Chapter Nine, Is it possible to obtain a certificate, from the Tang Dynasty

This sentence does not conform to the grammar of the Tang Dynasty, and some of the vocabulary also comes from after the Tang period. However, Ren Cong pondered over it twice and still managed to grasp the meaning he wanted to convey. With an awkward smile, he squatted down and slowly wrote in the dirt with a stone: "Fool, disturb the master, from afar, follow!"

Prince Li Chongjun was then captured by a few rebellious traitors and fled to the foot of Mount Zhongnan. Initially, he pleaded for mercy, but was rejected by Empress Wei. Subsequently, he experienced a sudden realization, feeling remorse towards his father and Empress Wei. Seizing an opportunity, he hanged himself from a branch in the southeast.

After all, being four years older than Ren Cong and having come from a poor family, Zhang Qian tried to avoid discussing his background during their conversations. The chubby Ren Cong asked several times, but Zhang Qian deflected with vague responses like "it's very far" and "it's inconvenient to disclose." As a result, the more he avoided the topic, the more mysterious Ren Cong found him, to the point of almost being in awe, with sparks of admiration in his eyes.

Brother Zhang, do not concern yourself too much! Seeing Zhang Qian's expression grow increasingly serious, the chubby Ren Cong, well aware that an extraordinary person should not react so strongly to mundane matters, still kindly offered a reminder.

This body language, Ren Cong could understand, and with no other choice, he stood up, gritting his teeth and quickening his pace. Before long, he was once again drenched in sweat.

Zhang Qian was not lost in the early morning, nor was he lost in the evening; yet, just a few days after the scent of blood had barely dissipated, he found himself lost at the foot of the Zhongnan Mountains. The vicious wolves, accustomed to human flesh, would not pursue him; who else could they chase?

Without a pass issued by the local authorities, and not being a monk or Taoist priest, how could he possibly travel from Hejian to Chang'an

Ren Cong still did not understand very well. As he glanced around, he cautiously replied, "Wulei Vine, this vegetable field is the Wulei Vine! (Wuliting, this place is Wuliting)"

Casually chatting with Ren Cong, I suddenly noticed a checkpoint appearing ahead. The people heading to Chang'an, whether in vehicles, on horseback, or carrying burdens, all lined up neatly in two long queues in front of the checkpoint, one to the left and one to the right

I am not a master, I told you before! Zhang Qian felt extremely irritated, turned his head and corrected loudly, but his gaze fell upon Ren Cong's face, which was drenched in sweat

Fearing that Ren Cong might not understand, he deliberately extended his right hand, using his index and middle fingers to gesture two twos, one inverted and one upright

Sigh—" Zhang Qian shook his head repeatedly in anxiety, and had no choice but to squat down again, writing on the ground with a stone: "Where are the others, and where has your horse gone?"

As for the knowledge he urgently needed to understand, Zhang Qian tried to ask in a simple and direct manner. The chubby Ren Cong was questioned several times to the point of doubt, feeling that even a master should not be so lacking in common sense. However, upon further reflection, he thought that this might be a test from the master, so he deceived himself and answered all questions honestly, leaving nothing unsaid.

Knowing that he could not understand his words, Ren Cong gently waved his hand and continued to hurry on his way. However, after taking only seven or eight steps, he felt that proceeding in this manner would not ensure that he could get Master Zhang into the city before the gates of Chang'an closed. He quickly stopped again and wrote on the ground with a stone: "Horse, ride?"

Looking back, he decisively changed his brisk walk into a jog, "Go to my house. After that, I will discuss it with my brother!"

Indeed! Zhang Qian was caught off guard by the question, his expression turned serious as he nodded vigorously

At this point, he finally understands what it is! That thing is the travel permit from the Ming Dynasty. Oh my, martial arts novels are truly deadly! The heroes roam the land, but no one has ever carried that thing!

The chubby Ren Cong suddenly realized that the two of them did not need to write; they could hope to engage in some simple conversation, and he was instantly so happy that he forgot his fatigue. As they walked, he gestured with his hands and asked, "Excuse me, Brother Zhang, how old are you?"

Where to go? Zhang Qian also realized that he could not produce anything, and today he was likely to encounter great trouble. He did not dare to struggle and allowed Ren Cong to quickly pull him away from the checkpoint.

No matter the absence of a travel permit, after all, in legends, there are many recluses who usually hide in the countryside, only occasionally venturing out to seek fated disciples to impart their extraordinary skills! However, Master Zhang seems to lack even the necessary credentials for travel.

The result is that there seems to be quite a lot of blood flowing in the city. Outside the city, it is unknown how many people lost their lives near Mount Zhongnan, and the smell of blood lingered for several days before finally dissipating

Ren Cong understood and comprehended it, dancing with joy, "I am 18. I am young, and you are older!"

"No, really?" Ren Cong could hardly believe his ears and lowered his voice to ask again.

Without any punctuation marks, he carefully adjusted the spacing between words and between sentences. Upon seeing this, Zhang Qian quickly understood the meaning. He hurriedly dropped the stone, stood up, and cupped his hands, saying "Chang'an, go ahead!"

The legendary masters are either monks or Taoists. However, Zhang Qian does not possess the necessary credentials of a monk or a Taoist.

Along the way, how did he pass the checkpoints and where did he stay in the inns

Many people have just died at the foot of the mountain, and naturally, the young nobles of Chang'an City will no longer visit the vicinity of Jixiang Temple to admire the autumn scenery. The wild beasts in the mountains have been lured out by the scent of blood.

Up to now, he really has some doubts that Zhang Qian is not a remarkable person after all

This little chubby boy should not be a bad person Zhang Qian is more cautious than his peers yet is not a cold-blooded creature Upon seeing Ren Cong running with steam rising from his body he quickly stopped wiped his hand on the opening of the leather bag and smilingly handed it over saying You should also have a drink

No!" Zhang Qian decisively waved his hand.

Thank you! With the experience from last time, Zhang Qian already knew that the pouch contained fermented glutinous rice. A wave of emotion surged within him, and he smiled as he stepped forward, reaching out to take the leather pouch that Ren Cong had specially brought, untying the string and gulping it down.

Ren Cong was greatly inspired and gestured again, "I, Chang'an. Brother Zhang, where are you?"

However, after walking so gracefully just now, Zhang Qian felt somewhat embarrassed when he turned back. Just as he was catching his breath and preparing to continue to the next farm to try his luck, a familiar voice suddenly reached his ears: "My apologies, my apologies..."

I, along with my brother, shall travel together!" Ren Cong quickly stood up and took the initiative to step forward.

What is this about? The remnants of the crown prince? Zhang Qian was momentarily taken aback, instinctively halting his steps and gazing into the distance.

Go! At this moment, Ren Cong did not care whether Zhang Qian was a master or not; ensuring that he would not be captured by the authorities and drag his entire family into trouble was the most important thing.

"What about them, and your horse?" Looking up and glancing around, he did not see that annoying ragged doctor and the other turbaned individuals in the gradually darkening twilight, Zhang Qian asked with a smile.

Although the group of people with the surname Ren may be overly enthusiastic, they have not shown any malice thus far. In contrast, everyone Zhang Qian encountered along the way from Jixiang Temple treated him as if he were a plague god. By comparison, the group with the surname Ren suddenly became much more endearing.

Two young men who had just finished running found it effortless to deal with a bag of fermented glutinous rice. Three minutes later, the leather pouch was completely emptied, and the relationship between Zhang Qian and Ren Cong was significantly strengthened.

It turned out to be following from a distance. Once again, from Ren Cong's words, Zhang Qian felt the kindness. Zhang Qian smiled and quickly corrected, "I am not a master, my surname is Zhang"

Given that the city of Chang'an has just been drenched in blood, it seems rather unwise to rush over at this critical moment. Zhang Qian originally intended to ask the chubby boy if he knew someone named Li Longji, what this person was currently doing, and whether he had a wealth of talent under his command or was viewed with skepticism. However, upon reflection, considering his current situation, even if he were to seek refuge under Li Longji, the most likely outcome would be to become cannon fodder, so he decisively chose to abandon the idea.

Degree certificate? Although Zhang Qian understood that Ren Cong was preparing to take him to the queue, he did not understand why he needed a degree certificate, and he furrowed his brows and stopped in his tracks again

Heaven, fortunately, we have not yet reached the gates of Chang'an! This is just the first road checkpoint! Just as the words were spoken, in a swift moment, before the soldiers and officials at the checkpoint could notice, Ren Cong pulled Zhang Qian and turned to leave, "Brother Zhang, you are quite bold! Are you not afraid for your life?!"

Zhang Qian was momentarily taken aback, but without much effort, he understood that "kuai" actually meant "gui". He smiled and replied, "Twenty-one, no, it's twenty-two, according to your calculations."

Zhang Qian has already been able to compare a few Tang dynasty pronunciations with the pronunciation of 21st century Chinese, yet he does not understand what "guo suo" refers to, hesitatingly shaking his head gently

Zhang Qian felt a pang in his heart when asked, he looked around and a hint of melancholy appeared on his face, "I, Shi—no, Hejian."

Without bringing those followers, Ren Cong is alone this time. He is not riding a horse, but his slightly plump legs move swiftly. Fearing that Zhang Qian might ignore him, he runs while desperately shaking the leather bag in his hand, "Sorry, sleep, sleep! (Master, water, water)"

Brother Zhang, you are being too polite!" Ren Cong smiled and shook his head, continuing to chat aimlessly.

This time, he did not crouch down to write, but Zhang Qian understood his meaning. With a smile, he took the initiative to slow down his pace

This chubby boy harbored the intention of seeking apprenticeship under a master, engaging in conversation to draw closer to Zhang Qian. Meanwhile, Zhang Qian also hoped to learn a few phrases of Tang language through their discussions. Thus, the two found common ground; along the way, they gestured as clearly as possible, and when that failed, they would squat down to write. The more they talked, the smoother and more congenial their exchange became

To harbor the remnants of traitors is a crime deserving of extermination of the clan. The monks of Jixiang Temple and the nearby farmers have no familial ties to Zhang Qian, and their refraining from turning him over to the authorities is already the greatest act of goodwill. How could it be possible for them to allow him into their homes and treat him to fine food and delicacies

Unfortunately, with only three hundred people, the strength is truly insufficient. As a result, His Majesty the Emperor intervened with a stern command, and the three hundred "rebels" scattered like birds and beasts.

Zhang Qian saw that he was stout and weak, and felt compassion. He simply stopped in his tracks, and while speaking, wrote on the ground with a stone, "I will walk, you ride a horse, let them bring the horse to you"

No, no—" Ren Cong did not quite understand Zhang Qian's words, but he understood his actions and quickly waved his hand awkwardly. However, in the end, he could not withstand the torment of thirst and the other person's insistence. After a few rounds of modesty, he smiled and accepted the leather pouch, drinking heartily mouth to mouth.

"Same, same!" Ren Cong, out of breath and panting, stubbornly shook his head.

After some previous stammering, Zhang Qian's communication with him has become much smoother. He smiled and nodded gently, saying, "I know. I do not care. Thank you for the reminder, Brother Ren!"

Not long ago, a bloody incident occurred within the city of Chang'an. Crown Prince Li Chongjun was suddenly "kidnapped" by his trusted subordinates, leading three hundred loyalists to storm the residence of Prime Minister Wu Sansi, where they dismembered the latter. Subsequently, the rebels "took" the Crown Prince and attacked the imperial palace.

Hejian?" Ren Cong was taken aback, feeling quite skeptical. How could the accent of Hejian be so different from that of Chang'an? However, he did not have the courage to express his doubts to the expert. After hesitating for a moment, he proactively shifted to another topic.

"Certificate, is Brother Zhang present?" Ren Cong hesitated as he looked up and down at Zhang Qian, and after a long while, he finally confirmed that the other party was not pretending to be foolish. He stamped his foot and, in a peculiar Tang accent, whispered, "Verification, Brother Zhang, verification!"

Knowing full well that it was impossible for him to truly walk the same path, Zhang Qian could not bring himself to refuse his kindness any longer. He could only quicken his pace to catch up, smiling and nodding, "Thank you, Brother Ren"

In this way, after some back and forth, and by comparing it with the limited historical knowledge left in his mind, Zhang Qian finally had a clearer understanding of the current Tang Dynasty, no longer completely in the dark. He also finally understood why the monks of Jixiang Temple and the local people along the way treated him with the same caution as one would a thief.

The emperor is a wise and enlightened son of heaven, and Empress Wei, with a "heart full of compassion," would certainly not implicate the innocent. However, she did impose a slight punishment on the remaining traitors in the city and took the opportunity to send someone to Mount Zhongnan to retrieve the prince's body. Even so, when the body of the prince was "retrieved," the Imperial Guard inevitably had to engage in a confrontation with the rebels.

In the twilight, he saw people on the left side riding horses, driving carriages, and wearing various colored hats with rabbit ears, all taking out a bamboo slip from their bosoms to show for verification to the officials at the checkpoint. On the right side, those carrying burdens or not, but with cloth headscarves wrapped around their heads, raised their faces to be individually confirmed by several old men standing in front of the checkpoint. (Note: The rabbit ears refer to the two wings at the back of hats from the Tang Dynasty)

Brother Zhang, the pass, the pass, quickly! I fear that if we delay too long, we will miss the opportunity to enter the city. Ren Cong pulled Zhang Qian's hand, weaving through the crowd towards the checkpoint, while softly urging, "Familiar faces, make it convenient!"

Alright, if you say it is not, then it is not. Ren Cong looked at Zhang Qian's bald head and peculiar attire, secretly thinking. His subordinate, however, continued to write vigorously, "This place is called Wuliting. The Zhuque Gate is not far. Are you heading to Chang'an, brother? Hurry, the city gate is about to close!"

The fermented glutinous rice made from corn still faintly carried a sour taste, yet when it touched Zhang Qian's lips, it was even sweeter than before. As he drank the glutinous rice wine, Ren Cong stood beside him, watching happily, his chubby eyes curving into crescent moons, as if he had partaken in the drink himself

Damn it, had I known that the people of the Tang Dynasty were so harsh, I might as well have taken the risk to chat a bit longer with the one surnamed Ren. At least I could have clarified what Li Longji is doing now and which direction his family door opens! After being turned away several times and almost getting bitten by a dog, Zhang Qian couldn't help but secretly regret.

I fear that before I have even left my hometown for twenty miles, I will be stopped by the local officials, bound with ropes and sent back home, only to be whipped mercilessly by the village leaders!

Zhang Qian understood the sentence directly, and thus nodded with a smile