Chapter 9: Deputy Commander of Anxi

Ten days later, a group of 500 cavalry riders sped across the Gobi Desert. They rushed to a high ridge and stopped to look into the distance. The leader was a Tang army general in his thirty-fifth or thirty-sixth year. Staring afar, he pointed his whip at the snow-capped Ling Mountain and said to those around him, “One day, I will lead a large army to cross Ling Mountain, destroy the stronghold of the Turkic tribes, and rebuild our Tang Dynasty’s Suie Army garrison.”

He spurred his warhorse and rushed down the hill, with the Tang soldiers following closely. In moments, they disappeared deep into the Gobi.

An hour later, the cavalry arrived at Sulou Beacon Fort. Li Fei Yuanli, who was injured, hurriedly led his men to greet them.

“I was unaware that the military commander had arrived. I failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive me!”

The Tang general glanced at the soldiers. “For your bravery in fighting the enemy this time, each of you will receive twenty strings of coins and ten mu of land. This will be recorded as a merit. Li Fei Yuanli, the fort commander, will be promoted to the commander of Dashi Town.”

Li Fei Yuanli hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and kowtowing in gratitude. “Thank you for your kindness, Commander. I do not wish for a promotion. I only ask to join the Mo Dao Army.”

“Very well! I will grant your wish. From now on, you will be an assistant general in the Mo Dao Army.”

“Thank you, Commander!”

Li Fei Yuanli was overjoyed. Joining the Mo Dao Army had been his dream for years. Li Siye, who had joined the army with him, had become famous because of the Mo Dao Army, while he remained an unknown fort commander.

The Tang general then scanned the Tang soldiers in the fort one by one, his gaze finally falling on the tall Li Qingan. With a large bow on his back, Li Qingan stood out among the Tang soldiers. The general asked, “Are you the one who killed forty Turkic warriors with a single arrow?”

Li Qingan stepped forward from the soldiers and bowed. “I am Li Qingan, reporting to you, General.”

The general examined him and asked, “I’ve heard of your name. Where are you from?”

“Reporting to you, General, I am from Luoyang, the Eastern Capital.”

“A man from the Eastern Capital!” The Tang general nodded. “Show me your bow. What kind of bow is it that could kill forty Turkic warriors?”

Li Qingan handed over his bow. The general pulled it and laughed. “It’s a seven-stone bow, just like mine. But this is a poor-quality bow. Can it really kill forty people?”

“Reporting to you, General, it wasn’t my bow that killed those Turkic warriors—it was my courage.”

The general laughed loudly. “Well said!”

His laughter suddenly stopped. He leaned forward slightly, narrowed his eyes, and pointed at himself. “Do you know who I am?”

“I have no idea.”

“You really don’t know?”

The general raised his eyebrows and said proudly, “Let me tell you, I am Gao Xianzhi, the Deputy Protector of Anxi and the Commander of the Troops in the Four Forts of Anxi.”
“So you’re Gao Xianzhi!”
Li Qing’an blurted out, startling Li Feiyuanli greatly. How could one speak in such a manner? “Seventh Brother, don’t be rude!” he rebuked in a low voice.
Gao Xianzhi didn’t care. He smiled, waved to his bodyguard, who raised a large bow. The general handed the bow to Li Qing’an and said, “This was crafted by the best craftsmen in the capital. It’s called ‘Hundred Beasts.’ Try drawing it back—can you?”
Li Qing’an took the bow, exerted strength with his arms, and pulled it back. It was also a seven-stone hard bow, but even stronger, with a very comfortable feel—far superior to the bow and arrows he had bought for five guan in Bahuancheng.
Seeing that he could draw the bow, Gao Xianzhi nodded in approval. Indeed, he had some strength. Then, casually, he picked up a helmet with his sword and said to Li Qing’an, “Go 100 steps away and shoot at this helmet.”
Jia Chongguan, the commander of Bahuancheng, was shocked and quickly advised, “Deputy Commander, don’t take such risks.”
Gao Xianzhi ignored him. Seeing that Li Qing’an didn’t move, his expression darkened. With a hum, he asked, “Don’t you dare?”
“If the commander isn’t afraid of death, what am I to fear?”
Li Qing’an turned his horse around, rode 150 steps away, drew a long arrow, and aimed at the helmet on Gao Xianzhi’s sword. At that moment, Gao Xianzhi suddenly threw the helmet to the left, and Li Qing’an’s arrow flew out, heading straight for the helmet in the air. Before it hit the ground, the arrow pierced through it.
The Tang army immediately erupted in cheers. “What excellent archery!”
Li Qing’an rode forward, bowed, and said, “I’m fortunate to have fulfilled my mission!”
One of the bodyguards picked up the helmet and presented it to Gao Xianzhi. Gao Xianzhi glanced at it and saw the words ‘Lingshan Blood Arrow’ carved on the arrow shaft. He chuckled and said, “Since you want to be known as the Lingshan Blood Arrow, I’ll give you that title.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Commander.”
“A small title means nothing.”
Gao Xianzhi pointed at the bow and arrows in Li Qing’an’s hands and said with a smile, “These bow and arrows are yours. From now on, you’ll be my personal bodyguard.”
The Tang soldiers in the fortress exclaimed in surprise, all looking at Li Qing’an with envy—he had become Gao Xianzhi’s personal bodyguard!
Li Qing’an bowed and said, “Thank you, Commander, for promoting me. I’d like to take a few subordinates with me. Would you permit it?”
“Sure!”
Half an hour later, the large group set off, heading south in a grand procession.

“Boss, are we really going to Kucha?” He Yanming asked in excitement along the way. He was lucky enough to be taken along by Li Qingan as well.
“What, don’t you want to go? If not, you can go back,” Li Qingan said with a smile.
“No! No! No! How could I not want to go? I’ve had enough of that damned garrison place.”
“What about Old Han?” Li Qingan turned to ask Han Jinping.
Han Jinping sighed. “Of course I’m glad. Staying at the garrison would mean dying at the hands of the Turkic tribes sooner or later.”
“Do you think they’ll retaliate?”
Han Jinping nodded. “The Turkic tribes are extremely vengeful. Even if it’s not targeted at the garrison, they’ll keep invading, leaving Lingshan in turmoil.”
“Don’t worry! General Gao has already made arrangements.”
A young Turkic officer appeared beside them. He was tall, fair-skinned, handsome, and strong, as if possessing immense untapped energy. His deep blue eyes sparkled with a strange light.
His smile was warm and approachable. “General Gao has made arrangements. The troops at the garrison will be increased to a hundred, and the defenses will be strengthened. Additionally, five hundred soldiers will be stationed in Dashi City to ensure the Turkic tribes never return.”
Li Qingan liked him well and said with a bow, “Then I’m relieved. May I ask your name?”
“I’m Bai Yuanguang. I used to be a prince of Kucha, but now I’m part of the Tang army.”
“Pleasure to meet you! Please look after me in the future, Brother Bai.”
“General Li…”
“Just call me Qilang, Brother Bai.”
Bai Yuanguang nodded and smiled. “Then I won’t be polite. Qilang, I’ve seen your archery skills—truly remarkable. Hitting a target from 150 steps away with a single arrow—you’re truly the best archer in Anxi. But I wonder how good you are at literature?”
Li Qingan felt ashamed. He hadn’t even read The Analects, so how could he discuss literature?
“I’m sorry. I can only read a little; I have no knowledge of literature at all.”
Bai Yuanguang laughed loudly, making Li Qingan’s face turn red. Annoyed, Li Qingan said, “What use is much literary talent for a soldier?”
Bai Yuanguang stopped laughing and apologized, “Qilang, you don’t know. By ‘literature’ in our Anxi army, we don’t mean reading or writing. It refers to polo. I was asking how good you are at polo.”
Li Qingan felt relieved. As long as it wasn’t writing poems, it was fine. He smiled and said, “It’s embarrassing to admit, but I’ve never played polo before.”

Bai Yuan Guang was surprised—he had never played polo before; it was simply unbelievable. Yet his expression didn’t show it, and he smiled cheerfully, saying, “It’s a shame that someone with such excellent archery skills as Qi Lang doesn’t play polo. If Qi Lang is willing, we could practice polo skills together—how about that?”
“I’d be overjoyed, as long as Brother Bai doesn’t mind my inexperience.”
Bai Yuan Guang laughed heartily and spurred his horse forward. From afar, he could be heard saying to another person, “Cheng Gong, he agreed.”
At that moment, He Yanming beside him whispered to Li Qingan, “This Bai Yuan Guang is the best polo player in Anxi. Last year, he led the Anxi team to Chang’an to compete and won third place in the Tang Dynasty. I guess he’s jealous of your excellent archery skills and wants to humiliate you in polo.”
“Xiao He, stop talking nonsense!”
Han Jinping rebuked from the side, “The men of Anxi are all honorable—none of them are as petty as you.”
Li Qingan smiled without saying a word. He was quite interested in trying polo.