[Water Margin] Hu Sanniang with her delicate hands - Chapter 5
Chapter Five
The days slipped by in a state of superficial calm and internal tension, and before long, it was early winter. The north wind grew increasingly fierce, whipping like an invisible lash across the withered fields and bare branches. The sky was perpetually grim, with low-hanging lead-grey clouds, as if brewing a snow that was long overdue.
The atmosphere within the Hù Family Village mirrored the weather—oppressive and stifling. Under Hù Sānniáng’s strict orders and the new training regimen, the guards’ morale was considerably boosted. Their formations were neater, and the offensive and defensive drills were gradually taking shape, at least no longer as chaotic as they were initially. Instructor Chén was now completely convinced of Hù Sānniáng’s capability; he consulted her on everything, and discipline at the training ground was strictly enforced, making him one of her most effective lieutenants.
However, the gravity in Hù Sānniáng’s expression deepened with each passing day.
She knew this calm was merely the prelude to the storm.
This afternoon, she was at the training ground watching the guards practice a newly taught joint-attack formation when a swift rider burst into the village gate like a whirlwind. The messenger was covered in dust, his face frantic. He practically tumbled off his saddle, screaming: “Master! Mistress Sānniáng! Disaster!”
The training ground instantly fell silent, all eyes fixed on the messenger.
Hù Sānniáng’s heart tightened, but her face remained as still as water. She quickly stepped forward: “Why this panic?”
The messenger gasped for breath, incoherent: “The Zhù Family Village… the Zhù Family Village and Liangshan Marsh… they are fighting! Right in front of Dúlóng Ridge! Liangshan has brought so many soldiers, led by… by ‘Leopard Head’ Lín Chōng! The Zhù Family Village… the Zhù Family Village can’t hold out! Young Master Biāo sent men to break through the siege, begging for aid everywhere!”
What was destined to come, had finally arrived!
Despite her prior expectations, when the moment truly came, Hù Sānniáng still felt a chill shoot from her feet to the top of her head. She forced herself to maintain composure and sternly asked, “What is the movement from the Lǐ Family Village? How many men did Liangshan bring? Who is the main general? Report the details clearly!”
Her calmness infected the messenger and steadied the somewhat agitated guards nearby. The messenger composed himself and replied: “The Lǐ Family Village… Master Lǐ Yīng seems to be observing for now, with no troops sent. The Liangshan forces are a dense mass, at least several thousand strong! Besides Lín Chōng, there seems to be ‘Flowery Monk’ Lǔ Zhìshēn and ‘Pilgrim’ Wǔ Sōng… The attack is extremely fierce! The Zhù Family Village is temporarily resisting with its winding paths and strong bows and crossbows, but… but Instructor Luán Tíngyù is also injured!”
Lín Chōng! Lǔ Zhìshēn! Wǔ Sōng!
These names, thunderous in the original novel, now materialized as formidable enemies pressing down with overwhelming force! Hù Sānniáng’s hands, hidden in her sleeves, trembled slightly—not from fear, but from the immense pressure of confronting the historical tide.
“Where is Father?” she turned and asked Hù Chéng, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.
“The Master is already in the main hall, gathering the elders for a discussion!”
Hù Sānniáng wasted no time. She quickly ordered Instructor Chén: “Instructor Chén, from this moment on, the entire village is on alert! All guards take their designated positions according to the plan, string the bows and crossbows, prepare the rolling logs and thunder-stones! By my order, no one is to leave their post, and the village gates are not to be opened!”
“Yes!” Instructor Chén cupped his fist and accepted the order, then turned and shouted loudly. The training ground instantly boiled like cold water poured into hot oil, but their movement was frantic yet orderly.
Hù Sānniáng, accompanied by Hù Chéng, hurried toward the main hall. Before even stepping through the door, she heard a fierce argument inside.
“We must save them! Lips and teeth depend on each other! If the Zhù Family Village falls, our Hù Family Village is next!” A voice, old and agitated, shouted. It belonged to a highly respected uncle from the clan.
“Save them? How? Liangshan is so powerful; even the Zhù Family Village can’t hold them off. If we send our meager forces out, won’t we be throwing eggs at a rock? We should tightly guard our gates. With our high walls and deep moats, perhaps we can resist!” Another, more cautious voice retorted.
“Where is Hù Chéng? Send him with an elite squad to raid Liangshan’s flank! That might relieve the Zhù Family Village’s siege!” This was the messenger sent by Zhù Biāo, his voice shrill and anxious.
“No!” Hù Tàigōng’s voice was filled with weariness and struggle. “Our village already lacks sufficient troops. If we divide our forces and go outside, the village will be vulnerable. What if…”
“Father!” Hù Sānniáng stepped into the hall, her clear voice instantly overwhelming all the noise.
All eyes focused on her. She wore a sharp fighting suit, her hair perfectly neat, her face too calm for a sixteen-year-old girl. Her eyes swept over the crowd, carrying an air of unquestionable authority.
“Sānniáng, you’ve come at the right time,” Hù Tàigōng quickly said, as if finding his pillar of support. “Given the situation, what do you suggest we do?”
Hù Sānniáng first addressed the Zhù Family Village messenger: “My Hù Family Village has its own strategy for reinforcement. Please be patient, messenger.” Her tone was flat but carried a pressure that silenced the messenger momentarily.
Only then did she turn to the elders in the hall, her gaze calm: “Uncles and elders. The Zhù Family Village is besieged. As we share the same fate, our Hù Family Village naturally cannot stand idly by.”
At this, the war-faring elders’ expressions softened, while the defense-minded ones showed worry.
But Hù Sānniáng’s tone immediately shifted: “However, how we aid them must be carefully considered. Rashly sending troops, as this uncle just said, is likely to be a lamb entering a tiger’s den. Not only will it fail to save the Zhù Family Village, but it will also destroy ourselves, bringing sorrow to our kin and joy to our enemies!”
“Then what is your suggestion?” the agitated uncle pressed.
“Hold the fort and wait for an opening, while demonstrating strength to the enemy!” Hù Sānniáng stated decisively. “Our village walls are high and thick, our provisions are ample, and our guards are well-drilled and morale is high. At this time, we must firmly hold the fort, letting Liangshan know that our Hù Family Village is not a target to be easily insulted! At the same time, we should send out many scouts, closely monitoring the battle. If a genuine opportunity arises, then send out small, elite forces to raid the enemy, which is the superior strategy!”
She paused, her voice rising, carrying a decisive murderous intent: “Furthermore, our Hù Family Village is not entirely unprepared!”
Her gaze turned to Hù Chéng. Understanding her cue, Hù Chéng stepped forward and said in a deep voice: “Reporting to the Master and all elders. Mistress Sānniáng ordered me a month ago to secretly set up three layers of warning traps in the forest outside the village, dozens of tripwires with bells, and the village walls also secretly hold many hooks and rolling oil containers to deal with climbers. If the Liangshan bandits dare to come, they are guaranteed to lose a layer of skin first!”
These words struck the crowd like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, leaving everyone in the hall dumbfounded. They never imagined that their usually quiet Mistress Sānniáng had already made such meticulous preparations in secret!
The war-faring uncle stared for a long time, then slapped his thigh: “Good! Good! Sānniáng has great foresight, this old man… this old man is impressed!” The defense-minded faction exchanged glances, having no more objections.
Hù Tàigōng looked at his daughter, his expression complex, eventually turning into a long sigh: “Since it is so, we shall follow Sānniáng’s advice. The entire village… prepare for war!”
That night, there were no stars or moon. Dark clouds covered the sky, and the cold wind howled—a night perfect for murder and arson.
Inside and outside the Hù Family Village, torches blazed. The footsteps of the patrolling guards were audible, and swords glinted coldly in the torchlight. On the village wall, Hù Sānniáng personally supervised the patrol. She wore no armor, only a tight combat suit and a dark cloak, her gaze sweeping like a hawk over the pitch-black wilderness outside the manor and the silent forest that resembled a giant beast.
She knew that the Zhù Family Village would not hold out for long. Liangshan’s next target would inevitably be the Hù Family Village.
She could also feel the atmosphere pervasive within the village—a mix of fear, tension, and the slight fighting spirit she had forcibly instilled.
Time passed slowly, as if frozen. In the distance, shouts of battle seemed vaguely audible, or perhaps it was just the wind.
Suddenly—
“Ding-a-ling—!”
A rapid, clear ringing of a copper bell abruptly sounded from the depths of the forest outside the manor, shattering the deadly silence of the night!
“A warning bell! Southeast direction, the third tripwire has been triggered!” A guard responsible for listening on the wall screamed, his voice trembling.
They had come!
Hù Sānniáng’s pupils constricted. She suddenly gripped the hilt of the saber at her waist. Her jade hand was cold, the knuckles white with force.
She inhaled a deep breath of the cold, smoky air, forcing herself to calm down.
“Order! Bowmen and crossbowmen prepare! Rolling logs and thunder-stones in place! Without my command, no arrows are to be fired, no sound is to be made!” Her voice spread through the night wind, clear and steady, carrying a strange power that instantly quelled the slight commotion on the wall.
All eyes were fixed on the direction from which the bell had rung. The dark forest seemed to come alive, concealing endless killing intent.
In the darkness, vague figures seemed to be moving, accompanied by a few muffled groans and the sound of heavy objects hitting the ground—the pitfalls and iron caltrops had begun to take effect.
Hù Sānniáng slightly narrowed her eyes, her jade hand gently raised, as if poised to strike the strings of fate.
Her “net” had caught its first prey.
And the real battle had just begun.