Chapter 9: The Lantern Letter of Liu Cheng

  In ancient times, people had two meals a day. They would have breakfast at dawn and lunch in the late afternoon. Nowadays, it's already past midnight, so they missed dinner, but the commotion this afternoon took up quite some time, and no one had a chance to eat lunch either. After Gong Sunzhu left, the servants quickly brought over the food. Two bowls of millet porridge, several pieces of dry and hard flatbread, a large plate of stewed mutton soup that was falling apart and emitting a pungent smell.

  Liu Ze was seriously injured and could only be fed by Liu Bei with a spoon. Liu Ze silently chewed his food, feeling an urge to vomit, damn it! Is this something humans can eat? The flatbread was so hard it almost cut his throat, and the mutton soup was even more extreme, with only a hint of salt flavor, no other seasonings were added, except for the smell of sheep's wool, there was no other flavor. If this dish were to be served in a restaurant in later generations, I estimate that customers would definitely deduct points from the chef's head.

  But to be able to eat such a meal with rice and meat in the Han Dynasty, it would have been possible only for aristocratic families like Gong Sun's. Ordinary people might not even have had a chance to smell it. Salt was a luxury item, a bag of salt cost more than a life, let alone flavorings like chicken essence, which wouldn't be invented for over 1,700 years. In his daze, Liu Ze seemed to catch the scent of his wife's cooking - the aroma of braised pork ribs, sweet and sour carp, and spicy diced chicken... The smell was enough to give someone a heart attack.

  Liu Ze shook his head, casting aside the illusion, and came to a realization that life is truly precious. He cherished everything in front of him, and in this chaotic world, he strove to carve out his own domain, grasping his destiny firmly in his own hands, no longer becoming a fish to be slaughtered at will. This would undoubtedly become the goal for which he would strive and struggle.

  Perhaps due to his young body, or perhaps due to the effectiveness of the Gong Sun family's medicine, Liu Ze's injury healed quickly, and it only took two or three days for the wound to scab over. However, in order for the swelling to subside and the injury to fully recover, it would likely take another ten or so days.

  These days, Gongsun Zan comes over every day to ask about the cold and warmth, sending some ginseng and deer velvet supplements, while also bringing news from outside. Gongsun Yang came to Liu City this time, following the order of Zhao Bao, the Taishou of Liaoxi, to welcome the mother and wife of the Taishou. However, before they arrived in Liu City, they were ambushed by Xianbei people on the way and taken away. After receiving the news, Gongsun Yang dispatched cavalry to try to rescue them, but failed after several battles. It is clear that this time the Xianbei people are not just a small group of robbers, but a large-scale invasion with thousands of cavalrymen gathering around Liu City, threatening to besiege it. Gongsun Yang only brought 1,000 cavalrymen and added the family troops of the Gongsun clan in Liu City, totaling about 3,000 men, so he did not dare to fight again and could only defend the city and wait for reinforcements.

  "Didn't the imperial court dispatch three armies led by Xia Yu and others to attack the Xianbei? Why do the Xianbei still have spare troops to harass Liaoxi?" Liu Ze knew that in the sixth year of the Xi Ping era, Emperor Ling of Han had sent out three armies to conquer the Xianbei, and at this time they were probably engaged in fierce battle.

  Gongsun Zan shook his head and sighed, "Indeed, since August, the imperial court has dispatched three large armies to conquer the Xianbei. The Protector of the Wuhuan, Xia Yu, the Breaking Xianbei General, Tian Yan, and the Xiongnu General, Zang Yin, each led over 10,000 cavalrymen from Gaoliu, Yunzhong, and Yumen Passes, but unfortunately, they were defeated in one battle after another, losing all their supplies and suffering heavy casualties, with seven or eight out of ten soldiers killed. The Xianbei people became even more arrogant and launched a large-scale invasion into the passes."

  Emperor Ling of Han was also ambitious, wanting to emulate Emperor Wu of Han's northern expedition against the Huns and seal off the wolves at the gate. Unfortunately, Emperor Ling could not be another Emperor Wu, and his generals were no match for Wei Qing and Huo Qubing. As soon as they left the border, their army was completely defeated, which only boosted the morale of the Xianbei people. The northern borders never had a peaceful day again.

  Liu Ze couldn't help but sigh and lament that the troubles caused by the northern barbarians had been plaguing China since the Western Zhou dynasty. The magnificent Great Wall had never been able to stop the iron hooves of the barbarians from invading the south. After the Qin, Han, and Three Kingdoms periods, the Chinese nation was almost destroyed.

  Resisting foreign tribes is not something that can be accomplished overnight or with just passion. Emperor Ling's thoughts were too naive, and the consequences were cruel and severe.

  Liu Bei anxiously said: "The Xianbei are so ferocious, I don't know if Liu City can be defended."

  Gongsun Zan was confident and said calmly, "Brother, rest assured that the construction of Liu City's Wubao has always been a top priority for our family. Although it is not yet fully completed, the scale of the fortress has taken shape, and there is enough grain stored to last half a year. Even if the Xianbei people attack with all their might, they won't be able to take it down in three or five months." Wubao was a defensive fortification built by local powerful families during the Han Dynasty for self-protection. The walls were high and strong, the houses inside were connected, and there were deep trenches outside. Grain and grass were stored inside, and strong soldiers were stationed there. This type of Wubao was common in border areas and could effectively block the harassment of Hu barbarian cavalry.

  Liu Bei let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, I'm glad to hear that."

  Gongsun Zan sighed and said, "Relying on the solidity of Wu's fortress, self-preservation is not a problem, but Zhao Taishou's mother and wife have fallen into the hands of the Xianbei people, which is a thorny issue. My second brother urgently wants to send news to Zhao Taishou in the county town, asking him to dispatch troops for rescue, but the Xianbei people have surrounded Liu City like an iron barrel, and my second brother has tried several times to break through but failed. The longer time drags on, the more likely it is that Madam Zhao will be in danger of losing her life, and my second brother has been worried about this for days."

  Liu Ze was deeply grateful for Gongsun Zan's kindness in saving his life, and often thought about how to repay him. After hearing Gongsun Zan's words, he had an idea and said, "May I go out and take a look?"

  Gongsun Zan couldn't help but feel a little puzzled. "Does younger brother have a way to spread the news?"

  "My little brother has come up with some ideas, but we need to take a look at the actual site."

  "Alright! But younger brother's injury has not fully recovered yet, he needs rest."

  Liu Ze smiled and said, "Thanks to Second Master's rescue, I was able to keep my life intact. If I can help alleviate Second Master's worries, it would be a way for me to repay his kindness. My body is no longer in great danger, so let's go out and take a look first."

  Gongsun Zan nodded. Liu Ze's clothes had long been rotten and shapeless, so Gongsun Zan specially brought him a few sets of scholar's clothes. When Liu Ze changed his clothes, he felt dizzy and couldn't figure out how to wear them properly. Fortunately, Liu Bei helped him, and Liu Ze finally dressed up and went up to the city gate with him.

  Although ancient war scenes are often seen in movies and TV dramas, Liu Ze had never actually been on a battlefield before. From the city wall, Liu Ze couldn't help but gasp at the sight below. The Xianbei cavalry was galloping wildly, their horses' hooves kicking up clouds of dust that rose high into the air. In the distance, the sound of thousands of horses thundering across the plain was awe-inspiring, a magnificent spectacle that seemed to shake the heavens.

  Just as Liu Ze bent down to take a closer look, an arrow flew towards his face with a whistling sound. Liu Ze was momentarily stunned and didn't know how to dodge. Luckily, Gongsun Zan was quick-witted and pulled him over to the back of the city wall. The arrow hit the door frame of the city tower with a loud "clang" and got stuck in the wood, its feathers still quivering.

  Liu Ze couldn't help but let out a cry of surprise and wiped his forehead with his hand, only to realize that his entire back was cold.

  Gongsun Zan smiled faintly and said, "The Xianbei cavalry is skilled in archery, younger brother must not show his head on the city wall, otherwise a single arrow from the Xianbei can pierce through you."

  Liu Ze was bewildered and nodded, it was his first time on the battlefield, he couldn't help but be confused.

  "What about the situation in the city, I suppose you've seen it too? Have you thought of a way to send a message to Prefect Zhao?" Gong Sun was most concerned about this matter. As for Liu Ze's clumsy performance, he didn't really care. Many people wet their pants on their first battlefield, and compared to that, Liu Ze's performance wasn't too embarrassing.

  "But I don't know which direction Liao Xi County is in or how far it is from here?"

  "The city of Liaoxi County is in Yang Le, from here going east, after traveling 180 miles you will arrive."

  "One hundred and eighty li?" Liu Ze muttered to himself, it's too far. Originally, Liu Ze thought that if the county towns were not far apart, he could light a beacon fire in Liu City, and the other side of the county town would definitely be able to see it. Using beacon fires to transmit messages was not a method thought of by Liu Ze, but rather an ancient method that had been used since the Great Wall was built. Every few li along the Great Wall, there was a beacon tower, and when enemy invaders were spotted, the beacon fire would be lit, and the message would be transmitted to distant places one tower at a time. But with a distance of one hundred and eighty li, even if it were Han li, which is equivalent to nearly one hundred modern li, it's likely that Yang Le on the other side wouldn't be able to see it.

  Liu Ze walked back and forth on the city wall with his hands behind him, suddenly catching sight of the slightly fluttering flag. Isn't it a west wind now? Got it!

  "Brother Bo Gui, I've thought of a plan, but it requires some items. Do you know if they can be found in the city?"

  "My dear brother, please speak." Gong Sun Zan was overjoyed.

  "Some thin willow branches, some hemp paper and candles." Willow branches and hemp paper are ordinary things, only candles are rare, although candles were invented in the Eastern Han Dynasty, they were expensive and ordinary people could not afford them.

  But for the Gong Sun family, this was nothing. Gong Sun Zan personally ran down and soon brought back a large bundle of willow branches, a large pile of hemp paper, and dozens of thick wax candles.

  Liu Ze wove thin willow branches into a square frame, pasted hemp paper on all five sides of the frame, leaving only one side at the bottom empty, and tied candles to the bracket at the bottom.

  Gongsun Zan and Liu Bei were both perplexed, unable to understand how Liu Ze's contraption could transmit messages over a hundred miles away to Yang Le City. When they asked Liu Ze again, he just smiled without saying a word.

  What Liu Ze did was exactly the Kongming lantern, and in history, Zhuge Liang made Kongming lanterns to transmit military information and call for reinforcements after being surrounded by enemies. The method of making this Kongming lantern is simple, using the principle that air heats up and rises. When Liu Ze was in elementary school, he had already made Kongming lanterns with his own hands, and now it's a familiar routine. Although Zhuge Liang has not been born yet, due to Liu Ze's rebirth, the Kongming lantern appeared ahead of time, but this name seems to need to be changed, and it doesn't seem quite appropriate to call it Kongming lantern anymore.

  At this time, Gong Sunyang was patrolling here and saw Liu Ze fiddling with an unfamiliar object, which made him very curious. Gong Sun told him that Liu Ze had a way to report the news in this room to Yang Le. Gong Sun had been worried about this matter for two days, and when he heard it, he became very interested and asked Liu Ze if it was feasible.

  Liu Ze patted his chest to guarantee that by tomorrow morning at the latest, Yang Lecheng would definitely receive news of the battle from Liu Cheng. Gong Sunqian was overjoyed and immediately sent some people over to help Liu Ze make Kongming lanterns. By nightfall, dozens of Kongming lanterns had been made, each with a military report tied to its bottom. Since it was impossible to determine the flight speed of the Kongming lanterns, Liu Ze specially carved the candles into different lengths so that when the candle burned out, the lantern would fall, and since the time the lanterns spent flying in the air varied, it was guaranteed that some would definitely land in Yang Lecheng or its surroundings.

  Dozens of Kongming lanterns were lined up in a row, and Liu Ze personally lit them one by one. Under the gaze of the crowd, these Kongming lanterns seemed to have grown wings, slowly rising into the air like magic. In the gentle breeze of the west wind, they drifted slowly towards the east. In the dark night sky, dozens of Kongming lanterns shone like dozens of bright stars, shining brightly.

  Gongsun Yang couldn't help but exclaim: "To think of such a wonderful plan, Liu brothers are indeed divine!"

  "This method was taught by my family's master, he is an old man who knows the heavens and the earth, has a deep understanding of ancient and modern knowledge. As for me, I only learned some superficial techniques." Liu Ze had no way to tell the truth, so he could only push these onto his "deceased master".

  "This thing was first created by my younger brother, and it has not been named yet. My younger brother may give it a name, how about that?" Gong Sun Zan also couldn't help but praise the lamp, if the news really reached Yang Le, Liu Ze would have made the first achievement."

  Liu Ze pondered for a moment and said: "This lamp was made in Liu City, and it's also used for sending messages. Why don't we call it the Liu City Message Lamp?"

  Everyone shouted in unison, and then looked at the distant light of Liu Cheng's letter, which gradually moved further away, slowly disappearing into the vast night sky.