The Return of the Condor Heroes Chapter 20 – Part 7

By now, of the several hundred Mongol soldiers who had reached the top of the wall, only a handful remained. Three of the bravest centurions, holding spears and shields, were making a last stand by the battlements. A commander of ten thousand below sounded the horn and led another wave against the wall, hoping to extract those three centurions. Guo Jing gave a long, piercing whistle and strode forward. One centurion thrust his spear. Guo Jing seized the spear shaft and pushed forward while his left foot flew out, kicking another centurion’s shield. Brave as these two centurions were, how could they withstand the divine force of that push and kick? They tumbled head over heels off the wall and died, their bones shattered.

The third centurion was older, his hair already grey. He knew he would not survive this day. He swung his long blade in wild, frantic arcs, up and down, left and right, like a maddened tiger. Guo Jing’s left arm shot out and seized the man’s sword-wrist. His right palm was about to chop down when he suddenly froze. The centurion had also recognised Guo Jing’s face. “Golden Blade Prince Consort, it is you!” he cried.¹ It turned out he was one of Guo Jing’s old comrades from the western campaigns of years past. When Huang Rong had devised the stratagem to capture Samarkand, this man had been among the first warriors to descend into the city.

Old memories stirred. Guo Jing said, “Hmm, are you Erduo?” The centurion, seeing that Guo Jing remembered his name, felt hot tears fill his eyes. “It is! It is this humble one!” Guo Jing said, “Very well. For the sake of our old friendship, I spare your life today. If I capture you again, do not blame me for showing no mercy.” He turned to his left and right. “Bring rope. Lower him down!” Two sturdy soldiers brought a long rope, tied it around Erduo’s waist, and lowered him to the ground below.

Erduo was a battle-hardened warrior of great renown in the Mongol army. Seeing him suddenly lowered by rope from the Song battlements, the Mongol soldiers below were thoroughly baffled. They fell back several dozen zhang in confusion. The archers on the wall also ceased fire. For a moment, both armies paused. Once on the ground, Erduo knelt before Guo Jing and cried out clearly, “The Golden Blade Prince Consort is here! This humble one would not dare offend your august presence even if it meant ten thousand deaths.”

Guo Jing stood atop the wall, his divine authority radiating from him. He shouted, “Hear me, Mongol commander! The Great Song and Mongolia were once allies, united in purpose, joining forces to destroy the Jin.² Why does Mongolia now invade our borders and harm our people? The people of the Great Song outnumber you Mongols dozens of times over. If you do not withdraw at once, our righteous armies will gather from all sides, and I promise you, not one of your hundred thousand Mongol soldiers will find a burial place!” He spoke these words in Mongolian, his breath deep and full, each word carrying clearly to the ground below. The wall was high and the armies far apart, yet every one of the tens of thousands of Mongol soldiers heard every word with perfect clarity. They looked at one another, their faces pale.

A commander of ten thousand led Erduo before Kublai and reported what had happened. Erduo described how he had followed Guo Jing in the western campaigns, how the Golden Blade Prince Consort had used troops with divine skill and overcome every enemy. He spoke with vivid passion. Kublai’s expression darkened. “Take him away and behead him!” he barked. Erduo cried, “Injustice!” The commander of ten thousand said, “Prince Kublai, your insight is clear, this Erduo has rendered considerable merit in battle…” Kublai waved his hand. Four guards dragged Erduo away, cut off his head, and presented it. The generals trembled with terror.

Kublai addressed the commander of ten thousand. “Give Erduo the honours of one fallen in battle. Additionally, award his family ten jin of gold, thirty slaves, and three hundred head of livestock.” The commander was utterly bewildered. “Yes, yes,” he stammered. Kublai said, “I execute this man, yet reward his family. You do not understand the reasoning, do you?” The generals bowed as one. “Please, Prince Kublai, enlighten us.” Kublai declared, “This centurion knelt to an enemy general and extolled that enemy’s prowess, shaking our army’s morale. Should he not be executed? Yet he fought bravely to be first upon the wall, battling to the last man. Should he not be rewarded?” The generals all prostrated themselves in acknowledgment.

But the damage was done, the Mongol army’s morale had plummeted. Kublai knew that even if they hurled themselves at the city again, it would only mean more losses with no gain. He saw the thousands of Mongol dead piled beneath the walls, all elite warriors tempered in a hundred battles. Great resentment filled his heart. Yet the walls of Xiangyang were solid, the defences tight, there was truly no opening to exploit. He could not suppress a sigh and ordered the army to withdraw forty li.

Two guards beside him exchanged a look. “Let us share Prince Kublai’s burden,” they said, “and humble these southern barbarians a little.” They swung onto their horses and galloped to the foot of the wall. Drawing their iron bows, they loosed two wolf-fletched eagle-feathered arrows straight at Guo Jing.

These two men were superb horsemen and expert archers. Their horses flew like the wind, their arrows like lightning. Before the shouts from above and below the wall had even faded, the arrows were already at Guo Jing’s chest and belly. Escape seemed impossible. But Guo Jing drew both hands inward, and each hand now held a feathered shaft. He then fitted them to his iron-bowed great bow, drew, and released. The arrows shot downward with deadly force. The two Mongol guards had not even had time to turn their horses when the arrows arrived, piercing through their chests. Both men toppled from their saddles. The Song soldiers on the wall roared their approval, and the war drums thundered in triumph.

Kublai, deeply disheartened, led his army north in retreat. After they had marched several li, Yang Guo said, “Your Highness need not be troubled. This humble one will enter the city now and take Guo Jing’s life.” Kublai shook his head. “This Guo Jing, wisdom and courage combined, truly lives up to his name. Seeing him today, I feel this matter is thorny in the extreme.” Yang Guo said, “This humble one lived in Guo Jing’s household for several years and once rendered him service. He will have absolutely no guard against me. As the saying goes, it is easy to dodge the spear in the open, hard to defend against the arrow from the shadows.” Kublai said, “During the attack on the city just now, you stood beside me. I fear he may have spotted you from the wall.” Yang Guo said, “This humble one took precautions. During the assault, Miss Long and I both wore broad-brimmed hats and fur collars covering our faces. He could not possibly have recognised us.” Kublai said, “If that is so, I hope you achieve this great deed. The promised rewards. I will not go back on my word.”

Yang Guo casually murmured his thanks and was about to turn and leave with Xiaolongnü when he noticed strange expressions on the faces of the Golden Wheel Imperial Preceptor, Xiaoxiangzi, Yin Kexi, and the others. A thought struck him: These men all fear that if I assassinate Guo Jing and earn the title of Foremost Warrior of Mongolia, it will diminish them. They will surely try to obstruct me. He said to Kublai, “Your Highness, this humble one goes to assassinate Guo Jing to avenge a personal grievance and also to exchange his head for life-saving medicine. If, by Your Highness’s good fortune, the great deed is accomplished, I absolutely dare not accept the title of Foremost Warrior of the Great Mongol Empire.” Kublai asked, “Why is that?” Yang Guo said, “This humble one’s martial arts are far inferior to those of everyone here. How dare I claim to be the foremost warrior? Your Highness must agree to this before I dare set out.”

Seeing the sincerity in his words, and noting the expressions of the others. Kublai guessed his reasoning. “If that is your wish,” he said, “every man has his own aspirations. I will not force the matter.” The Imperial Preceptor and the others, hearing Kublai’s words, indeed showed expressions of relief.

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Yang Guo wheeled his horse around and rode toward Xiangyang with Xiaolongnü at his side. Along the way, they discarded their broad hats and fur collars, reverting to Han dress. By the time they reached the city, dusk was falling. The gates were shut tight, and companies of soldiers bearing torches patrolled the battlements. Yang Guo called out in a loud voice, “My surname is Yang, given name Guo. I have come especially to pay my respects to Uncle Guo Jing.” The defending officer on the wall heard his call and, seeing that he was accompanied only by a single woman, immediately reported to Guo Jing.

Before long, two young men appeared on the wall and looked down. One of them called out, “So it’s Brother Yang! Just the two of you?” Yang Guo saw that they were the Wu brothers. Guo Jing killed my father, he thought. I wonder if the Wu brothers’ father was present, aiding him at the time. He said, “Brother Wu the Elder, Brother Wu the Younger, is Uncle Guo in the city?” Wu Xiuwen said, “He is. Please come in, Brother Yang.” He ordered the soldiers to open the gates and lower the drawbridge, admitting Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü into the city.

The two Wus led them to a large residence. Guo Jing, his face brimming with joy, hurried out to greet them. He bowed to Xiaolongnü with clasped hands, then seized Yang Guo’s hand and laughed. “Guoer, you’ve come at the perfect time. The Tartars are pressing their assault. With you two here, my arm is strengthened, this is truly a blessing for the people of the entire city.” Since Xiaolongnü was Yang Guo’s teacher, Guo Jing treated her with the courtesy due an equal, politely ushering her inside, but toward Yang Guo he was warmly affectionate.

Yang Guo felt his left hand grasped by this man, his father’s murderer, who was putting on such a false show of warmth. He ached to draw his sword and stab him dead on the spot, but he feared Guo Jing’s martial prowess and dared not act rashly. He forced a smile onto his face and said, “Uncle Guo, I hope you have been well.” His heart was full of bitter hatred, and he did not kneel to kowtow. Guo Jing, magnanimous by nature, paid no attention to this detail.

Once in the main hall, Yang Guo asked to go inside and pay his respects to Huang Rong. Guo Jing laughed. “Your Auntie Guo is about to give birth. She has been unwell these past few days. You can see her another day.” Yang Guo secretly rejoiced. Huang Rong is too clever by far. My only worry was that she would see through me. That she is indisposed. Heaven itself is aiding my success.

As they spoke, a staff officer entered and reported, “Grand Commandant Lü invites Uncle Guo to a banquet celebrating today’s great victory over the Tartars.” Guo Jing said, “Give the Grand Commandant my thanks for his kind invitation. I have guests from afar and cannot attend.” The staff officer looked at Yang Guo, very young, with nothing remarkable about him, and wondered why Guo Jing would value him so highly, declining the supreme commander’s victory feast just to keep this youth company. Puzzled, he withdrew to report to Lü Wenhuan.

Guo Jing arranged a simple family feast in the inner hall to welcome Xiaolongnü and Yang Guo. Zhu Ziliu, Lu Youjiao, the Wu brothers, Guo Fu³, and others joined them. Zhu Ziliu repeatedly expressed his gratitude to Yang Guo, saying it was thanks to him that he had obtained the antidote from Huodu, curing the poison in his body.⁴ Yang Guo smiled faintly and made a few modest remarks. The Wu brothers pretended not to hear.

Footnotes

1. 金刀驸马 – Jīndāo Fùmǎ. Guo Jing’s Mongol title from his youth. After he helped Genghis Khan’s armies, he was betrothed to the Khan’s daughter Huazheng and given the golden blade as a symbol of his status. Though Guo Jing ultimately married Huang Rong, Mongol veterans of his generation still remember and revere him by this title. ↩

2. 蒙宋灭金 – Mongol–Song alliance against Jin. Southern Song and Mongols allied to destroy the Jin dynasty before the Mongols turned on the Song. ↩

3. 郭芙 – Guō Fú. Her name meaning “lotus”. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

4. 霍都王子 – Huòdū Wángzǐ. Literally Prince Huo Du; a Mongol princely title. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩