Chapter 100: I Can Raise a Lifetime

Su Yan originally thought that the Qing Shui camp, as its name suggests, is one of the many military camps along the Great Wall, until he arrived and realized that it was actually a rather grand city.

The city served as a border pass and also included a military camp and marketplace. Its northern wall is the Great Wall, and its majestic tower bears the inscription “The Northern Gate Locks the Keys”. Beyond the Great Wall lies the inhospitable Hetao Desert. Beyond the desert, further north, is the Tartar-occupied Hanhai.

Needless to say, how strong the Great Wall, the rest of the east, west and south of the wall, but also more than three feet high, both inside and outside the masonry, impregnable. Corner platform tower is up to nearly ten feet, majestic.

The layout of the entire Qing Shui Camp is four-square, with an avenue in the center of the city running straight through to the north and south.

The West City is a garrison camp, under the generalship of the General of Lingzhou. The Ministry of War also set up a council here, when the border is in turmoil, the general control of the three sides of the officials to discuss here, is considered to be the command center of the Great Wall of Hedong border affairs.

The east city is the horse market. On every trading day, this place is bustling with cows and sheep, horses and donkeys.

The tribes in the northern desert carry horses, cattle, camels and sheep, hides and furs, and other local products, through the heavily guarded secret door into the Qingshuiying Horse Market; the merchants of the Central Plains sell tea, salt, grain, textiles, iron, etc., and both sides take what they need.

Since the Qingshui camp was built, it has been the distribution center of goods inside and outside the Great Wall, full of green shade intertwined, and frequent trade and commerce. But in the past two years, Tartar repeatedly knocked off the border, resulting in tensions between the Central Plains and the northern desert, the people’s fear and panic, the horse market is also depressed a lot.

Su Yan lost the paperwork seal that proved his identity, and could only rely on illegal channels, using the second-hand road guide that Jing Hong chased to the teeth and bought with heavy money, to pass the check of the guards at the city gate and enter the Qing Shui camp.

As for Altan, because of his identity as a Northern Desert tribe, he was being checked extremely strictly and could not enter the city for a while.

“You guys go in first.” Altan said to Su Yan, “The trading day is not until three days later. During that time, I will temporarily pen my horses in the pasture outside the east gate, by the Clear Water River, and then go to the horse market on the trading day. If you have anything to do, go outside the east gate and look for me.”

After a pause, he added, “You can also come to me if you’re not doing anything. I’ll treat you to a roasted whole lamb.”

Su Yan politely agreed, and the two sides bid farewell at the city gates.

Jing Hong pursued, “Your Excellency wants to eat roasted whole sheep? My subordinate will go buy the sheep and condiments and roast it for your lord later.”

“Do you really think I’m a foodie?” Su Yan lost his smile, “The reason why I agreed to Alertan was because I wanted to maintain a good and friendly relationship with each other, useful.”

He told Jing Hongchou about the tattoos on the Tartar cavalrymen losing their color.

Jing Hong chased then understand, in the broken temple to hide from the rain, Su Yan why to touch Alertan’s abdomen tattoo, seemingly frivolous behavior originally had another intention. He could not help but feel ashamed of his own misunderstanding and “slander”, and thought that he could not question the adults in the future even a little bit.

–Su Lord light breeze, a word and action has its own rules and regulations, even if you do something ridiculous, it is also a hidden mystery.

-Even if he is really absurd, he must have been persecuted, and it is those who persecute him who are absurd.

–A thousand wrongs are their faults, in short, Lord Su is absolutely not wrong.

After so much self-regulation (洗)节(brain), his thoughts turned back to the tattoos and said, “Your Excellency suspects the identity of the group of cavalrymen who attacked us? But after many days, the bodies have already been buried, so I’m afraid it’s not easy to investigate.”

Su Yan nodded, “Indeed. I remember when those people attacked us, they whimpered and spoke several sentences, I don’t understand the language of the Northern Desert, I don’t know if there can be any clues in it.”

Jing Hong chased after him and said, “My subordinate is also unable to understand the barbarian language. Earlier, I heard Chu Yuan say that there was a man named ‘Huang Li Ji’ in the accompanying Jinyiwei who could hear the barbarian language, but whether he is still alive and when he will be reunited is not known.”

Su Yan sighed, “I hope everyone is alright. Let’s find an inn to settle down first, and then slowly inquire about Chu Yuan and their whereabouts.”

“Good. So is your lordship still eating roasted whole sheep?”

“…… Eat. Buy more cumin powder, and chive paste.”

–

After days of running around, it’s rare to take a nice hot shower and eat a hot meal.

The two of them landed in one of the largest inns in Qingshui Camp. The “White Cloud Inn” did not have internal and external suites, Jing Hongchou wanted to hit the ground, but Su Yan insisted on booking two single rooms, so that he could have a good rest and not have to keep watch.

“This Qing Shui camp is surrounded by deep ditches and high barriers, and there is a garrison, so it’s safe, so don’t worry.” Su Yan said.

Thorn Red Chase is tempted to say that it’s not a matter of letting go or not, but ……

What is it? Is it that he is insatiable, wanting to monopolize His Excellency day and night? Or is it that he has already stepped on the edge of loss of control, and as long as he smells His Excellency’s scent, his blood boils with thirst and itchiness, and he is willing to endure this torture of pain and sweetness while using pain to stop the itch in a self-mutilating manner?

Jing Hong chased couldn’t say it. So he could only agree in silence.

After a good night’s sleep, Su Yan slept until sunrise before lazily getting up. He was prepared to spend the day strolling around the entire Qing Shui Camp, learning about the local border defense and livelihood.

After the two ate breakfast at the market stall, they wandered around in circles. When Su Yan saw any novelty, he would pick it up and fiddle with it, but when Jing Hong chased after him to pay for it, he put it down again and shook his head to indicate that he would not buy it.

Jing Hong chased after him and said, “Don’t worry about having enough money, my lord, a thousand pieces of gold will come back to you.”

Su Yan laughed: “I am not worried about your ability to get money, but this trip is not a tour, buy so many souvenirs, take back well. On the contrary, you, give yourself a new sword.”

Jing Hong chased the sword “Nameless” lost in the rolling down the steep slope, presumably by the rising flood washed away. His face does not show, the heart is quite regrettable, although not what expensive sword, but customized, the most suitable for him to use the sword habit, and the blade of the sword is full of human blood, not only is a sharp weapon, but also a killing weapon.

After arriving at Dingbian City, he rushed to buy a finished handful of three taels of silver at the blacksmith’s store, which was better than nothing to hang around his waist.

Su Yan could also see that the newly purchased weapons were not easy to use, and suggested that he replace them. And this Qing Shuiying horse market is full of merchants, not only do they have the standardized swords and knives of the Central Plains, but also weapons from the Northern Desert and even from farther away exotic places, so there are many options to choose from.

Jing Hongchou was really moved, and after browsing through the crowd of stalls, his eyes locked onto a strangely shaped longsword.

This sword, in both shape and decoration, is very different from the style of swords in the Central Plains: the blade is long and thin, and the tip is like a thorn. The blade is covered with a magnificent nebulous texture, a natural pattern formed during the forging of the steel, with a strong contrast of light and dark, black and white. The spine of the sword arches in the center like a mountain range, and the texture spreads out from the high spine line to the sides, demonstrating a high level of forging skill.

Jing Hongchou reached out and stroked his finger over the blade of the sword, realizing that the pattern protruded like countless jagged teeth indistinguishable to the naked eye, making the sword even sharper.

In addition to the blade, the blade, hilt and scabbard are also noteworthy. The blade is like an eagle’s wing that spreads out to the sides in a graceful and elegant manner; the hilt is made of black rhinoceros horn, with a spiral notch that increases friction and makes it less likely to come off, and the silver filigree outlining adds a touch of color to the spiral curves. The scabbard is pure black leather, tanned with great delicacy, unobtrusive when the sword is closed, but stunning when it is drawn.

“You two guests, you seem to know your stuff! This sword of mine is made of the rarest of Tianzhu Uzi steel, look at this pattern, it can’t be faked. Do you two know about Uzi steel? Made of swords and knives sharp and incomparable, but also very tough, will never break when fighting …… ” stall owner gushing praise, casually pick up a small piece of silk thrown up.

Silk is as soft as water, and in mid-air flying, the tip of the sword across, but easily cut in half, visible sharpness of the blade. Even Jing red chase also have to admit, if it is with his old sword “nameless”, in the case of not infused with internal force, also can not do this.

Su Yan tugged Jing Hongchu’s sleeve, signaling him to take a few steps away, and whispered, “The boss didn’t pit people, this is Damascus steel …… Well, it’s now called Uzi steel, as far as the material is concerned, it can be said that it stands at the peak of cold weapons. And this shape, it does look like the style around the Middle East, I strongly recommend that you buy it.”

Jing Hongchou was also pleased with the sword at first sight, so he walked back and asked, “What is the selling price of this sword?”

“Three hundred taels, no two prices.”

“Three hundred taels of silver, too expensive!”

The stall owner grinned at him, “Guest, I’m talking about three hundred taels of gold.”

Jing Hong chased after him and twisted his head to leave. The stall owner called from behind: “Customer stay, stay! Seeing as you’re also from the Central Plains, I’ll give you a 10% discount, the price for compatriots is two hundred and seventy taels! It can’t be any cheaper! It’s the only one in the whole market, and it’s been shipped all the way from the Western Barbarians! It’s a rare treasure, if you regret it and want to come back to buy it, it’ll be sold out!”

Su Yan whispered, “Buy it!”

Jing Hong chased: “What sword can be worth three hundred taels of gold, when I am a fat sheep with golden hair! Besides, the person who uses the sword doesn’t have to care about whether the sword is good or bad, the key is the heart of the sword. The key is the heart of the sword. If the heart of the sword is pure, even if the sword is made of three taels of silver, it can be an invincible weapon.”

Su Yan: “But forget it! Don’t get into the whole Gu Long set of pussy theories. It’s true that other people with that Damascus sword may not be able to beat you with the big stuff. But if you take this sword, you can beat yourself with the big stuff. Birdshot for gun, understand?”

“…… understand, but there is no money. Selling me wouldn’t even be worth three hundred taels of gold.”

“Nonsense! My Chou is priceless, I won’t sell it for any amount of gold.”

Jing Hong chased her ears suddenly red. The redness spread forward from the earwigs and faintly climbed up his cheeks. He gazed at Su Yan, his gaze deep and fervent.

Su Yan was a little embarrassed by his look, but felt that what he said was from the bottom of his heart, there is nothing to be ashamed of, so he justifiably asked rhetorically, “Why, do you have an opinion? It’s useless to have an opinion, I have the final say!”

Jing Hongchou smiled faintly, “Yes, it is always Your Excellency’s call, and my subordinate follows orders in all things.”

Su Yan was simply going to be adorned by such an upbeat reply, thinking: I can raise a dozen of such frugal and considerate guards! I can keep a dozen of them for a lifetime! Uh, a lifetime is no problem, a dozen is fine, my family’s Ah Zhui is unique.

He held Jing Hongchou’s arm and said with conviction, “It’s not just three hundred taels of gold, fifteen hundred taels of silver, this lord can afford it! You wait, I will definitely buy this sword and give it to you.”

Easier said than done, Lord Su is not a corrupt official, where would he get such a large sum of money. Jing Hongchou was unwilling to tear him down, and since he was determined to never question him again, he believed that he could really do it, so he nodded and said, “Then, my subordinate will thank your lordship first.”

Su Yan walked towards the stall owner, asked with full force: “Two hundred and fifty can not sell can not pull down you this is a price without a market look at the cloth you wrap the sword have already worn out the edge of the hair put out for a long time is not it just ask for the price at all no one to buy we are the most sincere miss us you really can not be sold out!”

The stall owner was bombarded by his breath bla bla bla to the point that his brain hurt, and was also poked in the vitals, helplessly said: “Sort of convinced you, two hundred and five on two hundred and five. This is the bottom price ah, one or two can not be lowered!”

Su Yan laughed: “Two hundred and fifty more difficult to hear, or three hundred it, make up a whole.”

Vendor: “Gah?”

“For the extra fifty taels, I’ll buy a ten-day reservation. In two days it will be the day of the horse market, the market lasts for eight days, during these ten days you keep this sword and don’t sell it – of course nine times out of ten you won’t be able to sell it, after all, now that the border is not in peace, most people have money and would rather take it to hoard grain than to buy luxury goods. Anyway, you’ll just keep it for ten days, and then I’ll buy it for three hundred taels of gold. You see, by waiting a few days, you’ve earned an extra fifty taels of gold for nothing, isn’t that a good deal?”

The stall owner was a bit confused: “It seems to be quite reasonable …… Well, it will be reserved for ten days, and if the customer does not come to buy at the tenth day at the time of You, I will sell it separately.”

Su Yan nodded, “It’s a deal!”

After saying this, he returned to Jing Hongchou and said, “It’s a deal. Within ten days, I will get three hundred taels of gold–what do you think is the fastest way to make money?”

Killing. Jing Hongchou silently replied, if it is a dog Qianhou s kind of level, five thousand taels of silver to kill one, I can also get a 20% discount.

But this answer was too bloody, fearing to pollute your ears, so he replied, “But where there is horizontal wealth, much of it comes from not following the right path, so please think twice, Your Excellency.”

Su Yan lost his smile, “know, yellow gambling and drugs are not stained, okay …… wait, betting ……”

He curled his fingers against his jaw and mused. Jing Hongchou hurriedly said, “A small gamble is pleasing to the heart, but a big gamble hurts the body. And as the saying goes, nine out of ten gamblers lose, so please think twice, my lord!”

Su Yan’s brain flew, murmuring, “If I can get back the imperial decree, I can open a bet that is sure to win and has no capital, with me as the banker, and let all the officials of the Shaanxi division, large and small, be the idlers in this bet.”

Jing Hong chased after him and heard that there seemed to be a deeper meaning in his words, but Su Yan didn’t go into detail, so he didn’t ask more – when the adults wanted to talk, they would naturally tell him.

The two of them continued to wander until darkness fell, when they returned to the inn.

At the door of the inn stood a few probing Northern Desert people, the more Su Yan looked, the more he felt like Altan s companion …… or henchman?

Sure enough when these people saw Su Yan, their eyes lit up and called out something towards the lobby. Then Altan walked out and said to Su Yan with a bright attitude, “I’m so lucky, this is only the first inn I’ve arrived at and I’ve found you.”

Su Yan was stunned, “Altan, what do you want to see me about?”

Altan said, “Buy you a whole roasted lamb.”

Su Yan just ate roasted whole sheep last night. He has a good appetite, but not a large amount of food, let go of his belly and ate a few large pieces of ribs and half a leg bone, and it was hard to hold up, feeling that he had eaten and hurt himself. Today the whole day only dared to eat small dishes of porridge. At this moment, heard the “roast whole sheep” three words, tired, dry smile: “Today’s intestines are not too digestive, another day, another day ah.”

Allertan frowned, “You’re worried about my handiwork?”

No matter how good you are, roasted lamb is still roasted lamb! It’s just as moist and oily! Su Yan snorted, “How can I keep letting you treat me? Last time you invited me to drink, this time it’s my turn to invite you back. Let’s go, I’ll treat you to some artemisia noodles, it’s good for the stomach.”

Alertan smiled broadly and came over to take his arm, very naturally between movements.

Su Yan guessed that this is a Valar custom, and also let the other side go. He could not see Jing Hong chasing behind the back of the silent gnashing of teeth, only to feel that the height of more than one meter ninety five pugnacious man, holding the height of one meter seventy four of him, like an adult peddling a child …… pooh, is the beast and the beauty of …… pooh pooh! He Su Yan is a pine next to the iron tower, standing upright and proud of the dome.

It’s not the height that counts, it’s the ambition of a man, right, Chase?

The two didn’t take more than a few steps before realizing that the pace was not at all at the same level.

Altan looked sideways, and suddenly felt an urge to lift Su Yan up and put him on his shoulders, or let him sit in the crook of his arm – this teenager was light and fluffy, and at a glance, he didn’t have a few pairs of meat on him, so carrying him around was a breeze.

However, he knew that the Central Plains people were concerned about etiquette, and he was worried that this action would offend the other party, so he held back and tried to slow down his pace to match.

A hundred steps later, Su Yan rushed a little breathless, drew back his arm, waved his hand and said, “I can’t keep up with you, we’d better go our own way. The noodle shop is just ahead of the intersection and turn right, you go ahead, I and Ah Chou will soon catch up.”

Jing Hong squeezed forward after him, knocking the Waratahs who were following behind Altan, and in the blank stares of a group of people who were forcibly holding back their anger, he held Su Yan: “Your Excellency’s body is weak and should not be walking briskly, it’s better to rest your breath first.” Turning his head again, he said to Altan nonchalantly, “Your Excellency, please make yourself comfortable.”

Alertan scratched a small scar on his brow bone and stopped to wait for Suyan.

Su Yan quickly slowed down his breath, and in his heart, he was also a bit back to his senses, and asked Altan, “You specifically came to find me for more than just treating me to a meal, right? Is there something that you want to discuss with me?”

Alertan was a bit taken aback, secretly praised him for his intelligence, and said truthfully, “There is indeed something I would like to ask you for a favor.”

So Su Yan inhaled the artemisia noodles in the noodle shop while listening to Alertan’s account of the strange horse-collecting officials he had met today.