Chapter 1236: Exiles of the Northern Frontier

Mouna Mountain lies about a hundred li east of Fengzhou city, part of the Yin Mountains' remaining range, rich in fine timber suitable for construction. The Fengzhou government had established a fort south of the mountains and north of the river, named Linhe Fort, where the populace gathered to farm and herd, while a garrison of soldiers under the Tiande Army also stood guard.

As a criminal exiled to the frontier, Xu Xuan received the treatment of a "second exile" upon arriving in Fengzhou—he could not even stay within the fort walls, and at first could only make heaven and earth his shelter, grass and wood his bed, keeping company with nature itself.

It must be said that although he was likewise a man under sentence of exile, because Emperor Liu himself had issued the order, the local officials overseeing him could hardly avoid showing some special consideration. Never mind preferential treatment—merely not being deliberately abused was already a stroke of luck.

Xu Xuan was a great literary master, renowned throughout the southern lands, but in the Central Plains and the north, he was more than a notch weaker, and having fallen to a frontier place like Fengzhou, no one took him seriously at all. On the contrary, unable to shoulder burdens or lift weights, and knowing nothing of farming or herding, he was regarded as useless by most of the border folk, who would not give him a second glance.

Of course, compared to others, Xu Xuan was still fortunate—at least he was still alive......

Back then, more than ten surrendered ministers of the Southern Tang had been demoted along with Xu Xuan. These people were separated and exiled to all corners of the realm, each sent to a different place, not even given the chance to huddle together for warmth.

However, not everyone was like Xu Xuan, able to survive by the skin of their teeth to this day. Some even perished on the road to exile, unable to bear the suffering, let alone the hardships after reaching the frontier.

As for Xu Xuan, after Feng Guang took office, he no longer suffered humiliation from the petty clerks, and moreover, the place where he lived received help from several herder households. Otherwise, this literary master of the age would have long since perished beyond the northern frontier.

Backed against the mountains, a circle of fencing surrounding a tent—that was where Xu Xuan now stayed. His possessions were few, but arranged sloppily and chaotically, clearly in need of tidying. Under the ever-colder north wind, it looked all the more desolate.

The sound of horse hooves was barely noticeable beneath the howling of the north wind, and only when a high-pitched neigh rang out did it startle Xu Xuan inside the tent. At the gate stood a youth wearing a felt cap, wrapped in sheepskin, who dismounted, tied the reins, and shouted "Master" toward the tent.

While calling out, he was also unloading things from the horse. Hearing the commotion outside, Xu Xuan belatedly lifted the tent flap and poked his head out. Seeing the youth, a smile appeared on his aged face: "Zhao Cai, you've come!"

The youth returned a simple, honest smile. Strong and sturdy, he carried a pile of things on his shoulder and in his hands without seeming to strain.

"My father asked me to bring you this sheepskin, along with some firewood, salt, and a jug of wine. Also, there's a flint—Father bought it at Linhe Fort, it makes starting fires easier, and he had me bring you one too. Knowing you like tea, there's also a small pouch of tea leaves......"

"You've worked hard!" Xu Xuan's movements still seemed fairly nimble as he hurried forward to greet him, saying: "Put the things down first! It's cold outside—come inside the tent to talk, and escape the wind and chill!"

"Alright!"

The two of them together quickly stowed away the things they had brought. Among them were both items Xu Xuan had commissioned and a portion given as gifts. If it had been in his early years, Xu Xuan would likely have maintained his reserve and declared that a poor man does not accept food given with contempt, but after enduring hunger and suffering cold, his scholar-official dignity and pride had long been stripped away and trampled into the mud. Over these many years, he had received no small amount of help from the surrounding herders, especially from this youth Zhao Cai's family.

Although the youth bore the surname Zhao, he was not Han but Tangut. In these years, among the various tribes and peoples submitting to the Great Han, a craze of changing names and surnames had inevitably arisen—this being the most obvious sign of sinicization.

Here in Fengzhou, over eighty percent of the population were non-Han, with Tangut being the majority, Khitan second, and Han and other miscellaneous barbarians last. Among them, the Han held the highest social status, with the Tangut below them. As for relations, Han and Tangut got along the most harmoniously.

The Zhao Cai family's willingness to support Xu Xuan was not purely out of kindness and a love of helping others, but because he was literate and learned, knowing much, and could teach the Zhao family's three sons. A family like Zhao Cai's belonged to the active proponents of sinicization.

Xu Xuan was now fifty-four years old, having endured all the hardships of frontier life. He appeared extraordinarily aged, with streaks of white in his brows and temples, as if dusted with a layer of wind and snow.

"The water's gone cold. Sit for a moment—I'll light a fire and boil some hot tea!" Holding a kettle, Xu Xuan looked somewhat embarrassed.

"Master, you sit! I'll do it!" Seeing Xu Xuan about to move, the youth stopped him and took over the task, going to the stove and using the flint he had brought to start a fire, also giving Xu Xuan a demonstration—this item had not been much used in Fengzhou before, and counted as a novelty.

"In the past I was one who never lifted a hand in labor and could not tell one grain from another. If not for your family's support, this old wreck of mine would long since have been buried in this land!" Looking at the enthusiastic youth, Xu Xuan could not help but feel moved, and sighed with emotion.

"Master is a man of learning—these rough tasks naturally aren't for you!" Zhao Cai deftly got the fire going, then added some charcoal, and the old and the young sat around the stove, warming themselves and chatting.

Looking at Zhao Cai, Xu Xuan asked: "By the time of year, the government should be levying the autumn tax, shouldn't it?"

"We've already paid it in advance!" Zhao Cai said directly.

Xu Xuan was somewhat surprised and asked: "According to the Great Han's established system, the autumn tax deadline each year is November 1st. Why has it been moved up so early this year?"

"The tax clerk in the fort said the Emperor is coming to inspect Fengzhou, and the whole prefecture must prepare to receive him, so it was moved up!" Zhao Cai explained: "Because of this, each household also had to hand over an extra sheepskin!"

"The Emperor is coming to Fengzhou?" Xu Xuan could not help but be astonished. The place where he lived was somewhat remote, with poor flow of information—had the youth not mentioned it, he would have known nothing at all.

"Yes!" The youth's eyes were full of longing: "It must have been two days ago. When my father went to Linhe Fort, he saw it. They say there were many people, with carriages and horses stretching for several li, all wearing splendid clothes...... It's just a pity I couldn't go along!"

"The Son of Heaven of the Great Han actually sets foot in such a remote, bitter-cold place!" Xu Xuan sighed somewhat, but then his brow furrowed as he said: "When the Son of Heaven tours the prefectures, there are always strict orders forbidding local tribute. How could they make you hand over extra hides?"

"That's what the tax clerk said!" Zhao Cai replied, adding with anticipation on his face: "I wonder if the Emperor will use my family's sheepskin!"

Seeing this, Xu Xuan could not help but shake his head and sigh: "Perhaps!"

"Master, you're a man of great experience—have you ever seen the Emperor?" Zhao Cai asked curiously.

"I have!" The question stirred memories of the past in Xu Xuan, and he spoke with somewhat subdued emotion.

"Really!" Zhao Cai said joyfully: "Can you tell me what the Emperor looks like? Is he like a heavenly god, able to breathe out clouds, sweat into rain, and thunder with his voice......"

Xu Xuan smiled and said: "I'm afraid I'll disappoint you. The Emperor is a man like the rest of us—two eyes, two ears, one mouth, one nose—nothing special about him!"

The youth's face clearly showed disbelief: "That's not what the rumors say!"

"However, though his appearance is indeed that of an ordinary man, the Emperor of the Great Han may well be a living deity in this world......" Xu Xuan added.

Hearing this, the youth was satisfied, his face wearing an expression of "that's how it should be," and he clicked his tongue: "I wonder if I'll have the luck to see the Emperor."

"Since the Son of Heaven has graced Fengzhou with his presence, he will surely visit the prefectural seat. If you go there, you might be able to see him!" Xu Xuan said.

"It's too far!" Zhao Cai shook his head regretfully: "And I don't know the way, and Father won't let me go!"

"Master, I just saw that the pen is broken and leaking—the sheep are already bleating in distress. You should add some more covering, or they'll freeze to death!" His spirits rising again after falling, the youth reminded him: "In a couple of days, I'll bring my two younger brothers to help!"

"You're thoughtful!" Xu Xuan nodded: "By the way, when you head home later, take one back with you!"

Zhao Cai waved his hands repeatedly, declining.

The old and the young talked for a long while, conversing happily. Xu Xuan had little contact with the outside world in this place, and though he no longer had the elegance of trading witticisms with learned scholars of old, talking with this youth felt all the more simple and sincere.

"Getting married soon, aren't you?" Looking at Zhao Cai, Xu Xuan asked gently.

The youth was a bit shy, but his eyes clearly showed eagerness, and he said joyfully: "Soon! Father said once my post is settled, the marriage will be arranged!"

"What post?" Xu Xuan asked with concern.

"I'm planning to become a courier station attendant!" Zhao Cai said: "There are quite a few people competing for the position, but none of them can match me—they're all illiterate. I have to thank you for these years of teaching!"

"A courier station attendant is a good post!" Xu Xuan said upon hearing this: "Once you become one, you can go to the prefectural seat, and even leave Fengzhou for other places, seeing the world beyond......"

"Master, with your learning, why don't you go teach at the prefectural academy?" Zhao Cai suddenly asked curiously.

In a self-deprecating tone, Xu Xuan said: "Setting aside the fact that I'm a man bearing guilt and could only teach heretical nonsense, even if I had the intention, the officials of the prefecture would hardly dare to employ me......"