Royal Road Chapter 65

Published at 1st of August 2022 06:30:35 AM

Chapter 65
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In the short two days that it took them to return to the Liang Estate, the number of refugees trailing behind them jumped from two to sixty. Upon seeing how many there were, Ah-Liang couldn't help but grumble, “Master, it's already past time to sow wheat for winter, what're we gonna do with all these people?”

“They've missed the winter, but there's still spring. Let them settle in Huai Village for now. Add some bran into their foodstuff; just ensure that no one starves. Also, let them build their own cabins – can't let them idle around right away. And while it's still winter, have them deep-till the surrounding soil – it will improve the spring harvest,” Liang Feng idly instructed. 

They couldn't just take in refugees indefinitely like this, even if they had the spare grain. But in the end, ah-Liang didn't give voice to his protests. Human hearts weren't made of stone; who could bear to look at all these cold and hungry people and push them towards death's door?

After he made arrangements for the refugees, Lüzhu dragged him off for his medicinal bath. That reckless riding earlier had done wonders for his mood, but had also come with side effects. A gust of cold wind, and his weakly body had started burning up that very night. Plus, his back and thighs ached uncomfortably from when he'd tried to rein his horse in. A hot bath would do wonders for both symptoms.

Liang Feng sank down into the steaming bathwater, shooed the mother hen Lüzhu away, and sighed contentedly, resting his head against the edge of the bathtub. For a while, he simply lounged there, before he suddenly asked, “Yiyan, how many people are there in the militia?”

Yiyan hadn't followed him into the bathroom; he'd remained standing outside like a dutiful sentry. Hearing his question, he replied without turning around, “There are thirty-five spearmen, fifty sabermen, ten cavalrymen, and ten archers. In total, there are seventy in the primary forces, one hundred twenty in the auxiliary forces. The auxiliary forces are only trained in spear formations, and have yet to see combat.” 

The population of the Liang Estate was around a thousand now, but only seventy had been chosen for the primary forces. They were professional soldiers through and through. Though they were divided into separate specialties, their physical condition and basic training were solid. And, they were all battle-hardened veterans. The auxiliary forces were made up of farmhands that had started training when the slack season began. Already, they had built up some discipline.

Liang Feng nodded slightly, “Maintain the primary militia's numbers, but increase the auxiliary forces'. Now that it's the slack season, it's time the young and healthy began training, so that our defenses aren't compromised when the primary forces are deployed. As for the refugees, choose some suitable candidates for the primary forces' reserve.”

May as well turn some of them into potential soldiers, since there wasn't any farmwork to be done and he had to feed them anyways.

“Understood,” Yiyan replied.

“Assign a few more soldiers from the auxiliary forces to sentry and patrol duty. With the new influx of refugees, it's important to keep order and prevent conflict,” Liang Feng added.

“Understood.”

“It's time to begin firefighting drills as well. Make sure they've all grasped the essentials. In case of emergency, the militia must be the first to respond.”

“Understood.” 

The three “understood”s in a row got a frown out of Liang Feng. He sat up and stared at the stiff youth standing outside the door. A moment later he said, “What, are you still mad at me?”

The last couple of days, Yiyan had stuck to his side like a silent shadow, barely saying a word. Both on the journey, and after they'd returned to the estate, he'd been quiet as a corpse. Was he angry that he'd suddenly taken off on his horse and nearly had an accident?

“I dare not,” Yiyan answered, but didn't continue.

Liang Feng softened his tone, “I was too rash that day; it won't happen again.” 

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This time, after a short pause, Yiyan replied, “I only hate that I cannot bear your burdens for you, my lord.”

Yiyan had a hard time telling just what it was he'd been feeling lately. After his naive fearlessness faded away, he found that he wasn't able to shield him in his embrace the way he'd thought he could. He knew too little. He didn't know how to make money; he didn't know how to be a scholar. He didn't fully understand his lord's concerns.

He was still a newly hatched chick whose feathers were still stuck with eggshells, sheltered beneath his lord's wings. Everything he had, had been given to him by his lord. His lord had carved his mark on him inside and out from the very beginning, yet he'd foolishly believed that he was the one protecting him. 

He was both lost and unresigned at sudden realization; he still wanted to stay by his side.

That was what had him so standoffish? Had his own worries affected him? Liang Feng smiled, “Sometimes a foot is too short and an inch is too long. I wouldn't allow ah-Liang to manage the accounts, Zhou Kan to handle business dealings, or Jiang Ni to lead the troops. Everyone has their own role to play; you've already done very well. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have the elite militia we do today.”

His voice was so gentle and so warm. Yiyan closed his eyes, “I should do even better.”

“You will,” Liang Feng said assuredly, “You've never let me down.” 

His heart was pounding again – it wasn't like the raging rush of boiling blood, but like the soothing caress of a burbling spring; it was throbbing and tender. Then, Lüzhu arrived with several servants and said, “Master, it's time to add hot water.”

“I'll do it.” Yiyan took the wooden bucket from the servant's hands and entered the bathroom.

That person lazed in the bathtub, completely defenseless. His alabaster arm laid upon the edge of the tub; his ink-black hair drifted in the water. Yiyan stood to the side with his head lowered as Lüzhu scooped hot water into the bathtub until the temperature was just right. There was a tranquil peace in the splashing sound and the medicinal aroma.

After fussing about in the bathroom for nearly an hour, Liang Feng returned to his quarters. The brazier was already lit. Lüzhu attentively dried his hair and said, “Master, the journey has been long, you should rest soon.” 

Liang Feng instead said, “Bring Rong-er over.”

Surely there was a reason he was summoning the young master at this time; Lüzhu immediately went to the door to pass his order to a servant. It wasn't long before the child dashed in.

“Dad, you're back from the commandery city. Are you well?” Liang Rong asked as soon as he entered.

Liang Feng smiled, “I'm fine. Although I do have something to ask you. Come, sit here.” 

Liang Rong was confused, but still went and sat by Liang Feng's side. After a moment's hesitation, Liang Feng asked, “Rong-er, do you want to go to school in the commandery capital?”

Liang Rong lurched, “Dad, you're sending me to the commandery capital?”

Seeing his shocked expression, Liang Feng lightly stroked his cheek, “I'm asking you if you want to go.”

Snapping back to his senses, Liang Rong instantly grasped his sleeve and said, “I want to stay with dad!” 

“Of course you'll stay with me, but in a year, you'll be of age to start school.” That was another thing that'd been on Liang Feng's mind over the last few days.

Liang Rong was nearly six. A child of his age should be starting elementary school. Regardless of what he learned, he had to interact with other children and build his foundations. Literacy and mathematics were the extent of what Zhaoyu, and perhaps Zhou Kan, could teach him. Unlike him, Liang Rong was truly a child of this era. It'd be problematic if he didn't receive a traditional education.

Not to mention how the lack of even a single person of similar age in this huge manor would affect his development. It wasn't that Liang Rong was misbehaved, he was too well-behaved, too old for his age, too unlike a child. Would that change once he started school?

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Those who are not parents do not understand a parents' struggles. Liang Feng finally understood. He did indeed have to worry for Liang Rong. That was why, after getting over his initial shock, and receiving a hint in the guise of a book, he'd seriously contemplated whether it would be better for Liang Rong to receive education from the Cui family. Cui You was a renowned scholar after all! 

The unease slowly faded from Liang Rong's face. He clutched Liang Feng's sleeve blankly for another minute before mumbling, “Can't I learn at home? The commandery capital's so far away…”

Liang Feng laughed helplessly at his timid expression, “Are you afraid of leaving home, Rong-er?”

Liang Rong shook his head, “I'm not afraid. But you're sick, dad. I have to stay here to make sure you're okay.”

Liang Feng was touched. He gently rubbed his head, “Then I'll do my best to get better, so that you can do your best to study. How's that sound?” 

Liang Rong bit his lips and finally whispered, “Okay.”

Liang Feng sighed, “Don't be scared, Rong-er. No matter where I am, I won't abandon you, Rong-er.”

Seemingly reassured, Liang Rong nodded lightly, like a kitten nudging its head against his palm.

The arrangement with the Cui family could be put aside for now. At least there was a year for Liang Rong to grow up some and get used to the idea. 

After calming his child and letting Zhaoyu lead him away, Liang Feng shut his eyes and let himself be swallowed by his soft mattress.

※

“Aaahhhhh…. dead! They're all dead!”

Outside the shack, a stick-thin woman collapsed on the ground, wailing hysterically. Behind her, a Xiongnu man stared numbly at the dead horse inside the shack. This was their third horse that had starved to death. How many horses could a single family raise? Their sheep were gone, their horses were gone. How would they survive the next year? 

He gaped stupidly for some time before turning around and striding towards the distant hills. The winter had stripped the land bare of green; the mountaintops were barren and gray. The northern winds blew right through his worn leathers. Yet the man's eyes were glued to the mansion at the foot of the mountain. Generations ago, they had stopped living in tents and began building houses like the Han people. But who'd've thought that houses could be like this, be so ludicrously extravagant!

That was the thousand horse-master's manor. The thousand horse-master said that grain prices had risen this year, that sheepskin couldn't buy half the grain it could last year. But if grain prices had risen, why hadn't leather prices? The thousand horse-master said, this year the people in the big tents banned us from selling leather to anyone but them. But then why were the merchant caravans shipping away cart after cart of leather? The thousand horse-master said… said one thing after another. But the candles in his house never went out! 

There wasn't enough grass on the mountain for the horses to eat. His wife fed part of her meager rations to the horse, but it'd still died. No horses, no sheep. Next year, how would his family survive?

The man faced the mansion at the foot of the mountain lifelessly as if he was rooted to the ground. His eyes were red as blood. After some indeterminable amount of time, he heard a voice by his ear, “Ah- Ge, let's go back. If we hurry and butcher the horse, we'll at least have meat to pass the winter….”

He didn't answer. He muttered eerily, “Ah-Long, do you know Haosan?”

The person behind him gasped, “Ah-Ge, don't get any ideas! Haosan and his lot were all annihilated!” 

Several years ago, an incident had occurred on the other side of the pass. A Xiongnu person by the name of Haosan, unable to endure the famine any longer, had started an uprising. He'd swept the Qiang people and the Lushui Tribe into his army; they became tens of thousands strong. They had conquered Shangdang's commandery capital, then turned their sights to You Province. Everywhere they went, war followed in their footsteps. The Jin spent four years getting rid of them all.

They all knew. They knew better than anyone.

But the man continued, in that low, hair-raising tone, “They did die. But before they died, they'd eaten their fill, worn warm clothes, stayed in houses like that one down there, and been happy. I'm going to die too; I've never been happy.”

His words were the ravings of an unfettered soul. The person behind him fell silent. The wind in their ears was like ghoulish howling, and like mad laughter. Suddenly, the man started laughing as well, “Ah-Long, do you want to eat your fill before you die?” 

That night, the mansion at the foot of the mountains burned. The flames lit the night. A Xiongnu man emerged from the fire, holding a bloody saber in one hand and a man's head in the other.

“The thousand horse-master is dead! Take his possessions!”

The dead silence passed; some began cheering, some began shrieking, most rushed into the mansion heedless of the conflagration.

“Lu Ge, you've killed the thousand horse-master – the nobles in the big tents won't forgive this!” 

“I know. We can go east. I've heard people say the trade routes have reopened in Gaodu City to the east. They must have lost of money, lots of grain. We'll take it for ourselves, then go west! We'll eat our fill and have our furs, just like Haosan!”

Countless others echoed his scream. The red glow lit their savage, frenzied faces.

Chapter end