Empress Dowager Xiaoxuan

Chapter 24

Upon hearing this, Yan Yu realized he had misunderstood Xiao Xuan's meaning, so he reached out to help her onto the horse, but Xiao Xuan suddenly withdrew her hand. He stared at Xiao Xuan, wondering what she meant.

"Have you thought this through? Once you leave this city gate, your life will be no longer guaranteed, and you could die at any moment," Xiao Xuan said to Yan Yu.

Yan Yu's face showed no fear. He said, "The result is the same. You'll either die in the city or outside the city. There's nothing to be afraid of. Mount your horse."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xuan handed her hand to Liu Yanyu, and with a strong pull, she was mounted on the horse. Yanyu then took his spear from the soldier.

"Open the city gates!" A loud voice rang out from nearby.

The city gate opened a crack, and Yan Yu kicked his horse's flank, leaping out through the gap, with Han Zhifan close behind. The city gate closed again after they had galloped out.

Standing on the city wall, Liu Jiye watched the horses depart into the distance, a pang of sorrow gripping his heart. He wondered if Yan Yu was alive or dead. Heaven, if you have eyes, please bless my son so he may find reinforcements and return safely.

Two riders galloped towards the Song army camp. Seeing two riders rushing out of Jinyang City towards their camp, the Song soldiers immediately drew their bows, aimed, and prepared to fire at any moment. Then, the older of the three charging towards them, dressed in Khitan clothing, shouted as he rode: "The Imperial Noble Consort of Liao has come at the invitation of the Song Emperor."

As they rode into the Song army camp, Xiao Xuan and her two companions were immediately surrounded by a large group of men wielding spears.

"State your name, you who came here!" a stern shout rang out.

Xiao Xuan took out the letter that had been shot into the city from her bosom and said, "Emperor Xiao Chuo of Liao, along with his friends and clansmen, has come at the invitation of the Song emperor." After saying that, she threw the letter into the Song army surrounding them.

A Song soldier immediately picked up the letter and handed it to his commander. After reading the letter, the commander said, "Since you came at the invitation, why are you carrying weapons? Quickly throw your weapons on the ground, and I will take you to see His Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xuan looked at Liu Yanyu behind her. She saw that Yanyu had a long face, and it was clear that he did not want to lose the spear in his hand.

"Give the gun to them, and get it back when you have the chance. Don't act impulsively now," Xiaoxuan said to Yanyu in a low voice.

Yan Yu snorted coldly, and with a forceful flick of his wrist, he slammed the gun into the ground.

"Dismount!" came another sharp shout.

Yan Yu leaped off his horse, then helped Xiao Xuan down with both hands. As Xiao Xuan jumped off and landed in front of him, he heard her whisper: "I will find a way to leave as quickly as possible."

Seeing the two dismount, the Song general waved his hand, and the Song soldiers surrounding them immediately parted to make way. The three followed behind the Song general towards Zhao Kuangyin's military tent. Looking at the large and numerous Song army, Yan Yu felt a chill. With so many soldiers, even if reinforcements were brought, would it really be of any use? Han Zhifan also felt a chill. With so many soldiers, if they really wanted to storm the camp, wouldn't that be blatant lying? In contrast, Xiao Xuan remained calm, as if she had already made a plan.

The three men entered Zhao Kuangyin's tent and saw him discussing something with several generals. Upon their arrival, Zhao Kuangyin whispered a few instructions to the generals and then ordered them to leave.

"Xiao Chuo, you've arrived. It seems that if I hadn't written to urge you, you wouldn't have left Jinyang City." Zhao Kuangyin glanced at the dashing Liu Yanyu, then at Han Zhifan dressed in Liao attire, and said to Xiao Xuan.

Xiao Xuan smiled slightly and replied, "Uncle, I'm also thinking about how to introduce my friend to you. My friend is good with a gun, and you're good with a stick. My friend once asked me which one is more powerful, him or the hero in my heart."

Upon hearing Xiao Xuan's words, Yan Yu frowned and blurted out, "He's your hero? Your hero is the ruler of Song?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Chuo, is he the same Liu Yanyu, the friend of yours whom you keep remembering and whose name is enshrined in the belt before the Buddha?"

Xiaoxuan nodded.

Then Liu Yanyu, standing beside him, cursed, "You, Xiao Chuo! All your sweet talk! I even considered you a friend. Now I finally understand why you traveled so far to Song territory, all that talk of escorting Jingniang a thousand miles—it's all nonsense. It seems your Liao Kingdom had long intended to befriend the Song. The fact that both of your armies were defeated by the Song army was probably part of your plan, to deceive my Han Dynasty, to force us into a corner and surrender to the Song. How vicious you are! I, Liu Yanyu, must have been blind to even consider being friends with you!"

"You brat, stop talking nonsense. When has my Great Liao ever had any private relations with the Song? If we truly had a relationship, we would have simply ignored your Han Dynasty's plea for help. Why bother sending troops to rescue you and making such a fuss? Do you think that every time we rescued your Han Dynasty, the lives of those Liao warriors were just for show? In my eyes, your Han Dynasty is nothing more than a tiny rabbit. There's no need for my mighty eagle to extend its claws and strike!"

Seeing the three arguing, Zhao Kuangyin burst into laughter, "Hahaha," and then looked at Xiao Xuan and said, "This Liu Yanyu is the person you want to save? The so-called friend you're willing to exchange your life for? Hahaha, Xiao Chuo, your judgment is nothing special."

Upon hearing Zhao Kuangyin's words, Liu Yanyu asked in surprise, "A friend who would exchange lives?"

Zhao Kuangyin stared at the young Liu Yanyu and sneered, saying, "When I first met Xiao Chuo, it was in a nunnery. She offered a belt with your name on it before the Buddha. I asked her why she did this, and she told me that you wrote your name on her belt, hoping it would become her talisman and protect her. She offered the belt with your name on it before the Buddha, hoping that the Bodhisattva would bless the owner of the name on the belt with a long life. In other words, isn't this exchanging lives? Besides, she didn't lie to you. Jingniang was an old friend of mine, and also a regret in my heart." Although I sent her home back then, I didn't arrange a happy marriage for her. Alas, she has been a thorn in my side for so many years. Furthermore, when Xiao Chuo met me, she didn't know I was the Emperor of Song, and I didn't know she was the Imperial Concubine of Liao. A few days ago, our scouts received news that the Liao Emperor's favorite concubine had just left Xijing City for Shangjing. In order to successfully capture Jinyang and prevent Liao from sending reinforcements, I ordered my men to kidnap the Imperial Concubine to use as leverage. It wasn't until we met that I learned her true identity. Therefore, what you just said is a misrepresentation of Xiao Chuo.”

Upon hearing this, Yan Yu stared at Xiao Xuan, unsure of what to say. But Xiao Xuan, her face icy, said, "Uncle, I told you this Liu Yan Yu is skilled with a gun. Don't you want to see it?"

"Oh?" Zhao Kuangyin's expression changed, clearly intrigued by the words. "Liu Yanyu, perform a spear technique for me, and broaden my horizons."

"Daydreaming! I am a subject of the Han Dynasty, and I only obey my lord's orders. Hmph, you can command your Song soldiers and generals, but you can't make Liu Yanyu wield a spear for you. You might as well have someone kill me right now." Yanyu's words were full of conviction.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin narrowed his eyes and sized up Liu Yanyu, then sneered and said, "I'm afraid you have no choice in the matter." He then said loudly, "When the three of you entered the tent just now, you saw several of my generals, didn't you? The reason I urged Xiao Chuo to leave the city immediately is because I have ordered the dikes to be breached tonight to divert the Fen River to flood Jinyang City."

Empress of Khitan - Empress Dowager of Khitan Chapter 45 Unexpected Events

Updated: 2008-09-20 16:54:05 Word Count: 3966

"What?" Liu Yanyu seemed not to believe his ears. Xiao Xuan's eyes widened when she heard Zhao Kuangyin say this.

"If you don't wield the spear, that's fine. I'll order the dike to be breached right now. If you do wield it, then we'll proceed according to my plan and breach the dike at midnight. It's up to you whether the people of your Jinyang city live a little longer or die a little sooner!" Zhao Kuangyin finished speaking and looked at Liu Yanyu, who was trembling all over, with a cold smile.

Yan Yu bit her lip, beads of sweat occasionally seeping from her forehead.

"Guards!" Zhao Kuangyin shouted.

"I'll dance!" Yan Yu shouted.

A cold smile played on Zhao Kuangyin's lips. "Hmph, there's nothing in this world that I want but can't have."

"Uncle, everyone's arm strength is different, and the weapons they use are also different. Please ask someone to bring him his own weapon. Only with a suitable weapon can he wield it well."

Zhao Kuangyin pondered for a moment, thinking to himself, "This is my Song Dynasty camp. I don't believe you can pull any tricks." He immediately said, "Bring me his spear."

Yan Yu, who was led out of the tent, held his spear and looked at Xiao Xuan and Zhao Kuangyin standing not far away outside the tent. He already had his weapon in hand, but he was now much further away from the two of them. Should he charge over? If he did, what would happen if Zhao really ordered his men to break the dam now?

Filled with grief and indignation, Yan Yu felt like a commodity that had been sold. Xiao Chuo, she must have done this to get revenge for my mockery of her in Jinyang. Xiao Chuo, I misjudged you; you've lied to me from beginning to end. I hate you!

Gunshots rang out, and in the drizzling rain, the young general in white and his spear were shrouded in rising steam. Zhao Kuangyin watched intently as the spear and the figure merged into one, Liu Yanyu, silent and uttering not a word. Only when the spear dance ended did he lightly clap his hands and murmur in praise, "Excellent spearmanship, truly excellent spearmanship." At the same time, Xiaoxuan saw, in the drizzle, a tear fall from the eyes of that proud young man, on Yanyu's face filled with grief and indignation.

Biting her lip, Xiao Xuan looked at Zhao Kuangyin and said, "Uncle, now that we've finished watching the spear dance, there's something else to amuse you."

"Oh, what is it?" Liu Yanyu's spear skills had surprised Zhao Kuangyin, and now that Xiao Xuan mentioned something amusing, he couldn't help but become interested.

Pointing at Han Zhifan, Xiao Xuan said, "We Liao people are used to riding on horseback, and we hunt on horseback almost whenever we have time. So our arm strength and leg strength are extraordinary. This Lord Han knows that you were once a hero, able to conquer the world with just a stick, so he wants to have a contest of arm strength with you. Would you be willing to grant him this honor?" Xiao Xuan asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Han Zhifan was surprised. What did the Imperial Concubine mean? When did he ever have to compete with the emperor of the Song Dynasty? But since the Imperial Concubine had already said so, he could only wait and see.

"Oh?" For several days, the incessant drizzle had been irritating, and Zhao Kuangyin's mood had been gloomy. But when he suddenly heard about this competition, his heart stirred, and he asked, "How does the competition work?"

"This method is simple. The two of you sit at a table, place your right elbows on the table, and hold hands. When I say 'start,' you both press your hands together forcefully. Whoever puts the back of the other's hand on the table first wins."

Zhao Kuangyin pondered for a moment, then chuckled and said, "That sounds interesting. Alright, I'll have a match with him."

The three entered the military tent, sat down at a table, clasped hands, and prepared to begin their arm-wrestling contest.

Xiao Xuan stood beside Zhao Kuangyin and said with a smile, "Uncle, you have to keep up the good work."

A faint smile appeared on Zhao Kuangyin's face as he said, "Just call them over."

"Begin." Hearing Zhao Kuangyin say this, Xiao Xuan stopped delaying and shouted.

Seeing the two men of similar age seriously testing their arm strength, Xiao Xuan quickly pulled out the gold hairpin that Hua Rui had given her from her hair and pressed it against Zhao Kuangyin's temple.

All of this happened so fast that, before Zhao Kuangyin could even react, Han Zhifan had already knocked his hand down. Han Zhifan, equally surprised, stared at Xiao Xuan, unsure of her intentions. Before the guards inside the tent could react, Xiao Xuan shouted, "Throw away your weapons, or I'll kill him!"

The two guards inside the tent stood there, looking at the emperor with a sense of helplessness.

Zhao Kuangyin gave a cold smile and said, "I didn't expect I would fall into your trap."

Seeing the dumbfounded guards, Xiao Xuan snapped, "Why aren't you throwing away your weapons? Do you think I wouldn't dare kill him?"

The two guards exchanged a glance, threw their weapons to the ground, and pondered how to find another opportunity to save Zhao Kuangyin. Just then, the Imperial Concubine said, "You two kneel down together." She glanced at Xiao Xuan, then at the golden hairpin in her hand. The two guards walked together and knelt down.

Looking at Han Zhifan, Xiaoxuan whispered, "Boss."

Han Zhifan, being a high-ranking official, reacted swiftly. He said, "Your Highness, I'll fetch a knife to keep an eye on Emperor Song." He then picked up the knife a guard had dropped, quickly changing direction and slashing at the necks of the two kneeling guards. He beheaded one, and before the other could react, he too was decapitated. He then walked to Zhao Kuangyin and placed the knife against his neck.

Xiao Xuan breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Han Zhifan hold the knife properly. She put down the gold hairpin and looked at Zhao Kuangyin, saying, "Uncle, since we have already done such a thing, the result will only be mutual destruction, so there is no need to worry about anything anymore. I don't want to make things difficult for you, and please don't make things difficult for me either."

After saying this, she walked outside the tent and instructed, "His Majesty has ordered you to summon that young general who wields the spear into the tent, and also to prepare his spear and horse. His Majesty wants him to go to Jinyang City to deliver a letter of surrender. His Majesty is very fond of him and has also ordered him to go to Xijing to discuss the alliance with the Liao Kingdom. When preparing the horse, you must choose a strong and healthy one. If you mess up this important matter, see if your Majesty will forgive you."

The soldiers outside the tent, upon hearing the order, pondered: "His Majesty has always been courteous to the Liao Kingdom's Imperial Consort, and has even drunk wine with her at night. That young general's spearmanship was indeed excellent; he must be quite favored by His Majesty." Without suspicion, they carried out Xiao Xuan's instructions.

When Liu Yanyu heard that he had been summoned to the tent, he felt extremely humiliated. Looking at Xiao Xuan outside the tent, he was even more furious. He walked up to Xiao Xuan and stared at her with angry eyes.

"His Majesty wants to speak with him. No unauthorized personnel are allowed in the tent. Please keep your distance." After saying this, Xiao Xuan turned and walked into the tent. Seeing her enter, Yan Yu, though angry, had no choice but to follow her in. When he saw the situation inside the tent, he was taken aback. Looking at Xiao Xuan, he saw her making a "shh" gesture to him, indicating that he should speak softly.

Without a word, Yan Yu picked up a knife left behind by Di Shan and was about to slash at Zhao Kuangyin. Seeing his stance, Xiao Xuan quickly shielded Zhao Kuangyin with her body.

With a sharp flick of his wrist, Liu Yanyu whispered to Xiao Xuan, "Step aside and let me kill him. You just heard him say that he wants to flood my Jinyang city. Let me kill him, and the crisis in Jinyang can be resolved."

“If you kill him, can you let these tens of thousands of Song soldiers leave this place? It’s easy to kill him, but who can guarantee that the rest of the soldiers won’t break the dam and flood the enemy after he dies? If he’s alive now, we can still take him hostage, but if he dies, I’m afraid we’ll be hacked to pieces immediately.”

Staring at Xiao Xuan, Liu Yanyu pondered for a moment and said, "Then tell him to order the immediate withdrawal of those soldiers who were preparing to breach the dike. Also, he should immediately lead these Song soldiers away from here and never allow them to invade our Han territory again."

Xiao Xuan looked at the furious Yan Yu, unsure how to respond. However, Zhao Kuangyin, sitting behind her with a knife to his neck, chuckled and said, "Whether I live or die is irrelevant. I personally led this expedition to capture Jinyang. How can I change my mind because of a mere child's words? Although I've fallen into your trap, I am a soldier by birth. In any case, whether I die here today or not, this dike must be breached, and Jinyang must be flooded."

"You! I'll kill you!" Yan Yu said angrily, then pointed his knife at Xiao Xuan and hissed, "Get out of my way!"

"I won't allow you to kill him!" Xiao Xuan shouted, "What are you doing? Taking advantage of someone in distress! I captured him, so his life should be decided by me. If you had captured him, then I naturally wouldn't have stopped you."

"He wants to kill my Han people, and you still protect him? Is this the hero in your heart?" Yan Yu asked angrily.

"Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king. What man doesn't wish that wherever his eyes can see is his territory? Where there are men, there will be battlefields; where there are battlefields, there will be dead. I will kill more than just you Han people. Anyone who blocks my path, anyone who hinders my conquest of this empire, I will kill." Despite the sword at his neck, Zhao Kuangyin spoke calmly.

Looking at Yan Yu's reddened eyes, trembling body, and the slightly trembling knife tip pointing at her, Xiao Xuan took the large pearl from her neck and handed it to Liu Yan Yu.

"Don't waste time here. Quickly write a letter and shoot it into the city to inform the people that the Song army is going to breach the dikes and release the water. Tell everyone to prepare in advance. Then take this pearl and ride as fast as you can to Xijing to find my husband, the Liao King Yelü Xian. Tell him that if he still has feelings for his wife, he must bring his troops here to rescue me."

"Xiao Chuo, do you think you can save Jinyang like this?" Zhao Kuangyin sneered.

"There's an emperor you should recognize, because you seized his throne. He once said that if he could rule for thirty years, he would spend ten years expanding the empire, ten years nurturing the people, and ten years bringing peace to the land. Uncle, you're right. Where there are men, there is a battlefield. Which man who sits on the throne doesn't want a stable empire and vast territory? You're used to fighting in the south and north, but I'm just a woman with little experience, so I can't really say anything. Right now, Jinyang City is full of starving people, dying of hunger, freezing to death, and homeless. You are the ruler of Song, so the lives of the people of Jinyang City are none of your concern, and I can't say anything about it. But isn't there a saying, 'Love your people like your own children'? If when you take another city, you treat its people as your own subjects, loving and protecting them, then wouldn't those who survive contribute more to your territory after you take it?"

Empress of Khitan - Empress Dowager of Khitan Chapter 46 The Gamble

Updated: 2008-09-20 16:54:05 Word Count: 3671

"Xiao Chuo, no matter what you say, I am determined to flood this city. There are still some hours before nightfall, so do whatever you want. I'm giving you this opportunity. I want to see how you plan to save Jinyang."