Nine, fierce battle

The carriage was thoroughly obscured by thick curtains, and inside sat four individuals, including Su Lie and Xu Guan, along with two soldiers armed with swords and halberds. Xu Guan quietly asked, "Captain Su, this carriage has been traveling for a day and a night; do you know where it is taking us?" Su Lie harbored many doubts in his heart: "This carriage was clearly dispatched by the Ministry of War, so why are we being taken away from Chang'an? And why are there soldiers carrying weapons accompanying us, not allowing us to see the outside scenery along the way? It has been less than three years since the incident at Xuanwu Gate; could it be that there is another major upheaval in the Taiji Palace?" Su Lie, having joined the army at a young age, was already accustomed to the tumult of chaotic times. Although he felt uncertain inside, he maintained a calm demeanor and replied lightly, "It is the court's arrangement; we will know in due time." He then added, "The other day, I saw you in combat; your movements were as swift as lightning, and you also understood the art of sword control. Where did you learn these skills?" Xu Guan then recounted the matters regarding the Wave Moon Stone and Guo San. After listening, Su Lie sighed, "In this vast world, there truly are many extraordinary people and events."

Both individuals were filled with boundless joy when suddenly a faint sound came from outside the tent. Xiao Yan gently freed herself from Xu Guanhai's embrace, leaped out, and lifted a corner of the tent flap. She saw a dark figure crouched behind the earthen wall of the camp, cautiously peering around. Xu Guanhai whispered to Xiao Yan, "Could it be an assassin or a spy from the enemy army? We should report this to the patrolling guards." Xiao Yan replied, "Don't be hasty, let's first see what this person intends." The figure, noticing that no one was around, stealthily stepped out, moving with remarkable speed. Xu Guanhai and Xiao Yan, using the moonlight to observe, were both taken aback; it turned out to be Miss Fan Yun from the Prefectural Court of Kuizhou.

Xu Guandao: "This person, General Zhang, has also seen him before; on that day, he even faced off against the general in the Yanwan Garden." Zhang Gongjin exclaimed: "Are you referring to that black-clad assassin? He truly possesses remarkable skills, but he is my enemy, and I do not know where he is now." Xu Guandao then recounted the exploits of Li Baojin, who had fought alongside him in the great battle against Ah Hemang in Kuizhou, and how he was captured after assassinating Chang He. Upon hearing this, Zhang Gongjin hesitated and said: "This person is indeed a true hero. However, he has committed grave crimes, and the prison may not be willing to release him. Even if they do, his loyalty to his former master may prevent him from surrendering." Su Lie remarked: "Our emperor has already issued a decree; the heinous crimes are limited to Jiancheng and Yuanji, and no inquiries will be made regarding the other accomplices. Li Baojin is loyal to his cause, which is commendable. If he is willing to surrender, he could indeed assist our army in defeating the enemy." Zhang Gongjin nodded and said: "That is acceptable." He then addressed Xu Guandao: "Since you are acquainted with him, you may take my order back to Chang'an and persuade him to surrender." Xu Guandao was overjoyed, but he noted that he had committed grave crimes, and the prison may not be willing to release him. Even if they did, his loyalty to his former master may prevent him from surrendering. Su Lie reiterated: "Our emperor has already issued a decree; the heinous crimes are limited to Jiancheng and Yuanji, and no inquiries will be made regarding the other accomplices. Li Baojin is loyal to his cause, which is commendable. If he is willing to surrender, he could indeed assist our army in defeating the enemy." Zhang Gongjin nodded and said: "That is acceptable." He then addressed Xu Guandao: "Since you are acquainted with him, you may take my order back to Chang'an and persuade him to surrender." Xu Guandao was overjoyed, took the order back to his tent, and informed them of the mission to persuade Li Baojin to surrender. He smiled at Fan Yun during a small banquet and said: "Sister, this task of persuasion is truly meant for you." Fan Yun was even more delighted upon hearing this and expressed her gratitude profusely.

Fan Yun's face flushed, and she lowered her head, saying: "When I arrived in Chang'an, I inquired everywhere but found no news. Later, I heard that Governor Zhang Gongjin of Daizhou had been assassinated. Zhang Gongjin was one of those who had executed the hidden Crown Prince, and I thought perhaps it was he who had done it. Subsequently, I heard that he attempted to assassinate the Lieutenant General Chang He and was captured as a result." Xiao Yan asked: "Then how did you come to the camp at Mayi, sister?" Fan Yun replied: "I know he has been imprisoned in the dungeon, and I... I will never see him again in this life..." As she spoke, Fan Yun was already overwhelmed with sorrow, her eyes filled with tears. Xiao Yan, seeing this, felt a pang of compassion and comforted her: "Sister, do not be anxious; let us think of a plan together." Yet, she could not come up with any ideas at that moment. Fan Yun shook her head and said: "He was loyal to Crown Prince Jiancheng; how could the current court let him go... But he is so unfortunate, constantly thinking of avenging his former master. If I could kill his enemies, Zhang Gongjin and Chang He, he would surely be pleased in the afterlife... That day, I heard two soldiers in a teahouse in Chang'an say that Zhang Gongjin would lead his troops to Mayi, so I came here." Xu Guan exclaimed: "You want to kill Governor Zhang?" Xiao Yan sighed and said: "Silly sister, why must you go through this?"

Fan Yun was spying in the camp, and Xu Guan and Xiao Yan quietly followed her out. They saw her dressed in black, resembling a night traveler, holding a short sword, moving left and right, gradually approaching the large tent where Zhang Gongjin resided. At that moment, a fast horse rushed in from outside the camp gate, heading straight for the large tent. Upon seeing this, Fan Yun quickly hid behind a tent occupied by the guards. The fast horse came to a stop about seven or eight steps in front of the tent, and the rider fell to the ground with a thud. Several soldiers on night patrol rushed over and saw that the rider was covered in blood, yet he still struggled to get up and pushed the soldiers aside, sprinting into the tent. Not long after, the sound of a military horn echoed urgently, and soldiers emerged from their tents, each lighting torches, illuminating the camp as if it were daytime. Xiao Yan leaned in close to Xu Guan's ear and said, "Now Miss Fan is in trouble; should we save her?" Xu Guan replied, "Alright." Xiao Yan pointed to an empty tent nearby and said, "You wait for us inside there." After saying this, she leaped forward and soon reached behind Fan Yun, tapping her shoulder. Fan Yun was startled and turned around to see Xiao Yan, exclaiming, "Sister, is that you?!" Xiao Yan placed a finger over her lips to signal her to be quiet, and upon hearing the commotion of footsteps around them, she quickly crouched down, grabbed Fan Yun, and rolled into the empty tent.

Note: According to the "Old Book of Tang - Biography of Gongsun Wuda", it is recorded that "(Gongsun Wuda) in the early years of the Zhenguan era, served as the Inspector General of the Right and was soon appointed as the Governor of Suzhou. After a year, several thousand cavalry and over ten thousand supplies from the Turks invaded Suzhou, intending to enter Tuyuhun from the south. Wuda led two thousand men to confront their elite forces and fought valiantly." However, according to the "Comprehensive Mirror", the invasion of Suzhou occurred in the third year of the Zhenguan era after Li Jing led troops to campaign against the Turks.

Xu Guan returned to his tent, recalling Su Lie's worried expression, and felt a sense of gloom. He lay down fully clothed. In a daze, he lost track of how long he had slept when he suddenly heard someone outside the tent gently cough. Xu Guan thought it was Su Lie and got up to ask, "Is it the Captain? Please come in quickly." The person outside replied, "Captain Su sent me to bring some food and wine." Xu Guan lifted the tent flap and saw that it was already dark. A young officer in gray, holding a tray, bowed his head and entered. The young officer placed the wine jug and food box from the tray on the table. Xu Guan said, "How can I accept such kindness from the Captain?" The young officer chuckled and said, "When others treat you well, you never thank them." Xu Guan looked closely and, surprised and delighted, exclaimed, "Xiao Yan, how come you are here too!" Although the young officer had pulled his hat down low, it could not hide his sparkling eyes and the smile in his dimples; it was indeed Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan quickly took off his hat and laughed, "The cherry tree that Fifth Lady planted has borne a lot of cherries, so I picked some for you to taste!" Saying this, he opened the food box, which was indeed filled with exquisite, translucent red cherries. Xu Guan looked at the cherries and then at Xiao Yan, filled with joy, but for a long time could not say a word.

At this moment, a blast of horns echoed through the military camp, followed by a series of urgent drumbeats. Xu Guan recalled Su Lie mentioning the military regulations, understanding that this was an urgent call to arms; if they did not arrive in time, they would face military law. He hurriedly said to Xiao Yan, "We cannot stay here any longer; you must quickly take Miss Fan to my tent, and be careful not to let anyone see you." After saying this, he rushed towards the main general's tent. Upon entering, he saw that most of the generals had already arrived. Zhang Gongjin sat in the commander's seat, his brows tightly furrowed, silent and pensive, while two soldiers supported a trembling figure standing in the middle. The man was covered in blood, his breath barely steady; he was indeed the rider who had just galloped into the camp. Once all the generals had gathered, Zhang Gongjin said, "Please tell us about the situation at Shiziliang." The man replied, "Our army encountered a group of enemy troops ten miles from Shiziliang, and the front line engaged in a fierce battle with them. That group of enemy troops was transporting some supplies and was completely unprepared, suffering a great defeat as they retreated towards Shiziliang. Then, Niu Duwi ordered our front line to pursue them. However, as we reached Shiziliang, a heavy rain fell, and the mountain roads became flooded with water and mud, making it difficult to proceed, so we had to retreat. Unexpectedly, a cavalry force suddenly charged out from behind, led by a man wearing a wolf-head mask, who called himself Ahemang and wielded a golden spear. That spear was unstoppable. Lieutenant Lü Tao and Lieutenant Zhao Ang stepped forward with bronze shields to challenge him, but after a dozen exchanges, both shield and man were pierced through, meeting their demise on the battlefield." Hearing that these two had fallen, Su Lie gasped, tears streaming down his face as he murmured, "In Kuang Daofu, there are only brave men who die in battle, not men who retreat..." Xu Guan was slightly startled upon hearing Ahemang's name, thinking to himself, "So he is also in the enemy camp at this moment."

Three men arrived at Su Lie's tent. After drinking a few cups, Su Lie asked, "How did Niu Min choose the three of you? Do you know how many enemy troops are stationed at Lion Ridge? What is the terrain like?" Xin Kaidao replied, "It is likely that during the martial arts competition at the Kuang and Dao Prefectures, Colonel Niu saw our skills and selected us for the expedition. We are all new to the camp, and the enemy situation is still unclear." Su Lie exclaimed, "The enemy situation is unclear, yet you are to go on an expedition?" Suddenly, the sound of a bugle echoed, and Xin Kaidao recognized it as the call to assemble troops, hurriedly getting up to take his leave. Su Lie said, "Be extra careful on this journey." Xin Kaidao laughed and said, "The Colonel often says: In the Kuang Prefecture, there are only brave men who die in battle, not men who retreat. We are all new to the camp, and the enemy situation is still unclear." Su Lie exclaimed again, "The enemy situation is unclear, yet you are to go on an expedition?" Suddenly, the sound of a bugle echoed, and Xin Kaidao recognized it as the call to assemble troops, hurriedly getting up to take his leave. Su Lie said, "Be extra careful on this journey." Xin Kaidao laughed and said, "The Colonel often says: In the Kuang Prefecture, there are only brave men who die in battle, not men who retreat. Now, at the moment of facing the enemy, why are you being so verbose? Kaidao is a bachelor; if this skin stays at Lion Ridge, I have no regrets, only hope the Colonel will often pour me some wine." After saying this, he raised his cup and drank it all, then turned to leave the tent. Su Lie stood at the tent entrance, watching him go far away, sighed, and recited, "Wishing to be a loyal minister, how can one obtain it! Thinking of good ministers, good ministers are indeed worth thinking of." Xu Guan knew he was reciting two lines from the Han Yuefu poem "War at the City South," and thought, "This poem speaks of the sorrow of mourning after a great battle; how can one recite this poem at the moment of departure?" He then said, "Good people have their own heavenly protection. Colonel Xin and the others will surely return victorious." Su Lie finished the half cup of wine left on the table in one gulp, gazed up at the sky for a while, and sighed, "I hope so too."

At the small banquet, he only knew to stare at her foolishly. She smiled and said, "The other day, I saw you get into the carriage sent by the Ministry of War, but instead of going to the city, you headed northeast. I found it quite strange, so I followed you all the way. I didn't expect you to walk further and further until you finally stopped at Mayi." Xu Guan felt touched and said, "You have really gone through a lot. The court has stationed troops in Mayi to deal with the Turks, and I only found out when I arrived there." Xiao Yan asked, "Is there going to be a war? I saw many Turkic soldiers on my way here." As she spoke, she poured two cups of wine. "The court has stationed troops in Mayi to deal with the Turks, and I only found out when I arrived there." Xiao Yan asked, "Is there going to be a war? I saw many Turkic soldiers on my way here." As she spoke, she poured two cups of wine, then peeled a cherry, took out the pit, and handed it to Xu Guan. The cherry smelled fragrant, and when Xu Guan put it in his mouth and chewed, he found it sweet with a hint of sourness, delicate and refreshing, and he couldn't help but praise it repeatedly. Xiao Yan had only eaten two or three cherries, and seeing that he loved cherries, she smiled and said, "You shouldn't eat too many cherries, or else your teeth will turn red." Xu Guan asked in surprise, "Really? You also ate cherries; let me see if your teeth are red." He leaned over to look at her lips, and Xiao Yan quickly shrank back, her face slightly flushed, smiling without speaking.

Zhang Gongjin was particularly delighted to see Xu Guan and said, "Young brother, I did not know you are also serving in the army now. Which military office are you with?" Xu Guan replied, "Reporting to Commander Zhang, I serve as a military officer in the Kuangdao Office in Chang'an." Zhang Gongjin continued, "Young brother, I have been ordered by the Minister of War to summon the leaders of the military offices within the borders here for a discussion. Since you are in my army, please take a seat." Xu Guan, feeling helpless, humbly declined and sat in the last position. Su Lie and Niu Min were surprised to see that Xu Guan actually recognized the main general in the tent.

Su Lie and Xu Guan entered the tent and saw that seven or eight people had already gathered inside. Upon closer inspection, Su Lie noticed that the generals from various military offices were seated on both sides. In the central commanding position sat a man who was deeply engrossed in the documents on the table, making it difficult to discern his appearance. Suddenly, someone behind him said, "Did you just arrive today?" Su Lie turned around and recognized it was Niu Min, the Deputy Commander of the Chongdao Office, so he replied, "Brother Niu, have you also been summoned here by the Ministry of War?" The Kuangdao and Chongdao military offices both belonged to the Jingzhao Prefecture within the Guannei Dao and had always been in competition with each other. Su Lie spoke without much thought, but Niu Min took offense and huffed, "How could important military matters be without the Chongdao Office?" He then glanced at Xu Guan and asked Su Lie, "Who is this beside you?" Su Lie replied, "This is Xu Guan, the Military Officer from my Kuangdao Office." Niu Min sneered, "In the tiger's den, we discuss only military secrets; when does it come to a mere Military Officer to enter?" Xu Guan's face flushed red, and he hurriedly bowed, saying, "I will wait outside the tent." Just as he was about to leave, someone called out, "Little brother, how is it that we meet again here?" Xu Guan looked over, and the speaker was the man sitting in the middle of the large tent. The man stood up, his physique quite robust, with a square jaw, large ears, and a dark face with a slight beard; it was Zhang Gongjin, the Governor of Daizhou, whom they had met at Yanwanyuan.

The waters of the Hunhe River flow ceaselessly day and night, merging into the Yellow River from east to west. The long winds beyond the frontier sweep across the grasslands, often fierce and rarely gentle, stirring up countless dust and sand that swirl into the waters of the Hunhe, and whitening the hair of countless veteran border guards. On this day, the sound of hooves echoed along the banks of the Hunhe, as a horse-drawn carriage sped through the fierce wind, raising a cloud of dust.

After traveling for another three or four hours, Xu Guan faintly felt that the carriage was ascending higher and higher, as if it had entered the mountains. Suddenly, a horse whinnied, and the carriage came to an abrupt stop. The four of them got out of the carriage, and the two soldiers said to Su Lie, "We have received orders from the commander to accompany you here; please do not take offense for any inconvenience along the way." Su Lie asked, "Which commander is it?" The two soldiers exchanged glances and replied, "You will know once you enter the tent, Commander Su." It was then that Su Lie realized that the place where the carriage had arrived was a mountain hollow, surrounded by peaks, with a tall black tent standing prominently.

After leaving the prison camp, the four of them arrived at the Liansheng Old Shop to rest. Xu Guan and Xiao Yan, however, could not find Guo San. A young shop assistant recognized Xu Guan and approached him, saying: "Greetings, sir. Are you looking for Master Guo? He has been gone for quite some time." Xu Guan asked, "Where did he go? Did he leave any message?" The shop assistant replied, "He did not mention where he was going. However, Master Guo did say that the person he is looking for has appeared in Guazhou, so he might have gone there." Xu Guan listened, lowering his head in silence. The shop assistant continued, "He did not mention where he was going. However, Master Guo did say that the person he is looking for has appeared in Guazhou, so he might have gone there." Xu Guan listened, lowering his head in silence. Xiao Yan laughed and said, "What are you thinking about? Brother Guo acts like a dragon, free and unrestrained; if fate allows, you will surely meet him again in the future." Xu Guan replied, "I am not thinking about Brother Guo San; I am wondering what you wrote on the note that would make Colonel Li willing to surrender."

Fan Yun stood up and saw that besides Xiao Yan, there was another person in the tent. Upon closer inspection, she recognized it was Xu Guan, and her panic slightly diminished. She said, "So it is Brother Xu and Sister Xiao Yan. Were you not in Chang'an?" Xu Guan replied, "Miss Fan, how did you come to the Ma Yi military camp?" Fan Yun's eyes reddened, and she stammered, "I... I..." Xiao Yan noticed her pale complexion, which was much more haggard than the last time they met, and said, "Sister, if you have any troubles, please share them. There must be a way to deal with them." Fan Yun forced a smile and stammered, "I... I..." Xiao Yan observed her pale face, which was much more haggard than the last time they met, and said, "Sister, if you have any troubles, please share them. There must be a way to deal with them." Fan Yun smiled sadly and shook her head, saying, "That would be difficult." Xiao Yan said, "Even if I cannot help, there are many friends. If we all discuss it together, we can surely come up with some ideas." Fan Yun sighed, "Last time at the training ground in Kuizhou, Meng sister saved him... saved the life of Captain Li. Since you all left, he has been in low spirits. I have repeatedly tried to persuade him, but he has never been able to lift his spirits. Finally, one day, he suddenly resigned from his official position and left Kuizhou, and it was a long time before he sent a letter back." Xu Guan asked, "What did the letter say?" Fan Yun replied, "It only mentioned that he had received great kindness from the Hidden Prince and had no way to repay it, and that it was now time to show his loyalty. He also told me to take care of myself and not to worry, and mentioned that you all had also arrived in Chang'an. Finally, one day, he suddenly resigned from his official position and left Kuizhou, and it was a long time before he sent a letter back." Xu Guan asked, "What did the letter say?" Fan Yun replied, "It only mentioned that he had received great kindness from the Hidden Prince and had no way to repay it, and that it was now time to show his loyalty. He also told me to take care of myself and not to worry, and mentioned that you all had also arrived in Chang'an. Later, when my father saw this letter, he said that what was written on it was treasonous and burned the letter, forbidding me to mention him again." Upon hearing this, Xu Guan and Xiao Yan both nodded, thinking, "What she said is indeed correct. The Hidden Prince is Li Jiancheng, and Li Baojin came to Chang'an to seek revenge for his old master and happened to run into us." Xiao Yan said, "Sister, you are worried about Captain Li, so you quietly left home to look for him, am I right?"

As dusk approached, Zhang Gongjin had finished issuing orders, and the remaining generals returned to their tents. Xu Guan had never been to a military camp before, and while patrolling the camp with Su Lie, he saw that the encampment was set up in a dense forested area on the mountain. From a distance, the fortifications appeared like a chessboard, and the flags obscured the sun; up close, the soldiers' armor was bright, and their weapons gleamed, truly a display of military might. The two walked side by side, crossing a clearing behind the main general's tent, and arrived at a mound of earth. Below, the waterways crisscrossed, and the Sanggan River meandered eastward, disappearing into the distant white clouds. Su Lie pointed to the river and said, "In the past, Emperor Wu of Han began his campaign against the Xiongnu right here at the strategy of Mayi by the Sanggan River. From the Battle of Mayi to the Xiongnu's retreat to the west, Emperor Wu fought for over forty years. Now that we are here to fight the Turks, I wonder how many years it will take us?" Xu Guan noticed a sense of sadness and helplessness in his eyes and thought, "As the great battle approaches, other generals are eager to make achievements, but Su Duwei's thoughts are quite different." Just then, he heard someone behind him say, "We certainly won't need forty years."

Zhang Gongjin furrowed his brows and said, "How can we defeat Aheng Mang, who is so formidable?" Several generals could no longer contain themselves and jumped out, shouting, "Let me go and take Aheng Mang's head back to avenge our brothers!" "I will make that Hu general witness the prowess of our Tang camp!" Su Lie said, "No! Lü Tao and Zhao Ang are both fierce warriors in our camp, yet they could only last a little over ten exchanges against that enemy general; this person is not someone you can contend with." Xu Guan suddenly recalled something and thought, "Yes! This is a perfect opportunity to save Captain Li!" He stepped forward and said, "I know of a person who is precisely Aheng Mang's match." Zhang Gongjin asked, "Who is the person you speak of?"

After a while, the sound of clanking chains was heard, and Fan Yun helped Li Baojin to come out. Upon seeing Xu Guan and Xiao Yan, Li Baojin said, "Thank you both for your efforts on my behalf. I am willing to serve in the front lines and contribute to the nation." Xu Guan was overjoyed and ordered the jailer to return the copper whip and shield to him. Xiao Yan then took out two ingots of silver and threw them to the jailer, saying, "Have you heard of 'making a fortune quietly'? If anyone asks in the future, just say the Ministry of War wants to summon this person, and do not speak recklessly." She both threatened and bribed him, and the jailer had already changed his demeanor, smiling obsequiously and saying, "I wouldn't dare, sir." He then lowered his voice and said, "Could this person be a great noble from the Turks? If we escort him, we might be able to force the enemy to retreat." Xiao Yan glared at him and said, "How can I discuss such military matters with you? I just told you not to speak recklessly, yet you are still babbling. Do you want me to cut your tongue out for you?" The jailer was so frightened that he lost his wits, smiling apologetically and saying, "I wouldn't dare, sir." He lowered his voice again and said, "Could this person be a great noble from the Turks? If we escort him, we might be able to force the enemy to retreat." Xiao Yan glared at him and said, "How can I discuss such military matters with you? I just told you not to speak recklessly, yet you are still babbling. Do you want me to cut your tongue out for you?" The jailer was so frightened that he lost his wits, not even daring to plead for mercy, covering his mouth with both hands, and escorted the four out of the prison.

After listening to Su Lie's opinion, some generals were astonished and impressed, while others were skeptical, thinking to themselves: "You are not in Suzhou, and such reckless speculation could lead to serious mistakes if there are any missteps." Zhang Gongjin then said: "Our army has reached Mayi, which is close to the Turkic border. Just now, a scout reported that there is a Turkic ambush at Lion Ridge. As the saying goes: 'It is impolite not to reciprocate.' With the Turkic invaders at our borders, in addition to breaking the siege of Suzhou, we should also send troops to teach these barbarian invaders a lesson!" The generals were filled with enthusiasm and eagerly requested to go into battle. Zhang Gongjin then appointed Gao Zixun and two other subordinate generals to lead three thousand cavalry to Suzhou; he also dispatched Niu Min to lead ten thousand troops to take Lion Ridge.

The two turned around and saw a young man clad in armor, grinning foolishly, with snow-white teeth and dark skin. Su Lie was overjoyed upon recognizing him as Xie Kaidao, the Xuanjie Lieutenant of Kuang Daofu, and asked, "Kaidao, so you have also been dispatched to Mayi by the Ministry of War. Have Lü Tao and Zhao Ang arrived as well?" Xie Kaidao bowed and replied, "I have not yet reported, please forgive me, Lieutenant. We have all been assigned to this location." Su Lie said, "Why not call the two of them for a chat?" Xie Kaidao shook his head and said, "The three of us have been selected by Lieutenant Niu Min to attack Shiziliang, and the other two have been assigned to the front and have already set out. I just saw the lieutenant in the barracks and hurried here to bid farewell." Su Lie said, "Is that so? Wait a moment, come with me to the tent for a drink before you go."

After a while, Fan Yun came out, her face streaked with tears, lost in thought and speechless. Xiao Yan asked, "What did Colonel Li say?" Fan Yun replied, "I told him about the imperial amnesty and urged him to surrender, but he just remained silent." Xu Guan said, "Even if the prison is willing to release him, it would be useless if he refuses to leave. I might as well go and persuade him myself." Xiao Yan said, "Wait a moment." Turning to Fan Yun, she asked, "Sister, you mentioned that since we left, Colonel Li has been feeling downcast. Has he exhibited any strange behavior?" Fan Yun replied, "Sometimes at night, he goes to the training ground alone and stares blankly at a pair of bronze whips." Xiao Yan pondered for a moment and decided to persuade him as well. She then instructed the jailer to fetch paper and pen, wrote a note for Fan Yun, and said, "Sister, take this note to him and try to persuade him again." Fan Yun took the note, feeling uncertain, and returned to the prison.