Heavy snow was floating in the sky. The towering mountains and cliffs on both sides of the river were covered in white. The vast land was desolate with withered trees. Only vaguely, through the countless bare trees and shadows, one could see carriages and pedestrians struggling and hesitating in the snow on the treacherous and winding mountain roads on both sides of the river. Their direction was opposite to Yan Liqiang's.
Yan Liqiang stood at the bow, squinting his eyes at the river ahead and the scenery on both sides. The fluttering snowflakes fell on his shoulders and the bamboo hat on his head. After a while, a layer of white snow accumulated...
"Going north to the Taihang Mountains is so difficult and so majestic!
The winding and winding road even broke the wheels of the car.
The trees are so bleak and the north wind is sounding sadly.
Bears are crouching in front of me, tigers and leopards are howling on both sides of the road.
There are few people in the valley, and the snow is falling heavily!
Stretching his neck and sighing, he has many thoughts about the long journey.
I am so depressed that I want to return to the east.
The water is deep and the bridge is broken, and I am hesitating in the middle of the road.
Confused and lost, I have no place to stay at dusk.
The journey was getting longer and longer, and both the men and the horses were getting hungry.
Carrying a bag and going out to collect firewood, holding an axe and cutting ice, I make porridge.
The sad poem about Dongshan makes me sad. "
Yan Liqiang couldn't help himself in this situation, and he sang Cao Cao's "Ku Han Xing" on the bow...
“Hahaha, brother, you are in good spirits. At this time, you can still recite poems and compose lyrics on the bow…” A heroic laugh came from behind him, and then the creaking sound of the bow deck being stepped on by heavy pressure. Yan Liqiang turned around and saw a burly man with a full beard, almost two meters tall, striding towards him.
"What's up, Brother An, are you out for some fresh air too..." Yan Liqiang smiled and greeted the big man.
The big man's name is An Shidao, and he is a bodyguard leader. Two days ago, An Shidao brought a few bodyguards and some goods to board the ship with Yan Liqiang. The two of them lived in the two adjacent cabins. They saw each other every day on the ship, so they naturally became familiar with each other. An Shidao was a typical man who traveled around the world, generous and shrewd. He was one of the few people on the ship who could get along with Yan Liqiang. Although Yan Liqiang was dressed in plain clothes, with An Shidao's vision and experience, he could see that Yan Liqiang had a transcendent temperament and was not an ordinary person, so he deliberately made friends with him.
Yan Liqiang left Ganzhou for the Imperial Capital this time completely alone, without any followers. He set out on the road alone with only a bag and a sword. He was used to the life of being surrounded by people in Qiyun County, so this trip to the Imperial Capital, traveling alone, was actually much easier for Yan Liqiang. He felt the comfort and ease of traveling a long distance alone.
Along the way, Yan Liqiang traveled with the peddlers and hawkers along the way, staying in inns and sometimes staying in the wild, observing the local customs and listening to the local dialects. Along the way, he saw old trees and crows, old roads and thin horses, big cities and small towns, markets and temple fairs, encountered coquettish innkeepers, ignorant and fierce bandits, and with a different state of mind, there were scenery all along the way. When he was outside, he saw the west wind blowing, the setting sun, and everywhere in the world...
Entering the mortal world and cleansing the heart, and leaving the mud to make the lotus bloom, this is the true practice!
Although this mental training along the way was only less than two months, it was better than the past few years for Yan Liqiang. His mental state was perfect. Even if he didn't pursue it deliberately, his practice was still rising. In the midst of fireworks, the fireworks of martial arts practice were getting less and less. During these days, Yan Liqiang didn't touch the bow, but he could feel that his seventh level of archery was budding and there was a trend of moving up...
“Hahaha, this cabin is stuffy. Although it’s windy and snowy outside, it’s refreshing…” An Shidao laughed and went straight to the bow. He stood with Yan Liqiang and looked at Yan Liqiang with interest. “Brother, you just spoke eloquently and with great spirit. I’m a rough man. Although I don’t understand, I have seen thousands of people like you. It’s the first time I’ve seen someone as talented as you. I think you are either from a big sect or a wealthy family. You are definitely not an unknown person. I’m afraid you have already become famous. Before, you told the captain that your surname was Gu. It should be your alias when you go out!”
Generally speaking, when traveling in the martial arts world, and meeting someone for the first time, the most taboo thing is to inquire about the other person's background. However, An Shidao did the opposite, which made him appear particularly frank and generous. Yan Liqiang was thinking of a snake in his body, so he naturally knew whether An Shidao had any bad thoughts in his mind. Hearing An Shidao's question, Yan Liqiang smiled and said, "Brother An is indeed an old man in the martial arts world. To be honest, my surname is not Gu, but Yan. My real name is Yan Liqiang!"
“Haha, I knew it, brother, your last name is Yan, and your name is…” At this point, An Shidao suddenly shuddered and stopped for a moment. Originally, there was a smile on An Shidao’s face, but in an instant, his eyes widened and his mouth opened wide. He looked at Yan Liqiang as if he saw an alien, and almost stuttered, “Brother… you… you are Qi Yun, the governor of our Han Empire, the master craftsman of the world, the prince’s archery master, the one who used woolen cloth to solve the difficulties of the Fengyun Army… Lord Yan…”
An Shidao was not pretending, but was really frightened by the name of Yan Liqiang. He originally thought that Yan Liqiang should not be an unknown person, but he never expected that Yan Liqiang was not only not an unknown person, but also a household name. If many people in the Han Empire did not know the meaning of this name before, then in the past year, with the popularity of wool cloth in the Han Empire and the huge wealth effect and huge influence brought by wool textiles in various places, not to mention these escort leaders and escort masters, even ordinary people have heard of the name of Yan Liqiang who turned waste wool into treasure...
"I have earned a little fame by chance, but I am sorry to make you laugh at me, Brother An..." Yan Liqiang said modestly.
“Oh my… Oh my…” An Shidao was so excited that he rubbed his hands and walked around Yan Liqiang twice. Finally, he held Yan Liqiang’s hand and said, “Brother, if you are called Bo Ming, who in the Han Empire dares to say that he has a reputation? Brother, you don’t know, after the release of your woolen cloth, the business of the escort agencies throughout the Han Empire has increased by several hundred percent. In the past, the largest commodity our bodyguards protected was salt. Now, in addition to salt, we have to add woolen cloth. One of my brothers also runs an escort agency. Originally, his agency’s business was not good, and he wanted to close it down and find a new way to make a living. Unexpectedly, it was your woolen cloth that came out.” "Now, the business of escort agencies in various places has increased suddenly. My brother now specializes in taking on the escort of woolen cloth from various business houses and trade groups. His life is getting better and better. In addition to the woolen cloth, I heard that the four-wheeled carriages used by escort agencies in the Han Empire were also invented by you, brother. This four-wheeled carriage is great, stable and fast, and can carry a lot of things. The escort agencies in the Han Empire now rely on the things you invented to make a living. Last time, the escort heads of several of our escort agencies were released, and everyone said that you are the living Bodhisattva of our escorts. I didn't expect that I would see the real person this time..."
"Thank you, Brother An. You have earned your living by your own real ability. You have gone through many hardships and trials. If the little things I have come up with can really help you, Brother An, it is just a coincidence..."
"By the way, brother, are you here in Imperial Capital City on business?"
"Well, His Majesty summoned me, so I came..."
"Brother, you are so brave!" An Shidao gave Yan Liqiang a thumbs up, then frowned again, "It's just that the capital is a bit chaotic right now. To be honest with you, I'm only escorting the convoy to Huizhou City. After this trip, I don't plan to escort the convoy to the capital again next year. The risk is too great..."
"Oh, that's right. I heard that the people in the capital are in a panic because of the catastrophe, and many people are busy fleeing..."
"Even if there is a natural disaster, it will happen next year. I'm talking about a man-made disaster. Don't you know, brother, that the White Lotus Sect in the capital has been making a lot of trouble recently? Just a few days ago, the governor of Huizhou and the governor of the Imperial Capital were assassinated by the White Lotus Sect, and their heads were hung on the city wall..."
"Ah..." Yan Liqiang was slightly surprised. He had not been well-informed during this period of time on the road. He did not expect that the capital area had become so chaotic. The people of the White Lotus Sect really started a riot...
(End of this chapter)