Journey to the West: The Immortal Clan Begins by Feeding Monkeys at Five Elements Mountain

Chapter 150 War Resumes, Qiang and Xiongnu Alliance

With a light scratch of the fingernail, the vermilion sealing wax cracked open, revealing several sheets of paper as thin as cicada wings.

Jiang Yi unfolded the letter, his gaze sweeping over it. What was written on the paper was, as expected, the coldness and warmth of human relationships in Luoyang, and the trivial matters.

The first few lines of the letter praised Jiang Rui, saying that he was highly regarded in the Luoyang military camp and had already made a name for himself.

It is also said that Wenya's medical skills have become increasingly refined. A few days ago, he went to the palace and examined the hidden illness of a newly favored imperial concubine.

After three doses of the herbal medicine, the person felt much better.

He also took the Empress Dowager's pulse and prescribed a formula to calm her mind and boost her energy.

The Empress Dowager spent a few days on it, saying she slept soundly at night and received a few words of reward.

Jiang Yi's expression remained unchanged, only his eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

That girl is getting better and better at scheming.

As the letter was turned over and the pen moved, the gentle, everyday sentimentality between the lines faded away.

It is said that things have been tense in Luoyang lately, and there have been some unsettling signs in the Qiang region of the northwest.

It's always better to be safe than sorry and make some preparations at home in advance.

Finally, he mentioned it casually, but a hint of joy could be seen in his writing.

He said that if war were to break out on the border, he planned to request to be transferred to join the army.

If I can pass through the area, I might be able to squeeze out some time to go back to the village to visit them.

It seems that Jiang Liang has been missing his family for a long time.

That concludes the letter.

Jiang Yi didn't move. He simply held the thin paper between his fingers, smoothed it out, folded it in half, and then folded it in half again. His movements were so slow that it was as if he wanted to knead every word on the paper into his very bones.

It has been four or five years since that transfer order sent Jiang Liang to Luoyang.

This remote mountain village, where geese fly past and never turn back, has been untouched for a long time.

The two children at home probably can't even remember what their parents look like clearly anymore.

I pieced together a vague picture from just a few words from others.

Like a faded New Year's picture on the wall, you know it's that person, but you can no longer make out their features.

He looked up at the sky; the sky was clear and the sunlight was not harsh.

But for no apparent reason, she let out a soft sigh.

When that sigh faded, the lively flock of chickens in the yard seemed to quiet down a bit, and the wind rustled through the bamboo shadows, making a soft sound like waves.

As dusk fell, the same few simple home-style dishes remained on the table.

Jiang Yi sat at the head of the table, slowly peeling the salted beans in his dish. He twirled his chopsticks in the air and spoke without a trace of arrogance:

"A letter came from Luoyang saying that things might not be peaceful in the Northwest. We should prepare in advance."

After he finished speaking, the table fell silent.

Jiang Xi, who was holding a piece of green vegetable with her chopsticks, paused slightly in mid-air, then deftly dropped the vegetable into the bowl, her movements showing no sign of panic.

She lowered her head, chewed carefully, swallowed, and then gave a soft "hmm," before falling silent.

Defense, manpower, supplies, and equipment—these are things she's been worrying about for years, things that have already rolled through her mind a thousand times, and she has her own methods for managing them.

A gust of wind picked up outside, swirling a few withered leaves against the windowpane with a soft rustling sound before falling silent again.

Life goes on as usual, slipping through our fingers like water, neither fast nor slow.

The roosters crow at dawn, the dogs bark in the afternoon, and the children's voices reading and laughing fill this small space to the brim.

It was as if once the courtyard gate was closed, not a single bit of the outside turmoil could penetrate it.

And so, another half month passed.

On this day, the sun was warm and gentle, making one's bones feel slightly soft.

Jiang Yi leaned against an old bamboo chair under the eaves, his eyes slightly closed. The chair creaked and swayed gently, as if trying to shake one into an old dream.

Outside the courtyard, the sound of wheels rolling over a gravel path suddenly came, slow and steady, yet each thud weighing heavily on one's heart. A short while later, a weary messenger entered, bowing and handing over a letter.

Jiang Yi slightly lifted his eyelids and glanced at the scene with half-open eyes.

The signature was still that familiar name, but the vermilion "Luoyang" in the wax seal had been replaced with the black "Liangzhou Prefecture".

His fingertips paused, and a ripple finally appeared in his usually leisurely eyes.

Since that boy went to Luoyang, letters have become rare, with one every three months being the norm.

It's only been half a month, and another letter has arrived, this time from Liangzhou. This is probably no ordinary matter.

He took the letter, his face remaining calm, but the force in his fingers almost slipped out, leaving a tiny crease on the envelope.

The sealing wax was lifted, the letter was unfolded, and it was indeed Jiang Liang's handwriting.

However, the characters were much firmer than usual, and there was a hurried sharpness in the strokes, completely washing away the leisurely feeling that had been cultivated in Luoyang.

The letter contained not a single superfluous word; it clearly explained the matter in just a few words.

It turned out that only a few days after the last letter was sent, the military report was already on Luoyang's desk.

The various tribes of the Western Qiang, led by the Shaodang tribe, started causing trouble again.

This time, the Xiongnu from the north were also involved, colluding with each other.

The Liangzhou and Bingzhou areas are already engulfed in flames of war.

Jiang Liang had long harbored the intention to volunteer.

Coincidentally, back in Liangzhou, they were also thinking about his "Longxi Stick," which was quite effective in the Qiang territory.

The official document was delivered, the transfer order was issued swiftly, and they set off overnight.

We took Dahei along when we passed through the mountains.

However, the war was pressing, and the border between Liang and Bing was still some distance from Longxi, so there was really no time to go home and visit relatives.

The letter ended hastily, only saying that he hoped his parents would not be angry, and that he would kneel before them again when he returned in triumph.

Between the lines, the youthful exuberance couldn't quite mask a hint of shame.

Along with the letter came a cart full of goods.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and the scents of medicine, ink, and rouge, mixed with a worldly, dusty smell, rushed towards you.

What was given to Jiang Yi was a tightly sealed jar of tiger bone wine and a set of fine wolf-hair writing implements.

What I gave my mother were several pieces of fashionable brocade and a box of anti-aging pills that were only available in the palace.

At the very back of the carriage, wrapped tightly in thick cloth, was a gift for the two children.

A heavy ironwood short spear, the spearhead unsharpened, with the character "钦" crookedly carved on the shaft.

A small leather bow, with turquoise inlaid on its back, resembles the bright eyes of a little girl.

In addition, the sugar figurine book and the new clothes for pastries were stuffed tightly together.

The eldest brother's share, the younger sister's share, and even the brother-in-law Liu Zi'an, who is not yet married to her, received a share. Their thoughtfulness was meticulous and left no room for error.

This carload of human connections embodies the concept of "family".

When a person is gone, these objects are used to fill the void of those days and nights, and also to fill the time that can never be returned.

Jiang Yi stood with his hands behind his back under the eaves, quietly watching the driver carry the items into the house one by one, his expression unreadable.

He didn't move until the very end.

He walked down the steps and personally picked up the jar of tiger bone wine.

The jar was sealed tightly, yet it felt heavy in his hand, causing his knuckles to tighten slightly in his hands, which were usually unmoved.

He didn't speak, but only glanced at the letter spread out on the table, and then looked at the northwest horizon.

The sky there seemed a few degrees darker than in the courtyard.

(End of this chapter)