Chapter 319: Legend

In the latter part of the third month of the twelfth year of Chongzhen, at Shunxiang Fort, Fushan

The majestic courtyard of the Baozhong Shrine was bathed in warm sunlight, and the plaque personally bestowed by Lu Xiangsheng shone especially bright under the sun's rays.

Several days after the grand official memorial ceremony, the atmosphere of mourning still seemed to linger; now, whether in the front hall or the rear courtyard, incense smoke curled everywhere, and a steady stream of soldiers and civilians came to offer incense and pay their respects.

On the rear mountain behind the Baozhong Shrine, on that sunny slope among the dense cluster of graves, a woman was offering incense at one of the burial mounds. Before the graves beside her, there were likewise crowds of people offering incense, with green smoke occasionally rising along with burning paper money.

"My dear, the General said your spirit tablet has already been invited into the shrine. From now on, you will become an immortal."

"You need not worry about matters at home. The reward for your killing of the enemy has already come down, several dozen taels of silver. The General has also granted our family three years of tax exemption on our fields. Every spring during the busy farming season, the fort's plowing teams and mutual aid societies will help our family, and there is a monthly pension of grain. You need not worry about how your son and I will live..."

The woman murmured to her husband's grave for a long time, then called over her son at her side: "Bao'er, kowtow to your father."

Her son, a sturdy boy of about eight or nine, upon hearing his mother's call, knelt down and heavily kowtowed several times with resounding thuds. Raising his head, his small face was full of solemnity, and he said loudly, "Dad, don't worry. Bao'er understands things now. Bao'er will take good care of Mother. When I grow up, I will follow your example, join the army, and kill the Tatars."

Looking at her son, a gratified expression appeared on the woman's face. Before, her son had been naughty and immature, unwilling even to attend the school within the fort, spending all day sneaking off to the mountains to play. Ever since the news of his father's death in battle came back, he had matured greatly overnight. Now, before his father's grave, he even spoke of taking good care of his mother.

After offering incense, the woman and her son returned to the Baozhong Shrine. It was a vast architectural complex, with three inner gates and three outer gates. Within the various halls and shrines were enshrined the spirit tablets of the fallen officers and soldiers of the Shunxiang Army, along with exhibition halls for their relics. Officers of Squad Commander rank and above also had separate courtyards for their enshrinement.

In this main hall were enshrined the spirit tablets of the soldiers and officers of the Shunxiang Army's Second Division. The densely packed spirit tablets on the hall presented a tremendous impact and shock. With incense smoke swirling before the hall and the tablets appearing and disappearing within it, coupled with the gentle chanting of the spirit officials nearby, everyone who came here involuntarily felt a sense of solemnity and awe.

Seeing her husband's spirit tablet among them, the woman felt both desolation and pride in her heart.

"My dear, now that you have become an immortal, you must properly bless your Mei'er and our son..."

Like her, many widows stood before the hall, gazing just as fixedly at those spirit tablets.

"Han Zhong, let me tell you, I will take Hou'er and remain chaste for you my whole life, but don't think that just because you've run off to the heavens, you can casually go flirt with those fairy maidens. You can't even take a single glance. In heaven and on earth, you are only allowed to have me, one woman..."

Within this pavilion was enshrined the spirit tablet of Han Zhong. His portrait stood high on the rear wall, wearing a helmet and armor, hand on his sword, his expression extremely majestic.

The one speaking to him, however, was his widow, Young Lady Li. Dressed entirely in white mourning clothes, her figure appeared even more delicate, but the words she spoke were completely at odds with her image.

Beside her stood her son, Han Hou, and her sister-in-law, Lady Zheng, the wife of Han Chao, who had accompanied them.

Hearing Young Lady Li's words, Lady Zheng could not help but wipe away a tear. She knew her sister-in-law was outwardly gentle but inwardly strong, and once she made up her mind, she would not change it. But she was only eighteen this year; how would she get through the long years ahead?

She supported Young Lady Li and said softly, "Sister, let us go back."

Young Lady Li's tears finally streamed down uncontrollably. Forcing herself to hold back, she said to her son beside her, "Hou'er, come and pay your respects to your father."

Han Hou was not yet two years old this year, barely able to walk, and could only utter a few indistinct monosyllables. His dark, sparkling eyes kept looking at the portrait above. In his little heart, he kept feeling that the person in the portrait looked somewhat familiar.

Hearing his mother's words, he jumped up in surprise and delight, pointing at the portrait and saying in a babyish voice, "Daddy, it's Daddy..."

"My poor, ill-fated son."

Young Lady Li clutched Han Hou to her bosom, weeping uncontrollably.

Lady Zheng stood by, offering gentle comfort.

As they exited the pavilion, the soldiers and civilians gathered outside respectfully parted to make way, bowing deeply to the two women.

Young Lady Li returned the salutes one by one. As they went out the door, dense crowds of commoners surged in, vying to offer incense and kneel before Han Zhong's spirit tablet.

A voice rang out: "Son, quickly come and offer incense to General Mingwei. The General's spirit in heaven will surely bless you with smooth sailing and ward off ghosts and spirits..."

Young Lady Li, carrying her son, and Lady Zheng left the Baozhong Shrine. Not far from the shrine was the Righteous People's Temple, which also had extremely vigorous incense offerings. Since Wang Niu established the two shrines at the foot of Fushan in the ninth year of Chongzhen, their development up to now had made the related buildings and management very complete. Special shrine officials and sweeping personnel were assigned, and large sums of dedicated funds were allocated for management.

Many of the sweeping and ritual personnel inside were soldiers of the Shunxiang Army who had retired after being wounded or disabled. Also, the local commoners of Shunxiang Fort, before every New Year and festival, would voluntarily come to sweep and pull weeds. Every festival day was a very lively time for the two shrines; besides the official ceremonies, tens of thousands of commoners would pour in, and related drum towers, opera stages, and the like before the shrines sprang up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

At the entrance of the Baozhong Shrine, Young Lady Li and the others encountered Lady Liu, the widow of the deceased General Wude, Yang Tong. Lady Liu and her husband Yang Tong were old-timers who had followed the State-Stabilizing General at a fire beacon tower back in the day, deeply valued by the General. After Yang Tong died for the country, upon returning to Bao'an Prefecture, the General, accompanied by his titled wife, Lady Xie, had visited their home to offer condolences.

Lady Liu's temperament was relatively gentle, not as shrewish as Tao Shi, the wife of Qi Tianliang. She was already deeply grateful that the State-Stabilizing General had secured a series of honors for her husband from the imperial court. She had no other requests; she only wished to take her children and quietly remain chaste for her husband.

"That husband of mine was a good-for-nothing before, but after following the General, he became much more accomplished. He killed the enemy and died for the country, the court bestowed upon him the title of General Wude, built a shrine temple for him, granted titles to his wife and son. I, your sister-in-law, have no more requests. I only wish to follow behind the Titled Lady and do more good deeds."

Lady Liu's expression was very calm. She spoke with Young Lady Li and Lady Zheng, saying that after offering incense to her husband, she planned to go to the refugee camp at Zhangjia Fort tomorrow to take a look.

Wang Dou had rescued two hundred thousand commoners and temporarily settled them in places like Zhangjia Fort, Shunxiang Fort, Wubao, and Fanshan. Those commoners were under military administration; besides the daily food distributed within the camp, many local commoners of Bao'an Prefecture also spontaneously came in an endless stream to visit and inquire.

Happiness lies in comparison. Seeing the rescued refugees and the miserable lives of the refugees flooding into various parts of Bao'an Prefecture every day,

the soldiers and civilians throughout Bao'an Prefecture came to realize how hard-won their current lives were. Therefore, as soon as their superiors issued a call, they would go in groups to visit.

When they went, they would bring the best food from their homes as much as possible, just wanting to see the expressions of profound gratitude and extreme envy on those refugees' faces.

After the group exchanged a few words, Young Lady Li said, "Sister-in-law, tomorrow I will go with you as well."

Lady Zheng was quite astute. Hearing that the Titled Lady would also be going tomorrow, she said, "Then it's settled. Tomorrow, I shall accompany you as well."

"But if the Flying General of Dragon City were here, he would not let the nomad horses cross the Yin Mountains."

"Brother Gongfu, as I have traveled here, the commoners in places like Huailai and Yanqing, upon hearing that Wang Dou is about to garrison the Eastern Route, are all rejoicing, saying that in the future they will no longer suffer the pain of raids by the eastern slaves and northern barbarians."

After a long, heroic-sounding recitation, that spirited voice rang out again: "Bravery surpassing the entire army, beheading several thousand levels of slave bandits, this Wang Dou has such a great reputation. Traveling from Luzhou, all the way north through Zhending and Baoding, the name of Wang Dou is being spread everywhere. The closer to Xuanzhen, the greater his fame. I can no longer wait to behold the true face of that State-Stabilizing General."

It was the morning of the second day, in the sunny third month of spring, when beautiful women shine like flowers in the season, and boats are laden with silk, finery, flowers, and wine—truly the finest time of the year. On the road from Bao'an Guard City to Bao'an Prefecture City, two mules were slowly ambling side-by-side along the path.

The riders were two middle-aged men dressed as scholars. One was around thirty-seven or thirty-eight, wearing a green robe, tall and thin, with a pale, beardless face, yet his eyes were extremely spirited. Sitting on his mount, he was like an upright green pine.

The other man was of medium build, with a round, fair face and a short beard under his chin, about thirty-five or thirty-six years old. Also dressed in a scholar's robe, his bearing was spirited and animated as he looked around. He did not carry the folding fan popular among scholars of the time, but instead wore a sharp sword at his waist; from his attire alone, one could tell he was a man of heroic and tragic spirit.

He spoke with a Luzhou accent. Hearing his words, the middle-aged scholar beside him, addressed as "Brother Gongfu," smiled slightly and said, "The State-Stabilizing General's might shakes the north and south; even the slave chieftains dare not do battle with him. Such a hero, I too am eager to meet!"

He spoke with a Nanyang accent and was actually a minor local official there, surnamed Qin, given name Yi, courtesy name Gongfu. He had been forced to resign after offending his superior, and later his elderly father, wife, and son all died of illness. With no more attachments, Qin Yi sold his family property to travel the realm, observing the chaotic times with deep concern.

When he traveled to Changping, he had already heard the great name of Wang Dou. A thought stirred in his mind, and he headed toward Bao'an Prefecture in Xuanfu Garrison.

The round-faced scholar beside him was surnamed Ye, given name Xizhi, courtesy name Shaobai, and was a local gentry of Luzhou.

Ye Xizhi came from a well-to-do family since childhood and had studied at the Luzhou Academy. Although he passed the examination to become a Licentiate, he disdained scholarly honors and official rank. He was generous and chivalrous by nature, often striking his sword and singing loudly, and had a wide circle of acquaintances, associating with many famous scholars. He once said, "In these chaotic times, seeking office and wealth is like clay chickens and pottery dogs."

Thus he dispersed his family wealth and traveled across Shenzhou. When he reached Huailai, he happened to meet Qin Yi.

The two hit it off immediately, found a mutual appreciation, became bosom friends, and traveled together.

With a resonant clang like a dragon's cry, Ye Xizhi drew his own sword. Flicking the blade with his finger, he chanted: "Have you not seen, Han Zhongjun, who in his youth sought the long tassel to bind the foe? Have you not seen, Ban Dingyuan, who spurred war clouds with light cavalry in the farthest frontiers! A true man should value perilous journeys; how can he let the scholar's cap ruin this life?"

He laughed heartily: "The State-Stabilizing General is unparalleled in military command, a heaven-sent genius, and thus has never lost a battle against the slave cavalry. Yet I wonder if he is also skilled in literary strategy. This poem 'Han Zhongjun,' I hear, was recited by him at the Military Defense Circuit when he was a Garrison Commander. With that one poem, he won the heart of the young lady of the residence, becoming a much-told tale for a time."

"Beauties love heroes; it has been so since ancient times."

Qin Yi also smiled: "Young Lady Ji, disregarding worldly views and resolutely eloping, is also a remarkable woman."

Such is the way when one becomes famous: tea houses and taverns everywhere, besides wildly exaggerating Wang Dou's various battles, also relish discussing his private life. Somehow, the incident of Wang Dou at the Military Defense Circuit back then became known in every street and alley. Although opinions on the matter varied, it could not stop people's keen interest.

After gossiping for a while, Ye Xizhi flicked his sword and said loudly, "General Wang's skill in warfare goes without saying, yet since ancient times, a good general needs strategists. From the various rumors, I observe that the State-Stabilizing General's ambitions are not small. Brother Gongfu, now is the perfect opportunity. Let us both offer our services under the General's banner to assist him in stabilizing this chaotic world, and we can just put the knowledge in our hearts to use."

Qin Zan smiled slightly: "Your foolish brother, however, will quietly observe and see what kind of breadth and spirit that General Dingguo possesses before making any plans."