Chapter 112: Behind Enemy Lines

The political machinations in Chang'an had no impact on the Western Regions thousands of miles away, nor did they weigh on the minds of Liu Ji and his party as they trekked upstream along the Indus River.

They had been away from Gilgit for seven or eight days. After turning from the Skardu Valley into the Indus Valley, they had traveled eastward, crossing the arid Ladakh region. The route was sparsely populated and comprised mostly of sloping hills, making their journey uneventful, if not entirely free of peril.

With the war still raging, they dared not take the main roads. Even on these mountain trails and river paths, they had to exercise extreme caution—first against wild beasts, then against stragglers from defeated armies, and perhaps even mountain bandits.

This region already belonged to the outskirts of the ancient Zhangzhung Kingdom. It was a civilization with a history far deeper than that of the Tibetan Empire. Once the most powerful force on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, it had been conquered by the Tibetans, who had long sought to incorporate it as their sixth "Ru," though they had never quite succeeded.

The reason was simple: the territory was too vast. To the north, it faced the Yutian Garrison across the Kunlun Mountains; to the west lay India; to the south, Nepal; and to the east, it bordered the Tibetan Empire and the Supi. Historical records described it as a land stretching thousands of miles with an army of eighty to ninety thousand—a great power in every sense of the word.

Despite its vast expanse, the population was not particularly dense. Like other regions, most people were concentrated in a few scattered cities, while the rest—much like the Bolü people—lived by nomadic herding and hunting, relying on the bounty of nature to sustain a lifestyle that had persisted for thousands of years.

At least in the eleventh year of the Tianbao era, this way of life was poised to be shattered, as the Great Tang, looming just across the mountains, began to bare its fangs.

By now, Liu Ji had fully transformed into a Bolü hunter. He wore a short leather robe, a cloth wrapped around his head, and a coarse mask, leaving only his eyes visible. On his feet were newly woven straw sandals, and his pant legs were tightly bound to his calves with straps, giving him a lean and efficient appearance.

"I never imagined someone of your standing would be so accustomed to mountain terrain."

Hearing the voice from behind, Liu Ji lowered the hand he had been shielding his eyes with. He stood with his hands on his hips, looking quite content, striking the pose of a conqueror surveying his domain.

Beneath his feet lay the heart of the region controlled by India—the very place the Pakistani side dreamed of invading. He did not know how many times they had run simulations on sand tables, or how many lives would have to be sacrificed to even get close; yet here he was, standing on that very ground.

Alas, it was still a long way from becoming his own land.

The speaker was Du Guli. His knowledge of the area was inferior to Liu Ji's, but his natural instincts as a hunter made him an ideal scout. They possessed an innate sensitivity to the environment that no amount of formal training could replicate.

Besides him was Kang Laosi, disguised as a Sogdian merchant, accompanied by several clerks from the Shi family shop posing as his servants, while Liu Ji’s own men acted as guards. The group of over a dozen people, along with twenty-odd pack horses, formed a typical caravan traversing the borders of the Western Regions, India, and Tibet.

In this group, aside from Liu Ji himself, everyone was a foreigner. He had not brought Zhang Wujia or Xu Guangjing, for they were venturing into completely unfamiliar territory where any Han Chinese could invite unnecessary trouble. If it were not for the fact that his presence was essential, Liu Ji himself should not have come.

Zhangzhung was viewed by the Tibetans as their heartland, much like Longyou was to the Great Tang.

***

Du Guli was dressed just like him, carrying a wooden bow on his back. A thin, dark-skinned little girl sat on his shoulders, swinging her small feet back and forth—this was his daughter, Zhuoma, looking for all the world like a young shepherd.

The little girl was not only bold but also quick-witted and required little protection. Her presence made their cover more convincing, which was the final reason Liu Ji had agreed to take them.

Kang Laosi rode his horse, looking somewhat comical given his stature; the mountain-bred pony was so small that he could almost touch the ground by straightening his legs. Unlike the relaxed Liu Ji, he looked around nervously, as if he feared a squad of Tibetan soldiers might spring out at any moment.

They were deep behind enemy lines.

In Gilgit, there had at least been the Shi family shop to provide support, but they had been sleeping in the wild for seven or eight days now. They dared not enter villages, and they skirted around every city they encountered. As they ventured further into the unknown, he had no idea when this would end.

More importantly, having come this deep, he had no idea what their commander, the Garrison Commandant, was actually planning. He felt uneasy.

Liu Ji soon addressed his concerns. He called the group together and pointed to a hill in the distance. "Beyond that mountain lies the Tibetan city of Bazaduo. It is considered quite large in these parts. There are bound to be Sogdian merchants there; we need to send someone to gather information."

"We aren't going into the city?" Kang Laosi asked.

"Avoid it if we can; what we are looking for is not there," Liu Ji shook his head. "We need two pieces of information."

"First, the outcome of the war—whether the Tibetans have been defeated. Second, we are looking for a specific place, which should be in this vicinity."

The first point was easy to understand and was a concern for everyone in the group. Aside from Liu Ji and his men, everyone—from Du Guli to the clerks—hoped for a Tang victory to provide them with a firm foundation of support.

"What kind of place exactly?"

"The residence of Princess Jincheng—a fortress or a small town."

His words left everyone staring at each other in confusion. It wasn't that the place was mysterious, but how could he possibly know that the Princess’s residence would be here?

After all, she had passed away thirteen years ago, and their Garrison Commandant was not even twenty years old.

The reason for seeking it out was not mere curiosity; Liu Ji harbored a doubt that perhaps could only be resolved by seeing it with his own eyes.

***

Dozens of miles away, there was a hill of earth. The entire mountainside lacked vegetation and clear form, as if it had been split open by a giant knife. One side had been hollowed out to create a series of Buddhist caves.

Zeng Jiuniang, still dressed in the attire of a Tibetan woman, sat kneeling on a cushion with her hands pressed together, chanting softly.

"...Because the Bodhisattva relies on the Perfection of Wisdom, his heart is without hindrance. Because he is without hindrance, he has no fear. He is far removed from delusions and upside-down dreams, and attains ultimate Nirvana. All Buddhas of the three ages, by relying on the Perfection of Wisdom, attain the highest, most perfect enlightenment."

A maid waited for a moment until she finished a passage, then stepped forward, leaned down, and whispered in her ear: "Mistress, Xiao Si has returned."

Zeng Jiuniang bowed her head in prayer once more before lifting it to gaze at the stone statue carved into the cliff wall. It was a Buddha wearing a golden crown, with a smooth, hairless face and a gentle smile. After a long while, she rose with the maid's assistance.

Outside the cave, the attendant named Xiao Si was waiting. Seeing them emerge, he stepped forward to offer his respects.

"Mistress, news has come from the city: the Tibetans have been defeated."

Zeng Jiuniang showed no surprise. She frowned and asked, "And the Tang soldiers? Where are they?"

"They have just crossed Great Bolü and are advancing into the heartland."

"And that man?"

"No definitive news yet. Xiao Wu has remained in the city; he will report back as soon as there is any movement."

Zeng Jiuniang did not speak further. She looked quietly at the river valley in the distance, then turned and walked in the opposite direction.