Chapter 321

On the first afternoon back in Liucheng, in broad daylight, after changing into clean clothes, Qiuliju had a dream.

In the dream, this Wuhuan Chanyu who had roamed Liaoxi for decades actually dreamed that he had caught up with Gongsun Xun a few days ago — right at that shallow ford by the riverbank, where together with Guini he had surrounded Gongsun Xun. But when he led countless Wuhuan white-clad cavalry to kneel and beg the other party to come to Liucheng as a guest, the other party, without a word, directly slit his own throat and died.

And then, he and Tadun fled back to Liucheng in the same dazed, soul-lost manner as this retreat, only to be met with a siege the moment they returned!

Governor Zhao of Liaodong, Lady Gongsun, Han Dang and Lou Gui from Lulong Pass, Mo Hukou and Cheng Pu from the Yuyang and Chengde direction, and even Kebineng and Yan Rou from the western grasslands — all of them had pounced at once... Countless troops surrounded Liucheng so tightly not a drop of water could pass through. While slaughtering the Wuhuan soldiers camped outside the city walls, they also denounced him for his blazing ambition, saying his virtue did not match his position.

In the end, Tadun was killed, and Louban and himself were stuffed into a cloth sack and thrown onto the road outside the city. Immediately after, Zhao Bao gave the order for ten thousand Han cavalry to trample father and son into minced flesh...

"Is it still raining outside?"

Watching his son Louban adjusting a bowstring under the corridor outside the door, Qiuliju, startled awake from his dream, paused for a long while before coming back to his senses.

"Not as heavy anymore." Louban had no idea what his father had dreamed during that brief nap behind him. "But it's still drizzling on and off."

"That's good." Qiuliju gave a faint, wry smile. "It means the Liaohe and Dalinghe won't be passable for large armies in the short term..."

"Probably so," Louban answered casually. "Just don't know if there are any boats on the Liaohe. Haven't they said there are more and more boats on the Liaohe these years? Brother Tadun was just talking about that, so he sent the Walou tribe to guard the eastern valley mouth as a precaution. But the Walou tribe's headman found it too hard and kicked up a fuss at the city gate, saying that unless Su Puyan of Liaodong was completely wiped out, Zhao Bao absolutely couldn't get through or something like that... In the end, Brother Tadun killed him, gave his followers to the Heqi tribe, and sent the Heqi tribe instead."

"Tadun was right to kill him." Having seen such things often along the way, Qiuliju took it in stride. Yet as Louban narrated, his heart stirred slightly, and he recalled another matter. "Louban, I remember there's a ferry crossing on the Dalinghe behind Liucheng. There should be boats there, right?"

"Yes!" Louban turned his head and answered. "Not many — seven or eight small boats... Do you have orders, Father?"

"Are you tired?" Qiuliju stroked his beard, now somewhat streaked with gray, and asked with a smile.

"Not tired!" Louban, not yet of age, immediately threw down the bowstring and stood up excitedly. "Please give your orders, Father!"

"Much stronger than old bones like me." Qiuliju looked at his son, shook his head with a wry smile, but then his expression immediately turned solemn. "Your brother and I both cannot get away... There is a matter of immense importance that I can only entrust to you... Go now. Take a squad of men, cross the river by boat, and head west to find Kebineng. When you get there, explain clearly what happened before. Then tell him: if he still dreams of being a second Tanshihuai, he should bring his troops immediately. Once the sky clears, he advances from the outer side of the Dalinghe, and I advance from the inner side. We must capture Zhao Bao! At the very least, we must bite off Yangle, so that the eastern side of Liaoxi has room to defend."

"It's raining, the ground is so wet — Kebineng won't be able to come, will he?" Louban asked, puzzled.

"You fool." Qiuliju, seated in the hall, said with exasperation. "Even the most ignorant herdsman in Liaoxi knows that although the two places are very close, the climate on those grasslands is completely different from ours! If it's raining here, how could it possibly be raining on the grasslands too?"

Louban immediately understood and turned at once to leave.

"Come back." Qiuliju suddenly called out to him again. "Remember this... If Kebineng is worried about Yan Rou and Mo Hukou, tell him that whether it's Yan Rou or Mo Hukou, they are both mixed Hu-Han types. Toward the Hu, they use the Han to bolster their own importance; toward the Han, they use the Hu to bolster their own importance. They won't truly strike him a fatal blow. For the survival of both our clans, he must come to our aid... Striking back at Zhao Bao's route before the river waters recede is now our last chance at victory. Also, I once fought side by side with this Governor Zhao. I know he only has a great reputation, but in truth he has little military acumen to speak of."

Louban turned back, kowtowed, and departed.

As for Qiuliju, he fell into a daze once more... For no reason at all, this Wuhuan Chanyu suddenly recalled that strange dream of his, and the bizarre way he had died in it.

Yet before he could think further, a wave of inexplicable exhaustion surged over him. Seeing the sky outside the hall gradually darken and with no one coming to disturb him, Qiuliju rose and turned toward the rear courtyard, preparing to get a good sleep... The truth was, at Louban's current age, he could not be entrusted with the people at all. It seemed he would still have to entrust the entire Liaoxi Wuhuan tribe to Tadun to be secure — but he must leave Louban enough strength to protect himself... This was Qiuliju's last thought before falling asleep.

"It's almost dark." Over a hundred li away, in a military camp on the outer side of the Dalinghe, Xi Zhong gazed at a pile of wooden tablets stacked before him, yet for a long time made no move. "I wonder if the Lord has already reached Liucheng. Will he launch a night raid, or wait for a surprise attack at dawn tomorrow?"

"It doesn't matter either way." Lou Gui answered with a wry smile. "As I've said, this battle is certain victory... because there is simply no way to lose. And besides, if even a clever man like you finds it somewhat unbelievable that the Lord would trail the enemy's rear and rush toward Liucheng, how much more so Qiuliju?"

"What kind of clever man am I?" Xi Zhong said dejectedly. "Although the Lord used words to bind me, making me value my life and preserve myself, that earlier brush with danger — no matter how I think about it, it was my fault, wasn't it?"

"It was the Lord's own fault." Lou Gui suddenly lowered his head and spoke in a deep voice. "At the very least, that is what the Lord himself thinks, and what he himself says. It began back in Luoyang... All his actions in Luoyang, that bitter battle in Guanzhong — yet by twists of fate, constrained by circumstances, he gained nothing... Not only did he fail to secure the governorship of Jizhou, but Jia Wenhe, whom he had his eye on, also refused to bow his head. More importantly, the overall situation seems to have only worsened. Luoyang remains the same as ever, while Youzhou has gained two more shackles... He was already full of pent-up rage when he first returned. With fury attacking his heart, forcibly suppressed but hard to control, sooner or later something was bound to happen. It's just that neither I nor Ziheng imagined he would be so tangled up over such matters to this degree, and that it would lead to such a perilous situation."

"Then this time..."

"In truth, is the situation this time really so dire?" Lou Gui shook his head again and sighed. "Youzhou is still ours, and half of Jizhou remains in our hands. As for seizing the realm — who hasn't endured seven hardships and eight miseries, building their achievements drop by drop? In this campaign to quell the rebellion, once we destroy the Wuhuan, could Liaoxi still produce further trouble? Turn around and deal with Liu Yu — what can he ultimately do? Shift southward and sweep through Hebei — would Lord Zhao of Liaodong truly turn against us and become an enemy?"

"True." Xi Zhong pondered for a long time before speaking slowly. "That is precisely the principle... As long as the Lord steadies his heart, pays no heed to the marginal details, and forges resolutely ahead, the greater momentum remains with us."

"Isn't he already forging resolutely ahead?" Lou Gui suddenly laughed again. "So I say, this rain is truly a gift from Heaven to the Lord... As for you, Zhicai, rather than dwell on these things, you'd do better to think about how to repay your gambling debt to me."

Xi Zhong was silent for a moment, then abruptly pushed over the pile of tablets in front of him.

Over a hundred li away, in a rather broad valley a little over ten li south of Liucheng, the rain was still drifting down in a steady drizzle. Amid the occasional mournful whinny of warhorses, Gongsun Xun, fully armored, leaned his back against a large tree, waiting for the sky to turn completely dark.

"Would the Lord like to close his eyes and sleep for a while first?" Han Dang, also leaning against the large tree, watched for a long time and finally could not help but ask. "The Lord has toiled for days on end and must be utterly exhausted..."

"As long as the Wuhuan are more tired than we are, that's enough." Gongsun Xun looked up at the tree canopy above, its leaves still bursting with green, utterly unconcerned.

"I meant that ever since Guanzhong, the Lord has been wound tight for days on end and has not had a proper rest for a long time — not the hardship of forced marching," Han Dang said carefully after a moment of deliberation.

"Yigong is right. A weary heart is far more taxing than a weary body." Gongsun Xun turned his head and gave a wry smile. "Thinking of gains, thinking of losses; pondering advance, pondering retreat. Sometimes selfish thoughts and distractions, sometimes moral duty and benevolent resolve, sometimes a spirit of compromise, sometimes soaring ambition. Not to mention having to be a father, a husband, a son, a subject, a lord... One person's body, burdened with so many roles and thoughts, tangled together — there is simply not a moment's peace. So it is said: if one wishes to accomplish things, one must always cast aside distractions and devote oneself single-mindedly."

Han Dang murmured assent, not daring to say more, and immediately reverted to his usual dull, wooden expression.

"My Lord!" Zhao Yun suddenly called out softly from afar. "Black Otter has returned..."

"How is it?" Gongsun Xun immediately rose. Beside him, Han Dang and Gao Shun, along with Wei Yue, Yang Kai, Tian Yu, Wen Ze, Jiao Chu, and others, also promptly grasped their swords and stood.

"Greetings, my Lord!" In just two or three days, Black Otter had already learned the new form of address. The man came to Gongsun Xun's side, immediately knelt to report, and his tone was actually full of excitement. "Just as the Lord guessed, the Wuhuan have not the slightest precaution! Not only that, those headmen and nobles have actually abandoned their own followers and all moved into the city, leaving twenty thousand Wuhuan soldiers outside the city stuck in the mud. Tadun is leading them alone outside, but he's so exhausted he can't even set up a proper camp. I boldly walked a round through the camp — everyone there is secretly cursing Qiuliju..."

"Is the city gate tightly guarded?" Gongsun Xun could not help but interrupt him, asking the most critical question.

"There's no real guard at all!" Black Otter hurriedly answered. "Wuhuan people are going in and out everywhere looking for their headmen to ask about things... There are simply no men specifically assigned to guard the city. I reckon they might not even close the gates at night."

"Since you went into the camp, do you know Tadun's position?" Gongsun Xun inquired again.

"I can roughly remember it... But won't Tadun return to the city at night?" Qifen Black Otter hesitated for a moment.

"It would be even better if he goes back." Gongsun Xun answered coldly, then turned his head back, his hand already gripping the broken blade at his waist. "Gentlemen, when the lord is humiliated, his servants share the shame. That calamity at the Dalinghe a few days ago was truly the disgrace of my life. Since you call me Lord and bow to me as your sovereign... tonight you shall wipe away my shame! The entire army will divide into four. Gao Suqing, lead three thousand troops to breach the city as the vanguard. After entering the city, pay no heed to what is behind you — directly hunt down and kill the Wuhuan nobles within the city. Yigong, command the main force of ten thousand and the various generals to sweep through the great camp of the Wuhuan soldiers outside Liucheng. Zilong, Tian Yu, and Black Otter, take my personal guard and act independently. If Tadun is outside the city, prioritize hunting down Tadun. If he is not there, or once you succeed in hunting him down, immediately enter the city to assist Colonel Gao. As for myself, I will take two thousand troops behind you to cut off the four gates of Liucheng, ensuring we catch a turtle in a jar and wipe out the entire Liaoxi Wuhuan tribe in one battle!"

The generals accepted the order with awe, and immediately the entire valley stirred with activity in the light rain.

Near the third watch of the night, Qiuliju, sleeping on a comfortable bed, was startled awake from his dream for the second time.

This time, the content of his dream was entirely different from that afternoon — this time, it was the detailed circumstances of fighting Zhao Bao. But interestingly, the outcome was the same. In other words, Qiuliju once again dreamed that he was stuffed into a cloth sack and trampled alive under horses' hooves on Zhao Bao's orders.

And upon waking, Qiuliju was drenched in sweat, panicking and at a loss within the former residence of the Liucheng Detached Division Commandant... Once is chance, twice is surely an omen — just like when a woman in Luoyang gave birth to a two-headed child, it must signify that the realm would have two Sons of Heaven! But what was the omen of this dream?

Why? Why would it be trampled into minced flesh by horses' hooves? Why would it be Zhao Bao?

Qiuliju truly could not sleep any longer. He left the Xianbei woman beside him snoring like thunder, rose, and went to the bedside to look for hot water...

A word more here: this Xianbei woman, according to Kebineng, was a concubine of Helian, the son of Tanshihuai — a gift of considerable political value. Originally meant for Tadun, Tadun looked down on her and immediately offered her to Louban. Qiuliju, who truly doted on his son, could not bear to watch and thus took the initiative to claim her as his own woman.

In any case, amid the snoring, Qiuliju lit a candle, found the clay bottle, but then hesitated... It turned out he truly could not remember whether the cool water in this clay bottle was what remained after boiling earlier that day, or rainwater that had yet to be boiled.

Having lived in Liaoxi for so many years, Qiuliju was today thoroughly convinced by Lady Gongsun. She had said that boiled water caused less illness; if that was not possible, choose running water; next best was rainwater; and last was stagnant water... That was all well and good, but how could one normally tell the difference? Only this time, with tens of thousands of troops returning in the rain, who knew how many had directly drunk rainwater, resulting in thousands falling ill, the wailing from the camp outside the city never ceasing — only then did one appreciate Lady Gongsun's wisdom.

In other words, the water was too cold. For the sake of his health, Qiuliju suddenly dared not drink it, yet he also dared not sleep... He sat alone on the bed, momentarily lost and at a loss.

And whether it was an illusion or not, amid the patter of light rain outside the dwelling and the snoring beside him, the sound of wailing from the sick soldiers in the camp outside the city seemed to faintly reach his ears again.

Perhaps he should go out and inspect? Look at the sick in the camp?

Qiuliju hesitated for a moment, but still did not rise... He was old, it was too cold outside, and it was full of mud and filth.

There was a consensus in Changping.

Colonel Gao Shun was a man of few words, but whether in loyalty or military competence, he was utterly reliable ten thousand times over. Yet it was precisely this commander, publicly acknowledged in the army as "reliable," who now lost his focus on the battlefield, so much so that he fell into a daze.

But after the Han army rushed to the city walls, they found that Liucheng’s gates had been shut after all. Gao Suqing did not hesitate at all; he immediately ordered men to scale the walls with ropes, easily opened the gates, and then, under cover of night and rain, led his troops straight into the city. Moreover, once he confirmed that the Wuhuan nobles inside had not yet noticed, he made an immediate decision — first to seize control of the central high-platform watchtowers and main thoroughfares, and only then to clear the residences.

And yet, with the high platforms taken, the central streets and passageways under control, and even the Wuhuan main camp outside the city already alerted — with the shouts of battle already rising — how could there still be not the slightest stir within the city?

Had he gone to the wrong place?

"Kill!" Gao Shun exchanged a glance with his deputy commander Jiao Chu beside him, and finally drew the ring-pommel saber from his waist. "The Lord has ordered: leave none alive who dare resist."

In the rainy night, countless armored Han soldiers instantly drew their blades and surged forward with battle cries.

And before the bed, Qiuliju, who had just resolved to sleep a little longer, was instantly struck with great alarm.

————I am the dizzy and muddled dividing line————

"Through three nights of rain, they turned the camp and marched,

White horses frozen still, the troops made no sound.

From afar, wails rose as camp after camp was roused,

Knowing it was Suqing who had already scaled the walls." — Complete Yan Poems

(End of Chapter)