The Sorceress' Revolt -
Ko Eiji's Story
Author: Toriumi Jinzō
Translator: Ainikki the Archivist
Part Five: Ko Eiji
Ou Soku’s forces were stunned by the swift and bold attack of the sorcerers despite their strong numerical advantage.
Ou Soku had dispatched his crossbowmen from the West Barracks to prepare for the onslaught of the sorcerers. They numbered about two hundred. Even if the sorcerers used their magic, Ou Soku didn’t think that most of them could survive being stuck full of crossbow bolts.
The sorcerers did the wise thing and made no move to attack Ou Soku’s crossbowmen or any of his other troops. Consequently, Ou Soku’s troops didn’t deliberately attack the sorcerers.
Ou Soku surveyed the battle, worried. There was a holding pattern for now, but he thought that it was only a matter of time before the sorcerers finished fighting Zhang Deyi’s men and turned on them.
***
A crossbow is a mechanical bow that fires a bolt by pulling a trigger. Unlike a normal bow, it has a longer range. Like all bows, it has excellent striking and penetrating power.
The Tai Bai Yin Jing, written by Tang military official Li Quan in 759 CE, contains the oldest known depiction and description of the volley fire technique using crossbows. The illustration shows a rectangular crossbow counter-march formation with each circle representing one man. In the front is a line labeled “shooting crossbows” and behind that line are rows of crossbowmen, two facing right and two facing left, and they are labeled “loading crossbows.” The commander is situated in the middle of the formation and to his right and left are vertical rows of drummers who coordinate the firing and reloading procedure in procession: who loaded their weapons, stepped forward to the outer ranks, shot, and then retired to reload. According to Li Quan, “the classics say that the crossbow is fury. It is said that its noise is so powerful that it sounds like rage incarnate, and that is why they named it this way.” The word for “crossbow” in Chinese is a homophone for “fury” or “rage.”
According to legend, the invention of the crossbow is said to have been brought about by either the Yellow Emperor or Chiyou, but it seems to have originated in southern China.1 It was already standard equipment during the Warring States period in the 5th century BCE and proved effective against the cavalry of nomadic tribes to the north and west.
A repeating crossbow is an improved crossbow that shoots multiple arrows simply by pulling the trigger. It had been used in China since the Warring States Period (475–221 BCE), but was used extensively during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE to 9 CE). It was Zhuge Liang (181-234 CE) who further improved the repeating crossbow and integrated it into use in the Imperial Army.
***
“Shoot her!”
Ou Soku, who was in command at the rear of the crossbow unit, was startled by the voice of one of his men issuing the command to shoot.
Ko Eiji had emerged from behind a long line of sorcerers and was walking across the battlefield without fear.
“Ko Eiji…” Ou Soku blinked. “Wait!” he called out. “Don’t shoot!”
The crossbowmen watched Ko Eiji approach alone, amazed at her bravery—or foolishness. The two opposing war bands were on the brink of an explosive battle.
“We must shoot! A sorcerer has disguised himself as a woman!” another man called out.
Ou Soku pushed to the front of the unit. “Don’t shoot! That’s an order! I recognize her!”
Some of the crossbowmen grumbled, but they obeyed.
Ko Eiji’s eyes found Ou Soku’s. She nodded and started walking over to him. She was wearing her temple regalia, all gold, and she glittered all over like a star.
Ko Eiji stopped in front of Ou Soku and bowed. “Sei Koko, our sacred prophetess, has sent me to you as a messenger,” she said.
A group of men surrounded the two of them, guarding Ou Soku.
“And what is her message?” Ou Soku asked.
“She wishes to speak to you. In private.”
Ou Soku was suspicious of this suggestion. He wasn’t surprised that Sei Koko and Ko Eiji were here, but he was a bit surprised that they’d found him so fast. He grinned wryly to himself. He shouldn’t ever underestimate Sei Koko under any circumstances.
“Where does she want to meet?” Ou Soku asked.
“At the judicial office.”
Lieutenant Rou stepped forward. “You must not go,” he said. “This is a trap.”
“I’ll stay here until you return,” Ko Eiji said.
Ou Soku gaped at her. She was giving herself up as a hostage.
Ko Eiji had saved his life on Mt. Zixia. He owed her, and now she’d put him into an impossible situation.
Why was she doing this?
Sei Koko would never risk losing Ko Eiji. Ko Eiji was her figurehead: the banner under which she would conquer the world. More than that even, Ko Eiji was her reincarnated daughter and the potential reincarnation of Empress Wu Zetian. All of Sei Koko’s plans relied on Ko Eiji.
Sei Koko really wanted to meet with Ou Soku. And she probably wasn’t going to try to kill him. At least not today—not while Ko Eiji was at risk.
Ou Soku smiled. “Very well, I’ll go meet her. But before I go, I have one thing to say.”
“What is it?” Ko Eiji asked.
“Thank you,” Ou Soku said. “You helped me on Mt. Zixia. I won’t forget it.” He bowed politely.
He would not be naïve again. Even with Ko Eiji as a hostage, Sei Koko might try to kill him. He might never return to this place alive. If he did, he would consider his life debt to Ko Eiji paid.
She had saved his life once. Now he was risking his for her. Jin Sen might cut him down the second he stepped beyond reach of his army’s protection.
Ko Eiji returned his smile.
Ou Soku gave strict orders to Rou before he left.
“I’ll choose your escort,” Rou said.
“I don’t need it.”
“What?”
“Sei Koko wants to speak to me alone. I won’t endanger more men.”
Rou looked like he wanted to protest, but eventually, he nodded.
Ou Soku walked toward the judicial office casually, pretending a bravery he didn’t entirely feel.
***
Ou Soku smirked as he walked toward the line of sorcerers. “I’m here to meet with Sei Koko,” he said. “Let me pass.”
Ou Soku bowed to her, remaining silent.
Sei Koko smiled at him indulgently. “Be welcome, Ou Soku.” Her tone was mild and polite.
Ou Soku blinked at her. If he hadn’t seen her erase Tanshi with his own eyes, he would never have guessed that this seemingly meek and mild-mannered religious woman was capable of such a powerful and dastardly act. Had she really mastered the Way of the Dragon Slayer? He couldn’t believe it.
“Please, sit,” Sei Koko said, gesturing to a chair across from her.
Ou Soku sat.
“I seem to have lost my touch for finding talent,” Sei Koko said. “The last time we met, I was not aware of any unique abilities you might possess.”
Ou Soku stared at her. “I thank you for your compliment, if that was meant as one.”
“There is no need to rush our meeting here. I wish to get to know you a bit better. First, you should thank me. We have taken care of the governor for you, it seems.”
“I could have done it with my army,” Ou Soku said.
Sei Koko laughed aloud. “I suppose so. Think of it: the son of a farmer from Wucheng, a mere boy who has only just passed the civil service exam, becomes the commander of a large army overnight. I have never heard of such a thing in the history of this country, and I have never heard of anything similar in the Khitan Empire or Tangut lands. You are not a sorcerer, but you are unique and impressive.”
“That was a compliment, then. I thank you for it.” He’d learned that Sei Koko had thoroughly investigated his background before coming here.
“But you won’t be satisfied with taking Beizhou, will you? You want more,” Sei Koko said.
Could Sei Koko read his mind?
Sei Koko’s tone became stern. “Soon, a large army from the Imperial Court will come to recapture the city.”
“Beizhou Castle is difficult to attack, but easy to defend.”
“Indeed. However, a prolonged siege would not be ideal for either of us.”
“Ideally, we would bring the whole region under our control as a buffer,” Ou Soku said.
Sei Koko flashed a smile. “Yes. Sun Tzu said: We may distinguish six kinds of terrain, to wit: accessible ground, entangling ground, temporizing ground, narrow passes…”
“…precipitous heights, and positions at a great distance from the enemy,” Ou Soku said, finishing the list.
“I feel the same way you do. We must control more territory to better protect ourselves. That means cutting off the Imperial Army’s supply lines and making them our own. ”
Sei Koko knew Sun Tzu’s Art of War well. Of course she did: her ultimate plan was to conquer the world, after all.
Across the thirty-six prefectures of Hebei Province, nearly every soldier was disgruntled with his lot. The province was especially badly governed. If Ou Soku sent out a call for rebellion, soldiers would come. Thousands of soldiers. Even if a token number of people resisted, the army he had was six thousand strong already; their numbers were more than he needed to defend Beizhou Castle.
Sei Koko’s holy façade was making more sense to Ou Soku moment by moment. No one would ever support Sei Koko’s cause if they knew she was a heretical sorceress who employed dozens of other brutal sorcerers in her service.
“We cannot afford to waste time. We must unite Hebei Province before the Imperial Army advances. We will be at a disadvantage until then,” Ou Soku said.
“So,” Sei Koko said, “you want the aid of my sorcerers?”
“Do you want the aid of my army?”
Aside from her sorcerers, Sei Koko had no military force. If she conscripted her religious followers, she might wind up with an army of ten or twenty thousand people, but none of those people would be trained fighters. The East and West Barracks were under Ou Soku’s control. Ou Soku had weapons, equipment and supplies that Sei Koko lacked—in addition to a fully trained and equipped army.
“My sorcerers have power and so does your army. But we can’t win with strength alone. What we lack is intelligence on our enemies,” Sei Koko said, “and strategy.”
Ou Soku had used strategy to instigate a revolt and gain victory. Sei Koko was doing her best to recruit him.
Laughing inside and struggling to hide it, Ou Soku replied in a way that was deliberately vague. “I’m not sure I understand you.” He had won—not just the battle, but Sei Koko’s attention and favor. He was over the moon.
“You can’t not understand,” Sei Koko said irritably. “Don’t think I can’t see right through you. Ou Soku, we share the same goal. We will use Beizhou as our base of operations and conquer the world from here. We will bury the corrupt Imperial Court beneath their palaces and build a better world where we and our allies can live in comfort.”
Ou Soku permitted himself a genuine smile. He understood that he was being recruited. Did Sei Koko understand that he was doing the same thing to her as she was to him?
“And who shall be in command? Both of us?” Ou Soku asked.
“Only you,” Sei Koko said. “I’m not lending you my strength, I am giving it. You shall command me and my sorcerers.”
Liu Bei had obtained Zhuge Liang after three visits.2 It had taken only one visit for Sei Koko to become Ou Soku’s supporter.
“I will join your side. Ou Soku, become the strategist of the entire Beizhou army and lead us all to victory,” Sei Koko said.
Ou Soku stared at her, not understanding her intentions. At best, he’d hoped to lead their combined forces jointly. What reason did she have to put all the responsibility of command upon him?
“If you will not lead, then what will you do?” he asked.
“There is a proverb in this country: ‘You can conquer the world on horseback, but you cannot rule it from there.’ I will spread the teachings of Ko Eiji and the True Divine Immortal Spiritual Religion to ensure peace once the land is conquered. And I will lend you my own strength if you so wish.”
Sei Koko’s sorcerous arts were the basis of the True Divine Immortal Spiritual Religion. Her power alone was a significant advantage. Ou Soku had high hopes for her sorcery in the battles to come. He believed that taking over the world with her would be easy if she used her full power against their enemies.
“I think we have a deal,” Ou Soku said. “But I have conditions.”
“What are they?” Sei Koko asked.
“First, we must open all the storehouses and return to the people all the money, treasures, and rice that Zhang Deyi plundered.”
“That was my intention from the start. From now on, we will fight together against corruption in government. From what I’ve heard, the soldiers have been working without pay, so we can pay them off with money from the storehouses. I have no objection.”
“Agreed. Next, from now on, the lawless acts and mayhem of the sorcerers will not be tolerated.”
“Of course. Order is the basis of peace. If my sorcerers violate the law, I will punish them.”
Ou Soku nodded in satisfaction.
Ou Soku was a military strategist now and the commander of a large army, but Sei Koko was the real ruler here. She was too powerful for Ou Soku to defy. Her plan was to use Ko Eiji to resurrect Empress Wu Zetian. Wu Zetian would then unite the world and rule it. There was no place for Ou Soku in any of these grand plans. He was a useful tool for the moment, nothing more.
On some level, Ou Soku understood that he was being used, but he figured that was fine for the moment.
“Let us use what time we have,” Ou Soku said.
***
The news that a young man of humble origins named Ou Soku had started a rebellion spread throughout Beizhou and Hebei Province rapidly.
The people of Beizhou, freed from their long suffering, welcomed him as if he were the second coming of Wang Xiaobo. Their stolen goods were returned and generous condolence payments were made to the poor.
The local residents who had suffered under the misrule of the Imperial Court and the tyranny of corrupt officials for years decided to use Beizhou Castle as a shield to fight against the Imperial Army. Sei Koko’s sorcerers and Ou Soku’s army took up residence in the castle and fortified the city’s defenses.
The citizens of Beizhou worked tirelessly day and night to build up the city in preparation for the inevitable backlash.
The Imperial Army would respond to this rebellion. It was only a matter of when.
Translator's Notes
1 蚩尤 Chiyou is a mythological being that appears in Chinese mythology. He was a tribal leader of the Nine Li tribe in ancient China. He is best known as a king who lost against the future Yellow Emperor in Chinese mythology.↩
2 This statement means that Liu Bei was able to recruit Zhuge Liang, a famous strategist, as his advisor only after visiting him three times, signifying the great effort and sincerity Liu Bei put into acquiring his services. This is a well-known story from the historical novel _Romance of the Three Kingdoms_ where Liu Bei's repeated visits to Zhuge Liang's secluded dwelling eventually convinced him to join his cause. ↩
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