At the mountain pass, the wind was strong, blowing the banners and flags noisily. Air currents from the Guanzhong plain would reach all the way to humid Hanzhong through this narrow passage.
Wang Cai suddenly became frantic, pawing the ground and neighing continuously. Li Er turned his head with a reproachful glance, then waved his hand at Yun Ye, indicating he could get lost. The exit was at Lantian County. Standing here, one could see the peak of Yushan. Wang Cai had caught the familiar scent—how could he possibly restrain himself?
Yun Ye, in full armor, bowed to Li Er from horseback, then released Wang Cai’s reins. Wang Cai cried out joyfully, stood up on his hind legs, and his body shot forward—this was his usual way of starting off.
Fang Xuanling pointed at the wildly rushing Yun Ye and said to Li Er: “Your Majesty, seeing them, this subject suddenly feels he has grown old. In those years when I accompanied Your Majesty campaigning across thousands of rivers and mountains, I never felt tired. Now, merely riding fifty li, my bones ache all over. Age truly spares no one.”
“Hehe, Minister Fang, our campaign steps have only just begun. Don’t speak of being old. While I can still don armor and fight, don’t casually mention old age. After returning, we’ll cook bear and eat meat, which will surely help you recover your former vigor. Yun Ye’s horsemanship is merely so-so—he’s just showing off because his mount is a spiritual treasure horse. How could we, who have campaigned for many years, be inferior to a junior? Ridiculous!”
Li Er’s treasured Chiqi horse had long been dissatisfied with Wang Cai’s arrogance. Usually it was the one who ran first. Feeling its reins loosen, it immediately neighed and also shot forward. Yan Song and Duan Hong followed closely, and a large contingent of guards immediately fanned out.
Fang Xuanling laughed aloud, waved his riding crop once, and shouted loudly: “Let’s go!” The large troops immediately accelerated, rolling up clouds of dust as they galloped toward the plain.
Running on dirt roads had always been Wang Cai’s favorite. Apart from not wearing a bridle, his other equipment was no different from other warhorses. Yun Ye was unwilling to put a bit in Wang Cai’s mouth, so it could call out while running, seeming extremely happy.
The Chiqi beneath Li Er was a true blood-sweating horse. Wang Cai couldn’t outrun it. However, when it came to cleverness, ten Chiqis were no match for Wang Cai. Biting Chiqi’s rear with his teeth—Wang Cai had done this more than once or twice. He was very jealous that Chiqi had even purer coat color than his. Feeling Wang Cai deliberately slowing down, Yun Ye knew this was bad. This stubborn creature was about to cause mischief again. If he bit Chiqi and startled it, causing Li Er to fall, his own suffering would be immense.
With one pull of the reins, Wang Cai’s head turned toward a small path. This small path led directly to Yushan. Li Er was going to Chang’an and wouldn’t take this route. Yun Ye heard Li Er shout “Shameless!” but pretended not to hear and disappeared in a flash.
Li Chengqian, leading the officials who had remained behind, welcomed the emperor at the Ten Li Pavilion. Li Er couldn’t fool around with Yun Ye and resentfully galloped down the main road. National protocol was more important than being petty anyway.
Without an object to show off to, Wang Cai was unwilling to run hard. Like a dog, he sniffed here and there, even urinated in the middle of the path. When he turned his head to smell it, Yun Ye forcibly drove him forward. There were more and more people around. Yun Ye remembered that three years ago this area had still been covered with wild grass—how had so many households appeared now?
Every family had mud brick houses. Those with a bit of brick trim on top were considered wealthy families, but they were far inferior to the Yun family estate. The chest-high courtyard walls offered a clear view of the yards. The men weren’t home. A young woman nursing an infant looked up to see a府军 soldier in full armor watching her nurse with interest. That strange horse was also constantly curling its lips making faces. Ashamed and annoyed, she spat, covered her bosom, and loudly called for her mother-in-law.
A woman in blue wielding a broom cursed loudly. The familiar Guanzhong accent nearly brought Yun Ye to tears. He turned his horse’s head and fled in embarrassment. He had long experienced the formidability of Guanzhong women firsthand.
They say youth shouldn’t leave the pass, and the elderly shouldn’t enter Shu. The saying means young people who leave the pass must go to war and might be buried in the wilderness. The elderly shouldn’t enter Shu because the roads there are treacherous, and once entering Shu, it’s difficult to be buried in one’s hometown. Guanzhong was the place where Yun Ye’s soul resided. The bonds in his bones filled him with attachment to this land.
He had left the pass as a youth to fight against the barbarians on the grasslands, truly casting life and death aside. Now that he could return safely, naturally he should thank heaven for its care.
That damned Wang Cai, taking advantage of Yun Ye’s melancholy moment, grabbed a flower skirt hanging on someone’s clothesline and ran off with it. After chewing twice, he spat it on the ground and stomped on it with his hooves twice—not tasty at all. This was disastrous. A plump young miss with a maiden’s hairstyle immediately burst into wailing tears. Yun Ye had no choice but to toss her a silver coin before taking this troublemaker Wang Cai and heading toward the Yun family estate.
Liu Jinbao, leading the household guards, finally caught up with the marquis with great difficulty. Both people and horses were drenched in sweat. Wang Cai couldn’t outrun Chiqi, but compared to Liu Jinbao and his companions’ mounts, he was much faster.
With more people around, Wang Cai became proud. Deliberately kicking a cart-pulling old ox, or galloping wildly to chase a dog until it had nowhere to hide—these were his pleasures. Such a horse was unrideable. Yun Ye released Wang Cai’s restraints, letting him fool around while he himself mounted Liu Jinbao’s spare horse and slowly rode home.
Not only were Wang Cai and Yun Ye comfortable, but Liu Jinbao’s tears also flowed freely. He didn’t know what kind of life his ugly wife and daughter had been living. Being close to home made him timid, and he had much less to say.
“All of you go home. Come to my house tomorrow to collect your reward money—twenty gold coins each. Everyone who went to Lingnan gets a share.” Seeing that familiar memorial archway, Yun Ye loudly announced dismissal.
As soon as the words fell, there was no one beside him. That son of a gun Liu Jinbao ran the fastest. He was treating his ugly wife like a treasure, whipping the horse’s rear desperately, wishing he could step into his home in a single stride.
After passing through the archway, Wang Cai had more face than Yun Ye. After calling out once, an old grandfather squatting at the wall base asked his companion: “Did you hear Wang Cai calling?” Seeing his companion nod in agreement, he stood up excitedly. Seeing a jujube-red fine horse kicking up its heels running over, taking a bite from a vegetable stall and spitting it out—when the vendor who didn’t recognize Wang Cai was about to hit him with a carrying pole, the old grandfather loudly said: “Just you try moving—this is the Yun family estate, the master has returned!”
Then he hugged Wang Cai’s neck and cried profusely. For these past three years, the Yun family estate had been without its pillar, and laughter in the estate had diminished greatly. Finally, he had returned!
“Wang San, Wang San, I think you should change your name to Wang Ba. Why haven’t you heated the thick wine yet? Previously, those who sold thick wine all knew the rules. When it comes to you, you know nothing. Three handfuls of dried fruit and one handful of osmanthus—if you cheat and play tricks, don’t come to the Yun family estate anymore.”
The half-grown children quickly gathered to teach their younger siblings to scratch Wang Cai’s belly. Yun Ye knew Wang Cai’s nature and had filled the money pouch around his neck full. He watched as Wang Cai, flexing his muscles, led a large group of children through the market looking for good things to eat.
The old man saw Yun Ye and bent down to inquire after his health: “Is the marquis well? Is the old grandmother well? Are the madam and young master well?”
Yun Ye dismounted and helped up the old man, saying: “All well, all well. Wang Cai couldn’t wait and ran ahead. Grandmother and the ladies are right behind.”
“Marquis, now that you’ve returned home, will you have to go out again?” the old man asked again.
“The seas are calm, and the nation has no rivals. I should be able to relax for a few years.” He had to answer—a large circle of people had gathered around, all his own tenant farmers. He had to give them a definite answer to set their hearts at ease.
“This is good, this is good. No border warfare is good. The marquis has campaigned ceaselessly for the nation—you should also enjoy a few peaceful years.” After saying this to Yun Ye, he turned to the tenant farmers and said: “The marquis has returned and won’t be going out!”
Yun Ye smiled as he passed through the crowd. Seeing white-haired Old Jiang and the increasingly aged Old Zhuang, before he could speak, he heard Old Zhuang kneel to report: “Reporting to the marquis, after you left, the residence was not peaceful. This old slave captured a total of four Tubo thieves who entered the residence at night. How should they be dealt with? Please instruct, marquis.”
“Execute them. Send the heads to the Tubo Grand Minister Lu Dongzan, and tell Lu Dongzan that I, the marquis, will pay him a visit in the near future!” Old Zhuang and Old Jiang together knelt on one knee and loudly answered: “Yes!”
This scene was deliberately arranged by Old Zhuang and the others. The Yun family estate had been silent for over three years. With the master’s return, they must announce to the ill-intentioned neighbors all around that human heads were the best way to demonstrate authority.
The painted halberd on the Yun family roof indicating that the master was commanding troops abroad was still stuck there, yet people dared to sneak into the house. Those caught faced death—beheading was considered light. This was Great Tang’s established practice for protecting the families of generals on campaign.
Standing at the home entrance were Lishi and Aunt Yun. Yun Ye bowed respectfully to thank them for their hard work managing the Yun family during this time. Lishi looked Yun Ye up and down, nodded, and entered the courtyard. Aunt Yun hugged Yun Ye and cried inconsolably.
Supporting the now quite plump Aunt Yun as they entered the home, all the servants in the courtyard were present, together welcoming the master’s return. Yun Ye said “Rewards” and entered through the middle gate. The aunts who had remained at home cried together in a huddle, mixed with incessant complaints. Yun Ye sat in a chair smiling as he listened to their grievances. Actually, there wasn’t much to complain about—all trivial matters. Speaking them out to the master now was merely an emotional release.
The marquis had returned. Because there were still military duties, a huge commander’s flag with the character “Yun” was immediately raised by Old Zhuang and the others, representing that the master was in the residence.
This flag seemed to make the Yun family estate come alive in an instant. The servants began going out to make purchases, delighted, unable to hide the pride on their faces. Stories flowing from the mouths of Liu Jinbao and the others had already begun spreading throughout the estate.
Such as how the marquis had pacified dozens of countries in the South Seas, how at Liaodong’s most critical moment he had rushed to aid from ten thousand li away, taking in three days a fortified city that the great army had besieged for over half a year, how the marquis had relied on just three ships to eliminate all the most vicious pirates in the South Seas, and so on—the more fantastical the boast, the better. However, the morale-boosting effect was excellent.