Dreaming of Zhou Gong

  ‘Rainmaker,’ said one of the western lords, and when he bowed down before Hudan, every man in the room followed suit, even Xian. ‘Your sacrifice has already saved my entire kingdom from the curse of the empress. The people of Qiang are forever in your debt.’

  Hudan noted this was the region that Ji Shi had claimed to hail from and quietly observed that he was not present. ‘It was Tian who brought the rain to the lands of the righteous,’ Hudan stated for the record. ‘I only made the request to heaven on our Xibo’s behalf. I performed the sacred oracle for Ji Fa and did foresee his victory under the banner of the white tiger long before he ever set foot on Li Shan. But Tian does not require you to take our word that Ji Fa holds heaven’s mandate.’ Hudan’s eyes diverted to Xian, who met her gaze with a look of curiosity. ‘Heaven will send clear omens,’ she advised mysteriously, and Ji Fa smiled in understanding and nodded his head to concur.

  ‘My dreams of late coincide with my divinations, and the auspicious omen is double!’ Ji Fa continued, seconding her words

  ‘Of what omens do you speak?’ Xian was the first to stand and query this, wary of more delays.

  ‘On the morning of the battle Tian will present Ji Fa with a flaming sword, with five sparkling jewels at the hilt,’ Hudan advised her stunned audience. ‘On that day the sun and moon will combine like jade and the land will be cast into darkness. Know then that the tyrannous rule of Zi Shou has ended, and a glorious new era of peace and co-operation has begun.’

  Everyone, bar Ji Fa and Huxin, was completely overwhelmed by the proclamation and the task assigned to them by heaven.

  ‘Rouse yourselves, my heroes!’ Ji Fa encouraged his men to rise. ‘Do not think that Zi Shou is not to be feared … better to think that he cannot be endured. Unite your energies, unite your hearts, and you will surely accomplish this work that will last for all the ages! Heaven and earth are the parents of all creatures; and of all creatures man is the most highly endowed. The sincerely intelligent among men become the great sovereign. But now Zi Shou, king of the Shang, does not give reverence to heaven above, and inflicts calamities on the people below. Abandoned to drunkenness and reckless in lust, he has exercised cruelty and oppression. He has extended the punishment of offenders to all their relatives. He has put men into office on the hereditary principle. He has made it his purpose to have palaces, towers, pavilions, ponds, and countless other extravagances erected causing injury to you, the people.’

  As Fa’s speech roused their passion, a cheer of agreement swept around the chamber.

  ‘Zi Shou has murdered and burned the loyal and good. He has sliced open pregnant women!’ Fa ended the list of the emperor’s offences. ‘Great heaven was moved with indignation, and charged my father to display the terrors of Zi Shou’s rulership, but he died before the work was completed.’

  Hudan noted Xian’s sights shift to Dan. It was apparent that the lord suspected Dan of having something to do with their father’s death.

  ‘On this account I, Fa, the little child, have by means of you, the hereditary rulers of my friendly states, contemplated the government of the Shang and found that Shou has no repentant heart.’

  It was quietly amusing to hear Fa refer to himself as ‘the little child’ for it was quite true that the Xibo was the shortest in stature of the brothers, the youngest included. This was not his meaning in this instance, however; Ji Fa was, in fact, inferring that he was humbled to be following in the footsteps of his great predecessor.

  ‘Shou sits squatting on his heels, not serving Tian, or the spirits of heaven and earth; neglecting also the temple of his ancestors; and not sacrificing to those who came before. The good people of the Shang fall prey to wicked robbers, and still he says, “The people are mine, the heavenly appointment is mine,” and never trying to correct his contemptuous mind.’

  The warlords gave a cry of support that was even more convincing than the last.

  ‘Heaven, giving help to the people, made for them rulers, to secure the tranquillity of the four quarters of the kingdom,’ Ji Fa proclaimed loudly and with grave self-assurance. ‘Yes, Shou has hundreds and thousands and myriad officers, and they have hundreds and thousands and myriad minds. I have three thousand officers, but they have one mind. The iniquity of the Shang is endless and heaven gives command to destroy it. If I did not obey heaven, my sin would be just as great as theirs! I, the little child, early and late am filled with apprehensions, but I have received the command of my deceased father and I have offered special sacrifice to Tian. I have performed the services due to the great earth and I lead the multitude to execute the punishment as adjudged by heaven. Now is the time! It should not be lost. Do you aid me, the one man, to cleanse forever all within the four seas?’

  ‘Shi!’

  The cry of support was not fierce enough for Fa’s liking. ‘Do you with untiring zeal support me, the one man, to execute the punishment as adjudged by heaven?’ Fa challenged them again.

  ‘Shi!’ the crowd replied with more enthusiasm.

  ‘The ancients have said that he who soothes is our sovereign, he who oppresses is our enemy. This solitary fellow, Shou, having exercised great tyranny, is your perpetual enemy and must be destroyed! Do you, my brothers, march forward with determined boldness to sustain me?’

  ‘Shi!’ This time the shouts and cheers nearly raised the roof, and Ji Fa grinned with delight as the leaders of his alliance chanted his name.

  ‘Where there is much merit, there shall be much reward,’ Fa vowed to his countrymen. ‘Tomorrow we cross the Huang He. Heaven and Tian’s warriors accompany us … victory will be ours!’

  As Ji Fa moved to leave the platform, Jiang Huxin withdrew under his cloak and emerged from beneath in her tiger form, to the consternation of the onlookers. She then gave a friendly roar to compliment the general din.

  ‘That went better than expected,’ Dan commented to Hudan as they followed their Xibo and his tigress from the war room.

  ‘Brother Fa is quite an orator,’ Hudan said, having felt her blood being roused by his words several times during the address. ‘A very fine speech, brother Dan,’ she told him, knowing that, as Fa’s chief aide, Dan wrote the Xibo’s speeches.

  ‘It is all in the delivery,’ he said, waving away the praise, then said quietly: ‘Do you think we should mention what we have uncovered about the Jade Book?’

  Hudan shook her head to the negative. ‘We should focus our energy on accomplishing one thing at a time.’

  Once outside, Hudan sped up to speak with Ji Fa. ‘Ji Shi missed your rousing call to arms, brother Fa.’

  ‘I sent him ahead to Mu,’ Fa replied.

  ‘He has crossed the Huang He, then,’ Hudan said, worried to hear it. Fa was understandably confused by her reaction.

  ‘If we are to march to Yin, that is the path we must take,’ Fa explained and attempted to move off, but again she waylaid him.

  ‘Does Shi know of Su Daji’s shoot to kill order on white tigers?’ Hudan queried.

  ‘Why would I tell Shi about that?’ Fa reasoned. ‘It would only inspire him to go charging off on some personal vendetta.’

  ‘Quite right.’ Hudan dropped the matter to avoid suspicion, and let Ji Fa get on with the business of readying his troops. Hudan could see the wisdom in Ji Fa’s reasoning, and as Shi was on government business he would surely not risk shifting into tiger form, so she felt he was safe enough for the time being.

  11

  THE BATTLE OF MU

  Five days later, under cloudy, rainless skies, the armies from the west and south reached the rallying point in the open country of Mu, just within the Shang border. The location had been specifically chosen for its remoteness, far away from any towns.

  Hudan kept her carriage for the last leg of the journey, rather than switching to horseback, as it saved having to erect a tent each evening and it was hardly slowing the pace of the huge force. If she had been travelling alone, or with her Wu brothers only, she would have been glad t
o sleep out under the stars. As it was, Hudan had never seen so many men, or even imagined there could be so many in all of existence! And these were only Zhou’s troops — according to the reports of their scouts, the Shang force massing against them was ten times larger. She was now quietly grateful for Dan’s constant companionship. He was well known, well respected and — as rumours of their friendship spread — on seeing a woman in Ji Dan’s company everyone immediately knew she was a Wu legend who was not to be trifled with. Hudan was not afraid of taking on an army, but she would rather they were her enemies and not her allies, so keeping Dan’s company meant that there were no misunderstandings.

  The huge camp was utter chaos, so despite Hudan’s attempts to locate Ji Shi, he remained elusive.

  ‘He’ll be out scouting,’ Dan told her, insisting she was unduly worried. ‘That’s what Shi’s good at, that’s what he does … disappears most of the time.’

  Hudan forced a smile, more aware of Shi’s real reasons for escaping. ‘Perhaps I should attempt to project myself to him psychically?’

  ‘You should not risk draining your chi the evening before battle,’ Dan advised, before a shy smile graced his lips. ‘However, if you did do so, I would be more than happy to aid in repairing any damage.’

  The look Hudan served him was a rebuke, although she cracked a smile. ‘I commend you for not saying so last time we had this conversation.’

  ‘At that time, I do not think you would have taken the suggestion in the light-hearted, but sincere, manner that it was meant.’

  She considered he was probably right about that, but Hudan had learned to relax in Dan’s company now. ‘Should I ever require such assistance, you will be the first to know,’ she granted, with good humour.

  ‘Honestly?’ Dan asked rather more seriously than their banter warranted and Hudan suddenly realised why they were having this conversation.

  ‘My interest in your little brother is simply maternal,’ she said rather more coolly, having already reassured Dan on that front before now. ‘He’s just a baby, for heaven’s sake, like Fen. He reminds me of Fen. He has no parents to watch out for him, just brothers, who boss him about, tell him nothing and —’

  ‘Hudan!’ Dan gripped her shoulders to stop her rant. ‘I shall make inquiries. You should return to your carriage and prepare for tomorrow. I shall see you there, later.’ He reconsidered. ‘Much later … as this war council may adjourn quite late.’

  ‘I think not,’ Hudan assured Dan. ‘Fa knows exactly what must be done, so a good night’s sleep should be had by everyone.’ Dan looked doubtful. ‘And the preparation I needed to do was done before I left Li Shan,’ she further advised him. ‘I am ready for Su Daji.’

  ‘I envy your surety,’ Dan replied, ‘but I do not doubt it.’ He forced a smile, and left her to join the other officers and warlords assembling in the Xibo’s large tent.

  Just after nightfall, Dan joined Hudan at her carriage, which was situated on the outskirts of the officers’ section of the campsite. There he found her aiding Fen and Nuan to brew up remedies and medicines.

  ‘Here is our night owl,’ Hudan commented when she saw him approaching, and lifting a small pot from one of the fires, she set it aside a moment. ‘We’ve made you a little something to help you sleep.’

  Dan was apprehensive. ‘I don’t know if that is wise? I wouldn’t wish to miss the battle, or wake up groggy.’

  ‘You need some decent rest. This brew is not strong enough to give you more than a few hours respite,’ she assured him. ‘And I shall wake you before dawn, I promise.’ She poured the steaming brew into a cup and offered it to him. ‘Trust me.’

  Hudan knew better than anyone how little he’d slept on this journey. The first week he’d been too agitated by Hudan’s mysterious favouring of his brother, and since his Wu training had been neglected of late, his mind was back to being overactive and he could not shut it off.

  Dan sat down in front of the log they were all using as a seat, and, accepting the elixir, he obediently drank it down in one gulp. ‘I thank you.’ He handed the empty cup back.

  ‘Did you manage to locate Shi?’ Hudan asked, and Dan was bewildered. Here they were on the eve of war, and Hudan’s only concern was for Shi?

  ‘Shi is out scouting, as I said.’

  ‘But when did he leave?’ she queried.

  ‘Before we arrived this morning.’

  ‘And he has still not returned to report?’ Hudan’s determination to seek his young brother began to stir up the resentment he’d been suppressing since he’d seen them together in the garden at Li Shan.

  ‘It is not unusual for a scout to be gone for days, weeks sometimes,’ he stressed, hoping that she would drop the subject. ‘Shi is one of our best scouts. I am sure he is perfectly safe and will return by morning.’

  ‘I shall pray to Tian that it is so.’ Her eyes were gazing into the fire, entranced, as she said this, and Dan had to wonder if she ever expended this much worry on him.

  ‘I think it is Fa you should be praying for,’ he commented aloofly, and Hudan looked at him.

  ‘I pray for the deliverance of all the Ji family,’ she clarified, and the comment pacified him a little. Or perhaps it was the sleeping potion taking effect. ‘Have you prepared the composition the Great Mother requested that you perform before the battle?’ Hudan asked, changing the subject at last, although Dan did not really find the new topic any more preferable and slouched further into the log at his back.

  ‘In my head.’ He suppressed a yawn. ‘How that will translate through my fingers remains to be seen.’

  ‘Nuan and I shall be there to assist you, lord,’ Fen assured Dan, with a beaming smile.

  ‘And I am grateful,’ Dan assured his ward, ‘but you should keep your focus on your own preparation, as you shall have enough to deal with, treating the wounded.’

  Fen shook his head at this, ‘I think the medics among the Shang will have far more to deal with than I,’ he said confidently. ‘Hudan will protect us.’ Fen’s admiring gaze shifted to his sister and she didn’t dismiss his claim, but gave him a smile.

  These Wu had never seen a real battle and Dan had to wonder if it was they who were deluded, or himself, as logic told him they were going to be massacred. Yet whether they won, or died trying, Zi Shou would never rule over them again and that thought was liberating.

  As Dan’s eyes slowly closed, he worried about Hudan’s claim that heaven would gift Fa a sword before the battle tomorrow. This was obviously part of the oracle Ji Fa and Jiang Hudan had shared, and a condition of the deal they had struck with Tian. But even after witnessing many a Wu miracle, Dan thought the gifting of a sword was an outrageous notion. He also hoped the sleeping brew he’d taken wouldn’t prevent him from witnessing the event, so he obviously anticipated that heaven would not disappoint.

  ‘Dan.’

  A warm hand was stroking his cheek.

  ‘Awake friend, the day of our destiny is nigh.’

  The sound of Hudan’s lovely voice drew him from the twilight of his dream state. When Dan opened his eyes to behold her, bathed in moonlight and smiling broadly at him, it was the most pleasant awakening he’d ever had. ‘Good morning,’ he said, without a hint of sarcasm, as he felt truly rested for the first time since the yin rite.

  ‘It certainly is.’ Hudan pulled back and directed his attention to the sky above them.

  The clouds had departed and the starry sky appeared to have been cut open — a long gash through the belly of the heavens bled bright red light into the night sky. The streak of red was thickest in the west, and tailed off to a point toward the east. In the constellation of Fang through which the bright blade of light extended, five planets aligned like a string of jewels, glistening across the hilt of heaven’s fiery weapon.

  ‘The omen!’ he gasped, sitting immediately upright.

  Realising that everyone in the camp was still sleeping, he was dismayed, for the omen would not be so easily seen after
sunrise.

  ‘Alert Fa,’ Dan instructed Hudan, before rushing over to rouse Fen and Nuan. ‘Quickly, we must fetch our instruments.’ Dan directed his ward’s attention to the sky, and the lad jumped immediately into action. Heart pounding in his chest, Dan made to honour the vow he’d made to Yi Wu and his Xibo; he had been dreading this performance.

  Yet heaven’s spectacular gift was inspiring and warranted a magnificent salute by way of thanks. The Great Mother had fortunately foreseen this and prepared Dan for the duty, which now felt like the highest of honours.

  It was no surprise to Hudan to find the Xibo awake and outside his tent, staring at the sky like a gleeful child. ‘I saw it in my dreams, and still I stand in awe of its manifestation.’

  ‘The hilt to the west places the sword of the divine clearly in your quarter, brother Fa,’ Hudan said. ‘Is the little child ready to become king?’

  Fa smiled at her reference, and looked her way to nod. ‘May that come at a small price to my countrymen.’

  The sound of Dan’s qin and Fen’s dizi attracted their attention to the centre of the campsite, and watching the troops stir gently to the dulcet, inspiring tones and then heed the prophesied omen in the sky above was an utter delight — an enchanting scene fit for the birth of a new legend.

  ‘Behold,’ the troops and officers cried, ‘Tian’s gift to the one true Tianzi! Victory to Zhou! Vic-tor-y … vic-tor-y.’ The call to arms built to a rousing chant.

  Tianzi meant ‘son of the heaven’, and this omen validated, for all to see, Ji Fa’s claim to have heaven’s mandate to overthrow the Shang and not be branded an usurper — for in the eyes of heaven and the people, he was now a king.

  ‘That certainly seems to have raised morale somewhat,’ commented Fa.

  ‘Of course,’ she concurred, ‘for the side of the righteous in the eyes of heaven is now clear in the eyes of the people.’