Chapter 37: White Wolf Mountain Water Interval (4)

  The night of early autumn is exceptionally cool, the moon is like a silver plate, hanging in the sky above Yu Guan, sprinkling down silver light, moistening the silent wilderness outside the pass.

  On the city wall, Zhou Zhiyu looked at the night scene and said slowly: "Recently, the border towns have been reporting emergencies one after another. The Khitan people have been attacking various passes along the border wall, and even broke through Town Far once. If it were in the past, how could such a thing happen!" Besides Zhou Zhiyu, who ascended to the city wall to appreciate the moon, there were also Cishi Zhang Zaigi, Left Camp Adu Head Li Chengzhong, and Caofeng Dao. The three men sighed when they heard these words.

  Everyone was silent, when suddenly Zhang Zaigui began to chant:

  "East of Lulong Pass, vast and expansive, a guest's thoughts are lonely."

  Towers and pavilions stretch for miles, Han soldiers still guard against the Hu.

  Dust rises in the north, enemy cavalry is advancing southward.

  A turning point is not a long-term plan, harmony with relatives is not a distant scheme.

  In the past, General Li was ordered to leave the imperial capital.

  The general sweeps across the great desert, capturing the Chanyu in a single battle.

  Always cherish gratitude in heart, willing to make unremitting efforts.

  "Leaning on the sword, who wants to talk, the river is empty and gloomy."

  Li Chengzhong didn't understand, but he knew that the governor was reciting a poem. Zhang Ziji's recitation of poetry and later generations' recitation were different. When reciting, it carried a hint of ancient tone, like singing but not singing, like reciting but not reciting. In the quiet night, it went very far and had a great rhythm. Several people listened as if they were drunk. Li Chengzhong was listening to Tang poetry for the first time, which was completely different from what he imagined. Although he didn't understand, he thought it sounded great. After Zhang Ziji finished reciting, he followed the custom of later generations and applauded with a "pa pa" sound, saying: "Your poem is good, your literary talent is good!"

  Zhang looked back at him and smiled: "This is not written by some certain person, but was composed by Gao during the Kaiyuan era. In those years when he went east to Yingzhou, he passed through the Lulong Pass north of Yu Pass, leaving behind this 'On the Frontier'."

  Feng Dao knew that Zhou Zhiyong and Li Chengzhong were both military men, but he didn't know much about Zhou Zhiyong. However, he was certain that Li Chengzhong wouldn't understand the story behind it, so he explained: "Gao Gongshi is Gao Shi, who served as the governor of Huainan and Jianan during the reign of Emperor Suzong, with the courtesy name Dafu and the title of Marquis of Bohai County. During the Kaiyuan era, when Gao Shi was traveling in Youzhou, he wrote this poem, which tells the story of how General Li Mu of Zhao State defeated the Hu barbarians."

  Li Chengzhong suddenly said: "Is it Gao Shi who is as famous as Cen Shen? I've heard of him, his border town poetry is very famous!"

  Zhang Ziji and Feng Dao both asked: "Does Li Yuzhi also know Cen Shen? I didn't expect Li Yuzhi to have a familiarity with Gao Gong's border poems, but which one does he love the most?"

  Everyone looked at him curiously, and Li Chengzhong was a bit flustered. Before crossing over, he had always been poor in his studies, especially when it came to reciting and memorizing. At this moment, he felt the same embarrassment as when his language teacher asked him questions in class. He hastily racked his brains, trying to recall a poem that anyone with a junior high school education could recite from memory, but unfortunately couldn't remember if it was written by Gao Shi or not. All he could say was: "I remember one... Ah, Qin dynasty's bright moon, Han dynasty's strong pass, the long march of ten thousand miles, and people have yet to return. If only the flying general of Longcheng were here, I wouldn't let the barbarian horses cross the Yin Mountains."

  Zhang Zijiao smiled and didn't speak, while Feng Dao continued: "Li Yudu has actually read this poem, it's rare! This poem is very good, I also love to read it. Does Li Yudu still read other poems?"

  Encouraged, Li Chengzhong couldn't help but feel a little proud of himself. Under the influence of wine, he thought of another one and hastily said: "Grape wine, beautiful cups at night, wanting to drink, pipa on horseback urging. Drunkenly sleeping on the battlefield, don't laugh at me, how many people have returned from ancient times!"

  Zhang Ziji and Feng Dao nodded in approval, and Li Chengzhong felt a little proud of himself for being able to discuss poetry with the Tang people.

  As several people continued walking along the city wall, Zhou Zhiyu fell behind and took advantage of Zhang's distraction to slap Li Chengzhong on the back of his head, muttering: "You don't understand, so just admit it! Don't pretend to be something you're not! I've also heard those two poems, they're not even written by High Official Gao! You're embarrassing someone else! Haha!" He laughed out loud as he spoke.

  Four people walked and talked on the city wall, Zhou Zhiyu was in a great mood recently, his blood boiling with excitement, he pointed to the outside of the pass and shouted loudly: "When our army is fully trained, we will definitely take up arms and leave the pass, sooner or later we will recover this land, how can we let the Han people suffer such humiliation, how can we let the Khitan children be so arrogant!"

  Li Chengzhong suddenly remembered something and said, "I have a brother under my command who was originally a civilian from outside the pass. He fled to our side after the disaster and recently joined our camp. A few days ago, he begged me to send troops to rescue his fellow villagers who were trapped outside the pass. At that time, we were busy with the autumn harvest, and I promised him that I would consider this matter..."

  Zhang sighed: "In the past few months, tens of thousands of civilians have fled into the pass, but even more are still suffering under the Khitan's humiliation. As officials in Pingzhou, we can't bear to see the people suffer, it's really heartbreaking!"

  Zhou Zhiyong thought for a moment and asked, "Where are the common people that your subordinates mentioned? If they're nearby, we can send someone to bring them back."

  Li Chengzhong said: "He said it was in White Wolf Mountain. I was busy with the autumn harvest at that time and didn't ask him in detail. I'll go call him over."

  The brother mentioned by Li Chengzhong was Liu Jinhou, who made great contributions in the defense of Yu Pass and was promoted to partner leader and deputy captain. When did Liu Jinhou see such a big official? He came to the top of the pass city and was so anxious that he could hardly stand still. Fortunately, Li Chengzhong quickly comforted him and stabilized his mind, and then reported the matter.

  Liu Jinhou lived at the foot of White Wolf Mountain, and like countless refugees outside the pass, he fled in a flurry with his family under the looting of the Khitan people. However, many villagers did not take the Yu Guan road at that time, but instead hid in the White Wolf Mountains, hoping to return home after the Khitan people had finished plundering. Many civilians hid in the White Wolf Mountains, including Liu Jinhou's eldest uncle and second uncle. But after the Khitan people finished looting, they did not leave, seemingly determined to stay, and now two months have passed, Liu Jinhou is extremely worried about whether his relatives and neighbors who fled into the mountains are still alive. When he said this, tears came down.

  "About how many people?" Zhang Jijing furrowed his brow and asked anxiously.

  "There were about three or four hundred people... I don't know how to describe it, it was too chaotic at the time..." Liu Jinhou said hastily.

  Zhang looked at Zhou Zhiyu, and Zhou Zhiyu turned to Li Chengzhong: "Li Yuhu... in your opinion, is it possible to leave the pass?"

  Li Chengzhong said, "I have also considered this in the past few days. At present, the Khitan people have not yet attacked the pass, and they are still lingering on the banks of the White Wolf River, seemingly without any intention to continue attacking. However, from the White Wolf Mountain to the Yu Pass is fifty miles away, and I am afraid that if we retreat, we will be blocked by the Khitan people halfway, which would make things very difficult."

  "What's your intention?"

  Li Chengzhong gritted his teeth: "Although it's dangerous, I still want to try. After all, it's a matter of several hundred lives. Even if they're all dead, I won't give up until I see their bodies."

  "Since that's the case, tomorrow morning, you take Adu and Baidu to White Wolf Mountain for a spin. Be careful and hurry up to bring over the civilians. As for Yu Guan, with me here, you can rest assured."

  One night's preparation, before dawn, Li Chengzhong led 180 people from Jia Du and Yi Du to set out. When passing through the Guanxia Gate, Li Chengzhong turned his head to look back at the city gate, Zhou Zhiyu and Zhang Zaigi were both on the city gate waving goodbye to him. Li Chengzhong nodded slightly, took the lead and stepped forward, heading towards Bailang Mountain fifty miles northwest of Yu Pass.

  Feng Dao was right beside Li Chengzhong, insisting on going together. According to his words, he wanted to emulate Gao Changshi of the past and take this opportunity to experience the customs and conditions beyond the pass. Li Chengzhong repeatedly emphasized the danger of this trip, but Feng Dao just smiled it off each time. Li Chengzhong went to find Zhang Zaiji, wanting him to persuade Feng Dao, but Zhang Zaiji said: "It's a good thing for young people to travel far and wide. Without traveling ten thousand miles, how can one know the affairs of the world? Let Lord Li take him along."

  The two battalions of soldiers were advancing in the formation led by Li Chengzhong from Weizhou, with the gunners in front and the knife-shield soldiers behind. Zhao Da was leading a group of people escorting two horse-drawn carts carrying supplies and fodder. Zhao Da was originally unwilling to lead troops, but Li Chengzhong specially organized an auxiliary battalion in Jiadu, ordering Zhao Da to take charge, doing logistical work, so Zhao Da could only be forced to do it, becoming the actual leader of the team.

  Because both officers were original healthy camp veterans who retreated from Weizhou with Li Chengzhong, they were very familiar with this marching method, so they had a smooth journey all the way and did not encounter any blocking Khitans. At noon, they saw a group of Khitan cavalrymen following them about a mile away for half an hour before disappearing from view. The soldiers of both sides were very tense at that time, but the officers took it as usual, and under their scolding, all the soldiers maintained their formation, only speeding up their marching speed.

  These soldiers were all strong and young men who had fled from outside the pass, and before fleeing, they had grown up in this area between the white mountains and black waters, so they were very familiar with the road. Moreover, with Liu Jintou, a local who was as familiar with Mount Bailong and the White Wolf Water as his own palm, by the time the sky was about to darken, the silhouette of Mount Bailong finally appeared before their eyes. A vast expanse of mountains stood towering in the wilderness, looking particularly ferocious.

  When they arrived at the foot of a mountain pass, Li Chengzhong signaled for them to rest for a moment. The soldiers from both battalions let out a sigh and dispersed. At this time, the difference between the two battalions became apparent. The soldiers from Battalion A, who had followed Li Chengzhong on an urgent march from Pingzhou to Yuanguan, did not immediately sit down after dispersing, but instead stretched their arms and legs, looking relaxed and at ease. In contrast, most of the soldiers from Battalion B collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. The difference between the two battalions was clear at a glance.

  Zhang Xingzhong and Zhou Kandao felt a bit embarrassed, although Li Chengzhong didn't say anything, the two of them still ran over to find Jiang Miao, asking what the actions of the A-troop soldiers meant. After getting Jiang Miao's clear answer, the two of them also shouted and pulled up the B-troop soldiers who were lying on the ground, following the A-troop soldiers in slow and relaxed steps.

  After a short rest, Li Chengzhong led the two battalions of soldiers into the mountain pass, found a windy mountain valley, set up tents, and established a camp. After Zhao Da and others finished cooking for the soldiers, everyone had a good meal. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Li Chengzhong called Liu Jinhou over to discuss tomorrow's route into the mountains.

  "Following the mountain path north for one li, there is an old military camp from years ago. When I was a kid, I often went there to play. The camp has already fallen into disrepair, but the houses are all dug into the side of the mountain and can still be lived in. I reckon that if the villagers were around, they would definitely be hiding there. It's just that this stretch of road is not easy to walk on, so tomorrow brothers will have to work harder." Liu Jinhou said.