Chapter One, the journey through Tongbai Mountain is slow

The coachman laughed and said: "Tongbai Mountain, also known as Chushan, is mentioned in the Yu Gong as 'the Huai River originates here.' It stretches for three hundred miles, spanning between the states of Tang, Guang, Sui, and Ying. The horse path we are currently traveling on has existed since the Spring and Autumn period. Departing from Guangzhou, it passes through the shallow gorges and wide valleys of Tongbai Mountain, allowing one to reach Biyang County in Tangzhou in just two or three days. This route serves as a shortcut connecting the east and west along the southern bank of the Huai River. However, this journey is fraught with dangers, as the mountains are remote and the roads perilous. Even in times of peace, there are many bandits who cut paths and rob travelers. In the past, merchants traveling from the southwest of Huai would rather take a long detour from places like Cai and Ying on the northern bank of the Huai River to reach places like Deng and Tang, than risk this shortcut. In the fourth year of Yongxi, when the gentleman had just arrived at the Western Office of the Privy Council, he submitted a memorial to the court requesting the establishment of a patrol military post at the confluence of the Baijian River and the Huai River, deploying over a hundred elite soldiers to guard against bandits. This led to an increase in merchants traveling along this horse path, and the local markets along the route began to prosper. The Huaiyuan Town is located right next to the newly established military post from the fourth year of Yongxi, and it is also a crucial point for water and land transport in Tongbai Mountain. Whenever goods are transported out of the mountains from the surrounding villages, they are often traded there. It is also the largest grass market in Biyang County within Tongbai Mountain, with an ever-increasing population and bustling activity that rivals that of Xinyang City..."

The scholar in the blue robe resolutely pushed his young granddaughter back into the carriage, pulled down the curtain, and stood up at the front of the carriage

"What happened?" The scholar in the blue shirt, seeing the coachman reach under the yoke to take out the dagger wrapped in a cloth bag and place it beside him, was startled and asked.

I am a person burdened by guilt, and my actions towards Cai Ting and the others are no longer hindered, there is nothing to worry about. The middle-aged man wanted to smile calmly, but he could not suppress the sorrow in his heart, and ultimately could not help but sigh, "I am just worried that Mr. Cai Ting and the others are too eager for achievements, lacking sufficient preparation, and recklessly provoke the Khitan people, leaving behind a great disaster that cannot be resolved"

The scholar in the blue robe has experienced countless storms throughout his life; at this moment, his emaciated hand clenches tightly, veins bulging. Yet, apart from the endless desolation in his heart, he has no intention of struggling.

The scholar in the blue robe suddenly smiled at himself and said, "Alas, I am no longer in my position; thinking too much is of no use."

I hope so! The scholar in the blue robe waved his hand, as if to disperse the endless worries and concerns in his heart

"If the gentleman is in a hurry to travel, there is no need to worry; I can visit Xu Wuxuan upon my return, it has been over ten years without news, so a few more days won't make a difference," the coachman insisted, "Cai Ting is not a broad-minded person. Both the Assistant Minister of the Imperial Court, Chen Huai, and the Deputy Minister of War, Zhang Kuo, have offended him and were subsequently demoted from court; they were all killed by bandits on the way..."

A delicate hand, resembling a tender green onion, lifted the curtain of the carriage, revealing a youthful, luminous white face that peeked out.

The scholar in a blue robe, seated beside the coachman, admired the scenic mountains and waters along the way. He was over sixty years old, with a thin, clear face, and turned to the girl to say

He turned his head and caught a glimpse of three swift horses, with three bearded men on their backs. They appeared to be dressed as hunters, but only a blind coachman would truly believe they were hunters

In the area of Tongbai Mountain, on the horse path leading from Huainan West Road in Guangzhou to Tangzhou on Beijing Southwest Road, a horse-drawn carriage is moving slowly

The girl lost her parents at a young age and grew up under the care of her grandfather. Although she was influenced by him, being so young, she only had a vague understanding of military affairs. At this moment, she laughed at her grandfather, saying: "Perhaps all of this is just you worrying unnecessarily, and in the end, you will be ridiculed by people like Cai Ting..."

The coachman turned back and smiled at the girl

Wang Shuai died in Jingzhou, and the court subsequently ceded Jingzhou and other regions to the Dangxiang people. The morale of the Jing Sheng Army began to wane. The court, concerned that the soldiers of the Jing Sheng Army would miss their deceased commander, decided to disperse the original troops and assign them to different locations, while recruiting new soldiers to fill the ranks. Xu Wuxuan returned to his hometown in Huai during that time. Little did I expect that more than ten years had passed since my last farewell with him in Jingzhou.

Upon hearing her grandfather mention the unfamiliar place name of Huaiyuan Town, a wave of endless emotions seemed to wash over her heart, and she appeared to be suppressing a sigh. The girl, with her curious and innocent voice, asked: "What kind of place is Huaiyuan Town? Did Grandpa ever travel this road before?"

I served in the Jing Sheng Army for a period of time; although it was not long, I can still be considered one of the veterans of the Jing Sheng Army. How could I possibly not know about Xu Wuxuan, the commander of the personal guards in front of Wang Xiaocheng? I remember he was not very tall, but he possessed the strength to capture a tiger, and he was recognized as a strong warrior in the Jing Sheng Army. What happened? Did he not remain in the army later?

There is no evidence for those matters; the notion of assassination is merely a baseless rumor. Brother Lu should not overthink it. The scholar in the blue robe did not want the coachman to have too poor an impression of the officials in the court, and thus argued, "However, it is a fact that the people's livelihood is deteriorating, and the number of bandits in the mountains and fields has increased compared to previous years."

Several ospreys seem to fear the cold of the sky and the chill of the water, standing tall at the bow of the boat, shaking their dark brown feathers

Grandfather, where have we arrived?

The coachman suddenly brightened his expression and spoke to the scholar in the blue robe

The sound of hooves seems to trample upon the heart of the coachman

He placed the long knife wrapped in a cloth across his knees, and at that moment, his hunched body slightly straightened, suddenly resembling a hungry wolf lurking in the grass, raising its chest slightly, waiting to pounce fiercely at the instant its prey approached

The worst-case scenario that was anticipated has ultimately occurred

The person's features were not very clear, but it could be vaguely seen that there seemed to be an object resembling a knife handle protruding from the person's waist; the person's physique was also exceptionally robust, and from a considerable distance, it gave an indescribable sense of oppression.

In the fifth year of the Đại Việt Tianxuan era, by the Huai River, during the early spring season, the weather had not yet warmed, and thin snow still lingered among the mountains and forests.

Cai Ting, this villain, flattered his superiors and bullied his subordinates during his time in the Western Army, often stealing the achievements of others to elevate himself. Although Sir opposed him leading the troops to attack Yan, Lu Xiong could understand. However, the rise of the Chi Hu people in the northern desert, who have repeatedly defeated the Khitan cavalry at Yin Mountain, indeed indicates that the Khitan have become weak. All the officials in the court believe this is a good opportunity for our dynasty to reclaim the lost territories of Yan and Yun from the Khitan. What does Sir think about this?" the coachman asked.

At this moment, the sound of galloping hooves came from behind.

At dawn, she set off from Xinyang City, sitting in the horse-drawn carriage, nestled in the arms of her wet nurse, enjoying a delightful nap. It was only now that she woke up, feeling dizzy and swollen in her head, observing the overcast weather, and having no idea where they had traveled to.

The scholar in the blue robe seemed oblivious to the subtle changes in the carriage driver's demeanor, his slightly murky gaze gazing into the distant vast mountains and forests, he said leisurely

I have heard that the Xu family is a prominent clan in the Tongbai Mountains. Xu Wuxuan has always admired you during his time in the Jing Sheng Army. If you stay in Huaiyuan for a couple of days, Xu Wuxuan will certainly extend a warm welcome to you

There is someone at the cliff! The coachman slightly lifted his bamboo hat and urged the scholar in the blue robe to look towards a stone cliff ahead.

The coachman let out a soft sigh in his heart

The rugged slope, the girl's bright gaze traverses the vast dense forest, and to the north, a wide river flows through the shallow valley

Do not mention the larger vessels navigating the deeper waters; even bamboo rafts and wooden floats are exceedingly perilous in this season as they drift downstream. At this moment, the girl spotted a fishing boat from a distance, anchored in a river inlet where the water swirled. The fisherman, clad in a raincoat and wearing a bamboo hat, was indistinct in appearance, sitting at the bow of the boat, fishing with an indescribable sense of leisure.

At this moment, a look of confusion appeared on the girl's face

The eagle's beak is exceptionally steep, with the cliff edge protruding inward significantly. The moss on the four walls is slick and wet, leaving no visible footholds for climbing. At this moment, the coachman notices a person standing on the cliff, gazing over. How could this not raise his vigilance?

As the upstream of the Huai River, the river channel located between the wide gorges of Tongbai Mountain varies in width with the changes in terrain; amidst the rushing waters, piles of scattered stones and sandbanks occasionally emerge.

The girl appears to be only twelve or thirteen years old, yet her delicate features are as exquisite as a painting. Her small face, reminiscent of the first snow, still carries a hint of childish innocence, as if the early spring sun has already imbued her with a touch of enchanting brightness and beauty.

There are still about 13 or 14 miles to Huaiyuan Town—after Huaiyuan Town, the road becomes quite difficult to traverse, and it is still over 130 miles to the city of Biyang. We will stop at Huaiyuan Town for a night before continuing our journey.

He held a riding whip tucked into his right sleeve, while his left hand grasped the reins to control the horse. The back of his hand and a small section of his forearm were exposed to the cold air, revealing several jagged scars that intertwined and twisted.

He did not retreat back into the carriage, but gently patted the driver's arm and said: "Wang Bing, bearing the weight of my crimes, is already of no use. Some believe I am still an obstacle, and they have ordered my life to be taken. Brother Lu, with your exceptional martial skills, and given that we are near Huaiyuan Town, they will surely not dare to entangle you further. I kindly ask you to escort Xuan'er to Tangzhou..."

Perhaps it is the unbearable memories touched within the dusty old affairs, as a layer of faint sorrow envelops the car driver's thin, wrinkled face; then, his slightly hunched body suddenly straightens, revealing a fierce aura of unwillingness to be subdued.

The section of the road they were traversing at that moment was crossing a slope, rising more than twenty zhang above the Huai River, which lay horizontally at the valley bottom to the north. A hundred steps ahead of them, at the ridge, there was an opening, with jagged cliffs on both sides soaring to a height of seven or eight zhang, resembling an eagle's beak blocking the path ahead

"It has been over ten years since we last met? Is he also an old soldier of Jing Shengjun?" asked the scholar in a blue robe.

The deaths of Chen Huai and Zhang Kuo, although there is no evidence to suggest that they were assassinated by assassins sent by Cai Ting, left Lu Xiong feeling uneasy about not sending the Prime Minister to Biyang. The coachman secretly felt that the deaths of Chen Huai, Zhang Kuo, and others were related to Cai Ting, who was in charge of the Privy Council at the time. He sensed that even after arriving in Biyang, Cai Ting would not necessarily let go. He advised, "The Prime Minister need not fear offending Cai Ting and his ilk, nor should he fear for his life, but he must be concerned for Miss Xuan's safety."

"Really? Then we should take a good rest for two days in Huaiyuan Town!" the girl exclaimed excitedly

Faced with the relentless pursuit of four formidable rivals, and uncertain whether there were more assassins lying in ambush beyond the Eagle's Mouth, he knew that there was little he could do. Nevertheless, he calmly loosened the reins, allowing the horse to slowly pull the cart forward

"How do you say it?" the girl asked curiously

He has always admired the character and noble qualities of the scholar in the blue robe, and was concerned that the two generations, accompanied by a maid, would face dangers on their way to Tangzhou after being demoted. Thus, he traveled a long distance to follow and escort them. However, upon hearing the words of the scholar in the blue robe at this moment, he wished to offer some words of comfort but did not know where to begin.

The gentleman's footprints are spread across the world, more knowledgeable and experienced than I, who roam the rivers and lakes. Of course, he has traversed this horse path through the Tongbai Mountains; and speaking of this Huaiyuan Town along the horse path, it is closely related to you, my lord.

The coachman has experienced a tumultuous life, capable of recognizing the dangers of the world, yet he is not well-versed in matters of the military and state affairs.

The horse is a rare steed selected from a hundred, the bow is a lacquered hard bow, and at the waist is a straight-backed broadsword over four feet long. Truly, this is a half-hearted attempt at masquerading as a hunter!

The coachman had never been to Tongbai Mountain before, but in his early years in the army, he had heard from an old friend, Xu Wuxuan, about the terrain near Huaiyuan Town. Looking at the unique landforms of the slopes, rocky hills, and cliffs, he recognized that this was the famous "Eagle's Mouth" located at the eastern end of Huaiyuan Town

My old friend is named Xu Wuxuan. He once served as a Tongpan in the Jing Sheng Army, so you may have heard of this name," said the coachman

The scholar in the blue robe hesitated, and the coachman advised, "My lord, why not rest for two days in Huaiyuan Town? Old Lu just happens to have some free time to visit an old friend he hasn't seen in over ten years"

The scholar in the blue robe said: "The Red Banner people have risen between the Yin Mountains to the north and south, repeatedly defeating the Khitan cavalry without fail, making the Khitan appear less formidable from the north. Consequently, many officials in the court advocate for an alliance with the Red Banner people to attack Northern Yan, seeing the advantage of driving away the tiger to swallow the wolf. However, what comes after the tiger has devoured the wolf? Our dynasty will then have to face a fierce tiger directly in the north! The Khitan are in decline; the nobles and officials are indulging in pleasure and exploiting the common people, and the military is severely corrupt. In comparison, our dynasty is in a somewhat better situation, but we are not without concerns. But what comes after the tiger has devoured the wolf? Our dynasty will then have to face a fierce tiger directly in the north! The Khitan are in decline; the nobles and officials are indulging in pleasure and exploiting the common people, and the military is severely corrupt. In comparison, our dynasty is in a somewhat better situation, but we are not without concerns. You have been in the military for many years and have visited many military garrisons, but aside from a few elite troops in the Western Army, how many capable soldiers do you think there are among the other garrison troops and provincial armies? For over a hundred years, our dynasty has been plagued by excess personnel, excess troops, and excessive expenses; have these issues been eradicated? I do not oppose seizing this opportunity to reclaim the old territories of Yan and Yun, but the plans of Cai Ting and the others are indeed too hasty..."

I have already left the court as a person bearing a crime, how could I not be aware of the taboos and associate with the local gentry?" The scholar in the blue robe sighed and said, "Leaving Bianjing, I am immensely grateful for your escort all the way— from Huaiyuan to Biyang, it is merely a journey of one or two days; since you wish to meet friends along the Huai River, let us part ways here!

The coachman is somewhat younger than the scholar in the blue robe, yet the face beneath the bamboo hat is also gaunt and stern, with hair at the temples partially tinged with frost white, while his pair of eyes still possesses a sharpness that seems to penetrate the human heart

"Sir, you and Miss Xuan get into the carriage!" the coachman suddenly said