As Qu Zhisheng finished speaking, he was about to let go of Ni Shu. Long Shuangzhi, terrified, shouted, “Qu Zhisheng, I forbid you to die!”
“Shuangzhi, death is freedom,” Qu Zhisheng smiled. “Let me turn to ashes before your eyes!”
“If you dare to die, I’ll jump,” Shuangzhi declared loudly.
“You—” Qu Zhisheng was about to let go when he froze in shock.
“If you dare to die, I’ll jump!” Long Shuangzhi repeated firmly. “I forbid you to die!”
At this point, Ni Shu couldn’t hold on any longer. He struggled to open his mouth and cursed, “Qu Zhisheng, I… I can’t hold on anymore!”
As Qu Zhisheng hesitated, he quickly kicked his feet against a rock. Just as Ni Shu’s hand slipped, Qu Zhisheng quickly braced himself and pushed Ni Shu up by the waist. Ni Shu managed to grab hold of the rock again, finally catching his breath. Looking down at the burning coal field below, he couldn’t help but feel a chill down his spine.
“Come up!” Long Shuangzhi sighed in relief.
“Amitabha,” Xuanzang couldn’t help but chant.
Just as the situation improved, Mohe Duo’s voice rang out from behind, “Hey? What are you all doing? Hanging like grapes? Aha, the King David Vase! Quick, grab it for me!”
It turned out Mohe Duo had also reached the mountaintop. At this moment, Ni Shu and Qu Zhisheng were hanging from the cliff, Long Shuangzhi was half-hanging, Xuanzang was pulling Long Shuangzhi, and Ashu was holding onto a belt. The King David Vase lay alone on one side. As soon as Mohe Duo arrived, he spotted the vase and ran towards it.
Ashu turned his head, immediately became anxious, and wrapped the belt around Xuanzang’s arm, “Master, I must protect the King David Vase!”
He ran over and hugged the vase. Being small, he pushed the vase down and rolled it towards the other side of the cliff.
“Ashu—” Xuanzang watched helplessly, unable to move.
As Ashu rolled the vase, he shouted, “Master, I’m sorry, but I must deliver the King David Vase to the Tang Dynasty. It’s my life’s mission!”
“Stop that nonsense and put down the vase!” Mohe Duo roared in anger, ordering, “Shoot! Kill him!”
“Great Chief, please show mercy!” Xuanzang cried out anxiously.
Mohe Duo ignored him and waved his hand, ordering his archers to fire. The Fuli soldiers, all expert marksmen, instantly drew their bows and shot at Ashu. Seeing the danger, Ashu quickly threw himself to the ground. However, he hadn’t considered that they were on a slope, and he was rolling with the heavy King David Vase. As he fell, the vase pulled him down, and they tumbled down the mountainside toward the fiery furnace below.
Xuanzang watched in horror as Ashu disappeared down the slope, crying out, “Ashu! Ashu!”
The sound of tumbling echoed in his ears.
“Master,” Ashu’s voice came from the other side of the slope, “After I die, please make sure to deliver the King David Vase to the—”
Before he could finish, there was a loud thud, and then silence. Mohe Duo led the Fuli soldiers to run over, while Xuanzang was consumed with worry. However, Qu Zhisheng had now yielded to Long Shuangzhi’s threat and was climbing up with Ni Shu. Long Shuangzhi climbed up first, and together with Xuanzang, they pulled on the belt. Xuanzang couldn’t move.
After a while, Ni Shu crawled up, covered in dirt and completely exhausted. His hands were burned, and he lay motionless on the mountain, gasping for air. Then Xuanzang and Long Shuangzhi pulled Qu Zhisheng up. Though his face was covered in coal dust, he seemed in good spirits. As soon as he was up, he grabbed Long Shuangzhi’s hand and asked urgently, “Shuangzhi, you said earlier that if I die, you’d die too. Does… does this mean you love me?”
“Non…sense…” Ni Shu cursed weakly.
Seeing they were all up, Xuanzang wasted no time and ran towards the other side of the slope. This side also led to the burning coal field, with roaring flames, but the slope was gentler. By now, Mohe Duo and the Fuli soldiers had already descended the slope, supporting each other. Xuanzang hurriedly followed.
“Ashu! Ashu!” Xuanzang called out as he ran. He was now covered in black coal dust from head to toe, looking utterly disheveled. He slid down the slope, calling out, but received no response.
“Stop shouting!” Mohe Duo looked up, frustrated. “How could anyone survive falling there? If he’s dead, he’s dead. He might have even taken my King David Vase with him! That little brat!”
Xuanzang was furious but said nothing. The group made their way down the mountain. Although this slope was gentler, after descending about a hundred feet, they could feel the heat waves assaulting them, as if their hair and clothes were about to catch fire. But Mohe Duo was relentless, still searching downwards.
Just then, a Fuli soldier shouted, “Great Chief, look! The King David Vase!”
Mohe Duo and Xuanzang looked over to see the King David Vase lying quietly on a rock. It seemed to have hit the rock during its descent and stopped there. But there was no sign of Ashu.
“Aha! My vase!” Mohe Duo rushed over.
Xuanzang, however, was worried about Ashu and continued calling out as he descended the steep slope to the top of the coalfield. When his clothes began to scorch and his shoes became scalding hot, he suddenly noticed something burning near a red-hot rock. Unable to get closer, he looked carefully and was stunned. The burning object was a piece of Ashu’s clothing!
“Ashu—” Xuanzang suddenly burst into tears, crying out in anguish.
The place where the clothing was burning was beyond human reach. It seemed that during the fall, Ashu had separated from the King David Vase. The vase had hit the rock, while Ashu had rolled directly into the burning coal field!
Xuanzang collapsed on the slope, the scorching earth burning him, but he seemed numb to it. At that moment, memories of his time with Ashu flashed before his eyes.
A foreign child, traveling thousands of miles along the Silk Road from Persia to the Western Regions.
His caravan was destroyed, and he was left alone in the vast desert, hiding fearfully in the spring.
He had said, “Master, can you take me home?”
He had said, “Master, I miss my father.”
He had said, “Master, the King David Vase is a mission given to me by my family. I must deliver it to the Tang Dynasty.”
He had said, “Master, I want to stand in the sunlight of Persia.”
This child, only eight or nine years old, had in just two months given Xuanzang a feeling of closeness like that of a blood relative. It was as if he were his kin, his nephew, the only person who could comfort him on his lonely journey to the West.
But now, along with his dreams, Ashu had turned to eternal ashes.
As Xuanzang wept, Mohe Duo reached the vase. He looked triumphantly at Xuanzang and said, “Monk! He’s already dead! Come back quickly! Otherwise, you’ll meet your end too!”
Xuanzang ignored him. Mohe Duo, greatly displeased, tried to lift the vase but found he couldn’t. Surprised, he ordered the Fuli soldiers, “It’s really heavy, must be pure copper. Quick, carry it up for me.”
Two Fuli soldiers came over and lifted the vase together. With the help of others, they began to climb back up the mountain.
Xuanzang quickly stood up and called out, “Great Chief!”
“What is it?” Mohe Duo turned back to ask.
“Please leave the vase!” Xuanzang said solemnly. “It belongs to Ashu’s family, not to you, Great Chief.”
Mohe Duo laughed, “If it were mine, would I have gone through all this trouble? Monk, his family is all dead. This divine object is now ownerless. I’m taking it to fulfill the great cause of the Western Turks.”
“Great Chief,” Xuanzang said as he climbed the mountain, “You heard earlier that Ashu wanted me to deliver this to the Tang Dynasty. It was originally a gift from the Persian Emperor to the Tang Emperor. If you seize it halfway, won’t you make enemies of two great empires? Great Chief, for the sake of this ill-omened object, creating enemies for the Western Turks in both east and west seems unwise to me.”
By now, Mohe Duo had reached the mountaintop. He smiled and said, “Monk, you may be famous in the Tang Dynasty, but you’re truly a muddle-headed monk. We Western Turks have been at war with Sassanid Persia for years; we’re already enemies. As for the Tang Dynasty, they were busy fighting with the Eastern Turks’ Jieli and Tuli. Does Li Shimin dare to attack me? Hmph, now that I have this vase, once I summon the demon, Li Shimin won’t need to come looking for me – I’ll go find him! Haha, let’s go. Monk, chant a few verses of the rebirth sutra for me, pray for me… Oh, wait, what’s that chant called?”
Mohe Duo scratched his head in frustration and happily left with his Fuli soldiers.
Xuanzang looked back at the ever-burning coal field, let out a long sigh, and then climbed to the mountaintop using both hands and feet. Upon reaching the top, he discovered that Qu Zhisheng, Long Shuangzhi, and Ni Shu had also left, unaware of what had transpired between the three.
Mohe Duo had already reached the foot of the mountain and ordered the Fuli soldiers to tie King David Vase to his horse’s back. He carried it as they spurred their horses and galloped towards the valley.
“Great Chief!” Xuanzang quickly mounted his horse and gave chase.
Mohe Duo looked back and said angrily, “This monk is annoying.”
“Great Chief, should we shoot him?” a Fuli soldier asked.
Mohe Duo grew even more irritated, “This monk is now famous throughout the Western Regions. Do you want me to bear the reputation of a monk-killer? Let’s go, ignore him.”
The group galloped away on the treacherous mountain path. The path was slippery with snow, but these Turks were skilled in horsemanship and maintained their speed. Xuanzang, however, was a poor rider and was quickly left behind. As one group fled and the other pursued, they soon left the Tianshan Gorge.
Past Xinxing Valley lay the trade route at the foot of the Flaming Mountain. Mohe Duo turned his horse westward, apparently intending to return to the Western Turks. Xuanzang grew anxious. The road was now flat, allowing him to urge his horse faster and catch up. Mohe Duo’s horse, burdened with the King David Vase, began to slow down, and Xuanzang managed to catch up.
Mohe Duo was exasperated with this monk. He couldn’t kill him, yet he wouldn’t leave, so he could only spur his horse on desperately. As they galloped, a merchant caravan suddenly appeared ahead. It was a sizeable group of over a hundred people, all on horseback, with a dozen large carts in the middle. Mohe Duo was puzzled. Squinting, his heart sank as he observed the riders sitting perfectly straight on their horses. Despite the lower body moving with the horse’s gait, their upper bodies remained motionless.
More alarmingly, despite clearly hearing the approaching hoofbeats, none of them turned to look, as if completely unaware. But Mohe Duo’s keen eye noticed they were all on high alert, their arms hanging down, touching bags on their horses’ bellies, likely concealing weapons.
“Don’t provoke them. Go around, move!” Mohe Duo ordered in a low voice.
As the Fuli soldiers were about to circle, a young man in the middle of the caravan made a slight hand gesture. The entire group parted in perfect unison, creating a path. They were allowing them to pass. Mohe Duo was even more shocked, for the young man was in the middle of the group. How had his command been conveyed so quickly to the front of the caravan?
Mohe Duo was suspicious. If these were warriors, they might be one of the most formidable armies in the Western Regions. Despite numbering only about a hundred, if fully armed, their strength would rival the entire military force of a small nation.
Although he was confident that his troops could compete with the enemy, at that moment, he did not have his main forces with him. Moreover, he carried the precious David King’s Vase, which made him reluctant to provoke any conflict. He immediately kept silent and galloped past the middle of the road. As he passed by the young man, Mòhèduō glanced over and noticed that the man was of Han descent, with a slightly dark complexion and an air of elegance mixed with coldness—an extraordinary individual.
“Could he be from the Tang army?” Mòhèduō’s heart trembled as he pondered and sped away.
Just as he left, Xuánzàng arrived on horseback. As he passed the group of people, he caught sight of the young man and was momentarily stunned. “Lord Wáng?” he exclaimed.
To his surprise, the Han man was none other than Wáng Xuáncè, the Chief of the Right Guard.
Wáng Xuáncè was equally taken aback upon seeing Xuánzàng. “Master, what are you doing chasing after a group of Turkic cavalry?”
“Quick, Lord Wáng, help me stop Mòhèduō!” Xuánzàng urged, not having time to explain.
Wáng Xuáncè suddenly understood. “Oh, so that’s Mòhèduō? I wondered why there were cavalrymen here! Master, why are you pursuing them?”
“He stole the David King’s Vase!” Xuánzàng said urgently.
Wáng Xuáncè was taken aback. “Is that so?”
“It’s in the package on his horse!” Xuánzàng insisted.
Wáng Xuáncè chuckled. “Master, why are you in such a hurry? If he took it, then he took it! This is the territory of the Turks; how could I come to the Western Regions to rob them?”
Xuánzàng was left speechless. “But the David King’s Vase…”
“I haven’t heard of any vase,” Wáng Xuáncè laughed. “What vase does the Master want? I have plenty of jars and bottles in my cart, even tea for Tǒng Yèhù from His Majesty. If you want some, I can give you a jar.”
Xuánzàng gradually calmed down. He saw that Mòhèduō had already run far ahead and realized that even if he chased after him, it would be futile. He sighed and silently regarded Wáng Xuáncè, who smiled back at him.
“The old, thin red horse, with iron on the saddle.” Xuánzàng suddenly said.
Wáng Xuáncè was taken aback. “Master—”
“I assume Lord Wáng has heard this phrase before?” Xuánzàng dismounted and said calmly.
Wáng Xuáncè was momentarily speechless, then smiled wryly and dismounted as well, instructing his men, “Spread out the mats.”
The guards hurriedly took mats from the cart and laid them on the grass by the roadside. Wáng Xuáncè then ordered a Hu bed to be set up and food to be served, inviting Xuánzàng to sit down. Xuánzàng remained silent, sitting across from him.
As dusk fell over the desert, the setting sun cast a red glow over the flames of the mountain, painting their faces with a bloody hue.
“Master, why do you say that?” Wáng Xuáncè asked.
“Because I have a feeling of being manipulated,” Xuánzàng replied candidly. “In August of this year, when I left Cháng’ān to travel west, I encountered the diviner Hè Hóngdá, who predicted for me that I would ride an old, thin red horse and that the saddle would have iron.”
“Hè Hóngdá is a remarkable figure in Cháng’ān; his divination is indeed extraordinary. It seems to have come true,” Wáng Xuáncè remarked.
“Yes,” Xuánzàng continued, “I was once trapped in Guāzhōu and unable to leave the borders. A Hu man named Shí Pántuó offered to help me escape. He brought along an old Hu man who led an old, thin red horse, claiming it had made the journey to Yīwù fifteen times and was familiar with the route. He was willing to give it to me. The saddle of that red horse had a piece of iron wrapped around it.”
“Hè’s divination is indeed not to be underestimated,” Wáng Xuáncè applauded with a laugh.
Xuánzàng smiled slightly. “Although I know little about divination, I understand that it involves observing heavenly signs, human affairs, and the changes of the world to discern future omens. The heavenly signs are elusive and the future unpredictable; it is inherently difficult to measure. Even a rough estimate can yield astonishing predictions. I find it hard to believe that Hè Hóngdá could see the piece of iron on the saddle.”
“You are a wise man, Master, who believes in the Buddha but does not cling to illusions. This little scheme has made you laugh,” Wáng Xuáncè said with a sigh.
“Was it indeed you who arranged this?” Xuánzàng asked.
Wáng Xuáncè sighed. “Master, I have one thing I don’t understand. Even if you suspect someone is manipulating your journey west, why do you suspect me? After all, my position as Chief of the Right Guard has no connection to Hè Hóngdá or the old Hu man!”
Xuánzàng’s expression turned nostalgic. “Last year, I took in a man from Tiānjú named Bōluóyè on the streets of Cháng’ān. His secret identity was that of an outlaw for the court. He approached me intentionally under the orders of Secretary Wèi Zhēng to investigate the secrets of Cuī Jué and Fǎyǎ. It is said that the outlaw organization is affiliated with the inner court, led by a figure known as the ‘Thief Leader,’ primarily responsible for intelligence gathering.
In recent years, their main targets have been the countries of the Western Regions, with members spread across various professions, including both Hu and Han, as well as people from the Western Regions, Turks, Tiānjú, and even Persians. Since I began my journey west, I have always felt a sense of familiarity. Hè Hóngdá and the old Hu man have different identities and mysterious actions, yet their methods are strikingly similar to Bōluóyè’s.”
“I understand now,” Wáng Xuáncè nodded. “So you suspect that if someone is indeed controlling your journey west, the only organization with such power in the Western Regions would be the outlaws.”
“Exactly,” Xuánzàng confirmed.
“Then why do you suspect me?” Wáng Xuáncè asked.
“The Right Guard is one of the protective forces for the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace, and the Chief is the chief aide to the Right Guard General, holding a fifth-rank position. I have always been curious as to why His Majesty sent a military civil servant to negotiate with the Western Turks instead of an official from the Ministry of Rites,” Xuánzàng pondered aloud.
Wáng Xuáncè smiled wryly. “The Western Turks are not as familiar with our Tang’s official system as you are, Master.”
“Indeed, they may not understand, but His Majesty does. Since that is the case, there must be a reason for you, a military civil servant, to be sent to the Western Turks,” Xuánzàng continued. “When I visited your residence last time, I saw you collecting intelligence along the way and drawing maps, which made it clear to me. Your mission is similar to that of the outlaws; it is merely to gather intelligence about the Western Regions. Since the outlaws have already taken on this task, how could Lord Wèi, with his keen insight, send someone completely unrelated to the outlaws? Unless your identity is special.”
“Brilliant!” Wáng Xuáncè praised. “You are indeed insightful! Now that we’ve reached this point, I won’t hide it from you any longer. I am the leader of the outlaws, the Thief Leader!”
Xuánzàng was taken aback. Although he had suspected he was involved with the outlaws, he never imagined he was the Thief Leader himself! Xuánzàng couldn’t help but smile wryly. “I thought the Thief Leader would be a high-ranking official like Lord Wèi Zhēng, not a fifth-rank Chief.”
“Haha!” Wáng Xuáncè laughed heartily. “Master, you don’t understand. The outlaws are a secret organization responsible for law enforcement, assassination, espionage, and intelligence gathering. Their power is immense and difficult to control. If used well, they are the court’s sharp blade; if misused, they become a cancer to the court. If the Thief Leader were a high-ranking official like the Secretary or a Minister, who could control them? Therefore, while I have significant power, my official position is quite low. This was also one of the principles established by Lord Wèi when he founded the outlaws.”
“Oh, I understand now,” Xuánzàng said, enlightened. Although he was not well-versed in political matters, he felt that this arrangement made a lot of sense. “So…,” Xuánzàng thought for a moment, “can you now explain why you want to control my journey west?”
“Now that we’ve reached this point, what else can I hide?” Wáng Xuáncè sighed. “But Master, remember that everything I say is based on your deductions.”
Xuánzàng nodded with a smile.
Wáng Xuáncè pondered for a moment. “This matter is too complex. Since you know so much about the David King’s Vase, I will start with it! Do you know that the David King’s Vase is the national treasure of the Sassanian Empire, passed down through four hundred years of Persian emperors?”
“The King of Gāochāng once told me about it,” Xuánzàng nodded.
“But do you know that the reason the David King’s Vase came to the Western Regions is that the Persian emperor intended to present it as a gift to our Emperor?” Wáng Xuáncè said softly.
He looked at Xuánzàng, waiting for a surprised expression, but to his surprise, Xuánzàng calmly nodded. “I know.”
“You know?” Wáng Xuáncè was quite surprised.
“Yes!” Xuánzàng said with a hint of sadness. “Before his death, A Shù told me that his uncle Yézīdīn was the envoy sent by the Persian emperor to escort the vase.”
Wáng Xuáncè looked at him with admiration. “Master, you truly have your ears to the ground; even such secrets have reached you. Then I do not need to hide anything. Indeed, last year, the Persian emperor Kūsru II sent an envoy to Cháng’ān, requesting our emperor to send troops to attack the Western Turks.”
“Attack the Western Turks?” Xuánzàng asked, puzzled. “Why would the Persian emperor travel such a long distance to ask our emperor to send troops against the Western Turks?”
“Oh, it’s like this,” Wáng Xuáncè explained. “In today’s world, there are a few great powers, with our Tang being the most eastern. During the previous Sui Dynasty, the Turks split into eastern and western factions. The Western Turks controlled the entire Western Region and the Silk Road. To the west of the Western Regions are the powerful Persian Empire and the Byzantine Empire. The conflicts among these three great powers are intricate. Persia and Byzantium are arch-enemies, having fought a war for over four hundred years, with intermittent peace and conflict.
About twenty-five years ago, the Persian emperor Kūsru II launched an attack on Byzantium, achieving great success for nearly twenty years, almost annihilating Byzantium. Unexpectedly, a brilliant commander named Heraclius emerged in Byzantium, secretly allying with the Western Turks to launch a joint attack on the Sassanian Empire, leading to a disastrous defeat for Persia. Last spring, Heraclius even reached the capital of the Persian Empire, Ctesiphon. The entire Sassanian Empire was on the brink of collapse.”
“Oh,” Xuánzàng nodded. Having immersed himself in Zen and Buddhist philosophy for years, he heard about the geopolitical struggles of great powers for the first time, and it broadened his horizons. “I understand now; Kūsru II wants our Tang to attack the Western Turks to relieve his urgent crisis.”
“Exactly,” Wáng Xuáncè confirmed. “Given the strength of the Sassanian Empire, they wouldn’t suffer such a devastating defeat if they were only facing Byzantium. However, with Byzantium and the Western Turks joining forces, they cannot withstand it at all.”
“How did His Majesty respond?” Xuánzàng asked.
“Of course, he refused,” Wáng Xuáncè replied. “At that time, His Majesty was preparing for a campaign against the Eastern Turks, planning to use the full strength of the nation to annihilate the Eastern Turks and eliminate the Tang Empire’s internal threats. He didn’t even have time to reconcile with the Western Turks, so how could he attack them?”
“But…” Xuánzàng hesitated. “I imagine Kūsru II is also a formidable figure; he wouldn’t think that merely asking would lead the Tang to send troops, would he?”
“Of course,” Wáng Xuáncè said with a serious expression. “After His Majesty’s refusal, the envoy mentioned the David King’s Vase, describing its various miraculous properties, claiming that whoever possesses the vase can make three wishes and achieve anything. He promised that if the Tang was willing to send troops, Kūsru II would present the David King’s Vase to His Majesty.”
“Now I see!” Xuánzàng finally understood the background of the David King’s Vase. “What was His Majesty’s response?”
“His Majesty was certainly quite tempted,” Wáng Xuáncè said with a bitter smile. “But our emperor is a person of great stature; how could he change the national policy of the Tang for something so filled with absurdity?”
“That’s true,” Xuánzàng nodded, somewhat puzzled. “Since His Majesty refused, how did the David King’s Vase end up being sent here?”
“Because…” Wáng Xuáncè sighed, “the envoy said they could send the David King’s Vase to Cháng’ān first, and after His Majesty witnessed its powers, he could make a decision. If His Majesty still refused to send troops after seeing the David King’s Vase, the Persians would give it to him for free.”
Xuánzàng was immediately stunned. “So the Persian envoy was so confident?”
“Confident. It seemed to him that as long as the David King’s Vase arrived in Cháng’ān, it would surely compel His Majesty to send troops against the Western Turks,” Wáng Xuáncè said.
“This is impossible,” Xuánzàng was shocked. “What did His Majesty say?”
“Of course, His Majesty is interested,” Wáng Xuáncè replied with a bitter smile. “The David King’s Vase is something that piques anyone’s curiosity. Just think about it: if His Majesty were to wish for eternal life, what a temptation that would be! So, he immediately agreed and instructed the Persians to send the vase to Cháng’ān, which caused quite a stir in the court.”
“Oh?” Xuánzàng was surprised. “What kind of stir?”
“The Right Chancellor, Chángsūn Wújì, the Minister of State, Fáng Xuánlíng, and the Minister of Personnel, Dù Rúhuì, are all Confucians who detest such supernatural matters. They believe that allowing such a sinister object to seduce His Majesty is a great disgrace to the Tang court. Lord Wèi Zhēng, my direct superior, although he was a Taoist in his youth, is fundamentally aligned with Confucian ideals. He repeatedly petitioned the emperor to refuse the David King’s Vase. His Majesty simply would not agree and, I heard, even smashed dishes in front of Empress Chángsūn.” Wáng Xuáncè recalled this with a sense of frustration, sighing, “So, these officials secretly conspired and devised a bold plan to intercept the David King’s Vase before it reached the borders of the country!”
“What?” Xuánzàng was taken aback. Since the beginning of the Zhēnguān era, Li Shìmín had ruled with an open mind, welcoming advice and maintaining harmony with his ministers, especially with Wèi Zhēng, who was known for his candid counsel. Li Shìmín never held a grudge against him. However, the emperor, after all, is still an emperor, with his taboos. It is a grave offense for high-ranking officials to secretly unite against his will, something no emperor would tolerate. It seemed that Wèi Zhēng and the others were overly wary of the David King’s Vase, willing to risk their lives and futures.
Xuánzàng steadied himself. “How do they plan to intercept the David King’s Vase?”
Wáng Xuáncè immediately smiled wryly. “Master, is there anyone more suitable than me for this task? Lord Wèi oversees the organization of outlaws, and he plans to have me lead an elite team under the guise of a diplomatic mission to the Western Turks, secretly investigating the transportation route of the David King’s Vase, and finding a way to ensure it never reaches the Tang.”
“Now I understand!” Xuánzàng realized.
“Before I set out, Lord Wèi repeatedly instructed me not to reveal my identity, to proceed secretly, and not to resort to violence by directly killing the Persian envoy, as that would disgrace the Tang.” Wáng Xuáncè continued, “Master, think about it: this is not allowed, that is not allowed, and the Western Regions are still the territory of the Western Turks. What good methods can I employ?” Wáng Xuáncè lamented.
Xuánzàng understood his predicament. After all, the matter of the David King’s Vase was of great importance, involving the lives and fortunes of countless central ministers of the Tang, as well as the diplomatic relations between the Tang and the Western Turks. Almost every action he took could influence the entire world’s balance.
“Later, your appearance gave Lord Wèi a plan,” Wáng Xuáncè said with a smile.
Xuánzàng was taken aback. “I gave Lord Wèi a plan?”
“Yes!” Wáng Xuáncè laughed heartily. “Do you remember, after you returned from Huòyì, you submitted a memorial to the court requesting to leave the borders and travel west to Tiānjú?”
“I remember,” Xuánzàng replied with a bitter smile. “It was precisely because my memorial was rejected by His Majesty that I had to sneak out of the country.”
“That was because His Majesty was concerned for you. The journey west is fraught with difficulties, spanning tens of thousands of miles. For centuries, countless monks have attempted to reach Tiānjú, but how many have returned? His Majesty was worried something might happen to you on the way!” Wáng Xuáncè explained.
Xuánzàng felt deeply moved. He was indeed grateful for Li Shìmín’s concern, but the journey to Tiānjú was his lifelong ambition, and how could he give it up?
“Master, your connection to this matter is that although His Majesty rejected your request, Lord Wèi, upon learning of this, decided to secretly assist you in leaving the borders!” Wáng Xuáncè said.
Xuánzàng was stunned. “What?”
Wáng Xuáncè laughed. “Don’t you feel like you’re being manipulated? The divination that Hè Hóngdá performed for you in Cháng’ān was meticulously designed by Lord Wèi!”
“Now I see!” Xuánzàng understood. “But how does this relate to your plan to intercept the David King’s Vase? Why would Lord Wèi secretly assist me in leaving to travel west?”
“Master, think about it: there are demons in the Western Regions, and the Buddha’s son comes from the East. What will happen when the two meet?” Wáng Xuáncè said with a smile. “Lord Wèi plans to make the David King’s Vase widely known in the Western Regions, causing chaos, and then when you, the Buddha’s son, arrive, it will be only natural for you to confront the David King’s Vase. Meanwhile, I will hide in the shadows to uncover the secrets of the vase and see what the Persians are truly plotting!”
“So it’s still up to me to subdue the demons,” Xuánzàng said, feeling speechless. He was always uncomfortable with the idea of monks being associated with demon-slaying, but he couldn’t help but admire Wèi Zhēng’s strategy. The two had crossed paths in Huòyì, and Xuánzàng had fallen into his scheme back then, not expecting to be caught in another one this time.
Wáng Xuáncè laughed heartily. “After the plan was formulated, I secretly followed you out of Cháng’ān. Do you remember in Guāzhōu, when the governor of Li Dàliàng sent an edict to capture you?”
“Yes!” Xuánzàng replied. “It was the minor official Li Chāng from Guāzhōu who tore up the edict and advised me to leave quickly.”
“Li Chāng is one of my people,” Wáng Xuáncè said with a smile.
Xuánzàng couldn’t help but smile wryly.
“That old Hu man who gifted you the red horse was also one of my subordinates. I originally intended for him to escort you to Yīwù, but unexpectedly, you found a Hu man named Shí Pántuó to take you instead. I had no choice but to have that old man give you the red horse; I couldn’t let Hè Hóngdá’s reputation be tarnished, so I had to ensure that the ‘old, thin red horse with iron on the saddle’ was delivered!” Wáng Xuáncè recounted with a laugh. “Then, I waited for you in Yīwù, but to my surprise, several days passed, and you still hadn’t arrived.”
“I got lost in the Mòhèyánqì,” Xuánzàng lamented. “On the second day in the desert, I accidentally spilled my clean water and went without a drop for four nights and five days, nearly perishing in the desert.”
Wáng Xuáncè was greatly surprised. After thinking it over, he couldn’t help but feel a wave of fear. “Amitābha, may the gods protect you. I hadn’t anticipated such an accident. If something had truly happened to you, Lord Wèi would have surely executed me.”
Then Wáng Xuáncè began to recount his actions in detail. After learning that the Persian envoy was traveling with the Yānqí envoy, he arranged for someone to inform Qú Wéntài about the Yānqí’s request to change the Silk Road route. Qú Wéntài indeed sent Qú Déyǒng and Qú Zhìshèng to intercept the Yānqí envoy.
According to his original plan, he did not intend for the Persian envoy to die; rather, he wanted to publicly reveal the David King’s Vase in Yīwù, inciting competition between the Yānqí and Gāochāng people, and then arrange for Xuánzàng to intervene to uncover the truth about the vase. However, Xuánzàng got lost in the desert and delayed his arrival in Yīwù. By that time, the Persian envoy was already on the road, and once they crossed the Mòhèyánqì, they would be within the borders of the Tang. Wáng Xuáncè had no choice but to push Qú Déyǒng to take action and intercept the Yānqí envoy.
Xuánzàng was already aware of the outcome: the vase was obtained by Qú Zhìshèng, who made a wish, allowing Lóng Shuāngyuè to take advantage of the situation and nearly destroy Gāochāng.
After listening, Xuánzàng was speechless for a long time. It was already dusk, and the setting sun cast a slanted light over the flames of the mountain, creating a furnace-like glow that painted Wáng Xuáncè’s face with a layer of crimson.
“In the struggle of great nations, how can one regard human life as mere grass?” Xuánzàng said slowly.
“Compared to the slaughter of entire cities in war, my hands may be stained with blood, but it is something I must do,” Wáng Xuáncè explained. “Master, think about it: if the David King’s Vase were to enter the Tang and seduce His Majesty, not to mention the casualties from sending troops to the Western Turks, how many lives would be lost? How many orphans and widows would weep for their loved ones on the battlefield far away?”
Xuánzàng fell silent. He had experienced the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, and the brutal scenes still haunted him. Although he found Wáng Xuáncè’s actions extremely distasteful, he didn’t want to argue against them.
“Sir,” Xuánzàng asked, “now that the David King’s Vase has been taken by Mòhè, why don’t you stop it?”
“Why should I stop it?” Wáng Xuáncè countered. “Master, can’t you see? The David King’s Vase is an ominous object. Wherever it goes, calamity follows. If it can cause chaos in the Western Turks, it would be entirely beneficial to our Tang and of no harm.”
“Does that mean the people of the Turks should bear this calamity in the eyes of the Tang?” Xuánzàng questioned.
“Should I let the people of the Tang bear this calamity?” Wáng Xuáncè scoffed. “Master, have you forgotten about Xuē Jǔ, Dòu Jiàndé, Wáng Shìchōng, and Li Wǔzhōu? During the great chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, if it weren’t for the Turks supporting and instigating from behind the scenes, would our Central Plains have endured seventeen years of civil war, leaving the common people with nine out of ten homes empty and a thousand miles without a rooster’s crow? The only way for the people of the Tang to live in abundance and avoid the ravages of war is to grow stronger and weaken the enemy!”
Xuánzàng didn’t want to say anything more. He stood up and clasped his hands together. “If that’s the case, then I shall walk the path of the Tathāgata, and you can go to the Western Turks to witness the fireworks in the sky!”
“Where are you going, Master?” Wáng Xuáncè hurried after him.
“To Gāochāng,” Xuánzàng called for his horse and mounted it.
“Master,” Wáng Xuáncè grabbed his horse, “the crisis in Gāochāng has already been resolved. Why must you go? It would be better to head west quickly! You will need to pass through the Western Turkic king’s territory to obtain their protection, and I also need to meet with Tǒng Yèhù Kèhàn. Why don’t we travel together for mutual support?”
“Thank you, Lord Wáng,” Xuánzàng shook his head. “I’m afraid I still need to stay in Gāochāng for a while longer. I have a lingering worry in my heart. The calamity that the David King’s Vase brings to Gāochāng is likely just beginning. The King of Gāochāng has treated me so well; how can I leave at this moment? Farewell, my lord.”
After saying this, Xuánzàng urged his warhorse and galloped toward the direction of Gāochāng’s royal city.
Wáng Xuáncè stood for a long time, gazing at his retreating figure. After a while, he said, “Form ranks, and head to the Western Turkic court.”