Chapter 2: The Stormy Weather of Yan and Zhao Section 18
Li Hong's battle knife chopped heavily on Xian Yu Fu's iron halberd, issuing a loud clanging sound of metal hitting metal.
Xian Yu assisted Li Hong in cutting down the powerful U Yan, without showing any fear. The loud noise of the blow made U Yan's ears deaf and his eyes see stars.
"Sir, he is the great chieftain of nearly a thousand tribes of the Wuhuan in Youbeiping Commandery. We cannot kill him. Let us ask the Governor and the Magistrate to decide."
Li Hong's anger was hard to dissipate, and he raised his battle knife again. With a loud roar, he chopped it down onto the dead horse's body.
"You have settled and grazed on the land of my Great Han, survived and multiplied on the grasslands of my Great Han. When has my Great Han ever treated you unfairly? You, a despicable villain, dare to invade the territory of my Great Han, attack the strongholds of my Great Han, kill the people of my Great Han, destroy the homes of my Great Han. You should be torn apart by five horses."
Wu Yan seemed to have not heard Li Hong's scolding, a pair of eyes staring at Li Hong with venom. Li Hong's anger had not dissipated, and he kicked Wu Yan in the face with one foot, shouting loudly at Yan Wuyi and several surrounding soldiers:
"Hit me, hit me."
Swallows fearlessly rushed forward, and the four captives were subjected to a flurry of punches and kicks. Li Hong was also caught in the middle, kicking east and punching west. Xian Yu Fu was both angry and amused - where was the calm and collected military officer from earlier? This was just a bandit!
The next day, after Liu Yu and Liu Zheng received Li Hong's report of victory, they sent out a follow-up force that arrived at the scene. They took all the war horses, supplies, fodder, and captives from the Bailin Pasture back to Lulong Pass. Li Hong and his soldiers were welcomed as heroes at Lulong Pass.
Lü Bu's victory was like a thunderclap, stirring up waves of shock on the land of Yan and Zhao, injecting a new dose of fresh blood into the dying Han Dynasty, allowing the tottering giant to glimpse the hope of rebuilding its glory.
Liu Zheng did not fulfill his promise to Liu Yu.
After Liu Yu led the large number of war horses away and returned to Ji City, Liu Zheng asked Li Hong how many people were needed to guard Lulong Pass at this time. He hoped that fewer people would be better, so as to alleviate the huge expenditure of the prefecture. The reconstruction of the Lulong Pass army after the war needs money, the replenishment of supplies and equipment for the border troops needs money, and the prefecture's condolences for the dead soldiers need money. Everywhere needs money, and it can only save a little bit at a time.
Li Hong understood Liu Zheng's meaning. The reason he strongly demanded to pursue the victory at the beginning was that after plundering a large amount of property from the Hu people, the Hu people would be severely damaged and unable to organize troops again to harass and plunder other places in the Lulong Pass and the Great Han border.
Li Hong said eight hundred people would be enough.
Liu Zheng was not satisfied, and he explained his difficulties to Li Hong in detail, hoping to reduce some of the troops in the short term and cut unnecessary expenses, as the long winter was approaching.
Li Hong said that six hundred people cannot be reduced any further. However, by next spring, the number must be restored to one thousand six hundred, which is the minimum limit for garrisoning such a large fortress.
Liu Zheng gathered his several attendants and military officers of the rank of Sima in the army to discuss the matter of Lu Long Pass after sending off Li Hong. Given that the enemy had already been thoroughly annihilated, the strength of the Wuhuan tribe in Youbei Pingzhou had suffered a heavy blow, the two chieftains of the eastern Xianbei tribes had been captured, and it was impossible for the Hu people to invade again in the short term, so it was indeed unnecessary to station a large number of troops at Lu Long Pass in the coming severe winter. This can save the prefecture a lot of expenses.
Liu Zheng did not promote Li Hong's military rank, still letting him lead three battalions of 600 men and horses stationed at the Lulong Pass, including the battalion where Yan Wuyi was. The original over 200 wounded soldiers at the Lulong Pass were left inside to recover from their injuries. Wu Yan Quan Ji Su Li and other Hu nobles and captives were also imprisoned within the pass, waiting for Governor Liu Yu to negotiate with the Wuhuan people and the Xianbei people before making a decision.
Before Liu Zhenglin left, he gave Li Hong a special privilege to comfort him. He can recruit soldiers in the name of the prefecture to make up for the shortage of the Lu Long Pass border army. As for the military pay and equipment of the newly recruited soldiers, Li Hong can report to the prefecture in the spring to receive them. If he can take care of himself, that would be the best. As for how to take care of himself, it's Li Hong's own business.
The crowd dispersed immediately and it became quiet.
Li Hong left Tian Chong to gather the original soldiers of Lulong Pass and the wounded soldiers who had recovered to form a patrol team, responsible for guarding the city gate of New Moon Tower. After Zheng Xin returned to the team, Li Hong let him be in charge of rebuilding the vanguard team. Xiao Lanming was lucky enough to survive after being seriously injured at Mei Lou. Yan Wuyi and his fourteen brothers were taken out by Li Hong as guards.
The three village chiefs were all from Youzhou Right Beiping Prefecture and had great faith in Li Hong. In their work and training, they gave it their all and didn't let Li Hong worry about anything. Li Hong was very laid-back at the Lulong Pass, apart from participating in the daily drills of the troops, he would sit with the soldiers and chat idly. At night, he would go to Tian Jing's study and read some books, although he didn't understand much, it was better than nothing.
Those are a pair of sorrowful and resentful eyes that make one's soul turn upside down and heart tremble with fear.
Li Hong's heart suddenly felt as if it had been stabbed by this pair of eyes, the intense pain almost made him moan. In an instant, all his thoughts were gone, and he no longer had the courage to say a word.
She was gaunt and dressed in mourning, her beautiful face etched with endless despair and pain. She was like the autumn rain, lonely, sorrowful, bleak, and plaintive.
The two people stared at each other in silence. Xiaoyu's tall figure slowly slid down along the door frame, and she fell to the ground, fainting.
A dim candle, a flickering flame, reflected on her pale face in the drizzle, adding to her helplessness and sorrow. A faint scent of incense wafted through the bedroom.
Li Hong sat beside him, like a sculpture, motionless.
The little rain slowly woke up, and tears flowed out silently.
Li Hong seemed to sense something and looked up at her. The two people's eyes met, but neither of them spoke.
"My name is Li Hong, I am a brother of justice."
Li Hong took out the sachet which had turned red from his bosom and slowly placed it in Xiaoyu's hand.
"After a long period of silence, Xiaoyu suddenly said softly: 'I want to go see him.'"
It's snowing, the first snow of this winter, big snowflakes like goose feathers, have been falling for several days.
Xiaoyu slowly knelt in front of Ji Ming's grave, tears streaming down her face. Suddenly, she let out a loud wail and began to cry uncontrollably. She cried for a long time, as if trying to release all the sadness and pain that had been pent up inside her onto the cold snowy ground.
Li Hong stood alone at the foot of the mountain, gazing at the lonely and helpless figure in the drizzle, his spirit dwindling away.
"Gong Yi once said that he must take me to the Lu Long Fortress to have a look. He wants to take me to stand on the highest watchtower, to see the most magnificent fortress under heaven."
The gentle rain stroked the sturdy wooden stake as if it were gently caressing Ji Ming's face, with deep affection and tenderness.
Li Hong stood behind her, silent and speechless.
Xiaoyu's expression calmed down a lot, and a miraculous smile appeared on her face that had no anger. Perhaps feeling herself standing next to Jimei, Xiaoyu's withered heart suddenly burst into life like being watered by sweet dew.
"I can take you to see," Li Hong said in a low voice.
Xiao Yu nodded and turned around to thank Li Hong sincerely: "Thank you for taking care of me all these days."
Li Hong shook his head and said in a low voice: "As long as you're feeling a little better."
Because of the heavy snow, Xiaoyu stayed at Lulong Pass. Li Hong gave up his bedroom and moved to the scout camp. Xiaoyu went to the mountain every day to visit Ji Ming's grave, often standing for a long time. When she returned to Lulong Pass, she would hide in her room or stay in Tian Jing's study reading books all day. Li Hong visited her every day, chatting with her and talking about customs and people outside the pass. As time passed, Xiaoyu's mood seemed to gradually emerge from sadness and loneliness, and a smile often appeared on her face. This made Li Hong very happy. She proposed to return to Xuwucheng several times, but was persuaded by Li Hong to stay. Alone, living in Xuwucheng, lonely and helpless, it's better to temporarily live at Lulong Pass until winter passes.
Xiaoyu's poetry and writing were extremely good, which surprised Li Hong greatly. Xiaoyu said that her foster father in Xu Wucheng was a famous Confucian scholar, who was humble and kind. Her foster father had never married, treated her as his own, and taught her to read and write from a young age. Li Hong admired him very much and often went to ask for guidance on articles he didn't understand. As time passed, those obscure and difficult books he could barely make sense of.
Days passed by one after another, quietly and peacefully, a new year arrived silently.
February 185 AD.
Li Hong stood on the main city wall of Lulong Pass, his tall figure facing the biting cold wind unmoving, his scattered long hair dancing in the howling gusts.
Yesterday, Liu Yu's envoy, Wei Yao and Chen, the five officials of You Beiping County, arrived at Yanmen Pass from the government office of the governor of Yuzhou.
Governor Liu Yu has reached an agreement with the Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes of Youbeiping and the east regarding the surrender of Wu Yan's remnants. They braved the wind and snow to come, just to handle the handover with the Wuhuan and Xianbei people. Moreover, His Majesty the Emperor rewarded all the generals who participated in the Battle of Lulong Pass. However, since there were few border troops left after the battle, these rewards naturally fell into the hands of some officials such as the governor. Liu Zheng probably had a guilty conscience, so he immediately ordered Chen Da to bring the documents promoting Li Hong to the position of military commander to Lulong Pass. He is currently the youngest and most famous military commander among the border troops in various parts of Youzhou.
The envoys of the Wūhuán and Xianbei peoples will also arrive at Lúlóng Sài in a few days, so Lǐ Hóng often stands on top of the city wall, gazing out at the vast white grasslands covered in heavy snow.
"Sir, the wind and snow are too heavy, let's go back." Yan Wuyi appeared behind Li Hong, saying in a low voice.
"Has your brother you sent out returned?"
"Not yet, probably due to the heavy snow and wind. Next month, when the weather gets better and the thaw begins, I'm sure there will be good news."
Li Hong nodded, "The horse thieves from all over the vast grasslands have a well-informed network. Establishing good relations with them will be very beneficial for our future war against the Xianbei people."
"You are really kind, sir. No governor has ever been so courteous to us bandits before. You're the first one."
"Horse thieves are also forced to become horse thieves. If there is food and drink at home, who would want to go and steal horses."
"The grown-ups are right. But in these times, even if one becomes a bandit, they probably won't be able to do it for long." Yan Gan suddenly said with a tinge of sadness.
Li Hong smiled: "Okay, you can come to Lulong Pass to be a soldier. As long as everyone can survive, it's all the same wherever they make a living."
"The various Xianbei tribes, at the request of Murong Feng, have been intensifying their crackdown on horse thieves since last year. In a year or two, there may not be any horse thieves in the vicinity of the Great Yan Mountains."
"You've been a soldier for several months, and you're still holding a grudge against the Xianbei people who attacked your horse team. Don't worry, this vendetta will be avenged. Murong Feng is going to launch an attack on the Great Han, of course he wouldn't want his military route to be filled with spies and informants. You're not only greedy, but also bold, which poses a huge threat to their logistics supply, food, and equipment safety. If I were him, I would do the same thing."
Yan Gao was taken aback and said disbelievingly: "No way."
Li Hong smiled confidently, "Just watch. The horse thieves on the vast grasslands will soon be hunted down like a stormy rain, and there will be no more peaceful days. Many of your friends will come to Lulong Pass to take refuge soon."
Yan Wuyi revered Li Hong as if he were a god, and immediately believed him. He then began to worry about his own friends.
Li Hong lifted his leg and walked down from the city wall, taking a last glance at the vast white grassland.
He stopped dead in his tracks. He stared unblinkingly ahead, his face a picture of shock and astonishment.
Li Hong suddenly sprinted back to the edge of the city wall, straining his eyes to gaze out at the snowy expanse beyond the pass. Yan Wuyi had no idea what was happening and followed closely behind Li Hong with a sense of tension.
A lone white horse and a figure in white clothes, with white clothes as white as snow, standing still between heaven and earth.
Li Hong was overjoyed and rushed down the city tower at the fastest speed. He ran while shouting to the soldiers guarding the gate: "Open the gate, open the gate."
The soldiers didn't know what was going on, but seeing the military commander's anxious and flustered appearance, they hastily opened the gate in a flurry.
Li Hong turned back to Yan Wuwei, who was following behind him, and shouted: "This has nothing to do with you, don't follow me!" He then slipped out of the slightly open door and started running wildly in the snowy ground.
His heart was warm and fuzzy. For the first time, he clearly felt that his desire to see the wind and snow was so strong.
Tears gushed out as she stared at Li Hong rushing towards her, the white veil under her hood blown by the wind and snow.
Li Hong finally saw that one absolutely beautiful little face, the figure that always appeared in front of him. He shouted: "Xiao Xue, Xiao Xue, how did you come here? Are you okay?"
Li Hong panted and ran to the horse in the wind and snow, laughing happily, not knowing what to say.
The snowflakes danced around Li Hong, a pair of azure eyes gazing at him with intoxicating depth, the sorrow and pain etched on her face making Li Hong's joyful expression gradually sense that something was amiss.
"What's wrong? Has someone bullied you?" Li Hong panted heavily and said with a smile.
The wind and snow remained silent, only quietly shedding tears, staring foolishly at Li Hong, as if to engrave him forever in her heart.
Li Hong painfully looked at her frozen red face and said with concern: "Let's go to the fort, it's too cold here, you'll get frostbite."
Feng Xue shook her head gently and said softly: "I want to take a look at you."
Li Hong burst out laughing: "Alright, alright. I'm really sorry for leaving without saying goodbye that night. If someone bullies you, tell me and I'll go help you out. Let's go to the fort now."
The snowstorm shook her head resolutely, as if she had made up her mind about something. She looked at Li Hong painfully and suddenly turned her horse's head to gallop back the way they came.
Li Hong was stunned. He hastily took two steps forward and shouted loudly: "Xiao Xue, what's going on?"
The snowstorm turned around and took a last look at him with a desolate, resentful, helpless and desperate gaze.
Li Hong's heart violently trembled, just like that day when he saw Xiaoyu, a painful feeling flashed across his entire body. Li Hong suddenly felt his whole body weak and involuntarily knelt down on the snowy ground.
