Chapter 636: No Way Back

Translator: Foxs' Wuxia

By the time the sun moved to the middle of the sky, the magnificent City of Luoyang finally appeared directly north ahead.

Kou Zhong ordered the grain-transporting team to take a break. With Yang Gongqing, Xu Ziling, and Ba Fenghan, three men, he galloped toward a high elevation, to look into the distance at the situation outside the city.

Yi River was flowing to their left, winding away to the distance, flowing through the city wall and the canal piercing into the city, toward the tightly closed Hou Zai, Ding Ding, and Chang Xia, three southern gates. On a distant hill about one li outside the city, the Tang Army built a wooden fort, it appeared that it had not been built too long ago; in term of scale, it was not big, it could only accommodate several hundred men, difficult to pose a threat to them. However, if they wanted to break through this strongly defended wooden fort, it would not be easy at all. If it attracted the other Tang Army to come to help, they might suffer big loss. Therefore, no one had any idea how to deal with the opponent.

Kou Zhong sighed and said, “If we go by the original plan, this moment Ling Shao should have led the Flying Cloud Riders back to Chenliu to transport the second batch of food. But now obviously this idea won’t work.”

Xu Ziling nodded in agreement. First of all, Wuming was restraint by the vicious vultures, it would be difficult for her to display her effectiveness. Second, there was the problem with the spy. Grain-transporting team was slow-moving and awkward, if their whereabouts was exposed, transporting grains to Luoyang would not be much different from committing suicide.

Ba Fenghan asked in astonishment, “Ziling is not coming with us to Luoyang?”

Kou Zhong said, “Ling Shao is going back to Liangdu to preside over the general situation. Ay! This food supply problem really gives people headache, according to Xuanshu, although a large number of people already fled Luoyang, but the troops and civilians remaining in the city are still more than 150,000 people, the stuffs we are delivering can only last at most for half a month.”

Blurted out laughing, Ba Fenghan said, “How did you calculate that number? Five hundred carts of food, two mules each cart, a total of a thousand strong mules. By killing a hundred mules a day, it will be enough to eat for ten days. After killing the mules, we can kill the horse, how could we not pass a month? Not to mention there are still surplus grains in Luoyang; let’s just say that it is enough for a month and a half, that should be enough time for Dou Jiande to come and break the siege!”

Hearing that, Xu Ziling felt his blood ran cold. You looked at me I gazed at you with Kou Zhong, the latter slapped his forehead and said, “Why have I never thought about eating mule meat? Ay! Dear mules! I am so sorry, you have worked so hard to transport grains for us, but we will have to slaughter you for food.”

Ba Fenghan shook his head and said with a wry smile, “Hence the reason we, Tujue people often say that you, Han people embrace Niang’er’s [lit. mother/women in general] heart, not ruthless enough. War is just like this, for the sake of victory, anything can be sacrificed.”

Turning to Xu Ziling, he said, “Ziling, come with us to Luoyang! After Luoyang’s defense is stabilized, we force our way out of encirclement to see Dou Jiande to ask for help. We, three brothers, fight side by side, in life or death together, it will be a great delight. In war, there is only the difference between the enemy and us, any friendly feelings can’t be used. Li Shimin is representing the Li Clan and not him personally, he is fighting for Li Yuan and Li Jiancheng to obtain the world. Li Yuan and Jiancheng do not have any friendly relations with you, unless you want to let them rule the Central Earth, otherwise you should make up your mind, to swear an oath to defeat them. I am really not eloquent, I am just speaking out what’s in my heart.”

Kou Zhong remained silent without saying anything.

Xu Ziling cast his gaze toward the grand capital city resplendent under the shining sun, a thousand layers of huge waves were surging in his heart, because the next decision he was about to make would bring his future destiny completely to the other direction. What should he do?

Yang Gongqing nodded and said, “What Fenghan said is an iron-clad fact; internally, the Li Clan has already been nibbled away by the demonic school. Li Shimin is just an instrument of war, he no longer has the power to act independently.”

Kou Zhong finally spoke up; reaching out, he said with a bitter smile, “Everything will be decided by Ziling! Of course I need you, but if you choose to leave, I will only have delight and no resentment in my heart.”

Xu Ziling was suddenly overcome with intense longing for Shi Feixuan; if she was by his side, he might humbly go down on his knees to beg for a clear-cut direction. After taking a deep breath, Xu Ziling calmly said, “There’s not much time, we have to move immediately, so that we will enter the city before sunset.”

He felt that with every step that the Ten-thousand-Li Spots took, he was leaving this banquet-of-the-south-sweeping-up-the-north to the point of getting even closer to be drawn into the great vortex of war, which involved most of the foreign tribes beyond the Great Wall. Moreover, he was pulling the distance to the place Shi Qingxuan lived to shun the world farther and farther away, until he would be completely without any way back, until the strength exhausted, the people perish! Unless Kou Zhong’s side finally won, only then would he have the possibility to get away.

This thought made him feel his spirit weary, his strength exhausted, because he knew even more clearly that he was incapable to stay out of it. Could it be that he would let his own brother put his life in danger while fighting bravely for his ideal, seeking happiness for all the people, yet he simply watched with folded arms, he simply sat and watched, but remained indifferent? No matter how unwilling, ultimately he had to harden his heart and made up his mind, to choose to embark on the no-way-back journey to support Kou Zhong.

The Yang Family Army arranged themselves in battle formation, waiting in tight disposition of troops west of the enemy’s fort, to guard against the enemy charging out of their fort to attack them. The Flying Cloud warriors were in charge of driving the mule carts, pushing on toward Ding Ding [lit. setting up the sacred tripods (reference to Xiang Yu)] Gate, under escort of Wang Xuanshu and his personal guards. Just as expected, although there was some movement inside the Tang Army fort, it was purely defensive in nature, they did not dare to go out to fight.

On top of the city walls, the bells were tolling, Ding Ding Gate lowered the suspension bridge across the moat, Wang Shichong, Wang Xuanying, and the Great General Ba Yegang, leading two thousand Zheng Army, came out to welcome them. Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, Ba Fenghan, Yang Gongqing, and Wang Xuanshu, five riders galloped out of the grain-transporting convoy.

The two sides met, the troops on Wang Shichong’s side spontaneously exploded in shaking-the-heavens cheers and joyous shouts, some people even shed manly hot tears at the arrival of the grass and provisions’ aid. The Zheng Kingdom warriors at the top of Luoyang’s square city wall and guarding the gate responded in shouts, the situation was enthusiastic and moving, just like the people in great drought seeing sweet rain falling down from the sky; they were coming back from the death’s door.

Wang Shichong stepped forward to greet Kou Zhong, he pounced down from the horse and pulled Kou Zhong into his tight embrace, his pair of eyes burst into tears, he said, “Shaoshuai holds high righteousness and profound love, and disregards former hatred, Wang Shichong is extremely grateful, this great kindness and great virtue will never be forgotten.”

Being held in his embrace, Kou Zhong felt uncomfortable all over, because he knew that it is easier to change mountains and rivers than to alter one’s character. Whatever one’s character is, even it changes greatly under some kind of special situation, the innate character is still difficult to change.

Kou Zhong gently broke free from his embrace, he spoke seriously, “This time I am coming back with Yang Gong to Luoyang, there is no condition, let alone any request; I just hope that we all can work together sincerely to beat back the Tang Army. I hope Shengshang understands clearly.”

The grain convoy rumbled past them; they entered the wide-opened Ding Ding Gate in single file with the Zheng Army crowding around to escort them.

Standing by Kou Zhong’s side, a burst of emotional stirring welled up in Xu Ziling’s heart, he deeply felt the horror and cruelty of war, because it was clearly written on every enduring-the-torment-of-it Zheng soldier’s face.

Wang Shichong sighed and said, “I made mistakes again and again, originally I do not have the face to see Shaoshuai, nowadays I only seek a corner where I will be content to hold a small part of the territory, no more than that.”

As they spoke, the two galloped toward the city gate, while Xu Ziling, Yang Gongqing, Wang Xuanshu, Wang Xuanying, Ba Fenghan, Ba Yegang, and so on were following closely behind them.

Seemingly without any ill-feeling, Wang Xuanying said hello to Xu Ziling and Yang Gongqing, but Xu and Yang could see his reluctant expression clearly, that it was because he had no choice that he was forced to repair friendly relations with them.

Ba Fenghan’s expression was cold and detached, as if there were no human affairs in the world able to move his heart.

At the front, Kou Zhong lowered his voice to ask Wang Shichong, “I wonder if Rong Fengxiang and his people are still in the city?”

Letting out a cold snort, Wang Shichong replied, “Before Li Shimin’s main forces pressing on our territory, they already ran away one and all; true sentiments are seen in hard times [idiom], it is indeed a steadfast truth throughout all ages.”

Kou Zhong said, “Our plan is that after we stabilize Luoyang’s defense, we will immediately go to see Dou Jiande to persuade him to dispatch his troops to come and help, I hope that we could resolved Luoyang’s siege before the grain is exhausted. I wonder if Shengshang has any opinion about this matter?”

Wang Shichong spoke with serious expression, “As long as it is Shaoshuai’s conditions, I, Wang Shichong, definitely will not refuse.”

“That’s the best then,” Kou Zhong cheerfully said, “After entering the city, we will immediately distribute half of the grains and daily necessities to the people, to pacify the people’s heart first, and then we will see whether Li Shimin’s besieging-the-city war is outstanding, or our coalition forces’ defending-the-city battle is more formidable.”

Slightly taken aback, Wang Shichong nodded his agreement.

The bugle horn sounded, the Yang Family troops, under Ma Chang’s supervision, began to pull the grains away from the Ding Ding Gate; the grain-transporting mission was finally successfully accomplished. As soon as Kou Zhong entered the city, his move of immediately distributing the grains was even more effective and useful than any other method to raise the people’s heart, it immediately restored the originally lifeless city to recover its vitality, giving it an opportunity to live. Kou Zhong even sent his men to spread the news that the Dou Army would soon be deployed across the river, to come and help Luoyang out of danger, so that the morale of the army and civilians inside the city was greatly aroused.

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Kou Zhong and the others immediately held a high-level military meeting with Wang Shichong and his generals, which mostly consisted of the high-ranking military officers with Wang surname, while the exhausted grain-transporting troops were settled in any vacant houses across the city to rest, in order to deal with the imminent large-scale attack and defense battle.

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Luoyang was one of the three big capitals of the former Sui dynasty, it was the most solid city outside of Chang’an and Jiangdu. Just by looking at how Li Zitong, with his ability, by relying on Jiangdu, was able to resist the overbearing-in-the-world Du Fuwei’s elite Jianghuai Army, as well as Shen Faxing’s Jiangnan Navy, one could imagine Luoyang’s power and influence.

In fact, Luoyang’s defensive power was not inferior in any aspects compared to Chang’an and Jiangdu. Other than the natural barrier of mountains and rivers all around, the outside wall thickness reached eight zhang, it was wide enough for more than a dozen riders galloping side by side. The city gate tower was grand, there were twelve gates on four sides, one gate could correspond with other gate, all gates were closed entrance.

The biggest threat to the besieging Tang Army were the ‘Big Flying Rock’ and ‘Eight Crossbow and Arrow Machine’, designed and manufactured by Sha Tiannan. The former could throw up to fifty catties huge rocks, its range reached two hundred paces. The latter could shoot arrow as big as an axe, capable of attacking the enemy within its more than five hundred paces range. Both were highly mobile and flexible, super-defensive instrument that could maneuver swiftly atop the city wall.

One hundred and twenty ‘Big Flying Rocks’, and a hundred and fifty ‘Eight Crossbow and Arrow Machines’ – made Luoyang’s defense as secure as a city protected by a wall of metal and a moat of boiling water [idiom: invulnerable to attack]. Therefore, although everybody was hungry, and the besieging troops’ commander was the inspiring-awe-throughout-the-empire Li Shimin, day and night continuously without any break for more than ten days attacking the city from all sides, they still failed to subdue and capture Luoyang.

The strength of the Tang Army outside the city was continuously increasing. Li Yuanji, under Li Yuan’s order, was transferred from Chang’an to be Li Shimin’s deputy, bringing with him fifty thousand fresh soldiers. Li Shiji also moved his troops from Hulao to Luoyang, bringing the total of Li Shimin’s, who set up his headquarters in Qing Cheng Palace northeast of Luoyang – military strength to 120,000 troops. If all of the Tang Army stationed in various towns in the surrounding area was included, the total number of the Tang Army in military expedition going out of the Pass to the east would be above 200,000 men. From this, it could be seen that Li Yuan was going all out, giving all he had – to accomplish his aspiration.

Under normal circumstances, Luoyang was simply a solid city that was impossible to conquer, therefore, the strategy that Li Shimin adopted was absolutely correct, which was: first of all, isolate Luoyang, cut off all routes for providing foodstuffs, so that the military and civilians inside the city lacked food and had nothing to eat. At that time, it would collapse on its own without they need to attack.

Kou Zhong successfully transported rations and fodder into Luoyang, luck was an important factor. The crucial point was in Ba Fenghan coming in time to deliver the information, also because of Yang Gongqing’s discarded pontoon bridge installation. All these factors coming together resulted in great success. And this, in the besieged city battle, would be Luoyang’s last food supply. Even if Kou Zhong and the others could break the siege and return to Chenliu, it would be impossible to transport another batch of army provision.

Now, Luoyang’s only saving-star was Dou Jiande. Only he could recapture Hulao and open the gap on the eastern front; only then would they have the chance to beat Li Shimin back.

After the arrival of Kou Zhong’s reinforcements, Li Shimin suspended the siege of the city and reorganized his troop disposition.

No one dared to underestimate Kou Zhong, once he and Wang Shichong joined forces and attacked them from two or more sides, perhaps the Tang Army would suffer a big loss. Li Shimin’s strategy has been based on the premise that everything proceeded in cautious, stable and steady manner.

After Kou Zhong and the others entered the city, the Tang Army began to dig ditches and build ramparts all around Luoyang, to seal off all passages leading to and from Luoyang, attack and defense resources were doubled, creating an even greater pressure than continuous violent attack.

At the meeting, the allocation of duties of the various generals under Wang Shichong’s command did not see major changes from before, with the exception of the Shang Dong and An Xi, two city gates, which were closest to the Tang Army’s general headquarters Qing Cheng Palace, were handed over to Yang Gongqing, in command of the Yang Family troops, who had ample experience, assisted by the Flying Cloud Riders, which Kou Zhong personally trained – to deal with Li Shimin’s main force’s attack. The officers and soldiers originally defending these two battlefronts were transferred to other city gates.

The total number of military and civilian personnel in the city was about 180,000, the number of regular troops remained more than 32,000, plus the Shao Shuai Army reinforcements, the military strength was still less than 40,000.

After looking at the situation clearly, Kou Zhong made a prompt decision, he wanted to take advantage of the time while Li Shimin has not completed the blockade, to break the siege and leave the city at night, to see Dou Jiande.

What else could Wang Shichong say? Other than reiterating his gratitude and reaffirming his sincerity in cooperating with the Shao Shuai Army and the Dou Army, he submitted to Kou Zhong’s decision in everything.

Finally, Kou Zhong concluded, “With every passing day, our foodstuff, daily necessities and medicine will decrease a little. Looking at the current situation, the food inside the city can last, at most, for a month and a half, until the first third of the tenth month. Continued supply is impossible. Therefore, our only hope at present is the Dou Army coming to help. As long as they can capture Hulao, it would open access to the eastern front, Luoyang’s siege would be broken. We will set out promptly tonight to see Dou Jiande, during which time you will have to defend your property to the death in Luoyang until we bring the good news back.”

After the meeting, Kou Zhong declined Wang Shichong’s invitation to come into the palace to give him a farewell dinner. Together with Xu Ziling and Ba Fenghan, they returned to their former residence, the small courtyard house with the river behind the house, at the Ze Shan Lane in the southern part of the city, to strive for some time to rest.

This courtyard house was originally belonged to Wang Shichong, but because each time they came to Luoyang Wang Shichong let them stay there, it could not help bringing out a special feeling in their heart. As they stepped into the house, there was a wonderful feeling like they were coming home, much like Hou Xibai’s Passionate Nest in Chang’an.

The three beloved horses and the falcon Wuming were left here to be taken care by Flying Cloud Riders. This trip to see Dou Jiande absolutely would not be a smooth sailing, there was a good chance that Li Shimin would strike to kill them. Therefore, they did not want to take the risk of their beloved horses and beloved falcon coming with them.

The three went into their separate rooms to rest.

Xu Ziling threw aside everything, he closed his eyes and sat in meditation, the true qi within his body circulated for less than two sichen, not only his fatigue was completely gone, he reached an even higher realm, his power appeared to be even more refined and pure, inwardly he was greatly astonished.

Kou Zhong’s footsteps was heard, coming from his room to Xu Ziling’s.

Kou Zhong pushed the door and came in; while stretching out his muscles and bones, he walked over to the bed, sat down, and said with a laugh, “Old Ba is going to the small dock behind the house and stares blankly over there. In my opinion, this kid still has a bit of load in his mind, he just won’t tell us!”

“It’s time to leave,” Xu Ziling said.

Kou Zhong said, “Can’t we talk for a bit first? Ay! I really trouble you, making my heart really without peace and happiness; it’s all my mistake, striving for what his Niang’s world? Right now, it is like if you ride a tiger, it’s hard to get off; I have no choice but to brace myself and continue fighting.”

Xu Ziling said, “We are all brothers, why did you say those words? However, I do have a few words from my lungs; I have to pour out what’s on my mind.”

“I am listening,” Kou Zhong solemnly said.

Xu Ziling said, “About the future, no one can know. I only hope that you will take the well-being of the people of the world as the basis for everything, do not be like those ordinary ambitious people, whose ultimate goal is for their own benefit, they are being blinded by power and fame and position.”

Kou Zhong nodded and said, “This speech, I, Kou Zhong will engrave in my heart, I will not dare to forget even for a moment.”

Xu Ziling remained silent.

Kou Zhong said, “Ling Shao, help me think, among the numerous leaders in my Shao Shuai Army, who might be the person who betrayed me?”

Knitting his brows, Xu Ziling said, “The number of people who knew that we are transporting grain to Luoyang is not many, it’s very difficult for us to distinguish the mole among them.”

Kou Zhong said, “There are only ten garrison generals and six department-level supervisors. Also, perhaps only high-level military officers like Chen Jiafeng, Xie Jue, Gao Zhiming, Zhan Gongxian, and so on would know clearly about the transporting grain matter. Therefore, it should not be difficult to guess.”

Xu Ziling muttered to himself irresolutely without speaking.

Thinking deeply, Kou Zhong said, “That day we mounted a sneak attack on Zhongli and nearly walked into the enemy’s trap, I suspected that there was a mole; in addition, I thought it was Xiliang and Xiao Rong who betrayed us. Only afterwards I knew it was a misunderstanding. Although Xiang Yushan, that kid, has a knack of doing a bit of ghost trick, he still has not reached the prophesying-with-supernatural-accuracy level yet. Therefore, I am sure that at that time there was already a mole within our army sending him information in secret. Ay! Who is this person?”

Xu Ziling said, “Yang Gong and Ma Chang absolutely have no problem, we can eliminate them from the suspects list. Zhi Shu, Mou Lao, Zhandao, Fengyi and Xiao Jie have deep relationship with us, we have been through trials and tribulations together for a long time, there shouldn’t be any problem either. Xuan Yong and the two great generals under his command Gao Zhiming and Zhan Gongxian came from Zhai Rang’s system, just by looking at how loyal and dependable and steadfast toward Da Xiaojie, they shouldn’t be that kind of people. The rests are only Xu Xingzhi, Ren Meimei, Luo Qifei, Chen Changlin, Bai Wenyuan, Jiao Hongjin, Chen Jiafeng and Xie Jue. In your heart, which one do you suspect?”

Kou Zhong said, “I really don’t want to suspect any one of them. Although we and Xu Xingzhi are strangers coming together by chance, I feel that he is a wise man whose bosom is filled with the aspiration to save the world; it is unlikely that he would do such a shameless matter. Changlin Xiong conducts himself as a person of noble character, suspecting him would make me feel guilty. Bai Wenyuan, we have saved his life; according to reason, he would not bite the hand that feeds him. Jiao Hongjin and me have been through life and death together, plus his conduct is upright, I won’t suspect him as the mole. But I don’t have that kind of confidence toward Ren Meimei, Chen Jiafeng and Xie Jue. After all, they were Pengliang Bang people, and Pengliang Bang’s reputation has never been good, plus they have a hopelessly muddled relationship with Baling Bang. Ay! This is really a big headache.”

Ba Fenghan appeared at the door. “Brothers!” he spoke indifferently, “The time for self-cultivation has arrived!”

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