Translator: Foxs' Wuxia
In the darkness of rain and snow swirling in the air before dawn, two navy vessels sailed away from Liangdu, carrying three men who played a critical role in the world today—Li Shimin, Kou Zhong, and Xu Ziling.
Song Lu personally accompanied them, the Shao Shuai Army was temporarily handed over to the Junshi [military adviser] Xu Xingzhi and the Great General Xuan Yong, one civil, one military.
On board the two ships, there were a total of a hundred and fifty Flying Cloud Guards, the most elite and the most loyal to Kou Zhong within the Shao Shuai Army, hence there was no worry that they would leak any information.
Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong were sitting on a row of food and fresh water containers at the stern of the ship, taking turns reading the letters sent by Song Shidao.
Finished reading, Xu Ziling handed the letter back to Kou Zhong, and said with a laugh, “Our efforts were not in vain. Although Song ErGe did not mention the development of his relationship with Meiren’er Changzhu even for a word, it seems that Shang Meiren is willing to keep him there and asked him to appraise the collections inside the Flying Horse Ranch treasury. It can be seen that Shang Meiren has very great impression toward him.”
Kou Zhong cheerfully said, “They are both experiencing familiarity at first sight, and have the opportunity to nurture their affection, naturally it would be where the water flows, a canal is formed. We’ll sent a special envoy to see Song ErGe, to tell him about the current situation, and ask him to formally seek a marriage alliance with Shang Changzhu, and then ask Fazhu for instructions. That will be successfully accomplished the project. Ha! Things are more ideal than we expected.”
Xu Ziling said, “I also want to ask you a question, how much confidence do you have to be able to convince your future father-in-law?”
Kou Zhong replied, “It will depend on what kind of person Li Shimin is and whether just like me, he can obtain Fazhu’s favor.”
“Do you have any contingency plans?” Xu Ziling asked.
Smiling wryly, Kou Zhong replied, “If Fazhu disagree, things will be extremely thorny, therefore, we must make every effort to convince him.”
The sound of footsteps was heard.
Li Shimin came to the stern, sat down on Kou Zhong’s other side, and said with a sigh, “I can’t sleep.”
Xu Ziling said sympathetically, “Shimin Xiong’s heart must be full of contradictions and pain.”
Li Shimin dejectedly said, “How did things developed into this plight? My heart now seems to have plethora of things to tackle, endless doubts and pains; I really want to get drunk and forget the cold and ruthless reality.”
The river breeze brought rain and snow, the cold air was suffocating.
Kou Zhong spoke heavily, “You, LaoGe answer my three questions first.”
Taken aback, Li Shimin asked, “What question?”
Kou Zhong said, “The first question, does Shimin Xiong believe that lingdi [your esteemed little brother] wants to put you to death?”
Li Shimin was in a daze for half a day, he nodded and said, “That is certainly the case.”
Kou Zhong continued to ask, “How about lingxiong [your esteemed older brother]?”
Smiling ruefully, Li Shimin replied, “One day I am not dead yet, it will pose a great threat to his emperor position. This time he is rushing to go into battle, precisely because he wants to suppress my outstanding military service.”
“I want an affirmative answer,” Kou Zhong.
Li Shimin replied in distress, “That’s right, Wang Xiong [brother king] wants to kill me.”
Kou Zhong said, “These two answers, no one in the world does not know, the third question is the most important key, Shimin Xiong must answer honestly. Has lingzun [your esteemed father] stirred his desire to commit murder toward you?”
Indescribable sorrow appeared on Li Shimin’s face, his two eyes emitted all-hopes-entirely-became-froth-and-shadows despairing look, as he cast his gaze into the depths of the rain and snow, he sighed and said, “When I found out that Fuhuang executed Jing Shu [uncle], my last ray of hope for Fuhuang finally died out. With one heart and one mind I fought the rivers and mountains for the Li Family, I never thought about the issue of reward, but the development of the situation has forced me step by step to a dead end. I’m even more afraid that if something happens to me, Fuhuang would put those who have been following me to death and their family exterminated, and then the officers and soldiers under my command stationed on the outside will rise up and declare independence, which will make our Li Tang’s rivers and mountains all split up and in pieces. Ay!”
Kou Zhong slapped his thigh and said, “Shimin Xiong really understands people. In your current situation, you are taking a step back, so that you won’t be put to death. Therefore, for your own sake, for the sake of your wife, children and relatives, for your subordinates and their families, even more, for the common people of the world, you must put aside all hesitation, and go all-out to deal with people who are father and son and brothers to you in name only, but with no father and son and brothers feeling – to the end, to fight for the final victory. To paraphrase Lao Ba’s famous remark, only those who are ruthless enough can survive.”
Shaken, Li Shimin repeated, “Only those who are ruthless enough can survive?”
Kou Zhong reached out to put his arm around his shoulder, and said, “Since we all become brothers again, naturally we are giving thought to you in everything. Let us imagine what will happen in the future, assuming that lingxiong successfully defeat Liu Heita, he will return in triumph to the imperial court, to show off that his talent is not inferior to you. And then the imperial concubines under the demonic school’s control will instigate lingzun to make the last move, which is to summon you back to Chang’an, and strip off your military power. When you no longer have the power to fight back, you will be put to death. Ziling and I will accompany you into Chang’an to see how they are going to show off their military strength [idiom: to bluff], to impeach you wantonly without any scruple, to advance move by move. By the time they are so pleased as to lose their sense of measure [idiom], we will use the ten-thousand-jun-thunderbolt momentum to thoroughly crush all the forces opposing you in Chang’an. Xiaodi can guarantee that when the time comes, not only you will not feel the slightest bit of guilty conscience, you will feel greatly delighted, because you have had enough! Ha! This is the best opportunity to see who is your trusted aide or friend who are loyal to you.”
Li Shimin spoke in distress, “Merely Wang Xiong and Wang Di’s [older and younger brother king, respectively] coalition forces are already beyond what my Tian Ce Fu can deal with, let alone the imperial guards are firmly under Fuhuang’s control, plus there are Dugu and Yuwen, two clans’ martial art masters supporting them, I am afraid it will weigh you down.”
Kou Zhong looked at Xu Ziling and said, “Shall I tell him?”
Xu Ziling replied, “We are all brothers, why must we conceal anything?”
Li Shimin revealed an astonished and puzzled expression.
Kou Zhong chuckled softly and said, “Shimin Xiong should know that the Duke Yang Treasure-house not only has storehouse within a storehouse, but it also has real and fake storehouses. This storehouse was really prepared for Yang Su in the past to support his rebellion, a masterpiece, the proud design of Lu Miaozi. Inside, there are large quantities of superior quality weaponry, and there is a secret path leading to the outside of the city. If we use it properly, we can deploy a 3,000-man wonder-troops inside the storehouse. This aspect will be provided by me, I guarantee that all are martial art masters each one able to block one hundred, why would you be afraid of his Niang’s Changlin Army imperial guards?”
Li Shimin’s entire body was violently shaken, he spoke in disbelief, “Unexpectedly there is such an astonishing thing?”
Xu Ziling said, “This matter is absolutely true, absolutely not a joking matter.”
Li Shimin’s eyes grew big, he was tongue-tied for quite a while, and then he looked at Kou Zhong and said, “If you deploy your troops to Bashu and acquire Hanzhong, wouldn’t it be easy to invade Chang’an?”
Smiling bitterly, Kou Zhong said, “This was precisely our original plan, too bad it was spoiled by our Shi Xianzi. Feixuan did not tell you?”
Li Shimin shook his head with blank expression, and spoke heavily, “She did not! I only know you, Kou Zhong, let go of the opportunity to strike and defeat our Li Tang, and are helping me instead. Such a broad-minded and open character, upon self-inspection, I, Li Shimin, admit that even slapping the horse’s butt, it will still be difficult for me to pursue.”
Xu Ziling laughed and said, “It should be Xiao Zhong who express his gratitude. He is having a headache because he might have to become the emperor, it is rare that you are willing to take his place!”
Li Shimin’s pair of eyes shot a resolute expression, he spoke heavily, “I realize now! You guys are really good to me, if I, Li Shimin, am still being wishy-washy, without enough accomplishment, with failures in abundance, how can I deserve to be your brother?”
The rain and snow ended with the dawn, the three men gathered at the round table inside the cabin, having breakfast together, in quite a leisure and relaxed atmosphere.
Before Song Que agreed to support Li Shimin, Song Lu did not want to have a close relationship with him, hence he was riding on the other warship.
Kou Zhong suddenly laughed and said, “Shimin Xiong, do you know why I am not afraid to take a big risk by taking you to go to Lingnan?”
Xu Ziling and Li Shimin understood that by ‘taking a big risk’, he was referring to if this matter was leaked out, it would be difficult for Li Shimin escape the heavy charge of treason of colluding with foreign enemies.
Putting down his porridge, Li Shimin said in astonishment, “Could it be it is not like what you said, to show respect toward Song Fazhu, to state clearly my determination by my action, and to persuade him personally, these three reasons?”
Kou Zhong suddenly changed the subject, “Does Shimin Xiong have blood relationship with Hu people [non-Han]?”
Li Shimin was slightly startled, he replied frankly, “For many generations our Li Family’s ancestors have been military commanders that have close relationship with the outside tribes of the Northwest. Niang’s previous generation came from the Northwest. My current wife is of the Zhangsun Clan, in the previous generation, they belonged to the Tuoba Clan of the imperial family of the Wei of the Northern Dynasties [386-534], because they held governmental office, the chief of the imperial clan changed their surname to Zhangsun. Therefore, looking at me, speaking about me, I do have blood relationship with Hu people; I won’t deny it.”
Looking at the living example of the great integration of the northern peoples, Kou Zhong smiled and said, “Going to the bottom of the matter, the difference between Song Que and Fan Qinghui Zhaizhu is the argument whether our future Central Earth’s emperor is of the assimilation of the north side and the external tribes, or of the pure Han system in the south. And the only way to persuade Song Que is to start from this critical link. Shimin Xiong is going to personally demonstrate to Song Que that the Han people of the Hu transformation can be as outstanding as Shimin Xiong, and that you can absorb external tribes’ popular customs and culture to revitalize and strengthen the Han tradition of future generations.”
Li Shimin’s old face turned red, he said, “You made me feel embarrassed! I hope it won’t produce the opposite of the desired result.”
Kou Zhong cheerfully said, “You won’t have to worry about that, Song Que’s eyesight is brilliant, it might be beyond your expectation, his words are like his Heavenly Saber, just a few rounds and he already understands you thoroughly. Song Que has already seen the overall situation, he also values individual, he once said that history is created by people, so I am confident that he will make the most proper choice. Ay!”
Xu Ziling was puzzled, “Since you have full confidence, why did you sigh?”
Smiling wryly, Kou Zhong said, “Don’t get me wrong, I sighed because I remember Zhizhi, I remembered that in everything in the world, the yin and yang are opposite, the other side of love is hate, the deeper the love, the more complicated it becomes, hate is like that, the deeper the hatred, the more complicated it is, hence the heart sighs with sorrow.”
Li Shimin asked Xu Ziling in a low voice, “Is it the Song Family’s Er Xiaojie [second miss; I thought she was the third Miss?] Yuzhi?”
Xu Ziling nodded slightly. Comforting Kou Zhong, he said, “Don’t think too much, as long as you are willing to take out your heart, no difficulty is insurmountable if one is sincere [idiom], I am certain that you will be able to restore Yuzhi’s feelings for you.”
Kou Zhong looked at Li Shimin, he suddenly asked, “Is Princess Xiuning well?”
Stunned, Li Shimin nodded, he lacked the words to answer Kou Zhong’s abrupt question.
Kou Zhong cast his gaze out of the window, while showing a sad expression, and sighed again.
Li Shimin did not know what to think, he spoke emotionally, “I believe fate more and more. Think about it, if at that time the two gentlemen did not come to my boat to steal things, how would everything happen afterwards? Today we are sitting here even more, collectively scheming and joining forces to unify the world. Ay! When fate comes, you can’t escape from it. Fate comes and fate goes, no one could fathom.”
Xu Ziling recalled the chance encounter with Shi Feixuan in Longquan City, one verbal misunderstanding turned their relationship around; could it also be a form of fate?
‘Knock! Knock! Knock!
Xu Ziling responded, “Come in! I’m not asleep yet.”
Kou Zhong pushed the door and entered, he saw Xu Ziling, expressionless, sitting in a corner. Sitting next to him across the small table, he sighed and said, “We could reach Lingnan by dusk tomorrow evening. Ay! I’m really a bit worried.”
“Worry about what?” Xu Ziling asked.
Smiling wryly, Kou Zhong replied, “On the one hand, I am worried that Song Que would be furious and refuse to receive Li Shimin, and that he would even drive us away. I am also afraid that Zhizhi will tell me that spilt water is difficult to retrieve [idiom], so that like a beggar, I would have to go to another home; begging will be totally useless. I’m afraid to have nightmares, hence I did not dare to sleep, and came to chat with you instead.”
Xu Ziling said, “You are not overly optimistic, I feel a bit at ease instead. When we arrive in Lingnan, the first move is the most difficult move, a good start is crucial. How to make Song Que, with peaceful heart and calm qi, meet Shimin Xiong, that is the key.”
Kou Zhong said, “I have a good discussion with Lu Shu, he is going to give a full account to Song Que first, ay! This seems a bit uneasy to do, do you think I should go see him personally?”
Knitting his brows, Xu Ziling said, “But if you are having a fallout with him, you won’t have any room to save the situation.”
Thinking hard, Kou Zhong said, “What wonder move can we to think of? Should I talk to Yuzhi first, and then let her talk to her Die?”
Xu Ziling said, “The idea of the south unifying the north as the only way to revitalize the Han is deeply ingrained in his, the Senior’s mind. Without any wonder move, it is very difficult to change his idea in a short while.”
Slapping his thigh, Kou Zhong said, “Why don’t you go and see him first?”
Stunned, Xu Ziling said, “You want me to go see him? What good will it bring?”
Kou Zhong said, “The good thing is that he will be seeing you for the first time, there should be a novel feeling. Before he figures out who you really are, he won’t sweep you out of the Mo Dao Tang [grinding saber (or blade) hall]. He should be interested in figuring out what kind of person you are, why you have this kind of way of thinking? That sort of thing.”
Smiling ruefully, Xu Ziling said, “I should not to be shirked without dishonor [idiom]. Ay! Now it’s my turn to be afraid! I’m afraid of the burden entrusted to me.”
“Don’t underestimate yourself,” Kou Zhong encouraged him, “The biggest difference between you and me is that in just one glance, a discerning person would know that you are that kind of genuine person who tries never to offend anybody [lit. good ole man], who live a simple life without any demand. Ha! You started as a drifter but never looked like a drifter. Personality traits are innate, it can’t be pretended.”
Helpless, Xu Ziling had to nod and said, “I will do my best!”
Kou Zhong blurted out without thinking, “What were you thinking about just now? Was it Shi Feixuan? Or Shi Qingxuan?”
Xu Ziling smiled and said, “You guessed wrong this time! Neither one.”
Kou Zhong asked in astonishment, “Are you saying you are not worried about it?”
Xu Ziling nodded and said, “Rationally, I have figured out this matter, as long as I can fulfill Feixuan’s cherished desire, to let her continue to focus on the pursuit of the heavenly law, that will be the highest expression of my deep love for her. I should not disturb her pure cultivation anymore. Ay! Although between Qingxuan and I we have not pledged undying love, but when we are together, the entire heaven and earth seem to have changed, the feeling of happiness is so real. The distance between her and me is getting closer and closer, if I still don’t know how to choose, not only I will hurt Feixuan, but I will let Qingxuan down even more. What do you think?”
Kou Zhong cheerfully, said, “Absolutely agree. We must not only follow the guidance of the heart, but must also make a wise choice. Take me for example, since I have proposed marriage to Zhizhi, I have unswervingly persevered with this commitment, not to mention that she is indeed my dream.”
Astonished, Xu Ziling said, “You are no longer distressed because of Shang Xiufang?”
Kou Zhong dejectedly said, “Honestly, I would be lying to you if I say that I do not have the pain in my heart in this respect. However, when I am facing Shang Xiufang, I still remember Yuzhi from time to time, but when I am facing Yuzhi, I forget everything. It is thus clear that the most important in my heart is still Zhizhi. Ay! I really feel bad for Xiufang, she is such a touching woman worthy of respect and love, and to be cherished.”
Li Shimin’s voice came from outside the door, “Can I come in?”
Kou Zhong jumped up and pulled the door open, he invited Li Shimin to sit down in his original seat, while he sat on the edge of the bed. “Shimin Xiong can’t sleep either?” he asked.
Smiling wryly, Li Shimin replied, “Very rarely I indulge in flights of fancy [idiom], but since I boarded the ship, unexpectedly I remembered many things that I thought I had forgotten a long time ago, including when I was young, I grew up in the martial arts hall by the Wei River. Niang’s instruction seems to be still ringing in my ears. Since I was a child, I did not like studying, so I had to do equestrian archery. Niang often said that my character was too stubborn and unyielding, perhaps precisely due to this kind of temperament that I don’t like to fawn on other people, which made Fuhuang dislike me more and more.”
Kou Zhong noticed that when he was speaking, his eyes gradually turned red. Hurriedly changing the topic, he said, “Shimin Xiong should be more familiar with Chang’an than we are. If you want to fight a street fight at the Palace City, how much confidence do you have?”
Knitting his brows, Li Shimin said, “The security measures deployment in the City of Chang’an will be changed every few days, this is in accordance with the Old Sui city defense method. On this aspect, only the four highest commanders of the Imperial Guards and Fuhuang know.”
Kou Zhong thought of his old friend Chang He, but he was Li Jiancheng’s man, to have him cooperating with Kou Zhong would really be not easy.
Li Shimin sighed and said, “Even though we have the Duke Yang’s Treasure-house, this wonder move, we still cannot grasp it and victory is assured. Chang’an’s military strength is concentrated in the Palace City. Massive military forces have been stationed at the Xuanwu Gate for a long time. If we want our men to sneak into the treasure house the gods do not know the ghosts do not perceive, the number of people cannot be too many. In my opinion, three thousand men is the limit, plus they will have to be divided into smaller batches to enter the Pass over a long period of time. Therefore, compared to the twenty-thousand imperial guards and the several thousands of Changlin Army in Chang’an City, our strength is pitiful.”
Kou Zhong nodded and said, “Hence the reason we must use wit and not brute strength, one day we cannot control the Xuanwu gate, one day it cannot be considered a success.”
“I wonder if Fu Cailin is coming to Chang’an?” Xu Ziling asked, “Did Shimin Xiong hear about this?”
Li Shimin said, “Fuhuang has formally granted Fu Cailin’s request for a visit. It is rumored that Fu Cailin has the intention to challenge Ning Daoqi and Song Que.”
Shaken, Kou Zhong said, “Unexpectedly there is such matter, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Smiling wryly, Xu Ziling replied, “I did not want to spoil your good mood.”
Staring blankly, Li Shimin said, “Didn’t you have close relationship with Fu Cailin?”
Kou Zhong spoke dejectedly, “This matter is hard to explain in a few words, I’ll tell you later! It seems that Chang’an still has so many hard-to-guess variables.”
“There is another variable,” Li Shimin said, “Fuxiong proposed to Fuhuang to invite the Tujue’s ‘Wu Zun’ Bi Xuan to pay a visit. He hopes that via his huge influence, he could establish friendly relations with the Tujue, and to relieve the pressure in the north, in order to deal with you and Song Fazhu.”
“What?” Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling blurted out at the same time.
Li Shimin said, “Whether accepting Fu Cailin’s visit or inviting Bi Xuan to Chang’an, both are parts of their strategy against you. The most ideal is that they challenge Song Que or Ning Daoqi, if they refuse to take up the challenge, they will suffer defeat in terms of prestige.”
Hearing that, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked at each other in dismay. Ning Daoqi and Song Que both suffered internal injuries, who else in the world have the ability to deal with these two foreign grandmasters of martial arts?
Ba Fenghan might be pleased with Bi Xuan’s arrival, but they were going to be terribly anxious for him.
With these two grandmasters keeping watch over Chang’an, their grand plan of facilitating the emperor, which was already making progress only with great difficulty, would have even more variables.
The future was no longer within their grasp.
