Chapter 1901

Xue Daoming summoned Li Chenzhou to the palace; outside there were many rumors, Li Chenzhou felt extremely uneasy, unable to help worrying about his father's life and death, and also afraid that this fire would be exploited to burn him as well. He had thought Xue Daoming summoned him for this matter, but he never expected that Xue Daoming's real topic was the Bei Jiang war; it seems that this incident occurring within Da Kang Guo did not attract much of his attention.

Xue Daoming said: "I summoned Li Aiqing into the palace for the military affairs of Bei Jiang."

Li Chenzhou hearing he didn't mention Wen Chenghuan's matter, felt somewhat relieved, respectfully said: "Bei Jiang has entered winter dormancy; at least within three months there will be no military action."

Xue Daoming sighed and said: "What I worry about is Weichi Chong; I summoned him back to the capital to rest, preparing to reward him, yet Weichi Chong repeatedly refused my kindness."

Li Chenzhou said: "Perhaps the Bei Jiang crisis has not been eliminated, so he dares not leave without authorization."

Xue Daoming said: "It's truly that he holds his troops aloft and looks down on me."

Li Chenzhou rarely spoke well of Weichi Chong: "Your Majesty, I think it's not like that. Weichi Chong, stationed in Bei Jiang resisting the Black Hu, has earned great merit; Your Majesty should be more lenient toward him."

Xue Daoming sighed and said: "I also know his achievements, and I have not failed to sympathize with his hardships, but he relies on his merit and no longer regards me; I understand his difficulties, yet he does not understand mine." He handed an urgent official document to Li Chenzhou and said: "Look, he sent people to demand grain and forage; I have exhausted all efforts to procure this batch of grain and forage, and over the past two years Da Yong has suffered successive disasters, making it hard for me to gather these supplies, yet he has many complaints."

Li Chenzhou said: "Weichi Chong, being in Bei Jiang, is not clear about the situation here."

Xue Daoming said: "I intend to personally go to Bei Jiang ****, I don't know what you think, Aiqing."

Li Chenzhou, upon hearing this, was overjoyed inside; Xue Daoming's going to Bei Jiang **** is for me a great opportunity. Regardless of Xue Daoming's motives, his leaving Yongdu for this period allows me to layout calmly; moreover, the Bei Jiang war is currently in winter lull, giving me enough time to respond. Although the impact of my father's affair has not yet reached me, there is no impenetrable wall; perhaps soon this secret will be exposed, so I must act. Xue Daoming's going to Bei Jiang **** might be heaven's best opportunity for me; to save my father, unless I become the true ruler of Da Yong, using the identity of a monarch to pressure Dakang, perhaps I could still have a chance to rescue my father.

Although Li Chenzhou wished Xue Daoming would leave now, he said: "Winter is approaching; the journey to Bei Jiang is long and arduous, surely very hard; Your Majesty still needs to take care of your dragon body."

Xue Daoming feigned anger: "What do you mean by that? The soldiers in Bei Jiang fight bloody battles, even willing to sacrifice their lives; what is my braving a little cold? It's ridiculous! You needn't say more; my mind is made up—I must go personally."

Li Chenzhou secretly thought: "Whether you like to go or not, it's best you never return; best you die in Bei Jiang."

Gu Ying Bao is a town in the northern part of the Black Hu; most of Black Hu dwell in bitter cold lands, vast and sparsely populated; within a hundred li around Gu Ying Bao there are no villages; here snow begins each October; besides a few herders, most are Buddhist believers; even in freezing cold, many Hu people from all directions brave the bitter wind and snow to come, just to go to Fan Yin Si to worship and pray for blessings.

Hu Xiaotian flew here from Bei Jiang on a flying eagle; although the flying eagle's speed is fast, it still took three days; of course Hu Xiaotian still had time before his appointment with Liu Yuzhang, so he did not rush day and night, but flew during the day and rested at night.

After entering Hu territory, what met the eye was vast expanses of land, the pasture already withered and yellow, cattle and sheep already penned; the entire Black Hu empire, with winter's arrival, presents a bleak and desolate air; this vast land will undergo a long period of dormancy, waiting until next spring, when spring warms and flowers bloom, plants turn green, before it recovers its flourishing vitality; however, for the Black Hu people, such vibrant days are truly too short, perhaps precisely for this reason they yearn for warm Jiangnan, hoping to live a life of eternal spring, and thus they began relentless year-after-year southern invasions.

The flying eagle let out a deep, muffled roar; Hu Xiaotian opened his eyes and looked down, seeing on the vast white snow plain below a Gu Ying Bao the size of a chessboard; to the southeast of Gu Ying Bao lies Fan Yin Shan; the Black Hu's state-protected ancient temple Fan Yin Si is located on this mountain; Gu Ying Bao and Fan Yin Si, one at the mountain's base, the other on the summit, rely on each other, having coexisted for hundreds of years.

Hu Xiaotian stroked the flying eagle's neck feathers, then gently patted it to signal it to descend; the flying eagle's huge stature wherever it goes becomes a focus of attention, so to enter Gu Ying Bao discreetly he had to temporarily part from it; fortunately they would not be separated far, the flying eagle would find a suitable hidden place to rest, awaiting the master's next summons.

After parting from the flying eagle, Hu Xiaotian trekked through the snow for half an hour before reaching Gu Ying Bao; according to the map of Gu Ying Bao he had obtained earlier, he did not have to expend much effort to find the Huang Sha Ke Zhan; this unassuming inn is located at the southwest corner of Gu Ying Bao, its entrance lacking even a sign, only a string of red lanterns serving as its marker.

Judging by the carriages and horses outside, there should be few guests; Hu Xiaotian entered the courtyard, saw the main hall doors shut, passed through the courtyard, pushed open the main door, strode in, and called out: "Shopkeeper, guests have arrived!"

The young man squatting by the corner stove warming himself turned over, revealing a look of delight; he was Xia Zhangming; originally Hu Xiaotian had not asked him to come along, since he had just recovered from serious injury, but Xia Zhangming insisted on accompanying Hu Xiaotian, thinking that even if he could not help much, he could lend a hand and arrange for Hu Xiaotian's livelihood; after his repeated requests, Hu Xiaotian agreed to let him come together with Xiong Tianba; they had originally set out from Dongliang Jun together, but because Hu Xiaotian had been delayed in Bei Jiang for a few days, he let them come directly; Xia Zhangming and Xiong Tianba, worried about delaying Hu Xiaotian's important matter, rode snow eagles day and night to arrive here; compared to Hu Xiaotian they arrived three days earlier, and they were not idle, directly purchasing this Huang Sha Ke Zhan, making arrangements, and waiting only for Hu Xiaotian's arrival.

Although the separation time was not long, old friends meeting is especially cordial; Xia Zhangming busily greeted Hu Xiaotian to sit by the stove: "My lord, please sit quickly; the temperature has dropped sharply these two days, it's freezing outside; you must have endured much on your journey."

Hu Xiaotian laughed heartily: "Same as usual, where's the bear cub?" He looked around, not seeing Xiong Tianba's figure, feeling a bit strange.

Xia Zhangming said: "He went shopping; hearing that there might be a blizzard tomorrow, he wants to stock up on more food; if unlucky and the heavy snow blocks the door, we can't just starve here doing nothing."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, calculating that the time left until his appointment with Liu Yuzhang was still three days, just right to use these three days to figure out the surroundings. He couldn't help thinking of Ji Feihua; Ji Feihua should also be arriving soon; since parting in Kangdu three months ago, he had not forgotten her—in fact her image in his mind had become ever clearer. Actually she need not have separated from him; Hu Xiaotian wondered if it was his illusion, always feeling that Ji Feihua seemed to be deliberately avoiding him; what about him made her afraid? Perhaps she fears not him, but the inseparable affection that might develop between them.

But he himself is no different; facing Ji Feihua he always lacks courage; he ought to express his true feelings to her; Hu Xiaotian secretly thought, this time seeing Ji Feihua he will surely not miss the opportunity.

Outside came the lowing of cattle and sheep; Xia Zhangming laughed: "Surely the bear cub is back..." Before he finished speaking, Xiong Tianba had burst open the door; this fellow wore a sheepskin coat and a sable cap, looking exactly like a Hu person; as soon as he entered he shouted: "Old Xia, look how much I bought..." His gaze fell on Hu Xiaotian, and he gave a goofy laugh: "Third Uncle! I said it, I said you should come too!"

Hu Xiaotian rose and walked toward Xiong Tianba, punched his shoulder, then gripped his shoulder, praising: "You little rascal have grown stout again."

"That's right, eating beef and mutton every day, drinking horse milk wine, one can't help but get fat." The three laughed together.

Xia Zhangming then took Hu Xiaotian to see the room prepared for him, as well as the local attire specially prepared for him; Hu Xiaotian changed into a fur coat and wore a sable hat; although few here would recognize him, still he had to be cautious, using disguise to alter his appearance; he had mastered the art of disguise to perfection, indeed turning himself into a high-nosed, deep-eyed Hu person.

Xiong Tianba admired this skill of his to the point of being completely convinced; Hu Xiaotian also did not keep it secret, seeing his liking, he taught it to him; as for how much he could comprehend and when he would master it, that depends on his own aptitude.

After finishing lunch, Hu Xiaotian, accompanied by Xia Zhangming, went to stroll around the town; Gu Ying Bao is very small, square and square, about two li across; the locals are not many, and the town has many inns, most arising due to the endless stream of believers.

Xia Zhangming told Hu Xiaotian that the believers have dwindled greatly; this is the quietest time of year for Gu Ying Bao; the natives and believers together on the town do not exceed a thousand people. Along their route they often saw devout believers praying, prostrating themselves toward the direction of Fan Yin Si.

Xia Zhangming sighed: "Many people have come here with great difficulty, but these past two days the weather has turned colder; although they saw Fan Yin Si, they froze to death before they could get close." (To be continued~^~)