Chapter 1, Carrying the Mule

This area all belongs to the border region, and Wang Ju used to go hunting with his second uncle, but they had never ventured this far.

In front lies the Zangdi River. Do not be deceived by its small size, for due to the war, it may be etched in history. Wang Ju stared intently at this temporary border river, its surface shimmering with light, the water crystal clear, almost revealing the pebbles beneath and the fish swimming about. The surroundings were still filled with a kind of desolate monotony, but the vague silhouettes of some figures on the opposite bank caused the villagers to show signs of tension.

The sound of wheels echoed once more, and the more than one hundred people fell into a terrifying silence

Zhu Qing expressed his displeasure: "Young man, you are being overly meddlesome"

The young woman nodded: "Mistress, let us go along with them."

But where is there time

Do not assume there is sunlight, but one must know how much time it takes to discern the direction

The Khitan raided the grass valley, the Western Xia captured the Sheng army, the Tibetans became bandits, and Annam trafficked in slaves... At this moment, Wang Ju reflected silently, as he observed the tense expressions of the villagers, he finally felt the suffering of the common people in the border regions of the Song Dynasty

Do not be misled by the generous salary; a single trip with the mule can yield a profit of one hundred guan, with each person able to earn nearly half a guan. However, the dangers involved are no less than those faced by the seafarers venturing out to sea from the coast.

Zhu Qing stood on the hilltop, gazing towards the northwest, and said

Occasionally, a few wild hares and dog-like deer would be startled from the thickets, looking anxiously at the group of people before darting back into the forest, but the mountain dwellers had lost all desire for hunting

Zhu Qing thought for a moment: "No, you are from the Central Plains."

"Where is this goods being delivered to?" the curious maid, referred to as 'mistress', asked.

You say they are the Xixia people, but we are not

He is not curious at all, and moreover, what Manager Zhu said is also incorrect. From Shunningzhai to Hengshanxia, it cannot be considered the territory of the Song Dynasty, nor can it be regarded as the territory of the Western Xia. Strictly speaking, it is what ancient texts refer to as the idle land, an area that is not governed by any authority.

We are lost, where is Yanzhou?

Wang Wei said: "Dai Ao Ridge"

"Are you all from the Song dynasty?" the lady asked calmly

Being a muleteer is quite dangerous, though it may seem somewhat intimidating. Carrying a bow and wearing a knife, even if they are just ordinary wooden knives and mulberry wood bows, they are still weapons. Moreover, with over one hundred strong men, it is evident that she was frightened.

However, whether in Yanzhou or in the Ba'an Army, there are some foreign merchants, possibly their families, who venture out of the city for leisure. While enjoying themselves, they lose their way and end up wandering farther and farther, eventually reaching the border. But why do these merchants come to Yanzhou and the Ba'an Army? Is it not for the sake of contraband goods?

Lost? Zhu Qing stepped forward and asked with suspicion

Zhu Qing returned and said loudly: "Transaction successful"

Zhu Qing furrowed his brows

He hesitated for a long time before finally nodding his head

How chaotic the border is, two women got lost, yet they were able to remain safe and sound, truly a miracle

In the city, the most accurate is not the hourglass, but the water clock; even the water clock is only accurate when it is completely still

However, what piqued his curiosity was that throughout this journey, the officials and soldiers of the Song Dynasty seemed indifferent. Could it be that Zhu's employer had bribed both the security officers and soldiers?

With this signal, each side sent representatives to the opposite side to inspect the goods

He does not ask Wang Ju why he came to the border to make a living at the age of thirteen

Wang Ju shook his old burlap robe, gazing at the gray, overcast sky, his expression sorrowful. He was fortunate to be reborn, yet he found himself in this wretched place. In order to survive, he had no choice but to toil like a beast of burden.

The wheel once again emitted an unpleasant creaking sound

It is possible

How did you all get here

Yet there are always places where the sunlight does not reach

Where is Dayaoling?

It appears to be a master and a servant

Go

Wang Ju's cold remark silenced the two women

The young woman slightly changed her complexion and stammered, "We are the lost common people"

It is from the direction of Mount Kōyama

The world is silent

Indeed, beyond that river lies the territory of the Western Xia people. Little one, are you curious

"Let me tell you where Yanzhou is. Can you safely make your way back to Yanzhou? If you get lost again, a few turns will really take you to Xixia," Wang Ju said with a laugh.

A muddy river flows slowly from Hengshan, with the upstream villages and hamlets mostly in a state of disrepair. The common people live in dilapidated cave dwellings, and even those cave dwellings cannot be properly maintained. Half of the population resides in shabby shanties, wearing tattered clothing, existing in this broken and desolate landscape of mountains and rivers

In this era, women are truly valuable assets

Two women stood up from the grass, one in her early twenties and the other in her teens, both with a sword inserted at their waists, and they were quite beautiful. However, their clothes were covered in dust, resembling two little cats that had been wandering outside for several days

Zhu Qing strode forward, and the two engaged in conversation, though the content was unknown. Suddenly, a multitude of horse-drawn carriages, donkey carts, and mule carts appeared across from them. In comparison to the human-powered vehicles on this side of the river, the formation was evidently much more luxurious

What is beyond the mountain?

Wang Ju turned his head to look at everyone: "Manager Zhu, Weng Weng, the two women are pitiful. How about this: let them accompany us, we will take them to the main road, and then find a carriage for them to send them back to Yanzhou."

However, the two women revealed a look of hesitation in their eyes

"On the road," Zhu Qing shouted

What shall we do?" the young maid said anxiously

The convoy soon arrived at the foot of the hill amidst this monotonous sound, coming to a stop one by one under Zhu Qing's command

Zhu Qing ordered.

"Do not ask," Wang Ju wiped the sweat from his forehead and said. He could not discern any Central Plains dialect; it took him three months after arriving at the village to speak the Shaanxi dialect of the Song Dynasty fluently. How could he possibly detect the differences in pronunciation from other regions?

The young woman hesitated for a moment and said: "We are from the Central Plains, where is this place?"

Again, I looked at the two women

It is almost here

However, Wang Ju was still influenced by the ideological concepts of his previous life, believing that women and children are ultimately a vulnerable group that needs to be cared for. Otherwise, if this situation continues, it would not only lead to a transition to the Western Xia region and the borders of the books, but sooner or later, they would also be captured as property by the Qiang people

Wang Ju immediately saw a shaven-headed man walking towards him from the opposite side

The slightest disturbance will cause one's heart to race with fear

Wangjiazha is also a dilapidated village

Then he looked at his thin and frail body, wanting to shout to the sky: "Damn it."

However, their line of work is not one that can be seen in the light of day

However, Wang Ju stood by and observed clearly; although she was dressed like an ordinary woman, that young married woman possessed an indescribable aura.

We are all people of the Song dynasty..." said Wang Judao

The little fellow? Wang Ju smiled, feeling somewhat speechless in his heart

These years represent the best period of the Northern Song Dynasty, characterized by flourishing music and dance, national prosperity, and certainly, a strong sense of vitality.

The exchanges may seem quite normal, yet they are actually rather peculiar, which is a matter of language. In the Xixia region, the Han people speak Chinese, while the Qiang people speak Qiang language, and the same applies to the Yan Prefecture. There are slight regional differences; however, due to the long-standing border situation, most Qiang people can speak a few phrases in Chinese, and Han people can likewise manage a few phrases in Qiang language. Chinese is the mainstream language, while Qiang language is quite chaotic, comprising speakers from various groups such as the Tubo, Dangxiang, Tuyuhun, and descendants of various Hu people settled in the deserts during the Tang Dynasty.

"Uncle Er, stop talking. Even if you name all the mountains around here, they probably still won't be able to tell which is which," Wang Ju said as he stepped forward.

The fifth year of the Jiayou era

"Who?" Uncle Wang Ju, Wang Wei, shouted loudly and dashed into the grass.

The mountain dwellers almost simultaneously drew their knives from their backs

The common people in the border regions suffer greatly, with many children around the age of ten taking on family responsibilities and engaging in various trades and studies.

Zhu Qing did not care at all and whistled a few times

... ...

Are you from beyond the mountain?

What else can be done? If they continue like this, something will inevitably happen sooner or later

In this chaotic place, a Song person encompasses too many meanings

Suddenly, the scene of General He Long wielding a kitchen knife flashed through his mind

Therefore, in an era without compasses and in the absence of local guides familiar with the environment, one would often get lost

He is the steward of the landlord. Yan Prefecture has been plagued by the rampant influx of contraband, with merchants from various regions in the northern Song Dynasty finally discerning the accents of two women.

Wang Ju stared at the small river at the foot of the hill and asked, "Is that the Cangdi River?"

The endless mountains and hills bear numerous traces left by the mountain dwellers' slash-and-burn practices. Situated between the Song and Xia dynasties, the area has been ravaged by conflict, resulting in desolation and the growth of low, dense shrubs. Countless wild amaranth, pig's hair cherry, and small thistle also thrive on the ground. As the wheels roll over, they crush out a layer of green juice. However, these mature wild vegetables are covered with many small thorns, which snag on the villagers' legs, causing a slight pain and itch.

The sight of several barbarians adorned with the swords of the Xia Kingdom standing beside the vehicles, watching the goods, caused over one hundred villagers to seemingly hold their breath

Wang Ju stopped, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and looked at Zhu Qing

The mountain wind blew, causing Zhu Qing's brown silk robe to rustle. The robe appeared somewhat worn, likely due to frequent wandering in the mountains, as evidenced by a few patches at the hem. However, standing among a group of villagers dressed in tattered hemp garments, he still stood out like a crane among chickens