Chapter Thirty-Five

  The country struggled to survive under the oppression of seven nations, but it also had a glorious past.

  The early capital of Wei was Zhaoge, and during the Spring and Autumn period it moved to Diqiu. At that time, the vassals often held alliances in Qicheng, Wei State. Due to the convenience of the Yellow River, agriculture and economy in Wei State were very prosperous. Textiles, leather, bamboo and wood, and smelting were among the best at that time.

  At dusk, they arrived at Puyang, where the 30,000-strong army set up camp outside the city. General Gongsun Zan led more than 2,000 men into the city, and Song Xiu also followed him in.

  The approaching night of Puyang, there are fewer and fewer pedestrians on the road, only a few wine houses with dim yellow lights.

  Pedestrians on the street saw the army and bowed their heads to one side, each with a wooden expression, no one whispered to discuss, nor did anyone show surprise, as if such defeated soldiers were too normal.

  The army that followed could only wait outside the palace, and Xie Gu was alone in visiting the Marquis of Wei.

  Inside the palace, soldiers stood guard like forests, with one person standing every few zhang. On both sides of the stairs leading to the main hall, there were stone-carved lanterns, half a person high, in the shape of pavilions, with butter lamps placed inside, and thin silk covering all four sides, emitting a faint light.

  Kai Tsurugi stood still at the foot of the stairs for a few breaths, grasped the icy hilt of his sword at his waist, suppressed the sudden surge of sorrow and desolation in his heart, and stepped forward.

  When he arrived at the gate of the main hall, eunuchs came forward and took his sword.

  Kong Yuedi took off his shoes and stepped into the hall. The important officials of Weiguo had not yet returned to their residences, and were accompanying the Marquis of Wei in waiting.

  He raised his head and saw that Wei Chenghou on the main seat had become even older, as if he had aged a few more years since he left.

  "See you later." Kiyotaka bowed and left.

  "No need for courtesy, General. Just report the military situation." Wei Hous heart couldnt help but feel anxious. Thirty thousand troops may not be a significant number for the Seven Strong Nations, but for the small country of Wei, it was already an extremely large number, almost mobilizing all the troops in the country except for those defending Puyang.

  "Yes." replied Zhang Liang immediately, "Reporting to Your Majesty, our army of 30,000 men lost more than 4,000 soldiers when we clashed with the Song State. Afterwards, our army waited for a long time but did not see the main force of the Wei State arrive, so I ordered a retreat. However, we were surrounded by the Song army and it was early winter at that time. There were two days of rain and snow, and adding to the injuries from the battle with the Song army, I lost another 2,000 men. On our way back home, we lost more than 100 men. Now, safely returning to Puyang are 23,000 men."

  Kong Xing as the commander-in-chief, has done his best to preserve his strength. If he had not retreated promptly and given proper orders, it is likely that all 30,000 men would have been annihilated in Song Dynasty.

  Wei Chenghou coughed a few times, his face full of sorrow and indignation, "The King of Wei has deceived me too much! He has deceived me too much!"

  All the officials also covered their faces with their sleeves and sobbed loudly. For a time, the crying in the hall was like a wave rising and falling.

  "Your turn." Although Keis heart was also filled with unbearable pain, he was after all a general who had fought many battles and did not lose his composure.

  Kaito Kiyokazu spoke out, and the voices in the hall became much smaller. He cupped his hands and said, "This time, we were able to escape smoothly, thanks to the two envoys. My country is surrounded by strong enemies and has weak national strength, so its actually impossible to wage war. It would be better to recruit such talents to protect my country."

  Wei Hou was taken aback for a moment and said, "Two?"

  "Its true." Zhāo Gǔ Qìng had also been paying attention to Sòng Chūyī during this time. He himself was not a good strategist, but relying on his age and experience in dealing with people, he felt that Sòng Chūyī seemed like a usable scholar-official. So he told the Marquis of Wèi and the other ministers about how Jí Yǔ had coincidentally met Zhang Yi and Sòng Chūyī, and how he had invited Sòng Chūyī to go to the state of Sòng as an emissary, telling them everything truthfully.

  "General Kiyokawas intention was that my guest would bring gifts and a letter of apology to seek reconciliation, but in the end, he relied solely on the ability of that samurai?" A man over fifty years old raised his hand, looking at Kiyokawa Kei with a calm gaze, as if only confirming this matter. He hummed, "If its really like that, then we dont need such a guest, Ill drive him out another day."

  "Shang Dafu has become serious." Xie Guoqing turned to Wei Hou and continued, "As for the situation in Song State, I dont know anything about it. But based on my decades of experience observing people, I think Song Huaijin is also a talented person, maybe he can be used."

  The Grand Master secretly sneered in his heart, with nearly a hundred guests at his door, he still didnt dare say that he could observe people. What experience did a martial artist have in observing people? But since Hei Guo Qing said so, it was enough to save face for him, and he didnt continue to pick on him.

  "In that case, you may take up residence in the palace for now. I will summon you at a later date. You may all disperse." Duke Wei Cheng was helped to his feet by two eunuchs.

  Even so, he had long been mentally prepared, and even though the news he received was far better than Wei Chenghous estimate by several times, when he heard that the national military strength had suffered such heavy losses, for a moment he looked haggard and old.

  He gazed at the trembling back of Wei Chenghou, standing still for a moment before following the crowd out.

  At the beginning of the Song Dynasty, as a guest of Qinghe, he was naturally arranged by him. The Qinghe family was a large landlord in the countryside, with considerable wealth and few guests, less than ten people, so each persons treatment was not bad, at least they didnt have to share a room with others.

  The place where Song Chuyi lived was a quadrangle stone house with four rooms, and there were several small houses on both sides of the courtyard. The small houses had no floorboards and could only be used to store some unimportant things, and people couldnt live in them at all.

  So Song Chu Er immediately gave one of the two rooms she got to Wei Ji sisters to live in, and lived in one room herself.

  Dark clouds gathered in the sky above the city of Bo, and a fierce cold wind suddenly picked up, causing the temperature to drop sharply. The steward of the Pang family hastily stuffed some supplies into Song Chuyis room, exchanged a few brief pleasantries, and then hurriedly took his leave.

  Its still not too late, Song Chu Er didnt have the heart to sleep, so she felt her way around the house and tidied it up.

  Tanakas attitude towards Song Chu Er was ordinary, but she was very generous in her treatment of him. However, for her, this was already enough.

  Song Chuyi was folding her clothes when she suddenly heard the sound of a guqin coming from outside. She stopped what she was doing, listened carefully for a moment, then opened the door and went out.

  Following the sound of the zither, I looked around and saw a man in plain clothes sitting cross-legged on the corridor, his limbs long and slender, his neck slightly longer than usual but not strangely so, instead it seemed elegant like a crane. His black hair was untied, blown by the wild wind, the disheveled strands of hair half-covered a handsome face, every move had a free-spirited air about him. He closed his eyes, seemingly entranced in his own music.

  Song Chu stood at the door with his sleeves rolled up and listened for a while.

  The mans music stopped abruptly, his eyes suddenly opened and stared at her, as if with a burst of anger, then he picked up the zither and turned into the house.

  Song Chuoyi slightly opened her mouth, feeling somewhat perplexed. She thought to herself: You came all the way up here to play, isnt it for others to hear? Since Ive already given you my attention, why are you still putting on a sour face?