Chapter 292: Guo Jing’s Western Expedition, Beggars’ Sect Conference
The wilderness is filled with autumn wind, rustling the yellow wormwood grass.
Arriving in Zhongdu, one knows it is autumn. The air already carries a hint of coolness. Zhongdu City is as prosperous as ever, with red towers and painted pavilions, embroidered doors and vermilion gates, carved carriages competing for space, and fine horses racing. Gold and jade dazzle the sun, and silk and satin flutter with fragrance.
Zhou Yan had once promised Li Mochou to take her sightseeing. The two had traveled north from Funiu Mountain, galloping along, camping in the suburbs, which made him feel quite guilty.
Entering Zhongdu, music and singing were everywhere. Streets and alleys were lined with shops, and cries of vendors could be heard everywhere, full of the bustle of human life.
The two rode their horses, and Zhou Yan said to Li Mochou, “After we meet Elder Lu, I will take you to tour the city and its surroundings for a few days, and buy some winter supplies for your Master and Little Dragon Girl. We’ll hire an escort team to deliver them to the foot of Zhongnan Mountain.”
“Okay, thank you, Brother Zhou.”
Zhou Yan was no longer working at the escort bureau. Since Li Mochou left Funiu Mountain, she had changed her address, no longer calling him Head Escort but Brother Zhou.
Li Mochou and her master and disciple depended on each other. She had long harbored feelings for Zhou Yan. On this journey, she had received his care, and her naturally free-spirited self had long considered Zhou Yan her closest person.
She was obedient and not at all affected.
“How about we go to the escort bureau first?”
“I’ll listen to you, Brother Zhou.”
“Let’s go.”
The sound of horse hooves echoed on the long street. The gatehouse of Fu’an Escort Agency came into view, and two fine horses, one red and one white, appeared in Zhou Yan’s sight.
“That horse is so peculiar. Its coat is even redder than Leader Yang’s chestnut horse.”
“That’s Brother Guo’s Little Red Horse.”
“The Golden Saber Consort.”
“Mm!”
They chatted idly as they traveled from Funiu Mountain.
Li Mochou spent her entire year on Zhongnan Mountain, her daily life mainly focused on cultivation. Zhou Yan was the opposite, spending ninety percent of his time away from home. Therefore, Li Mochou mostly listened and spoke little, while Zhou Yan roughly told her about the Fu’an Escort Agency and the people he often interacted with.
When Zhou Yan mentioned Guo Jing, Li Mochou naturally recalled his identity: a disciple of the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan, who had been taught cultivation techniques by Ma Yu of the Quanzhen Sect, and was also the consort of the Mongol Great Khan.
The runners saw “Night-Shining Jade Lion” from afar and joyfully shouted, “Lord Zhou is back.”
Upon reaching the gatehouse, the two dismounted. Zhou Yan asked, “Has Brother Guo arrived?”
“Yes, he arrived not long ago. The Mongol princess is with him and also asked about you, Lord Zhou. Chief Escort and Escort Yang are both here.”
“What about Head Escort Shi and Escort Mu?”
“Escort Mu is now a Head Escort. The escort bureau’s business is booming, so you won’t see many people at the bureau, Lord Zhou. Head Escort Shi and Head Escort Mu are both out on escorts,” the runner said excitedly.
Zhou Yan was not surprised that Mu Nianci had been promoted to Head Escort. Based on her cultivation and ability, she was more than capable, and she was likely the first female Head Escort in the escort profession.
“I’ll go in and take a look.”
The runner said sincerely, “Lord Zhou, if you want to enter the escort bureau, why do you need to tell us? Just as before, you can come and go as you please. Although you are no longer with the bureau, we always consider you a Head Escort.”
“Without reporting it first?” Zhou Yan teased.
“If you want me to be reprimanded and looked down upon by other escorts and runners, you can take me to a guest room and report it.”
Zhou Yan patted the runner’s shoulder, his eyes slightly moist.
Li Mochou smiled at him, recalling how she had searched for Zhou Yan, how Zhang Wangyue had arranged for people to inquire, and how everyone had treated Zhou Yan with such warmth when they were at Funiu Mountain. She found it truly remarkable.
She now felt not only affection for Zhou Yan but also a sense of admiration.
“Take the horses to the stable first and feed them for a few days.”
“Got it!” The runner happily took the reins of the two horses and led them towards the stable. Zhou Yan, with Li Mochou, headed straight for the escort bureau’s meeting hall.
“Lord Zhou is back.”
“The Head Escort is here.”
The two walked through corridors and buildings, and indeed, they saw few escorts or runners. The martial field was deserted, and most of the greetings came from the escort bureau’s long-term workers.
As he reached the courtyard in front of the meeting hall, Guo Jing, Hua Zheng, and two others appeared under the yellow leaves.
“Brother Zhou, it’s been a long time. I’ve missed you.”
“Hua Zheng greets Hero Zhou.”
“I feel the same, Princess. Please don’t be so polite.”
Zhou Yan bowed in return and greeted Zhang Wangyue and Yang Tiexin. The Chief Escort of Fu’an said, “Let’s go inside and talk.”
“Alright!”
Hua Zheng seemed bored. In Zhongdu, she had no one to talk to except Guo Jing and Tolay. Seeing Li Mochou, she exclaimed, “Sister, you are so beautiful. Let the men talk; we don’t need to listen. Would you like to go for a walk on the street with me?”
Mongol women are forthright. Zhou Yan was Hua Zheng’s benefactor, so she naturally did not consider Zhou Yan or those close to him as outsiders.
Li Mochou was a little stunned, thinking to herself how direct the Mongol princess was.
Zhou Yan smiled at Li Mochou and asked, “What do you think?”
“Of course, allow me to tidy up a little.”
Zhou Yan said to Zhang Wangyue, “I’ll wash my face too.”
The two washed their hands and faces. Zhou Yan took out a gold ingot he carried and gave it to Li Mochou.
Li Mochou’s eyes were misty. On Zhongnan Mountain, she had always been the one taking care of herself and her junior sister. No one had ever shown her such thoughtful care.
Hua Zheng took Li Mochou’s hand and left. Only then did Zhou Yan enter the meeting hall.
As he picked up his tea, Guo Jing said, “The Great Khan is going on a Western Expedition. I came to inform the Chief Escort and Uncle Yang.”
This was within Zhou Yan’s expectations.
Guo Jing continued, “Brother Guo and the Chief Escort delivered an escort to Yumen Pass. Ogedai received the escort and proceeded to Khwarazm. Their king, Muhammad, detained the gold and silver, insulted Ogedai, and cursed the Great Khan.”
“Is Brother Guo going to accompany the Great Khan on the campaign?”
“Yes, Tolay and Zhebie are all going.” Guo Jing said indignantly, “It was Wanyan Honglie who dispatched an Imperial Envoy, which is why Muhammad turned hostile.”
Yang Tiexin said to Zhou Yan, “Brother Guo is currently troubled by military operations.”
Guo Jing nodded, “If it were attacking a city, fighting with a spear, and leading from the front, I would have no fear. The main concern is that Tolay Anda and the others are skilled fighters and masters of cavalry warfare. I worry that leading a Ten-Thousand Man Squad, I might not be able to avenge my father’s death at Wanyan Honglie’s hands, and I might also be a burden to the Great Khan.”
Zhou Yan smiled, “Coincidentally, the Chief Escort is well-versed in military strategy. If time permits, we should have a drink and a good talk.”
Yang Tiexin immediately said, “Come to my place tonight.”
Guo Jing was overjoyed, “Thank you, Chief Escort Zhang, Brother Zhou, and Uncle Yang.”
“We are all family, no need for politeness,” Yang Tiexin said. He then said to Zhang Wangyue, “My nephew and I will go ahead and prepare.”
“Alright!” Zhang Wangyue nodded.
For the remaining time, the conversation flowed freely and naturally. Zhou Yan spoke about encountering Zhou Botong in the Valley of Unfeeling. Guo Jing blurted out and asked how Brother Zhou was doing.
Zhou Yan smiled, thinking to himself that the Old Urchin and Guo Jing had indeed become sworn brothers. He wondered which cultivation techniques they had learned: the Emptying Void Fist, the Left and Right Mutual Combat, or the Nine Yin Manual.
As night began to fall, Yang Tiexin and Guo Jing left first. Zhang Wangyue and Zhou Yan saw them off. After the two had gone far, the Fu’an Chief Escort said, “Brother Zhou, do you want me to tell Brother Guo about the Wumu’s Military Writings?”
Zhou Yan said, “The Great Khan had promised Brother Guo the treatment of a Prince of Song. With Brother Guo participating in the Western Expedition, the more distinguished his achievements, the more likely he is to wear the crown of the Prince of Song. With Brother Guo, if the Great Khan were to march south in the future, at least there would not be indiscriminate massacres.”
“Brother Guo is kind-hearted, that’s true.”
“The Eight Trigrams Formation from the Wumu’s Military Writings will suffice.”
Zhang Wangyue smiled, “This method is sound. I doubt the Mongol generals will be able to learn the art of formation changes.”
Zhang Wangyue praised, “Good idea.”
The two returned to the escort bureau. Zhou Yan concisely told Zhang Wangyue about the current development of the two strongholds in Funiu Mountain and Tongbai Mountain and their encounter with Huyan Lei, while waiting for Li Mochou.
…
The moon rises above the willow branches, and lovers meet after dusk.
Li Mochou and Hua Zheng had bought some ginseng, Chinese goldthread, and ganoderma, and were heading towards Fu’an Escort Agency. Passing by “Songhe Tower,” she suddenly saw three beggars walking towards them, all with fair complexions. One of them was holding a long cloth strip wrapped up.
Hong Qigong had been a benefactor to Li Mochou and the Ancient Tomb Sect. On their way to Zhongdu, Zhou Yan had told her about what had happened to the Beggars’ Sect.
Li Mochou counted secretly, noticing the number of sacks on the shoulders of one of the beggars. They were stacked three high, with three stacks in total, making a total of nine sacks.
This old beggar was a nine-sack elder of the Beggars’ Sect. Li Mochou was secretly surprised and slowed her pace. As the three walked past, she overheard some of their conversation.
“Elder Peng, the position of Gang Leader must be secured at this Beggars’ Sect Conference.”
“If it weren’t for the Dirty Clothes Faction’s relentless pursuit, Elder Peng would have been the Gang Leader long ago.”
“Exactly, exactly.”
“Among the four elders, only Lu Youjiao is from the Dirty Clothes Faction. If it weren’t for the fact that most of the lower-ranking disciples are from the Dirty Clothes Faction, this Gang Leader position would have been easily obtained.”
Li Mochou was overjoyed. She had unintentionally obtained information about the Beggars’ Sect. Heaven blesses Brother Zhou and Qigong.
As they passed each other, Li Mochou clearly saw the appearance of the nine-sack elder. She took Hua Zheng’s hand and hurried towards Fu’an Escort Agency. Hua Zheng felt as if she were flying, and her hand felt as if it were wrapped in cotton.
Sister Li’s hands are so soft and tender, Hua Zheng thought enviously.
