Book 55 Chapter 1 – Coming Back from Death’s Door

Translator: Foxs" Wuxia

The boat sailed downstream to the east.

Xu Ziling and Hou Xibai were standing on the stern, watching any movement behind them, to see whether there was any suspicious boat following their track. Their enemy was the Xiang Family, who was world-famous in their search and intelligence gathering skill, hence they had no choice but to be careful in dealing with them.

Steering the boat was a subordinate of one of Lei Jiuzhi’s gang and society friends, he knew the Yangtze River waterway like the back of his hand.

Lei Jiuzhi came to Xu Ziling’s other side and spoke excitedly, “This is an important turning point in our grand plan to destroy the Xiang [Family]; it should be brilliant beyond compare.”

Hou Xibai laughed and said, “What do you mean brilliant?”

Lei Jiuzhi cheerfully said, “The Xiang Family is so nervous and mobilizes their entire manpower and uses their resources all across the country to search for Han Zenan, husband and wife, there is a reason behind it.”

Hearing that, Xu Ziling and Hou Xibai’s spirit was greatly aroused.

Lei Jiuzhi went on, “When Han Zenan found out that Bai Xiaochang was pregnant [orig. there were six armors in her body/bosom], he made up his mind to flee, thereupon he carefully planned his steps, including stealing away an important registry book and an account book, containing all the detailed information about the Xiang Family’s pleasure houses and casinos scattered all over the place, including the local operators in various regions’ surname and given name, as well as their salaries. If we have this account book, the Xiang Clan’s evil kingdom will be in our hands. When Han Zenan, husband and wife escaped from the Xiang Family, they hid the account book in a secret place, they were prepared to use it as protective talisman if necessary, and then they fled to a small town in Bashu where the Xiang Family’s power cannot reach. The hidden city of Badong is also a place where the Xiang Family does not open casino or pleasure house. No one knows the Xiang Family’s power distribution better than they do.”

Hou Xibai spoke in delight, “We immediately go get those account book and register out.”

Lei Jiuzhi said, “This account book records the situation during the old Sui dynasty’s Yang Di [Emperor], now there are already a lot of changes, it can only be used as a reference, but naturally it is still very useful.”

Xu Ziling asked, “What has changed in between?”

Lei Jiuzhi replied, “The Xiang Family forcefully capture women from ordinary families, there are several purposes. First of all, it was to cater to Yang Guang’s demand, to fit his fancy, hoping that with Yang Guang’s protection, they could strengthen and expand the Xiang Family’s influence. Secondly, it was to maintain adequate ‘supply’ for the pleasure houses and casinos in all parts of the country. In addition, it was to provide new generations of disciples for various sects of the demonic school, so that the various sects could have qualified successors to carry on their undertaking. Apart from these three aspects, the women that have undergone training can be sold to influential officials and rich families, so that they could earn profit directly. Therefore, the Xiang Family was able to expand their power to the whole nation in just a short period of a dozen years.”

Xu Ziling could not help looking at Hou Xibai, Hou Xibai shook his head and said, “I still have clear recollection of my childhood, it had nothing to do with the Xiang Family.”

Lei Jiuzhi nodded and said, “The Xiang Family’s shady business of human trafficking happened after Yang Guang succeeded the throne, they never have guessed that Yang Guang would be defeated and dispersed that quickly. It was only after the old Sui was destroyed by Yuwen Huaji that they did not dare to do that kind of offending the crowd angering the public shady business with open eyes and open guts. However, their pleasure house and casino business have already taken root in various places, as long as they can curry favor with those in power, they can continue to flourish and expand. Under such circ.u.mstances, they look up and hook up with Li Jiancheng, who has the greatest chance to become the emperor, therefore, they make all-out effort to draw close and to support him.”

Xu Ziling spoke heavily, “Therefore, as long as the one ascending the throne is either Li Shimin or Kou Zhong, the Xiang Family’s power will crumble. I just don’t know what exactly is the relationship between the Xiang Family and the holy school?”

Lei Jiuzhi said, “The real relationship, I am afraid only Xiang Gui himself knows clearly. He should be somebody whom the demonic school’s Two Sects and Six Ways cooperate to cultivate, to have him do everything, by fair means or foul, to ama.s.s wealth and to expand their power for the demonic school. Xiang Gui has three sons, you guys already know Chi Shengchun and Xiang Yushan, but their eldest brother, even you guys won’t be able to guess who he is.”

Hearing that, the two were stunned.

Lowering his voice, Lei Jiuzhi said, “Rumor has it that he is the old Sui n.o.bility Yang WenGan, who has close relationship with Yang Xuyan. He was sent by Xiang Gui to the imperial court to wait upon Yang Guang, to supply him with his demand for degenerate pleasures. As a result, Yang Guang bestowed him the surname Yang, so from Xiang WenGan, he shook his body and changed into Yang WenGan, who established the Jingzhao Lian, as an expansion of his power in Guanzhong. According to my estimate, Yang Xuyan, in his capacity as a demonic school people, plus he is able to see the Xiang Family’s value in their vast resources that he could use, he wallows in the mire with Yang WenGan; on the surface, they are doing everything they can to support Li Jiancheng, but are actually harboring different sinister design in their bosom, they are conspiring for their own benefit.”

Xu Ziling suddenly understood, no wonder in raising a rebellion, Yang WenGan involved the Xiang Family and the demonic school’s factions.

Hou Xibai said, “Now, if the Xiang Family knew that Han Xiong, husband and wife are working together with us, how would Xiang Gui react?”

At this time, skipping and hopping excitedly, Jie’er’s little face turned red, he pulled Hou Xibai’s sleeve, and blurted out, “Niang said that Hou Shushu is the best master painter in the world. Shushu! Can you draw portrait for Jie’er, Die and Niang?”

Hou Xibai was unable to refuse. Being pulled away by Xiao Jie’er, he turned his head around and spoke to the two men with a wry smile, “I may not be the best master painter, but the remuneration for my artistic work certainly is the most expensive. However, this time I am working for free.”

After the two persons, one big one little, left, muttering to himself irresolutely, Xu Ziling said, “Hereafter, what kind of plan is the Xiang Family going to make? Could it be that they are going to close all the pleasure houses and the casinos?”

Lei Jiuzhi said, “At least Xiang Gui, before his power is pulled up by the roots, will withdraw his businesses from the places within Kou Zhong’s territory.”

Xu Ziling looked up at the night sky, Kou Zhong’s face floated up in his heart. Before the Xiang Family being pulled up by the roots, could Kou Zhong escape the same fate?

Kou Zhong and Ba Fenghan mounted their horses, confronting the enemy advancing toward the bottom of the slope of the mountain stronghold, behind the two men’s horses were the three thousand Shao Shuai Army’s brave riders, in neat formation at the top of the slope outside the gate of the stronghold, waiting in tight battle array; they were only waiting for Kou Zhong to issue his order to attack.

The enemy came to a halt and formed their battle array. On the front line, commanding them were Luo Shixin and Liu Dewei, respectively. Both men were famous generals, veterans of a hundred battles. If Kou Zhong wanted to gain the initiative by striking first and attacking their disposition of troops, they could quickly order their men to form a defensive disposition-of-troops style, using the lance-and-shield-wielders and archers to heavily protect the crossbow-and-arrow machines and the flying-rock-big-cannon, ready to deliver frontal a.s.sault on Kou Zhong’s troops, so that momentarily the situation would turn into direct confrontation.

The divine light in Kou Zhong’s pair of eyes was flashing, victory or defeat, life or death, have already been put aside, his only thought was how much damage he could deliver to the enemy at the time of his death in battle.

Lowering his voice, Ba Fenghan addressed Bing Yuanzhen and Ba Yegang behind them, “Shaoshuai and I will charge into the enemy ranks first, you guys wait for an opportunity to follow behind and render a.s.sistance. Remember, you must concentrate your power, you must not be dispersed.”

Bing Yuanzhen and Ba Yegang nodded their acceptance of the order. In the world, perhaps only Kou Zhong and Ba Fenghan, plus very few more people, who had the guts and the capability to face the enemy’s magnificent army with thousands of men and horses without any fear, and even dared to charge and break through the enemy lines head-on.

Kou Zhong reached out to stroke the horse’s neck, and said with a sigh, “I am really sorry horsey, but I will definitely pay the debt of blood for your sake.”

Bing Yuanzhen, two men sighed inwardly. Under the enemy’s arrow and crossbow shooting together, Kou Zhong and Ba Fenghan able to escape alive would already be very hard to come by, but the horse under their crotch would definitely be not lucky enough to escape.

Two warriors rushed out from inside the stronghold, separately delivering two big shields into Kou Zhong and Ba Fenghan’s hands, saying that they received General Ma Chang’s order to do that, and then they returned to the stronghold.

Kou Zhong sent his true qi into the shield, so that it created a clear metallic ring. Looking into the distance at Li Shimin’s main force far behind the enemy ranks, he laughed aloud and said, “In all my life, I, Kou Zhong have experience countless military campaign, big and small, there has never been anybody able to do something to me. I want to see if this time Li Shimin can make an exception or not.”

“Put out the fire!” Ba Fenghan shouted loudly.

Suddenly all torches in the mountain stronghold were extinguished. Inside and outside the mountain stronghold suddenly fell into darkness. Kou Zhong and his men, the team of cavalry, were like dissolving into the dark. Compared to the enemy ranks, where the torches were shining brightly, one bright, the other dark, it suddenly formed some kind of suffocating atmosphere that made people unable to breathe.

Kou Zhong squeezed the horse’s belly with his legs, he rushed down the hillside. Ba Fenghan was following him closely.

Bing Yuanzhen, Ba Yegang, and Ma Chang, who was staying inside the stronghold, shouted together. The Shao Shuai Army inside and outside the stronghold roared in response, washing away the dejected air from being besieged by the powerful enemy and were forced to take a beating.

Currently, the greatest capital of the Shao Shuai Army was their unrivalled two leaders, Kou Zhong and Ba Fenghan. And their success or failure lay in whether they would be able to create another miracle, to bring them out of the misfortune of the total defeat of an army. But even those who had extreme confidence in the two, facing the enemy’s overwhelming superiority, even if they had stronger faith, it was still difficult to escape from wavering inwardly.

The enemy’s battle drums were beaten forcefully, the archers bent their bows and put on their arrow, they waited with concentrated momentum.

Luo Shixin shouted his order, the fighters at the rear moved forwards, closer to the front line, trying not to leave any s.p.a.ce as much as possible, so that the two men did not have any gap from which they could easily charge into the troop disposition. If Kou Zhong and Ba Fenghan forcefully charged into the enemy’s formation, since they were lacking the situation where they could move their hands and feet freely, it would be difficult to avoid the disaster of having their dead bodies chopped randomly by the sabers.

Kou Zhong and Ba Fenghan came halfway down the slope. There was still over one thousand paces distance separating them from the closest enemy. Utilizing the man-and-horse-as-one technique to the fullest, they reined the horse to a stop at the same time.

The warhorses reared and neighed.

Luo Shixin knew that the two men wanted to use the divine bow to launch long-distance attack, thereupon he reissued the order, the rear cavalry was divided further into one-thousand-man units, galloping out from the left and right, two wings, striving for the initiative. At the same time, the two rows of lance-and-shield-wielders and the three rows of flying-arrow archers at the front line, in orderly formation, advanced toward Kou Zhong and Ba Fenghan. The sound of the rushing hooves of the warhorses and the footsteps of the infantry created a rhythm of death with an intense aura of killing.

This moment where a thousand pounds were hanging by a thread, Kou Zhong still had the time to flash a toothy grin toward Ba Fenghan and said, “If this time LaoGe do not die, I am afraid Bi Xuan will no longer be your match.”

Ba Fenghan swept his gaze over the enemy’s infantry advancing straight ahead and the cavalry charging from both wings, his pair of eyes shooting divine light, he spoke heavily, “We will definitely not die.”

He has not even finished speaking, rapid sound of gongs suddenly arose, coming from Li Shimin’s command army far behind the front line, unexpectedly it was an urgent order to retreat.

Stunned, Kou Zhong and Ba Fenghan looked at each other, they were completely at a loss on what was going on before their eyes.

Xu Ziling and Lei Jiuzhi entered the cabin of the boat, they wanted to see what the Han Clan’s husband and wife, and Jie’er would look like under Hou Xibai’s amazing brush. Yun Yuzhen’s cabin door opened, revealing her dainty-like-former-time’s jade countenance, as she spoke softly, “I wonder if I could have a few words with Ziling?”

Lei Jiuzhi patted Xu Ziling’s shoulder, he tactfully continued alone. Xu Ziling had no choice but to enter Yun Yuzhen’s cabin, and sat down on the chair by the window.

Yun Yuzhen sat down across the small table, she let out a light sigh.

Xu Ziling asked in astonishment, “Why does Meiren’er Shifu still have a load on your mind?”

Revealing a pained expression, Yun Yuzhen sighed and said, “Ay! Meiren’er Shifu? It’s been a long time since I heard such a pleasant-to-the-ear’s compliment. Today Yun Yuzhen’s elegance is no more. Can Ziling feel the boat sailing along the Great River, breaking the waves? Listening to the familiar sound of the wind moving the river water, the familiar sound of the water crashing against the hull splitting the waves, everything is so moving. Before, I was accustomed to it all, so much so that I felt fed up with it. But now, at this moment, I knew what precious things I have lost. It’s a pity that nothing can be recovered.”

Xu Ziling knew she regretted her past action, in which she made her subordinates people rebelling and friends deserting. After pondering for a moment, he spoke with serious expression, “To return to the previous condition, certainly it is impossible, but Meiren’er Shifu, you can treat the past with a different att.i.tude. As far as I’m concerned, experience is enough. Why don’t Meiren’er Shifu get your feelings in order and make wise choices for the future? Life will still be beautiful and rich.”

Smiling bitterly, Yun Yuzhen said, “The difference between you and Kou Zhong is that you tell the truth. I was originally all right, I was just having an emotional stirring for a short while, wanting to pour out what’s on my mind.” After a slight pause, she turned her head around to meet his gaze. Appearing to be casual, she said, “Have you guys thought about how you are going to deal with Xiao Xian?”

It was Xu Ziling’s turn to smile bitterly and said, “While Kou Zhong’s life or death is still unknown, I wonder if such question is not too far away? I hear Xiao Xian, Li Zitong, and Fu Gongyou have formed an alliance, they want to work together to deal with Du Fuwei; is that true?”

Yun Yuzhen replied, “Xiao Xian and Fu Gongyou forming an alliance is true, but it has nothing to do with Li Zitong. Since Li Zitong already surrendered to the House of Tang, how could he dare to take the risk to offend the House of Tang by dealing with Du Fuwei, who, just like him, has already surrendered to be a minister of the Li’s Tang?”

Xu Ziling could not help asking, “What exactly is going on between Xiao Xian and the Xiang Family?”

Frank and straightforward, Yun Yuzhen responded, “The relationship between Xiao Xian and the Xiang Family is the relationship between Baling Bang and the Xiang Family, a relationship of mutual benefit. During the old dynasty, Baling Bang, due to the Xiang Family obtaining Yang Guang’s support, went on the rampage without any scruple, their power expanded rapidly. The previous Bangzhu, the ‘Smoke Rod’ Lu Kangshou was an ambitious person, not only he wanted to function as rivals with the Xiang Family, he even wanted to swallow the Xiang Family’s gambling establishment and pleasure house business. Xiang Gui thus conspired with Xiao Xian, they had Yang Xuyan making his move to a.s.sa.s.sinate Lu Kangshou, which resulted in Xiao Xian ascending the Baling Bang’s Bangzhu throne.”

Stunned, Xu Ziling said, “Unexpectedly there is such matter?”

Yun Yuzhen nodded and said, “But Xiao Xian and the Xiang Family’s relationship is on the verge of collapsing, the problem is because Xiao Xian is unwilling to adapt to the situation, to work together with Lin Shihong. Does Ziling know that Lin Shihong is the most outstanding figure of the new generation outside Yin Gui Pai?”

Xu Ziling nodded to indicate that he knew, but then he wondered, “Since Xiang Yushan is supporting Lin Shihong, why did in the past he incited Kou Zhong and I to a.s.sa.s.sinate Ren Shaoming, who was in cooperation with Lin Shihong? Also, Yang Xuyan’s a.s.sa.s.sination attempt on Xiang Yushan, what was that about?”

Yun Yuzhen replied, “That was then, this is now. At that time, the Xiang Family still thought that Xiao Xian was a puppet under their control, they were hoping that while the whole country is in rebellion, they could fish in troubled water, hence they set themselves in opposition against Yin Gui Pai. But now, various factions of the demonic school are uniting into one; because Xiao Xian has some misgivings toward the demonic school, he no longer wanted to work together with the Xiang Family. As for Yang Xuyan’s a.s.sa.s.sination attempt on Xiang Yushan, it was just a joint performance; otherwise, how could it happen exactly when you guys were with Xiang Yushan? Why would they want to abandon the easy and seek the difficult?”

Xu Ziling finally figured out the complicated relationship between Xiao Xian and the Xiang family. Furthermore, he had a faint guess that there was a very high chance that Yun Yuzhen, who was very casual about man-woman relationship, had some secret dealings with Xiao Xian, hence she was concerned about Xiao Xian’s fate. Taking a deep breath, he said, “No matter who will be the ultimate victor in the struggle between Kou Zhong and Li Shimin, Xiao Xian is trapped in one corner of the Great River, in the end he would not be able to escape his fate of being annihilated. Whoever can control Bashu and the Central Plains will be able to put Xiao Xian in order. If that person is Kou Zhong, he definitely will not let Xiao Xian get away. Bangzhu should understand the grat.i.tude and grudges within this matter better than anybody.”

Yun Yuzhen spoke in distress, “Since that’s the case, why would you be willing to let me off?”

Xu Ziling replied, “The real criminal ringleader, the main offender is Xiang Yushan and not you. Yun Bangzhu should not indulge in flights of fancy anymore; let bygones be bygones, the reason we are who we are today, Bangzhu has had a very big contribution, just let the merits and demerits balance up. As long as Bangzhu is willing to help us with all your strength to rid the world of calamity, that would be your greatest achievements and virtue. After arriving in Zhongli, I will go up north to Pengliang to see Kou Zhong’s situation. In the work of dealing with Xiang Gui, Lei Dage is fully in charge, Bangzhu can completely trust him.”

While Kou Zhong, Ba Fenghan, and the entire Shao Shuai Army were unable to make any sense of the matter, they were looking at each other wide-eyed, the originally overbearing, starting to launch all-around offensive Great Tang Army suddenly pulled back like a tide.

When they wanted to come, they simply came, when they wanted to retreat, they simply withdrew.

The Tang Army withdrew, but was not in confusion, putting their excellent training in full display. The first to withdraw was the disposition of troops, and then the crossbow-and-arrow machine and the flying-rock-big-cannon slowly moved behind the army. Li Shimin’s command army also showed some changes, they split to both sides, forming two disposition of troops like two small hills, to give way to the front-line troops to retreat to the rear.

Knitting his brows, Ba Fenghan said, “What trick is Li Shimin playing?”

Sweeping his gaze around, Kou Zhong said, “Perhaps he wants to personally go on stage!”

Shaking his head, Ba Fenghan said, “This is not in line with the art of war at all; although their method is not disorderly, but withdrawing troops involves great risk.”

Smiling wryly, Kou Zhong said, “It’s a pity that we are powerless to attack, otherwise we would be able to make Li Shimin suffer a big loss.”

‘Bang! Bang! Bang!’

Amidst the sound of the retreating gong, the front line of the Tang Army, still in neat formation, retreated to the rear, so that the front-line troops became the troops bringing up the rear, and then they stopped in formation.

Li Shimin’s command army from the left and right closed up, they became the front-line unit, and then withdrew from the slope to a distance of about three thousand paces.

Ba Fenghan spoke indifferently, “As long as Li Shimin uses the Dark Armored Warriors as the main force and the entire cavalry charge over, their strength is enough to bring us completely down.”

Kou Zhong was about to answer, unexpectedly the infantry unit within Li Shimin’s troop disposition started to pull back, so that only the uniform cavalry remained.

Shaken, Kou Zhong said, “My Niang! What’s this all about? Could it be that Li Shimin really wanted to attack the stronghold purely with the cavalry? That would greatly increase his casualties; not wise at all.”

Ba Fenghan cast his gaze to the east side, in the pitch-black wilderness, he did not see any movement.

Kou Zhong was shaken again, and said, “My Niang! Li Shimin is really retreating.”

By this time, Li Shimin’s cavalry on the two wings already turned around and pulled back, leaving only the Dark Armored Warriors under Li Shimin’s command.

Suddenly the enemy’s torches were extinguished one by one, so that the battlefield, both on the enemy and us, two sides fell into deep darkness. The scattering dots of stars, which were previously forgotten, started to reveal their immortal beauty in the parts of the night sky where the clouds failed to cover, abundant with the feeling of peace and tranquility, in stark contrast with the vicious atmosphere of the two armies about to launch fierce battle against each other.

This time it was Ba Fenghan’s tiger-body’s turn to shake, his gaze was cast back toward the open country on the east side, he cried out involuntarily, “It’s the sound of hoof beats!”

Kou Zhong also heard the faint sound of the hooves beating against the ground coming from the east. Pleased beyond his expectation, he said, “Could it be that Xuan Yong and the others finally beat back Li Shiji’s army and turn back to come to help us?”

Behind them, Ma Chang and the others heard the unusual noise, one after another they turned to look to the east.

Kou Zhong’s heart, outside his control, was thumping madly within his chest cavity. Li Shimin’s current strange action, the sound of hoof beats on the east, there was only one explanation, which was there must be men and horses from his side coming to help. Thinking to this point, he turned the horse’s head around and shouted loudly, “Light the fire!”

During the time the torches in the mountain stronghold were re-lighted, from behind the hills on the east side appeared a wide expanse of torches, followed by countless cavalry, covering the mountains and the plains, galloping over the plains on the east, coming toward them, banners were flying majestically.

Severely shaken, Kou Zhong said, “My Niang! Unexpectedly it’s my future father-in-law’s honored-self arriving.”

The Shao Shuai Army of the mountain stronghold came back from the death’s door, their thunderous cheers shook the entire battlefield.

Finally, at the most critical moment, the ‘Heavenly Saber’ Song Que led his troops to come to help.