Chapter 42: An Lushan, the Son of Light.

　　As An Lushan had foreseen, the Khitan were caught entirely off guard. At the sudden appearance of the Youzhou forces, panic swept through their ranks.　　An Lushan ordered his general, He Side, to lead the charge. A man of formidable build, broad-shouldered and barrel-chested, He Side was mistaken for An Lushan himself. The Khitan warriors, believing they had their quarry within reach, swarmed upon him with reckless fury. When at last they took his head, convinced they had slain An Lushan, their spirits soared, their courage redoubled.　　The Xi people, upon hearing that An Lushan had marched against the Khitan, understood all too well that the fall of the lips would mean the teeth would be left exposed. Thus, they sent their forces to aid the Khitan in their defence. From the Gongshu Clan of the Xi, a renowned artisan family, came their eldest disciple, Lu Bode—better known in the martial world as the “Lute Master of Yin and Yang”. He led a hundred war chariots, each a masterpiece of Gongshu craftsmanship, into battle.　　As An Lushan’s army clashed with the combined forces of the Xi and the Khitan, a lone figure emerged from the Xi ranks. Moving with measured grace, Lu Bode stepped forward, a Xi lute cradled in his hands.　　Both armies paused at the sight of Lu Bode. Clad in neither armour nor arms, he strode forward at an unhurried pace—his left hand cradling a lute, his right holding a bow. To the assembled soldiers, he seemed nothing more than a battlefield musician.　　The Youzhou troops burst into laughter. “Ha! The Xi curs and Khitan slaves bring a minstrel to war! What is this—an offer of surrender set to music?”　　Lu Bode joined in the laughter, his voice carrying easily across the battlefield. “An Lushan calls himself the Son of Light? How fitting! As it happens, I have recently mastered a new piece—The Melody of Light. This tune is composed in honour of true radiance. Those who stand on the side of light will find their spirits lifted upon hearing it. Come, let both armies bear witness.”　　With that, he seated himself on the ground, settling the Xi lute across his lap. His fingers moved with practised ease as he began to play. The prelude rang out first—a solemn, resonant motif played on the open inner strings, evoking the rhythmic march of a mighty army, each step measured, unwavering. Then, the melody shifted—now bold and percussive, each plucked note