Just as the tragedy was about to happen in the blink of an eye, a shout, “Hold on!” came from the roof of an official building behind and outside the heavy siege Kou Zhong and the others were in. The shout cowered everyone present, so that none of the several thousand men on the field did not raise their head to look up.
Tujue tribe’s Ke Dazhi, whose fame as the martial art master of the same generation was equal to Ba Fenghan, was sitting leisurely at the edge of the roof ridge of the building, his pair of legs was dangling in the air, his pair of eyes was flashing brightly, attracting everybody’s gaze. Laughing aloud, he said, “Bai Ziting, you really have guts! I have a simple proposal that I am sure you, LaoGe will accept, that will solve your problem in one move.” Translated by foxs
Knowing a good opportunity, Kou Zhong responded on Bai Ziting’s behalf, “What good proposal does Ke Xiong have?”
Snorting coldly, Bai Ziting said, “Other than using military [or martial art] force, what proposal can you offer?”
Ke Dazhi coldly said, “Naturally it is still the way to settle the dispute using military force. Great Khan’s order, as long as you can surpass the Sandstorm Saber in Xiaoke’s [lit. small/unimportant/(polite) my humble person, but it could also mean ‘Little Ke’, which is Ke Dazhi’s surname] hand, we will immediately withdraw, and will give you one year to temporarily prolong your remaining breath. We’ll see whether you really have the guts?”
Bai Ziting’s dragon-body shook, his pair of eyes revealed a fierce and severe expression.
Ke Dazhi went on, “Don’t miss this golden opportunity; were it not for considering how Shaoshuai wholeheartedly want to resolve the disaster of massacre of the whole city this time, and going through Tuli Khan and I arguing needlessly with the Great Khan Xieli, he would never agree to allow such a convenient arrangement for you. If you suffer defeat and die in battle, naturally the establishment of the Bohai Kingdom is ruined for the sake of one basketful, but as long as Longquan is willing to tear down the city wall, we will not damage one blade of grass or one tree in Longquan. Such a worthwhile arrangement, whether Da Wang accepts or not, you can decide in one word.”
Kesubie seized the opportunity to shout loudly, “Da Wang, please give your order to put away the bows and arrows first!”
Without blinking at all, Bai Ziting stared at Ke Dazhi. It was quite half a day later that he signaled with his hand to put away the bows and the arrows.
Both sides of the standoff breathed a sigh of relief. The arrows went back to the quivers, the bows were hung down.
Ke Dazhi threw his head back in long laughter. Nodding his head, he said, “Good! After all, a dragon king is a dragon king. Let me see if your dragon sword is sharp, or if my Sandstorm Saber is outstanding.” He flipped over forward and made three somersaults in succession high in the air, before his feet landed on solid ground.
The warriors surrounding Kou Zhong and the others on the rear automatically stepped aside to open up a path.
“Hold on!” Bai Ziting suddenly shouted.
Everybody on Kou Zhong’s side shivered greatly, thinking that he changed his mind on the last moment. Translated by foxs
Ba Fenghan spoke in low voice to Xu Ziling and Song Shidao closest to him, “If he back out of the agreement, we’ll make our move immediately!”
The two nodded their agreement.
Ke Dazhi stood still, his hand was pressed on the Sandstorm Saber’s hilt. Acting like he considered himself unexcelled in the world, he laughed coldly and said, “Whatever trick you are thinking, don’t make me look down on you.”
The murderous intent in Bai Ziting’s pair of eyes flared severely, but he immediately restraint it. Revealing a complicated, hard-to-understand expression, which looked like wounded emotion of a hero’s end of the road, but also appeared to be determination to fight without sparing anything, he turned his gaze toward Kou Zhong and spoke in heavy voice, “I wish to speak privately with Shaoshuai for a moment.”
Everybody understood suddenly; they knew that it must be related to his son, Da Zuorong. Such matter really should not be publicly discussed before the decisive battle against Ke Dazhi, since it would show weakness.
Kou Zhong stepped out of his troop disposition and walked forward toward the empty space ahead and to the left, where Bai Ziting was also heading. When the two men met, they became the target of multitude of arrows of everybody’s eyes across the field.
Bai Ziting leaned closer and spoke to Kou Zhong in low voice, “Shaoshuai thinks in this battle against Ke Dazhi, how much chance of victory do I have?”
Kou Zhong had never expected that he would ask such question. Sighing lightly, he replied, “I have no doubt that Da Wang will be defeated. Ke Dazhi’s Sandstorm saber technique is not only sharp and difficult to block, his fighting spirit is even more imposing as the rainbow. On the other hand, due to the Wolf Army is pressing on your territory, your son has fallen into other people’s hands, plus people rebelling and friends deserting, Da Wang’s mind is disturbed. The outcome of this battle, Da Wang should be the person who understands it the clearest.”
Bai Ziting blankly said, “I really don’t have any chance?”
Kou Zhong smiled wryly and shook his head. He deeply felt that this ambitious and ruthless character has really lost his usual confidence; otherwise, how could he ask him, an enemy – this question?
Bai Ziting revealed a hit of pained smile, his pair of eyes recovered its clear and calm expression; it appeared that he already made up his mind, hence his spirit and mind were no longer shrouded by the haze and dense fog. He slowly nodded his head and said, “Shaoshuai and I should be men who understand the other side the most.”
Kou Zhong had no choice but to reply with a bitter laugh. “We must be!” he said, “Whatever it is that Da Wang has in your heart, do not hesitate to speak up, I will definitely accomplish it for you.” Translated by foxs
Bai Ziting’s remark was definitely not spoken casually; he was referring to both of them had the ambition to proclaim themselves hegemon and be the king, and the main enemy they were facing was more powerful than themselves, hence there was a fellow-sufferers-empathize-with-each-other sentiment between them.
Lowering his voice, Bai Ziting said, “After I die, please deliver my dead body to Xieli. I only ask Shaoshuai to preserve Da Zuorong, my blood line.” Finished speaking, he smiled sadly, as if he suddenly aged for many years.
Kou Zhong already guessed that he had made this decision, and this was the most sensible act, the most heroic approach, because rather being defeated and killed in public by Ke Dazhi, it would be better to leave behind a little bit of space for people to think of, by personally finishing his own life in exchange for the safety of the army and civilians of Longquan.
Kou Zhong replied in low voice, “Da Wang, rest assured that I, Kou Zhong, will definitely not fail Da Wang’s trust.” Finished speaking, he walked toward Ke Dazhi.
While Bai Ziting was summoning Zong Xianghua and Kesubie to talk to them, he went over to Ke Dazhi and said with a sigh, “Was it all random talk?”
Ke Dazhi smiled and said, “Other than that, do you have a better idea? Besides, the lie will never be exposed, because the one who is going to die is definitely not me.”
And then he said, “Did he entrust Da Zuorong’s safety to you? I hope you did not promise him, because Great Khan definitely will be unwilling to let Bai Ziting’s son get away. Ay! He won’t let Longquan’s army and civilians get away either; tearing down the city wall still cannot change anything.”
Kou Zhong spoke resolutely, “I will make him change his mind, and you will help me accomplishing this wish.”
The harsh light in Ke Dazhi’s pair of eyes flaring greatly, his face was covered in a layer of cold frost, he said, “Why would I, Ke Dazhi want to help you to offend Great Khan?”
Kou Zhong laughed and said, “Stop putting on an act! Don’t forget that in here we are comrade-in-arms; besides, you ought to know that this is also Xiufang Dajia’s wish. If you don’t want to help, I will lodge an accusation against you in front of Xiufang Dajia. Ha ha!”
Because Bai Ziting’s determination to kill himself has affected his mood, his laughter sounded dry and heavy, not to mention forced.
Ke Dazhi dejectedly said, “I never win against you! Ay! This does not seem to be consistent with Xiaodi’s usual style.”
Bai Ziting’s voice rang out, “Brave warriors of Sumo Tribe, listen up. From this moment on, all the tribe’s affairs will be under the Right Prime Minister Kesubie and Chief Imperial Bodyguard Zong Xianghua’s full authority. Their orders will be the same as my orders; those who disobey will be executed.” Translated by foxs
“Da Wang!” Zong Xianghua cried out in grief; tears were flowing down her face.
Across the field, several thousands of warriors were as dumb as wooden chicken. Only by looking at Zong Xianghua’s expression, they knew what was going to happen.
Turning toward Ke Dazhi, Bai Ziting spoke solemnly, “Would Ke Jiangjun please tell Great Khan, Bai Ziting admit defeat!” And then he threw his head back and let out a long, loud laughter, and then upright and unafraid, he calmly walked alone in the direction of the main palace hall.
The sound of wailing shook the heavens.
The faintly discernible sound of Shang Xiufang’s zheng was coming from the cold and desolate east garden, as if it was performed by someone whose heart was brimming with intense feeling, yet was able to use the grave and stern, as well as desolate – manner to develop and interpret the human world’s joys and sorrows in music, rising abruptly and falling sharply.
Perhaps it was because of the flourishing then declining shift in the trend of events that have been happening in Longquan these past few days, or perhaps he was affected by Shang Xiufang’s bemoaning the state of the universe and pity the fate of mankind frame of mind, Kou Zhong felt that more and more he was able to understand the meaning behind the sound of Shang Xiufang’s zheng.
Shang Xiufang was sitting alone in the middle of an empty and spacious hall, stroking and plucking the strings of the zheng.
When he entered the main hall, the sound of zheng suddenly changed, just as if this section was displaying the poignant circumstances of the turmoil under the heavens where human life was as cheap as the grass or a mustard seed. The timing, rhythm, the dynamics were grasped to precision. At times the rich variation of the zheng was like ten thousand stampeding horses, thousands army poised for battle, another time it was like the city broke down the people perished. The flourishing scene was turning into desolate, scorched earth situation. Everything was conveyed by the sound of rising-in-spirals zheng.
Her extraordinary skill in playing the zheng has evoked the vision inside Kou Zhong’s mind, just like the predestination of the war that was tightly entangling him.
The sound of zheng suddenly stopped.
Staring blankly, Kou Zhong stood by the door.
Shang Xiufang looked at him without showing any emotion, she did not seem to be the least bit surprised by his sudden appearance. “Very late at night, Shaoshuai still has not taken a rest?” she spoke indifferently.
Taking a deep breath, Kou Zhong came to her side and sat down on the woven mat next to her. Gazing at her elegant exceptional countenance, he sighed and said, “This is precisely the question I was going to ask Xiufang, but Xiufang asked me first.” Translated by foxs
Shang Xiufang’s eyes moved to her lily-white hands, which were still stroking the zheng’s strings. Remaining tranquil, she said, “Who can sleep peacefully tonight? What had just happened, Xianghua already send someone to notify me. What is Shaoshuai’s plan now?”
Smiling bitterly, Kou Zhong replied, “What plan can I possibly have? If Xieli, Tuli refuse to grant my request, Xiaodi has no choice but to defend Longquan to the death, until I am buried under the city walls; otherwise, it will be a matter of lifelong regret for me.”
Shang Xiufang shook her head and said, “Shaoshuai definitely will not be buried under the city walls, because it is very difficult for Xieli and Tuli to pass you, this obstacle. Furthermore, it is not worthwhile for Xieli to risk having fallout with Shaoshuai over the Sumo tribe, who has no power to resist them. Xiufang just want to ask, what is your plan after Longquan?”
Kou Zhong called for his Niang inwardly, while his heart was dripping blood; with difficulty to enunciate, he asked back, “What is Xiufang’s plan?”
Shang Xiufang turned her pretty face to gaze at him for a moment. Suddenly she stretched out her slender jade hand to caress his face and said with a smile, “Xiufang is about to wander around the prairie for a period of time, to experience the touching local conditions and customs beyond the Great Wall.”
“What?” Kou Zhong blurted out.
Shang Xiufang withdrew her slender hand, which made him losing his mind and confused his emotion, which nearly melt him. She spoke faintly, “Why make a fuss about nothing? Since you don’t want to accompany me, are you saying that I should wait all day long for the news of Shaoshuai killing people or be killed? That I will be constantly tormented while still alive?”
Shaken, Kou Zhong said, “I …”
Shang Xiufang reached out and put her jade finger up to his lips, “Shh,” she said, shaking her head, “Don’t say any word that is untrue to your heart to deceive me. Xiufang is your close friend, naturally I understand the load on your mind. Don’t say anything about the area beyond the Great Wall is dangerous and inadvisable to travel, from an early age Xiufang already know how to protect myself from injury and harm. Go on! Xiufang wants to be alone to think; don’t Shaoshuai have a lot of things need to be done?”
Although Kou Zhong had thousands of words, he could not even utter half.
Kou Zhong climbed to the top of the south city wall; on his left and right, there were Ke Dazhi, Xu Ziling, Song Shidao, and Zong Xianghua.
As far as his eyes could see, outside the city, there were campfires everywhere across the Jingpo plain, covering the ground to the end of the plain, the flames illuminating the sky, so that the moon and the stars in the sky lost their splendor.
Zong Xianghua pointed to the camp on the west, she said, “That is Pusa’s Huihe army, about five thousand men strong, just to the south is Tujue Wolf Army camps, their strength is continuously increasing. Abaojia’s Qidan Sparrow Hawk army pitched their camp east of the city. Only the north route toward Little Longquan and Wolong Bie Yuan has not been blocked.” Translated by foxs
Ke Dazhi said, “That is to show our respect to Shaoshuai. Currently, only our vanguard troops have arrived, Great Khan and Tuli Khan will arrive before dawn.”
Xu Ziling reported, “Shuwen and his brothers, as well as Pingyao merchants, have been sent to Little Longquan under escort of Ke Dazhi’s men, so that they can join the Gunatai Brothers and report the latest developments to them. In addition, Ba Fenghan personally went to Pusa’s camp. If Han Chao’an and Gesuwen handed over Da Zuorong per our agreement, he will be brought back.”
Due to Shang Xiufang’s affair, Kou Zhong’s mood suffered from pent-up frustrations; feeling a little bit every hope turns to dust, he spoke in distress, “Other than waiting, what can we do?”
“How about drinking two cups of wine?” Ke Dazhi proposed.
Knitting his brows, Kou Zhong asked, “Have you found Meiyan?”
Smiling ruefully, Xu Ziling replied, “Following the direction that Han Chao’an gave us, we looked for her, but the people are gone and the place is empty. There is only a note that she left behind, saying that she will never forget our great kindness, great favor, et cetera.”
Slapping Kou Zhong’s shoulder, Song Shidao said, “You better go to rest or relax for a moment!”
Strict night curfew was imposed in the city of Longquan; other than patrolling troops, no one was allowed outside.
Xu Ziling took the Thousand-Li Dream from the woods outside the city into Longquan, to let it be reunited with its master, Kou Zhong. This moment, the horses were like being out there on the prairie as they were let wandering along the Vermilion Bird Boulevard, but they were only pacing back and forth outside the wine shop where their masters were staying and talking.
Kou Zhong naturally knew that Ke Dazhi wanted to talk to him about something. Sure enough, after two cups of wine went down their belly, Ke Dazhi cast a glance toward Song Shidao, who was sitting on the corner, meditating to treat his injury – first, before lowering his voice and spoke with a wry smile, “To be quite honest, Xiaodi approached you on the pretext of Liexia that day, it was simply because I received Great Khan’s secret order to do everything I could to protect Shaoshuai so that you can return to your home country safe and sound. I don’t need to tell you the reason, but two gentlemen ought to know why.”
Stunned, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked at each other. After half a day of creased eyebrows, he said, “Is it because Li Shimin’s great victory over your and Song JinGang’s allied armies, hence he is hoping I could return alive to help Wang Shichong to defend Luoyang? But what made you decide to tell us this?”
Ke Dazhi sighed and said, “Because in the end the pretense turned into reality, I regard you as comrade-in-arms. Frankly speaking, in the Bai Ziting’s affair, you have done me a big favor. Therefore, whatever the case, I also want to help you to save Longquan.” Translated by foxs
Kou Zhong said, “This is called due to an unexpected turn of events [idiom]. Ay! Forget it! The past is no longer a matter of concern. You know Xieli’s intention much better than we do, what advice can you offer us?”
“There is only one piece of advice,” Ke Dazhi spoke seriously, “Which is try to show a bit friendliness to our Great Khan as much as possible, then everything can be discussed. Compared with Li Shimin, Longquan is a negligible trivial matter.”
Kou Zhong was silent for half a day. Turning to Xu Ziling, he sought his advice, “Ling Shao, what do you think?”
Shrugging his shoulders, Xu Ziling said, “To be a bit friendly to him really isn’t you betraying yourself. If we could make the Sumo tribe lucky enough to avoid the disaster, there is no end of virtuous achievements. Didn’t you say that politics do not talk about real intention, but only discussing the consequences?”
Ke Dazhi cheerfully said, “Two gentlemen have a high notion of your duty; this is very good. The other problem is Da Zuorong. Great Khan might follow usual practice by holding him up as a hostage, you guys must be prepared mentally.”
Stunned, Kou Zhong said, “How can we allow that to happen? How am I going to explain to Zong Xianghua and the other generals and ministers?”
Having a headache, Ke Dazhi said, “In my opinion, on this matter, Great Khan won’t concede.”
Kou Zhong’s eyebrows deeply knitted, he said, “I must think about it first.” He casually mentioned about Shang Xiufang’s desire to tour the various kingdoms outside the border.
Hearing that, Ke Dazhi’s countenance changed; he said, “Will she have that good-for-nothing Liexia keeping her company?”
Kou Zhong has never thought about that, “Can’t be, can it?” he said.
Ke Dazhi suddenly stood up and said, “I will ask her myself.” Finished speaking, he left in a hurry.
Kou Zhong dejectedly poured wine for Xu Ziling, he said, “Do you know that Wang Shichong has Da Ming Zun Jiao background? He was the previous generation’s Yuanzi.”
Emotionally moved, Xu Ziling asked, “Where did you hear it from?”
Kou Zhong replied, “It was Han Chao’an, that kid who told me. And he heard it from Funantuo. At that time, in order to survive, he would even sell his own laodie [old man, father], so he could not possibly invent crazy nonsense to deceive me. Besides, the more I think about it, the more I feel it seems to be the truth. Ke Feng was clearly incited by Rong Fengxiang to harm him, yet after the fact, instead of investigating Rong Fengxiang, they seemed to be cooperating happily even more. From this, it could be seen that the relationship between the two men is warm.”
After a short pause, he went on, “Han Chao’an said that Wang Shichong was sent by Da Ming Zun Jiao to infiltrate the Sui imperial court as a spy, but afterwards he had a better chance to be the emperor, hence he no longer obey the Cult’s order. This is indeed very much like Wang Shichong, this old fox’s situation. There is another thing: there is a very high possibility that the Qiuci beauty Linglong Jiao also belongs to Da Ming Zun Jiao; she was sent to the Central Earth to lend a hand to Wang Shichong.” Translated by foxs
The horses neighed happily.
Listening to the sound, the two boys knew that the Thousand-Li Dream and Ten-thousand-Li Spot saw Ba Fenghan’s Taklamakan, hence the friendly response. Greatly delighted, they went out the door to welcome him.
Song Shidao’s healing process was at a critical juncture, he was still sitting with closed eyes.
Carrying someone in his arms, Ba Fenghan jumped off the horse. The two fixed their eyes on him; to their surprise, it was Yin Xianhe, whose whereabouts was unknown. Thinking that he was seriously hurt, they were shocked.
Ba Fenghan laughed and said, “He just drank too much that he is as drunk as mud; nothing serious, ha! I am just wondering where did he get that much wine to drink? It’s really puzzling.”
The two boys took the covered-all-over-with-the-stink-of wine Yin Xianhe from Ba Fenghan’s hands; feeling at a loss, they carried him inside the shop. The latter’s face was full of mud, his clothes were tattered and filthy, it was as if he had turned into someone else, no longer the icily arrogant lone swordsman wanderer with a single sword. His pair of eyes was half-closed, he was constantly gasping for breath. They never thought that he would be like this, so they felt that whatever happened was greatly unusual.
They put him in the chair, Yin Xianhe slumped down on the tabletop. Slapping the table, he said, “Wine! I want wine!”
Spreading out his hands, Ba Fenghan said, “When I encountered him on the road, he was like this. By the way, we get Da Zuorong back! After finishing up some business, Pusa is coming into the city to meet with us, and then together, you guys are going to see Xieli and Tuli.”
Kou Zhong put down half of the load of his mind due to Da Zuorong, thinking that Han Chao’an could be considered sensible; he did not play any trick in this regard. “You are not coming?” he asked in surprise.
Ba Fenghan sat down and picked up the wine pot. Taking a big swig of wine, he said, “I don’t want any conflict with Tuli, so it’s better for me not to come.”
The two boys had nothing to say, because Ba Fenghan did indeed have reason to be resentful toward Tuli. Translated by foxs
Yin Xianhe slapped the table asking for drink again. Xu Ziling reached out to rub his back, while injecting the true qi into his body. He spoke gently, “Yin Xiong, what is the load on your mind? Why don’t you tell us? Perhaps we can think of a solution for you.”
Yin Xianhe suddenly sat his slim body straight up, his pair of eyes staring straight ahead, the two eyeballs seemed to be empty, he spoke as if he was talking in his sleep, “She is not Xiaomei [little sister]! She is not Xiaomei!”
Over yonder, Song Shidao opened his eyes. Unable to make any sense of the matter, he joined them in fixing his eyes on him.