Jinting Han people

Chapter 23 Farewell to the Noble Sons (4k)

Three days later, the sun was shining brightly, the sky cloudless, and the air thick with the scent of melting snow, making one's hands and feet cold and reluctant to go out. But the breath of spring had already arrived. New buds of the Chinese toon trees burst through the snow on their branches, blooming like waves. The moist soil occasionally rang with the crackling sound of seeds breaking through their shells. Foxes and hares began to appear in the mountains and fields, which had previously been covered in white.

The Luo River had begun to thaw, leaving a white mist shrouding its surface. It was difficult to distinguish between the icy mist and the white egrets amidst the grayish-yellow reeds. Then, like arrows from a bow, several horses galloped past the river. Shi Chao led the way, followed closely by Liu Xian. Behind them came Shi Chao's guards, carrying bows and quivers, along with their belongings, including cauldrons and steamers for cooking.

The group galloped southward along the bank of the Luo River without stopping. Their goal was very clear, which was Wan'an Mountain south of Yi and Luo.

Wan'an Mountain isn't just a single mountain, but rather a vast plateau. Stretching for nearly ten miles, it stands in stark contrast to Mount Song, the Central Peak. Its deep, treacherous ravines and majestic grandeur have long served as a natural barrier to southern Luoyang. Unlike other peaks, Wan'an Mountain boasts grotesque rocks, dense forests, abundant fruit trees, gurgling springs, and winding paths, earning it the nicknames Stone Forest Mountain and Clear Spring Mountain.

It was Liu Xian's first time at Wan'an Mountain. After crossing the Luo and Yi Rivers, and with more than ten miles to go, he could see the mountain's towering curve from afar. It was a silvery arc reflecting brilliant colors. The accumulated snow and water vapor cast a brilliant streak across the sky, shimmering with specks of flare, clearly dividing heaven from earth. As he got closer, he could see towering peaks, some standing tall and straight, as if slashed by a knife or an axe, while others slanted like bamboo shoots, accessible by climbing. On the ground, countless pear and cherry trees rose to the sky, catching the light and forming a lush forest, as beautiful as if inspired by the will of a god.

What a beautiful scenery! Liu Xian felt relaxed and happy, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart, no wonder the white deer was born here.

Twenty miles is a long journey, but it's also a fast one. For two young men on horseback, it was just a matter of a breath. As they approached their destination, Shi Chao began to slow down.

"Biji." Seeing a pool of water, Shi Chao stopped his horse and stopped in front of the pool. White steam was rising from the pool. "Dismount, we have arrived."

"Where?" Liu Xian's forehead glowed with youthful radiance. He wiped it slightly, then dismounted and looked around.

This was a flat area nestled between three mountains. Aside from the pool, it was surrounded by grass and shrubs. There was only a dirt road, about two feet wide, that meandered through the area, branching off and extending to the peaks surrounding the flat area. Liu Xian's first impression was that the soil was wet and the world was desolate. He had no idea where to settle.

Shi Chao let his mount drink water by the pool and ordered his followers to begin unpacking their luggage. Then, he approached Liu Xian, whipping his horse whip to lead the way. Just a hundred steps up the left slope, the path twisted and turned, revealing a naturally formed cave. The cave was large, its rock face smooth, large enough to accommodate dozens of people. A spring flowed from it, forming a pool at the foot of the mountain. It was a truly unique and beautiful place to live in the wild.

Inside the cave, there was a fire left by Shi Chong and his companions during their last hunting trip. Shi Chao lit it and threw in a few pieces of charcoal. Once the fire was burning brightly, he took off his dew-soaked cloak and sat on a nearby rock to warm himself. Shi Chao smiled at Liu Xian and said, "It seems we're the first to arrive; they haven't even arrived yet."

Arriving early is a victory. Liu Xian said with a smile, "I'm afraid that I'll be the first to arrive but shoot the least. This is my first time hunting here, so I don't want to embarrass you."

"What's the big deal? I'm here!" Shi Chao said nonchalantly, or rather confidently, "When I was three, my mother hired a Taoist priest from the Tianshi Dao to read my bones. He said I would be rich and prosperous in my lifetime and would be successful in everything I do. It's just hunting! Just listen to me!"

"Then I'll lend you some good advice."

As they were talking, voices and the neighing of horses could be heard from outside the cave. It was obvious someone was arriving. A figure appeared at the cave entrance, and a loud voice came in: "Shixi Nu, this place is hard to find. I hired a guide, but he ended up going around in circles twice and almost ended up in Songshan."

Liu Xian looked closely. The newcomer was a young man about two or three years older than him, six feet tall, with a broad chest and a broad body. Although he was young, it was obvious to the naked eye that he would become a burly man in the future.

Shi Chao first whispered to Liu Xian, "This is Wang Hutou, the son of the Duke of Boling. He's trained with swords and spears, and he's quite strong!"

Then he went forward again, hit the man on the chest and said, "Stop talking nonsense! If you can run to Songshan, I can also run to Taishan!"

It turned out to be Wang Zhou, the grandson of Wang Shen, the former Duke of Boling, and the son of Wang Jun, the current Duke of Boling. Liu Xian still remembered that it was he who had first called him the Duke of Lost Country a few years ago.

After meeting again after so many years, Wang Zhou seemed to have completely forgotten what had happened before, just as Shi Chao had said. When Shi Chao introduced Liu Xian to Wang Zhou, Wang Zhou looked him up and down as if he was meeting him for the first time. When he heard that Liu Xian knew swordsmanship, his eyes lit up and he smiled, "You also know swordsmanship? Who did you learn from?"

Liu Xian smiled and replied, "My teacher is Mr. Ruan, and I only want to strengthen my body."

Wang Zhou was very familiar, so Liu Xian just exchanged pleasantries. Unexpectedly, upon learning they shared a common interest, Wang Zhou immediately took over the conversation, sitting down next to Liu Xian without restraint and unleashing a flurry of his own sword-fighting experiences. They talked for a quarter of an hour, and Liu Xian couldn't even get a word in.

As Wang Zhou spoke with joy, he unsheathed his own sword, held it before the firelight, and asked Liu Xian, "I've heard that Master Ruan is a renowned swordsman. As his disciple, can you tell what kind of sword this is?"

Liu Xian took the sword and felt it sink in his hand; it was heavier than he had imagined. He examined it carefully, realizing it was three feet and four inches long, its edge as sharp as a mirror and a chilling aura. It was indeed a rare and fine sword. The hilt was engraved with a few small characters. Upon closer inspection, he discovered four characters on each side of the hilt: "Peace be upon the Rivers and Seas" and "Death on Horseback."

Liu Xian returned the sword, shook his head and said with a smile: "I can't recognize it."

Wang Zhou laughed heartily and said complacently, "This is the sword of Ma Yuan, a famous general of the previous dynasty. I accompanied him on his campaigns, suppressing many rebellions. During Dong Zhuo's rebellion against the Han Dynasty, the sword passed into the hands of former general Ma Teng. Later, when Ma Chao rebelled in Liang Province, Ma Teng was killed in Yecheng. Emperor Wu of Wei, Cao Cao, then gave the sword to his adopted son, He Yan. Later, Emperor Xuan launched the Gaopingling Incident and exterminated He Yan's entire clan. My grandfather then obtained the sword, and now it has been passed down to me."

A single sword, witnessing so many lives, deaths, and rises and falls, left Liu Xian mesmerized. Taking this opportunity, he and Wang Zhou engaged in a conversation about history and their experiences. Liu Xian's historical knowledge was unparalleled among his peers, and soon Wang Zhou was also impressed, and the two teenagers quickly became close friends. When Shi Chao called them to lunch, Liu Xian suddenly realized the cave was already full of people.

The so-called lunch consisted of a freshly prepared meat soup. Since they were in the wilderness, etiquette was unnecessary. After scooping up the meat soup from their bowls, they began to eat in a disorganized manner, sitting or standing. At this point, Shi Chao once again introduced his friends to Liu Xian: Chen Zhi, Pei Gai, and Xun Chuo. They were descended from the Linhuai Chen clan, the Wenxi Pei clan, and the Yingchuan Xun clan, respectively, all of whom were among the most prominent families of the time. Although they were of similar age to Shi Chao, their build and temperament suggested a more frail appearance, fitting the common stereotype of aristocratic families: they were clearly pampered, rarely active, and likely destined for officialdom through literary talent.

After chatting with Wang Zhou, Liu Xian no longer had any prejudice against these noble sons. But perhaps due to their fatigue, the three men looked tired and had little desire to talk. After some pleasantries, they were considered acquaintances.

There was another person present, someone Liu Xian already knew: Zhang Hua's son, Zhang Wei, nicknamed Sanlang. They'd often run into each other as they entered and exited the mansion, but that was just a passing encounter; both sides' parents had forbidden further contact. As a result, although they were neighbors, their exchanges were few and far between. Meeting again at Wan'an Mountain, Liu Xian and Zhang Wei felt a strange mix of emotions: embarrassment, curiosity, and relief were all they could describe.

Zhang Wei smiled awkwardly and said, "Hey, Biji, it's been over a year. I thought I'd never see you again."

These words sounded like something only exchanged between two old acquaintances. Liu Xian couldn't help but laugh, but he politely replied, "How could that be? He's just traveling to study." At this point, he couldn't help but tease their relationship, "After so many years of running into each other at the door, I thought Sanlang wouldn't talk to me, and never took me seriously!"

Zhang Wei also laughed. After all, two teenagers, barely ten years old and living next to each other, should have become close friends, no matter what obstacles stood between them. He explained, "How dare I look down on you? You don't know, every time I tried to come see you, my father stopped me. He said you had extraordinary potential, while I had ordinary roots. If we were to get involved, the consequences would be unpredictable."

Liu Xian was taken aback. He'd assumed Zhang Hua's indifference was a way of avoiding suspicion, but he'd never expected him to privately comment on him like that. "Extraordinary sign!" What kind of extraordinary sign? How could he not know about it? How had he figured it out? Could he be secretly keeping an eye on him? Zhang Hua's meticulous face surfaced in Liu Xian's mind. Behind those calm eyes, he seemed to be swirling thoughts he couldn't fathom.

After thinking for a while, Liu Xian couldn't come up with an answer. He had to hide his thoughts and replied to Zhang Wei, "I was completely surprised by your kindness, uncle."

On the other side, seeing that most people had arrived, Shi Chao began to count the people. Then he frowned and said to Chen Zhi, "One person is missing. Jia Azhen hasn't come yet."

Chen Zhi shrugged and said, "That's not surprising. He's never in a hurry and is always the last one."

Shi Chao was a little annoyed and complained, "But it's almost noon now."

Chen Zhi smiled and said, "Then can you not wait for him?"

These words shut Shi Chao's mouth. He could only sit down angrily and silently tune the bowstring by the fire.

Liu Xian, who was listening from the side, couldn't help but ask Zhang Wei curiously, "Who are they talking about?"

Zhang Wei was also somewhat helpless. He rubbed his head and replied nonchalantly, "Jia Azhen, the heir of Duke Lu's family. You should have heard of him!"

Oh! Liu Xian suddenly realized that he was talking about Jia Chong's adopted grandson Jia Mi!
While the Western Jin Dynasty boasted numerous founding figures, Jia Chong, Duke of Lu, stood out. Not only was he a veteran of the Sima clan, dating back to the reign of Emperor Xuan of Jin, Sima Yi, but he was also a close friend of both Sima Shi, Emperor Jing of Jin, and Sima Zhao, Emperor Wen of Jin. He was also directly responsible for the public assassination of Cao Mao, Duke of Gaogui. Consequently, his status was particularly high. Furthermore, Jia Chong's diligent efforts over the years, including the simultaneous marriages of his daughters to the Crown Prince and Sima You, Prince of Qi, had established the Pingyang Jia clan as the preeminent family outside the imperial family.

Even among the people, rumors spread privately: "Ma is in the lead, and Jia is behind."

Unfortunately, Duke Lu Jia Chong had many children, but most of them were daughters. After his only son Jia Limin died young, there was no one to inherit the title of Duke Lu. In desperation, Jia Chong had to choose one of his grandsons, change his surname to Jia, and make him his heir. This person was Jia Mi.

As the only heir of the Jia family, the future Duke of Lu, and the Empress's nephew, Jia Mi was extremely favored by his elders. Everyone in Luoyang knew that the Duke of Lu's mansion held a young prince with power comparable to that of a prince, though their specific name was unknown. It was no wonder he was so late, and Shi Chao could only swallow his anger.

What kind of person was he? Liu Xian tried to recall their first encounter at Sunset Pavilion, but found he could no longer recall his appearance. He only remembered Jia Mi, seemingly surrounded by a crowd, standing in the middle, and speaking to him for a moment. What was he talking about? Liu Xian had forgotten. He couldn't help but pat his head with a wry smile, thinking to himself: You call others forgetful, but how much better am I?
The group waited boredly for about half an hour, and finally the sound of carriages was heard outside the cave. It turned out that Jia Mi came here by carriage!
A group of people, relieved, hurried to the foot of the mountain to greet him. From a distance, Liu Xian spotted a young man in splendid clothes in the crowd. It was obviously Jia Mi.

The young men, all from high-class families, were not considered cheap in their clothing. But compared to Jia Mi, they seemed utterly plain. Jia Mi wore a long, bamboo-patterned crimson-purple gown, a mink-skin and blue-silk cape, a gold-studded belt around his waist, and jade-studded bearskin boots. In his hands, he seemed to be toying with two pearls the size of pigeon eggs. At first glance, the scene was a dazzling display of jewels and precious stones.

But what surprised Liu Xian even more was that even this attire couldn't suppress Jia Mi's inherent nobility. It was the first time Liu Xian had seen someone like him. His face was as white as powder, his skin was creamy, and his figure was slender. At first glance, he looked like a beautiful young girl. But then he caught sight of his eyes and realized he was simply living a life of luxury. Those eyes were naked, without any ulterior motives or disguise.

When Jia Mi met everyone, his first words were an apology: "I'm so sorry, the weather was too cold and I got up an hour late." But his eyes were smiling and there was no apology in his eyes.

Then he saw Liu Xian in the crowd, so he said the second sentence: "Isn't this Liu Pi Ji? I haven't seen you for a few years. I heard that you are studying with Mr. Ruan now?" Jia Mi smiled and narrowed his eyes, as if he was full of charm, but it made Liu Xian shudder. It was the look of a goshawk staring at its prey.

Without waiting for Liu Xian's reply, he yawned, stretched, and said his third sentence directly: "This journey has been so boring. Why are you still standing here? It's time to set off!"

Jia Mi naturally announced the start of the hunt.

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(End of this chapter)