Kitobni o'qish: «The Path of Li»

Authors Notes

The vast majority of the novel's facts are retrieved from available educational sources and based on thorough research completed by the author himself. Academic works such as "Faces of the Middle Kingdom" by A. Bokshchanin and O. Nepomnin, "The History of China" (9 volumes, edited by O. Nepomnin), as well as famous Chinese works, such as "Tao Te Ching: The Book of the Way and Its Virtue", "Sun Tzu: The Art of War", "River Creek", have helped him to shape the story. The author has worked closely and wishes to express his gratitude to the Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor of "Altaistics "Statisticsogy at Institute of International Relations of Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Dmitry Evgenievich Martynov. Int, his book Author, wishes to portray China's History in the language that is acceptable and adaptable for Eastern European and Central European Cultures, which haven't been explored in those cultures. The author aim was to highlight the geopolitical situation in China, compared to the position of Easter Europe and Central Europe were. During this period in Russia father of Csar Peter the Great was born, and back in the United Kingdom, Carl the First has just reformed a parliament system. The new generation has been very well informed of what was happening during those time in western culture; however, they have minimal exposure to how fascinating it was in China during that period. With this book, the author aims to bring China's history closer to the everyday reader. A story of love, adventure, revenge filled with emotions and disasters will let you explore a forgotten world of China.

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In now distant 1606, a comet has risen above the Chinese Empire. An enormous unearthly object hanged itself upon great Empire, throwing its flames on the filled and bringing fear to the whole existence itself-a beginning of a legacy that will end the Empire. You could hear them whispering and mumbling that the earth would be gone and a great dynasty of Min would be destroyed. So who are the chosen ones? What could this unearthly object possibly mean for the current generation? On the same night, two boys were born, each of them been brought under the comet's existence. A boy in a rustic widowers family was born under this star, and following that, a boy was brought into light in merchants family. Less than a quarter of a century later, those boys' self-existence would spread fear among the Emperors great army and himself personally. This novel is dedicated to Li Zicheng, which changed history as we perceive now and proclaimed himself a great Emperor of China. This novel embarks on the story of an ancient philosopher meeting a young warrior. Li Zicheng was on his way to his native village while leaving all the wars behind him. He has recognised the philosopher on his journey and has favoured him to make him a company. Once Li reaches his village, the only thing he could witness is a pile of ashes and dirt. In light of anger and devastation, his heart is filled with revenge. He gives the oath to avenge his blood and join a rebellion. They were fearsome horseman who dared to rise against the great Emperor.

Our story is set in 1629, during a great droughts era, which led to hanger and devastation among its citizens. This catastrophic even lead to countless death and migration from the state. Locals have fled the state in the hope to find a new home and a better place to live in. Anyone who has left been suppressed by the Emperor's army. Those actions have let to the largest rebellion, which took a long life span between 1629 right till 1644. And at the end, it leads Dynasty Min to be overthrown from the throne, which ruled China for over 300 years. For the Great Chinese Empire, this war was proclaimed the most brutal in its history, which lasted for several decades.

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Prologue

The Sunset was hanging above the forest ranges of the Tai Hushan mountains with its last rays. And at the same moment, darkness was approaching from East. Shadows of night arrive quickly in highlands. And you can feel a whole scenery quiets down before the last ray of the sun disappears. Nights in the mountains are by no means a time of serene peace, no matter how hard the monotonous sounds of a nearby waterfall try to lull a casual traveller. During this time, spirits and animals take over the land. And perhaps with some o the creatures from a spirit world, you could find common ground, but never with the ruler of wilderness – Great Chinese Tiger. Tiger will never give up on his prey, whether it be a stray traveller or an antelope that has become separated from the flock. He walked along a mountain path, graceful and irresistible, like the Emperor himself. Beast was only five years old, in the prime of his strength and power.

He strolled around the land, as he was a house cat, with no eager of aggression. His indifference to his surrounding was incredible. In contrast to the cat, the Tiger had recently satisfied his belly with a farmers buffalo that inadvertently approached his possessions in search of food. Everything that happened later was familiar: a quick leap and a grip on the cervical artery. A few swift blows of mighty fangs warranted a well-fed life for at least a couple of days for the predator. And now he was walking through the summer forest, rubbing his glossy sides against the trunks of young trees, leaving flocks of royal fur as marks of his territory. It was his land, and all the creatures have felt his presence. His ears caught the slightest sound of the approaching night. While he majestically strolled around the wilderness, his subtle hearing caught an unusual dissonance in this familiar background, something unfamiliar and therefore alarming. He has gasped momentarily and roared softly into the darkness. He paced himself slowly through his land and was approaching slowly to the unfamiliar scent. He could resemble the scent, and it was human blood. The majestic creature was stung and rose immediately. Humans were around. He knows what it means to encounter humans-creatures who arrive at his land and act as lords. A couple of years ago, one Man left a scar on the Tiger's left side with his Claw when, being young and foolish, he approached the fire of several travellers who were putting up for the night on the mountain pass. Back then, he managed to escape, but he had to lick the wound in a thicket on the nearest plateau for a few weeks.

There was a man lying by the river shore, clutching the wound with his hands, almost invisible under his ropes. The Tiger stood and hung his paw in the air as his eyes focused deadly on the prey. But something was off about this prey. He could sense the smell of a man; it was strong and fearless; his scent wasn't an ordinary men's scent. It made him fear and respect a wounded man. He knew that is another alpha stands in front of him, perhaps not in the best physical shape, but his spirit has stood strong. They have gazed upon each other eyes, and a man has shown no fear. After a few long-lasting seconds, Tiger has roared at the stranger and disappeared into nearby bushes. The warrior exhaled with relief he couldn't understand. Death retreated, although he knew it would not be for long. His days were counted, and he perfectly knew that wounds such as that would lead to death. He could only praise the gods for letting him his last few moments at such a graceful place. He could feel the breath of death on his shoulder, and for the last moment of his existence, he wanted to gaze at the night sky, a sapphire coloured sky. His conscience was slowly slipping from his mind, and his vision was getting blurry. He shut his eyes, and with his last breath, he tried to think about something pleasant. Realising all his life have been filled with deaths, wars and brawls. The warrior shook his head, chasing away the obsession, and tried to capture the vision of sparkling clear mountain water, rushing by in a swift stream like the River of Time. But even this clear liquid was coloured by blood. The warrior sighed and closed his eyes again. After all, he had lived a decent life as a common man, a warrior, a military leader, and even an Emperor! He loved and was loved. The warrior raised the blade above his head, lifting it to heaven, and, closing his eyes, plunged into the crimson waters… The Tiger looked gloomily from the bushes on the opposite bank, watching the Man reach for his Claw and press it to his chest, his lips moving in an effort to utter something. Life was already leaving the tortured body. The Man opened his eyes for the last time to reflect the darkening sky, took a deep breath, stretched out and died… The Tiger shook his forehead, paying an involuntary tribute to the courage of an unknown creature, which did not beg for mercy in his last minutes and slipped into the thicket. The Man who found peace on the shore was the one who had been the hope and horror of the people of the Great Empire for the last decades. Now he went on his last Path beyond the Crimson Rivers.

第 章
Chapter 1

Chao Li, better accepted in his circles as 'Stone Head', truly lived up to his nickname. As a matter of fact, during the patrol, he has let a traveller enter the camp-a camp whose sole purpose of being in distinguished. An old man has appeared in a hastily patched-up dress at the edge of the marge so that Livay He, the leader of the gang, was taken by surprise. A gang of robbers, who just moments ago were happily dining, froze in surprise, looking at the crooked figure of the stranger wandering towards their fires. Livay was the first to come to his senses as a true leader would. He put his bowl of rice on the flat stone that they had for the table, slowly got up to meet the old man and, stretching out his hand, and said:

"Stay where you are, old Man. I have no idea how you got into the camp, but the next step will be your last step," The old man froze. It seemed that he was frightened to the point of trembling in his knees, but the experienced eye of the leader caught a slight spark of mockery in the stranger's dim eyes.

"I am sorry if I bothered your morning feast" – an old man has spitted back at Livay He. His voice temper made the leader realise he might not be speaking just a too ordinary traveller. "I was not aware you have set up the camp here; perhaps if I knew, I would have taken another path." On the contrary, Livay put his hands on his hips and took a step towards the old man.

"Livay He does not fight with children or old people", the robber dropped casually, slightly bowing his head in front of the uninvited guest. "We only here to take what ours, right boys?" The "gang", who had previously listened cautiously to the dialogue between the leader and the strange guest, began to gurgle in relief, and the old man took this gurgle as a dull approval. He could sense the leadership of Livay He in the crowd. "As for this cunning rascal Shitou, who managed to sleep on you," he raised his voice in a dramatic manner, "he will get what he deserves as soon as he returns to the camp from his shift." "You are a cruel leader", the old man bowed. "…cruel but fair," the strange traveller finished his sentence, raising his eyes and looking straight at the bridge of He's nose. He recoiled involuntarily.

"Otherwise, how could you explain that you have massacred a family from Mozun village? Have they eaten from gold plates and wore silks?" A leader has frozen, same as his gang. They were uncertain what could have to lead a strange traveller to say those words. They have all glanced upon the path a man has taken to see whether he brought with him Emperor troops. Without any hesitation or shyness, an old man grabbed a lump of rice from Liveys bowl and squashed it a ball. He pushed a lump down his thought without any hesitation and started at the gang. "And you undoubtedly grew this rice yourself and did not take it in Gymea, burning down a dozen houses and leaving residents homeless on the eve of the spring rains?" An old man has leaned on his walking stick and glazed straight into the eyes of the most wanted robber of the Shaanxi province. Livay carefully tore his gaze from the old man's watery eyes and looked over his shoulder. The two of his stealth Warriors have jumped out of the bushes. "He killed A Stone head!" shouted one of the robbers, lifting Chao Lin's bloody robe above him. At the same moment, when he spoke those words, an arrow has pierced his throat.

He collapsed to his knees, clutching his neck and moments later, another arrow has struck another robber. Livay has pulled out his sword and shouted down at the man, 'Who are you and What do you want from us?'. An old man has glanced the surrounding and enjoyed the panic which runs through the crowd of robbers. One after another, a soldier we're dropping dead from flying arrows. They have run out like ants in a different direction, the smartest of them dashing to bushes to hide. "You haven't realised it yet? Didn't you?" The old man sighed while He shook his head in shock. "I am your punishment…"

The old man said it in a most convening and calming voice that Livay hasn't doubted his intentions. He dropped everything he had in his hands and dashed down towards the forest. But the arrows were faster. The same arrow that brought down his soldier has struck him right into the shoulder. Livay was shocked but couldn't feel the pain struggling through his body, and he took a few more steps before his legs lost all the power, and he has collapsed on the ground. A man full of indifference have grabbed Levay's bowl and sat on the grass next to this mascara, and ate the rice. One of the old man's soldiers has appeared from the bushes. He was a young man, in leather armour, walking slowly towards an old man. He hanged his bow on his back and stuck the arrows in the leather purse strapped to his belt. 'Master, you have started to dine without me', a young soldier spitted with humour at the old man. And in exchange, an old man has waved his hand and gestured for him to sit next to him. Once the young soldier stepped into the sun, we could clearly see he was just a youngster with a short, trimmed moustache. He had a sharp eye, and his glance was full of focus, which indicated him being an experienced warrior… He was an adult, not a youngster. He was wearing solid leather armour without metal linings, characteristic of wealthy warriors and soft boots. A lone archer's glove adorned his left hand, while the second glove was carelessly tucked into a typesetting belt, consisting of metal plaques with ornaments. His name was Li Zicheng, an excellent warrior and trusted Man of Luo Yang.

Once Li has taken sit next to the old man, he fearless grabbed the rice and started to devote it with no emotions towards the massacre he has created. They have been starving for the past few days, and the resources have finished. In addition, they had not eaten anything for a couple of days: the supplies have come to an end, and all the game in the vicinity was scared away by this robber gang, which, in a picturesque disorder, completely exterminated it across several dozen lis. The old man put down the empty bowl, took a handkerchief from his belt, and carefully wiped his lips and hands. Then he got up, walked slowly to the spring and, filling the empty bowl with water, thoroughly rinsed his mouth. He returned and sat down opposite Li Zicheng, affectionately looking at the young man devouring the dried roe deer meat found in the bag of the gang leader.

"Was I right?" The old man asked the warrior as if continuing the agreement begun earlier. He looked up for a second, distracting from his pleasant occupation for a moment, and shook his head. "No and no," he said. Luo Yang looked at the young man with interest. "But everything happened exactly as I predicted: they were stunned and puzzled by my sudden appearance. If we followed your tactics and simply attacked from an ambush, then most of them, accustomed to living in a state of constant danger, would quickly sort out the situation and strike back. It wouldn't be good for us…

"You see, Master Luo, all of them," Zicheng shook his head towards the bodies stretched out in the clearing, "we're ready to tear you apart at any moment. The only weak point in their gang was the leader himself. He shouldn't have been chatting with you about life, but just kill you right away, or at least cripple you, and then do the idle talks with you. The only thing that held them was his authority. And they repeated his mistake: they were distracted by you. Although… Three or four managed to escape," the young man laughed. Old Luo smiled as well.

The young warrior returned to his meal while Luo, looking at him, recalled their first meeting… It happened a moon and a half ago, almost on New Year's Eve. Old Tang's roadside tavern was full of customers. There were so many of them that his wife, Mrs Ki, had a hard time putting all the dishes on the tables. It seemed that the stomachs of the guests were bottomless like drunkard's wineskins! And the rain, mixed with snow, which had fallen for the second day in a row, did not allow travelling along the Northern Route, so all travellers, willing or not, ended up in this respected institution. All the king's men were there! Henchmen who went about their business; statesmen executing the orders of their prince or the Emperor himself; peasants going to the North or to the South, but always in search of a better life – all of them were held by the endless rain in the tavern that smelled of smoke from pipes and the aroma of hot stew. Companies formed at different tables according to interests, which was typical for bad days like this one. Someone gossiped about the lackeys of the young Emperor, who robbed the poor blind with their taxes. Others played mahjong, recklessly losing their last money and not really caring about how they would travel further, having lost their money and clothes here, at this table, and relying only on Luck, which they thought would certainly accompany them in the next game. Others sipped last year's sour wine and buzzing quietly about the last year's famine, which struck the southern provinces of the Celestial Empire and was about to strike the villages of the North. In the past year, there was no yield of wheat and rice, and the Jurchen raids have become increasingly impudent. This was facilitated by the great victory of their Khan Abahai, who invaded Korea with a huge army and forced it into a treaty beneficial to the Jurchens. Korea, however, generally remained loyal to the Celestial Empire and did not break its ancient ties, though it has become more alarming than ever on the northern borders. Hunger raged in the South. There were terrible rumours of mass infanticide and even acts of cannibalism. However, little trust was put into these. After all, South is South. It doesn't matter what they say about it. But the majority believed that it was the fault of the young emperor Chun Zhen, who ascended the throne a year ago and had not yet managed to halt the rampage organised by the court scoundrels.

Be that as it may, everyone agreed on one thing: one could not expect anything good in the near future. This means that, as is customary among poor people, you have to cut costs to the bone once again and hide goods in the mountains, away from greedy officials and grasping robbers. However, no one could say where the border between the first and the latter lied anymore. Luo Yang came in from the rain, brushing drops of cold water from his wide-brimmed straw hat. He could not wait to throw off his soaked raincoat. Old Tang rushed to meet him, habitually groaning about the nasty weather and the permanently bad roads. Luo listened to his lamentations and, catching a pause in the words of the eloquent master, quietly asked: "Is there a room for a lonely wanderer?" "A room? Yes, yes, of course, we've got several beautiful rooms to choose from," the innkeeper muttered as usual, but Luo stopped him with a gesture. "Several?" He asked incredulously, looking around the crowded hall. The innkeeper choked and stared at the old man, looking puzzled and then embarrassed. "Well, to be honest, I only have one, that is, just one mat in a room, and I rented it to that young warrior," the owner waved a towel, which he did not part with, regardless of being at the counter or in the hall, somewhere in the direction of the far corner of the hall. There, a silhouette of a man in leather armour was dimly visible. "Who is he?" Yang made sure that the interest in his voice didn't sound too obvious. The innkeeper shrugged.

"Well, a casual traveller. He says that he served a prince in the province of Gansu, where he fled from the tyranny of dignitaries." "A deserter?" The owner shrugged. "Doesn't look like one. Deserters are nervous, and they drink a lot; they constantly bully someone… I've seen many of them. But this one is calm and confident. He has money. He probably quit his job or is going home on vacation. Well, at least that's how it looks at first glance." Tang was embarrassed by his own self-confidence and began to fussily smile at Yang. The man nodded slowly.

"Bring me some stew and wine at his table. I am thinking of sharing a meal and shelter with him", said the wanderer and moved towards the young warrior's table. The owner rushed to fulfil the order of the honourable guest. There was hardly anyone in the northern provinces of the Celestial Empire who did not know the wandering philosopher Luo Yang! The warrior reacted to the old man's appearance with only a short nod and buried his face again in his cup of wine. Yang sat down on a bench that had been wiped down to the shine of ivory by the underpants of many guests and also nodded slowly to the warrior. The innkeeper brought a plate of steaming stew and a jug of wine. Luo slowly took the first sip straight from the jug without waiting for the cup to be placed in front of him. Burping contentedly, he proceeded to his stew. The warrior watched him mockingly. Yang pretended not to notice. When he emptied the bowl and wiped it thoroughly with his bread, putting the rest of the contents into his mouth, the warrior dared to ask the first question: "There are free seats in the hall. Why did you honour me with your attention?" Luo chuckled.

"Because of all those sitting in the hall, only you have what I desperately need." The warrior raised his eyebrows in surprise, which Yang liked – the guy was in no hurry with questions and was correct, as if he had received a court education. "Then maybe you could share with me what is this "valuable thing" that I have but don't know about? "The mat in your room that no one has occupied yet," Luo explained calmly. The young man chuckled. "What if I say no?" "You won't," Yang answered confidently and explained to the warrior's surprised look: "You need a calm neighbour today, and tomorrow you will need a reliable and wise companion and mentor at the same time. So why wait for another gift of fate?" "As far as I understand, you are the gift, old man?" "Exactly, young Man. Luo Yang, at your service…"

The warrior jumped up and bowed low: "Excuse me, sir! I have been on long hikes and have lost the last traces of courtesy while having to deal with the wild mountaineers!" Yang chuckled, stood up and put his hand on the warrior's shoulder, forcing him to sit back. "During my travels, I have met few interlocutors more courteous than you, someone who allegedly lost his courtesy", he laughed. The warrior forced himself to smile in response. The wise man sat down and continued: "Now that you know who I am let's figure out who you are… You served in the prince's army?" "Yes, sir." "Gansu province?" "Yes, sir." "And your name is…"

"Li Zicheng, sir…" "Stop calling me sir. To you, I'm just a Master Luo. Got it?" "Yes, sir… Master Luo… It will be an honour for me to share the shelter with you, just like I had shared my meal before!" Noticing that Li Zicheng was ready to bow down again, Luo Yang placed his hand in his palm, pressing it against the darkened tabletop. "I don't think we should attract too much attention now.

Too many different, sometimes even contradictory fellows have gathered on this patch of the great Empire. You can expect an explosion at any moment… Yes, yes, my young friend… The weather is not going to change, the winter roads will remain impassable forever, and I suggest we have a good rest in our room today, sleep well, and continue our journey tomorrow. After all, you are heading…" "North," Zicheng said quickly, sitting down on a bench, "to a small village in Shaanxi province. It's time to visit my nephew and help him with the housework. It's sowing time soon; someone needs to plough the land. After all, we are not a military settlement, and we have to not only cultivate someone else's land for a quitrent but also pay taxes. I used to tend sheep and plough the land, but my father could not support his family, so I had to get a job at the post office. Travelling across the vastness of the Celestial Empire, I managed to see a lot and change my mind. I was recruited into the army of a Gansu lord." Yang shook his head.

"A short but worthy journey, young Man… When are you going to return to the service?" Li sighed heavily and thought… "I don't know," he admitted honestly. "I haven't thought about it yet. I'd rather get home first, and then…" "Then, I propose a solution that will undoubtedly suit both of us." "I am listening, sir…" "Not again!" "Excuse me, my… Excuse me, Master Luo. What is your solution?" "We will go to the North together," Luo Yang nodded, full of himself.

Li Zicheng jumped up in enthusiasm: "It'll be an honour!" Yang got outright angry. "Did I say something wrong, or were you not listening? Sit down, to begin with", and, after waiting for the young man to take his place, he continued. "I'm not doing you a favour, it's just that our paths coincide for a while, and we can be useful to each other. My wisdom and age, combined with your military talents, will be the key to the successful completion of our journey. It is from this point of view that I see our cooperation. Is that clear?" "Yes, Master Luo." "Great!" The wise man rubbed his hands.

"Hey, innkeeper, bring me and my friend more of your wonderful wine! The travellers are tired of the journey and want to get their throats wet… You want to get your throat wet, don't you?" He leaned over to Li. The young man chuckled. "Even during your long life, It is unlikely that you, Master Luo, have met many people who would refuse wine at someone else's expense." The old man chuckled.

"Actually, I thought that it was you who would pay… But if things are heading this way… I'm ready. Then you will pay for the room." The warrior laughed: "Deal. But your wisdom has failed you this time. Or you're cunning. Or your power of prediction." "In what?" The old man squinted. Zicheng threw up his hands. "There is a fixed fee for the rent, but I can drink indefinitely," the young man explained his thought. The elder shook his head. "You will not take more liquids than the volume of your stomach, and knowing old Tang, I can assure you that you will need even less wine – it will knock you off your feet. Plus, you don't sound like a drunkard. So we are quits," he threw up his hands.

Meanwhile, the owner brought more jugs, so there was no time for empty talks anymore. It was on the third day when they finally managed to set off on the road. The disgusting weather was partly to blame for this. It rained and snowed all the time. The mud that was freezing overnight was turning into an impenetrable mess in the morning, making not only the wheels of the carts but also the hooves of horses stuck, not to mention the travellers, who were mostly barefoot.

There were, however, a few daredevils who decided to continue their journey in these disgusting conditions, but almost all of them returned back after half a day, and those who did not return probably perished in this half-snow-half-rain. On the third day, the sky became clearer; the sun came out and managed to dry the road slightly. The roadside got covered with ice, which was much nicer than having to travel the muddy roads. Li Zicheng walked fast but had a hard time trying to keep pace with his elderly companion. To his surprise, Luo Yang was almost as good as him in stamina and speed, thanks to many years of hiking and amazing health, which the old man retained thanks to a healthy lifestyle and regular tai chi exercises, which he repeated with amazing persistence every morning, as soon as the sun rose above the horizon. Throughout the first moon, they walked slowly, stopping at rare inns or installing a shed in the open field that the prudent Luo Yang always carried with him. The provisions they bought in small villages were usually enough for long journeys, and when it ran out, Li Zincheng took out his magic bow and went hunting. While the old man was cooking rice or millet, the warrior already returned with a pheasant or guinea fowl, a rabbit or a black grouse, which he immediately baked in clay or roasted on a spit. In general, the travellers did not starve, and if we also take into account the fact that their daily afternoon or evening dialogues often developed into philosophical disputes, the journey could even be called a walk of two bosom friends. Everything changed as soon as they crossed the border of Shaanxi province…

It looked like the same old hills and small woods, rivers and lakes, but a kind of wary silence hung over everything. At first, Li Zicheng convinced himself that it was just his excitement before seeing a home he had not seen for several years… How would his family react to his appearance? After all, last time, he practically escaped… But gradually, as they were passing several villages and found only boarded up doors of inns and taverns, they understood it was serious. Lonely passers-by, barely seeing the two travellers, one of whom had a changdao thrown over a sipu and a large bow gleaming with a dull metallic sheen in his hands, immediately rushed to get out of their way. Master Luo tried a couple of times to knock on other people's fanzas, but the answer was only silence: if the owners were inside, they always tried to carefully hide this fact, as well as the fact of their existence in general. The reason for this became clear only on the second day of travel through the province, when the travellers, entering a small village, stumbled upon a woman sobbing, stained with blood, sitting on the porch of a burnt house. She madly looked at two strangers emerging from the forest. The woman was hugged by a girl of five or six years old, wrapped in some incredibly dirty piece of cloth.