Chapter 23, Chapter Seven: Ning Ping is Not Fair
On the vast, desolate plain, the fields were cracked like tortoise shells, and piles of white bones formed hills.
Where once you could see groups of fleeing refugees, now the landscape is deserted. Occasionally you might spot two or three groups of surviving soldiers, or emaciated women and children, each with unfocused eyes and faltering steps, seemingly unaware of where they are going or the meaning of life. They walk and walk until they can no longer go on, collapsing to the ground to be devoured by wild dogs and vultures.
The situation was urgent, and Liu Jun traveled day and night, eating and drinking on horseback. He also had to fight against the Hu people and refugees from time to time. Therefore, even after seeing such a hellish scene, he had little leisure to sit on the saddle and sigh.
One day, Liu Jun and his party had already reached Chen County when they heard someone shouting, "Your Highness!"
Liu Jun turned around and asked, "Jingdao?"
The person who came was Liu Dan, the grandson of Liu Qiao, whom I had met once before. Looking at his military uniform, it seemed that he was also on his way.
Liu Dan rode forward, and Liu Jun then realized that besides him, there were also Liu Qiao's eldest son Liu You, second son Liu Ting, and hundreds of followers. He wondered to himself, why are they here instead of staying with Liu Qiao?
As expected, Liu Dan explained: "Last year, we received an imperial edict that my grandfather was reinstated to his original post as the governor of Yuzhou and the military commander of Yuzhou. Previously, the Prince of Donghai issued a proclamation to all prefectures to protect the capital, and my grandfather responded. He led his troops to Xiang County. A few days ago, scouts discovered unusual movements of the troops in Xiang County. We were worried about my grandfather, so we went out of the city to meet him."
Although he and his grandfather had been captured by Liu Qiao because of their differing political views, Liu Qiao was not a truly wicked person and was even considered a loyal minister. Liu Jun would not hold a grudge. Remembering that these people in front of him had spoken up for him back then, he asked with concern, "So, have you all made any progress now?"
At this moment, the remaining members of the Liu family also stepped forward. Liu You dismounted and bowed to him, and Liu Jun was so frightened that he jumped off his horse to return the bow.
"Thank you for your advice, Your Highness." Liu You's words were concise, expressing his gratitude for Liu Jun's kind words to Liu Kun, and for the fact that Liu Kun spared his life when the army was ultimately defeated.
Liu Jun said solemnly, "You all took good care of me back then. This is just me returning the favor. There's no need for thanks."
Since they were all from military families, they naturally didn't put on airs. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they didn't dwell on the past. Liu You asked, "Now that many aristocratic families are fleeing south, does Lord Yue Shi still intend to defend Jinyang to the death?"
Liu Jun nodded: "He is the governor of Bingzhou of the imperial court, so he should naturally fulfill his duties as a subject. This time, Jun was ordered by his father to go to Luoyang to rescue the emperor and also to bring his grandparents back to Bingzhou."
"In Xuchang, we all read Guangwu Hou's 'Song of Fufeng,' which says, 'Deer roam before me, monkeys play beside me. Supplies are exhausted, how can we eat wild vegetables?' This shows how impoverished we were at that time." Liu Dan seemed to greatly admire Liu Kun, reciting his poems as if they were his own treasures. "Now, Bingzhou has thousands of acres of farmland and a population of 100,000. Restoring order and quelling rebellions to save the people are all thanks to the merits of your father and son, the Marquis."
Liu You coughed lightly, reminding Liu Dan that both of them were in a hurry to get on their way, and Liu Dan reluctantly waved goodbye.
Liu Jun whipped his horse and galloped for dozens of miles before finding a relatively clean stream to water his horse. He had only drunk a few mouthfuls of water when he saw a corpse floating on the opposite bank.
He silently gazed at the swollen, pale face, calmly mounted his horse, and continued on his journey. Only after a long while did a wave of sorrow wash over his numb heart, his mind filled with the last lines of the "Song of Fufeng"—"A fierce, mournful wind rises; a cold, clear stream flows. I wave goodbye, choked with sobs, unable to speak. Floating clouds gather for me; returning birds circle for me. The days since I left home are long gone; how can I know whether I live or die?"
After walking another three or four miles, Liu Jun suddenly stopped and turned to Lu Jing, saying, "That corpse just now, why do I feel like it looks like Liu Bao? I remember he was ashamed to come back and still followed Liu Qiao?"
"Yes." Liu Yong and Liu Bao had once served as family retainers, and he was deeply saddened to see his former comrade die.
Liu Jun suddenly stopped his horse. "That will be troublesome! Bring me the map."
They are currently in Ku County, and Ningping City is just over ten miles away. Logically, Shi Le should be heading towards Luoyang, so why is he in Ku County to the east?
Liu Jun recalled Liu Dan's earlier words and the news of Sima Yue's death, and instantly understood, exclaiming angrily, "Truly, all these high-ranking officials are nothing but a bunch of vermin!"
Having followed him for a long time, Lu Jing had also made some progress and immediately asked, "Should I go back and find General Liu?"
"Go quickly, this is my proof." Liu Jun thought for a moment, then took out a bamboo slip with his name written on it. "After catching up with them, tell them not to enter the city easily."
After saying that, he led the remaining soldiers to continue advancing. After about half a mile, Liu Yong stopped and said, "Your Highness, there is the sound of horses' hooves. It must be the Tuqi cavalry."
Liu Jun's expression was solemn. "I've heard that Shi Le's military tactics involve cavalry surrounding and shooting at the enemy. I think those princes and nobles are probably doomed, but the civilians and soldiers on the outskirts can still be saved."
Seeing that it was getting late, he gritted his teeth and said, "Let's go another three miles."
"Yes!" Although they knew that the further they went, the higher the probability of encountering the Jie Hu cavalry, all the retainers spurred their horses forward without hesitation.
Soon the light ahead brightened, and a scene of hell on earth slowly unfolded before their eyes.
The Jiehu cavalry, carrying torches, seemed to have run out of arrows. They were slashing around with their swords, their blades aimed at mostly defenseless soldiers of the Great Jin Dynasty, as well as many court officials in high hats and wide belts, and most of all, unarmed civilians who had fled eastward with them.
Liu Yong gritted his teeth and was about to rush over when Liu Jun stopped him. The latter said coldly, "If we act rashly at this time, not only will we fail to save anyone, but we will also get hurt ourselves."
He gazed intently into the distance and saw the corpses of the Jin people strewn across the field. Those who could still move were scattering and fleeing, trampling each other. Meanwhile, the Jie people sat on their horses, laughing wildly as they tightened the encirclement, as if they were still hunting helpless lambs on the grassland.
“It will be completely dark in a little while,” Liu Jun said in a low voice. “There is a gap about fifty paces to the west. There are some soldiers there, and even a few on horseback. They seem to be able to cut down some of the barbarians. Let’s try to kill those few barbarians so that these people can break through and perhaps take more people with them.”
Although both were descendants of Prince Jing of Zhongshan, he did not consider himself as loving as Liu Bei, and the situation was so precarious that it was impossible for him to lead the people across the river. His only task was to save as many people as possible who could be saved, who were easy to save, and who deserved to be saved, rather than those who would naturally starve to death in this world even if they managed to escape.
"Kill!" Finally, at the moment when the gap was the largest, Liu Jun roared and was the first to rush out, piercing a Hu man's chest with his sword.
As blood splattered on his face, Liu Jun vaguely remembered that the last time he committed murder, he was a fish on the chopping block in the deep palace, but this time, everyone in China had become a lamb to the slaughter.
He has truly made no progress whatsoever.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com