Qu Fongning had his eyes wide open, ready for his sweet talk, and was very upset by the disturbance. And hearing Lio Whu’s voice, it much added to his growing dislike. These old farts didn’t come before or after, but had to come to the main pavilion that very night; weren’t they coming to bother him on purpose?
Yujien regarded his angry eyes with a smirk. “General Lio Whu arriving this late, what have you to share?” he said.
“One does not visit without a cause, with love does one knock on a moonlit door. This humble one was just in a dream, and suddenly remembered the General’s handsome…” said Lio Whu, eyes grinning.
Stroking along Qu Fongning’s naked thigh on one hand, Yujien spoke mildly, “Say what you will.”
Lio Whu gave a dry cough. “Then this humble one shall be plain,” he said with a laugh; “Lord Ghost Sovereign, the Prince Royal plays out a conflict with Daishüban, but in reality, communicates in secret. By the next morn, they will join forces to destroy both you and I here!”
Suddenly hearing such a tale, Qu Fongning had a start and thought, “Why is the Old Fox Lio being a thief crying thief?”
Yujien retrieved his waist, making him look at himself. “Oh?” he replied in an undertone.
Lio Whu solemnly closed in a step and pressed down his voice to report: His Agedness had long noticed the immense peculiarity of this campaign of the White Rocks Army. In previous battles, the Prince Royal slew foes like grass, completely disregarding death tolls, and all without the possibility of making peace; But this time, he was cautious and restrained, taking all measures to avoid frontal conflict and far fewer casualties, totaling less than two thousand. What unspeakable agreements had he struck with the Za’yii Royal House, need I to spell it out? Years earlier, there used to be a saying: Bi’ro losing the three Achs would be the loss of an arm; Chienye losing Yujien would be a champion losing his head. Now this arm and the head are all within his grasp, and this excellent opportunity is slipping away by the moment; how could he not consider the bigger picture and rather fuss about some personal vendetta? And as for the grievance of losing his wife, that’s even more negligible. Compared to the greatness of a thousand generations, what is the mere cost of a woman! I sincerely hope Lord Sovereign can see through the villain’s evil scheme and swiftly make your decision!
Qu Fongning watched him waxing such unutterably ridiculous lyrics, was both puzzled and amused. Hearing him spits flying, detailing the innumerably suspicious behavior of the White Rocks Army, he slid his palm across his own neck, motioning: He wanted me dead the other day!
Yujien caught his hand, and slightly raised his voice, “I’ve long felt suspicion regarding the matter of the Prince Royal seeking aid. Given General Lio Whu’s pointers, I’ve finally come to be enlightened. I wonder if the General leading my… beloved son into the valley was to draw away attention?”
The words “Beloved Son” ringing by his ear, accompanied by his boiling erection thrusting forward, Qu Fongning nearly cried out loud in that instant, and hastily bid down his lips.
“Precisely,” Lio Whu answered breezily; “To be frank, Iantu had sought this humble one to join forces against your honored forces. That day, he proposed to unite the power of the three armies; and however capable you might be, you will have no countering measures and can only sit and await your death. And said, Your Honor has an uncommon bond with Captain Qu. If we are to capture him as a hostage, Your Honor would certainly be greatly affected, easy to grasp, and needless to further elaborate. And he further made a promise: After this battle, they will sanction three shares of salt, iron, and silk profits, and when the day comes on the sack of the Mei waters, Bi’ro will gain the fertile water grounds.”
Yujien tsked. “This is one lucrative deal, why isn’t General Lio Whu taking the offer?” he said.
“This humble one doesn’t match Lord Ghost Sovereign’s boundless wisdom, but I’m not a fool,” Lio Whu snickered; “The south of Bi’ro shares borders Za’yii for thousands of li. If they become big, we will be the ones in danger. Given the severity, let us save the sham ceremonies. I’ve lost to the General’s hand many times; if I’m to say to have no grudge, that would be false. If one-on-one war was doable, why would this humble one lower my head? Merely considering the two evils and picking the lighter one, for this the General must understand it much more than I. To join forces now is really because of being left to no choice; as for the future, if we are to meet again on the battlefield, or at a wedding, who knows?”
As he spoke, the speed increased, and the tone became disjointed. His voice wasn’t as graceful as usual, almost as if lifting the corner of a perfect fake mask for an audience. Qu Fongning sided his ear in Yujien’s arms, listening. If he didn’t see the sneer in Yujien’s eyes, he would’ve nearly believed him.
Lio Whu heard no sound from the ger and probed, “Lord Ghost Sovereign?”
This tone was two of a kind like that of Iantu’s earlier. Qu Fongning nearly laughed out loud and hastily buried his face in his shoulder blades.
Yujien paused for a moment before calmly opening his mouth, “… I’ll give it a thought.”
Lio Whu obviously didn’t expect him to sketch over it so lightly, and paused momentarily before the curtains before saying: “An hour ago, Iantu already sent out shadows riding towards the Imperial Army’s camps. The General always has the upper hand, Your Honor must not fall onto the defensive.”
“General Lio Whu is sturdy and unequaled in energy with age, and got a pair of clairvoyant clear eyes, truly humbling this one. Yet, even if the White Rocks Army has a different mind, with their pitiful strategies and preparation, it’s nothing of concern. General, please leave! It’s almost midnight, I can’t bear to wake the soldiers’ rest. Do forgive this humble commander’s manners. I cannot compare to your honored army being always ready on the cot.”
“I’m here out of sincere good will, yet Lord Ghost Sovereign speaks with thorns. The road ahead is perilous, why can’t we be frank?” said Lio Whu, irefully. Suddenly, his words halted, his nose wings shifted, and his tone dropped precipitously and started again gracefully: “…Then I shall not disturb the General’s sleep.” He conducted a small bow and left.
When the footsteps disappeared beyond the curtains, at once Qu Fongning couldn’t hold down his curiosity and tangled onto Yujien for details. “He’s checking my intentions, ignore him,” Yujien answered half-heartedly. How could Qu Fongning be satisfied; and he pestered on, winding on tail and tentacles. “True or false, find out tomorrow morning,” Yujien answered vexedly. “But they spoke in complete opposites,” said Qu Fongning. “Mn. Who do you believe?” said Yujien, smiling at him.
Qu Fongning sided his head, thinking momentarily. “…Believe in neither,” he replied.
The corner of Yujien’s lips flicked up, but a dark gleam fleeted by the depth of his eyes. “You don’t believe Iantu either?”
Qu Fongning creased his brows. “I thought his suggestion was indisputable, but precisely because it’s too logical, and it rather makes one a little concerned. In this world, there are many traps that look both beautiful and sweet. Don’t hunters also put a large fat piece of meat before the beast trap…” he said hesitantly. Seeing Yujien regarding him with a smile in his eyes, he felt faint again, and started to stutter, “I, I don’t know, I’m just talking nonsense, don’t you… laugh at me.”
“Very well said. How is this nonsense? Badama is a blunt character, but not a reckless one. Today, his frontline battle call is a tad bit deliberate. And the arrow Lio Whu shot Yan Feiyu was also full of loopholes. I suppose Iantu’s earlier visit was a false move; and Lio Whu’s subsequent arrival was the real nail on the foot to smack with a brick. With Iantu’s head, he couldn’t possibly have such tactics, supposedly it must by Lio Whu’s idea,” said Yujien. And suddenly he started to laugh, and scoffed, “These two coming together really are one of the same sort, how fitting!”
Qu Fongning seemed to understand. “They want to fool us to ally with the Prince Royal? By that time there will be the Imperial Army in the front and the Old Fox in the back, and the White Rock Army suddenly changing sides… Wouldn’t we be in a dire spot?”
As the words left his mouth, he realized how foolish he was. As expected, Yujien’s smile deepened, and he was even more embarrassed. “I’ve… spoken wrong. You must have a way,” he mumbled.
Yujien loomed over, chucking in an undertone, “Forty thousand against a hundred and fifty thousand; I’m not a god, what ways can I have?”
Qu Fongning knew he was joking, but his heart fluttered and his emotions came unbound.
“Then I’ll die with you!” he breathed.
When “die” came out of his mouth, his eyes suddenly warmed, and he hastened to suppress it.
Yujien’s thoughts seemed to have fallen remote, he didn’t notice his oddness, and only teased, “Little kids talking about life and death, left and right is not saving your capital.” He spun over him, and the part buried within himself again started to swell large. “Want to die with me? Come, I’ll satisfy you now.” Without saying, he pounded him hard for another round until he was showering with sweat and truly died once again.
After this round, Qu Fongning finally could soldier on no more, and not even let down the legs that wrapped around his waist, he fell asleep. Yujien cleaned his body and carried him back to the Spring Sun Battalion yurt. The score of slumbering weeps were still snoring thunders just as when they left. Yujien arranged him beside Uighshön, and saw him struggling to open his groggy eyes at himself. “Sleep for a bit,” he coaxed.
Qu Fongning was all mellow and couldn’t wait for a mighty sleep, but he stretched a hand and caught the side of his trouser leg.
Yujien half-knelt by his side. “What? Couldn’t bear me leaving?” he teased.
Qu Fongning couldn’t say anything and mashed his eyelashes.
Yujien’s brows shifted. He lowered and gave a kiss to his lips. “See you tomorrow?” he whispered.
Qu Fongning’s face relaxed. “Is today now,” he replied faintly. And with his face to the heavens, he fell asleep.
Yujien stopped momentarily by his side, when his breathing evened, let down his hand, and soundlessly left the yurt.
~
The next day before breaking dawn, Shivon and Guo Wuliang arrived on light cavalry, accompanied by thousands of elite guards, all looking rough and haggard. Yujien had long awaited before the campgrounds. Upon seeing this, his brows creased, and he went forth. “What is it?”
Shivon had reached the age of fifty, with this hard journey, his energy already couldn’t keep up. He only replied two words, “Endless rain!” And fell face-down from the horse. The Ghost Army soldiers rushed up to catch him. Guo Wuliang also appeared exhausted and dismounted to report, “Just as the falcon’s report yesterday, the Khilan marshes sponged the rain, mud overflowed everywhere, and the eighty thousand standing army was trapped within the Merak Phecda States and couldn’t link in time. Wuliang has planned poorly, and deserves to receive punishment.”
Yujien patted his shoulder. “The Heavenly God not granting his grace, what can we do?” he sighed, and directed a glance at the storm gathering Bi’ro grand pavilion, his gaze gravely dark.
At this moment, Iantu came forth for inquiries, asking how he planned to proceed. And at the same time, an emergency report arrived: the Za’yii Imperial Army was on the left side of the Forest of Yearning.
The Forest of Yearning connects the lands of Za’yii and Fanshwar. The highest peak resembles an embracing couple; it was the place where countless young warriors spilled their fiery blood. Guo Wuliang appeared sullen. “Years ago, when we advanced on Bi’ro, we also took this path. The Forest of Yearning has a complex landscape and is challenging to chase and surround. Me and Shivon can split into two routes for cover. To retreat in one and whole should not be difficult.”
“Already here, how can we retreat?” said Yujien mildly, and ordered the horns to be rung. The Ghost Army poured out of the yurts like a black tide, and in a split second, already filed into formation.
Guo Wuliang was slightly taken aback, and his expression turned to shock. “Not retreat… and to go on the offensive? How… would that be enough?”
Yujien gave a soundless laugh, but his eyes were full of chill. “Bi’ro losing the three Achs would be the loss of an arm; Za’yii losing the Prince Royal would be a champion losing his head. Such an excellent opportunity is slipping by the moment, wouldn’t it be a pity to let it go?”
Shivon had men assist him over, when he heard the meaning of his words, having the ambition to annex the three sides, for a moment he couldn’t help being shocked. “General, the disparity between the numbers is so great. Do you… have a good tactic?”
“What good tactic? Not enough troops, then we just got to borrow them,” Yujien sneered.
Shivon followed his gaze directed towards the Forest of Yearning, thought along his track, and started hesitantly, “Fanshwar founded their nation on neutrality, how would they be willing to lend their forces?”
Yujien answered not and only looked towards someone in the Ghost Army.
And his austere low voice gradually started ringing, “Captain Qu, would you please go forth towards Lake Umei in Fanshwar and seek the Left Crown King to lend his troops.”
~
It was the high summer air of the Eighth month, sand haze roamed about the White Rocks Labyrinth, and the military uniforms turned frosty white in seconds.
Qu Fongning, hair as black as ravens, irises like drops of ink, uniform ironed sleek and stiff, everywhere up and down his body glittering of silver, setting the black and white even more in contrast, was far more dazzling than the others. When he heard the order, at first he had a pause, then suddenly his breathing dropped, and the entire person seemed to have disappeared for an instant. Those further away from him almost couldn’t visualize him in reality.
But the sand haze was so thick, perhaps they weren’t seeing things for a moment. Kan Water Division Enmeshment Battalion filed out of the formation for orders to guard Captain Qu on the road..
Diplomatic mission to foreign states was no small matter; naturally, it required official papers and a change of ceremonial clothes. Qu Fongning wordlessly dismounted and opened his arms like a draw-string puppet, letting two administrative staff help him into the conventional white envoy dress. The gaze directed at General Yujien was profound and unfathomable, but his tone was particularly calm: “What have the General to say to me?”
Yujien’s gaze landed on his face. “No failure is allowed,” he intoned.
Qu Fongning chuckled lightly, but his eyes did not have half a shred of laughter. As the dressing completed, he went one limp after another towards the Spring Sun Battalion lines, pulled out a young horse at random, didn’t even take his bow, mounted and went on his own way. The Enmeshment Battalion rushed up in chase, and like a black tide pushing a white sail, disappeared on the east.
Yujien watched the shadow of the lonely sail going away, recovered his gaze, and gave a command in his usual manner, “Go invite General Lio Whu over, tell him: Chienye shall ally with Bi’ro, and together, eliminate Za’yii.”
~
Before You time, the air in the Bi’ro chief pavilion oppressed dismally, like sharp swords ready to strike and a storm about to pour. A masked envoy stood by Lio Whu’s left, his hands rubbing, appearing agitated. “Yujien Tianhuang is so late to respond. There couldn’t be some sort of change?”
Lio Whu sat composedly in the ger, a flute by his lips, his air casual, playing a “Drunken Gold Vase.” “How could it be easy to scheme against the Ghost Sovereign? His hesitation rather makes one at ease. If he agreed right away, that would be truly bad.” The flute sounds twisted eerily into a coloratura, and he smiled at the envoy. “The Prince Royal is so hasty. It can’t be that he has an appointment with someone else?”
The envoy hmphed. “How could His Highness be like those fickle villians?” He watched the black clouds beyond the pavilion and huffed, “Our forces are greater by four times. Why do we need to pretend friendships and have this unnecessary act? Left and right, it’s just a man, really that scared of him?”
Lio Whu’s gaze turned regretful. He caressed the flute and signed. “If Khilan didn’t have continuous deluge, this humble one’s thirty thousand standing army soundlessly arriving and blocked off the escape route on the southwest, would this humble one need to tread so carefully?”
At this moment, there came a clear bell ring. It was the arrival of the Chienye envoy. Lio Whu entered the inner ger to hear the summons, while recovering the flute, and sent away the former envoy out of the ger with a smile. The masked envoy saw him smiling and felt alarmed. “…General Lio Whu, if you have any other sort of ideas, Za’yii being the master of this land, I’m afraid we won’t be letting you go,” he said sharply.
“…This humble one naturally understands,” Lio Whu replied formally, shook his sleeves, and spun on the horse. And at the rise of the horse hooves, he turned around his head and said, “Something that, honored envoy, you had said earlier is wrong. Yujien Tianhung titles the Ghost Sovereign, though he bears a human appearance, he hasn’t got too much humanity. If the honored envoy sees him as a common man, I’m afraid you will suffer a great loss.”
~
When light broke dawn, the news of Chienye and Bi’ro allying against the White Rock Army already passed around. In his fury, the Prince Royal reunited with Daishüban, the sibling with whom he shares a wife, and professed to annihilate the two shameless villains who flips black and white and sees alliances as child’s plays.
Three days later, before the Forest of Yearning, the shameless villains rode between the black sky and white sands, one calm and gallant, and the other sage and elegant. After two nights of battling side by side, they had developed some camaraderie and rapport. Even Shivon and the three Achs felt a little pity; if these two could toss away their feuds and shake hands, what would the world look like, doesn’t it make their blood fire up!
Yet the two’s conversations coming to their ears were enough to sever any ideas:
“General Lio Whu, the rushes are higher than heads here, the mountain on the three sides serving as a shade, bringing joy to any viewer. General is such an elegant man, why don’t you play a song?”
“Well, I wonder what would Lord Ghost Sovereign like to hear? ‘Ambush from ten sides,’ or ‘Liu Bei in mourn’?”
“Why does the General pick such depressing works? This isn’t the attitude of an ally.”
“Isn’t this humble one hoping for the Lord Ghost Sovereign to sense the theme through the melody? Your Lordship carries two arts with one shoulder; I’m afraid you might have a breaking point.”
“I’ve long heard General Lio Whu speaks with art, slips not a single drip. Yet today, you deviated from the standard, really making one puzzled.”
“Honest statements go against the ear, good words aren’t smooth to hear. Lord Ghost Sovereign employs troops like a god, this humble one is very impressed. But today’s situation is unlike the usual. Your Lordship is endeavoring for hegemony, aren’t you rather too arrogant?”
“Am I? I’ve thought I have restrained much these couple of years. Years ago, when I crushed through the twelve states of Mulian Mountain of your honored nation, that could be described as ‘arrogant.’”
The immediate guards by the two listened to these frightening words with muted bowed heads. The black-bladed guard held his silence and subtly advanced near Lio Whu.
Lio Whu traded strikes with his tongue, but his face still smiled like the spring breeze. “The General is a born noble with a Ding1 raising might, and the godly steed beneath your crotch is also a descendant of Wuzhui2. Considering left and right, I shall play a song of ‘Farewell My Concubine’ for the Lord Ghost Sovereign.” The corner of his eyes swept across Ghost Army lines, and he chuckled, “A pity Yu the Beauty3 hides behind a mask and cannot accompany a dance. Such a great regret!”
Yujien’s glacial gaze peered towards the gray, white banners at the rear of the mountain, and raised his eyes towards the remote deadness at yonder. His lips shifted ever so subtly.
“The golden opportunity hasn’t passed, the war isn’t over. Farewell My Concubine doesn’t match the theme, try ‘Borrow the Eastern Wind.”
~
Sandstorm howled, the air of death swelled like full-drawn bows, just lacking the flick of a finger; also, like golden waves brimming vessels, just about to break through a dam. An orderly hurriedly rushed up and whispered by Lio Whu’s ear. A small grey-haired creature grappled on his shoulder, its skin dirty and one of its eyes already a bloody hole.
When he heard the words “Refused to reply,” and, despite storms he had witnessed, his colors changed. This change, though unexpected, his heart still harbored a thread of blind hope “Fanshwar has built their nation on neutrality, that’s good and all. As long as they don’t help either side, this battle will be victorious without question, the worst is no more than multiplied casualty.”
Until a gust of wind landed from the east, the Old Fox finally lost his composure.
Between the whirls of white sand, iron hooves stomped like the pounding of drums. Tens of thousands of fully armored, high spirited Fanshwar soldiers flooded in from the horizon like a gray, green tide, one wave after another, continuous without end.
The one in front was clad in scarlet silks and a brocade belt on the waist, his entire person radiating a crimson joy, looking unlike someone out on a military campaign, but going to be a new groom.
Yujien swept a glance behind him and smiled dimly. “What honor does our humble nation have to trouble the Crown King’s hundred thousand elites.”
The Left Crown King roared with laughter, the bits of black all the harder to see in his triple-whites eyes. “How could this humble king betray Lord Ghost Sovereign’s immense generosity?” He waved his cloak, and surrounded the White Rocks Army’s siege grounds like an iron cage.
Shivon and Guo Wuliang had campaigned with Yujien for many years, and witnessed every time how he transformed peril into opportunity. Still, at this moment, they gaped with disbelief. Gerrgu and Uighshön’s score were all new soldiers, as they saw troops falling from the sky, also became stupefied in place.
The Left Crown King sat in the rear, unhurried, shook his sleeves with absolute suave, and surrounded by wild bustles and jostles, gayly went forth. Under the summer sun, they saw a thin circular golden hoop swinging ceaselessly on one of his ears, the two little bells swaying with it, making crisp clinks.
Cher Bien’s rodent eyes were best at identifying gold and jewels. Upon seeing this, he couldn’t help a suspicion: “What’s that? Unlike an earring or earlobe, but rather very like Little Brother Fongning’s anklet!”
Yujien’s glance fleeted across those two bells, stopping no more than an instant. “The Crown King really is a sentimental one,” he said.
The Left Crown King heckled. “Not that this humble king wants to show off on purpose, but in this moment, just impossible to contain my excitement. I hope Lord Ghost Sovereign will not mind,” he said, his two fingers stroking the earring, the gesture so naked and so full of lust. Some of the older soldiers saw it in their eyes, and couldn’t help going red.
“I can’t thank the Crown King’s mighty support enough, how will I mind?” Where the lance tip pointed, the three routes of Ghost Army covered, fighting against the Bi’ro troops of the three Achs.
Lio Whu was shrewd and slippery. As soon as he discerned the unfavorable signs, immediately attempted to conciliate and professed his loyalties, expressing his allying intention to annihilate Za’yii was as stalwart as stone, and never had a second thought.
Yujien passed him a glance, and slowly took over an ebony longbow from a guard, holding a thread of a chilling smile in his deep-set eyes. “General Lio Whu is well-versed in the plays. You should know the joys of the three kingdoms are nowhere near blazing through the deadlocked camps.”
Timurepach was the swiftest to respond, the maroons banners flapping continuously, and his arms waving, he covered Lio Whu to retreat.
“A lord-protecting dog,” sneered Yujien. Black light moved, a shadow crossed the sand and snapped off one of Timurepach’s arms whole from the shoulder.