Chapter 28: 28

In the Commander-in-Chief’s tent, Xu Zhiwei was reporting to Gu Heyan on various matters, such as the building of walls and the storage of food. These matters were trivial and repetitive. However, because Xu Zhiwei had just taken over the military affairs here, even if he repeated them every day, Gu Heyan had asked Xu Zhiwei to report them, one by one, to avoid mistakes.

Right when Xu Zhiwei had just started to talk, a soldier came to report all of a sudden: “Reporting to the General, there’s someone outside who wants to see you.”

Gu Heyan asked: “Who?”

The young soldier said: “It’s the Official from the Ministry of Rites, sent by the Imperial Court.”

Gu Heyan’s eyes trembled, and it took him some time to reply: “I understand.”

The young General asked: “Should I let Mu-daren in?

Gu Heyan said: “Hold on.” Gu Heyan then turned his head and asked Xu Zhiwei: “Have you finished your report?”

“Not yet,” Xu Zhiwei thought that General Gu would let Mu-daren come in first and hear what he wanted to say….

Unexpectedly, Gu Heyan said: “Then go on.”

Xu Zhiwei was stunned, but hurried to continue reporting. However, before Xu Zhiwei could say a word, Gu Heyan added: “Finish within 10 words.”

Xu Zhiwei: “….”

‘I can’t say shit with only 10 words!’

—

Outside the tent, Mu Zhiming saw the young soldier enter the tent to report his presence. In fact, he was a little nervous, because Mu Zhiming didn’t know whether his sudden arrival would disturb Gu Heyan or not.

As he was feeling a little uneasy, Xu Zhiwei came out of the tent. After seeing Mu Zhiming, Xu Zhiwi cupped his fist and said: “Mu-daren.”

“Military Advisor Xu.” Mu Zhiming returned the salute. “Is General Gu busy?”

Xu Zhiwei’s eyes sparkled with a smile: “Since you’re here, even if General Gu is busy, he will make sure to free himself.”

Mu Zhiming was stunned to hear this, but before he could understand the meaning behind it, the young soldier that had reported his presence came out of the tent: “Daren, the General invites you into the tent.”

Mu Zhiming didn’t dare to make Gu Heyan wait. After bidding his farewell to Xu Zhiwei, he told Wen Heyin to wait for him outside the tent. Then, Mu Zhiming walked into the tent, only to see Gu Heyan sitting in front of a long low table that had some bamboo slats1 about the Art of War2 on top of it. Mu Zhiming hurried to bow and salute: “Greetings, General.”

“Sit down.” Gu Heyan pointed to the seat opposite him. The seat was covered with soft white fox fur, which looked quite out of place in this large tent with simplistic decorations.

Mu Zhiming lifted up his robe and sat down, saying somewhat seriously: “I have something to discuss with you, General.”

Gu Heyan, who didn’t seem to expect that Mu Zhiming would come to see him on official business, looked a little stunned and puzzled: “What is it?”

“Since I came here by Imperial decree to learn the Gouji language, as well as find out the reason why the Gouji Kingdom suddenly sent troops to attack, I heard that there might be some clues in White City, which isn’t that far away. I wanted to ask General Gu for a written permit to facilitate my entry and exit from the military camp.” Mu Zhiming pleaded.

”
”
Gu Heyan understood this, took off a gold-plated silver plate3 from his waist and put it on the table, pushing it towards Mu Zhiming.

When Mu Zhiming looked at the waist plate, he saw the words ‘Yulin Army General’ engraved on it.

“You can get in and out of the military camp at will with this.” Gu Heyan said.

“This, th-this was granted to you by the Emperor….” Mu Zhiming stuttered. After all, he only wanted a sealed permit, how could he know that Gu Heyan would give him such a valuable item?

“Mm-hmm.” Gu Heyan nodded. “When you go to White City, remember to bring some guards with you.”

“Thank you very much, Gu-xiong, for trusting me with this.” Mu Zhiming took a deep breath, and with gratitude, took the waist plate, holding it in his hands: “I will take good care of it, and return it just as you have given it to me.”

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After taking care of the main issue, Gu Heyan couldn’t take his eyes off Mu Zhiming. In a soft, low voice, he said: “Would you like to…catch up now?”

Mu Zhiming looked at the messy pile of documents and thought: ‘Lieutenant Xiahou did mention that Gu-xiong was in charge of both major and minor matters in the army. Besides, Military Advisor Xu was talking with him not long ago. Sigh, I guess Gu-xiong must be quite busy right now, how could I bother him?’ So, Mu Zhiming finally said: “No, no, no, I’ll come bother Gu-xiong another time, when you’re free. So, I’ll be leaving now.”

Gu Heyan: “….Hmm.”

Gu Heyan watched Mu Zhiming leave the tent and then lowered his eyes. Feeling at a loss, Gu Heyan sat there in complete silence for a long time, without moving.

—

After Mu Zhiming got the waist plate, he went to White City several days in a row, in order to find some clues.

AD
The carriage ride from the military camp to White City took over an hour. This place used to be a bustling and prosperous frontier town. Unfortunately, after the war, the glory it once had could no longer be seen. However, after the situation at the border was resolved, many of the people, who had been exiled by the war, had already returned to their homes, adding a ray of vitality to the desolate place.

Mu Zhiming and Wen Heyin went to the market mentioned by Xiahou Hu, but there were only a few stores open today, selling medicinal herbs, cloth and other common items. Most of the other buildings were abandoned, dilapidated shops covered with cobwebs. When you look down the street, you can vaguely imagine the hustle and bustle of the old days.

Mu Zhiming visited for several days in a row, but no matter what, he couldn’t find anything. However, Mu Zhiming was able to notice that the elderly residents in White City didn’t seem to hate the Gouji people when he mentioned them. In fact, they were even nostalgic for the past, when they were friends with the people from the Gouji Kingdom.

On this day, Mu Zhiming came once again to the market and began to ask people along the street. After seeing that dusk was approaching, and he couldn’t get anything, Mu Zhiming couldn’t help but feel frustrated. At that moment, he suddenly noticed something and strode forward.

At the end of the market street, behind the mahogany pagoda, there was a notice board. On this notice board there were many old and tattered notices posted.

Mu Zhiming took a closer look and tried to identify the vague words posted on the various notices. Suddenly, Wen Heyin took a few steps and said: “Young Master, I just saw a pastry store. They have walnut cakes, and they look exactly like the walnut cakes we get delivered to us with our meals in the military camp. Don’t you like them a lot? Shall I buy some?”

Mu Zhiming, who was too concentrated with the notice board, didn’t listen to Wen Heyin’s words. When Wen Heyin saw that Mu Zhiming was busy thinking, Wen Heyin shut up and didn’t dare to disturb him.

Most of the notices were stamped with the seal of the government, stating the rules of the stores in the market, as well as forbidding fighting, etc. However, what caught Mu Zhiming’s attention was a tax notice.

“Take five out of ten? The commercial tax in the Great Jin isn’t this high….” Mu Zhiming muttered to himself as he pulled off the notice.

When Mu Zhiming was about to stuff it into his sleeve, Wen Heyin stepped forward and stretched out a hand: “This tattered piece of paper is too dirty, let me take it.”

“No need.” Only then did Mu Zhiming notice that Wen Heyin was beside him. After putting the notice away, he smiled at Wen Heyin and said: “Let’s go, it’s getting dark. We have to hurry back to the barracks.”

Wen Heyin looked up and saw how dark the sky was. He didn’t mention the walnut cakes again and hurriedly left White City with Mu Zhiming.

AD
—

Early the next morning, the trumpets of the military training in the barracks were loud and clear. As soon as Mu Zhiming woke up, he began to cough. As winter approached, the days became colder and colder. The morning breeze was bitterly cold, and Mu Zhiming couldn’t get used to it for a while. Thankfully, after two coughs, he was able to recover. Otherwise, Wen Heyin would have scolded him to death.

Once you wake up, it’s hard to fall asleep again, so Mu Zhiming had to get up and get dressed. Today was the day the letter he sent to his family was supposed to arrive in the Capital, and Wen Heyin had gone to the post station to take the letter Mu Zhiming had wrote the day before. Mu Zhiming wasn’t idle either, as he went to look for Gu Heyan with the notice he found yesterday. However, once he arrived at Gu Heyan’s tent, the young soldier guarding outside told him that General Gu wasn’t in the military camp.

As Mu Zhiming walked away unhappy, the two young soldiers guarding the ten began to chat.

“Recently, the General has been leaving the barracks at dawn, and no one knows where he’s going.”

“I think he’s going to White City to buy some things.”

“What kinds of things would he need to buy every day? He’s already very busy, and the candles inside his tent are usually blown out at midnight. To buy whatever those things are, he has to go back and forth very early in the morning, which takes over an hour out of his resting time.”

“Only the Heavens know what the General is thinking.”

1st act: Among the food given to Mu Zhiming, there are walnut cakes.

2nd act: Wen Heyin discovers a store in White City that sells walnut cakes, that look exactly the same as the ones Mu Zhiming receives at the military camp.

3rd act: Gu Heyan mysteriously travels every morning to White City to buy ‘things’.

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