The Legend of the Condor Heroes Chapter 40 – Part 6

The situation was urgent, with no time for hesitation. Guo Jing stood on the city wall, raised his arm high and shouted, “If the Mongols take Qingzhou, no one will live. Any of you who are brave men, come with me and fight!” The commander of the north gate was a confidant of Li Quan.¹ Hearing Guo Jing’s shout, he barked in fury, “This seditious rabble-rouser is unsettling the people. Seize him at once!” Guo Jing leapt down from the battlements, his right arm shooting out to seize the gate commander by the chest. He lifted the man off his feet and mounted the commander’s horse himself.

Many of the garrison soldiers were loyal and righteous men. Seeing the refugees wailing below the walls, many of them their own friends and kin, they were all seething. When they saw Guo Jing seize their commander, they were both startled and delighted, and none stepped forward to rescue their officer.

Guo Jing barked, “Give the order to open the gate, now!”

The gate commander, fearing for his life, had no choice but to relay the order. The north gate swung wide, and the refugees surged in like a tide.

Guo Jing handed the gate commander over to Huang Rong for safekeeping and was about to take up his spear and ride out. Huang Rong said, “Wait!” She ordered the gate commander to strip off his armour and dress Guo Jing in it, then whispered in his ear, “Falsely invoke the imperial decree and lead the troops out.” With a backhand flick she sealed the commander’s acupoints² and tossed him behind the gate.

Guo Jing thought the scheme brilliant. He shouted in a ringing voice, “By imperial decree, His Majesty in Lin’an has sent me to hold this city against the enemy and protect the people! All troops, follow me out of the city to meet the enemy.” His neigong³ was profound, and the words carried from his dantian⁴ with such force that though the city clamoured inside and out, every person heard them clearly. For a moment all fell silent. In their panic, how could the soldiers tell truth from falsehood? Moreover, the Loyalty Army had been fighting among itself of late and clashing with the court’s own troops. Orders were in chaos, with no one knowing whom to obey. Now, with a mighty enemy at their gates and terror in their hearts, the news that someone would lead them to fight brought a great cheer from every quarter.

Guo Jing led some six or seven thousand horse and foot out of the city. He saw their ranks disordered and their lines ragged. How could such troops face the Mongol elite? He recalled the passage in Wumu’s Art of War:⁵ “When matters are urgent, use surprise. When the army is in peril, use deceit.” He issued his orders: three thousand-odd soldiers were to lie in ambush behind the eastern hills, and at the first blast of the signal cannon⁶ they were to raise a great shout and wave their banners, but not sally forth to fight. Another three thousand-odd were to lie in ambush behind the western hills, and at the second blast they too were to shout and unfurl their flags, making a show of force. He further ordered the signal cannon prepared.

The commanders of the two detachments saw Guo Jing’s calm assurance and steady bearing, and each took his orders and led his men away.

By the time the last of the refugees had entered the city, day had fully broken. They heard the clash of gongs and drums, the thunder of iron hooves, and a great cloud of dust on the horizon. The Mongol vanguard was already closing on the walls.

Huang Rong took a spear and a horse from the ranks and fell in behind Guo Jing.

Guo Jing gave his orders in a ringing voice, “Open all four gates! Every soldier and civilian in the city is to hide indoors. Anyone who dares show himself will be beheaded on the spot!” In truth the people of the city needed no such order. They had long since vanished from sight. All those brave enough to volunteer were already lying in ambush behind the hills to east and west. Then came the jingle of harness bells from behind them. Two riders galloped up. It was Li Quan and his wife Yang Miaozhen,⁷ one with a dao and one with a spear, and they took their places beside Guo Jing and Huang Rong. Huang Rong saw Yang Miaozhen in helmet and armour, dashing and spirited, the pear-blossom spear in her hand polished bright as snow, and silently admired her.

Several hundred Mongol iron cavalry came sweeping forward like the wind. Seeing the gates of Qingzhou standing wide open, with a young man and a young woman on horseback, spears in hand, before the drawbridge over the moat and only a man and a woman behind them as guards, the commander of a thousand leading the vanguard was puzzled. He dared not advance on his own authority but sent a rider galloping back to report to the commander of ten thousand⁸ in the rear.

The commander of ten thousand was a veteran of many campaigns, and the report struck him as most peculiar. How could such a thing be? He spurred his horse to the fore and, even from a great distance, caught sight of Guo Jing. He was startled at once. During the western campaign he had seen Guo Jing produce one stratagem after another, storming cities and winning every battle. The battle in which Guo Jing’s men had flown in from the sky to take Samarkand, above all, had left him in the deepest admiration, and the Mongol army still spoke of it to this day. Now here was Guo Jing standing before the city, and the city itself was empty, not a soul in sight. He was sure to have some marvellous plan in store. How could he dare attack? The commander cupped his fists in salute from the saddle and called out, “Golden Dao Prince Consort,⁹ this lowly one pays his respects.”

Guo Jing returned the salute but said nothing. The commander of ten thousand pulled his troops back and sent a swift rider to report to the supreme commander.

After more than one shichen,¹⁰ a company of armoured soldiers came clanking up beneath a great streaming standard,¹¹ escorting a young general to the city gate. It was the Fourth Prince, Tolui.¹²

Tolui spurred his horse ahead of his guard and cried, “Guo Jing, anda,¹³ how are you?”

Guo Jing urged his horse forward. “Tolui anda, so it’s you!”

In times past the two had always embraced with joy at every meeting. But now, with their horses still more than fifty feet apart, both reined in at the same moment, as if by agreement.

Guo Jing said, “Anda, you have led your army south to attack my great Song. Is that so?”

Tolui said, “I act under orders from my royal father, the Great Khan. I have no choice in the matter. I ask your forgiveness.”

Guo Jing gazed into the distance. The banners were thick as clouds, the flash of steel brighter than snow. There was no telling how many men and horses there were. He thought, If this iron cavalry charges, I Guo Jing shall meet my end this day. He said in a ringing voice, “Very well, then come and take my life!”

Tolui was a little alarmed, and thought, This man commands troops like a god. I’m truly no match for him. And besides, he is as dear to me as my own flesh and blood. How could I break our bond of sworn brotherhood? He hesitated, unable to decide. Li Quan and his wife watched the two of them talking, uneasy and full of doubt.

Huang Rong turned her head and waved her right hand. Within the city the soldiers lit the signal cannon. With a thunderous boom the first shot rang out. From behind the eastern hill a great shout went up as the hidden troops waved their banners. Tolui’s face changed colour. Then came another blast from the signal cannon, and from behind the western hill another roar of voices, another flurry of flags. He thought, No good. Our army has walked into an ambush.

He had ridden with Genghis Khan on campaigns east and west and seen battles beyond counting. What was a paltry ambush of a few thousand men to him? Yet Guo Jing had shown such extraordinary ability during the western campaign that Tolui held him in awe. Now that something seemed amiss, his nerve failed him first. He at once issued orders: the rear was to become the van, and the army would withdraw thirty li¹⁴ to make camp.

Guo Jing saw the Mongol troops withdraw and exchanged a smile with Huang Rong.

Huang Rong said, “Jing gege, allow me to congratulate you on the success of your Empty City Stratagem.”¹⁵

Guo Jing’s smile vanished at once. Anxiety shadowed his face. He shook his head. “Tolui is resolute and brave. He has withdrawn today, but he will certainly come again tomorrow. How shall we face him then?”

Huang Rong considered the matter for a long while. “I have one plan, but I fear you will be unwilling to carry it out, for the sake of your sworn brotherhood.”

Guo Jing started. “You want me to assassinate him?”

Huang Rong said, “He is the Great Khan’s favourite, his youngest son, honoured above all others. He is not the same as any other commander. If the Fourth Prince dies, the enemy army will surely withdraw.”

Guo Jing bowed his head and said nothing. He turned and went back into the city.

Though the soldiers and people of the city saw the enemy withdraw, confusion still reigned everywhere. The commanders of the Loyalty Army, Li Quan and his wife, saw that Guo Jing had turned back a great Mongol army with a few words and judged he must possess extraordinary ability. They had also seen the might of the Mongol host, and so they followed Guo Jing and Huang Rong to their inn, inviting them to the government yamen for a feast of celebration. Guo Jing consulted them on the defence of the city.

Li Quan, hearing that the Mongol army would return on the morrow, said, “Since you are old friends of the Mongol commander, why not negotiate a surrender? It would save the lives of every soldier and commoner in this city.”

Guo Jing snapped, “Bah! If you mean to surrender, do it yourself. Your surrender will not save the people of this city!”

Having got nowhere, Li Quan and his wife withdrew in shame.

Guo Jing had spent many years in the Mongol army and knew that the Mongols showed no mercy to enemies who surrendered. He was deeply troubled and could not bring himself to eat or drink. As dusk fell he heard weeping and wailing from every corner of the city. He thought, By this time tomorrow, there may not be a single living soul of the great Song left in Qingzhou. He had seen the Mongol massacre of cities with his own eyes. The slaughter at Samarkand rose before him unbidden. He slammed his palm down on the table and cried, “Rong-er, the ancients held that righteousness demands the sacrifice of even one’s own kin.¹⁶ How can I cling to the bond of friendship any longer!”

Huang Rong sighed. “This affair is difficult indeed.”

Guo Jing’s mind was made up. He changed into night clothes, and he and Huang Rong rode the little red horse¹⁷ north together. When they drew near the Mongol encampment they hid the horse in the hills and went on foot to find Tolui’s tent. They seized two sentries on patrol, struck their acupoints, and stripped off their armour to disguise themselves. Guo Jing’s Mongol tongue was fluent from childhood, and he knew every regulation of the camp. They made their way to the great tent without difficulty.

Night had fully fallen. The two lay hidden behind the tent and peered through a seam in the fabric.

Inside, Tolui paced back and forth, his bearing restless. Over and over he kept saying, “Guo Jing, anda! Anda, Guo Jing.”

Guo Jing, not realising, thought Tolui had already discovered them and nearly called out in reply. But Huang Rong had been on her guard, and clapped her hand over his mouth the moment he opened his lips. Guo Jing cursed himself for a fool, feeling both amusement and sorrow.

Huang Rong whispered in his ear, “Act now. A true man decides at once. Hesitation serves no purpose.”

Just then came the urgent beat of hooves from the distance. A single rider galloped hard to the tent. Guo Jing knew some pressing military news had arrived and leaned to Huang Rong’s ear. “Let us hear the dispatch first. There will be time enough to kill him after.”

A messenger in yellow robes dismounted and entered the tent. He kowtowed before Tolui and said, “Fourth Prince, the Great Khan has sent orders.”

Tolui said, “What does the Great Khan say?”

The messenger presented a document, then knelt upon the felt and began to sing. The Mongols had not long emerged from barbarism, and though they now had a script, Genghis Khan himself could neither read nor write. When he had a decree to issue, besides the written document he would often charge the messenger to carry the words by mouth as well. Military orders being matters of great weight, for fear that something might be left out or garbled, he would often have the order set to song, so that the messenger might commit it to memory and recite it without error before departing.

The messenger had sung but three lines before both Tolui and Guo Jing were seized with astonishment, and Tolui wept. It transpired that after the destruction of the Western Xia,¹⁸ Genghis Khan had fallen ill. Of late the sickness had worsened, and knowing himself past recovery, he had summoned Tolui to return with all speed for a final meeting. The decree’s final words ran: these days the Great Khan had missed Guo Jing sorely, and if Tolui should learn of his whereabouts in the south, he was to invite Guo Jing north for a final farewell. Whatever grave crimes he had committed were all pardoned.

Guo Jing, hearing this, drew his dagger and slit the tent fabric, and crawled inside. “Tolui, anda, I’ll go with you.”

Tolui started at the sound. When he saw it was Guo Jing, his joy was beyond measure, and only now did the two of them embrace.

The messenger recognised Guo Jing and came forward to kowtow. “Golden Dao Prince Consort, the Great Khan thinks of you every day. You must come to the Golden Tent to see him.”

At the words “Golden Dao Prince Consort” Guo Jing’s heart lurched. He feared Huang Rong might take offence. He sprang through the slit in the tent and seized her hand. “Rong-er, we go together and we come back together.”

Huang Rong considered but did not answer.

Guo Jing said, “Do you trust me?”

Huang Rong smiled brightly. “If you get any more ideas about being a prince consort, horse or ox, I’ll put righteousness before kin too. I’ll kill you with one stroke of a dao, cut off your ox-legs and horse-legs and freeze them on a snowy peak. Then I’ll climb the snowy peak and jump off.”

That night Tolui ordered the army to withdraw. At dawn the main force set out. Guo Jing and Huang Rong found their red horse and twin eagles and followed the army north.

Guo Jing said, “This Li Quan has no backbone at all. If the Mongols come again, he will surrender.” And so it proved. When the Mongol army surrounded him and there was no means of escape, Li Quan gave himself up.

Footnotes

1. 李全 — Lǐ Quán. Leader of the Loyalty Army, a Han resistance force in Shandong (historical). See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

2. 穴道 — xuédào. Acupoints, the nodes along the body’s meridians through which qi flows. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

3. 内功 — nèigōng. Literally internal cultivation. The practice of developing neili through breathing and meditation. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

4. 丹田 — dāntián. Literally cinnabar field. The primary energy centre below the navel in internal cultivation. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

5. 武穆遗书 — Wǔmù Yíshū. The military treatise left by Yue Fei (1103—1142), the Song general posthumously titled Wumu. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

6. 号炮 — hào pào. A signal cannon, fired to coordinate troop movements. ↩

7. 杨妙真 — Yáng Miàozhēn. Wife of Li Quan, famed for her Pear-Blossom Spear (historical). See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

8. 万夫长 — wànfūzhǎng. Commander of ten thousand, a senior Mongol military rank. ↩

9. 金刀驸马 — Jīndāo Fùmǎ. Literally golden dao prince consort. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

10. 时辰 — shíchén. Traditional Chinese unit of time equal to two hours; the day was divided into twelve shichen. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

11. 大纛 — dàdào. The great standard of an army’s commander. ↩

12. 拖雷 — Tuōléi. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

13. 安答 — āndá. The Mongol word for a sworn brother, bound by oath before Heaven. ↩

14. 里 — lǐ. A traditional unit of distance, about 500 metres or one-third of a mile. ↩

15. 空城计 — Kōngchéng Jì. Literally empty city stratagem. A ruse of throwing open one’s gates and showing calm so that the enemy suspects an ambush, famously attributed to Zhuge Liang. ↩

16. 大义灭亲 — dà yì miè qīn. Literally great righteousness destroys kinship. A maxim from the Zuozhuan: duty must prevail over family affection. ↩

17. 小红马 — xiǎo hóng mǎ. The red horse Guo Jing tames on the steppe, a sweat-blood steed. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

18. 西夏 — Xī Xià. The Western Xia, a Tangut empire in northwestern China destroyed by Genghis Khan in 1227. ↩