Way Of The King
/ Royal Road Chapter 82
Published at 1st of August 2022 06:30:09 AM
A group of people slowly traversed the long mountain road. This was the dozens of kilometers long, strategically important pass that connected Si Province and Bing Province and ran straight through the towering Taihang mountain range.
Unlike other passes, Taihang Pass was built around the mountains. It wound up the slopes like sheep's intestines. Ancient, withered trees reached for the sky beside slippery stone paths that were only three steps wide. Walking on a mountain pass like this, one couldn't afford the slightest moment of inattention, for fear that one misstep would result in falling hundreds of meters off a sheer cliff.
As someone from Tongdi, Jiang Da knew about this winding road, of course. Back in the day, in the battle between Qin and Zhao, the Qin armies had taken this ancient path to ambush Changping, annihilating Zhao Kuo's main forces and massacring four hundred thousand Zhao soldiers in a resounding victory. About a hundred years ago, Emperor Wu of Wei once took this road to attack Gao Gan and conquer Bing Province. But when walking along this path in the winter, all the historical wonder vanished like smoke in the wind, leaving only anxiousness and exhaustion behind.
But even so, the refugees following behind them were docile as ever, because none of the guards had given them any trouble when they passed the checkpoints.
It was inordinately difficult to enter even ordinary cities, to say nothing of a strategic pass like this. It was only expected that they would be driven away at spearpoint, forced to surrender all their possessions, or captured and sold as slaves. To refugees, guarded passes were like the gates of hell. They had best take another route if they wanted to live. But if they were unlucky, they'd find themselves at the mercy of wild beasts or bandits. But the Liang Estate's soldiers had only needed to say a word to lead everyone through the pass, and onto the road. No matter how dangerous it was, they could finish walking it in a day. And within three days, they'd reached the fabled city of Gaodu. Of course they were hopeful.
That was why no one complained or protested. Like the soldiers in front of them, they silently walked the mountain road, hoping to reach the end of this dangerous path as soon as possible.
“Careful!”
Perhaps lost in thought, Jiang Da lost his footing, but was instantly caught by the person behind him. Frightened, panting, and soaked with cold sweat, he quickly stood back up.
“Are you tired, Doctor Jiang?” Zhang He asked carefully as he steadied him.
Jiang Da hurriedly shook his head, “I'm not. I can handle it.”
“Alright then. Another five kilometers, and we'll reach Taihang Pass. We'll be able to take a break once we get there.”
Unable to help himself, Jiang Da quietly asked, “The soldiers, they won't stop the refugees?”
“Relax, they're on orders from their commanding officer. The master's already made arrangements too,” Zhang He said easily.
Jiang Da's heart warmed at those words. He gritted his teeth and continued forth.
The mountain path was too treacherous. Four hours later, short city walls finally came into view. This pass was known not only as Taihang Pass, but also as Tianjin Pass, because of the three bottomless wells that sat there. The pass, located north of the wells, was a natural barrier. Though the walls themselves were humble, the rugged terrain they loomed over made them seem indomitably imposing, as if one man could defend it against tens of thousands.
Zhang He rode up to the walls first and said something to the guards. Shortly after, the gates creaked open.
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“Ah, we couldn't have done it without General Wu's assistance.” After the recent incident, Wu Ling was sure to be promoted, so it wasn't too early to address him as “general.”
Zhang He turned to introduce Jiang Da, “Doctor Jiang, this is General Wu's trusted aide, Lieutenant General Liu. We owe him gratitude for his aid as well.”
The lieutenant general casually waved it off and peered curiously at Jiang Da, “You're Jiang Da, the sage healer from the medical center in Jinyang?
Surprised that he knew of the Jinyang medical center, Jiang Da answered, “Yes, it is I.”
“My wife's from Jinyang, so thanks for all your hard work in fighting the plague. My general's even ordered two volumes of 'The New Treatise on Cold Damage' from the Liang Estate,” Lieutenant General Liu said affably to Jiang Da.
The name of the book evoked Jiang Da's eagerness, “Is that the medical text that the Liang Estate printed? Could you allow me to borrow it for a moment?”
Caught off-guard by Jiang Da's fervent reaction, Zhang He explained hastily to Lieutenant General Liu, “Doctor Jiang's been trapped in Luoyang recently. He's only just escaped, and hasn't gotten a chance to see Imperial Physician Jiang's medical text yet….”
Lieutenant General Liu said understandingly, “Why of course. Just wait for a moment while I retrieve it.”
Because 'The New Treatise on Cold Damage' was free and it contained numerous methods to combat epidemic – controlling disease was a military priority as well – Wu Ling had unashamedly obtained a few from the Liang Estate. He found people to explain it to him when he had the leisure, and even left a spare copy at the pass. Sure enough, Lieutenant General Liu came back shortly after, book in hand, “This copy's a bit worn, begging your pardon, Doctor Jiang.”
Too frantic to maintain decorum, he snatched the book out of his hands, his eyes reddening upon seeing the cover. Aside from the words “The New Treatise on Cold Damage,” his grandfather's name was there as well, lettered in Liang Zixi's handwriting. He'd personally transcribed his grandfather's work and printed it as a book!
Jiang Da's hands shook even more violently after opening the book. The production quality was excellent, and not only was it punctuated, it was divided into chapters, and its headers and content were differentiated by font size, so that it was impossible to misread. Every detail was crafted with meticulous thought. Jiang Da choked up as his eyes scanned across sentence after sentence of concise information and line after line of familiar medical cases, “This, this book, it can be seen even here?”
“Oh not just here,” Lieutenant General Liu sighed, “The Liang Estate gifts a copy with every purchase of the 'Diamond Sutra.' The county magistrate must've bought at least a dozen in the last year alone! It's probably spread all the way to Si Province already.”
Jiang Da wept haplessly, unable to maintain his composure any longer.
This was his grandfather's life's work! Liang Zixi had actually spent money printing it, engraving his grandfather's name in the annals of history! How could he ever express his gratitude for his magnanimous benevolence?!
Jiang Da clumsily wiped his face and sputtered, “Hurry, let's make for the Liang Estate.”
Zhang He quickly put a stop to that notion, “Doctor Jiang, it's almost dark now, and we've just spent a whole day on the mountain roads. It's best to rest the night first before setting out.”
Lieutenant General Liu agreed, “It takes half a day to get to Gaodu from here, and even longer to get to the Liang Estate. Plus, the snow's gonna freeze overnight. You really should wait until tomorrow.”
The two of them reasoned with Jiang Da until they finally made him see sense. Then, they cleared out a barracks room to stay in. Jiang Da fell asleep hugging the book in his arms, exhausted from the physical exertion and the fit of sobbing.
The next day, the group continued their travels. After descending the mountain, half of the soldiers left to escort the refugees to Gaodu. Then, Zhang He spurred his horse and galloped towards the Liang Estate with Jiang Da.
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“It's only been a few short months since I last came, how has it changed so, so…” Jiang Da couldn't find the words to describe it.
Zhang He chuckled, “It's all due to the master's hard work, of course. He's got to have taken in hundreds of refugees by now. The militia's also gotten a lot bigger than before. Ah, that's right, we fought a battle not too long ago… If you were there, Doctor Jiang, you might've been able to save a few of them…”
The horsemen rode through the gatehouse and past the outer walls. When they approached the main residence, a figure came into view. At the sight of him, Jiang Da immediately clambered off his horse, strode up to him, then fell to his knees in solemn salute.
Having already received the news, Liang Feng had specially come to greet him. The sudden prostrating was an unexpected shock. He rushed over to him and said, “Ji'en, what's the meaning of this? Please, stand!”
“My lord, I beseech you to accept my obeisance!” Jiang Da said tearfully, his head still lowered.
He had indeed referred to Liang Feng as “his lord” before the refugees. He hadn't said it just to beguile them; he truly meant to swear his allegiance. No matter whether it was for his teachings on disease prevention, or how he'd saved his life in Luoyang, or the printing of his grandfather's medical text, he owed Liang Zixi too much already. Only his servitude might suffice to repay this debt. Who knew how many emotions were contained in that salute!
The moment he heard him speak the words “my lord,” Liang Feng understood Jiang Da's intentions. There was no way he could refuse such a request. Thus, he gathered his sleeves, bowed to him, and said gravely, “You've had a difficult journey, Ji'en. In the future, I'll entrust the Liang Estate's medical affairs to you then, Ji'en.”
It was both a promise and an answer, and an expression of his unwavering trust. Jiang Da pressed his forehead to the ground once more and said weepily, “Thank you for your acceptance, my lord; I will do my utmost!”
“Alright, you can stand now.” Formalities done, Liang Feng leaned over and helped Jiang Da to his feet.
Liang Feng appraised him thoroughly and sighed, “It hasn't been easy for you these days, Ji'en.”
His spirited vigor had crumbled into pallid feebleness. His easygoing demeanor had vanished without a trace. Jiang Da's face was etched with woe, and perhaps because he was burdened by heavy thoughts, the hair at his temples was streaked with white. It seemed he had suffered much from his trip to Luoyang.
Jiang Da's eyes wettened again at his concern, “If it weren't for you, my lord, I would have already starved to death in Luoyang. Though I have one more thing to beg of you. When my grandfather suddenly passed, his unfilial grandson was far from home on a distant venture. Would you permit me ten days, my lord, to visit my family and pay my respects, then come back to the estate…. ”
Liang Feng patted Jiang Da's arm and said, “It is only right that you should do so. How could I fault you? In a few days, the New Year will be upon us. You may as well go home to recuperate, Ji'en, and take care of your household affairs before returning to the Liang Estate. I have already arranged an ox-pulled carriage for you. After all your toils on the road, I thought you would find it more comfortable to go home in a carriage.
Finding that he'd even prepared a carriage for him, a lump formed in Jiang Da's throat. He bowed deeply to him again. What more could he ask for, with a lord like this?
Instead of staying to take a rest, Jiang Da embarked on the ox-pulled carriage. Worried that he might overtax himself, Liang Feng sent a maidservant, as well as a troop of cavalry to accompany him home. He couldn't resist sighing as he watched the carriage depart. That was one load taken off his mind now. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing that his relationship with Jiang Da had changed from equal-status friends to lord and servant. Having a capable doctor in this era meant having better chances of survival. Plus, having a lifesaver that wouldn't leave his side gave him some measure of reassurance.
The administration of his estate was already on the right track. Was the chaos in Luoyang finally over?
※
To Liang Feng, the second year of the Tai'an era was coming to an end. But to others, it was early yet.
After several days of plunder, Zhang Fang headed back to Chang'an, tens of thousands of captured slaves in tow, to aid the Prince of Hejian in repelling the armies of the provincial governor of Yong Province, Liu Shen. At that time, Sima Ying departed from Ye City to attend the New Year's Rites in Luoyang. Following the Prince of Chengdu's arrival, the deadened city of Luoyang finally regained some semblance of vitality.
But before stability was restored to the palace, Sima Ying raised his butcher's blade aloft and beheaded a great many military officials that had supported the Prince of Changsha. Anyone who had ever spoken a word on Sima Ai's behalf was indiscriminately put to death. Then, pulling the strings of the puppet emperor, he accorded himself twenty more commanderies, appointed himself Counselor-in-Chief, and commanded the court.
The new Counselor-in-Chief rewarded Sima Yue, who had played a valorous part in opening the city, with the title of Imperial Secretariat. He also bestowed upon Sima Yong the offices of Grand Preceptor, supreme regional commander, and regional governor of Bing and Yong Provinces. Even Zhang Fang, who had looted the imperial palace, received honors.
Even after all this, the court was absolutely silent, save for songs of praise.
The author has something to say:
Little Jiang has finally returned home *pats him reassuringly~~*
Chapter end
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