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Book 55 Chapter 3 – The Secret to Deliver Victory

Translator: Foxs\' Wuxia

Xu Ziling’s boat arrived at Zhongli in the afternoon. Bu Tianzhi, who was defending Zhongli, received the news and came to meet the boat. Without waiting for Xu Ziling to speak, he rushed to announce the good news, “Song Fazhu’s fleet sailed from the Great River up the canal five days ago, straight to pounce on Chenliu. According to the information I have just received, Li Shiji pretended to be no match for them, he withdrew to Kaifeng that very night. Fazhu was able to see through Li Shiji’s scheme in trying to lure the enemy, he personally led thirty thousand elite troops to help Shaoshuai.”

Hearing that, everybody’s spirit was greatly aroused, the worry extending all the way across their heart was swept clean. Lei Jiuzhi appeared to be even more pleased with himself, acting as if he already had the foresight.

“Where is Kou Zhong?” Xu Ziling asked.

Bu Tianzhi replied, “Shaoshuai built a stronghold to resist the enemy in a place called Tian Cheng Gorge. It was entirely thanks to him dragging on Li Shimin’s hundred thousand main forces that Chenliu was able to defend itself until the cloud is opened and they see the bright moon, until the Song Family’s navy and main forces arrived to lift the siege.”

Xu Ziling muttered to himself, “Tian Cheng Gorge,” twice. Shaken, he said, “It’s lucky that this kid remembered that dangerous place.”

Bu Tianzhi’s countenance darkened, he spoke in distress, “However, Shaoshuai’s loss was disastrous. Wang Shichong’s old generals coming with him from Luoyang were practically wiped out due to injuries and deaths, only Wang Xuanshu, Ba Yegang and Bing Yuanzhen are left. Yang Gong was also unfortunate to die in battle.”

Xu Ziling was sad and remained silent. War was like this, it was only a game to see whose injury was heavier! No matter who succeeded and became the king or defeated and became the bandit, the heavy price must be paid. The intense and bloody battle situation at that time could be easily imagined.

There has never been a moment when he loathed war more than now.

Knowing that the pain in Xu Ziling’s heart was hard to endure, Bu Tianzhi wanted to divide his mind, he asked, “Isn’t there a Han Xiong and his wife and child coming over as well?”

On the deck, apart from the brothers who operated the boat, there were only Lei Jiuzhi, Hou Xibai and Xu Ziling, three men. Lei Jiuzhi has been cautious in the way he handled things, he already sent people to notify Bu Tianzhi of their arrival.

Xu Ziling sighed, he spoke sincerely, “Zhi Shu [uncle]! On the boat, other than Han Xiong’s family of three, there is also Yun Bangzhu. I hope Zhi Shu would look at my face and not to bother about the past gratitude and grudges with her. She has broken off her relations with the Xiang Family, and is determined to help us deal with Xiang Yushan with all her strength.”

Hearing that, Bu Tianzhi was dumbfounded. It was quite half a day later that he smiled wryly and said, “She has fallen into such a plight today, what else is there to bother with her anymore? Jukun Bang is no more, I hope she understands this fact.”

Xu Ziling replied, “She understands it better than anybody. I am asking Zhi Shu to take a good care of her. Xibai and I and another friend must immediately rush to Pengliang. Han Xiong and his family and Yun Bangzhu will stay temporarily in Zhongli, Lei Dage will explain everything to Zhi Shu.”

Bu Tianzhi thought that he was eager to go to Pengliang to meet with Kou Zhong; he nodded and said, “Leave them to me. In my territory, no one will be able to harm even half a strand of hair on their head. Ay! Frankly speaking, I have never thought that I would have the opportunity to have the full power to manage and govern a big city like Zhongli; it was all thanks to Shaoshuai and Ziling for bestowing this.”

Xu Ziling pulled him aside and asked, “Chen Gong and Ba Fenghan, are they all right?”

Bu Tianzhi replied, “Ba Ye is naturally all right, it was he who broke the siege and went to Chenliu to report, and then he led the reinforcement troops via the southern route of the Tian Cheng Gorge to join forces with Shaoshuai. I heard Ba Ye said that the mountain stronghold was designed by Chen Gong. Don’t worry! I know Chen Gong best, he is that kind of person with good fortune; he has experienced great catastrophe many times, yet still able to escape alive from mortal danger. This time, surely he will pass it safely.”

Xu Ziling put down half of the load on his mind. Lowering his voice, he said, “Zhi Shu, I wonder if you could do me another favor: please come into the room and personally ask her to come out, give her enough face, because I don’t want her to come with me to Pengliang.”

Bu Tianzhi smiled and said, “How can a real man lack the aspiration on this? Very well! I’ll go in and talk to her, and then send her into the city.” Finished speaking, he walked over toward the cabin door, Lei Jiuzhi discreetly showed him the way.

Hou Xibai moved to Xu Ziling’s side. The latter was staring blankly at the City of Zhongli, standing proudly on the northern bank of the Huai River, looking pensive.

Hou Xibai asked in surprise, “What is Ziling thinking? On Ji Qian’s aspect, no need to be worried, because Xiaodi is one of the people she admires the most.”

Xu Ziling replied indifferently, “I am not thinking about Ji Qian, but the outcome of Song Que plus Kou Zhong. Furthermore, I know that the Li Tang’s defeat is pressing in on their eyelashes.”

At a loss, Hou Xibai asked, “Why is Ziling so sure? The Li Clan has Guanzhong to protect them. The cities of Chang’an, Luoyang, are solid, they have the convenience of the Great River, advancing they can attack, retreating they can defend, they are occupying the best location. Furthermore, there is Li Shimin, the commander-in-chief most adept in defense in the world. Even Kou Zhong plus Song Que, I am afraid it will still be difficult to capture either of the two cities in a short period of time.”

Xu Ziling sighed in low voice and said, “Kou Zhong practically does not need to attack Luoyang at all; rather, he will directly enter the Pass to attack Chang’an. Even if the defending general is Li Shimin, if he can hold out for three days, it is already extremely remarkable.”

Hou Xibai was shaken. Suppressing his voice as much as possible, he said, “The Duke Yang’s Treasure, right?”

Smiling bitterly, Xu Ziling said, “I wonder if Feixuan is going to betray me?”

Stunned, Hou Xibai said, “How could Feixuan betray you? Even if she wants to betray you, what does it have to do with the Duke Yang’s Treasure?”

Xu Ziling shook his head without saying a word, he only revealed another smile brimming with pain.

For the sake of Li Shimin’s survival, would Shi Feixuan reveal the secrets of the Duke Yang’s Treasure? Under normal circumstances, naturally she could not possibly do that, furthermore, she would disdain to do this kind of thing, but as Shi Zhixuan said, Shi Feixuan, or her master Fan Qinghui, had no other choice.

In the open space next to the commander tent, Kou Zhong, Ba Fenghan, Ma Chang, Bai Wenyuan, Bing Yuanzhen, Chen Laomou, Wang Xuanshu, Xiao He’er and Ba Yegang sat around the bonfire, enjoying the meals their men prepared for them. There was a great feeling of after going through disaster, remaining alive.

They did not need to worry about safety at all, because Song Que’s main forces’ camp was spread out in four sides, eight directions – in formation and protected them at the core. The number of Shao Shuai Army who were able to leave Tian Cheng Gorge alive were only 3,250 men, and they were all more or less injured. After rushing along for half a day, everybody was unbearably weary and extremely in need of rest.

Xiao He’er did not stop talking in Wang Xuanshu’s ear, but Wang Xuanshu looked a bit awkward, yet he had no choice but to listen attentively. Everyone tactfully pretended to deliberately ignore them, to hear but not react [idiom].

The only one who was not tactful was Chen Laomou. He let out his weird laugher toward Wang Xuanshu and said, “When Xiao He’er changes back into women’s clothes, she must be a very pretty little miss. Did Laofu guess right?”

Immediately Wang Xuanshu blushed to the root of his ears; clearing his throat, he said, “I have not seen it.”

Obviously, Xiao He’er’s face was much thicker than Wang Xuanshu’s. Glowering at Chen Laomou, she leaned over to whisper something at Wang Xuanshu’s ear, which made Wang Xuanshu even more embarrassed.

Chen Laomou still refused to let them get away, he laughed aloud and said, “I heard what Xiao He’er said.”

Xiao He’er was not fooled by him, she said with a big smile, “Chen Gong is inventing crazy nonsense, I don’t believe you can hear it.”

Chen Laomou proudly said, “This pair of ears of mine is well-known in the world as supranatural ears [lit. ears that follow the wind]. Just now you said to Xuanshu Gongzi how about nujia [your servant (humble self-reference by young female)] find a day to wear women’s clothes and let Gongzi see it?”

When speaking the last sentence, he imitated Xiao He’er’s little girl’s demeanor and intonation in an exaggerated manner, which immediately provoked a roar of laughter filling the campsite.

Blurted out laughing, Ba Fenghan said, “It is indeed a crazy nonsense.” When he said that, everybody knew was Ba Fenghan was the one who actually heard what Xiao He’er said in Wang Xuanshu’s ear.”

Greatly delighted, Chen Laomou said, “What did she say? Quickly come to my ear and report it.”

Xiao He’er did not want to let him off easily, she said, “Ba Dage is not a good person.”

Ba Fenghan smiled and said, “No one has ever regarded me as a good person, furthermore, I don’t want to be a good person. However, I’ll make an exception in this matter this time, I’ll keep your secrets tightly for you, little miss.”

Kou Zhong’s heart surged with warmth. The Ba Fenghan that he met for the first time, compared with the Ba Fenghan in front of him, it was like two completely different persons. The former was vicious and merciless, cold-hearted, did not give a damn to anybody. The latter was a good brother who would risk his life for a friend.

Wang Xuanshu’s face turned even redder. Acting bashful, Xiao He’er cast Ba Fenghan a glance, she also showed a blissful expression, her manner was naïve and cute.

With old age came wisdom, Chen Laomou laughed aloud and said, “I guessed it! Just by looking at Xuanshu’s expression, I know that not only he has seen it, he even ... Hey! No need to say it! Laofu also made an exception to keep your secrets.”

Wang Xuanshu couldn’t hold his own, he begged, “Chen Gong, please spare me!”

Ba Fenghan suddenly said, “Gentlemen, I want to part with you for a period of time. By the time we attack Luoyang, I will fight side by side with you.”

Everybody was stunned, only Kou Zhong acted as if he already knew it beforehand. He nodded and said, “Are you going back beyond the Great Wall? In that case, how are you going to come back in time?”

Shaking his head, Ba Fenghan said, “I am staying in the Central Plains for a while to pay off some old debts. If Ziling has some unexpected misfortune, I will open wide the monastic discipline against killing even more.”

Kou Zhong laughed and said, “I am sure Ziling is all right, otherwise, he will definitely come to me to vent his grievances.”

Xiao He’er shuddered, she was obviously thinking that after death, people might become ghosts.

Relying on his age, Chen Laomou showed off his seniority, he said with a frown, “What debt does Xiao Ba owe? You are not the kind of person who loves to bet a couple of hands.”

Ba Fenghan replied indifferently, “What I owe is a debt of gratitude.”

Kou Zhong was at a loss, “Debt of gratitude?” he asked.

Ba Fenghan rose up to his full height, his pair of eyes emitted complicated, hard to understand expression; he said, “It is most difficult to live up to a beauty’s grace, Xuanshu Gongzi must remember this. Xiao Guniang has a pair of rarely seen long legs, when you dress up, you will be very touching.”

Everybody knew that once he said he would leave, he would immediately leave, they promptly stood up.

Kou Zhong reached out to grab Ba Fenghan’s thick and solid arm, he said, “You guys continue chatting, I am going to send Lao Ba off on your behalf.”

Finished speaking, he let go his hold, and walked out the camp side by side with Ba Fenghan. When they passed the Song Family Army’s camp, none of the Song Family soldiers did not salute respectfully, showing their lofty admiration and respect toward the two men.

Reaching a mountaintop nearby the camp, Kou Zhong smiled and said, “I am not going to attack Luoyang. Laoge, the day you hear that I capture Hanzhong, you must immediately rush over to meet with us, otherwise, you will miss the splendid city battle inside Chang’an.”

Ba Fenghan halted his steps in surprise, he said, “Unexpectedly you are planning on attacking Chang’an directly? What makes you have such guts?”

The divine light in Kou Zhong’s pair of eyes flashing, he spoke heavily, “The answer is Duke Yang’s Treasure. You should know that when Yang Su built the treasure-house in the past, his objective was, in time of emergency, to topple the Great Sui. Now that the Li Tang is in power, its function has not changed. Not only the storehouse had large quantities of weapon, there is also a network of tunnels that runs through the inside and outside of the city. To me, Chang’an is like an undefended city, while Li Yuan is still in his dragon bed building with those Yin De Fei, Zhang Jieyu, looking for good dreams, our men would have occupied all the important strongholds in the city, and opened all the city gates. This battle I have ten out of ten confidence, undoubtedly we will win.”

Emotionally moved, Ba Fenghan asked, “Does Song Que know about this?”

Kou Zhong said, “Many people, miscellaneous ears, I haven’t had the chance to make a report to him, the Senior.”

Ba Fenghan said, “Apart from Xu Ziling, who else knows the secrets of the Duke Yang’s Treasure?”

Scratching his head, Kou Zhong said, “They all the Shuanglong Bang brothers who have followed me for many years and will never betray me. However, Wanwan has been to the treasure-house, but I am confident that she will not betray me.”

Ba Fenghan’s eyebrows deeply knitted, he said, “You actually trust Wanwan?”

Forcefully slapping his shoulder, Kou Zhong said, “Of course I trust her. Because she grew real feeling toward Ziling, harming me will be the same as harming Ziling. Besides, she no longer cares about the demonic school’s affairs. What good is it to set herself against me?”

Ba Fenghan laughed and said, “If somebody blocked the tunnel, you can retreat back to Hanzhong, and then hunt and kill Wanwan to the ends of the earth.”

Kou Zhong shook his head and said, “Such a situation will never happen, but Laoge has not told me, what debt of gratitude you need to pay.”

Ba Fenghan spoke lightly, “I want to kill Bian Bufu. This is something that I promised Wanjing.”

Stunned, Kou Zhong said, “Princess Dongming? She already married down Shang Ming, that petty-minded muddled-egg. His Niang’s! A flower stuck onto the cow dung.”

Patting his shoulder, Ba Fenghan said, “Less speaking long-winded words. In this world, out of ten things, eight or nine are not according to people’s wishes. We have less things that are not according to our wishes, at least we are still alive. Brother, take a good care of yourself.” Finished speaking, he calmly left.

Staring blankly, Kou Zhong looked at Ba Fenghan’s back, going farther and farther away, Song Yuzhi’s jade countenance appeared in his heart. An intense impulse also welled up in his heart; turning around, he flew in the direction of Song Que’s tent.

The boat passed through the Liangdu Pass, it gained two naval escorts from the Shao Shuai Army’s battleships, one in front and the other behind.

The Shao Shuai Army was able to defend Chenliu, therefore, the canal from here to Jiangdu was completely under Shao Shuai Army’s control. Ships without any approval would not be able to pass.

Xu Ziling could imagine that with the newly-built navy ships developed by the Shao Shuai Army, combined with the Song Family’s huge navy, who have been through the wind and the waves of the rivers and seas, Kou Zhong’s power would spread like a cobweb along the canal, the Huai River and the Great River, to the south of Luoyang, occupying every strategic military town. When the overall deployment was completed, to those who refuse to surrender, the only destiny remained for them was to wait to be slaughtered.

He was lying on the cabin bed, but his thoughts were surging in his mind, so that he was unable to calm down.

Song Que already came out to help Kou Zhong to contend for hegemony over the world, Kou Zhong also, because Dou Jiande was executed, Yang Gong and the officers and soldiers who followed him loyally died in battle – has tied unresolvable blood enmity with the Li Tang. The battle of Kou Zhong attacking into Guanzhong would be inevitable.

Also, only if Kou Zhong became the emperor would the demonic school and the Xiang Family’s evil forces be completely eradicated, and the Tujue Wolf Army, who had been waiting like tiger watching its prey – would be beaten back at the same time.

This was inevitable development that no one, Xu Ziling included, could reverse. Under such circumstances, would Feixuan abandon Li Shimin and therefore support Kou Zhong?

Ay! It should be impossible. But what else could Feixuan do? Would she tell Li Shimin about the secret of the Duke Yang’s Treasure? Thinking about these problems that perplexed him, Xu Ziling’s slept completely left him. Putting on his outer robe, he went up the deck.

Yin Xianhe’s distinct tall and thin figure appeared at the stern of the boat.

Xu Ziling sighed secretly, walking up to his side, he said, “Yin Xiong can’t sleep?”

Yin Xianhe dejectedly replied, “I just had a nightmare, so I came here to have the wind blows it, hoping to get rid of the demons in my heart.”

“Were you dreaming about your esteemed sister?” Xu Ziling asked.

Yin Xianhe nodded and said, “It was a very ominous dream. Xu Xiong, please forgive me, I don’t want to talk about it.”

Consoling him, Xu Ziling said, “It is said that things in dreams are often contrary to reality. For example, seeing a son going into battle in a glamorous suit and with smile across his whole face in a dream is a great ill omen that the son will die in battle. Kou Zhong also often has nightmare about being surrounded and annihilated by the enemy and that he was powerless to fight, yet until today he is still alive and well.”

Shaken, Yin Xianhe looked at him, he spoke heavily, “Xu Xiong is not comforting me! After my lost sister was captured, I have never had any good dream. Even when I dreamt of the beautiful scene of her and me relying on each other for survival, when I woke up from the dream, I simply entered another nightmare.”

Xu Ziling grieved inwardly, he became even more determined to help this good friend to find his younger sister; he said, “Naturally I won’t talk nonsense in this kind of thing. I still have some kind of feeling that Yin Xiong will be able to reunite with your esteemed sister.”

Yin Xianhe cast his gaze back toward the river. He was silent for half a day, and then he said, “I wonder if there is really a destiny?”

Xu Ziling smiled ruefully and said, “That is probably a question that no one can answer for sure. When a person is young, he believes nothing but himself, thinking that he can change everything, that his destiny is created by his own pair of hands. When the experience grows, the more he will feel the helplessness of planning is on man, but accomplishing it is on Heaven! Therefore, the only way for us is, no matter how bad and desperate the environment is, we must maintain an optimistic and positive attitude, and strive to the last moment. Even if Ji Qian can’t help us find your little sister, we must find another way.”

Hou Xibai’s voice came from behind, “For example, we could offer a large sum of money as a reward, we look for someone who can eat in all directions, someone with head and face to make plans and decide on schemes for us. It’s just that during this kind of time, someone like that is not easy to find at all.”

Xu Ziling suggested, “Why not use Yin Xianhe’s name to offer a thousand taels of gold as a reward to find Yin Xiaoji. Since under the Xiang Family’s tyrannical abuse her little sister was still resolute to keep her original name, she can’t possibly change her surname and given name to this moment.”

Immediately Yin Xianhe’s pair of eyes lit up, he said, “Why I never thought of such a simple method? Ay! But this method is easy to grasp but difficult to put into practice. Unless it is the emperor who can give orders to the world, who could possibly put a public announcement all over the country to look for a person?”

Xu Ziling cheerfully said, “Then it depends on Kou Zhong’s ability. We will first put a public announcement in all his territory to look for a person. Every time he occupies a place, the first thing we do is to put a public announcement to look for a person. A thousand taels of gold is not a small amount, this matter will certainly spread all over the world. As long as your esteemed sister knows that Yin Xiong is still alive, she will definitely come to look for Yin Xiong.”

Hou Xibai joined in, “Maybe you can even save the thousand taels of gold.”

Hearing that, Yin Xianhe’s spirit was greatly aroused, he asked, “In that case, do we still have to go to Chang’an?”

Xu Ziling replied, “We want the information to spread across the whole nation, that is not something that can be done in ten or eight days. We need to paint holding two brushes [idiom: to attack one problem from two angles at the same time].”

Hou Xibai nodded and said, “Offering a reward is really not guaranteed [orig. ten picks, nine steady]. If your esteemed sister lives in village or a small town, I am afraid it won’t be easy to receive news.”

Apprehension grew in his heart, Yin Xianhe said, “But if she lives in Liangdu, Chenliu, that kind of big cities, when she receives the news she immediately rushes over to Chenliu, but she cannot see me, wouldn’t it be ...”

Hou Xibai laughed heartily and said, “Yin Xiong, this is called you are confused due to anxiety. If your esteemed sister is coming to Chenliu, surely someone will make good arrangement for her. From Chenliu to Chang’an, roundtrip, relying on our feet, we can accomplish everything within half a month.”

Yin Xianhe reached out to grab the two men’s arms, he spoke in low voice, “I am really grateful to you. As long as my lost sister is still in the world of the living, I am sure there will come a day where I will meet her again.”