Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1180 Death at the Top of Broken Soul Slope
The setting sun sank completely into the western mountain ridge, leaving only a somber, seemingly frozen dark red hue on the horizon.

The outline of Pingliao City, in the twilight, resembled a lurking beast. Torches were lit one after another on the scarred city walls, reflecting the bloodstains and knife marks that had not yet been cleaned up. The battle had been extremely fierce.

Zhang Jinyu rode at the head of the procession, the brown bloodstains splattered on his golden armor looking even more ferocious in the firelight. The soldiers guarding the city had already begun to move and burn the corpses. The strong smell of blood and the charred smell of burning bodies mingled in the air, making it suffocating.

Before leaving for the city,
Seeing that Wu Yayu was still in military uniform, her once bright face was now covered with dust and specks of blood, and the fatigue of long-term travel was etched in her eyes, but her bright eyes were still radiant.

With a cry, "My...my lord!"

Zhang Jinyu felt a surge of warmth in her heart, along with a pang of guilt. She rode her horse closer and called out to him.
“Aya…”

Zhang Jinyu reached out, took the beautiful woman's hand tightly, pulled her close, and hugged her tightly.

"Are you... alright?"

Wu Yayu finally couldn't hold back and choked out a sob;
"I am fine."

"It's good that you're alright. I've missed you dearly for months. If it weren't for you leading the troops today, the Jurchen tribes wouldn't have been defeated so badly."

Recalling the Jurchens' tenacity in the bloody battle, Zhang Jinyu's face still twitched. If it were the government troops inside the pass, they would have scattered like birds and beasts long ago. How could they have fought so hard? Especially his own crossbow formation, which almost killed most of the Han Eight Banners. In the end, the Jurchen Khan's elite heavy armored "Iron Pagoda" was almost completely wiped out. It should be said that they were exhausted. He wondered how the Jurchen Black Mountain Camp was doing now.

The sight of the soft jade in his arms brought Zhang Jinyu back to his senses. He had been exhausted and anxious these past few days, and with his beautiful wife in his arms, his mind was wandering. Unfortunately, it was really inappropriate to be at the city gate.

"My lord, please don't say such things."

Wu Yayu sensed the change in her husband and blushed. Seeing the soldiers around, she immediately withdrew. Zhang Jinyu withdrew his hand and then gave the order.
"Gentlemen, we must be on high alert tonight. We must send out scouts in shifts to keep a close eye on the movements of the Black Mountain Jurchens. The eastern entrance to the valley has been blocked. The western entrance is now in your hands."

"Yes, Lord Marquis."

Duan Hong and the others, knowing the situation, immediately led their troops back to camp to rest. Even Zhang Wenyuan and the others who had come were pulled away by Duan Hong. Seeing this, Zhang Jinyu's expression turned serious, and he gave instructions.
"After the meal, the main hall will give a reply."

"Here."

The generals clasped their hands in salute and departed, with only Ning Bian following closely behind, his face showing not only exhaustion but also deep worry.
"My lord, the Black Mountain camp is easy to defend but difficult to attack. If we leave the west pass... I'm afraid the Jurchens will be desperate and resort to desperate measures. If we lead the army away tonight, the soldiers will be exhausted and we may not be able to stop them."

Although this battle routed the main force of the Jurchens, a significant number of Tartars returned. There were at least tens of thousands of troops still in the Black Mountain camp, and if they fought to the death, it would be difficult to reduce casualties.

"I'm going to leave."

Zhang Jinyu's voice was slightly hoarse as her sharp gaze swept across the distant Black Mountain, where the outline of the deep valley entrance was drawn by torches.

"A cornered beast's fight to the death is too costly. Leave an opening, give them a glimmer of hope, and also give them... a chance to lose their composure. Chuanying's camp at the east entrance is like a nail driven in there, which is to tell Huang Jitai that this road is not easy to travel. The west entrance seems undefended, but with scouts patrolling outside, it is a sword hanging over their heads. As long as they leave the Black Mountain camp, they will inevitably have to abandon their supplies and wounded soldiers. At that time, they will be like stray dogs."

He paused, looked at the streets of Pingliao City, and sighed.
"The most urgent task is to give the soldiers a breather."

"Yes, my lord, I understand."

After they finished talking, the two headed straight for the city magistrate's mansion.

at the same time,

The banners of the Khan's tents on Black Mountain's Broken Soul Slope had long been taken down, but inside the Khan's tents, the atmosphere was as oppressive as solidified lead, filled with despair and panic.

Inside the Khan's tent,

The tallow candle illuminated Huang Jitai's ashen face, now as pale as gold paper. The sweltering emperor lay on the thick leather rug, his eyes closed, dark brown bloodstains clinging to the corners of his mouth. His chest rose and fell so faintly it was almost imperceptible. Helian Chen, who served him, was now ashen-faced, his eyes coldly fixed on the Han Chinese doctors before him.

"You've been trying to save him for so long, why hasn't the Khan woken up yet?"

now.

Several doctors had already tried their best, repeatedly applying acupuncture with silver needles and administering herbal medicine, but the patient's body was already severely depleted and could not be cured by medicine.

Seeing that the people inside the tent looked like they were about to devour them alive, the head physician, Li, trembled as he clasped his hands in a fist and replied.

"General, the Khan has always been in poor health. Today, he experienced extreme joy and anger, which damaged his internal organs. Medicine is not enough to cure him."

"If you can't be cured, you will all be torn to pieces."

Before they could finish speaking, Haoge of the Bordered Yellow Banner shouted angrily, frightening the doctors so much that they collapsed to the ground. Little did they know that Helian Chen had taken a step forward and asked;

"How much longer does the Great Khan have?"

"Reporting to the general, if we stay here and recuperate for a few days, we will have seven days left. If we want the Great Khan to wake up immediately, we need to use silver needles to stimulate his potential. This will take at most three hours, but it will damage his internal organs, and there won't be much time left."

Li Langzhong also wanted to live, but even if he sought medical help, there were no medicines available.

Hauge wanted to make a move, but Helian Chen rebuked him.

"Your Highness, this matter is urgent. We must prioritize the overall situation. We also need to inform Prince Duomin. Someone, go and inform him immediately."

"Yes, General."

As soon as the curtain of the rear tent moved, his trusted confidant disappeared. Hauge wanted to ask more questions, but Helian Chen silenced him with a look.

He gestured towards the front tent with his lip, and finally, Hauge slumped helplessly in his seat. If their father Khan left, how could he and his brother suppress those arrogant and fierce soldiers?

Inside the Khan's tent,

Shadows moved about, and from inside the back tent, the thick, overwhelming scent of herbs masked a palpable sense of impending collapse and anxiety.

Inside the tent, on both sides, sat Narisong, the banner chief of the Bordered Red Banner; Fuchazhen, the banner chief of the Plain Blue Banner; Guarjia, the banner chief of the Bordered Blue Banner; Tongjiali, the banner chief of the Bordered White Banner; and other key figures, including Huyan Han, the commander of the Han Eight Banners. However, the tribal leaders were not present.

Everyone's face was ashen, their eyes sunken, and their expressions varied: some were sorrowful, some were bewildered, and many more were filled with fear and suspicion. These expressions were mostly found on the faces of the banner commanders and deputy commanders.

After waiting for an unknown amount of time, Huyan Han could no longer hold back and cursed.
"Those useless Han Chinese doctors! Has the Great Khan still not woken up after all this time?"

As if igniting a fire of anger, everyone was agitated.
At this time,

Domin Beile, the banner lord of the Plain Yellow Banner, had already led his men into the tent. He had received news from Helian Chen that his father, the Khan, was still unconscious. Looking at the people in the tent, he sat in the head seat on the left, his expression somber.
"Gentlemen, the soldiers have been settled in the camp for the time being. In today's battle, the Han Eight Banners have lost almost half of their troops. Our Eight Banners have suffered 20,000 casualties. In addition, our father Khan is unconscious. I wonder if any of you have any good ideas?"

With a slight narrowing of his eyes, he stared at the expressions of the people in the tent. Many of them looked suspicious, but more so, they were testing him. Seeing this, Duo Min's heart tightened, and he said again.

"Should we retreat now or not?"

"Prince Duomin, we cannot retreat now! We absolutely cannot retreat! Today's defeat has left our Jurchen tribes at their last gasp, but the Black Mountain camp is still standing, and our supplies can last for more than a month. If we retreat now, the last vestige of morale in our soldiers' hearts will be shattered. That brat Zhang Jinyu has stationed his troops at the eastern entrance of the valley, leaving only the western entrance seemingly undefended. Who knows if it's a trap? Once we leave the valley, his cavalry will relentlessly pursue us, and the entire army will be wiped out in an instant! The most urgent task is to stabilize the camp, gather the defeated soldiers, and tomorrow regroup. We must fight our way out through either the eastern or western entrance, carve a bloody path back to Yinzhou. As long as we return to Liaonan, we will have a chance to rise again!"

Hu Yanhan spoke first, fearing that if they couldn't regain their composure, their entire army would be wiped out before their eyes.

"Hmph, regroup? Huyan Han! Marquis Luoyun has trapped us, he will not let us leave easily. If it is my suggestion, we should regroup and leave tonight, and we must be quick." Fucha Zhen suddenly stood up, his voice urgent. How could they let Marquis Luoyun's exhausted army stay here for long?

"What? Absolutely not! There are so many wounded in the main camp, plus the supplies from the various tribes. Besides, we don't have enough horses."

Huyan Han looked grave, understanding Fucha Zhen's meaning. However, this time, he had not made any preparations beforehand, so the tribes would never agree to his hasty retreat.

Perhaps it touched a nerve with those leaders, because almost everyone was clamoring against it. Fucha Zhen watched coldly and rebuked them.

"Gentlemen, you are all aware of the current situation. If we don't leave now, once Marquis Luoyun's army has rested, we won't be able to leave. Leave all the wounded behind. The rest of you, take ten days' worth of dry rations, abandon your baggage, and use as many horses as you can, as long as we get back to Yinzhou."

"Wait, Fucha Zhen'ezhen, even if we return to Yinzhou alone, considering all the supplies we've abandoned, how will each tribe survive this winter?"

Na Risong, the flag lord of the Bordered Red Banner, couldn't help but ask, though he couldn't help feeling regret.

"Then what do you suggest? We don't have the resolve to leave, and we can't win a fight."

Fucha Zhen took a deep breath, his voice lowered, carrying a resolute determination:

"There is only one way forward now—to seek peace! We must endure this humiliation for the time being to preserve the bloodline of the Eight Banners! While we still have these hundreds of thousands of troops and the Black Mountain Camp as our last bargaining chip, we must send an envoy to Pingliao City to meet with Marquis Luoyun!"

"What, you're still asking for peace?"

Ma Jiali, the banner lord of the Plain White Banner, roared with bloodshot eyes. He had witnessed Ao Shan's capture and the near annihilation of his Iron Pagoda troops amidst the chaos of battle, and he hated Marquis Luoyun to the core.
"Fucha Zhen, you keep talking about begging for peace. Do you want to trade the dignity of your entire clan for your dog's life?!"

"Ma Jiali".

Fucha Zhen glared back without flinching, her voice icy.
"Then tell me, how can you expect my Jurchen warriors to live on their own two feet? Can you lead the army back, or do you expect divine soldiers to descend from the Eternal Heaven? Dignity? What dignity do we need when we've lost our lives! With today's defeat, Marquis Luoyun's power is fully established, and the three thousand Iron Pagodas have been completely wiped out."

The final roar made everyone's faces tighten. Many tribal leaders were already pale with fright. The elite Jurchen Khanate's Iron Pagoda was gone.
"Fucha is absolutely right!"

Guarjia of the Bordered Blue Banner also spoke up at this time. He had been so caught up in the chaos today that he had lost all his spirit. Fortunately, the most of the men from the two Blue Banners were still alive.
"Now we need to wait for the Great Khan to wake up, but we can't just wait idly. The Black Mountain Camp needs to be prepared. It would be good to test Marquis Luoyun. If we can establish trade and survive the winter, we will surely make a comeback."

It's unclear when it started, but all the Jurchen tribes were declining, and the atmosphere was extremely oppressive.

Everyone looked conflicted and remained silent, perhaps because the atmosphere inside the tent was extremely tense. Later, inside the tent, Helian Chen gave instructions to the physician, and Physician Li and others immediately began inserting silver needles into major acupoints such as the philtrum and Baihui.
A moment later, a faint but very clear cough suddenly escaped from Huang Jitai's lips!

"Cough...cough..."

As if frozen in place, the gazes of everyone in the back tent, filled with unbelievable ecstasy and a deeper fear, all turned to the leather rug.

Huang Jitai's eyelids trembled violently a few times, and he slowly and laboriously opened them a crack!
"A...a huge sweater!"

Helian Chen was the first to rush to the bedside, his voice trembling with sobs.

"Someone, let them in."

Subsequently,

The flag leaders and generals of the front tent also gathered around, their voices trembling, filled with hope and fear.

"Father Khan!" "Great Khan!"

After a call,
Huang Jitai's gaze moved extremely slowly, laboriously sweeping over the familiar faces, each one covered in anxiety and bloodstains. He seemed to want to say something, his lips moved a few times, but he could only make hoarse, breathy sounds.

At this moment, Physician Li quickly brought over a bowl of warm ginseng soup. Helian Chen carefully pried open his mouth with a silver spoon and fed him a few mouthfuls little by little. The ginseng soup seemed to temporarily revive his strength.

Huang Jitai's gaze focused slightly, and he moved his neck with difficulty, finally landing on Helian Chen's face, who was closest to him. He moved his mouth again, and this time, everyone heard him clearly.

"I have seen the Eternal Heaven. This time, I will probably return to its embrace and sue for peace with Marquis Luoyun... Duo... Duomin..."

Helian Chen was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening, and tears streamed down his face:
"Great Khan, you'll be alright. You just said...you said it was Prince Domin?"

Duomin was Huang Jitai's eldest son, but the Khan's most favored son was actually his youngest son, Haoge. However, the Khan was now entrusting his son to someone else.

Huang Jitai nodded very slightly, his withered face revealing an indescribable longing and deep worry. Trembling, he mustered all his strength to raise a thin, age-spotted hand, pointing to the top of the tent, and then uttered a few broken words with difficulty and extreme indistinctness:
“…Go back…go back…to Liaonan…No…No…again…fight…protect…protect…”

As if he had exhausted all his strength, his fingers suddenly fell limply, and his gaze became unfocused, as if piercing through the tent and looking towards his distant homeland.
"Sweat!"

Helian Chen immediately groaned in agony; his cries echoed far and wide throughout the tent, as if he were taking his last breath.

In Huang Jitai's dim eyes, there seemed to be a faint glimmer of relief. His lips moved almost imperceptibly, as if to say "okay" or to let out a silent sigh. Then, that faint light went out completely, and his eyelids closed heavily as he stopped breathing.

Huang Jitai's final "last words" were like a boulder thrown into stagnant water!
The tent was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop. Fucha Zhen, Huyan Han, Ma Jiali, and all the other banner leaders stood frozen, their faces ashen. The Khan had regained his senses, but he didn't utter a word about revenge or another battle. His only thoughts were of his eldest son and "returning to Liaonan." Yet, the suspicion in everyone's eyes only intensified. Although Hauge was grieving, he also felt a sense of loss. His gaze fell on Tong Jiali, the banner leader of the Bordered White Banner. The latter secretly shook his head. Things were beyond saving; it had all happened too suddenly.

The rest of the crowd remained bewildered. Even the usually arrogant Huyan Han wept bitterly, his heart filled with fear. Only Fucha Zhen closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his gaze was incredibly resolute. After bowing to the Khan, he turned to Helian Chen and the banner leaders and spoke clearly:

"You all heard it. The Great Khan's last words were that Domin Beile would succeed to the Khan's throne. This time, he is seeking peace. I will go. You will stay in the camp to prepare the troops and be ready to retreat at any time."

Hu Yanhan's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he lowered his head in dejection, having truly lost this time.

Helian Chen looked at the Great Khan's body, then at Fucha Zhen, and finally nodded heavily:

"Fucha Zhen...be careful on your journey...no matter what...you must...make sure the young marquis understands..."

Fucha Zhen smiled sadly and shook his head.
"Understood? Gentlemen, we are going to seek peace. Whether Marquis Luoyun will agree is another matter. If Marquis Luoyun finds out that the Great Khan has left, do you think he will agree to seek peace? Helian Chen, keep the death a secret and make preparations."

After saying that, he turned around and went straight back to the Zhenglan Banner tribe without looking back. Following closely behind him was Guarjia, the banner chief of Xianglan Banner.

After leaving the main tent,

Guarjia hurriedly caught up and asked;

“Fucha Zhen, has it really come to this? If the various Jurchen tribes want to run away, then Marquis Luoyun may not be able to stop them.”

After much hesitation, Gualjia only asked about these matters. All the plans and schemes for succeeding to the Khan's throne were now irrelevant under the Great Khan's dying words.

“It’s impossible to stop him, but if Marquis Luoyun pursues him relentlessly, even if we retreat to Liaonan, who can hold the line? Can we rely on those disloyal people in the camp? When you return, immediately reorganize the two banners of troops and give your life. Under no circumstances should anyone seize your military power. This time, be extremely careful.”

Fucha Zhen handed over the troop mobilization token. Gualjia's eyes widened, his gaze flickering. Fucha Zhen had actually told him to be careful and prudent, instead of Huyan Han. Could it be...?
"Fucha Zhen, do you mean that Prince Duomin has had his eye on this for a long time? What about Huyan Han?"

“As long as Huyan Han has no ambition to seize the throne, he is not a threat. He has always supported Duomin and Ma Jiali of the Plain White Banner. However, Duomin has long since won over the leaders of various tribes, as well as Na Risong, who is very secretive. As for the two of us, we have remained uninvolved. Now that we have reached this critical juncture, you say that the new Khan will succeed to the throne, and things will change.”

Fucha Zhen sighed. What a good situation, ruined in one day. Seeing that Fucha Zhen had lost all his vigor, Guarjia also had a way out. Returning to Liaonan would be fine, but the supplies of each tribe were already running out. If they encountered a cold winter, he was afraid that the tribes would not be able to survive. Otherwise, he had an idea and whispered.
"Fucha Zhen, what do you think about the two of us subduing Wuya Yu?"

"What, you?"

(End of this chapter)