[Water Margin] Hu Sanniang with her delicate hands - Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Life at Liangshan Marsh passed slowly in a tense equilibrium. Hu Sanniang rarely left her compound, except for her fixed morning practice—silently wielding her Sun and Moon double sabers in her small courtyard to maintain physical condition and inner sharpness. When wives or female relatives of the leaders, such as Gu Dasao or Sun Erniang, occasionally came to visit, she responded politely but coolly, maintaining her distance.
She was like a piece of ice dropped into boiling water: on the surface, she seemed assimilated, but inwardly, she firmly preserved a frozen ground.
One morning, she was practicing her sabers in the courtyard. The blades flashed, kicking up a few fallen leaves. Suddenly, a commotion different from the usual noise reached her from outside the courtyard, mixed with the sound of horses’ hooves and commands—it seemed a large troop movement was underway.
“Third Mistress,” Hu Cheng hurried in from outside the courtyard, whispering, “There’s an order from the stockade. There will be a military drill in front of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness today, and all leaders are required to attend.”
“A drill?” Hu Sanniang stopped her sabers, her breathing even.
“Yes, I heard it is Leader Song’s intention to inspect the training of various camps and boost morale. Also…” Hu Cheng hesitated, “it seems envoys from the Liao Kingdom have arrived at the stockade and will also be observing the ceremony.”
Liao Kingdom envoys?
A slight stirring occurred in Hu Sanniang’s heart. Although Liangshan Marsh dominated the Shandong region, it had never interacted with the Liao Kingdom in the north. Why were Liao envoys here now? She vaguely felt that this might be a variable.
The training ground in front of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness was now a hive of activity. Leaders from Liangshan’s various camps led their elite henchmen in neat formations. Banners fluttered, and a forest of blades and spears presented the look of a formidable army. On the high platform in front of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, several chairs were set. Song Jiang, Wu Yong, Lu Junyi, and other core leaders were seated prominently. Next to them were a few places occupied by Liao people dressed in fur and with braided hair tucked to the left, presumably the Liao envoys.
Hu Sanniang was escorted to the viewing area reserved for female relatives and civil leaders, standing with Gu Dasao and others. She could feel several gazes on her the moment she appeared, one of which, still hot and uncomfortable, came from Wang Ying’s direction. She looked straight ahead, focusing her attention on the training ground.
The military drill began. First, the infantry formations marched, advancing and retreating in order, their shouts shaking the sky. Then, the cavalry charged, riding back and forth, raising clouds of dust. Water specialists then demonstrated swimming and drilling through ships… The various exercises indeed displayed Liangshan’s considerable combat power. Song Jiang and the others on the platform looked pleased, occasionally exchanging words with the Liao envoys beside them. Although the Liao envoys nodded, their expressions carried a hint of the arrogance of grassland nobles, suggesting they were not overly impressed.
Hu Sanniang observed coldly, assessing the situation. The Liangshan forces were fierce but lacked discipline and organization compared to regular imperial armies, let alone the rumored elite Palace Tent Army of the Liao Kingdom. Song Jiang’s action was likely intended to display military strength to the Liao envoys, thereby increasing his bargaining chips in negotiations.
It was at this moment that the situation on the training ground changed abruptly.
During the cavalry charge drill, whether due to mishandling or accident, a startled warhorse suddenly broke away from the formation, neighing as it charged toward the side of the viewing platform! The area was crowded with women and children responsible for chores and some weaker civil leaders, instantly causing screams and panic!
The incident was sudden. Song Jiang and the others on the platform also changed color. Guards rushed forward, but they were a little too far. The startled horse was about to crash into the crowd—
A blue shadow, like an arrow leaving a bowstring, shot out from the viewing area!
It was Hu Sanniang!
She was already standing near the scene of the incident. Seeing the danger, it was an almost instinctive reaction. She covered several zhang in a flash! She did not choose to stop the startled horse head-on, which would be beyond human strength. Instead, she sidestepped the front of the charging horse, twisted her slender waist, and swiftly reached out with her jade hand. With incredible precision, she grabbed the end of the horse’s reins. At the same time, she exerted force with her feet, spinning her body to use leverage, and yanked sharply toward the side and back!
The timing, angle, and force of this pull were perfect!
The wildly galloping horse cried out in pain. Combined with the clever pull of the reins, its forward momentum was violently shifted. The huge horse head was wrenched around, its front hooves lifted, emitting a long, distressed neigh. Its entire massive body was thrown off balance, stumbling a few steps before crashing heavily onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust!
The crisis was instantly averted.
The entire process happened in a flash of lightning.
Everyone was stunned by the sudden turn of events. Not until the startled horse was restrained by the grooms who caught up did the field erupt in shouts of surprise and applause!
“Good!”
“The Third Mistress has great skill!”
Many Liangshan leaders also looked shocked. They knew they might be able to protect themselves in such a situation, but to resolve the crisis and save others with such skill and swiftness, especially as a woman, was something they could not easily achieve.
Hu Sanniang released the reins, slightly breathless. Her face was slightly flushed from the exertion, but her eyes remained calm. She smoothed her slightly disheveled sleeve, seemingly unaware of the gazes directed at her, and turned to return to the viewing area.
“Hold on.”
A slightly rough, but uniquely rhythmic, Chinese voice rang out.
Hu Sanniang paused her steps and looked back. She saw the central figure among the Liao envoys standing up. This person appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, tall, and, despite the heavy fur clothing, her figure was noticeably lean and upright. Unlike her companions with shaved heads, she had not shaved her hair. Her long black hair was braided into several strands, bound with silver rings at the back of her head, revealing a smooth, full forehead and a distinctly defined face with a hint of heroic spirit and wildness. Her brows were sharp, her nose bridge high, and her eyes were a rare light brown. At this moment, they were fixed intently on Hu Sanniang, filled with undisguised appreciation and scrutiny.
It was a female envoy!
“That lady general, what excellent skill!” The female envoy took a few steps forward. Although her Chinese carried an accent, her pronunciation was clear and accurate. “May I ask your name?” Her gaze was bold and direct, carrying the carefree spirit of a grassland daughter, distinctly different from the modesty of Central Plains women.
On the high platform, Song Jiang, Wu Yong, and the others also looked surprised, clearly not expecting the female envoy to speak up suddenly.
Hu Sanniang met those light brown eyes, which seemed to look straight into a person’s heart. An inexplicable feeling stirred within her. This gaze was different from any she had encountered at Liangshan these past few days. There was no greed, no scrutiny, no pity—only pure admiration and curiosity for a strong person (or rather, an interesting one).
She gave a slight curtsy, maintaining her composure, her voice clear: “Hu Sanniang. I dare not accept the title of General. I am but a defeated soldier.”
“Hu Sanniang…” The female envoy repeated her name. The pronunciation was slightly unusual but carried a unique rhythm. The corner of her mouth lifted into a smile tinged with wildness. “Whether defeated or not, I do not know. But I saw that moment just now. You are much stronger than many of the men here. My name is Dǎlǐbō, and I am from the Liao Kingdom.”
Dǎlǐbō (Dali Bo).
This name, like a resonant bell toll, unexpectedly struck the lake of Hu Sanniang’s heart, sending ripples outward. She suddenly recalled the blurred phantom from her unconsciousness, the outline that gave her a fleeting sense of security… Could it be…
No, impossible. Just a coincidence.
She suppressed the strange feeling, her expression remaining calm: “Envoy Dǎlǐbō, you flatter me.”
Dǎlǐbō, however, seemed very interested in her and asked further: “I observe your skill. It seems to be orthodox Central Plains martial arts, yet mixed with a ruthless practicality forged in battle. May I ask where you studied?”
The question was somewhat abrupt, but coming from her, it sounded natural and not offensive.
Hu Sanniang did not wish to elaborate and simply replied: “Family heritage. It is very rough and makes the Envoy laugh.”
Seeing her reluctance to talk, Dǎlǐbō did not press, but her light brown eyes lingered on Hu Sanniang for a moment with keen interest before she turned to Song Jiang and said: “Leader Song, Liangshan truly harbors hidden talent. Even the women are so capable. I am impressed.”
Song Jiang laughed heartily, quickly offering a few modest remarks, but his mind was racing. The Liao Princess’s interest in Hu Sanniang (he had been informed of Dǎlǐbō’s identity by others) seemed unexpectedly intense.
The military drill continued, but everyone’s attention was, to some extent, drawn to the recent dangerous incident and the Liao female envoy’s sudden focus on Hu Sanniang.
Hu Sanniang returned to the viewing area, sensing more complex gazes directed at her. There was surprise, admiration, and also the increasingly dark jealousy from Wang Ying, who felt his spotlight was stolen (even though he had none to steal) and was ignored by the Liao Princess.
She stood poised and calm. Only her slightly curled fingertips in her sleeve betrayed that her heart was not entirely unruffled.
Dǎlǐbō…
She silently repeated the unfamiliar name in her mind.
The wind from the north seemed to have truly brought something different.