Chapter 68: Journey West
The carriage swayed as it traveled westward along the post road.
Fu Tingyun, wrapped in a fur coat, didn’t feel the cold.
She asked Zheng Sanniang, who sat opposite her, her breath forming mist in the air, "Where have we reached?"
Zheng Sanniang quickly lifted the carriage curtain to look outside.
All she could see were either yellow earth slopes or red clay hills.
"Brother Sanfu," she called to Sanfu, who was riding alongside the carriage, "where are we now?"
Sanfu, clad in a fur coat with a ruddy complexion, reined in his horse and turned back with a chuckle. "We’ll reach Yongjing before nightfall. Once we pass Yongjing, it’s Zhuanglang. In another twenty or so days, we’ll arrive in Zhangye."
Because Fu Tingyun had made a last-minute decision to go to Zhangye, they had hurriedly purchased supplies. But with three additional adults and a child, provisions—especially dry rations—had to be replenished, delaying their departure from Xi’an Prefecture until the 27th of August.
Once they left Xi’an Prefecture, they encountered migrant bandits everywhere. Fortunately, their group appeared tall and robust, and the whip lashes from Sanfu and Shizhu left bloody marks, intimidating many along the way. Thus, they managed to reach Mei County safely.
Perhaps because people assumed the further west they went, the more desolate it would become, they no longer encountered migrant bandits after passing Mei County. Instead, they frequently crossed paths with large merchant caravans.
Relieved not to have to deal with unarmed refugees, Sanfu and the others relaxed.
Hearing that Zhuanglang was within sight, Zheng Sanniang brightened and was about to report back to Fu Tingyun when Zhao Ling, alerted by the commotion, rode over.
"What’s the matter?" he asked with concern, though his gaze drifted past her toward the carriage.
Even though he couldn’t actually see inside from this angle, Zheng Sanniang instinctively shifted aside, as if to give him a clearer view.
"Miss Fu asked where we’ve reached," she respectfully repeated Sanfu’s words.
Zhao Ling nodded without further questions and simply said, "Tell Miss Fu not to read anymore—it’ll strain her eyes." Then he urged his horse forward to join Yang Yucheng.
Zheng Sanniang watched Zhao Ling’s retreating figure, clad only in a plain blue cotton-padded robe, and sighed as she lowered the curtain. "If only you’d listened to me earlier, miss. That fox fur coat may have cost over a hundred taels, but the fur was uniformly glossy and jet-black—clearly top quality. It would’ve been worth every penny. But you thought it was too expensive and hesitated. Now look: Ninth Master gave his fur coat to you and has nothing warm to wear, just that cotton robe all day..."
"Ugh!" Fu Tingyun was even more frustrated. "I bought him three fur coats back then, but he waved them off, saying he didn’t need this or that, and only took one when he left." Despite her words, the thought of him braving the biting wind outside—especially after his injury, which might not have fully healed—made her uneasy. She lowered her voice. "I had no idea it’d be this cold here! I heard Jiangnan’s silk is sold all the way to Dashi via Zhangye, and many merchants have guild halls there. Surely they’d have fur coats available. We’ll figure something out when we arrive."
For now, that was all they could do.
Zheng Sanniang sighed inwardly. Thinking of the endless stretches of yellow and red earth they’d passed, she grew worried about what awaited them in Zhangye. Softly, she asked Fu Tingyun, "How high-ranking is a centurion? Is it higher than a county constable, or lower?"The official document from the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission stated that Zhao Ling was a Centurion, while Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao were both junior officers. Sanfu and Shizhu were registered as ordinary military households. A Sen, being too young, had not been registered yet.
"I don't know either!" Fu Tingyun adjusted the fur coat around her and said, "We'll find out once we reach Zhangye."
As they conversed, they arrived at Yongjing County.
Before even stepping out of the carriage, the clamor of voices reached their ears. Once they disembarked, they were met with a bustling scene—merchant caravans everywhere, the neighing of horses, the jingling of camel bells, and the shouts of laborers loading and unloading goods. The air was thick with yellow dust kicked up by the crowds, which included fair-haired, green-eyed Persians, white-turbaned Hui people, and fur-clad traveling merchants.
Fu Tingyun widened her eyes in curiosity, gazing around like a village girl visiting the city for the first time. She couldn’t help but stare at a Hui woman wearing a golden-embroidered headscarf in the crowd.
Zhao Ling watched her with a faint smile.
A Sen exclaimed, "Weren’t we told that beyond the pass, the land was sparsely populated and barren? Why are there so many people here?"
Yang Yucheng and the others were also overwhelmed by the constant flow of people. Only Zhao Ling remained composed. "If one fails to see the snow atop the Qilian Mountains, they might mistake Zhangye for the lush south," he said with a smile. "This place has been a vital trade route since ancient times. The numerous merchant caravans sustain the local populace, so this hustle and bustle is hardly surprising." He then added, "We’ve had a tiring journey these past days. Let’s rest well tonight." With that, he headed toward the largest inn in sight.
Reluctantly, the group lingered on the street for a moment, taking in the sights before following Zhao Ling into the inn.
They booked a secluded courtyard at the back of the inn. The attendants eagerly led their horses to the stable, served tea, and brought hot water. Sanfu and the others, distrusting the attendants, worked with Zheng San and Shizhu to move their belongings into the side rooms they would occupy. Zheng Sanniang attended to Fu Tingyun’s washing needs, while Zhao Ling, Yang Yucheng, and Jin Yuanbao closed the door to discuss matters inside. A Sen, meanwhile, held Linchun and stood by the entrance, watching the exotic-looking Persians and the Hui people with their high noses and deep-set eyes.
Before long, Zheng Sanniang found A Sen. "Miss Fu wants you to wash up quickly so you can join her for dinner."
A Sen handed Linchun to Zheng Sanniang and dashed back. After washing up, he went to Fu Tingyun’s room.
Fu Tingyun was wringing her hair with a towel when she noticed A Sen’s unwashed hair still tied in childish tufts. "Go wash your hair," she scolded.
A Sen, who disliked washing his hair, tried to evade the task. "No one will help me. I can’t do it alone."
Fu Tingyun stood up. "Go fetch water. I’ll wash it for you."
Seeing no escape, A Sen bolted.
Fu Tingyun chased after him.
A Sen quickly surrendered. "I’ll wash it now! I’ll wash it now!"
Hearing the commotion, Zhao Ling pushed open the window, and both Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao looked into the courtyard. They laughed as they watched Fu Tingyun drag A Sen back.
"That little monkey finally has someone to keep him in check!" Jin Yuanbao remarked.
Yang Yucheng, however, disagreed. "Miss Fu is being too meddlesome."
Zhao Ling and Jin Yuanbao exchanged knowing smiles.
Yang Yucheng flushed and quickly changed the subject. "Let’s focus on the matter at hand."
Back when they had just left Xi’an, Fu Tingyun had once gently reminded Yang Yucheng not to pick his teeth at the dinner table after meals.
Both Zhao Ling and Jin Yuanbao, fearing Yang Yucheng might take offense, had tactfully steered the conversation elsewhere."The commander of Zhuanglang Garrison is Lu Cheng. A Hereditary Commander of One Hundred Households, in the thirty-sixth year of Pingxi, when the Mongols invaded, he served as assistant commander of Zhuanglang Garrison. For his merits in assisting Marquis Yingchuan to recapture Hami Garrison, he was granted the title of Hereditary Chiliarch. In the thirty-eighth year of Pingxi, he was promoted to commander." Jin Yuanbao said solemnly, "This is all I could find out."
Yang Yucheng exclaimed, "Wow! Assisting Marquis Yingchuan to recapture Hami Garrison got him promoted from Hereditary Commander of One Hundred Households to Chiliarch. Then the rewards for Marquis Yingchuan who actually recaptured Hami Garrison must have been even greater."
Jin Yuanbao gave him a cold look, his disdainful expression clearly saying "that goes without saying": "Marquis Yingchuan has two sons, one ten years old and the other four. The ten-year-old was granted the hereditary position of assistant commander, third rank. The four-year-old was made assistant commander, fourth rank!"
"Ah!" Yang Yucheng drooled with envy. "Those two kids are so lucky!" His eyes gleamed.
Zhao Ling couldn't help laughing: "If you work hard, you might also earn titles for your wife and descendants."
"Ninth Master is right," Yang Yucheng said enthusiastically. "A real man must bring honor to his family and secure titles for his wife and children, or his life would be in vain!"
Jin Yuanbao ignored him and said to Zhao Ling, "Ninth Master, this isn't enough. What we know is common knowledge. We need to find out Lu Cheng's personality traits, preferences, how many wives and concubines he has, which son he favors most... And we should also investigate Marquis Yingchuan carefully."
"Mm!" Zhao Ling nodded seriously. "Preparation leads to success, lack of preparation to failure. Since we're here, we can't just muddle along." He pondered for a moment. "Yongjing County is only forty or fifty li from Zhuanglang Garrison. If the people from Zhuanglang Garrison want entertainment, Yongjing is the nearest bustling place—they're bound to come here. Let's rest here for two days and take this opportunity to learn more about Lu Cheng first. Then we'll stay in Zhangye for another two days to gather information about Marquis Yingchuan before reporting to the General Military Headquarters in Gansu."
Jin Yuanbao nodded, and the two discussed some details. Then Sanfu knocked on the door to say hot water was ready, and everyone dispersed.
Zhao Ling took a comfortable bath. As he sat on the bed drying his hair with a towel, he suddenly thought of Fu Tingyun.
What was she doing now?
Once the thought occurred to him, he couldn't sit still.
He took a deep breath.
His mood was too restless now.
After calming down, he went to Fu Tingyun's room.
A Sen had already washed his hair and was sitting by Fu Tingyun's kang, his hair loose. Fu Tingyun was about to teach him to recite "A Thousand Households' Poems."
"'The pale moon and scattered stars surround the Jianzhang Palace' means that on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Yuanxiao Festival lanterns shine as brilliantly as the moon and stars around the imperial palace. 'The immortal breeze carries down the fragrance from the imperial censers' describes the palace's atmosphere as ethereal, with incense curling in the air..."
Her gentle voice made him smile as he quietly pushed the door open.
Hearing the noise, they both turned to look. Seeing it was Zhao Ling, they were surprised.
Fu Tingyun stood up.
A Sen hurried forward to greet him.
Zhao Ling smiled and patted A Sen's head. "Reciting poems again?"
A Sen nodded, his eyes wide as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
"What's wrong?" Zhao Ling asked him.A Sen tilted his head. "Temples are filled with swirling incense smoke, but why would the imperial palace have it too? If even celestial realms are shrouded in incense smoke, no wonder all those women go to temples to burn incense—they'll all become immortals soon enough in that smoke!" He giggled as he spoke.
Fu Tingyun felt a headache coming on.
This child always had the strangest ideas.
Zhao Ling laughed heartily. "Not every place with incense smoke is a celestial realm. But this poem is called 'Banquet on the Lantern Festival'—it's what court officials wrote for the emperor during Yuanxiao Festival. They had to flatter him, so they connected everything to heavenly immortals. Basically, they're saying the emperor is like a god. Understand?"
A Sen nodded repeatedly.
Was this really how one should teach a child?
No wonder A Sen turned out like this.
Displeased, Fu Tingyun said coolly, "Ninth Master, your footsteps are so light—I didn't notice you coming in. You gave me quite a fright."
Hinting that he should have knocked before entering.
"Oh?" Zhao Ling replied casually. "I'll be more careful next time." Then he sat beside Fu Tingyun and asked A Sen, "You've been learning 'A Thousand Household Poems' with Miss Fu these days—how many have you memorized?"
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During the Ming Dynasty, Zhuanglang Garrison was located in what is now Yongdeng County, not the current Zhuanglang County. Just a note. O(∩_∩)O~
PS: Going to visit my child at boarding school tomorrow, so only one update tomorrow...
(End of chapter)
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