Volu Intent in the Snow (1/2)

Volu Intent in the Snow

At the start of the twenty-eighth year of Wuwei, the fifteenth year of the sixty-year cycle, Taizong ascended to the throne Gaozu abdicated and was honored as the Emperor Emeritus With Gaozu still alive, an edict was issued to continue the Wuwei era naraphy of Taizong</blockquote>

On the seventh day of the first year of the Longsheng era, the sixteenth year of the sixty-year cycle, after the snow ceased, the weather was extremely cold Before the fifteenth, everyone was on holiday due to the New Year and there were very few travelers on the road

The banner of a wilderness inn on the side of the official road fluttered in the breeze Shopkeeper Hu San added several pieces of charcoal to the stove, dispiritedly leaning next to the bar counter and dozing This New Year had gone off extrereat victory at Zezhou, eliression, there was an endless streaees and travelers Hu San’s business had been superb Initially, he had thought to properly renovate this run-down inn when spring came But ould have known that when he went to the casino to ga of the God of Ga¹ and the Buddha? He had lost more than half of the silver he had earned His wife had returned to her parents in a fury Hu San was filled with regrets, but did not have the face to go bring his wife back He could onlyto run into a few generous guests to earn a few extra taels and bring joy to his wife

Just as he was falling asleep from the fire, he heard the sound of hoofbeats Hu San i him to the bone, he pushed open the door to the inn and looked out He saelve riders escorting a carriage, galloping down fro While Hu San had stared as if his life depended upon the travelers, the group had traveled several on his horse In a flash, the rider arrived at the entrance to the shop Pointing his whip at Hu San, the rider asked, “Do you have good wine? Are there any idlers within?”

In a flattering voice, Hu San answered, “Honored guest, do not worry This sth, richness, and uests within Even the waiters have all gone home to celebrate the New Year The s at the coldest ti a few cups of wine I guarantee it’ll make you comfortable”

The rider had a black cloak draped around his shoulders Rehty face Dis from his horse, he did not pay any attention to Hu San as he walked inside the shop Standing in the doorway, he could see that the interior was quite spacious Although the tables and chairs were simple and crude, they were rather clean The rider nodded his head with satisfaction, as he said, “My daren desires to stop here to have a meal Be sure to serve him properly”

Hu San’s eyes were sharp Before the rider had even dismounted, Hu San had noticed that the rider wore a set of top-quality black riding clothes under his cloak, including an exquisite set of black light arh Hu San only saw the scabbard, he knew that it was not an ordinary weapon In addition, by the rider’s army boots, Hu San immediately knew that the person before him was an officer from the military When Hu San heard the rider speak of a uest was a high-ranking dignitary, as long as his service was attentive and considerate, he would be able to earn plenty of money Hu San nimbly replied, “My Lord, the stable behind the small inn is quite expansive The fodder is of the best quality This lowly one will go stoke the fire I can guarantee that the horses won’t be affected by the cold”

The rider waved his hand and ordered, “Hurry up In aout your best wine and roup had arrived The first rider ie and reported, “Daren, you can stop for a meal inside ht voice rang out fro We will rest for two hours However, everyone must not imbibe too much wine”

All of the riders loudly declared their agreement and dismounted in succession One of the riders thren several wild ga with blood He stated, “Shopkeeper, we can take care of our horses Take these pheasants and hares and carefully make a few dishes for our daren” Hu San repeatedly voiced his consent and went to do as ordered

Just then, the youth in azure clothes driving the carriage jue screen and helped a scholar in azure robes out of the carriage Under Hu San’s attentive lead, the two of the a table that was far from the wind and quite warm, the two sat down The riders quickly unhooked the horses froht theet involved, they used the fodder they had brought After leaving a rider to guard the stable, everyone else entered the shop After saluting the scholar in azure robes, they dispersed and sat down

Hu San was very fast In this short period of time, he had set the tables with smoked meat, flat bread, and wine Hu San was so busy that his forehead was dripping with sweat However, seeing the looks of satisfaction on the faces of those guards and officers, he could not help beco happy After a short while, Hu San prepared a few dishes using the wild ga thelance, he saw that the scholar’s face was slightly red, probably fro a few cups of wine However, the scholar had not touched the smoked meat that Hu San had served In addition, it see the inn’s wine Without Hu San being aware, a blue and white porcelain bottle had appeared on the table alongside a sioblet that seeoblet was a li soht refreshments The box had been wrapped in thick fur and the pastries see the dishes a beside the scholar took out another box, a silver bowl, and chopsticks, placing the each of the dishes, the youth said, “Young master, please”

Only then did the azure-robed scholar began to eat Seeing all this, Hu San was flabbergasted Although he could be considered experienced and knowledgeable,² he was after all only a mere shopkeeper He had never seen such ostentation before

After busying himself for more than an hour, Hu San was finally able to relax The riders had already completely consu away the scattered clouds³ Afterwards, they leisurely sipped the wine as they chatted idly As for the scholar, he began to read a book with fascination after dining Hu San knew that they were probably going to rest for close to an hour ht over two more jars of wine The rider who seemed to be the leader shook his head and said, “There’s no need If we get drunk, on’t be able to hurry on our way Just fill our wineskins” After this rider spoke, he placed a wineskin on the table All of the other horse the wineskins fro them on the tables

As Hu San filled the wineskins, he calculated that each wineskin could carry at least two catties of wine The food and drink sold today was already an extre the wineskins, Hu San realized there were only eleven wineskins One was lance over furtively In the corner of the shop was a rider sitting by himself Hu San had see close attention, Hu San discovered that this lone individual was only seventeen or eighteen years old He had not touched the drink on the table and seemed to be a teetotaler Hu San found this quite odd The northern lands were known for their bitter winters and everyone was fond of drinking strong spirits to ward off the cold How could this young rider not drink? After Hu San had glanced over several tilanced coldly at Hu San Hu San felt hisbloodlust Although Hu San was not a soldier, he had struggled through the years of war Hu San had seen that kind of look before Those eyes belonged todesire

I slowly drank the fine, light wine Excessively rich andof which, it was a bit of a shao, I had realized that the anniversary ofand had decided to visit the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery to offer sacrifices Who knew that before I could depart, a er from the court had arrived to bestoards upon the army As an army supervisor, I naturally could not leave It was only after the New Year had passed that I finally had the free tiht along Xiaoshunzi and several trusted guards, traveling towards the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery Originally, His Ihness, the Prince of Qi, intended to accompany me, but I tactfully declined

My eyes flitted to the lone silhouette sitting in the corner I could not help feeling pained It was a pity that I had no recourse but to use the occasion of offering sacrifices to ht along Ling Duan to give hi Duan had becoo when Li Hu had been forcibly taken away by the Prince of Qi’s subordinates He turned taciturn, cold, and utterly hostile However, we had no alternative with this matter It was impossible for ence that I had available With this, even a fool would know that so Duan to learn that shi+ Ying’s former subordinates had already been silenced This way, once he had returned to Northern Han, and co Duan would realize the possibility that shi+ Ying was “betraying” Northern Han This was an important chess piece in , this was an absolute necessity

Of Long Tingfei’s subordinate generals, Su Dingluan and Tan Ji were already dead He only had shi+ Ying and Duan Wudi left The reason that I had selected shi+ Ying as et was because Duan Wudi was adroit at defense and was cautious He was definitely a shrewd individual The one in the highest seat could rely heavily upon such individuals, but would never fully trust theence that I had acquired, shi+ Ying was indeed Long Tingfei’s trusted subordinate As such, handling shi+ Ying would not only sow discord between Long Tingfei and one of his trusted subordinates, but the betrayal of such an individual would deal an even fei’s confidence Because of this reason, I did not have the ti Duan’s fraht of Tan Ji The Prince of Qi had at one point copied down the requiem that Tan Ji had chanted before he had died I recited it toTan Ji’s life, I involuntarily sighed keenly Although Tan Ji’s requie painstaking care and effort After again reciting in my head, I suddenly rose to my feet and walked towards the outside

Huyan Shou, coot to his feet in surprise When he was about to question, Xiaoshunzi, as following Jiang Zhe out, gestured with his hand and spoke, “Youngout to take a breath of fresh air There is no need for you to follow”

Although Xiaoshunzi had said this, Huyan Shou still ordered one of the bodyguards to follow Jiang Zhe out Ling Duan’s heart raced, as he rose to his feet and followed theenerous and auard against hi Zhe standing a Zhe’s hands were clasped behind his back, as he gazed up at the sky Not knohat he was thinking, Ling Duan touched the short dagger-axe at his waist, his resent However, he could only endure silently and wait

Just then, Jiang Zhe suddenly burst into song:

<blockquote class="Quote">The Earth was not hu rief and lamentsInnumerable white bones marred with sword marks and arrow scarsHeroes justly shed blood, calm and steady like the deep riversMountains and clouds as far as the eye can see, yet not my homelandli sway involuntarily,If the lands are not at peace, the co self-destruction,While alive seeking not the wild geese returning south,4</sup></blockquote>

Ling Duan was entranced by the song Although there were some lyrics that he did not understand, he could feel the pain and suffering that ithin the song Hearing the two lyrics, “the unjust sages bring self-destruction, / Many are the re Duan could not refrain froeneral and his forhtforward and foolish Li Hu The hatred in his heart was unable to tolerate the existence of thatbefore hi killing intent in his eyes Perhaps he should sacrifice hi to suffer in this way

Just as Ling Duan’s resolution wavered, the barely audible sound of a zither floated along in the wilderness The twang of the zither was clever and wonderful The impassioned melody carried a faint hint of anxiety and sorrow, full of hatred and regret Although the zitherEveryone could hear it clearly No one knehen, but snow began to fall again The ly sorrowful tune causing the entire sky and earth to be seely filled with a bleak and desolate atmosphere

The zither’s sounds swelled with entice intent By this ilantly gazing in the direction where the zither ed on the battlefield and naturally would not be affected by the zither ly wary

Xiaoshunzi frowned He could tell that the zither y The musician was not only ainternal energy Xiaoshunzi would naturally not beZhe Jiang Zhe did not know lance, Xiaoshunzi breathed a sigh of relief Although Jiang Zhe did not knowappreciatively and would not be affected by the music