Great Tang Idyll - Volume 4 Chapter 229

At this moment, Li Longji was discussing the matter of opening water in the newly repaired canal with Chancellor Zhang Shuo, Zhongshu Sheren Zhang Jiuling, and Song Jing, who had already been dismissed from his post as Chancellor. Because Li Xun and the Zhang and Wang families had contributed a great amount of money, the canal had been built well, and its reaches had already been extended farther. If water flowed through before the autumn harvest, then when the capital fell short of grain, more grain from various regions could be transported in.

Once this matter was raised, Li Longji immediately thought of the Zhang family, and therefore of the two children Xiaobao and Juanjuan. The completion of the canal was clearly a good thing, yet it left him unable to have a peaceful state of mind.

Zhang Jiuling was not much better off than Li Longji. His family’s elderly steward, who could no longer work, was over there as well. When Zhang Jiuling returned to his hometown to repair roads and courier stations, Zhang Zhong—who had been Prefect of Luzhou—had repeatedly sent money to help him, as well as comfortable furniture and dried seafood.

Right now, in the glass fish tank at his home, two beautiful little red fish were swimming, and they looked as though they were about to produce fry. Yet the two children of the Zhang and Wang families, who had given these gifts, had followed the Logistics Battalion and gone missing—missing inside Tubo territory. How could anyone feel at ease?

Zhang Shuo and Song Jing had also received many things from the Zhang and Wang families. Every month they received tonic medicine sent from the Deyi Hospital in Huayuan County to nourish their bodies. The four men sat inside the room, thinking of the Zhang and Wang families’ two children while speaking of the canal paid for by the same household. It was impossible for the atmosphere to be good.

“The canal is dug, only a final section remains before water can flow. Using the Zhang family’s explosives would make it very convenient. The place where it crosses the Yellow River still needs reinforcement—cement will do. You all say the Zhang family contributed a great deal to this canal, yes? Good—this year’s grain transport will be easier. Once the canal opens… can those two little ones escape danger over there?” This was the last thing Li Longji said before Gao Lishi came in. 

His mind had wandered, and as he spoke he naturally brought Xiaobao and Juanjuan into it.

Thus the four—ruler and ministers—looked at each other, wanting to laugh yet unable to laugh, each sighing inwardly.

It was into this scene that Gao Lishi rushed with a joyful expression, waving the letter he had taken from a pigeon’s leg.

“News from Yizhou? Read it quickly—how are Xiaobao and Juanjuan?” 

As soon as Li Longji heard it concerned them, the canal was thrown aside. It was unimportant—if the Zhang and Wang families were involved, the canal would be repaired sooner or later. But if the two children died, would the Zhang and Wang families not go mad? What would the two masters do if their disciples died?

The four men’s faces immediately tensed. 

Yet when they saw Gao Lishi’s barely hidden smile, they felt it must be good news—that the two children had run around Tubo and come back frightened but unharmed.

Gao Lishi did not dare delay. He gave a light cough and read: “Reporting to Your Majesty:  intelligence obtained within Tubo states—Xiaobao and Juanjuan personally led the Logistics Battalion in urgent support, successfully rendezvoused with the remnants, and took command of more than twelve thousand men. They maneuvered across the vast Jin River region, annihilated Tata Neitu’s logistical force of four thousand, destroyed it entirely; defeated his vanguard of three thousand; defeated three additional Tubo reinforcements of two thousand each; seized and burned their grain supplies. Afterwards, they led the Tang main force and disappeared into the great river valley. In this minister’s view, the Zhang family’s master did not accompany them, remaining in Yizhou to oversee its prosperity.”

Even though Gao Lishi had done his best to control himself, he still could not stop trembling. His voice shook.

The four before him froze like carved wood. After several breaths, they finally recovered. 

Li Longji pressed his lips together, silent, fists clenched, chest rising and falling—clearly suppressing his excitement.

Zhang Shuo and the others likewise flushed, unable to find their usual composure.

Zhang Jiuling was the first to speak:  “Congratulations, Your Majesty. Xiaobao and Juanjuan have indeed inherited the true teachings of their master. Victorious everywhere beyond the borders.”

Once one man spoke, the other three exhaled simultaneously.

“So Xiaobao and Juanjuan are safe for now. Good. It must be the two of them commanding—Guo Tu does not have that ability. Once Xiaobao and Juanjuan grow up, our dynasty will have no worries. Heh… those two little ones truly have ability. Leave the canal aside for now. Speak—speak.” Li Longji was overjoyed. 

Even the gloomy weather outside suddenly felt pleasant. Rarely did he smile, but now his eyes widened, his eyebrows lifted, the corners of his mouth rose, and he loosened his fists, clasping his hands together in delight.

Zhang Shuo and the others likewise felt the once dim room suddenly brighten.

“Your Majesty,” Zhang Shuo said, “I believe Xiaobao and Juanjuan will certainly return safely, and with military merit. I truly cannot imagine—if the task were given to me—to go to such a place, find our troops, and immediately lead demoralized defeated soldiers to continuous victory. How could it be done? And they are still just children.”

As Li Longji questioned the three, Gao Lishi’s eyes reddened. An image rose uncontrollably in his mind: two nine-year-old children, receiving the imperial edict, gathering their small Logistics Battalion, riding on horseback, little faces lifted, resolutely pursuing the setting sun toward Tubo territory.

Searching and searching, slipping past enemy patrols again and again, successfully finding Guo Tu’s group among the Jin River mountains, handing out food from their own supplies to the dispirited soldiers.

Guo Tu, after his defeat, was a coward—too afraid to command—pushing all responsibility onto his godson and goddaughter-in-law. The lives of more than twelve thousand rested upon the shoulders of the two children.

With no choice, the children led the troops—running while thinking of strategies. Thinking and thinking, they finally recalled what they had been taught, and began maneuvering through the mountains, fighting again and again. Each time they fought, the two children went in ready to die.

Surrounded and hunted by the enemy, they escaped each encirclement, seized every opportunity to counterattack, using twelve thousand defeated soldiers to kill an equal number of enemies. At last, when the enemy numbers grew too large, they seized one more supply convoy for provisions, then hid again, huddling together for warmth in the freezing snowy mountains.

Pitiful indeed.

Seeing them in this light—already treating Xiaobao and Juanjuan as his own son and daughter-in-law—Gao Lishi could not stop tears from falling.

Hearing his words and seeing him cry, Li Longji—who had been joyful seconds ago—also imagined the hardships the two children faced. His face darkened. He slammed his palm on the table:

“Guo Tu—useless! Always ruining things. Tell me—did he see he could not handle it, give the troops to Xiaobao and Juanjuan, and think that if they won he shared the credit, and if they lost it had nothing to do with him?”

“Your Majesty, I believe General Guo may have—”

“What ‘General’? He is no longer! I dismiss him. A general who lets children risk their lives is not wanted in Tang!” Before Song Jing could finish, Li Longji cut him off angrily.

Song Jing quickly corrected himself: “This minister believes the criminal Guo Tu may not have voluntarily relinquished command. When he participated in sand-table exercises in court, he was very fond of power. He likely had his eye on Xiaobao and Juanjuan’s Logistics Battalion. Your Majesty also knows—within that battalion are fifty-six Zhang family men and two hundred from the Prince of Tong’an. These two hundred fifty-six have long been trained by the Zhang family—elite among elites. With the Zhang family’s wealth and technical support, their equipment is unmatched. Guo Tu relied on superior numbers and must have tried to swallow them. He likely underestimated Xiaobao and Juanjuan and had his authority forcibly taken. Your Majesty knows well: the Zhang and Wang inner household can handle the affairs of an entire prefecture. Seedling Protection Team 0 is also skilled in commanding troops. This minister guesses that all twelve deputy battalion commanders were replaced—thus Xiaobao and Juanjuan could command as if moving their own hands. This minister recommends ordering Pengzhou to release news, making known to Tubo whose hands their defeat fell to—enrage them—forcing them to hasten to surround and pursue, thereby creating an opportunity for Xiaobao and Juanjuan to withdraw smoothly.”

“I agree,” Zhang Shuo and Zhang Jiuling said in unison.

“Then Guo Tu must be punished even more severely upon his return. Indeed—the Zhang and Wang inner household can substitute for officials in governing, and their Sapling Protectors can certainly command troops. If ordinary household servants can be trained to this level, then the two intelligent children must have learned far more.” Li Longji’s expression eased as he looked toward Gao Lishi, waiting for his opinion.

Gao Lishi was also thinking hard—how to ensure his godson and goddaughter-in-law returned alive. He understood the art of command and knew the more chaos, the better. With the abilities the children had shown, slipping back to Pengzhou amid confusion was possible—far better than hiding in the mountains, where it was freezing.

Seeing the emperor look at him, he bowed his head slightly and said: “This minister believes that besides spreading the news, Pengzhou’s troops should display the appearance of preparing to cross the border and advance—forcing more Tubo forces to hold back and not dare move recklessly.”

Li Longji nodded: “An excellent suggestion.”

Gao Lishi hurried to draft the edict. Li Longji, now in good spirits, resumed discussing the canal with Zhang Shuo and the others.

As for Xiaobao and Wang Juanjuan—so many people worrying about them—they had long since left the mountain ranges. Who would willingly remain freezing endlessly?

They led the troops north for several days, then turned east—toward the Tang. Here lay several Tubo villages, and the crops they grew were early rice—the kind planted early in the year—now just ripe.

Xiaobao and Juanjuan led the troops to kindly help the local people harvest. The villagers only needed to stay home. Xiaobao carefully screened the villagers to find those most likely to betray Tubo, seized their families as hostages, promised them generous benefits, and used them to deal with Tubo patrol cavalry coming through the area.

Scouts were sent everywhere. When enemies were spotted, they reported first; the harvesters immediately hid. Once the patrol passed, they resumed harvesting.

The Tubo patrol cavalry had been ordered to watch the mountain line here, ensuring the Tang forces did not descend. At first they warned the villagers to be cautious and report anything. Later, they could not detect any situation at all. Making a daily round, they grew lazy—if they saw local villagers, they only asked casually.

Thus, Xiaobao and Juanjuan hid more than fourteen thousand men in this area, digging cellars in the villagers’ homes at top speed. If anything happened, they would hide inside.

Naturally, things were not as simple as that. As Juanjuan said, that was not the Tang army’s tradition. They had to observe the Three Major Disciplines and Eight Points of Attention—modified to suit these villages.

(Translator’s Note: A common term in modern Chinese political and military history, referring to the “Three Major Disciplines” of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). These disciplines were the core rules governing soldiers’ conduct. The classic formulation is: Obey orders in all your actions. Do not take a single needle or thread from the masses. Turn in everything you capture.)

(Translator’s Note: The Eight Points of Attention (八项注意) were companion rules to the Three Major Disciplines in the Chinese Red Army and later the People’s Liberation Army. They were intended to regulate soldiers’ conduct, protect civilian interests, and maintain strict revolutionary discipline. The classic version states: Speak politely. Pay fairly for what you buy. Return everything you borrow. Pay for anything you damage. Do not hit or swear at people. Do not damage crops. Do not harass women. Do not mistreat captives.)

Besides preventing villagers from reporting, they treated them extremely well. 

The doctors who had come with them also treated the villagers. If acupuncture could be used, they treated them immediately. If medicine was needed, the coerced local traitors took people to gather herbs.

Life for these villagers was indeed difficult. Anyone with ability would not choose to live on a border between two states. When Tang soldiers came, they hid in the mountains. When their own forces came, they had nowhere to hide—they had to serve and offer what they could to survive.

Thus, apart from a few exceptions, most had no concept of nationhood, much less honor.

This was where Xiaobao and Juanjuan found opportunity. Even in their own era, many people living on borders did not care about such things. Whoever treated them well, they followed. Even drug smugglers—if they treated them well—would gain their cooperation, even help in transporting contraband or joining the trade.

What Xiaobao and Juanjuan intended was to turn the thousand villagers of several nearby villages, have them take their grain and belongings, and find the chance to travel to Pengzhou, then on to Yizhou to replenish its population.

Tubo could not imagine that the enemy would attempt something like this. Their cavalry scouts ran back and forth, believing the Tang forces were still hiding in the mountains. Otherwise the villages would not appear so peaceful and quiet.

In this harmonious atmosphere, Wang Juanjuan took out the military map and began planning the next step.