novelAbuy Chapter 90 One horse gallops away in three bounds.
Chapter 90 One horse gallops away in three bounds.
Gao Huaide watched his father's light cavalry disappear into the dark night, then drew his sword and hammered the city wall a few times, digging a small hole.
"It's not as hard as rumored, so hard that it can't be penetrated by a needle."
No sooner had Gao Xingzhou left than his mind began to wander, and he quickly devised a plan for where to go.
Early the next morning, Gao Huaide called his younger brother and they left the city heading south, without saying what they were going to do.
It wasn't until he reached the banks of the Wuding River that he revealed the purpose of his trip: to visit the battlefield ruins.
"Swearing to sweep away the Xiongnu without regard for their own lives, five thousand sable-clad warriors perished in the dust of the barbarian lands. Pitiful are the bones by the Wuding River, still the dream of their beloved in their spring boudoirs."
Hearing him recite poems from a hundred years ago while shaking his head, Gao Huailiang was both amused and exasperated.
"Brother, what Xiongnu would the Tang Dynasty have? They were driven away long ago, to who knows where. How could we possibly find any battlefield remains?"
"If it was a poem written by a Tang dynasty poet, how could he have been moved to write it if he hadn't witnessed it firsthand?"
When his younger brother pointed out his mistake, Gao Huaide's face fell, but he still argued stubbornly: "How could a battle with five thousand casualties leave no trace? Come with me and investigate."
Gao Huailiang knew his elder brother's temperament well and had no choice but to go along with him. Fortunately, Lu Qian and Fu An brought a squad of guards to protect them, so they were not afraid of encountering scattered and defeated enemy troops.
Riding slowly along the Wuding River, I couldn't find a single rusty fragment of a sword, spear, or halberd, let alone piles of bones.
Gao Huaide spurred his horse to approach the riverbank to investigate, but Lu Qian quickly stopped him.
"Young Master, that place may look like a wetland, but it is actually loose sand. Stepping on it, the sand moves even a hundred paces away, swaying as if walking on a curtain. Although the ground is very firm, if you sink in, people, horses, and carts will all be submerged. Do not go there rashly." (Note 1)
Hearing Lu Qian speak with such conviction, Gao Huaide had no choice but to rein in his horse and stand still to observe.
On the opposite bank, a group of over a hundred people were escorting a horse-drawn carriage across the river. They thought to themselves, "This is going to be quite a show."
Just as Lu Qian had predicted, the horse let out a loud neigh, the wheels suddenly sank, half of the vehicle tilted over, and became stuck in the mud and sand.
"Quickly, pull the car out."
The horse struggled to pull the cart, but the cart was heavy and the ground was soft mud, so it couldn't exert any strength and failed to drag it several times.
"Please invite the lady and young man out first."
A servant-like old man said, "Let a few people push it together."
Upon hearing this, several strong servants jumped down from the mudflats and began to carry the carriage out on their shoulders and backs. Several maids lifted the curtain, helped the people inside to steady themselves on the carriage shafts, and then stepped out.
Gao Huaide recognized who it was and tried to pretend he didn't know them, but it was too late to turn around and leave. He could even hear the whispers coming from the other side.
"Sister, it's the wicked girl who eavesdropped on Mother's conversation that day."
"Who?"
"It's the person I threw a stone at when I went to my aunt's house."
"You still say that? You have absolutely no manners."
Unable to avoid it, Gao Huaide reluctantly stepped forward and greeted her, "Hello, Madam Fu, hello, both of you sisters."
"Oh, it's Huai De! Did you come especially to welcome us?"
"Uncle Fu said you were coming, and it just so happens that we've run into each other."
Gao Huaide gave a vague answer and saw two familiar little girl faces. More than a year had passed, and Da Fu was still polite, while Xiao Fu was still as unruly as ever.
"Brother Gao, we meet again."
At this point, the relatives and followers worked together to lift the car out, but the car body was covered with a lot of mud.
Madam Fu frowned and said, "This carriage is dirty, how can anyone still ride in it?"
Having witnessed the devastation of the battlefield, with its countless deaths and blood-stained sand, Gao Huaide thought to himself, "What's a little stain? That's just being dramatic."
"Fetch some water to wash up, and get yourself clean before you set off."
Upon hearing the steward's instructions, the attendants quickly busied themselves. Maids laid out felt mats and invited the lady and young man to sit down and rest.
The Tang Dynasty embraced all rivers; in ancient times, people would kneel and sit, but in modern times, people sit with their legs together as a sign of respect when ascending a couch. Lady Fu, with her long skirt trailing on the ground, sat upright with her legs together, and her two little girls followed suit, sitting obediently beside their mother.
In late autumn, September, the Wuding River resembles a winding, emerald-green ribbon. Reeds bloom, their white fluff dancing in the air; waterbirds move gracefully, sometimes landing on the wetlands, sometimes frolicking on the river surface, and sometimes soaring low in the sky—the scenery is breathtaking.
Gao Huaide reluctantly joined in the conversation, while Lu Qian leaned closer and whispered, "Young Master, the weather is changing; a strong wind may be coming."
The autumn wind, which had been whispering softly just moments before, suddenly intensified, causing the reeds to sway precariously and creating ripples on the river's surface. A flock of waterbirds took flight, flapping their wings and soaring into the distance.
Gao Huaide looked up at the sky, but the azure sky was no longer clear; leaden-gray clouds were quietly piling up.
In the distance, it seemed as if an invisible hand was stirring up the sand and dust, which rose to form a thick, earthen-yellow curtain that slowly pressed down on the earth.
Gao Huailiang had witnessed the power of strong winds in Linzhou; they were a force capable of moving sand dunes and changing the terrain. He whispered to Gao Huaide that it was important to return to the city quickly and avoid the storm.
Madam Fu also received a report from her experienced family. This place wasn't far from Xiazhou City; if they rode swiftly into the city before the storm arrived, the group would be safe.
"No, what about the carriage? It's part of my dowry."
Upon hearing this, Gao Huaide glanced at the carriage: the carriage was painted with cloud and thunder patterns, and the window railings were carved with lotus scroll patterns. The carriage curtains were double-layered, with a layer of thick brocade and a layer of thin blue gauze, which could both protect against wind and sand and block the view.
He muttered to himself, "It is indeed a good car, but it's too foolish to take the risk for something so materialistic."
"Besides, how can a woman ride a horse? What about the two young ladies? And what about the maids and servants who serve my mother and daughter?"
Madam Fu posed a few questions, and the old family member, gritting his teeth, said, "Could we have a skilled horseman take you along, so you can ride together on one horse..."
"You can tell the Prefect yourself. If he has no objection, I will ride with the man."
Madam Fu sneered, "The Zhang family of Qinghe is a family that values poetry and propriety. Hearing even one more word of this is an insult to our ears."
Born into a prestigious family, she was very particular about family rules and etiquette, and unaware of the severity of the sandstorm, she immediately rejected the steward's suggestion.
Lady Fu was unwilling to abandon the carriage, nor would she mount the horse, and the situation became tense for a moment.
Gao Huaide was even more embarrassed. Now that he had encountered Fu Yanqing's family, if he left them unattended and ran away, his father would find out and he would be scolded again.
He asked himself honestly, and he couldn't bring himself to abandon them and run away for his own life. He could only watch helplessly as the storm approached.
The sun was gradually obscured by sand and dust, turning what should have been daytime into dusk.
"Young master, this can't go on. This storm looks like it's going to get serious."
Lu Qian suggested, "Why don't we go ahead and ask Lord Fu to send someone to assist us?"
Gao Huaide knew this was for the best; he couldn't let his younger brother be in danger for the sake of two young girls. He lowered his voice and said, "Take our men and take good care of Liangdi. I'll go say hello and then leave."
He approached, but before he could speak, Xiao Fu shouted, "He's going to abandon us and leave!"
One sentence left Gao Huaide speechless.
Madam Fu scolded her daughter for talking nonsense, but Little Fu shouted, "I saw him whispering with his men. They must be complaining about how slow we were going and discussing how to shake us off and escape!"
Children speak without restraint, often revealing the truth in their words.
Now that the matter had been brought up, Gao Huaide simply straightened his chest and openly admitted it: "I must be responsible for the lives and safety of my own men. Besides, if they return to the city to ask for reinforcements, there will be someone to help them in case of trouble."
Ignoring her mother's attempts to stop her, Da Fu tugged at her clothes and shouted, "You're just scared and trying to run away!"
You little vixen, how dare you underestimate me?
Gao Huaide was furious. For the first time since taking office as the Commander of the Young Masters, he took the initiative to issue an order: "Lu Qian, Fu An, you take my second brother and a group of men and go ahead. I will escort Lord Fu's family!"
Seeing his subordinates looking at each other without taking any action, Gao Huaide roared, "Do you intend to disobey orders?"
Gao Huailiang was about to offer some advice when Lu Qian said in a deep voice, "Young master, the power of heaven and earth is beyond human control. You should think this through carefully and not act impulsively."
Once Gao Huaide had spoken, there was no going back. His tone turned cold: "Of course I've thought it through. My second brother can testify for me that when Father returns, this debt will not be settled with you."
"Hahaha, what a fine young master!"
Unexpectedly, Fu An sided with Gao Huaide and said, "Old Lu, you take the young master and the brothers back first. I'll stay with the young master."
A hint of arrogance gleamed in his eyes: "Let's see if even the fiercest storm can subdue this nine-headed bird!"
In the short time it took to say a few words, the wind picked up stronger, and the sand it whipped up became coarser, stinging our faces.
The sandstorm lashed against Xiao Fu's delicate face, causing her to cry out in pain. She quickly retreated into the carriage and lowered the two curtains. In this way, whatever happened outside was no longer her concern.
Seeing that Gao Huaide was determined and could not be persuaded, Lu Qian did not hesitate any longer and led his group of people to speed towards Xiazhou City.
The Fu family's entourage watched them depart, their eyes filled with envy, but no one dared to desert. They only sent one rider to accompany them to Xiazhou City to deliver the message.
"Fu Yanqing's administration is quite effective."
Gao Huaide praised him, and Fu An urged, "Young Master, let's not delay any longer. Let's go as fast as we can. Maybe we can get into the city before the storm arrives."
The group of over a hundred people continued onward.
Just as Gao Huaide was about to spur his horse forward, the carriage curtain was lifted again, and Da Fu said apologetically, "My younger sister was rude just now, please don't take offense, Brother Gao."
Little Fu squeezed next to her sister, stuck out her tongue at her, and made a face.
Gao Huaide waved his hand, indicating that he didn't mind. Having played the hero, he should now consider how to save his own life.
They hadn't walked far when visibility became increasingly blurry. A few rays of sunlight pierced through the dust and mist, casting dappled shadows on the ground, and the air was thick with the pungent smell of earth. Everyone knew then that what they were about to face was no ordinary gale.
Gao Huaide remembered that he encountered the Fu family about ten miles outside the city, but the return journey felt extremely long.
The wind grew louder and louder, turning into the roars of tigers and the bellows of oxen. The mules and horses were restless and needed to be soothed and spurred on before they would move forward, and the caravan's pace slowed down more and more.
Madam Fu, sitting calmly in the carriage, sensed something was wrong outside and could no longer remain composed. She lifted the curtain to inquire about the situation.
She had just peeked out and hadn't even spoken when a gust of wind carrying sand swept past, and she quickly raised her sleeve to cover her face.
"Madam, if you are still reluctant to part with this carriage, I'm afraid..."
The steward didn't need to finish speaking; Madam Fu had already seen the situation. The strong winds made it difficult for people to walk, and if things continued like this, they would not reach Xiazhou City and would surely be swallowed up by the storm.
The laws of propriety and female virtue, a matter of life and death, caused Madam Fu an inner struggle. After weighing the options repeatedly, she finally gritted her teeth and said: "Mencius said: 'Men and women should not touch each other when giving or receiving things, which is a matter of propriety; if one's sister-in-law is drowning, it is a matter of expediency.'"
Everyone thought she had finally come to her senses, but unexpectedly, Madam Fu changed her tone: "As a lady of the court, how can I act rashly in an emergency, thereby damaging the reputation of the Prefect and disgracing the Zhang family?"
Madam Fu paused, then asked Da Fu, "Are you seven years old?"
Da Fu did not understand why Madam Fu asked this question, but despite the howling wind, he still answered respectfully, "There are still three months left. After the New Year, my daughter will be seven years old." (Note 2)
The Book of Rites states: "Boys and girls should not sit together for seven years." Since they are not yet seven years old, they are still considered to be innocent children.
Madam Fu nodded in satisfaction and turned to Gao Huaide, saying, "Nephew, please take my two daughters ahead. I will follow later."
Sigh, it's such a small matter, is it really necessary to cite scriptures and conduct a question-and-answer session to make it so serious?
Gao Huaide inwardly complained, but clasped his hands in agreement.
"I want to stay; I don't want to go with him!"
Little Fu was reluctant to part with Madam Fu, and hugged his mother with tears in his eyes.
Da Fu, being steady and reliable, advised his younger sister not to be willful and that it would be better to arrive in the city sooner so that their mother could be at ease. Xiao Fu, crying and sobbing, mounted her horse and sat in front of Gao Huaide.
When it was Da Fu's turn, she was a little shy. Gao Huaide made her sit behind him and hugged his waist.
Seeing that she was dawdling and not moving, Gao Huaide said impatiently, "Why don't you sit in front of me? I'll hold you, and you hold your sister, is that alright?"
Da Fu's cheeks flushed red: "No need, little sister can just sit behind Brother Gao."
"Xiao Bai, you'll have to work hard."
Once the two girls were seated, Gao Huaide flicked the reins, squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs, and Xiao Bai raised its head and neighed, leaping off like an arrow.
A rider carrying three people raced against the whirlwind and flying sand, disappearing into the distance.