Chapter 01: Return Through Wind and Snow

Leading my horse across Ba Bridge,

No one to bid farewell, for I am the one returning,

The white snow floating over the river is my heart’s deepest longing,

The farewell willows you planted sway in the cold wind,

Every branch is your tender arm.

I have returned,

I hope to enter your dreams tonight.

The curling cooking smoke,

Brings me the warmest fragrance,

Good! Open your carved doors and windows.

Where do you come from?

This brings tears to my eyes,

The place where we played with bamboo horses,

Has become an ocean of sorrow.

Not a traveler, but an old friend’s return.

Yun Ye stood atop Ba Bridge with iron steed and horizontal spear, his red cloak fluttering in the cold wind, occasionally shaking off a cluster of white snow.

Wang Cai was wrapped in his belly wrap, resting his head on the neck of the mare beneath Yun Ye’s crotch, struggling hard to bite at the cloth pouch at Yun Ye’s waist.

Zhuang Santing did not disturb Marquis Yun’s poetic mood, listening to the marquis mumbling verses he couldn’t understand.

Seeing Ba Bridge again, Yun Ye couldn’t stop tears from streaming down his face. Stroking the willow tree with broken bare branches, his heart ached as if being cut by knives. The suddenness of departure, the uncertain prospect of reunion—compared to this dreamlike world, he would rather hear his wife’s nagging and his son’s noisy play.

Now he was a dignified marquis, with three thousand logistics troops under his command, a horse beneath him, a spear in his hand, full iron armor—majestic and imposing, more like Lü Bu than Lü Bu himself, more like Zhao Yun than Zhao Yun himself. But who was all this for? If his wife were here, she would go crazy with excitement. She would have already sent countless group messages, making him pose for countless photos, which would be shared everywhere online until everyone knew about it. Without his son’s admiring gaze, all of this was just flowers in a mirror and moon reflected in water—traveling in brocade clothes at night!

Below Ba Bridge, the great army was marching forward. Old Niu saw Yun Ye standing dazed in the snowy ground and smiled with a chuckle, paying no attention as he spurred his horse and galloped past from the side. No one could feel Yun Ye’s sorrow. The vast ancient road, the sky full of heavy snow, the willows with broken branches and few leaves formed an exquisitely beautiful ancient painting. Why was there no roar of automobiles? Was this really Xi’an? The cursing roars of drivers, the wooden batons waved by city management officials, the shrill cries of “big sales” from shops—that was the scene Yun Ye most wanted to see. None of it was here. The loud voices of Guanzhong people, the familiar local accent of opening and closing every sentence with “his mother’s”—none of it was here. Was this Xi’an?

“Reporting to the marquis, the vanguard has reached the Left Militant Guard camp. The general commands the marquis to urge the rear troops to quickly return to camp.” The scout’s voice interrupted Yun Ye’s wild thoughts. Old Cheng was worried they wouldn’t reach camp before nightfall. The snow was falling even heavier.

“Zhuang Santing, pass down the order. Don’t worry about formation. Put away the armor. Five men to a cart. Quick march.”

Zhuang Santing loudly acknowledged the order and turned to relay the command. Fifty veteran soldiers who had reached their service term became Yun Ye’s household warriors. Although somewhat old in age, having followed Old Cheng through hundreds of battles, they were thoroughly battle-hardened survivors.

Old Cheng, considering that Yun Ye needed to rebuild his family’s standing, specially selected fifty fierce soldiers for him. These veterans also knew Yun Ye’s situation. From having nothing to becoming Marquis of Lantian County took only eight months. He was only fifteen years old, yet full of learning, with miraculous abilities, and kind to people—what kind of master wouldn’t you follow? If they didn’t take advantage of the marquis’s young age to enter his household now, when would they wait? Once they became retainers of the Yun household, three generations of descendants wouldn’t need to worry about good days.

Yun Ye looked at the fifty veterans. Some even had graying hair. The general’s white hair and the征夫’s tears! However, not one of these fellows was crying. Instead, they were all full of killing intent, having long since cultivated a heartless, ruffian-like physique in the military camp. He couldn’t fool them anymore. If he fooled them more, they’d become bandits. Just now, when he said “we’re going home,” these killers were already excitedly howling. If he said he’d build each of them a courtyard house, wouldn’t they get so excited they’d have convulsions?

Chang’an’s city walls, in the sky full of heavy snow, were like a crouching fierce beast, black and extending for dozens of li. The seven-story-high walls were extremely magnificent. The Tang character banners flapped loudly in the north wind, appearing especially striking in this snow-covered world.

The power of returning home was truly incomparably strong. The cart wheels spun madly in the snowy ground. Ox carts were driven like horse carts, horse carts were driven like automobiles. Hundreds of large carts all arrived at the Left Militant Guard camp within one hour. The camp was to the right of Chang’an City’s Jinguang Gate, close to the West Market, backing against the city wall and facing Ba River. Occupying over two hundred mu of land, surrounded by low walls built from earthen bricks, with arrow towers and watchtowers densely distributed, it formed a tight military fortress.

Yun Ye and his personal troops brought up the rear, arriving at the camp last. The sky had already darkened. The entrance to the Left Militant Guard camp was surrounded by many people, mostly women and children. Cheng Pei Shi was pulling at Cheng Chumo, chattering endlessly, making young Cheng scratch his ears and cheeks in complete discomfort.

Old Lady Yun lifted the carriage curtain, completely disregarding the sky full of heavy snow, anxiously looking at the endlessly stretching convoy ahead. Daya and Xiao Ya stood on the carriage frame holding umbrellas, standing on tiptoes to look into the distance. A woman of about thirty kept trying to push Xiao Nan into the carriage, causing Xiao Nan’s dissatisfaction. After many days of recuperation, her little face finally had some of the plumpness of childhood.

Cheng Chumo saw from afar the huge Yun character general’s banner fluttering on Zhuang Santing’s horse and loudly said to Old Lady Yun: “Old Lady, Little Ye has returned.”

The old lady trembled all over as she was helped down from the carriage by the woman beside her.

Horse hooves thundered as over fifty riders came galloping with swirling snowflakes. Yun Ye saw the crowd before the camp gates and slowed his horse. Coming closer, he dismounted and removed his helmet, quickly walking to a white-haired old woman. Without needing to guess or think, perhaps due to natural blood relations, he recognized at first glance that the old woman before him was his genuine ancestor.

He had imagined various meeting scenarios—sad ones, joyful ones, excited ones—but never imagined meeting the person he most wanted to see in the midst of heavy snow. There was no passion, no sorrow, only light joy. Smiling at the old woman before him, he bowed down: “Grandmother, your grandson has returned.” Like a wanderer returning home.

The old woman cupped Yun Ye’s face, saying over and over: “That’s right, my grandson has returned. That’s right, my grandson has returned.” Embracing the old woman’s aged body, Yun Ye’s heart had never been this peaceful.

“The snow outside is too heavy. You should return to the carriage.” As he spoke, he picked up the old woman and walked toward the carriage. The old woman felt her grandson’s strong and powerful arms, and the infinite worry in her heart instantly dissipated without a trace.

“Daya, Xiao Ya? Xiao Nan? Big brother brought gifts for you from Longyou! After big brother hands in his military orders, we’ll go home together. I guarantee you’ll like them.”

After comforting the three little girls, he turned to look at the woman: “I don’t know which of Yun Ye’s elders you are. Please allow this junior to pay his respects.”

“She is your aunt,” the old woman introduced from the side.

“So it’s my aunt. Your nephew pays his respects.” The woman hastily returned the courtesy. It was clear she was somewhat constrained.

“I must trouble aunt to take good care of grandmother and my three little sisters. The military camp does not permit you to enter. After this nephew hands in his military orders, we shall speak of family matters again.”

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