yin Xiong still does not like to talk, just like in Longquan.”
Yin Xianhe forced himself to squeeze out a smiling expression, revealing a bit of friendliness, but still did not speak.
Ke Dazhi turned to Xu Ziling and said, “Isn’t Ziling going to Chang’an?”
Helpless, Xu Ziling replied, “I do want to go to Chang’an for a bit of personal affair, nothing to do with Kou Zhong’s great undertaking, what advice does Ke Xiong have for me?”
Ke Dazhi spoke heavily, “Only one sentence: it is not advisable to stay in Chang’an for a long time.”
Xu Ziling understood, although he was not in direct conflict with him yet, ultimately they were standing on opposite sides, Ke Dazhi was willing to tell him that, it could be considered very rare; he nodded his head to indicate he understood.
Ke Dazhi said, “One more thing: Gaoli King of Goryeo officially sent a letter to Li Yuan, saying that Gaoli’s top martial art master ‘Yi Jian Dashi’ Fu Cailin will represent Gaoli to have a meeting with Li Yuan in Chang’an, on the way, he wants to experience the martial art study of the Central Plains. It seems that he has the intention of challenging Ning Daoqi or Song Que in order to promote Gaoli’s fame for fighting prowess. If he really can be victorious, the effect will be more intimidating than winning a hard battle.”
Xu Ziling cried ‘Not good!’ inwardly; Fu Cailin came from afar, how could he be willing to let him and Kou Zhong off? The problem was that they must not let their Niang’s Shifu to have his fame for fighting prowess damaged, which put them in a position where there was no room to advance or to retreat.
Ke Dazhi’s pair of eyes shot a peculiar expression, he spoke dejectedly, “Xiufang Dajia is going to come back with him.”
Xu Ziling said, “I just saw Liexia.”
Ke Dazhi’s tiger-body shook, the murderous aura in his pair of eyes flared greatly, he spoke heavily, “Where is that kid?”
Xu Ziling said, “He wanted to snatch the Five-Colored Stone from me, together with Xu Kaishan, Xinnaya and Duan Yucheng, with their heads and faces covered, launching sneak attack on us, hence the reason Xianhe and I had to leave Hanzhong through the night, and happened to run into you. There really seems to be a master of the underworld, or else Song JinGang’s life would have come to an end.”
Shaken, Ke Dazhi said, “Xu Kaishan is really the Da Zun?”
Xu Ziling spoke indifferently, “Even if he turned into ashes, I will still recognize him, not to mention only by covering his head and face.”
Ke Dazhi smiled and said, “I wonder if Ziling seized the Five-Colored Stone from Meiyan, that lass? I heard that she fled from outside the Great Wall pinching the stone with her. Fortunately, heaven’s net has wide meshes, but nothing escapes it [idiom, from Laozi], finally the Five-Colored Stone returned to Ziling’s hands.”
Xu Ziling said, “That’s precisely the case. I went to the inn to stay for the night, but I did not expect that it was precisely the place where Meiyan Furen was staying. At that time, someone from Da Ming Zun Jiao must be watching in secret, seeing me taking the stone, he informed Xu Kaishan and the others, hence later on they mounted a sneak attack.”
Ke Dazhi said, “With Yang Xuyan threading the needle and leading them, Da Ming Zun Jiao obtained Li Yuan’s approval to build a temple in Chang’an. Who would have thought that Shi Zhixuan thoroughly acted ruthlessly to kill Sha Fang and her attendants, even chickens and dogs were not spared. Now the Five-Colored Stone has fallen into Ziling’s hands again, they have enough bad luck. How about we go to Hanzhong to take advantage of the excitement, Liexia is mine, Xu Kaishan is Ziling’s?”
Yin Xianhe spoke heavily, “Xu Kaishan is mine.”
Xu Ziling nodded and said, “No need to make clear distinction about who belongs to whom. Da Ming Zun Jiao secretly do everything that offend Heaven and reason, merely the sin of wolf-bandits’ evil deeds deserve ten thousand deaths. If we let them to flee to Persia, I don’t know how many people will suffer. The only problem is Duan Yucheng, he has always been my Shuanglong Bang brother, I can’t bear to see him continue obstinately persisting in going about things the wrong way.”
Ke Dazhi asked, “What is Ziling’s proposal?”
Smiling bitterly, Xu Ziling said, “This is a hard-to-untie tight knot, about the Five-Colored Stone, they definitely will not be willing to let the matter drop, sooner or later they will catch up. Ay!”
Ke Dazhi was puzzled, he said, “Sometimes I really don’t understand you and Kou Zhong. He is not benevolent, I don’t have to be righteous, there is nothing good to say. You cannot bear to make your move, I can do it for you. This is the best timing to pull Da Ming Zun Jiao by the roots.”
Yin Xianhe spoke up, “If we miss this opportunity, we may never be able to demand justice for the souls of those who were killed unjustly by Da Ming Zun Jiao.”
Xu Ziling spoke dejectedly, “All right! But Yucheng has not shown any evil deeds yet, gentlemen, please spare him.”
Ke Dazhi said, “In order to prevent any fish from slipping through the net, Yin Xiong and I will be watching on the side. At that time, we will surely be able to surprise them and caught them off guard.”
Finished speaking, together with Yin Xianhe, they left via the broken window.
Xu Ziling was left alone facing the fire, his heart was sighing with myriad of emotions, this is how human disputes come about. Differences between people lead to differences in ideas and interests. Different religious beliefs, different regions, different races, dispute and differences between nations, have caused never ending conflicts of various forms. These various factors that cause struggles will never fade and extinguished, they can only be coordinated and balanced as much as possible, relying on each individual’s strength.
How he hoped he could escape from everything that vexed him and live in seclusion in the pure soil of the human world, isolated from the vulgar dust, to enjoy the cool breeze and the bright moon’s tranquil life.
But this was still an unattainable beautiful dream.
Since meeting Shi Feixuan again in Chengdu, his mind has not been able to quiet down. The two conversations with Fu Qian and Yin Xianhe have made him realize the imminent disaster facing the Central Earth, and the opportunity to solve it was right before him, if he missed it, there won’t be another chance.
For the sake of all the people of the world’s happiness, for the sake of his love for Shi Feixuan, he made a firm resolution to do everything he could to overcome all obstacles and turn the situation before his eyes around. Even if he worked to no avail, he would ultimately exhaust his strength, his heart would have a clear conscience, and he did not fail Shi Feixuan’s expectations.
The fact before his eyes, if he still did not change his proactive attitude, there would be a great chance that Li Shimin was going to be killed by Li Jiancheng under Li Yuan’s acquiescence. If he was ignorant of Liang Shidou smuggling firearms, he would not feel the urgency in this regard. Li Shimin was forced to abandon the officers and soldiers to rush back to Chang’an, this would precisely provide Li Jiancheng, the various factions of the demonic school, and the Tujue people with a once-in-a-thousand-years chance to remove this thorn in their side.
Li Shimin’s catastrophe was pressing in on his eyelashes [idiom: imminent], and he simply could not tuck his hands inside his sleeves and not be concerned, especially after he gained a more thorough understanding and awareness of the situation in the world.
The warning sign appeared in his heart.
Xu Ziling cleared up his mind, he shouted indifferently, “Yucheng, you come in and listen to what I have to say, otherwise I will crush the Five-Colored Stone into powder.”
If Song Que was defeated and died, the contention over the world would be determined by the outcome of the battle between him, Kou Zhong and Li Shimin, and the key was who would gain control of Luoyang.
The fall of Jiangdu was a matter time, when Li Zitong was defeated and dispersed, Shen Faxing would be unable to protect himself. At that time, the allotted share left for Fu Gongyou was to wait to be slaughtered, and the control of the Yangtze River would completely fall into his, Kou Zhong’s hands. Xiao Xian’s momentum was exhausted, while he was recovering, it would be difficult to do anything.
In this situation, Song Zhi could concentrate on restraining Lin Shihong from being able to move.
He practically did not need to take the trouble to defeat either Xiao Xian or Lin Shihong, only by relying on Du Fuwei, he would be able to stabilize the south, and then assemble his troops, when the spring was warm and the flowers blossomed, he would go northward via separate routes, repeating Li Shimin’s old strategy when attacking Wang Shichong of Luoyang, nibbling away at the surrounding cities around Luoyang first, blocking the waterway, cutting off the water, land and direct traffic between Chang’an and Luoyang, and isolated Luoyang.
Li Shimin was adept in defense, he, Kou Zhong was adept in offense.
After going through the Battle of Luoyang, he gained thorough understanding of this formidable opponent on the battlefield.
Whether it was the Battle of Qianshui Yuan, the Battle of Baibi, or the Battle of Zhi River, the Battle of Hulao, Li Shimin always adopted the moving-later-to-control-the-other-side strategy, which won him the reputation of long-term defense without being defeated. He never fought battles where he had no confidence, he was good at creating opportunities, waiting at his ease for the exhausted enemy. After the enemy’s army was tired and their strength exhausted, their morale was low, he would strike the enemy in one fell swoop.
In the struggle against Li Shimin, he, Kou Zhong repeatedly made mistakes, but from this, he constantly learned and matured. By tonight, he fully grasped Li Shimin’s ‘being the first may not win, waiting for the enemy may bring victory’ strategic deployment. He even utilized the real combat technique using the Dark-Armored elite troops to charge into the troop disposition, to break the troop disposition, to confuse the troop disposition, before the two armies met in combat, he eliminated the enemy’s route for providing foodstuff first, before pursuing and striking the enemy relentlessly.
Li Shimin’s missing opportunity to kill him in River Luo would be the biggest mistake in his military career.
The heavy snow gradually subsided, the surrounding scenery was clearing up, just like Kou Zhong’s mood at this time, spacious and empty, and unobstructed.
From having no moment, he felt that the victory was firmly in his hands.
Duan Yucheng appeared outside the wind-and-snow-mingled-together main gate, tearing off his hood with one hand, revealing a handsome but tired face, colder than ice and snow, he stepped into the building, straight toward the other side of the stove.
Xu Ziling spoke indifferently, “Sit down!”
Duan Yucheng hesitated for a moment before slowly sitting down cross-legged, and spoke heavy voice, “What else is there to say?”
Xu Ziling spoke calmly, “I don’t know why my understanding about your honorable religion can be so different from Yucheng’s views. As far as I’m concerned, your Da Ming Zun Jiao is just a group that does all kinds of bad things in secret under the banner of religion, it should not represent the orthodox religion of Persia. Supposing that Yucheng can convince me that the wolf-bandits have nothing to do whatsoever with your honorable religion, and that the Anle Tragedy has nothing to do with Xu Kaishan, I will immediately offer the Five-Colored Stone to you.”
At first, Duan Yucheng showed anger, but halfway listening, his eyebrows knitted, he shook his head and said, “I don’t understand what you are talking about?”
Xu Ziling suddenly shouted, “No one can approach, otherwise I will immediately destroy the Five-Colored Stone.”
His eyes never left Duan Yucheng, he continued, “Tell me frankly, am I, Xu Ziling, someone who will lie to you?”
Duan Yucheng stared blankly for half a day, he slowly shook his head and said, “You are not someone who loves to tell lies.”
Xu Ziling said, “Then I will tell you that the person who killed the Da Longtou [big boss] of Zhi Shui Bang [River Zhi Gang], Juewuhuajia, was Da Ming Zun Jiao people, this is a verifiable matter, why should your honorable religion people conceal it from you? As for the head of the wolf-bandits, it was Taqi [previously, it was Gongqi]; you should know Taqi, know that he was one of your people. I, Xu Ziling, have nothing else to say, if you obstinately persist in going about things the wrong way, then you have to rely on your sword to retrieve the Five-Colored Stone from me.”
Duan Yucheng’s pair of eyes shot fierce expression, he stared at him without blinking, but did not say anything.
Xu Ziling knew that he could draw his sword and make his move at any time; he sighed and said, “You should know better than anyone that I am not the type of people who would casually slander others, furthermore, it’s not because I am afraid of anybody that I had to fabricate these things. Persisting in evil brings about self-destruction. As long as your Da Zun is indeed Xu Kaishan, you can confirm that what I said is not a lie, he is the mastermind behind the Anle Tragedy. On this matter, you can seek confirmation from ‘Ba Wang’ [hegemon king] Du Xing. Du Xing and Xu Kaishan have always had close relationship, they were as close as brothers, his words should be more powerful than mine.”
Duan Yucheng was slightly startled, his murderous aura was greatly reduced, evidently Xu Ziling’s words had hit the target.
Xu Ziling laughed aloud and called loudly, “Da Zun, if you get rid of the cloth covering your head and are not Xu Kaishan that I know, I will immediately hand the Five-Colored Stone to you, no conditions.”
With a gust of wind, Xu Kaishan flew to outside the door, he spoke heavily, “Unexpectedly Xu Ziling thinks a lot of nonsense, Yucheng will never be swayed by your lies.”
Then he looked around and said, “Where are your friends?”
Xu Ziling’s eyes were still fixed on Duan Yucheng, not letting go at all, he calmly said, “Being evil or being good is what’s in Yucheng’s mind.”
Duan Yucheng lowered his gaze; he stared at the fire in the stove, and spoke softly, “May I venture to ask Da Zun, are the wolf-bandits our people?”
Xu Kaishan was shaken, he spoke furiously, “Yucheng, how can you be instigated by him to say such a disgraceful [as in rebellious or otherwise in grave breach of the norms of society] thing?”
Xu Ziling was relieved inwardly; in the end, Duan Yucheng was a man with good and honest natural instincts, he began to be suspicious of Xu Kaishan.
Xinnaya appeared by Xu Kaishan’s side, she screamed, “Yucheng! What’s the matter? Let’s dispose of him first and then we’ll talk.”
Xu Ziling smiled, getting straight to the point, he said, “Do you dare to deny that Shangguan Long is one of yours?”
Sinaya choked, only then did she say, “Stop babbling nonsense.”
It was Duan Yucheng’s turn to be shocked. This was the moment when he started to doubt, plus he was not a person with low intelligence, on top of that, he was familiar with Xinnaya, naturally he could hear that Xinnaya was speaking without meaning it.
Xu Ziling did not give either Xu Kaishan or Xinnaya another chance to speak, he let out a long laughter and said, “May I ask, is Lie Xiong outside? Why don’t you show up to say hello and chat a little bit?”
The wind was screaming outside the door, but no one responded.
Ke Dazhi snorted coldly, he shouted, “That kid is quick-witted, he already escaped!”
Hearing that, Xu Kaishan and Xinnaya looked at each other, they were shocked that Liexia slipped away without any trace, but were also at a loss to know what to do due to Ke Dazhi’s presence.
Duan Yucheng stood up slowly.
Xu Ziling’s eyes were locked at him tightly, he was completely unable to guess whether Duan Yucheng was astray and he knew it, or he still wanted to stand on Xu Kaishan’s side.
Ke Dazhi’s voice rang from a distance behind Xu Kaishan, saying, “It was my fault, I could not help groping around the place where that Lie kid was hiding, and thus alerted him.”
Xu Ziling understood. Because Liexia discovered Ke Dazhi’s presence, he knew that the big momentum was gone, he also saw Duan Yucheng was swayed, in order to save his life and seek survival, plus seeing that Da Ming Zun Jiao was like the sun setting on the western hill, impossible to achieve anything, he abandoned Xu Kaishan and ran away.
Xu Ziling stood up suddenly, he said coldly, “Whether enemies or friends, Yucheng, you tell me.”
The three people inside and outside the building have all their eyes fixed on Duan Yucheng, waiting for his answer.
