Chapter 9

Although Feng Ye had ordered him to go to the posthouse, Yuan Sikong was so nervous that he didn’t dare to make a presumptuous decision, so he went to ask Yuan Mao.

Yuan Mao was able to get off the bed today. Although he was not able to sit yet, he saw that he was about to go out.

"Father, your injuries have not fully recovered. Where are you going?"

"I'm fine. The hand cannon* gifted to Liaodong by Datong have arrived. I was about to accompany the governor to check it out."

Yuan Sikong widened his eyes, "Hand cannons? Are they single-armed hand cannons?"

"That’s right."

The hand cannon was an iron cylinder filled with stone, lead or iron bullets, which could be fired with gunpowder. The cannon was considered a large hand cannon, just that it was too bulky, and it was usually used in urban battles, whereas the single-armed hand cannon was something that could be held by the soldier’s hand and was designed to deal with cavalry. It was invented by the Feng family army, which they had heard about it before.

Yuan Sikong said joyfully, "Great, we have hand cannons now!"

Yuan Mao also smiled, "King of Jingyuan offered 500 hand cannons in exchange for our 2,000 war horses."

"But we don't know how to use them."

"King of Jingyuan will find someone to teach us."

"Father, can I go and see?" Yuan Sikong begged. He wanted to see the rumored powerful firearms so badly.

"After a few days." Yuan Mao said, "Why didn't you go to the horse farm?"

Only then did Yuan Sikong remember the reason he had come to see Yuan Mao: "Father, Little Highness asked me to go to his posthouse."

"Why?" Yuan Mao frowned, obviously worried that Feng Ye wouldn't let Yuan Sikong go.

"Little Highness went to the stable two days in a row to find me ..."

"To find you for what?"

Yuan Sikong scratched his head and said with less certainty, "Kong'er thinks that he might have gone looking for me to play."

Yuan Mao froze for a moment, and then smiled, "That Little Highness grew up in the military camp. Maybe it's the first time he's seen someone his age. If he asks you to go, you go. Be sure not to disobey him."

"I understand, but I'm afraid Uncle Xu won't be able to cope with the horse farm."

"He will send more men. Don't worry, just go."

"Okay."

Only then did Yuan Sikong go to the posthouse with a peace of mind.

---

When he arrived at the entrance of the posthouse, before he could inform the gatekeeper, the gatekeeper had already dragged him inside: "You’re Lord Yuan's son, right? You're finally here. Little Highness has been asking about you all morning."

Yuan Sikong smiled understandingly.

When he entered the house, he saw Feng Ye sitting on an old-fashioned wooden armchair, shaking his two little legs and looking at him with his chin raised.

Yuan Sikong kowtowed, "Cao*... Sikong greets Little Highness."

"Get up." Feng Ye said as he jumped off the old-fashioned wooden armchair and walked towards Yuan Sikong.

Yuan Sikong stood up.

Feng Ye tugged on his sleeve, "Come with me." There was a hint of joy on his face, but he did not let Yuan Sikong see it.

The two of them entered the inner compartment. Feng Ye took out a small porcelain jar from the cupboard and handed it to Yuan Sikong, "Here."

"This is ..."

"An ointment for bruises. I asked my father for it."

"Thank you, Little Highness." Yuan Sikong took it. The Feng Ye in his eyes was not only beautiful and extraordinary, but also increasingly cuter now.

"Apply it quickly." Feng Ye disliked him for dawdling and simply grabbed the small porcelain jar, "I'll apply it for you. Take off your clothes."

"I've already applied ointment to reduce bruising and swelling when I went back last night."

"This ointment is very good. Stop talking nonsense and apply this."

"Yes." Yuan Sikong was forced to take off his upper clothes.

Feng Ye saw that the area at the back of his neck connecting to his shoulder was all bruised and swollen. He frowned slightly, dug out some ointment, and gently applied it to the injury.

The medicine instantly moistened into his skin and was so cooling that even though a fire had been set up in the room, Yuan Sikong couldn't help but shiver.

Feng Ye wanted to say something but was too embarrassed to do so. He pursed his mouth tightly.

After applying the medicine, Yuan Sikong hurriedly put on his clothes.

Feng Ye pursed his lips: "You’re a man from Liaodong. Why are you so scared of the cold?"

Yuan Sikong muttered, "I'm still scared."

Feng Ye threw the ointment into his arms, "Take it back with you and apply it every morning and night."

"Thank you, Little Highness."

Feng Ye sat on the side and stared at him with big black eyes without saying anything.

Yuan Sikong wanted to laugh a little. When he first arrived at the Yuan family, Yuan Nanyu was still a bit shy with strangers, wanting to play with him but not daring to take the initiative. Feng Ye's eyes were now exactly the same as Yuan Nanyu's at that time.

When Yuan Sikong was about to open his mouth, he saw Feng Ye opened his mouth as well, and the two of them let out a "ah" in unison, which was amusing.

Yuan Sikong said in a hurry, "What is Your Highness's order?"

Feng Ye said in annoyance, "You speak first."

"Uh, what is Datong like?"

"Well ... it is quite cold in winter but cool in summer. Datong's apricots are sweet, and in autumn, yellow flowers are everywhere. Datong's mutton noodles are especially good. I eat them every time ..." Feng Ye gestured with his hand, "such a big bowl."

Yuan Sikong yearned a little, "I really want to visit Datong."

"And what does Liaodong have?"

"Liaodong has mountains, forests, and snow that's a meter thick. When winter comes, a thousand trees are covered with silver flowers, which are extremely beautiful. However, there is not much to eat in the winter, so my father will go to the mountains to hunt some wild animals from time to time."

Feng Ye looked at him askance, "You don't eat horses in winter, do you?"

Yuan Sikong quickly defended himself, "We don't eat horses!"

Feng Ye chuckled. Yuan Sikong was stunned, and also started laughing along. The distance between them seemed to be getting closer all of a sudden.

Feng Ye's eyes twinkled with a strange color: "I have never been anywhere except Datong. Liaodong is the second place I have come to. I heard that it doesn't snow in the south, that fish grow bigger than me, that the city smells good when the osmanthus blossom, and that the sea waves are so high that they are several meters high. One day, I will go and see them all."

Yuan Sikong's heart was also filled with yearning: "When Little Highness grew up in a few more years, you will be able to travel around."

Feng Ye shook his head, "How can I play in peace when the northern barbarians are not eliminated? I want to assist my father and elder brother, and keep the peace in Dasheng for a hundred years."

Yuan Sikong said with sincerity, "Little Highness has a heart for the world. It is a blessing for all the people." It seemed that King of Jingyuan had taught his son well, so it is possible for Dasheng to keep a hundred years of peace.

Feng Ye smiled smugly.

"I heard that Little Highness grew up in the military camp?"

"Well ... not really."

Yuan Sikong looked at him curiously.

"When my mother gave birth to me, there was not enough milk, so my father got a she-wolf to feed me. One night, the enemy took the advantage of the fog and attacked the camp. In a time of chaos, the she-wolf took me away. I lived in the mountains with the wolves for nearly three years until my father found me."

Yuan Sikong was speechless, unable to believe that anyone could really live with wolves. Plus, he was still a baby in his infancy at that time. He stuttered, "It-it really is a legend..."

Feng Ye shrugged his shoulders disapprovingly, "They treated me like a wolf. I thought I was a wolf too, and I couldn't speak until I was five."

"... Your mother must have missed you a lot."

Feng Ye's expression was tinged with a bit of gloom: "I’ve never met my mother. She was depressed after I went missing, and it wasn't long before ..."

Yuan Sikong understood the pain of losing a loved one, and he said softly, "Your mother will be watching over you from heaven. If you live well, she will be happy."

Feng Ye nodded in silence.

"Then ... do you really understand wolf language?"

Feng Ye grinned, "I understand. I have raised many in Datong..."

"My Lang'er." A voice filled with pure vital energy came from outside the door.

"Father." Feng Ye shouted back. He beckoned at Yuan Sikong, "My father is back, let’s go."

Yuan Sikong was respectful and fearful of the King of Jingyuan and did not dare to see him very much.

Feng Ye saw through his mind, "What are you afraid of?" He stepped forward and pulled him along.

Feng Jianping was a little surprised to see Yuan Sikong, but when he looked at Feng Ye, he felt amused.

Feng Ye pretended not to see, while Yuan Sikong knelt down and kowtowed in a disciplined manner.

"Get up." Feng Jianping said, "I have just met your father. He accompanied Lord Li and General Han to inspect the hand cannons. Why were you not there?"

"Your Highness, I am still too young to be involved in such important matters."

Feng Jianping smiled and said, "I heard that you were a Bachelor at the age of nine. You are a small man with a big heart."

Feng Ye looked at Yuan Sikong in surprise.

"This is my father's achievement. I just read according to the book. It's just a fluke."

"The imperial examination is based on genuine talent, so it's not a fluke. One day, when you have achieved the official title, we may have to serve the imperial court at the same time*." Feng Jianping curled his lips, "You will surpass the older generation."

"Your Highness has flattered me."

Feng Jianping laughed, "All right, I won't tease you anymore. It is rare for my Lang'er to find a playmate his own age, so there’s no need for superiority or inferiority, nor do you need to call him Little Highness. Just have fun."

"Yes."

Feng Ye looked happy.

"Lang'er."

"Father."

"Have you memorized the art of war today?"

"I’ve memorized."

Feng Jianping patted his small head, "Father tests you one question every day. If you can answer today's question, father will take you to see the hand cannon, how’s that?”

Feng Ye's eyes lit up, "Hand cannon! Father, test me now!"

Feng Jianping thought for a moment, "What to do when two armies intersect on the dispersive ground?"

"Dispersive ground..." Feng Ye pondered, "Dispersive ground is when we're fighting in our own territory. Thus, it’s difficult to fight."

"Why is it difficult to fight?"

"Our soldiers are close to their homes. They are unwilling to part with their land, wives, and children. They do not have the will to die when they're attacking, and they have a place to return to when they're retreating."

"What if the enemy insists on fighting?"

Feng Ye blinked his eyes and thought hard. A fine sweat broke out on his forehead.

Yuan Sikong stood behind Feng Jianping and anxiously used the shape of his mouth to say, "Defend tenaciously. Do not fight multiple times." He had long been fascinated by the hand cannon and wanted to have a look at it, so he could not wait to answer on Feng Ye's behalf.

Feng Ye immediately remembered: "If the enemy wants to fight, we will not fight. If the enemy attacks, we will defend and crumble their army’s morale. If there is no city to defend, we cannot fight multiple times. We should hone our strength for the big push, set up an ambush according to the risk, and settle in one battle."

Feng Jianping turned his head back and looked at Yuan Sikong, who hurriedly lowered his head in a good manner.

Feng Ye looked at Feng Jianping nervously.

Feng Jianping didn't expose him. He stood up, "Let’s go. I’ll take my Lang'er to see the hand cannon."

"Wow!" Feng Ye wrapped his arms around Feng Jianping's waist happily.

Yuan Sikong's face twinkled with excitement.

 

 ----

PS: RIP my military knowledge. I have 0% knowledge on it *forehead sweating together with Feng Ye*

 

Hand cannon* [单兵火铳]--- a houchong (火铳) can be said to be an early ancestor to guns and cannons. The handheld version resembles a mix between a cannon and a rifle, hence why it is also known as a hand cannon. Image. Extra Reading.

Cao*--- (mentioned in c4 and c8 footnotes) This original phrase was 草 which was short for 草民

serve the imperial court at the same time*[同朝]---in reality (ancient times), there's only one court in each dynasty. People who serve the same court do not have to be in the same place/state

***Feng Jiangping asked Feng Ye a question on the art of war reference: extracted from 'Sun Tsu on the Art of War'. Baidu. English translation PDF

Edited on  30 Mar. 21 (Emzie)

Edited on  30 Jun. 21 (Ari)

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