Fish Meat – Chapter 252

The Tenth Year of Shunde

Like Snapping Dried Twigs and Pulling Up Rotten Wood (19)

There were two thousand remnant troops withdrawn from Ming County in the village. Coupled with the villagers themselves needing food, soon the villagers trapped on the mountain could only deplete their pitifully scarce reserve provisions, then head into the mountains to catch wild rabbits, pheasants, and other wild game that could fill their stomachs. For the first few days, they barely managed to scrape by, but by the tenth day, all food was nearly exhausted.

            

Ah Liao was dizzy and seeing stars after two days of hunger. Most of the soldiers had spent the last five days eating wild grass, tree roots, and bark, leaving every one of them ashen-faced. Even more troubling was that the medicine for the wounded had run out. Wounds that hadn’t fully healed began to fester. Someone in the village knew a smattering of medical arts and sent over some herbal remedies. Several doses were administered internally and externally, but they had no effect. The wounded were already in mortal danger, and worse, if this continued, it could trigger a plague.

Even so, the villagers managed to scrape together some meat, having the village head deliver it to the small, dilapidated hut where Ah Liao was staying.

Ah Liao looked at the basin of meat, astonished. “Where did you get this meat?”

            

The village head spoke earnestly, “Our little village has received the Zhangsun family’s protection for generations, allowing us to live peacefully through so many years of war and chaos. Sending some meat now is just a small token of our gratitude. The Hu bandits are rampant; for us villagers to be able to fight side-by-side with Commandant Zhangsun—we would die without regret!”

Ah Liao accepted the meat with tears in her eyes. After the village head left, she held the basin, and the more she looked at the meat, the stranger it seemed. It didn’t resemble pork or mutton, nor did it look like beef. She couldn’t tell what kind of animal it came from, or which part.

“It’s the flesh of a child.” Ah Zheng, standing nearby, stated it plainly, nearly making Ah Liao’s stomach churn violently, overcome with a sudden urge to vomit.

            

Ah Zheng took the wooden basin. “This is a gesture of goodwill from the villagers.”

Ah Liao shook her head. “Even if I starve to death, I will never eat human flesh, let alone that of an innocent child… Ah Zheng.” After vomiting, her eyes were strikingly clear, though shadowed with sorrow. “If you all are truly starving, then eat it.”

Ah Zheng carried the wooden basin to the back courtyard, found a small tree, and buried the child’s remains.

            

Cries occasionally drifted from outside the courtyard—someone else had starved to death.

The stars were brilliant; the night air was long and cool.

Ah Liao and the Qingyuan Ladies lay in the courtyard, each composing a poem to distract themselves.

            

The poems were well-written, but their stomachs growled loudly. Ah Liao asked if they were afraid of death. Ah Xi replied nonchalantly, “As long as I can be with you, what’s so scary about death?”

The other ladies murmured in agreement. Ah Liao laughed, then cried, letting out a long sigh. She had already made a decision in her heart.

On the twenty-third day, Zhen Wenjun and Xiao Xiao arrived from the rear to rendezvous with Wei Tingxu. After learning about the recent situation, they observed the celestial phenomena. Confirming the wind direction for the next day, they planned to use a fire attack to force the Red Lotus Cult back. As soon as the main force created distance from the Red Lotus Cult, she would let Xiao Xiao engage and harass them. The Red Lotus Cult used despicable methods, but Xiao Xiao was no pushover either. Having confronted the Yao family in Huaiyang for so many years, she had thoroughly learned Zhu Maosan’s ways. When it came to dirty tricks, Xiao Xiao wouldn’t necessarily lose.

            

As Zhen Wenjun seriously stated this plan, Xiao Xiao, beside her, glanced sideways at her. “Ah Mu, are you praising me?”

“This is trust in you.”

“I despise it. Can I refuse?”

            

Several days prior, Zhen Wenjun and Xiao Xiao had caught up to Yao Lin and his group. In the rice paddies, they had killed Ge Sheng and cut off one of Yao Lin’s legs.

Protected by his remaining soldiers, Yao Lin waded through swift currents, barely escaping with his life, which also prevented Zhen Wenjun from pursuing further. She could only turn back.

Having lost all his legitimate sons and daughters, and with his two key advisors dead, Nanya annexed by Huaiyang, Yao Lin posed no further threat even if he continued to cling to life. At this time, Zhen Wenjun received news that Wei Tingxu was heading towards Ming County and immediately led her troops in pursuit, fearing Wei Tingxu might be ambushed en route.

            

Reunited, Zhen Wenjun, quite resourceful, quickly shook off the Red Lotus Cult’s entanglement, and the main army advanced rapidly towards Ming County.

Having received no letters from Ah Liao these past days, Wei Tingxu worried she was trapped or already dead.

“No matter who is attacking Ming County, they won’t let Ah Liao die before reinforcements arrive.”

            

Zhen Wenjun and Wei Tingxu sat together in the carriage. As the carriage swayed gently with the turning wheels, Zhen Wenjun’s gaze was resolute as she spoke.

Wei Tingxu nodded, indicating she understood.

“This is a trap.”

            

Ah Qin sat by a clear spring halfway up the mountain, her eyes staring blankly, seemingly muttering to herself.

The village woman bending over to fetch water in front of her didn’t immediately turn around upon hearing this strange remark. Instead, she filled all the bamboo tubes with water, dug up a few herbs, then straightened up and looked back at her.

The village woman rarely spoke, and her hearing wasn’t very good; sometimes, you could say ten sentences to her, and she seemed to catch only half of one. She was quite tall, her face densely covered with strange markings, but her pair of beautiful eyes seemed strikingly out of place with the rest of her face.

            

“It’s a trap. If they launched a full assault, 200,000 troops could have stormed the mountain by now, trampling over corpses. They’re waiting—waiting for everyone in the village to starve to death. They’re also luring reinforcements, intending to wipe them all out in one go.” Ah Qin closed her eyes and rubbed them.

“Why don’t you go tell her?” Although the village woman often reacted slowly, at other times, a casual word from her could strike Ah Qin to the heart, making her feel desolate.

“I can’t go back,” Ah Qin said. “If I go back, I’ll ruin everything, make others unhappy. If others are unhappy, she can’t be happy either. She’s the best person I’ve ever met. I just want her to always keep her pure heart…”

            

The village woman said nothing, gathered the water and herbs, and headed back towards the village.

“You picked Hongdire.”​¹ Ah Qin didn’t turn around. “Hongdire can stop carbuncles from spreading. You understand medicine?”

The village woman replied, “No, just picking randomly.”

            

“Your accent doesn’t sound local either. Sounds like it’s from east of Dongchun.”

The village woman didn’t respond.

Ah Qin looked at her feet. “You know martial arts.”

            

The village woman returned to the village, just in time to see the mountain path.

“Ah Tang, you’re finally back!” An old man grabbed the village woman, extremely agitated. “The mountain path is dug! It’s finally dug!”

Ah Tang and the old man went to see the path. Work on it had started too hastily, so it couldn’t be dug very wide—it was no different from a dog hole. Adults had to crawl through bent over, and someone too overweight might even get stuck halfway. Fortunately, everyone had starved enough during this time to become emaciated. Ah Liao stood waiting nearby; two sticks of incense had already burned down by her feet. A soldier emerged from the tunnel, so faint from hunger he nearly collapsed. After being steadied, he reported to Ah Liao:

            

“Commandant Zhangsun, the path leads to Liuban Slope on the back mountain. There are no Hu bandits there!”

The soldier’s words made the surrounding villagers, barely standing from near-fainting hunger, use their last ounce of strength to cheer joyfully. Ah Zheng quickly made a “shush” gesture. Everyone quieted down somewhat, eager and restless.

Ah Liao tried to speak, swayed, and nearly fainted. Everyone had exhausted their last bit of strength after starving for so many days. Digging the path had become slower and slower, but luckily, they had succeeded.

            

“We move tonight under the cover of darkness.” Ah Liao’s soft, weak words were like Furong San, making everyone bloom with happiness.

They were finally leaving this place!

Ah Tang distributed the stream water she had collected, crushed the Hongdire onto cloth strips, and went to help change the dressings for the wounded.

            

“Ah Zheng, you take the Qingyuan Ladies and leave first,” Ah Liao instructed Ah Zheng as they walked back.

“Leave first? What about you?” Ah Zheng asked.

“I still have things to do. I can’t leave.”

            

By now, the two had returned to the front of the dilapidated courtyard. The Qingyuan Ladies were helping each other out to greet them and happened to hear Ah Liao’s words.

“Why?” Ah He didn’t understand. “The path was finally dug with such difficulty, why aren’t you leaving? The Hu bandits below are still waiting, counting the days until we starve to death! They’ll come up the mountain soon. If not now, when?!”

A circle of ladies desperately tried to persuade her, until Ah Liao said:

            

“Ah Qin hasn’t been found. I can’t leave.”

Everyone’s anxious expressions instantly froze, replaced by utter disappointment.

“I’m sorry,” Ah Liao said to everyone. “The one I love most is Ah Qin. I have to find her. You all should go.”

            

No one could believe these words came from Ah Liao.

“What do you mean?” Ah He asked, tears welling in her eyes. “Are you disbanding the Qingyuan?”

Ah Zheng tried to mediate, “Ah He.”

            

“She already said it! The one she loves most is that Ah Qin! Are you still speaking up for her?” Ah He was so angry tears streamed down her face. “Ah Liao! We Qingyuan sisters have stayed by your side day and night, sharing trials and tribulations! Whatever you asked us to do, has anyone ever said half a word of ‘no’? What happened with Ah Xu was indeed sad, but she has already been punished! Are you really going to abandon all of us for one Ah Qin? Are you truly so heartless?!”

Ah He’s sharp, questioning words made Ah Liao slowly lift her lowered head.

There was none of her past gentleness, nor any sign of being moved. On her pale face, only two words could be read: “Cold Indifference.”

            

“Yes,” Ah Liao stated calmly.

Ah He hadn’t expected her to say that. It was like looking at a stranger. All the words welling up inside her were choked back into her throat by that single word. She couldn’t utter anything more, trembling with anger.

“Ah Liao?” Ah Zheng also hadn’t expected her to say this.

            

Ah Xi cried too. “You can abandon us for Ah Qin, but can you abandon Ah Zheng?”

Ah Zheng was always gentle, infinitely tolerant towards Ah Liao. With just one word from Ah Liao, Ah Zheng was willing to go through fire and water for her, do anything. Sometimes, even without her speaking, Ah Zheng could tell from her eyes what she liked, what she wanted, and then give her all to satisfy her.

Ah Liao looked at Ah Zheng. Ah Zheng’s eyes reddened too.

            

“Ah Liao…”

Ah Liao cut her off. “Do I need to say it again? I only want Ah Qin. I’m tired of pleasing every one of you. So what about Ah Zheng? She doesn’t understand me like Ah Qin does!”

Ah Zheng blinked, and tears fell uncontrollably.

            

Ah Liao lowered her head again, waving her hand dismissively in the ice-cold atmosphere.

“All of you, get lost.”

On the thirty-third day, they were finally about to reach Ming County.

            

“This is a trap. The ones besieging Ming County want you to come as reinforcements. Their target is actually you—the main forces of the Wei and Zhangsun families.”

Zhen Wenjun’s words still echoed in her ears, but Wei Tingxu couldn’t stop her advance.

“I know, but I must go. I understand how risky this move is, but how can I not go? Ah Liao’s life, the safety of all Pingcang and Dongchun—how can I cast them aside?” Wei Tingxu said. “Lingbi and Xiaohua are already gone. Ah Liao is my only dearest friend. Even if it’s a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, I must go save her.”

            

Since Wei Tingxu had decided, Zhen Wenjun pushed onward day and night for her.

Ah Liao shattered the hearts of all the Qingyuan Ladies. They could only leave.

Everyone in the village evacuated through the mountain path. There were too many old and weak, and everyone had been starving for too long, lacking even the strength to crawl. It took a full two days for everyone to leave completely.

            

Finally, they were all gone. Ah Qin was nowhere to be found, but with her cleverness, she should have been able to escape unscathed.

Ah Liao stood in the empty village, gazing at the starry sky.

It seemed she was rarely like this, completely alone.

            

She squatted on the ground and wept bitterly, crying for a full shichen before gradually calming down.

She had to conserve her strength to finish the most important task.

She was truly hungry, lacking even the energy to open the lid of the wooden chest.

            

Ah Liao finally managed to pry open the chest. Inside were all her mechanisms and ingenious devices, along with a small, unfinished booklet.

She found a brush, ink, and an oil lamp, and meticulously completed the booklet. After some thought, she wanted to write four characters on the sheepskin cover: Dayan He Ji​². She wrapped it carefully in special cowhide, fastened it with a Qiankun Kou,​³ ensuring it was impervious to water and fire, then went to the mountain spring and cast her life’s work into the water.

Who knew how long it would be before someone destined would encounter the Dayan He Ji? Hopefully, that person could make good use of it, benefiting future generations.

            

Her wish fulfilled, Ah Liao began digging and burying, working until the fish-belly white appeared on the horizon at dawn the next day, finally completing all her arrangements.

Ah Liao slept soundly and thoroughly. In her dreams, there were the Qingyuan Ladies, poetry, paintings, wine, and meat. Taking a deep drag from a pipe of Furong San, Ah Liao laughed out loud in her dream.

When she opened her eyes, there was already movement at the foot of the mountain.

            

“Come,” Ah Liao stood atop the peak, looking down with disdain.

Zhen Wenjun and the others advanced relentlessly. Ming County was now in sight!

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