Chapter Sixty-Eight: Chaos in the Border Town

When Gan Sui returned, he happened to see Banxia standing on a chair, rummaging through the cupboard. He hurried over and lifted her down, speaking in disapproval, “You’re not who you once were. How can you still be climbing about like this? What if you strain the child?”

“It’s not that serious. I was just reaching for a small item,” Banxia replied indifferently. “It’s been over three months already; the pregnancy is stable now, there’s no need to be so anxious…”

Gan Sui said nothing, simply fixed her with a steady gaze. Banxia dreaded that look the most—it conjured a guilty conscience out of nowhere. “Alright, alright, I get it. I won’t do it again, I promise.”

“What did you want to get?”

“That piece of cloth over there. It feels quite breathable—I thought I’d use it to make diapers for the baby.”

Gan Sui took down the cloth and placed it on the table. Sitting with Banxia, he said, “Tomorrow I’ll go buy you a little maid.”

“Why? Don’t we already have Shanzhi?”

“You said Shanzhi isn’t very reliable. Buying another maid will help with fetching things around the house.”

“I think you just want someone to keep an eye on me.”

“As long as you know. You’re going to be a mother now, you can’t be so reckless.” Gan Sui tapped her nose lightly.

“Listen to me, the baby moved today.”

“Really?” Gan Sui placed his hand on Banxia’s belly, but after a while, felt nothing. “Why isn’t the baby moving now?”

“He says his father is always thinking about work and doesn’t care for him at all, so he doesn’t want to… Ouch!” The baby gave a strong kick.

“That’s what you get for talking nonsense. The baby knows you’re wrong. Just this once, little one—don’t be so fierce with your mother. Be good in there, and when you’re born, father will buy you a beautiful floral dress.” The movement in her belly quieted.

The next day was a day of rest. Early in the morning, the baby was especially active. Banxia struggled to get out of bed. “Gan Sui, the baby must be a boy. After you said you’d buy a floral dress, he’s been tormenting me in every possible way.”

Gan Sui gently placed his hand on her belly. “Be good, little one. Don’t be too rowdy.” As if the baby could hear him, the movements gradually calmed. “Let me tell you a story.” He reached for a book, finding himself holding “The Laws of Great Liang.”

Banxia looked alarmed. “Are you sure you want to read that to our baby?”

Gan Sui smiled awkwardly, realizing his mistake, and instead picked up “Standards for Being a Good Child,” and began to read.

“I’m really worried the baby will turn out a little bookworm.”

“Nonsense, she’ll be an educated and reasonable little lady.” Gan Sui’s foolishly proud expression made Banxia nearly unable to look at him.

“If only life could always be like this—no affairs of state, no troubles, just our family living quietly together.” Gan Sui lay with his head on Banxia’s lap, his face pressed to her belly.

But such peaceful, beautiful days could not last. Ten days later, the whole city of Liangzhou was thrown into chaos.

Banxia thought she would never forget that day. The sunset was as crimson as blood, the clouds ablaze, as if burning with their last light. Suddenly, a flock of birds fled the sky in panic. A blood-stained young soldier galloped into the city and rushed to the general’s mansion. “Report! The states of Dawan and Kele have joined forces, gathering tens of thousands of troops, and have already breached Ding County—” He collapsed in the middle of his words, never to wake again.

The serene atmosphere was instantly torn asunder. The corpulent general panicked. He had been stationed here for three years; the Kele people’s raids had always been small skirmishes—never had he seen anything like this. Before battle had even begun, a cowardly fear took hold. “What do we do, what do we do… The enemy has tens of thousands, and our Liangzhou defenders number only a few thousand. How can we possibly resist?”

“General, shouldn’t we flee?” his wife suddenly suggested. “The situation is dire. Holding the city is impossible. You can’t throw your life away. Tonight, while it’s dark and no one is watching, we should gather our valuables and hurry back to the capital. With my father’s influence, His Majesty won’t dare punish us.”

“Wise, my lady. Let’s pack at once.”

But their resolve to escape could not be too obvious. The general’s deputy went to Liangzhou’s administrative office to discuss countermeasures. “With the enemy at our gates, our forces are like eggs against stone. Perhaps we should withdraw for now…”

“No, if the Liangzhou fortress falls, the enemy can drive straight on—there are no troops to stop them all the way to Min Prefecture. The people of several provinces will suffer devastation.”

“Then, Lord Gan, what do you advise?”

“For now, Ling County remains unfallen. We can send reinforcements there. First, the mountains around Ling County offer natural defenses for setting traps and blocking the enemy. Second, it will delay their advance and buy time to strengthen Liangzhou’s defenses.”

“As expected of our top scholar. Lord Gan, your reasoning is sound. I am not well-versed in military affairs; I must study the art of war for a solution. Vice Generals Yu and Tian, follow Lord Gan’s arrangements for now. Tomorrow, we’ll reconvene.”

Vice Generals Yu and Tian exchanged a glance, then nodded. “Lord Gan, your orders.”

“I wouldn’t presume to give orders. Let’s first assess our current forces.”

“Then, you three discuss. I’ll return home,” said General Mu as he left. The others merely thought him cowardly and did not interfere. They sent a servant to inform Banxia, then Gan Sui took Lu Ying to the barracks.

The four rode swiftly to the camp. From afar, they saw a black banner with a silver character “Liang” fluttering in the wind. The three dismounted as the camp gates opened. The air was tense; groups of armored soldiers patrolled the grounds.

“The bearing of this army is truly impressive.”

“The general rarely comes to the camp. Usually, Vice General Tian and I handle affairs. We’re rough men, not good at much, just keeping to the drills General Lin established.”

“You served under Lin Tianyu?”

“You know him, my lord?”

“I met him in Qiongyun Prefecture during the pirate suppression campaign. He was a great general, a man of integrity and loyalty.”

“What good did it do him? Good men go unrewarded—who knows where he’s been exiled to now. It’s a pity Old Yu and I couldn’t follow him back then. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be scraping by under this old coward. Who knows if we’ll ever see the general again in our lifetimes.”

“You will. Perhaps sooner than you think,” Gan Sui said mysteriously. “Enough, let’s hear from the scouts about the current situation.”

“Report! The enemy has taken Ding County as a base, seizing grain and setting up camp. They will attack Ling County at dawn.”

“What happened in Ding County?”

“The attack began this afternoon when everyone was indoors for winter. First, they used fire arrows, then catapults to smash the gates. In just over an hour, the city was taken, followed by widespread pillage and slaughter. The enemy camped after their rampage. Nearly ninety percent of Ding County’s people are dead.”

“So the enemy has been resting for over an hour?” Gan Sui asked.

“What do you mean, my lord?”

“If they’re resting, it’s to prepare for a greater objective. Ding County is wealthier and easier to defend once occupied. I fear they’ll attempt a surprise attack on Ling County tonight to capture it quickly.”

“Vice General Yu, dispatch five hundred vanguard to hold the ramparts at Ling County and evacuate the people at once. Only able-bodied men needed for building the walls should remain; all others must be moved to safety before dark. Remember, the priority is citizen evacuation—don’t get bogged down fighting. We want no casualties.”

“Yes,” Vice General Yu replied and quickly departed. Upon reaching Ling County, he found Magistrate Wang, who was in a panic. Hearing that Gan Sui had sent reinforcements, the magistrate was greatly relieved and ordered his men to beat drums and notify the people to evacuate.

Most were reluctant to leave. They had just survived a winter disaster and now had to abandon the homes that finally kept out the snow and wind. Magistrate Wang and his men went door to door persuading them. By dusk, smoke rose from cooking fires as the people gathered outside the city, escorted by dozens of soldiers.

Over a hundred young men volunteered to stay behind and strengthen the walls.

“Magistrate Wang, aren’t you leaving with them?”

“My wife died five years ago. My son went to Ding County yesterday to visit my daughter; both are likely dead now. Where I go makes no difference. At least I know the place and can help you here.”

Vice General Yu did not try to persuade him further. “Ding Qi, keep Magistrate Wang safe.”

“Yes, sir.”

The enemy arrived sooner than expected. As they were transporting tung oil to the gates, the steady sound of hooves echoed from afar. “Enemy attack! Archers, ready!”

A dense mass of enemy soldiers advanced, blotting out the last rays of sunlight.

“One hundred and fifty paces… one hundred… fifty… Loose arrows!” A hail of arrows flew outward. Some enemies fell, but more pressed forward. Soon the enemy was at the city walls.

“Men on the ramparts, listen! Surrender now, kneel and welcome us in, and you’ll be spared. Resist, and you’ll have only yourselves to blame!” The speaker was a burly man with a thick beard, his muscles nearly bursting his armor.

“We men of Liang are upright and unyielding. We will not bow to the likes of you.”

The bearded man’s expression darkened. He turned to his troops and shouted, “Warriors, follow me! Let us consecrate our banners with the blood of these Liang dogs. Attack!” The horns sounded; the black tide of soldiers surged forward.

“Tung oil, pour it!” Dozens of barrels emptied into the moat at the gate. A torch set it alight, and a river of fire sprang up.

“Retreat!” Vice General Yu commanded. The defenders withdrew from the walls and galloped back toward Liangzhou.

Half an hour later, blood still glistened at the gates, and the stench of charred flesh hung in the air from the blaze. The Kele soldiers stepped over burned corpses into the city. “Didn’t expect these people to be prepared—there’s no one left in the city. General Mu, can we rest in the magistrate’s residence tonight?” the bearded man asked.

“Of course, but Chachai, we steppe folk are used to tents. I doubt I’d be comfortable on Liang’s beds. We’ll camp in the city,” General Mu replied.

“General, you don’t know how to enjoy yourself. I’m not spending another night in a tent—I’m sleeping in the magistrate’s mansion. I haven’t forgotten the luxury of a warm bed!” the bearded man declared.

“Do as you please, so long as you’re ready to march at dawn.”

“Who wants to join me in the big house?”

“I do… I do…” Dozens of men wanted to sleep in the magistrate’s residence.

“A bunch of short-sighted fools, getting excited over a mere county residence. The place I want to sleep… is the imperial palace in the capital.”

“General, we’ll follow you to the death!”

Vice General Yu’s group galloped out of Ling County, discovering the enemy hadn’t pursued. They halted to take stock. Most were unhurt; a few had minor injuries.

“Where’s Magistrate Wang? Has anyone seen him?”

“No…”

“He said he had to fetch something from the residence and told us to go on ahead.”

“No, he’s just a scholar—how can we leave him alone? I have to check the city.”

“General, the city is full of enemies—you can’t go back!”

“But Magistrate Wang is a good man. I must try. There’s a path behind the mountain. Don’t worry—I’ll return…”

But his comrade knocked him out cold.

Chachai and company entered the magistrate’s office.

“My lord, why does it smell like tung oil?” someone asked.

Chachai sniffed. “Nonsense, you must’ve scorched your nose in the fire.”

“Brothers, find yourselves a place to sleep—any room you like…” Suddenly, a heavy thud. A massive boulder crashed down before the gate, blocking it completely.

“Scum! Let this be the price for my children’s lives…” Magistrate Wang hurled his torch into the building. The residence, soaked in tung oil, erupted in flames.

“Old wretch…” Chachai cut off Magistrate Wang’s head with a single stroke.

The fire raged out of control, and soon the entire magistrate’s residence was engulfed in a sea of flames.