Chapter 35

They travelled on for another six days. On the morningof the seventh day, they spotted dark clouds in thedistance.

　　"Is that a storm brewing?" Chen asked.

　　The girl studied the horizon. "They're not rainclouds," she said. "It's dust from the ground.""How could there be so much?""I don't know. Let's go and look!" They spurred theirhorses forward, and as the swirling dust cloud rosebefore them, they began to hear the sound of metalclashing with metal drifting over towards them. Chenreined in his horse.

　　"It's an army," he said. "We must get out of the wayquickly." They turned and rode off east, but after awhile, another dust cloud arose in front of them and acolumn of mounted troops appeared. Amidst the dust,Chen saw a huge flag inscribed with the name ofGeneral Zhao. Having already clashed once with Zhao'sarmoured troops at the Yellow River crossing, he knewthem to be formidable fighters, and he motioned to thegirl with his hand and galloped off southwards.

　　Luckily, both their horses were swift, and after amoment's hard riding, the armoured column had droppedfar behind.

　　The girl looked anxious. "I hope our army will be ableto hold their own," she said. Chen was just about tosay something comforting when horns sounded in front,and rank upon rank of soldiers appeared over a rise.

　　To the left, there was a thundrous ground-shaking roarand a vast carpet of cavalry moved across the hillstowards them. With one sweep of his left arm, Chenswung the girl onto his horse and took out his shieldto protect her.

　　"Don't be afraid," he said. The girl, still huggingthe little deer, looked round at him and nodded. "Ifyou say there's no need to be afraid, then I won'tbe," she said. As she spoke, her soft, orchid-likefragrance, enveloped him, and feelings of tendernessrose within him despite the danger of their situation.

　　With enemy troops advancing from the east, north andsouth, Chen urged the white horse westwards as herchestnut horse followed along behind. After a while,they spotted Manchu troops ahead of them once more.

　　Very worried, Chen spurred the horse up onto highground to get a better idea of the Manchu positionsand to look for a gap through which they could escape.

　　But he could see at a glance that they were completelysurrounded by the Manchu army. To the west, beyond thethousands of Manchu foot soldiers in close ranksprotected on both flanks by cavalry, was the Muslimarmy, also an imposing force with a forest of spearsand scimitars rising above the striped gowns of thewarriors. The two sides had halted, obviously inpreparation for battle, and Manchu officers rode backand forth making final prepartions. The huge armygradually became deathly quiet. Chen and the girl hadby this time been noticed, and several soldiersapproached to question them.

　　"The gods have conspired to deliver us into the handsof the Manchus," Chen thought. But the idea of dyingwith the girl beside him gave him a strange pleasure.

　　He grasped the Pearl Strings in his right hand, thereins in his left, and shouted: "Let's go!"The horse galloped off towards the end of the Manchulines, and in the blink of an eye, had passed threecompanies of troops. Rank upon rank of armouredsoldiers, bows at the ready, passed before them, andChen knew that with one word from the Manchucommanders, he and the girl in his arms wouldimmediately become the repositories of a thousandspears and ten thousand arrows. He pulled the reins intightly and slowly cantered along, not even glancingat the soldiers.

　　The morning sun had just risen, and as they rodetowards it, the troops stared in shock at the girl'sglorious beauty, her hair, face, arms and gownsplashed with pale sunlight, and each one, whethergeneral or trooper, found his heart thumpingfuriously. They watched as the two gradually rode offinto the distance.

　　Even General Zhao, who was in personal command, wasovercome by a feeling of calm and peace, and he knewhe was in no mood for killing. Looking round, he foundall his officers and underlings likewise hadexpressions of serenity on their faces. They hadalready replaced their swords in their scabbards, andwere obviously awaiting the general's order to retire.

　　"Return to camp," Zhao said in a far-away voice. Theorder was relayed back, and the tens of thousands ofsoldiers turned and went back to their camp site morethan ten miles away beside the Black Water River.

　　Chen was covered in a cold sweat and his hands shookwith fear, but the girl looked un-worried, apparentlyunaware of the great danger they had passed through.

　　She smiled at him and leapt over onto the back of thechestnut horse.

　　"That is our army in front," she said. Chen put awayhis shield and galloped towards the Muslim lines. Asmall detail of cavalrymen rode out to meet them,shouting and cheering as they came, then jumped offtheir horses and bowed before the girl. The officer incharge walked over to Chen and bowed before him too.

　　"Brother, you have endured great hardship. May Allahthe true God protect you," he said.

　　Chen bowed in return and thanked him. The girl rodestraight into the Muslim ranks without waiting forChen. She obviously commanded a degree of respect, forwherever the chestnut horse went, the soldiers madeway for it with cheers.

　　A brigade commander invited Chen to the barracks toeat and rest, and Chen told him he wanted to see thetribe's leader, Master Muzhuolun.

　　"The Master has gone to observe the enemy's strength,"the commander replied. "When he returns, I willimmediately inform him." Following the long journeyand the tense encounter with the Manchu army, Chenfelt worn out, and after he had been shown to a smalltent, he immediately slept.

　　Some time after noon, the commander returned to saythat Muzhuolun was now not expected to return untilevening. Chen asked him who the white-gowned girl was.

　　The commander smiled. "How could anyone be morebeautiful than she?" he said. "We are having alove-match meeting tonight. Why don't you come along,brother? You will be able to meet our leader there."Chen did not press him further. Towards evening, hesaw the young warriors donning their finery, each facealive with excitement. The desert evening sky slowlydeepened in colour and a thin crescent moon rose abovethe horizon. Chen heard the sound of music strike upand soon afterwards, the commander came into the tent.

　　"The new moon has risen," he said, taking Chen's hand.

　　"Let us go, brother!" The two walked towards a hugebonfire where the young Muslim warriors weregathering. All around, people were roasting beef andmutton, and preparing various delicacies while othersplayed musical instruments. A horn blew, and a groupof people emerged from a large tent near the bonfire,among whom Chen recognised Muzhuolun and his son, HuoAyi. Chen decided he would wait until the officialceremony was over before revealing himself, and turnedup the collar of his gown to hide his face.

　　Muzhuolun motioned to the crowd, and they all kneltdown and prayed to Allah. When the prayer was ended,he spoke.

　　"Those brothers who have already taken legal wives, Iam afraid I must ask you to go and stand guard," hesaid. "Let your younger brothers have a pleasantevening."Three columns of warriors formed up. Huo Ayi,flourishing his sabre, led them off into the darkness.

　　Having lived many years in the Muslim regions, Chenknew that although marriages were arranged by parentsaccording to various considerations of wealth andproperty, the procedure was still much more liberalthan that of the Chinese. The love-match party was atradition among the Muslims that had been passed downfor many generations at which young, unmarried boysand girls could seal their romances and becomeengaged. The initiative was taken by the girl, whowould place a belt round the neck of her chosen boyand lead him to dance.

　　After a while, the music became softer in tone. Thetent door flaps parted and out came a large group ofyoung Muslim girls who sang and danced their waytowards the bonfire. They all wore colourful clothesand small caps laced with gold and silver threadswhich sparkled brightly in the firelight. Chen noticedtwo beautiful girls walking over to Muzhuolun, one inyellow, the other in white, and with a start, herecognised them as Huo Qingtong and the girl who hadbrought him to the Muslim camp. Under the moonlight,they both looked extremely graceful and attractive.

　　The two girls sat down, one on either side ofMuzhuolun.

　　A thought suddenly struck Chen. "The girl in whitemust be Huo Qingtong's younger sister. No wonder Ikept thinking her face was familiar: it's the sameface as that on the jade vases, although the drawingdoes not even come close to reproducing her realbeauty."His heart began to thump wildly. From the day he hadfirst met Huo Qingtong, his love for her had begun togrow, but the familiar closeness between her and LuFeiqing's pupil had convinced him that she already hada suitor. Also, having spent the past few days withsuch a matchless beauty, his romantic thoughts hadturned completely towards the white-gowned girl.

　　The music stopped, and Muzhuolun's voice rang outclearly: "The prophet Mohammed teaches us in the Koranin the 190th verse of the second chapter: 'Fight inthe cause of Allah those who fight you', and in the39th verse of the 22nd chapter: 'To those against whomwar is made, permission is given to fight because theyare wronged, and verily, Allah is most powerful fortheir aid.' We are being oppressed and Allah willcertainly assist and protect us." A thunderous cheerwent up from the crowd. "Brothers and sisters!" heshouted. "Enjoy yourselves fully!"Singing and laughter rose all about, accompanied bythe music of Horse Head fiddles. Cooks distributedroast meat, honeymelons, dried grapes and horse milkwine among the throng. Everyone held in their hands asmall bowl made out of salt rock in which they rubbedthe roast meat. After a while, the new moon rose upinto the sky and the merry-making became even moreintense. Some of the young girls jumped up and dancedover to the boy of their choice, took the embroideredbelt from their waists and placed it round the boy'sneck, then led him off to dance near the bonfire.

　　Chen had grown up in a world of strict conventions andhad never before seen an occasion of such open-mindedand unrestrained merriment. With the singing ringingin his ears and emotions swirling through his heart,he found his face beginning to flush after only a fewcups of horse's milk wine.

　　The music stopped momentarily, then started again,even faster than before. Everyone looked curiouslytowards Muzhuolun, and following the direction oftheir gaze, Chen saw the white-robed girl had stood upand was floating gracefully towards them. The crowdwas greatly excited and a hubbub of discussion arose.

　　Chen heard the cavalry commander beside him say: "TheFragrant Princess has chosen a lover. But who couldpossibly be worthy of her?"That his beloved younger daughter had found a boy sheloved was a great surprise and a great joy toMuzhuolun. He watched her intently with tearsglistening in his eyes.

　　Princess Fragrance glided round and round, passingalong the edge of the circle that had formed. In herhands, she held a brilliantly-embroidered belt and shesoftly sang:

　　"Please come out,You who picked the snow lily for me.

　　I am searching for you,You who saved my little deer."The words hit Chen's ears like a clap of thunder. Awhite hand touched his shoulder and the embroideredbelt fell around his neck. The Princess tugged gentlyand Chen, scared out of his wits, followed her. Thecrowd cheered, and all around him people startedsinging.

　　In the hazy moonlight, Muzhuolun and Huo Qingtongfailed to recognise Chen, and walked forward tocongratulate him along with the others thinking he wasan ordinary Muslim. Suddenly, they heard three blastsfrom a distant horn, the signal for danger, and thecrowd immediately dispersed. Muzhuolun and HuoQingtong returned to their seats. The Princess tookChen's hand and led him off to sit at the back of thecrowd. Chen felt her soft body leaning towards him,and a light fragrance entered his nostrils,intoxicating his senses. He truly could not tell if hewas in a dream or in heaven.