Imperial expedition

When one has the will and the strength to seek pleasure, one should seize the opportunity to be joyful; when one is meant to die, one should die.

On the day Zhao Xiaowu led his female soldiers through the city gates towards Crescent Lake to die, he may have thought about the arena and bathing. Happiness was simply walking along this straight path, seeing things—fighting and naked women. But on the day he was to die, looking at the world around him, Zhao Xiaowu was still doing the same old fighting, and the dozen or so women following him were still naked. From the end of that year to the beginning of this year, a cycle of half a year had passed. Those things seemed like they hadn't been long ago, but suddenly, these earthen walls and gates he saw so often every day were gone forever. Tomorrow, he would no longer be there, no longer have his breath. He had breathed and exhaled for decades, and now, just like that, he was truly gone, gone forever. Such an obsession, upon deeper reflection, seems like a dream, especially unlike something truly about to happen.

An empire is like a clay pot half-filled with silt, teeming with mosquito larvae. The phrase "long-lasting dynasty" refers to the fact that this pot, before drying out, can nurture several swarms of mosquitoes. If one day someone suddenly smashes a hole in it with a stone, that signifies a major upheaval for the empire. If the water leaks out completely, everything is over. The newly enthroned emperor of the Song Dynasty nearly smashed such a hole in his own pot during the first few years of his reign. If not for various fortuitous circumstances, the fate of the nation might have been uncertain, but his ascension to the throne was undeniably near.

When the current emperor first ascended the throne two years ago, he was still a child. His mother managed most of the affairs of state. Just as a child grows up, so too does an emperor. As the emperor reached adolescence, he developed a sense of self and resolved to be a good emperor worthy of his ancestors, the people, and history. Simply put, he wanted to demonstrate both civil and military prowess, and to appear exceptionally wise and virtuous. To analyze this further, civil administration wasn't difficult. The emperor could read and write; he simply had someone send him a stack of memorials each day, write "Understood," "Approved," or even just write, "Cut off his head!" This way, state affairs were managed, and those subjects who weren't beheaded would appear quite happy. Therefore, the more troublesome matter was that the emperor needed to cultivate his military prowess.

Knowing that warfare was under the command of his generals, the emperor summoned them and announced that he would personally lead an expedition.

The emperor knew that two enemy states had been at odds with the Song Dynasty for years: Liao and Xia, the smaller of the two. Being subservient to someone wasn't an easy task; Xia sometimes fought with the Song, and other times simply conceded defeat. The emperor said, "Then I'll go to Western Xia and hunt some rabbits."

The emperor led a large group of warriors, wielding swords and spears, on a tour of the desolate mountains and wilderness—a procession known as a hunting expedition. The emperor's suggestion to hunt rabbits was a humorous yet somewhat heroic expression. Any newly minted leader knows that being cool and capable in combat is crucial for navigating society. The emperor is essentially the leader of the entire society, so he too needs to be impressive and, moreover, capable of fighting.

The emperor's entire life so far has been spent confined within the imperial city, practicing palace intrigue. If he had the opportunity to lead a real army across the vast land that is his domain, to observe and build personal relationships with various military leaders, it would actually be very beneficial to his career planning.

The generals, having pondered the emperor's intentions, then devised their strategy. Judging from the border situation at the time, the wars between Song and Xia involved small armies engaging in offense and defense, their aim being to seize the other's food and wealth, or even simply to abduct people, who would then be used for farming. Xia's national strength could not support a war of annihilation, and in fact, the Song Dynasty had no intention of conquering another country. Therefore, the generals believed that if the emperor led 100,000 troops a hundred or so li into Xia, the Xia forces, being insufficient, would likely retreat. Thus, regardless of the potential gains, a safe and unscathed retreat should be achievable.

With the strategic policy set and the army's momentum unstoppable, officials along the westward expeditionary route obeyed orders, conscripting laborers and animals to transport supplies, repairing roads, and, if the troops camped and stayed overnight, raising travel expenses for their commanders or contacting women from the populace would be even better. Naturally, Tianmen City in Western Qiang could not remain uninvolved in such a grand event. General Pan was ordered to lead the army in transporting provisions. His section of the supply route started from a major grain storage area a hundred li to the east and extended all the way to the western front, a distance of about two hundred li in total. Needless to say, everyone was busy for days. The wall-building work was temporarily halted, and all the men under the heavy labor force were sent out of the city as laborers. However, according to the general's orders, all the female conscripts remained in the camp awaiting orders. The general knew that during such times of military turmoil and troop movements, the soldiers passing through the city would be in high spirits, but their desires would inevitably rise as well. At those times, he needed to use these women to hold them off for a while, preventing the passing army from disturbing the people too much.

Thousands upon thousands of men, unsure of their own survival the next day, formed an army on a campaign. They weren't your childhood friends. Catching a few chickens or stealing a couple of cows was commonplace for them. If the soldiers got into a mood, they would plunder and loot along the streets, leaving every house empty and bare. A large army passing through a city was a terrifying thing; if such a large army gathered in one place, each one eager and with eyes gleaming, ready to wreak havoc on your people, it would be even more terrifying. The female convicts left guarding Tianmen lay sprawled beneath their stables, relentlessly subjecting the soldiers to round after round of their gluttonous advances. Each round, each time, was relentlessly manipulated and tormented, leaving them utterly exhausted. Each round involved an entire army, truly a case of giving any man who came, day and night. Eating and sleeping beneath the men, the naked women remained on their straw mats for three days and three nights. After their ordeal, the convicts, groggily struggling to their feet, looked around: "My God, look what these men have done to us… If our Song warriors achieve a great victory, will we have to cross Tianmen again on our triumphant return?" Who knows what tricks they'll pull... Ideally, before they even reach the battlefield, the Western Xia soldiers would capture them one by one, kill them one by one, capture them one by one, kill them one by one, slaughtering them like chopping vegetables until none of them escape... A girl nearby added quietly, "When that time comes... it'll be the Western Xia soldiers' turn to take their turn..."

Although it was promised that the emperor would personally lead the expedition, the people of Tianmen waited until the entire army had passed through without seeing the emperor's shadow. In fact, military deployments emphasize the interplay of surprise and conventional tactics, and the routes of advance are a mix of feints and real attacks. The army advances in separate groups according to the battle plan, each following its own path. The emperor's whereabouts are an even more closely guarded military secret, not easily revealed to the public. It's likely that His Majesty has already arrived at the western front via another pass. After bidding farewell to the departing army, the people of Tianmen sat at home anxiously awaiting news of victory. After ten days to half a month, the news from the front seemed rather ominous.

The initial rumor was that the Western Xia, upon learning of the Song army's impending invasion, did not flee in panic but instead dispatched a large force to confront the Song army. Later, it was said that the Western Xia cavalry was exceptionally elite, with each soldier using two horses, switching mounts during long raids, capable of covering a hundred li a day, and their flanking maneuvers were unstoppable. A couple of days later, someone witnessed these cavalrymen firsthand. That day, two laborers fled back to the city; their unit, tasked with transporting grain to the front, encountered the Western Xia army just outside the mountain pass. The two men survived only because they ran fast. What became of their fellow laborers, and how the battle actually unfolded, were unknown to anyone but the obvious: with their supply lines cut off and their rear surrounded by the enemy, the situation was undoubtedly dire. Tianmen had suddenly transformed from the rear to the front, and with no soldiers available in the city, what decision should General Pan, the governor, make?

First, there needed to be troops. General Pan's men had all been dispatched for transport; those at the front were no longer to be counted on, but he still had men in the rear. The essence of cargo transport was the continuous back-and-forth movement of goods, and another of General Pan's troops had gone to the rear to receive supplies and hadn't returned yet. General Pan decided to personally set out to find troops. Although these men might not be very skilled in battle, having them all together was better than having a general without troops. Without hesitation, the general led his son, a troop of personal guards, and other officials out of the city that very night, heading straight for the interior of the Great Song Dynasty in the east.

Before leaving, the general handed over the command of the Tianmen defenses to the warden. The next day, from morning till night, the warden paced back and forth between the east and west ends of Tianmen City, like an ant on a hot pan. Finally, as night fell, the warden could no longer bear it; he felt it was his responsibility to go out of the city to meet the general, who was perhaps on his way back. The warden found Zhao Xiaowu, the female military officer in charge, and recited two lines of poetry: "The wind howls, the Yi River is cold, the brave warrior departs, never to return."

The warden said, "Of course, brother, I will return. When I welcome back the general and defeat the Western Xia bandits, then rewards will be distributed according to merit, and everyone will enjoy wealth and honor." The warden told Xiaowu, "It has been decided that while I am away on official business, you will be in charge of Tianmen."

Zhao Xiaowu didn't think taking charge of Tianmen was a good job; she herself wanted to be a brave warrior.

Since news of the Song army's setbacks spread throughout the city, the people of Tianmen began to flee in groups of three or five, dragging their families along. If the Western Xia soldiers thought of coming to Tianmen, beheading people would be no laughing matter; they wanted to stay as far away as possible. By now, about 25% of the city's population had probably fled. Now, upon careful consideration of the situation at Tianmen, it becomes clear that the group of female convicts led by Zhao Xiaowu is actually the only remaining organized military force in Tianmen. However, he cannot lead such an army to climb the city walls and defend Tianmen. What does it mean to secure the interior before addressing the exterior? The reality is that these women are the first problem Xiaowu needs to deal with. The women were originally convicts serving their sentences; if they were allowed to roam freely outside the stables, only heaven knows what they might do. At that point, the only weapons available to suppress the rebels would be Xiaowu and the squad leader's spear and two broadswords. Moreover, given the current situation where everyone is looking out for themselves, why would the squad leader's brothers listen to Xiaowu?

Xiaowu dragged a bench out of the woodshed and sat down directly opposite the stable gate,

spear in hand. The cage door was locked, of course, but without supervision, the dozen or so hands and feet inside could easily dismantle the door altogether. Zhao Xiaowu single-handedly guarded the locked stable. He wouldn't open the cage door, preventing anyone from leaving. He simply chatted with the women through the fence. "

Uncle Yazheng, have you heard any new news today? Have any more run back? We need to know how far the Western Xia soldiers are from the city." "

No…

even if they had, I hadn't seen them. There's practically no sound in the city anymore; most have fled." "

Yazheng, you didn't run away, though. What if those Western Xia soldiers really do come into the city? What are your plans?" "

I have no choice…

at times like this, it's impossible to say I don't have any plans. But whether one can predict fate is another matter. I'm thinking if it's destined that the Western Xia will enter Tianmen, I'll tie a white cloth to this spear and stand at the west gate to surrender it." The higher-ups say I'm... cough cough, the highest-ranking official in Tianmen now, so it's perfectly legitimate for me to surrender on behalf of Tianmen... I'm thinking... they wouldn't necessarily kill me, right? They need a guide, don't they?

Yes.

Now that you mention it, it makes sense. Ya Zheng's plan sounds reasonable. But... what about us women?

I'm thinking... they wouldn't necessarily kill you all... right?

They'll just kidnap you all and take you to the far-off Western Xia, then distribute you among the soldiers. In other words... capture you in Western Xia to be their wives... anyway, women... you can be wives anywhere. It's actually better than being shackled and chained to the Song Dynasty every day...

Um... Uncle Ya Zheng, we were just kidding. Open the door to this shed, let's run out of the city. Who knows what will happen in the future, let's just hide from the storm for now... Sigh.

Actually, I have considered it. Do I really want to stick with this place? But what if, at daybreak tomorrow, it's not the Western Xia bandits who enter the city, but the general and the camp commander… I figured they'd definitely find my head and chop it off…

Xiao Wu was right, you really can't predict fate. The next day at daybreak, Xiao Wu saw a group of men carrying swords and spears enter through the always-open western city gate. The leader was a pig-headed, bear-bodied man, his frame as broad as two and a half ordinary men. Those who came to attack Tianmen that day were neither Western Xia bandits, nor General Pan and the camp commander. The one who wanted to get involved, being close by, was the chieftain of the Tubo mountain stronghold, the young master Zhao Sangduo, a son of the Sangduo family bestowed the surname Zhao by the Song Dynasty.

Young Zhao Sangduo had feelings for Tianmen. Even a small city like Tianmen was still a place where people lived. Wherever people live, there's always a need to store grain and valuables. The people living in the city are men and women, young and old, and the young women in particular often lingered in Xiao Zhao Sangduo's thoughts. Xiao Zhao Sangduo knew that desires could become reality, but one needed to seize the opportunity, and the current situation in Tianmen seemed like such an opportunity. The Tibetan prince glanced at Xiao Wu, the magistrate opposite him, but ignored him for the moment. Sangduo spoke first to the group of Tibetan brothers he had brought. Sangduo

said, "Go and wander around the whole city. If you see anything of value that hasn't been properly collected, gather it up. Don't let the Western Xia thieves take advantage of it. If there are any Han girls who haven't run away, take them with you and bring them to our village to hide for a few days."

After giving these instructions, Sangduo finally turned his gaze back to Xiao Wu: "Where is Zhao... Zhao, Zhao the magistrate still guarding the city?

I heard that Tianmen City is short-handed these days. I've brought some brothers to see if there's anything we can do to help."

"Tibet and the Song Dynasty, so good, so good, like family! Please don't be shy, Ya Zheng.

Of course, whoever brings more people doesn't need to be shy." Little Zhao Sangduo said, "Brother Zhao, please open your stable. I'll take those few convict women who haven't run away yet, and sell them in our Tibetan mountains." What did I just say? Oh, right, we can't let the Western Xia thieves take advantage, right? Anyway, all your Song people have run away, so you should let our Tibetan brothers have a little advantage, shouldn't you?

Come out, come out, take off your clothes, make yourselves look like you just crawled out of your mother's womb… Hurry!

The people are very poor. The people living in Tibet are even poorer." The Tibetan prince immediately took a liking to the convict women's cotton dresses; each of them could even wear a silk-padded jacket. These clothes, distributed and worn for only about half a year, were still considered 80-90% new, even discounted. Cotton clothes, on the other hand, were worth exorbitant prices in the mountain strongholds, often traded for by the cattle or sheep. The Tibetan brothers stood in a circle, staring intently at each other, ready to slash anyone who was too slow. Everyone undressed with remarkable speed. Little Sangduo, now looking at the group of naked women, smiled slightly. He hadn't forgotten the resentment of his crushing defeat in the arena. "

Come on, drag out that really big, busty woman they call 'sister-in-law'!

Did you ever think this would happen?

Did you ever think that even if things don't work out, things will change? In the end, you'll be kneeling at our feet, waiting to be dealt with?"

Several Tibetan men grabbed Yang's sister-in-law by her burly arms, dragged her forward a few steps, and forced her down at the feet of young master Sangduo. The young master said, "I should have broken the bones in your arms and legs so you could never lay a hand on anyone again. It's such a waste of your yak-like body.

How about I take you to our mountain village to live out the rest of your life? Sister-in-law, you'd be a master at grinding barley on a stone mill, wouldn't you?

What's that Han saying? 'Pushing the millstone naked is shameful,' right? Yes, and we'd chain your hands and feet with big iron chains, hang big copper bells on your breasts… You'd just have to wait to push the millstone for us Tibetans your whole life, shamefully naked your whole life." "

Lift her head up!" young Sangduo said. He raised his hand and slapped her across the face with a crisp crack, then slapped her back across the face. The Tibetan prince, who had grown into a bear-like figure, was certainly not lacking in strength. With just a few blows, he had the woman kneeling at his feet covered in welts. She was pinned to the ground by a group of men and had no way to defend herself. Sangdo raised his leg and kicked her again, this time landing on the large woman's bare belly. He heard a loud scream from below, followed by a gurgling, surging sound. Sangdo could easily imagine the pain of having chunks of flesh churning and churning inside her, and the nausea of being unable to vomit or swallow.

Sangdo said, "And then there's the thought of getting beaten by us Tibetans. We'll beat her whenever we feel like it." Sangdo said, "Beat her!"

Several Tibetan men each kicked her, causing the tall woman's body to curl into a ball. The men used the backs of Tibetan knives to strike from above. While these blades wouldn't split a person's head open, they could still injure the inside. The sound of the blade hitting the buttocks and thighs was somewhat dull, but those hitting the shoulder blades and ribs were excruciating. The women being beaten were utterly disfigured, screaming and rolling on the ground, oblivious to everything else. After a chaotic beating, the Tibetan brothers who had gone to collect valuables from various parts of the city gradually returned to the stables. Judging from their sluggish appearance, they had managed to acquire some miscellaneous spoils. However, women with two legs, capable of running and hiding, were quite rare in Tianmen City at that time. The men simply shoved and pushed their way back with two yellow-faced women. The Tibetan men didn't seem to care much. The two women had been stripped naked, and their steps were unsteady, clearly indicating that they had already been beaten several times in the streets along the way.

Things had reached this juncture, and the next step could only be a matter of course. A team that hadn't fully satisfied its desires was a team with wavering hearts, and a team with wavering hearts couldn't be led. The Tibetan prince leading the team immediately shouted, "Let's do it!

As for women, there are more over here, and these over in the stables, all reserved for us.

Brothers, you've worked hard, brothers, let's go all out! This female marshal Mu from the Song Dynasty? Let's go first!"

The Yang family woman, exiled to the Song Dynasty's border army, leaned against the wooden fence of the stable, her naked body standing upright, her four limbs outstretched, her hands and feet stretched out to their tautest points in four directions, and then tightly bound to the wooden fence with ropes. The woman was blocked in front of the burly man she had kicked off the ring twice before. Her arms and legs were spread wide, as were her chest and hips. All that was left was for his thing to arrogantly penetrate her, forcefully squeezing and manipulating her. She couldn't lift her legs to kick anymore. That huge, bear-like thing thrust and rammed, the force of which had to be supported by her bare ankles. She felt the sturdy rope like a saw digging into her flesh; the outside hurt, and inside, waves of surging, sometimes hard, sometimes soft, like insects, snakes, ants, and rats wriggling around her—a filthy, defiled feeling too indescribable to describe. All the woman could wait for now was… when would he finish?

Having been a conscript for a year, standing naked on the platform and spinning around for everyone to see, crouching in the woodshed with legs spread and genitals exposed for everyone to penetrate—these things had become commonplace. Thinking back, it seemed this was the first time he'd ever been publicly fucked. He considered it luck; it was just that Tianmen was currently undergoing a period of upheaval, and there weren't many idle people around. Otherwise, what a spectacle it would have been for everyone to witness.

Yang's sister-in-law glanced sideways; the men and women in front of the stables were all busy on the ground, crawling, thrusting, and manipulating, while others were spreading their legs to endure the manipulation. Then she heard the clatter of hooves approaching.

The five horses she saw, along with the five officers on horseback carrying long spears, and a two-mulet oxcart, were moving at a leisurely pace, not exactly galloping, but the entire group arrived in the blink of an eye. As the saying goes, a strong wind reveals the strength of the grass, and a raging fire reveals the true gold. At this moment, one could see the true quality of the Tibetan brothers led by Young Master Sangduo. They were certainly skilled in fighting and brawling, often beheading each other, and their ability to handle situations on the spot was exceptional. Although the men were engaged in what was arguably the most promiscuous and depraved activity in the world, upon realizing the situation had changed, they immediately cut their losses, swiftly pulling their manhoods from their honeyed depths. Their first priority after jumping up was to retrieve the spears and swords discarded to the side. When the shout of "The Emperor has arrived!" rang out, the various groups present had already taken their positions, assuming defensive or offensive formations, and began to scrutinize each other with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity.

Even now, Yuan Yi, the Ministry of Justice official, never fully understood why, faced with such a situation, he had dramatically shouted "The Emperor has arrived!" He acted it out so much like a play, but the bizarre scene at the time really did resemble a play. What Yuan Yi saw was a dozen or so burly men standing in front of a row of wooden lattice railings along the street, their hunched backs and wide-open tiger eyes. They were carrying knives, spears, clubs, and other fighting tools, needless to say. The main absurdity was that all ten of the men were completely naked from the waist down. The events of that time were so sudden that there was no time to even cover one's lower garments. The penises between the ten pairs of thighs varied in length and shape, some vertical, some crooked, and of course, some had already calmed down and were still lingering and thrashing about. In front of the Southern Kingdom, a group of naked women lay on the ground, their breasts bare, their chests open, their legs bare and their feet bare, their vaginal fluids flowing slowly but their breasts not rippled. The women all stared blankly at the mule cart and the emperor, clearly not yet recovered from the fierce struggle of their nakedness.

Following this group of naked sluts and muscular men with enormous penises, there stood a tall, robust woman, her limbs spread wide and tightly bound to a thick wooden railing. Her body was also completely naked, revealing her drooping breasts and gaping, fleshy vulva—a sight of breathtaking grandeur. Yuan Yi glanced at her, then couldn't help but turn back for a closer look. He now knew she was a very famous woman, and he recognized her.

Yuan Yi, a secretary in the Ministry of Justice, disliked imperial expeditions. However, when the emperor decided to embark on a western hunting expedition, and the entire court was in chaos preparing, he still managed to find his department and passionately plead his case, securing a position in the hunting party accompanying the emperor. Anyone who enters the officialdom always wants to rise in rank; promotion requires cultivation. To rise, one must align oneself with the right people and do the right things—these are self-evident. If an opportunity arises, one must also accumulate extraordinary experience. Judging from the initial assessment, traveling a thousand miles to the desolate frontier would certainly be arduous and exhausting, but it was, after all, a journey undertaken alongside the emperor, and the hardships endured for his sake constituted part of his resume. Of course, this was a matter of war, and war inevitably involves the possibility of death and injury. This entire calculation was based on the premise that the risk assessment was low and worthwhile. In truth, the emperor had also calculated things that way, and then he dragged everyone into the mess.

Yuan Yi was a civil official; he didn't concern himself with warfare. Yuan Yi and his colleagues, who handled the emperor's administrative documents, simply walked alongside numerous generals and soldiers. The sight of the 100,000-strong army marching, banners fluttering, and swords gleaming in the sunlight, was incredibly inspiring. After the army entered Western Xia territory, they initially fought several battles, and the reports seemed to be of victory. The civil officials, along with the emperor's central army, encamped on a hill in the wilderness, and everyone began to speculate that they would be able to return in triumph in a few more days. Of course, no one was right. One night, smoke rose from the surrounding area, and warhorses neighed. At dawn, they saw the shadowy Western Xia banners fluttering in the air, and layers upon layers of Western Xia warriors completely surrounding their hill. The army first ran out of food, and then the enemy seized their water source. On the third day after the water shortage, the entire Song army marched out of their camp to engage the Western Xia in a decisive battle. The battle was lost.

The experiences that followed were unbearable to recall. Western Xia soldiers swarmed in from all directions. Everyone was running for their lives, and Yuan Yi was running for his life too, his instinctive principle being to run in the opposite direction of the oncoming attack. Everywhere there were shouts of battle, the sound of swords slicing through flesh and blood, and screams of agony. Yuan Yi knew that most of his comrades were dead. Of course, there were bound to be some who couldn't run anymore but hadn't died; they would remain with Western Xia. Hopefully, they would be lucky. Yuan Yi himself couldn't run anymore. His luck was a horse. He suddenly saw a riderless steed standing blankly in the middle of the chaotic battlefield. Yuan Yi, a civil official, knew how to ride. His father believed that horsemanship and archery were skills that cultivated virtue and ambition, skills that even a scholar should master. Yuan Yi had learned horsemanship and archery from a young age, and now he knew his father was right.

Yuan Yi mounted his horse and continued running for his life with the horse he had found. Yuan Yi felt he wasn't particularly lucky; he was simply someone who survived. The stories we hear are always filled with miraculous coincidences and serendipitous encounters—it's because those who didn't experience such extraordinary circumstances all died. Only the survivors can return to us and tell their stories. That day, after a period of frantic running, Yuan Yi found himself miraculously out of the chaotic battlefield. He saw a group of soldiers, disheveled and covered in blood, escorting a mule-drawn cart as it sped past him. He recognized them as Song soldiers and continued running after them.

Yuan Yi later learned that the emperor was riding in that cart. Thank goodness, the emperor had escaped too!

The cart was originally intended for transporting supplies and wasn't particularly suitable for passengers, but when fleeing for one's life, one can't be too particular. After escorting the emperor through the enemy lines, the cart was accompanied by over twenty imperial guards, a eunuch acting as the driver, and two laborers from some unknown transport unit.

The laborers rode on two mules, which proved invaluable during the escape, as the emperor's entourage had alternative mounts that could be used in rotation, making them faster.

They ran for about twenty li (approximately 10 kilometers), crossing a river along the way. Someone discerned the terrain and realized that the road eastward led to a border town in Song territory called Tianmen. The emperor decreed, "Then go to Tianmen." They ran another twenty li towards Tianmen when someone saw a light cloud of dust rising from the hills and valleys they had come from, indicating that the pursuers were likely there.

People on horseback were faster than mule carts. The emperor's mule cart continued eastward, while half of the imperial guards were sent to intercept the pursuers. The emperor, having ordered them to risk their lives, promised each of them two hundred mu of land. He added that if they survived, great; if they did, it didn't matter—the land would be passed down from father to son, from son to grandson, and so on, endlessly. Therefore, protecting the emperor was worth risking one's life for. If the emperor of the Great Song Dynasty could escape, then one's descendants would prosper greatly.

Yuan Yi, riding in the mule cart with the emperor, found a bag of charcoal and some yellow paper in a village along the way. He was responsible for recording the names and hometowns of the brave warriors who were risking their lives, as well as the residences of their relatives. Yuan Yi now single-handedly took on the responsibilities of the emperor's entire administrative team. He was also responsible for the emperor's food and daily life, and driving the mule cart for the emperor. The eunuch was originally supposed to drive the cart and take care of the emperor's life, but his continued presence seemed only to add weight to the cart, and he also consumed food, which was now scarce. Therefore, the emperor granted him the privilege of dying. "Give him land, give him land, give his family some land!" Yuan Yi hurriedly reminded the emperor in his ear. The emperor was actually just over twenty years old. Amidst such a perilous situation, he was somewhat distracted and often needed the assistance of his advisors to fill in the gaps. So the emperor granted the eunuch's father or brother two hundred acres of land. The eunuch kowtowed in gratitude, then was led to the roadside and strangled by the soldiers. The laborers who followed the emperor on mules were also given the same fate; their mules no longer needed to carry people and were better suited for driving the imperial carriage.

The imperial guards who stayed behind to hold off the pursuers that day were likely prepared to die. However, one of them survived. This man, leading the remaining three horses, caught up with the fleeing emperor that night, and he also shared some information about the pursuers. The pursuing Western Xia army was not large, only about thirty riders and horses. This group of Western Xia soldiers was probably a guerrilla force operating on the outskirts of the battlefield, and they had followed the enemy as they broke through the encirclement. The fog of war was everywhere, with scattered soldiers and ruffians chasing and fleeing everywhere. No one knew which head was the most worth chasing and beheading. So it seemed there was no support following this pursuing force; everyone was fighting independently. The enemy had also suffered casualties in the previous ambush, so there should still be about twenty Western Xia warriors relentlessly pursuing them, determined to behead them.

At that time, the fleeing emperor and his entourage were camped in a roadside village, and everyone was filled with apprehension. However, on a journey stretching over a hundred miles, they still needed to eat and sleep.

Without food and sleep, they couldn't run, especially their horses and the mules pulling the carts, which needed feeding and water; they would eventually die from exhaustion. One thing was certain: those pursuing them also needed to eat and sleep. Just as one needs a balance between work and rest, when going out to kill, one must also manage their own food and lodging. Both groups needed to rationally plan their journey and their needs for food and sleep; they couldn't afford to exhaust themselves before the fighting even began. The two groups traveled along a mountain valley road flanked by two hills, eating, sleeping, and fighting their way through. Finally, five men and Yuan Yi remained, escorting the Song emperor as he fled into Tianmen City.

Tianmen was originally Song territory, and the emperor's escape route wasn't pre-planned. Based on military strategy, it was unlikely that the Western Xia would send a surprise force to occupy this remote location and wait for the emperor to ambush him. The guards' horses and the mules pulling the carts were exhausted from their journey and desperately needed rest. So, the five remaining riders, escorting the emperor and Yuan Yi, the chief administrator of the royal camp, rushed into the city gate, turning towards the sound, only to stumble upon a group of men and women engaged in a playful act.

Yuan Yi was observing. He knew that most of the Tibetans surrounding Song territory were subjugated by Song. He also noticed a Song soldier in uniform observing coldly from one corner of the arena, still carrying a spear and not disarmed. Yuan Yi judged that the local people and soldiers were in turmoil due to the unpredictable situation, but at least the area had not yet been occupied by the Western Xia. Therefore, he needed to shout to establish his side's supreme status. Standing on Song territory, ruling over Song's subjects and vassals, the emperor's authority should still be enough to quell the unrest.

Team leader Xiao Wu had recovered from his initial shock. He stepped forward, over the naked women on the ground, and bowed to the mule cart. The eldest brother of the Tibetan heroes, Xiao Zhao Sangduo, also hesitated for a moment, but finally clasped his hands and bowed. He told his brothers, "Put away your weapons! Put away your weapons! Pull up those aprons...!" Putting other matters aside for the moment, Xiao Zhao Sangduo was certainly experienced in fighting. He knew that although his men outnumbered him slightly, they probably didn't have a sure chance of winning against a regular army of warhorses, spears, and leather armor. Next, it was the women's turn. Although these women were naked, their genitals and mouths filled with unseemly and uncivilized fluids, they had encountered a supremely holy and enlightened man, a man of divine mandate, unique in the world, and deserving of the highest respect. Therefore, the proper etiquette seemed unavoidable, both morally and logically. Then the women rose from the ground, their waists bare as willows, their breasts like peaches, swaying gracefully as they bowed. The last to step forward was the tall, robust woman, who had been bound to the wooden railing along the street. As the naked women rose, a young girl went to the back and untied the woman's ropes. The woman's broad shoulders, strong arms, and long legs were also completely naked, long chains around her waist and heavy shackles around her bare feet, heavy as mountains and moving like water—the weight of the iron striking coldly, the movement of the toes and tendons contracting and relaxing subtly. Yuan Yi watched as the gleaming black iron and raw, sturdy female body, moving with a clattering sound, approached and bowed respectfully. He felt a surge of saliva in his mouth and a warmth in his abdomen; the anxiety that had accumulated on his arduous escape route subsided somewhat. Yuan Yi whispered a few words in the emperor's ear, then looked up and said, "General Yang, please step forward again. His Majesty grants you a seat… a seat… a seat on the carriage's shaft."

Blood, west wind, yellow sand, ancient roads, border towns, mule carts—the fleeing emperor is at the ends of the earth. This ancient poem speaks only of the plight of this fallen emperor. Everyone knew the situation was urgent, and the woman from the Yang family did not refuse. The naked general's wife stepped forward and plopped down on the mule cart's frame. The woman had to turn her body to face the king. Her naked body, with her full breasts and plump buttocks, was brazenly placed within three feet of the eyes of the two men, the king and his minister. What Yuan Yi saw first were the fresh, vibrant bruises and contusions, and then the rugged, ancient whip marks and brands. The woman's skin within three feet of Yuan Yi's eyes was like a fine sieve that sifted out a lot of dust and dirt, staining the fine wrinkles under the dense hair. Her bare hands and bare feet had obviously endured years of hardship and toil. The thick calluses on her palms and the crevices between her toes were full of dirt and grime, revealing her rough and arduous appearance. Yuan Yi, the man, was initially feeling some pity, but then he thought of how this woman, a general, had fallen so low, being tortured naked and on the verge of death – a truly tragic fate. Now, it seemed fate was on her side, allowing her to encounter an emperor riding in a mule cart, being chased by enemy troops in a pitiful state. As the saying goes, some are wronged on the first day of the month, others on the fifteenth; everyone has their bad days. Yuan Yi thought to himself, "That's all in the past. Let's deal with our future first."

Actually, regarding the mission of protecting the emperor and escaping quickly, the first thing to deal with was this group of Tibetan brothers. If they were to use force to suppress them, it would likely result in mutual destruction. The Song Dynasty couldn't needlessly waste precious resources on a non-primary conflict. If they were to try to win them over and use them for their own purposes, the other side probably wouldn't risk their lives to shield someone for a mere promise of official positions. They might be thinking of other business, like seizing the opportunity to chop off the emperor's head and sell it for money. In short, it's best not to have wolves lurking nearby; it's better to send these people away for now. Yuan Yi then stood up from the wooden cart and said, "His Majesty of the Great Song Dynasty greatly appreciates the Tibetan tribes' assistance in protecting him. However, the Emperor must depart immediately to join the arriving reinforcements. The Emperor decrees that the Tibetan warriors may return to their villages and be cautious of any raids by the Western Xia."

It's easy to imagine that Xiao Zhao Sangduo on the other side was unwilling to waste time like this. Yuan Yi handed him a ladder to climb down the wall, which was exactly what he wanted. Sangduo bowed again and said, "Then, Your Majesty of the Great Song Dynasty, I'll take my leave!" He turned to his subordinates and called out, "Let's go!" The Song Dynasty officials watched quietly as the group walked several dozen steps away, when suddenly a woman called out, "What about our clothes!"

...

Suddenly, the clanging of weapons clashing rang out. The Tibetan men who had been walking with their heads down instantly reversed course, stopping and turning around simultaneously, swords raised and eyes blazing, instantly assuming a fighting stance. Although they were in the process of retreating, their vigilance and preparedness were not diminished in the slightest; at the slightest sound, they were ready to resume fighting. On the other hand, the soldiers on the emperor's and Yuan Yi's side were equally decisive. The long spears, which had been resting on one hand on the ground, were swung in an arc, the cold glint of the spearheads shifting from upward to pointed straight ahead, a formation ready to charge on horseback at any moment. The leading officer pointed his spear forward, the tip aimed at the girl who had shouted: "Shut up!"

"No noise from bystanders!"

The emperor's guards were unaware of what had happened ahead, nor did they bother to find out.

The current situation is trending towards stability and easing; we certainly can't let minor issues interfere with the overall picture. After this shout, the entire room fell silent again. Yuan Yi stood up from the large cart, continuing to force a stiff smile as he gazed into the distance along the small street. He said, "It's alright, it's alright, General, farewell..."

[The End]

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