The Path of Li

By Magomet Timov

This Historical Novel is set during the Great Chinese Rebellion in the years 1629 - 1644. We would be following the protagonist and #39;s life - the unique personality in this ancient and incredible history. A man of simple beginnings, against all odds, led the most significant rebellion in China and #39;s history. A man of courage and unstoppable will who took a chance to go against great Emperors. Our novel will take you this his life journey and military accomplishments. In this novel, you will discover not only how we were able to succeed but what his action brought to the state and how it shaped its future. Lose yourself in the journey to the forbidden world of a great Empire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aegitas
• Release date: Apr 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9780369405319

Book preview

Annotation

This Historical Novel is set during the Great Chinese Rebellion in the years 1629 - 1644. We would be following the protagonist's life - the unique personality in this ancient and incredible history. A man of simple beginnings, against all odds, led the most significant rebellion in China's history. A man of courage and unstoppable will who took a chance to go against great Emperors. Our novel will take you this his life journey and military accomplishments. In this novel, you will discover not only how we were able to succeed but what his action brought to the state and how it shaped its future. Lose yourself in the journey to the forbidden world of a great Empire.

Authors Notes

The vast majority of the novel's facts are retrieved from available educational sources and based on thorough research completed by the author himself. Academic works such as Faces of the Middle Kingdom by A. Bokshchanin and O. Nepomnin, The History of China (9 volumes, edited by O. Nepomnin), as well as famous Chinese works, such as Tao Te Ching: The Book of the Way and Its Virtue, Sun Tzu: The Art of War, River Creek, have helped him to shape the story. The author has worked closely and wishes to express his gratitude to the Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor of Altaistics Statisticsogy at Institute of International Relations of Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Dmitry Evgenievich Martynov. Int, his book Author, wishes to portray China's History in the language that is acceptable and adaptable for Eastern European and Central European Cultures, which haven't been explored in those cultures. The author aim was to highlight the geopolitical situation in China, compared to the position of Easter Europe and Central Europe were. During this period in Russia father of Csar Peter the Great was born, and back in the United Kingdom, Carl the First has just reformed a parliament system. The new generation has been very well informed of what was happening during those time in western culture; however, they have minimal exposure to how fascinating it was in China during that period. With this book, the author aims to bring China's history closer to the everyday reader. A story of love, adventure, revenge filled with emotions and disasters will let you explore a forgotten world of China.

***

In now distant 1606, a comet has risen above the Chinese Empire. An enormous unearthly object hanged itself upon great Empire, throwing its flames on the filled and bringing fear to the whole existence itself—a beginning of a legacy that will end the Empire. You could hear them whispering and mumbling that the earth would be gone and a great dynasty of Min would be destroyed. So who are the chosen ones? What could this unearthly object possibly mean for the current generation? On the same night, two boys were born, each of them been brought under the comet's existence. A boy in a rustic widowers family was born under this star, and following that, a boy was brought into light in merchants family. Less than a quarter of a century later, those boys' self-existence would spread fear among the Emperors great army and himself personally. This novel is dedicated to Li Zicheng, which changed history as we perceive now and proclaimed himself a great Emperor of China. This novel embarks on the story of an ancient philosopher meeting a young warrior. Li Zicheng was on his way to his native village while leaving all the wars behind him. He has recognised the philosopher on his journey and has favoured him to make him a company. Once Li reaches his village, the only thing he could witness is a pile of ashes and dirt. In light of anger and devastation, his heart is filled with revenge. He gives the oath to avenge his blood and join a rebellion. They were fearsome horseman who dared to rise against the great Emperor.

Our story is set in 1629, during a great droughts era, which led to hanger and devastation among its citizens. This catastrophic even lead to countless death and migration from the state. Locals have fled the state in the hope to find a new home and a better place to live in. Anyone who has left been suppressed by the Emperor's army. Those actions have let to the largest rebellion, which took a long life span between 1629 right till 1644. And at the end, it leads Dynasty Min to be overthrown from the throne, which ruled China for over 300 years. For the Great Chinese Empire, this war was proclaimed the most brutal in its history, which lasted for several decades.

***

Prologue

The Sunset was hanging above the forest ranges of the Tai Hushan mountains with its last rays. And at the same moment, darkness was approaching from East. Shadows of night arrive quickly in highlands. And you can feel a whole scenery quiets down before the last ray of the sun disappears. Nights in the mountains are by no means a time of serene peace, no matter how hard the monotonous sounds of a nearby waterfall try to lull a casual traveller. During this time, spirits and animals take over the land. And perhaps with some o the creatures from a spirit world, you could find common ground, but never with the ruler of wilderness - Great Chinese Tiger. Tiger will never give up on his prey, whether it be a stray traveller or an antelope that has become separated from the flock. He walked along a mountain path, graceful and irresistible, like the Emperor himself. Beast was only five years old, in the prime of his strength and power.

He strolled around the land, as he was a house cat, with no eager of aggression. His indifference to his surrounding was incredible. In contrast to the cat, the Tiger had recently satisfied his belly with a farmers buffalo that inadvertently approached his possessions in search of food. Everything that happened later was familiar: a quick leap and a grip on the cervical artery. A few swift blows of mighty fangs warranted a well-fed life for at least a couple of days for the predator. And now he was walking through the summer forest, rubbing his glossy sides against the trunks of young trees, leaving flocks of royal fur as marks of his territory. It was his land, and all the creatures have felt his presence. His ears caught the slightest sound of the approaching night. While he majestically strolled around the wilderness, his subtle hearing caught an unusual dissonance in this familiar background, something unfamiliar and therefore alarming. He has gasped momentarily and roared softly into the darkness. He paced himself slowly through his land and was approaching slowly to the unfamiliar scent. He could resemble the scent, and it was human blood. The majestic creature was stung and rose immediately. Humans were around. He knows what it means to encounter humans—creatures who arrive at his land and act as lords. A couple of years ago, one Man left a scar on the Tiger's left side with his Claw when, being young and foolish, he approached the fire of several travellers who were putting up for the night on the mountain pass. Back then, he managed to escape, but he had to lick the wound in a thicket on the nearest plateau for a few weeks.

There was a man lying by the river shore, clutching the wound with his hands, almost invisible under his ropes. The Tiger stood and hung his paw in the air as his eyes focused deadly on the prey. But something was off about this prey. He could sense the smell of a man; it was strong and fearless; his scent wasn't an ordinary men's scent. It made him fear and respect a wounded man. He knew that is another alpha stands in front of him, perhaps not in the best physical shape, but his spirit has stood strong. They have gazed upon each other eyes, and a man has shown no fear. After a few long-lasting seconds, Tiger has roared at the stranger and disappeared into nearby bushes. The warrior exhaled with relief he couldn't understand. Death retreated, although he knew it would not be for long. His days were counted, and he perfectly knew that wounds such as that would lead to death. He could only praise the gods for letting him his last few moments at such a graceful place. He could feel the breath of death on his shoulder, and for the last moment of his existence, he wanted to gaze at the night sky, a sapphire coloured sky. His conscience was slowly slipping from his mind, and his vision was getting blurry. He shut his eyes, and with his last breath, he tried to think about something pleasant. Realising all his life have been filled with deaths, wars and brawls. The warrior shook his head, chasing away the obsession, and tried to capture the vision of sparkling clear mountain water, rushing by in a swift stream like the River of Time. But even this clear liquid was coloured by blood. The warrior sighed and closed his eyes again. After all, he had lived a decent life as a common man, a warrior, a military leader, and even an Emperor! He loved and was loved. The warrior raised the blade above his head, lifting it to heaven, and, closing his eyes, plunged into the crimson waters… The Tiger looked gloomily from the bushes on the opposite bank, watching the Man reach for his Claw and press it to his chest, his lips moving in an effort to utter something. Life was already leaving the tortured body. The Man opened his eyes for the last time to reflect the darkening sky, took a deep breath, stretched out and died... The Tiger shook his forehead, paying an involuntary tribute to the courage of an unknown creature, which did not beg for mercy in his last minutes and slipped into the thicket. The Man who found peace on the shore was the one who had been the hope and horror of the people of the Great Empire for the last decades. Now he went on his last Path beyond the Crimson Rivers.

第 章

Chapter 1

Chao Li, better accepted in his circles as 'Stone Head', truly lived up to his nickname. As a matter of fact, during the patrol, he has let a traveller enter the camp—a camp whose sole purpose of being in distinguished. An old man has appeared in a hastily patched-up dress at the edge of the marge so that Livay He, the leader of the gang, was taken by surprise. A gang of robbers, who just moments ago were happily dining, froze in surprise, looking at the crooked figure of the stranger wandering towards their fires. Livay was the first to come to his senses as a true leader would. He put his bowl of rice on the flat stone that they had for the table, slowly got up to meet the old man and, stretching out his hand, and said : 

Stay where you are, old Man. I have no idea how you got into the camp, but the next step will be your last step, The old man froze. It seemed that he was frightened to the point of trembling in his knees, but the experienced eye of the leader caught a slight spark of mockery in the stranger's dim eyes. 

I am sorry if I bothered your morning feast - an old man has spitted back at Livay He. His voice temper made the leader realise he might not be speaking just a too ordinary traveller. I was not aware you have set up the camp here; perhaps if I knew, I would have taken another path. On the contrary, Livay put his hands on his hips and took a step towards the old man.

Livay He does not fight with children or old people, the robber dropped casually, slightly bowing his head in front of the uninvited guest. We only here to take what ours, right boys? The gang, who had previously listened cautiously to the dialogue between the leader and the strange guest, began to gurgle in relief, and the old man took this gurgle as a dull approval. He could sense the leadership of Livay He in the crowd. As for this cunning rascal Shitou, who managed to sleep on you, he raised his voice in a dramatic manner, he will get what he deserves as soon as he returns to the camp from his shift. You are a cruel leader,, the old man bowed. ...cruel but fair, the strange traveller finished his sentence, raising his eyes and looking straight at the bridge of He's nose. He recoiled involuntarily. 

Otherwise, how could you explain that you have massacred a family from Mozun village? Have they eaten from gold plates and wore silks? A leader has frozen, same as his gang. They were uncertain what could have to lead a strange traveller to say those words. They have all glanced upon the path a man has taken to see whether he brought with him Emperor troops. Without any hesitation or shyness, an old man grabbed a lump of rice from Liveys bowl and squashed it a ball. He pushed a lump down his thought without any hesitation and started at the gang. And you undoubtedly grew this rice yourself and did not take it in Gymea, burning down a dozen houses and leaving residents homeless on the eve of the spring rains? An old man has leaned on his walking stick and glazed straight into the eyes of the most wanted robber of the Shaanxi province. Livay carefully tore his gaze from the old man's watery eyes and looked over his shoulder. The two of his stealth Warriors have jumped out of the bushes. He killed A Stone head! shouted one of the robbers, lifting Chao Lin's bloody robe above him. At the same moment, when he spoke those words, an arrow has pierced his throat. 

He collapsed to his knees, clutching his neck and moments later, another arrow has struck another robber. Livay has pulled out his sword and shouted down at the man, 'Who are you and What do you want from us?'. An old man has glanced the surrounding and enjoyed the panic which runs through the crowd of robbers. One after another, a soldier we're dropping dead from flying arrows. They have run out like ants in a different direction, the smartest of them dashing to bushes to hide. You haven't realised it yet? Didn't you? The old man sighed while He shook his head in shock. I am your punishment... 

The old man said it in a most convening and calming voice that Livay hasn't doubted his intentions. He dropped everything he had in his hands and dashed down towards the forest. But the arrows were faster. The same arrow that brought down his soldier has struck him right into the shoulder. Livay was shocked but couldn't feel the pain struggling through his body, and he took a few more steps before his legs lost all the power, and he has collapsed on the ground. A man full of indifference have grabbed Levay's bowl and sat on the grass next to this mascara, and ate the rice. One of the old man's soldiers has appeared from the bushes. He was a young man, in leather armour, walking slowly towards an old man. He hanged his bow on his back and stuck the arrows in the leather purse strapped to his belt. 'Master, you have started to dine without me', a young soldier spitted with humour at the old man. And in exchange, an old man has waved his hand and gestured for him to sit next to him. Once the young soldier stepped into the sun, we could clearly see he was just a youngster with a short, trimmed moustache. He had a sharp eye, and his glance was full of focus, which indicated him being an experienced warrior... He was an adult, not a youngster. He was wearing solid leather armour without metal linings, characteristic of wealthy warriors and soft boots. A lone archer's glove adorned his left hand, while the second glove was carelessly tucked into a typesetting belt, consisting of metal plaques with ornaments. His name was Li Zicheng, an excellent warrior and trusted Man of Luo Yang. 

Once Li has taken sit next to the old man, he fearless grabbed the rice and started to devote it with no emotions towards the massacre he has created. They have been starving for the past few days, and the resources have finished. In addition, they had not eaten anything for a couple of days: the supplies have come to an end, and all the game in the vicinity was scared away by this robber gang, which, in a picturesque disorder, completely exterminated it across several dozen lis. The old man put down the empty bowl, took a handkerchief from his belt, and carefully wiped his lips and hands. Then he got up, walked slowly to the spring and, filling the empty bowl with water, thoroughly rinsed his mouth. He returned and sat down opposite Li Zicheng, affectionately looking at the young man devouring the dried roe deer meat found in the bag of the gang leader. 

Was I right? The old man asked the warrior as if continuing the agreement begun earlier. He looked up for a second, distracting from his pleasant occupation for a moment, and shook his head. No and no, he said. Luo Yang looked at the young man with interest. "But everything happened exactly as I predicted: they were stunned and puzzled by my sudden appearance. If we followed your tactics and simply attacked from an ambush, then most of them, accustomed to living in a state of constant danger, would quickly sort out the situation and strike back. It wouldn't be good for us... 

You see, Master Luo, all of them, Zicheng shook his head towards the bodies stretched out in the clearing, we're ready to tear you apart at any moment. The only weak point in their gang was the leader himself. He shouldn't have been chatting with you about life, but just kill you right away, or at least cripple you, and then do the idle talks with you. The only thing that held them was his authority. And they repeated his mistake: they were distracted by you. Although... Three or four managed to escape, the young man laughed. Old Luo smiled as well. 

The young warrior returned to his meal while Luo, looking at him, recalled their first meeting... It happened a moon and a half ago, almost on New Year's Eve. Old Tang's roadside tavern was full of customers. There were so many of them that his wife, Mrs Ki, had a hard time putting all the dishes on the tables. It seemed that the stomachs of the guests were bottomless like drunkard's wineskins! And the rain, mixed with snow, which had fallen for the second day in a row, did not allow travelling along the Northern Route, so all travellers, willing or not, ended up in this respected institution. All the king's men were there! Henchmen who went about their business; statesmen executing the orders of their prince or the Emperor himself; peasants going to the North or to the South, but always in search of a better life - all of them were held by the endless rain in the tavern that smelled of smoke from pipes and the aroma of hot stew. Companies formed at different tables according to interests, which was typical for bad days like this one. Someone gossiped about the lackeys of the young