Chapter 7: The Attack of the Tuhu Tribes

Half a month had passed. On this day, it was Li Qing’an’s turn to guard the Lingshan Beacon Tower. Located at the exit of the Lingshan Road, the tower was built atop a steep cliff, accessible only by a rope ladder. Below the cliff stood a fortress for storing horses, along with supplies of food and water sufficient for half a month, with shifts changing every ten days.

The beacon tower usually had five soldiers stationed there, who would light a signal fire in the morning and evening to indicate safety. If a small enemy force was spotted, two fires would be lit; if a large army was attacking, three fires would be lit. If no fires were lit in the morning or evening, it meant the beacon tower had been attacked by thieves.

“Fire commander, look! That’s the Lingshan Beacon Tower,” He Yanming said with a smile, pointing at a solitary rock formation that resembled a bamboo shoot from afar.

It was Li Qing’an’s first time at the Lingshan Beacon Tower. Riding on his horse, he stared blankly at the rock formation, which looked so familiar. It was here, on this very rock, that he had heard loud horse hooves on a snowy night over a month ago. When he rushed over, he found himself in the Tang Dynasty, 1,300 years earlier.

Could this rock hide some secret of time travel? Li Qing’an bit his lip tightly and spurred his horse forward, rushing toward the rock formation.

The rock remained unchanged, just as it had been 1,300 years later. Li Qing’an walked around it among the rocks, and his heart gradually calmed. How could he possibly find a way back?

With a bitter smile, he shook his head. Seeing that the rope ladder had been lowered from above, he said to the others, “It’s getting late. Let’s go up!”

One after another, the Tang soldiers climbed up the tall beacon tower. Li Qing’an tested the rope and began climbing toward the summit step by step.

…

Night had fallen deeply. The sky was cloudless, and a full moon sailed across the vast expanse, casting a cool glow everywhere. The ground and the peaks were covered in a silvery white light. It was extremely quiet, with only the howling wind of Lingshan in the air.

Li Qing’an sat alone on top of the beacon tower, gazing blankly at the bright moon. An unexpected discovery that day had stirred his longing for home. His thoughts traveled back 1,300 years to his distant hometown.

The old house in his hometown, the lazy white cat that wandered along the walls in the afternoons, his mother sewing carefully packages to send to her son far away, her hair now streaked with gray, and his father meticulously repairing bicycles at the end of the alley—who would have thought that the youngest son of this ordinary bicycle repairman was actually a national archery champion?

Li Qing’an let out a soft sigh. In this lifetime, when would he get another chance to see his parents who gave birth to and raised him?
“Do you miss home, Fire Commander?”
The voice of the veteran Han Jinping came from behind. He walked over and sat down beside Li Qing’an, gazing at the full moon. “There’s a two-month leave every three years. Then the Fire Commander can return to Luoyang to visit.”
Li Qing’an glanced at him and smiled. “It’s not really missing home. My parents are both dead, and I’ve sold our old house. Even if I go back to Luoyang, where could I go?”
He shook his head and asked Han Jinping, “Old Han, where is your home? Why did you come to Anxi to serve in the army?”
“I’m not one of those who joined the Long March. I was exiled to Anxi.”
“Exiled?” Li Qing’an was slightly stunned. He knew that many scholars and officials had been exiled to the border for offending the emperor. This Han Jinping…
Han Jinping smiled faintly. “I originally entered the government through the imperial examinations and was appointed as the county magistrate of Dantu. Out of anger, I killed the county magistrate who insulted my wife. The villagers vouched for me, so I was spared death and sent to Anxi. I’ve been in this garrison for over four years now.”
“What about your parents, wife, and children?”
“They’re back in my hometown.”
Han Jinping took out a crumpled painting from his bosom. It showed a boy with a strong, tiger-like appearance. He stroked the portrait affectionately and said, “This is my son, Han Yue. I left him when he was three. He must be eight now.”
Just as Li Qing’an was about to speak, distant horse hooves could be heard. The sound was very frequent, seemingly far away yet also close. It came from the direction of Ling Mountain. The two exchanged a glance, quickly stood up, and walked to the lookout point to gaze northward.
Under the moonlight, they faintly saw a large group of dark dots rushing toward them, getting closer and closer. The sound of the horse hooves was muffled, as if covered by thick burlap. A large group of cavalry rushed past the beacon tower—hundreds of them—like a pack of hungry wolves, charging toward the garrison.
“Tuh… the Qishi people!”
Han Jinping trembled all over. Pointing at the cavalry charging toward the garrison, he was too nervous to speak. He turned around and ran, “I’ll light the beacons!”
“Don’t rush!”
Li Qing’an grabbed him tightly, staring at the enemy troops galloping under the moonlight. There was a hint of excitement and anticipation in his eyes…
Three beacons flared up brightly—an alarm that a large group of enemies was approaching. The flames shot high into the sky, extremely bright in the darkness. Several figures descended from the cliff, mounted their horses, left the beacon tower, and rushed toward the garrison.
…
“Look! Beacons! Three beacons!”

At the Sulou Fortress, one sentinel suddenly noticed the alarm signals from the beacon fires on Ling Mountain in the distance. The other two sentinels panicked immediately—one rushed to light the beacon fire, while the other swung an iron rod and struck the alarm bell, producing a shrill sound that alarmed the entire fortress.

Li Fei Yuanli, who was sleeping soundly, jumped up in shock and shouted, “What’s going on?”
“Lord, three beacon fires have been lit on Ling Mountain.”
“What!” Li Fei Yuanli was stunned. In a panic, he put on his armor while shouting, “Everyone, get inside the fortress! The Turkic horsemen are attacking!”
Chaos ensued in the fortress. The Tang soldiers rushed out of their tents, grabbing weapons and armor without even having time to put on shoes. They ran barefoot toward the fortress, using huge stones to block the iron gates. Three beacon fires were lit in the sky to send warnings to distant areas. The Tang soldiers drew their bows and arrows, waiting for the enemy’s arrival.

Fifteen minutes later, a disorganized mass of flames appeared in the distance. It was the Turkic horsemen carrying torches. In the blink of an eye, hundreds of them rushed forward like a storm, shouting loudly as they threw their torches at the tents. Instantly, flames erupted, illuminating the fortress as if it were day.

Li Fei Yuanli’s initial panic had vanished. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, staring at the Turkic horsemen outside and muttering, “You bastards, keep burning! It’d be best if it’s all burned down. I’ll just get more.”
“Lord, that’s not right!”
Qian Shu, the deputy commander, noticed something unusual and said anxiously, “It seems they’re targeting our fortress specifically.”
“Let me take a look.”
Li Fei Yuanli peeked outside and saw that about five hundred Turkic horsemen had surrounded the fortress. Normally, there was nothing of value here, so the Turkic invaders would just pass by without stopping. But what was wrong with them today? Had they gone mad?

“Hey!” Li Fei Yuanli shouted in Turkic, “I have no money here! Go south instead!”
In response, he heard the Turkic horsemen’s curses and a barrage of arrows. The arrows whizzed through the air and struck the stone walls of the fortress with a clanging sound. Li Fei Yuanli narrowly avoided being hit by an arrow. Fuming, he turned around and shouted, “Shoot them! Kill those bastards!”

The Tang soldiers in the fortress also shot arrows downward. The Turkic horsemen moved swiftly around the fortress, making it difficult for the Tang soldiers to hit them.
“Stop it!”
Li Fei Yuanli immediately realized something was wrong. He shouted, “Stop shooting! Save our arrows!”

The fortress fell silent in an instant; the Tang army stopped shooting and looked anxiously at the fierce mounted Xiongnu warriors—enemies ten times their number. Could they survive this ordeal?