On the evening of the third day of the first month in the first year of Jingtai, in the Western Regions at Tianshan, a towering giant of a man gazed with desolate eyes at the corpses scattered throughout the camp. Two blade handles protruded from his back, while his hands still gripped a twelve-foot-long cavalry saber, his expression stern with martial valor and determination. The bitter autumn wind swept into the camp, carrying the unique yellow sand of the western frontier that scattered across the weathered, square face of this man who had endured countless hardships.
Looking at the military camp filled with corpses, the giant swung his arm forcefully and angrily drove his cavalry saber into the ground with a thunderous crash, sending dirt and sand flying in all directions. Suppressing his rage, he looked down at the military officer kneeling at his feet and shouted loudly: “You… you tell me! Who took that sheepskin!”
The officer replied in terror: “It was… it was Jiang Chong…”
The giant’s face filled with murderous intent as he roared: “I arranged for twenty men to guard that sheepskin, and you still managed to fail! Are you pigs?”
The officer said in a low voice: “Jiang Chong brought wine and meat last night, saying he wanted to comfort us soldiers. My subordinates didn’t suspect anything and all ate it, but who knew… who knew…”
The giant sneered coldly: “Who knew there was poison in it, right?”
The officer sighed and nodded.
The giant raised his cavalry saber and shouted: “Then why didn’t you eat it! Why didn’t you die!”
A hand slowly reached out and held back the giant’s arm. The giant turned around to see an elegant and noble-looking general standing before him.
The giant bowed slightly, his face showing fear as he said: “Grand Commander.”
Seeing the camp full of corpses, the general let out a gentle sigh.
The giant knelt on one knee, cupping his hands as he said: “This subordinate failed to protect the sheepskin and truly deserves death ten thousand times over! Please, Grand Commander, punish me severely!”
The general said softly: “You need not blame yourself. I’ve long seen through Jiang Chong’s wolfish ambitions and treacherous heart.”
The giant said loudly: “Grand Commander, there’s no need to comfort me with words. I, Shi Gang, failed to protect the important item and should rightfully receive military punishment!”
The general reached out to help the giant up, saying warmly: “Brother Shi, everything is destined by heaven—you need not take it too much to heart. I’ve already made complete preparations and am not afraid of Jiang Chong breaking his word and rashly entering Shenji Cave.”
Hearing the three words “Shenji Cave,” the giant looked bewildered and asked in a low voice: “Grand Commander, what exactly is on that sheepskin? Why is it so important?”
The general sighed: “This item relates to the fate of the realm—in time, you will understand.”
The giant was startled: “The fate of the realm? What does that mean?”
The general gazed at the distant Tianshan and shook his head without speaking.
Just then, a soldier rushed into the camp and knelt to report: “Report to the Grand Commander—a carrier pigeon message from the capital.”
The general nodded and reached out to take the paper. Opening it to read, his face instantly turned deathly pale and his body swayed backward.
The giant was shocked and quickly embraced his superior, taking the note from his hands to read. Upon seeing it, he too was greatly alarmed and said with a trembling voice: “Entire family executed… this… this is too ruthless! This… is there any justice left in this world?”
The small soldier, seeing both men in such a state, didn’t know what to say and just knelt there in a daze.
The giant held his superior and said through gritted teeth: “Grand Commander, all the civil and military officials say you caused the Emperor’s death. We’ve fought so desperately for the country, yet this is our reward. Is… is this fair?”
The general slowly regained consciousness. Thinking of his wife and children all brutally killed, he couldn’t help but let tears fall. In his great grief, he pushed away the giant and stumbled out of the camp, rolling and crawling.
The giant cried out in alarm: “Grand Commander, steady yourself!” Fearing his superior might do something foolish, he quickly chased after him.
Emerging from the camp tent, he saw the general kneeling on the ground, facing the distant majestic Tianshan, crying out loudly: “Your Majesty! Your Majesty… I was loyal to the court—why do they treat me thus? Why did they have to kill my wife and children!”
He prostrated himself on the ground and wept loudly, as if begging heaven for mercy, kowtowing endlessly.
Seeing this tragic scene, the giant’s eyes also filled with tears. He rushed forward and helped the general up, shouting loudly: “Grand Commander! Since your wife is dead and your two sons are gone, why continue to be bound by the court’s constraints? Let’s rebel right now and kill our way back into the heartland for revenge!” His tiger-like eyes were round with fury, filled with hatred.
The general stared vacantly at the distant Tianshan, then suddenly let out a great roar that shook the mountains and startled the entire camp. He leaped up, drew the sword from his waist, and looked up at the sky with an expression of extreme sorrow.
The giant shouted loudly: “Grand Commander, let’s go on a killing spree!”
The general shook his head. With a swift stroke of his long sword, four lines of text—sixteen characters in total—appeared in the sandy ground. He said sadly: “Brother Shi, please remember these few lines. If I should unfortunately die tomorrow, you must help me pass these words down no matter what, otherwise I’ll never be vindicated in this life, and my wife and children will have died in vain.”
The giant was slightly stunned, not understanding what he meant. He looked down at the four lines, which read: “At the end of the Wuchen year, the Dragon Emperor moves in the world. The heavenly mechanism remains true, ghosts and spirits are at ease.”
The giant was puzzled: “At the end of the Wuchen year, the Dragon Emperor moves in the world? What does this mean? This subordinate doesn’t understand.”
Tears fell from the general’s eyes as he shook his head: “You don’t need to ask so much right now. Remember this—if I die in battle at the front lines or am murdered by someone in the future, you must help me retrieve the sheepskin and solve the mystery of these four lines, otherwise I’ll die with eyes wide open.” He lifted his foot and kicked, scattering the characters on the ground.
The general gazed into the distance at Tianshan, his lips murmuring as if reciting something in a low voice. The windblown sand made his clothes flutter and dance in the wind.
After a long while, the general held back his tears and slowly sheathed his long sword, shouting loudly: “Men! Break camp immediately! The army advances to Yumen Pass!”
In the distance, men neighed and horses whinnied as tents were struck. Thirty thousand soldiers sadly and painfully packed their belongings in silence, all knowing this would be their final battle in life. Once they passed through Yumen Pass, these brave warriors would no longer be the nation’s glory, but would bear that despicable and contemptible two-character stigma: “Rebels!”
Part One: The Western Liang Storm
On the first day of the seventh month in the thirtieth year of Jingtai, in the desolate desert on the outskirts of Xiliang City, a lone mule cart slowly moved forward. Fierce windblown sand struck it, making the cart’s canopy shake and rattle as if it might be torn off at any moment.
“Mother, I’m so thirsty…”
What a good little boy—no more than six years old at most. He pressed close to the young woman’s embrace without any fussing or crying. His bright, round eyes blinked as he looked curiously at the strange desert surrounding them.
Clop, clop, clop, clop—the mule’s hoofbeats never ceased. Under the scorching sun, the sound made one feel drowsy. The young woman saw that the brilliant sun had created a layer of salt crystals on her son’s face and felt a pang of heartache. She took the water gourd and placed it in the child’s hands, then called to the man beside her: “Child’s father! How much longer until we reach Xiliang City?”
Hearing his wife’s question, the thin man forced a bitter smile: “It should… it should be just a few more days…”
The young woman was exasperated and scolded: “You said the same thing three days ago, and now? We’re still wandering around in this cursed desert! Do you actually know the way or not!”
This family of three, loaded with household goods and merchandise, appeared to be first-time travelers coming to do business. Every year during this season, people would come loaded with carts full of goods to trade in Xiliang—bringing dried fruits and candied treats on the way there, and buying wool and local products on the return trip, always managing to earn a small profit. This family seemed to want to come to the western frontier to do some small business.
But they didn’t know that since ancient times, whenever there were many merchants, bandits would inevitably appear as well. When legitimate business was good to do, deadly business wasn’t difficult either. They should know that delicate young women, small children, and thin husbands were treasures in the hearts of bandits!
Hearing his wife’s complaints, the man suddenly stopped the covered cart, showing a helpless expression as he smiled bitterly: “If we still can’t find it today, I’ll think of a way to find someone to ask!”
The young woman scolded: “What nonsense are you talking? Where would we find people to ask at a time like this? I told you before we left to make more preparations, but you were always careless and casual. Fine, when the water and food run out, let’s see what happens to our family of three!”
The man sighed: “When all is said and done, isn’t it because you’re no good? I said we should stay in our hometown and farm honestly, but you insisted on disagreeing and had to come to this cursed place to do business. Look at the situation now—and you’re the one complaining again. Sigh…”
The young woman’s eyes reddened with anger: “You still dare to say that! If it weren’t for your sister-in-law insisting on fighting with us over the ancestral property, why would I leave a good life behind to come here and suffer? I… I really hate that I was blind when I married you, you heartless wretch…” She began to cry pitifully.
The boy beside her saw his mother crying and quickly hugged her, saying softly: “Mother, don’t cry, don’t cry…”
The man sighed and shouted: “Fine! Fine! It’s all my fault! Should I go die instead!” He forcefully whipped down, striking the mule hard on the back. The mule cried out in pain and rushed forward urgently.
The covered cart traveled through the desolate, boundless desert, appearing so small that it seemed a gust of sandstorm could bury it entirely. Yet the people in the cart continued arguing incessantly. It seemed that before they even reached Xiliang City, they would have already turned the world upside down with their quarreling—truly not knowing how this business venture could possibly continue.
The young woman was still crying when she suddenly saw her husband’s face light up with joy as he called out: “Wife, look over there—it seems like there are people!”
The young woman stopped her tears and spat: “Where would people come from at a time like this? Don’t try to fool me.”
The man quickly shook his head and shouted: “I’m not talking nonsense—look over there!” He raised his hand and pointed toward a distant sand dune.
The young woman looked up and saw something protruding from the distant sand dune. She looked carefully and it seemed to be a flagpole. The young woman was overjoyed: “Wonderful! We’ve finally encountered people! Let’s hurry over and ask for directions!”
The man smiled: “See, I told you we’d encounter people sooner or later. Look how scared you were.” He picked up the reins and drove the cart toward the small hill.
The family of three was full of joy as they headed straight for the base of the hill. Just then, suddenly a fierce wind blew, countless yellow sands danced in the sky, and that flagpole swayed back and forth unsteadily. The young woman suddenly felt alarmed, her eyelids fluttering, and her whole body broke out in goosebumps. She rubbed her eyes and felt there was something strange about the sand dune, feeling somewhat uncomfortable in her heart. She said to her husband in a low voice: “That hill seems… seems to have something odd about it. We… we’d better not go over there!”
The man pulled tight on the reins and the mule cart stopped at the base of the hill. He shook his head with a bitter smile: “Aren’t you just being difficult? You’re afraid we can’t find the road, but you won’t let me go look. What am I supposed to do?”
The young woman knew this was reasonable but still felt uneasy. She frowned: “Well… this… this…” She was quite worried and struggled for a long time but still couldn’t come up with any ideas.
The man sighed and climbed down from the cart: “I think we should do it this way! You mother and son wait here while I go take a look first.”
The young woman hesitated for a long time and hadn’t yet spoken when the man was already sighing and walking toward the sand dune on his own.
The young woman quickly called out: “Walk slowly!”
The man turned back and frowned: “What now?”
The young woman fumbled around in the cart canopy and pulled out a knife, quickly jumping down from the cart and stuffing it into the man’s hands, whispering instructions: “If there are any fierce bandits, you must run quickly! Don’t try to be a hero!” Though she had been complaining about her husband just moments before, her eyes were now full of tears, showing infinite care and revealing her true feelings.
Seeing his wife’s concern for him, the man couldn’t help but smile and say: “Wife, don’t be afraid. This place is so desolate—what bandits could there be? Just wait obediently for me to come back after asking for directions, understand?” He reached out to smooth his wife’s hair at her temples, his face showing a man’s spirit, and even his thin body seemed much more robust.
The young woman urged: “You still need to be careful! I’ve heard the roads in Xiliang are not peaceful—we need to be very vigilant.”
The man waved the knife in his hand and smiled: “Don’t be afraid of this and that. If something really happens, I’ll risk my life to protect you and the child.”
The young woman looked at her husband’s confident and composed smile, and her heart settled somewhat. Only now did she remember why she had originally married this unremarkable man who was poor and had nothing. After a long while, she wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and smiled forcedly: “Fine, since you boast so confidently, I’m reassured too! Go quickly and return quickly—don’t delay.”
The man laughed heartily, fastened the steel knife to his waist, and began climbing up the sand dune.
The young woman held her son’s hand and they sat together on the ground. In the desert, only the sound of wind remained, rustling tightly around the mother and son. The young woman watched her husband’s figure struggling to climb up the hill, her heart filled with infinite worry. At this moment, in the desolate desert, there wasn’t a soul for dozens of miles. If her husband really had some accident, if there really were bad people here…
The young woman shook her head forcefully, becoming even more frightened, not even daring to think about it.
The child saw his mother’s worry and said: “Mother, don’t be afraid. Father won’t have any trouble.”
The young woman saw her son being considerate and smiled slightly, pulling him close to her side: “Silly child, of course your father won’t have any trouble.” Afraid her son would think wild thoughts, she took a jar from their luggage and shook it in front of the child, smiling: “Candied dates! Here they come!”
The child jumped up joyfully: “Candied dates! Candied dates!” For a moment he was jumping around with exceptional delight.
These candied dates were precisely this family’s business venture. The residents of Xiliang mostly made their living herding cattle and sheep, so fresh fruits and vegetables were as precious as gold. This time they had loaded a full cart to bring here, preparing to make a great profit and earn a good sum.
The young woman opened the sugar jar and took out a plump, juicy date, smiling: “These are for selling—you mustn’t eat too many, understand?”
The boy nodded vigorously, swallowed his saliva, and was about to reach out to take it.
Suddenly, a scream came from the sand dune, piercing through the sky. Upon hearing the scream, the young woman was immediately shocked and her face turned pale. The candied date jar in her hands overturned onto the ground, and her legs went weak as she fell to her knees.
The child turned back to look at the sand dune and shouted: “Mother! That was father’s voice!”
The young woman was so frightened her face was colorless. She stared vacantly with her mouth open, looking up at the sand dune, not knowing what to do.
The child said: “Let’s quickly go up and look—maybe something happened to father!” He took off running toward the hill. The young woman suddenly came to her senses and cried out in alarm: “Xiao Bao, come back quickly! Don’t run around!”
Seeing her son rashly going up the hill, the young woman also disregarded safety and directly chased after him, silently praying in her heart: “Buddha protect us, don’t let our man have trouble, let our family of three reach Xiliang safely…” In an instant, her eyes were brimming with tears, and her heart was even more unsettled.
The little boy ran very fast and had already rushed to the top of the sand dune.
The young woman was both shocked and afraid, crying out: “Stop! Don’t run anymore!”
The boy did indeed stop, but he didn’t stop because of his mother’s shouting—he stopped because he saw something.
The young woman saw the amazement on her son’s face. She took three steps as two and urgently chased up, asking: “What’s wrong? Where’s your father?”
The boy swallowed and pointed forward with his hand. The young woman quickly turned to look carefully.
“Ahhhh—” Another sharp scream pierced through the sky…