White Horse, Silver Spear, Grand Commandant Gao

"The ambush failed, and reinforcements from the Jin army arrived in force. Liu Xun, living up to his reputation as a wise general, devised a brilliant new strategy."

Since Li Cunxu had led his main force here, his base must be vulnerable. Liu Xun decided to feint an attack, leading his troops across the Taihang Mountains to seize the Jin army's stronghold, Jinyang!

Although the two children did not know much about military strategy, upon hearing their father's words, they immediately realized that Liu Xun was a very skilled military commander.

A surprise attack sounds simple, but it is extremely difficult to execute.

First, deceiving the Jin army that was right in front of them was a difficult task.

Liu Xun tied flags to straw figures, had them carried on the backs of donkeys, and marched along the city walls. From outside the city, all that could be seen were flags fluttering back and forth, unaware that the army had long since departed.

Fortunately, the Jin army generals were not ordinary. They discovered that the enemy camp had no scouts, no smoke or fire, and birds were perched on the ramparts. So they sent cavalry to investigate and immediately found that the camp was empty.

Li Cunxu saw through the deception and said to his close associates, "I have heard that Liu Xun's military tactics are unpredictable; he must be using trickery to mislead me."

They then found a frail old man in the city and questioned him, who said that Liang's army had left two days ago.

Then a dead soldier arrived from Liu Xun's army, saying that the Liang troops had already marched towards Huangze.

Huangzeling is only 250 li away from Jinyang, and Li Cunxu hurriedly dispatched light cavalry to rush back to its aid.

Marching through enemy territory is another difficult task. If the Jin army catches up with them halfway, the surprise attack will become a joke.

"Advance at full speed, and capture Jinyang—that would be an unparalleled achievement!"

For Liu Xun, it was nothing more than repeating the process of seizing Yanzhou in the past.

A regret remained in his heart. When he was young, he captured Yanzhou and defended against Ge Congzhou's counterattack, but unfortunately, all his routes failed, and in the end, he had no choice but to surrender to the enemy.

If the same tactics could be used to decisively decide the battle between Jin and Liang, it would be more than enough to make up for any shortcomings.

Unfortunately, fate did not favor him this time either.

At that time, the rains had been falling for ten days, and the Liang army was traveling at double speed. They were all suffering from abdominal ailments and swollen feet. In addition, the mountain roads were treacherous, the cliffs and valleys were slippery and muddy, and they could only make a little progress by clinging to vines and creepers. Along the way, they fell off cliffs and slopes and sank into the mud and died.

Liu Xun advanced north along the foothills of the Taihang Mountains. When his vanguard reached Leping, their provisions were running out. Just then, they heard that Li Cunxu was leading his army in pursuit. The troops from Taiyuan were ahead, and everyone was terrified.

With morale wavering, even if they reached the walls of Jinyang ahead of the enemy, they would find it difficult to capture the fortified city in one fell swoop. Liu Xun had no choice but to abandon his original plan, gather his troops, and return to the capital. He crossed the Zhang River at Chensongkou in Xingzhou and headed east, where he stationed himself at Zongcheng.

Although the ingenious plan failed, it greatly shocked the Jin army.

Upon receiving the report, Zhou Dewei, the chief general stationed in Youzhou, personally led 500 cavalrymen into Tumen and returned to defend the old camp.

Upon learning that Liang's army had stalled at Leping and then moved on to Zongcheng, Zhou Dewei deduced that their intention must be Linqing.

Linqing was a crucial location for storing provisions for the Jin army and a vital route for transporting supplies between Zhen and Ding prefectures. Zhou Dewei hurried to Nangong, leading a dozen or so horsemen directly towards Liu Xun's camp.

Zhou Dewei was also a shrewd and experienced general. When he lacked sufficient troops, he captured a Liang army scout alive, cut off his wrist, inserted a sharp blade into his back, tied him up with ropes, and sent him back, thus damaging the enemy's morale.

Liu Xun's plan to attack Linqing was thwarted once again, and he moved his troops to Beizhou and Tangyi, eventually stationing them in Shenxian.

Li Cunxu set up camp thirty li west of the county, and fought several battles in a single day, with victories and defeats on both sides.

The back-and-forth maneuvering and shifting of troops, if marked on a map with marching routes, would be dazzling to the eye.

In this major battle that determined the fate of the six prefectures in Hebei, both the Liang and Jin generals displayed superb military skills, much like masters sparring and anticipating each other's moves. Neither side gained an advantage, and the only way to win was through force.

The two armies fought day and night, and it was time for the fierce generals who charged into battle to take the stage.

Unlike stage performances, real combat is a matter of life and death. Even the bravest and most invincible generals face an uncertain fate every time they go into battle. A spear thrust, a hidden arrow, or an unknown opponent—a moment's carelessness could cost them their lives.

During a battle between the two armies, Yuan Xingqin, caught up in the heat of battle, ventured deep into enemy lines and was pursued by Liang soldiers. A valiant officer on the enemy side, amidst the chaos, swung his sword and struck Yuan Xingqin squarely in the face.

The blow was so powerful that it immediately cracked the iron helmet. Fortunately, the helmet blocked the impact, and Yuan Xingqin leaned back in time to absorb the force, thus avoiding his immediate death.

Even so, the sharp blade sliced ​​across his brow and the bridge of his nose, tearing open his skin and causing blood to gush out, leaving a horrific scar.

Yuan Xingqin cried out in pain, roared, and thrust his spear to kill the man. The scene before him was quickly shrouded in crimson, becoming blurry and indistinct.

He dared not reach out to wipe it; the wound was bleeding profusely and would soon obscure his vision. If the blood mingled with his eyes, blindness would be a certain death.

A large number of Liang soldiers surrounded him. Anyone could see that Yuan Xingqin was seriously injured. If they fought for a while, they would surely be able to take the enemy general's head.

Yuan Xingqin, like a wounded beast caught in a trap, swung his iron spear to stop the Liang soldiers from getting closer.

Although he put up a stubborn resistance, his injuries became too severe, his moves gradually became disorganized, and he was on the verge of death.

"My father happened to be nearby at the time. When he noticed something was wrong, he called several riders to come and rescue us."

Breaking through the enemy's blockade, Gao Xingzhou brandished his silver spear, thrusting left and right, piercing through two unsuspecting Liang soldiers.

The Liang soldiers who were besieging Yuan Xingqin were attacked from behind, and a gap was torn open in the encirclement. Gao Xingzhou rode straight in without hesitation.

Trapped in the center, Yuan Xingqin's face was covered in blood, his eyes were stained red, and his appearance was extremely terrifying.

He vaguely saw the Liang soldiers' formation split up and a rider galloping towards him. He thought it was an enemy general coming to take his head, and thought that he would take someone down with him even if it meant his death. He viciously thrust his spear at the enemy!

"what!"

The young child cried out in alarm, still breaking out in a cold sweat despite knowing his father was alright.

Gao Xingzhou was caught off guard and hastily dodged to the side. He had not expected Yuan Xingqin to be unable to distinguish friend from foe.

The sharp spear tip grazed past his ribs, sending sparks flying across his armor; he nearly died without even knowing why.

In the midst of the chaos, there was no time for explanation. Gao Xingzhou killed an attacking Liang soldier, and Yuan Xingqin finally recognized his ally. The two joined forces and broke through the enemy's weak point.

Back at their camp, Gao Xingzhou helped the swaying Yuan Xingqin off his horse and summoned a physician to treat his wounds.

Yuan Xingqin was slightly taken aback when he realized that the general who had just rescued him was none other than Gao Xingzhou, whose entire clan had almost been besieged and killed by his army in Wuzhou. (Note 1)

He nodded his thanks and went to treat his injuries without mentioning it again.

"Before the campaign in Hebei, the Prince of Jin selected brave warriors from various tribes to serve under him. Yuan Xingqin was famous in the army because he had participated in many campaigns and often captured enemies alive. Li Cunxu made a request for him, and the late emperor had no choice but to send him away."

The two children objected, saying, "Father, your martial arts skills are on par with Yuan Xingqin's. Why did the Prince of Jin choose him specifically?"

"Li Cunxu chose Yuan Xingqin first, I should feel fortunate."

Gao Xingzhou couldn't help but sigh, for this incident became a watershed moment in their future destinies, and he couldn't help but marvel at the coincidences of life's encounters.

If Li Cunxu had initially asked for himself instead, would their fates have been completely different?

……

Yuan Xingqin, a beloved general under the Prince of Jin, nearly died in battle but was saved by Gao Xingzhou. This battle attracted widespread attention, and the story of the two fighting fiercely in the Eight Formations to a draw was also brought up again.

Li Cunxu immediately took notice of his favorite general and summoned Gao Xingzhou to an audience, praising and rewarding him for his service. His eyes and words revealed his appreciation, and his intention to recruit him was obvious, but in the end, he did not say it aloud.

"Having already seized Yuan Xingqin from Li Siyuan's camp, it wouldn't be right for a lord to take him in as well."

Gao Xingzhou thought to himself as he concluded the audience.

However, the matter did not end there.

That night, a man secretly came to Gao Xingzhou's tent, introduced himself as Zhu Shouyin, a trusted servant of the Prince of Jin.

When Gao Xingzhou asked about his purpose, he had some guesses in his mind.

Zhu Shouyin did not answer directly, but instead praised the achievements of the Prince of Jin.

Li Cunxu was deeply favored by Li Keyong from a young age and joined him on a military expedition at the age of eleven. After presenting his victory report to the emperor and welcoming him back to the palace, Emperor Zhaozong of Tang bestowed upon him a mandarin duck wine cup and a jade plate, praising him as "a son who can rival his father," hence the title "Li Yazi" (Li the Second Son).

At the age of twenty-four, Li Keyong passed away, and Li Cunxu succeeded him as king in Jinyang.

The following month, he ambushed and killed his uncle, Li Kening, the military governor of Zhenwu and commander of both Han and non-Han cavalry, seized military power and defeated the Liang army, relieving the siege of Luzhou, which had been besieged for a long time.

Upon hearing of his defeat, Zhu Wen, Li Keyong's longtime nemesis, sighed in fear, "If only a son could be like this, the Li family would not perish! My sons are nothing but pigs and dogs."

Zhu Shouyin went on and on praising, "A wise ruler like the Prince of Jin is a rare find in the world."

Zhu Shouyin's statement was not an exaggeration, and Gao Xingzhou also largely agreed with it.

Li Cunxu, a contemporary of himself and the Indians, held a high position, was fierce and brave, and often personally led troops into battle as a king, truly a model of military prowess.

Seeing that he agreed, Zhu Shouyin spoke even more enthusiastically.

"Now, Zhu Wen was killed by his son Zhu Yougui for forcibly taking his daughter-in-law. Zhu Yougui was then killed by his subordinates, and his younger brother Zhu Youzhen succeeded him. The Liang Kingdom is showing signs of decline, which is the time for the Prince of Jin to rise to power."

Taking advantage of the internal strife in Liang, Li Cunxu annexed Youyan and allied with Hebei, greatly expanding his power. The situation was much better than when Li Keyong was suppressed.

The Liang ruler's eagerness to divide the two towns and the Wei Bo army's unrest present a golden opportunity to bring the six prefectures of Hebei under his control.

"Now is the time for heroes to shine."

Zhu Shouyin said "yes" three times in a row, and finally revealed his purpose: "Your Majesty deeply admires the general's martial prowess, but fears to offend the chief steward, so he is reluctant to ask for it. If the general takes the initiative to offer to join you, and the chief steward cannot stop him, Your Majesty will surely reward him with a high-ranking official position and generous salary."

Sure enough, it was the same old story. A sense of disgust rose in Gao Xingzhou's heart.

Li Cunxu did indeed have a fondness for his generals, but it was more like a child's hobby of collecting toys than a genuine friendship between heroes.

If he had to choose a lord, Gao Xingzhou felt that the mature, steady, generous and heroic Li Siyuan was more suitable for him. Besides, he could not betray the life-saving grace of Li Siyuan who had rescued his entire clan and provided assistance in battle.

Seeing that Gao Xingzhou didn't respond, Zhu Shouyin tried to persuade him, saying, "Although Li Siyuan is the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Army, he is still just a subject of the Prince of Jin. General, your martial arts are superb, yet you are only appointed as a junior officer. What future is there in that?"

"General, you should take a look at Yuan Xingqin. Since he switched allegiance to the Prince of Jin, he has been favored and his career has soared."

Zhu Shouyin cited an example: Yuan Xingqin was granted the surname Li, renamed Shaorong, and appointed as a military commander. His soldiers were selected from the brave and skilled warriors of Chengde and Weibo, and their future was promising.

Gao Huaide remained unmoved.

Seeing that Gao Xingzhou was still single, Zhu Shouyin said that the Prince of Jin had no shortage of beautiful women around him, and that if the general was interested, he would certainly not hesitate to bestow them upon him. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a beautiful woman with a hero?

Despite his efforts to persuade Gao Xingzhou until his throat was dry, Gao Xingzhou remained unmoved and politely declined, saying, "The chief steward employs people for the sake of the country, and serving the chief steward is like serving the king. My brothers and I have escaped death and are deeply indebted to the chief steward. How can I bear to betray him?" (Note 2)

At this point, Gao Xingzhou suddenly asked, "De'er, when I asked Scholar Feng to give you this name, do you know what it meant?" (Note 3)

Today, Gao Xingzhou wants to talk not only about the war, but also to teach his son the principles of life.

The eldest son is unruly and unconventional. If he goes astray, one wrong step will lead to another, and his future will only become narrower and narrower until he reaches a dead end from which there is no turning back.

Gao Xingzhou had seen many similar cases in chaotic times, and Yuan Xingqin was one of them.

The intention behind Gao Xingzhou telling this story—to rescue his former enemy in the face of battle and to resolutely refuse his lord's attempts to win him over—is quite clear.

No matter how much you dislike reading, you still know the meaning of your own name.

The older child answered fluently, as if reciting a poem: "A gentleman cherishes virtue, a petty person cherishes land. This comes from the 'Li Ren' chapter of the Analects. The father hopes that his child will have moral integrity and not be like that petty person who is greedy for what is right in front of him."

That year, Gao Huaide, the son of Gao Xingzhou, the military governor of Zhangwu, was not yet ten years old, and his life was destined to be devoid of comfort.

As for upholding ordinary moral principles? Heh.

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Place Name Comparison

Huangze Ridge: now located in Zuoquan County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province

Leping: present-day Xiyang County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province

Zongcheng: present-day Weixian County, Xingtai City, Hebei Province

Nangong: present-day Nangong City, Xingtai City, Hebei Province

Linqing: Located east of Cangshang Village, Linxi County, Xingtai City, Hebei Province, it was named after the ancient Qinghe River it borders, and is not the Linqing in Liaocheng, Shandong.

Shenxian: present-day Shenxian County, Liaocheng City, Shandong Province