Moma Liangshan

Chapter 102 A Young Man's Schemes, Encounters from All Sides

Guided by the boy, Wang Hao found the remaining children in an extremely secluded cellar. After temporarily settling the thirteen children, Cao Hong stepped forward and said, "This cellar is very large. I think we can bury the villagers here." Wang Hao agreed, saying, "That would be even better!" Watching the bodies being carried into the cellar, the rescued children knelt to the side, weeping uncontrollably. Wang Hao did not disturb them, but waited silently. Half an hour later, Wang Hao spoke, "The deceased have been laid to rest. I hope you will accept this with compassion!" The boy at the head of the group, his eyes red, asked, "May I ask your name, sir?" Wang Hao replied, "Wang Hao." The boy knelt down, kowtowed three times, and said, "Sir, I will never forget your great kindness. In my next life, I will be your servant to repay you!" Wang Hao helped Xiong Yu up and said, "Young man, do not speak of the next life! If you truly have ambition, make this life glorious!" After a pause, he continued, "You will first come with me to Liaoyang Prefecture." "After this matter is settled, come back to the Great Song with me!" The young man looked surprised and asked, "Are you from the Song Dynasty, sir?" Wang Hao replied, "Yes!" The young man remained silent for a long time, seemingly having pondered deeply, before saying, "I've heard that the Great Song is prosperous and peaceful, with everyone healthy and well?" Wang Hao smiled slightly and said, "At least there's no war raging like this." The young man seemed to have made up his mind and said, "Sir, you have many brave and skilled men around you. Please choose a good teacher for me in the future to teach me martial arts!" Wang Hao noticed that the young man had suddenly become more talkative and said, "I will grant your wish!"

The next morning, Wang Hao and his men packed their belongings and continued their journey. Although Xiong Yu was younger than Wang Hao, his horsemanship was skillful and agile. After marching for less than half a day, they passed another small village. However, this village was in even worse condition, almost completely burned to ashes. Wang Hao and his men stopped to inspect the damage, but Xiong Yu suddenly said, "The Jurchens left not long ago." Wang Hao, looking worried, said, "The heavy snow stopped late last night. The burn marks here are completely exposed; it must have happened after the snow stopped." Wang Hao disliked risking his life. Even though Emperor Huizong's decree tasked him with forging an alliance with the Jurchens, the course of history told him that only "self-reliance" was the foundation for survival in this world. The Jurchens were now militarily powerful, having almost never suffered a defeat since their uprising began. The Song Dynasty, which had little influence beyond the Great Wall, held little appeal for the Jurchens. Wang Hao knew perfectly well: "Regardless of the purpose, making the Jurchen's war against Liao difficult is in the best interest of the Song Dynasty!" The reason he went to Liaoyang Prefecture to meet the Shu princess was to make the Jurchen's attack on the five capitals of Liao less smooth! Xiong Yu's eyes darted around unconsciously, and he said, "I know a shortcut that can avoid the Jurchen cavalry!"

Wang Hao was slightly surprised and said, "The snow and ice stretch endlessly, and the mountains rise and fall. Are you sure you can tell directions?" Xiong Yu replied, "I started hunting in the mountains with my clan when I was eight years old, and it's been five years now. I can tell directions!" Wang Hao didn't doubt him and said, "Lead the way!" Xiong Yu's performance did not disappoint everyone. Although the narrow road was a bit strenuous, it was still within the limits of the men's and horses' strength. Moreover, the special road conditions meant that large groups of people should not travel there, thus greatly reducing the probability of encountering the Jurchen cavalry. As dusk approached, Xiong Yu said, "Five miles ahead, there are several wooden houses, which were temporarily built by our elders as a place to rest along the way." At this moment, everyone's eyes began to fill with admiration when they looked at Xiong Yu. Sure enough, after walking for more than half an hour, a wooden house came into view. The wooden house was hidden under a corner of a mountain wall, which provided excellent shelter from the wind and snow. The interior was not tidy, with tree roots, moss, and exposed rocks everywhere. The inward-sloping mountain walls at both ends of the wooden house became ready-made stables, and Cao Hong also built a thick snow wall according to the terrain to minimize the risk of frostbite to the people and horses.

Nothing happened overnight. The next morning, after drinking meat soup, they began a new day's march. After advancing more than twenty li, the accumulated blood began to soften, and after another fifteen li, withered grass became faintly visible. As the group gradually noticed the change in their surroundings, Wang Hao reined in his horse and asked, "Why is the weather warming up here?" A glint of cunning flashed in Xiong Yu's eyes, followed by a hint of guilt. He dismounted, kowtowed three times, and said, "I am ashamed to have failed you in saving my life, young master!" Wang Hao frowned and asked, "What is your plan and purpose?" Xiong Yu replied, "Seven or eight li further on is a place called Red Spring Mountain. Because of the numerous hot springs within, the grass is lush and green even in the dead of winter. The green grass attracts sheep, deer, and rabbits, which in turn attract tigers, leopards, bears, and wolves. Red Spring Mountain in the twelfth lunar month is a bloodbath. Every year at this time, the village's best hunters come here to hunt. My uncle has been the leader of the hunting party for the past three years!" Wang Hao gestured for Xiong Yu to stand up and said, "So you want me to escort you here to meet your uncle?" Xiong... Yu nodded, then glanced at Gao Que not far away, and said, "I know your journey is tight, young master. Without this plan, you would never have reached Red Spring Mountain." Wang Hao unconsciously looked at the twelve children behind him and said, "My good intentions have been exploited by you. While there's some excuse, it can't be ignored!" Xiong Yu was surprised and asked, "What kind of compensation do you want, young master?" Wang Hao's lips curled slightly, and he said, "That depends on your uncle's abilities. The more capable he is, the more valuable you children will be, and the more compensation I'll demand. But if he's just a useless person, I'm afraid I'll have to accept my bad luck!" Speaking of his uncle, Xiong Yu's eyes were filled with pride as he said, "My uncle will not only give you the compensation you deserve, young master, but he will also avenge the entire village!"

Just then, the howls of wolves echoed from the distant mountains. Cao Hong and the others grew serious and drew their swords. Xiong Yu, however, looked delighted and said, "Young master, don't panic, it's my uncle's signal!" He then climbed a birch tree with his bare hands and howled in the same manner. Wang Hao looked at Cao Hong and said, "You really have some skill!" Cao Hong asked, "Young master, could you tell the difference between the two howls?" Wang Hao casually replied, "One was from a young man, vigorous and powerful; the other from a teenager, somewhat immature." Cao Hong said, "What you say makes sense, but it's not the key point." Wang Hao said, "Please enlighten me!" Cao Hong answered, "When wolves hunt, they have different roles: tracking, surrounding, charging, and guarding, with the wolf king coordinating from the center. The way wolves communicate is through howling. To outsiders, the howls may sound the same, but in reality, the duration and frequency of the howls have very specific meanings." The wisdom of wolves has been passed down for thousands of years, and Wang Hao believed Cao Hong's explanation. A moment later, Xiong Yu slid down from the tree and said, "My uncle will be here soon!"

A moment later, a group of young men carrying bows and arrows and wearing swords appeared. The leader had a sharp gaze and a swift gait. The hunters watched Wang Hao and his group warily, ready for battle at any moment. Wang Hao looked at Xiong Yu and said, "Your uncle seems to have misunderstood us!" Xiong Yu replied, "Please wait a moment, young master!" He then ran towards the hunting party. Eleven young men surrounded Xiong Yu, seemingly questioning him repeatedly. Wang Hao looked at the children behind him and said, "Go see your relatives!" The children were put down from their horses and rushed forward. After a long time, the hunting party slowly approached. Wang Hao seemed to see the glint of hatred in the air and said, "You all must already know what happened in the village. Our meeting by chance is fate. I wonder what your plans are for the future?" The leader, filled with hatred, said, "Our enemy is right behind us. What else can we do? We must pay with blood! But we hope that you, young master, will be kind enough to look after the last remaining members of the village!"

Wang Hao was shocked and asked, "Are the Jurchens just ahead?" The young man in the lead replied, "Over a thousand Jurchen soldiers are stationed at Red Spring Mountain, spending their days hunting jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards." Wang Hao asked again to confirm, "Have you seen them with your own eyes?" The young man said, "If they hadn't invaded Red Spring Mountain, why would we be in this remote area?" Having confirmed the Jurchens' location, Wang Hao was less nervous and said, "With just eleven of you, going there rashly is probably not for revenge, but for suicide! Your deaths are none of my concern, but leaving such a bunch of burdens to me is perhaps too much to ask." Xiong Yu suddenly rushed out and said, "We are not burdens; we can still fight with swords!" Wang Hao suddenly threw the large ringed sword hanging on Ma'anshan to the ground and said, "This sword is for you; have a good time fighting!" The young man gradually calmed down and said, "I am Xiong Pi. I thank you in advance for burying our relatives and rescuing our nephews!" Wang Hao said, "I don't like seeing people die." I don’t want to save, but I don’t like to work in vain. You must repay my kindness! Xiong Pi said: "The kindness of a drop of water should be repaid by a spring of water!" Please also ask the young master to state the conditions. Wang Hao laughed angrily and said, "Conditions?" As for you right now, besides your strength, do you have anything else? Xiong Pi couldn't accept it and said, "You want us to sell ourselves into slavery?" Wang Hao shook his head and said, "No, no, no!" It is to sign a contract and use your strength to pay off the debt. "Xiong Pi said: "Endless hatred, endless kindness, please tell me, sir, what should I do? Wang Hao said calmly: "What if I told you that the Jurchens and I will definitely have a fight?" "Xiong Yu whispered from the side: "He is a nobleman of the Song Dynasty. Xiong Yu finally noticed the difference in the attire of Wang Hao and others, and said: "Song and Jurchen are separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, how can they fight?" Young Master, don’t try to deceive me! Wang Hao did not explain, but said: "You have no value in letting me deceive you!" Wang Hao's arrogance made Xiong Pi and others dare not bargain, and said: "I will obey the order of the young master for the time being!" "