The First Movement: Wind and Snow Returning Home
No one saw me off, for I was a returning guest.
The white snow floating on the river is the deepest longing in my heart.
The willow you planted sways in the cold wind
Every branch is your gentle arm.
I have returned home.
May you enter your dreamland tonight.
Wreaths of smoke from kitchen chimneys
Bring me the warmest fragrance
Good! Open your carved doors and windows.
Where are you from?
It brings tears to my eyes.
The place where bamboo horses play
Become an ocean of sorrow.
Not travelers, but old friends visiting again.
Yun Ye's iron horse stood on the bridge, its red cloak fluttering in the cold wind, occasionally shaking off a cluster of white snow. Wang Cai wrapped his belly with a cloth, placed his head on the neck of Yun Ye's mother horse, and tried hard to bite the cloth bag at Yun Ye's waist. Zhang San stopped without disturbing Yun Houye's poetic mood, listening to him muttering some incomprehensible poems. Seeing Yun Ye stop crying like rain, stroking the broken branches of the willow tree with a heartache like a knife twist, the suddenness of parting, the distant reunion, compared to this dreamlike world, he would rather hear his wife's nagging and son's quarreling. Now he is a majestic marquis, three thousand logistics soldiers listen to his orders, riding horses, holding guns, wearing iron armor, mighty and powerful, more heroic than Lü Bu, more majestic than Zhao Yun, but who is all this for? If his wife were here, she would be excited to death, sending countless WeChat messages, making him pose for countless photos, which would be forwarded by everyone online. Without the respectful gaze of his son, all this is just a fleeting illusion, a midnight stroll in brocade!
The mighty army is on the move under the bridge. The old cow looked at Yun Ye, who was having a seizure in the snowy ground, and smiled without paying attention, galloping past with his horse whip. No one could feel Yun Ye's sadness. The vast ancient road, the snow-filled sky, and the sparse willow branches formed a beautiful ancient painting. Why wasn't there the roar of cars? Is this really Xi'an? The driver's loud curses, the city manager's waving wooden stick, the store's discounted prices shouting - these were the scenes Yun Ye most wanted to see. None of them existed, nor was there the loud voice of the people of Guanzhong, nor the familiar dialect that came with every word - is this really Xi'an?
"Report to His Excellency, the vanguard has arrived at the Left Wuwei Grand Camp. The General orders Your Excellency to hurry the rear troops back to the grand camp as soon as possible." The scout's voice interrupted Yun Ye's daydreaming, Old Cheng worried that they wouldn't make it back to the grand camp before nightfall, and the snow was getting heavier.
"Zhuang San Ting, pass down the order, no need to worry about formation, put away armor, five people per vehicle, quick march."
Zhuang San stopped shouting and turned to pass on the order. Fifty veteran soldiers who had reached their service period became Yun Yan's household troops. Although they were a bit old, they had followed Old Cheng through thick and thin and were thoroughly seasoned veterans. Old Cheng considered Yun Yan's situation and specially selected fifty fierce soldiers for him. These old soldiers also knew Yun Yan's circumstances - from having nothing to becoming the Marquis of Lantian County in just eight months, at the age of fifteen, with a wealth of knowledge and extraordinary abilities, and being kind and gentle. What kind of master wouldn't they follow? Now that the young master was still young, what were they waiting for to join the Yun household? Once they became part of the Yun household, their descendants would be set for life for three generations.
Yun Ye looked at the fifty old soldiers, some of whom had white hair. The general's white hair was a sight to behold, but this group of family men didn't shed a single tear, instead they were full of murderous aura, their bodies honed from years of training in the military camp into a ruthless and merciless killing machine. They couldn't be fooled again, or they would become bandits. Just now, when he said they were going home, these killers became excited and shouted loudly. If he told them that each person would get a house to live in, wouldn't they go wild with excitement?
The city walls of Chang'an, like a crouching beast, stretched for dozens of miles in the heavy snow, with seven-story high walls that were majestic to the extreme. The Tang Dynasty flags were blown by the north wind, making a rustling sound, and stood out particularly prominently in this white snowy world.
The power of going home is really strong, the wheels are spinning wildly on the snowy ground, the ox cart is driven like a horse cart, and the horse cart is driven like an automobile. Hundreds of large vehicles arrived at the Left Guard Camp in one hour. The camp is located on the right side of the Golden Light Gate of Chang'an City, near the Western Market, with its back against the city wall, facing the Ba River, covering an area of over 200 mu, surrounded by a low wall made of earth and stone, with arrow towers and battlements densely arranged, forming a tight military fortress.
Yun Ye and his personal soldiers arrived at the camp last, the sky had already darkened. The entrance of the Left Wuwei Camp was surrounded by many people, mostly women, with Cheng Pei's wife nagging nonstop, making Little Cheng uncomfortable. Old Lady Yun lifted the curtain of her carriage, ignoring the heavy snow, and gazed anxiously at the endless line of carriages ahead. Da Ya and Xiao Ya stood on the carriage frame, holding an umbrella and tiptoeing to look far away. A woman in her thirties kept pushing Little Nan into the carriage, causing his discontent, but after many days of nourishment, his face finally had some childish plumpness.
Cheng Chu saw the large cloud character from afar and immediately dismounted his horse, shouting to Cloud Granny: "Granny, Xiao Ye has returned!" The old lady trembled all over and was supported down from the carriage by a nearby woman.
The sound of horseshoes thundered, and more than 50 riders galloped towards them, surrounded by swirling snowflakes. Yun Ye saw the crowd in front of the camp gate, slowed down his horse, came closer, dismounted, removed his helmet, and quickly walked to an elderly woman with white hair. Without guessing or thinking, perhaps due to their innate blood relationship, he recognized the old woman in front of him as his real ancestor at a glance. Having imagined various scenarios for their meeting - sad, joyful, exciting - he had never thought that they would meet on a snowy day like this. There was no passion, no sadness, only a faint joy, smiling as he looked at the elderly woman and bowed: "Grandmother, your grandson is back." Like a wandering son returning home.
The old woman held Yun's face, saying over and over again: "It's true, my grandson is back, it's true, my grandson has come back." Embracing the old woman's frail body, Yun's heart had never been so calm.
"It's snowing too heavily outside, you should go back to the carriage," he said, picking up the old woman and heading towards the carriage. The old woman felt her grandson's strong arms and her endless worries instantly disappeared without a trace.
"Da Ya Xiao Ya? Xiao Nan? Big brother has brought you gifts from Longyou, wait for big brother to finish his military orders, we'll head back home together, I guarantee you'll like them."
Having comforted the three little maidservants, he turned around to look at the woman: "I don't know which elder of Yun Ye you are, please allow me to pay my respects."
"She is your aunt," said the old woman by her side.
"It was Auntie, nephew has shown respect," the woman hurriedly returned the courtesy, looking a bit constrained.
"Then let Auntie take care of Grandma and the three younger sisters, the military camp does not allow you to enter, wait for the young nephew to return with the military order, and then we can meet again as relatives."
