Chapter 61: Before the Battle (Part Two)

Early the next morning, just as the sky was barely beginning to brighten, everyone could faintly make out two great plumes of cooking smoke rising from positions about a dozen li apart, then easily mingling together in the air — there was no helping it, for a dozen li meant absolutely nothing to wisps of blue smoke drifting through the sky.

In truth, that distance seemed to mean just as little to the two opposing forces, which were composed almost entirely of cavalry.

And judging by this, even in flight, this Ke Zuitan was likely forced into it; Prefect Zhao's side must have been driven red-eyed by the sudden upheaval, which is why they came charging straight out like an enraged tiger.

Come to think of it, who could resign themselves to such a thing? You want to see the person alive, and if dead, you want to see the body, right?!

Because of the sudden incident the day before, Gongsun Xun did not risk following Mo Hugou into the central army tent again this time; instead, like most of the men in camp, after breakfast he began once more checking his bowstring, wiping down his blade, and inspecting his long spear... and it was only at this moment that Gongsun Xun truly felt the disparity between the Xianbei and the Great Han.

Looking around, only a few wealthy tribes were equipped with swords and blades, weapons that required a great deal of iron; the standard kit for most Xianbei consisted of a bow and a long spear — the former needing only an iron arrowhead, the latter similar, a single iron spearhead being enough to inflict lethal damage.

As for the iron armor that was nearly universal among every soldier in the Han army... Gongsun Xun seemed to have seen some only in Ke Zuitan's great tent the day before, but thinking back now, it was likely a privilege reserved for those chieftains and the personal guards most trusted by Ke Zuitan, the Central Region Chief.

So it was no wonder there was the saying that one Han soldier was worth five barbarians, and no wonder a mere two hundred Han troops warranted a Qu Commander with a rank of six hundred dan — two hundred Han soldiers were worth that price.

However, when Gongsun Xun turned his gaze to the horses that were practically everywhere in this great camp, he quickly calmed down again. Whatever the case, these Xianbei people had their own merits; otherwise, how could they have become a vast state stretching ten thousand li? And how could they have become the Great Han's most significant border threat?

Having been in contact with the Xianbei for so long, did he not understand? A single able-bodied herdsman, with a bow, a long spear, and a horse, was enough to pose a mortal threat to anyone.

And he himself was among them!

"Elder brother!" Just as he was letting his thoughts run wild, Gongsun Fan had already led two horses over.

It turned out that Mo Hugou had just returned from the war council, and the entire Xianbei great camp had begun to seethe... the various tribes were clearly already beginning to march out of camp and form ranks under the leadership of their respective chieftains.

"Mo Hugou says he secured a position in the front ranks," Gongsun Fan explained in a low voice. "We are to leave camp first."

"Nothing could be better," Gongsun Xun said somewhat distractedly as he mounted one of the horses, but then immediately dismounted again. "A'Fan, let's switch horses..."

Gongsun Fan was baffled, but still gave up the white horse he was riding.

"In the chaos of battle, blades and arrows show no favor," Gongsun Xun offered a brief explanation. "When I simply spur my horse and flee, it won't matter what I ride, but if you stay behind to hold off the enemy, a white horse in the midst of battle is far too conspicuous..."

Gongsun Fan inclined his body slightly, but at this moment he was too tense to dare say anything more.

And so, the camp gates swung wide open, and ten thousand riders slowly poured forth...

And forming ranks and facing off was not, as one might imagine, a matter of massing the army and advancing from the start, then halting at a calculated distance.

In reality, from the early morning, skirmishing riders from both sides had been probing each other at a broad location up ahead; next, small elite squads from both sides quickly darted out to intimidate the other and seize advantageous terrain; finally, the Mo Hu tribe was ordered to mass together with an elite unit of the Xianbei central army, and with a force of nearly six or seven hundred riders, they suddenly accelerated forward. Upon reaching the front line, they came face to face with a unit of nearly a thousand Wuhuan shock cavalry on the opposite side, exchanged a few volleys of arrows, calculated the distance, and then each side reined in their skirmishers and fell back several hundred meters, only then definitively establishing the ground where the two armies would clash.

But the so-called cautious probing ended there; what followed was each side's army, according to the prearranged battle formation, advancing rapidly in successive waves... tens of thousands of cavalry spread out their formations, and the dust they churned up truly blotted out the sky and shrouded the sun!

And after more than one double-hour, the two armies steadied their battle lines and stood facing each other at a distance of several hundred meters. And what neither side's commander had likely imagined was that, at this moment when the two armies stood arrayed against each other, at the very forefront of the Xianbei central army, there were five Han men concealed.

The first to come out and parley were not the Xianbei, but the Han army. A low-ranking Han army officer who understood the Xianbei tongue came riding over, shouting as he spurred his horse, and the Xianbei opened their formation to allow him straight through to the central army.

"My Prefect bids me ask you, where are his mother, his wife, and his daughter?" When this Han officer, whose attire marked him as roughly a Platoon Commander, reached the front of the central army formation, he did not bother to identify who the commanding general was, but directly reined in his warhorse and demanded an answer. "If they have already met with harm, first tell me where the bodies are buried, and after he has killed you all, he will go there himself to pay his respects; if they are still alive, hand them over now, and when the time comes he will grant you a clean death! Otherwise, after this battle, regardless of life or death, he will surely boil the one responsible and divide the flesh among the ten thousand troops to eat! You must know, before coming here, my Prefect already set up a great cauldron in camp, waiting especially for you lot!"

The various chieftains of the Xianbei central army all changed color at these words, and Ke Zuitan, who had no stomach for this fight, let out a dry laugh before hurriedly replying: "I am Ke Zuitan, Central Region Chief under the Great Chieftain Tanshihuai of the Xianbei. I have a message now, and I ask this brave warrior to relay it to Prefect Zhao on my behalf... Although our Great Xianbei and the Great Han are enemy states, ever since I encountered his family in Liucheng, I have treated them with all courtesy. In the chaos of battle, the several warriors attending them naturally perished, but his mother, his wife, and his daughter are all safe and sound in my camp..."

"Then speak plainly, will you release them or not?" the Han officer demanded impatiently.

"The bond between mother and child, how could I not release them?" Ke Zuitan hastily replied. "I am a noble of the Xianbei; do you think I do not know that you Han people hold filial piety above all else? But I ask this brave warrior to return and tell Prefect Zhao that the people can be released, and before releasing them, I will even let him see with his own eyes whether his family is truly safe and sound. However, only ten men may approach the front of the lines to meet... Of course, if he can confirm without a doubt, I ask that Prefect Zhao, in consideration of my having fulfilled his filial duty, first withdraw his army to Yangyue City, and only come to fetch his mother after my great army has departed. I, Ke Zuitan, will certainly guarantee his mother's safety."

The Han officer looked the young commander opposite him up and down, gave a cold laugh, then simply spurred his horse and rode away.

"Where is Chief Mo Hu?"

At Ke Zuitan's loud shout, a stir ran through the Mo Hu tribe's formation, which was originally positioned at the forefront of the central army. From Mo Hugou to his several trusted aides, from Gongsun Xun to Lou Gui, the few of them could not help but grip their reins and exchange glances... It seemed Gongsun Xun had indeed guessed Ke Zuitan's intentions correctly!

However, this was no time for lengthy reflection. Gongsun Xun immediately spurred his horse forward with Cheng Pu and Lou Gui, clustering around Mo Hugou as they rode straight toward Ke Zuitan.

"Chief Mo Hu." Seeing them approach from a distance, Ke Zuitan immediately began issuing orders from horseback. "You are fluent in the Han tongue. In a moment, take a squad of my own elite troops and Prefect Zhao's family members forward. You must convey my sincerity to Prefect Zhao... As long as he withdraws his army, his mother, wife, and daughter will all be unharmed. But if he does not agree... Ta You!"

"Your subordinate is here." A bald-headed trusted aide who served directly under Ke Zuitan hastily reined in his horse and leaned forward half a body's length. He was conspicuously clad in a suit of Han-style iron armor, an extreme rarity within the Xianbei army.

"Never mind how Chief Mo Hu's negotiations proceed. Your sole task is to guard Prefect Zhao's family and ensure they are not snatched away," Ke Zuitan ordered sternly. "When you reach the front and see the men, fire a single arrow. Allow them to approach within half a bowshot's distance to speak with each other. But if they come any further — whether it is Prefect Zhao alone or the entire enemy army charging — you are to act directly, starting with the youngest, and kill them one by one! In short, unless I send a trusted man to tell you to release them, you will stay there with your men and keep them under watch!"

"Your subordinate understands!" the bald-headed giant called Ta You hastily acknowledged. "If the Han men cross half a bowshot's distance, kill them directly; otherwise, keep watching over those three women and await your orders, my lord!"

"Well said. Go and bring the people out with Chief Mo Hu!" Only then did Ke Zuitan nod. And as his gaze swept over the three riders behind Mo Hugou, he gave them no further thought, instead casually pulling a cat from the satchel behind his horse and tossing it to Gongsun Xun. "You, from the Mo Hu tribe... take this along too. If Prefect Zhao shows us due respect, return this to him as well."

Gongsun Xun tucked the kitten into his bosom, and without another word, simply inclined his body slightly on horseback and followed Mo Hugou away.

"Could he be mute?" Ke Zuitan shook his head with some irritation, but in the midst of the great army, he ultimately paid it no further mind.

And just as this side was preparing to escort the three women toward the space between the two armies, on the other side, within the Han army's formation, there was utter chaos.

"My lord Prefect, you must not go!" It was the commandery's Military Affairs Clerk, clinging tightly to the horse's head.

"Lord Zhao, you are the commander of the three armies. If any mishap befalls you, never mind whether your esteemed mother can be rescued — with the three armies leaderless, a mix of Han troops and Wuhuan, a hodgepodge from three commanderies, I fear a great catastrophe will ensue!" This was the Chief Clerk of the Liaodong Dependent State, who had come to aid in the battle, grabbing hold of the other man's armor.

Even a tall and imposing Wuhuan chieftain who had been squinting nearby could not help but rein in his horse beside them and advise: "Prefect Zhao, I know you Han people hold filial piety paramount, but right now we cannot tell truth from falsehood... How about letting my nephew Tadun go forward in your place and roughly assess the situation? That lad's martial skill is outstanding, you may rest assured..."

"How can I entrust a matter concerning my own mother to another?" The iron-armored Prefect Zhao on horseback suddenly removed his helmet. His eyes were bloodshot, and wherever his gaze fell, the others instinctively averted their own. "Chanyu Qiuliju..."

"I am here." The Wuhuan chieftain hastily nodded.

"Swear an oath right now, here before me. If I, Zhao Bao, do not return, you are to obey the commands of Chief Clerk Han of the Liaodong Dependent State and continue the fight... Do not withdraw your troops until you have driven these Xianbei back beyond Liucheng!"

Qiuliju studied this man, the Prefect of Liaoxi who had only just taken office a short while ago. When his gaze fell upon the other's blood-red eyes, he finally sighed helplessly, then pointed to the heavens and swore an oath: "So be it! I, Qiuliju, swear here and now that regardless of whether Lord Zhao's journey proves fortunate or not, I will obey the Han army's commands and drive the Xianbei before us back to Liucheng before withdrawing my troops! Otherwise... otherwise may I, Qiuliju, die an unnatural death, trampled into mincemeat by horses' hooves! Will that suffice?"

Zhao Bao inclined his head slightly, then turned to the subordinate commandery clerk still at his horse's head: "Do you also need me to force you to swear an oath before all? Go back and command the troops at once!"

The commandery's Military Affairs Clerk had no choice and finally released his grip.

"Chief Clerk Han." Zhao Bao looked finally at the Chief Clerk of the Liaodong Dependent State beside him, but instead handed him his helmet. "Please rest assured. I, Zhao Bao, was taught the great principles of righteousness by my mother from childhood, and I have already made my resolve... If I return, say no more. If I do not return, I ask you to take command of the three armies in my stead and avenge my entire family! Do not forget, the great cauldron in camp is still boiling!"

Chief Clerk Han let out a long sigh, finally released the other man's armor, then received the helmet with both hands and held it reverently before his chest.

Matters having reached this point, Zhao Bao cast aside all hesitation and, leading only nine men, rode directly toward the group of Xianbei who had already taken their position on the small slope ahead.

"Right here!" The iron-armored, bald-headed giant called Ta You reined his horse to a halt directly on a small, gentle slope, then turned and ordered in the Xianbei tongue: "Bring the three women forward. Leave three men to dismount and stand behind the women with Chief Mo Hu and his men — keep an eye on them and be ready to act at any moment! The remaining dozen or so riders, position yourselves in front of the small slope to guard against a charge from the other side! Once you've dismounted, drive the horses back; don't leave them off to the side, lest they be used by... You dog, did you hear me? I told you to release the horses!"

"This Xianbei dog is quite thorough!" Lou Gui, though unable to understand what was being said, could not help but feel both shock and fury as he watched the other man arrange the formation thus and even send the horses back. "The people are already bound by the arms, why be so cautious?"

"Shut up!" Gongsun Xun rebuked him helplessly.

"You three from the Mo Hu tribe!" Ta You, standing on the slope, suddenly took notice of these three men. "Two of you, split off to the left side and also dismount and release your horses..."

"We of the Mo Hu tribe take orders only from our own chief!" Before the other could finish, Gongsun Xun retorted in Xianbei, his accent slightly off. As he spoke, he even hefted his long spear and spurred his horse right up to Ta You. "You, Ta You, may be a trusted man of the Ke Zui tribe, but you have no authority over me!"

Lou Gui and Mo Hugou were nearly scared speechless and could only force themselves to remain calm and look around at the scenery.

However, the bald-headed man called Ta You stared wide-eyed at Gongsun Xun, then at the long spear in Gongsun Xun's hand, and then at Mo Hugou, who was looking around wildly yet saying absolutely nothing. He could not help but let out a snort of laughter: "Do as you please, three more or less won't matter... Still, you Mo Hu tribe really are something — your Han speech so fluent, yet your Xianbei so poor! I wonder if you even count as Xianbei anymore!"

As he spoke, ten riders came galloping swiftly from the distance. Seeing this, Ta You hastily raised his bow and shot an arrow, while Gongsun Xun took the opportunity to fall back.

"There's a small mound on the left." Cheng Pu was indeed a man of courage; in such circumstances, he and Gongsun Xun were the only two who could remain calm. "I just noticed a hollow at the edge of the mound. In a moment, the three of us will each scoop up one person, spur our horses straight there, and take cover."

"I see it," Gongsun Xun replied in a low voice. "When I spoke up earlier, I was actually trying to get the old lady's attention, but she looked utterly distraught and didn't even notice me, someone she's met several times... So don't count on them being able to cooperate."

"In that case, we must first kill the bald man and those three executioners," Lou Gui swallowed and joined the discussion in a whisper. "Otherwise, rescuing them won't be easy."

"And we must also wait until Governor Zhao has withdrawn to safety before we can act..." Cheng Pu added. "Otherwise, if we fail to save the people and lose a governor in the bargain, we'll truly be guilty with no merit to show for it."

"I'll kill the bald man," Gongsun Xun said after a moment's thought, giving his orders. "You two, while they're talking, edge closer and tip off Mo Hukou. The signal will be the moment I strike... Once I move, you move together — make sure it's a single, lethal blow... Besides, the bald man is standing at the high point of the slope, so even Yigong and A Fan behind us will be able to see clearly."

Even as they whispered, the word "Halt," translated by Mo Hukou, resounded from the slope. Gongsun Xun said no more; he simply took up his long spear and ascended the slope, then swaggered over and planted himself right behind the bald man. And that Tayou merely shot him a glance before turning his nervous gaze back toward the ten riders below the slope!

There was actually no one he recognized!

After scanning them, Gongsun Xun grew even more disheartened, and finally confirmed once again that he could rely on no one but himself!

"Mother!" Seeing his own mother, Zhao Bao had no more doubts.

"Weihao!" The old Lady Zhao, her arms bound behind her, at last seemed to recover a trace of spirit from her numbness upon seeing the newcomer.

Mother and son gazed at each other from a distance, clearly about to speak. Seeing this, even Tayou held his tongue, and Mo Hukou was naturally not so foolish as to interrupt at such a moment... In truth, he did catch the low-voiced instructions from Cheng Pu behind him.

"Mother, I should dismount, kneel, and beg your forgiveness, but I am in full armor, so please forgive me for not being able to perform the full rites." Below the slope, Zhao Bao's tears fell like rain, yet he forced himself to remain upright on horseback as he spoke. "Mother... no matter what, this whole calamity was brought about by your son. I took office hoping to earn a modest salary and some honor to support you in your old age, but I never imagined I would bring disaster upon you instead! Mother, that day you taught me that since I chose to serve as an official, I must fulfill the duty of a subject, and must not let any private matter destroy my loyalty and integrity, for loyalty and integrity are as vast as heaven... But the bond between mother and son, is not filial piety also as vast as heaven? Your son, caught in this predicament, dares to ask you once more: is death the only way to atone for my sins?"

"Weihao!" The old Lady Zhao straightened herself and cried out with effort, as if she had long prepared these words. "Since you ask me, then as your mother, I naturally have words to teach you... Listen well. Every person has their own fate. How could a mother blame her son just because she encountered bandits on the road? But you are not without fault... You must understand: as the master of a commandery and the commander of three armies, your personal life is tied to the safety of tens of thousands. How could you abandon your army before the battle lines and come to see an old woman like me?!"

The ten Han cavalry riders below the slope stirred with agitation; even Mo Hukou, who understood the Han tongue, was dumbstruck.

"Do you still not understand?" The old Lady Zhao rebuked him even more loudly. "As things stand, the only mistake you have made is appearing here at all! Get back at once and launch the attack!"

Governor Zhao had come with a thousand things to say, but who could have expected that the moment he arrived, he would hear such words from his own mother? For an instant, he felt only a surge of anguish and indignation in his chest. With a mighty cry, he suddenly wheeled his horse and galloped away.

"What's going on?" The bald man called Tayou was baffled and looked around, hastily asking questions in the Xianbei tongue. "Why did he leave as soon as he came? Weren't mother and son just reunited, talking and weeping? They seemed to be getting along fine... What did they say? Hey, you big fellow from Mo Hu's division, it's one thing for the Han mother and son to weep, but why are you crying too? What does their family matter have to do with you..."

"Just the wind making my eyes water," Gongsun Xun said, wiping his greasy, filthy face, then casually pointed down the slope. "Look quickly — isn't that the governor coming back again?"

At these words, the bald man hastily turned to look, but he never expected that a long spear would suddenly thrust straight through the back of his neck. The strike was utterly ruthless — the spearhead not only pierced through his neck and out the front, but continued on to plunge into the head of the horse beneath him before its force was spent!

Immediately after, with a mournful cry from the warhorse, the bald confidant of the Xianbei Central Division Chief, before the eyes of tens of thousands, atop that small mound between the two armies, collapsed on the slope — man and horse together!

"Zhao Bao, styled Weihao, was a man of Dongwucheng in Ganling. His mother was captured by the Xianbei and brought forth when they attacked the commandery. Bao led twenty thousand cavalry and faced the rebels in formation. The rebels brought out his mother and showed her to Bao. Bao wailed in grief and said to his mother: 'Your son has been unworthy, hoping to support you day and night with a meager salary, never imagining he would bring calamity upon you. Once we were mother and son; now I am a servant of the king. Duty forbids me to heed private affection and destroy loyalty and integrity. Only ten thousand deaths can atone for this crime.' His mother, head held high, called back from afar: 'Weihao, every person has their own fate. How can you let concern for me betray your loyalty and righteousness? Do your utmost!' Bao wailed and departed. Once back in formation, he rallied his troops with a single drumbeat and immediately advanced into battle!" — Book of the Later Han, Volume 81, Biographies of Exemplary Solitaries

PS: Thanks to the old reader Tian Ma Xing Kong Ma... the one who writes those R-18 side stories anyway, for another big tip.

Also, the new book group — 684558115

(End of Chapter)