The Crossing
This is just a story, inspired by a conversation between my friend and I. It is not historically based.
We knew the risk.
It was a brook of no more than thirty lengths. But the opposite bank was covered with reeds reaching human height, an ideal place for setting up an ambush.
But we had no choice.
The uprising had failed; the main army routed. Our original force of five hundred female warriors was now reduced to less than two hundred. And the imperial army was in hot pursuit.
If we could cross this brook – Long Xi – then we could break into small groups among the reeds and head for the mountains beyond. Then it would not be such an easy task for the imperial forces to bag us. But could we really ford the crossing that easily?
Of course, we could go upstream instead. There would be a safer crossing fifty li from here. But…
I swept a glance across the faces of my sisters-in-arms. Many of them were wounded. If we could not retire them to safer ground for treatment, they might not survive even if we could successfully evade our pursuers.
“Han Li, what should we do?” Li Lin asked me. We were both leaders of this rebel group and nobody pulled rank. Yet all pressure was now upon my shoulders.
If I chose wrongly, we could be wiped out here. But if I could not make up my mind or choose to go for the other crossing, I could end up leading them towards the gates of Hell.
I looked at Li Lin, and yet again at the hundred odd pairs of eyes seeking an assurance from me. I saw fear, doubts and an eagerness to survive. I knew there would be parents and children waiting for their safe return.
I looked at the brook; the water ran serenely. All seemed so peaceful. Of course experience told me that whatever looked too safe probably held the greatest of dangers.
“Han Li?”
But the columns of dust kicked up by the imperial troops were nearing. There was no time to send a forward party to see if there was indeed a trap waiting for us. It was either now or never, and I gave her my decision.
“We no longer have any choice. We have to make the leap, whatever the consequence. Line them up for the crossing!”
The hundred odd women on horseback formed into two ranks. I drew out my sabre and made a forward sweep, leading them into the shallow water. We were nearly half across, everything seemed so quiet. But I knew the danger was not yet past us.
The Art of War by Sun Zi taught us: the best way to meet an enemy was when they were half-way across a river. We were nearly half-way across…
And the enemy had also read the Art of War…
My brother taught me that some time ago. Was he still alive? At the battle of the South Plain, our forces were decimated. And my brother lost contact with me in the confusion that followed. Perhaps there would be a miracle that…
Half-way across…
Suddenly a pack of water-birds took flight. “Ambush!” I shouted the warning. Then arrows began to fly like lotuses.
“Argh…!”
“Yak!” The cries of agony rose and fell.
My comrades dropped from their saddles, hitting the water and sending up splashes. Frightened horses lost their sense of direction and ran amuck, dragging those who were unfortunate enough with their feet still entangled with their stirrups into the tall reeds. Cries of horror rose, and then were silenced.
To pull back was no longer an option. The only way was to charge forward, hoping to hack a way through to security. I used my sabre to beat off rains of arrows. Li Lin used her seven-foot lance to protect herself from the missiles.
We finally made it to the shore. But Imperial troops holding long spears and halberds rushed toward us. I used my sabre to parry off a halberd.
I twisted my body so that two thrusting spears narrowly missed my breasts. Then I turned around and made a sweep with my weapon, sending the head of an officer flying eight feet off ground. His headless body collapsed in a curtain of crimson. But there were plenty of others who took his place.
Li Lin and I fought fiercely, the battle-dress on us dyed red. At the same time, many of our sisters died at the hands of our foes…
Chen Jiao was cut into halves. Lin Yue fell with a groan when a spear was buried into her chest; her beautiful head was immediately cut off. Cheng Yuet-e rode straight into the reeds, only to let out a cry of despair which was immediately followed by the flight of her head back toward us.
Many of the mounts of our sisters were shot out from underneath them or were simply pulled down by our foes with hooked halberds. Some of them were able to jump off their saddles, continuing to fight on foot until they were cut down. Some did not even have that chance. Pinned helplessly under whining horses, many were simply slaughtered.
“Li Lin!” I shouted. “Take them to safety! I will serve as your rear-guard!”
Of course I knew what “rear-guard” meant: certain death. But it was I who had made the decision to ford the crossing and had led them to this predicament. I could not just fend for myself and leave them to fate’s mercy.
“No!” she cried out in my direction. “We go together!” It was a reply I could not accept.
I cut another two enemies down. But this time I got a slash at my back which, though not fatal, hurt so much.
“Take—them—away!” I cried out in a hoarse voice. Li Lin finally followed my words and led a dozen or more riders into the thick reeds.
I turned my hose around and rode to the bank. I was able to cut down three more along the way, rescuing four encircled sisters from imminent death. “Go!” I pointed with my sabre towards the bloodied path opened up by Li-Lin. “Follow that direction!” They went, but only three. The fourth was killed by a stray arrow that sank into her left breast.
“Han Li, run!” I heard Li Lin calling to me from the depths of the reeds. I wanted to flee but it was no longer possible. There were now three shafts buried deep into my horse.
She had been my loyal companion for years. Now she would run no longer. She gave a whinnying sound as her two front legs buckled, and I was thrown off my saddle.
Being still agile, I made a roll and cut off the feet of three imperial soldiers eager to get my head. My horse still lived, but she could no longer stand up. There were tears in her eyes as though apologizing for not being able to carry me off to safety.
I picked up another sabre from the ground, and with both blades I hacked my way through. Anyone crossing my path ended up a corpse. But I knew this could not last. Sooner of later my strength would be spent as they had men to spare.
I went near my horse. I had made up my mind that even if I were to be killed, I would not abandon her. But there were more and more soldiers rushing up, throwing a ring around us.
My two sabres brushed away menacing spears and halberds repeatedly. Still, the better part of my armor was tilted off me, and the red dudou underneath was now visible. How many mouths were now watering for the body shielded by that piece of undergarment?
I knew I should destroy my face so as to remove their carnal lust. But I could not. I was not afraid to die, but I still did not want to die with a disfigured face, or a face with a cut off nose. Let them have their way! In any case, I would be a beautiful corpse by the time they had their lust satiated.
My arms were getting more and more tired. And they closed in gradually as my strength was spent. Should I kill myself? Or should I try to bring down more with me, even just one more…?
As I was deliberating, the sabre held by my left hand was struck away. I bit my lower lip and cut the one who send my weapon flying into halves. But this was the end. Immediately, my other sabre broke under the cut of a halberd and strong hands grasped my arms…
“Kill me!” I told them defiantly.
They laughed and started to remove my garb; the breasts under the red dudou were heaving. Suddenly a rider rushed out from the reeds. The unwary soldiers were cut down mercilessly.
It was Li Lin…
“Why have you returned?” I shouted at her as she dismounted from her horse which too was staggering under multiple wounds.
“To save you or to die with you!” But there was no way she could save me. Her strength was spent as well, and the lance in her hands dipped limply.
There were dead bodies everywhere: soldiers mixed with our comrades. Some women were still decently dressed; others were half-naked or stark nude. They were lying in heaps on the banks or floated in the river now dyed by their blood.
We were quickly captured. I witnessed Li Lin’s armor being stripped away, as was mine. Her dudou was of apple-green color.
Among the hideous laughs of our captors, we were gang-raped. “Aum…” Both of us refused to give them the satisfaction of moaning out loud. Soon our vaginas, mouths, breasts and bellies were covered by semen from different men.
A question was asked what was to be done with us. A soldier replied, “The commander gave the order that these two women are to be beheaded on the spot!” So we were forced to kneel side by side.
Our long hair was untied to be held by strong hands, exposing our necks. “How many got away?” I asked quietly.
“Eighteen,” Li Lin answered.
“Just eighteen?”
“Yes…” And that was the last word she ever uttered…
A sweeping sound, and then I saw her head fly with a crimson rainbow of blood behind it. It landed on the ground and rolled for a short distance before stopping. Her eyes were still wide open as if there was something more she wanted to say but had no chance to finish.
“I will meet you again in the next life,” I murmured to the severed head. Her eyes slowly closed as though in acknowledgement. Then I felt a sharp cold at the nape of my neck.
And then nothing of this world was of any consequence to us anymore…
(End)