Book 61 Chapter 9 – Flying Arrow Letter
Before w.a.n.g Xuanshu had a chance to go downstairs, Dong Shuni charged inside, unleashing her coquettish anger in a big way and said, “What do you and Kou Zhong think you are doing? I’m here now to ask for him, hand him over to me immediately.”
However, her gestures did not match her words, she frequently pointed downstairs. Looking at her, w.a.n.g Xuanshu had no idea what she was getting at, but Xu Ziling finally understood. He responded, “Zaixia has a secret matter to report to Guifei, after Guifei understand, you will think that we are pardonable; however, I can only report it to Guifei alone.”
Then he signaled w.a.n.g Xuanshu with his eyes and said, “No one is allowed to disturb us, Guifei’s attendants can go to the ground floor to wait for orders.”
While he was still suspicious, w.a.n.g Xuanshu led Dong Shuni’s entourage downstairs.
Dong Shuni still deliberately raised her voice, saying, “All right! I will listen to what you have to say.” She plopped her b.u.t.ts down on the seat Kou Zhong had just vacated.
Xu Ziling cleared his heart to listened attentively for quite half a day, then he nodded and said, “Guifei may speak without any worry!”
Dong Shuni reached over, pulled his sleeve, and then, looking as if she was about to cry, she said anxiously, “You have to leave immediately, Huangshang, under Jiancheng, Yuanji, Yin Zuwen, Pei Ji and the others’ instigation, has accepted Bi Xuan’s condition, which is you must not leave Chang’an alive.”
Xu Ziling intuitively felt that every word she said came out of her lungs and guts, she was not pretending at all. Greatly astonished, he said, “Such a secret matter, how could they let you know?”
Dong Shuni let go of his sleeves and spoke in distress, “No matter what, you ought to believe me this time. Last night Huangshang summoned me to accompany him to lie down, and then Wei Gonggong came to report that you were going to the Hong Yi Palace to see Qin w.a.n.g, and Huangshang was furious. Later, after talking with Wei Gonggong in low voice, he forced his hot anger down. And then he summoned Jiancheng, Yuanji, Pei Ji, and Yin Zuwen, four men, and they talked for nearly a whole sichen before returning to the bedroom [orig. palace to lie down] to rest, looking like he was preoccupied, plus from time to time his eyes revealed an ominous glint, no matter how I fawned on him, he still had the same expression. Finally, he even summoned Wei Gonggong. I overheard that he was going to see Bi Xuan and Zhao Deyan. If it was not related to your life and death, how could he alarm Bi Xuan in the depth of the night like that?”
Xu Ziling felt a chill down his entire spine, he spoke heavily, “You are taking such a risk to warn us, aren’t you afraid of raising other people’s suspicions?”
A look of disdain appeared at the corner of Dong Shuni’s mouth, she laughed and said, “They just treat me as a plaything without a brain, I will definitely make them regret it.”
Knitting his brows, Xu Ziling said, “You betrayed them just for this reason?”
Although the two people did not explicitly say who ‘they’ were referring to, but in their heart, they both knew clearly said that they were talking about Li Yuan and Yang Xuyan.
Dong Shuni’s pair of eyes emitted deep hatred, she spoke in low voice, “Xuanshu biaoxiong [older male cousin from mother’s side] is the only blood relative left in the w.a.n.g family, and I, Dong Shuni, will never allow anyone to kill him. Ziling! Trust me! You have no chance in Chang’an, you must get away immediately. Bi Xuan is a very terrifying person, he is the devil king among the Tujue, I am very scared of him!”
Xu Ziling’s heart sank straight down, Dong Shuni was right, they no longer had a chance of success in Chang’an, because Li Yuan had completely drawn close towards Jiancheng and Bi Xuan’s side, if it wasn’t for Dong Shuni braving death to tell them, they would still have a thread of hope of luck toward Li Yuan.
This morning Li Yuan was willing to restrain his anger and personally went to the Hong Yi Palace to forgive Li Shimin, it was just to trick them into returning to the city. As for interrupting the duel between Bi Xuan and Kou Zhong, it was very likely due to the failed a.s.sa.s.sination of Xu Ziling, he felt that it was not the right time, or perhaps there were other reasons, hence the reason Bi Xuan looked so relaxed.
Dong Shuni’s whisper continued into his ears, “I hate Li Yuan, and I hate Yang Xuyan even more. Kou Zhong is right, they killed my Da Jiu’s [oldest uncle from mother’s side] entire family.”
Xu Ziling said, “Weren’t you refusing to believe what Kou Zhong told you?”
Dong Shuni’s hot tears finally burst out of the socket of her eyes, with tears flowing down her face, she spoke sorrowfully, “When I went back, I looked for Ling Longjiao to complain bitterly [orig. to have bitter digestive fluids rising to the mouth, fig. to pour out one’s sufferings], she reminded me what kind of people you are, so that I was just like waking up from a confused nightmare, I figured out what happened before, which made no sense to me. You guys must leave quickly!”
Xu Ziling remembered what Mei Xun said at the Fu Ju Lou to sound out their and Song Que’s situation. The reason why Li Yuan suddenly changed his att.i.tude, so that things were developing rapidly after an abrupt turn was most likely because he mistakenly thought that Song Que was seriously injured in the decisive battle with Yue Shan, and was unable to show an interest in what happened in the north. Therefore, if he could kill Kou Zhong and him, Xu Ziling now, and temporarily relieve the threat of the invasion of the allied armies from outside the Great Wall, he might be able to seize the good once-in-a-thousand-year-opportunity to unify the world. Based on his so-reluctant-to-give-up-his-power att.i.tude, how could he be willing to lightly miss this opportunity?
Dong Shuni raised her sleeves to wipe away her tears, she said, “Where is Ling Longjiao?”
Xu Ziling said, “We already sent people to escort her back to beyond the Great Wall. Shuni, you pretend to be angry now and go back to the palace immediately. Don’t worry about us, we have a plan.”
Avoiding the eyes and ears of the servants and the mansion guards, Kou Zhong sneaked to the garden inside the mansion house next to Liu Zhenghui’s study room, he focused his power into his pair of ears. Sure enough, the Emperor of Heaven did not fail a resolute person.
Liu Zhenghui was just having a secret talk with Chang He, what they were talking about was precisely him, Kou Zhong. He heard Chang He said, “This matter really makes people in difficulties left and right; you tell me! What should I do now?”
Liu Zhenghui muttered to himself irresolutely for a moment, then said, “Kou Zhong, whether in the ident.i.ty of Shaoshuai or Mo Yixin, is supremely honorable and righteous. I don’t think he will reveal his relationship with you. As long as you and I act like we don’t know about it, we should be able to avoid disaster.”
Chang He sighed and said, “If I thought so, I wouldn’t have come to you and drag you into this matter. What makes me in difficulty is that last night, Taizi deployed the best of Changlin’s elite troops to set an ambush outside the Xing Qing Palace’s gate, to put Shaoshuai, four men to the death in one fell swoop, fortunately, Shaoshuai revealed his Mo Yixin’s ident.i.ty to me in time, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable.”
Aghast, Liu Zhenghui said, “Unexpectedly there is such thing? Taizi is not afraid of Huangshang’s punishment?”
Chang He spoke heavily, “My guess is that Huangshang gave his consent to this matter, otherwise how could Taizi dare to be this brazen? I heard that Xieli proposed a condition to Huangshang, as long as he offers Shaoshuai’s head, he guarantees that he will not invade the Central Plains within three years.”
Liu Zhenghui spoke in a trembling voice, “Xieli has the heart of a wolf, how could his words be easily trusted? Moreover, if Shaoshuai is killed, Song Que will certainly be angered, and the world will be turbulent. How could Huangshang be so willing to risk the world’s anger?”
Chang He said, “There are rumors in Jianghu that Song Que was seriously injured in the decisive battle against Yue Shan, in the short term it will be difficult for him to lead troops to the battlefield. This rumor influences Huangshang‘s intention in forming an alliance.”
Hearing that, Kou Zhong on the outside was shocked, musing that turned out that was what happened, no wonder Li Yuan unexpectedly allowed Bi Xuan to deal with him.
Liu Zhenghui said, “If Shaoshuai is killed, how could there still be a place for Qin w.a.n.g in Chang’an?”
Chang He sighed and said, “Therefore, you should understand by now why I came to consult with you.”
‘Tock!’
Kou Zhong sent out a finger wind to hit the window.
The window opened, revealing Chang He and Liu Zhenghui’s shocked countenance.
Kou Zhong, who has transformed himself into the ugly divine doctor Mo Yixin, appeared outside the window and said with a smile, “Two gentlemen LaoGe Daren, how are you? May I come in and say a few words?”
After Dong Shuni left, Xu Ziling lost the mood to wait, doing nothing; he hurriedly went downstairs, contemplating whether he ought to go to Kou Zhong and tell him this important matter concerning their life or death, success or failure.
Ba Fenghan came back, his demeanor leisurely, he smiled and said, “Ziling is going out? Shall Ol’ Ba come with you for a moment?”
Momentarily Xu Ziling set aside the load on mis mind, he scrutinized Ba Fenghan’s expression in astonishment, and said, “Where did you slip away to? Unexpectedly you are in such a good mood?”
Shrugging his shoulders, Ba Fenghan laughed and said, “I just sent out a challenge letter to Bi Xuan, crossing over Ke Dazhi, this nasty obstacle, forcing him to a decisive battle, naturally my mood is very good.”
Staring blankly, Xu Ziling asked, “How did you send a challenge letter to Bi Xuan?”
Ba Fenghan patted the Shooting-the-Moon Bow hidden inside his outer robe, he spoke cheerfully, “Naturally I sent the letter using the divine bow. I picked the tallest paG.o.da in the monastery at the Xiu De [lit. cultivating virtue] Lane next to the imperial palace, and shot an arrow across Yeting Palace, straight toward the Tao Chi, and write a letter in Tujue language, addressed to Bi Xuan personally, guaranteeing that the challenge letter will fall into his hands. If he is a little ashamed, he will have no choice but to come to the meeting on time.”
Xu Ziling’s countenance changed, he said, “When and where will the decisive battle be?”
Ba Fenghan nonchalantly replied, “Just before sunrise tomorrow, the location is up to him to choose, I am quietly waiting for his good news.”
Xu Ziling felt a great headache, musing that before the first wave subsides, a new wave rises, things were like a wild horse escaping its fold, no longer under anybody’s control.
Chang He and Liu Zheng welcomed their old friend ‘Mo Yixin’ from the window into the study room, both had all sorts of feelings welled up in their heart, their mood was contradictory and was in difficult position, neither one knew how to express their feeling.
Kou Zhong, using Mo Yixin’s trademark and the unpleasant-to-hear voice, took the initiative to speak [orig. the guest acts as the host], “Two gentlemen Daren, please sit down first and then we’ll talk. This time I am coming here remembering our brotherhood, giving thought to your, as well as the army and civilians of the entire city’s life, family and properties, to offer the only feasible way. You must never, ever hesitate, because there is only one way to survive.”
Deeply worried and sick at heart, Chang He and Liu Zhenghui sat down beside him, on his left and right. The former sighed and said, “We have already committed the crime of deceiving the lord because of you. Ay! What do you want us to do?”
Liu Zhenghui said, “Under current situation, Mo Xiong … oh! No! Shaoshuai practically cannot do anything at all.”
Kou Zhong spoke indifferently, “Supposing I immediately pull my troops and leave, two gentlemen think what kind of situation will Chang’an be in?”
Chang He and Liu Zhenghui wanted to say something but then hesitated, in the end they remained silent.
Kou Zhong solemnly said, “What you dare not say, let Xiaodi say it on your behalf. At that time, my only choice will be to return to Liangdu and prepare for the battle with all my strength. When the allied forces outside the Great Wall are coming down south to attack Chang’an, I will promptly send troops to Luoyang. And at that time, Li Yuan will be forced to strip Qin w.a.n.g’s military power, or even put Qin w.a.n.g to death for the crime of treason. When the big tree is gone, the Great Wall is falling, the army’s heart will be destroyed and dispersed. Not only will the Great Tang Kingdom be powerless to resist the invasion of the allied armies from beyond the Great Wall, there will be no one who can resist me even more. I can guarantee that the various high-ranking military officers under Qin w.a.n.g’s control will surrender to me, Kou Zhong, one by one, because that is the wisest choice. At that time the safety and danger of the Central Earth will be decided by the battle between me and Xieli, the Great Tang Kingdom’s allotted share remaining will be to wait to be slaughtered.”
His appearance was the ugly divine doctor Mo Yixin, but his voice and demeanor were that of the Shaoshuai Kou Zhong, whose name shook the world, toward Chang and Liu, two men, it produced a strange intimidating effect.
Chang He said, “This matter has a hundred benefits without a single harm to Shaoshuai, why do you still want to stay here and take risks?”
Kou Zhong tore off his mask and put it into his bosom, his pair of eyes flashed with radiance, he said with a serious expression, “I’m not doing it for myself, but for the common people of the Central Earth. They have suffered so much, they can’t no longer bear a large-scale ravaging fire of war that continue for many years and months. You may have guessed it, I don’t want to be the emperor myself, rather, I hope that after the unification of the world, a virtuous and capable person will preside there. This ruler is precisely Li Shimin. If I, Kou Zhong, have a single empty word, let me not have a good death. I know that two gentlemen are people faithful to the ruler and love your country, however, the people are the most important, the ruler is secondary. At this moment, when the country is ruined and the people starving could happen any moment, those with aspiration for the people’s welfare should make the right choice, otherwise, any mistake will be difficult to rectify, and will have to take responsibility of the terrifying consequences even more.”
Smiling bitterly, Chang He said, “We absolutely believe Shaoshuai’s sincerity, however, the problem is that even if we are willing to throw out lot to Shaoshuai, at this moment when Huangshang, Taizi, and Qi w.a.n.g are on the all-out defensive, we are still in the will is there, but not the strength – state.”
Kou Zhong happily said, “With what Chang Daren said, I already feel that this trip has not been made in vain. But first, I want to ask you, people like you who cannot stand by idly and watch Huangshang being generous to Jiancheng but meager toward Shimin, how many are there? Among the Great Tang’s ministers and generals, how many approve Jiancheng’s, disregarding shame, curry favor and collude with the Tujue, who still have the ambition of wild wolves against us – conduct and deeds?”
Liu Zhenghui said, “Is Shaoshuai planning to execute … hey …”
Shaking his head, Kou Zhong said, “The ones I want to kill are Jiancheng and Yuanji, but Li Yuan must abdicate and make way for the worthy person.”
Chang He dejectedly said, “That is impossible.”
Kou Zhong calmly said, “You haven’t answered my question yet. If Qin w.a.n.g and Jiancheng, Yuanji are in open conflict, how many people will stand on Qin w.a.n.g’s side?”
Liu Zhenghui spoke honestly, “Most of the soldiers and civilians in Chang’an City are in favor of Qin w.a.n.g.”
Raising his hand, Kou Zhong said, “That will do! I have a team of elite troops, one person can block one hundred – resting their head on the dagger-axe outside the city, they can enter the city at any time to help out. Combined with Qin w.a.n.g’s Dark-Armored elite troops, we have enough power to change the sky in Chang’an [‘change the sky’ is also a term meaning restoration of reactionary rule or the previous regime]. Under the premise of national justice, you must make a choice, or I will immediately leave the city and go far away, no longer care about Chang’an’s affair.”
‘Bang!’
Chang He’s palm slapped the small table next to him, he said, “Very well! I, Chang He believe in Shaoshuai and Qin w.a.n.g, so it’s decided. Zhenghui, what do you think?”
Liu Zhenghui said, “Just by looking at how Shaoshuai did not kill us to shut our mouth but only choose to leave, I know clearly what kind of person Shaoshuai is. I, Liu Zhenghui, have always boasted that I have read the books of the sages intensively, so I should know the principle of choosing the right course and follow it. Very well! Shaoshuai, please bestow your instruction.”
Xu Ziling sat blankly at the top of the stone steps in front of the Double-Splendor Building’s main gate, waiting painstakingly for Kou Zhong to return.
Ba Fenghan returned to his bedroom to meditate behind closed doors, in preparation to take up the challenge.
This moment Hou Xibai came back, strolling leisurely. Even with such a heavy heart, Xu Ziling still felt his stretched-taut nerves obtained relief by his naturally elegant and leisurely demeanor. Hou Xibai was not only well versed in letters and martial arts, he was also a wonderful person who was content with who he was.
Hou Xibai sat down by his side him and said with a laugh, “This is called near the cinnabar, one would turn scarlet. I never thought that I would sit on the stone steps, unexpectedly it’s so cool and comfortable.”
But then he grinned mysteriously and said, “Guess what I brought back.”
Under the gentle spring afternoon sun, being in the garden of Xing Qing Palace, making people unable to imagine the hustle and bustle of the city streets outside the palace, it was even more difficult to a.s.sociate it with the tense atmosphere of vicious troops and dangerous battles.
Xu Ziling smiled and said, “Why don’t you come and guess, what good thing I have in my head to tell you.”
Staring blankly, Hou Xibai said, “How would I know?”
Xu Ziling said, “You are speaking out my answer.”
The two men looked at each other, and then roared in laughter together, br.i.m.m.i.n.g with friendly regard of intimate brotherhood.
Catching his breath, Hou Xibai said, “All right! Let me tell you! I met Ma Chang in Furong Ye mansion. This person is indeed a talent who can take heavy responsibilities upon himself; he had already seen through that our situation is not too encouraging, these past two days, with the help of Huang He Bang, he transferred some of the brothers and weapons into the city. They were mainly hiding in the secret cabins of the boats moored at the dock, unless the enemy had definite information, no need to worry that they would be detected.”
Xu Ziling nodded and said, “He did a good job, very good!”
Hou Xibai said, “After hearing the message I pa.s.sed on, he decided to give up the Duke Yang’s Treasure-house secret pa.s.sage and instead expedite the operation to infiltrate the city. As soon as our Shaoshuai Daye [big master] sends the signal, he can respond with the signal. Ha! You finally guessed the life-saving treasure in my bosom!”
Knitting his brows, Xu Ziling said, “Is it a firework fire-arrow to send signal?”
Hou Xibai patted him on the shoulder vigorously, while with the other hand he took out a firework fire-arrow wrapped in wax paper, saying, “The firework fire-arrow is divided into three colors: red, green, and yellow, each type has four arrows. If seeing red, Ma Chang will lead his men to attack towards the place from which the fire-arrow is rising to the sky; green means the target of a.s.sault is the Xuanwu Gate behind the Taiji Palace’s main entrance, and yellow means to capture the sluice gate of Yong’An Ca.n.a.l leading out of the city, to provide support to our escape via the waterway.”
Xu Ziling sighed in praise, “Ma Chang thought of everything very carefully.”
Hou Xibai said, “Ma Chang said it’s best for them to be in a direct contact with the Tian Ce Fu, so that during the uprising they can cooperate with the Dark-Armored troops. Currently he is relying on the Huang He Bang’s vast network of eyes and ears [i.e. spies] inside the city, he knows the troops’ distribution in the city like the back of his hand. However, he does not know much about the situation inside the imperial palace, especially the troops stationed in the West Inner Garden under the command of Tang Jian.”
Xu Ziling said, “When Kou Zhong returns, he will meet with Ma Chang to give him instructions and make arrangements. In this regard, he is better than me.”
Concerned, Hou Xibai asked, “Where’s Lao Ba?”
Xu Ziling replied, “He went back to his room to sleep.”
Hou Xibai was greatly delighted, and then he yawned, and said with a laugh, “It’s good that he is back! I also want to lie down and have a good sleep, tonight we still have to go see Shigong. Hey! What is it in your head that you wanted to tell me?”
Xu Ziling replied indifferently, “Bu Si Yin Fa.”
Stunned, Hou Xibai looked at him.
Xu Ziling stared fixedly at him for quite half a day, he said, “Lingshi [your esteemed master] has pa.s.sed on Bu Si Yin Fa to me, and now I will pa.s.s it on to you. When you feel you have a grasp on it, Yang Xuyan will be handed over to you, for you to take the responsibility of clearing up your school. What do you think?”
Hou Xibai said in disbelief, “Shizun unexpectedly pa.s.sed on the Bu Si Yin Fa to you? Laotian [Heavens]! What’s going on here? Is it good news or bad news?”
Remembering Shi Qingxuan, Xu Ziling smiled wryly and said, “Don’t ask me, because I’m greatly confused as well. It is only now that I truly grasped what it means to turn life into death and death into life, why Lingshi think that Bu Si Yin Fa is some kind of an illusion technique, and that Song Que has the similar view.”
Hou Xibai was listening with blank expression, he had nothing to say.
Xu Ziling spoke indifferently, “Bu Si Yin Fa is some kind of illusion technique after it reaches perfection, the target is the meridians inside our brains, which can cause all kinds of illusions. After knowing the enemy, confuse the enemy and fool the enemy, combined with the ability to transform death into life, and make the real qi to be in the peak state for a long time, a unique method to recycle the qi, hence it could stand in the place of not dead.”
Hou Xibai exhaled a long breath, he said, “Ziling, please give directions.”