Chapter 823: Full of Parting Feelings

Jia Zhao, 15th year, 12th lunar month, 27th day, Love Shenjing, Hongde Gate.

The morning sun erupted from the east, and the tall, towering city gate was bathed in fiery morning light.

The wide bluestone road at the city gate, washed by countless years, had long had its edges and corners smoothed, reflecting the golden morning light.

Early this morning, before dawn, a large number of Embroidered Uniform Guards entered the city gate, guarding the intersections, clearing the streets, and imposing martial law along the road.

In yesterday's morning court, the Ministry of Rites read the peace agreement between Great Zhou and Mongolia, announcing it to the world.

Subsequently, led by officials such as Grand Secretary Wang Liu Shilun and Minister of War Gu Guo Yankui, they hosted a banquet for the Mongol mission at the Ziguang Pavilion in the Jingcheng to celebrate the achievement of the peace agreement.

Today was the day the mission returned north. The Ministry of War, the Ministry of Rites, and the Court of State Ceremonial each dispatched officials below the third rank to set up ceremonial guards and see them off out of the city.

Because the Mongol mission had many people and carriages, and there were many officials seeing them off, it would inevitably cause road congestion and even unexpected events.

The mission's safe departure from the Love Shenjing concerned the face of the Great Zhou, so the imperial court naturally dared not be negligent.

Yesterday, the palace issued an edict ordering the Embroidered Uniform Guards to be on guard everywhere in the city, protecting the roads leading to Hongde Gate to ensure the mission and the officials seeing them off could safely leave the city.

Wang Liu Shilun and Gu Guo Yankui, as the main officials of the Great Zhou peace agreement, were not in the ranks of officials seeing them off.

The highest-ranking official among those seeing them off was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, Peng Runan, and Jia Cong, as the scribe of the peace agreement, was also among them.

Originally, as a fifth-rank official of the Ministry of Works, Jia Cong should not have appeared on the list of officials seeing them off.

But the few ministers who knew the inside story of the peace agreement knew that Jia Cong's status was special and that he was related to the Ordos tribe's border trade, so they naturally let him join the ranks of those seeing them off.

……

When the two-state carriage team passed through Hongde Gate, among the crowd, Jia Cong, dressed in casual clothes, was riding side by side with Nuoyan Noyan Taiji.

The two were the most outstanding in appearance among the officials of the two states' peace agreement.

Both were riding precious horses, equally spirited and handsome, attracting special attention in the ranks of officials.

Even though Jia Cong had the position of peace agreement scribe and had made some cover-ups, his close dealings with the Ordos tribe prince were no longer a secret in the Love Shenjing's officialdom.

The resulting idle rumors in officialdom were no longer a fresh topic.

But the two main officials of the Great Zhou peace agreement, whether it was Grand Secretary Wang Liu Shilun or Minister of War Gu Guo Yankui, both treated Jia Cong with favor, often summoning him to the yamen to discuss matters.

This kind of thing naturally couldn't be hidden from others, and almost everyone rolling in officialdom was sharp-eyed.

Many speculated on the details, thinking that this young Count's friendship with the Mongol prince was likely due to some need of the imperial court's peace negotiations.

Otherwise, the two peace negotiation main officials wouldn't have turned a blind eye, continuing to be close and rely on Jia Cong, which was clearly an attitude of tacit approval.

……

When the departing team passed through Hongde Gate, the northern official road extended into the distance, seemingly without end. The grass on both sides of the road was lush, the world was vast, and it was desolate.

Nuoyan rode beside Jia Cong, chatting with him from time to time, but his expression seemed a bit low.

When the horse team was about to walk onto the official road, Nuoyan said, "Jia Yuzhang, parting today, I don't know when we will meet again. Why don't you and I race our horses?"

Jia Cong smiled, "I have the same intention. Since we are compatible, there is no need for official articles. Walking so stiffly is truly too boring."

The two looked at the walking team; everyone was walking steadily and slowly, with full etiquette.

According to the rules of the Great Zhou Ministry of Rites, when seeing off a mission from a superior state, one must return after five li out of the city, and all officials seeing them off must ride horses and are not allowed to sit in carriages.

The fatigue of riding five li, except for officials from the Ministry of War, could be handled freely.

The proper civil officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonial were all people who didn't work

Making them ride for five miles, they couldn't help but secretly complain.

Therefore, these officials seeing them off all walked slowly, while the people in the Mongol mission were all skilled riders and could only patiently slow down their horses.

The entire marching team was somewhat oppressive, and many people were somewhat weary and bored.

Jia Cong and Noyan Noyan Taiji turned their horses' heads and left the ranks quietly; only a few people really noticed.

……

But Ale Tang of the Tumut tribe paid close attention to Noyan Noyan Taiji and noticed the two of them quietly leaving the main group.

His confidant beside him said, "Ale Tang, Noyan Noyan Taiji and the Great Zhou's Count Lord Weiyuan have been very secretive in their dealings recently.

I have been paying attention daily, and the two often meet privately to drink in the assembly hall, and have even gone hunting outside the city together; their tracks are quite suspicious.

The Ordos tribe has always been difficult to tame, and Khan Jirang has ulterior motives toward the Khan; Noyan is in close contact with the Great Zhou's noble, could there be another plot?"

Ale Tang looked at their retreating figures and said in a deep voice, "Although the Great Zhou's Count Lord Weiyuan has a considerable reputation, he is too young and lacks seniority as an official.

He is far from being able to influence the Great Zhou's government; Noyan abandoning high-ranking officials like Wang Liu Shilun and Gu Guo Yankui to bet on this young boy is a bit too childish.

He is still too young after all, thinking of worldly matters too simply; just keep a close eye on him daily, I assume he can't cause any major trouble."

……

When Jia Cong and Noyan walked slowly into the side road along the official road, the road was empty, so they accelerated their horses and soon galloped away.

The leader of the attendants, Hu'Hu Ergan, led several elites and followed them at a leisurely pace.

Both of them were riding top-grade Dawan horses, and in an instant, the speed of the horses soared to the extreme.

The hoofbeats were dense, the morning wind was biting, and the scenery on both sides of the road flew backward like a flash.

The thunderous sound of hoofbeats gradually became indistinguishable, giving Jia Cong an unusual joy of galloping.

Beside him, Noyan occasionally let out a clear laugh, as if the depression of the parting just now had slowly dissipated.

The two galloped for a long time, rushed to the top of a slope by the road, and then dismounted to rest.

Although the slope was gentle, it had some height, and looking into the distance, one could see the Love Shenjing city.

The capital of the Great Zhou was magnificent and vast, with eight gates around the city, palaces lined up, and an imposing and majestic momentum that made one sigh at the sight of it.

It was only 7:30 in the morning, and the rising sun had not yet climbed high.

In the various markets and streets of the West City of the Love Shenjing, one could still see many unextinguished lights, faintly flickering like scattered stars.

……

Noyan Noyan Taiji stood on the top of the slope, looking into the distance quietly, his horse whip pointing to the Love Shenjing city in the distance.

He said, "On the desert, it is vast and boundless, galloping freely, the world is wide, and although it is refreshing, it is inevitably a bit lonely.

The Central Plains are very different; people live together, thousands of lights, smoke curling, bustling markets, and the changing lights at night make one linger.

When I was young, my mother taught me to recognize Chinese characters, read Chinese books, and told me about the atmosphere of the Central Plains and memories of Jiangnan scenery.

At that time, I didn't quite understand why my mother, who was respected in the Ordos tribe and lived in wealth, would still be so nostalgic for her homeland.

Now I understand, because I have been here once, and I am a bit reluctant to leave."

Noyan Noyan Taiji glanced at Jia Cong, his clear eyes filled with warmth...

……

Jia Cong smiled and said, "The border trade between the Ordos tribe and the Great Zhou is a good beginning for both sides.

In the near future, as our exchanges deepen, the people on both sides of the Hetao border will live in harmony and share peace.

At that time, travel between the border areas will be convenient, and Noyan will have plenty of time and opportunities to visit the Central Plains."

Noyan sighed, "I naturally hope that this day will come, but conducting border trade with the Great Zhou and living in harmony cannot solve all the problems of the Ordos tribe.

The greatest threat to the Ordos tribe has never come from the Central Plains, but from Khan Anda Khan of the Tumut tribe.

Although we are all one of the three major Mongol tribes, Khan Anda Khan of the Tumut tribe is different.

He is the most outstanding figure from the Golden Family after the Northern Yuan retreated from the grasslands.

This man is ambitious, cunning, and wise, taking the restoration of his ancestors' great cause as his duty, sharpening his weapons and horses, and planning to march south.

To accomplish this great task, he must imitate his ancestors, unify the various Mongol tribes, eliminate worries, and then concentrate his strength to march into the Central Plains.

Khan Anda Khan has always been eyeing the Ordos tribe and the Yongxielun tribe, who are also among the three major tribes.

If it weren't for the fact that these two major tribes have considerable strength, each controlling tens of thousands of elite grassland soldiers, and checking each other, they would have long been swallowed by Khan Anda Khan.

Compared to the Yongxielun tribe, the Ordos tribe has been in greater danger these years."

……

Jia Cong had not paid much attention to the various Mongol tribes in the past, so he naturally didn't know the inside story.

He said, "As far as I know, although the Tumut tribe is powerful, the three major tribes still work together, and each is independent; what is the danger Noyan speaks of?"

Noyan Noyan Taiji sighed, "Jia Yuzhang doesn't know, I originally had two older brothers by the same father, and they were both famous warriors of the tribe.

Originally, with their abilities, they could have inherited their father's business and strengthened and protected the Ordos tribe.

It's just that a few years ago, they both met with misfortune, and now my father has only me left, with a thin lineage and unable to support the situation alone.

My father was already old, and because of the matter of my two brothers, he was filled with anger and resentment; these years he has been sick and not as good as before.

The Ordos tribe has already shown signs of weakness, and in the past two years, the number of Tumut tribe people entering the Hetao has gradually increased; it looks calm, but hides murderous intent.

In the future, protecting the tens of thousands of tribesmen and continuing the inheritance of the Ordos tribe is a heavy responsibility that I cannot unload; I am my father's bloodline, and I cannot shirk it!"

Hearing this, Jia Cong felt silent; Noyan Noyan Taiji was about the same age as him, but he bore the burden of tribal inheritance, far from being as free and easy as himself.

……

Noyan Noyan Taiji mocked himself, "Even if the Hetao border is peaceful, I have no time to escape.

My father is getting older, and I need to take on more responsibilities; wanting to visit the Central Plains and ride and hunt with Jia Yuzhang again, I'm afraid it's extremely difficult."

Jia Cong heard the desolation in his words, and his mood became heavy involuntarily; the two remained silent.

After a while, Noyan looked up and said, "It's getting late, we've already caught up to the front of the main group.

From here to the Love Shenjing, I'm afraid it's already five miles away; we don't need to rush back to the main group to do those official formalities.

I like this place, I will remember it; let's say goodbye here, I hope we will have a chance to return here and look at the Love Shenjing again!"

After he finished speaking, he flew onto his horse, holding the reins, full of spirit, and the tall, handsome yellow horse under him stomped its hooves and raised its head, eager to gallop.