In a blink of an eye, the North Front Army had been guarding the frontier for two whole years.
At the edge of the waters, the 100,000 strong army camped for the night, and tomorrow, the next day, they would return home. The soldiers prepared pots[1] and cooked rice, fed their horses grain and washed their clothes. The river waters were filled with the glow of sunset, the horses lying by the riverside, and the men bathing in clear, shallow water.
"Hey, give me a hand washing my back, I’m going home tomorrow, I’m like a muddy monkey right now, my mother will scold me to death."
"Brother, help me shave my face for a while, I’m bad at doing it myself."
A group of people laughed and frolicked at the shore near the shallow bank, laughing playfully with each other, scolding each other for getting out of line, and to the eye of an observer, they were overflowing with happiness.
A loving mother waited at home[2], the people in the spring boudoir dreamed, the wanderer came home, the husband performed his filial duty, the wife performed hers, each had their own own hopes.
But of all of the army, perhaps only Mo Xi did not have anything waiting for him.
His parents was dead and he had no wife. The entire Emperor of China was looking forward to his return, but of the tens of thousands of lights lit, but not a single lamp was up waiting for him.
There is no warmth in his eyes, only the stillness of the past few years and the embers of the war’s fire.
"Yu Hejun, We’ll return to the city tomorrow, and you can see Princess Mengze again."
Yue Chenqing had just finished his bath, walked up from the river’s shore, and saw Mo Xi. He smiled and said, "I wish you success-- "
If you want me to kick you back into the river, then continue."
Yue Chenqing shut up, and bowed formally to Mo Xi: "...General Mo, I think you could probably become a Buddha in this life."
Mo Xi ignored him, standing by the river and turning his gaze to the distant mountains.
After two years of duty, it had been a thousand days since he’d returned to his
hometown. He didn’t really know how Princess Mengze had been doing recently.
There was also Gu Mang...
Mo Xi’s eyes darkened slightly.
Two years ago, Gu Mang was sent back to the capital by Liao Country as a peace offering. The moment he entered the city he caused riots.
"Hahaha, when the gate opened, and the escorting team comes in, we were like, let's see what the famous General Gu looks like, but we were all stunned."
"It really was! That scene, it was a once in a life thing, totally unforgettable!"
What kind of scene? Mo Xi was still unclear, only knowing that Gu Mang’s body or bones seemed to be the problem.
What exactly could "the problem" be?
Was an arm or a leg missing? Was he blind or dumb?
He did not know.
His position was that such that he should not be aware of this kind of thing.
Furthermore, he said he usually too cold and lofty, his soldiers were afraid of him, the moment he came out, the soldiers shut up and salute him dutifully: "General Mo."
Mo Xi didn’t say anything, merely inclined his head, stood for a while, and left coldly.
Yue Chenqing had chirped in his ear several times, but Yue Chenqing was the sort of man who’s words never made sense. Ten times and his story was always different. Mo Xi was shut tight. He never took the initiative to ask, so he actually did not know how Gu Mang was doing. What was the situation?
He only knew that Gu Mang was not dead.
And that was enough.
That night, Mo Xi was alone in his tent, listening to the wind screaming outside, the sound of the birds chattering with evil, and tossed and turned in an effort to fall asleep.
Most of the previous military campaigns were with Gu Mang. The few times they weren’t together, the morning of his return, Gu Mang would wait for him at the outskirts of the city.
He couldn’t help but remember this past. How did things get to how they were today?
In fact, thinking about it now, everything had been a sign.
When he had first met Gu Mang, Gu Mang had still been a slave, but this slave had as soldiers spirit and ambition in his chest.
Gu Mang had always wanted to do something big.
It was a pity that the Jiuzhou’s world was one of of pedigree. Because the old monarch had a soft spot for his talents, he granted him an exception. However, after the old master died, Xinjun did not hold Gu Mang, born of “lowly seeds” in high esteem.
He suspected him, envied him, and cut off his power.
Then he had done something that Gu Mang was no longer willing to put up with.
Mo Xi had watched him fall into the abyss with his own eyes.
He once sincerely thought of Gu Mang as a friend, and once argued with Gu Mang as a fellow soldier. At that time, they were in the same military equipment department, and Gu Mang was in a rather poor state. When the Mo Xi came out to find him, he was listening to the music in the brothel, resting on the soft thigh of one of the dancers, and saw Mo Xi coming out. He gazed at him with eyes that seemed to be filled with stars, smiling, and laughed, saying: “Xihe Jun, come here."
Mo Xi was nearly driven mad with rage, and he slammed the door shut angrily. He stepped into the wing with large strides and backhanded Gu Mang in front of the gathered crowd. He said, “You keep fucking around your entire life, do you want to let it rot forever?”
Gu Mang was drunk. He laughingly pressed himself closer to Mo Xi’s neck , and asked intimately: "Yes, Mo Da Gongzi, do you want to rot with me?"
"Fuck off, why don’t you!"
Gu Mang laughed.
He said, it doesn't matter. After all, you are upper class, I am a slave.
I know that you suspect filth in me.
I also know that no matter how hard my army works, how much blood is shed or how many people die, none of that is even worth mentioning to you. Me, who was not even worthy of studying this practice, who came of such lowly roots, was only allowed to join by because of my stubbornness.
Later, Gu Mang was sent to the capital by the emperor, but never returned to debrief.
People thought that he had died in an accident. At that time, there had been many girls who loved him, and they shed many saddened tears.
However, one day, the front line suddenly came to the military newspaper and said that Gu Mang’s presence was seen in the Liao army.
Gu Mang had thrown his lot in with the enemy.
The scandal burned like a wildfire, and the anger of all was ignited. Only Mo Xi’s heart was frozen.
He did not believe it.
He had never believed it. Until he saw it with his own eyes.
It was on the thick fog on the horizon at Dongting Lake, and the two fought viciously. Liao country’s tactics he was familiar enough to destroy his mental state- this kind of vicious, reckless style of fighting, he had seen countless times.
Back then, on Gu Mang’s territory, it was like the brilliant battles of the Bastard Army.
The Mo Xi and the lead general for the battle at that time will say that they must all withdraw, they couldn’t continue fighting on. Otherwise today, the vanguard would be buried at the bottom of the lake.
"You are not Gu Mang's opponent."
The lead general did not listen: "Gu Mang counts as nothing. You inexperienced little brat, you with the slave ancestry, you think I, with my pure blooded ancestry, can’t defeat him?!"
That thickly white bearded old nobleman looked at him arrogantly, he did not hold Gu Mang in any esteem.
The war’s fire was stoked.
The former king’s general, who had had a hundred victorious battles under Gu Mang in the past, was utterly defeated in front of the Liao country battleships. Blasted one by one, and the warships rose from the bottom of the lake to kill the soldiers. The fire burned the sky red, and the blood flowed onto the water.
In a disastrous mourning, Mo Xi went out with his sword and went to the main Liao ship.
The fire burned and the black smoke continued to rise. Liao Kingdom was a country of demonic cultivation, the soldiers' spells are sinister and fierce, and hundreds of killing intents were directed to Mo Xi-
"Stop, all of you."
A familiar voice was heard. In the cabin of the building, there was a figure swaying out of the darkness of the cabin.
He saw Gu Mang again.
Gu Mang had a deeper skin color and a stronger body, but his eyes had not changed, dark and black, as if they could see all the machinations in the world. He was bare/naked, and he was wrapped in a few bands of bandages with a thin waist and a black blouse on his shoulders. He was wearing a blood-stained ribbon on his forehead. It was dripping, fed by the blood of slaughtered Chonghua soldiers.
He sloppily leaned over the side of the ship, narrowed his eyes, looking forward, then smiled: "Xihe Jun, it’s been a while since the two of us have met."
The winds whipped around them harder and harder.
Mo Xi was finally saw this traitor. This rebel and traitor.
How could it be like this?
He once thought that Liao country was a country that only valued the brutality of war. Gu Mang was pure and virtuous of nature, so even if he left Chonghua, he shouldn’t have thrown his lot in with the Liao.
But now...
He closed his eyes, his throat trembling, and he eventually spat out two words: "Gu Mang..."
"Hmm?"
The sound of Mo Xi’s voice was low, but the shaking in it was repressed. "...You’ve gotten yourself mixed up to this extent."
Gu Mang smiled in the light of the roaring fires, his black hair falling to the side as he moved slightly, spreading his hands open, palms wide: "Is something wrong?"
"..."
"I think everything’s just fine, and this country is still pretty talented. Even if the dark demonic cultivation is unjust, everyone here is very fair."
Gu Mang said, referring to the blue, gold bordered headband.
"This kind of pure-blooded, nobleman’s forehead ribbon, no matter how I died in your distinguished country, how many achievements I made, because of my origin, I would never received this in my wildest dreams.... Do you know that kind of exhaustion?"
Gu Mang laughed.
"I wasn’t satisfied."
Mo Xi shouted angrily: "That’s the sacred ribbon of the ancestors who gave their life for noble causes, you take it off!"
Gu Mang touched the mottled and bloody ribbon, interested: "Is it?" This belonged to a young little soldier. I cut off his head with my own hands and I saw that the workmanship was very beautiful. It would have been a waste to wear it on the head of a dead man, so I took it to play a little with, what, you want it?"
He sighed out a laugh. "You should have one yourself. Why are you fighting me for this one."
Mo Xi was infuriated, and shouted: "Take it off!"
Gu Mang spoke sweetly, but his tone was very dangerous: "Xi hejun, you are alone and surrounded, why aren’t you being even a little polite? You really think that I care enough about our past feelings that I don’t have the guts to kill you?"
His hands placed together the dark, demonic bayonet, with the fog.
Gu Mang: "Today's Dongting Lake has buried almost all of your country’s soldiers. Mo Xi, you are powerful, but after everything you’re a deputy general, but you can’t change the minds of the old aristocrats who stupid enough to vomit blood. Now that so many people are dead, if he doesn't come to beg for mercy, you’re in dangerous territory."
"..."
Gu Mang smiled and said: "Do you want to bury the Chonghua soldiers who died in this war?"
Mo Xi did not answer, silent for a moment, and walked toward him.
"........."
The boots stepped on the mottled marks on the bloody ship deck. Mo Xi finally spoke, "Gu Mang. I know that Chonghua owes you, and I owe you as well."
"You have done too much for me, so today, I will not fight you."
Gu Mang laughed coldly: "Go ahead and try to. "
You asked me if I wanted to bury the soldiers killed in action today. ...... If I die, can that be exchanged for you leaving Liao country.” He approached step by step," Well, alright. My life for you. "
Gu Mang didn’t smile, staring at him with dark eyes: "...I really will kill you."
"..." Mo Xi had only one reply to this declaration, only glanced at the front of the forehead, at the blue and gold ribbon so bloodstained. Then his line of sight slowly moved down and fell to Gu Mang's face. "Then kill. After that, remember to turn back."
This is the last time the Mo Xi tried to save him.
The white eagle swept down from the mast, flitting back, and the bayonet flashed with light.
His laugh echoed softly.
Blood dripped from the wound[3].
The cold blade cut to the heart - and tore in just as suddenly!
"I said I would kill you."
The bayonet was still in his flesh. Gu Mang paused for a while, then suddenly twisted his mouth and smiled. "What do you take yourself for, why should you tell me the conditions for your death? You think that if you die, I will turn back? Don't be stupid!"
He inclined his neck and looked at him. And then, sighed: "When you are a general, conduct yourself accordingly, you can't hold onto your past bonds."
As he spoke, he slowly leaned over, one elbow resting leisurely on his knees, another hand pulling out his a bloody bayonet with a sneer.
Droplets of blood flew in all directions.
Gu Mang used the bloody knife tip to lift Mo Xi’s face, tipping him upwards.
"Don't think that I don't know what you’re playing at. You and I know you don’t want to fight me. You know that you have no chance of winning, and you’re willing to gamble on my conscience."
The clothes slowly spread with a bright red. At that moment, the Mo Xi did not feel pain.
Just cold.
It was so cold...
He closed his eyes.
No.
If possible, I’d never considered fighting you.
Once, you had given me light, given me warmth, all the blood that ran through my veins, was because of you.
Without you, I have no now.
Gu Mang said, apathetically: "I'm sorry, I’ve disappointed you."
"..."
"Mo Xi. If I was you, today, in these desperate straits, I would rather gamble on the fish dying or the net splitting rather than mutual destruction, and not choose like you, naively advising the opponent to turn back."
"You and I are facing each other as brothers, so this is the last thing I can teach you."
The last thing he remembered before he lost consciousness was the soldiers of the Liao country’s soldier coming from the water and shouting frantically: "General Gu, there is reinforcement coming from the northeast direction, it is Mengze's Yao Xiu army, you see -"
The words have not been listened to, Mo Xi was incapable of supporting himself, and leaned forward, falling onto the bloody deck.
This time, with this bloody battle, Chonghua confirmed that the rebellious Gu Mang turned to Liao country and gave his life to the darkest country and tearing down the Chinese mainland. The old provincial military governor miscalculated, the army lost a lot of money,
10,000 soldiers survived , Mo Xi was also confined to his sickbed for a few days, unconscious and reeling, before he woke up.
Gu Mang stabbed a knife in his chest, but he did not return to the shore.
According to Gu Mang, a long time ago - in a phrase that he’d said before he’d even left Wang City -
"Mo Xi, the road I previously swam against the current on is blocked off to me. I have no place to go, I can only reach hell."
He finished, and asked the waiter to bring him a jar of wine.
When you open the seal, Gu Mang smiled sweetly and filled his cup up, one for him, one for Mo Xi.
With a "clink" noise they touched cups, scattering droplets everywhere, Gu Mang’s eyes shone, "I’ll buy you this last drink, then Gu Mang Gege is going to go and be a villain from here on out."
Mo Xi at the time had shaken his head, thinking Gu Mang wasn’t serious, thinking he was having a laugh.
This brother he had known for so many years, his heart was too soft, unwilling to even step on an ant, like a newborn baby, how could he become a villain?
And then? This child’s subordinates had killed his fellow soldiers.
And this child had almost killed him.
——“Fortunately, Princess Mengze arrived in time to save you. The bayonet is a special blade from Liao country. It’s soaked with demonic poison. If she was any later, I’m afraid it wouldn’t have worked out. Your chest will scar, you need peace of mind for the next few months, resting..."
Whatever the doctor said after that, Mo Xi did not hear. He looked down at the bandage wrapped around his chest, and the rotting flesh that had been cut out. However, there was something besides infection{5] that had been cut out of his chest. He was hollowed out, empty, hurt, dissatisfied, and hateful.
Until Gu Mang sowed his evil’s retribution[6] and he was sent back to the capital.
Mo Xi thought the scar on his chest had finally stopped bleeding.
But it still hurt.
After a long period of time, on the eve of the North Army military’s return back to the capital, Mo Xi, unable to sleep was sitting alone in the camp,his hand on his forehead, and his fingertips unconsciously brushed at his wet eyes.
He turned his face, the faint candlelight flowing out of the crepe-covered lamp stand, and closed his eyes.
Gu Mang...
Gu Mang.
Undoubtedly, he was a good subject. He was a traitor. He hated him and knew that he was guilty.
However, when the eyelashes trembled, he seemed to see Gu Mang from school, laughing, his wicked facel. When he was happy, he would reveal a sharp fang, and his eyes would be brighter than any stars Mo Xi had ever seen. The sun was shining and the elders were redundant. And Gu Mang was at the table, secretly writing a self-edited porn book, with all the girls in his novel delighted and self amused.
At that time they did not know what kind of future they would have.
Translation Notes:
[1] 埋锅 actually means to bury pots, which has been changed to fit the sentence.
[2] 慈母手中线 A famous poem about a mother’s love. Link to full poem here > https://www.lz13.cn/shiju/96230.html Much of Meat Bun’s writings contain references to poetry/stanzas from them, not all are marked in the notes.
[3] 淌 to drip; to trickle; to shed (tears). Thought that was worth noting.
[4] 鱼死网破 either the fish dies or the net splits; a life and death struggle (idiom)
[5] 腐肉 is more accurately described as carrion according to the yabla dictionaries.
[6]恶有恶报 evil has its retribution (idiom); to suffer the consequences of one's bad deeds
sow the wind and reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7)
Dante’s Notes:
The author has, according to several sources, not finished editing. The book is still readable, but my translators and I are editing as we go and making our best guesses when we run into those.
Chapter translated by Dante.