Chapter 3, The Soul Soars Beyond the Heavens

After several days of intense assault by the Taiping Army, they were on the verge of success when Qing General Deng Shaoliang, the deputy commander of Chuxiong, led over 900 troops to their aid. The Taiping Army's efforts were thwarted, and during the subsequent battle, Xiao Chaogui led his troops from the front, holding the flag and urging them on. His target was too conspicuous, and he was struck by Qing artillery, sustaining severe injuries that led to his death. Following this, various Qing forces rushed to the scene, changing the tide of battle. Soon after, the main forces of both the Taiping Army and the Qing Army arrived, and the two sides engaged in fierce combat in Changsha for 81 days. Ultimately, the Taiping Army was unable to capture Changsha, suffering a bitter defeat at the Xiang River, and was forced to retreat to Yuezhou. This is the historically significant Battle of Changsha.

It is unclear how much time has passed, but Xiao Yungui finally awoke leisurely. This time, the chaotic images and sounds that had previously filled his mind were gone. Xiao Yungui was astonished to discover that another person's memories had emerged in his mind.

Xiao Yungui was filled with terror, suddenly feeling his body plummeting rapidly. He began to scream, and then he felt a loud bang in his head, as if his limbs and bones had scattered.

Xiao Yungui had no intention of paying attention to any bird-like county magistrate or any bird-like holy store. He eagerly took the bronze mirror and looked into it, only to see the face of a burly man in his thirties reflected in the exquisitely polished ivory bronze mirror. His hair was disheveled and hung down in all directions, his face was a standard square shape, with a patch of short beard under his chin and a thick, horizontal mustache on his lips. His large eyes, resembling bronze bells, were wide open, and his thick eyebrows were drawn together due to the furrowed lines between them. He had high cheekbones and a large nose, and a prominent light red scar on his left cheek was particularly striking. The man in the mirror was definitely not the original appearance of Xiao Yungui!

The only reasonable explanation for this matter is that one's soul has left the body and traversed through time and space, attaching itself to the body of Xi Wang Xiao Chaogui. Although Xiao Yungui does not consider himself an atheist, the absurdity of having one's soul leave the body is difficult for him to accept at this moment

"Where am I? What is happening to me?" It seemed as if Xiao Yungui was being pressed down by a nightmare; he wanted to scream but could not utter a sound. As these two thoughts arose, countless voices and figures surged into his mind, chaotic and overwhelming, as if this brain did not belong to him. Xiao Yungui let out a loud cry, but the dazzling cacophony of sounds and figures before him made him dizzy, and then a sharp pain struck his head, causing him to faint again

I know you are Zeng's brother, I just felt a bit dizzy, is there a mirror here?" Xiao Yungui suppressed a strange fear in his heart and said in a trembling voice. These few words came out in the same rough tone, and even the speech carried the same regional accent as Zeng Shuiyuan, speaking in the Cantonese dialect with a rural twang.

After Zeng Shuiyuan finished speaking, he withdrew. Xiao Yungui sat on the edge of the bed, beginning to blankly recall events. He slowly awakened the memories in his mind, as if watching a movie, he roughly flipped through another set of memories. After a moment, he had a general recollection, and it was certain that this body of his was that of the renowned Western King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Xiao Chaogui in history

Xiao Yungui opened his mouth wide, and after a moment of daze, he said: "There is no need for that, Brother Zeng. You go out first, I will stay here alone for a while."

Drifting in a haze for a long time, the white light suddenly vanished, leaving only darkness before my eyes, as if I were in a state of chaos. In that darkness, there was no sound, no scent, and even no sensation; my entire being was enveloped in an endless darkness, a darkness that instilled a sense of despair.

Xiao Yungui had come to a general understanding of his current situation, which was neither too good nor too bad. Based on the historical knowledge he possessed, preserving his life should not be too difficult. Xiao Chaogui had died in battle due to a cannon shot... As long as he kept a safe distance in the back, he should be out of danger. With this thought, he felt somewhat reassured. However, memories of Xiao Chaogui's military campaigns began to resurface, causing him to be so frightened that he lost control of himself.

It is unclear how much time has passed, when a white light appeared before him. Xiao Yungui felt as if he was floating lightly, following the path indicated by that white light. He sensed that there was not a trace of strength in his body, as if he were not subject to any force at all, merely drifting freely in the air.

Zeng Shuiyuan slightly bowed and said: "I, your humble servant, am at your command. If the West King has any orders, please feel free to summon the knife-wielding men outside. I will attend to some trivial matters in the hall. The army is set to continue its march towards Liling tomorrow. Should there be any uncertainties, I will return to listen to the West King's instructions."

At the beginning of this battle, Xiao Chaogui's advance was very smooth. In Chaling, they managed to rally some members of the Tiandihui and impoverished locals to join them, increasing their forces to over 3,000 men. After reaching the outskirts of Changsha, they first captured Shima Pu, located ten miles south of Changsha, defeating the general Fu Cheng and deputy general Yin Peili from Anxi Town who had come from Shaanxi to provide assistance. More than 2,000 soldiers of the Shaanxi Green Battalion were completely routed. Meanwhile, Zhu Han, the deputy general of the Yuan Prefecture stationed seven miles south of Changsha at Jinpenling, fled upon hearing the news, and over 500 local militia from Liuyang surrendered without a fight. All the firearms and gunpowder of the Qing army at Jinpenling were seized by Xiao Chaogui. The next day, they attacked Huangtuling, and the Qing army retreated. Thus, the Taiping army cleared the Qing army's defensive line on the outskirts of Changsha.

With a clang, the copper mirror fell to the ground, and Xiao Yungui was stunned. His originally fair, handsome, and elegant appearance had changed, transforming into that of a rough man, and he appeared to be seven or eight years older than himself. What on earth is going on? He stared blankly at Zeng Shuiyuan, who looked at him with suspicion, and asked word by word: "Are you saying that I am the Western King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Xiao Chaogui?"

However, the subsequent attack on Changsha by Xiao Chaogui did not go smoothly. He had only over 3,000 troops under his command, which was indeed too few. Although the Qing forces within the city were in a state of decay and not capable of a proper fight, with the addition of temporarily recruited soldiers, they still numbered around 7,000 to 8,000. Due to the limited number of troops, Xiao Chaogui had no choice but to occupy Miaogao Peak in the south of the city, concentrating his forces to attack the southern part of Changsha, and was unable to launch a multi-faceted assault.

Xiao Yungui gradually calmed down and began to contemplate the troubles he was facing. In order to figure out how he had crossed over, he needed to think of a way to return. He certainly did not want to remain in this ghostly place of the Qing Dynasty, where nothing was available. As a young master from a wealthy family, he was not accustomed to such a hard life.

That beam of white light seemed to possess an indescribable magic, irresistibly drawing Xiao Yungui forward. Within the white light, colorful rays, flowing clouds, blooming flowers, babbling streams, and dancing fireflies transformed into vibrant and enchanting scenes, continuously flashing before his eyes, bringing a sense of tranquility and delight.

Xiao Yungui recalled the information regarding the Taiping Army's battle in Changsha, which corroborated with the memories in his mind. It was indeed confirmed that the current date was the 19th day of the 8th month in the 2nd year of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty, corresponding to early September 1852 in the Gregorian calendar. Earlier, Shuiyuan mentioned that this place was the Liling County government, indicating that Xiao Chaogui had led his troops north from Chenzhou to launch a surprise attack on Changsha in August, having already achieved victories in Yongxing, Anren, Youxian, Chaling, and Liling.

Thinking of this, Xiao Yungui got up and sat down at the sandalwood round table in the bedroom. Feeling thirsty, he poured himself a cup of tea and began to drink while slowly contemplating.

Xiao Yungui was momentarily confused, wondering how he had ended up in Hunan. Just a moment ago, he had been in Yunnan. He shook his head vigorously and looked up to see the person in front of him. Before him stood a young man in his twenties, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, his head wrapped in a red scarf. His long hair was loose at the temples and back, and he wore a short coarse cloth jacket. A red cloth belt was tied around his waist, from which hung a wooden plaque, while on the other side dangled a waist knife adorned with red silk. This attire was certainly not modern clothing

Although Zeng Shuiyuan felt puzzled, he still respectfully replied: "Indeed, it is His Highness the Western King. Is Your Highness still feeling somewhat unwell? I shall go and fetch that quack doctor to examine Your Highness. Just now, he dared to claim that Your Highness is not seriously ill, deceiving me. I will go and whip him several dozen times."

Then Zeng Shuiyuan was slightly taken aback, poured a cup of tea and approached, saying: "Your Highness, the West King, yesterday afternoon while riding and marching, that beast threw you off your horse. Fortunately, with the protection of our Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brother, Your Highness was not seriously harmed, but only fainted for a day before waking up. Your Highness does not recognize your younger brother; could it be that you have injured your head?"

The canopy bed is named for its top frame, typically supported by four corner posts, with railings on both sides and the back. The upper part features crossbeams on all four sides, and the top is covered, commonly referred to as "Chengchen." The railings are often constructed from small wooden blocks joined together to form various geometric patterns. The bed's sides are adorned with relief carvings of mythical creatures such as dragons and tigers. Above the side panels, a high waist design is employed, divided into several sections by short columns, with a central panel inlaid with rings, featuring relief decorations of birds, beasts, and flowers; moreover, each panel is unique, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship. The bed appears to be entirely in a reddish-brown color, likely made from yellow pear wood, which adds to its preciousness. Above the side panels, a high waist design is employed, divided into several sections by short columns, with a central panel inlaid with rings, featuring relief decorations of birds, beasts, and flowers; moreover, each panel is unique, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship. The bed appears to be entirely in a reddish-brown color, likely made from yellow pear wood, which adds to its preciousness.

At this moment, the Qing army was primarily composed of the decayed and cowardly Green Standard troops. The more capable units, such as the Xiangrong and Jiang Zhongyuan divisions, were still in a standoff with the main forces of Hong Xiuquan and Yang Xiuqing in Chenzhou. The Qing army at that time speculated that the Taiping army intended to advance north to Hengzhou, thus mobilizing a large force to establish defenses and blockades along the Chenzhou and Hengzhou front. It was only under the command of Xiao Chaogui that a smaller detachment had the opportunity to make a rapid advance towards Changsha, as having a larger force would instead alert the Qing army

He picked up the mirror again, grinning widely, and the burly man in the mirror laughed along with him. He pinched his own cheek hard, and indeed it hurt; everything was real! How on earth did his soul leave his body and traverse time to arrive here? Xiao Yungui racked his brain but could not understand how he had returned to the Qing Dynasty, and moreover, how he had taken over the body of the Western King, Xiao Chaogui, the commander of the Taiping Army. It is known that Xiao Chaogui ultimately died in battle under the walls of Changsha, having enjoyed very few days of fortune.

He studied at university for several years, although most of the time was spent indulging in food, drink, entertainment, and chasing girls. Nevertheless, not long ago, in order to earn credits, he researched and wrote a paper on the "Rise and Fall of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom," which gave him a certain understanding of its history. As for why he chose to write about the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, it was also because of Xiao Chaogui; sharing the same surname piqued his interest to delve deeper. However, he was somewhat disappointed after his research, as Xiao Chaogui had extremely bad luck, dying in battle at the foot of the city during the assault on Changsha, never even reaching the point where the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom established its capital in Nanjing. After his death, his body was exhumed and desecrated by the Qing army, which could be considered the epitome of misfortune.

Had I returned home? Where am I? As this thought arose, another memory surfaced, startling Xiao Yungui. The memory in his mind clearly informed him that he was currently in Chaling, Hunan.

"Xi Wang! Xi Wang!" A series of urgent calls finally made Xiao Yungui feel his own existence. He barely opened his eyes, and several blurred figures began to sway before him. It seemed to be nighttime, and he could vaguely see a few flickering orange-red points of light, but it was unclear.

Now his soul occupies the body of Xiao Chaogui, but where has Xiao Chaogui's soul gone? After thinking it over, he still cannot make sense of it. In any case, it is his own soul and consciousness that are in control now, so it does not matter where Xiao Chaogui has gone; perhaps he has gone to heaven. Fortunately, the memories in his mind do not randomly surface; they only emerge when he contemplates them. This way, he avoids having to pretend to have amnesia, as not even recognizing his subordinates would be extremely disadvantageous.

"Who are you?" Xiao Yungui couldn't help but ask. Before the person could respond, the answer had already surfaced in his mind. This person is named Zeng Shuiyuan, a native of Wuxuan, Guangxi. He currently serves as a royal guard under the Heavenly King, often assisting Heavenly King Hong Xiuquan in drafting edicts and responding to memorials. This time, he accompanied the Western King, Xiao Chaogui, in a surprise attack on Changsha to oversee the military. He is a Hakka from Guangxi, which is why he speaks a slightly accented Cantonese.

Xi Wang woke up, and this is good. A voice with a slight magnetic tone reached his ears. Xiao Yungui was certain that he heard Cantonese. In the past, he could not understand Cantonese, and the way this person spoke was somewhat different from the Cantonese of later generations, carrying a strong local accent. However, at this moment, he could understand it clearly.

As he opened his eyes, he realized that he was lying on a reddish-brown wooden bed. Xiao Yungui, coming from a wealthy background, recognized this bed; it resembled a Qing Dynasty canopy bed that his father had won in a bidding contest many years ago

At the time of mobilization, there were only 1,853 men under the command of Xiao Chaogui. However, all of his subordinates were seasoned brothers who had risen up in Guangxi, each one valiant and skilled in battle, elite troops who had fought their way out of Guangxi. Moreover, he had several brave generals of the Taiping Army under his command, including Lin Fengxiang, Li Kaifang, Ji Wenyuan, and Zeng Shuiyuan, making it feasible to confront Qing troops that outnumbered them by three to four times.

As the flash of light passed, Xiao Yungui found himself enveloped in a blinding whiteness, unable to see anything. It felt as though a powerful electric current coursed through his body, followed by a searing pain, spasms, numbness, and an overwhelming sensation of agony. With a loud bang in his mind, he plunged into an endless darkness

Xiao Yungui was rendered speechless, not because Zeng Shuiyuan had always called him Xiwang, but because his own voice had changed, becoming rough and bold, entirely unlike the voice he was once familiar with

Zeng Shuiyuan felt somewhat suspicious, but he still set down his teacup and turned to retrieve a bronze mirror from the sandalwood table nearby. He smiled and said, "If there is no mirror to be found in the camp for a while, this place is the tea-ling county office. The corrupt county magistrate Guo Shijian heard that our holy troops have arrived and slipped away early this morning. All the items in this household have now become part of our holy treasury."

However, above all, one must first preserve one's own life, for the memories in my mind clearly remind me that at this moment, Xiao Chaogui is leading his troops on the way to Changsha, and it is in this battle that he meets his demise! Xiao Yungui does not wish to die in confusion; he must first ensure his survival and understand what exactly has happened. Wasn't I just taking a photo with Song Qingjun, Hong Yun'er, and the country bumpkin? How did I suddenly cross over?