[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-472":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Shao Song",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1558638,2024,"Chapter 472: Fan Fiction 23: Excerpt from the Ming Dynasty Novel","shao-song-chapter-472",472,"\u003Cp>Fan Fiction 23: Excerpt from the Ming Dynasty Novel \"Strange Tales of the Northern Song\" — A Story for Xiao Guo\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Fiction 23: Excerpt from the Ming Dynasty Novel \"Strange Tales of the Northern Song\" — A Story for Xiao Guo\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Great Righteousness Cannot Be Insulted\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the fourth year of the Jianyan era, Loushi suddenly gathered his troops and led a bandit invasion to the south. The Jin bandits were like man-eating beasts; wherever they went, they slaughtered people like hemp, blood flowed over the mountains, and their lawless deeds were too evil to describe. When the Founding Ancestor heard of this, it was as if knives and axes were pressing on his body, oil and fire seared his heart; he collapsed at his desk, weeping uncontrollably. His ministers urged him to stop, but the Founding Ancestor swung his sword and cut the desk in two, his rage lifting his cap and splitting his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His brows stood on end and he ground his silver teeth to dust, shouting: \"The myriad people are suffering disaster, and I am powerless. The Jin bandits' evil deeds are like this; this is not a war between Song and Jin, but a great enmity between Hua and Yi! Though Song is weak, I still have a body full of courage and two ribs of loyalty here. Even if I die, I will let the four barbarians know that China still has heroes!\" Having said this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the Founding Ancestor personally led the expedition, ordering the two palaces to prepare coffins within the palace, and instructed: \"If I die, my son is young and powerless, hard-pressed to fight the Jin bandits to the death. Quickly establish a grown son from a collateral branch as emperor, to carry on my unfinished will. Between the Jin bandits and Zhao, one will survive and one will perish; there will be no end until death.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accompanying the army, Privy Councilor Lord Wang was ordered to garrison Luoyang. Lord Wang was then serving as the nation's chief minister, named Boyan, courtesy name Tingjun, a native of Qimen in Huizhou Prefecture, a presented scholar. At first, his family was poor but he was a man of many talents. In the past, Qimen County, pitying Lord Wang's talent, specially built a Talents Hall to house him, and Qin Hui studied under Boyan. Lord Wang was upright but not inflexible,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and authored ten volumes of \"The Great Righteousness of the Spring and Autumn Annals,\" which were recited throughout the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, Luoyang was the center of the realm. The Founding Ancestor considered Luoyang a must-defend city, and Lord Wang received the order in a time of crisis to garrison it. Yehe's son Alubu and the Han'er Han Chang raided and plundered Luoyang; the great army pressed against the city like giant waves crashing on a beach, the gleam of armor flickering like the shimmering light of the sea. Those around him were all afraid, but Lord Wang alone looked out from the city wall and suddenly burst into loud laughter, saying to the troops and generals,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Such a great bandit, ferocious and unspeakably cruel. His Majesty does not hesitate to risk death, vowing to stop the bandit army at Yaoshan. Why? Because he worries about the livelihood of the common people. I am a Privy Councilor, a body worth a thousand gold, but behind me are my elders, wife, and children. Even facing tigers and wolves, I cannot retreat. Do you gentlemen have the guts?\" Having said this, the generals' blood rushed to their eyes; they let down their hair\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and rolled up their sleeves as an oath, spreading Lord Wang's words to the garrison soldiers, and morale was greatly boosted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Han'er Han Chang had not received civilizing influence, and his nature was brutish and unbearable. Luoyang had been under siege for a long time without falling. Han Chang, enraged, raised his troops and led his personal guards to swarm the city walls like ants. Lord Wang personally faced the arrows and blades, beating the war drum to inspire the troops. On the city wall, rolling logs were like clouds, hurled stones like rain, and arrows were fired in volleys; those hit were pierced through their armor, and blood flowed like a river. The bandits were utterly routed. Han Chang personally beheaded\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>several fleeing soldiers but could not stop them. Pointing his halberd at the city top, he cursed and shouted: \"You old southern man Wang, why do you throw an egg against a rock to block my Great Jin? You have killed and wounded so many Great Jin warriors; are you not afraid of being cut into ten thousand pieces?\" Lord Wang replied: \"Ignorant child, your words are like a dog's bark. If you understood great righteousness, why would you be a dog for the barbarians! In the past, the Jin bandits slaughtered hundreds of millions\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>of northern people, committing every evil deed from rape to plunder. The northern people share an irreconcilable hatred with them. Dog-child, listen to these words: the day you die, when your ancestors ask if the blood feud has been avenged, how will you answer?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Han Chang heard this, he was both ashamed and enraged. His qi and blood rushed to his heart; he tore off his clothes and bared his chest, then punched his horse to vent his fury. The horse died after three punches. Han Chang's anger did not subside; he drew his sword and killed several of his own men before stopping. Pointing his sword at the city, he shouted: \"The day I break this city, I will have the old man torn apart by five horses, his head hung for ten years, his body buried under the city gate, trampled for ten thousand generations before\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>my anger is appeased!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bandits' force was great; the garrison soldiers of Luoyang were all dead, and the city fell. Those around him wanted to protect Lord Wang and have him leave the city, but he refused, saying: \"The garrison soldiers and brave lads died without turning on their heels; they are true heroes! Today, the Son of Heaven is the heroic master of the realm. With unity from top to bottom, the Jin bandits will surely be defeated; they are but dry bones in a grave! My only regret is that I cannot see with my own eyes His Majesty clearing their lairs and sweeping their nests, driving straight to the Yellow Dragon!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After I die, please cremate me, so that I may turn into a clear breeze and follow His Majesty!\" His attendants parted from him in tears. Lord Wang raised a torch, shouted loudly, \"The 'Great Righteousness of the Spring and Autumn Annals' still lacks annotations; I will sacrifice my blood to it!\" and died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chang broke into the city but could not find Lord Wang. Suddenly, he saw a fire rising several zhang high in the city; heaven and earth changed color, and a whirlwind wailed like weeping. Han Chang led his troops in, intending to insult Lord Wang's body, when the whirlwind suddenly changed violently, carrying up a quantity of ashes and surrounding Han Chang without dispersing. The ashes blocked Han Chang's seven orifices; Han Chang could not speak, could not breathe, and clawed at his face with his hands, blood flowing from his seven orifices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, Han Chang clawed out one of his eyes, blood spattering everywhere, but he could not wipe the remaining ashes from his eyes. In a moment, Han Chang died on the spot, a miserable sight too horrible to behold. The bandit soldiers were terrified, knelt on the ground and bowed, and none dared to insult Lord Wang's corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The great victory at Yaoshan was won. When the Founding Ancestor heard of Lord Wang's death, he grieved for days and could not stop. He composed a eulogy to sacrifice to him, but stopped after half a stanza, choked with sobs and unable to write further. A mad monk from the Lingyin Temple at Feilai Peak, traveling through Luoyang, wrote a crooked poem at Lord Wang's former site: \"Originally in the Talents Hall were two treacherous chiefs, one accompanied by a civet cat, the other following a dog. Thinking of drawing the sword for a moment of pleasure, one could not fail to live up to one's youthful head.\" After writing it, he laughed loudly and left. Everyone thought him mad and paid him no mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— \"Strange Tales of the Northern Song: Volume on True Gods and Constellations,\" Volume Five\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghostly Martial Divine General\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the early years of the Jianyan era, the Prince of Qin served as the Commander of the Rear Army. His troops mutinied and playfully killed a remonstrating minister by the river. At the time, Chief Minister Li Gang was greatly alarmed, bowed his head and kowtowed, saying: \"My crime is great! Matters have come to such an emergency; Your Majesty, take shelter quickly!\" He then drove the imperial carriage out of the tent. That winter, in the evening, the wind\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>was like knives and arrows, the cold splitting iron and stone. The Founding Ancestor had traveled half the way when the cold wind grew even fiercer; heaven and earth were a single chaos, the sun, moon, and stars all invisible. Raising a torch to look, the forest was deep and he did not know where he was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a startling clap of thunder arose. The Founding Ancestor's mount neighed, reared up on its hind legs, shook its head and tail, and refused to go forward. A mounted general vaguely appeared in the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the light of the thunder, he saw that this general was neither man nor ghost, seeming like a shadow or smoke. He was nine feet tall, with a beard two feet long, a face like a heavy date, awe-inspiring and majestic,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>holding a huge Spring and Autumn blade in his hand, his steed beneath him spirited and fierce, roaring like a dragon's cry or a tiger's howl. Those around were greatly alarmed, urgently shouting to protect the emperor, and advanced to surround him. After going ten paces, this general dragged his blade and left. The Founding Ancestor found this strange and led armored soldiers to pursue and question him, but the general did not answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more the Founding Ancestor pursued, the faster the general went. When the Founding Ancestor stopped, the general also stopped. The Founding Ancestor seemed to understand something, and shouted for his attendants to bring fast horses and follow. After traveling several li, the stars appeared; after traveling several more li, they saw the bright moon. Everyone showed joy, and they bowed to thank the former general\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>for the grace of leading the way. Suddenly, thunder sounded again, and the general turned into fireflies. The Founding Ancestor looked closely and saw that it was not fireflies, but the torches of the central army camp of the Rear Army Commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Founding Ancestor sighed and said: \"This is the loyal soul of Huaxia leading me here. Han Liangchen will surely not betray me.\" He then loudly called out Liangchen's name,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>led his horse into the tent, spoke of the various events before, and later bestowed a jade belt to encourage him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— \"Strange Tales of the Northern Song: Volume on True Gods and Constellations,\" Volume Three\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dream Bestowal of a Supreme Treasure\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the second year of the Jianyan era, Liu Guangshi abandoned Zhang Jun, the Commander of the Imperial Guard's Forward Army, at Xiacai. The Jin army then besieged Xiacai City while looking toward Bagong Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bagong Mountain was where the imperial carriage was located. Zhang Jun had once said: \"My love of wealth is like licking honey on a blade; even if it costs me my life, I cannot stop.\" Greedy people mostly cherish their lives, and everyone at Bagong Mountain said that Zhang Jun would surely surrender.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One evening, Zhang Jun was patrolling Xiacai to the northwest. Most of the sentries were alert and saluted him, but one sentry seemed half-asleep, lazy and negligent, and did not notice him. This sentry's appearance was very ugly, his face repulsive, his clothes disheveled, and he did not salute Zhang Jun when he saw him. Zhang Jun, enraged, seized him. The sentry\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>looked at him askance and shouted: \"Why punish without teaching first?\" Zhang Jun said: \"You were ordered to stand sentry here, yet you slept soundly and were negligent. What is wrong with punishing you?\" The sentry looked up to the sky and laughed loudly, his voice like a great bell, saying: \"I was sleeping soundly, but my sentry duty was not neglected.\" He then sat down on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sentry pointed at the sky and drew on the ground; from dawn to dusk, he clearly presented how many Jin scouts there were, what equipment they had, and what their purpose was. Zhang Jun sent his attendants to verify it, and there was not a single error. Zhang Jun was greatly amazed, and set up a banquet in the hall to apologize. The sentry did not decline or thank him, and finished it all in a moment. Zhang Jun reflected to himself:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From now on, I must not be impatient. How many capable people are there in the world? If you suspect someone, don't employ them; if you employ them, don't suspect them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Zhang Jun was about to go to sleep when suddenly a golden light shone brightly in the hall. A military general entered with his head held high, wearing a golden crown shaped like dragon horns, and clad in golden armor\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>that resembled dragon scales. When Zhang Jun looked closely, it was actually the former sentry. The sentry said: \"My surname is Zhang, my given name Yongzhen, and I am the River God of the Huaihe River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I have been ordered by the Heavenly Emperor to assist the Son of Heaven. Today I received a meal from you, so I should leave you a gift. I know you are very greedy for wealth; what I give you is the supreme treasure of the world, and it will arrive shortly.\" Zhang Jun, flustered, bowed and asked what treasure it was. The River God laughed loudly and said: \"These two phrases you must remember well — a generous promise, crossing the river in snow at night to deliver an enemy's head; sharing clothes and food, dividing a salted duck at the same table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having said this, the golden light greatly receded. Zhang Jun suddenly woke up; it had been but a dream. In a daze, he saw a person standing before his bed. When he looked closely,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it was actually the Founding Ancestor, who had personally crossed the river in the snow at a time of crisis. Zhang Jun prostrated himself on the ground and bowed, his heart filled with astonishment. The Founding Ancestor helped Zhang Jun up, spoke words of encouragement and comfort,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and bestowed a food box upon Zhang Jun. Zhang Jun opened the food box and looked inside; it was actually Liu Guangshi's head and a salted duck missing one leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— \"Strange Tales of the Northern Song: Volume on Earthly Gods and Scattered Immortals,\" Volume Five\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat down. This soldier pointed to the sky and drew on the ground, from dawn to dusk, clearly presenting how many Jin Jun scouts there were, what equipment they had, and what their purpose was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jun sent his attendants to verify it — not a single error. Zhang Jun was greatly amazed, set up a banquet in the hall to apologize. The soldier did not decline either, and in a moment finished\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it all. Zhang Jun reflected to himself:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From now on, I must not be hasty. How many capable people are there in the world? If you doubt someone, don't employ them; if you employ them, don't doubt them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Zhang Jun was about to retire to bed when suddenly a golden light blazed in the hall — a military general with a golden crown on his head, the crown like dragon horns, clad in golden armor,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the armor like dragon scales, strode in with head held high. Zhang Jun stared fixedly and saw that it was none other than the soldier from before. The soldier said: \"My surname is Zhang, my given name Yongzhen, the River God of the Huaihe\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>River. I have been ordered by the Heavenly Emperor to assist the Son of Heaven. Today I received a meal from you, so I shall leave you a gift. I know you are very fond of wealth, so what I give is\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the greatest treasure under heaven, and it will arrive shortly.\" Zhang Jun, flustered, bowed and asked what treasure it was. The River God laughed loudly and said: \"These two phrases you must firmly\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>remember — with a generous promise, cross the snow at night to deliver an enemy's head; share your clothes and food, divide a salted duck at the same table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he finished speaking, the golden light greatly receded. Zhang Jun suddenly awoke — it turned out to be a dream. In a daze he saw a person standing before his bed. He stared fixedly and saw\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it was actually the Founding Ancestor, who in a time of crisis had crossed the snow and come in person. Zhang Jun prostrated himself on the ground and bowed, his heart filled with astonishment. The Founding Ancestor helped Zhang Jun up, spoke words of encouragement and comfort,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and presented a food box to Zhang Jun. Zhang Jun opened the food box and looked inside — there was none other than Liu Guangshi's head, and one salted duck missing a leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— \"Strange Tales of the Northern Song: Volume of Earth Gods and Scattered Immortals,\" Volume Five\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nine Dragon Well\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the first year of the Jingkang era, on the Xinsi day of the first month, flying sand suddenly arose, day and night grew dark, and the sand howled like a hundred ghosts wailing at night. On the Wushen day of the second month, a great\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>wind rose from the northeast, snow fell during the day, sand and snow mingled in chaos, dust filled the sky, and the wind roared like ten thousand beasts wailing. On the Jisi day of the third month, at the fifth\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>watch, a thick fog spread everywhere, blotting out the sky and covering the sun, with peals of thunder rumbling, like the scolding and punishment of immortals, continuing unabated all day. When summer came, incessant rain\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>fell, overcast skies did not clear, summer followed autumn's pattern, and the four seasons were reversed. In winter, hailstones damaged the crops, it did not clear for over twenty days, snow was more than a zhang\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>deep, great winds tore down houses and snapped trees—all manner of portents of the end times, too many to count.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the second year of the Jingkang era, the Two Emperors were taken north, and the Founding Emperor ascended the throne. At first, his heart was filled with despair and confusion, unaware of the Mandate of Heaven. When he reached Bozhou,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he dreamed of purple qi falling upon the Mingdao Palace. He sent someone to investigate, and the reply said there was no unusual sign. He dreamed several times in a row, all dreams of this place. The Founding Emperor, finding it strange,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>went there in person, and then saw that this palace was vastly different from ordinary days—golden light burst forth, purple qi pressed close, divine smoke curled upward, and immortal music played in waves. He asked\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>those around him, but they all said they could not see it, that it was no different from any other day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Founding Emperor understood. He went privately into the palace. Inside the palace, turning left, there was a Nine Dragon Well, with a faint sound of thunder. The Founding Emperor leaped into the well. At first\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>there was no path, but after walking another ten paces, it suddenly opened up—sometimes sky, sometimes earth, sometimes mountains, sometimes water—the well actually contained its own world. An old man in\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daoist robes appeared and shouted: \"I am the Three Pure Ones, my Daoist name is Ji Zi, chief of the three hundred and sixty immortals. You have made yourself Son of Heaven,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>yet you are gradually losing the Mandate of Heaven!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Founding Emperor bowed and asked him about it. The old man said: \"As for the Mandate of Heaven, blades and axes cannot harm its bearer, ghosts and spirits cannot seize his soul. Why\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>is that? Because such a person carries within him the thousand-year heritage of Huaxia. Ghosts and spirits are all transformed from that heritage—how could they harm him? What is the\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>heritage? The heritage is the myriad people!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ancestors blazed trails through hardship, opening up the mountains and forests, and only then gained a foot of land. Later generations either passed down a thousand years of literary culture to enlighten the people's wisdom—thus the one with the Mandate of Heaven naturally has great wise men to assist him. Or, when barbarian tribes arise and the world is in turmoil, there are naturally brave men who leave their kin and loved ones, go forth with righteous indignation, face\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a person is naturally aided by great wisdom. When barbarian tribes arise and the realm descends into chaos, there will always be bold men who leave their kin and children behind, stepping forward with righteous resolve, facing the blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a mountain of blades without fear, and cross a sea of fire with calm. Thus the one with the Mandate of Heaven naturally has fierce warriors to protect him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are thousands who enlighten the people's wisdom—a man may cherish one or two, but it is hard to cherish thousands. As for the brave, history books may record one or two, but it is hard\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>to record thousands! Since you have accepted the Mandate of Heaven, you should know to carry on the will of the myriad people of Huaxia! The pain of blades and axes upon the myriad people should be as the pain upon your own\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>body; the hunger that comes to the bellies of the myriad people should be as the hunger that comes to your own belly! It is not that by receiving the Mandate of Heaven you may gain the realm; rather, it is that the one who represents the myriad people\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>may receive the Mandate of Heaven! Go now and bear the disaster of blades and soldiers for the myriad people, endure the calamity of hunger and cold for the common folk, and then the Mandate of Heaven will naturally be upon you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Founding Emperor was greatly enlightened. He bowed three times and left, and then set his resolve on Shaoxing, to not fail the myriad people, and to carry on the heritage of Huaxia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\"Strange Tales of the Northern Song: The Three Pure Ones and the Four Emperors,\" Volume One\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeking Auspicious Words\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the second year of the Jianyan era, the Founding Emperor visited Nanyang. Governance was harmonious, the people prospered, and all things revived. Zongbi, fearing the Founding Emperor's latent dragon-like potential, mustered\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>troops from the northern lands to attack him, but in the military council there was no good strategy. At that time, Qin Hui was serving as a staff officer to Wanyan Chang. Zongbi valued Qin Hui's talent—when going out, he was attended with the luxury of\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>fine horses and fragrant carriages; when entering, he was provided with the enjoyment of fresh delicacies and rich flavors. Whenever there was a major matter, Zongbi would personally consult him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Hui, greedy for wealth and honor, therefore left three strategies for Chang and Zongbi, completing their plan to invade the south. Before departing, he instructed Zongbi: \"You, my lord, are naturally\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>heroic and martial, but the southerners have a thousand years of literary culture, with deep and profound foundations—they surely have something to rely on. My lord should broadly open the channels of advice, study the local customs, and by all means do not\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>invite unexpected disaster.\" Zongbi agreed, but did not take it to heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, Zongbi raided and plundered Nanyang, burning, killing, and looting, slaughtering the common people. Those around him advised: \"Qin Hui's words to us were that\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nanyang, this place where the Son of Heaven has come, must have spiritual energy. By all means do not harm living beings, lest you invite unexpected calamity.\" Zongbi sneered and said displeased: \"The southerners\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>are pedantic and cowardly, utterly absurd. Talk of literary culture is a thing of the past! The Grand Ancestor rose to power with horse archery—how could reciting poetry and chanting books govern\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the northern lands? I am a wolf, born to rule; the southerners are rabbits, born to be slaves. Why should I learn their ways?\" Those around him murmured assent, not daring to\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Nanyang there was a lush forest and a majestic mountain called Mount Funiu, raised by the divine ox of Chang'e. It was spring-like all year round, with dense immortal qi. In the mountain\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>there was a viper. After five hundred years it transformed into a jiao dragon, then after cultivating for a thousand years, it could not attain the true fruit. Just then, the Founding Emperor came to Nanyang, and it obtained this great opportunity and\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>gained enlightenment. In a little over a month, it rose as a walking jiao dragon, intending to transform into a dragon. But for a walking jiao to transform into a dragon, it needed to borrow human power. Hovering in the air, it looked at the crowd, and if the\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>crowd pointed and said, \"This is a dragon,\" then its transformation into a dragon would be complete. Now, humans are the spirits of all things—their words all contain cause and effect. Respecting others is like respecting\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>oneself; evil words will surely backfire. Thus among the people, the tale of the walking jiao was also passed down as 'seeking auspicious words.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, Zongbi was holding a military council on level ground. Nanyang had long resisted capture, and his heart grew more troubled by the day. Suddenly, golden light flickered, auspicious clouds densely\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>gathered, warhorses knelt and neighed, strong mules lay down and whimpered, eagles and falcons shrieked and fled, and a giant python appeared, coiling in the air. Zongbi was greatly startled,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>drew his sword, pointed angrily, and shouted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What demonic creature is this? Why do you disturb my army's morale?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jiao dragon was greatly enraged and said: \"I am a dragon! All the world knows the custom of seeking auspicious words from a walking jiao. Why do you not know it, and dare to insult me as a demonic creature? You are a barbarian, unlearned and unskilled. Since you have entered Huaxia, why have you not learned Huaxia's writing and inherited Huaxia's traditions? The Sage\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>taught without discrimination, never belittling you because of bloodline. The Great Dao has three thousand paths, all of which can be studied. If you receive instruction, you become a child of Huaxia! But you\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>people have the faces of men but the hearts of beasts, refusing to submit to civilization. Your slaughtering blade may be able to harm one person, but how can it be applied to all under heaven? I see you as nothing more than the\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>lingering ice at winter's end, thinking yourselves comparable to precious jade. But while the cold weather lasts, you may endure; when the weather warms, you will vanish without a trace! How lamentable that a child of Huaxia like Qin Hui,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>seeking a moment's pleasure, offered poisonous schemes to harm his lord and father, willingly becoming a barbarian, not ashamed but instead proud—truly a degenerate of civilization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the world is about to warm, let me see where you lingering ice can still exist!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the words were finished, a dragon roar shook the heavens. At the first roar, flying sand and rolling stones blotted out the sky and covered the sun. At the second roar, a torrential rain fell from the sky, and thunderbolts struck the ground. At the\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>third roar, the earth moved and the mountains shook, and mud balls fell from the sky. After the three roars ended, it slowly cleared, the wind gentle and the clouds light. The jiao dragon's trace was completely gone, but\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>many of Zongbi's generals and officers died from the power of the mud balls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\"Strange Tales of the Northern Song: Earth Spirits and Scattered Immortals,\" Volume Eight\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martyr's Shrine\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the fourth year of the Jianyan era, after the great victory at Yaoshan, the Jin people fled. Some common people gathered by the water, settling scattered into a village. Some became woodcutters, some farmers, resting\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the fourth year of Jianyan, after the great victory at Yaoshan, the Jin people fled. Common folk gathered by the water, settling in scattered clusters to form villages. Some cut firewood, some tilled the soil, resting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people recuperated and multiplied. By the spring of the fifth year, the population gradually flourished, cooking smoke rose in curling wisps, the elderly found shelter and a proper end, and children played together with\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>care. Young men and clever women harbored dreams and worked diligently, their faces seeming to glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, three or five children were playing with bamboo horses and green plums, holding sticky poles or chasing paper kites. Suddenly a dark wind arose, and the kites were carried away by the wind,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>throwing the group of children into great chaos. They called out and chased after them, stumbling and helping each other, running with tears in their eyes but unable to catch them. Before long, the paper kites could no longer be seen. The children had lost their\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>kites, as if they had lost a precious treasure. Some rolled on the ground, some wept and cried, some stamped their feet and beat their chests, some held their heads in silence. After a short while, the children\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>grew hungry and wanted to return home, but they could not find the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky gradually darkened. Wild beasts roared in the forest. The children fled in panic, unable to see clearly, their tattered clothes making it hard to move. The roars grew louder. One\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>child wet himself and wept. Rustling sounds followed behind the group of children. When night deepened, the children had no strength left. The roars grew louder. From the place of the rustling sounds,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a green light appeared, shaped like two eyes, resembling a wolf or a tiger. The children were terrified, screamed and wailed, called for their fathers and mothers, and sought bushes to hide in but could not\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>find any. The green eyes drew closer. The roars took on a greedy tone. A foul wind rose in gusts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, an object broke through the air, struck the green eyes and killed the beast. The wild beast cried out in agony. A big man appeared in midair, his voice like a great bell,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and he shouted: \"What kind of dog or pig dares to harm my children?\" The beast fled in terror. The foul wind subsided, the roars ceased. The big man called his friends\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and companions, and carried the children away. The children felt as if they were in the arms of their fathers and elder brothers. Their hearts were greatly calmed. Overcome by hunger and exhaustion, they fell into a sweet sleep. In their dreams,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>several officers and soldiers looked at the children and smiled, some patted the children's heads in delight, some played with fruits and chicken meat. The officers, soldiers, and children were all joyful. When it was\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>done, the big man pointed out the road home to the children, and the officers and soldiers dispersed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, the children gradually woke up. They stood up and looked around; they were in a temple. The children chose a road and returned to the village. The villagers were overjoyed. When they returned\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>home, their fathers scolded them while their mothers doted on them. The children told them everything that had happened. The parents were greatly alarmed and gathered the villagers to visit the temple. At that time, there was a eminent monk,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>whose secular name was Li Xiuyuan, traveling through the area. He accompanied the villagers to the temple, bowed in all directions, and said: \"This temple was built by the government after the great battle at Yaoshan,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and it enshrines the heroic spirits of Huaxia. Without these heroic spirits, there would be no peace today. I have heard that places with many graves often have dark winds and ghost fires, but although this temple has ten thousand graves, there is no dark wind—it is filled with righteous qi! The Son of Heaven, receiving the Mandate of Heaven, acts as\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the god who embodies the law. The heroic spirits, having been enfeoffed by the Son of Heaven, will surely enrich and bless the people. You must offer them proper worship.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The villagers looked and saw that the warm breeze was indeed pleasant, caressing their skin and bones. They sighed in admiration and bowed. The children disturbed the heroic spirits, but the spirits were not angered. When the sacrificial fruits\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and offerings were eaten by others, the spirits were delighted. Truly, they were like fathers, elder brothers, and children. The temple's incense gradually flourished. Offerings for the four seasons never ceased. Children played\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>outside, villagers worshipped inside. They did not seek fame, fortune, or rank—only to look after their children, brothers, and fathers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— \"Strange Tales of the Northern Song: True Gods and Constellations,\" Volume One\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortune Telling\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Prince of Qin, surnamed Han, given name Shizhong, styled Liangchen, was a man from Suide Army, Yan'an Prefecture. He was born with divine strength and was exceptionally brave. In the past, when the Prince of Qin\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>had just come of age, a wild horse attacked a passerby. The Prince of Qin, bare-handed, patrolled the mountain, wanting to subdue this evil beast. On the third day, a strange horse appeared on the mountain ridge. Its hooves were split\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>into two toes. It had deer antlers and tiger eyes, an elk's body and an ox's tail. Its mane floated like flames, its body hair was like scales. When it roared, wind was born; when it walked, it trod on clouds. The Prince of Qin\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>was stern but unafraid. He leaped forward, grabbed the antlers, and wrestled with it. The horse opened its mouth to bite, but the Prince of Qin blocked it with his knee, and the horse's mouth could not close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a short while, the horse gradually weakened. The Prince of Qin leaped onto its back, grabbed its mane with his left hand, and punched it with his right fist. The horse, dizzy and disoriented, knelt on the ground\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and could not rise. It opened its mouth and actually spoke human words: \"I am a qilin. Now that I cannot defeat you in combat, please let me be your mount.\" The Prince of Qin was overjoyed and took it as his\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>mount. In later years, he campaigned north and south, established merit and achievements—this is not recorded in detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Prince of Qin was young, he was hot-tempered. He once wandered through the marketplace. There was a fortune-teller with long hair and a Daoist robe, who slept soundly every day, told three fortunes a day,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and went home after finishing. Sometimes he took no money at all, sometimes he took tens of thousands of gold. Every fortune he told came true without fail. The Prince of Qin found this very strange and went to consult him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fortune-teller sat and slept soundly, his eyes half-open and half-closed, and did not respond to the Prince of Qin's request. The Prince of Qin was furious and splashed water on him. The fortune-teller sighed\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and said: \"Why must it come to this? Your lordship's fate and appearance are so noble that they cannot be spoken of. Strange, strange. The hexagram says: 'The noble one at Yaoshan awaits your rescue. If you rescue him, you will become a king.'\" The Prince of Qin did not understand the meaning and asked in detail. The fortune-teller said in surprise: \"I wonder why the noble one looks like a civet cat?\" The Prince of Qin considered himself\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a common street rogue, living from hand to mouth, and mistakenly thought the fortune-teller was mocking him. He angrily beat him. The fortune-teller said indignantly: \"My master is Fuyaozi of Mount Hua,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>who has now broken through the Golden Elixir and transformed into a Nascent Soul, ascending to become an immortal! Since you insult me like this, I will surely take revenge on your descendants!\" The Prince of Qin did not take it\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A common street thug, uncertain of each day's survival, mocked the diviner for a mistaken reading, then beat him in anger. The diviner said indignantly: \"My master, the Master Fuyaozi of Mount Hua...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few years later, the Prince of Qin joined the army, accumulated military merit, and became a general. When the Founding Emperor ascended the throne, the Prince of Qin rendered meritorious service in protecting the emperor and gained important use before the throne. Later, he accompanied\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the Founding Emperor on campaigns north and south, east and west, accumulating countless merits. When the great battle at Yaoshan came, the Founding Emperor led the campaign in person. The Prince of Qin recalled the words of the fortune-teller\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>from before, felt uneasy in his heart, and secretly kept a close watch on the Founding Emperor. The battle was at its height when Loushi led his personal guards and suddenly attacked the Founding Emperor, intending to assassinate the king and kill the emperor!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone was greatly alarmed. In an instant, they could not block or stop him. The Jin soldiers' killing cries did not cease. The imperial guards rose to meet them, but they fell at the first touch of the Jin soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loushi, believing there was no one left before the emperor, exchanged arrows with the Founding Emperor. The government troops feared for the Founding Emperor's safety and fell into great chaos. Only the Prince of Qin remained calm\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>in the face of danger. Pointing left and calling right, he called for bows and arrows and shouted: \"Where is Loushi?\" After three shouts, the qilin, carrying the Prince of Qin, rose up on its hind legs,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>looking down from a height. He saw a Jin general in silver helmet and golden armor, his eyes fixed on him. The Prince of Qin exhaled, opened his voice, drew his bow like a full moon. This arrow was like thunder breaking through the air,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>like a fleeting shooting star, and it struck Loushi square on. Loushi, fierce and brutal, still tried to assassinate the emperor. The qilin beneath the Prince of Qin let out a heaven-shaking roar. Loushi's\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>mount was terrified, stumbled, and fell. The Founding Emperor faced danger without fear, commanded with composure, and beheaded Loushi. The Song army's morale was greatly\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>boosted, and in a short while they broke the Jin army at Yaoshan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the battle, when merits were discussed, the Prince of Qin was enfeoffed at Yan'an, but for several years he had no son. Recalling the words of the fortune-teller from the past, he regretted his youthful recklessness. He then took his wife\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>to Mount Hua to fulfill a vow. But the fortune-teller was in seclusion and could not be seen. He tried again and again, and finally met the fortune-teller. He recounted all that had happened, made donations and offerings,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and apologized repeatedly. Later, he finally had a son, who married a princess. After this incident, the Prince of Qin cultivated his speech, preserved a sense of awe, did good to others, and was at peace with the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He accumulated merit through the Northern Expedition and received rewards. Later, he accompanied the Founding Emperor in moving the capital to Beijing. He was praised throughout the court and died a good death without regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— \"Strange Tales of the Northern Song: Earthly Gods and Scattered Immortals,\" Volume Six\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without contention, he accumulated merit in the Northern Expedition and received rewards, later followed the Founding Emperor in moving the capital to Beijing, earned praise throughout the court, and was able to end his days without regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a man from Hebei named Bei Yan, a fierce general. In the past, Yan was a commoner in Hebei, making a living by tattooing and piercing patterns. He learned eighteen martial arts,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>helped the old and supported the weak, and was respected by the villagers. Just then, the Jin bandits ravaged Hebei, causing great suffering, slaughtering the people. It was once heard that a bandit general led his troops to kill\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the people, counting the number of beheaded as a game. Such acts of heaven's wrath and human resentment were too evil to describe. When they reached Yan's village, Yan protected his hometown and hid in the mountains. On the way,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He helped the elderly and supported the weak, earning the villagers' respect. Just then, the Jin bandits ravaged Hebei, plunging the people into misery and slaughtering the common folk. He once heard that a bandit general would draw his blade to kill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the people, counting the number of beheadings as a game. Such heaven-infuriating and people-resenting acts were too evil to describe. When they reached Yan Village, Yan protected his hometown by hiding in the mountains and forests, along the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He killed several dozen bandit soldiers, suffered numerous wounds, and blood flowed without stopping. When he entered the mountains, he lost consciousness. The villagers fed him vegetable soup and spoke to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several days, the food ran out, but they still could not bear to stop the soup they spoke of. The Jin bandits surrounded the mountain, set fire to it, and the cries of the afflicted filled the wilderness—pitiful screams too harsh to hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than half the villagers died. Yan said his wife and children were all dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining two or three men wanted to protect Yan and flee, but the fire and smoke were poisonous, and all who were struck fell down. Suddenly a white light arose, and the two or three men carried Yan on the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They rose up and were thrown by the riverbank. In the wind a monk appeared, his body stinking unbearably, his cap askew and his shoes leaking, seeming to laugh and cry at once, his behavior mad and delirious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words were garbled and incoherent. He rolled a mud pill and put it into Yan's mouth. Yan woke up. The monk told him of all that had happened before. Yan heard it, grief and rage beyond control, and tore at his\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>hair, shouting for his wife, children, and fellow villagers. He dug his fingers into a tree, sinking them three inches deep. In a moment, his heart became like dead ashes, and he wanted to cut his own throat to follow his family and villagers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The monk stopped him and said: \"I am the Subduing Dragon Arhat. I have a fellow disciple, the Golden-Winged Great Peng, who was before the Buddha, listening to the Buddha preach the sutras. The Peng\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>hated evil as if it were his enemy. Because he killed a rat, he offended the Buddha, and the Buddha condemned him to descend into the world as punishment. You still have karmic consequences here.\" Having said this, he pointed with his finger\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>at the road and departed with the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan was extremely astonished. He followed the road and walked. After several days he encountered a military camp. A banner with the character \"Yue\" fluttered in the wind. The camp soldiers had strict discipline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The garrison troops held their heads high and their voices were like great bells. Three men formed a column, two men formed a row. At the camp gate there were several common people, who offered food and drink in baskets and vessels, bowing in respect. Yan was both surprised and delighted. He never imagined that such heavenly troops existed in the world—his great revenge could be achieved. So he joined the army. He said that from the day\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he entered the army, whenever he heard that the next day they would fight the Jin bandits, his eyes would be bloodshot. He would not sleep all night, sharpening his blade without stopping. Even when he accumulated merit and became a general, he did not\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>feel joy or happiness. He only looked forward to killing bandits every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the tenth year of Jianyan, the Founding Ancestor led three hundred thousand troops on a northern campaign and fought a great battle with the Jin bandits at Huolu. Prince Wei, Lord Yue, had Yan press forward on the left\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>flank. They fought for several days, turning the sky dark and the earth dim, making ghosts weep and spirits cry out, unable to decide victory or defeat. Yan's heart burned with rage. He offered a plan to use himself as\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>bait. Prince Wei loved his soldiers like his own sons and wanted to go in Yan's place. Yan made a great bow and kowtowed without stopping, pounding his fists on the ground so that the whole camp was\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>startled. Yan, with red eyes and raised head, said: \"Lord Yue is a heavenly god descended to earth—you absolutely must not be lost. Yan going on this mission is truly my own wish! Even if I exhaust the three rivers and four\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>seas, it would be hard to wash away the blood feud between me and the Jin bandits!\" Prince Wei seized the opportunity. He knew of Yan's karmic cause and that it was difficult to go against Heaven's will, so he granted\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it. Yan was overjoyed. He returned to his camp to sharpen his blade. In Yan's camp, all bore a blood-deep hatred for the Jin bandits. The sound of sharpening blades throughout the camp shook the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, Yan led three thousand fierce warriors. In an instant they reached the Jin camp. In one charge they broke through three consecutive camps, like a tiger entering a flock of sheep. The bandit army was thrown into great\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>chaos. Yan used his great blade to cut down the bandits. The blade passed through armor and clothing, and blood flowed like a river. The bandits scattered in an instant. The bandit general holding the line, named Wu, tried to suppress the bandit troops\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and rally them. Yan raised his great blade and roared: \"Bandit, accept death!\" He spurred his horse and charged. Wu heard this as if struck by a thunderbolt on the crown of his head. His face turned pale and he trembled,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>unable to escape. Yan met him, raised his blade and brought it down, cleaving Wu from his horse. He beat his chest and roared: \"My wife's life is avenged!\" Then\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>there was Wu's father, Beilu, a truly old and seasoned bandit. When he heard that his son had died in the chaos of battle, he was shocked and enraged. He led troops wanting to kill Yan, raised\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>his great spear, and thrust straight for Yan's heart. Yan gritted his steel teeth, cursed the good-for-nothing bandit, spurred his horse to meet him, and whirled his great blade like a pouring rainstorm, splitting the bandit's head\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>as he charged. After only three exchanges, the old bandit's strength failed. He feinted with his spear and tried to flee. Yan's personal guards were prepared. They grabbed the bandit's horse by the tail. The horse kicked Yan's\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>soldiers, its hooves sinking into their bellies, but they still held on, still shouting for revenge. Yan met him, and with one stroke of his blade, cut him from shoulder to head. Yan again\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>shouted: \"My son's life is repaid!\" The old bandit's blood splattered onto Yan's soldiers. A soldier licked the blood with his tongue, laughed loudly without regret, and died. The great Jin bandit\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>chieftain Ali saw that two generals had fallen in succession. He was enraged and led his entire army to attack Yan. Yan feigned defeat and retreated into a valley. Before long, the sound of drums shook the heavens. Dust and smoke rolled up on left and right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Gao charged out from the left road, Zhang Xian charged out from the right road. Prince Wei personally pressed the main formation to cut off Ali's retreat. Ali's face turned\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the color of dead ashes. He led his personal guards and tried to retreat. Yan turned back and engaged in close combat. He suffered several wounds and lost an arm, but still shouted the charge. Ali could not escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Wei arrived. His spear thrusts were like scattered pear blossoms. In one encounter he knocked Ali from his horse. Ali fell into the chaos of battle and was trampled into mud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The generals in a moment killed all the bandits. Yan shouted three times:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The revenge of my fellow villagers is achieved!\" He then shouted: \"Jin bandits, do you know that a common man has no\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>unavenged enmity?\" His strength exhausted, he died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Strange Records of the Northern Song: Volume on True Gods and Constellations,\" Volume One\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Records of Strange Events in the Northern Song: Volume of True Gods and Constellations,\" Book One\u003C\u002Fp>",8251,"2026-06-06T07:46:32.508Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","e8da502dc9b9ffdd4db0dbda5de97fe6a0aa2ff27eb0d13c04dfa68053f7fd8f","shao-song-chapter-473","shao-song-chapter-471",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]