The montage of horse's hooves which pounded the dry land hard - as if scotching the earth looking for something could be heard from a mile away. And if that wasn't even enough there were screams and noises of victory from the men in the rebel army as they pass through the dry plains and the dirt road on the way to their sanctuary, the flying tower.
General Chun was the one who carried prince Dao's head on a spike. He was the happiest man on the whole world at that time - I could even sense his happiness from where I was, he wanted to win the war badly to avenge his king and indeed he has. Killing a crowned prince and along with his whole army was an amazing victory he needed to boost his morale and the morale of the soldiers.
I may have let my feelings get better of me wondering what could have happened to Lee but he was safe and sound at the sanctuary. How clever of him not to go to the war and choose to stay behind - however Shu Yu being a proud warrior he stood close by to general Chun and fought with honor. He came back from the war with scratches and bruises on his face and marks of swords all over his body - but he embraced every pain and only victory mattered to him during that time.
When all the men who fought in the war got inside the sanctuary, Lee and others closed the gates and joined on the celebration. The sun was setting and they knew they were up for a wonderful supper and goodnight rest. But also liquor and a lot of liquor to sooth off their hearts and make them energetic again.
Lee walked to Shu Yu who was still on a horse back chit chatting with other soldiers celebrating their win.
"You! How was the war?" He asked Shu Yu.
Shu Yu looked down at him but didn't reply, he had such a sore look towards Lee. Then he dismounted his horse first and then he gazed at Lee "A man isn't a man until he sees what happens during the war. It shapes a man and for those who fear war - I must doubt their manhood" he said.
That was practically an insult, and Lee wasn't going to accept it. For he was a proud soldier himself - or he thought he was until he realized he needed to stay alive for me. I was his task and not fighting for a throne he didn't believe I had any ties to.
"I fight for my princess and not one who's isn't my own" said Lee.
"There's no Mingzhu!" Shu Yu lost it and started barking at Lee "There's only one Queen and that is Yae Lin. We fight for Yae Lin, she's the rightful heir to the throne. Quit being such a coward..."
When he finished barking at Lee, he pushed him hard and Lee fell on the sand - but he quickly got up and pushed Shu Yu too but Shu Yu was so strong he was still on his knees. They wanted to fight - something inside them screamed "fight, fight, fight" but general Chun was so wise he intervened their stupid contest.
The general looked at both of them "Both of you, hand me your swords" he said. Lee and Shu Yu drew their swords instantly and gave them to the general. Then they knelt before him as a sign of respect.
"We don't fight our own, that's not our ways. We protect each other, not destroying one another"
"Yes general" they replied in unison.
"Now get up"
Both Lee and Shu Yu got up and stood firmly before the general.
"Where's she?" General Chun asked about me.
"The last time we left her at Tong'an General" replied Shu Yu.
"Do you think she will still be in Tong'an?"
Both of them replied at once, Shu Yu said yes while Lee said no. That's how much Lee and I knew one other, he knew it there was no way I would give up a chance to go to a war but also he knew that I don't like staying at one place for so long.
"So which is a correct answer, is our Queen stuck in Tong'an or no?" demanded General Chun.
"She's still in Tong'an General"
"I believe she has fled Tong'an way before the war. I know her general" said Lee while Shu Yu looked at him and then he shook his head.
"Both of you go and find her and bring her back here! Wear disguises and make sure no one knows you are from the rebels army"
"Yes general"
That very night after they had supper, they both left the sanctuary and off to find me. They didn't wear uniforms but rather just normal robes without any sign of belonging to any army - because they wanted to pose as just merchants travelling for business.
They didn't speak at all - not even a single word and they rode their horses in silent. Shu Yu was the angry one, he always wanted to be right and to prove that he was right. He hated any sort of challenge and Lee was nothing but full of challenges and bursting ideas. At dusk - they were on a crossroad one which led straight to the Tong'an city's gates while the other to Yakuza city which was North and where I was for that particular time.
"I guess this is where we part ways" said Lee still on horseback looking tired after a night of riding without rest.
"You are stupid and funny man Lee Qiang. You don't know this place - you take that way North and you'll find yourself in an abandoned city which is full of dormant farmers and sounds of birds. It's a dead city, knowing Yae Lin would never settle in such a boring place my take is she's still in the brothel"
"To each man his own ways Shu Yu, may the gods guide you" said Lee and hushed his horse North.
Shu Yu looked at him as if he was just a stupid funny man who knew nothing of the ways they live and how they survived. Everything was funny to him - or easy and that's not how he always thought of the world to be so he just said "He still thinks there are gods exciting? What a waste of human..." and hushed his horse too following a way to Tong'an.
That particular morning I woke up tired but at least I was healing. Healing spiritually and physically for the calmness and quiteness of the city filled me with such peace I needed to start my day. My host whose name was Mi Jin was outside pounding grains - I had never seen something like it so I came out to see it closely.
"Huh Jang Li, you are awake?" He greeted me with a smile.
"Good morning Sir"
"Good morning Jang Li. Have a sit, come and sit" he said handing me a chair which was close by and I sat on it.
Outside it was sunny and warm, I loved every second of that weather as it was what made me exactly flee my kingdom and my people. I fled Xinjiang because I craved for a warm land, instead I was met with such brutal destiny which I had no idea it waited me. So sitting on that chair at that particular time I felt heaven and somehow safe.
Mi Jin was living all alone in that area, he claimed there were others but I hadn't seen them yet because they all lived a bit far from where he was. The houses in that area were scattered and the farmers each lived by themselves.
"You don't have a wife Mi Jin?" I asked just to start a conversation between us.
"No I don't Jang Li"
"But were you married before?"
"Yes I did but she --" he said and suddenly stopped. I knew it must have been such a sad story for him to hold it all inside desperately trying not to break down.
"She died?"
"No she didn't Jang Li. She is in Tong'an with my son, I couldn't pay the rent which Qianlong Emperor wanted us to because I am poor. I am a poor man Jang Li, I lost my wife and son because I'm poor"
"But you can always get them back Mi jin"
"It's not that possible Jang Li! It's not that possible" he said and continued with his work not wanting to continue with the story anymore.
So I understood his pain, it must have been unbearable to him losing his family in such tragic sort of circumstances so I stayed quiet and let him cheer me up with his endless tales full of comedic features. He talked about his farm and his crops - his small cart and the story of when he fell with it. In fact Mi Jin was a talker and I was the listener.