Qu Zhixiu helped her dismount and they entered a ravine. Outside, the sun blazed fiercely, but inside, dense shade provided respite, and a stream murmured softly. Emerald green rose apple trees were laden with fruit, and nimble bees flitted about their branches, chirping softly. Large, bowl-sized red peonies grew freely, their blossoms a vibrant crimson, petals fluttering and scattering in the wind. She casually plucked a blossom, inhaling its sweet, honey-like fragrance—utterly intoxicating.
Such a beautiful day, how wonderful it would be to stroll with Huan Lang! She mused to herself. Qu Zhixiu interrupted her reverie, "There's something even more wonderful inside. Come with me." He led her into a grotto. Having just entered from the bright outside, Li Weiying was not used to the dim candlelight inside. It took her a while to realize that many craftsmen were busy at work inside.
Before murals or sculptures could be painted on the walls of the grotto, they needed to be treated with clay. Therefore, a master clay maker was assigned to oversee the boiling and preparation of the clay. At this moment, on one side of the cave, pots and pans were bubbling with heat, the clay emitting a pungent, sour odor; on the other side, painters were intently sketching murals. Qu Zhixiu led her to the deepest part of the cave, where a huge candle was lit, illuminating an extremely eerie mural: a gigantic monster with a human head and a bird's body. Its body was fiery red, its wings black with a gleaming gold, its tail feathers spread in seven sections, and its white claws were menacing. The human head, adorned with a cloud-like crown and radiating precious light, was tearing at a small purple dragon, while several other slender dragons writhed and struggled beside it. Most terrifyingly, the human face was a perfect likeness of Qu Zhixiu himself.
Li Weiying gasped, her fingers icy cold. Qu Zhixiu chuckled, "How so?" Li Weiying asked, "Why did you paint yourself like this?" Qu Zhixiu replied, "This is the Garuda, the golden-winged bird. The Lotus Sutra says it has golden wings and lives on the largest trees in the world, with its wingspan 3,360,000 li. The Avatamsaka Sutra says that when this bird captures a dragon, it first eats its crop, then spits it out, and the dragon remains alive, emitting a mournful cry." Li Weiying thought for a moment and said disdainfully, "You compare yourself to the Garuda, and the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty to demonic dragons?" Qu Zhixiu chuckled, "My dear, I really enjoy listening to you talk. Every word you say hits the nail on the head. We are truly a perfect match."
He stood back and admired it carefully. "Actually, this cave was originally commissioned by my father. The Garuda should also be depicted in his likeness. But I helped my father contact the Turks and made so many great contributions. So why can't I be depicted in my likeness? Even if my father comes here to see it in the future, he can only beat me up at most. It would be too much to let someone destroy this magnificent painting."
The firelight made the golden-winged roc with its human head appear even more sinister, and coupled with the stench of clay and paint inside the cave, Li Weiying felt nauseous. Ignoring Qu Zhixiu's smug admiration of the painting, she ran outside the cave.
A few sharp cries rang out, as if birds were flying by. Qu Zhixiu chased after them out of the cave, suddenly grabbing Li Weiying and running towards the mountaintop. Li Weiying vividly remembered two years ago when she and Huan She climbed a section of Chishi Mountain in Tiandi County. He was afraid she would fall, so he went up the mountain alone. Qu Zhixiu, however, had no such compassion. Li Weiying slipped several times, and Qu Zhixiu had always pulled her up without a second thought. Li Weiying endured the pain in her wrists from the forceful pulling and climbed to the top of the mountain with him.
A fierce wind swept in from the mountaintop, nearly knocking Li Weiying over. Qu Zhixiu raised his hand, "Bow and arrows!" A guard who followed immediately handed him a bow and arrows, which Qu Zhixiu took and aimed at the two large falcons circling in the sky. Li Weiying swayed, regaining her balance, and looked at the falcons' graceful figures, soaring through the clouds, their cries melodious and elegant. She couldn't help but recall the time when Huan She and Si Lifang had competed in archery; he was such a lover of falcons. So she blurted out, "Don't shoot!"
Qu Zhixiu scoffed, "Your grandfather was chosen, but I'm not allowed to kill two birds with one stone? If I win, how about I become a prince consort of the Tang Dynasty?" He drew his bow and shot. Li Weiying pushed his arm, causing Qu Zhixiu's hand to tremble, and the arrow went astray, but it still brought down a large falcon. He snorted, "The Qu family of Jincheng is not without its merits."
The injured falcon fell to the top of the mountain with a thud. Li Weiying rushed over and picked up the blood-soaked bird. The bird was still fluttering slightly. She looked up at Qu Zhixiu with grief and indignation.
Qu Zhixiu snatched the injured bird away and hastily untied something from its leg, revealing a small piece of plain silk. He glanced at it and then threw it forcefully at Li Weiying. Li Weiying picked it up and slowly read: "The soldiers of Gaochang are like frost and snow, the soldiers of Han are like the sun and moon. The sun and moon shine on the frost and snow, and they will vanish in the end."
She chuckled softly: "The Tang army has arrived."
***
Yiwu, at the time of Mount Luoman, a place of dark blue gàn.
The mountaintops, covered in snow year-round, are as white as silver, while the pine, fir, and spruce trees are lush and green, covering the entire slope.
A large falcon circled in the sky for a while, then swiftly swooped down to the top of a small hill and landed on the outstretched arm of a middle-aged man. He gently stroked the falcon's wings, then with a flick of his arm, the falcon soared into the sky again.
He gazed into the distance and asked, "How is his health?" A general beside him replied, "Not good." The middle-aged man frowned. "Still refusing to take his medicine? Pass on my message: if he doesn't take his medicine, send him back to Chang'an. My banner has no need for such a sick man."
In the fourteenth year of the Zhenguan era, the Tang emperor appointed Hou Junji, the Duke of Chen and Minister of Personnel, as the Grand Commander of the Jiaohe Road Army. Deputy Commanders Jiang Xingben and Ashina She'er led the vanguard, Commander Niu Xiu (Niu Jinda) led the left wing, Commander Sagu Wuren led the right wing, Deputy Commanders Xue Wanjun and Cao Qin led the rearguard, and Qibi Heli, the Deputy Grand Commander of the Congshan Road, led the Turkic and Qibi cavalry. Hou Junji personally led the central army, commanding the six armies to attack Gaochang.
Down the mountain, the Tang army's encampment was a hive of activity. Huge spruce trees crashed to the ground, soldiers and craftsmen shouted as they hauled away the timber, and various siege tools rumbled over the ground. Jiang Xingben surveyed the area with satisfaction and then summoned Ashina She'er. Jiang Xingben was the founding baron of Tongkou County and a master craftsman, skilled in construction and engineering. Ashina She'er was originally the second son of Chuluo Khan of the Western Turks. He had fought for many years in the Turkic and Gaochang regions, and after surrendering to the Tang, he repeatedly distinguished himself in battle, remaining loyal to the Tang. He married Princess Hengyang, the daughter of Emperor Gaozu and the younger sister of the current emperor. The two entered a small tent. Inside, a person was slumped over a table. Although it was still warm, the person was covered from head to toe with a thick quilt, his face hidden in the darkness. Only his bony left hand was extended, tightly gripping the quilt under his chin to prevent drafts, while his right hand was drawing something on a piece of paper.
Jiang Xingben sat down. "Did you take your medicine?" He reached out to feel the forehead of the person under the covers. The man coughed and shrank back. "No need for the general's help, cough cough, I'm not sick, why would I take medicine?" Jiang Xingben snatched his pen and threw it away. "You've been sick the whole way here, and you still dare to say you're not sick." The man said in a low voice, "My lord threw away my pen, do you still want me to draw the siege weapons?" Ashina She'er, a burly man, lifted him and the blanket off the table and placed him on the couch. The man struggled and said, "My lord is rude!" Ashina She'er chuckled, his gray-blue eyes filled with affection. "I am Qin'er's uncle, after all, and can be considered your elder. It's not unreasonable for me to hug my nephew and son-in-law. If you don't behave, this barbarian will really have to use force." The man fell silent.
Jiang Xingben ordered someone to bring the medicine. "The Grand Steward has already given orders that if Bo Ji doesn't take the medicine, he should be sent back to Chang'an immediately. You are entrusted by the Emperor; are you willing to go back in disgrace like this?" The man coughed a few times, took the medicine, and drank it down in one gulp. He choked and coughed again, panting, "I've drunk the medicine. Please forgive me, gentlemen, for not seeing me off." He wrapped himself back in the blanket, climbed to the table, picked up a brush, and began to draw. Jiang Xingben and Ashina She'er exchanged a glance, both smiling bitterly as they left the tent.
***
The capital of Gaochang.
Screams and scuffles filled the streets, chaos reigned, people scattered east and west, shouts echoed north and south, soldiers with spears and guns chased after children, and young people were frequently forcibly bound and taken away. Qu Zhixiu, leading Li Weiying, was on his way to the palace when he saw this scene and stopped a military officer, rebuking him, "Why is this peaceful capital city being disturbed?" The officer recognized Qu Zhixiu, explaining, "Children in the city are singing rebellious poems, and the King has ordered us to arrest the first singers. But there are so many, we can't arrest them all."
Qu Zhixiu was shocked: "What seditious poem?" The officer stammered for a long time, unable to speak. Qu Zhixiu walked up to a young man who was tied up, kicked him hard, knocking him to the ground, and stomped his boot on his face. "Sing it to me!" The young man's face was flattened by the kick, and he sang intermittently: "Gaochang soldiers... horses like frost and snow, Han soldiers like the sun and moon. The sun... moon shines on frost and snow, looking back, they vanish." He even set it to a tune. Qu Zhixiu was furious, drew his sword and slashed down, blood spurting all over the young man's body and face.
He turned his blood-splattered face, pointing the tip of his knife at Li Weiying, "It's you!" Li Weiying said, "It's not me. If you can shoot one falcon, you'll have two or three. If one person sees it, ten thousand will praise it. Can you capture and kill everyone in the city? Why is everyone singing so enthusiastically? Think about it carefully. You're so smart, surely you know the ancient saying, 'It's easier to control public opinion than to control a river.'" Qu Zhixiu raised the back of his knife and struck her heavily on the back of the neck. Li Weiying fainted on the spot. Qu Zhixiu grabbed her by the collar, looked at her deathly pale face, and ordered the guards, "Take her to the back room of my residence and lock her up. No one but me is allowed to approach her." He then rode off to see Qu Wentai.
Inside the palace, Qu Wentai was holding an urgent meeting with Qu Zhisheng, Qu Shengzhan, and other ministers. Qu Shengzhan advised, "Father, the folk songs are being sung so widely; someone must be secretly directing them. I fear that Tang spies have infiltrated the city." Qu Wentai forced himself to remain calm, "Second brother, you're talking nonsense. The Tang army is thousands of miles away, blocked by the vast desert. How could they possibly reach Gaochang? Stop spreading alarmist rumors." Qu Zhisheng said, "Second brother, what you say makes sense. Father, although the main force of the Tang army hasn't arrived yet, it's hard to guarantee that a small number of advance scouts have come to gather information. We should send more soldiers to patrol, conduct strict checks, and control the movement of people in and out." Qu Wentai's mind was already in a daze. He waved his hand, "Go, go, go, Qu Dejun." Qu Dejun, the palace attendant, obeyed and left.
Qu Wentai paced anxiously back and forth in the hall, circling again and again, his hands trembling behind his back. He muttered to himself, "Can't come, can't come, absolutely can't come." Just then, Qu Zhixiu rushed into the hall and helped Qu Wentai up. "Father, don't worry, even if the Tang army comes, we still have the Turks to our aid." Qu Wentai was stunned. "Yes, yes, I was confused, confused, haha." He forced a few dry laughs. Qu Zhisheng said, "Leave everything to me. Father, you've had a long day and are feeling unwell. Please go back and rest." Qu Wentai nodded. "Sheng'er, you should discuss things with your younger brother. Father is counting on you all." The three brothers all smiled and agreed, but in the instant they lowered their heads, Qu Zhisheng and Qu Zhixiu exchanged a cold glance.
Qu Wentai, having helped the eunuch back to his bedchamber, was rushed into the hall by a scout who reported, "The Tang army has reached Qikou." Qu Wentai froze. Qu Zhisheng shouted, "What nonsense are you spouting?" The scout gasped, "Qikou, Qikou."
Gaochang is surrounded by a vast sea of sand to the east and south. Qikou is the entrance and exit to the eastern sand sea. Once the Tang army crosses the vast sand sea, the natural barrier that Gaochang relies on for self-defense, and arrives at Qikou, it will be able to march smoothly across the oasis plains as if entering an uninhabited land.
Under the blazing sun, the officials in the hall felt as if they were in an ice cave. Qu Wentai asked tentatively, "A few vanguard spies, is that it?" The scout replied, "Yes, it's the main army." Qu Wentai's legs went weak, and his three brothers quickly supported him to prevent him from falling. Qu Zhisheng said, "Father, rest assured, thirty thousand Tang soldiers are no problem. Let me go out and capture the enemy." The scout wiped his sweat repeatedly, opening his mouth several times but unable to speak. Qu Zhixiu shouted, "Speak quickly! Anyone who delays military intelligence will be dragged out and executed immediately!" The scout, terrified, blurted out, "Four hundred thousand! Four hundred thousand Tang soldiers are attacking!"
A chilling atmosphere filled the hall. Everyone was stunned, as if struck by lightning. The entire population of Gaochang was less than 40,000, yet the Tang army numbered 400,000. Such a disparity in strength was tantamount to an infant fighting a giant. After a moment, some officials' legs trembled like leaves, and some even clenched their teeth slightly.
"Father, Father!" Qu Zhizhan patted Qu Wentai, whose face was ashen, filled with fear, his eyes wide open, and his mouth agape. He called out several times but received no response. Suddenly, the three brothers realized something and shook Qu Wentai violently, shouting, "Father, Father!"
Qu Zhixiu reached out to check Qu Wentai's breath—the King of Gaochang, already suffering from a sudden illness, was so horrified that he died of fright.
***
Willow Valley, the main camp of the Tang army.
Jiang Xingben and Ashina She'er had already completed the construction of siege equipment in Yiwu. They then assisted Qibi Heli's tribe in marching west to sweep away the Turks and remove the obstacles to pacifying Gaochang. Afterwards, the two armies marched south to meet with the other tribes in Liugu, west of Qikou and northeast of Tiandi City.
Hou Junji summoned his generals to discuss their advance. The Tang army had prepared for a battle with Qu Wentai, but the sudden turn of events—the news of Qu Wentai's sudden death from fright—was somewhat unexpected. Hou Junji laughed, "I never imagined that old man Qu would be so terrified. Before our army even arrived, he was already gone. He had led troops in battle and was quite valiant for a time. Alas, what a pity. I've come all this way, but I have no match for him. It's no fun fighting him." Jiang Xingben also laughed and said, "In that case, I must recommend someone for credit." Hou Junji nodded, "Indeed, indeed. Give Cao Ling credit. His excellent ballads have already thrown Gaochang into disarray. Now that Qu Wentai has died of fright, our suppression of the rebellion will be much easier."
General Xin Liao'er stepped forward and said, "Grand Commander, the King of Gaochang has just died and will be buried soon. The people of the kingdom are gathering. Taking advantage of their confusion, I will lead two thousand light cavalry to attack and seize the entire kingdom." Hou Junji shook his head slightly, "The Emperor, because of Gaochang's arrogance, has ordered me to carry out divine punishment. To attack their burial in the ruins is not worthy of being called a military force, nor is it a righteous army. I was not fond of studying when I was young, but I still understand the principles of a righteous army. You gentlemen should not be greedy for merit and act rashly, lest you fail to live up to the Emperor's good intentions in favoring the world." Niu Xiu said strangely, "Eh, Grand Commander, you are usually so proud of your achievements and love battle, but today you..." "Now we're talking about sages. Alright, if distant people are unwilling to submit, why not cultivate virtue to win them over? Wouldn't it be better if we stayed here and showed them goodwill, waiting for them to come and surrender?" Hou Junji laughed, "Jinda, you're laughing at me. Am I such a pedantic person? Our army has traveled a long and arduous journey, burdened with heavy supplies, and crossed dangerous deserts. We are exhausted from the journey, and the vanguard and rearguard have just returned from sweeping away the Turks. Although we still have a high chance of victory if we send troops now, it will be too exhausting. It would be better to take this opportunity to rest and recuperate, and at the same time, gain a reputation for benevolence. Hehe, Qu Wentai truly died a worthy death." The generals present burst into laughter upon hearing this.
Ashina She'er laughed as he asked the sergeant, "Did Cao Ling take his medicine today? You are not allowed to leave until you have watched him finish his medicine. This kid often pretends to drink it, but as soon as he turns around, he spits it out and collapses. Humph, he wants to die quickly, but I will not grant his wish."
While the Tang army rested in Liugu, Gaochang was in chaos. Qu Wentai died suddenly, and his heir Qu Zhisheng succeeded to the throne in a time of crisis, summoning his ministers to discuss the funeral arrangements. Although Qu Wentai's death was undignified, he had led the army to restore the legitimate wife and had made considerable achievements in his rule. Therefore, in accordance with the rules of posthumous titles, which recognized his strength and integrity, his ability to overcome legal obstacles, his ability to quell chaos and bring about peace, and his martial prowess in eliminating evil, the people bestowed upon him the posthumous title of "King Guangwu".
Qu Zhisheng placed his hand on the precious sword that only kings of the past had inherited, and said, "Second brother, the Tang army is approaching the capital. The fields are the last line of defense. You are the Duke of the Fields. Father often praised you for your wisdom and talent. I place my hopes on you." Qu Zhizhan covered his swollen eyes and knelt down. "Your subject will certainly devote himself to the cause until his dying breath." He staggered to his feet and walked out of the hall. Qu Zhixiu chased after him, grabbed his brother's hand, and choked out with red eyes, "Second brother..." Qu Zhizhan forced a smile and patted his head. "Axiu rarely calls me brother. You're such a good little brother. Alright, go back now. Don't make things difficult for your brother." Qu Zhixiu watched Qu Zhizhan's figure recede into the distance and called out again, "Second brother!" Qu Zhizhan paused slightly, but still went without looking back.
Qu Zhisheng sighed: "Third brother, the most important matters of the state are sacrifice and war. Since you and I were born princes, we should share the burden of the country. I should have sent you back to Jiaohe to guard the city, but you were flogged the other day and are not yet fully recovered. Besides, your second brother and I both cherish you very much. You are the youngest, and I cannot bear to let you risk your life against arrows. Father will be buried on a chosen day, and second brother will go to the fields. I also have many things to do. Seeing Father sleeping alone, and the concubines are too grief-stricken to stay long, I will leave Father in your care."
Qu Zhixiu sneered. "Very well," he thought, "with just a few words, he dismissed my second brother, then detained me to guard our father's coffin, refusing to return my position as Duke of Jiaohe and preventing me from fighting alongside my second brother. It's clear he's stripping me of my military power." A surge of anger rose within him, but remembering Qu Zhizhan's instructions, he could only suppress his rage and humbly say, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty."
***
PS: Wuchuan (now under the jurisdiction of Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, located north of the Daqing Mountains) was one of the six military garrisons during the Western Wei and Northern Zhou dynasties. The ancestors of the Yuwen clan of the Northern Zhou, the Yang clan of the Sui dynasty, and the Li clan of the Tang dynasty all came from the military families of Wuchuan. Jincheng Prefecture was located in the area of present-day Yuzhong, Gansu. During the Sui dynasty, Jincheng was renamed Lanzhou. As mentioned earlier, the Qu family's ancestral home was in Jincheng, which is why Xiao Qu said that Wei Ying had the legacy of the Li family of Wuchuan, and that he himself was truly worthy of the name of the Qu family of Jincheng.
The character 麴 (qū) is now commonly written as “曲”, just as the royal family of the Chu state had the surname 芈 (mǐ), but later generations commonly wrote it as 米 (mǐ). In fact, 麴 (qū) originated from 鞠 (jū), just as 李 (lǐ) was changed from 理 (lǐ).
Ningrong: The area around Shengjinkou in the present-day Flaming Mountains was Ningrong County during the Gaochang period. Today, in Mutougou of the Flaming Mountains, there is the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, the largest and most richly endowed grotto complex in Turpan. The Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves were first carved in the late Northern and Southern Dynasties period and remained the Buddhist center of the Gaochang region for seven centuries. As for whether there are any Garuda depicted as small birds inside, I have no idea.
The Willow Valley mentioned in this chapter is in Yi Valley, which, according to research, may be Willow Spring in the Yiwu area—present-day Hami, Xinjiang. The famous Jiang Xingben Stele is located at Songshutang, about 140 li away. Judging from the place names, both places should have been densely forested. The Willow Valley northwest of Jiaohe mentioned earlier is another place with the same name but a different location.
Chosen from among the peacocks: Dou Yi, the governor of Dingzhou and Duke Shenwu during the Sui Dynasty, had an exceptionally beautiful daughter. Born with hair that reached past her neck, she grew to her full height by the age of three and displayed remarkable intelligence from a very young age. Dou Yi felt that such a clever and beautiful daughter shouldn't be married off to just any wealthy but worthless man. Therefore, he painted two peacocks on his door screen and gave each suitor two arrows; whoever shot one in the eyes would have his daughter married to him.
Dozens of suitors came, but none could meet the requirements. I guess the range must be quite far, and peacocks are long-bodied animals with small heads, so their eyes are even smaller. It's like Tang Bohu in Stephen Chow's movie, who painted a picture of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix. His cousins were missing a "one of bamboo" tile in mahjong, so they cut out the phoenix's head and pasted it on the whiteboard. So, the suitors were essentially trying to shoot the bird's eye on a mahjong tile from a great distance. This is much more difficult than shooting the bird's body with a small stick; it's a huge challenge.
Just as Mr. Dou was lamenting whether the exam question was too difficult, a handsome young man came running by, swiftly shooting two arrows that struck the peacock squarely in the eyes, thus winning the beauty's heart. This archer, even more handsome than Orlando Bloom, was Li Yuan—later Emperor Gaozu of Tang. Both Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Taizong were incredibly skilled archers, as recorded extensively in historical texts, which I won't go into detail about here.
In short, history is fascinating; such selections are more magical than modern movies. The most captivating stories are those of life itself.
Chapter Twenty-Five
25. [Shared Fate]
Hearing the lock turn, Li Weiying struggled to get out of bed, but collapsed as soon as she reached the door. She had been imprisoned in the back room of Qu Zhixiu's residence for over twenty days. Initially, the servants had been attentive, and her meals and daily routines were normal. However, for the past two days, they had cut off all food and water, and no one responded to her banging or shouting. Li Weiying guessed that war had broken out, or perhaps something had happened to Qu Zhixiu, and he had been forgotten. In this sweltering weather, she could manage without food, but without water, survival was difficult. She had been knocked unconscious and injured the back of her neck by Qu Zhixiu last time, and her head had also been injured when she fell. Her head was throbbing with pain. Imprisoned, she missed Huan She, filled with anxiety and sorrow. Coupled with two days without water, she was nearly delirious.