Book 40 - Chapter 6 – On the Bank of Songhua River (1/2)

Along the five-day journey, the three drove more than forty first-rate warhorses that they seized from the Qidan horse thieves They left the prairie and entered athe sides of the road were pri froh and low, undulating mountain and fields In the depths of the forest, under the shade, a clear strearassy field The sound of the spring breeze brushi+ng the tree echoed one another; it was very relaxing to the spirit

Kou Zhong laughed and said, “I now understand why grassland peoples have sohis brows, Ba Fenghan said, “Don’t use one ba hole to tear down a boatful of people There are a lot of peace-loving peoples on the prairie, standing aloof fro spoke seriously, “This is not malicious criticis for the world, nicely grazing their livestock, are they corassland tribes?”

Ba Fenghan was left speechless S bitterly, he replied, “Probably so”

“Shaoshuai, what exactly it is that you understand?” Xu Ziling asked

Kou Zhong replied, “Upon first arrival at the prairie, everybody would be shocked by theused to it, one ht feel it is a bit e the horse in wild gallop, to go to the end of the heaven and earth, to see if there is soht noe have co is very fresh, while also stirring up the desire to continue to pursue What I called invasive character grows from this kind of tendency Especially for so contingents in his hands; naturally hehis ar away the world like a tidal wave Therefore, since ancient tiemons of the prairie all wanted to expand to the outside world outside the grassland To the south it is our Central Earth, to the west it is the Persia, Tocharian, Arabian Empire, and so on Tianzhu [Indian subcontinent], because there is an obstruction in the forh mountain that the horses cannot pass – is protected and remains safe and sound To the north is the frozen-over-all-year-long barren land, not suitable for troop h,” Ba Fenghan commented, “I want to add a little: since ancient times the no along the water and the grass; all their life they are in search of fertile land that will make their lives even more abundant Perhaps because of this kind of characteristic that they are constantly invading other tribes’ territory We are adept in attacking, you are experts in defending; that’s how the Great Wall caed; after passing through a deep valley between two mountain peaks, a wide panora, gentle slope into the boundlessthe waves of the grass, they faintly saw tents and clay houses, and both green trees and spring wheat and flax field, but also a large herd of grazing cows, displaying another kind of half-far type of livelihood scenery outside the prairie The clay houses were like earthen tents

A wonderful feeling of returning to the hurew in their hearts

“Which direction is Hualin?” Xu Ziling cheerfully asked

Reining his horse to a stop, Ba Fenghan looked at the distance froe point, and pointed to the distant north, where a large lake was lying leisurely ahua Lake After the lake, another hua River It is said that the water flows steadily fro with Nenjiang [river Nen] it becoh power in their eyes to look Along the Songhua Lake, the les were busy circling above it, the abundant bluish waves reflecting more than a dozen entle, looking at it ht

Although it was already the end of the spring, the crisp and clear weather was still assaulting people This area had a wide variety of trees; ca against each other to show off their brilliance There were all kinds of color, glittering ht suspect that this was a fairyland a at all these, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were gasping in a four, five li along the Songhua River, ill reach Hualin On every area with convenient transportation and especially rich, there will be a center of distribution for people and goods; everything is handled according to the prairie rules”

“And what are the prairie rules?” Kou Zhong asked

Ba Fenghan chuckled and said, “Prairie rules are each arer, bison, or hungry wolf, each one has a set of survival , those who can’t compete have to learn to run faster, or perhaps like the wolves, they unite into a pack to resist external ene roared in laughter, “Totally!” he answered

Taking the lead, Ba Fenghan urged his horse to gallop down the hill

Hualin Market was located on the southern bank of Songhua River The river ide, the water tranquil; theWan, the clay houses were scattered across an area several dozen li wide Tents could be seen everywhere Most of the greyish-yellow clay structures were concentrated near the river, for the only street in Hualin

More than a dozen log rafts were afloat on the river, the fisher their net to catch fish On the shore,with noise and excitement, not inferior to Yan Yuan Ji in any respect

The three entered the peri more than forty saddled warhorses, they attracted every tribe’s attention so that the people were buzzing; not torarely seen Han attire

Kou Zhong sighed and said, “Indeed each place has its unique scenery Where e find a place to eat delicious fish later?”

Ba Fenghan cheerfully said, “Dragonfly, sand perch, carp, green-scales, and others, reen-scales The quality of meat is extremely delicious, hence I already decided to revive old drea has always been casual about food and drink, his concern was on other things; he asked, “We are bringing so many horses, it’s difficult to move around; I wonder if we could sell thee flock of cattle and sheep, driven bytoward an e the way, forcing the wryly, Ba Fenghan said, “Truth be told, Xiaodi has never done this kind of business I just take it for granted in a country fair like this, it would be easy to sell anything at a bargain price”

Kou Zhong said in high spirits, “The reason we are doing this business is to broadcast our presence; we old; I guarantee it will immediately cause a sensation across the entire Hualin market”

And then he asked, “Where’s the place people han replied, “After the main street, if you want ironware, there will be iron shops, you want clothes, there are clothes shop Only there’s no place to stay People who co the head of his horse, he steered it away from the herd of cattle and entered the ht, both sides of the street, there were several rows of irregular-shaped buildings As expected, there are all kinds of shops; it was very lively It see to open the door, business would co the door

Theof the horses and the wheels of the carts, the originally tender green meadow has been destroyed and was turned into yellow dirt The dust under the horses’ hoofs was rising, so that the entire street was covered in yellow fog

This barely-counted as theside-by-side, was lined with elm trees, which provided shade from the sun like an umbrella All clay shops had a wooden shed outside, which was equipped with table and chairs, so that weary travelers could sit inside and have a rest The horses were tied to the hitching post outside the shed

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were greatly invigorated, they looked around as if their eyes could not take it all in Suddenly fro-haired-draped-across-their-shoulders ar their ith ill expression on their faces

The three were stunned; could it be that the enemy was so well infor for theers like a halberd and shouted in Tujue language, “Where do you think you, these two horse thieves – are going?”

More than a dozen men immediately pulled their cavalry sabers; their movement was neat and uniform, they were absolutely not a mob

Obviously the passersby on the street already regarded this kind of fight as a coregate in the distance, pointing and gesticulating, while watching the excite felt that the talker, the shi+wei man looked very familiar, but momentarily they could not re that this bunch oftheir as for another ht that the opposite side was acting on behalf of the Qidan people; feeling strange inwardly, he let out a clear laughter and said, “This batch of horses were Huyan Jin’s; since when did it become your, shi+wei people’s turn to act on his behalf? If you don’t get lost, don’t bla nosuddenly re; it was the one chopping him before they encountered Xieli At that ties and did not understand each other, even until now he still did not knohat the matter was Only because he did not take it to heart that he nearly forgot

A burst of tender laughter ca in Tujue language, “Ba Fenghan, whose naether with two horse-stealing Han dogs; aren’t you ashamed?”

Stunned, the three looked at the shed, and saw another group ofaround the table deep inside the shed; five men and one woman, all were shi+wei people This moment all of them left their seats, stood up, and walked over toward thehteen years old, her beautiful hair was draped over her shoulders, the sky-blue warrior outfit she earing was fitted very well on her tender body She also wore sleeveless jacket on the outside, and a cavalry saber hanging on her waist Her pair of long legs was encased in leather pants and tall riding boots, which , full-bodied and well-proportioned attire She was natural and lively, her entire being exuded soance, yet also tender, as if she was boneless – touching beauty, just like a clu down from the sky Her left ar drop earrings were hanging froht-colored beads strung together into a necklace, hanging down to her well developed breasts

Her egg-shaped face was roundish Hidden behind her jet-black, bright and clean beautiful hair, her icy flesh and jade bones appeared -water-like pure and clean big eyes were graceful like limpid autuht to be the hope and expectation of the gentleood-looking face was frosty

The three had never expected there would be such a fair-skinned, outstandingly beautiful woman within the shi+wei people; momentarily they could only stare blankly at her

Apparently the five men who followed her into the street could only follow her blindly; they followed her closely, on her left and right, into the street

Cohan spoke in astonish, what do you ive Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling even half a glance; her gaze was fixed on Ba Fenghan, she said, “What do I s stole my horses; they are horse thieves who to protect the looked at each other with blank expression on their face

Ba Fenghan leaped off his horse Immediately the crowd of shi+wei men shoary look; they did not dare to underestimate him

Obviously the shi+wei beauty ed by Ba Fenghan’s ample brilliance; her eyes showed an appreciative expression, but it was quickly replaced by a baleful look Pointing at Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling striding across the Thousand-Li Dream and Ten-thousand-Li Spots, she said, “Those two are our horses; are you going to quibble about it?”

The three were even han said, “My two Han brothers have been riding these horses fro is not mistaken?”

Greatly displeased, the shi+wei beauty said, “I, shi+li, have never lied If you don’t believe h, see if there is our Great shi+wei branding on it That is iood!’ Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling leaped down their horses, and looked at their horses’ legs to check

Sure enough, Xu Ziling found the branding at the side of the Ten-thousand-Li Spots’s right hind leg; he groaned inwardly