Moma Liangshan

Chapter 95 The Princess of a Fallen Kingdom, a Founding Hero

On the last full moon night before the end of the year, in the princess's residence in Tokyo, Liao Kingdom, a man dressed in a gray cloth long coat and leather boots strode in, carrying a mahogany tray on which appeared to bear an exquisitely beautiful woman's garment. Of the five capitals of Liao Kingdom, Tokyo Circuit, centered on Liaoyang Prefecture, governed a vast area stretching from the Nenjiang River in the west to the North Sea in the east, from the Xing'an Mountains in the north to the Liaodong Peninsula in the south. However, after the Jurchen Wanyan clan rebelled against Liao, over 70% of the land north of Liaoyang Prefecture was lost. Chenzhou and Kaizhou, on the eastern and western flanks of Liaoyang Prefecture, were respectively seized by the Nara and Gioro clans of the Jurchens. As for the Liaodong Peninsula, where Han Chinese were concentrated in the south, they were similarly outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, wavering between two sides.

The man knocked lightly on the door, and after receiving permission, he pushed it open and entered. At the front of the hall was a brazier, the embers glowing faintly, as if they might go out at any moment. Beyond the brazier hung a huge cowhide map from the rafters. Before the map stood a figure in a sheepskin coat, his back slightly thin, yet exuding an aura of noble unapproachability. The man paused five steps before the map, remaining silent. After a long while, a girlish voice rang out, saying, "The Jurchen army is at the city gates. Why does Chief Secretary Gao, instead of staying at the government office to stabilize the people's hearts, come alone to the princess's residence?" The man hesitated, then slowly said, "The cold wind is biting, and snow is coming. Just the other day, a bolt of silk was sent from home. I noticed that Your Highness was dressed too lightly, so I had a tailor make a cloak!" The girl turned around and said, "Chief Secretary Gao, you've gone to so much trouble!" Seeing the girl about to take the cloak, the man's face lit up with joy, and he said, "Gao Que is sworn to follow the princess to the death. A mere cloak is nothing to him." The girl took the cloak in her hands, but at that moment, another man suddenly burst in, shouting, "My brothers and I..." "You risked your life on the city walls, and here you are, fawning over me with a cloak—truly despicable!" Gao Que said with displeasure, "Xiao Shan, don't spout nonsense here. Do you think you're a true hero?" Xiao Shan stepped in front of Gao Que and questioned, "Explain yourself clearly, or don't blame me for being merciless!" Gao Que sneered and replied, "If I'm not mistaken, the Jurchen rebels are busy breaking camp and retreating right now, aren't they?" Xiao Shan looked wary and said, "Don't speak recklessly!" Gao Que suddenly pushed open the window beside him and said, "Commander Xiao, you've led troops for many years. Surely you can see the signs of this blizzard? Or do you think I, Gao Que, can't?"

The young woman reached out and stroked the cloak in her hand, then suddenly frowned and looked at Gao Que, asking, "Where did you get this silk?" Gao Que was surprised and replied, "It was sent from my family!" The young woman was even more puzzled and said, "Do you know this is Xinchou of the Song Dynasty?" At this moment, Gao Que and Xiao Shanbie both showed expressions of disbelief and said, "The trade routes between the Song and Liao dynasties have long been cut off, how could it be Xinchou of the Song Dynasty?" The young woman's lips curled slightly and she said, "That's probably a question for your brother, Gao Chang!" Just as Gao Que was at a loss for words, there was another knock on the door, and a maid said, "A letter has been sent from the Gao family, who want to..." "This must be presented to the princess!" Xiao Shan looked at Gao Que warily. The girl said, "Bring it in!" Before opening the letter, the girl said, "Chief Secretary Gao has no ulterior motives, Commander Xiao need not be alarmed!" After speaking, she handed the letter to Gao Que and ordered, "Read it!" Gao Que quickly opened the letter and read, "Wang Hao, Commander of the Palace Guard of the Great Song Dynasty and Magistrate of Laoshan County, requests an audience with the Princess of Shu!" The girl stroked the cloak in her hand again and said, "I'm afraid the silk that Chief Secretary Gao's family sent was also Wang Hao's doing!" Gao Que looked embarrassed and said, "I am all alone, yet my family sent me a piece of women's silk."