Let us talk rather of Gao Qiu. After he went into the service of Prince Duan he lived and dined in the palace and accompanied the prince every day, never taking so much as a step from his side. Before two months had elapsed, Emperor Zhe Zong died without leaving an heir. All the high civil and military officials conferred and made Prince Duan the emperor. He was known as Emperor Hui Zong and bore the title of High Priest of Jade Purity and Taoist Sovereign of Provident Truth.
Hui Zong assumed the throne and all went well. One day he said to Gao Qiu: “I'd like to raise you in rank, but you'll have to perform some meritorious deed on the border first. I'll have the Council of Military Affairs put you down as available for imperial appointment.” Less than half a year later, he was able to make Gao Qiu a marshal commanding the Imperial Guards.
Gao Qiu selected an auspicious day and hour to assume office. All the officers of the Mighty Imperial Guards, both infa
ICorporal Zhang promised to do as he was bid. He had his dinner, got things ready, and left for the temple.That night mother and son packed their bedding and clothing, their silks and silver, and placed them in containers to be carried on a shoulder−pole. They also filled two saddle−bags with fodder for the horse.At the fifth watch before dawn Wang Jin summoned Corporal Li and said: “Take these silver coins to the temple. You and Corporal Zhang buy and cook the three kinds of sacrificial meat, and wait for me. I'll join you just as soon as I've bought some sacrificial paper ingots and candles.”Corporal Li took the silver and departed for the temple. Wang Jin got the horse ready, loaded on the saddle−bags, tied them firmly in place, led the animal outside the rear gate and helped his mother mount. All the heavier household belongings they left behind. Wang Jin locked the front and rear gates, raised the carrying−pole
Prince Yamato waited for the rest of the group to arrive. With the current line of events, something ancient has awakened. Everyone of them knew this. but they hoped that it won’t come to this. And, like in everything, it came to that. Fate had another card to play and he was sure of that. There was no mistake, that card is the rest of the group.He need to wait. Currently, the hardest part. There was no other way. Yoritomo, Fuhito and Kazuma will soon appear.The first one to enter Fuhito, after him entered Kazuma and after a fewmoments Yoritomo.Yamato silently moved to the upper end of the table.Silence“You heard about, the thing," Yamato started. The rest of the world doesn’t know.”"That is a good thing,” Fuhito, said.“For now, "Yoritomo said, "for now.""It won't last long," Kazuma murmured."Sooner or later, the news will spread. It's only a matter of time."“Tru
The insignia of the great Merhen Empire is composed of three treasures which have been considered sacred, and guarded with jealous care from time immemorial. These are the i or the Mirror of Yata, the Jewel of Yasakami, and the Sword of Murakumo.Of these three treasures of the Empire, the sword of Murakumo, afterwards known as Kusanagi, or the grass-cleaving sword, is considered the most precious and most highly to be honored, for it is the symbol of strength to this nation of warriors and the talisman of invincibility for the Emperor, while he holds it sacred in the shrine of his ancestors.Nearly two thousand years ago this sword was kept at the shrines of Ite, the temples dedicated to the worship of Anur, the great and beautiful Sun God from whom the Merhen Emperors are said to be descended.There is a story of knightly adventure and daring which explains why the name of the sword was changed from that of Murakumo to Kasanagi, which means grass clearin
When the time came for the Prince to start, the King gave him a spear called the Eight-Arms-Length-Spear of the Holly Tree (the handle was probably made from the wood of the holly tree), and ordered him to set out to subjugate the Eastern Barbarians as the Ainu were then called. The Eight-Arms-Length-Spear of the Holly Tree of those old days, was prized by warriors just as much as the Standard or Banner is valued by a regiment in these modern days, when given by the King to his soldiers on the occasion of setting out for war. The Prince respectfully and with great reverence received the King’s spear, and leaving the capital, marched with his army to the East. On his way he visited first of all the temples of Itefor worship, and his aunt the Princess of Yamato and High Priestess came out to greet him. She it was who had given him her robe which had proved such a boon to him before in helping him to overcome and slay the brigands of the West. He told her
I He ascribed his safe landing wholly to the faithfulness of his wife, who had so willingly and lovingly sacrificed herself in the hour of his utmost peril. His heart was softened at the remembrance of her, and he never allowed her to pass from his thoughts even for a moment. Too late had he learned to esteem the goodness of her heart and the greatness of her love for him. As he was returning on his homeward way he came to the high pass of the Usui Toge, and here he stood and gazed at the wonderful prospect beneath him. The country, from this great elevation, all lay open to his sight, a vast panorama of mountain and plain and forest, with rivers winding like silver ribbons through the land; then far off he saw the distant sea, which shimmered like a luminous mist in the great distance, where Ototachibana had given her life for him, and as he turned towards it he stretched out his arms, and thinking of her love which he had scorned and his faithlessness to her, his h
IMagic Water slowly drips down in the void, emptiness, darkness, coldness. Darkness. Light. Darkness. From it appeared a lion, tall, strong, on his back legs, mane dancing, mouth shut. An eye-less gaze looks in the distance, into emptiness.From a different corner of the void, a snake eye appeared. After the eye the head appeared and after it the whole body. Bright green scale shine with an eerie glow. Mouth opened wide, fangs showing, it hissed. The lion remains the same, cold and emotionless. The snake moved. The lion stood.In the void, the lion transformed. Where the lion stood a few seconds ago, in all of his glory, the God Curaim- the God of Death stretched out his arm.The snake hissed.“How long is this going to last,” she demanded.“Until the end of time,” Curaim replied. “There is no use, I will defeat you again.”“Fool, our battle is eternal.”“Yes, the battle si
Prince Yamato looked from the roof balcony down the valley bellow. The group outside the city gates waits. He was more than prepared for the attack. Second-in-command Sun Zhao was restless.Minamoto Yoritomo plans what to do next, to attack or not. He has a different option.Hearing of this threatened attack, SunZhao sought advice from two of his officers, Advisers Pei Xiu and Zhong Hui.Zhong Hui said, “The Wu army is helping our enemies for the sake of profit, and hence we can seduce them with an offer of greater profit.”SunZhao agreed in this opinion and resolved accordingly. As part of his plan, he sent Shi Bao and Zhou Tai to lay ambushes in different places near Shidou.As ordered by SunZhao, Wang Ji and Chen Qian commanded an army of veterans on the rear, Cheng Zu led thirty thousand troops out to bring on a battle, while Chen Jun got together many wagons, herds of oxen, droves of horses, donkeys and mules, and
After expressing their gratitude, they rode about the city on the horses he had given them, shouting, “We have received great kindness at the hands of Sun Zhao, who not only has pardoned us but given us gifts. Why do you not all yield?”When their companions heard this, they said one to another. “This Wen Yang was an enemy, and yet he has been well received; how much more may we expect generous treatment?”The desire to surrender possessed them all. When Zhuge Dan heard it, he was incensed and went round the posts night and day on the watch for any who seemed inclined to go. He put many to death in these efforts to retain his authority.Zhong Hui heard how things were going in the city and went in to Sun Zhaoto say the moment to attack had come. Sun Zhaowas only too pleased. He stimulated his troops, and they flocked to the ramparts and assaulted vigorously. Then the commander of the north gate, Zeng Xuan, treacherously opened
Prince Yamato waited for the rest of the group to arrive. With the current line of events, something ancient has awakened. Everyone of them knew this. but they hoped that it won’t come to this. And, like in everything, it came to that. Fate had another card to play and he was sure of that. There was no mistake, that card is the rest of the group.He need to wait. Currently, the hardest part. There was no other way. Yoritomo, Fuhito and Kazuma will soon appear.The first one to enter Fuhito, after him entered Kazuma and after a fewmoments Yoritomo.Yamato silently moved to the upper end of the table.Silence“You heard about, the thing," Yamato started. The rest of the world doesn’t know.”"That is a good thing,” Fuhito, said.“For now, "Yoritomo said, "for now.""It won't last long," Kazuma murmured."Sooner or later, the news will spread. It's only a matter of time."“Tru
ICorporal Zhang promised to do as he was bid. He had his dinner, got things ready, and left for the temple.That night mother and son packed their bedding and clothing, their silks and silver, and placed them in containers to be carried on a shoulder−pole. They also filled two saddle−bags with fodder for the horse.At the fifth watch before dawn Wang Jin summoned Corporal Li and said: “Take these silver coins to the temple. You and Corporal Zhang buy and cook the three kinds of sacrificial meat, and wait for me. I'll join you just as soon as I've bought some sacrificial paper ingots and candles.”Corporal Li took the silver and departed for the temple. Wang Jin got the horse ready, loaded on the saddle−bags, tied them firmly in place, led the animal outside the rear gate and helped his mother mount. All the heavier household belongings they left behind. Wang Jin locked the front and rear gates, raised the carrying−pole
Let us talk rather of Gao Qiu. After he went into the service of Prince Duan he lived and dined in the palace and accompanied the prince every day, never taking so much as a step from his side. Before two months had elapsed, Emperor Zhe Zong died without leaving an heir. All the high civil and military officials conferred and made Prince Duan the emperor. He was known as Emperor Hui Zong and bore the title of High Priest of Jade Purity and Taoist Sovereign of Provident Truth.Hui Zong assumed the throne and all went well. One day he said to Gao Qiu: “I'd like to raise you in rank, but you'll have to perform some meritorious deed on the border first. I'll have the Council of Military Affairs put you down as available for imperial appointment.” Less than half a year later, he was able to make Gao Qiu a marshal commanding the Imperial Guards.Gao Qiu selected an auspicious day and hour to assume office. All the officers of the Mighty Imperial Guards, both infa
Let’s see in detail about the boy that solved the Fujiwara problem.In Bianliang the Eastern Capital, in Kaifeng Prefecture previously called Xuanwu District, there lived a young scamp named Gao. A second son, he was quite useless. He cared only for jousting with spear and staff, and was an excellent football player. People in the capital were fond of making quips. They dubbed him Gao Qiu, or “Gao the Ball.” Later, when he prospered, he changed “Qiu” to another character with the same sound but with a less inelegant meaning.In addition to his skill with weapons, Gao Qiu could play musical instruments and sing and dance. He also learned a bit about poetry and versifying. But when it came to virtue and proper behavior, he didn't know a thing. He spent his time gadding about the city and its environs. Thanks to him, the son of Master Wang, an iron−shop owner, dissipated a considerable sum of money in theaters, gambling dens and brothel
ILet us leave for now those love birds and return to the situation at had. Prince Yamato laughed when he saw that Yoritomo raised a flag. The prince moved closer to the fence.Yoritomo, proud, moved forward. “This is going no where.”“True,” the prince replied. “What is your offer?”“The final battle.”“You know that you will loose.”“I know.”“Always the proud fool.”Yoritomo turned and left. IIMinamoto Yoritomo was at a stand still, all options looked the same. Good or bad- they all looked the same. He had a choice of evils, he had to choose and now. He won’t have support of the other lords for long. There is no other way.“Charge!” he shouts.The infantry was in the first row to charge. They were near the massive iron gat
Lady Basira insisted that Hegwin should give her instruction in “fencing;” he did not refuse, though he delayed for some days. He preferred Corinna; still, he liked Basira greatly, so difficult was it, in fact, not to like her.A certain morning the first lesson began, mainly because of Basira's boasting and her assurances that she knew that art by no means badly, and that no common person could stand before her. “An old soldier taught me,” said she; “there is no lack of these among us; it is known too that there are no swordsmen superior to ours. It is a question if even you, gentlemen, would not find your equals.”“Of what are you talking?” asked Zastar.“We have no equals in the whole world.”“I should wish it to come out that even I am your equal. I do not expect it, but I should like it.”“If it were firing from pistols, I too would make a trial,” said Lady Mak
The sedate matron became greatly confused, and pushed back somewhat from the jovial knight; the younger women dropped their eyes, divining easily that the pranks of which Sir Zastar was talking must be something opposed to their native modesty, especially since the soldiers burst into loud laughter.“It will be needful to send to Sir Rushet at once,” said Basira, “so that Sir Pyotrovich may find the letters ready in Rashroff.”“Hasten with the whole affair,” added Sir Bogush, “while it is winter: for, first, no wergils come out, and roads are safe; secondly, in the spring God knows what may happen.”“Has the hetman news from Tsargrad?” inquired Hegwin.“He has; and of this we must talk apart. It is necessary to finish quickly with those captains. When will Mellehov come back? For much depends on him.”“He has only to destroy the rest of the ravagers, and afterward bury th
For now let’s leave Kazuma to his sleepingand see what the people, that he meet in Chigrin, are doing, not far from him, Lady Anna wept without ceasing during the reading of the letter; and Zosia accompanied her, raising her blue eyes to heaven. Meanwhile, and before Sir Geswer had finished, Basira ran in, dressed in woman's garments; and seeing tears in the eyes of the ladies, began to inquire with sympathy what the matter was. Therefore Sir Geswer read the hetman's letter for her; and when she had listened to it carefully, she supported at once and with eagerness the prayers of the hetman and Lady Anna.“The hetman has a golden heart,” cried Basira, embracing her husband; “but we shall not show a worse one, Geswer. Lady Anna will stay with us till her husband's return, and you will bring him in three months from the Teswer. In three or in two, is it not true?”“Or tomorrow, or in an hour!” said Sir Geswer, bantering.
Meanwhile the old man said to Zalmar: “I hear that you court the Balir colonels, and drink with them.”“For the public good, most worthy standard-bearer.”“You have a nimble mind, but inclining rather to disgrace. You wish to bring the Balirs to your side in their cups, so they may befriend you in case they win.”“Even if that were true, having been a martyr to the Talmir, I do not wish to become one to the Balirs; and there is nothing wonderful in that, for two mushrooms would spoil the best soup. And as to disgrace, I ask no one to drink it with me,--I drink it alone; and God grant that it taste no worse than this mead. Merit, like oil, must come to the top.”At that moment Kazumareturned. “The men have started already,” said he.Zastvil poured out a measure. “Here is to a pleasant journey!”“And a return in health!” added Zalmar.“You wi