Chapter 23: The Old Blind Man and the Old Lame Man

Early the next morning, the sky was overcast. A hazy, fine rain had been falling since the previous night. High above, thick clouds gathered, accompanied by the cool winds of summer, stirring an unsettling feeling in the heart. Such were the summers in the Northern Frontier: rainy and cool.

Amidst this misty drizzle, a cavalry unit of over a hundred men was advancing rapidly toward Hexi Fort. When they reached a point a few hundred meters from the fort, the riders slowed their pace.

"Whoa!"

Leading the column was an old man of about sixty. He was dressed in a tan linen robe, layered with a sheepskin coat, and wore sheepskin boots. His hair was graying, his skin dark and weathered, and his face was etched with deep wrinkles. Despite his age, his frame remained tall and sturdy. His single remaining eye shone with the piercing intensity of a hawk as he scanned the distant fort.

"It seems the Karluks haven't reached Hexi Fort yet," the old man said with a slight sigh of relief. Turning to the burly young man beside him, he added, "Let's move in."

With that, the two men led the hundred-plus riders slowly toward the village. The people within Hexi Fort had already spotted their arrival. Several riders dashed out to meet them, and even from a distance, Erhu’s excited, booming voice could be heard.

"Grandfather! Grandfather!"

Hearing the boy’s call, the one-eyed old man let out a hearty laugh. "That lad, Erhu, he's still as lively as ever!"

A young man beside him, who bore a striking resemblance to the old man, chuckled as well. "He’s inherited your temperament, after all!"

Soon, the two groups converged.

"Grandfather, Second Uncle, you’ve finally come! I missed you so much!" Erhu leapt from his horse and bounded toward his grandfather, jumping with joy.

"Hahaha, Erhu, you’ve grown even sturdier, haven't you?" The grandfather dismounted and pulled the boy into a tight embrace. He tried to lift him up as he had when he was a child, but found he no longer had the strength. "My, you've gotten so heavy!"

"Erhu, let go of your grandfather. You’re squeezing him so hard, he can't take it," his Second Uncle said with a laugh.

As they spoke, Li Xiao and the Old Master climbed down from their horses. The grandfather ruffled Erhu’s hair, then looked at the Old Master. He took a short breath and grinned broadly. "Old friend, I’ve arrived!"

The Old Master looked back at him, his expression unchanged. He gave a slight nod and said simply, "Good."

Qin Kaishan shook his head. "Ha, you’ve become even more tight-lipped than before!"

The Old Master only hummed in response, remaining silent. Li Xiao, listening to their exchange, felt a sense of speechlessness. This one-eyed man was his maternal grandfather, Qin Kaishan. He and the Old Master had been lifelong brothers-in-arms, the kind of bond forged on the battlefield where each would willingly take a blade for the other. Li Xiao had expected a reunion of old comrades to be an outpouring of raw emotion—hugs, back-slapping, or perhaps even spending the night talking until dawn. In reality, there was no outward display of passion; it was as calm as water. Li Xiao could only attribute this to the unique way the older generation communicated. True brotherhood did not need words; everything was understood in the silence between them.

"Dalong, come over here. Let your grandfather take a look at you—you’ve become a man!" After greeting the Old Master, the grandfather turned his gaze to Li Xiao, his face blooming with a warm smile as he beckoned him over.

Li Xiao stepped forward. "Grandfather, Second Uncle."

In truth, his mind still carried the sensibilities of his previous life, and he struggled to feel that same natural intimacy with these relatives. When his grandfather began kneading his head, Li Xiao could only force a polite smile.

The Old Master stepped in to relieve him. "Dalong is now the master of Hexi Fort."

Hearing this, the grandfather paused, feeling both pride for his grandson and a pang of sadness. He patted Li Xiao on the shoulder gently. "Come, take me to pay my respects to your father."

In truth, Li Xiao’s eldest uncle had also gone to North Mountain and never returned. Because no news had ever reached them, the Qin family had clung to a sliver of hope.

"Yes, let’s go home first," the Old Master said with a slight nod. He turned to mount his horse, adding, "Old Zhao has just arrived as well."

Qin Kaishan looked surprised. "That old cripple travels fast!"

With that, the group headed into the village. Once inside, Qin Kaishan noticed that the population of Hexi Fort had indeed increased; several courtyards were packed with warhorses laden with tents, weapons, and provisions. Many men were hunched in the rooms, devouring horse meat.

"Are these people from Ta Village?" Qin Kaishan asked, gesturing to the men.

The Old Master nodded from his horse. "Yes. They arrived not long ago, and Dalong has already seen to their rest. Later, have Dalong arrange for your men from Gushan Fort to get some sleep. We have things to do tonight."

Things to do tonight? Qin Kaishan realized that Hexi Fort was preparing for a major operation.

Before he could inquire further, they reached the Li family compound. From a distance, Qin Kaishan spotted several figures standing before the gate. Most striking was an old man with only one leg, his face etched with the weariness of years, using a spear as a crutch to steady himself.

"Ha! You old cripple, you arrived fast! Did your son carry you here?" Qin Kaishan called out with a laugh from a distance.

The one-legged man, Zhao Tiezhu, did not hold back. He laughed and retorted, "I’m a cripple and I still got here before you. Did you, you old blind man, lose your way and ride your horse into a ditch?"

"Hahaha!"

The two men laughed heartily. As they drew close, they embraced and exchanged a few solid punches to the chest. Li Xiao felt a sense of relief watching this. *That’s more like it,* he thought. *This is how old friends greet one another.* The earlier interaction had been an anomaly, simply a result of the Old Master’s overwhelming presence.

After a few words with Old Man Zhao, Qin Kaishan’s gaze shifted to Qin Dani, who stood to the side with tear-filled eyes. The smile faded from his face.

"Father..." Qin Dani’s tears streamed down her face. Seeing her father, she began to sob openly.

"Ah, Dani..." Qin Kaishan stepped forward and patted her shoulder. Only two days ago, Qin Dani had visited her maiden home, and he never expected such a catastrophe to befall them so soon. Not only had Li Dahai been killed, but there was also no news of Qin Dani’s eldest brother. Qin Kaishan felt the grief deep in his heart, but like any father, he didn't know how to comfort his daughter. In that moment, he wished more than ever that his wife had come with him.

"Dahai was a good man; he did not bring shame upon our Han people!" Qin Kaishan said with a firm nod.

Li Xiao and Erhu stepped forward to help Qin Dani stand. "Mother, you’ve been crying too much these past few days. You must take care of your health. You cannot collapse now."

After a while, Qin Dani was comforted. The group went inside, and Qin Kaishan lit incense before Li Dahai’s memorial tablet, while Li Xiao’s Second Uncle bowed respectfully. Given the circumstances, the funerals for Li Dahai and the others could not be elaborate; they would have to wait until the Karluks were repelled.

Once this was done, they sat down, and Qin Kaishan immediately asked, "Brother, what are the arrangements for tonight?"

Old Man Zhao, who had arrived earlier, was already aware of the Old Master’s decision. The Han people in Jinzhou consisted of nine forts and eighteen villages, and while there were frequent conflicts between them, many were bound by marriage and long-standing alliances. The Old Master and his friends had been sworn brothers in their youth, and later, they had become in-laws. The Old Master had two sons and one daughter; his eldest son had married Qin Kaishan’s daughter—Li Xiao’s parents—while his daughter had married Zhao Tiezhu’s son. Furthermore, Li Xiao’s eldest sister, Li Dafeng, had married into Hedong Fort two years prior. These villages were deeply interconnected, and when faced with an external enemy, they were capable of rallying together for mutual support.

"The arrangements are set. First, let your men from Gushan Fort eat, then get some sleep," the Old Master said calmly, his gaze shifting to Li Xiao.

Li Xiao understood immediately. "I will see to it."

He left the house with Erhu to clear out several rooms in the village to house the men from Gushan Fort for the day. One day would suffice; they would be fighting by nightfall. The task was easy enough, and soon several rooms with long earthen heated beds were cleared. Li Xiao also had horse meat brought to them, telling them to eat their fill.

During this process, Li Xiao counted the men from Gushan Fort: one hundred and twelve. Combined with the hundred or so from Ta Village, they had over two hundred men. Hexi Fort currently had over three hundred able-bodied men, but they could not send them all. Many, like Dawu and Xiao Heizi, who had returned from North Mountain, were injured and unable to fight. Others were too old or frail, and a garrison had to be left behind to protect the village. Thus, Hexi Fort could only contribute about two hundred men.

All told, they had over four hundred. But there was more: Li Xiao’s eldest sister’s in-laws at Hedong Fort, located thirty miles to the east, were also under threat from the Karluks at Sanhe Fort. Their strength was lesser, and after leaving a garrison, they could only send about a hundred men. In total, the four-fort coalition would reach about six hundred troops.

Compared to the eight hundred Karluk rebels Li Xiao predicted, the numbers were not vastly different. However, one issue could not be ignored: the Karluks were a nomadic people. Unless it was a forced long-distance expedition, the entire tribe migrated during standard combat. The men fought at the front, while the women and elderly handled logistics in the rear. Sanhe Fort had been occupied for two days; the Karluk non-combatants had likely already arrived there to regroup. In a critical moment, these people would pose a significant threat to the coalition.

If the Karluks used their numerical advantage, a direct confrontation would be difficult, and even a victory would come at a heavy cost.

"Therefore, we must strike at night," Li Xiao thought to himself. He looked up at the sky. The thick, dark clouds hid the sun, and they would surely hide the moon tonight.

"Today," Li Xiao said coldly, "is a good day."