Volume One: In a Chaotic World, Is There a Path for Mortals? Chapter 36: A Tiger, Part III

The generals withdrew. Hong Jixun tugged at the hem of his long robe, showing not the slightest sign of deference, and took his seat with composed dignity.

Deng She sat upright, his posture tense, as though facing an esteemed guest. With a solemn expression, he said, “Sir, your words just now were truly insightful. For over a month, I have felt as if sitting on needles, wandering the room in restless doubt. I have racked my brain for a solution, unable to sleep soundly or eat with appetite, consumed by worry and uncertainty about the road ahead. Hearing your advice now is as if clouds and fog have parted to reveal tomorrow’s sun—suddenly all is clear.” As he spoke, he rose and offered a formal salute. “Your talent is remarkable, sir; please forgive the discourtesy I showed earlier.”

Hong Jixun remained seated, accepting the gesture. He smiled and replied, “Since General broke through the defenses of Zhang Jujing and Shijia Bao in Liaoxi, your reputation has spread throughout Eastern Liao. I learned that your force against the enemy was merely ten thousand newly recruited soldiers, and I could not help but admire you. I also heard that you captured the key town of Yongping with only eight hundred fugitives, slew thousands of enemies, and lost but a few dozen men yourself. That amazes me even more.”

Deng She smiled, “There is no virtue in slaughtering captives; why should it amaze you?”

Hong Jixun answered gravely, “My words upon entering the tent were mere banter. There is no need for you to jest. When the host is weak and the guest strong, and one finds oneself deep in enemy territory, there is no choice but to kill surrendered soldiers. You assessed the situation wisely and acted decisively and steadfastly. Despite your army being battered, you were not tempted by immediate gains. In all of Eastern Liao, few can match you.”

He continued, “After you took the city, you did not rush to recruit soldiers or amass wealth, but instead issued a call for talented men. You honored surrendered officials as distinguished guests and appointed the Korean eunuch as a commander of a thousand. I heard of these deeds and was deeply impressed. Therefore, I waited especially at Liaoyang for your arrival. Unexpectedly, you traveled by night, making me chase after you.”

“Liaoyang?” Deng She queried.

“To speak candidly, I was in Liaoyang even before your name became known. Yet Chancellor Liu failed to recognize your worth…”

Deng She was taken aback, then smiled, “Heaven has gifted you to me.” Before asking for the best strategy, he sought the man’s background. “From your speech and accent, you sound like a native of Eastern Liao?”

Hong Jixun nodded, “My family has lived in Eastern Liao and Korea for generations. During the Tang dynasty, eight scholars were sent to teach in Korea, and one was my ancestor. Since then, we have resided in the Three Han, generation after generation as nobles. My forebears never forgot their origins and called our home Tang City.” After recounting his lineage, he continued, “Since the Yuan, we offered our city and people to the Mongols. Kublai Khan appointed my great-grandfather as the head of a commandery established for the Korean auxiliaries. I wonder if you have heard of him?”

He referred to Hong Fuyuan, whom Deng She had indeed heard of. “So you are from a distinguished family—my apologies for not realizing.” From Hong Fuyuan, the Hong clan served as high officials in the Yuan for three generations. Observing Hong Jixun’s shabby appearance, Deng She wondered why he was so destitute, and even more, why someone from such a family would seek him out. He kept his suspicions to himself.

Hong Jixun was quick-witted and saw through Deng She’s doubts. He explained, “My father was… a concubine’s son.”

In truth, calling his father a concubine’s son was an exaggeration; his grandfather had a momentary dalliance, and his mother was but a servant. Thus, his branch of the family held little status.

He went on, “After my grandfather’s death, my father followed my uncle to serve in the capital. A few years ago, over a minor matter, he angered a powerful Mongol—”

His composure broke as he recounted, his facial muscles twitching with rage. “He was struck dead on the spot, then dragged by horses for amusement.”

Deng She sighed and cursed the “Mongol dogs,” offering words of comfort.

Hong Jixun breathed heavily for a moment, then said, “No need for comfort, General. I witnessed the horror myself. If I do not avenge this, I vow never to be human again!… I wanted to ask my uncle to petition the Yuan emperor for justice, but he was timid and made every excuse, finally driving me away.”

“My family lives in Twin Cities, which is where Helan Commandery is located. I decided to return home and inform my mother before deciding what to do. When I got back to Eastern Liao, I heard Korea had seized Twin Cities during the chaos. I rushed day and night, only to find my house reduced to ashes.”

“Those I asked in the city said Korea took the city and burned it for three days. My mother…,” he lowered his eyes, tears falling, “I suppose she did not survive the fire.”

Both parents lost to violence, a tragedy too cruel to hear. Deng She sighed repeatedly.

Hong Jixun paused, steadying himself. “General, my father died at the hands of the Yuan, my mother at the hands of Korea. On that day, I cut off my finger and swore an oath: my life’s enemy shall be the Yuan and Korea. I vow to destroy these two nations. If I fail, my sons will carry on, generation after generation, without end!”

He held out his left hand, indeed missing a pinky.

Deng She stood in solemn respect, “Sir, your filial devotion earns my admiration.” He too nursed hatred, and understood the pain of helplessly seeing loved ones die. In that moment, he felt a kinship with Hong Jixun, dispelling his doubts. Deng She, experienced in such matters, could see Hong Jixun’s sincerity.

“My foster father was also brutally killed by the Mongols. I know your pain.” He called for his guards, “Bring wine!” The guards hurried in, set down cups, and Deng She stood and raised his own, “Let us drink together, to vengeance through blood.”

They clinked cups, wiped their mouths, and met each other’s gaze, feeling a rare sense of camaraderie. When the guards withdrew and business resumed, Deng She asked, “I have heard your middle and lower strategies. What is your highest counsel?”

Hong Jixun glanced outside the tent. Deng She understood, ordering the guards, “Fall back another hundred paces. Any who enter without orders, behead them!”

Outside, the night was deep. Inside, the tent blazed with torches. The footfalls of patrolling soldiers drifted in on the wind. Spring’s chill lingered. Hong Jixun moved aside his wine cup and his eyes flashed with intensity. He lowered his voice, “The highest strategy is but ten words. If you follow it, you will surely become a king.”

“Please speak,” Deng She listened intently.

“Build high walls, stockpile grain, and take your time planning against Korea.”

Deng She was stunned, then puzzled, then amazed, and finally delighted. He sprang to his feet; the words jolted him awake like a dreamer. Not only were these nine words apt for Zhu Yuanzhang, but they suited his own situation perfectly. Helan Commandery’s location was a turning point on the coast: southeast lay Korea in plain view; north was shielded by mountains; southwest overlooked Eastern Liao.

Gathering grain from several regions and welcoming the people of Eastern Liao would amass strength that could not be contained.

Overjoyed, he laughed aloud, “Sir! Great minds think alike. Gaining you is like gaining a tiger!” His mood was mixed; perhaps he spoke of himself and Hong Jixun both as heroes, or perhaps he compared Hong Jixun to the strategist who advised Zhu Yuanzhang.

Hong Jixun had not expected such a reaction, but the stronger Deng She’s response, the more satisfied he felt.

He elaborated, “Helan Commandery controls the barbarians, neighbors the islands. The terrain is rugged and distant, rich in salt and iron. By gathering neighboring districts, driving the Jurchen and Khitan, exploiting gaps, advancing or retreating at will, this place is the foundation of kingly enterprise.”

The worries of the past days vanished. The path ahead was clear. Kingly ambitions aside, at least he now had a foothold. Deng She felt exhilarated, raising his cup, “Sir, let us drink again!”

He tossed aside the cup, summoned his guards, and called the generals to change plans overnight. The generals discussed and had no objections, returning to prepare.

Early next morning, the men sent to deliver gifts to Liaoyang’s Sha Liu’er returned, accompanied by a messenger from Sha Liu’er.

The messenger asked Deng She, “Who ordered you to cross the river as vanguard?” Deng She did not see him, sending Luo Guoqi to deal with it. Luo Guoqi, being learned and smooth, could flatter and deflect with earnest-sounding nonsense.

From last night, small groups from both sides of the Yalu River—Bosuo Commandery and Yizhou—were sent to observe from afar. Over a hundred li away, places like Turtle City, alerted by Yizhou, also sent scouts. Their forces were too few to attack.

Deng She ordered the whole army to rest; no one was to leave camp. Meanwhile, he sent Zhao Guo and Lu Qian Twelve to lead teams out to ambush Korean scouts. He built towers, dressed in fresh armor, and took Hong Jixun, clad in flowing white, and the generals to climb the tower and point out distant Yizhou.

These were simple feints; an outsider could see through them at a glance, but those involved could not judge. The true and the false were intertwined. How could anyone know if his actions were real or a ruse? War is perilous; at worst, it threatens lives; at best, it determines the fate of nations. One misstep and death falls with rivers of blood. Only a peerless general, who sees the whole situation clearly and knows both self and enemy, dares to make such judgments.

Korean outposts outside the camp were far weaker than Zhang Jujing and Shijia Bao’s forces. Within less than half an hour, all but a few deliberately let go were annihilated. Deng She ordered Chen Hu to record the merits for later reward.

Night fell.

Deng She urgently assembled his forces, ordering silence. Chen Hu and Monk Li led as vanguard. The army marched out, avoiding towns and counties, crossing gaps. Any locals encountered were swept into the army, none allowed to escape. For a hundred years, war had ravaged both sides of the Yalu, leaving few people and towns, with early night closures.

They moved stealthily, and the towns along the way had no time to react. Any messengers sent out were intercepted by Deng She’s scouts, and news did not reach ahead. By the third morning, they had reached the junction of the Yalu River and the Langlin Mountains.

The Langlin Mountains, on the south bank of the Yalu, stretch north to south, dividing Korea’s northern border in two, with Twin Cities to the west. The range is high, averaging two thousand meters, but where it meets the Yalu it is only one or two hundred meters. Deng She chose this spot to cross.

They spent a day gathering boats and building rafts, and crossed the Yalu that night, then traversed the Langlin Mountains the next day. They entered the Kaema Plateau, inhabited mostly by Jurchen tribes. The terrain was rugged and cold, roads winding and strewn with rocks, so progress was slow. Five days later, they were only a few dozen li from Twin Cities.

Early-rising Korean farmers spotted them and were shocked, staring in terror. He Guangxiu was ordered to calm the locals. Passing through Liaoyang, more Koreans came to join them, now numbering over a thousand.

Deng She ordered a forced march.

By afternoon, Twin Cities appeared in sight. This surprise attack was swift. Guan Duo had sent warnings to Korea in February, and the army marched on Fengzhou. Korea was fully aware. They had heard of Fengzhou’s defeat, but never expected an army to arrive so suddenly.

In the fields around Twin Cities, farmers saw Deng She’s troops from afar, dropped their tools, and fled toward the city. The defenders could not let them in, raised the drawbridge, and shut the gates. Drums and horns sounded alarms. Korean soldiers, urged by officers, scrambled unorganized onto the walls. A large cannon was pushed up.

Outside, the people wailed, chaotic as a hive of bees. Some collapsed, some ran behind the city, some beat on the gates, some were so frightened they ran straight into the army.

A large banner with the character “Zhao” stood atop the city wall. Beneath it, a dozen soldiers gathered around a man dressed as a commander of a thousand. He called down, “Who are you?”

Deng She’s soldiers wore mostly Yuan army armor taken from Yongping. Most were not White Lotus followers, few wore red scarves. Only a “Deng” flag flew, and the defenders could not identify them.

After Korea seized Twin Cities, they renamed it Xianzhou, then made it a commandery. The Yuan, unable to intervene, sent envoys to threaten Korea. Rumor in Korea said the Yuan would send a million Eastern Liao troops to attack.

Thus, the Korean general’s first reaction was that the Yuan had indeed come to attack.

Deng She ignored his challenge, instead arranging the generals and dividing the army. Twin Cities was small, two or three li across, with four gates. Deng She occupied the main gate; Wen Huaguo and Guan Shirong took the west; Chen Hu and Luo Guoqi surrounded the east. At the rear gate, two hundred-man teams were loosely stationed; any fleeing citizens or enemy envoys were intercepted. If the enemy was timid and tried to break out, so much the better. Deng She aimed to take the city, not slaughter its people.

The Korean garrison here, two or three thousand men, came from the eastern coastal regions. Most residents were homeless refugees from Eastern Liao and Korea. The generals set up camp, moving cavalry, archers, and gunners forward to guard against attacks from within. Two cannons faced the main gate.

The commander of a thousand asked more questions, but Deng She ordered, “Test the cannon.”

With a thunderous roar, the cannon struck the wall, dislodging stones and bricks, showering the Korean general with dust. The banner fluttered down, and he retreated, leaving soldiers scrambling to prepare defensive equipment.

Deng She watched the formations calmly. Horses galloped, weapons glinted in the sunlight, flags raised clouds of dust that nearly covered the city. The people outside, blocked by moats and encircled by the army, gathered in despair—men, women, old, and weak.

Hong Jixun stood by Deng She’s side, holding a paper fan and pointing out the surroundings, “General, observe. Here, the northeast is mountain upon mountain; southwest, vast open plains. North controls the plateau to Paektu Mountain; south joins the fertile fields to Tieling. East borders the sea, west overlooks Korea. This is a strategic hub, contested by all. The land is fertile, rich in fishing, salt, and gold. To call it the foundation of kingly enterprise is no exaggeration.”

For days, Hong Jixun spoke of kingly ambitions and the roots of rule. Deng She had no such intentions, yet his heart stirred. Upon reflection, it was foolish to dream of kingship before taking the land. Even if the place held royal potential, could he be king of Korea? He dismissed the idea.

Inside the city, the Korean army did not attempt to sally out. The commander of a thousand soon returned to the wall with several officers, observing Deng She’s forces from above.

Hong Jixun, a local, knew them well and introduced them, “That one is Zhao Duchi, a native. Before Korea took Twin Cities, he went to see the Korean king and was made commander of a thousand here. The man to his left, pale and bearded, is Jiang Zhongxiang, a commander of ten thousand. The young officer to his right is also a local; he commands troops in the northeast, named Yi Seong-gye. His post is not here; perhaps he returned to visit family.”

“When Korea attacked Twin Cities, his father, Li Zichun—the original Yuan commander here—led them from within.”

Yi Seong-gye’s name sounded familiar to Deng She, but he could not recall where he had heard it. Military matters distracted him, and soon he forgot.

Twin Cities, near the coast, was humid and warmer than the plateau. The soldiers set up camp quickly, and by dusk, fires were burning and meals prepared. The generals came to report; Wen Huaguo, impatient, asked, “General, our supplies are nearly depleted, only half a month remains. When will we attack?”

The army’s grain came partly from Yongping, partly taken along the march, as was customary. “Foraging” meant robbing, and it was common among all rebel armies—Zhang Shicheng, Xu Shouhui, and others. As long as the generals were not excessive, Deng She tolerated it. Combined, the supplies were not insignificant.

The more troops he commanded and the more people he killed, the harder Deng She’s heart became. The story of soldiers killed in the village over a month ago now seemed a distant dream. Deng San had beaten him for stopping the foraging; now he understood Deng San’s feelings.

One ought not to worry about affairs outside one’s station. How could he feed over ten thousand men? Without land or city, if he did not rob, how could he lead? Refugees joined him for a meal; if he could not feed them, they would scatter in days.

He thought of his former self and his current state, and smiled bitterly.

He hated what he had become, yet could not change. Unless he disbanded the army—but then, how could he avenge his family? Even aside from vengeance, how could he survive in this chaos? He recalled how Deng San died, and how Lady Wang was assaulted in the woods; without troops, these were the only fates.

One cannot be generous and keep money, nor merciful and command an army. He consoled himself, “I am more rational now.” An inner voice raged, “You are a hypocrite! Cold-blooded.” He chose to ignore it and returned to the business at hand.

Grain must come before troops march; he had already asked Hong Jixun for a solution. Now, he called Hong Jixun to answer again.

“Generals, do not worry. I was born and raised here. I know the defenses, supplies, and people of Twin Cities as well as the lines on my palm. My family has some reputation here; if the elders hear I am present, they may not surrender at once, but they will not defend with the Koreans. Korea has held the city only three years, and many Han people have not moved. Our army’s swift arrival caught Korea off guard.” Hong Jixun spoke with confidence, tapping his folding fan on his palm, “I guarantee the city will fall in three days.”

He opened the fan and handed it around. “The city’s strengths and weaknesses are all here.”

Deng She had seen the fan before; the generals had not. They crowded around and found it was a map of Twin Cities’ defenses. Wen Huaguo laughed, “With this, Sun Tzu said, ‘All is ready but the east wind is missing!’” He jingled his golden chain and asked Deng She, “General, when shall we attack?”