Ich verkaufe meine Kleidung und kaufe etwas Wein, den ich mit dir trinken kann

Kapitel 55

"Ah-Dai! That's so unreasonable of you! I haven't even had enough of looking at you!" I finally managed to escape from his clutches and immediately declared to him seriously, "Don't do that again! I'm very angry!"—But, all I got in return was Ah-Dai's eternal silence! Sigh! He can't talk, so communicating with him is really inconvenient!

Helpless, I could only hang my head and walk towards the inn—sigh! How boring!

Seeing that I was puffing out my cheeks and refusing to speak, Ah-Dai suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the city gate. "What are you doing? The city gates are about to close. Be careful you don't get locked out!" Although he said that, my tone was not strong at all. In fact, I was even a little smug. Hehe, finally I don't have to be stuck in the room by myself counting the sand in the hourglass anymore!

Ah-Dai led me up a high mountain not far from the city. Standing atop the mountain, looking down, we saw an endless snow-covered plain. In the vast expanse of snow, a towering mountain rose abruptly from the ground, its majestic form and sheer cliffs visible on its slopes, two massive, drum-shaped rocks. Two jade dragons shimmered with silver light in the setting sun.

Looking up, I saw the mountains covered in a blanket of white, the leaves of the trees frozen into exquisite crystals, shimmering brilliantly in the winter sun. Ah! It truly evoked the grandeur of "Suddenly, like a spring breeze overnight, thousands of pear trees burst into bloom!"

I couldn't resist a playful urge, so I snapped off a twig, walked to a stone wall, and scribbled "Ye Qing was here" in large characters. After examining it closely, I burst into laughter. Turning to look at Ah Dai, I saw his bright eyes, gazing at me with a smile—a look that struck me like a chord. It was strangely familiar! He even bore a resemblance to someone!

I shook my head, trying to shake off the strange thought in my mind—I was really confused. How could Ah Dai look so much like Huai Yuan? The two of them are worlds apart in terms of temperament and demeanor! But once the thought came to mind, I felt a little uneasy. I lost interest and reluctantly reached out to wipe away those words.

Ah-Dai grabbed my hand, preventing me from wiping. A smile played on his lips as he carefully traced the words I had written with his finger—could it be that he wanted to learn to write? That makes sense; if he couldn't speak, learning to write would at least allow him to communicate with others.

"Ah-Dai, do you want to learn to read? I'll teach you!" I softened my tone and gently suggested to Ah-Dai, "If you learn to write, at least I won't have to guess what you're thinking anymore! You can write down whatever you want to say, isn't that great?!"—Yes, being mute is something he was born with, and that can't be changed, but knowledge can be learned! How could I be so stupid? I never even thought of teaching Ah-Dai to read?!

There's a blackboard right here! No sooner said than done, I frantically tried to erase those words—wait! I couldn't erase them?! Looking closer, oh my god, that silly stroke of my pen had actually carved the words deep into the stone wall?! I was completely stunned! —Don't waste your energy like that!

"This is your name. Look carefully, come on, try writing it." With a sigh, I found another flat spot on the ground and wrote the two characters "A-Dai"—afraid that he would carve those two characters on the stone as well, I subconsciously didn't want to put my name and A-Dai's name together.

Ah-Dai hesitated for a moment, then obediently raised his left hand and clumsily wrote his name—though slightly crooked, I was quite satisfied that it was the best he could write for the first time. No, I was extremely satisfied! He seemed quite intelligent; if I continued teaching him like this, it wouldn't be long before Ah-Dai was able to have simple conversations. Communication shouldn't be a problem!

Looking at the sky, I exclaimed, "Ah-Dai! The city gates are about to close! Let's hurry down the mountain!" Ah-Dai didn't seem to be in a hurry at all. He slowly brushed the snow off his body and smiled contentedly.

Oh no, I can already hear the bugle call. The city gates are closed! "It's all your fault! You dawdled like that, look! The gates are closed, what are we going to do now?!" I yelled at Ah-Dai in a fit of rage—in this cold weather, being locked out of the city overnight, he'd freeze into an icicle!

Ah-Dai wasn't annoyed at all, still sporting his irritating smile, and walked towards the city wall. "You think you can fly? I don't believe it! No matter how high your lightness skill is, you can't possibly fly up a city wall that's over six zhang high, right?" I pressed on eagerly—after all, people aren't birds, and this isn't a movie, how could I believe him?!

He didn't answer, but walked faster and faster. —Sigh! I'm confused too; of course he couldn't answer!

"Wait for me!" I hurriedly chased after him—could he really possess sorcery?

With a loud crash, I suddenly lost my footing and plummeted straight down. "Ahhhhh!" I screamed—it looked like a flat area, so how could there be such a deep pit below...?!

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Note 1 is quoted from "The Reasons for the Fall of the Northern Song Dynasty" /f?kz=216419970

This book was first published on Xiaoxiang Novel Original Website. Please retain this information when reprinting!

[Volume 3: War and Chaos - Chapter 18: Seeking the Path in Dreams]

"Ahhhhh!" I screamed and closed my eyes—it's over. Instead of dying on the battlefield, I've fallen to my death in some rotten pit that I don't even know what it's for?

Suddenly, my waist tightened, and I bumped into a hard body—Ah Dai arrived just in time, grabbing my waist, but he couldn't stop the downward trend, and the two of us fell into the deep pit together.

Still shaken, I looked up—the sky was just a small circle, and the pit hidden under the snow was seven or eight zhang deep—luckily, the bottom was piled with snow, so falling from that height didn't hurt much. Of course, Ah-Dai deserves some credit for that too.

Why would such a deep pit be dug out of nowhere in this wilderness? It doesn't look like something a hunter would use to trap animals—there are no traps or snares at the bottom. It looks more like an abandoned well.

"Ah-Dai, what do we do now? Can you get up there?" I was really worried now. If Ah-Dai couldn't get up, he'd starve to death in this deserted place! —At that moment, I really wished Ah-Dai had superpowers and could fly and disappear into the ground!

Ah-Dai smiled and gestured for me not to rush, to stay still at the bottom of the pit. He then lifted himself up, leaping two or three zhang (approximately 6-9 meters) in one bound. He gently pressed his hand against the cave wall, using the momentum to rise another two zhang (approximately 6 meters) higher. I was overjoyed; if he continued to use his hands and feet alternately to rise, we would soon be on the surface. After pausing for about a minute or two, Ah-Dai released his grip and easily jumped down to the bottom of the pit. He then carried me on his back. This time, he was more experienced and barely paused; with just a few leaps, the two of us were out of the pit.

"How strange, who would be so bored as to dig such a deep hole here?" I muttered angrily, and touched the soil at the edge of the hole with my hand. It was frozen solid like iron, and I couldn't help but click my tongue in amazement—the power of ice and snow is truly boundless!

Ah-Dai smiled without saying a word, simply carrying me on his back. "Ah-Dai, put me down, I can walk by myself." After walking quite a distance, I belatedly realized I was still on Ah-Dai's back, and cried out—I have hands and feet, why do I need someone to carry me?!—Unfortunately, he completely ignored me. Using the same method as with that deep pit, Ah-Dai carried me "flying" up the six-zhang-high city wall, letting me experience what it felt like to be an "aerial acrobat"!

Back in the city, after asking around, I learned it wasn't mysterious at all—long ago, that area was a village on the outskirts of the city. Later, due to war and years of famine, most of the people were displaced, and the rest migrated to the city. The area became ruins. So that deep pit must have been a cellar, something every local household used for storing things! I guess I was just being naive—but digging so deep and finding no water was indeed quite strange.

The nights in the north seem especially cold, particularly in this border town. After curfew, the place is deserted, making it all the more desolate and lonely. This is something I, who grew up in the south, find extremely difficult to adjust to. I huddled under my thick quilt, tossing and turning in the long winter night, unable to sleep, and I especially missed Xiaobai—last winter, if it weren't for Xiaobai warming my feet, I don't know how I would have survived! What a pity…sigh! How I miss my time in Wushan!

Thinking of Xiaobai, how can I not think of Huaiyuan, who caused me such mixed feelings of love and resentment, heartbreak and despair? Where is he now? Is he also tossing and turning, unable to sleep at night because he misses me? Or is he already living happily ever after with Rumei?

Thinking of Huaiyuan, I couldn't help but think of Adai, his gentle smile, his broad and sturdy back, and the strange thought that had crossed my mind earlier—upon closer reflection, Adai and Huaiyuan really did share some similarities in their temperament. Both were aloof; both were incredibly caring towards me; both were unconventional; both possessed unfathomable martial arts skills… Yet, I simply couldn't reconcile my pockmarked, almost ugly face with Huaiyuan's free-spirited, arrogant, and exceptionally handsome features. I shook my head, inwardly mocking myself—I must be crazy!

The next morning, sporting panda eyes and yawning, I stepped out of my room and was met by Ah-Dai, who stood like a guardian deity outside. My face flushed instinctively, and I awkwardly turned my head away, avoiding his gaze—I'm crazy, really crazy! How could I have such an absurd dream?!

Sitting at the table, I listlessly nibbled on the steamed bun in my hand, my thoughts drifting back to last night's dream—when I was lost in a thick fog, completely bewildered, Huaiyuan and Adai suddenly appeared, and then, strangely, they transformed into one person? I was so intoxicated in Huaiyuan's arms (or Adai? I couldn't tell anymore)—but how could that kiss, light as a butterfly's wing and sweet as honey, feel so real?! So real that I almost drowned in it, unwilling to wake up?!—The joy of that long-awaited reunion far outweighed my resentment towards him?!

Someone tapped the table lightly, and when I looked up, I met Ah-Dai's analytical gaze.

"What's wrong?" I asked him, trying to remain calm.

Ah-Dai raised an eyebrow, gesturing for me to look across at the mirror—was that me, the lovesick girl with flushed cheeks, dreamy eyes, and a fleeting smile on her face?! I jumped in surprise, quickly sitting up straight, clearing my throat, and composed myself. "Ah-Dai, I'm going to General Zong's residence today to discuss urgent military matters. Don't come with me!" With that, I practically fled, running out in a disheveled state—cough! What nonsense did I spout? What urgent military matters could General Zong possibly have to discuss with me?! I was clearly lying!

But since the words had already been spoken, there was no going back. I had no choice but to bite the bullet and head towards General Zong's mansion. Fortunately, the gatekeeper recognized me, so it didn't take much of a talking to get me in.

Hey! Brother Yue is here too! He and General Zong are facing a bowl of sand, gesturing and discussing something—I breathed a sigh of relief, tiptoed over, and slowly walked over. "General Zong, Brother Yue, you're both here?!"

"You've arrived?" My second brother smiled at me and waved. "Perfect timing! General Zong and I are discussing how the counties near Cizhou can support each other. Third brother, why don't you share your thoughts?" — He really flatters me! What brilliant ideas could I possibly have?!

Zong Ze didn't even look up, only snorting as a greeting, before continuing to study the pile of sand—was it really that interesting? Curious, I leaned closer. Hmm, so this is the kind of sand table topographical map you often see on TV?!

Yes, this city should be the seat of Cizhou Prefecture, which we are standing on. Those two white ribbons must be the two rivers I saw yesterday on the high mountains outside the city—hmm, I think they're called the Zhang River and the Fu River. Oh, and that towering mountain with the drum-shaped boulder I saw yesterday—ah, it's Gushan (Drum Mountain), quite fitting for its name. Gushan is situated right between Cizhou and another city called... I glanced at the small flag planted on that sand dune symbolizing that city, that's right, it's called Fuyang. Gushan lies precisely between Cizhou and Fuyang, making the two cities face each other across the mountain.

"Gushan Mountain is majestic and steep, with sheer cliffs rising thousands of feet, one side soaring into the clouds, impossible for human to climb. If the enemy army enters from Fuyang, our Cizhou garrison will not be able to come to our rescue in time. Fuyang City will be isolated and in grave danger, and will surely fall. The enemy army can advance to attack Cizhou, or retreat to cut off our route to Shandong. At that time, our Cizhou will be isolated and helpless, truly becoming a lonely city!" Zong Ze frowned and muttered to himself.

"Since Gushan is insurmountable, why not just go around it?" I said dismissively—the mountain doesn't seem that intimidatingly big, going around it shouldn't be a problem, right?

“Third brother, you may not know this, but Gushan is a spur of the Taihang Mountains. Although it only stretches forty or fifty li in length, it extends for hundreds of li in width. If the main force were to detour, it would take more than ten days, and we would surely miss our chance to win!” Second Brother Yue patiently explained to me. —No wonder they looked so worried.

"What's so difficult about this?" A thought suddenly struck me. I remembered the deep pit I had fallen into yesterday, and then I recalled the books I had read, "Guerrilla Warfare on the Plains" and "Tunnel Warfare." I couldn't help but chuckle—that's right! Since the Eighth Route Army was able to wage tunnel warfare against the Japanese army on the plains of central Hebei during the War of Resistance Against Japan, there's no reason why it couldn't be used in ancient times, right?

"I wonder what brilliant idea Young Master Ye has?" Zong Ze smiled faintly—he was probably thinking to himself, if even he, a seasoned veteran of countless battles, had no good solution, what could I, a mere inexperienced scholar, possibly do?!

"Since crossing mountains and going around are both impossible, and flying is out of the question," I smiled confidently. "Then the only option left is to burrow underground!"