Chapter 178: Pointing the Sword
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The room fell silent for a moment, and Li Kuang’s voice, filled with anger, rang out, “Who let you in?”
He Yan raised her head, glaring at him, suppressing the trembling in her voice, “You killed her.”
“This is my family affair, what business is it of yours?” Li Kuang seemed reluctant to see her, “Get out!”
Surrounding soldiers showed signs of discomfort, some avoiding He Yan’s gaze, others bowing their heads in silence. No one spoke.
“Why should I leave?” He Yan said coldly, “Even if Miss Qiluo is your family affair, these women, I rescued them from the Wutuo people. This shouldn’t be your family affair, Lord Li,” she raised her voice suddenly, “Are you planning to kill them all too?”
Upon hearing this, some of the women on the ground began to sob softly.
Zhao Shiming, who had rushed in with Wang Ba and others, finally joined them, startled to see a corpse on the ground. He shook and asked, “What’s… what happened? Who is this person?”
He Yan took a step forward, and Li Kuang angrily warned, “Don’t touch her!” In the next moment, the white cloth covering the body was lifted.
The girl lying on the ground, her clothes stained red with blood from her chest, lay there peacefully, as if a delicate flower. Just a few hours ago, she had been happily showing He Yan the flower crown she had made, expressing her aspirations for the future. Now, she would no longer cry, no longer smile; she had become a cold corpse.
“Qiluo?” Zhao Shiming was shocked, “How could this happen to Qiluo? Did Wutuo people infiltrate? Lord Li, what’s going on?”
If there were really Wutuo people involved, how could Li Kuang remain so calm? The situation in Rundu would likely have already descended into chaos. However, how could the current scene be explained?
Li Kuang stared at He Yan, and she, unmoved, looked at him word by word, “This, Lord Li, you should explain. I think, Lord Li, you want to emulate the former Zhang Xun!”
With these words, Zhao Shiming gasped for a breath.
Among Wang Ba and the others, only Jiang Jiao had some literary knowledge. The rest did not understand what He Yan meant. Only Jiang Jiao’s expression changed slightly.
“In the former dynasty, Zhang Xun defended Suiyang City. When the city ran out of food, he killed his concubines to feed the soldiers. Lord Li, what are you doing? Do you want to be Wei’s Zhang Xun? But now, there are still other ways for Rundu City to survive. Why resort to this!”
“You understand nothing!” Li Kuang couldn’t help but rebuke, “Just a mere woman! If sacrificing one woman could save the people of Rundu, then my life is not worth regretting. It’s just a woman, dying for the sake of Rundu City is not a pity!”
He Yan looked at him. Li Kuang had fought side by side with her, sharing life and death. Although she and Li Kuang were not close friends, they could be considered old acquaintances. He Yan had never doubted Li Kuang’s character. As a military officer, he was honest, brave, and loyal. However, this hero in the eyes of the world regarded “women” as nothing more than sacrificial objects, like cats, dogs, or mere possessions. The most beloved concubine could be slaughtered in the name of “righteousness” and become food to fill their stomachs.
This was even more terrifying than swapping one’s child for food.
She had already anticipated that such a scene might happen, but after all, that was a matter from the previous dynasty. The situation had not reached such an extreme, and Li Kuang was not Zhang Xun. He Yan still held a glimmer of hope, thinking that perhaps she had imagined the horror of human nature too much. However, nothing could stop it.
Li Kuang still made the same choice.
Back in Xianchang Academy, reading “The Biography of Loyalty and Righteousness,” when they came across this part, Zhang Xun was defending Suiyang, and the enemy found it difficult to breach the city. He camped outside the city, waiting for the soldiers inside to starve to death. When the city ran out of food, Zhang Xun killed his beloved concubines and forced the officers and soldiers to eat them. After that, others killed servants to use as military rations.
“In the city, women were exhausted, and men, the elderly, and children continued the consumption. The population for consumption reached twenty to thirty thousand.”
The youths in the room, all around ten years old, did not utter a word, creating a quiet atmosphere. The teacher continued reading, “Before the battle, there were forty thousand people in Suiyang City. After the city was breached, only four hundred survived.”
These boys, who were all from wealthy and influential families, had never heard of such a tragic event. Cannibalism alone was shocking enough, but adding war made it even more lamentable.
The teacher asked, “What do you think? Was what Zhang Xun did right or wrong?”
The youths spoke eagerly, each expressing their opinions. In the end, they still believed that given the circumstances at that time, what Zhang Xun did was justifiable.
The teacher said, “The act of killing goes against human ethics. But it wasn’t Zhang Xun’s intention. There’s a saying, ‘The crime of hoarding is light, but the achievement of restoration is heavy.’ The consumption of people was minimal, but the achievement of defending the city was significant.”
The youths nodded in agreement. They believed that although it was gruesome, in that situation, what Zhang Xun did was understandable.
He Yan, at that time, did not share the same view. She sat in the hall, never speaking or agreeing with the youths’ remarks, only frowning with a solemn expression.
The teacher noticed her disagreement, smiled, and called her up, asking, “He Rufei, do you have a different opinion?”
At that time, He Yan was still a fool who consistently ranked at the bottom in exams. When her name was called, she felt a bit uneasy. However, her heart was filled with indignation. Finally summoning the courage, she said, “People all say that Zhang Xun was a loyal and righteous man, and that is indeed true. However, what about those people who were eaten? Weren’t they innocent? I understand his choice, but if it were me… I would never do such a thing.”
“Oh? What would you do?” the teacher asked with a smile.
“I would lead the remaining troops and engage the rebels in a decisive battle outside the city,” the girl stood on the platform, sunlight penetrating the window, casting a determined hue on her delicate and somewhat childish face. “Those who wield a sword should understand where the sword points, whether it is aimed at the enemy in front or the weak behind.”
“I would never draw my sword against the weak.”
There was a moment of silence in the room, followed by the laughter of the youths.
“The weak? Who are the weak? He himself is weak!”
“And with brother He’s swordsmanship so bad, could he wield a sword? It’s probably a dream.”
“You talk big! How could that be possible? If someone with such poor skills in martial arts can be sent to defend the city, then this city doesn’t need defending. Hahaha.”
He Yan was surrounded by mocking laughter, her face turning red. She bit her lip, thinking, thirty years on the east bank of the river, thirty years on the west bank, oerhaps one day she would be a general on the battlefield. When that day came, she would definitely protect the people she wanted to protect. She would never let unarmed civilians become military rations. If she were to do it, she would be the bravest general.
The teacher calmed down the youths who were mocking her and looked at He Yan with satisfaction. “The fact that you can think from the perspective of those common people shows that you have compassion. That’s very good.”
He Yan sighed inwardly. It wasn’t that she had compassion. It was just that the boys in the room, who were ridiculing her, saw themselves as “Zhang Xun.” Being a girl, she naturally stood in the position of “beloved concubines.”
Standing in the position of “Zhang Xun” was a righteous act, but standing in the position of “beloved concubines” was an unwarranted disaster.
The joys and sorrows of people in the world cannot always be understood. It depends on where you stand and what choices you make.
Just like at this moment.
He Yan said, “As a loyal minister, what crime have you committed?”
“You don’t need to say so much to me,” Li Kuang said coldly. “Qiluo is my concubine. She is mine. How I deal with my people is my business. As for these women… ask them if they volunteered. I did not force them.”
He Yan looked at the women sitting on the ground. One of them, with red eyes, bowed to He Yan and whispered, “Thank you, my lord, for planning for us. It’s just… we’ve been violated by the Wutuo people. Our bodies are already unclean. We can’t go home, and we have no face to live in this world. Now, we can use our bodies to gain a chance for Rundu. It’s also our blessing. Perhaps this bit of merit can cleanse the mud on our bodies and accumulate blessings in the next life.”
“Nonsense merit!” Before she could finish speaking, He Yan interrupted her.
Wang Ba and the others looked at He Yan in surprise. All along, He Yan had been gentle and mild-mannered in their interactions. Even when Wang Ba provoked her that way back then, she didn’t use a single dirty word. Now that she was using coarse language, it was evident that she was thoroughly angered.
“What does it mean to have an unclean body? What does it mean to have no face to live in this world?” He Yan exclaimed, looking at Li Kuang and the soldiers bowing their heads in the room. “Is this their fault? Is this their fault?”
“If you think you’re doing a good deed, you’re completely wrong! Lord Li,” she turned to Li Kuang, “You are the Zongbing in charge of the city. Let me tell you, these women were captured by the Wutuo people because of their brutality, and because you lack the ability. What have they done wrong? I’ve never seen an injured person being at fault, while the perpetrator remains at ease! By doing this, you are playing right into the hands of the Wutuo people. In their eyes, the people of Great Wei are all fools, willingly shouldering undeserved blame for them as they continue their evil deeds!”
“How can such a ridiculous thing happen in the world? If being touched by the Wutuo people makes someone impure, then from the moment they set foot on the land of Great Wei, there’s no need to resist them. Great Wei’s land is no longer pure; give it to them if they want it, but don’t make a fuss!”
“You! Be careful with your words!” Li Kuang restrained his anger.
“I won’t!” He Yan stared at him, with a fiery gaze as if wanting to burn everything around him to ashes. “You are a man, their leader. You point your sword at your woman and your people! What is this? If today you were to go out with me to kill some Wutuo people, drink their blood and eat their flesh, I would respect you as a man. But there is no such logic in the world where men who can’t win a battle send innocent and weak women to sacrifice! That’s being a coward!”
“I’ve said it before, they volunteered.”
“Are they really volunteering?” He Yan’s gaze was sharp. “Fine, I’ll ask you,” she looked at those women, “why do you think you can’t survive? Is it because of what others said? If someone said something, you should refute it right in their face. If your mouth is not eloquent, use your fists. Is it your fault? If anyone still uses this incident to humiliate you, they are the most despicable and shameless people. I saved your lives, and if you casually give up like this, where does that leave me?”
Her expression was intense, and the women dared not speak for a moment. After a while, one young girl burst into tears, sobbing, “I don’t want to die, I’m afraid…”
Li Kuang’s face turned grim.
“If you don’t want to die, I’m here. No one is forcing you to die.”
“How can you say that?” Li Kuang said, “This is not Liangzhou Garrison!”
He Yan’s expression became calm, she stepped forward, shielding those women behind her. “Lord Li, Qiluo is your concubine, has been with you for many years, not an item that can be casually given away. Before anything else, she is a human being.”
“Today, you can’t touch these women. If you want to, ” He Yan slowly drew the long sword she had snatched from the soldier at the door, “you’ll have to pass my sword first.”
“Do you think I dare not?” Li Kuang was furious, drawing the long sword at his waist. The surrounding soldiers also unsheathed their swords, pointing them at He Yan.
The room was filled with a tense atmosphere.
Zhao Shiming urged, “What’s going on with you? Why are our own people facing off against each other? Our urgent task is to fight those Wutuo people. Lord Li, I think Young Lord He’s words make sense. You can’t… you can’t resort to cannibalism! If you do this, the common people outside will follow suit, and what will become of Rundu City? Even if we defend the city, do you want people all over the world to curse us?”
He also had his own selfishness. Qiluo was Li Kuang’s most beloved concubine, and Zhao Shiming had to admit that Qiluo was beautiful, clever, and quite likable. If it were him, he definitely couldn’t bring himself to do it. However, Li Kuang said to kill, so they were going to kill. These warriors… sigh! In the end, officials like them would have to set an example. At his age, he had never even killed a chicken in his entire life. Asking him to send his own family to die, Zhao Shiming would rather die himself. Therefore, he immediately stood on He Yan’s side.
Li Kuang ignored Zhao Shiming, a county magistrate who didn’t even know how to handle a blade, was not worth his attention. What annoyed him was He Yan.
No one expected He Yan to burst in so recklessly, accusing him without any regard. Qiluo had followed him for many years, wouldn’t he feel heartache? Didn’t he hesitate when he made his move? It’s just that in the current situation, if Rundu couldn’t be defended, everyone would die. Killing Qiluo in front of these subordinates was to make them understand the determination to defend Rundu.
Among these subordinates, who had often crossed paths with Qiluo, it was unbearable to witness a lively girl being killed in front of them. Some even pleaded for Qiluo. However, Li Kuang believed that what Zhang Xun did back then, he could do now. Even if he carried the reputation of the world’s condemnation, it didn’t matter; posterity would judge his merits and faults.
But this military officer, He Yan, came barging in like this, standing in front of him, protecting those women, his bright eyes making him feel a bit embarrassed.
Suddenly, he thought of He Rufei.
That Flying Phoenix General who was still a subordinate, always did his best to rescue women captured by enemy forces in every battle. In fact, these women, when they returned home, were not met with good results. Still, He Rufei patiently comforted and encouraged them. Li Kuang had never seen a man so considerate. But he thought, in this world, there was only one such naive person as General He Rufei.
Unfortunately, today another one appeared before him.
Li Kuang’s face turned cold. “Wuan Lang, are you going to fight me?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t let them die here.”
A woman cried and spoke, looking at He Yan. “Lord, don’t waste your efforts for us. If our lives can exchange for the peace of Rundu, we are willing…”
“The peace of Rundu cannot be obtained by sacrificing women. It’s no different from begging for the enemy’s mercy,” He Yan said coldly.
“Lord Li, this is not the previous dynasty, and you are not Zhang Xun.”
Li Kuang was almost furious; he knew that every word the young man in front of him said was true, but he had no other way.
“Just you, want to fight with me?” he said coldly.
“What’s going on here,” Wang Ba spat, “Killing women and claiming it’s justified? Even us mountain bandits don’t kill women, old people, and children. As the saying goes, there is a way to be a thief. You, soldiers who eat the emperor’s food, are actually doing worse than beasts? Stop the nonsense. We, Liangzhou Garrison, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh, accept your challenge!”
He spoke as if challenging someone in a martial arts arena, infuriating Li Kuang’s expression even more.
At this moment, another person walked in, and it was Chu Zhao. He looked at Li Kuang, bowed first, and then smiled, “Lord Li, this action is inappropriate. His Majesty has always advocated ‘benevolent governance,’ and if there are acts of cannibalism that violate human ethics, once it reaches His Majesty’s ears, he might not be pleased.”
He was siding with He Yan. Chu Zhao represented Xu Xiang. One a member of the Liangzhou Garrison, one Xu Xiang, under great pressure, Li Kuang felt both angry and annoyed. Who exactly is this He Yan? Why do one after another follow him like this?
But the soldiers around were all watching him. Li Kuang gritted his teeth and said, “You are not my opponent.”
He Yan smiled slightly and held the sword in front of her. “Lord Li, you might as well give it a try.”
The sword’s edge was sharp, and a chill filled the room. The tension was about to explode when suddenly, the voices of soldiers outside came again, “Lord! Lord!”
Li Kuang, full of anger, shouted, “What are you yelling about?”
In the next moment, the door of the room was opened again, and someone walked in, their voice calm.
“Before Lord Li disciplines the soldiers of Liangzhou Garrison, it seems that you should have asked me first.”
This voice… He Yan was stunned and turned around suddenly.
It was a young man dressed in a narrow-sleeved dark robe and dark-colored armor. He walked forward and stood in front of her. Although it had been over a month since they last met, it felt like an eternity. He was handsome, with a graceful posture, and his expression was as cold as ever.
“Xiao, Commander Xiao!” Li Kuang couldn’t hide his astonishment.
He never expected to see Right Army Commander Xiao Jue here.
Xiao Jue didn’t look at He Yan, nor did he look at Li Kuang. His gaze only lightly swept over the weeping women, and he said in a low voice, “Those who wield swords should understand where the blade points—to the enemy in front of them or the weak behind them.”
“You shouldn’t draw your sword against the weak.”
He Yan raised her eyes abruptly.
—-Side Note—-
There was indeed a historical figure named Zhang Xun. Although this story is fictional, I decided to use Zhang Xun’s actual name. For those interested, you can look him up. The anecdote about “borrowing arrows with thatched boats” also comes from Zhang Xun. He was a remarkable figure. The perspectives of the characters in the story do not represent the author’s views. It’s essential to consider historical context, and different positions may lead to different conclusions.
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