Chapter 12: Past Events of Panlong

Woching Pass was easy to defend but difficult to attack. Now, the rebels were on the defensive.

He Chunhua's expression grew serious as he earnestly asked, "How can this humble official be of service?"

Such a thunderous development had erupted in the central part of the Great Iris Kingdom, putting the nation's fate on the line. Even a commoner had a responsibility, let alone a distinguished official like himself. To decline now would be insincere.

Just then, a servant changed their tea. Sun Fuping took a sip of the hot beverage and asked a seemingly unrelated question: "Lord He, you've been in Thousand Pines Commandery for many years. Do you know how the wasteland transformed into the Coiled Dragon Desert, and the origin of Red Cliff Road?"

"Why ask about this?" He Chunhua frowned.

"This is a local legend. Approximately 150 years before the establishment of the Great Iris Kingdom, the land we stand on belonged to the Xiluo Kingdom. At that time, the Coiled Dragon Desert wasn't a wasteland; it merely had slightly less rainfall, but it still featured forests and seasonal rivers. During its peak, the Xiluo Kingdom built four commanderies and twelve cities in its western territories to guard this east-west trade route, which was bustling with commerce. The largest of these cities was Coiled Dragon City."

"Later, Xiluo gradually declined, suffering repeated defeats abroad. The states of Baling and Xianyou vied to encroach upon its territory. Xiluo's western territories were entirely occupied, with the exception of the Coiled Dragon Wasteland, which held out. This made the Coiled Dragon Wasteland an exclave, isolated far beyond Xiluo's borders, thousands of miles from its homeland."

He Lingchuan listened silently to this historical account. Everyone in Blackwater City had heard of the Coiled Dragon Desert's origin, and his original self was no exception.

"The states of Baling and Xianyou attacked the Coiled Dragon Wasteland for thirty-two years, and the Xiluo defenders, led by Commander Zhong Shengguang of Coiled Dragon City, also held out for thirty-two years, fighting for every inch of land!" He Chunhua turned to his eldest son. "Lingchuan, do you remember the name of this army?"

"The Great Wind Army!" He Lingchuan nodded. "Their resilience surpassed the desert poplars, and their lonely loyalty struggled to fulfill their grand ambitions—that describes the Great Wind Army trapped behind enemy lines!"

The Great Wind Army was besieged by two powerful enemies, cut off from their homeland, and faced severe shortages of food and water, receiving no aid from Xiluo. Yet, they held out for a full thirty-two years. Such a legend was never tiresome to hear.

"In the twelfth year of Coiled Dragon City's siege, Xianyou and Xiluo briefly made peace. The Great Wind Army seized the opportunity to send a message to their homeland. Unexpectedly, the Xiluo monarch, seeing Coiled Dragon City still standing, issued a decree of commendation and simultaneously recalled most of the Great Wind Army's elite troops to quell internal rebellions." His father remained silent, so He Lingchuan continued, "However, Xianyou soon renewed its hostilities with Xiluo, severing communication between the Coiled Dragon Wasteland and its home country once more, plunging the Great Wind Army back into dire straits."

"Thereafter, the Xiluo Kingdom was plagued by continuous warfare for years and could no longer spare any attention for its western territories. The Great Wind Army, isolated, unassisted, and with most of its main force gone, persisted for another twenty years."

This army's will could no longer be described merely as iron. It was a pity that their homeland was weak, wasting such excellent soldiers. "A nation unworthy of its soldiers"—He Lingchuan felt this phrase was particularly apt.

"Well said," Nian Songyu applauded twice. "But how did the wasteland turn into a desert?"

"The Great Wind Army never surrendered, fighting to the last man. Coiled Dragon City was also razed by the enemy, leaving no survivors as an act of vengeance." This was also a classic segment in teahouse storytelling. "These battles were so brutal that the anger and resentment of the heroic souls ascended to the heavens and permeated the earth, causing all life within a hundred li of Coiled Dragon City to cease and rivers to change course. Thus, the wasteland gradually transformed into a desert."

"There's also another theory. Commander Zhong Shengguang of Coiled Dragon City was himself a powerful sorcerer. Knowing that he couldn't hold out alone, he gathered the power of tens of thousands of valiant souls at the fall of Coiled Dragon City to curse the land, turning it into a barren wasteland." He Lingchuan shrugged. "This way, Xiluo couldn't keep the Coiled Dragon region, but neither Baling nor Xianyou could seize it either. In fact, this desert currently belongs to no nation."

"And what else?"

"However, Zhong Shengguang also left a sliver of hope for living beings to pass through the desert: Red Cliff Road. That was also the route the Great Wind Army once traveled." He Lingchuan looked at Nian Songyu. "There are many more details. If you wish to continue listening, we should probably start a banquet and discuss it over a meal."

Imperial Advisor Sun Fuping asked He Chunhua, "Is this also what Lord He knows?"

"More or less." He Chunhua sensed something unusual. "What does the Imperial Advisor imply?" He wished Sun Fuping would get to the point.

"It is true that the Great Wind Army was an iron legion, and Commander Zhong Shengguang was indeed a formidable individual. However, after their elite main force was recalled to the homeland, how could the Great Wind Army continue to hold out alone for another twenty years? At that time, Xianyou's army could have swept across most of Xiluo; even if Xiluo still had renowned generals, they couldn't have resisted." Imperial Advisor Sun said blandly, "You and I both know this couldn't be achieved by sheer passion alone."

The outcome of war depends solely on strength. The cruelest truth is that no matter how passionate the weak are, they cannot escape the fate of defeat and ruin. The enemy was incredibly strong, especially Xianyou, with its skilled soldiers and powerful generals, launching over three hundred attacks on Coiled Dragon City. At their most intense, there were fifteen assaults in a single month.

How could the Great Wind Army, lacking food, water, manpower, and weapons, have endured?

To this, He Chunhua could only reply, "Insufficient historical records prevent a judgment."

No matter how stirring the tale, it was, after all, an event from over a century ago. Later generations might sigh in admiration, but how many truly intended to delve deeper? He Chunhua, at least, did not; he had more pressing matters to attend to.

"Imperial Advisor Sun, what does the history of the Coiled Dragon Desert have to do with the current predicament of our Great Iris Kingdom?" He knew these two wouldn't have traveled thousands of miles just to hear him tell stories.

The main topic arrived. Sun Fuping rose, took two steps forward, and fixed his gaze on He Chunhua's eyes. "This is what I wanted to discuss. The key to the Great Wind Army's endurance might also be the key to turning the tide at Woching Pass and resolving the capital's crisis! Prefect He, this time, you have an inescapable responsibility!"

He Chunhua's expression grew solemn. "I am eager to hear the details."

He Lingchuan, however, felt that the other party was finally revealing their true intentions, but had first laid down a heavy burden, and he wondered if his father could shoulder it.

"He Jian, the chief clerk in the Great Wind Army, had followed Zhong Shengguang for many years and died of illness before the city fell. After Xianyou captured Coiled Dragon City, they inventoried his belongings and discovered a brief account of this history."

"He Jian's notes were passed down, changing hands several times, and eventually found their way into the Great Iris court."

He Lingchuan couldn't help but interject, "So the truth has been hidden in our country all this time? Why has it not appeared in historical records?"

All nations established national history bureaus to compile their own histories and those of previous dynasties, especially the latter. While their own histories were often briefly summarized, the histories of former dynasties were thoroughly researched by numerous scholars, from secret anecdotes to human nature and affairs. The reasons for this were obvious to everyone. Furthermore, such findings were willingly made public, especially heroic tales like those of Coiled Dragon City and the Great Wind Army, which should serve as exemplary models to educate the populace and subtly inspire them.

Nian Songyu smiled. "Because it couldn't be told!"

"At that time, the notes were badly damaged; only a few complete sentences could be pieced together, and the full historical picture could not be restored. However, one thing was clearly recorded—"