The Journey Home (Part 10)
When I rode my horse to Yanziping, I found Liu Xingjian sitting alone at his desk, twisting paper flowers with a pair of scissors.
I peered out the window and called out, "Mr. Liu!"
Wei Ji took Liu's hand and said, "Mr. Liu."
"Qingcheng, Jizhou! Come in and sit down."
Liu Xingjian put down his work, went to the side, and brought over two cups of brewed tea.
I thanked him and accepted the paper: "Mr. Liu, you have such a refined taste, staying in the house all by yourself cutting paper. Where is Madam Wang?"
"Liu Yu and Xu Shan were having some kind of pitch-pot competition, and she went too."
"Interesting!" I took a sip of tea and asked curiously, "Then why don't you go?"
Liu Xingjian waved his hand and laughed: "It's been a long time since I've touched an arrow. I missed three times. She thought I was embarrassing her there, so she sent me back to cut paper snowflakes."
I chuckled. Wei Ji clenched his fist against the tip of his nose, his brows furrowed, and his sleeves swayed slightly.
Liu Xingjian fiddled with the paper-cut window decorations and sighed, "I've spent half an hour cutting these few pieces. When I get back, I'm sure I'll get a scolding again."
I smiled and picked up the scissors: "I'll help you!"
Wei Ji also took the red paper, flattened it, folded it in half, and folded it into a polygonal shape, then pushed it to my side.
If he folds four corners, I will cut bamboo to symbolize peace; if it is six corners, I will twist them into a peony symbolizing wealth and honor.
He folded and I cut, and Liu Xingjian then spread out the paper patterns and smoothed them out. Before long, a stack of them was laid out on the table.
Liu Xingjian said repeatedly, "Enough, enough! This is too efficient!" He stared at me and Wei Ji and said, "You two didn't come to Yanziping just to help me cut paper snowflakes, did you?"
I glanced at Wei Ji: "I am, but he doesn't know."
Wei Ji hesitated for a moment, then said, "I came to tell you that after the New Year, I will be going to Luzhou to take up my post."
"You got promoted?"
"You've been promoted!"
Before I could finish speaking, Liu Xingjian and I looked at each other and smiled.
I picked up the teacup with both hands: "Congratulations, Lord Wei! Congratulations, Lord Wei! Qingcheng toasts you with tea instead of wine!"
Liu Xingjian also said, "Congratulations! Congratulations!"
Wei Ji stood up: "It is my turn to toast you both."
Liu Xingjian poured more water from the kettle and asked with a smile, "Are you going to Luzhou to take up the post of Prefect of Luzhou and concurrently Prefect of Changning Army?"
Wei Ji nodded: "Exactly."
I took a sip of tea and casually asked, "Since you took Xiong Botong's job, where did he go?"
“Botong…” Wei Ji glanced at me, “is about to be transferred to Rongzhou and concurrently serve as the supervisor of Fushun.”
Liu Xingjian then asked, "What about the former prefect of Rongzhou?"
"Lord Wang has been promoted to Transport Commissioner of Zizhou Circuit."
Liu Xingjian pondered for a moment, then suddenly stood up: "Is Lord Fu Qiu, the former Transport Commissioner of Zizhou Circuit—who is now in charge of the Pacification of Shimen Prefecture, and is responsible for the court's pacification efforts—going to the capital to become a prime minister?"
"Judging from Lord Wang's words, this is indeed the case."
Liu Xingjian looked excited, turned around and went to the bookshelf, took out a map, and I took one of the scroll ends, slowly unfolded it and laid it on the table.
"Look!" Liu Xingjian pointed to the Luo Kingdom on the scroll. "The three Yi tribes of the Bodao region successively surrendered to the Song Dynasty. The Luo Kingdom is now bordered by Luzhou to the north, Kuizhou Road to the east, and Shimen Fan to the west. It is surrounded by Song territory on three sides, with only the southwest corner still connected to Dali."
"The Ghost Lord of the Luo Clan Kingdom was enfeoffed by the previous dynasty and later surrendered to Dali. In recent years, he has become hostile to the former kingdom, refused to pay tribute, and plotted to establish himself independently. As for Dali, the Luo Clan's power has already been established. With its national strength, it is already difficult enough to resist the invasion of the Tubo Kingdom in the north. It has no strength left to control the Luo Clan."
Wei Ji said, "This time, the Luo family's attempt to instigate the rebellion in Yan and win over the Shimen tribe to seek independence failed. They will likely negotiate an alliance with Dali again. Given Dali's current situation, they will certainly hope that the Luo family will maintain the status quo and continue to act as a barrier between it and our dynasty."
“Indeed,” Liu Xingjian said with a sigh. “The entire territory of the Luo clan is filled with mountains and valleys, but less than one-tenth of it is arable land. The local nobles, for the benefit of their own family and clan, disregard the interests of the vast majority of their people, neglecting education and keeping the people ignorant and exhausted.”
"The borders of this great nation are all built with the blood and tears of the border people. For the sake of the people of our Song Dynasty, and for the sake of the people of Luo, now is the time to seek our return!"
Seeing Wei Ji's cautious expression, I asked Liu Xingjian, "So, this time the court is changing generals in the southwest to prepare for pacifying the Luo family?"
Liu Xingjian nodded: "Botong is good at suppressing, and Jizhou is good at pacifying. The well salt of Fushun produces 300,000 strings of cash in taxes every year, but corrupt officials frequently emerge. In the past ten years, three supervisors have fallen from power, and even high-ranking eunuchs from the Inner Palace have been implicated."
"The fact that Bo Tong, who has been stationed in the border town for many years, was transferred here at this time must mean that the higher authorities have made up their minds to punish corruption and eliminate greed, and to strictly supervise and manage the troops. The Changning Army is an important force in the southwest, and it is particularly good at mountain warfare. The fact that it is under the command of Ji Zhou means that the higher authorities intend to cease hostilities and allow the troops to recuperate."
"One of them is rich, and the other is an army. The court's current strategy to deal with the Luo family is to appease them, using both kindness and force to bring them under control and to integrate the entire southwest region."
Wei Ji clasped hands and said, "Wei Ji has suddenly understood. Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Liu."
“Ji Zhou, you flatter me.” Liu Xingjian waved his hand with a smile. “If you and Botong can work together to make this happen, punish the tyrannical and save the people, expand the territory and make achievements, you will surely rise to high positions and become prime ministers in the future.”
Wei Ji earnestly said, "In this life, I do not seek a successful official career. I only wish that the people of my border region can live and work in peace and contentment like the people of the Central Plains, so that they can reap wheat and millet as they sow."
"The barbarians and the Chinese are one, the four seas share the same sky; the six directions are in harmony, the universe is unified. What more could one ask for!" Liu Xingjian recited in high spirits, and I clapped my hands in response.
Wei Ji continued, "If it weren't for your two wise plans during this invasion of the Shimen barbarians, I would have already lost my head, and Yuezhou would have fallen into enemy hands. You have saved my life and my future. If you ever need my help in the future, I hope you will remember me as your friend."
I laughed and said, "You reap what you sow. What the people plant in their hearts will grow. Lord Wei's kind heart and good deeds will naturally bear good fruit."
Liu Xingjian clapped his hands: "Qingcheng is right. We are all in the same boat, why should we distinguish between ourselves?"
Wei Ji looked at him and said, "I plan to submit your merits to the court. Perhaps we can obtain an imperial decree to help you and Lady Wang get rid of your exile status and return to your homeland."
Liu Xingjian frowned: "Has Ji Zhou forgotten why he came to Yuezhou in the first place? What if he offends the Emperor again because of his memorial to the throne? What will happen then?"
Wei Ji smiled calmly: "I didn't care back then, and I care even less now."
"Foolish!" Liu Xingjian scolded, "Your personal exile is a small matter, but if it delays the great cause of unifying the southwest, wouldn't that put me, Liu Xingjian, in an unjust position? Besides, with my wife by my side, the gentle breeze and bright moon, the bamboo shadows and plum blossoms, how is it any different from my hometown?"
He turned his gaze back to me and said, “I also have friends like Qingcheng and Liu Yu, and the mountain people are simple and hospitable. It is more meaningful for me to stay here to spread knowledge and teach than to return to Tongcheng.”
“Mr. Liu—” Wei Ji sighed softly, his face full of admiration.
I smiled at him and said, "Don't worry, Lord Wei, we will take good care of Mr. Liu and Madam Wang."
"only--"
Before Wei Ji could say anything more, Liu Xingjian interrupted him, saying, "Stop talking! Now that Botong is coming to Rong Prefecture, whoever takes over as the prefect of Yuezhou will not dare to mistreat an exile. But you, Jizhou, are going to Luzhou alone. You must take good care of yourself."
"Very well." Wei Ji stood up. "Changning is close to Junlian. I'll come to see you again when I'm training my troops." He cupped his hands and said, "I'll take my leave now. Please don't see me off, Mr. Liu."
The birdsong echoes as the sun sets.
Amidst the rosy glow of the sunset, Wei Ji and I led our horses back. As we parted ways, I said from the bottom of my heart, "Congratulations, sir, on taking another step towards realizing your wish of 'people of different ethnicities living together in harmony and happiness'."
Wei Jishen glanced at me and said, "This is also Qing Niangzi's wish."
“Yes.” I looked into the distance. “It is also the common wish of the people of Huaixu, Fengqiao, the mountain people, the exiles, the Yi people of the three routes of Bodao, and even the people of the southwest.”
Wei Ji also looked into the distance and said slowly, word by word, "Therefore—I cannot retreat, much less will I retreat."
I pounded my chest with one fist and said solemnly, "I urge Ji Zhou to forge ahead bravely!"
Wei Ji turned around, as if in a daze for a moment, then smiled and said softly, "Qingcheng, I have something to give you."
I burst out laughing: "Haha, how rare! You're giving me something?"
Wei Ji paused slightly, lowered his eyes and said, "What you're saying seems to imply that I'm petty."
"A hint?" I laughed, my shoulders shaking. "Isn't it obvious?"
Wei Ji bowed with his hands clasped, his ears slightly red: "I'm embarrassed to even take it out. If you see it, you'll probably think I'm even more stingy."
"So what?" I stopped laughing and held out my hand to him. "Give it to me!"
Wei Ji reached into his robes, his palm holding an object, and placed it in my hand.
It turned out to be...
Holding the bamboo rabbit in my hand, I felt a mix of laughter and tears. I stared at it blankly for a while, then shook my head and said, "I really can't believe it—Wei Jizhou, I have to look at you in a new light. I didn't even dare to take it myself, and you actually took it secretly."
Wei Ji's face turned even redder, and he coughed lightly, covering his mouth: "Ahem—I guess... he was thinking of you when he was carving this. He took it without thinking."
Several days later, the patrol and supply corps passed by and brought the latest news—the ownership of Dongchuan had been finalized. With the Xiaojiang River as the boundary, the middle section of the Dabai River was assigned to Song territory, while the area south of the lower reaches remained under Dali. The punitive expeditionary army was already on its return journey, and the southwestern border people, who had suffered greatly from the war, could finally enjoy a peaceful year.
As evening approached, Aunt Xu brought over several packets of New Year's snacks, including a bag of sticky candy, which Huai Xu and Feng Qiao both really liked. They wanted to eat it but were reluctant to part with it, so they kept pushing it back and forth.
I couldn't stand the couple's cloying behavior any longer, so I called Lin Zhong to the kitchen to make some sweet syrup. I planned to cook a big pot and make them shut up from the sweetness.
We eagerly went to the stove, only to find out that neither of us could explain the specific method for making this sticky maltose.
"No, why did you follow me?" I asked, frowning.
Lin Zhong lowered his eyes: "They're too noisy."
"Then let's make some more white cakes. I'll take them to Yanziping tomorrow as a return gift."
"good."
I laid a fine sieve cloth in the basin, poured in the pounded rice flour, and Lin Zhong and I each held one end, gently shaking the cloth. The powder fell in a flurry, raising a fine wisp of white smoke.
This scene reminded me of the past, so I smiled and said to Lin Zhong, "When I was little, I loved it when my parents would tuck me into a blanket and shake me like they were sifting rice flour. It was so much fun."
Lin Zhong smiled, his smile reaching his eyes – a rare sight indeed.
When I first brought him home, he neither cried nor laughed and ignored everyone. His injuries had mostly healed, and he would sit under the eaves in a daze for the whole day. I teased him by saying I would find a flowerpot to plant him, and he looked up at me but didn't say a word.
Eight years have passed, but I still remember clearly—the first time I saw him smile was when Huai Xu called him uncle…
"elder brother!"
"Call me Uncle."
"No way! My godmother says you're not much older than me, so you're like my older brother!"
"Call me Uncle."
"If you... if you can take this little swallow that fell down back to its nest, I'll call you uncle!"
"Uncle! You're amazing! Uncle, how can you fly? Can you teach me?"
I stared intently at those hands that were trembling with the silk cloth. The knuckles were distinct, and the veins were bulging. The boy who had been on the verge of death had grown into a strong and robust man, like a leopard...
As my emotions surged, the person opposite me paused, gesturing: "Boss—"
"Huh?" I snapped out of my daze, followed his gaze, turned my head to look at the door, and saw the figure rushing towards me. I stood there stunned. "Lord Wei?!"
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