Di Ming

Chapter 15 Farewell
Zhu Yin's eyelids twitched uncontrollably, as if his soul had been stolen away.

He calmly asked, "How long have those cavalrymen been gone? How many of them were there?"

The Jurchen woman replied, "There are at least a hundred of them, a dark mass! They've been gone for a long time, and their warhorses are fast; you definitely can't catch up."

"What's the point of chasing after them?"

Zhu Yin clenched his fists, his face turning ashen.

He took a deep breath and made a decision immediately.

"Meh, I need to go find Nurhaci and get my wife back. Please lend me a horse, and we'll part ways here."

During this time, he became quite familiar with Mech. Mech was older than him, but he was more willing to listen to him, the "child."

"Yes, sir!" Meh replied, then took off running outside. No one knew where he went.

The woman was very surprised. "Aren't you afraid of Nurhaci? He is the most powerful Beile in Jianzhou. Everyone says he is the reincarnation of the wild boar god."

Zhu Yin's gaze was icy. "I'm not afraid! Since I dare to go see him, I'm not afraid of him. I naturally have my own plan."

The woman looked deeply at Zhu Yin and found that the child's gaze was like that of a young tiger.

She turned and ran out of the yard to inform the others.

After Zhu Yin finished speaking, he entered the main room and picked up Ning Qingchen from the cradle.

Gillan was not in the house at that time either.

Zhu Yin said, "Your sister has been captured by Nurhaci's cavalry. I'm going to find Nurhaci and rescue her."

"Waaaaah!" Upon hearing this, Ning Qingchen burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.

After a period of peace, my sister was arrested.

What should I do?! Waaah!
Zhu Yin was too lazy to listen to Miss Ning's crying. He patted Ning Qingchen's little face, said "Be good," and was about to put the baby into the cradle.

"Wow!"

Although Ning Qingchen has a childlike mentality and cannot speak, her intelligence has not decreased.

She used all her strength to grab Zhu Yin's fingers and tried her best to draw words with one hand.

What she wrote was: "Take me with you! Let's go together! I'm useful!"

Although Gillan was there to help her, she didn't want to stay there alone.

Her sister has been kidnapped, and if Zhu Yin leaves too, she'll be all alone.

Zhu Yin smiled wryly, "I wanted to take you with me, but you're too young. I'll come back to you after I rescue your sister. I won't abandon you."

“If you come with me, it will be difficult for me to take care of you along the way… I won’t take Black Tiger with me either. Don’t worry, as long as I’m alive, I will definitely come back to find you…”

"Waaaaah!" Ning Qingchen cried her heart out when she saw that Zhu Yin was about to abandon her. She shook her head desperately, her little face turning red.

Zhu Yin couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him. "Alright, alright, don't cry. I'll take you with me."

He decided to take the baby with him.

He wouldn't feel comfortable leaving her here alone.

Ning Qingchen stopped crying after Zhu Yin agreed.

But she suddenly stopped crying, then choked on her tears and started coughing violently.

Zhu Yin carried Ning Qingchen to the east wing to retrieve the medicine box. Just as he stepped out the door, Ji Lan returned.

"I heard your young wife was kidnapped by Nurhaci's cavalry?" Jilan asked as soon as they met.

Zhu Yin nodded, "Sister-in-law Jilan, I have to go. I need to see Nurhaci and rescue her!"

Gillan nodded. "You may be young, but you're a man now! Go and save her! Be a hero and bring her back!"

Suddenly someone shouted, "I'll have Mech go with you!"

It turned out that Meh had brought back the head of the family, Beroli.

"I already know what happened. Zhu Yin, be a hero and rescue your little wife! I won't stop you, but I'm just a hunter, and there's nothing I can do to help you!"

"Meh! You will go with Zhu Yin. From now on, you will be his Aha. Remember what I told you before! Your future depends on your own hard work, in addition to the blessing of Mother Fodo."

"Go like a warrior! Remember, Zhu Yin is your master!"

Mech said, "Yes, sir!"

Father had told Zhu Yin about becoming his servant half a month ago.

Mech spent these days hanging out with Zhu Yin, wanting to see if Zhu Yin would be a good master.

He discovered that Zhu Yin was definitely not an ordinary person, and must be a good master.

He didn't know the word "temperament," but he could sense that unique and precious quality.

Zhu Yin was several years younger than them, but he seemed much more mature, which made the group of teenagers want to listen to him without them even realizing it.

For the past two weeks, the boys in the enclosure have all started to look up to Zhu Yin as their leader.

Anyone with a brain can see the difference in him.

Zhu Yin was greatly surprised to hear that Bo Luoli had actually given his son to him as a slave.

But he soon understood.

Boroli realized that he and Ning Caiwei were extraordinary and wanted to place his bets in advance to gamble on his son's future.

There were quite a few poor Jurchen people who voluntarily gave their children to nobles as slaves.

But he still didn't agree immediately.

He's a modern man, how could he be used to taking people as slaves?

Seeing Zhu Yin's hesitant expression, Bo Luoli, fearing he would refuse, quickly said:
“Zhu Yin, you saved my life, so I’m giving Meh to you as your servant as a way of repaying you. Besides, it’s probably better for him to follow you than to hunt in the mountains with me. I’m doing this for him.”

“I know you must be someone with a distinguished background, and even if you aren’t, I won’t regret it.”

“Meh is a loyal mountain deer; you can trust his loyalty and reliability as you would your beloved dog.” “He is fifteen years old and a skilled warrior in archery and horsemanship. But I don’t want him to be conscripted by the city lord and die fighting to help him seize some imperial edict.”

"Although you are young, you are an auspicious person. I feel at ease with him by your side."

“Father…” Mei’s eyes filled with tears, reluctant to leave her parents.

Toro, with tears in his eyes, said, "Zhu Yin, please accept Meh. He will be like a loyal hunting dog, never betraying his master."

"Besides, the fact that you dared to go to Nurhaci means that you must be able to speak with him. You are not a simple person."

Jilan also said, "Zhu Yin, you should accept Meh. With him protecting you on the journey, it will be much safer."

Zhu Yin no longer hesitated. In order to successfully rescue Ning Caiwei, he decided to take Mei He under his wing.

Mech was skilled in archery and horsemanship, making him an excellent guard.

"Alright! Thank you, Uncle Boroli!" Zhu Yin said, patting his chest. "In the future, as long as I have food, I will never mistreat Brother Meh!"

"He did not betray me, and I will not betray him!"

Seeing that Zhu Yin had agreed, Boroli shouted, "Meh! Why aren't you bowing and paying homage to your father!"

"Emperor!" Meh immediately knelt down, "Your servant..."

"Alright, alright!" Zhu Yin quickly helped him up. "Don't kneel! Sigh, you Jurchens love to play the master-servant game. Brother Mehe, you can follow me, but don't call yourself a servant."

"Yes, sir!" Meh replied.

At that moment, a large group of people suddenly poured in from outside; they were all Jurchens from this fence.

"Zhu Yin, I heard your young wife has also been kidnapped. Are you going to go to Nurhaci to demand her return?"

The elderly Gasanda (the family head) spoke first.

"Nurhaci's cavalry has arrived at our Qijida City. It seems they are going to attack our Wangjia tribe. Another war is about to break out."

"I estimate that it won't be long before the city lord starts conscripting men. But Nurhaci's power is growing stronger and stronger, and Wang Jia's tribe is falling apart. How can they be a match for Nurhaci?"

"Zhu Yin, it wasn't just your young wife who was kidnapped, but also my granddaughter, Galo!"

“Since you dare to go see Nurhaci, you must have some confidence. Even our city lord of Qijida City doesn’t dare to go see Nurhaci, but you do.”

“Then let my grandson Niman (goat) also become your Aha and go with you.”

Turning his head, he shouted, "Niman!"

A sturdy boy of about fifteen or sixteen years old replied, "Grandpa!"

It was Niman, who was already quite familiar with Zhu Yin, and Galo's older brother.

"You will follow Zhu Yin and rescue your sister! From now on, Zhu Yin will be your father!"

"Along this journey, you must obey Zhu Yin as you would obey me."

He was a shrewd and experienced man, and he had long since realized that Zhu Yin and Ning Caiwei were people of great background. How could he not take a gamble?
"Yes, sir!" Niman obeyed.

He then bowed and paid his respects to Zhu Yin.

Zhu Yin helped him up, "Alright, let's set off together as a group of three."

Since we've already taken in Meh, one more Niman won't make a difference.

Both of these young men are capable.

The advantage of the Jurchens was that once they became slaves and acknowledged a master, they were very obedient and their loyalty was relatively reliable.

Next, the three prepared horses, dry rations, and bows and arrows.

Even baby carriers and swaddles are prepared.

Jilan was very reluctant to part with Ning Qingchen, whom she had fed for twenty days, but she couldn't stop Zhu Yin from taking her away.

Black Tiger, whose eyes were already open, should also be taken along.

Soon, Zhu Yin carried Ning Qingchen on his back, Mei He carried Black Tiger on his back, and Ni Man carried a bow and arrows. The three men and three horses arrived at the gate together.

Hundreds of people from the entire village came to see him off, bringing willow branches as a symbol of peace.

Niman and Meh were about to embark on a long journey. According to Jurchen custom, the colorful threads representing their life essence were taken from the "mother's pocket" in the ancestral hall and worn around their necks.

This is the "Dai Suo Li," which is equivalent to the Han Chinese coming-of-age ceremony.

Zhu Yin loudly proclaimed in Jurchen:

"As long as the magpie still perches on Solo's pole, I, Zhu Yin, will always remember everyone's kindness. As long as Mother Nemo still brings snow, I will never forget this fence."

Everyone said in unison, "Master Cuoha Zhan and Mother Foduo will protect you! Yeruli (the Demon King) will not dare to approach you because of your youth and courage! Go, Niu Niu!"

Afterwards, the three mounted their horses, waved goodbye, and set off on their journey.

"Qingchen... my Niu Niu!"

Jilan watched Ning Qingchen being carried away by Zhu Yin, her eyes filled with tears, feeling extremely reluctant to part with him.

Ning Qingchen, carried on Zhu Yin's back, her small body wrapped in the bag, strained to keep her head up as she watched her wet nurse Ji Lan recede into the distance, and couldn't help but cry.

She thought to herself, "Mommy Jilan, I drank your milk for twenty days, I will remember you."

"When I grow up, I will definitely come to see you."

Black Tiger, whose eyes had already opened, was wagging its little tail on Meh's back, watching the mother dog catch up.

It also drank its mother dog's milk for twenty days.

The mother dog was already familiar with its scent.

The mother dog chased for a long time until she crossed a mountain ridge, at which point she stopped.

"Waaah..." Black Tiger barked in a childish voice, its cries sounding somewhat mournful as it watched its mother dog getting further and further away.

(End of this chapter)