Chapter One: This Road I Have Taken

  It's the season of spring, and the willow branches by the roadside are sprouting new green shoots. The tender buds are like babies, soft and full of vitality. The stubborn grass has pushed aside the small stones that were weighing it down, stretched its waist, and slowly unfolded its body. The dew drops sparkle like a string of pearls hanging from the grass's neck, and when the sunlight shines on them, they reveal a unique and enchanting beauty of youth.

  Ba Prefecture to You Prefecture, the wide and flat official road was not crowded with travelers. In the sixth year of Daye, many villages in Hebei had their able-bodied men conscripted to Bianzhou and Songzhou to dig canals, now that the project is nearing completion, a group of sturdy young men on the official road were laborers returning home from Songzhou.

  Although the money left in their hands after layer upon layer of exploitation was not much, having been away from home for over a year, each person had a bulging package behind them filled with thousands of bright yellow dried meats. At that time, although the corrupt wind on the official scene had already spread, only at the beginning of Emperor Yang of Sui's reign did the governance still bear the influence of the Kaihuang period, and officials did not dare to extort too much from the common people.

  These seven or eight men were all farmers from a small village called Fangcheng, one hundred and thirty miles north of Ba Prefecture. After finishing their work in Songzhou, they received their wages and agreed to return home together. Although the journey back from Songzhou was long and arduous, and the world was still relatively peaceful, no one dared say that they wouldn't encounter a few bandits who would take their money and lives. By traveling together, they could look out for each other, and being fellow villagers, they also trusted one another.

  They all carried a five or six foot long stick in their hands, chatting and laughing as they hurried along. The so-called stick was just a nice name, it was actually just a wooden stick over a meter long. During the Kaicheng period of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, an edict was issued to confiscate all weapons under heaven. Ordinary people were not allowed to carry private knives, but sticks did not fall within the category of weapons.

  "Wu Sange, today let's walk a few more steps and stay overnight at Niutou Village, how about that?"

  A young man who looked like he was eighteen or nineteen years old wiped his nose with his sleeve and asked the sturdy man walking in front of him. His name was Li Sanfu, a common name without any courtesy name, a peasant, not so particular about these things. The kid from the neighboring Xu family always made fun of his name for being unrefined, but wasn't that guy's name also unrefined? He was called Li Sanfu, and that good-for-nothing who only knew how to scold people was called Xu Sanduo, courtesy name Wangcai.

  After asking the question, he subconsciously patted the heavy package on his back, feeling that the money was still there, and his heart felt at ease. These people have been away from home for so long, working hard in the river channel, just to earn some money to make their lives a little better.

  That sturdy man was named Wu Lailu, the third in line at home. He was the leader of a group of people from Fangcheng who went out to sell their labor. Above him were two short-lived elder brothers, neither of whom lived beyond three months. In fact, he was the eldest in his family.

  It's also unknown whether it was his two older brothers who accumulated their longevity and good fortune to give to this youngest one, Wu Lai Lu not only grew up into a strong adult but also became as robust as an ox. He is also in high spirits, 34 years old this year, with a son and a daughter at home. When his daughter was less than a month old, he left the village for Songzhou. Now thinking about it, his daughter has already passed her first birthday. Thinking of his wife who had to take care of their parents and children all by herself, working hard to get through this year and more, Wu Lai Lu couldn't help but feel some guilt in his heart.

  "San Fu, it will take at least six or seven more hours to reach Niutou Village. By then, the sky will be dark. Although the official road is peaceful, traveling in the dark doesn't feel secure. Third Brother knows you miss home, don't we all? Let's hurry up now and try to arrive at Dongbeishan Village by noon. We can eat something there and set off again. Before nightfall, we should be able to reach Linchengpu, where we'll spend the night. Tomorrow morning, if we get up early, we'll be home by noon."

  Liu Wazi is the oldest person in this small group. When others ask him about his age, he always lies and says he's a few years younger. The village posted a notice recruiting people to work on the Tongji Canal in Songzhou, requiring able-bodied men under 40 years old. He's actually 51 years old, but he insists he's 39. Since he has no one else to support at home, he can eat his fill and not worry about anyone else going hungry. Working on the canal is hard labor, but it provides food and lodging, and he can also earn over a thousand coppers, so why wouldn't he do it?

  Looking at Li Sanfu's anxious appearance, Liu Laizi smiled and said: "Sanfu, you little rascal, are you in a hurry to go home and marry your wife? Don't worry, even if you return one day late, that little girl from Pengjiazhuang won't be able to escape! When you left, she was only as tall as a small blade of grass, now when you come back, she's just blooming into a beautiful flower!"

  Li Sanfu's face turned red at his words and he defended himself: "I... I won't marry an old woman, I just miss my mother."

  Wu Sange laughed and said, "Lai Zi Shu, don't make fun of San Fu anymore. Instead, you work hard to earn money for good meat, but don't put it all in the belly of those seductive women at Bao Yue Lou."

  Liu Wuzi smiled wryly: "Where can I? This money will come in handy!"

  Li Sanfu curiously asked: "Lai Zi Shu, what's the use of keeping money?"

  Liu Bei gritted his teeth: "I want to adopt a child and raise him, the incense of the old Liu family can't be cut off in my hands!"

  Everyone was stunned, and then they changed their impression of Liu Beizi, this old scoundrel who was proficient in eating, drinking, whoring and gambling.

  Just then, a crisp and clear ringing sound came from behind, followed by a loud shout: "People in front, hurry up and make way, you've startled my big green donkey, be careful not to get your buttocks kicked!"

  The crowd turned around to look, and saw that several horse-drawn carriages had arrived from behind. The horse pulling the front carriage was a spirited-looking blue-gray mule. The driver wore a straw hat on his head, and his clothes were made of fine silk with black boots, clearly indicating that he came from a wealthy family. The crowd were all from humble rural families, although they disliked the driver's arrogance, they didn't dare to provoke him, so they quietly gave way to let the carriage pass.

  Those who were driving the carriage saw everyone making way and hummed to themselves, "You'd better know what's good for you, otherwise the whip will tear your skin apart."

  This person speaks crudely and has a very awkward accent.

  He was just boasting, but saw that the carriage's curtain opened a slit, and a small girl poked her head out of the slit and said: "Gao Taihu, the young lady is still in the car, and you're full of dirty words, be careful with your skin!"

  This little girl is not yet fifteen years old, looking like she's only twelve or thirteen. She looks very delicate and pretty, but her eyebrows are full of dislike for the car driver. The car driver seems to be afraid of this little girl, hurriedly apologizing and no longer daring to speak loudly.

  Wu Lailu stood by the side of the road, waiting for all the carriages to pass before continuing on his way. There were three carriages in total, and they looked quite luxurious, probably belonging to an official's family. It was still early after leaving Ba Zhou, so it was likely that some noble family's relatives were going out for a spring outing. Wu Lailu had always tried to avoid these high-ranking people whenever possible. Firstly, he couldn't afford to provoke them, and secondly, he found them repulsive.

  Everyone was watching the distant carriage shadow and guessing whose carriage it was. Suddenly, a horseshoe sound came from behind. The crowd had learned from the previous lesson and made way without waiting for the person behind to speak. Before they could turn their heads, the horse had already rushed past, brushing against the crowd's bodies. Liu Zei was slow to dodge and almost got knocked down by the horse. He was a rascal at heart, and in anger, he cursed out loud. The knight on the horseback turned his head and gave him a cold look, but didn't respond. However, that one glance was like a knife, as if it had pierced directly into Liu Zei's heart.

  "What's wrong?!"

  Wu Lailu looked at the galloping horse and whispered three words in disbelief.

  "Third brother, what did you say just now?"

  Li Sanfu leaned over and asked.

  Nothing, nothing at all.

  Wu Lai Lu's face changed, but he didn't explain anything to Li San Fu. He was afraid that if he explained, it would scare these timid companions. Bo Da Wu is a famous breed of horse from the Khitan people outside the Great Wall, worth thousands of gold, and even the Khitan royal family takes pride in owning a purebred Bo Da Wu. Wu Lai Lu had been to the territory of the Khitan people north of the Great Wall before and had a deep impression of this fine horse. A fine horse alone cannot scare people, and the rider on its back does not seem to be from the Khitan people of the northern grasslands either. Wu Lai Lu's face changed because he happened to know that within hundreds of miles around Youzhou, there were only two places where such a fine horse could be found.

  The first place was in the army of Luo Yi, the Tiger General of Youzhou.

  The second place is Tie Fotou, the largest and most ferocious horse thief on the border of Hebei.

  Liu Wuzi leaned in close to Wu Lai Lu's side, his face cold and speaking in a low voice: "Old Three, it seems that today we can't rush on the road."

  Wu Lailu nodded, and the man riding a horse behind him was obviously the one who had been stepping on the pedals.

  It can't be the Youzhou Tiger Elite Cavalry, so it must be those cannibalistic horse bandits.

  Liu Wuzi sighed and said, "There should be a delicate young lady in that car, it seems she won't have a good ending. I don't know which gang of thieves has taken a liking to her, what bad luck!"

  Wu Lailu said in a low voice: "Tiefutu"

  Three words, Liu Bei's face changed instantly, and he couldn't even move his feet. His body trembled involuntarily, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back immediately.

  "I'm staying overnight in Dongbei'an Village today and will leave early tomorrow!"

  Wu Lailu said a sentence without any doubt, and didn't explain. But in his heart, he was worried about those people in the car.

  He was walking with his head down, when suddenly a boy of about ten years old flashed out from behind a stone by the side of the road. The boy was wearing a short jacket, which looked like it was of good quality and workmanship, but there were several stains of black grease on the chest area, as well as quite a bit of dust. On his straight black hair, there were still a few tender green leaves stuck to it, and just by looking at his clothes, he seemed like a beggar boy. However, this boy had a handsome and delicate face that made people feel very comfortable when they looked at him. His lips were red and his teeth were white, and if he were a few years older and wearing brocade clothes, he would definitely be a refined young gentleman.

  He held a hard bow that was almost as tall as him in his hand, with a quiver tied behind his back. The quiver was filled to the brim with dozens of feathered arrows, and on one side of the quiver hung an unsheathed, peculiarly-shaped snow-white dagger.

  "This tree was planted by me, this road was opened by me. If you want to pass through here... just get out of the way quickly, don't go any further."

  A handsome young man, holding a hard bow as tall as him, with a feathered arrow in his right hand, looking at the seven or eight strong men without any fear, but instead with a hint of a sly smile.

  Note 1: Rou Bao, . Emperor Wen of Sui re-cast the Wu Zhu coin and prohibited the inferior coins issued during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. This coin, "the back is good meat, all have a circumference, each coin weighs four liang two taels", so it was called Rou Bao by the people. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, it circulated as currency nationwide along with silk fabrics.

  Note 2: This chi is a Han chi, approximately equal to 23.1 centimeters per chi.

  Note 3: Jiāo zhuāng, in ancient times, a girl was called jiāo zhuāng at the age of fifteen.

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