Chapter 403: Ascending the Heights

The candle casts red shadows, the night is already deep; I spread out a scroll of books, lost in deep contemplation.

Between my brows, a thousand worries are locked; on my fingertips, how many inches of heart do I tap and grind?

Wang Yang had temporarily thought of six possibilities, and having grown weary of thinking, he stood up. Turning his head to look, he saw the small desk was empty. Ah Wu, who should have been practicing calligraphy, had moved to the corner of the wall at some unknown time. She was sitting in front of a large bamboo basket, head bowed, picking through something.

"Ah Wu, what are you doing? Have you finished your characters?"

Ah Wu looked up, her eyes curving into crescent moons:

"Ah Wu is making *peng-er* for the Young Master to eat!"

"What?"

"The day after tomorrow is the Double Ninth Festival! We must eat *peng-er*! Ah Wu will first pick the *peng* leaves, boil them until soft, then pound them fine, mix them with rice flour and maltose, and then steam them in a pot. It's delicious!"

Eating *peng-er*, like ascending the heights, wearing cornel, and drinking chrysanthemum wine, were all customs of the Double Ninth Festival at the time. There are two ways to make *peng-er*. One is what Ah Wu described, using *peng* leaves, which results in a greenish color, somewhat like green rice balls. However, this method requires both rice and sugar, and Ah Wu had only eaten it once in her life.

The *peng-er* usually eaten is the second method, which uses neither *peng* leaves nor rice, but *peng* seeds. *Peng* grass bears ears in autumn, and its seeds are as fine as wild rice, which can be used as a staple food to satisfy hunger. (The *Records of Wei* records that when Bao Chu encountered a famine: "He gathered *peng* seeds, getting several pecks a day, to make food for his mother." This *peng* seed is the *peng* seed.) However, they must be soaked and sun-dried, then pounded before being eaten, which removes the bitter and astringent taste. Using *peng* seeds to make dough results in something like dry rations; although it is also called *peng-er*, the taste is far inferior to the first kind.

Wang Yang said:

"No need to make a portion for me. I won't be eating at home for the Double Ninth..."

At this moment, Ah Wu did not realize the deep meaning of these words, thinking instead that Wang Yang was going to a banquet, and her enthusiasm undiminished, she said:

"Then I'll wait for the Young Master to come back and eat!"

Wang Yang was not led astray:

"Don't interrupt. I'm asking you, have you finished your characters?"

Little Ah Wu opened her large eyes and nodded with a serious face:

"Finished, finished."

"Have you finished writing all one hundred characters?"

"All finished!"

"Is it that fast?"

"Actually, it's not fast; it's just that the Young Master was thinking for a long time." Ah Wu answered fluently.

"Oh, bring it here for me to see."

"Uh... can I show you tomorrow? The *peng* leaves aren't picked yet..."

"Me looking at it won't delay your picking."

"It's mainly because I thought that in one breath—"

"Hmm?"

Wang Yang made a serious, frowning expression.

Ah Wu dared not prevaricate; she moved to the small desk, took the homework, and lingered, not daring to hand it over.

Wang Yang snatched it over and looked, seeing that the paper was blank, with only four small characters in the middle—"One, Hundred, Characters."

Ah Wu quickly corrected her attitude:

"Ah Wu was wrong! Ah Wu was really too tired today! Tomorrow I will write two hundred characters, no, three hundred characters to make up for it!"

Wang Yang shook the paper:

"If you write like this, even writing three million characters would be a breeze! I see it clearly now; you are still suited for copying calligraphy models. Tomorrow, go with your father to the Hongyuan Bookstore and buy a children's calligraphy model, the kind with phonetic readings and character meanings. You will copy them character by character. If you try to play any more tricks, I will invite Xie Xie Niangzi to come and assign your homework."

Ah Wu recalled the fear of once being dominated by Xie Xie Niangzi, her little body trembling, and she kept saying "Ah-wu":

"Ah Wu was wrong! Ah Wu will definitely write well!! Ah Wu won't dare to do it again!!! Ah Wu will never dare to do it again!!!!"

Wang Yang took a pale yellow letter from the book box and handed it to Ah Wu:

"Besides buying the children's calligraphy model, bring me back a few kinds of books. I have already agreed with the shopkeeper; this is the book list. You hand it directly to the shopkeeper, and he will naturally know which books to give me."

Ah Wu blinked her large eyes, her expression turning solemn, looking like she was about to face death in battle, and whispered:

"Ah Wu understands; Ah Wu will definitely give the 'book list' to the shopkeeper secretly."

Wang Yang laughed:

"No need to be secret; just give it openly. If you give it secretly, even if it is a book list, it is not a 'book list'; if you give it openly, even if it is not a book list, it is a 'book list'."

(Chapter 355 "Moon Falling into Rouge": "I have a secret agent in the Prince of Badong's mansion. If you need any help, you can leave a letter for him at the Hongyuan Bookstore in the East City.")

Ah Wu pondered Wang Yang's words and nodded thoughtfully:

"So the Young Master wants to see Xie Xie Niangzi openly..."

Wang Yang had a look of "the child is teachable"—hmm????

He raised his hand and gave Ah Wu a flick on the forehead:

"What does this have to do with anything! Nonsense..."

Ah Wu rubbed her forehead with her little hand, but the corners of her mouth couldn't be suppressed. Her eyes blinked with a little smugness and cunning, and she dragged out her little tone:

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter; this 'really' doesn't matter!"

Wang Yang:...

"Ah Wu, it's been a long time since I told you a story. I'll tell you one today."

Ah Wu immediately became excited:

"Great, great! Ah Wu likes listening to the Young Master tell stories the most!"

Ah Wu immediately flew to get a cattail mat, ran *deng-deng-deng-deng* to a curved-leg desk, and put it down. (Insert image)

Eastern Jin curved-leg desk, currently housed in the Nanjing Museum. The image is taken from "The Elegance of the Six Dynasties," edited by the Nanjing Museum, Cultural Relics Publishing House, 2004 edition. This full name is called a fence-leg desk.

(Continuing from the image above: The full name is called a fence-leg desk, because the legs on the left and right sides are like a fence, divided into curved and straight types. The one above is a curved leg. There should be an additional image of a straight-leg desk, but I'm so sleepy; I'll add it when I write about it later.)

She poured tea for Wang Yang and set it out. As for the jars of chestnuts, hazelnuts, and other nuts, she did not take them. Because only when Chen Qingshan was there to listen to stories would she follow Sister Chen and eat a little bit; when Sister Chen was not there, she never touched them.

Wang Yang said he wanted to eat pine nuts, and only then did Ah Wu bring the pine nut jar. Wang Yang grabbed a large handful for Ah Wu and began to tell:

"Once upon a time, there was a man named Yang Xiu..."

After Ah Wu finished listening, she shivered, feeling that even the little pine nuts were no longer fragrant...

The next day, night began to fall. The corridor lamps of the Prince of Badong's mansion lit up one after another.

Outside the corridor courtyard, armored soldiers stood like a forest, and Garrison Commander Jiao Shirong was patrolling with his hand on his sword. A guard walked through the corridor, holding a food box high, and signaled to Jiao Shirong from afar.

Jiao Shirong swept a glance at the armored soldiers and said in a deep voice:

"It's nightfall; everyone be alert!"

The armored soldiers responded in unison.

Jiao Shirong turned and left the courtyard, the guard trotting to keep up. The two of them, one after the other, entered the duty room.

The guard wiped the table nimbly and took out the wine and dishes from the food box one by one and set them out:

"Today's food is really fragrant! I don't know which restaurant it's from; I smelled it the whole way!"

Jiao Shirong sat down at the table:

"You brat have a dog's nose..."

The guard chuckled, picked up the wine pot, poured a cup of wine for Jiao Shirong, stepped in place twice, and rubbed his hands, saying:

"Then I'll withdraw first and come back to clean up after the General finishes eating."

Saying he was leaving, his eyes kept glancing at the table.

Jiao Shirong laughed and scolded:

"Stop pretending; you've never left empty-handed!"

He grabbed a few slices of salted meat, stuffed them into his mouth, and then pushed the plate of salted meat to the side:

"Take it away!"

The guard was overjoyed, quickly took the salted meat, and withdrew with profuse thanks.

Jiao Shirong ate and drank heartily. Halfway through, he stood up, walked to the window, closed it, and then returned to the table. He reached into the bottom layer of the food box, groped a few times, opened a secret compartment, and took out a letter.

A pale yellow letter.

(Chapter 110 "Royal Banquet": "In the main hall, the officials watched Wang Yang sitting beside the Prince of Badong, the two of them whispering something. Behind the Prince of Badong stood the Prince's mansion's Garrison Commander Jiao Shirong, wearing armor and a sword, his expression solemn. Seeing Wang Yang sitting so close to the Prince, they couldn't help but frown, a pair of tiger eyes staring fixedly at Wang Yang, like a beast ready to pounce at any moment.")

Double Ninth Day, dawn just breaking.

Wang Yang, in a brocade robe and wearing a sword, sat with his eyes closed.

Suddenly—

Rapid footsteps came from outside!

Little Ah Wu ran over, her breath slightly disordered:

"Young Master, they're here!"

Wang Yang opened his eyes, a sharp edge flashing past.

He stood up, patted Ah Wu's head, straightened his robe and sleeves, and pushed the door open to go out.

In the courtyard, a group of mansion guards were already waiting. Seeing Wang Yang come out, they immediately knelt:

"Greetings, Military Secretary!!!"

"By the Prince's order, we are here to welcome the Military Secretary to the height-ascending banquet!"

"Where are we ascending to?"

"The Prince has ordered that you will know when you arrive, Military Secretary."

Wang Yang was expressionless:

"Lead the way."

Outside the Wang residence, the carriage was already waiting, the wheels neat, the reins ringing softly.

As Wang Yang boarded the carriage, he paused slightly, looked back, and saw the Blackie and Ah Wu leading a group of servants, all bowing to the carriage.

Wang Yang turned and entered the carriage.

As soon as the carriage shadow left, the Blackie stood up and gave a few instructions, his gaze steady, and headed straight for the Xie residence.

Jiangjin Ferry, warships covering the river.

At this time, the morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the river surface was already pitch black. The tower ships were as majestic as mountains, the warships lined up like a forest, and the small boats shuttled between them like schools of fish swimming beside the bellies of giant beasts. The banners fluttered in the morning wind, thousands of flags waving at the same time, like a surging sea of clouds, the momentum shaking.

Wang Yang got out of the carriage and, surrounded by guards, took a small boat to approach the largest tower ship.

The small boat bobbed up and down with the river water, while the tower ship stood proudly in the center, unmoved like a mountain.

The closer he got, the more he felt the enormity of the ship. Looking up, people in the boat felt as small as leaves.

The boarding path hung down from above; one was a rope ladder, thick ropes connected by horizontal wooden bars, swaying slightly with the waves; the other was an inclined wooden ladder, which could lead directly from the bow of the boat to the middle cabin hatch, with handrails on the side for climbing.

A military officer shouted an order:

"Steady the ropes! Fix the boat! Prepare to welcome—"

Several groups of people on the ship immediately moved; several people used grappling hooks to hook the small boat tightly; several people bent down to press the ropes and steady the ladder, their arm muscles bulging; several guards leaned out half their bodies, ready to receive him; more than a dozen sailors, dressed in short, tight-fitting clothes, kept their eyes locked on Wang Yang so that they could rescue him in time if he accidentally fell into the water. Several nearby small boats also quickly gathered around to guard and protect.

Wang Yang climbed the ladder and stepped steadily onto the ship. Everyone bowed and saluted, their voices loud and clear:

"Greetings, Military Secretary!!!"

A guard officer walked over quickly and knelt first:

"Greetings, Military Secretary! The Prince has been waiting for a long time; please, Military Secretary!"

Wang Yang followed the man through a side door on the side of the ship and stepped into the cabin. The middle cabin passage was wide and spacious, with thick beams and columns bound tightly with iron hoops. The wooden boards underfoot were thick and heavy, making a sound when stepped on, but not hollow.

After walking more than ten steps, he turned onto an inner ladder and climbed to the deck. The river wind hit his face, and his field of vision opened up!

Wang Yang paused for a moment and looked around, seeing that the ship's body was like land, wide enough to gallop horses, and the distance from bow to stern was nearly a hundred steps! Armored soldiers and strong soldiers were lined up on it, holding swords and shields, their iron helmets clanking.

The tower ship's flying eaves were like a city, with four floors of towers. The higher the floor, the farther the view and the stronger the wind. Layers of railings and barriers surrounded it, with boards as shields. Archers were lined up in rows, their feathers like a forest.

Climbing to the top floor, he saw that the tower surface was flat and wide, like the top of a city gate. In the center was a high platform, on which stood a large banner with black background and gold characters, with the two characters "Badong" written on it. The guards shouted:

"Prince's Military Secretary arrives—"

The sound traveled far with the wind, several people echoed, and it spread out layer by layer.

The Prince of Badong led a group of strategists and generals to welcome him. Kong Zhangyu, Li Jingxuan, Xue Shao, Tao Rui, Guo Wenyuan, Chen Qiming, and others were all wearing armor.

The Prince of Badong stepped out, his eyebrows flying and his eyes moving, as arrogant as a dance:

"How is it, Zhiyan? Didn't expect this Prince to come here to ascend the heights, did you?"

Wang Yang bowed in greeting, his brocade robe fluttering:

"The world thinks it strange, but it is the norm for heroes. Where the Prince points, it is naturally outside the world's measure."

The Prince of Badong was refreshed and laughed like thunder:

"I am outside the world's measure, which is why I can obtain your great talent! Today, I will sail and strike the water with you to pacify the world. What do you think, sir?"

Wang Yang frowned slightly.

The Prince of Badong laughed and stepped forward, hugging Wang Yang's shoulder:

"This Prince knows you don't approve of leaving Jingzhou now, but the long siege at Wenyang is almost built, so it must be used. This Prince has strictly ordered Kong Zhangyu to sit in command and supervise, so there will be no mistakes. Don't worry!"

"Your Highness—"

"Come, Zhiyan!"

The Prince of Badong would not allow any argument, grabbed Wang Yang, and strode toward the high platform, standing under the royal flag.

Looking out, he saw thousands of sails like wings, ten thousand oars flowing horizontally, the light of armor reflecting on the water, the cold light connecting to the clouds, the whole river full of the color of weapons!

Everyone under the platform bowed and stood silently, waiting for orders.

The Prince of Badong faced the great river, full of ambition, his hand on the hilt of his sword. The blade slowly left the scabbard in the morning light, the long sword pointed forward, and he roared angrily:

"Set out on the expedition!!!"

Boom—

The war drums exploded.

It was not one drum, but ten drums, ten war drums beating at the same time!

The sound of the drums exploded from the tower ship, spread to the warships, and the drummers of the various ships raised their mallets in response, the sound spreading to the small boats. The group of drums echoed, beating incessantly, like a raging fire, instantly sweeping across the entire river surface!

"Woo—"

The sound of the horn followed, low and thick, piercing through the sound of the drums, piercing through the wind, piercing through the city walls, piercing through the surging river water! Like an ancient giant beast waking up from its slumber, letting out a roar that shook the sky!

Inside the Xie residence, Xie Xinghan took the letter presented by the Blackie amidst the sound of distant thunderous drums and horns, her fingers actually trembling!

She tore it several times before opening it. She saw only a few lines of poetry on the letter, the characters particularly vigorous, almost breaking the paper, with the title of the poem in two large characters—"Ode to the Rabbit":

Deep in the mugwort, hiding its form,

Grass moves, wind blows, its heart is not startled.

Hawks circle the sky, passing overhead,

Relying on its own courage, it walks in the flat light.

Not lowering its two ears to the firmament,

Always roaming horizontally across the earth.

Do not say the furry body lacks fierce ambition,

Chasing the sun in the wilderness, it also cries out long!

——————

Note: ① The last seven-character ancient poem can be read together with Chapter 382 "Cunning Rabbit."

② Jiao Shirong is recorded this way in the original historical line. "Book of Southern Qi, Biography of Jiao Du": "His son Shirong was the Garrison Commander for the Prince of Badong during the Yongming era. When the Prince rebelled, Shirong fled to Yongzhou. The World Ancestor praised him and made him a military advisor in Shixing."

That is to say, as soon as the Prince of Badong rebelled, he abandoned his official position and ran to Yongzhou. Why run to Yongzhou? Do you remember Baoyue's arrangement in Chapter 154 "Five Steps"?

("... The matter of the Marquis of Anlu stabbing Yongzhou is settled, but it is not yet known when the specific transfer will be..." Xiao Baoyue suddenly spoke: "Tell Father Marquis, be quick. At the latest, let Third Uncle arrive at the garrison before September.")

The Third Uncle in Baoyue's mouth is the Marquis of Anlu, Xiao Mian, who is Xiao Luan's younger brother and is currently the Inspector of Yongzhou.

③ Tower ships in our country originated very early, and were already heavily used during the Qin and Han dynasties, and became even more common in the medieval period. I will give two examples to show the tower ship system at that time. "Book of Jin, Biography of Wang Jun": "Jun then built large ships connected in a row, 120 steps square, accommodating more than 2,000 people. He used wood to build a city, raised towers and turrets, and opened four gates, all of which could accommodate horses coming and going. He also painted the heads of monsters on the bows of the ships to frighten the river gods."

"Yiwen Leiju" quotes "Yixi Qijuzhu": "Lu Xun newly built nine eight-slot warships, four stories high, more than ten feet tall."

④ This chapter is the last chapter of the second volume.