Chapter Sixty-Nine: Passing the Celestial Star

Before reaching Old Temple Village, Liu Chengzong spotted the herd.

Thirty or forty horses, each saddled, with weapons hanging from the saddles. Twice as many donkeys and mules as horses were being led by herders down to the river to drink.

Liu Chengzong dared not venture closer. He led his horse up the slope, lying low and carefully observing the group.

There were eleven herders, all either youths or sturdy women, still clad in grimy winter clothes—cotton or fur jackets.

Each carried at least one blade or mace and a makeshift shield; some bore bows and arrows, others long spears.

Each herder drove two or three horses and four or five donkeys or mules. Once the animals had drunk at the river, they walked them around the ruins of Old Temple Village.

It looked as if they were keeping watch.

Highly militarized.

Li Wanqing scrambled up the hill, flopping down beside Liu Chengzong, his gaze darting between the ruins and Liu Chengzong.

When he looked at the ruins, his eyes held a hint of dread.

When looking at Liu Chengzong, his gaze brimmed with envy.

It wasn’t envy for anything else—just for Liu Chengzong’s mount, its mane dyed red.

The Red Banner Horse would lie down at command, and on being led up the slope, obediently rolled onto its side.

Li Wanqing’s own horse was a fool, impossible to bring up the hill; he had to tie it to a stump below before climbing.

He whispered, “Tiger General, is this your home? Looks like it’s been robbed.”

“It’s not mine. It was robbed before, then I bought it,” Liu Chengzong replied, gesturing to the surrounding fields. “Everything you see, all these fields, they're mine now.”

“Are you kidding!” Li Wanqing’s eyes widened in disbelief. “With all this wealth, you still do this?”

“None of it is really mine. My brother, my father, and my comrades from the army sold everything to buy land in my name,” Liu Chengzong said, feeling a pang of frustration. He waved it off. “Let’s not talk about it. If it weren’t for the Prince of Qin, who knows how we’d be living… Those might be the guests’ horses.”

As they spoke, several people emerged from the ruins.

Three led the way: Cao Yao, Liu Chengzu, and an unfamiliar man, followed by four armored and armed guards.

The three pointed and discussed the land; Cao Yao gestured toward the fields, then smiled and pointed to Liu Chengzu.

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Liu Chengzu waved his hand as he spoke with the man, just as he spotted Liu Chengzong rising on the hill.

All three looked their way.

Liu Chengzong and Li Wanqing led their horses over. From a distance, they heard Cao Yao laughing, “Lion, we were just talking about you!”

He stepped forward and introduced Liu Chengzong. “Captain Zhang, this is Chengzong, nicknamed Lion; this is Zhang Wu from Yuhe Fort, full name Zhang Tianlin, born under the Star of Heaven in Qingjian, now leading a team in Yanchuan.”

Zhang Tianlin was of average height, sporting a three-pronged beard and a weathered, rough appearance, yet his eyes gleamed with spirit. He clasped his fists and smiled, “The great philanthropist of Yan’an, Tiger General, greetings.”

Liu Chengzong returned the salute. “Greetings, Captain Zhang. Brother Cao has long wanted to meet you.”

Then he pulled over the somewhat shy Li Wanqing. “Brothers, this is Li Wanqing, famed as ‘Shoots Down the Sky.’”

Liu Chengzu showed little interest in their greetings.

He was more concerned with his brother’s plain undergarment beneath his official robe, the collar stained with mud and blood. He frowned, “Lion, were you injured on the road?”

“It’s nothing, not my blood.”

Seeing he wouldn’t elaborate, Liu Chengzu let it go. “The roads aren’t safe. Next time, bring a few men with you.”

They walked together into the village. The ruins of Old Temple Village, rebuilt by Lu Bin and others, now had several courtyards fit for resting.

Within and around the village, Zhang Tianlin’s men were everywhere, sitting in small groups around campfires, armored warriors drinking and eating meat.

Cao Yao told Liu Chengzong that Zhang Tianlin had brought thirty-two men this time.

Twenty-two were herders like those outside, and ten were armored like those inside.

Each team had one soldier and two attendants, riding two or three horses and four or five donkeys or mules.

The main force under the Star of Heaven in Qingjian numbered over three hundred, all organized like this—very disciplined.

Inside the courtyard, they spoke of their experiences after leaving Yuhe Fort.

Zhang Tianlin looked at the group with envy, laughing, “I wasn’t as lucky as you. Left early, a deserter, thinking the outside would be better than the fort, but it’s actually worse.

A single bowl of fermented noodles could drive men to risk their lives; the peasants starved, the soldiers starved, and our land was seized by others. My elder brother fought them, but they reported him to the authorities as a bandit.

The officials didn’t investigate—just suppressed us, sent government troops to chase us down, forced us to the brink. When we fought back, we couldn’t win.”

He waved his hand in front of him, “At our peak, I had over a thousand men. I didn’t even know how many. Today, someone joins me for a full meal; tomorrow, he’s dead or fled, and new faces arrive.

We occupied a mountain stronghold in Qingjian, built a fortress, but it was useless. One cannon shot, the walls collapsed; when attacked, some died, some scattered.”

He spread his hands and tapped his temple, “Then I started using my head. We know the government troops well enough now. If they have three horses and seven steps, I make sure each of my men has three horses. Even the women ride mules.”

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He pointed to the armored men sitting in the courtyard. “No lazing around. If anyone wants to kill me, let him run with me for three days. If he can cover three hundred miles, I’ll face him.”

Zhang Tianlin laughed heartily, wagging his finger before him. “So far, I’ve never met a government soldier who could run three hundred miles with me.”

Everyone laughed, except Li Wanqing, who knew nothing of military matters. Each smile carried a trace of bitterness.

Zhang Tianlin’s marches weren’t fast, but with so many horses, donkeys, and mules, covering such distances was pure endurance.

The proper government troops, starved, couldn’t march faster than bandit mobs.

Even standing on opposing sides, the former frontier soldiers felt uneasy.

Liu Chengzong asked, “Captain Zhang, what brings you to Yan’an this time?”

“Business. It’s done; we’re leaving tomorrow.”

Zhang Tianlin smiled at Liu Chengzu. “I came to inquire about Yan’an Prefecture’s troop movements. Your brother told me—the magistrate hasn’t raised funds, so troops won’t be sent for a while.

But I suspect it’s not over. From Fugou to Yanchang County, there are over a dozen notable leaders causing trouble.”

He rattled off a long list of names, starting with Wang Jiayin, Wang Zuogua, and Wang Heshang, naming a string of people.

Altogether, they numbered thirty to forty thousand—already a force too large for the Shaanxi Commandery to ignore.

“The court will have to send troops eventually. If the magistrate’s office won’t provide pay, the garrison soldiers will risk their lives fighting us on empty stomachs. They’ll find their own ways to get food. You’d best be careful.”

His words made everyone’s hearts sink.

Liu Chengzu asked, “So you think it’ll happen around autumn?”

“Yes. Now, all we can do is wait for heaven’s favor. One good rain, and the land will be peaceful. Otherwise, tens of thousands will throw Shaanxi into chaos.”

Finishing, Zhang Tianlin cursed, “Damn it, not even a chicken left.”

Liu Chengzu had nothing to say. What must come will come; there’s no escaping it.

Cao Yao looked at Liu Chengzong. “Should we buy some horses too?”

Liu Chengzong replied, “Just what I was thinking!”