Nine Nights Owl Song

August, the eighteenth year of Yong'an.

Qingshiling.

The weather in the North was already getting cool in August. The mountain wind in the early morning carried a chill on my face, like winter knocking on the door early.

Xiao Yan stood at the entrance of the camp, facing a dark mass of people—former troops from the northern border who had come from all directions.

Two thousand came yesterday, three thousand came today, and even more will come tomorrow.

The news spread like wildfire throughout the three prefectures of Yan and Yun: the imperial court had sent envoys—the sixth prince, Xiao Yan, and General Su Jiuge of Anxi.

Those who hid in the mountains for three years, concealed themselves in the city for three years, and lived in anonymity in the fields for three years have finally met the people they were meant to meet.

They converged on Qing Shi Ling from all directions, some with dozens of men, some with hundreds, and some alone. Their clothes were torn, their weapons dulled, their horses thin, and their men thin, but their eyes were bright.

Zhou Tieshan stood beside Xiao Yan, his voice trembling slightly:

"Your Highness, this humble general thought these people had long since dispersed. This humble general thought they had either joined the rebels or retired to their fields. This humble general did not expect... that they were still here."

Xiao Yan looked at those people's faces, the furrows etched by the wind and sand, the wrinkles left by the years, and the marks of suffering.

Every face tells a story of how these past three years have gone by.

"The soldiers of the North will not scatter."

He turned around and looked at Zhou Tieshan.

"Gather everyone, I have something to say."

At noon, the open space in front of Qingshi Ridge was packed with people.

Nearly eight thousand former northern troops, who had gathered from various places, arrived in the first three days of August.

Everyone was looking at Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan did not stand on a high place or build a platform. He walked to the middle of the crowd so that everyone could see him.

His voice wasn't loud, but the mountain wind carried it far.

"My name is Xiao Yan, the sixth prince. Many people call me a wastrel and a good-for-nothing, but I don't care. I came to the Northern Border not to prove I'm not a good-for-nothing, but to give you a home."

The crowd fell silent.

"You have held out here for three years. No food, no reinforcements, no news from the court. You survived on wild vegetables and used sticks as spears, hiding in the caves for three years. Three years, more than a thousand days and nights, and you did not disperse."

Xiao Yan looked into the eyes of those people.

"You are not waiting for me, but for the imperial court. When the imperial court arrives, I will be the imperial court."

Someone cried.

An old soldier stood up from the crowd, his armor was torn, his sword was dulled, and the scars on his face ran from his forehead to his chin.

He looked at Xiao Yan, his voice hoarse: "Your Highness, this humble general has waited for you for three years. This humble general thought the court no longer wanted us."

Xiao Yan looked at him, his voice slightly strained.

"The imperial court hasn't rejected you. I've come."

A chorus of weeping filled the open space.

On the fifth day of the eighth month, Xiao Yan officially established a temporary organization at Qingshi Ridge, responsible for incorporating and integrating the scattered soldiers and vagrants in the northern border.

Su Jiuge was in charge of military affairs, while Xiao Yan was in charge of political affairs; one was in charge of fighting, and the other was in charge of maintaining the family.

Zhou Tieshan was appointed commander of the vanguard battalion, Liu Wu was appointed commander of the guerrilla battalion, and Chen Daniu was appointed commander of the liaison battalion.

More generals were appointed one after another.

Integration is much more difficult than assimilation.

More than 8,000 people came from different places. There were people like Zhou Tieshan who stayed in the deep mountains for three years, people like Liu Wu who fought as guerrillas, people like Chen Daniu who came from all over the country, and many more who were loners and didn't listen to anyone.

Soldiers do not know their generals, and generals do not know their soldiers.

Some seasoned soldiers bullied the newcomers, some generals competed for credit and shifted blame, and some units disliked each other.

Zhao Ying's approach was simple and brutal: after a fight, the one with the stronger fist gets to speak.

Shen Qing's way of handling conflicts was even simpler—within three days, he led his men to raid a rebel outpost, seizing a batch of weapons and provisions, and everyone stopped arguing.

In mid-August, new people arrived.

They were not stragglers, nor were they vagrants; they were Su Zhentian's former subordinates.

Su Zhentian had guarded the northern border for many years, and his generals were spread throughout the three states of Yan and Yun.

After Zhao Tianhu's defection, some followed him in turning against him, some were killed, and some waited on.

Waiting for Su Zhentian's daughter to arrive.

The person who came was Li Dingguo, Su Zhentian's number one fierce general back then.

When Zhao Tianhu rebelled, he led three thousand men to defend the city. After a month of defense, they ran out of ammunition and food, and the city was eventually breached by the rebel army.

He was seriously injured but was rescued by his subordinates at great risk and hid in the mountains to recuperate for more than half a year.

After recovering from his injuries, he did not join the rebels or leave the northern border. Instead, he lay in wait in the mountains for more than two years, waiting for the person he was meant to wait for.

He knelt before Su Jiuge, his forehead pressed against the ground, his voice trembling.

"This humble general, Li Dingguo, greets Miss. This humble general is incompetent and failed to defend the city. This humble general has failed the Marquis."

Su Jiuge squatted down and looked at him.

He was in his forties, his face weathered, with old injuries on his body, and he walked with a slight limp in his left leg.

She reached out and helped him up by the shoulder. "My father won't blame you. Thank you for your hard work in the North."

Li Dingguo, a man of steel, cried like a child.

By the end of August, Su Jiuge had assembled over 20,000 men under his command. They were no longer scattered soldiers, but rather organized, well-fed, armed, and armored imperial troops.

The camp at Qingshiling has been expanded several times over.

If there weren't enough tents, they cut down trees to build shelters; if there weren't enough weapons, they confiscated them from the rebels; if there weren't enough provisions, they borrowed them from the rebels' supply lines.

Xiao Yan's military talent was fully displayed here.

He orchestrated everything from the center, strategizing and planning, remaining unassuming and seemingly doing nothing—every general felt that the orders were given by them, not by Xiao Yan.

He wasn't trying to win people over; he was letting everyone do what they did best.

Zhou Tieshan was good at defense, so he was put in charge of guarding Qingshi Ridge.

Liu Wu is skilled in guerrilla warfare, so let him fight as a guerrilla.

Chen Daniu was good at networking, so he was put in charge of making connections with people from all directions.

Li Dingguo was skilled at leading troops, so let him lead the troops.

Everyone is in their most suitable position, and no one feels suppressed or ignored.

One night, Zhao Ying was drinking with Shen Qing and asked him, "Don't you think the landlord is a scary person?"

Shen Qing looked at him.

Zhao Ying lowered her voice.

"He does nothing, yet he does everything. Our sect leader kills with a knife, he kills with his brain. Who do you think is more capable?"

Shen Qing remained silent for a moment.

"The Pavilion Master is amazing."

Why?

"The Pavilion Master can kill him."

Zhao Ying thought about it and felt that this logic was indeed irrefutable.

By early September, the incorporation process was nearing completion.

Forty thousand loyal subjects, scattered throughout the three prefectures of Yan and Yun, have now been integrated into a complete army.

Xiao Yan stood on the cliff of Qing Shi Ridge, looking down at the tents of the camp below, the setting sun turning the tents a dark red.

Su Jiuge walked up and stood next to him.

"Forty thousand people." Su Jiuge looked at the red tents.

Xiao Yan said, "It's not enough. Wang Chongyuan has 30,000 men, while we have 40,000, so our numerical advantage isn't significant. But his soldiers are veterans, while ours are scattered troops. If a real battle breaks out, the outcome is uncertain. We need to continue recruiting more soldiers."

Su Jiuge looked at him.

Are you sure you can do it?

Xiao Yan remained silent for a moment.

He wasn't confident; who can be confident in a war? But he couldn't afford to be uncertain. These 40,000 men had entrusted their lives to him; he had to be confident, even if he wasn't.

"have."

His voice was firm.

Su Jiuge said, "Then let's fight."

On the third day of the ninth month, Xiao Yan convened a military conference at his headquarters in Qingshiling.

The generals sat around the sand table. The 40,000 men had been reorganized and had enough provisions for a month.

Weapons and armor are still being forged at an accelerated pace, and the morale of the soldiers is high.

Generals Zhou Tieshan, Liu Wu, Chen Daniu, and Li Dingguo reported on their respective deployments. The sand table was filled with small red flags, and every step had been planned out to the worst possible outcome.

Li Dingguo concluded by saying, "Your Highness, I request permission to fight. I have been waiting for this day for three years."

Xiao Yan looked at his generals.

"Wait a few more days until the provisions and weapons arrive, and until the soldiers are ready."

Li Dingguo said that he was ready at any time.

Zhou Tieshan said that he was also ready.

Liu Wu said, "This humble general is the same."

Chen Daniu said yes, yes, and so did this humble general.

The generals vied to volunteer for the battle, each voice louder than the last.

Xiao Yan raised his hand and fell silent.

"Attack. On September 15th, attack Yanzhou City."

The generals responded with a resounding roar.

After the meeting, Xiao Yan stood alone in front of the sand table, looking at the small red flags.

Su Jiuge walked over and stood beside her. "Are you confident? September 15th, there are still twelve days left. Will twelve days be enough for supplies, weapons, and morale?"

Xiao Yan did not speak.

We have to have enough, whether it's enough or not. If we wait any longer, morale will drop and we'll run out of food.

The Crown Prince couldn't wait any longer, the Emperor couldn't wait any longer, and neither could the soldiers.

We must fight, we have no choice but to fight.

September 15th is getting closer and closer.

After the war, they returned to Luoyang. Back to the place where osmanthus cake was made.