(The letter bears scorch marks along the edges, and the hand grows more and more unsteady as it goes on.) ...…
(The letter bears scorch marks along the edges, and the hand grows more and more unsteady as it goes on.)
...By nightfall, the Khitans began taking the prisoners out one by one and killing them on the spot.
The brothers put their heads together and decided that, since death awaited us either way, we might as well use the confusion to make a break for it and fight for a chance to live.
At parting, tears fell freely. Yet all our thoughts were with the old and the young at home. Between us, the pay and provisions we carried came to twenty liang and three qian, so we divided it into five shares and fled in different directions.
Each man carries a copy of this letter. If even one of us escapes, he must deliver the letters and the money to the families of the others. If none of us returns alive, then this letter must be destroyed, so that no harm comes to our kin.
I set down here once more the names and families of my brothers:
Zhao Shi, of Luancheng. His mother is Madam Li, and he has a younger brother, Zhao Tie. He asks that his brother take good care of their mother.
Zhou Fugui, of Weizhou. He has no family left.
Li Jingxing, of Silvereed Shoal on the Hutuo. His father is Elder Li. He asks that his wife, Yueniang, remarry.
Wo Tela, of the Huang River. He asks that his younger brother and sister live well and carry on.
She Lang, of the Wolf River. He asks that his wife, Li Tuo, take good care of herself.
This is our final letter. We only pray it may reach the hands of our loved ones. Ten thousand thanks, if Heaven should grant its protection.
I, Jingxing, unworthy though I am, write down these final words on behalf of my brothers.