Chapter 526: Sword Duels On Mount Hua (9)
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That evening Jing and Rong spent the night at Mu Nianci's hut. When Huang Rong told her that Yang Kang had died at the Temple of the Iron Spear in Jiaxing, Mu Nianci's tears came down like rain. Huang Rong understood the depth of her love to him, so Huang Rong did not dare to tell her the details surrounding his death; she only said that Yang Kang was poisoned by Ouyang Feng. "I did not lie, didn't he die because of Ouyang Feng's snake venom?" she said in her heart.
Guo Jing saw the boy was handsome, he recalled how he became sworn brothers with Yang Kang, could not refrain from heaving a deep sigh.
Amidst her tears Mu Nianci said, "Guo Dage, would you give this child a name, please?"
Guo Jing thought for a moment, then said, "His father and I were sworn brothers; it's a pity he did not finish well. I regretted the fact that I was not able to fulfill my responsibility to steer him from his wrong way of life. I hope when he grows up this child will cross over/change ('guo') the mistakes and correct ('gai') them; he will uphold justice and righteousness with all his might. I am giving him the name Yang Guo, alias Gaizhi; is it all right with you?"
Mu Nianci thanked him and said, "I hope it would be like just what Guo Dage said."
Early the next morning Guo Jing and Huang Rong presented Mu Nianci not a few silver 'liang's to help them, mother and son, to pass the days. Guo Jing urged her to return to Lin'an; but Mu Nianci shook her head. A moment later she softly said, "We, mother and son, are going to the Temple of the Iron Spear in Jiaxing so he can see his father's grave."
Three people bid farewell to each other and Guo Jing and Huang Rong left with heavy hearts.
Two people headed west and arrived at the Hunan-Hubei border, then they turned north and in less than a day they arrived at Xiangyang. They saw the people were calm, the city was prosperous, there was no sign of any military activity; they knew the great Mongolian army had not arrived, they were relieved.
Xiangyang was an important city located on the northern border of the Southern Song Dynasty. It was under the authority of a garrison commander in charge of the troop to defend the border. Guo Jing thought the situation is critical, so without trying to find any inn they went directly to the Commander Lu Wende's official residence.
This commander was in charge of the whole garrison, he was a high-ranking officer. Even though Guo Jing was a marshal in the Mongolian army, but in the Southern Song Dynasty he was a nobody. How could he seek audience with a high-ranking officer just like that?
Huang Rong knew that money solved everything, so she gave a 'liang' of gold to the receptionist. Immediately the receptionist treated them nicely; he looked happy, but still could not guarantee audience that very same day. He said that the earliest opportunity would be half a month away; even then he could not guarantee the commander would be willing to receive Guo Jing.
Guo Jing's temper flared, "This is an urgent military situation, how can I wait?" he shouted.
Huang Rong quickly cast a meaningful glance toward him, pulled him to the said and whispered, "We'll comeback tonight."
They found a temporary lodging, waited until the second hour that night and using their lightness kungfu they went to the commander's mansion. Commander Lu Wende was having a private party, he hired some professional female entertainer and was having fun with his concubines. Guo and Huang two people jumped down from the roof. Guo Jing cupped his fists, "Xiao Ren [little/lowly people] has an urgent military matter to report," he said.
Lu Wende was startled, "Assassin!" he shouted; shoving the female entertainers away he went hiding underneath the table.
Guo Jing stepped forward in big strides and said, "Commander, please calm down. Xiao Ren does not have any ill intention toward you." He pulled the commander back to his seat.
Lu Wende's face was pale, he kept trembling. Then he saw dozen or so soldiers with their swords and spears ready to rescue him. Huang Rong immediately took out her dagger and pointed it toward Lu Wende's chest. The soldiers yelling and shouting loudly, but nobody dared to go forward. "Tell them to shut up, we have something to say to you," Huang Rong said.
Lu Wende was still trembling all over, he signaled the soldiers to be quiet. Guo Jing silently sighed seeing the man who held authority over the troop with a heavy responsibility to guard against the enemy was such a useless fool. He reported that the Mongolian army was going to attack Xiangyang and asked the commander to deploy troops immediately and arranged the necessary defense.
In his heart Lu Wende did not believe him at all, but his mouth repeatedly said yes. Huang Rong saw he kept trembling, "Did you hear what he said?" she asked.
"I did … I heard," Lu Wende answered.
"What did you hear?" Huang Rong pressed.
"That … that the Jin army are planning a sneak attack, must arrange defense, must arrange defense," Lu Wende mumbled.
Huang Rong was angry, "It's the Mongolian army, not the Jins!" she said.
Lu Wende was scared out of his wits, "Mongolian army? That's impossible, that's impossible. The Mongolians have signed an agreement with our minister to fight the Jins together; they won't breach that agreement."
Huang Rong was really angry, "I said the Mongolian army! It is the Mongolian army!"
Lu Wende repeatedly nodded his head, "If Miss says it is the Mongolian army, then it is Mongolian army."
"The whole country and the people's lives are in the hand of 'Da Ren' [lit. big person – common term for government official]. Xiangyang is the Southern Song's first defense, Da Ren must really care about it," Guo Jing said.
"Right, right," Lu Wende said, "What 'lao xiong' ['old chap'] said was absolutely right."
Jing and Rong two people sighed. They leaped over the wall and went out, amidst the chaotic shouting, "Catch the assassins! Catch the assassins!"
Two people waited for two more days, but did not see any increased activity on the city wall at all. "This Commander is to be cursed!" Guo Jing said, "Father-in-law was right, I'd better kill him and think about something later."
"The enemy will arrive within the next few days," Huang Rong said, "Killing this dog government official is not enough. The city will certainly be chaotic, the troops will not have anybody to lead them; it will be difficult to fight the enemy."
Guo Jing creased his brows, "Then, what do we do?"
Huang Rong hesitated, "The 'zuo zhuan' [lit. left biography] has a story called 'xian gao kao shi' [Xian Gao presenting a gift to an army]. We might be able to follow this example."
Guo Jing was delighted, "Rong'er, reading books truly brings endless wonders. What story was that? Quickly narrate it for me. Can we do it?"
Huang Rong said, "We can do it, but it all depends on your body."
Guo Jing was puzzled, "What?"
Huang Rong did not answer, but she softly laughed.
A moment later she continued, "Very well, I'll narrate the story for you to hear. During the 'chun qiu' period [spring and autumn, ca. 770-476 BC] in the Zheng country there was a merchant whose name was Xian Gao. While doing business out of town he came across the Qin army who was going to attack the Zheng country. That time the Zhengs were not prepared, therefore, if the Qins attacked they would surely perish. Even though Xian Gao was a businessman he was also a patriot. He cooked up a plan. He dispatched a courier traveling at night to alert his country, while he himself prepared twelve oxen and requested an audience with the enemy's general. He said he represented the Zheng government to present a gift for the Qin army. The Qin's army general thought that the Zheng had already prepared to battle; he did not dare to proceed and pulled the army back to their own country."
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That evening Jing and Rong spent the night at Mu Nianci's hut. When Huang Rong told her that Yang Kang had died at the Temple of the Iron Spear in Jiaxing, Mu Nianci's tears came down like rain. Huang Rong understood the depth of her love to him, so Huang Rong did not dare to tell her the details surrounding his death; she only said that Yang Kang was poisoned by Ouyang Feng. "I did not lie, didn't he die because of Ouyang Feng's snake venom?" she said in her heart.
Guo Jing saw the boy was handsome, he recalled how he became sworn brothers with Yang Kang, could not refrain from heaving a deep sigh.
Amidst her tears Mu Nianci said, "Guo Dage, would you give this child a name, please?"
Guo Jing thought for a moment, then said, "His father and I were sworn brothers; it's a pity he did not finish well. I regretted the fact that I was not able to fulfill my responsibility to steer him from his wrong way of life. I hope when he grows up this child will cross over/change ('guo') the mistakes and correct ('gai') them; he will uphold justice and righteousness with all his might. I am giving him the name Yang Guo, alias Gaizhi; is it all right with you?"
Mu Nianci thanked him and said, "I hope it would be like just what Guo Dage said."
Early the next morning Guo Jing and Huang Rong presented Mu Nianci not a few silver 'liang's to help them, mother and son, to pass the days. Guo Jing urged her to return to Lin'an; but Mu Nianci shook her head. A moment later she softly said, "We, mother and son, are going to the Temple of the Iron Spear in Jiaxing so he can see his father's grave."
Three people bid farewell to each other and Guo Jing and Huang Rong left with heavy hearts.
Two people headed west and arrived at the Hunan-Hubei border, then they turned north and in less than a day they arrived at Xiangyang. They saw the people were calm, the city was prosperous, there was no sign of any military activity; they knew the great Mongolian army had not arrived, they were relieved.
Xiangyang was an important city located on the northern border of the Southern Song Dynasty. It was under the authority of a garrison commander in charge of the troop to defend the border. Guo Jing thought the situation is critical, so without trying to find any inn they went directly to the Commander Lu Wende's official residence.
This commander was in charge of the whole garrison, he was a high-ranking officer. Even though Guo Jing was a marshal in the Mongolian army, but in the Southern Song Dynasty he was a nobody. How could he seek audience with a high-ranking officer just like that?
Huang Rong knew that money solved everything, so she gave a 'liang' of gold to the receptionist. Immediately the receptionist treated them nicely; he looked happy, but still could not guarantee audience that very same day. He said that the earliest opportunity would be half a month away; even then he could not guarantee the commander would be willing to receive Guo Jing.
Guo Jing's temper flared, "This is an urgent military situation, how can I wait?" he shouted.
Huang Rong quickly cast a meaningful glance toward him, pulled him to the said and whispered, "We'll comeback tonight."
They found a temporary lodging, waited until the second hour that night and using their lightness kungfu they went to the commander's mansion. Commander Lu Wende was having a private party, he hired some professional female entertainer and was having fun with his concubines. Guo and Huang two people jumped down from the roof. Guo Jing cupped his fists, "Xiao Ren [little/lowly people] has an urgent military matter to report," he said.
Lu Wende was startled, "Assassin!" he shouted; shoving the female entertainers away he went hiding underneath the table.
Guo Jing stepped forward in big strides and said, "Commander, please calm down. Xiao Ren does not have any ill intention toward you." He pulled the commander back to his seat.
Lu Wende's face was pale, he kept trembling. Then he saw dozen or so soldiers with their swords and spears ready to rescue him. Huang Rong immediately took out her dagger and pointed it toward Lu Wende's chest. The soldiers yelling and shouting loudly, but nobody dared to go forward. "Tell them to shut up, we have something to say to you," Huang Rong said.
Lu Wende was still trembling all over, he signaled the soldiers to be quiet. Guo Jing silently sighed seeing the man who held authority over the troop with a heavy responsibility to guard against the enemy was such a useless fool. He reported that the Mongolian army was going to attack Xiangyang and asked the commander to deploy troops immediately and arranged the necessary defense.
In his heart Lu Wende did not believe him at all, but his mouth repeatedly said yes. Huang Rong saw he kept trembling, "Did you hear what he said?" she asked.
"I did … I heard," Lu Wende answered.
"What did you hear?" Huang Rong pressed.
"That … that the Jin army are planning a sneak attack, must arrange defense, must arrange defense," Lu Wende mumbled.
Huang Rong was angry, "It's the Mongolian army, not the Jins!" she said.
Lu Wende was scared out of his wits, "Mongolian army? That's impossible, that's impossible. The Mongolians have signed an agreement with our minister to fight the Jins together; they won't breach that agreement."
Huang Rong was really angry, "I said the Mongolian army! It is the Mongolian army!"
Lu Wende repeatedly nodded his head, "If Miss says it is the Mongolian army, then it is Mongolian army."
"The whole country and the people's lives are in the hand of 'Da Ren' [lit. big person – common term for government official]. Xiangyang is the Southern Song's first defense, Da Ren must really care about it," Guo Jing said.
"Right, right," Lu Wende said, "What 'lao xiong' ['old chap'] said was absolutely right."
Jing and Rong two people sighed. They leaped over the wall and went out, amidst the chaotic shouting, "Catch the assassins! Catch the assassins!"
Two people waited for two more days, but did not see any increased activity on the city wall at all. "This Commander is to be cursed!" Guo Jing said, "Father-in-law was right, I'd better kill him and think about something later."
"The enemy will arrive within the next few days," Huang Rong said, "Killing this dog government official is not enough. The city will certainly be chaotic, the troops will not have anybody to lead them; it will be difficult to fight the enemy."
Guo Jing creased his brows, "Then, what do we do?"
Huang Rong hesitated, "The 'zuo zhuan' [lit. left biography] has a story called 'xian gao kao shi' [Xian Gao presenting a gift to an army]. We might be able to follow this example."
Guo Jing was delighted, "Rong'er, reading books truly brings endless wonders. What story was that? Quickly narrate it for me. Can we do it?"
Huang Rong said, "We can do it, but it all depends on your body."
Guo Jing was puzzled, "What?"
Huang Rong did not answer, but she softly laughed.
A moment later she continued, "Very well, I'll narrate the story for you to hear. During the 'chun qiu' period [spring and autumn, ca. 770-476 BC] in the Zheng country there was a merchant whose name was Xian Gao. While doing business out of town he came across the Qin army who was going to attack the Zheng country. That time the Zhengs were not prepared, therefore, if the Qins attacked they would surely perish. Even though Xian Gao was a businessman he was also a patriot. He cooked up a plan. He dispatched a courier traveling at night to alert his country, while he himself prepared twelve oxen and requested an audience with the enemy's general. He said he represented the Zheng government to present a gift for the Qin army. The Qin's army general thought that the Zheng had already prepared to battle; he did not dare to proceed and pulled the army back to their own country."
That evening Jing and Rong spent the night at Mu Nianci's hut. When Huang Rong told her that Yang Kang had died at the Temple of the Iron Spear in Jiaxing, Mu Nianci's tears came down like rain. Huang Rong understood the depth of her love to him, so Huang Rong did not dare to tell her the details surrounding his death; she only said that Yang Kang was poisoned by Ouyang Feng. "I did not lie, didn't he die because of Ouyang Feng's snake venom?" she said in her heart.Guo Jing saw the boy was handsome, he recalled how he became sworn brothers with Yang Kang, could not refrain from heaving a deep sigh.Amidst her tears Mu Nianci said, "Guo Dage, would you give this child a name, please?"Guo Jing thought for a moment, then said, "His father and I were sworn brothers; it's a pity he did not finish well. I regretted the fact that I was not able to fulfill my responsibility to steer him from his wrong way of life. I hope when he grows up this child will cross over/change 'guo' the mistakes and correct 'gai' them; he will uphold justice and righteousness with all his might. I am giving him the name Yang Guo, alias Gaizhi; is it all right with you?"Mu Nianci thanked him and said, "I hope it would be like just what Guo Dage said."Early the next morning Guo Jing and Huang Rong presented Mu Nianci not a few silver 'liang's to help them, mother and son, to pass the days. Guo Jing urged her to return to Lin'an; but Mu Nianci shook her head. A moment later she softly said, "We, mother and son, are going to the Temple of the Iron Spear in Jiaxing so he can see his father's grave."Three people bid farewell to each other and Guo Jing and Huang Rong left with heavy hearts.Two people headed west and arrived at the Hunan-Hubei border, then they turned north and in less than a day they arrived at Xiangyang. They saw the people were calm, the city was prosperous, there was no sign of any military activity; they knew the great Mongolian army had not arrived, they were relieved.Xiangyang was an important city located on the northern border of the Southern Song Dynasty. It was under the authority of a garrison commander in charge of the troop to defend the border. Guo Jing thought the situation is critical, so without trying to find any inn they went directly to the Commander Lu Wende's official residence.This commander was in charge of the whole garrison, he was a high-ranking officer. Even though Guo Jing was a marshal in the Mongolian army, but in the Southern Song Dynasty he was a nobody. How could he seek audience with a high-ranking officer just like that?Huang Rong knew that money solved everything, so she gave a 'liang' of gold to the receptionist. Immediately the receptionist treated them nicely; he looked happy, but still could not guarantee audience that very same day. He said that the earliest opportunity would be half a month away; even then he could not guarantee the commander would be willing to receive Guo Jing.Guo Jing's temper flared, "This is an urgent military situation, how can I wait?" he shouted.Huang Rong quickly cast a meaningful glance toward him, pulled him to the said and whispered, "We'll comeback tonight."They found a temporary lodging, waited until the second hour that night and using their lightness kungfu they went to the commander's mansion. Commander Lu Wende was having a private party, he hired some professional female entertainer and was having fun with his concubines. Guo and Huang two people jumped down from the roof. Guo Jing cupped his fists, "Xiao Ren little/lowly people has an urgent military matter to report," he said.Lu Wende was startled, "Assassin!" he shouted; shoving the female entertainers away he went hiding underneath the table.Guo Jing stepped forward in big strides and said, "Commander, please calm down. Xiao Ren does not have any ill intention toward you." He pulled the commander back to his seat.Lu Wende's face was pale, he kept trembling. Then he saw dozen or so soldiers with their swords and spears ready to rescue him. Huang Rong immediately took out her dagger and pointed it toward Lu Wende's chest. The soldiers yelling and shouting loudly, but nobody dared to go forward. "Tell them to shut up, we have something to say to you," Huang Rong said.Lu Wende was still trembling all over, he signaled the soldiers to be quiet. Guo Jing silently sighed seeing the man who held authority over the troop with a heavy responsibility to guard against the enemy was such a useless fool. He reported that the Mongolian army was going to attack Xiangyang and asked the commander to deploy troops immediately and arranged the necessary defense.In his heart Lu Wende did not believe him at all, but his mouth repeatedly said yes. Huang Rong saw he kept trembling, "Did you hear what he said?" she asked."I did I heard," Lu Wende answered."What did you hear?" Huang Rong pressed."That that the Jin army are planning a sneak attack, must arrange defense, must arrange defense," Lu Wende mumbled.Huang Rong was angry, "It's the Mongolian army, not the Jins!" she said.Lu Wende was scared out of his wits, "Mongolian army? That's impossible, that's impossible. The Mongolians have signed an agreement with our minister to fight the Jins together; they won't breach that agreement."Huang Rong was really angry, "I said the Mongolian army! It is the Mongolian army!"Lu Wende repeatedly nodded his head, "If Miss says it is the Mongolian army, then it is Mongolian army.""The whole country and the people's lives are in the hand of 'Da Ren' lit. big person common term for government official. Xiangyang is the Southern Song's first defense, Da Ren must really care about it," Guo Jing said."Right, right," Lu Wende said, "What 'lao xiong' 'old chap' said was absolutely right."Jing and Rong two people sighed. They leaped over the wall and went out, amidst the chaotic shouting, "Catch the assassins! Catch the assassins!"Two people waited for two more days, but did not see any increased activity on the city wall at all. "This Commander is to be cursed!" Guo Jing said, "Father-in-law was right, I'd better kill him and think about something later.""The enemy will arrive within the next few days," Huang Rong said, "Killing this dog government official is not enough. The city will certainly be chaotic, the troops will not have anybody to lead them; it will be difficult to fight the enemy."Guo Jing creased his brows, "Then, what do we do?"Huang Rong hesitated, "The 'zuo zhuan' lit. left biography has a story called 'xian gao kao shi' Xian Gao presenting a gift to an army. We might be able to follow this example."Guo Jing was delighted, "Rong'er, reading books truly brings endless wonders. What story was that? Quickly narrate it for me. Can we do it?"Huang Rong said, "We can do it, but it all depends on your body."Guo Jing was puzzled, "What?"Huang Rong did not answer, but she softly laughed.A moment later she continued, "Very well, I'll narrate the story for you to hear. During the 'chun qiu' period spring and autumn, ca. 770-476 BC in the Zheng country there was a merchant whose name was Xian Gao. While doing business out of town he came across the Qin army who was going to attack the Zheng country. That time the Zhengs were not prepared, therefore, if the Qins attacked they would surely perish. Even though Xian Gao was a businessman he was also a patriot. He cooked up a plan. He dispatched a courier traveling at night to alert his country, while he himself prepared twelve oxen and requested an audience with the enemy's general. He said he represented the Zheng government to present a gift for the Qin army. The Qin's army general thought that the Zheng had already prepared to battle; he did not dare to proceed and pulled the army back to their own country."
