A Hero Borm

by Jin Yong

  The axe was knocked away just in time. An iron whip. The last remaining man in black. Sparks flashed, the axe flew one way and the man landed with a thump on the ground. It took him some time to realise what had just happened.

  Then, with a roar, he reached for the axe head and leapt up again.

  Three clashes later and Guo Jing’s weapon was in two pieces. He had no choice now but to use Bare Hand Seizes Blade kung fu to defend himself.

  Shouts came from further down the hill. The soldiers were watching in indignation; for two men to fight a lone unarmed opponent was an insult to any basic code of combat. Guo Jing may have been their enemy, but somehow they found themselves cheering him on.

  Bogurchi and Jebe had been watching and could stand it no longer. They drew their sabres and hurled themselves into the fray, as did the other man in black. Temujin’s men were formidable on the battlefield, where their bravery knew no bounds, but they were not practised in the intricacies of one-on-one combat with members of the wulin. After a minute or so, their weapons had been knocked away and they were forced to retreat. Guo Jing leapt to defend Bogurchi, striking his palm against the spine of one of the men. He answered by slicing his blade at Guo Jing’s wrist. Guo Jing retracted his hand and jabbed his elbow into another who was attacking Jebe.

  The men in black were now focused on one goal only: to kill Guo Jing. They were not interested in the two Mongolian generals and closed in on the boy. Below, the soldiers cheered louder and their insults grew even uglier, but the men in black paid them no heed. One picked up his spear. Sabre, spear, whip and axe; Guo Jing’s eyes darted between them. His only weapon was his lightness kung fu as he danced between the blades.

  Guo Jing held them off for at least twenty moves, before the sabre sliced his arm. Blood was now pumping onto his clothes. Just then a tumult broke out below and six of Senggum’s men broke free from their ranks and began running up the hill. Assuming they were yet more of Wanyan Honglie’s men coming to join the attack against Guo Jing, the soldiers jeered and cursed.

  Temujin’s men at the top aimed their arrows.

  “Wait! It’s the Freaks of the South!” Jebe called out. “Your shifus have come, Guo Jing!”

  So exhausted he could barely see, Guo Jing was overcome with relief and rallied his spirits.

  Zhu Cong and Gilden Quan were the first to arrive and the danger their student was in was instantly apparent. Gilden Quan launched himself forward and blocked all four weapons with his scales. “Shameless dogs!”

  Their hands trembled from the force and the men in black knew at once they were dealing with a more accomplished fighter. They backed away, allowing Zhu Cong to check Guo Jing’s wounds. Within moments, the other Freaks had joined them.

  The man with the sabre understood the situation had changed and they would most likely be defeated. But it would be a considerable loss of face if they retreated back down the hill. How could they continue to serve the Sixth Prince?

  “The Six Freaks of the South?”

  “That is correct.” Zhu Cong smiled. “And who may I ask are you?”

  “We are disciples of the Dragon King, Master of the Daemon Sect.”

  The Freaks had not been expecting this. These men in black had been willing to fight four against one; such a violation of the code of the wulin had led them to assume they were rogue bandits without a master. But contrary to appearances, their shifu was one of the most well-respected fighters of the south, Dragon King Hector Sha.

  “How dare you abuse the Dragon King’s good name? How could such a patriotic and brave master have disciples as low-down and contemptible as you?” Ke Zhen’e’s voice was as icy as the northern wind.

  “Abuse his good name?” the man with the axe said, holding his free hand against his stomach where Guo Jing had kicked him. “That man you dare to chastise is Shen the Strong. This is my second brother, Wu the Bold, and my third brother, Ma the Valiant. And I am Qian the Hardy.”

  “It appears you are telling the truth,” Ke Zhen’e said. “The Four Daemons of the Yellow River. With such a reputation in the wulin, why lower yourselves to fight four against one?”

  “Four against one? Your student fights with the Mongols, it is we who are outnumbered.” This was Wu the Bold.

  “Third Brother,” Qian whispered, turning to Ma. “Who is this pompous blind fool?”

  But Ke Zhen’e had heard him and he was enraged by the insult. He tapped his staff on the ground and launched himself forward, grabbing Qian by the collar and throwing him back down the hill. The other Daemons of the Yellow River were momentarily paralysed with fear and within seconds they had been similarly discharged.

  The soldiers above and below were cheering now. Covered in sand and flushed with embarrassment, the four men staggered to their feet. They had been lucky; had the ground been harder they would have broken many bones.

  At that moment, shouts rose up as plumes of dirt clouded the horizon. A murmur spread through Senggum’s ranks as the front line made ready.

  These were Temujin’s reinforcements! The Great Khan was much relieved and their arrival gave him the confidence to proceed with the fight. Temujin pointed in the direction of Senggum’s left flank. “Take that side first!”

  Jebe, Bogurchi, Jochi and Chagatai led the charge. Shouts came up on the wind from the relief troops. Muqali held Tusakha in his arms and placed his blade against the young man’s neck: “Let me through! Let me through!”

  Senggum was about to send men to intercept the attack when he caught sight of his son in the general’s grip. This moment of hesitation allowed Temujin’s best men to descend the hill. Jebe aimed an arrow at Senggum’s head and released. Senggum ducked but the arrow caught him in the cheek and he fell from his horse. With their commander-in-chief injured, Senggum’s men scattered.

  Temujin began the next charge, and thousands of Jamuka’s soldiers rode forward to meet it, their ranks thinned by the arrows that followed the Khan. Temujin knew Jamuka to be a skilled commander with an army to match. Senggum was mediocre in comparison and was merely protected by a powerful father.

  Some miles in the distance, Tolui was approaching, riding a large globe of dust. Tolui had in fact struggled to get the Generals to come with him after being left alone by his father and three older brothers back at the camp – he was young and did not carry his father’s seal – so had come with only a few thousand younger soldiers. Concerned that his return would not have the desired impact, Tolui conceived of a most ingenious idea: they would tie branches to the tails of their horses, therefore creating a mighty display on the horizon. It worked.

  Ong Khan’s army had always revered Temujin and now they saw he had yet more reinforcements on the way. His men, Jamuka’s and the remnants of Senggum’s turned and fled.

  With the enemy forces now scattered, Temujin’s army could return to their camp, encountering Khojin and a small company of soldiers on the way.

  3

  THAT EVENING, TEMUJIN HELD A BANQUET TO REWARD HIS men. But to the party’s indignation, Tusakha was placed in the seat of honour. “Three toasts to Tusakha,” the Great Khan called out.

  “I owe a debt of gratitude as mighty as any mountain to my father Ong Khan and my brother Senggum, who have always treated me with such kindness. There is no reason for hate to spread between our families. I now beg for forgiveness for my wrongs and present my father and brother with the finest gifts I possess. I bear no grudge in my heart for all that you have done and in return I will prepare my daughter for marriage. Together we will host a sumptuous feast for all the tribal chiefs. Tusakha, you will be my son-in-law and thus my son. From this day forward, our families must be united and never let ourselves be divided by plots and discord.”

  Tusakha, relieved just to still be alive, nodded his agreement. But throughout his speech, Temujin had been clutching at his chest and coughing. Could Temujin Khan be injured? he wondered.

  “Today,” the Khan began, as if hearing his question, “I was
hit by an arrow. It may take me many weeks to recover, otherwise I would accompany you back myself.” He pulled out his hand from under his robes and it was smeared with bright red blood. “Do not wait to get married. I fear it will take too long.”

  Temujin’s officers had watched the scene unfold with increasing outrage. Why was he in such a hurry to marry Khojin to Tusakha? It made him look scared and weak before Ong Khan. One of his commanders had lost a son in the defence of the hill. Enraged by what he was hearing, he drew his sabre and ran at Tusakha. Temujin stepped in, dragged him outside and, with the crowd as his witness, beat him thirty times with his club until the commander fainted from the loss of blood.

  “Lock him up. On the third day, he and his family will be beheaded.” Temujin then fell to the ground in pain.

  THE NEXT day, Temujin sent Tusakha home with two carts of gold and furs, one thousand plump sheep, one hundred of the finest battle horses and an escort of fifty soldiers. He also included in the retinue one of his most eloquent men, who would beg forgiveness of Ong Khan and Senggum. When the time came for them to leave, Temujin was too weak to ride his horse and so bid a frail farewell from his stretcher.

  Eight days after Tusakha’s departure, Temujin called his officers together. “Gather your men and make ready. We are going to attack Ong Khan.”

  Temujin’s commanders were shocked.

  “Ong Khan’s army is larger than ours,” Temujin continued. “The only way for us to beat them is to take them by surprise. The gifts and the wound were all a ruse to throw them off guard.”

  They were impressed by the Khan’s cunning. Temujin then ordered the commander he had beaten and imprisoned be set free, and bestowed on him a handsome reward. The commander was delighted to hear of the Great Khan’s plan and knelt to express his gratitude and beg for the honour of leading the attack. His request was granted.

  Temujin divided his army into three columns and together they set off under the cover of darkness, using little known trails through mountain valleys. Shepherds they met along the way were forced to join them so that no word of the attack could precede them.

  Ong Khan and Senggum had indeed feared retribution by Temujin and had maintained vigilance at first. But when Tusakha returned with so many great treasures, a simpering ambassador and news of Temujin’s wound, they were reassured. Guards were recalled and time was given over to feasting with the Sixth Prince of the Jin and Jamuka. How were they to know that a force was coming that would shatter the ground beneath them?

  Temujin’s army arrived while the sky was dark and the raid sent panic through the camp. Such was their surprise that Ong Khan’s men barely put up a fight. Ong Khan fled west, as did Senggum, where they were later killed by the Naiman and Liao respectively. Tusakha was trampled in the confusion. Wanyan Honglie escaped under the protection of the Four Daemons of the Yellow River and made for the Jin capital.

  Abandoned by his soldiers, Jamuka took five bodyguards and made his way to Tangnu Mountain. But they set upon him while he was eating his mutton and delivered him straight to Temujin.

  Temujin, however, was furious. “You betrayed your commander? How can I let you live?” They were then decapitated with Jamuka as witness. “Brother, should we make peace?”

  “I cannot face you or the world after what I have done,” Jamuka replied, tears soaking his cheeks. “I can only ask my sworn brother that you let me die without bleeding, so that my soul will stay with my body.”

  Temujin was quiet. “I will grant your request,” he said at length, “and you will be buried where we used to play as children.” Jamuka knelt before the Khan, who turned and left. He ordered his men crush his brother with something heavy and be sure not to let him bleed.

  Now there was no-one left among the Mongols who could match Temujin’s power. He called the tribes together on the banks of the Onon River and brought the various armies under his command. Most of the men gathered that day submitted to his authority and he was given the title of Great Khan of all Mongolia, Genghis Khan, to rule with the strength of all the seas.

  The Great Khan rewarded his most deserving men, the Four Great Generals, Muqali, Bogurchi, Boroqul and Tchila’un, while his officers Jebe, Jelme and Subotai were promoted to the same rank.

  Guo Jing’s outstanding bravery during battle did not go unnoticed and he too was made general. Not yet twenty, he was to stand among such excellent men and call them his equal.

  As they drank and ate, the Great Khan’s soldiers came in turn to toast and drink with him. Once merry, Temujin turned to Guo Jing and said, “Boy, I have one more gift for you. It is my most precious possession.”

  Guo Jing knelt down as a gesture of gratitude.

  “To you I give my eldest daughter, Khojin. When the sun rises tomorrow, you shall be known as the Prince of the Golden Blade!”

  The generals and soldiers whooped and cheered and began chanting, “Hail the Great Khan’s son! Prince of the Golden Blade!”

  Tolui was overjoyed as he locked his sworn brother in a tight embrace.

  But Guo Jing was in a daze. To him, Khojin had always been like a little sister, he felt no other kind of love towards her. His youth had been devoted to the study of the martial arts, he had given no thought to romance. Panic rose within him at the Khan’s words.

  Everyone saw his dumbstruck expression and laughed.

  Once the banquet was over, Guo Jing went to report the news to his mother. Lily Li was silent for some time before instructing her son to invite the Six Freaks to speak with her.

  The Freaks congratulated Lily Li on her son being thus honoured. But she said nothing in reply and instead fell to her knees and kowtowed.

  “Auntie, please, get up,” they said. “Why so formal?”

  Jade Han helped her to her feet.

  “I must thank the Six Heroes; it is due to your training that my son has become a man,” Lily Li said. “Words cannot do justice to my gratitude. But now I have a problem and I need your advice.” She then told the Freaks about the marriage agreed by her late husband and his sworn brother, Ironheart Yang. “It is an honour to my family that the Great Khan wants my son to be united with his,” she said. “But if Brother Yang’s wife gave birth to a daughter and I don’t keep my husband’s promise, I will not be able to face them in the next world.”

  “Don’t worry about that, Auntie,” Zhu Cong said with a smile. “Ironheart Yang’s wife gave birth to a boy!”

  “How do you know that, Master Zhu?” she said in astonishment.

  “A friend of ours in the Central Plains wrote us a letter. He wishes us to take Guo Jing south to meet Yang’s son, to compare their kung fu.”

  All these years, the Six Freaks had never told Lily Li or Guo Jing about their bet with Qiu Chuji, avoiding Guo Jing’s questions about the Taoist Harmony Yin. They had realised that Guo Jing would be unable to fight Yang Kang to the best of his abilities if he knew the whole story.

  Zhu Cong’s words excited Lily Li. She asked after Ironheart’s wife, Charity Bao, and for any news they had about the boy. But the Freaks could give her no answer. They would take Guo Jing south to meet the young man. If they could find Justice Duan along the way, so much the better. Then Guo Jing would come back and marry Khojin.

  Guo Jing went to report their decision to Genghis Khan.

  “While you’re there, bring me back the head of the Sixth Prince of the Jin, Wanyan Honglie,” Temujin said. “It is all his fault that my sworn brother Jamuka betrayed me and lost his life. How many men do you need?”

  Having unified the Mongols, Genghis Khan was now a serious threat to the Jin Empire. Confrontation was inevitable. Having met Wanyan Honglie on several occasions, Temujin knew that he was intelligent and must be dealt with as soon as possible. Of course, the true reasons for his rift with Jamuka were not so simple. Temujin had overturned centuries of tradition and actively appealed to Jamuka’s men to join him. Their oath of loyalty was already broken, even if he preferred to place the blame on outsid
e forces.

  Guo Jing had grown up on his mother’s stories of the evil deeds of the Jin, and his battle with the Four Daemons of the Yellow River had only reinforced his hatred.

  If I take my six shifus, I’m sure we can succeed, he mused. But soldiers with no knowledge of the martial arts would only be a hindrance. He looked up to the Khan and answered, “I will travel with my shifus, I don’t need any more men.”

  “As you wish. We are still weak and cannot yet take on the Jin directly. You mustn’t let them know of our intentions.”

  Guo Jing nodded. The Khan then gave him ten ingots of gold for the journey and offered the Six Freaks some of the treasure recovered during the defeat of Ong Khan. Guo Jing’s Mongolian friends also offered him gifts.

  “Brother,” Tolui said. “People in the south are clever and not to be trusted. Be careful.”

  THREE DAYS later, Guo Jing and the Freaks went to visit the grave of Zhang Asheng and pay their respects. They then returned to say goodbye to Lily Li, before heading out on the road south. Lily Li watched the silhouette of her son on his horse disappear over the horizon. She recalled his birth on that snowy battlefield and felt a twinge in her heart.

  After some ten li, Guo Jing spotted two white condors high above them, and moments later Tolui and Khojin came riding up to bid them farewell. Tolui gave Guo Jing a fine black fur coat taken from Ong Khan’s treasure store.

  Khojin knew of her father’s decision and she looked on in silence, her cheeks flushed.

  “Say something, Sister!” Tolui urged. “I’m not listening.” He laughed and moved away.