Post-38th symptom
The sky has never seen a large goose from start to finish, the north goose flying south is just a legend, and Longyou is indeed a desolate place. The three-mile city and seven-mile suburbs are the most realistic portrayal of Lanzhou City. The entire city was built on the mountain, with walls only about 10 feet high and 6 feet thick, made of rammed yellow earth. The battlements on the female wall were like an old man's sunken mouth. The Tang-style flags inserted on the city gate also hung down limply. Except for the occasional soldiers patrolling the city walls, the entire city was as quiet as a dead city. It's almost winter, and what should be a bustling trading season is about to become a ghost town.
Yun Yan pulled the reins, and the big green horse stopped its hooves reluctantly. Behind him, Cheng Chu Mo, Chang Sun Chong, and Li Huai Ren had become chatterboxes, talking for the sake of talking, without knowing what they were saying. This was a leftover symptom after being locked up in prison.
Here is the translation:
Just thinking about the three of them being released, Yun Yan couldn't help but laugh. Chang Sun Chong burst into loud sobs, hugging Li Chengqian tightly and refusing to let go, with tears and snot all over the Crown Prince's robes. This was not something that could be blamed on anyone, so they just had to let Chang Sun Chong hug him.
Li Huai Ren, the Iron Man, was like a soft puddle of mud as he was carried out by the prison guards, his eyes lifeless, his lips dry and cracked, and making strange "wu wu" noises from his throat. Cheng Chu Mo, on the other hand, put on the best show, with an air of disdain, looking down on the first two men before turning to the military officer and saying: "What's going on? I was just sleeping for four days in there, my muscles all relaxed, and I was just about to get up and do some exercises when you chased me out. You little insect, you're really not worthy of being a man." Although his words were bold, his trembling legs betrayed the fear in his heart.
The military officer was also a clever person, responding: "Cheng Chu Mo is truly our model, after four days of confinement, his heroic spirit has not diminished one bit. Iron Man, the General's orders are clear: if anyone disobeys, they will be locked up for another four days." When Cheng Chu Mo heard this, he immediately sat down on the ground, shouting "Save me!" at the top of his lungs.
The passing soldiers all looked over in surprise, these three iron men who didn't even flinch when beaten with military rods had been reduced to a state of terror after just four days of confinement. From then on, the soldiers of the Left Guard would rather be beaten than choose to be confined.
Three days passed, and the three of them finally recovered. According to Long Sun Chong, that cell was not fit for human habitation. The low walls seemed like they would collapse at any moment, burying themselves under the rubble. All they could hear were their own breathing and heartbeat sounds. The prison guards didn't say a word, no matter how many times you asked them. Every day, they only brought food, water, and exchanged new chamber pots for the old ones. There was no other sound. Not even a fart would be heard, at least that would be some kind of noise.
Li Huai Ren grasped Yun Yan's hand tightly, thanking him repeatedly for stopping him from being locked up by Niu Mo Wang in the past. Now, thinking about it made his hair stand on end. If he had been locked up that time, he probably wouldn't have come out alive. This time, at least they had each other's company, and thinking about it made them feel more at ease. So, they managed to get through four days; otherwise, they might not have lasted two days.
Cheng Chu Mo also had lingering fears. The four of them swore never to enter the isolation cell again. Li Cheng Qian, on the other hand, planned to implement an isolation system in the Crown Prince's residence as well. Those who were locked up last time all had psychological trauma.
General Cheng is a good man, knowing that several of us have suffered, he specially dispatched Yun Ye, Cheng Chumu Langsun, and Li Huairou to Lanzhou City to hand over the salt field affairs to the county magistrate. After all, this salt field was established by the military, now although it has been handed over to local authorities, you can't just take it for nothing, at least some compensation is needed. A fat post, a very fat post, the army doesn't lack those broken things, just some cattle, stone mills, and wooden buckets. Sending them here isn't expecting to recover much money or silk. Considering the four of us have suffered, give some compensation, after all, Langsun Wuji and Li Xiangong's face also need to be considered.
Here is the translation:
The imperial guard entered the city to report, and they waited outside without permission. Even Cheng Yaojin didn't dare to disobey, let alone these four young men. Before long, the imperial guard brought a cow cart over, creaking and groaning. Without waiting for the four men to dismount, a stout figure struggled to get down from the cart. A green official robe was tightly wrapped around his body, making him look like a silkworm. A middle-aged man with a goat-like beard in a scholar's robe helped the stout man, looking quite exhausted. The stout man, Liu Fulu, bowed and greeted them: "Your subordinate Liu Fulu has seen the four generals. Generals, you have come from afar, and your subordinate is guilty of not welcoming you properly." Normally, these three men wouldn't even give him a proper look, but today was different. They had been sent on official business, so they couldn't be arrogant.
Yun Heng jumped down from his horse to help up Liu Fulu, smiling and saying: "Liu sir is too polite. I am Yun Heng, the son of Cloud County, and I have come under the orders of General Cheng Yaojin to discuss the Yellow River salt fields with you. Please take care of us." Yun Heng knew that it was easy to meet with high-ranking officials but difficult to deal with low-ranking ones. In his past life, a document would need to be stamped by ten or more departments, and everyone would want a share of the benefits. The Tang Dynasty was probably no exception, so he didn't dare to slight Liu Fulu.
He took out an official document from his sleeve and handed it to Liu Fulu, but saw that the latter didn't even look at it before putting it in his sleeve. Liu's fat face smiled, making his features bunch up: "Of course, of course, your subordinate will naturally follow General Cheng Yaojin's orders. Since the sun is already setting, I have prepared some wine and dishes to welcome you four young generals." Yun Heng looked up at the sun that had just risen and felt a bit strange - was it really getting late? Longsun Chong chimed in: "Hmph, although we are military men with strict orders not to enter the city without reason, since the sun is setting, we will reluctantly enter the city to rest for a while."
Good grief, County Magistrate Liu is just giving my brothers an excuse to enter the city. Fortunately, Zhangsun Chong is well aware of this and takes advantage of the situation to enter Lanzhou City with great difficulty under the repeated invitations of the county magistrate and his attendants.
The dilapidated exterior cannot conceal the prosperity within. Passing through the city walls, it's not far to the inner city. No wonder people can't be seen; they're all gathered in the inner city. Bags of salt are stamped with official marks and loaded onto ox carts heading out of the west gate towards the border. The Left Wuwei Garrison is on the east side; no one dares to casually visit the military camp, lest they be mistaken for a spy and meet with disaster. I reckon local authorities have also explicitly ordered citizens not to disturb the troops.
Yun Yan didn't expect that the salt-making method he had inadvertently taught would form an industry in Lanzhou. He saw a steady stream of ox carts loaded with salt from the salt fields entering through the north gate, porters carrying bundles, accountants weighing goods, and merchants wearing coarse linen clothes but looking very proud, mixed with women's soft laughter, children's crying, and peddlers' loud hawking, forming a lively market scene. A man with a red beard and brown eyes, wrapped in white cloth, approached Yun Yan and the others to sell them colorful gemstones from outside the region. The man was not deterred when they showed no interest, and he pulled over a Hu woman wearing a veil, patted her plump buttocks, and showed off her fiery figure to the group.
