The Road to Slaying God

Chapter 13

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CHAPTER 16: CHAPTER JIANG HONG

“My wrath bristles through my helmet, the rain stops as Istand by the rail

I look up towards the sky and let loose a pa.s.sionate roar.

At the age of thirty, my deeds are nothing but dust, myjourney has taken me over eight thousand.

So do not sit by idly, for young men will grow old inregret.

The Humiliation of Jingkang still lingers,

When will the pain of the Emperor"s subjects ever end?

Let us ride our chariots through the Helan Pa.s.s.

There we shall feast on barbarian flesh and drink the bloodof the Xiongnu.

Let us begin anew to recover our old empire, before payingtribute to the Emperor.” (# poem copied )

Everybody was surprised for a moment, who could haveexpected Zhang Yang to actually read from the black board about Man Jiang Hong(humiliation of Jiang Hong). Zhang Yang’s voice was slightly hoa.r.s.e, verymasculine, magnetic and also full of penetrating force that the old professorkept nodding all the time. If the glory of his recitation was to be commented,then undoubtedly the child was very good, Yue Fei’s agitation and momentum weremanifested in his statements.

“Professor, looking from Yue Fei’s point of view only, this“Man Jianghong” is worthy of eternal fame, but from the ideological point ofview, “Man Jhonghang” also has a great limitation …”

Zhang Yang’s expression suddenly changed, calm, frank andconfident. The crowd came around.

“How do you say that?”

Suddenly, theprofessor looked imposing, and he felt the beginning of the steady change onthe wretched boy, those pairs of eyes flashing wisdom and confident radiance.Throughout his life, he had only seen this type of eyes twice, but recently, hehas been seeing it several times in a row. Coincidently, the other one was alsositting on the exact position of Zhang yang.

“Undeniably, this is a famous masterpiece, it can beaffirmed in our vast poetry. There is no such profound social impact as the poetry,and nothing has never been as exciting as these phrases, inspiring people tofight the enemy on the battlefield of strength.” This poetry expressed Yue Feito serve the court with a sincere heart, open heartedness and courage, verytouching, and the words such as rivers and lakes, twists and turnsreverberating, this is like a stone inscription.

“Well, go on!”

The old professor nodded, while the other students wereamazed for a moment. Actually they were not fond of “Man Jiang Hong”, but ZhangYang incredibly praised the poetry so highly that they all were looking forwardto see why Zhang Yang does not support this eternity fame.

“In fact … I like this poetry, my favorite part is about theheroism of Yue Fei, that horse (like in a chess piece) riding the Hun’s spirit,however, this poetry has a lot of limitations about YueFei. First, he is onlyfighting, but do not dare to open up a new territory on the divided soil, hejust wanted to drive away the outsiders from JianShan of the great Song (Songis a feudal state in the Zhou dynasty .. not a melodious voice with music lol ).While on the other hand he did not consider to seize the outsider’s territoryand include it into the great Song’s territory. This includes a line of verse to clean Jianshan to ill.u.s.trate his idea.And of course, this is only the first …”

“What about the second?”

The old professor nodded, eyes tightly fixed on Zhang Yang.Needless to say, Zhang Yang pointed out Yue Fei’s thinking limitations. Backthen Yue Fei only wanted to stabilize the great Song’s JianShan, but did notwant to expand the layout of the Song. As a matter of fact, no matter if it wasthe Huns or the other races invading in the Song Dynasty, they all have becomeChinese people now.

“Secondly, Yue Fei, to be loyal to the soverign and devotedto the country at that time and at those circ.u.mstances was indeed praiseworthy, however, this also caused his ignorant character. When encountering thechoice between loyalty and patriotism, he chose to be a loyal monarch. In hiseyes, loyalty was more important compared to patriotism, the humiliation ofJingKang, still haven’t wiped away the hate and regrets even when it’s over. Thisis the part which consequently explains the way of thinking of general Yue.Certainly, this was caused by the environment and the circ.u.mstances in thosedays, after all, the emperor symbolized the country at that time and loyalty tothe king meant loyalty to the country…”

“I do not know, when each of you fellow students face thiskind of choice, will you be loyal to the king or loyal to the country?” ZhangYang paused all of a sudden and looked around all the way.

Everyone was silent, although they had thought about it, butnever from this point where they had to overthrow the patriotic thought of Yuefei. From the modern point of view, undoubtedly, Zhang yang’s argument was morereasonable. When the country is in danger, this basically does not even need tobe considered whether to devote yourself to a political party or the country,anyone would choose the country. A regime may collapse, but a country must notperish, the truth understood by everyone (idiom).

“You student, do you think the other great soldiers from thenorthern Song dynasty (960-1127) are capable to place on a par with Yue Fei(1103-1142)? The old professor nodded and asked.

“To compare the soldiers of Northern Song with generalYueFei is too much …” Zhang Yang suddenly felt his brain gush out countlessNoethern Song characters.

“Well, explain it” The old professor smiled.

“Zhao Kuangyin, although he is the creation of the NorthernSong dynasty, valuable for the imperial throne, but actually it was the generalof Zhou Dynasty (951-960) of the Five Dynasties (907-960) who ascended thepalace with meritorious military service even before the one by one inspection,and commander ban. Chenqiaobingbian (the military revolt of 960 that led ZhaoKuangyin to found the Song Dynasty) captured the later Zhou regime to establishthe reigning Song Dynasty. It took him more than two years to suppress theinternal counterforces followed by the reunification of the National militaryoperation to take over the first south after the north, the first easy effortafter the difficult strategic approach. More than ten years, the battle of Jingnan, Hou shu, Southern Han and other separatist regimes was suppressed.Meanwhile, a series of measures were adopted to reform the military, political,financial, imperial and other systems to strengthen the centralization of hisreign of seventeen years. The temple of Taizu (great ancestor) nianhao(reignt.i.tle) was established. During the reign, it basically ended the situation ofseparatist regime of the Five Dynasties and Ten kingdom, and played an activerole in the recovery and exhibition of social economy. Though he was the rulerof the country, still we have no choice but to say that he was an excellentgeneral!”

“Continue!” the old professor’s eyes light up, he neverexpected Zhang Yang to actually answer about the founding emperor of theNorthern Song Dynasty with thorough understanding. It was rare and praiseworthythat he actually was capable to remember clearly, and yet, Zhang Yang wasn’tsatisfied with this answer. The student’s eyes were also full of disbelief evento the extent that many of them wanted Zhang yang to continue, but of course,there were also some people who ZhangYang to make a fool out of himself.

“Cao Bin, Ji Guohua, truly a person of Lingshou. He was aclose relative of the imperial harem of the later Zhou Dynasty and served asthe supervisor of Jinzhou military force acc.u.mulating the recommendation of thegovernment officials. After the establishment of the Northern Song Dynasty, hemoved-in squire to the central province and committed to the purpose for twoyears, by going to the field headquarters as a supervisor to partic.i.p.ate in thebattle of the extermination of Shu but not through ma.s.sacre and then obtained Song’sKuangyin’s praise and honor, granted the south court to Xuan Hui and makerighteous army with the Jiedushi (governors). For seven years, he receiveda.s.signments to limit the armed forces to wipe out Nan Tang (one of the FiveDynasties) and restrain them but The Song’s soldiers was not be allowed torecklessly ma.s.sacre and plunder to avoid sufferings and great damage toJiangning, the capital of Nan Tang. After returning, soon he was appointed as senator,Song Tai Zong ascended the throne of Zhao, plus pa.s.sed judgment on the matterof Feng Luguo Yi’s trust. The Yongxi campaign, for three years, Song TaiZongdivided the forces into three groups to attack Liao (dynasty). Cao Bin took theYouzhou road preceding the field headquarter and deployed the armed force in ahorse stance. The main force of Song’s army, Zhou were certainly powerful butdue to the incompetence in command, they could not restrain the department andwas crushingly defeated, therefore, the other two division was forced toretreat. As a result, he was blamed as the top general. The following year, theWuning army jiedushi, Song ZhenZong ascended the throne and summoned thesenator. After suffering from two years of illness, he died at 69 years ofage.”

“If Ciao Bin had not gone for the war and not been defeatedlike that, then, he could be considered as a famous general, … it’s a pity …”Zhang Yang sighed.

“Yang Yanzhao, real name Yan Lang, along with his fatherYangYewent on an expedition. The Yongxi(984 - 997) era, on the three years ofNorthern Expedition, a proportion of the army of Yangye attacked Shuo and theother states, and 29 years old Yanzhao acted as the vanguard on the battle withShuoZuo city. After drifting and and even more fierce close combats, finallypenetrated through the ShuoZhou city wall. After the death of his father, hetook up the responsibility of resisting Liao in Yanbian of Heibei province. Andafter the Northern Expedition, YanZhao protected his state, BaoZhou and otherplaces against the Liao Army intrusion. Just like his father Yang Ye, Yangzhaowas also wise and brave in battles, had the ability to get along with thesoldiers sharing both good times and the hard times, and at the time ofencounter with the enemy, he would always charge at the front but never tookany credit for himself and the soldiers deeply admired him. He defended theborder for many years and had a mighty reputation among the Qidan people.(#Qidan = an ancient nationality in China) The Qidan people feared and used tocall him ‘Yang Liu Lang’. After his death, many people looked at his coffin andwept, and even the enemy, the Qidan people, also mourned and paid tribute. Hehad three sons: Chuan Yong, De Zheng and Wen Guang.”

“He and his father Yang Ye are the famous Song Dynastyfamily of warriors, which left people no choice but to respect the NorthernSong Dynasty generals!” Zhang Yang added a comment.

“Carry on”.

The old professor and the cla.s.sroom full of students had ashocked expression in their eyes. Zhang yang, no matter what, the number ofNorthern Song Dynasty and the generals of the military are perfectly clear,even the old professor himself could not guarantee to clearly express thedetailed history of these generals in such way.

“Di Qing, a character from the Han Dynasty, born to a farmhousehold, was a military general of the Northern dynasty. After he joined thearmy, he was elected to hold the position of the protection squad of EmperorRenzong of Song. At the beginning he was appointed as the commander ofYangZhou, in the defense of the war against the western Xia and known for hisbravery and outstanding military exploits. He had a high reputation among thesoldiers. He had always been guarding against the generals of the Song Ting,who were not allowed in the a.s.sembly and only in the Privy Council for fouryears. Compared to him, Yue Fei was even more unsuccessful, depressed in thelater years and finally … “

“Here, we also want to remember an almost forgotten name,Pan mei …, a novel called ‘Pan Renmei’, the Northern Song Dynasty generals,ling zi zhong, a big celebrity. After the beginning, the official to theprovince Pan Mei were on good terms with the emperor Taizu of Song, ZhaoKuangyin. After subjected to the commander position Pan Mei fought the northand south war and played a positive role in the process of eradication of tencountries in Northern Song Dynasty. The Yongxi campaign with three division ofarmies, in the Northern Expedition of Liao dynasty, Pan mei was deployed YangYe to the west road in the direction of Ke jie. Soon after, because of utterdefeat of the east army led by Cao bin by Qi gou Guan, Pan mei was subjected toimperial withdrawal and shield the four states of civil migration. In theprocess of withdrawal of the troops, Yang Ye was forced to meet the enemy, setan inevitable defeat and no reinforcements, resulted in YangYe annihilation,captured and killed. At the end Pan mei was demoted by three ranks, reduced tothe inspection Taobao. He stayed in Chunhua for two years and a few monthslater died …”

“If he hadn’t retreat in the middle of the battle andcompelled Yang Ye to die, then he wouldn’t have been forgotten in history…!!”

“Of course, there are a number of famous soldiers in theSong Dynasty. I’m afraid that it would take several days and nights to speak ofthem one by one. As a matter of fact the history of Song Dynasty and the MingDynasty is almost the same, desolate feeling arises spontaneously ………. ….. …………………………, poor Song Dynasty is chaotic ………alas, exasperating, pathetic and sad …..”

……………………

Zhang Yang was speaking frankly with confidence, his heavyvoice added that some Northern Song generals are mostly unsuccessful, and thecla.s.sroom was filled with a depressed atmosphere. Some students looked at ZhangYang with an expression quite different from how they were in the beginning. Justnow Zhang yang was capable of a clear description of most of the famous names ofNorthern Song Dynasty and the final finishing touches on the comments can beseen. Zhang yang is definitely not a tactless and impulsive person.

“Where’s my wallet?”

Seeing everyone dumbfounded and in a deep thinking, ZhangYang hurriedly lowered his head and asked.

“ … I don’t have it right now …” The girl stayed put foe a while and looked at ZhangYang’s wretched appearance.

“Ah! That’s miserable …” Zhang yang with a long face.

“What’s the matter?” Asked the girl curiously.

“I haven’t eaten bread for four days ..”

“………………………”

“Teacher, can I come in?”

Zhang Yang had just sat down when a young man appearedstanding in the cla.s.sroom doorway, holding a few books in his hand, and hisexpression looked very simple and honest. The old professor saw this young manand suddenly his eyes light up, pleased and nodded his head, he’d thought thatthe young man wouldn’t come.

“Excuse me, this is my seat.” The young man went straight toZhang Yang’s side , a pair of eyes looked firmly at Zhang Yang and the simplehonest face suddenly became different witha demonic look.

“Ah, ……………… I allow you …..” Zhang Yang quickly stood up,looked towards the old professor and said “Teacher, I want to go to the toilet.”

“Go on.” The professor was writing something on the blackboardon the back of the cla.s.sroom.

In fact, Zhang Yang was just using toilet as an excuse,since his wallet was not here, it was meaningless to stay and he had nointerest in literature.

“Do you have money?” Suddenly ZhangYang whispered in thegirl’s ear.

“……Yes … I …….” The girl felt the hot breath blown to herear, and immediately her face turned red.

“Lend me ten bucks, and when you get me my wallet, deductten bucks from there.”

“Oh.”

“Thank You …”

Zhang Yang took the money from the girl’s hand and ran out ofthe cla.s.sroom. Right now, he did not want anything, he just wanted to eat, evenif it is a lunch.

He devoured a lunch box in less than three minutes and wipedhis mouth after done eating. This big pile of rice tasted particularly goodafter a few days of eating bread.

After eating the meal, Zhang Yang actually had nothing todo, it was a little early to go back to the dormitory. And also cannot stay inthe dormitory for the whole day, as the book was continuously tortured for morethan four days by Zhang yang and there is nothing worth looking at. He had nomoney to go out to use the internet.

Finally, he decided to go to the library as the book hasbeen unable to meet Zhang Yang’s curiosity.

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