Yun Ye struggled to suppress his urge to run over to Empress Dowager Xiao’s place. This time it wasn’t to see a beauty, but to see the legendary Heshi Bi. He wondered if this imperial seal carved from the Heshi Bi truly possessed the miraculous abilities of legend. Huang Yi had praised it to the heavens, saying two little brats transformed into supreme martial arts masters because they possessed it. If he had such abilities, who would still dare kick him?

The imperial seal was useless to Yun Ye. Without thinking, he knew it had no miraculous powers. The power lay in people. In Yun Ye’s hands, this thing wouldn’t be worth a fart and would easily invite the calamity of clan extermination. Except for the Emperor, whoever possessed it would be unlucky. Li Jing and the others were intelligent people—they couldn’t fail to guess this object was in Empress Dowager Xiao’s hands. Stopping him from going there probably included this concern, fearing he would be tainted by bad luck.

Li Jing still took very good care of him, so he wouldn’t stay angry at him. The matter of being kicked once in court last time would end here.

Snatching the only life-preserving object from a pitiful woman who had been violated by several bastards was really inappropriate. Swallowing several mouthfuls of drool, he firmly locked this thought in his mind.

While Yun Ye was still conflicted over Empress Dowager Xiao and the imperial seal, the sky that had been clear for only a few days began snowing again. This time there was no wind, only falling snowflakes. Large snowflakes landed on Na Rimu’s outstretched hand and soon melted into a patch of moisture.

She had been standing outside the tent for a long time, thick white snow accumulating on her body. Before people mistook her for a snowman, Yun Ye pulled her back into the tent.

Na Rimu’s large eyes brimmed with tears as she choked out to Yun Ye: “Snow. Big. Sheep. Die.” She still couldn’t speak complete Chinese sentences, only able to push out one word at a time.

Yun Ye understood her meaning. This year’s snow was particularly heavy, which was not good news for the grassland herders. The grass on the grassland was all buried under thick ice and snow. Cattle and sheep needed to dig through the ice and snow above to eat even a bit of grass roots. Weak cattle and sheep without sufficient strength to do this could only starve to death.

Na Rimu called this kind of snow the White Demon King. The White Demon King devoured not only cattle and sheep but also people. Each time it descended, it was a disaster for the grassland.

In the past when encountering the White Demon King, tribal elders would gather warriors, prepare warhorses, bring bows and arrows, and go hunt where there were Han people. Each time they could bring back abundant food. Na Rimu’s family only had a crippled father, so they never had these spoils of war.

The White Demon King left Na Rimu only with endless hunger.

This year it was impossible. Those tribal warriors all lay fallen in the grass. Everywhere were Great Tang cavalry galloping on horseback. They too were hunting, and their prey were the herders trembling in their felt tents.

Seeing the sorrowful Na Rimu, Yun Ye immediately cast aside matters of Empress Dowager Xiao and the imperial seal. In his heart, no empress, no imperial seal could compare to Na Rimu’s sweet smile.

A middle-aged woman who had been snatched back and forth by other men, and an imperial seal missing a corner—compared to Na Rimu, both were a desecration of this girl whose heart was as pure as white clouds.

Yun Ye discovered his feelings for Na Rimu were more pity and admiration. A grassland girl as delicate as wild grass on the plains yet simultaneously as tough as cowhide had unknowingly entered his heart.

When the White Demon King came, herders could only do one thing: quickly slaughter cattle and sheep while they still had a bit of fat, throw them in snow piles to freeze, then slowly consume them. This would be their rations for the entire winter.

The Great Tang army was doing the same thing. Captured cattle and sheep were slaughtered group by group, then made into delicious dried meat by He Shao. Those captured herders began wailing loudly. After killing the cattle and sheep, it would be their turn. This was grassland custom—kill excess population to leave enough winter rations for those remaining. Turkic people who had died generation after generation at their own people’s hands far outnumbered those who died under Great Tang swords.

Na Rimu wrapped her head in a blanket. She didn’t want to hear her people’s wailing. Those miserable cries were breaking her heart.

Hong Cheng came looking for Yun Ye. He seemed somewhat pleased with himself, limping for some reason. He had just mastered the new cipher and specially brought a sheep to thank Yun Ye.

“Marquis Yun, this old Hong has already mastered the cipher you taught. We’re all military men, so I won’t speak those sour vinegary words. I’ve come today specifically to apologize for yesterday’s offense. Look, I’ve already given myself one cut. If Marquis Yun isn’t satisfied, old Hong will stab himself again until you’re satisfied. How about that?”

This bastard didn’t seem to be apologizing at all—he seemed more like he was threatening. Getting stabbed was routine for him. He’d already stabbed himself once, so what could Yun Ye do but forgive him? Military simpletons were like this, insisting on making a perfectly good apology bloody.

Looking at the “Explaining Simple and Analyzing Compound Characters” book clutched in his hand, all crumpled up, Yun Ye rolled his eyes and sighed. Great Tang spies couldn’t all be brainless fools! “Explaining Simple and Analyzing Compound Characters” had been printed countless times since it appeared. Arabic numerals had been taught at the academy for almost a year. His own compiled “Elementary Mathematics” had been printed who knows how many times. You blatantly carrying around a tattered book and parading it everywhere—any spy with half a brain could guess your new cipher pretty accurately. Was this how Li’er taught his most trusted subordinates?

“Marquis Yun, now our Great Tang’s secret transmission should be foolproof, right?” Hong Cheng actually had the face to ask. Yun Ye wanted to beat him.

“Old Hong, I’m furious right now. You must let me beat you thoroughly before I tell you why. Let me tell you first, the anger I’m feeling now isn’t from yesterday, but from what you’ve just caused. That Great Tang has an idiot like you is the Emperor’s shame and we ministers’ sorrow.” Yun Ye said through gritted teeth to Hong Cheng.

“Old Hong, quickly remove your armor and take a beating. The benefits are many. When your younger brother here took one beating years ago, I obtained the secret method for salt production. Who knows what benefits you’ll get from this beating.” Cheng Chumo appeared from nowhere, then said to Yun Ye: “Little Ye, your girl won’t let me kill sheep, saying if she eats one less bite, she’ll give that sheep a way to live. If this continues, we brothers will only be able to eat vegetarian food.”

When old Hong heard Cheng Chumo say this, he quickly threw his armor aside, bare-chested, and said to Yun Ye: “With Young Master’s guarantee, I want these benefits. Otherwise, how about you beat me twice for two benefits?”

Who said he was stupid? This son of a bitch was more cunning than a monkey! Yun Ye was trembling with anger. Pointing at Hong Cheng, he said to Cheng Chumo: “This bastard has committed a great error. Today we must make him learn his lesson. Chumo, your hands are heavy—you do it. If I beat him, that’s like giving him a back massage. He won’t learn his lesson. You do it, hit the soft places.”

Before Yun Ye could say a second sentence, Cheng Chumo jumped up and punched Hong Cheng in the stomach, making Hong Cheng’s waist bend. Then he elbowed Hong Cheng’s back. Before Hong Cheng could cry out, came a full round of punches and kicks. Seeing Hong Cheng wasn’t moving, only then did he contentedly clap his hands and say to Hong Cheng: “Old Hong, this was voluntary on your part. It’s not that old Cheng is dishonorable. You heard it too—my brother said to make you learn your lesson. Without using force, this brother fears you won’t remember!”

“Cheng Chumo, you little bastard remember this—nobody beats old me for nothing. This grudge old me has noted.” Worthy of being a fierce general in the army, even after receiving such heavy blows, he still spoke his harsh words clearly.

“You still have the face to find trouble with Chumo? Chumo, you go out first. What I’m about to say next, you shouldn’t hear and can’t hear. Outside the tent, drive away all unrelated people. Within thirty steps outside the tent, don’t allow anyone to approach.” Yun Ye said to Cheng Chumo with a stern face.

Cheng Chumo knew Yun Ye must have something very important to say to Hong Cheng, definitely related to the Hundred Cavalry. He indeed wasn’t suitable to be nearby. Nodding, he went out.

Hong Cheng also sensed Yun Ye seemed truly very angry. He obediently climbed up and bowed, awaiting instruction.

“Old Hong, being in the Hundred Cavalry, you should know how to keep secrets—not telling even wives and children. Now you’re holding ‘Explaining Simple and Analyzing Compound Characters’ in your hand and saying you’ve mastered the cipher. What’s the meaning of this? Is such carelessness your usual behavior? As the Emperor’s eyes and ears, you’re unqualified. The new cipher seems complicated but is actually simple. Anyone with a bit of sense can find clues from these traces and crack it easily. Why do you think I specifically found the most common book to teach you the cipher? It’s to make you understand that after mastering the cipher, you should quickly change to other books. I know this cipher, Xu Jingzong knows it, Sun Simiao knows it, Li Jing knows it—so many people know it, where’s the secrecy? And you think not enough people know?” Yun Ye loudly demanded.

Hong Cheng instantly broke into profuse sweat, kneeling on one knee. The wound on his leg even tore open, blood flowing down from his ankle.

“I beg Marquis Yun to teach me, I beg Marquis Yun to save me!”

“Old Hong, to keep secrets, first of all, the fewer people who know, the better. You go back and write a book yourself. Don’t worry about content—you only need to write out all the characters. Such a book you only need to circulate internally among yourselves. This way, there won’t be any leaks, provided of course that you yourselves don’t betray.”

“Marquis Yun, this subordinate only knows how to read characters and doesn’t know how to write books.” Hong Cheng said hesitantly.

“That’s exactly what I want—that you can’t write books. If you yourself don’t know what to write, then how can others guess? How can they decipher your cipher? Get lost quickly! Let me see less of you in the future. Seeing fellows like you makes me angry. I want to live a few more years.”

Hong Cheng put on his clothes. He finally understood—Yun Ye didn’t want to participate in the murky waters of the Hundred Cavalry. Seeing his clumsiness, he gave him such an ingenious idea. This way, if new leaks occurred, it would have nothing to do with him.

Thinking of the strict regulations within the Hundred Cavalry, Hong Cheng gave up the idea of pulling Yun Ye into the Hundred Cavalry.