Chapter 1287 - 317: Mobilizing Troops (Part 2)

Chapter 1287: Chapter 317: Mobilizing Troops (Part 2)

Tian Wujing said nothing and just gazed afar.

"I’ve spent my life as a teacher compiling history. The historical records may be mottled, but there’s always some semblance of order, much like the old farmer’s twenty-four solar terms in farming. In truth, if you look long enough, it’s just four words—cyclical repetition.

Lord Pingye, this person, has always received your favor. From my perspective, he isn’t really a good person."

"Indeed."

"But throughout history, how many genuinely good people have left their names in the annals? It’s the truly authentic bad people that often endear themselves to others."

"Snow Sea Pass is not far from here. If you wish to add brilliance to Zheng Fan’s record, I can dispatch a troop of cavalry to escort you there."

Upon hearing this,

Meng Shou hesitated.

It was clear that he was moved.

"Ah..."

Taking a deep breath, Meng Shou began:

"The East Sea surges, wave after wave, yet despite the vast expanse, the most difficult to comprehend is still the current era.

Forget it, forget it. I won’t go to Snow Sea Pass. Firstly, this old body is already scattered, barely making the journey from Yanjing to here; it’s no easy feat.

Secondly, being human and compiling history share the same principle: one can’t be too greedy. Human greed leads to unsatisfied death; historical greed unearths too many things that have long lost evidence.

Even if I could compile the histories of the four states and the eight hundred plus years of Xia, I cannot compile a single day after my death!

Since perfecting it is ultimately impossible, why should I strive pointlessly?

Return home, return home;

Having wandered for half a life, although I haven’t gained much, I’ve earned some fame. This time returning home, the Chen Clan might sob and beg me to acknowledge my ancestry.

Disciple, should I acknowledge it or not?

If acknowledged, I can enter the ancestral tomb; the grave of my mother can also be relocated to the Chen Clan’s ancestral tomb."

"I believe these matters should be evaluated by the teacher himself, but..."

"But what?"

"Teacher has spent a lifetime compiling history. Later generations view it as if the teacher stood before them narrating. Since Teacher already lives within history, why concern oneself with such worldly affairs?"

"True, but my reluctance to acknowledge my ancestry isn’t because of that. It’s simply that the name Chen Shou doesn’t sound nice."

"If Teacher finds it unpleasant, then it’s likely truly unpleasant."

"You, oh you, alright, summon someone to escort me."

"Yes, Teacher."

The Chu people’s troupe arrived, not armored, but clearly a group of guards with military backgrounds. Accompanying them was a wide and exquisite carriage.

Meng Shou boarded the carriage but didn’t immediately enter, instead held by a servant, grabbed the carriage wall with one hand, and looked at Tian Wujing standing before him,

and smiled,

"Yao Zizhan once said I was compiling history for millennia of future generations, but I never dared to agree. Glorious history is such that anyone from later generations recognizes characters, but not all read history;

People tend to prefer romance and tales of gallant adventures over history.

I compile history, actually for myself to observe, and for my peers in later generations to see;

My path is solitary but never lonely.

When contemporaries do not understand me, then future generations will; if future generations do not understand me, surely their subsequent generations will.

Wujing, my disciple,

these words,

are my encouragement to you."

Tian Wujing bowed:

"Thank you, Teacher."

Meng Shou departed in the carriage, escorted by the Chu people.

Tian Wujing remained standing for a long time.

That night,

in Fengxin City, the messenger cavalry rode out in full force;

the clouds of war,

had completely descended:

"Prince Jingnan commands all units of troops, various workers, and grain transports from all regions to arrive per day. Delayers shall be executed!"

......

Guo Dong, sixteen this year, from Gu County.

Gu County, located in the eastern part of Yan State, adjacent to Horse Hoof Mountain. When Jin State still existed, its geographical position was akin to Hutou City of Beifeng Prefecture.

Three years ago, when Jin military marched into Yan, Helian Family’s forces attacked Gu County’s city for two months. Half of Gu County’s men perished in combat, holding out until the day Lord Jingnan and Earl of North Border led their forces through South Gate to break the Jin army.

Gu County was preserved.

More than three years passed quickly.

Three years ago, Guo Dong was still young; during the siege, he stayed home with his mother while his father and two brothers went to the walls.

Elder brother died, second brother was left crippled.

After the war,

father was promoted by the county magistrate to centurion of Gu County’s mountain camp.

The mountain camp means militia, not listed in the imperial sequence, but allowed to receive a portion of fixed grain from the county yamen periodically.

Guo Dong only remembers that night, his father drank much wine, quarreling with his mother inside, making her cry inconsolably.

Soon after,

father emerged from the house, visible scratch marks left by his mother etched on his face.

Father Guo Dayong asked Guo Dong:

"Can you wield a knife? Come with me to kill Chu slaves!"

Guo Dong replied:

"No, I won’t."

Then,

the father, who dared not raise a hand against the mother, brutally beat Guo Dong.

The next day,

Guo Dong, battered and bruised, was taken by his father to Gu County’s yamen.

In the courtyard of the yamen, stood several hundred people, while outside, many more were gathered, mainly women and the elderly.

The county magistrate donned official robes and held a bright scroll.

Guo Dong thought it was an imperial edict.

Most present shared Guo Dong’s belief.

Later, after enlisting, witnessing numerous military orders, Guo Dong realized that His Majesty could never issue a specific imperial edict to a small county yamen like Gu County, that was merely a dispatch document from the Ministry of Revenue or the Ministry of War.