The saying "Peach and plum trees will rule the world" from the end of the Sui Dynasty was likely fabricated by someone with ulterior motives to create momentum. However, it's not necessarily the work of Li Yuan and his associates, as he had no intention of raising an army at that time and wouldn't have needed to do so. It's more likely that it was fabricated by a political enemy of a high-ranking official surnamed Li to frame him, as evidenced by the fact that Emperor Yang of Sui executed several high-ranking officials surnamed Li, none of whom harbored any rebellious intentions. Li Yuan, at the time, didn't have much military power and had no plans to raise an army, almost leading to his execution by the suspicious Emperor Yang. Fortunately, Li Yuan was Emperor Yang's cousin and had always been discreet and reserved, which saved his life. Given Li Yuan's intelligence, it's impossible that he would fabricate such an exposed and provocative song without any preparation. Of course, later, the situation changed, and Li Yuan did raise an army, conveniently utilizing the existing song.
The ballad "The soldiers of Gaochang are like frost and snow" is recorded in historical books, so it must have been deliberately fabricated by someone, perhaps the Tang army, or perhaps by people in the city who were dissatisfied with the rule of the Qu family. Since the historical records don't explicitly say who fabricated it, I'll just bluntly pin it on Cao Ling.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
27. [Ode to the Moon]
"Wei Ying..." Huan She opened his eyes anxiously, and Li Wei Ying said with surprise, "Huan Lang, you're awake! Don't speak, you've been unconscious for so many days, your body is too weak. Are you thirsty? Have some water first." She brought him a bowl of warm, light honey water and slowly fed it to him.
Huan She savored the sweet and refreshing feeling, then looked up at Li Weiying, his eyes revealing a trace of infatuated tenderness. However, he couldn't overcome the pain of waking up. He closed his eyes and breathed heavily, but his face was full of satisfaction. He whispered, "The dream was so dark and so long. I couldn't break free. I could only search desperately and search desperately, but I couldn't find it..."
Li Weiying gently stroked his bare shoulder, where she could feel the familiar scars, the warmth of his body, and the intimate scent. She said, "I am always by your side, I have never gone far."
“But all the things you gave me—the dagger, the silk sash, the fox fur scarf, the shovel you bought for me, and the jade pendant—were all lost in the war, and we can’t find any of them. I’m afraid… even you are gone. You…” Li Weiying lightly kissed his cheek. “The jade pendant is still here, but I was afraid it would hurt you, so I’m keeping it for now. None of the other things were lost either; aren’t they all kept in your heart? I live in your heart too, and I will never leave.”
Huan She opened his eyes again and looked at her for a long time, then smiled happily, "I remember what you said, and now I'm going to sleep a little longer with your vow in mind." He slowly closed his eyes, still murmuring, "I'm so happy."
Li Weiying covered him with a thin quilt as he lay face down, then got up and pushed open the window to let in the bright moonlight. The mist in her eyes melted away the clear moonlight, which slowly flowed into her heart and became the deepest love.
Hearing the sounds of laughter from within the palace, she was slightly puzzled, but upon reflection, she realized that Huan Lang had been seriously injured on the eve of the city's fall. Despite prolonged treatment, he remained mostly unconscious, and she had stayed by his side without leaving the palace for seven days, completely forgetting what day it was—it was the Mid-Autumn Festival. Just as she was lamenting the swift passage of time, Xue Wanjun and Cao Qin came to personally invite her, saying that the Grand Commander Hou Junji had prepared a banquet within the palace and respectfully invited the princess to attend. Li Weiying pondered for a long time, then looked at the sleeping Huan She, placed the jade pendant in his palm, instructed two attendants to stay and care for him, and left with the officers.
When Hou Junji went to Longyou to supervise the army, he took Princess Xianyang with him on the way, who had asked to accompany him for a change of scenery. However, she disappeared in an avalanche on her way to Shazhou to view the grotto murals. Everyone assumed she had perished, and Hou Junji felt deeply guilty, ashamed before the emperor. He was overjoyed to find her safely hidden in the Gaochang palace. Li Weiying later recounted her experiences over the past three years, which drew sighs from everyone. After the Tang army captured Tiandi and the capital, they continued their campaigns in Jiaohe and other cities until the entire Gaochang kingdom was pacified. The subsequent inventory of population and wealth in various regions was a complex undertaking, leaving Hou Junji and others little time to attend to her needs. They only sent numerous servants to her command. Li Weiying, meanwhile, was preoccupied with Huan She, and the two sides had little direct contact.
Most of the palaces in the royal city were destroyed by the boulders thrown by the Tang army during their siege. Moreover, the climate in Gaochang remained hot even at Mid-Autumn Festival, so a banquet was held in a spacious, shady area outside the palace, where a stream had been created by irrigation ditches. The moon shone brightly, a gentle breeze blew, the stream murmured, and the air was filled with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms. The soldiers rejoiced at the victory, and music and song filled the air as they celebrated the night. Hou Junji invited Princess Xianyang, Li Weiying, to sit at the head of the table. Delicacies were served in succession, and fruits were carved into exquisite lotus shapes. Everyone ate heartily, but she, preoccupied with Huan She, had no appetite.
Ashina She'er handed her a plate of melons. "My dear niece, where has your heart flown to? Are you missing my dear nephew-in-law? My dear son-in-law, Qin'er is here, why are you just drinking alone?" Li Weiying lowered her voice: "Uncle, don't call him that." She looked at Cao Ling. Since the day he saved Huan She, he had followed the Tang army to conquer Yucheng and had not seen her again. Tonight, he was ordered to attend the banquet and could not refuse. He sat silently at the lower end of the table, drinking alone, and was already half drunk. Hearing Ashina She'er call him that, his hand holding the cup trembled. He stared blankly at Li Weiying for a moment, then tilted his head back and drank the wine in one gulp.
Li Weiying said sadly, "Drinking like this is really bad for your health." Cao Ling stared at her wine glass, remaining silent. She whispered to Ashina She'er, "Uncle, I can't persuade Cao Ling." Ashina She'er didn't stop, "You say this way of drinking is bad, then do you have any better ideas?" Li Weiying said, "I've been in Gaochang for a long time and know a little about the local cuisine." She then taught him how to make candied melon, which was eaten with white grape wine instead of cold water. This way, the melon had a sweet fruit flavor and the wine's mellow taste, making it much more delicious. Everyone ate with relish, but Cao Ling was only focused on repeatedly making candied melon, having a great time. Li Weiying was secretly alarmed, but she didn't say anything more. Fortunately, he stopped drinking and changed his mind, so her goal of teaching him not to harm his health was achieved.
Hou Junji, in high spirits after drinking, said, "Our army has won a great victory on our expedition. On this auspicious occasion, how can we not compose a poem to celebrate? I, Hou Junji, dare to ask Your Highness to compose a poem first." Li Weiying smiled slightly and did not refuse, and said loudly: "A bright moon shines over the whole world. On the day the enemy was defeated in the Western Court, the horns of war boasted of peace."
The Tang people also called the Mid-Autumn Festival "Duanzhengyue," and Li Weiying's words were a double entendre, his poem vigorous and powerful, drawing cheers and unanimous praise from the crowd. Hou Junji laughed and said, "Your Highness's poem not only captures the charm of the Mid-Autumn moon, but it is also perfectly crafted, containing the brilliance of both the sun and the moon in one poem. I humbly request that everyone compose a poem in response to Your Highness's poem, and that each of us also incorporate the words 'sun' and 'moon' into our poems." Li Weiying smiled and said, "You flatter me, sir. I would like to ask the Duke of Chen, the Minister of Personnel, and the Grand Commander of the Jiaohe Road Army to set the example for all the generals and soldiers."
Hou Junji, confident and composed, declared: "The Emperor has rectified the feudal lords, and relieved them from dire straits. Our generals and soldiers are always valiant, and the sun and moon will naturally aid us."
Although he was a military general, he also served as a civil official. Besides commanding troops, he never neglected his studies. Upon hearing this poem, everyone cheered again. Li Weiying praised, "Sir, you are truly a man of both literary and military talent. You single-handedly conquered two kingdoms, and today you have composed such a magnificent poem. You truly command our respect." Hou Junji, hearing her mention his great achievements in conquering the kingdoms of Tuyuhun and Gaochang, was very pleased. He then turned to Niu Xiu and said, "Jinda, among us valiant warriors, your literary talent is the most outstanding. Don't keep us waiting too long."
Niu Xiu humbly replied, "You flatter me, Your Highness. With Your Highness and the Grand Steward's outstanding performances, which resonate throughout the land, I am merely worthy of a soft recitation." She also composed a poem: "Slender hands pluck the laurel, the moon shines brightly. The moon palace awaits the dawn, longing for the mortal world in a secluded dream."
The poem's tone shifted abruptly, now reciting verses about the lonely Chang'e in the Moon Palace. Hou Junji laughed loudly, "Jinda, have you perhaps remembered your beloved wife in Chang'an? It's all Junji's fault; I'll personally come to thank you another day." Niu Xiu smiled but did not reply. Jiang Xingben and the other generals also composed poems. When it was Ashina She'er's turn, he shouted, "You're all so unreasonable! You think I'm Turkic and want me to gossip? I'd rather be punished with a jar of wine!" He gulped down the grape wine jar, wiped his mouth, and said, "Qibi Heli, I know you've read more Chinese literature than I have; hurry up and show me what you've got."
The young man in the room, Qibi Heli, raised his glass in return and said, "The red sun rises in the east, ushering in a prosperous Tang Dynasty. On this night of joyous celebration under the full moon, we untie our horses and return to our hometown."
Qibi Heli was a member of the Qibi tribe, a branch of the Tiele people. At the age of nine, he succeeded his deceased father as chieftain, taking the title Da Sili Fa. In the sixth year of the Zhenguan era, at the age of twelve, he led his mother and over six thousand families to Shazhou, thus submitting to the Tang Dynasty. Now only twenty, he has already achieved numerous merits. This time, the Tang army's long-distance attack relied heavily on him, Ashina She'er, and the renowned general Liu Xiaojie, who were familiar with the terrain of the Western Regions, guiding the Tang army safely across the vast desert stretching two thousand miles. Having joined the Tang at a young age, he was deeply influenced by the Han people, making him somewhat better than Ashina She'er, who had only recently joined the Tang in his youth. This poem evoked homesickness in many, eliciting sighs of emotion from the audience.
Hou Junji offered the crowd a few more drinks, then suddenly remembered something: "Cao Shilang, the youngest fourth-rank official in the court, you've been pondering this for so long."
Cao Ling lowered her head and looked at the moon's reflection in the cup, which swayed sadly. She picked up the crystal-clear, jade-colored melon carved into the shape of a lotus flower and said, "This moon is not that moon, and today's lotus is the wrong one. On the day when we gather to sing and play music, I am not reunited with my loved ones."
The poem was poignant and sorrowful, and everyone who heard it felt a pang of sympathy. Ashina She'er immediately said, "My dear son-in-law, this poem is so disheartening." Cao Ling stood up and bowed deeply, saying, "I very much wish to be your nephew-in-law, General, but given my current status, you shouldn't pretend you can't change your ways. Even if you are a Turk and unfamiliar with Central Plains customs, this naiveté is incompatible with your cunning and wisdom. Today, in front of His Highness and all the other officials, I beg you, General, please stop calling me nephew-in-law."
Everyone present knew a little about Cao Ling's past, but they were all surprised that he had spoken so bluntly in public, his intentions so straightforward, and his words so unpolite. Ashina She'er was quite annoyed, and Li Weiying was even more flustered. Just as everyone was feeling extremely awkward, a servant rushed in to report, "Your Highness, Mr. Huan is in trouble." Upon hearing this, Li Weiying immediately turned and ran, but in her haste, she tripped and fell to the ground, crying out in pain. Cao Ling called out, "Qin'er!" and rushed over, but stopped a few feet in front of her. Seeing that the officials had surrounded her, Cao Ling paused and glanced at Lu Shuang. Lu Shuang said, "I understand, you go first." Cao Ling nodded and turned away.
Li Weiying had sprained her ankle several times before. She had injured it while escaping by jumping over a wall at Jiaohe, falling into a well and ditch. A few days ago, she had slipped and injured herself while dodging a thrown stone during the city's breach. Now, her ankle was a chronic sprain. A physician rushed to treat her, but she anxiously said, "Save Huan Lang first! How is Huan Lang? How is he?" The attendant replied that Huan She was burning with fever and unconscious. Li Weiying grabbed Ashina She'er, "Uncle, quickly take me there!" Ashina She'er glanced around and saw that Cao Ling was nowhere to be seen. He cursed inwardly, "That little rascal really doesn't know what's good for her. I'm offering her something for free, and she won't take it." He then picked up Li Weiying and carried her back.
It turned out that Huan She, with his broken bones and severe external injuries, was highly susceptible to infection and fever. He had already suffered greatly during his captivity and his life as a human being, and now his body could hardly withstand such severe injuries, so his illness kept recurring. Li Weiying wanted to hug Huan She but was afraid of hurting his wounds, so she gently stroked his arm that was stretched out outside the quilt. Seeing that he was tightly clenching his jade pendant in his hand, she wondered if he was in excruciating pain or searching for her in his dreams. So she also placed her hand on the back of his hand and said repeatedly, "Huan Lang, Huan Lang, I am right beside you."
Seeing Li Weiying's terrified and tearful appearance, and then looking at Huan She's closed eyes, ashen face, and bluish lips, Ashina She'er's heart softened. He stroked Li Weiying's head and said, "Uncle is here. Don't be afraid of anything. What is this little injury? Uncle was much more seriously injured back then and he's still alive today. He's married and has children. Qin'er, don't be afraid. Uncle guarantees that he'll be fine." Li Weiying hugged him and sobbed uncontrollably. She had been away from family affection for a long time, and at this moment, besides Huan She, Ashina She'er was the closest person to her.
Even heroes have their moments of weakness, and tender feelings for their children can weigh heavily on one's heart. Even Ashina She'er, a man accustomed to the bold and unrestrained spirit of traversing the desert, couldn't help but sigh.
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, one can sing praises to the bright moon in the sky, but how can one fully express the emotions of the human world?
(I didn’t intend to write today, but after listening to “People and Time in the Wind”, I suddenly felt a tender feeling in my heart late at night, so I’ll write a little bit.)
In the newly added section, besides Li Weiying's "the first month of the lunar calendar" being a double entendre, there are two other scenes or lines of poetry that also frequently use double entendres in classical Chinese poetry. Can anyone guess what they are? (It's rare that someone treated me to a greasy meal today, which gave me the mood to continue writing on Sunday night. Unfortunately, Jinjiang (a Chinese online literature platform) was down, so I waited all night and ended up just making up poems.)
Chapter Twenty-Eight
28【Mingtou】
Please explain:
Huan Li's activities are basically set in a real historical context, especially the section on the relationship between Gaochang and Tang. Apart from Huan Li and Cao Qu being fictional characters, many stories and figures have historical basis.
However, when I wrote about Gaochang's attack on Yanqi earlier, I was referring to the *Old Book of Tang*, which only mentioned that it happened in the twelfth year of the Zhenguan era, without specifying the month. Therefore, I placed the separation of Huan and Li at the end of summer after their return from Tanhan Mountain. Later, after carefully reading the *Zizhi Tongjian*, I discovered that this entry was recorded at the very end of December, and some experts also believe it occurred in December. But since I had already written it, I could only convince myself that the *Zizhi Tongjian* might not have known the exact month of the event and thus placed it at the end of that year. Furthermore, I couldn't imagine Huan and Li returning from Tanhan Mountain in late summer; even if they went to Yanqi, they wouldn't have stayed until December. Therefore, I decided not to change it.
Regarding the number of soldiers in the Tang army's conquest of Gaochang, some books say tens of thousands, while others say four hundred thousand. Mr. Wang Su believes that Niu Jinda and Sagu Wuren alone each led 150,000 troops, so the total of four hundred thousand troops in the six routes is more reasonable.
Think about it, sending 400,000 troops to attack Gaochang, a city with a total population of less than 40,000, seems like a waste. However, I think Emperor Taizong of Tang and Hou Junji must have considered the long journey from the Tang Dynasty to Gaochang, especially the two thousand li of desert involved. As Qu Wentai said, it was highly likely that eighty or ninety percent of the troops would die if they were not careful. Therefore, it was indeed necessary to bring more troops. However, this situation probably did not occur because Ashina She'er, Qibi Heli, Liu Xiaojie, and others who were familiar with the terrain guided the troops. But they must have taken this potential for casualties into account before setting off.
In addition, the Tang army was fully prepared for a bloody battle with the Western Turks, and Jiang Xingben, Ashina She'er and Qibi Heli did indeed attack the Khan Futu City, which was guarded by the Western Turk Yabghu, to the north. Unfortunately, the Yabghu was so frightened that he quickly surrendered the city, and even the Khan himself was so frightened that he fled more than a thousand miles to the west. As a result, the Tang army did not fight the Turks.
In summary, the Tang army was extremely well-prepared, and they also encountered a weak enemy. They frightened away a Yabghu, scared away a Khan, and even scared Qu Wentai to death. They used psychological tactics very effectively. In addition, they used siege engines and battering rams as the initial offensive, relying heavily on mechanized attacks and minimizing direct hand-to-hand combat, thus reducing casualties to a very low level. This is truly a brilliant military tactic.
As for Lu Shuang's appearance, judging from historical records and the inscriptions left by Jiang Xingben, the troops attacking Gaochang were conscripted from many places across the country, including many officials and soldiers from Guazhou and Shazhou. So it is logical that Lu Shuang joined the expeditionary force from Guazhou.
Qu Wentai sent two envoys to the Tang court. One was Qu Yong, and the other was in the thirteenth year of the Zhenguan era, but the name of the envoy is unknown, so I will assume that he was Xiao Qu.
***
"Your Highness, within half a month after a bone injury, the focus should be on promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, and dispersing qi. If the blood stasis is not removed, the bone will not grow. The diet should be light and bland. Taking such highly nourishing foods at this time would only be harmful. This is porridge made from the livers of freshly hunted pheasants and falcons, as well as some sunflower seeds, which are most suitable for your current condition."
The voice sounded familiar. Huan She had just woken up from a deep sleep and was still a little dazed.
But then Li Weiying said, "Thank you for your trouble, Commandant Lu." Huan She suddenly shivered, instantly snapping back to reality. It was Lu Shuang, Lu Shuang! The endless tortures, the eternal humiliation of the tattoos, the desperate, desperate run... those dark experiences from the past, too painful to bear reliving, gnawed at his heart again, and Huan She trembled uncontrollably. Li Weiying noticed his abnormality and quickly took his hand, softly saying, "I'm here, Huan Lang, I'm here." She gestured for Lu Shuang to leave. Lu Shuang, being a shrewd man, understood Huan She's thoughts and bowed before taking his leave.
Huan She asked, "Why is Lu Shuang here?" Li Weiying replied, "Many soldiers from Guazhou and Shazhou have been transferred here to attack Gaochang." Huan She hesitated for a moment, "Then, is there...?" Li Weiying knew he was referring to Chen Ti, so she said, "He didn't come. It's said he's been demoted." Huan She sighed almost imperceptibly, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
Li Weiying carefully helped Huan She sit up and fed him a small bowl of clear poultry liver and vegetable porridge. After Huan She finished eating, he looked longingly at the bird's nest and chicken soup presented by the officials of all ranks on the table next to him and said, "I'm still hungry." Li Weiying smiled and said, "Lu Shuang said you can't eat these right now."
Huan She said, "Wei Ying, I... I don't want to be caught again!" Li Wei Ying's heart ached. "I know. You should take good care of your injuries. Once you're healed, we'll escape." Huan She was taken aback. "You'll escape with me?" She smiled. "Of course." Huan She's face fell. "But you're a princess! I'm a fugitive taking you..." Li Wei Ying kissed his lips. "Don't say that again. You're my hero, my little lover, Huan Lang. Never be separated from me for the rest of my life." Huan She hugged her tightly, enduring the sharp pain from the broken bones in his back. "Wei Ying, Wei Ying!" Li Wei Ying also hugged him tightly. "Huan Lang!" She laughed and sobbed, then cried again, then laughed again. Huan She laughed. "Why are you like this? I'm so confused."