Three days until the New Year, the entire Dayu Dynasty was immersed in a sea of fiery red.
The streets were lined early with red lanterns, and passersby were all dressed in new clothes, children happily running and laughing, celebrating the annual abundance and prosperity.
To the poor, the words "Spring Festival" carried far more meaning than to the rich.
Those who were frugal year-round, living on coarse steamed buns instead of meat buns, saved and scrimped just for this moment.
At the juncture of past and future, they would change out of their simple clothes, show their most spirited faces, eat the sweetest fruits, and reunite with their loved ones.
Yet amid this joyous family atmosphere, three fools were hurrying desperately on the official road.
"How many more days until we reach Fengjing?" A grimy Zheng Ruqian leaned over the shaft and asked weakly.
Across from him, Gao Yan, rubbing his buttocks, was unable to speak.
Gao Dawan estimated in his heart, "Four or five days."
Four or five days later would be well after the Lantern Festival!
Zheng Ruqian paled in fright. Forgetting everything else, he voluntarily took up the horsewhip to spur the horses faster, ever faster.
He calculated in his mind.
Last November, he had brought the Gao brothers out of the capital, originally intending to transport some dates from Henan Prefecture, but had become enamored with the abundant local products and customs, unknowingly crossing the entire Henan Prefecture to arrive at Hebei Commandery.
Embracing the idea of "we've come this far", Zheng Ruqian scoured Hebei Commandery with the Gao brothers, and as expected found many treasures. One item in particular he was fully confident in bringing back to the capital to sell at Jiuzhen Street.
But unpredictably, disaster struck midway when the horses suddenly collapsed in exhaustion.
This would have been fine in the city, but they were halfway down the road, nowhere near a village or shop.
Zheng Ruqian could only walk to the nearest town, rent a new carriage and bring back a veterinarian to treat the horses while also paying extra to switch the carriage horses.
These back and forth delays cost them three days.
If not for the three lost days, and hurrying a bit faster, they might have made it back to spend New Year's with his brothers, sisters, and Third Old Fang.
Zheng Ruqian grabbed the horsewhip, his face full of regret.
This year held special meaning for their siblings.
It was their first New Year's holiday in Fengjing since arriving, and also the first reunion without Third Old Fang. His sister had pleaded for him to come back, and Zheng Ruqian had promised.
Yet now, he was going to break that promise.
The cold wind picked up, stinging Zheng Ruqian's face. His body could not withstand two days without sleep, yet the carriage was full of goods from Hebei, leaving no room to lie down.
"Young Master, why not rest a spell?" Gao Dawan suggested from behind. "Or let me take over, you haven't slept in two days."
Zheng Ruqian shook his head, hating that the carriage could not go faster, leaving no way to reach Fengjing before New Year's.
After who knows how long, passing through the endless official road, they arrived at the next town. Sensing the lively celebratory atmosphere and crowded streets, Zheng Ruqian grew even more anxious.
To make it worse, the crowded streets meant they couldn't speed up at all.
Zheng Ruqian gnashed his teeth. "Why don't we skip this meal, just make do with rations, in case we can make it back to Fengjing in time for New Year's."
But he immediately thought better of it.
Man cannot live by bread alone, let alone when they'd already eaten nothing but rations in the carriage for four meals. They needed a hot bowl of rice to warm up.
Even if they didn't eat, the horses still needed to eat and rest.
Gritting his teeth, Zheng Ruqian stopped at a small restaurant and ordered three bowls of spicy soup and two oil flatbreads, gulping them down.
The winter sun shone down from above as locals basked in its rays, chatting idly about national affairs, occasionally debating till faces flushed red.
Zheng Ruqian's ears perked up at the words "Northern Border", and he slowed his eating to listen closely.
"Our Dayu Dynasty has been fighting the Northern Nomads for decades. They can't defeat us, we can't eliminate them, so we're stuck in mutual deterrence and suspicion."
Zheng Ruqian had heard this from Fang Heng before. The Northern Nomads were skilled mounted archers - ten of them could defeat ten Dayu soldiers. They needed thirty to fifty soldiers to match them.
The Northern Nomads were also cunning, engaging when they had fewer troops but fleeing when outnumbered, riding away swiftly on horseback beyond pursuit.
When General Fang was around, he had set traps for the Northern Nomads, killing many and establishing his great reputation on the Northern Border, giving the border residents a few years of peace.
After his passing, the Northern Nomads became active again, with villages razed more frequently.
"Who could have imagined, recently there was good news from the Northern Border." An old man nodded and swayed. "Not from a major battle, but from a skirmish between a few dozen of our soldiers against a few dozen nomads. A sure loss became a victory."
"This is fantastic news. The Northern Nomads are skilled riders and archers. If we can produce someone to match their cavalry, doesn't that mean we can eliminate them and end the fighting?"
"Don't be silly, it was just a small battle. I heard the lad is just thirteen or fourteen... also surnamed Fang."
Surname Fang, huh.
Younger brother whom I haven't seen in a year, so you just fought a battle and won, but must have paid a price.
I wonder if you're hurting, distressed, or...missing us.
Holding the spicy soup, Zheng Ruqian's eyes reddened as he gazed north.
Something drifted out from his body, flying northward at great speed before landing by the heroic youth's ear.
"Little brother..."
Who is calling him?
Fang Heng jerked around sharply but saw only emptiness.
"Captain, what's wrong?" Jiang Yi hobbled over.
Fang Heng shook his head and looked at his leg, Jiang Er's arm, Fifth Jiang's abdomen, Jiang Liu's chest, Jiang Qi's scalp, Jiang Ba's fingers.
That's what battle meant - trading lives for lives.
Although they won that skirmish, and Fang Heng was promoted from deputy captain of the Tenth Platoon to captain of the Fifth Company, with troops swelling from nine to over a hundred, their costs were greater.
Of the Tenth Platoon's nine troops, one died and eight were injured, with Fifth Jiang's abdominal wound still bleeding, and Jiang Ba losing a finger entirely.
Even Fang Heng himself took a hoof strike, and still walked with difficulty.
War was always cruel, scarred with blood and bones.
Today it was one death, tomorrow ten, then a hundred, a thousand, even ten thousand.
The old Fang Heng would have hesitated, afraid and cowardly. But not anymore, because he understood war always demanded blood, to avoid even more innocent casualties.
To avoid more Braided girls!
The only regret was being unable to accompany family. The heroic youth mustered his strength to wave southwest, forcing out a faint smile.
