Da Tang Shuang Long Zhuan
/ Da Tang Shuang Long Zhuan Volume 4 Chapter 6 part1
Book 4 Chapter 6 - Meeting Susu Again
The fall of Xingyang was actually one of the turning points related to the rise and fall of the Great Sui; moreover, it was the starting point of Li Mi's contention to gain control of the world [tian xia].
For this great undertaking, for the last twelve years Li Mi has been joining Wagang Army. This man was very resourceful; he had great aspiration, and knew how to exploit the potential of Wagang Army and Zhai Rang like the sun in the middle of the sky. Also, relying on his superior martial art skill, he subdued smaller militias and different powers nearby, and hence exponentially enhanced the power of the Wagang Army. At the same time, he was able to see clearly that the river section on which they had always been relying on to transport military supplies was in fact the Achilles heel in the development of the Wagang Army, because it was insufficient to supply the necessities.
Therefore, he made a suggestion to Zhai Rang, "Take Xingyang first, rest the troops, build storehouse. When the troops and horses are satisfied, we will have advantage in our fight against others.”
Just by this insight, it could clearly be seen that Li Mi's power, talent, greatness and resourcefulness were superior to Zhai Rang's.
If they were able to exercise control over Xingyang and the surrounding area, they could solve the long-term food supply problem, further expanded their influence, posed a direct threat to the Eastern Capital Luoyang, and affected the military affair relations between the Capital, Luoyang and Jiangdu, three strategic cities.
After gaining Zhai Rang's approval, in the tenth month of the same year, Wagang Army launched a large-scale military operation. They took the counties around Xingyang first before advancing toward Xingyang City.
Yang Guang valued this area very much, hence he dispatch Zhang Xutuo, who, at that time, was a top rank valiant general who suppressed the twelve counties along Henan road, to defend Xingyang, leading twenty-thousand elite troops to meet the enemy head-on.
Whether in imperial court or in Wulin, this man had famous reputation; his skill ‘Wild Wind Spear Technique' was the de facto number on spear technique of the present age. His character was arrogant and conceited; naturally he looked down upon Li Mi, whose reputation was only so-so.
Previously, each time Wagang Army met Zhang Xutuo, they were always defeated really bad that they ran away abandoning their armors and throwing away their spears; therefore, Zhai Rang feared him like a tiger.
Hearing that the attacking enemy was this nemesis, he immediately wanted to retreat, saying, "This man is proficient in the art of war, his spear skill matchless; moreover, his generals Luo Shixin, Qin Shubao, are brave and good at fighting. We'd better evading the point of his spear for the time being, and draw a future plan.”
All the rest of his subordinates' courage grew cold, everybody agreed; only Li Mi stood his ground against the opinion of the masses. He asked Zhai Rang to take command of the main force to confront the enemy head-on, while he, leading four capable generals Wang Bodang, Zu Junyan, Shen Luoyan, and Xu Shiji, took command of about a thousand or so martial art experts to set an ambush in the jungle north of Dahai Temple.
When the two main forces met, as expected, little by little Zhai Rang's main force was losing, and Zhang Xutuo's forces pursued them for about ten li, until they came to the area north of Dahai Temple. Li Mi went into action, his troops launched a surprise attack from behind Zhang's forces. Zhai Rang joined the battle by turning around and attacked from the front. Under this converging attack Zhang's forces suffered heavy casualties. Li Mi even went into action personally and killed Zhang Xutuo.
This battle catapulted Li Mi's fame throughout the world, he became the most prestigious figure within the Wagang Army, even above their Big Boss Zhai Rang.
This great victory established the Wagang Army's foundation, it also inflicted serious damage to Sui Army's prestige.
Under this kind of situation, Zhai Rang had no choice but to let Li Mi led an army, which was known as the Duke of Pushan's Battalion.
Li Mi was of noble birth, his previous generation was bestowed a title, hence he inherited the nobility title Duke of Pushan, and decided to use this name.
Li Mi had great ambitions; already obtained Xingyang, he aimed to get Xingluo Warehouse. This warehouse was the Sui Dynasty's biggest granary, which was extremely important to Yang Guang, so he sent brave warrior general Liu Wengong and his twenty-five thousand strong cavalry advancing from the Eastern Capital Luoyang in an attempt to reverse the situation.
Yang Guang also dispatched Pei Renji from Tiger Prison to attack Wagang Army from behind, hoping that with these two big forces they could curb Li Mi.
At the same time, Yang Guang even dispatched his competent subordinate Wang Shichong to Luoyang to have direct confrontation with Li Mi.
When Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong arrived in Xingyang, the opposing forces were in deadlocked situation, anything could happen at any moment.
After repelling Yuwen Wudi, the two boys' confidence increased sharply. Also because of this real combat experience where they were facing deathly danger yet came out alive, during martial art training they no longer blindly charging blindly striking like before; therefore, during these past twenty days or so of traveling, the two boys' spirit and skill have advanced by leaps and bounds.
If someone who knew them back in Yangzhou came across them at this moment, they would certainly be astonished by the change.
Xu Ziling looked even more scholarly elegant and unconventional. His shoulders broad his legs long, his physique stood straight like the pole of a spear. Under his wide forehead a pair of tiger-eyes flickered with divine light, filled with intimidating charisma. Although he had just turned nineteen, he had the impression of a grownup.
On the other hand, Kou Zhong's domineering aura was growing by day. Although he was about a cun shorter than Xu Ziling, yet he was already half a head taller than average men. Due to his especially thick shoulders and back, his physique looked even more imposing.
If Xu Ziling was elegant, then Kou Zhong was heroic.
Rarer still, Kou Zhong often assumed a cynical look; but with his forceful and domineering aura, the combination produced a more neutral look, a style that was unique to him.
However, the two boys were still unaware that they had entered the rank of martial art masters; when going into the city they were still nervous, acting like if anything happened, they were ready to escape without a trace.
At this time, the security around the city gate was extremely tight, the two boys have just stepped foot over the gate, immediately they were interrogated by Wagang troops wearing blue warrior outfit. As the leader saw that they were wearing long sabers and their unusually imposing manner, he questioned their family and school background, the purpose of their visit, and so on.
Kou Zhong cooked up some nonsense, but the captain was still not satisfied; he asked, "Everybody coming in and out of the city must obtain a pass signed and issued by Zu Junshi. Looking at you, I don't believe you are lawbreakers, but military order cannot be disobeyed; forgive me for not allowing you to pass.”
Since the captain polite and courteous, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling had good impression on him. Xu Ziling calmly said, "Not to conceal anything, this time we came here to look for our close friend, Jiejie Susu; she is your … hey! Your Da Longtou's [lit. big dragon head, Big Boss] missing beloved daughter's maid. If you don't believe me, you may find her and ask, then you'll know.”
The captain frowned and said, "Don't speak nonsense, Big Miss returned from her tour outside last month; what do you mean ‘missing'?”
Instantly Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were stunned; they were completely at a loss. At the abandoned village that day, they saw it with their own eyes how Zhai Rang was struck by the strange man who conspired with Zu Junyan; how did Susu's Miss suddenly return safe and sound?
However, the captain did not suspect them; he said, "I also know Su Jie; after she was separated from Miss in Jiangbei, she returned here. It was I who personally escorted her back to Da Longtou's mansion. How about this: take off your saber first, let me send people to notify her.”
After a short pause, he continued, "What are your names?”
Kou Zhong gratefully replied, "Please just tell her that Xiao Zhong and Xiao Ling came to look for her.” He exchanged a glance with Xu Ziling. Because Susu was safe, they were quite excited.
The captain ordered his men to take the two boys to wait in the officers' hall near the city gate, and then he sent another man to ride a horse and gallop away to notify Susu.
The two boys were seated in a small stone room, the door was made of steel, obviously it was a small prison room.
Kou Zhong did not understand, "Clearly Zhai Rang was struck and injured by that strange man, how did the daughter get rescued?”
Xu Ziling replied with a wry smile, "Do you expect me to have the answer? Ay! The city defense is this tight, and every single one of the Wagang troops looked like they have fought a couple of times. Even if Susu Jiejie is willing to come with us, we won't have the ability to take her away.”
Kou Zhong laughed and said, "Don't be that pessimistic! The matter depends on the individual, we can always find ways; for example, we can try to steal his mother's two passes. Hey! Who would have thought that the one who issue and sign the passes is Zu Junyan; himself is a traitor. Do you want to expose him to Zhai Rang?”
"How far can it get us?” Xu Ziling replied, "Right now I am most afraid to come across Shen Luoyan, that b1tch and her subordinates who have fought against us. If that happens, we will be in big trouble.”
However, Kou Zhong was very optimistic; very pleased with himself, he said, "Shen Poniang [reminder: b1tch] is Li Mi's Pretty Junshi, naturally she follows the troops going to war. The master has something to do, the skulk of foxes and pack of dogs under him have no choice but to wait upon him on his side. I am not worried.”
And then he added, "Wagang troops seem to behave a lot better than Ol' Die's Jiang Huai [River Huai] troops; were it not for we have other plan, joining Wagang Army does not seem to be a bad idea!”
Xu Ziling snorted, but did not answer him; he closed his eyes and practiced his internal energy.
These days, whether walking, sitting or lying down, the two boys were hard at work cultivating their internal energy. Kou Zhong was originally not a hardworking person, but after their fight against Yuwen Wudi, he knew that practicing martial art was the only way he could save his life; hence he had to be proactive in training hard, so that his motivation now did not fall short compared to Xu Ziling's.
Very quickly they had already entered the extremely calm state where people who train martial art difficult to seek even in their dreams. The true qi in their body surged, it was flowing endlessly.
In this no-consciousness no-feeling state, time passed quietly.
Suddenly the door was pushed open. The two boys reacted instantly; they both opened their eyes and looked toward the door.
Chapter end
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