Chapter 127: Dragon Horse Immortal Island

The fleet sailed across Qinghai for a whole day. At dusk, a strong northwest wind suddenly blew, causing violent waves. Dark clouds rolled in from the northwest.
The waves battered the large ships, the masts creaked loudly, and the hulls swayed violently. Apart from the Jiangdu soldiers, the Anxi troops had no experience in naval combat. The soldiers could no longer hold on and crouched in corners, groaning in pain.
“Idiots! Lower the sails quickly—the ship is about to capsize!”
Lieutenant He Yingchuan cursed at several soldiers. His family had been sailing on the Yangtze River for generations, possessing excellent sailing skills.
Frightened, the soldiers hurriedly retracted the sails. At that moment, a shout came from behind the ship—a mast collapsed with a crash and plunged into the sea. The ship tilted sharply to the left before bouncing back, causing three soldiers who had been on the mast to fall into the water.
Li Qingan shouted anxiously, “Hurry! Save them quickly!”
Dozens of soldiers rushed forward, throwing long ropes into the water and shouting at the soldiers struggling in the water, “Grab the ropes quickly!”
“Idiots! Go get long bamboo poles!”
“General, there are no long bamboo poles.”
The situation was critical. He Yingchuan jumped into the water holding the rope, along with two other excellent swimmers. They swam hard toward the fallen soldiers. Amid the towering waves, a few small figures finally grabbed the ropes. Everyone on the ship pulled together to slowly drag them onto the ship.
The soldiers on board cheered. Li Qingan wiped the cold sweat from his brow and ordered, “Quickly take them to the cabin.”
Then, He Yingchuan pointed at the dark clouds rolling in the north and said worriedly, “General, this is just the prelude to a storm. A violent storm is coming soon. All the ships will likely capsize. We must find a way to reach shore immediately, otherwise, everyone will die at sea.”
“What should we do? We’re in the middle of the lake—where can we land?”
Li Qingan thought to himself. If we’re not killed by the Tubo people, will we perish at sea?
Just then, Zhao Lu, supporting the old slave Zhang Pingbo, called out from the cabin door, “General Li, Master Zhang has something to say to you.”
Li Qingan perked up. The old man’s white hair seemed to embody experience—perhaps he had some solution. He stepped forward quickly and asked, “What is it?”
Zhang Pingbo pointed at the dark clouds in the distance and said, “General, that’s the Dragon King of Qinghai emerging at sea. If it appears, none of the ships on the lake will survive. We must get to shore quickly.”
“I know, but we’re in the lake—where can we land?”
“General, there’s a place where we can take shelter.”

Li Qing’an was overjoyed and asked urgently, “Where can we hide?”
“General, three years ago I sailed at sea with my Tubo master and encountered the Dragon King of Qinghai emerging from the sea. I remember clearly that we hid on an island in the middle of the sea—its name is Longju Island. It’s quite large; we should be able to find it.”
Suddenly, a place name flashed through Li Qing’an’s mind: “Haixin Mountain.” Right! There was Haixin Mountain in Qinghai Lake, located a bit further south in the lake.
He quickly turned to He Yingchuan and shouted, “Order all ships to search for the island on the sea surface—hurry!”
“General, don’t worry. It must be nearby. Last time, I also saw the Dragon King of Qinghai rage here. My master said that the Dragon King can only be seen emerging from the sea at the center of the sea.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than a Tang soldier on the mast pointed backward and shouted, “General! Land! I see land!”
Li Qing’an rushed to the ship’s rail. In their southwest direction, there indeed was a dark strip—they had already passed it.
“Order all ships to turn around!”
As a storm was approaching, they finally spotted Longju Island. The sea was now filled with towering waves, dark clouds covered the sky, and fierce winds mixed with heavy rain swept down from all directions.
More than thirty large ships struggled to enter a harbor, crowding together in the narrow space, like sheep huddled together trembling in the storm.
Zhang Pingbo looked out of the ship window at the dark sky and sighed softly, “The Dragon King is emerging from the sea—a blizzard is coming. General Li, the first heavy snow in the Qinghai area is about to arrive.”
Li Qing’an was more concerned about the island. He asked, “Elder Zhang, are there any households on the island?”
“Yes! There’s a temple with a dozen or so monks living there. There are also a few Qiang families on the island who make a living by fishing.”
“How big is the island?”
Zhang Pingbo smiled slightly and said, “About five or six li in circumference! It’s covered with lush trees, has fertile land, and is home to many waterbirds. There are many herbs that are sacred for treating wounds—I know them all.”
Relieved, Li Qing’an smiled gratefully and said, “Elder, I owe you a lot this time.”
“Not at all! General Li saved me from the Tubo people—I’m the one who owes him thanks. If I were twenty years younger, I would definitely join the Tang army.”
“Elder Zhang, when will this storm end?” Li Feiyuanli suffered severely from seasickness. Lying in a corner, he found it almost unbearable.
“It will end by midnight at the latest. General Li Feiyuanli, don’t worry. But with the Dragon King emerging from the sea and these storms, we can’t set sail for a day or two. We’ll wait until both storms pass.”

Bai Yuan Guang, lying in another corner, also asked worriedly, “Qilang, I’m very concerned that the Tubo army might set out at sea to intercept us.”
“General Bai, there’s no need to worry!”
Zhang Pingbo smiled and said, “Although the Tubo people still have ships, they know that the Dragon King cannot go into the water when he sets out at sea. At least in the near future, they won’t dare to come. By the time they do, you’ll have already landed.”
Li Qingan stood up and said with a smile, “Let’s stop worrying and get some rest first. Once it gets light, we’ll go to the island.”
……
The storm stopped in the middle of the night, and the sea returned to its usual calm. Li Qingan ordered the ship to dock, and everyone led their warhorses and carried the wounded onto the island. The island was a huge piece of granite floating on the water, shaped like a long strip, about two li wide and six to seven li long, higher in the east and lower in the west. Its surface had weathered into soil, and due to the presence of many seabirds, the land on the island was very fertile. The surrounding area was covered with lush trees, and the central part was flat, filled with plenty of grass. A corner in the northeast had been turned into fertile farmland, with golden wheat fields—harvest time had arrived.
Li Qingan was very satisfied with the environment on the island, especially the large pastures that could accommodate his warhorses. The soldiers cheered and rushed toward the pastures on horseback. Soon, the pastures were filled with military horses.
“General, look, that’s Yinglong Temple.”
Zhang Pingbo pointed to a high ridge in the distance. Li Qingan followed his finger and saw a golden temple on a black cliff. The temple wasn’t large, with only a dozen or so rooms. Two monks were coming toward them.
Shortly after, the soldiers brought in two elderly monks. The older monk bowed to Li Qingan and said, “Amitabha. Welcome, General, to Longju Island.”
Seeing their worried expressions, which clearly showed they weren’t sincere, Li Qingan smiled slightly and asked, “May I know your names, venerable masters? How many people live on the island?”
“I am Fa Ming, and this is my junior brother, Fa Hai. Originally, there were fourteen monks in the temple. With the outbreak of the Tang-Tubo war, all the disciples left for Hexi. Now, only my brother and I are left here. We have very little food, just enough for ourselves.”
“We have enough food. But is there fresh water on the island?”
“Yes! Behind our temple, there’s a hot spring that never runs dry. The water is steaming hot, more than enough for the army to drink.”
“What about the other residents on the island? I heard there are a few Qiang families as well?”
“Originally, there were seven fisher families on the island. With the start of the Tang-Tubo war, most of them left. Only one family remains—a grandfather and grandson.”
“Alright! I understand. We’ll temporarily use Yinglong Temple. I’ll compensate you enough to rebuild your temple.”

After saying that, Li Qing’an ignored whether the two old monks agreed or not, turned around, waved his hand, and ordered, “Carry all the wounded soldiers into the temple to recover properly.”
The others agreed and started working together to carry more than 200 wounded soldiers up to the temple on the mountain. Twenty-some female guards carrying medicines and bandages followed them as well.
The soldiers became busy. They brought all the food, salt, and supplies from the ship to the island and set up over a hundred tents at the foot of the mountain, starting to cook meals. The island became extremely lively.
In one of the tents, Li Qing’an was discussing future plans with several generals. He quickly drew a sketch of the area around Qinghai and said to them, “On the east coast of Qinghai lies Chileng. There, the Tubo army is stationed. Shanzhou, where the Tang army is based, is at least 150 li away from Qinghai. Our only chance is to leave through the valley in the northeast corner. That area was originally part of the Western Sea Commandery of the Han Dynasty, located at the junction of Datong Mountain and Chileng. There is a gorge about a hundred li wide. But the problem now is that I’m not sure if there are Tubo troops stationed there. If there are large forces, things might get complicated.”
Li Fei Shouyu pondered for a moment before saying, “Qilang, it will take time for the wounded soldiers to recover. If there are strong Tubo troops guarding Western Sea Commandery, no one will survive after a fierce battle. So I suggest leaving the wounded soldiers on Longju Island to recover for now.”
“What about your opinion, Yuanguang?” Li Qing’an asked Bai Yuanguang.
Bai Yuanguang smiled and said, “I agree with Shouyu’s idea. I asked the old monks earlier. The Tubo ships only passed by the island once at the beginning of the year, and they didn’t even land. With winter approaching, they certainly won’t come. Let’s leave the wounded soldiers on the island for now and make a decision after we’ve explored the situation in Western Sea Commandery.”
Li Qing’an turned his gaze to Li Fei Yuanli. Li Fei Yuanli shook his head vigorously, “Don’t ask me, Old Li. I just follow orders and fight.”
“Alright, now let me share my thoughts.”
Li Qing’an pointed at the area around Qinghai and said, “We’re currently behind Chileng, north of the Dafei River. If this island becomes a springboard for the Tang army’s advance, it’s like inserting a knife behind Chileng and using it to press against the Dafei River’s valley. This could become an extremely valuable surprise tactic.”
“Does Qilang mean we should occupy Longju Island permanently?”
“Yes!”
Li Qing’an nodded firmly. “At least as a base for our Anxi archers and cavalry. I plan to build a castle here. Once the storms subside, I’ll go to Shanzhou and propose this idea to General Geshu.”
……

At noon, the second storm over Qinghai arrived. Strong winds blew across the sea, and the sky was covered with dark clouds like ink. Suddenly, lightning flashed and thunder roared, plunging the world into darkness as if night had fallen. Giant waves surged, the wind howled, and a violent storm swept in.

The Tang army was prepared. They drove all their horses to the foot of the cliff and set up their tents tightly against it. With the mountains as a barrier, they were less affected by the fierce wind and rain. The soldiers huddled in the tents, listening to the roar of the Dragon King of Qinghai outside. Everyone was extremely nervous, as if the end of the world was approaching…

But early the next morning, Qinghai was completely calm again, with gentle winds and sunny weather. The deep blue sea water resembled a huge gem, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Li Qingan strolled to the seaside to admire the blue waters. Flocks of seagulls circled above his head. In later years, he visited Qinghai Lake, which was much smaller back then, and its water was not as clear and transparent.

Li Qingan stretched and took a deep breath of the fresh, slightly salty breeze. An idea struck him. Looking around and seeing no one, he quickly stripped off all his clothes, placed them on a rock, and used another stone to press them down to prevent the seagulls from stealing them.

“Mermaids, I’m here!”

He leaped gracefully into the air and dived naked into the crystal-blue sea. The icy water almost made him cramp, but he struggled hard with his arms and legs. Suddenly, everything became clearer, and he broke the surface.

Wiping the water from his face, he realized he had dived twenty zhang away. He dived back into the water and swam freely, laughing joyfully.

…

After swimming for an unknown length of time, he grew tired and floated on his back, letting the waves push him back. The sunlight warmed his dark, shiny skin.

Suddenly, he heard two women talking, “Third Sister, over here! There are rocks here, which is very convenient!”

Li Qingan shuddered as saltwater rushed into his nose. He dived underwater immediately. Through the shimmering water, he faintly saw two women carrying basins approaching.

“Cui’er, let’s do it here!”

Li Qingan recognized their voices—one was Shi Sanniang, and the other was Miao Cui’er, both young women in their early twenties. They squatted down and poured the contents of their basins into the water.

Li Qing’an could hold back no longer. He quickly turned underwater and hid behind a rock, then slowly surfaced. He inwardly groaned—those two women were crouching beside the rock where he had left his clothes, washing gauze.

“What to do? Dive by them?”

“No!” Li Qing’an immediately dismissed the idea. The water was too clear; they would see him. It would be extremely embarrassing for a high-ranking general to swim naked in the sea. After considering countless options, he found none satisfactory and remained at a loss in the seawater.

“Look, how clear the water is here!”

“Yes! It reminds me of washing clothes in the river at the village entrance.”

“Third Sister, don’t you plan to go back?”

“I don’t want to go back. My home is gone, and my child is dead. Who knows if the Tubo people will attack again and capture me? It’s better to go with them to Anxi and find a man I like in the army to marry.”

“If you’re going to marry, marry Old Li!”

Li Fei Yuanli was responsible for patrolling the islands. He had accidentally spotted the two women earlier and, unable to resist his old habits, walked over smiling. The two women quickly stood up and greeted him with a smile, “General Li Fei!”

“Hehe! You’re washing gauze, huh?”

Suddenly, Li Fei Yuanli clutched his stomach. “Ahh! It hurts so much!”

“General Li Fei, where does it hurt?”

Li Fei Yuanli pointed to his lower abdomen, suffering greatly. “I was actually shot by an arrow. Since it didn’t penetrate, I didn’t take it seriously. But just now, I found that the wound has become infected.”

“Oh! That’s serious. It’s been several days already.”

Shi San’niang said anxiously, “Let me see. Where is the wound?”

“Here.”

Li Fei Yuanli untied his belt. Suddenly, he grabbed Shi San’niang’s hand and shoved it into his underwear, laughing loudly, “Can you feel the wound?”

Shi San’niang turned red with shame, pulled her hand back, spat at him, then grabbed the wooden basin and poured water on him. Li Fei Yuanli laughed wildly and ran away, holding his head.

“Third Sister, that General Li Fei is so indecent!” Miao Cui’er said indignantly.

“Let it be. He just likes that. He’s not really bad.”

Shi San’niang sighed. When she turned around, she saw the clothes on the rock and exclaimed in surprise, “Huh! Whose clothes are these?”

She picked them up and looked around but saw no one. Miao Cui’er laughed, “Maybe that guy wanted you to wash them and forgot them here.”

“Hmm! These clothes are indeed a bit dirty. I’ll wash them for him!”

With that, she put the clothes in the basin and was about to scoop water. Li Qing’an panicked; he couldn’t care less about losing face anymore and shouted softly, “Don’t wash them! Those are my clothes.” The two women were stunned. Following the sound, they discovered Li Qing’an hiding behind the rocks and cried out, “General Li!” “Shh! Don’t shout. Give me the clothes.” “Yes!” Shi Sanniang hurriedly handed the clothes to Li Qing’an. He took them, a bit embarrassed, and said, “Could you two step back for a moment so I can get dressed?” The two women understood immediately and their faces turned red. “General Li, you actually…” They quickly put down the basin and walked away. Li Qing’an came out of the water, not even bothering to dry himself. He put on his clothes while still wet and took some time to get dressed properly. He coughed heavily and said to those in the distance, “I’m done. You can come over now!” The two women slowly poked their heads out from behind the rocks. Seeing that he was fully dressed, they stepped forward. Shi Sanniang said shyly, “General, we didn’t know you were in the water earlier. We’re sorry.” Li Qing’an laughed dryly. “It’s fine. I haven’t taken a bath in over a month. There was at least thirty jin of old mud on me, so I hid here to wash. By the way, I’ll definitely give Li Feiyuanli a good lesson.” “General Li, no need. He didn’t really do anything bad. He was just joking with us.” “Hmm! That kid is just like that—likes to tease women. He doesn’t have any evil intentions. If anyone dares to bully you in the future, just let me know.” “Thank you, General Li. Everyone is very kind to us. No one bullies us.” “That’s good. Go on with your work. I’m leaving now.” Li Qing’an nodded with a smile, turned around, and walked away. After turning a corner, he arrived at a beach. Suddenly, he heard cheers. A large group of naked soldiers rushed into the sea. The soldiers stared at Li Qing’an in shock and froze in place. “General, we…” Li Qing’an waved his hand and said with a smile, “Go ahead! Have a good bath.” The soldiers cheered as they rushed into the sea, looking like a group of naked ducks flapping around in the water. Li Qing’an shook his head and muttered to himself, “Damn it! They can do whatever they want—why can’t I?”
…
Note 1: Qinghai Lake was called Qinghai during the Tang Dynasty, where “Qinghai” meant sea.
Note 2: It may seem absurd to station troops on Haixin Mountain, but it is historical fact. At the beginning of the eighth year of the Tianbao era, Geshu Han built Yinglong Fort on Longju Island (i.e., Haixin Mountain), stationing 2,000 troops. In this book, it is Li Qing’an who builds Yinglong Castle on Longju Island.