Cloud Dance Moon Yang

page views:1 Publication date:2023-08-12

As the rain began to fall that day, Chen Liu was walking through the main gate of Gaojia Inn.
The weather had turned a bit chilly due to the rain, but the atmosphere inside was bustling with activity. A group of soldiers, shirtless, were playing dice and gambling, shouting and yelling. Some idlers and hooligans from the neighborhood were also betting, having a great time at several tables. Most of these soldiers had gold tattoos on their faces, and their burly bodies were covered in tattoos of tigers and eagles. Judging from the colors of their military robes tied around their waists, some were imperial guards, some were vassal soldiers, and some were patrol archers.
Military discipline didn't exist here, because this brothel catered specifically to soldiers. Merchants who dared to do business in a war-torn place like Hongde Village were not exactly benevolent people; most were fearless desperados. Since the
Qingli era of Emperor Renzong, the imperial court and the Western Xia rebels had been at war for decades. Huanqing Road, as the front line bordering Western Xia, had always been a disaster area ravaged by war, where human life was cheap as grass.
Hongde Village, located on the front lines of Huanqing Road, was far from a peaceful place.
In fact, all sixty-six shops in Hongde Village catered to the military.
They were either engaged in smuggling, loan sharking, or brothels, and their mastermind was the mighty Imperial Guard of the Great Song Dynasty.
Chen Liu entered and, seeing the surging crowd, moved to the side. He approached a group of soldiers, smiling broadly as he chatted.
The soldiers were engrossed in their game and ignored him. Soldiers, especially those in the Western Army, had mostly experienced battles and faced death, knowing their own mortality, and didn't care about the money. After receiving their pay, they indulged in eating, drinking, and merrymaking. Handfuls of copper coins were piled on the table. The dealer shook and rolled the dice, and immediately some cursed loudly while others laughed gleefully, creating a chaotic cacophony.
The dealer, a soldier, happily clutched the money to his chest before glancing at Chen Liu.
"What are you doing here, you bastard?"
Chen Liu recognized the man and chuckled, "Greetings, Third Brother. I wonder what Tang Tou'er is doing here…?" The soldier called Third Brother knew that Chen Liu, this idle fellow, had recently been associating with the head constable, but that was none of his business. His eyes were only on the pile of copper coins in front of him, which looked like steamed buns. He impatiently pointed to the backyard, "Tang Tou'er is entertaining himself in the back. Go find him yourself." Chen Liu bowed and scraped, exchanging pleasantries with the burly soldiers, before heading to the back. Just as he reached the back room, he heard something amiss. He heard women's moans coming from behind the door. He listened
intently for a while, then cursed under his breath, turning and retreating.
He stood against the wall, saying nothing more.
If it weren't for these bastards controlling the Yanbian trade route, nobody would want to deal with them. Each of them had gold tattoos on their faces; they looked like damned, short-lived bastards.
However, it was precisely because of these bandits and convicts that he was able to profit. War has always been the most lucrative form of warfare.
During the reign of the late Emperor Shenzong, he was determined to annihilate the Western Xia and restore the former Han and Tang territories of Hexi. Hundreds of thousands of troops from five routes in Shaanxi fought against the Western Xia for over a decade. These victories included the glorious triumphs of Wang Shao's expansion of Xihe and Zhong E's recapture of Suide, as well as disastrous defeats like the Five-Route Western Expedition and the defeat at Yongle City. To subsidize military expenses, the court issued an edict allowing border troops to return to
their homelands to replenish supplies. In Chen Liu's view, this edict was truly the only genuinely good thing the court had done in recent years. It was because of this edict that he transformed from a local ruffian into the wealthy and powerful Chen the Official.
Six years ago, Emperor Shenzong passed away, and the Song Dynasty was replaced by a new emperor. Empress Dowager Gao ruled from behind the curtain, and Chancellor Sima became the new prime minister. He proposed the "Yuan You Reform," claiming to make peace with the Western Xia, ceding back the territory recovered during the Yuanfeng era's western expedition, and resuming annual tributes to them.
He argued that this would end the war and relieve everyone of suffering. It sounded good, but despite ceding land, paying tribute, and withdrawing troops, the Western Xia's incursions became even more rampant and vicious.
Last year alone, they invaded three times, plundering Huanqing and Jingyuan, with the Dangxiang vanguard even openly penetrating into Qingzhou territory. This year, the Western Xia's Jingse Military Command in Weizhou has been extensively building fortifications and gathering cavalry at Meiyan Gorge, likely preparing for another invasion.
Meanwhile, the imperial court was also constructing Dingyuan City in Xihe Road, clearly preparing for retaliatory action against Western Xia. Everyone knew that the court's Yuan You reforms were a self-inflicted slap in the face. However, for Chen Liu, this was another golden opportunity to make a fortune. Without war, how would he make his money?
In the back room,
Tang Yun and the woman pressed tightly beneath him were both completely naked. They embraced each other tightly, their bodies intertwined in a wanton, lewd manner, rolling and writhing on the bed. The woman's strong, long legs spread wide under the man's advances, tightly gripping Tang Yun's waist, her feet hooked together. Her sexy, full white flesh trembled under the man's powerful kneading, leaving red marks. A satisfied expression graced her face as she moaned with pleasure in sync with the man's movements.
"Oh...oh...da da...kiss da da...oh..."
The man panted heavily, pressing his entire weight between the woman's legs, his hands cupping her buttocks, thrusting forcefully, making the bed creak and groan, accompanied by the sticky sounds of their juicy flesh grinding together.
The woman's hands clung to the man's bare, muscular back, her nails digging into his flesh with each wave of pleasure.
This woman was a prostitute, making a living by selling her body in this brothel. Her husband was a local rogue, a gambler and womanizer who had squandered his fortune and now relied on his wife's prostitution to support the family.
At this moment, she was working as a hanger-on for someone. Such scoundrels were common in the border towns and cities, because the soldiers and the Western bandits were constantly at war, and the border people lived in constant fear, no one knowing if they would live to see the end of this long war.
Perhaps the war would break out again tomorrow, and they would die on the battlefield. If they couldn't even save their own lives, who would care about selling their bodies?
Who knows if he'll survive the next time those Tangut traitors come to his doorstep?
He'll live one day at a time. When the future is uncertain, people who care about dignity and reputation are few and far between.
"You slut... huff... huff... watch how grandpa will deal with you..." Tang Yun, drenched in sweat, thrust his body violently, enjoying the pleasure of their bodies rubbing and intertwining. The woman's insides were already soaking wet, his thick penis churning comfortably within her, each thrust reaching deep into her anus. The harder he went, the more the woman swelled with desire, her juices flowing freely.
"Get up..."
The man's large hand cupped the woman's plump waist, lifting her up easily. Her lower body was completely filled; this man's penis was the largest she had ever seen. At this moment, this deadly thing made her juices flow freely, waves of tingling pleasure engulfing her like a tsunami.
She rose with the momentum, hooking her arms around the man's neck, her legs entwined around his waist, her buttocks dangling in the air as she lowered herself down, her wet, plump vulva swallowing his engorged penis once more.
The man gritted his teeth, breathing heavily, standing barefoot on the ground, craning his neck and thrusting violently, a stream of liquid—whether urine or vaginal fluid—dripping from their joined bodies onto the floor.
With each slap of flesh, tiny droplets of fluid splashed, his engorged penis being repeatedly swallowed by her wet, sticky vagina, occasionally causing the dark red flesh inside to peek out, coated with fine white strands of mucus.
The woman's buttocks rippled with each thrust. These soldiers were all rough men, incredibly strong. Each time they vented on her, they would leave her with a sore back and weak legs. This Captain Tang was the best among them. Despite his handsome appearance, his penis was enormous, and he was incredibly strong. He lifted her, who weighed over a hundred pounds, like a child, bouncing her hundreds of times without batting an eye.
But it was precisely because of this that she loved this young captain the most.
Sometimes she wondered why she wasn't his wife. This was a real man. She wondered which woman was lucky enough to be his wife; it would be pure bliss every night. Just thinking about it made her feel incredibly good.
Tang Yun, panting heavily, held the woman's buttocks, suspending her in mid-air. The tender flesh inside her entwined around his penis, grinding against it, the sensation exquisite. There were forty-four brothels and dens of iniquity in the city, but this Sun Erniang was the most delightful. Not only was she incredibly alluring in bed, but she also possessed a beautiful face—almond-shaped eyes, peach-blossom cheeks, and an oval face—with a captivating and seductive figure.
Marrying Zhang Qing was like a beautiful flower stuck in cow dung. Just thinking about it made her jealous, and the more jealous she became, the more she wanted to fuck him hard. He held her buttocks and placed her on the table, lowering his head to kiss her wide-open red lips. He held her tightly, pressing his body against hers, suppressing his pleasure as he thrust forcefully into her wet flesh, as if trying to squeeze out the last drop of her juices.
The woman finally ran out of strength, her body limp from the man's ministrations, her legs dangling to her sides. Tang Yun, increasingly aroused, picked her up again, pressing her against the door as he stood, suppressing his final urges and thrusting forcefully. The woman's crotch was already soaking wet, as if she had lost control of her bladder. Her fifth and most intense orgasm quickly arrived, her body convulsing. Her legs, now powerless, once again clung tightly to the man's buttocks, her nails digging into his flesh.
After a couple of violent thrusts, Tang Yun felt a tidal wave of pleasure rush to the back of his head. With a final, powerful thrust, he knocked down the door, and the two tumbled out naked, embracing each other. Even after falling, Tang Yun remained on top of the woman, using the momentum of the fall to thrust all the way in, followed by a torrent of semen that gushed out, completely filling the woman's vagina.
Hearing the commotion, some of the people in front peeked out and burst into laughter. Tang Yun didn't care at all, continuing to hold the woman until he squeezed out the last bit of his semen, releasing it deep into her body. Only then did he stop, panting, and the woman's body gradually calmed down.
At this moment, many soldiers and idlers peeked out to watch the spectacle. Zhang Qing, who had been startled by the noise, hurriedly rushed to the back. He was stunned when he saw the situation, his face turning red and then pale, wondering if his wife was alright.
Although he had already made up his mind to be a cuckold, his woman had been brought to a state of ecstasy by another man, from the bed to the floor, from inside the house to outside, even reaching the doorway. The two of them had reached orgasm in the yard in full view of everyone, and he didn't look good.
"Captain, this is..." Zhang Qing forced a smile and tried to move forward.
"Damn it, what are you looking at? Are you asking for a beating?" Tang Yun stood up casually, his large penis still glistening with the woman's fluids, swaying comically with his movements. He grabbed the woman who was frantically covering herself, turned and went into the house, then propped up the collapsing door.
Amidst the laughter, everyone went back to gambling, leaving Zhang Qing standing there dumbfounded, his face as white as a sheet.
"Captain, you really... how can I face you..." Sun Erniang frantically dressed inside, muttering her complaints.
"What's there to be afraid of? You're not going to stand up for yourself. Here, this is a reward from me." He took a string of copper coins from his waist pouch and tossed it to Sun Erniang. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he reached into his waistband, his face changing: "Where's my jade pendant?" He began searching the bed, certain it had fallen somewhere while he was undressing.
After searching high and low, Tang Yun finally found it and breathed a sigh of relief, examining it carefully.
The jade pendant was carved from Lantian jade, its surface warm and smooth, shaped like a unicorn, with a small "Yun" character in the upper left corner.
"Luckily it wasn't broken," Tang Yun murmured to himself, carefully putting it away close to his body.
"This jade pendant doesn't look ordinary, Captain."
"It's a family heirloom; my brother and I each have one." Tang Yun was in a good mood and became more talkative.
"Captain, you have another brother, but I've never heard you mention him."
"Why are you asking about these things?"
Tang Yun glanced at her, put on his clothes, stood up, and exhaled a long breath.
Stretching his limbs, he felt completely refreshed; the feeling of relief after releasing pent-up desire was always particularly pleasant.
When he reached the front, the crowd saw Tang Yun emerge and burst into laughter.
One by one, they exclaimed that Tang Yun was quite capable. Tang Yun chuckled without any embarrassment. Seeing Chen Liu in the corner, he beckoned to him, and Chen Liu grinned and came over.
The two went outside the shop to a secluded spot.
"What are you doing here? Didn't I say I would provide you on the appointed day?" "Please calm down, Chief. It's just that my master can't wait any longer. He only asks for a specific date." Tang Yun's face darkened, and he was about to lash out when Chen Liu, quick-witted and nimble, slipped something into his hand. Tang Yun saw that it was a silver ingot, probably weighing at least ten taels, and his face immediately lit up with joy. At that time, the Song Dynasty used copper coins. Gold and silver items were either collected by wealthy families or given as tribute to the Liao and Xia dynasties. They were rarely seen. It seemed that Chen Liu's master was indeed generous.
"You must know, this is a business that could cost you your life. If those censors find out, you'll be in deep trouble." "Others can't do it, but for Commander Tang, it's a piece of cake. From Hongde Village to Suning Village, Anse Fort, and Wulan Village, a hundred miles away, it's all under the command of Grand Commandant Zhe. In our Great Song Dynasty, who doesn't know the prestige of the Zhe family generals of Hedong? Commander Tang is Grand Commandant Zhe's personal guard commander; who would dare not give him face? Besides, this exchange has been going on for decades; it's just a court practice, nothing serious. Even Fan Zhongyan did it back then..." This was indeed true. Since the implementation of the military law under Emperor Shenzong's Xifeng New Law, Song Dynasty generals had increasingly tightened their control over their soldiers. Although the Yuanyou era later abolished the New Law, the army had its own countermeasures, which couldn't be solved by a single imperial decree.
From Hongde Village to Suning Village, it truly was a one-man show.
Hongde Village and Wulan Village were somewhat better, mostly guarded by the Imperial Guards. Suning Village, however, was garrisoned by Mu Hua, the leader of the Mu family's cavalry from Huanzhou. The vassal state was already lax in discipline, and with the addition of trade routes, Suning Village had become a lawless place. It was only because Zhe Keshi was protecting it that no one had bothered with it.
However, this couldn't be said openly.
"You know nothing! General Zhang Jinglue is now in charge of Huanqing Road, and he has already ordered that trade only with the Qinghai-Tibetan and Qiang tribes is permitted. When was trade with the Western Xia allowed? Don't forget that the Western bandits are currently at war with us. This is aiding the enemy; being caught is a capital offense." "Yes, yes, yes, I was confused."
Chen Liu nodded and bowed, saying only flattering words, but inwardly he sneered.
Which border general in Shaanxi has a clean backside? Secretly, they were all engaged in smuggling for profit, and a considerable number of them also had clandestine dealings with the Western Xia. The fighting between the two sides didn't prevent these people from profiting from what they needed. As long as the war didn't break out again, this smuggling would continue.
Although Zhe Keshi was known as a famous general, he secretly sent his personal guards to smuggle. The fact that he could connect with Zhe Keshi meant he wasn't clean; why pretend?
Tang Yun glanced at Chen Liu, his own plans in mind. This smuggling operation itself wasn't a big deal; the court's official funds and stipends were openly distributed to border generals as capital for business.
No one would really care. But his actions were somewhat outrageous; it involved thousands of bolts of silk, not small-scale operations. Such a large sum sounded quite alarming.
The court had suffered from a cash shortage for years, and with the need for smuggling on the border, a large portion of the annual military pay was replaced with silk. Hundreds of thousands of bolts of silk were sent to the border troops in batches, who then sold them for profit to subsidize their pay. Because he was secretly doing this kind of business for Zhe Keshi, he was able to conveniently seek some benefits for himself.
The silk was sent to Qinghai and Tibet, yielding a profit of four strings of cash per bolt. He secretly colluded with Chen Liu, who initially purchased over a thousand bolts of silk, earning more than four thousand strings of cash, which he then handed over to the authorities. Afterwards, he secretly transported the silk from Chen Liu to Western Xia for sale. Due to years of war disrupting trade, this commodity was extremely scarce in Western Xia. A thousand bolts of silk could be exchanged for over two hundred fine horses. These horses were either transported to the interior or sold locally to the army, each fetching hundreds of strings of cash – a truly exorbitant profit.
If the army were in charge, the fine horses could be used to train cavalry or sold to supplement military funds. However, Tang Yun was now secretly using the army's silk to generate profits for private merchants, without benefiting the army. He was essentially undermining the army for his own gain, a move that would be no laughing matter if it became known. The army, as a community with shared interests, detested such traitors who betrayed their own side.
Furthermore, his superior was Zhe Keshi, a man not easily fooled.
No military man in the Song Dynasty was unfamiliar with the Zhe family of Hedong. In the early Northern Song Dynasty, there were once illustrious military families like the Yang and Hu families, but they had all declined by then.
With the rise of the Western Xia, renowned ministers like Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi led the military in the Northwest, painstakingly building a massive Western Army from scratch. During this period, new "nobles" emerged, such as the Zhong and Yao families, but their foundations were not as deep as the Zhe family's. After all, this was the only allowed military region in the Song Dynasty, a region that produced famous generals and whose members died in service to the emperor.
Zhe Keshi was the most dazzling military star of this generation of the Zhe family.
At a young age, he was regarded as a "true general" by the famous general Guo Kui and was appointed as a member of the Imperial Guard. Later, he accompanied Zhong E on a patrol of the border. At that time, Zhong E crossed the Dali River at night, captured Suide, and defeated the Western Xia, avenging the Song army's defeat at Haoshuichuan. The Western Xia hated him to the bone. When they learned of his departure, they sent the valiant general Wei Cailangluo to infiltrate Fuyan Road to ambush Zhong E. Zhe Keshi met him alone on horseback, killed Wei Cailangluo, and returned with his head. He became famous in the western border region after this battle. Later, during the Five-Route Western Expedition, he led an army as the envoy of the Hengxing Army. He first defeated the Western bandits at Sanjiaoling, then defeated the enemy at Mizhi Village, and then defeated the enemy at Putao Mountain. In the fifth year of Yuanfeng, he first captured Jintang City and then Xialu City. The court specially commended him and renamed Xialu City Hongde Village, ordering him to garrison it. He was known as the "Ever-Victorious General" in the Western Army.
Such a ruthless general, who kills without hesitation, has a heart sculpted from ice. If anyone angers him, he will show no mercy, no matter how great their achievements.
Tang Yun didn't know if his current actions would anger him, but he preferred not to know.
Chen Liu stared at Tang Yun, not believing that this convict would give up the fat meat that was already in his mouth. For the ten strings of cash per horse, he would have been beheaded, that was more than two thousand strings of cash, an astronomical figure here.
"Fine, I'll risk my life this time. Go back and tell your master that I'll be waiting for him at the horse post in Qingshagou, ten miles outside the South Gate, at midnight in ten days." It was late at night, and curfew was in effect in Hongde Village.
Chen Liu's figure appeared in the courtyard of Gaojiadian. Zhang Qing and Sun Erniang, their expressions changed from the morning, were having a private conversation inside.
"They finally relented. For the sake of two thousand strings of cash, who can stand firm?" Chen Liu said of Tang Yun with a look of disdain.
"When will we get the warhorses?"
"The delivery will take place in ten days. At that time, you should inform the Grand Master to prepare for receiving the goods. With these hundreds of warhorses in hand, the bandits of Hedong, Hebei, and Xijing will have to submit to our Red Lotus Society. We won't be afraid of government troops either. Then we can recruit more soldiers and horses, and great things will be within our grasp..." "Does Tang Yun really have dealings with the Xia dogs?" "I've found out. Tang Yun wasn't originally a Han Chinese. He's a Han slave who escaped from Xixia. He was taken in by Zhe Keshi as a personal guard because he understands the Xixia language, specifically to gather intelligence on Xixia's military. I've gone with him a few times, and the Xixia dogs there really do have a relationship with him." "He's a Xixia person?" Sun Erniang frowned.
"These days have been tough for Erniang. I've already reported to the Grand Master, and there will be a reward in the future." Ten days later, late at night, at the Qingshagou horse stable.
A convoy of forty large carts, laden with goods, traveled along the mountain roads. In the dead of night, they dared not light torches, relying solely on the moonlight to navigate in the darkness. Since Zhang Jie assumed the post of Military Commissioner of Huanqing Road, he had abandoned the large-scale military campaigns of the Shenzong era, which involved hundreds of thousands of troops marching
beyond the Great Wall. Instead, he began a strategy of piecemeal, gradual encroachment against the Western Xia. Zhang Jie vigorously promoted the strategy of "building fortifications and advancing shallowly," constructing castles at every conquered location, then dispatching elite cavalry to sweep the surrounding areas. They then advanced, establishing fortifications every five li and stockades every ten li, until the entire Huanqing Road was riddled with fortifications. The outskirts of these strongholds were also dotted with numerous overt and covert horse stations. Without a knowledgeable military officer to guide them, a convoy of this size could not possibly evade the Song army's surveillance network.
This area fell under Zhe Keshi's defenses, and Tang Yun was Zhe Keshi's personal guard captain; therefore, Tang Yun happened to be a military officer familiar with the situation. He led the convoy slowly forward, winding its way through the enemy lines. The hidden stakeouts at the horse stables seemed to have relaxed their guard, and the large convoy had slowly infiltrated the Song army's defenses.
Passing through a grove of trees, they came to a crisscrossing network of deep trenches and ditches, along with fallen trees and rocks—a man-made demarcation line, the road severely damaged. Tang Yun raised his hand to signal a halt, turning to Chen Liu and saying, "This is the border. Further ahead is Xia territory. The convoy cannot proceed; we must proceed on foot." Although Chen Liu had been to Xia territory with Tang Yun before, he was still terrified, sweat beading on his forehead.
Tang Yun led the way, traversing the trenches and obstacles. Ahead lay a small path. This was the defense zone of the Western Xia Jingse Military Command. Not far ahead was Weiding Village, the largest stronghold under the Jingse Military Command. Whenever the Western Xia invaded Huanqing Road, the soldiers of Weiding Village were always the vanguard, their hands stained with the blood of Han Chinese. Moreover, this place was one of the main activity areas of the notorious Western Xia's capture-the-wild troops. They would frequently cross the border to raid and enslave Han Chinese, earning the deep hatred of the border people. The Song army also considered this stronghold a thorn in
their side. Chen Liu followed Tang Yun, walking anxiously for a while. The surrounding area was all mountains, rocks, and forests, dark and indistinct, as if countless people were lurking nearby, ready to jump out and shoot them at any moment.
"We're here," Tang Yun suddenly stopped, and Chen Liu almost bumped into him.
Looking ahead, a tall, dark building stood—this was the beacon tower set up by Weidingtun. In recent years, the Song army's strategy of "building fortifications and launching shallow attacks" has been remarkably effective. While the Western Xia were not afraid of large Song armies advancing rapidly, they were greatly troubled by this gradual, piecemeal approach. Forced to emulate the Song army, they built beacon towers in key border locations. However, the Tanguts, clearly inept at fortification, only scratched the surface. The vast Weidingtun village had only one beacon tower, built exceptionally tall, resembling a small castle, easily accommodating two or three hundred people. However, only about twenty villagers were usually stationed there, a fact Tang Yun had long understood.
Although Chen Liu had seen this beacon tower before, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. In fact, all the border people living in Shaanxi spoke of Western Xia with a mixture of hatred and fear, after all, it was an opponent that the powerful Song Dynasty, with its tens of millions of people, had spent decades trying to defeat without success.
Several figures flashed out from the darkness ahead, and then someone lit a lantern at a window on the beacon tower.
By the light, it was clear that the four men in front of him were dressed as Xixia soldiers.
They wore iron and leather armor, carried long swords and bows at their waists, and had disgustingly bald hairstyles, resembling Japanese kappa monsters. However, these guys were all familiar faces. The one in the lead was a minor leader who immediately spoke a string of Xixia words to Tang Yun.
Chen Liu didn't understand a word, and Tang Yun didn't translate for him. He simply continued speaking in Xixia language, exchanging words back and forth for a while. Then, the other party laughed heartily, appearing quite pleased. He even bowed to Tang Yun, seemingly very close. Tang Yun, in turn, held his hand as if they were old friends. After the other party left, Tang Yun told Chen Liu, "They agreed. Five bolts of silk for one horse. Our large carts can't cross, so they agreed to settle the transaction at the border." As soon as he finished speaking, a large herd of horses was seen being driven from behind a small hill on the opposite side. Then, the soldiers from the beacon tower came out to help drive the horses, and together they reached the man-made obstacle.
The atmosphere was quite strange. Soldiers from two warring countries, separated by a pile of garbage-like obstacles, were both wary of each other and began doing business. One side counted out five bolts of silk and handed them over to the other, who then led over a horse.
The entire process lasted for over an hour. By the time all the horses were counted, the dark sky was beginning to lighten.
"It's time to go," Tang Yun urged. Among the men Chen Liu brought appeared to be herdsmen or similar people, who were driving and leading the horses back. However, this time they weren't taking the same route they had come by. Tang Yun didn't care; the transaction was complete, and his task was finished. He had nothing more to do now, except collect the money. He
certainly couldn't keep all two thousand strings of cash for himself. The night scouts at the stables—since they had cooperated so well, he would definitely have to pay them hush money. And the vassal soldiers of Suning Village—those bastards had withdrawn their patrol scouts last night; they needed to be paid for their hard work. And his comrades in the personal guard—they had to provide cover for him, and their appetites wouldn't be small either.
Thinking it over, he realized he had to bribe almost everyone around him. He wondered how much of the two thousand strings of cash he would have left.
Tang Yun would be satisfied if he could keep 30%.
Most importantly, that old man Zhe Keshi…
When Tang Yun returned to Hongde Village, he was still empty-handed. He had parted ways with the men Chen Liu had brought halfway there. They took another path with their herd of horses back to Huanzhou. Tang Yun didn’t know which path these horse traders had taken that allowed such a large caravan to bypass the government checkpoints along the way. However, most horse traders on the Northwest Road had connections with bandits. These bandits usually roamed the mountains and forests and knew some secret paths that were not usually known. It was not difficult for them to freely enter and exit the borders of the two countries, or even freely enter and exit Xingqing Prefecture.
Two thousand strings of copper coins were far too heavy, requiring several large boxes to pack, making it impossible to carry on one's person. Chen Liu agreed to pay with an equivalent amount of gold and silver upon returning to the city. Tang Yun didn't know where these people got so much gold and silver, but he wasn't interested in digging into it. Most of the merchants who came to the border to smuggle were resourceful; they could simply exchange the money for copper coins or other hard currency later. In any case, the scum in the army wasn't in a hurry to split the profits.
He didn't think Chen Liu would renege on the debt, because Tang Yun felt these people probably wanted to do long-term business. Once they lost their credibility, they would have nowhere to stay on the border, and with the army's strength, that would be a piece of cake. Besides, the other party had a thousand strings of cash as a deposit in his hands.
When they arrived at the city gate, it was already dawn. The city gate was open, and soldiers and civilians were bustling in and out.
Tang Yun, with his sharp eyes, noticed that the number of gate guards at the gate was several times greater than when he left the city, and there were also some soldiers he didn't recognize resting their horses outside the city. Judging from their banners, they included Dang Wan, the sixth general of Huanqing Road, and Liu Suo, the second general—both local tyrants who ruled over their respective territories in Huanqing Road.
Zhe Keshi, the seventh general of Huanqing Road, was a trusted and beloved general of the military commissioner Zhang Jie. This group gathering meant they had some important military matters to discuss. Considering the recent rumors of the Western Xia gathering troops in Weizhou and undertaking large-scale construction in Meiyan Gorge, they might have come here to discuss countermeasures. After all, among the generals of Huanqing Road, Zhe Keshi was undoubtedly the most intelligent and courageous.
Was war about to resume? Perhaps the opportunity he had been waiting for had finally arrived… Watching Chen Liu enter the city gate, Tang Yun deliberately kept a distance before entering, handing his pass and command token to the gatekeeper for verification. He had been on duty patrolling the city these past few days and had received the command token. He
needed to return to the government office to return the token, and then find an opportunity to find Chen Liu and collect the money.
Anyway, this fellow would definitely return to the city, so there was no rush.
Just as he was at the city gate, he saw a troop of soldiers approaching from the opposite direction. Leading them was his colleague and friend, Gao Long, the Left Commander of the Guards. Gao Long's expression was somewhat strange upon seeing him. Tang Yun's heart skipped a beat, but Gao Long quickly walked to his side and said, "Tang Yun, the Grand Commandant has ordered you to pay your respects upon returning to the city. Go now." Tang Yun smiled and said, "Fifth Brother, why the rush? I see that most of the soldiers outside are subordinates of General Dang and General Liu. Does the Grand Commandant have urgent business to discuss with me?" Gao Long's face darkened, and he winked at him, saying, "How would I know what business the Grand Commandant has? Hurry up, hurry up." Tang Yun frowned immediately. This Gao Long was his friend and colleague; he usually received a share of the money Tang Yun had made. Seeing his expression, Tang Yun feared something was amiss.
Looking back, he saw that Gao Long's men were scattered around him, forming a guard-like posture. He immediately knew his secret had been exposed. These were the men Zhe Keshi had sent to deal with him; they were all people he knew, elite warriors with exceptional skills.
It seemed it was true. With two or three of these men, he would have been helpless; now there were ten, plus Gao Long.
Was this inevitable? The day had finally come… Tang Yun sighed inwardly, making no other move, simply letting Gao Long and his men escort him towards the government office. All of this was clearly seen by Chen Liu, who was hiding behind the wall not far away.
What was going on? Chen Liu was no ordinary man; those who made their living in the underworld needed sharp eyes. Seeing that Tang Yun seemed to be being taken away, though not chained, the manner was unmistakable.
Had this corrupt official committed a crime? This was extremely bad. He had painstakingly built this path, bribing officials at all levels, and now it seemed it was all about to be cut off? Was he facing legal trouble because of this trade with Xixia? Was this guy really going to be beheaded?
He didn't care whether Tang Yun, that corrupt official, lived or died, but Tang Yun was currently the only military officer willing and able to trade with Xixia, and he was powerful and influential enough to protect them. They were hoping to get more warhorses through him.
And what if Tang Yun implicated him? Chen Liu was almost certain he would.
But he wasn't sure if Tang Yun was involved in this matter… The wisest decision now was to leave quickly, but if he had misunderstood, Tang Yun would definitely think he had run away after defaulting on his debt, and the connection they had finally established would be severed, and he would never have such an opportunity again.
What to do?
Chen Liu was getting anxious when suddenly someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind. He was startled and turned around to see a robust middle-aged man standing behind him. He
had a full beard and was dressed like a merchant.
"Big Boss!" Chen Liu immediately recognized the man.
The man made a subtle gesture, and Chen Liu thought to himself, "Perfect, this is the perfect time to tell him.
" "Big Boss, just now..."
"No need to say anything, I know everything."
The man raised his hand to signal him to shut up.
"Pack your things and leave the city immediately. It doesn't matter if this line is cut off." "This...isn't it a pity to leave like this..." "I just saw that old scoundrel Zhang Jie's trusted retainer in the city. I'm afraid he has already noticed our movements. Capturing this corrupt official surnamed Tang is no random act. It's not worth taking such a risk for a mere few thousand strings of cash. Anyway, we already have the horses. We can find another way later. I, Su Yanfu, have roamed the Jianghu for so many years, and I don't rely on these corrupt officials to achieve anything." "That old scoundrel Zhang Jie!" Chen Liu exclaimed in a low voice, then gritted his teeth. Su Yanfu was originally a notorious bandit in the Jingzhou area. He occupied Tianwang Mountain and founded the Red Lotus Society. He was a powerful and well-equipped bandit. Even government troops would avoid him. The bandits who ruled the mountains along Jinghu Road all obeyed his orders. He was a well-known leader in the Jianghu. However, later Zhang Jie was appointed as the judicial commissioner of Jinghu North Road, and he carried out a thorough crackdown on these bandits. Countless bandits died at his hands. Su Yanfu lost his stronghold after being wiped out by Zhang Jie and could not stand firm in the south. He eventually fled to the north and is now slowly recovering his strength, but he still trembles with fear when he hears the name of Zhang Jie.
"Sooner or later, we'll tear that old thief to pieces."
"Great Boss, if that happens, I'm afraid our retreat will be in jeopardy. That old thief Zhang is now in charge of Huanqing Road, and Huanzhou is also his territory. Our cavalry has over two hundred horses; such a large force... I'm afraid..." "There's no need to worry about that. There are many vassal states here, and most of their sons grew up in the mountains and are familiar with many hidden paths. I've already bribed a vassal official named Meng Zhen. He knows a secret route that leads directly to the mountains outside the south gate of Huanzhou, without taking the official road." "No wonder Gao Qi and the others didn't enter the city but went straight into the mountains; it turns out Great Boss had already made arrangements. As for Zhang Qing and Second Sister..." "Let's all set off together. These past few days have been tough on them; the traps we set up haven't been used, and they've suffered so much for nothing." "Great Boss, is that vassal official Meng Zhen reliable?"
"If he's unreliable, wouldn't it be a great achievement to report us to the authorities and have us arrested? Besides, these vassal tribes are different from us Han people. They're not Song people. They're used to being lawless and have no loyalty to the government. They'll do anything for money. Anyway, we only need this guy to lead the way. When he's no longer useful, we can just kill him." ************ Night fell, and the undulating mountains of Huanqing Road were covered with a layer of silvery frost under the moonlight.
A dark night for murder, a windy night for arson. Today, the moon wasn't dark and the wind wasn't strong, but Tang Yun's mood was murderous. He took the same old road, and the group behind him was much smaller than last time: one hundred bolts of silk, five large carts, and thirteen people.
No one knew what had happened to him last time. In fact, those who heard about it found it strange that he was still alive.
Tang Yun's secret collusion with the enemy in the trade with Xixia had undoubtedly been exposed. Given Zhe Keshi's strict military law and the ruthless nature of Zhang Jie, the current commander of Huanqing Road, such a blatant offender would be a perfect example to scare the rest.
However, Tang Yun's continued survival has inevitably aroused speculation.
Some believe Zhe Keshi has his eye on the lucrative trade with Xixia, and allowing Tang Yun to continue trading is evidence of this, except now that his subordinates have no opportunity to profit—a classic case of the big fish eating the small fish.
Others think Zhe Keshi values talent; Tang Yun is shrewd and capable, possessing exceptional martial arts skills, and is already a captain in the guards in his early twenties.
Zhe Keshi once said that this young man could one day reach his position. With another major war about to break out between Song and Xia, it's a time when manpower is needed, so giving him a chance to redeem himself is understandable.
Regardless of others' speculations, Tang Yun himself remains as relaxed as ever.
"Are we there yet?" someone asked in a low voice. The thirteen men who had arrived were all agile and strode quickly, speaking very little along the way. Maintaining formation and discipline even on such a long journey was a testament to their elite status. The men escorting the wagon were seasoned veterans selected from Zhe Keshi's personal guards.
"Almost there," Tang Yun replied without turning his head. Ever since the day he escaped from Western Xia, his heart had been numb. But now, he felt as if his heart was boiling; the overwhelming excitement made him afraid to speak, lest others notice.
Ahead, the beacon tower of Weiding Village was faintly visible.
On the tower, Leiding Milan peered eastward from the crenellations. Tang Yun had brought news again: another profitable opportunity awaited them. This was truly good news.
The Leiding clan was a small Dangxiang tribe. For them, fighting the powerful Eastern Dynasty was merely a means of survival. They needed the Eastern Dynasty's wealth and food to feed their people. If they could obtain these things without fighting or losing lives, why not? The Jing Sai Military Command is dominated by the Renduo tribe. The twelve military commanderies of Western Xia are controlled by powerful clans and large families. These smaller tribes are merely tools for others, always serving as cannon fodder in wars against the Song Dynasty, while the larger tribes reap the benefits.
Of course, Leiding Milan cannot change this situation, but smaller tribes have their own ways of survival. Caught between Western Xia and the powerful Eastern Dynasty, they can only survive by playing both sides. The Song Dynasty is an enemy of Western Xia and the Renduo tribe, but not necessarily of the Leiding tribe, even though the Leiding tribe is now part of Western Xia.
As a nation composed of tribes, the Bai Shang Kingdom prioritizes the tribe itself.
The throne of the Weiming tribe is a matter for the Weiming people to worry about. "We, the Redding tribe, need to survive. There's no need for us to swear allegiance to you. The greedy Renduo tribe always places us small tribes in dangerous areas as shields for them, like here. Once war breaks out, this place will definitely be the first target. With such malicious intentions, why should we be devoted to you?
" "Here they come." Seeing the familiar figure appear, Redding Milan was excited.
"Redding Milan!" A shout came from below in Xixia language; it was indeed Tang Yun. He hadn't brought much today, which was normal; he hadn't even finished using the more than a thousand bolts of silk from last time.
They just wanted horses, right? The Tanguts had plenty of horses.
"Go down and take a look!" Redding Milan called to the men guarding the beacon tower to come down with him. There were five regular soldiers, ten porters, and ten laborers inside the beacon tower, and they all came out now.
"Young Master Tang, you are indeed a man of your word." Redding Milan had a good impression of the handsome Song Dynasty military officer before him. If possible, he would even be willing for the border between the two countries to remain in this state of confrontation forever, to do business with this man forever. Then he saw Tang Yun wave to the back, and several large carts creaked and groaned as they approached. He was momentarily stunned. The Song army usually parked their carts at the border, and then the two sides would hand them over at the border. Why were they coming over today? How did they manage to pull the carts over the obstacles?
But upon closer inspection, he saw that there were only about a dozen people on the other side, all unarmed. Since his side outnumbered them, he didn't worry about it.
"How will the handover be conducted today?"
"The usual procedure will be followed." Tang Yun said, beckoning him over. "Chief Redding, you've worked hard. I have a gift for you, a small token of my appreciation." Redding Milan laughed heartily. "Young Master Tang is too kind." He had just taken two steps closer when he suddenly realized something was wrong. The burly men who had come with him all had grim faces and exuded an indescribable aura, like predatory beasts eyeing their prey. They were definitely not ordinary people. Moreover, their positions were subtly suspicious. If a fight broke out, they would be in positions most advantageous for launching an attack.
As a veteran who had fought for over a decade, he keenly sensed the danger.
"Something's wrong!"
he shouted as he retreated with all his might. However, the moment his feet left the ground, Tang Yun was faster than him. In a flash, Tang Yun appeared in front of him like a ghost. Redding Milan watched in horror as Tang Yun raised his arm. Then, in a blur, a dazzling blade of light sliced through his chest. Redding Milan's body flew backward, his iron and leather armor cleaved in two, a gaping wound opening in his chest. He fell to the ground amidst a spray of blood.
"Kill them!" Redding Milan roared, spitting blood, but Tang Yun pounced like a whirlwind, sweeping his blade wildly, single-handedly blocking everyone's path. The burly men on the other side immediately pried open the boxes on their carts, quickly retrieving large crossbows.
"Get out of the way!" someone shouted. Tang Yun leaped more than ten feet into the air, jumping sideways to clear the path.
The Xixia soldiers, brandishing their weapons and shouting, were met with a hail of arrows, the arrows incredibly accurate, and eight fell in the blink of an eye. Some were even pierced through the body, pinned to the ground and the beacon tower walls.
Chaos erupted at the scene.
"This is…" Redding Milan could no longer stand, but he could see the corpses of his people lying beside him, their iron armor pierced, their bodies riddled with arrow shafts. He recognized these arrows—wood-feathered, steel-tipped. The Western Xia army didn't use them; only one army in the world used this terrifying killing weapon: the Eastern Dynasty's Imperial Guard's Divine Arm Bow Unit.
Damn it! This wasn't Tang Yun trying to double-cross him; the Song Dynasty had declared war! This was the beginning of war!
"Light the beacon fire!"
These were his last words before Tang Yun's blade slit his throat. His vision blurred, and he saw his headless corpse.
Tang Yun beheaded Redding Milan with a single stroke, then rushed to the beacon tower's gate. People inside were desperately trying to close it, but Tang Yun kicked it down, half the gate collapsing. A servant, wielding a spear, thrust out, but Tang Yun grabbed the shaft and slashed it, severing the servant's hand. He then kicked over and leaped inside. The most important thing now was to quickly seize the beacon fire on the top floor; if it got lit, all their efforts would be in vain.
Zhe Keshi already knew his own situation. The reason he was kept alive was for today's surprise attack on the beacon tower; he needed to demonstrate his value.
He climbed a few steps to the top floor and finally breathed a sigh of relief; no one was there. Looking down, he saw that the thirteen men had already slaughtered all the survivors. These men were all carefully selected martial arts masters from the army, battle-hardened veterans, and with the aid of the divine crossbow, dealing with these ragtag soldiers was a piece of cake
. Not a single one of the thirteen men was injured. "Tang Yun, is everything alright up there?" Gao Long shouted from below. At the same time, several assassins carrying divine crossbows also went up to the top floor, occupying the high ground.
"Not a single one escaped! Quickly report to the Grand Commandant! The beacon tower has been captured."
One of the men below untied a horse pulling a cart, mounted it, and turned to gallop straight towards Song territory.
Soon after, a slight tremor came from the earth, like rolling thunder. A wild military aura surged in the distance, the air was turbulent, and even the wind carrying the fierce spirit of war. Countless troops emerged from the darkness from all directions, their hooves trampling the grass and trees in their wake. As they drew nearer, by the light of the torches, they became clear: all were Song Dynasty soldiers clad in red battle robes, each in full armor. A dense, dark mass covered the mountains and fields, their numbers unknown, with spears and halberds forming a forest and banners scattered everywhere.
"Tang Yun reports! The Xia Gou beacon tower has been captured, and the twenty-five garrison soldiers have been beheaded. The Xia Gou beacon fire has not yet been relayed. Please, Commander, decide the course of action!" Tang Yun knelt before a general riding a large black horse. This man was around forty years old, handsome and imposing, clad in finely crafted, gleaming steel armor, covered by a black robe, with a ten-barbarian belt around his waist. A phoenix-beaked dagger hung from a victory hook, and a large bow slung beneath his saddle. He had thick eyebrows and large eyes, a cold flame burning deep within them.
"Commander Liu."
"Your subordinate is here!" Although Commander Liu and Zhe Keshi were of equal rank, Zhang Jie had ordered Zhe Keshi to lead this operation, and military law was no joke, so he addressed him as "Your subordinate."
"Leave one battalion of your troops to guard this place, the rest will follow me to take Weiding Village." "Yes, sir!" "I have already sent men to investigate and find out that the Western bandits have drawn tens of thousands of troops from Weizhou, actually to take Dingyuan City on the Xihe Road. The troops of the Jingse Military Command have already been completely drawn away, and they are just bluffing. The soldiers guarding the various forts and villages in Weizhou are only a few hundred each, all old and weak, not worth mentioning! Weizhou is now empty, it is a golden opportunity. We will first break through Weiding Village, then take Weizhou, burn down the lair of that dog Renduo Baozhong, and see if he will return to his army! Such great merit is within our grasp, a great man can be rewarded with a wife and children, fame and glory should be obtained on horseback! Tang Yun, you will be the flag bearer of the vanguard. If you do not plant the flag on the city wall of Weiding Village, you will bring your head to me!" "Yes, sir!" "
We are willing to follow the general to defeat the enemy!" After the initial victory, the morale of the Song army has risen, and they are all shouting and cheering.
Tang Yun didn't know what Zhe Keshi was thinking. Weidingtun was a large stronghold, usually garrisoned by several thousand troops. Zhe Keshi kept saying the enemy only had a few hundred men; he wondered how accurate this intelligence was.
His side seemed well-prepared, but Zhe Keshi clearly intended a surprise night attack. Night battles were prone to chaos, and a misjudgment could easily shake the morale of even an army with an initial advantage.
But this was Zhe Keshi's decision; he was now the commander-in-chief.
In the darkness, countless figures moved through the mountain paths.
The dark mass blended into the surrounding forest, stretching seemingly to the horizon. Song soldiers, each leading their horse, bitten on a twig, advanced cautiously. Riding horses in the dark was dangerous; now was the time to avoid trouble.
Tang Yun's vanguard was at the forefront, composed of Zhe Keshi's personal guards, tasked with the most arduous mission: to launch the first attack when the battle began. Zhe Keshi was known for his strict system of rewards and punishments. His personal guard received the highest rewards and enjoyed the best treatment in peacetime, but also bore the brunt of the danger in battle.
At this moment, no one dared to breathe, gripping their horses' reins and weapons tightly. They knew the road well; their elite scouts had repeatedly ventured deep into Xia territory to investigate. Weiding Village was not far ahead, but were there really only a few hundred soldiers?
This question swirled in everyone's mind, including Tang Yun's. According to Zhe Keshi's current plan, they should have attacked Weiding Village under cover of night, then rested there until dawn, conserving their strength before using their cavalry to storm Weizhou City. With luck, the Xia army might not even be able to react effectively.
If the intelligence was correct, the main force of the Jingse Military Command was not currently in Weizhou; this was indeed a feasible plan.
The Song army is no longer what it was during Emperor Renzong's reign. In that era, with poorly trained soldiers and a severe shortage of warhorses, even the entire nation could only muster a little over ten thousand cavalry capable of field battles. Even minor disturbances caused by insignificant barbarians like Nong Zhigao in the Guangdong and Guangxi regions could cause the court officials to be on high alert. But the situation is different now.
Since Wang Shao conquered the Qiang people in Xihe, the Song Dynasty has received 20,000 horses annually from the Xihe, Qinghai, and Tibetan regions. Furthermore, the horse administration policies implemented during the Xifeng era, despite the stigma of oppressing the people, have gradually alleviated the Song army's horse shortage. Currently, each of the five routes in Shaanxi has around ten thousand cavalry, some as many as twenty thousand. The eight thousand cavalrymen deployed this time are all seasoned veterans.
However, to be fair, these 8,000-plus cavalrymen represented almost half of the resources that Huanqing Road had painstakingly accumulated over the past decade. Unlike nomadic peoples like the Khitan and Tangut, the Song Dynasty had no such thing as 8,000 cavalrymen. They could be summoned and dismissed at will, and even if they suffered losses, they could quickly muster five or ten times that number. If the Song army lost these 8,000-plus cavalrymen, it was uncertain how many years it would take to replenish them.
These were all precious assets, and to gamble with them like this showed Zhe Keshi's audacity.
Ahead, they finally saw the low walls of Weidingtun. Although it was a fortified village, the Tangut people's fortification skills as a nomadic people were no match for the Song Dynasty. In the entire Western Xia, only Xingqing Prefecture and Lingzhou were of any concern to the Song army; the rest were insignificant. The Song army didn't even consider the walls of Weizhou a threat, let alone Weidingtun, which was under Weizhou's jurisdiction.
On the hanging beams of the stockade wall, a Western Xia soldier was dozing off. Their Yeshi tribe couldn't compare to the Renduo tribe's large numbers and power; being a soldier was just a way to get by, and there was no need to take anything seriously. Besides, the lack of signal fires ahead meant everything was peaceful, so why torture themselves? The Western Xia army wasn't like it was during Li Yuanhao's era, with clear rewards and punishments. The Liang family held absolute power, favoring their own people, excluding dissidents, and failing to reward merit or punish wrongdoing. Those Renduo bastards always thought of them when there were good opportunities, always sending them to do this arduous work; nobody would work hard for them.
Just as he was dozing off, he rubbed his eyes and suddenly saw several dark figures climb up the stockade wall from outside. He looked at them suspiciously, his sleepy mind still not quite registering what they were, assuming they were soldiers who had deserted and were returning to camp under cover of darkness. So he went up and shouted, "Who are you? How dare you! Don't you value your lives?" Unexpectedly, the men opposite him had ferocious expressions on their faces. One of them raised a hand and threw a flying knife, striking the soldier squarely in the chest. A
piercing scream tore through the night.
Then came the sounds of horns, gongs, war drums, shouts, and the neighing of horses—a frenzied battle roar that filled the air. Fireballs were tossed into the stockade like celestial flowers. The Western Xia soldiers in the barracks rushed out of the courtyards, disheveled, running around like headless flies. Warhorses neighed and charged wildly. The entire stockade was plunged into a chaotic vortex, a scene resembling the end of the world.
Ye Shining stood dumbfounded on the stockade wall; half of his stockade was now ablaze. When the attack began, as the garrison commander, he was sound asleep, embracing a Han Chinese female slave. He had acquired her from the Renduo tribe's capture army for four strings of cash, and she was incredibly pleasurable.
When he was awakened by the noise, he had rushed out of the room completely naked. Now, he was only wearing trousers, a half-armored suit of armor, barefoot, wearing a helmet, and carrying a large bow.
Inside the city, Song soldiers were rampaging everywhere, fighting amongst themselves. Outside, torches lit up the landscape, and the sheer number of Song soldiers attacking him stunned him. The stockade gates had fallen, and a large section of the east wall had been breached by some unknown weapon used by the Song soldiers. A dense throng of Song soldiers was pouring in, while a large Song banner stood crookedly but firmly planted on the west wall.
At this moment, only the south wall remained in the hands of the Xia army. But outside the south wall, there were countless Song soldiers.
Everyone was shouting the order given by Zhe Keshi: "Annihilate the Xia dogs, everyone will be rewarded!" It's over, the Ye Shi clan is over... Ye Shi Ninglang's face was full of grief. He drew his bow and shot an arrow at a Song soldier below.
He shouted: "Children, fight to the death to kill the traitors, kill all these Song dogs!" The Xia soldiers below were completely overwhelmed by the number of Song soldiers. They could neither run nor fight back. They were pushed back step by step by countless swords, axes, spears and lances, and then divided and surrounded. With each step back, one after another fell. Countless bodies were stabbed, torn, and pierced, and then pushed down haphazardly. At this moment, the Song army had completely gained the upper hand. Ye Shi Ninglang's shouts did not inspire any morale, but instead attracted the attention of the Song archers.
"That's a Xia dog chieftain, kill him!" someone shouted in the crowd.
Over a hundred crossbows, including the Divine Arm Crossbow, the Yellow Crossbow, the Black Lacquer Crossbow, and the Yellow Yenu, were simultaneously raised from all directions, aimed at the south city wall. At this moment, the Xia army was either dead or had fled. Those who remained by Ye Shininglang's side were his own flesh and blood, his personal guards. Seeing their commander in danger, they immediately rushed forward without hesitation. Several shields completely covered Ye Shininglang, and then a volley of arrows came. With a series of loud bangs, the shields were pierced, and even the bodies behind them were pierced. Waves of blood splattered, soaking Ye Shininglang. Looking at his personal guards, who were riddled with crossbow bolts, their bodies were completely fused with the shields. Even in death, they maintained their posture of protecting him.
"Song dogs, I'll fight you to the death!" Ye Shininglang's eyes were bloodshot. He wiped the blood from his face, looking like a demon from the underworld. He threw down his great bow, turned around, grabbed a long-handled sledgehammer used for guarding the wall, pushed aside the corpses around him, and jumped down from the wall with a loud shout.
Seeing this as a perfect opportunity, the surrounding Song soldiers shouted and swarmed forward, their spears and lances raining down. However, Ye Shininglang was a renowned general in the Western Xia army, known for his exceptional martial arts skills. He was incredibly fierce, wielding a large hammer with a whooshing sound, making him impenetrable.
Song soldiers were sent flying by his blows, and two were killed in the blink of an eye. The rest simply surrounded him, not daring to approach rashly.
Zhe Keshi, now atop the west wall, watched Ye Shininglang charge left and right like a mad tiger, while the Song soldiers below, mostly his elite guards, couldn't even get close. This infuriated him.
He knew the skill of his guards; they were all personally selected and recruited by him, and they could easily spar with him forty or fifty moves without being at a disadvantage. Yet now they were helpless against a barbarian chieftain fighting like a cornered beast.
Then he saw Xie Xiong, a platoon leader among his personal guards, go up to fight.
Known for his exceptional martial arts skills, he was struck in the chest with a hammer within ten moves, coughing up blood and collapsing to the ground, clearly beyond saving.
Zhe Keshi gripped his sword hilt tightly, suppressing the urge to personally challenge him. He was now a high-ranking general of the court, no longer the greenhorn he once was. He said in a deep voice,
"Whoever can take this scoundrel's head will be rewarded with a hundred strings of cash!" Defeating this man in a one-on-one duel would greatly boost morale.
Before he finished speaking, a dark figure darted out beside him; it was Tang Yun.
Ye Shininglang was wildly swinging his hammer when suddenly a figure flashed before his eyes. He swung his hammer horizontally, but the man slipped away like an eel, then snatched into his arms. Ye Shininglang sneered, his toes barely touching the ground as he retreated, simultaneously thrusting his hammer forward to strike the attacker's chest.
The man was quite skilled, dodging the attack with a swift movement.
His broadsword flashed like a white light, aiming straight for Ye Shining's neck. Ye Shining ducked to avoid it, then swung his hammer back, creating a gust of wind. The man couldn't dodge in time and had to raise his sword to block. In that instant, his broadsword flew out of his hand, and he staggered, nearly falling over. Ye Shining was overjoyed, wielding his hammer fiercely. The man rolled away,
then sprang to his feet in a somersault, only to find himself completely within the range of the hammer's attack. If the hammer swept across, he wouldn't be able to dodge. Ye Shining, seeing the skilled Song officer, realized he was no nobody. His fate was sealed; if he could take a few more worthy Song soldiers down with him, it wouldn't be a wasted death.
He roared and swung his hammer wildly. Seeing he couldn't dodge, the man raised his fist to strike Ye Shining's waist. Ye Shining thought to himself, "What's so great about you with your bare hands? I'll take this punch and then smash you into mincemeat."
But the punch landed squarely on Ye Shining's lower back, causing a large gushing of blood. Looking at his previously empty hand, he suddenly saw a wooden-feathered, steel-tipped arrowhead, as if he'd picked it up when he fell. The arrow had penetrated deeply, splattering blood. Ye Shining screamed in agony, the intense pain nearly causing him to drop his hammer, but he still swung it. The man, knowing he couldn't dodge, grabbed a shield from the ground. The hammer shattered the shield, and the man was thrown several feet away.
Ye Shining stood swaying, hammer in hand, one hand clutching his lower back, blood seeping from between his fingers.
Tang Yun coughed up blood, his left arm so painful he couldn't lift it, but he grabbed a broadsword with his right hand, rushed forward, and swung it at Ye Shining's head. Ye Shining couldn't dodge in time and instinctively raised his hand to block, but the blade chopped off half his hand and four fingers. He screamed again, then his scream abruptly stopped as Tang Yun's blade was deeply embedded in his neck.
The battle finally ended when the last Xia soldier was hacked to death.
In the entire battle, the Song army beheaded 955 people, captured 380 horses, rescued 409 Han slaves, obtained a certain amount of military rations and supplies, and captured over 1,000 Western Xia women and children. However, not a single man was captured. All the Dangxiang men in the entire Weidingtun village, regardless of age, were slaughtered. This was because Western Xia implemented a policy of universal conscription; men farmed, herded, and hunted in peacetime, and became soldiers when they took up arms. Since Western Xia themselves did not distinguish between soldiers and civilians, the Song army saw no such distinction either; all men were enemies. This was the rule of the war against Western Xia.
On the Song side, 29 were killed, 117 were lightly wounded, and 60 were seriously wounded. Regardless, this should be considered a great victory. The casualties were primarily from Zhe Keshi's elite elite troops, reflecting Zhe Keshi's leadership style: fairness first, and his most trusted troops bore the heaviest casualties.
"Order a commander to escort the wounded and prisoners back first. The rest of the troops will rest where they are, and sent out scouts to scout twenty li ahead to investigate Xia Gou's movements." The troops busied themselves, each finding a place to set up camp. Tang Yun and the other wounded soldiers embarked on their return journey. For them, the battle was over, and for some, their military careers were over. But they were lucky to have survived, and they knew their commander, Zhe Keshi, would not mistreat them. So, along the way, except for the seriously wounded who needed to be transported by cart, the lightly wounded who could ride horses continued to ride, chatting and laughing among themselves.
"Tang Yun, you've done a great service this time! You've killed the Western bandit's general. The Grand Commandant will surely reward you with a promotion when we return." "Just lucky. If I lose this arm, I'll be crippled..." "Heh heh, the Grand Commandant has quite the appetite this time. He even wants to swallow Weizhou whole. I think that dog Ren Duobaozhong is in trouble." "Serves him right! The Western bandits deserve to die. Once I recover, I'll fight alongside the Grand Commandant again. One day, we'll even take Xingqing Prefecture." Even though they were wounded, their morale remained high. However, Tang Yun had no time to think about these things. He didn't even consider whether he would be promoted or rewarded in the future. He was just wondering what Zhe Keshi was thinking and whether his performance would satisfy him. He had risked his life to fight a fierce general like Ye Shininglang. Would this pledge of loyalty satisfy Zhe Keshi...? ************************************** Huanzhou Road, a mountain path.
This secret path was rarely used, except occasionally by hunters. But today was unusually lively. Hundreds of horsemen were moving through the forest, and the escorts were dressed in all sorts of clothes—not government soldiers, but ordinary people, carrying guns and knives, some even with bows and crossbows. Leading the way were Su Yanfu and Meng Zhen.
"Han man, we'll be past Huanzhou City soon. You should give me the money you promised." Su Yanfu frowned slightly, giving the greedy barbarian a disdainful look. Barbarians are barbarians; they don't understand the principle of "men die for wealth, birds die for food." But killing him was inevitable anyway, so he might as well give it to him.
Thinking this, he reached into his pouch under the saddle and took a packet of money, tossing it to Meng Zhen.
Meng Zhen caught it and opened it on horseback. Inside were copper coins, mixed with a few silver ingots, and his face immediately lit up with a smile.
"Alright, my work is done. I'll take my leave now."
Seeing Meng Zhen accept the money, Su Yanfu turned to leave. He hurriedly stepped forward to stop him: "You official are being unreasonable! How can you leave before we've even arrived at your destination?" "You said you'd lead the way, so I will. This is where you're going. Why shouldn't I go?" "Where is this?" "The Gates of Hell."
Oh no! Su Yanfu was so shocked that the hairs on his body stood on end. He had fallen into a trap! Looking at the foreigner, although he was smiling, his movements were lightning fast. Su Yanfu drew his sword to meet him, and the two swords clashed, sparks flying. Su Yanfu swung his sword back, and the foreigner easily dodged the blow, turning his horse and galloping away.
"Catch him!" Su Yanfu was filled with rage. He had been hunting geese all day, but today he had been pecked in the eye by a goose. He never expected to be tricked by a mere foreign official.
But then a series of clapper sounds rang out, and a hail of arrows flew from the surrounding trees. His men screamed as they fell to the ground, struck by arrows. Then, shouts of battle erupted, and countless government soldiers emerged from all directions, yelling in unison, "Don't let the bandits escape!" They pounced on the thieves like wolves and tigers. The thieves, already terrified by the sudden attack, were now surrounded by government soldiers who outnumbered them several times over. They realized they had fallen into a trap.
If it were a well-trained regular army, they might have formed a defensive formation or worked together to break through the encirclement. But thieves are thieves after all, with no discipline. Faced with imminent disaster, they immediately revealed their true colors as a rabble. Despite Su Yanfu's desperate shouts of "Follow me!", almost no one listened to him; they simply scattered and fled.
Su Yanfu cried out in anger, grinding his teeth in frustration. Left with no other choice, he and his trusted men, including Chen Liu, Zhang Qing, and Sun Erniang, led a dozen or so skilled horsemen and charged forward.
These men were seasoned bandits, not only excellent riders but also martial arts experts. The soldiers' swords and spears flew at them, but they dodged and weaved in their stirrups, occasionally firing arrows in return, managing to shoot down more than ten soldiers. Seeing their ferocity, the soldiers swarmed to intercept them, unleashing a hail of arrows, causing several to fall from their horses. Su Yanfu, wielding a large spear, thrust and slashed, charging and knocking down more than ten men, managing to break through the encirclement.
"Chase them!" Zhang Cun, the military commander of Qingzhou, was furious to see the bandit leader escape. He had led over a thousand men to ambush more than two hundred bandits, and yet the bandit leader had escaped—what face did he have left? While the forests were ideal for ambushes, they were also unsuitable for cavalry. The bandit leader was exceptionally fierce and a master horseman, able to gallop swiftly through the dense undergrowth. Zhang Cun had only heard of such skill among the cavalry of Weizhou in Jingyuan Road; he hadn't expected to find a Han Chinese expert in this art.
Dozens of soldiers gave chase, but their speed was clearly insufficient. Several bandits had already escaped the encirclement using their horsemanship. Enraged, Zhang Cun ordered an arrow volley. The volley missed many targets; the bandits had vanished into the distance under the cover of the trees, and the pursuing soldiers were merely chasing after them.
By the time Zhang Jie arrived, the battle was over.
Nine horses had died from arrow wounds, and a smaller number had scattered in fright.
Seventeen bandits were killed by arrows, nineteen were wounded, and one hundred and sixty-six were captured. Two of the bandit leaders, Chen Liu the Winged Tiger and Zhang Qing the Sky-Piercing Rat, resisted arrest with weapons and were killed by a hail of arrows. However, Su Yanfu the Iron-Faced Judge and Sun Erniang the Rouge Tiger escaped.
"This humble general is incompetent; the bandit leader escaped. Please forgive me, sir," Zhang Cun reported to Zhang Jie, dejected. "
This scoundrel Su Yanfu has been a bandit for decades without ever being caught. He has his own skills. He escaped from me in Jingzhou years ago, and now he's infiltrated Huanqing and caused trouble, only to escape again. Immediately send men to pursue him, and issue a nationwide arrest warrant to all cities and villages in Shaanxi and Hedong, with his image and location depicted." "Reporting to your Excellency, these are all horses from the Hetao region," a soldier of Zhang Jie said, leading a horse.
"As expected, they've come to buy horses, surely from the Western Xia." Zhang Jie could tell at a glance they were good horses. The source of the Hetao horses was controlled by the Western Xia. Most of the Hetao horses in the Song army were either seized from the battlefield or obtained through previous trade. The army itself didn't have enough, so they certainly wouldn't sell them to others. Su Yanfu must have obtained so many horses from the Western Xia. The phenomenon of private trade among the border troops of Huanqing Road had been rampant in the past, but the court turned a blind eye. Combining the two, the truth was clear.
"There must be someone in the Huanqing Road border troops secretly colluding with this traitor Su Yanfu to buy horses from the Western Xia. I have repeatedly ordered that no one trades with the Western Xia, otherwise they will be treated as traitors. I didn't expect that someone would still be so audacious as to defy the law and even collude with bandits who are wanted by the court. Hmph..." Ten days later, in Hedong Road, within the territory of Huoshan Army.
Su Yanfu, Sun Erniang, and six bandits were panting as they hurried through the mountains. Ever since they escaped from Huanzhou, they had been on the run, afraid to take the main roads and only traveling through the mountain trails. The hardships they had endured were indescribable. Now, they were living in fear, unable to eat or sleep well, and each of them had lost weight.
They finally crossed the Yellow River and entered the territory of Hedong Road. Everywhere they went, there were wanted posters with their images, so they dared not let their guard down for a moment. This westward expedition had been thwarted by Zhang Jie, and most of their hard-won elite
troops had been lost. It seemed they could only return to their old stronghold in the Taihang Mountains to make further plans. The only consolation was that they had finally shaken off the government troops trailing behind them. Only after crossing the Yellow River did Zhang Jie's pursuers disappear. This was thanks to the imperial system, which prohibited Shaanxi's government troops from crossing the border into Hedong.
"Back to the Taihang Mountains?"
Sun Erniang looked at Su Yanfu. So many people had gone out, but only a few had returned—a truly pitiful sight.
"There's a village ahead. Let's go in and find some food to feed our horses. That old scoundrel Zhang Jie, if I ever fall into your hands, I'll disembowel you, tear out your heart, grind your bones to dust, and
only then will I be satisfied with my hatred," Su Yanfu said bitterly. With that, he led his horses down the mountain. At the foot of the mountain, on a flat area, a natural village had formed, with wisps of smoke rising from its chimneys. The eight riders roared down the mountain, their cries echoing. The villagers, seeing the bandits emerge, panicked and
scattered like headless flies. Su Yanfu ignored them, entering the largest house and killing the man without a word. Then he seized a woman and forced her to serve him food. These bandits, having suffered enough at the hands of the government troops and long been resentful, were finally able to swagger again. They began looting the village, proclaiming themselves the kings of the Taihang Mountains.
They had come down to borrow grain, and in the blink of an eye, they had already killed several people. Cries and screams erupted throughout the village, while the thieves laughed and chased after the young woman, some ransacking houses.
Sun Erniang frowned deeply. They weren't even out of danger yet; how could things have turned out like this? If even one of these villagers escaped and reported it to the authorities, she and her few companions would be in grave danger. Just as
she was about to confront Su Yanfu, she suddenly heard a great commotion at the village entrance.
A rumbling, thunderous sound followed—the sound of hundreds of iron hooves pounding the earth. Startled, she turned to see a large group of armored knights shouting and yelling incomprehensible syllables, rushing into the village like a whirlwind.
Sun Erniang was terrified. She was the daughter of an archery guild leader in Xiongzhou, Hebei. She had practiced martial arts since childhood, but after her father's salt smuggling was exposed and he was sentenced to death, she joined Su Yanfu's band of thieves in Hedong. Having spent her days on the border, she immediately recognized them: Liao cavalry!
After the Treaty of Shanyuan, the Song and Liao dynasties had maintained a truce for several decades. However, while large-scale wars ceased, small-scale military conflicts continued to occur, and the practice of raiding each other's borders never stopped.

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