Chapter 6: The Spirit of Literature and Martial Arts Competing with the World (Part 1)
The sun was already high in the sky, and Han Gang was drenched in sweat through his heavy clothing. After getting up and washing up, he began his exercises, which were now nearing their end. He shot his last arrow with great force, leaving another deep indentation in the target's center. He and the young girl tidied up the bow and arrows and walked home along the riverbank.
After finishing a round of shooting, with each arrow hitting the target, Han Gang's focused expression revealed a hint of a smile. Lowering his hands that held the bow, he took several deep breaths. Han Yunniang, standing nearby, hurried over, holding a green sweat towel, tiptoeing and raising her hand to wipe the sweat from Han Gang's forehead
Oh..." Han Ali's voice carried a hint of disappointment. Third Brother has always been her most beloved son, a source of pride she could boast about to neighbors and friends, with hopes that he would bring glory to the family. Unexpectedly, after studying abroad for two years, he returned saying that he was far inferior to others
The east-west oriented Hengshan and Tiandu Mountains serve as the boundary between the Song and Western Xia dynasties. The Yanbian region of Shaanxi is further divided by the north-south oriented foothills extending from Hengshan and Tiandu Mountains. The various regions that have been segmented are hindered by mountainous terrain, making mutual support and unified command difficult. In order to better counter the cavalry of the Western Xia, the Song court established the north-south watershed as the boundary, dividing Shaanxi from east to west into four military administrative regions: Fuyan, Jingyuan, Huanqing, and Qin Feng, to independently manage military affairs. However, despite ongoing proposals to split the Shaanxi Transport Circuit, which represents the local administrative jurisdiction, into two for better oversight of local governance and the arrangement of grain and salary transport, no changes have been made to date. In order to better counter the cavalry of the Western Xia, the Song court established the north-south watershed as the boundary, dividing Shaanxi from east to west into four military administrative regions: Fuyan, Jingyuan, Huanqing, and Qin Feng, to independently manage military affairs. However, despite ongoing proposals to split the Shaanxi Transport Circuit, which represents the local administrative jurisdiction, into two for better oversight of local governance and the arrangement of grain and salary transport, no changes have been made to date
In this era, without antibiotics and modern medicine, even a minor ailment can be fatal. After surviving a calamity, Han Gang values his life even more. Having obtained a second chance at life, he is determined to strengthen his physical fitness. While it may not be possible to be free from all diseases, he at least aims to live a few more years.
"Third Brother, why is it that these days I only see you reading and practicing archery, but not composing poetry?"
Half a month is neither long nor short. Han Gang read books and practiced archery every day. After his rebirth, some knowledge that had been vague and forgotten was recalled and solidified, and he also had a preliminary plan for the next steps to take
Upon hearing his son's words, Han Ali was immediately filled with joy: "Mr. Zhang is a celestial star; what he says cannot be wrong! Third brother, you must listen to Mr. Zhang, study diligently, and in the future, you can pass the imperial examination and bring glory to our ancestors"
Stepping forward, Han Gang removed the long arrow that was inserted in the target and returned to his shooting position. The bowstring vibrated rhythmically, and each long arrow flew accurately into the target. The practice over the past few days had not been in vain, as his hit rate had significantly increased compared to the beginning. The muscle memory etched in his body was gradually being restored; both his archery posture and the finger technique for drawing the string had improved considerably compared to the start.
On an autumn morning in Ha Long Bay, the rich intertwining of red and yellow colors creates a scene that resembles a painting, with the light of the sky and the colors of the mountains. Outside the village, the river flows continuously, and the sound of the water adds a touch of chill to the air
Han Gang was momentarily taken aback, but soon smiled again: "In my earlier years, my knowledge was not profound, so I did not feel that my poetry was lacking. However, after my child became a student under Master Hengqu, I realized what it means to be a frog at the bottom of a well. Compared to many of my classmates and friends, in terms of poetic talent, my child is far inferior."
Han Yunniang, feeling shy and overwhelmed, weakly pushed back with her arms. Her delicate and soft body twisted in his embrace, igniting a surge of passion in Han Gang. Just as he was about to take further action, a distant sound of voices reached them. The little girl, who seemed to both welcome and resist, suddenly began to struggle more intensely. Being outside the room, Han Gang dared not use force; he loosened his grip, and Han Yunniang quickly jumped aside, pouting her lips and turning her head to look the other way, refusing to come closer.
The little girl was fuming, her face flushed like the rising sun, and her ears were burning hot. Han Gang chuckled softly a couple of times, then raised the long bow in his hand, not daring to provoke her further
Han Gang placed his breakfast on the table. Looking at the scrolls spread across the tabletop, Han Ali felt somewhat puzzled. His youngest son, who had always loved to compose poetry and lyrics, had already accumulated over a hundred pieces by the age of fifteen or sixteen. Why was it that now, after recovering from his illness for some time, he was only focused on reading?
During this period, every morning, Han Gang began to practice archery. This was not only to emulate the actions of his predecessor to prevent the exposure of his identity, but also to strengthen his physical health through rigorous exercise.
In later generations, Tianshui belonged to Gansu, but today's Qinzhou is part of the Qin Feng Road. Moreover, Qinzhou is not only subordinate to Qin Feng but also falls under the jurisdiction of the Shaanxi Road, which has its administrative center in Jingzhao Prefecture (i.e., Chang'an). This may seem confusing, but in reality, the Qin Feng Road's military governor resides in Qinzhou City, while the transport commissioner of Shaanxi Road is located within Jingzhao Prefecture. Although both are referred to as 'roads,' one is a military governor's road and the other is a transport commissioner's road. According to later terminology, this distinction reflects the difference between a military district and a province.
Even though Han Gang possesses the knowledge of two eras, attempting to take the imperial examination for the Jinshi degree is akin to fishing for the moon in the water. The Jinshi examination primarily focuses on poetry, prose, and lyrical composition, with a slight emphasis on policy questions and classical texts. Han Gang is quite self-aware; his previous poetic talent was already lamentably poor, and after inheriting it, it has deteriorated even further. Aspiring to take the Jinshi examination is entirely unrealistic, and he may even struggle to pass the provincial preliminary examination.
Standing by the water's edge and gazing into the distance, Qinzhou City appears insignificant against the backdrop of the towering mountains to the north. However, in reality, the imposing and solid walls of Qinzhou are the crown of the northwestern frontier. Since arriving in this era, Han Gang has not visited the nearby city, yet his understanding of Qinzhou far exceeds that of his parents, who go to the city every day.
Han Gang spread out the book and planned to start today's lessons according to schedule. At this moment, Han Ali entered with a bowl of mutton soup and a piece of steamed bread. Han Qianliu had gone out early in the morning, and since Han Ali was alone, he could not go into the mountains to gather wild goods, so he stayed at home waiting for Han Qianliu to return before going out.
Third brother, do not ... ...
The longbow that Han Gang currently uses is not the hard bow of one stone and three dou that was gifted to him by his biological second brother for personal use in the past, but rather the seven dou hunting bow that was collected by his father, Han Qianliu, many years ago. Moreover, due to prolonged storage and improper maintenance, the power of this hunting bow has diminished to approximately four to five dou. With his current strength, he can easily draw it back.
Han Gang expressed his gratitude for the teachings, watching Han Ali leave the room with a smile. This reflects the heart of a parent; hearing their child speak highly of themselves only brings joy, without a hint of doubt. However, what Han Ali said also represented the long-held wishes of the original owner of his body for over a decade. The previous owner was entirely focused on studying and pursuing an official career, which may have influenced him, but more likely, the current Han Gang possesses a genuine desire for power and wealth. Having inherited the popular academic knowledge of this era and possessing knowledge from a millennium later, Han Gang is more confident and ambitious than his predecessor. The previous owner was entirely focused on studying and pursuing an official career, which may have influenced him, but more likely, the current Han Gang possesses a genuine desire for power and wealth. Having inherited the popular academic knowledge of this era and possessing knowledge from a millennium later, Han Gang is more confident and ambitious than his predecessor.
Upon seeing this, Han Gang hurriedly explained to his mother: "However, when it comes to the principles of the classics and the great Dao, I am still quite competent, and the teacher has praised me many times. The study of the classics is the most serious of all disciplines, far surpassing poetry and prose."
After exercising, Han Gang felt refreshed after wiping himself down with hot water. Leaning back in the armchair by the desk, he watched Han Yunniang bustling about in the room, and a wave of warmth surged in his heart. Han Gang could be said to have fallen in love with this decadent lifestyle. A thousand years later, even the high-ranking officials and nobles in the country would find it difficult to receive such wholehearted care from a lovely young girl.
Being at home, the young girl was no longer shy—mainly due to having gotten used to it—so she took the initiative to come forward and help wash with a warm towel without needing Han Gang to do it himself. After drying off, she even helped him change into a fresh set of clothes, attending to Han Gang meticulously. However, precisely because they were at home and mindful of her parents, it was Han Gang who, at this moment, felt hesitant to make any moves.
Qinzhou is under the jurisdiction of Qin Feng Road. This road is named after Qinzhou and Fengzhou. Han Gang had a decent understanding of geography in his previous life and had traveled extensively for many years, being quite familiar with important cities across the country. However, he still found the geographical terms of the Song Dynasty to be quite puzzling. Qinzhou and Fengzhou were both unfamiliar terms to him—he only vaguely remembered that there was a Fengxiang County in Shaanxi, which shared the same name as the Fengxiang Prefecture located southeast of Qinzhou. Nevertheless, Qinzhou is also known as Tianshui Commandery, and it governs a Tianshui County, a place name that Han Gang, having read extensively about the Three Kingdoms, found to be quite familiar.
On a vacant piece of land by the water's edge, a sound of a string twanging was heard. A long arrow was released from the bow, striking the center of a target made of straw twenty paces away. On the circular target, which measured one foot in diameter, six long arrows were also embedded, all surrounding the center, with no significant deviation.
The sun rises, casting a brilliant red glow like brocade. The autumn wind is mournful, and yellow leaves blanket the mountains like a mat
Upon returning home, Han Qianliu had matters to attend to and went into the city early today, while Han Ali had prepared a pot of hot water waiting. Han Gang returned from his exercise, drenched in sweat. To prevent the invasion of wind and evil, which could lead to a cold, he would wash himself with hot water after exercising every day. After nearly a month of recuperation following his illness, although Han Gang's body had not yet returned to its former state, he no longer appeared emaciated after removing his outer robe.
Note: This chapter contains a lengthy explanatory text. Although it may be somewhat tedious, I kindly ask everyone to read it carefully. To understand the administrative divisions of the Song Dynasty, it is essential to distinguish between the Anfu Envoy Circuit and the Zhuangyun Envoy Circuit. Failing to clarify these two points may lead to confusion when reading the subsequent articles
From Han Gang's geographical knowledge regarding the surrounding terrain, the area around Qinzhou Prefecture, including the small village of Xiaolongwan, is situated within the Jishui River Valley. As for the mountains on the north and south sides, the northern range known as Changshan belongs to the Liupan Mountains, while the southern range is the Qinling Mountains, which have retained their name for countless generations. The Tianshui County that He Fang is familiar with lies to the south of the Qinling Mountains, at the source of the Jialing River. It can be said that the geography has completely changed over the millennia, as Tianshui in the twenty-first century should be located on the northern foothills of the Qinling Mountains, perhaps precisely at the site of present-day Qinzhou City—though Han Gang is merely speculating, the fact remains true. The Tianshui County that He Fang is familiar with lies to the south of the Qinling Mountains, at the source of the Jialing River. It can be said that the geography has completely changed over the millennia, as Tianshui in the twenty-first century should be located on the northern foothills of the Qinling Mountains, perhaps precisely at the site of present-day Qinzhou City—though Han Gang is merely speculating, the fact remains true.
The sleeves of the ruqun were loose, and as the young girl raised her hand, they slipped down to her elbows, revealing her half-exposed, jade-like wrist right before Han Gang's eyes. A faint warm fragrance wafted from her sleeves. She was only up to Han Gang's chest, a full head shorter, and as she raised her hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, her entire body had to lean in close. Through several layers of thin clothing, feeling the soft warmth pressed against him, Han Gang couldn't help but feel a bit heated in his heart, along with a mischievous intent. With a swift motion of his arms, he pulled Han Yunnu into his embrace, eliciting a cute exclamation from her.