Fish Meat – Chapter 253
by Little PandaThe Tenth Year of Shunde
Like Snapping Dried Twigs and Pulling Up Rotten Wood (20)
Li Man idled his days away in the main camp at the foot of the mountain, drinking and making merry.
After more than a month, Li Man had gained a full size, and the corners of his mouth were cracked and sore. He grabbed his Military Advisor and asked, “Shouldn’t the people on the mountain be dead by now?”
The Military Advisor said, “We’ll know once we send men up the mountain to investigate.”
Li Man pondered. That Zhangsun Ran was bizarrely clever, always managing to whip up unexpected weapons. The last time he went up the mountain with the soldiers, he was nearly killed by something that shot out of the ground. After so long, Zhangsun Ran had surely planted many more hidden weapons in the mountain. This trip up was bound to result in heavy losses.
But they had to go.
Li Man had two thousand soldiers fully armed, clad in the sturdiest armor, their heads wrapped in sheet iron, leaving only slits too narrow to be narrower for them to see the path. Li Man had personally compared them with nails; the gaps were just right to block them. Although the armor was incredibly cumbersome, so heavy it was difficult to even walk, at least it could save their lives.
“Alright, go!”
At Li Man’s command, the two thousand soldiers ascended the mountain to scout, hearts pounding with fear.
Sure enough, the “Fierce Wind” rose again. Countless nails were deflected by the armor, and the soldiers charged straight up to the summit, arriving at the village gate.
The small village had only one road leading down the mountain, and just this single gate made of a wooden fence. At this moment, it was half-open inwards, seemingly inviting them to push it open and enter.
The soldiers all looked towards their Captain. The Captain took three men, walked to the wooden fence, glanced inside, and then retreated.
“It’s all corpses.”
“Corpses?”
“Emaciated corpses. Should be villagers who starved to death.”
“Captain, do we go in?”
The Captain didn’t decide immediately. Those nails shooting out of the ground had already made his heart leap into his throat. He felt that reaching the summit this time had been too smooth, leaving him uneasy, as if something more terrifying awaited them.
He ordered a vanguard of two hundred men to enter the village and search. They were to take a signal flare tube inside; if they discovered anything unusual, they should light the flare to send a signal, and absolutely must not engage recklessly.
The vanguard entered the village and came out in less than a shichen. They reported that the village was full of starved villagers and soldiers who had died of untreated wounds. The village wasn’t large; they had searched house by house but hadn’t found Zhangsun Ran.
“Probably hiding,” the Captain said, somewhat relieved. He sent someone back to report to the Prince, saying that the hidden weapons on the mountain path had mostly been triggered, and as long as they followed the vanguard’s footsteps, there would be no danger.
When Li Man received the news, he cautiously had the Jixi Hu people go up the mountain first. Only after confirming it was truly safe did he allow his own men to follow. Just as he and the Military Advisor were about to ascend, a young man in the army advised him not to go up yet, saying that Zhangsun Ran was extremely cunning and he feared it was a trap.
Li Man glanced sideways at him. “Who are you?”
The young man prostrated himself in salute. “This humble commoner is surnamed Liu, given name Chao1, from Quanwu County2.”
“Oh, it’s you. You’ve rendered great service this time.” Li Man tapped his fan in his hand. “How do you wish this Prince to reward you?”
Liu Chao was the Military Advisor’s cousin. He glanced secretly at the Military Advisor, who gave a slight shake of his head. Liu Chao then said, “This humble commoner has never sought rewards for serving Your Highness! I only wish to follow Your Highness in the future, to help Your Highness quell chaos and aid the times, pacify the four seas3!”
Li Man laughed heartily. “This Prince is destined to pacify the four seas. If I fear a mere Zhangsun Ran and hide behind my generals and soldiers, how will I command respect in the future?”
Liu Chao: “…Your Highness is wise.”
Li Man adjusted his gold coronet, flicked his long robe, and prepared to go up the mountain.
The Jixi Hu men ascended the mountain one after another and entered the village.
Ah Liao lay on a tree branch, looking down. In her hand, she held an unlit fire starter4.
Her eyes were half-closed; she had no strength, nor did she deign to look at these scum5.
The Jixi Hu absolutely had to die, but what disgusted her even more were the Yu people who had opened the borders and let the Hu bandits into the Central Plains. She really wanted to see just who the mastermind pulling the strings behind the scenes was.
“However,” Li Man, just about to take a step, drew back again. “I feel there’s some truth to what you said. Zhangsun Ran is treacherous and unpredictable; who knows what tricks she’ll play next. If something were to happen to this Prince, who would pacify the world? You’re right. This Prince should reward you heavily.”
Liu Chao obsequiously praised Li Man for a while, then kowtowed heavily several times.
More and more people gathered in the village, but Ah Liao still hadn’t seen the one she was waiting for.
Could she have been wrong? Was it really only the Jixi people?
The soldiers gathered the corpses within the village, counted them, and continued searching. Soon they would realize the numbers didn’t add up, and the gunpowder Ah Liao had secretly laid out was very likely to be discovered.
Every moment of delay increased the danger.
Ah Liao’s palm, gripping the fire starter, was slick with sweat.
By the time Liu Chao looked up, Li Man had already walked more than ten steps away, heading up the mountain.
“Your Highness?” Liu Chao was bewildered. Hadn’t he decided not to go?
Li Man ignored him, asking the Military Advisor beside him, “Are there portraits?”
The Military Advisor shook his head. “However, there are nearly thirty Qingyuan Ladies. Everyone who has seen them praises them endlessly; all are beauties chosen from ten thousand. This Zhangsun Ran certainly knows how to enjoy life. Moreover, Your Highness, it’s said that Zhangsun Ran herself is incredibly beautiful, captivating both men and women at first sight.”
Li Man sneered, “Exaggeration.”
“Whether it’s an exaggeration or not, Your Highness will know upon seeing her personally.”
The more Li Man thought about it, the more interesting it seemed. Qingyuan… someone could actually live so freely, no different from him, a Prince. He had to see for himself just how beautiful these Qingyuan Ladies and this Zhangsun Ran were.
Liu Chao quickly followed behind, heading up the mountain together. When Li Man, surrounded by his entourage, reached the halfway point safely, a messenger ran up, panting, sliding the last couple of steps on his knees. He reported that a large army was besieging the foot of Ming County.
“They’re here, they’re here!” the Military Advisor exclaimed excitedly. “It must be the Wei family’s reinforcements!”
Li Man asked, “How many troops?”
“Initial estimates put them at eighty thousand.”
“Only eighty thousand.”
The Military Advisor said, “It’s the Wei clan, alright. They just finished a battle with the Yao family at the Wei River, so they certainly don’t have many troops left. Plus, the Red Lotus Cult is blocking them from behind. If it weren’t to protect Dongchun and Pingcang, they wouldn’t have rushed here regardless of the consequences.”
Li Man tapped his shoulder with his fan, utterly delighted. “Excellent that they’ve come, truly excellent. Rushing here day and night, their army must be exhausted, just barely holding on to fight for this last breath. Tsk tsk tsk, pitiful eighty thousand.”
The Military Advisor said, “Your Highness must not be careless. Although our forces outnumber them by one hundred twenty thousand, that Zhen Wenjun might be among them. Zhen Wenjun, at such a young age, managed to drive off Chongjin, whom no one could handle for decades. Underestimating this person could lead to a great loss.”
“Relax. If you’ve thought of it, how could this Prince not have?” Li Man continued walking up the mountain. “Weren’t they exactly who this Prince was waiting for? Send word to Ming County. Have them go easy on them a bit, deliberately feign defeat, abandon the city, and flee, luring Wei Tingxu and Zhen Wenjun to this mountain. Set ambushes on the mountain and at its foot. Once they ascend, we’ll attack from above and below in a pincer movement. This Prince wants to see how they can possibly escape.”
The Military Advisor and Liu Chao followed behind, constantly echoing his words. Li Man, full of confidence, walked with light steps. Suddenly, someone ahead shouted, “Who goes there!” He hastily stood on tiptoe to look, only to see, amidst the clear springs and wild grass, a woman with skin as white as snow and tender almond eyes flash past. She met his gaze fleetingly, throwing his heart into turmoil, as if he had seen a celestial maiden6 descended from the ninth heaven7 to the mortal world.
“This, this is!” Li Man gripped his fan tightly, almost crying out. The woman was clearly startled and immediately ran towards the village. Archers prepared to shoot her down, but Li Man roared:
“Stop! Whoever dares touch her, this Prince will chop off his whole family’s heads! Yunshen, Yunshen!” Li Man called the Military Advisor. “Was that celestial maiden sister one of the Qingyuan Ladies?”
The Military Advisor hadn’t even seen the person clearly and responded half a beat too late. Li Man had already gathered his robes and dashed into the village like lightning.
Ah Liao’s eyelids grew heavier, on the verge of fainting, yet the person she awaited still hadn’t appeared.
She slashed her arm with a knife. The sharp pain brought her back to her senses slightly. She knew she had to stay awake; if she fainted now, she might die. She couldn’t die yet. She had to remain conscious until she finished one last thing.
“Guess what gift we brought you,” someone whispered in Ah Liao’s ear.
Ah Liao trembled violently, nearly falling from the tree. She was too hungry, too exhausted. Sitting in the tree, shielded by leaves and branches, had given her a sense of security, and she hadn’t noticed someone stealthily climbing up behind her.
Ah Liao’s body tilted off the branch; below were all Jixi tribesmen. Fortunately, the person behind her grabbed her back, pressing her against the tree trunk while simultaneously covering her mouth to prevent her from crying out.
“Mmph?!” Ah Liao’s eyes widened. She couldn’t believe who she was seeing.
Ah Zheng looked at her with tears in her eyes and a smile, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear, “What’s wrong? Did you really not want to see me again?”
Ah Liao grabbed her hand, pulling it away from her mouth, and said urgently, “Why are you still here! Didn’t I tell you to leave!”
“You say leave, so we just leave?” Ah He, crouching on a branch above them, snorted unhappily. “You really underestimate us sisters. Ah Liao, your clumsy acting… I won’t criticize you, plenty of others will.”
Ah Liao was astonished. “You all…”
Ah Xi and all the other Qingyuan Ladies peeked out from the surroundings, smiling at her. None of them had actually left!
Ah Liao immediately led them down from the tree, crossed a suspension bridge, and ducked into a dilapidated attic. The attic had only one small window. After everyone was inside, they closed the window. The outer wall was covered in moss, making it hard to spot at first glance that people could be hiding there.
“This is utter madness! Do you know what I intend to do!” Ah Liao demanded, holding up the fire starter in her hand, sweating all over from anxiety.
The ladies gathered around her, gentle yet firm. “Of course, we know. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t have all come back.”
“Ah Liao,” Ah Zheng held her hand. “We once swore an oath to live and die together, never abandoning each other. Why, at the most crucial moment, would you foolishly go to your death alone? How could you bear to let us live on ignobly?”
“We may have sworn that oath, but how could I be so selfish as to ask you to accompany me to hell? I wanted to leave with you too, but I couldn’t leave this place. This is a trap, a trap to lure Tingxu and the others here. Once they…”
“I know, we all know. Remember? Qingyuan will never part. That’s our promise to each other. If you’re gone, what meaning is there in my life? Our lives are our own; you shouldn’t make decisions for us.” Each of Ah Zheng’s words was like a needle piercing Ah Liao’s heart, making her sad. But after the sadness, a sweetness bloomed deep inside.
Looking up at the starry river alone is lonely enough; how much more so to tread the road to the Yellow Springs by oneself.
“We won’t leave,” Ah Xi had never been so serious. “Ah Liao, we won’t leave you.”
“Ah Liao, from the day I met you, I resolved that if I die one day, I want to be buried together with you.”
“You’re the only reason I’m alive. Without you, I would have died long ago.”
“If Ah Liao is gone from this world, what difference is there between living and dying? You said you’d never leave us, how could you break your promise?”
The window opened, and Ah Qin deftly climbed in, brushing leaves off her clothes.
“That idiot Prince has finally come up the mountain,” Ah Qin said.
“Thank you for your hard work, Sister Ah Qin.” Ah Zheng turned back to Ah Liao. “That Prince is the gift we brought you. Weren’t you waiting desperately for him to come up the mountain?”
Tear tracks still stained her face, but after hearing the ladies’ words, Ah Liao burst out laughing.
“My, Zhangsun Ran’s, life may be short, but it hasn’t been lived in vain! To have met and accompanied all of you, this life has been worthwhile!” She picked up the half-bowl of not-so-clear water remaining on the table and said, “May I accompany you all on the road to the Yellow Springs, and may we meet again in the next life! To you all!”
The ladies took turns taking a sip from the water bowl, then looked at Ah Liao and laughed again.
Ah Liao wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. “I have already laid gunpowder and flammable oil around the village. The fuse was hidden on that tree just now. As soon as this fire starter is dropped, the entire mountain will be blasted into scorched earth in the blink of an eye.”
Ah Qin said, “Now is the perfect time!”
Ah Liao walked to the window. The fuse was right before her eyes.
Li Man anxiously searched the village for the celestial maiden he had just seen, ordering all soldiers to look for her.
“Are you afraid?” Ah Liao turned back and asked.
“Not afraid.”
They hugged each other, closing their eyes. Someone began to hum Qingyuan’s favorite tune.
“The orchid has its beauty, the chrysanthemum its fragrance;
Thinking of my beloved, I cannot forget.
Sailing the storied ship, crossing the Fen River;
Amidst the midstream current, raising white waves.”8
Ah Liao released the fire starter from her hand.
Tingxu, let this prairie fire9 of mine help you ascend the throne.
Ming County fell quickly. Zhen Wenjun personally saw the fleeing soldiers heading towards the southern mountain.
“Ah Mu, don’t pursue! This is a trap,” Xiao Xiao sheathed her saber. “There must be heavy troops stationed on the mountain!”
“But, Ah Liao is also on the mountain.”
“Ah?”
Zhen Wenjun handed her the letter she was holding.
It was a plea for help delivered by a messenger the day before, written in Ah Liao’s own hand, telling them absolutely not to come up the mountain.
“Auntie Ah Liao is trapped on the mountain?” Xiao Xiao said. “So these Hu people want to lure us all onto the mountain together and annihilate us there.”
Zhen Wenjun lifted her helmet slightly, saying nothing.
“Well, Ah Mu, do we go or not?”
Just then, a heaven-scorching light exploded towards the sky, followed by a heaven-splitting roar.
Wei Tingxu immediately scrambled out of the carriage. The horses bolted in panic, and the cavalry struggled to bring the chaos under control.
By then, Wei Tingxu was held steady in Zhen Wenjun’s arms. Both stared south in disbelief. On the southern mountain, fierce flames raged, a spectacular sight even in broad daylight. Waves of heat spread outwards with the wind; Wei Tingxu could almost feel the temperature washing over her face.
“Ah Liao…” Wei Tingxu clutched Zhen Wenjun’s sleeve. After uttering Ah Liao’s name, her lips pressed tightly together, her face instantly turning deathly pale.
She and Zhen Wenjun understood immediately.
Who else but Ah Liao possessed the power to shake heaven and earth?
LP: AH LIAO AND THE QINGYUAN LADIES ARE THE GOAT!!!
Footnotes
- 刘朝 | Liú Cháo
- 权武县 | Quánwǔ Xiàn
- 平定四海 | píngdìng sìhǎi | Lit. “pacify the four seas”; a common expression signifying bringing peace and order to the entire realm/world, often associated with imperial ambition.
- 火折子 | huǒzhézi | A traditional Chinese fire-starting tool, typically a slow-burning paper spill or tube treated to stay lit.
- 杂碎 | zásuì | Lit. “mixed bits” or “offal”; a vulgar insult meaning scum, bastards, or worthless trash.
- 仙女 | xiānnǚ | Lit. “immortal woman”; a fairy, nymph, or celestial being from mythology, often depicted as ethereally beautiful.
- 九天 | jiǔtiān | The Nine Heavens; in Chinese cosmology, the highest heavens, the abode of deities.
- This appears to be lines from a classical Chinese poem or song, possibly related to the 《九歌 – 河伯》 (Nine Songs – The Earl of the River) or similar themes of longing and travel.
- 燎原火 | liáoyuán huǒ | Lit. “prairie fire”. This is a pun on Ah Liao’s (阿燎) name, as 燎 (liáo) means ‘to burn’ or ‘singe’, and is part of the term 燎原 (liáoyuán), meaning ‘to spread like wildfire’.
Ah Liao once said that when Tingxu ascends the throne, she’ll leave and travel with the Qingyuan ladies.. Who’d have thought she’s be travelling with them to the Yellow springs..