Jin Yi recovered from his injury in late spring. It had been more than half a year since last autumn. War is extremely costly in terms of financial, material, and human resources. “There has never been a state that benefited from prolonged warfare,” whether for the enemy or for them, both seemed unwilling to continue this stalemate and wanted a swift resolution.
Jin Yi resumed his command and, with his strategists and generals, devised a new battle strategy. If the Western Xia had not changed their commander, they might still need to fight hard, but now that the opposing commander preferred wisdom over direct assault, it gave Jin Yi’s side an opportunity to exploit.
Before the final battle, apart from the smoke from cooking fires and the sounds of soldiers drilling, there was no other activity inside and outside Longshuo Pass. Occasionally, birds flew by, and even a few wild donkeys wandered in the deserted wilderness.
The sun, perfectly round, moved from east to west, shining on this ancient and desolate land.
Jin Yi decided to visit Xianquan Town. He set out in the afternoon and arrived at dusk. As he reached the front of the Fang Medical Clinic, the setting sun cast long rays, painting the town like a scene from a painting.
Fang Fan was brushing his camel’s fur. The camel stood docilely, letting him work, while Fang Fan looked peaceful, his movements gentle and careful. One man and one camel, silently facing each other in the evening glow, made Jin Yi feel as though he was looking at a scene from a dream.
“General Jin?” Fang Fan put down the brush and, turning to see Jin Yi, asked, “Is there something you need at this hour?”
Jin Yi took a few steps forward, drawing closer, and said, “Can you accompany me for a walk?”
Fang Fan thought for a moment, “Alright. Just a moment.” He led the camel into the shed, placed some fodder, then returned to Jin Yi and asked, “Where would you like to go?”
“Some quiet path outside.”
Fang Fan nodded, “Follow me.”
They left, moving from street to alley, taking a few turns until they reached a quiet, deserted path bathed in the gentle glow of the sunset. Not far away, Xianquan Creek flowed gently, carrying shimmering golden waves.
They walked in silence for a while, until Jin Yi finally spoke, “You really care for your mount.”
Fang Fan smiled, “You mean the little camel? It has been with me since it was born.” Understanding Jin Yi’s questioning gaze, Fang Fan continued, “Its mother died during a difficult birth. I happened to be there and helped, so the owner gave it to me as thanks for some medical treatments I provided during that time. The little camel is very well-behaved and grows quickly.”
Jin Yi nodded, knowing that Fu Ming always had a natural affinity with animals.
They walked on in silence again until Jin Yi finally said, “Thank you for what you did recently.”
Fang Fan smiled, “The general has already thanked me, and the gifts were received, there’s no need for more.”
“It wasn’t a small matter. A few thank yous are warranted.” After the polite words, Jin Yi struggled to find his voice. He had so much he wanted to say, but he couldn’t find the courage. He usually wasn’t hesitant, but with this person beside him, he felt compelled to tread carefully.
Sensing Jin Yi’s hesitation, Fang Fan said, “Treat me like a regular friend.” Before Jin Yi could respond, he asked, “Are you fully recovered?”
Jin Yi had to respond, nodding, “Thanks to your care earlier, I am fully recovered.”
Fang Fan then asked, “Is the army preparing for a major action?”
Jin Yi smiled, “Dr. Fang is as sharp as my late friend.”
Fang Fan, hearing this, showed neither joy nor anger. Now he guessed why Jin Yi had come to see him. With the final battle imminent, no matter how confident Jin Yi was, the outcome remained uncertain. On the battlefield, whether he would return safely or be left as bones on the battlefield was uncertain. Jin Yi would not shy away from battle, but he still had things he cared about.
Fang Fan walked quickly ahead for a few steps, then stopped and turned to Jin Yi, “May I borrow your sword?”
Jin Yi handed his sword to Fang Fan. Fang Fan drew it from its scabbard, seeing the cold, sharp blade, and praised, “Good sword!” He then sheathed it again. But instead of returning it, he took out a safety knot and tied it to the sword.
“I learned to make this recently and offered it before the Bodhisattva.”
Jin Yi took the sword back from Fang Fan, feeling the weight. A small safety knot, yet it felt like a treasure.
Perhaps encouraged by Fang Fan’s gesture, Jin Yi finally said, “What I said before I passed out was all true. It wasn’t just delirium or impulse.”
Fang Fan understood which words he meant but remained silent, only nodding.
“In the future, I have more to say to you. So, I’ll come back.” It was both a personal motivation and a promise to Fang Fan.
Fang Fan smiled and nodded in encouragement.
Jin Yi felt joy, but he knew this was merely a polite response under special circumstances. It did not mean Fang Fan intended to fulfill his hopes.
They continued walking for a while. As the sunset faded, they turned back.
The view in the desert was wide, with the sky high and the earth vast. Everything seemed far away, except for the person beside him.
Silence outpaced conversation, with only their synchronized footsteps breaking the quiet. Yet all paths end, and soon they returned to the street. Fang Fan asked, “Would you like to come in for a cup of hot tea before you leave?”
Jin Yi shook his head, “I need to go back. I’ll save the tea for another visit.” It wasn’t that he lacked time for a cup of tea; rather, entering the house would make it harder to leave. It was better to leave a little longing behind.
Fang Fan didn’t insist, and Jin Yi untied his horse. Fang Fan accompanied him to the street corner, where an old, wind-beaten willow tree stood.
Jin Yi mounted his horse. Fang Fan patted the horse’s head, seemingly talking to both the horse and Jin Yi, “Go, see you later.”
Jin Yi smiled, “See you later.”
With a neigh, the horse and rider quickly disappeared into the boundless night.
That night, Jin Yi received a secret report stating that the Western allied forces, dissatisfied with the lack of results, had withdrawn, their troops having left Xiaolong Pass.
At dawn, Jin Yi led his troops out of the pass, directly attacking the Western Xia camp. The Western Xia forces hastily engaged but were defeated and fled. Jin Yi pursued them relentlessly, pushing them towards Xiaolong Pass.
The enemy suddenly turned back, no longer demoralized. The enemy general Li Xu laughed, “Jin family boy, still wet behind the ears! You’ve fallen into my trap; prepare to die on the battlefield!”
The two armies clashed head-on, with the enemy seemingly holding back initially. But Jin Yi’s soldiers fought with all their might, driving the enemy back repeatedly. Half an hour later, the situation remained unchanged; Li Xu remained calm. An hour later, with the outcome becoming clearer, Li Xu grew anxious and sent out scouts repeatedly.
Half an hour later, the scouts reported back that a large force was approaching from the rear. Li Xu rejoiced, only to find out it wasn’t the supposedly retreating Western troops but an army led by Jiang Yisun!
Jiang Yisun, under Jin Yi’s orders, had blocked the retreating Western troops at Xiaolong Pass, preventing their return. Another detachment had flanked the rear of Li Xu’s forces, joining with Jin Yi’s front forces to encircle them. The enemy, already disorganized, was quickly overwhelmed by this unexpected turn of events.
Using the enemy’s tactics against them, what they intended as a trap to catch Jin Yi instead ensnared them.
The battle raged from morning until night, ending with the capture of the enemy general Li Xu, the death of eight thousand enemies, and the capture of twenty thousand. The rest were either injured or fled, no longer a threat.
The victorious army returned to camp, and the small detachments guarding Xianquan Town and other interior towns, as a precaution, received orders to withdraw quietly during the night, not disturbing the sleeping populace.
Back at camp, Jin Yi oversaw the arrangements: handling prisoners, treating the wounded, setting up patrols, sending battle reports to the court, and more. It was only late at night that he found a moment of peace.
His battle robe was yet to be removed, and his sword uncleaned, still bearing the blood of the battlefield.
After sitting alone for a moment, he stood up, removed his robe, and cleaned his sword.
The candlelight reflected off the darkened bloodstains, a testament to the bravery and achievements of a commander. Yet, at this moment, the triumphs and jubilations of victory were replaced by a sense of melancholy. From a young age, he had been taught that as a son of a military family, he was destined for the battlefield, to live a life of bloodshed. He had been prepared mentally and had undergone numerous trials. When he held a sword, he never hesitated, killing swiftly and decisively, invincible. But perhaps because of Fu Ming, who he had lost, he understood the pain of parting from loved ones, and with those he cared about, his life was no longer just his own. The lives he took were not just enemies; they were also living beings, someone’s loved ones. So, in the quiet of the night, facing the remnants of bloodshed, his heart was no longer without waves. Yet he had no regrets; guarding the borders and protecting the country was his duty. If he hadn’t fought with all his might today, it wouldn’t just be his soldiers shedding blood and sacrificing their lives, but also the civilians within the borders, including the one he could not bear to let suffer any more pain.
The sword in his hand felt heavier, yet steadier. He did not take pleasure in killing, nor did he relish in achievements, but he sought that every cut of his sword was one that had to be made, protecting all the civilians behind it.
At this moment, he finally understood his grandfather’s teaching: “The men of the Jin family can only become generals on horseback when they truly comprehend the weight of weapons.”
That night, not only did he stay awake deep into the night, but in Xianquan Town, Fang Fan was also sleepless. It wasn’t until the next morning, when news spread that the army had achieved a great victory and that the Western Xia forces were utterly defeated, that he could finally relax.
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