Chapter 1: The Golden Age (I)
Before him lay an endless expanse of high mountain meadows, with a network of valleys stretching to the horizon. Vultures circled above the valleys, emitting annoying cries from time to time; wild wolves, with ears perked, howled from a distance of dozens of feet. Night, wilderness, valleys, death.
The valley resembled a gourd, narrowing slightly on the north side. Two mounds of yellow earth were piled up at the entrance, packed with trembling Tang soldiers. Some had pale faces and blue lips; they clung to the rocks, mouths agape in weak, insect-like moans. Others held their wax-tipped spears and staggered forward, fighting desperately against the wolves that closed in.
Cries and curses in various accents filled the air—as they used their native dialects to curse the wolves, the Tibetans, their comrades, and this cruel world.
A small crack gradually appeared in the sky, and soon a golden glow shone through. As if inspired by the gods, the crack grew larger until it transformed into a black hole the size of a multicolored stone. Orange-red sunlight poured in unabated, turning the sky crimson. The intensity of the red light was so blinding that Li Kuo instinctively pulled back his scarred left hand to shield his eyes.
“Whoosh!” “Whoosh!”
Rockets landed beside him, igniting stacks of grass and dead wood. The crimson flames danced, forming a grotesque smile. They consumed the kindling and lives alike, venting the long-suppressed fury within. The dry wood crackled loudly, spitting out sparks.
Countless Tibetans rode their plateau horses, wielding curved swords, slashing down the exhausted soldiers one after another.
“Ah!”
Li Kuo wanted to shout to order his men to retreat, but no sound came out. His dry throat felt as if clogged with a fish bone, slowly roasted by the flames.
“Ah!”
The young man tried to move forward to help his comrades but found himself unable to move. He could only watch as the Tibetan cavalry slaughtered his brothers right before his eyes!
Veterans of the Copper Army fell one after another, unwilling to die in silence. Former comrades had their heads cut off by the approaching Tibetans, piled up to form pagodas and fortifications.
Suddenly, a monk clad in robes appeared among the Tibetan troops. His face was covered by a mask with fierce, fanged features as he stared intently at the Copper Army soldiers and chanted scriptures.
“The merits of reciting mantras are beyond description. Men, women, the young, the old, the rich, and the poor—everyone can recite them. Day and night, in all activities, there is no time or place inappropriate for it.”
He first recited it in Tibetan, paused briefly, then repeated it in Tang dialect. The ancient Sanskrit sounds seemed to possess magic; the Tang soldiers stopped resisting, hitting their heads against the ground, weeping bitterly.
The Tibetan cavalry then mounted their horses and effortlessly beheaded their comrades, tossing their heads into the bags meant to collect spoils.
“Let them go! Let them go! Get away!”
The young man was almost frantic, shouting repeatedly. But the Tibetans couldn’t hear him at all, continuing their frenzied killing.
Blood stained the withered trees and the green grass, blending with the blood-red sky—a sight too painful for the young man to bear.
His former friends and brothers seemed possessed, their minds controlled by the Tibetan Buddhist monks, who sliced flesh from their arms with knives.
One knife, two knives, three knives…
“Ah!”
The young man’s eyes widened in rage, his limbs trembling, his lips burning as if scalded by fire.
“Om—Ma—Ni—Pa—Mi—Hum.”
Suddenly, the monk removed his mask and chanted a mantra.
In the blood-red light of dawn, Li Kuo saw the man’s face clearly—it was none other than the Tibetan demon monk from the Zhongnan Mountains!
“Uh!”
“Uh!”
The young man couldn’t utter a sound; he could only instinctively swing his arms at the monk. But as soon as his arms rose, they seemed tied by ropes and pulled back.
Black smoke suddenly rose from the corpses of his comrades, curling upward into the distance.
“Sssss!”
“Sssss!”
The headless bodies stood up and slowly approached him.
“Scritch! Scritch!”
One by one, heads emerged from their necks, but they were no longer the soldiers of the Copper Armor Camp.
Through the black smoke, the young man could clearly see the ox heads and horse faces, those terrifying smiling mouths.
“Don’t come! Don’t come! Get away, get away!”
Flames filled the sky, and the red land was filled with the tragic scenes of brothers killing each other and comrades devouring one another.
“Swish!”
In no time, those demons tore off their masks, revealing their true forms.
“Ah!”
The young man screamed and kept retreating.
Gao Xiu, Gao Xiuyan! Li Lin, Li Linfu!
Those creeping demons instantly turned into high-ranking officials, becoming Gao Xiuyan, Geshu Han, and other military generals from Longyou.
They formed a formation, arranged on both sides according to civil and military ranks, moving slowly.
Before long, the formation came to a halt and split to the sides, making way for an elderly man clad in golden armor.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”
Li Kuo clearly recognized the man’s silhouette—it was none other than the current emperor, Li Longji!
The imperial path was a carpet of blood-red grass. Amidst the cheers of the court officials and soldiers, Li Longji stepped forward slowly, walking across the red carpet and waving his hand arrogantly.
“Today, I have come here to ask everyone—can the valiant men of our Tang Dynasty help me reclaim the lands of Hehuang and ensure the eternal prosperity of our dynasty? I am here, and I see it. You are all outstanding; you are my pillars. You have not disappointed me!”
He straightened his hunched back and cleared his throat. “The Tubo people have captured, plundered, oppressed, and killed the people of Longyou. Can you teach these ignorant barbarians a lesson? Can you avenge the people of my Tang Dynasty?”
“Fight! Fight! Fight!”
The generals waved their fists and declared loudly.
“Just across a mountain—can you capture Shibao City for me?”
Li Longji nodded in satisfaction and smiled lightly.
“Seize it! Seize it!”
“Father, once Shibao is taken, Longyou will be free from troubles for fifty years!”
Prince Li Heng, dressed in elaborate robes with flowing sleeves, stepped forward and proclaimed, “Your son congratulates you on achieving a great legacy that rivals that of Emperor Taizong!”
“It’s rare to see such filial piety from you.”
Li Longji nodded, his lips curling slightly.
“Your Majesty, once Jiuqu is taken, Hexi will be free from threats. Won’t the entire Hetao region become a breeding ground for horses for our Tang Dynasty?”
Li Linfu stroked his three braided beards and laughed heartily.
“It’s all thanks to loyal ministers like Linfu.”
Li Longji was proud inside, but he had to put on a show.
“Third son, how will you reward me after winning this battle?”
Yang Guifei descended like a fairy and leaned into Li Longji’s arms.
“Oh, if we win the battle of Hehuang, my beloved shall be honored first!”
Li Longji kissed Yang Yuhuan fiercely on the cheek and said, “Do you know I rebuilt the roads just for you? By now, the lychees from Lingnan should have arrived!”
“Long live Your Majesty! Long live! Long live forever!”
“Long live Your Majesty! Long live! Long live forever!”
The chants rose wave after wave.
“Your Majesty, the Tongwu Camp in Longyou is under siege by the Tubo people! I implore you to send aid!”
Li Kuo shouted desperately, but no one paid attention to him.
“I beg Your Majesty to send troops immediately!”
The young man cried out, shouting, and waved his fists frantically.
“Hmm, isn’t this the young man who played polo?”
Yang Yuhuan seemed to recognize Li Kuo and spoke in a soft voice.
“Your Majesty, this man is now a traitor who has sold out his country; he is no longer the Li Xiaolangjun you knew,” Li Linfu said slowly, bowing his hands.
“Oh, I see.” Yang Yuhuan immediately felt disinterested. “I had thought of asking him to teach me archery.”
Upon hearing this, Li Longji grew angry. “There are plenty of warriors who can shoot arrows. I’ll find one for my beloved wife in a while. But those who betray me and the Tang Dynasty must not be spared! Linfu, you know what to do!”
A strange smile appeared on Li Linfu’s lips. “I shall obey your orders!”
The Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty gave Gao Xiuyan a signal, then stood up gracefully without saying another word.
Gao Xiuyan led tens of thousands of soldiers, riding fast horses with swords drawn, charging toward him.
Zhang Yanji, Zhou Wucui, Dou Qing, and Xianyu Yucheng—these brothers who had shared life and death—fell to the ground, groaning in pain. Blood flowed from their three-foot-long wounds, staining the withered grass red.
“Woo—woo—woo!”
A deep horn sound rang out as the Tang cavalry charged, knocking down the remaining soldiers of the Copper Military Camp.
“Die!”
Gao Xiuyan was already beside him, raising his sword and swinging it fiercely at his neck.
“Ah!”
Li Kuo woke up screaming, clearly seeing the rising sun outside the paper window. Li Longji, Li Linfu, Li Heng, Yang Yuhuan, and the Tibetans were all gone. He had been dreaming—it was all a dream!
This was no longer the Battle of Jiuqu and Hehuang; the battle was already over!
The young man smiled bitterly and slowly sat up to get dressed.
Stepping lightly to the ground, he went to the window, removed the wooden support, and looked outside.
He was still alive. He had returned home. He was still alive—he had indeed returned home.
He was alive, under the sunlight, in Chang’an!
“Little Seventh Brother, you’ve finally woken up!”
A voice as clear as a silver bell suddenly rang out, warming Li Kuo’s heart.
“Guess what I made for you? A whole pot of Du’s fried eggs! You lost so much blood—you need to recover properly!”
A smile appeared on the young man’s lips as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Isn’t it worth being grateful for the present moment?
At least at this moment, the young man was extremely happy.
Note 1: Emperor Taizong of Tang’s posthumous title: Emperor Wenwu Dashaosheng Daguangxiao.