HMHSE - 79

Night had fallen. Torches were lit all around the pass city, extending in a long line.

Outside the pass city, two mountains faced each other, with cliffs tens of feet high. Now, brighter flames spread at the base of the cliffs, extending as far as the eye could see, like raging fire snakes, mixed with continuous roars and shouts from the attacking enemy, striking directly at the great gate of the pass below.

Hundred-Captain Lei Da had been leading his men, replacing the previous military post soldiers, for several hours. He shielded his forehead and peered into the distance below. A volley of arrows whistled towards him.

A hand pulled him, allowing him to narrowly dodge in time.

The surrounding soldiers covered themselves with shields, but some inevitably got hit. They endured the pain without crying out, to prevent the enemy below from pinpointing their location. They were then quickly dragged off the wall by other soldiers for treatment.

Lei Da gasped, turning his head. “Boss, our empty fort strategy is about to fail. They have too many men. Even using torches to deceive them isn’t a long-term solution. Why didn’t we recruit more soldiers in the past!”

Shan Zong had just released him, leaning against the pass city, his longbow resting in his hand. One hand propped on his saber, he remained silent, as if he hadn’t heard him.

Youzhou, in the past, had a Military Commissioner. The nine prefectures and two counties under his jurisdiction did not pay taxes to the imperial court, nor did they request soldiers from the court. All troops were recruited by themselves, just like other border strongholds and major protectorates.

This rule remained unchanged until now. However, Youzhou, during the years he established the military garrison, had consistently maintained only 20,000 soldiers, never recruiting a single additional soldier.

Lei Da had never thought much of it before, but now that war had broken out, he realized the importance of having troops.

The enemy outside the pass was also strange. Even if it was a combined force of the Xi and Khitan tribes, their scouts had probed back and forth for years, yet they had never heard of them having so many troops. Was this some kind of ghost appearance this time!

Not hearing Shan Zong speak, he didn’t bother to say any more. He wiped his face and then got up to rejoin the battle...

The mountain pass was steep and narrow, not an open plain, making it exceedingly difficult to breach the pass using siege engines or catapults.

But they had a multitude of men, constantly attempting to scale the pass city, one wave after another, with plenty to spare for attrition.

Wailing and howling permeated the air from below, rising to the city wall.

As Shan Zong abruptly stood up and cut down an enemy soldier who had just scaled the pass city, an urgent whistle already sounded from the opposite pass city.

Immediately after, even the whistle stopped.

Lei Da rushed over. “Boss! They’re coming up! We have no one left to hold them. This section won’t last!”

Shan Zong leaned on his saber, taking a breath, and decisively ordered, “Withdraw! Ambush them along the mountain path inside the pass city! We can’t stop them from coming in, but we can’t let them advance unopposed. Hold back their main force!”

With the military order given, the strategy changed again. Lei Da roared his assent and quickly led the soldiers to retreat from the pass city.

Before leaving, Shan Zong scanned the long fiery snake that was still continuously pouring from outside the pass city. In its center, a flag high on a pole, a crude animal hide flag, with the three characters “Nili City” faintly visible.

He gave it a cold glance, then turned and strode down the pass city.

________________________________________

Shen Rong leaned against a tree trunk near the mine pit, covered by her own cloak. Around her was a circle of cloth tents erected by Donglai’s men.

Hu Shiyi was still leading his men guarding the mountain. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to sleep.

The surroundings were quiet. The night wind howled, seemingly carrying the sounds of distant fighting, faint and ethereal, from unknown directions.

Shen Rong couldn’t tell if it was a dream or reality. It felt like someone was fighting their way over; they wanted to seize Wangji Mountain. The gold mine had just been discovered, and the first batch of gold had just been smelted. She had come to take over from her brother to guard the mountain; it couldn’t be lost...

She suddenly opened her eyes from a hazy state, realizing it was indeed a dream.

Shen Rong turned her head, and her eyes fell upon a sitting figure. She couldn’t help but be startled.

The figure had broad, straight shoulders, one hand resting on a saber. He had entered at some unknown time and seemed to have been watching her.

“Awake?” It was Shan Zong.

She sat upright. “You’re back?”

“Mm.” Shan Zong’s voice was a little hoarse. He reached out and cupped the back of her neck.

The discomfort from the hard, rough tree trunk that had marked her was soothed by his palm. The soft warmth of her nape met his dry palm, a slight tingling, confirming it was real.

A cluster of torchlight flared in the distance. A soldier walked quickly towards them.

Only then did Shen Rong gradually make out his appearance, secretly startled. His cheeks were stained with drops of blood. Close by, she could smell a strong scent of blood emanating from his dark, fierce uniform.

She wanted to ask how things were, but she saw him turn his head to glance at the approaching torchlight, then lift the cloth tent and step out.

Shen Rong didn’t think much of it and took off her cloak, following him out.

Outside, guards were still moving about. The soldier holding the torch quickly approached, urgently reporting, “Boss, their vanguard has entered the pass!”

Shen Rong’s heart sank. She looked at Shan Zong, whose face flickered between light and shadow in the swaying torchlight, his eyes deep. “Continue to hold back their main force in the rear.”

The soldier took the order and left.

Shan Zong’s gaze fell into the distance, his profile sharp as if carved. He said in a low voice, “You already know, we couldn’t hold them off.”

Shen Rong was silent for a moment, steadying herself. “You rushed back to personally command here?”

Shan Zong nodded.

She was speechless. The pass had been breached; he needed to personally command. This place must be in grave danger.

Suddenly, another soldier arrived with a torch, shouting urgently, “Boss, the enemy vanguard is attacking Youzhou Prison!”

Shen Rong saw Shan Zong’s thin lips tighten. He briefly closed his eyes, then opened them again.

Just then, Hu Shiyi charged in from the side. “Boss, I’ll lead the men to reinforce!”

“No,” Shan Zong said.

“What?” Hu Shiyi was anxious. “Are we just going to let them attack the prison?”

“Their goal is to draw people to reinforce, so their main force can enter the pass smoothly,” Shan Zong stood motionless, dragging his saber, his voice hoarse. “Let them go!”

Hu Shiyi was instantly speechless. He clasped his fists and went to relay the order.

Suddenly, a whip cracked. Near the pit, the group of convicts, who were allowed out for a break, squatted. Weishen Wu stuck out half his body, completely disregarding the whip’s warning, glaring ferociously at Shan Zong. “You, surnamed Shan, you actually don’t care about the prison! What about our four brothers then!”

They had already heard.

Shan Zong took a step forward, naturally shielding Shen Rong behind him. “Those four were moved by me long ago. They’re not in the prison at all.”

“Bah! Do you think I’ll believe you?” Weishen Wu almost charged forward but was restrained by the soldiers.

Shan Zong looked down at him. “Believe it or not, I don’t have the patience to tell you a second time.”

Weishen Wu was dragged back into the pile of convicts. As he tried to move again, his wrist chains were pulled by Jiachen San behind him.

He turned back and asked, “What are you doing? Do you believe him?”

Jiachen San glanced at him, his voice low and weathered. “Believe him. It’s not the first day you’ve known him. At a time like this, he has no need to deceive us.”

The surrounding convicts fell silent.

Weishen Wu also suddenly quieted down. He looked at Shan Zong again, only letting out a resentful snort.

Shan Zong had already turned around, his hand resting on Shen Rong’s waist as he led her to the tree.

Shen Rong glanced at the group of convicts. She suddenly felt him turn his head. In the night, obscured by flickering firelight, his handsome face remained composed, his eyes deep and dark. “Are you afraid this time?”

She loosened her tightly clasped hands and lightly parted her lips. “This is my mountain. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

As stubborn as ever, and as bold as ever. Shan Zong gazed at her, and chuckled softly. “That’s right, this is your mountain. Don’t be afraid.”

Shen Rong nodded, thinking he couldn’t see in the darkness, and then let out another “mm,” having nothing more to say.

After an unknown period, clear shouts reached them from outside the mountain path in the distance, carried by the night wind.

A soldier came rushing over. “Boss, Youzhou Prison has been breached! They’re heading for the military post again!”

Hu Shiyi rushed back from a distance. “Boss, this time I’ll go reinforce!”

“No,” Shan Zong quickly ordered. “Move all remaining troops from the military post to defend Youzhou city. Their target isn’t the military post.”

Hu Shiyi was filled with fury. His home had been invaded by those bastards; there was nothing more humiliating. But looking up, he saw Shan Zong’s grim and frightening face, illuminated by the firelight, and could only grit his teeth and endure. He clasped his fists and went to relay his order.

________________________________________

Deep into the night, soldiers continued to rush in with reports.

Fighting and shouts of battle came from countless places, possibly from the pass, possibly from inside the pass.

Shen Rong didn’t know how long she had been standing. She glanced at Shan Zong beside her. He had barely moved until now, like a statue, only clear and swift when issuing each military order.

She had never imagined that one day she would face a battle with him, nor had she ever seen him like this.

Suddenly, a muffled drum sound resonated, coming from the direction of Youzhou city in the distance.

She came back to her senses and turned to look towards the sound.

Not long after, two fast horses galloped into the mountain. The first, an official in a round-collared robe, dismounted, leading a soldier who had escorted him, stumbling all the way to the mine.

“Commander Shan!” It was an official from the Youzhou Yamen. He had walked too quickly and almost fell. As soon as he stood steady, he clasped his hands and said, “Youzhou city is in critical danger! They sent an envoy to negotiate below the city. Prefect Zhao sent this subordinate to report to Commander Shan for a decision!”

Shan Zong stood as firm as a pine. “They’ve attacked the city?”

The official said, “No.”

“Then why the emergency?” Shan Zong said coldly. “Let their envoy come to see me.”

The official seemed startled and quickly assented.

However, before the official could relay the message, several torchlights could already be seen flickering outside the mountain.

A voice, drawing closer from afar, spoke stiff Chinese with unclear pronunciation: “Khitan envoy, seeking an audience with the Youzhou Commandant.”

Hu Shiyi, who had just returned, heard this news and was the first to charge forward, gritting his teeth. “Come, let’s line up and wait. Let him roll in to see him!”

Soldiers lined up on both sides of the mountain path, ready. Inside the mine, the soldiers guarding the convicts intentionally stood across the pit entrance, blocking it.

A Khitan man with disheveled hair and a left-lapped robe walked in. Upon reaching the mountain, his broad saber still stained with blood, he was abruptly stopped by two sabers. He slowly placed it on the ground, his hands empty, and said with a fake smile, “I have come with sincerity to discuss with Commander Shan.”

Hu Shiyi was almost fuming with rage at the sight of the blood-stained saber. He pressed his hand on his own saber, enduring it repeatedly, then looked back.

Shan Zong first glanced at his side. Shen Rong was still standing beside him.

In the distance, Donglai quickly approached, positioning himself in front of Shen Rong.

Shen Rong understood. She followed Donglai and retreated a few steps to the side, half-hidden in the tree’s shadow, watching from afar.

Only then did Shan Zong raise his eyes and look at the envoy. “Discuss what?”

The envoy, without even a bow, his slanting eyes gleaming with triumph, said, “By order of the Lord of Nili City, I’ve come to deliver a few words to Commander Shan. The pass has been breached. You can no longer resist. It’s better to surrender early. As long as Youzhou surrenders and hands over the mine, our Khitan leader will not harm a single civilian in Youzhou city. Youzhou will still be governed by Commander Shan, and you will even be granted the title of City Lord. How about it?”

Shen Rong leaned against the tree, watching. She couldn’t help but frown. The faint sounds of indignation rose and fell. Not only Hu Shiyi, but even the soldiers successively pressed their sabers.

Suddenly, a low sneer was heard. She turned and saw Weishen Wu squatting at the pit entrance, mockingly staring ahead, unsure if he was mocking the envoy or Shan Zong.

She gave him a cold glance and looked forward. Shan Zong stood tall and straight, dragging his saber, as if this were his central command tent, even though behind him were the convicts at the pit entrance, and the surrounding guards were almost all deployed.

“Who said we can’t resist?” he suddenly said.

The envoy scoffed dismissively. “Youzhou is not what it once was. Without the forces of the nine prefectures under its jurisdiction, and with our allied armies, how can you resist? It’s better to surrender early. Our City Lord specifically conveyed a message: does Commander Shan want to experience the consequence of his troops never returning again?”

The last sentence was like a venomous snake spitting its fangs. After saying it, he smiled grimly.

A soft clinking of chains. Shen Rong suddenly came to her senses, seeing that Weishen Wu had moved again, seemingly wanting to pounce forward. This time, his ferocious gaze was directed at the envoy.

Hu Shiyi, with nowhere to vent his anger, quickly stepped forward and pulled him back.

The slight commotion in front was completely ignored. The envoy didn’t even glance their way, merely looking at Shan Zong with disdain.

When she looked at Shan Zong, she was slightly startled.

Shan Zong’s saber lightly tapped the ground twice. His eyes were lowered, his gaze as cold as a blade. “Otherwise?”

The envoy seemed enraged. He let out a cold snort, mixed with a Khitan phrase, and said fiercely, “Otherwise, it will be a siege of the city and the mountain! When our main force enters, we will slaughter the city and burn the mountain! Don’t say we didn’t give you a chance then!” With that, he turned to leave, picking up the broad, curved saber he had just laid down. The blood from the Youzhou army on its blade was still wet.

Shan Zong’s saber vibrated. He suddenly strode forward.

The envoy was startled when he realized, and immediately turned to block with his saber. Shan Zong struck it down from his feet. His nape was then grabbed, and a slender, cold straight saber instantly appeared before his eyes. He said in horror, “You... what do you want to do? In wars between two dynasties, not harming an envoy is an ancient principle!”

Shan Zong gripped his nape, his saber pressed against his neck, his eyes cold. “My saber is the principle.”

The blade passed, and blood spurted out.

He pushed the opponent’s corpse onto the dark mountain path. As he turned, he held the dripping saber, like a修罗 (Asura). “Send his head to Sun Guozhe and tell him, Youzhou will not surrender!”

In an instant, the surrounding soldiers shouted in unison, their voices shaking the mountains.

Shen Rong only saw a rough outline, largely obscured by Donglai’s deliberate positioning in front of her. Her heart was still gripped by awe.

It wasn’t until she turned her head that she noticed even the group of convicts were silently staring at that spot.

Shan Zong walked up to Hu Shiyi. “Bring all the weapons.”

Hu Shiyi, feeling a release of anger, immediately sent someone to do it.

A pile of weapons clanged, being completely thrown at the pit entrance, gleaming coldly in the surrounding torchlight.

Shan Zong said in a deep voice, “You can now lead your men to reinforce Youzhou city.”

Hu Shiyi was stunned. “What about the mountain?”

“This is a military order. The city’s common people are the priority. Go!”

Hu Shiyi looked at his grim face and could only clasp his fists in acknowledgment. He quickly led the soldiers away.

Only a handful of soldiers remained in the mountain, along with the convicts near the pit entrance.

Shan Zong threw down his saber and picked up a nearby mountain pickaxe that had been discarded. He strode over. In front of him squatted Jiachen San. He suddenly swung his arm, striking Jiachen San’s chains.

The chains broke with a clang. He straightened up. “I know you want me dead, but you can also avenge yourselves and come for my life again, unless you want to die here at Sun Guozhe’s hands, and let him ravage the people of Youzhou, just like he did to Jizhou.”

Jiachen San looked up.

Everyone stared at him, silent and eerie.

Shan Zong stared at them, then threw down the pickaxe. “If you are willing, break your shackles, pick up your weapons, and fight with me; if not, leave the mountain now. The soldiers here are no longer enough to confine you anyway.”

“Fight with you?” Weishen Wu sneered. “Your stubbornness just now certainly impressed us, but don’t think for a moment that we’ll suddenly look at you differently.”

“I don’t need your approval,” Shan Zong said faintly. “I only care about the outcome.”

Weishen Wu’s face gradually darkened.

Shan Zong turned, strode over to his horse, swung himself onto its back, and looked at them. “If you can still fight, obey my orders!”

The convicts remained motionless. Suddenly, Jiachen San picked up the pickaxe and fiercely chopped off Weishen Wu’s shackles beside him.

“I’d rather die than die at Sun Guozhe’s hands!” He threw down the pickaxe and roared, “I can still fight!”

The other convicts moved in an instant. The sound of pickaxes clanged, and all shackles were broken.

Weishen Wu gritted his teeth, his white scar on his eye twitching with a sinister smile. “Fine, no one leaves, none of us. After all, we’re all enemies! Let’s fight!”

Shen Rong slowly took two steps forward, watching this incredible scene before her.

Suddenly, she heard Shan Zong shout from his horse, “Where is the Lulong Army!”

The convicts, like ferocious beasts unleashed, paused for a moment around them.

Shan Zong’s chest heaved. Then, he let out another cold roar, his voice shaking the mountains and plains, “Where is the Lulong Army!”

Jiachen San suddenly tore off the ragged sleeve of his right arm and shouted, “The Lulong Army is here!”

In an instant, everyone tore off their right sleeves. “Here!”

Even Weishen Wu, breathing heavily like an ox, finally violently tore off his sleeve.

“The Lulong Army is here!”

Shen Rong watched them in shock. On each of their right arms, clearly tattooed, were the characters “Lulong.”

She looked almost blankly at Shan Zong on his horse.

They were all his Lulong Army...