Huoqingtong (simplified: 霍青桐, traditional: 霍青桐, pinyin: Huò Qīngtóng, jyutping: fok3 cing1 tung4), known as the “Emerald Feather and Yellow Dress” (翠羽黄衫), was the elder daughter of Uyghur tribal chief Muzhuolun and one of the female protagonists of The Book and the Sword. Beautiful, skilled in martial arts, and exceptionally intelligent, she was a brilliant strategist who led the Uyghur forces to victory against the Qing army.
Biography
Early life
Huoqingtong was the daughter of Muzhuolun, the leader of the Uyghur tribe (回部) in the Western Regions. She had a brother Huo’ayi and a younger sister Kasili, who would later become known as Princess Fragrance. She studied martial arts under Guan Mingmei, the Snow Condor, one of the Twin Eagles of Mount Heaven.
Meeting Chen Jialuo
Huoqingtong first met Chen Jialuo, the leader of the Red Flower Society, and immediately fell in love with him. She gave him a short sword as a token of her affection. However, Chen Jialuo later fell in love with her younger sister Kasili, causing Huoqingtong great heartache.
Battle of Black Water River
Huoqingtong demonstrated her exceptional strategic abilities when she led the Uyghur forces to victory against the Qing army at the Battle of Black Water River (黑水河之役). Despite being outnumbered, she used superior tactics to achieve a decisive victory, proving herself as one of the most capable military strategists in the novel.
Character
Despite her personal heartbreak over Chen Jialuo’s relationship with her sister, Huoqingtong remained noble and selfless, praying for their happiness. Her nickname “Emerald Feather and Yellow Dress” reflected her beauty and grace, while her strategic brilliance and martial arts skills made her a formidable figure in the jianghu.
Martial arts
Huoqingtong was skilled in the Three-Part Swordplay (三分剑术), a technique she learned from Guan Mingmei. She also used iron lotus seeds (铁莲子) as throwing weapons and was an expert swordswoman.