Chapter 6, Tea Tea

In that very moment, Cheng Duo's mind had already gone through countless thoughts. However, Ming Ji was unaware of this; seeing him looking at her in silence, she asked, "What is it?"

She nodded gently, and Chengduo smiled, saying, "Then it is settled."

Chengduo said: "Come here"

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As Dongfang was about to speak, he heard Chengduo say: "Cavalry on horseback is inherently much taller. Moreover, in the battlefield, the struggle is a fight for life and death, aiming only to strike at the vital points and deliver a fatal blow. Wounding a person's legs and feet seems to..." He suddenly paused, his thoughts turning. Having fought for a long time, he was accustomed to such injuries. Mingji had not seen them, which is why she could notice the subtleties that he had overlooked. ... Establishing a foothold is fundamentally important ... . Chengduo recalled how she used an umbrella to strike vital points. Mingji had not seen them, which is why she could notice the subtleties that he had overlooked. ... Establishing a foothold is fundamentally important ... . Chengduo again thought of her using the umbrella to strike vital points. A weapon that is one inch longer can extend the striking distance by one foot ... . Therefore, using a long weapon to attack the legs and feet does not require lowering oneself ... .

Chengduo leaped off the horse, holding her waist, and gently placed her on the ground before walking over to sit down on the slope. It was early spring, the weather was cold and the ground frozen; although the chill penetrated to the bone, the grass in this expanse of land showed hints of light green amidst the withered yellow. Scattered thistles emerged through the grass, their half-arm-long stems swaying in the wind. Chengduo gazed at the red sun at the end of the field, which slowly rose, seeming to bounce lightly as it sprang up from the ground. Chengduo smiled gently in response and let out a long howl. A foraging early eagle circled in the sky.

Cheng Duo turned his head to look at him and said: "It is easy to investigate a person's life, yet the human heart is the most difficult to comprehend. I often feel that since the human heart is hard to measure, why should I bother to measure it? However, to me alone, it does not matter who you are; in terms of the lives of the three armies, I have the responsibility to supervise and manage. But having fulfilled my duty, what need is there for me to trouble myself with other matters"

The East stopped: "Brother Xi Jian, since I have just arrived here, do you not suspect my background?"

He turned around to see the woman sitting on the ground, breaking a twig in her hand, gazing up at the eagle circling in the sky. She brushed aside a few stray strands of hair from the side of her face with one hand, her fingers long and delicate. Noticing Chengduo's gaze, she turned to look at him.

Dongfang looked at Chengduo and saw his expression was calm. He felt that Chengduo sometimes had a warm heart, yet at other times, he appeared extremely cold. In contrast, he himself had become more worldly.

Dongfang looked at him, still so calm and composed, and thought: Could it be that he knows there are spies in the army, and also knows who the spies are? How many matters are truly beyond his control?

Chengduo said, "You can understand what I am saying, can't you?" The morning breeze softened his voice as it carried it away.

Cheng Duo smiled: "You shouldn't always lecture her; she speaks very well."

Cheng Duo also stood still, not looking at him, and spoke leisurely: "Your surname is Zhang, and you come from a family of farmers in Pingyao Town, Yanzhou, for generations. You were clever from a young age, and at the age of six, your father sent you to school, hoping you would carve out a different path in officialdom and prosper the family business. When you were eight, a wandering Taoist passed through this place, and you defied your parents to follow him, disappearing without a trace thereafter. Nine years later, you suddenly returned home, only to find that your parents had both passed away, leaving only your younger sister wandering in the countryside. You took your sister and settled in a secluded cottage thirty miles west of Pingyao Town, changing your name to Dongfang Hu. Thus, the farmers in this area all know Mr. Dongfang, yet they do not know where Mr. Dongfang came from"

The East did not even raise its head: "I am just here to lend a hand."

This peaceful facade did not last long; shortly after the New Year, when the snow melted and the sky cleared, strange occurrences began to unfold

The woman nodded her head

The medical tent in the camp was as busy as it always was after a battle. When Chengduo found his way here, Dongfang was stitching up the wound of an injured soldier. Chengduo approached, looked up at him, and said: "I've been looking for you everywhere, and here you are hiding."

The Eastern soldier wiped clean the bloodstains from the seam with cotton, then took another stitch, still not raising his head: "You do not know that I have many matters to attend to." Blood immediately surged out again from the seam.

Cheng Duo still smiled: "This time returning to Yan, there is not much that is strange about this matter."

Cheng Duo said slowly: "This flower is everywhere on the grassland in the morning. When the sun rises a little higher, they wither. But every morning, it blooms again, without rest throughout the four seasons. I once saw it blooming in the snow, and I was quite astonished that flowers could bloom in the snow." He paused and looked at her: "Hu Yu calls it 'Cha Cha', can I call you 'Cha Cha' from now on?"

Some people do not live in yesterday, for yesterday has already passed; nor do they live in tomorrow, for tomorrow holds too many uncertainties. When one has a warm bed, a drowsy feeling, and ample time, one should simply sleep.

That evening, Chengduo was bent over his desk in his large tent, sketching a peculiar design. During the day, upon hearing Mingji's words, he suddenly conceived a method to deal with the cavalry of the Hu people. He was drawing with a pen on a sheet of plain white paper, then stood up to ponder, sat back down to gaze at the drawing for a while, and raised his sword to perform a spin in the air.

Cheng Duo said slowly, "I haven't finished speaking yet. Here, many men are still not wearing clothes, exposed and bare. " He originally intended to say, "Not only are they not afraid, but they have also begun to study it." However, as Ming Ji interrupted him, he changed his tone. A soldier nearby, who was bandaging his bare torso, heard Cheng Duo's words and chuckled. Upon hearing that laughter, Ming Ji's face turned bright red. Before Cheng Duo could finish his thought about "not only not being afraid," she stomped her foot and ran out.

Several Hu people charged out on horseback in succession, coming to a halt in the main camp, while the troops of Chengduo scattered in all directions. In the distance, countless torches were burning, and the sound of bows and horses was heard, the arrows falling like rain. Suddenly trapped, the Hu leader showed no fear, shouting loudly in the Hu language, to which the thousand-strong Hu cavalry responded in unison. The curved blades glinted in the firelight, appearing as if freshly sharpened. The Hu leader pointed his sword, and the cavalry surged forward like wind and thunder towards the encircled enemy. The battle cries suddenly rose to a deafening pitch.

Cheng Duo then said: "Do you like these flowers?"

The sky gradually brightened, and Chengduo held the reins, looking around cautiously. The ground was littered with the remnants of a tragic night, with scattered swords everywhere. The camp was surrounded by a fence, and within it, a low tent was crowded with frightened women. Last night, the camp was invaded by the hoofs of the Hu people, originally aimed at Chengduo, but there was no looting.

He stood up, let out a low whistle, and the snow-white horse trotted over to him. The woman seemed somewhat lost in thought, slowly bringing her hands together, but she crushed the flower into a pulp, leaving the beautiful fingers stained with dark and faint juice. She smiled faintly, her expression lifting as she raised her head, her demeanor now as clear and tranquil as the vast sky.

Ming Ji, upon hearing him say "little girl," involuntarily recalled the expression he had when they met on Pingyao Avenue. Thinking of that expression, she felt an uneasy premonition and, not waiting for him to finish speaking, hurriedly said: "I am not afraid."

The sky brightened a little more, and a faint red glow appeared on the horizon. Chengduo ran towards that light, gradually catching sight of a half sun peeking over the edge of the sky. The wind howled across the fields, and the horse galloped as if flying, traversing the perilous terrain with ease. The woman in his grasp buried her head against his chest, shivering from the cold. A few strands of long hair brushed against Chengduo's face in the wind. With one hand he held her close, and with the other he guided the reins, heading straight for a high slope. He pulled the reins, and the horse reared its head and neighed, shaking its neck a couple of times, its chest heaving as it came to a stop, its nostrils exhaling white vapor. The woman in his grasp buried her head against his chest, shivering from the cold. A few strands of long hair brushed against Chengduo's face in the wind. With one hand he held her close, and with the other he guided the reins, heading straight for a high slope. He pulled the reins, and the horse reared its head and neighed, shaking its neck a couple of times, its chest heaving as it came to a stop, its nostrils exhaling white vapor.

He did not pay attention to the corner of the large tent, where Cha Cha had already curled up and fallen asleep on a pile of felt mats. She had been brought back to the large tent by Cheng Duo and no longer returned to that lowly shack. Even this small corner of the tent was enough for her to sleep peacefully.

Ming Ji was preparing to give Dong Fang some medicinal powder when she overheard their conversation. Suddenly, she remarked, "I notice that many injuries are to the upper arms, chest, and abdomen, while those to the legs and feet are relatively few. Do the Hu people never attack the lower body?"

She looked down at the long thistle in her hand, glanced at him, and then nodded slightly

The wounded soldiers sitting around, upon seeing the busy medics, all stood up. Chengduo raised his hand to signal that there was no need for formalities, glanced around, and said to Dongfang: "I did not know that you were knowledgeable in the medical arts"

Dongfang properly treated the soldier's injury and turned to Chengduo, saying: "Mingji is becoming increasingly reckless, discussing offense and defense in front of you."

Chengduo grasped the saddle, did not step on the stirrup, and with a leap, he mounted the horse. Immediately, he gently lifted her by the shoulders, and she too sat up. Chengduo loosened the reins, gave a light click, and the horse began to walk slowly, stepping into the shadow cast by the sunlight behind, heading towards the direction of the Yanzhou military camp

Cheng Duo spotted Hu Bing heading towards the northeast corner, so he ordered Yang Youlin to follow him with cavalry to observe his movements. He then rode back to the main camp, where the fires that had broken out in various places had been extinguished, but smoke was still rising. The remaining soldiers in the eastern and western camps were busy tidying up.

Zhao Sun did not have time to think further; he threw caution to the wind and fought with increasing courage. Suddenly, he heard the sound of a bell ringing from the northeast corner, three short rings followed by one long ring, which he recognized as the retreat order from Cheng Duo. Zhao Sun immediately raised his sword and urged his horse to carve out a bloody path, leading his men and horses out from the flank. The besieged Hu cavalry, not wishing to linger in battle, charged northward, joining forces with the reinforcements that were signaling.

From the watchtower in front of the night camp, movement was spotted, and suddenly the alarm sounded loudly. Approximately a thousand cavalrymen, like the wind and lightning, rushed towards the central army, but were intercepted by the soldiers from the side camp. After several rounds of sword strikes and axe blows, a few valiant Hu cavalrymen had already charged into the main tent of Chengduo. The leader waved a torch and immediately sensed something was amiss; the tent was empty and devoid of people, with even the tables and desks tidied up meticulously.

I was just about to look for you. Today's battle is somewhat peculiar. Dongfang pondered for a moment and said, "In principle, a surprise attack requires dividing the troops for support, so that one can advance and retreat with certainty. However, when launching a night raid directly targeting the enemy's highest commander, it must be executed with secrecy and precision. The supporting troops should be stationed at a greater distance to avoid being exposed before the attack commences. Yet today, the reinforcements arrived too quickly; the front-line Hu people were unaware of the news, while the reinforcements behind were the first to know.

Suddenly, a few whistles echoed from a distance, followed by the deep and distant sound of a horn from the Hu people. Upon hearing this sound, the morale of the besieged Hu cavalry, which had already waned, was instantly revived, and they began to dance with their curved blades, their thin edges appearing almost invisible, while also whistling in response. From afar, the sounds of shouting and clashing weapons could be heard. The situation shifted dramatically, and Zhao Sun's army found themselves encircled in the middle.

She stood up and walked closer to him, her skirt gently swaying. Chengduo nodded to indicate that she should sit down. She knelt beside him, just behind him. Chengduo, taking advantage of the rising sunlight, looked at her; he had not noticed before, mostly seeing her in the light of the fire inside the tent, and he had not realized that her eyes possessed a faint lake blue color. When illuminated by the sunlight, they appeared as bright as the sky, remarkably beautiful. Most of the Hu people's eyes are yellow-brown, and a gaze like hers can only be found in the Western Regions, thousands of miles away.

As the two individuals conversed, they strolled out of the medical tent. Upon exiting the tent, they found themselves in an empty expanse, with the sun rising at an angle, illuminating the morning mist. The surrounding landscape was fully visible.

Cheng Duo smiled and said: "Not much. It's just that you, a young girl, are staying in this blood-soaked place, where many are wounded and bleeding..."

Cheng Duo surveyed the surroundings for a week and noticed some scattered wooden fences under the eaves of a corner of the felt tent, slightly pressing down on a pile of disheveled gray blankets. After a moment of hesitation, he slowly urged his horse forward, bent down, and grabbed the blanket. In that instant of looking down, he saw the face of the person beneath the eaves. The blanket was originally covering her legs, and she was leaning against the wooden post, half of her body hidden in the shadow of the eaves. From a distance, it appeared as if there was no one there, yet she could clearly see the situation outside. Cheng Duo bent down to look at her, and she returned his gaze. Cheng Duo's eyes were cold, while her eyes remained calm and indifferent. The blanket was originally covering her legs, and she was leaning against the wooden post, half of her body hidden in the shadow of the eaves. From a distance, it appeared as if there was no one there, yet she could clearly see the situation outside. Cheng Duo bent down to look at her, and she returned his gaze. Cheng Duo's eyes were cold, while her eyes remained calm and indifferent. Cheng Duo thought to himself: she is quite clever, hiding here.

He straightened his back, and the snow-white horse pranced in place twice, seemingly impatient with his prolonged standing. Chengduo tugged at the reins and circled around the enclosure; the horse did not stop. He reached out and pulled her onto the horse's back. The white horse leaped, jumped over the enclosure, and galloped towards the camp gate. The soldiers passing by halted their work and turned their heads to look. Chengduo had already dashed out of the camp like the wind, heading east.

Cheng Duo recalled that when she fought against that pockmarked soldier, she had used the tip of her umbrella to strike at his knee joint, suggesting that she was skilled in pressure point techniques, targeting the entire body without bias. Now, upon seeing this injury, she found it strange. Ming Ji further remarked: "Establishing a foothold is fundamental; why not attack the root instead of pursuing the branches?"

The East listened, neither affirming nor denying, and simply smiled, saying: "This does not prove that I would not act as a spy."

Although these Hu cavalrymen were outnumbered, none of them showed any signs of retreat. Where their blades fell, the armor and clothing were cut through, and blood flowed like a fountain. In the clash of arms between the two armies, the momentum was on their side. Seeing over a thousand cavalrymen fighting as if they were risking their lives, everyone felt a twinge of fear in their hearts, allowing them to break through the infantry and charge directly to the front of Zhao Sun's cavalry camp. Zhao Sun cursed and brandished his saber, aiming directly at the leading Hu warrior. Upon recognizing his status, four or five Hu cavalrymen immediately rushed forward, surrounding Zhao Sun and engaging him in fierce combat. Zhao Sun's subordinate cavalrymen stepped forward to engage in battle, and both sides became locked in a fierce struggle.