C6. A Dip in the River, A Dish of Beggar Chicken.
On the morning of the second day, three carriages were parked in front of the Prince Chu's Mansion.
Chu Hechao, with a firm grip on the reins, stood at the forefront, his lips set in a cold line. Yang Zhongfa, dressed in coarse cloth, followed behind him, keeping a half-body distance from Chu Hechao.
He kept glancing towards the Prince Chu Mansion gates, whispering softly, "General, why hasn't your sister-in-law come out yet?"
Chu Hechao was too lazy to reply.
Yang Zhongfa chuckled, about to say something else, when he suddenly exclaimed, "He's coming out!"
Chu Hechao looked towards the gates and saw Yuan Li in a fresh spring outfit, leading a horse out of the palace with a smile on his face.
His black hair was tied up with a red ribbon, his curls playful, showing a hint of joy. Yuan Li's waist was tightly belted, with a water bag and a dagger hanging from it, and he also held a black and red horse whip.
"Oh!" Yang Zhongfa exclaimed in surprise, "It's a hundred miles from Luoyang to Ruyang, even with a fast horse, it takes a day. Is he really going to ride a horse for the whole day instead of taking a carriage?"
It's not just a matter of a few hours, but an entire day. Someone without that much physical strength might not even be able to walk after getting off the horse.
Just as he finished speaking, Yuan Li smoothly mounted the horse, skillfully holding the reins with his right hand, his figure looking graceful as ever. The horse beneath him seemed more obedient than Yang Zhongfa's youngest son.
"..."
Yang Zhongfa clicked his tongue, "He looks like he can ride a hundred miles in one go."
Yuan Li rode up to them. Perhaps because he was going back home today, he looked especially radiant, with bright eyes and a smile, exuding youthful vigor.
"General, when are we setting off?" he asked.
Chu Hechao replied nonchalantly, "Now."
With that, he cracked his whip and took the lead.
Yuan Li tightened the reins, patting the horse's rear gently, whispering, "Come on, baby, I've raised you for a thousand days to use you for a moment, so run well today."
The chestnut horse let out a low whinny and started trotting lazily.
As they couldn't gallop within Luoyang city, Yuan Li took the opportunity to admire the bustling scenes in the city.
The imperial capital truly lived up to its name, with crowds bustling, towering city walls, and clean, well-maintained streets free of the filth and mud commonly seen in the countryside.
When they passed by the Imperial Confucian Academy, a ball suddenly flew over the wall. Yuan Li instinctively reached out to catch it.
The next moment, a youth in blue clothes peeked out from the wall with a few grass strands in his hair, calling out to Yuan Li, "Brother, could you help throw the ball back?"
Yuan Li replied, "Step aside!"
The youth quickly moved, and Yuan Li threw the ball back, creating a perfect arc in the air, which the youth caught skillfully.
"Nice skill!" the youth exclaimed, looking at Yuan Li in amazement, "I am Zhan Shaoning from the Jingzhou magistrate's office. Could we get acquainted?"
Yuan Li smiled and replied, "I am Yuan Li from Ruyang. Shaoning, I'll take my leave."
As they rode away, Zhan Shaoning blinked, suddenly realizing, "So he is Yuan Li from Ruyang."
Since Yuan Li ventured into the mountains alone for three days to pick life-saving herbs for his mother, his filial piety had become well-known in Luoyang.
Zhan Shaoning and his father had heard the rumors about Yuan Li, knowing that it was a means for him to gain fame. But no one found it inappropriate.
Just like how when Zhan Shaoning was young and didn't understand much, he cried for three days after his grandmother passed away, leading to rumors of him mourning for thirty days, and since then, everyone praised him for being filial.
In reality, Zhan Shaoning had barely spent any time with his grandmother.
The day before, there was a big celebration at the Prince Chu Mansion, and the news of Yuan Li marrying into the Prince Chu Mansion to save the eldest son had spread throughout Luoyang. People discussed it as a casual topic after meals, finding it intriguing.
Due to Yuan Li's good reputation, most people lauded it as an act of benevolence and righteousness.
Zhan Shaoning glanced at Yuan Li's back and decided that he seemed like a person worth getting to know.
Once out of Luoyang, they rode swiftly without any breaks. It was only when hunger gnawed at their stomachs at noon that they stopped at a place with a stream to rest and eat.
The servants distributed dry rations, and Yuan Li sat on a stone under a tree, chewing on a tough biscuit, sweat beading on his forehead from the heat.
The chirping of cicadas and croaking of frogs seemed to come from all directions, making it hard to pinpoint their exact location, adding to the restlessness in the air.
He had to drink water to swallow every bite of the biscuit, and soon enough, his water skin was emptied.
Yuan Li took the water skin to the stream to refill it.
The stream was wide and deep, flowing gently, the shimmering water reflecting the heat.
There were people and horses crowding the stream, and the horses, too, were thirsty, burying their heads in the water and reluctant to lift them back up. It was too crowded, so Yuan Li walked upstream.
The upstream was filled with lush vegetation, and there were small water pools in the mud. After walking for a while, Yuan Li saw Chu Hechao and Yang Zhongfa.
Yang Zhongfa had rumpled clothes, and he sat by the water's edge, drinking water and cursing the weather. Chu Hechao sat in the shade of a tree, having taken off his outer robe, water droplets dripping on his well-defined face.
Seeing Yuan Li, Yang Zhongfa warmly greeted, "Is the sister-in-law coming for water too?"
Yuan Li furrowed his brow, walked over, and squatted beside him, "Mmm."
Yang Zhongfa said, "This darn weather. In the morning, I was shivering with cold, and now, I'm sweating like crazy at noon. The horses are about to foam at the mouth."
Yuan Li was also sweating profusely. He rolled up his sleeves and washed his face first.
The mountain spring was clear and cold, providing a refreshing sensation that comforted the blocked pores from the heat. Yuan Li then refilled the water skin with cool water.
Yang Zhongfa, looking curious, commented, "Your equestrian skills are impressive. When did you start learning?"
"I started at the age of five or six, starting with small horses and then moving on to larger ones," Yuan Li chuckled, "I learned riding from an old veteran from Bingzhou."
"That explains why you're so good," Yang Zhongfa remarked, "You're also quite skillful, aren't you?"
Yuan Li modestly replied, "Not as good as the adults."
Yang Zhongfa splashed water on his face, casually saying, "Don't be so modest, I'm getting old and don't have the strength you young people do. When we have time, let's practice together."
Yuan Li readily agreed and chatted with Yang Zhongfa for a while.
Chu Hechao, listening to their conversation, couldn't help but furrow his brow.
Yang Zhongfa had initially tried to test Yuan Li, but the conversation veered off track, with him no longer calling Yuan Li 'sister-in-law' but 'gentleman Yuan.' They even discussed Yang Zhongfa's beloved son.
"Yixuan is my late-born son. I never expected, at my age of over forty, that my wife could give birth to another son," Yang Zhongfa stroked his beard, a proud expression on his face, "Although Yixuan is only five, he is bright and eloquent, seems like a good student."
Yuan Li, sincerely, flattered, "A tiger father will not beget a dog son. Young Master Yixuan will surely excel in both literary and military arts as he grows up."
Yang Zhongfa laughed heartily, patting Yuan Li's back excitedly, "Thank you for your auspicious words, Gentleman Yuan."
Yuan Li was taken by surprise as the water splashed on him. With his unstable balance, he was suddenly pushed into the river by Yang Zhongfa.
Yang Zhongfa was shocked. He looked at his hands, "Oh my goodness!"
Panicked, he exclaimed, "General, sister-in-law fell into the water! What do we do? I can't swim!"
In that moment of being submerged in water, Yuan Li was also stunned. The cool water enveloped him from all sides, instantly washing over his head. Despite wanting to laugh at Yang Zhongfa's exclamation and reassure him that he could swim, Yuan Li prepared to adjust his position and emerge from the water when suddenly a big splash lifted him out of the water by a rough hand grabbing the back of his collar.
As Yuan Li surfaced and saw Chu Hechao straining his jaw, soaked and leading him to the shore, he was surprised.
When they reached the shore, Chu Hechao tossed Yuan Li onto the bank before walking towards him.
Feeling a tickle in his throat, Yuan Li coughed while gazing in amazement at Chu Hechao, "You can't swim either?"
Although Chu Hechao had jumped into the water to save him, he had simply relied on his tall stature to stand on the riverbed and walk up step by step.
When Yuan Li looked down, he indeed saw the thick mud on Chu Hechao's tall boots.
Chu Hechao's expression was not pleasant as he took off his shirt, wringing out the water. His bare and sturdy back muscles glistened with water droplets, and his hair was partially wet.
Shaken, Yang Zhongfa sat on the grass with weak legs, "Most of us northerners are not good swimmers, and none of my comrades are good at swimming. Luckily, the water isn't deep, and the General could rescue you. Gentleman Yuan, you really scared me."
With his clothes soaked through, Yuan Li sat up, unconcerned about himself but instead furrowing his brows with professional concern, "This won't do. If you can't swim, how will you handle a water battle in the future?"
Showing signs of confusion, Yang Zhongfa responded, "We battle with the Xianbei and the Huns, who have even less water than us in the north. They don't need water battles."
As Yuan Li removed his belt and took off his clothes, preparing to change, he quipped, "But if a water battle does occur, wouldn't you be at a disadvantage?"
Caught off guard, Yang Zhongfa struggled to find a counterargument, his mind led astray by Yuan Li's words. He broke into a cold sweat, "Even if we can swim, engaging in water battles wouldn't offer many advantages. With limited water sources in the north and fewer opportunities to sail, we wouldn't have the chance to practice. On a boat, we'd still be dizzy and unable to stand."
Yuan Li understood the lack of infrastructure in the north. When it came to naval forces, the south was stronger than the north, whereas the land forces were the opposite. But Prince Chen resided in the Jiangdong region, so when chaos arose, they would likely engage in a water battle there.
Suddenly excited, Yang Zhongfa clapped his hands, feeling like he had a solution, "I've got it! In a water battle, we could connect all the ships together, reducing swaying and making it easier to walk on. Just like walking on level ground, right?"
Quietly, Yuan Li made a gesture that echoed Cao Cao's military strategies, "But if someone uses fire attacks and the wind blows against you, wouldn't you end up burned from head to toe?"
Stumped, Yang Zhongfa could only respond, "Um..."
Chu Hechao looked at Yuan Li and asked, "Can you swim?"
With his tied-up hair now loose, Yuan Li patted his hair to get rid of the water. "Yes," he replied.
Chu Hechao pondered over this.
Chu Hechao and Yuan Li, both drenched, remained in place while Yang Zhongfa went to fetch dry clothes for them.
Emulating Chu Hechao, Yuan Li hung his wet outer robe on a tree branch. Observing Chu Hechao take off his belt, a flash of movement caught his eye.
As he loosened the belt of his inner robe, ready to follow suit, he stole a glance at Chu Hechao's upper body, revealed by the disheveled clothing.
Chu Hechao's physique was impressive.
Defined muscles rippled across his torso, particularly visible in the tight lines of his abdomen. His broad shoulders tapered down to a lean waist, creating a smooth, powerful silhouette.
A faint mermaid's line – a subtle indentation running down his back and deepening towards his waistband – hinted at the exertion he'd just undergone. Water dripped steadily from his form, leaving a damp patch on the ground.
Standing beside him, Yuan Li's usually graceful figure appeared a touch slender. With a subtle movement, he tightened the silk sash at hid waist, as if unconsciously seeking a sense of grounding amidst the imposing presence beside him.
Soon, the servants brought the clothes for them.
Chu Hechao was calm, not bothering to hide, as he sat confidently under the shade and loosened his belt. Yuan Li, feeling a bit shy, moved to hide in the woods with his clothes.
Once Chu Hechao changed his clothes, Yuan Li had yet to emerge. Glancing towards the woods, Chu Hechao noticed a slender and fair back.
A branch snapped loudly.
Turning around, Yuan Li saw Chu Hechao walking away briskly.
Due to their unexpected plunge into the water, the break extended to half an hour. Once their hair had dried, they resumed their journey to avoid catching a cold.
Walking back into the crowd feeling refreshed after the commotion, Yuan Li felt even more hungry. With the half-hour buffer, he didn't want to eat the stale biscuit. Instead, he ordered his guard to go hunting, and Lin Tian lit a fire.
While others shied away from the heat, a few who had participated in tooth sacrifices with Yuan Li were excitedly and deftly handling the ingredients.
Guard Meng returned with a successful hunt, bringing a small deer and a wild chicken. After preparing the meat, he found a banana leaf as per Yuan Li's request.
The servants brought out the spices.
Although the Northern Zhou Dynasty only used salt and soy sauce for cooking, Yuan Li managed to find some other condiments in the apothecary. When he had strong cravings, he would go hunting with his men to satisfy his hunger.
By now, Yuan Li was well-versed in handling ingredients. He rubbed ginger on the chicken to remove any fishy smell, then soaked the chicken in salt and soy sauce.
After Lin Tian skewered the deer meat, he stuffed the wild chicken with fennel, star anise, and scallions, placing it near the fire.
"Where's the wine?"
Lin Tian handed him the jug, and Yuan Li poured half of it down his throat.
Noticing some green fruit on a nearby tree, Yuan Li plucked a few and tasted one, wrinkling his brow at its sourness. But the tart fruit was just the right condiment.
Exerting force, he squeezed the fruit juice onto the chicken's smooth skin, wrapped it in clean banana leaves, covered it in yellow mud, and placed it below the fire.
As the fire blazed, the deer meat was treated in a similar manner, roasting on the edge of the fire. Soon, the tantalizing aroma began to waft through the air.
Yang Zhongfa swallowed hard, initially finding Yuan Li's culinary methods strange but now shamelessly joining, "Gentleman Yuan, could you share a piece with me?"
Generous by nature, Yuan Li not only shared with Yang Zhongfa but also gave each person a piece of perfectly succulent deer meat.
Everyone ate with oily mouths, eyes sparkling, and despite burning their tongues, they refused to slow down.
Finishing one piece of deer meat in just a few bites, Chu Hechao walked slowly to sit by the fire.
Setting aside past grievances, Yuan Li handed him a deer leg, smiling as he asked, "I wonder if I have offended you before, General?"
Coughing slightly, Yang Zhongfa took the lead, "Gentleman Yuan, you don't realize..."
Curiously, Yuan Li turned to him, "Hmm?"
Yang Zhongfa continued, "Our return from the northern border to Luoyang this time was specifically for the military pay of the 130,000 soldiers in the northern border."
The military pay for 130,000 soldiers?
This revelation stirred something within Yuan Li, and he listened attentively, his black hair cascading over his shoulder, framing his face with a gentle touch.
The fire crackled and the deer meat sizzled with oil.
Yang Zhongfa, initially putting on a show, gradually infused his words with genuine emotions, "The Xianbei and the Huns have ambitious schemes and covet the land of the Central Plains in the north. They not only fight amongst themselves but also repeatedly invade our Great Wall frontier, killing the people of Northern Zhou, seizing our land. Our 130,000 soldiers in the northern border stand as another towering wall, keeping these barbarians at bay. The hardships we endure are known only to us. However, despite our extraordinary achievements, no one remembers us, not to mention the military pay for the 130,000 soldiers of the northern border, delayed year after year. It is already March, yet we have not seen any shadow of our pay, and even these soldiers have been without a decent meal for a long time..."
Having spoken these words, Yang Zhongfa was overcome with tears, "Our General leads the frontlines, relying on supplies for the military pay from the rear. Previously, when there were still some elders in the court, they at least ensured timely delivery of the military pay. But since the elder fell ill, no one in the court remembers our 130,000 soldiers in the north. We petitioned the court, but with no concrete response. Our frontier food supplies have run out, and we're left with thin rice gruel every day, barely touching the stomach and disappearing quickly. How can soldiers endure this, let alone children? Gentleman Yuan, we are truly starving."
Recalling his days managing logistics, Yuan Li understood how much food soldiers could consume during training for a day. Ten thousand men was already an unimaginable number, so how much food would thirteen thousand men need in a day?
It was a staggering figure that struck fear into one's heart.
Yet, in ancient times, few soldiers could eat to their satisfaction every day.
Having experienced the hunger after training, Yuan Li knew the feeling and felt his eyes welling up.
In ancient times, most men who enlisted were refugees, joining the army for a meal, warm clothing, a slightly higher value than roadside straw. Honor, returning in glory, protecting their homes and country—these were things that most had never thought about.
Unable to eat their fill, uncertain of their own age, how could they have the capacity to think beyond mere survival?
These frontier soldiers probably didn't even realize the great mission they were undertaking to protect their homeland and country.
A certain idea in Yuan Li's mind began to take shape.
He could sense that Chu Hechao lacked a stable support system.
Previously, Chu Mingfeng had provided the military pay for Chu Hechao, but Chu Mingfeng was now on the decline.
Yuan Li lacked troops but had the confidence and experience in managing them. Chu Hechao had troops but lacked an efficient logistics system.
Wasn't this an opportunity for them to collaborate and mutually benefit?
But this was just a fleeting thought that Yuan Li kept to himself, not revealing a hint of it.
Wiping away his tears, Yang Zhongfa sighed softly, "Gentleman Yuan, we are like family, so I speak frankly to you. The court is preoccupied now, the treasury is empty, and they may not allocate our rations. Recently, we had some goods that could serve as military pay, but unexpectedly, these goods were looted by a group of disaster-stricken people on the way."
Surprised, Yuan Li inquired, "Looted by disaster-stricken people?"
Seeing his clueless expression, Yang Zhongfa felt doubtful, "Indeed. It's somewhat fateful, as the place where these goods were looted is very close to Ruyang County."
Furrowing his brows, Yuan Li's smiling lips curled down, "Have you discovered who the perpetrators were?"
Yang Zhongfa smiled bitterly, "Honestly, I haven't found out yet."
Taking a deep breath, Yuan Li said, "If there are such disaster-stricken people near Ruyang County, it troubles me. Sir Yang, if you find any clues, please inform me. I am willing to assist you."
Yang Zhongfa, now puzzled, glanced at Chu Hechao and winked.
The General's wife seemed genuinely unaware of everything.
Inexpressive, Chu Hechao casually remarked, "The food below is ready."
Realizing the forgotten dish of stewed chicken beneath the fire, Yuan Li extinguished and moved the fire, using a stick to dig out the stewed chicken wrapped in mud.
A crowd gathered around eagerly watching, and as the mud was broken open, a rich aroma spread dominantly, captivating the surroundings.
Several mouths watered, and bellies growled.
Yang Zhongfa wiped his mouth, already feeling the deliciousness, "Gentleman Yuan, you are a culinary genius, this aroma is more enticing than the One Dish Family in Luoyang!"
Amid laughter, the banana leaf, now nearly decaying with juice, released a tender and succulent wild chicken. Fragrant, juicy, and flavorful, with the fruit scent cutting through the richness.
However, one chicken was too few, with only Yuan Li and Chu Hechao getting to take a bite.
Chu Hechao devoured the chicken hungrily, finishing most of it, leaving him wanting more. Realizing the urgency, they completed their meal before resuming their journey to Ruyang that night after a day's vigorous travel.