Gao Huan hung his head in dejection as he was escorted away by Gao Yin.
After her brothers departed, Luoshen could no longer sit still. Her heart was in turmoil, and she immediately rose to go before Xiao Yongjia.
The Layue Festival was approaching, when people would conduct grand sacrifices to the hundred gods and ancestors—one of the year’s most important ceremonies.
Xiao Yongjia was discussing various ritual matters with A’Ju and several other maidservants when Luoshen suddenly burst in, casually asking what brought her there.
“A’Niang, Li Mu’s expedition faces great peril with little hope of survival, as you well know. Why did you not mention a single word of this to me before?”
The room fell silent, with all the maidservants turning to look at her.
A’Ju hurried forward, taking Luoshen’s arm with a smile: “Eldest Princess is busy, perhaps it would be better to step outside first…”
Luoshen freed herself from A’Ju’s grasp and looked at her mother.
Xiao Yongjia frowned and gestured for everyone to leave.
“I did indeed know this from early on. I simply thought this matter had little to do with you, so I didn’t inform you.”
“What of it?”
She looked her daughter up and down, raising an eyebrow.
Looking at her mother’s indifferent expression, Luoshen suddenly understood.
“A’Niang, when you brought me back to Jiankang that day, you never intended to let me return, did you?”
“That’s right.”
Xiao Yongjia’s tone remained calm.
“Having married into that sort of family, since you’ve returned, why would you need to go back?”
Luoshen stared at her mother, falling silent for a long while before slowly saying: “If Li Mu dies in this battle, I can rightfully remain at home. If he somehow survives, he will surely be utterly disgraced, and when that time comes, his life and death will depend on nothing more than a word from you—let alone severing ties with him.”
“A’Niang, am I right or wrong?”
Xiao Yongjia was startled, her expression quickly showing a trace of annoyance.
“A’Mi, A’Niang truly doesn’t know what’s going on in your head. Not to mention that you were forced into that marriage initially—because Li Mu interfered, the Gao and Lu families fell out, you lost a good match, and the Gao clan was shamed to this extent! Even setting that aside, you were only married for a bit over a month. Why did you still hesitate when I came to fetch you that day? What’s wrong with the current outcome? Could it be that you actually want to go back? Go back to do what? Wear coarse clothes and shabby skirts, live in cramped alleys and tiled hovels, spin yarn and wear your hands raw, all to earn the ridiculous reputation of being virtuous?”
She snorted.
“It’s not that we forced him to this point—he’s seeking his own death! He harmed you first, then refused your father’s kind offer to transfer him. Everything is his own doing! Now that you’ve returned, regardless of whether he lives or dies in the future, A’Niang will never let you return to that place!”
Luoshen stared steadily at her mother, and slowly, crystalline tears began to glisten in her eyes.
Seeing her daughter actually shed tears, Xiao Yongjia flew into a rage.
“What’s this? Do you really want to abandon the Gao family and return to Jingkou with some absurd notion of loyalty to one husband, to serve that family? I absolutely forbid it! From today onwards, you will stay at home and are not permitted to go anywhere! If I discover you’ve had any secret contact with the Li family, don’t blame me for being unkind to them!”
Tears suddenly rolled down her cheeks.
Luoshen wiped her tears and shook her head.
“A’Niang, you’re wrong! As you said, I was only married to the Li family for a month or so. No matter how kindly the Li family treated me, how could it compare to the grace of parents who gave birth to and raised me? I was forced into that marriage before. If you could bring me back now, why wouldn’t I be willing? I just don’t understand—when I married, it was entirely your arrangement, and I only learned of it when the matter was upon me. Now that I’ve returned, you didn’t say half a word to me beforehand! What am I in A’Ye and A’Niang’s eyes? When you came to fetch me this time, if you had explained things to me first and let me bid farewell to Li Mu’s mother before leaving, how would that not have worked? With the Gao clan’s power, if you wanted to bring me back, could she really have fought to the death to prevent my departure?”
Xiao Yongjia was momentarily speechless, unable to respond. Seeing her daughter continuously wiping tears that fell like broken pearls, rolling endlessly down her cheeks—having never seen her so heartbroken before—she became flustered.
“A’Mi… A’Niang truly doesn’t know where this anger comes from… Isn’t everything A’Niang has done for your own good…”
She walked toward Luoshen, reaching out to embrace her.
Luoshen turned away, covering her face as she rushed out. Under the shocked gazes of A’Ju and the others outside, she ran back to her own room, bolted the door from inside, threw herself onto her pillow, closed her eyes, and wept continuously.
From the day she learned of that crude military general’s marriage proposal, to Elder Brother Lu’s departure, she had been forced into marriage with a heart full of fear and determination, and today she had been brought back in this manner… Her parents’ discord, and her own confusion and suffering caught between them all these years…
All the grievances, regrets, and resentments accumulated in her heart poured out with her tears.
Outside, knocking sounds continued, mixed with Xiao Yongjia’s anxious calls.
Luoshen paid no heed, only continuing to shed tears and cry silently until she was exhausted from weeping and gradually stopped.
Darkness fell. The room had no lamp lit and was completely dim.
“A’Mi! A’Mi!”
After a moment of quiet outside, suddenly A’Ye’s calls also came through, filled with anxiety.
“If you don’t open the door, A’Ye will break it down!”
“A’Ye, I’m fine! Let me be alone for a while!”
Luoshen lay in the darkness, responding in a low, hoarse voice.
Her ears fell quiet again.
The world finally became peaceful.
Luoshen closed her eyes and lay alone on the bed, neither knowing if she was asleep or awake. After a long while, deep into the night, she slowly sat up, lit a lamp herself, and sat before her dressing table. She tidied her disheveled hair in the mirror, straightened her clothes, and finally opened the door.
Xiao Yongjia and A’Ju and the others were still waiting outside her door. Seeing her finally appear, they all breathed a sigh of relief in unison.
“A’Mi, what’s wrong with you? You scared A’Niang to death—”
Xiao Yongjia’s eyes were red as she called to her daughter, her voice trembling.
“A’Niang, I’m fine now.”
Luoshen smiled at her slightly.
“Where is A’Ye? I want to see him.”
…
In the study, silver candles burned brightly.
Gao Qiao’s face was gaunt, his brow deeply furrowed as he looked at his daughter, whose eyes still bore the red, swollen traces of crying. His face showed a smile as he asked her to sit.
Luoshen shook her head and remained standing.
“I know A’Ye is busy, so I’ll just say a few words and leave when I’m done.”
Gao Qiao nodded with loving eyes: “A’Ye is listening.”
“A’Ye must know Li Mu’s abilities better than I do. To rescue my brother single-handedly from among thousands of troops—that is absolute courage. In the Jiangbei campaign, leading only a vanguard force to achieve five victories in five battles—that is skilled warfare. Such absolute courage and military skill are unprecedented and unparalleled. If he were gone, looking throughout the entire court, could A’Ye find a second person like him?”
Gao Qiao was startled that his daughter had sought him out to say such things.
“I know the court is full of strife, and A’Ye finds himself in the midst of it, unable to act freely, with your own considerations and calculations. I dare not judge right from wrong. But I once studied Mencius with my brothers, who said: ‘To give the world to someone is easy, but to obtain someone for the world is difficult.’ Good judges of horses are common, but fine steeds are rare encounters. The Gao clan’s name resounds throughout the world, and A’Ye is revered as Prime Minister. What is a Prime Minister? The nation’s most precious vessel, the people’s hope! Who has no father, who has no mother? Since A’Ye holds the position of Prime Minister, I dare to ask you: if, due to private family grievances, you cause Dayu to lose such an absolutely courageous and fierce general, and let those six thousand soldiers sent to fight alongside him die in vain, do you truly feel no regret, truly feel no guilt in your heart?”
Gao Qiao looked at his daughter, his previously relaxed brow furrowing again. Yet he remained silent, not saying a word.
“A’Ye, I know your life’s only cherished wish is the Northern Expedition to recover the Central Plains and restore the two capitals. When A’Ye was young, you also fought for this cause, but unfortunately your great ambitions were hard to fulfill, and you returned in defeat. Though A’Ye has never mentioned the old matter publicly in these years, I don’t believe you have no regrets. Imperial Uncle could employ Li Mu—surely A’Ye’s talents don’t fall short of Uncle’s? Why can’t you use him as your sword to plan for a future Northern Expedition? A’Ye, you’re not yet old—where has your youthful ambition of those days gone so early?”
“Because of the struggles between families, I first lost Elder Brother Lu, ruining a good match. Now, barely a month after my wedding, I’m about to become a widow. I’m merely a woman—how my remaining years unfold concerns only me and is of no importance. But Li Mu is no ordinary person. If he were preserved, who knows that he couldn’t become the nation’s sharp sword in the future?”
Tears began to glisten in Luoshen’s eyes once more.
“A’Ye, I know yours and A’Niang’s intentions. This trip to bring me home—regardless of whether Li Mu lives or dies in this battle—you won’t let me return in the future. This doesn’t matter. Marrying him was never my wish to begin with, and I will certainly follow A’Ye and A’Niang’s arrangements. But regarding Li Mu’s life and death, A’Mi earnestly begs A’Ye to reconsider. His old mother is blind and is now at home, waiting for him to return…”
She shed tears of sorrow, solemnly kneeling before her father. After completing her kowtows, she rose and quickly departed.
Gao Qiao sat behind his desk, his gaze fixed steadily on the direction where his daughter’s figure had disappeared. For a long while, his brow remained tightly furrowed, motionless.
…
That night, the candlelight in Gao Qiao’s study burned through the entire night.
At dawn, Gao Yun and Gao Yin received word and hurried to see him. Seeing his prominent cheekbones and bloodshot eyes—having apparently spent another sleepless night—they offered a few words of comfort.
“Uncle, rest assured. Sixth Brother has been placed under watch, and at this crucial time, we definitely won’t let him cause more trouble.”
Gao Qiao nodded and asked: “Where has Li Mu’s army marched to now? Is there any news?”
“Three days ago, scouts reported that they had reached the Fujiang River and Danqu area, only days away from Yuan Jie’s military stronghold at Yuan City.”
Gao Qiao pondered for a long while, then looked toward Gao Yun.
“Second Brother, how many troops do you have available now?”
“With warfare continuously erupting in the north and Guangling under severe pressure—which absolutely cannot be lost—heavy troops must be stationed there for defense. If you’re asking about available forces, only the twenty thousand troops stationed at Lujiang can still be deployed. Brother, why do you ask this?”
Gao Yun was somewhat puzzled.
“Zi’an!”
Gao Qiao looked toward Gao Yin.
“Take the tiger tally and cross the river immediately. Lead the twenty thousand troops from Lujiang and rush to reinforce the battle in Ba Prefecture. This is urgent—depart today!”
Both Gao Yun and Gao Yin were shocked.
Gao Yin hesitated briefly but said nothing.
Gao Yun, however, immediately protested: “Brother, what do you mean by this? Why suddenly reinforce Ba Prefecture? This war was entirely instigated by Xu Mi’s encouragement and His Majesty’s rash decision. That our Gao clan contributed three thousand troops was already more than generous—we should treat them as expendable. If you reinforce now, never mind defeat and the loss of troops and reputation damaging the Gao clan with no benefit whatsoever, even if we’re fortunate enough to achieve victory, how would the credit be calculated? His Majesty would not only fail to appreciate our Gao clan’s efforts but would probably become even more suspicious that we have other motives! Moreover…”
He gritted his teeth and said bitterly: “His Majesty’s suspicion of our Gao clan is already deep! We received no rewards for the previous Jiangbei campaign! Why should our Gao family wade into this muddy water again!”
Gao Qiao closed his eyes as if in meditation. After a long while, he opened his phoenix eyes, his gaze clear and bright with spirit.
“Second Brother, with our Gao clan’s family standing and reputation, even if we truly reach the day when we must retreat, at worst you and I could become simple farmers, and our descendants could still seek official positions. But if the nation ceases to exist, how can families survive? Years of factional struggles have already caused great harm and deeply misled me. I have made my decision—say no more!”
Noble families greatly revered the position of family head, with all matters of advance and retreat decided by the head’s command. To ensure the family’s power could continue, when selecting heirs, a wise family head might not necessarily choose his own son—capable brothers or nephews from the clan could inherit, as had always been the custom.
Gao Qiao had led the Gao family for many years, elevating the clan to its current status. When he spoke thus with finality, even though Gao Yun was deeply unwilling, how could he continue to argue? He fell silent.
Gao Qiao looked toward Gao Yin.
Gao Yin straightened and stepped forward: “I will obey Uncle’s command. But I must say one thing. Lujiang is a thousand li from Ba Prefecture. I fear that even if I march with all haste, I may not arrive in time for the battle…”
His implication was that it was very likely that by the time he led troops there, the fighting would already be over, and Li Mu and those six thousand soldiers would have been completely annihilated.
“Success and failure are both heaven’s will. Do your best.”
Gao Qiao said slowly.
“I accept the order! I’ll depart immediately!”
Gao Yin performed his salute, turned and left, took the tiger tally, donned his armor, assembled his personal guards, and was hurrying with his party toward the military crossing when suddenly he saw a swift horse galloping from the distance, kicking up rolling clouds of dust behind it. In a moment it reached them, and a messenger carrying a message tube leaped down from the horse’s back, fell to his knees, raised the tube high, and shouted: “Governor, new reports from the Ba Prefecture campaign!”
Gao Yin grabbed it and rushed back inside, entering the study to present it to Gao Qiao and Gao Yun, who were still there.
Gao Qiao took out the battle report and scanned it rapidly. His gaze actually froze, his expression strange.
Gao Yun, impatient by nature, snatched it away, glanced at it, and couldn’t conceal his astonishment as he exclaimed in surprise.
…
The report stated that Li Mu had led his six thousand troops westward, but because they were a motley crew with no will to fight, men continuously deserted each day. When they made camp, the cooking fires grew fewer by the day. Before even reaching Ba Prefecture, nearly half the soldiers had fled.
Yuan Jie had long heard that Nanchao was sending troops at Ba King’s request to attack Shu. Knowing the army was led by only a young general named Li Mu who had just emerged in the Jiangbei campaign, with merely six thousand men, how could he take them seriously? He sent his clan brother Yuan Xu with thirty thousand troops to the strategic stronghold of Yuan City to intercept them, aiming to annihilate the entire Dayu army.
Yuan Xu was brave and skilled in battle, commanding thirty thousand elite troops. Being naturally arrogant, when scouts reported that Li Mu’s soldiers had no fighting spirit and were deserting along the way—the army not resembling an army, the ranks not resembling ranks—he laughed mockingly and was eager for glory. Seeing the enemy’s increasingly slow advance and their halt at a place called Danqu, showing no signs of proceeding to Yuan City, he grew impatient and decided to send a capable lieutenant with ten thousand troops to take the offensive.
Yuan Xu never dreamed that Li Mu’s army’s desertions along the way were actually a deceptive ruse. Near Danqu, Li Mu had chosen an advantageous battlefield position and set an ambush.
The ambush troops included not only his soldiers but also three hundred warriors.
These three hundred warriors were all elite fierce soldiers selected from Jingkou, led by Guo Zhan, Sun Fangzhi, and Dai Yuan—all veterans of the Jiangbei campaign, each brave and fierce, capable of fighting ten men single-handedly.
That day, when the ten thousand Yuan troops arrived and had not yet had time to form battle lines, rocks rained down from above, ten thousand arrows were fired simultaneously, and ambush troops poured out from all sides. Amid earth-shaking battle cries, the Yuan army was so terrified they lost all fighting spirit and quickly suffered a crushing defeat.
Li Mu then ordered the blocking of all information and sent false news of Yuan army victory to Yuan City. Meanwhile, his soldiers stripped the Yuan soldiers’ clothing and equipment, completely changing their appearance and banners, then marched toward Yuan City under cover of night. Upon arrival, the city guards mistook them for victorious returning troops, opened the gates without suspicion, and welcomed them in.
Li Mu charged forward first, leading his army into the city. After a fierce battle that left blood flowing like rivers, they captured the city at dawn.
In this battle, Yuan Xu not only lost Yuan City and suffered heavy casualties among his thirty thousand troops, but was also captured while fleeing. It was a complete annihilation and utter defeat.
When news spread, all of Shu was shaken. The people of Ba, hearing that Dayu had sent troops to protect their nation, were greatly encouraged and came forward to join them. Li Mu temporarily established his command at Yuan City, comforting the people and reorganizing military affairs.
Overnight, the general’s name spread throughout Ba Prefecture.