Chapter 679: Men Die Completely

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Daoist masters fly through the sky and burrow into the earth, capable of taking heads from a thousand miles away. Buddhist Bodhisattvas, with downcast eyes or angry glares, can shake Mount Kunlun with a raised hand. Who says scholars lack spirit? In a rage, they can make even the Emperor tremble. Stride across rivers, lakes, and sing a song; I wield a sword that makes immortals kneel. Raise a blade, raise a sword, raise a drink; 300,000 iron cavalry conquer the heavens. Welcome to the Feng Huo Xi Zhu Hou Readers' Tieba.

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1 reply, 1 page total

**Gong Zhu Lu**

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**Gong Zhu Lu**

Author: Feng Huo Xi Zhu Hou [Read Full Text]Update Time: 2014-09-25 03:26:11 Word Count: 3333

As the sun set, two riders slowly traversed a flat sandy area commonly known as "Dragon's Eye." Thirty li further south lay Tiger Head City, the first mighty fortress of the Beiliang border. This city had 30,000 elite soldiers stationed within and without: 3,000 heavy cavalry, 6,000 light cavalry, and over 20,000 infantry. Even citizens not formally listed in the military registry, if they were young and strong, could don armor and mount horses to fight in an emergency.

Behind Tiger Head City was Huaiyang Pass, newly established with the Beiliang Protectorate General's office. To the left and right of the Huaiyang Pass line were two major pass cities, Liuya and Tiefuling, with over 10,000 troops. Unlike Tiger Head City, which had a clear advantage in infantry numbers, Liuya and Tiefuling were almost entirely composed of fast, lightly armored cavalry. Evidently, contrary to Tiger Head City's primary role of "defending the city" to block the southward advance of the Beimang army, these two smaller border cities were more responsible for offensive operations.

Behind this first line of defense, which balanced offense and defense, lay the second battle line: the Jinyuan, Qinghe, and Chongzhong passes serving as strongpoints, with Xunshen and Shenwu cities on the northern flanks of Liangzhou. Following this were the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry, stationed permanently on the Liangzhou border, and the armies of the two major deputy commanders of infantry and cavalry, Chen Yunchui and He Zhonghu. Including the jagged network of fortresses and watchtowers, there was no doubt that the northern border of Liangzhou was the most impregnable battlefield in all of Beiliang. Generally, it was highly unlikely that Beimang would attack Liangzhou's northern line, which was heavily guarded and as solid as a rock. If the northern barbarians truly wished to conquer this area, it would likely be far more complicated than merely losing teeth and swallowing blood.

Compared to Liangzhou's northern line, where large horses and fast blades reigned supreme throughout Beiliang, Youzhou primarily relied on infantry. Thus, Grand Commander Yan Wenluan's headquarters were also located there. Both Youzhou's northern terrain and troop deployment dictated that Youzhou was the quintessential battleground for nomadic northern tribes against agricultural central plains forces, with one side attacking cities and the other defending. This contrasted with Liangzhou's north, where, relying on the Xu family's iron cavalry, they dared to engage Beimang cavalry in head-on mounted assaults. Originally, the Dragon Elephant Iron Cavalry was stationed in the central area between Liangzhou and Youzhou, ready to support either flank at any time, or even actively patrol for opportune moments. There was no fixed strategy. However, with the establishment of a new fourth province, Liuzhou, and the stationing of 30,000 Dragon Elephant troops there, the close connection between Youzhou and Liangzhou was imperceptibly severed, creating a rift.

The largest city in the northwest of the Liyang Dynasty was not one of the provincial capitals of Liang, Ling, or You within Beiliang, but rather Tiger Head City, which stood prominently, overlooking Beimang! On Youzhou's border, there were still passes like Daoma Pass that allowed merchants and travelers to enter and exit between Liang and Mang territories. However, north of Liangzhou, there were none! This place was destined only for wolf smoke signals and a hundred battles in the yellow sand, where the sound of merchant caravans' camel bells would never be heard.

Although there were only two riders, one was dragging a disheveled woman whose hands were bound. She was covered in dust, her lips cracked, and the delicate embroidered shoes on her feet, once fit for a gentle Jiangnan maiden, were now tattered, revealing bloodied toes. Her body swayed precariously, yet she struggled to persevere. As she managed to lift her head and glimpse Tiger Head City, fabled for displaying the heads of Beimang captives on its walls, her ill-timed pause caused her to be dragged down to the ground by the warhorse. The rider did not turn his head. She struggled desperately to stand up, knowing she would otherwise be dragged all the way to Tiger Head City. But exhausted, she could not rise, merely rolling over. Her back burned with a searing, continuous pain from sliding on the gravel, a pain not intense in any single moment, but accumulating relentlessly, bit by bit. The Beimang cavalryman, acting on orders, couldn't help but glance back. This woman, once high above the clouds, had fallen from her pedestal and was now being dragged forward by him and his mount like a dog on a leash. He turned to look at the rider in front of him. He didn't know why this person hadn't killed him, nor why he hadn't killed her.

In the distance, dust rose everywhere as a majestic cavalry force of several hundred thundered towards them, shaking the ground. His heart violently contracted. This was the first time in his life he had seen such a large number of Beiliang cavalry. He quickly noticed the difference between the Beiliang cavalry and the Liu-character army cavalry he had previously belonged to. The latter, fearless in charging into battle and slaying enemies, were undoubtedly fierce and cruel; he himself had been like that after joining the army, otherwise he wouldn't have become one of Grand General Liu Gui's personal guards. But the Beiliang cavalry before him felt even more terrifying. The difference wasn't obvious during their previous skirmish with the ranger crossbowmen; he had simply found the renowned Beiliang rangers surprisingly formidable. However, once their numbers exceeded three hundred, they gave off a very strange impression, as if these three or four hundred riders moved as one. Their riding and whipping of horses conveyed a sense of forbearance and restraint that would make all Beimang warriors feel extremely uncomfortable. The Tiger Head City garrison before him moved in perfect unison, even the rise and fall of their bodies with the horses' backs were identical. He had only heard that the two heavy cavalry units, nurtured with countless gold and silver, could truly advance abreast when fully deploying their formations for a frontal charge.

These four hundred riders dismounted almost simultaneously. The leading middle-aged knight knelt on one knee, bowed, and clasped his hands, saying, "Your humble subordinate, Liu Jinu, greets Your Royal Highness!" Afterwards, all four hundred cavalrymen spoke in unison, "Greetings, Your Royal Highness!"

Xu Fengnian smiled faintly, "Rise, all of you. General Liu, you went to great trouble to come out and greet me."

The young captive behind Xu Fengnian, who was still able to ride and wear armor, was momentarily stunned, his mind struggling to process. But he noticed that General Liu, whose armor, blade, and crossbow were identical to those of the cavalrymen behind him, seemed to be a cripple when he rose. Then he realized who this unassuming, limping general was: the foremost border general under the various commanders of Beiliang, the Tiger Head City guardian, Liu the Cripple! He didn't know the name Liu Jinu, but almost every soldier in the Liu-character army had heard of Liu the Cripple, a legendary figure in the desert.

Unlike many fierce Beiliang generals whose reputations grew more infamous in Beimang the greater their border achievements, Liu the Cripple was widely recognized by scholars in Beimang's Southern Dynasty as a capable contemporary general. He governed his army with strict laws but treated his soldiers like his own children outside the battlefield. He had two sons and two daughters; both sons had died fighting on the border, his youngest being only sixteen when he perished. His two daughters married his subordinates and both became widows. Liu the Cripple was never soft-hearted towards enemies but never indiscriminately killed innocents. Fourteen years ago, during a retaliatory long-distance raid deep into Gusezhou territory, he beheaded over ten thousand enemies. His leg was pierced by a dagger wielded by a captive woman, yet Liu the Cripple did not kill her, only leaving a remark whose truth was unknown but widely circulated on the grasslands: "Whether it's us Beiliang or you Beimang, it's only when all the men are dead that it becomes your women's turn."

Liu Jinu accompanied Xu Fengnian towards the majestic Tiger Head City. Most of his life's efforts were invested there. Looking at the towering city walls, the eyes of this distinguished general glowed with unusual warmth. Behind them, the four hundred elite cavalrymen slowly turned their horses' heads to return, unable to resist glancing at the two strange figures: the young man on horseback dressed in northern barbarian attire, carrying quite a few weapons, and dragging a pitiable woman with a sable forehead-covering who could only walk.

After entering the city, Xu Fengnian bathed and changed his clothes. Liu Jinu and several Tiger Head City commandants stood respectfully at the foot of the outer courtyard steps. The last time Xu Fengnian toured the border as the new King of Liang, he stopped at Huaiyang Pass and did not come here. It was said that the commandants at the time harbored considerable resentment and grumbled that the King looked down on their Tiger Head City, treating its soldiers as if they were stepchildren of Beiliang. The commandant leading 3,000 heavy cavalry had openly declared that if the cowardly garrison at Huaiyang Pass dared to spar with him, he wouldn't mind. He also said he wouldn't bully the Huaiyang cavalry for being light cavalry; at most, he'd let them borrow an additional two or three thousand soldiers, and still make those fellows abandon their armor and flee in fewer than three charges.

Xu Fengnian saw one burly man feigning composure but clearly constrained and timid. He gestured for these pillar-like generals of Tiger Head City to sit and talk. Given Liu Jinu's experience and military achievements, he could speak calmly even with the old King of Liang back in the day. Naturally, facing Xu Fengnian, the new lord of Beiliang, he was not at a loss; he calmly sat on a stone stool. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Ma Jili, who had been the most aggressive in his drinking taunts earlier, now like a shy young woman afraid to meet her lover, carrying a stone stool and sitting at the very back, shrinking back.

Xu Fengnian tilted his head, as if searching for someone, and deliberately asked with a smile, "General Liu, I wonder if that Commandant Ma, who claimed he might not beat me in a fistfight but could drink me under the table, is present?"

Liu Jinu suppressed his laughter and remained silent.

The commandants present, whose dispositions were as rough as the border sands, immediately burst into laughter, their mirth filled with frank good humor.

Even the most effeminate man would probably be hardened by the years of scorching sun here. Even the most narrow-minded man would probably have his spirit broadened by the daily vastness of the sky and land here.

Ma Jili straightened his back, his head appearing high above his comrades' shoulders, and with a "what's done is done" attitude, he said, "Reporting to Your Royal Highness, your humble subordinate is present. If Your Highness is truly angry and wishes me to take a whipping, I will not utter a single word of objection. Only, when I'm being whipped, could you find a place where my subordinates can't see? Otherwise, those fellows will laugh me to death afterwards."

Xu Fengnian clearly had no intention of bothering with the man. He asked, "General Liu, can everyone here drink?"

Liu Jinu nodded, smiling playfully, "Of course they can all drink. These men are just so-so in battle, but at the drinking table, they all claim to be supreme. However, Ma Jili and Chu Hanqing's units are on night patrol duty, so as long as the others don't get dead drunk, it's fine."

Xu Fengnian acknowledged, "Then let's drink in moderation. What was owed from last time can only be made up for when there's another opportunity."

Liu Jinu turned and called out, "Ma Jili, go with Chu Hanqing personally and bring two jars of wine, then get going on your night patrol."

Ma Jili, greatly relieved, jogged out of the courtyard with the other commandant and quickly returned with two jars of "green ant" wine.

A guilty Ma Jili, not daring to linger, wanted to quickly slip away. The refined and scholarly-looking Tiger Head City commandant, Chu Hanqing, hesitated, then looked at Xu Fengnian and asked, "Your Royal Highness, your humble subordinate cannot drink tonight, and I don't know when or where I'll have the opportunity to drink again. May I perhaps toast Your Royal Highness with an empty bowl?"

Xu Fengnian nodded.

Chu Hanqing held up the empty wine bowl high, while Xu Fengnian stood up and drained the "green ant" wine in his own bowl.

Ma Jili tentatively asked, "Your Royal Highness, perhaps your humble subordinate can also offer a toast?"

Xu Fengnian smiled and drank another bowl.

After Xu Fengnian sat back on the stone stool, he looked at the border generals and officers, whose faces were filled with sincere smiles, and asked, "General Liu, does Tiger Head City have any other needs? Please speak freely."

Liu Jinu, holding his bowl with one hand and resting the other on his crippled leg, smiled and shook his head, saying, "None."

Xu Fengnian said nothing more, quietly drinking with these Beiliang veteran generals, all of whom were over forty years old.

Finally, Liu Jinu spoke just one sentence: "Since Your Royal Highness is sitting here, a thought I believed I would never be able to utter can now be spoken: the over 40,000 people of Tiger Head City consider themselves to have drunk Your Royal Highness's farewell wine today. We will die without regret."

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