Volume One: The Wild Child Chapter Seventy-One: It Must Be General Kuisheng

Some time had passed since the battle of that day. Since then, Guo Huai’s forces had only made a few probing attacks against Mount Si, as if in no hurry to reclaim their lost honor. Instead, they had set up camp on Mount Weinan, assuming the posture of preparing for a drawn-out conflict.

At the monthly meeting, the generals of Mount Si gathered in the main tent, listening to Kuisheng air his grievances.

“Changtian, you don’t know—Ma Hui’s men suddenly charged into the field that day, gave me quite a scare. Right then and there, I was thinking up ways to die heroically, so as not to bring shame to Mount Si. Who would have guessed my lads were so fierce? Before I even gave the order, the enemy was already down. I really can’t understand how, when we had three men to every one of theirs, they still managed to turn the tables on us. It must be down to my talent for leading troops! Hah, so just like that, we fought our way back.”

Lin Changtian clutched his head. Every time Kuisheng came back from battle, these “grievances” were inevitable, and his memory for such things was uniquely poor—he’d boast about the same episode several times, and the other generals dared not complain, forced instead to plaster on smiles and offer loud praise. After all, the man was also responsible for the yearly allocation of troops and horses on the mountain. The last time some fool with no sense had offended him, saying he’d heard the story a dozen times, he ended up digging potatoes while others were fighting for glory. When the victorious returned to savor their triumph, he was still carting potatoes down the mountain.

With such a cautionary tale, which general on Mount Si dared interrupt Kuisheng’s tirades?

“Kuisheng, this is the third time you’ve gone on about it this month. Be honest—was it really Ma Hui’s main force?” Lin Changtian waved a hand, putting an end to Kuisheng’s long-winded tale.

“Would I lie?” Kuisheng leaped up from his chair, pointing toward Mount Weinan. “You don’t know, Changtian, those men were all clad in matching uniforms—only the Three Bandits of the Northern Territory could put on such a display.”

Before Lin Changtian could reply, Liu Qingshan stepped in, moving to stand before the crowd of generals. “If that’s the case, then I’m afraid you all will have to work harder in the coming days. Cast the net wide; the further out our sentries, the better. If we can station posts close enough to keep Mount Weinan in sight, so much the better...”

“Elder Liu, Mount Weinan is still far off.” The abrupt interjection cut short Liu Qingshan’s arrangements. The old man did not turn, but Lin Changtian continued calmly, “We can abandon unnecessary territory. It’s not as if we’ve paid a high price for it. It’s too soon to lock horns with Ma Hui head-on.”

Liu Qingshan ignored Lin Changtian’s words and instead addressed Kuisheng, “I must trouble you to clear out the room and take the generals elsewhere to discuss the feasibility of our battle plans. I have matters to discuss with Commander Lin.”

Kuisheng nodded, avoiding Lin Changtian’s gaze, and led the others out of the tent.

The vast tent was left with just the two of them.

“You’re too hasty,” Lin Changtian broke the silence, rising from the commander’s seat and stretching lazily, as if he didn’t care at all.

Liu Qingshan straightened his back. His beard trembled with anger, his hands gripping his staff as he struggled to contain his fury. He turned away, not sparing Lin Changtian a single glance. “I can’t tell if you’re truly a fool or just pretending! You and Kuisheng both know what you’ve been up to lately. But remember this: if all you want is to hold onto what we have until Yu Baili returns, so you can hand power back and go off to live as some wandering wastrel, then you might as well step down from that seat right now!”

Lin Changtian pointed at the commander’s seat, as if to say, look, I’m already up.

Liu Qingshan was speechless with rage, stabbing his staff at the ground, shaking his head and sighing as he slowly walked out. His elongated shadow seemed lonelier than ever, and to the generals waiting outside, it was the very picture of desolation.

The generals of Mount Si wore varied expressions, but mostly they seemed troubled and confused—except for one man with a pair of thin, rat-like mustaches, whose momentary smile quickly faded. Unbeknownst to him, however, even a peak-level master of the Celestial Realm can see what happens behind his back.

The clatter from inside the tent grew louder and louder, as though someone inside was smashing things in a fit of temper. The generals exchanged glances, all well aware that it was their commander venting his spleen. Yet whenever someone tried to enter and console him, General Kuisheng blocked their way, his motives unclear.

...

Night deepened.

Under the dappled shadows of the trees, the mustached man crept quietly down the mountain. Not long after he left, several shadows in the woods began to stir.

“Elder Liu, all that smashing inside wasn’t in vain after all. We’ve hooked one,” Lin Changtian said, pulling a twig from his hair, his voice brimming with excitement. Liu Qingshan stroked his beard, an uncharacteristic gleam of satisfaction on his face. “Hmph. The one sent by Mount Weinan is Guo Huai, Ma Hui’s pet favorite these days. Back when Yu Baili was still here, I had dealings with them. He’s got some skill, but in the end, from Ma Hui down to his three top lieutenants, they’re all more bark than bite. Trying simple tricks like this on me? Hmph!”

Lin Changtian hurriedly raised his thumb, praising, “Brilliant, truly brilliant. When it comes to cunning, you’re the master! I could tell back when we played chess at Ruzhou city—you don’t really know how to play Go, do you? You just used it as an excuse to thrash me at Five-in-a-Row.”

“Oh?” Liu Qingshan was intrigued. “How did you know? I thought my acting was flawless.”

“Heh, I’ve never seen anyone play Go by stringing three stones together on the diagonal!”

Kuisheng rubbed his eyes, helpless as the two began their argument right there. He was annoyed and growled, “You two need to have some limits to your nonsense. Do you know what time it is? I was sleeping soundly, and you woke me up—” The rest of his complaint was cut off as Lin Changtian kicked him out into the thick snow.

“If General Kuisheng is so concerned for Mount Si, then you can stay here and keep watch. If that mustached fellow comes back and you miss him, go take your punishment from Ziliang!” Lin Changtian said. “Elder Liu, what do you think?”

Liu Qingshan snorted, stroking his beard. “If General Kuisheng can sleep so soundly in this cold, a night’s vigil should be nothing to him.”

“Indeed, indeed. Elder, shall we head back inside for a pot of hot tea and a few more rounds of chess?” The two of them walked up the mountain, leaving Kuisheng in the freezing wind, baffled and alone.

...

At dawn, those coming down the mountain for chores found Kuisheng covered in snow. Without exception, they all gave the burly general a thumbs up. “Look at General Kuisheng, up at dawn to check on military affairs. That’s a real man of Mount Si through and through!”

Kuisheng forced a bitter smile, nodding to each in turn. Had it been soldiers or officers, he’d have scolded them by now, but these were honest mountain folk. To treat them harshly would bring contempt not just from the villagers, but from every soldier and officer on Mount Si—no one would tolerate a commander who bullied his own people.

“Well, what a coincidence! Kuisheng, up early to stand guard? Truly a general who shares the hardships of his men!” Lin Changtian strolled over, humming a tune, feigning surprise with a touch of emotion. Kuisheng ground his teeth, but approached, suppressing his anger. “That fellow never came back! Changtian, unless you give me a straight answer today, don’t expect me to run your errands again!”

“He didn’t return?” Lin Changtian frowned, pacing back toward the main tent, ignoring Kuisheng’s curses behind him.

Kuisheng railed at the empty air for a while, until his belly growled at noon and he sullenly trudged up the mountain. Lifting the tent flap, he found Lin Changtian and Liu Qingshan sitting in silence with the other generals, lost in thought.

“What new scheme are you two hatching now? I’ll tell you right now, this time—” Kuisheng sat down in a huff, ignoring their protests, grabbed the teacup from the table, and drained it in one gulp. Scalded, he howled and choked, unable to finish his sentence.

Lin Changtian rushed over and embraced the weeping, flustered Kuisheng, patting his shoulder with mock compassion. “Heavenly Immortals, if you have any mercy, look upon this poor soul! What is his crime but to share the burdens of Mount Si? If there must be punishment, let it fall on me, Lin Changtian, instead!”

Liu Qingshan smiled into his beard, saying nothing, but winked at Lin Changtian.

The lord of Mount Si made a gesture to Liu Qingshan, forced a few more tears from his eyes, and wailed, “Alas, Elder Liu spent a sleepless night turning his hair white, only then deducing the enemy’s plot to steal the mountain. Yet not one of Mount Si’s generals can counter the scheme! Oh, woe is me, my fate is ill-starred, Heaven has abandoned Mount Si!”

He wiped his eyes, leaned close to Kuisheng, and, hearing his muffled sobs, suddenly declared, “What’s this? In our hour of need, only Kuisheng stands true, a pillar holding up the collapsing house! If I may be frank, the mustached traitor’s failure to return means the enemy’s patience is wearing thin. Our lines are drawn tight; the only target left is the territory of Mount Si. If we can send a general to strike Mount Weinan, we could decide the battle in one blow. What’s this? The general himself volunteers for this muddy errand? Elder Liu, bring wine! Let me honor General Kuisheng!”

Kuisheng broke free from Lin Changtian’s embrace, seeing all the other generals give him a collective thumbs up. This time, real tears of regret streamed down his face.

Heaven, if I am guilty, let me die defending Mount Si—don’t let me be tormented by such a fate for the rest of my days.

...