La vida perfecta en la dinastía Song

Capítulo 79

"He just happened to guess it."

"Guessed?" Zhao Manqing laughed. "We're so honored that such a handsome man could guess our names at first glance!"

Junyu pondered. It seemed this seller was quite influential, and it wasn't surprising that he had investigated the buyer's background beforehand. Large merchants usually made extensive preparations in advance. In today's chaotic world, many transactions, especially those involving horses, could easily lead to trouble if the background wasn't thoroughly investigated.

P.S.: The following chapters will preview the reunion of Tuosang and Junyu, their wedding night, and the epic battle between Junyu, Tuosang, and Zhu Yu.

Zhu Yu has many more scenes to play.

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Chapter 272: Young Master Jun's Old Friends

Mo Feiyan, being more mature, asked him tactfully how he knew their names. The man simply replied that he was an old acquaintance of their chieftain.

Junyu had been casually listening to their conversation, but after hearing Mo Feiyan's words, she began to pay real attention: "Oh, really? That person claimed to be an old acquaintance of mine?"

Manqing's face flushed red as she whispered with a smile, "Young master, when did you meet such a handsome man? How come you've never mentioned him before? He's much more handsome than Meng Yuanjing..."

Back in the "Marshal's Mansion" in the capital, the two of them spoke highly of Meng Yuanjing, saying he was their "perfect match." Now, Junyu was truly amused: "How come Meng Yuanjing isn't handsome anymore? Back then, didn't you two try your best to say that he was handsome, sincere, and treated me well? Why have you changed your tune now?"

"Hmph, he's already married another woman. In my eyes, he's not handsome at all! It's truly hateful. While you're fighting alone on the battlefield, he's already married a beautiful wife and is enjoying a life of luxury at home..."

Mo Feiyan nodded vigorously, looking like she deeply agreed: "Whether he's handsome or not is no longer our concern, is it? To be honest, he's far less handsome than that 'Young Master Jun'."

Over the years, the two women had worried about Junyu's future, paying close attention to every possible match but failing to find one. They finally discovered that Meng Yuanjing, her childhood sweetheart, was the perfect choice, but then he got married, dashing their hopes. From then on, mentioning him never brought them a pleasant look. Little did they know, Junyu was overjoyed to see her best friend living such a happy life after his early marriage. If he hadn't married, she would have had an extra burden of worry and guilt.

It turns out that "whether or not a man is married" has become the primary criterion these two use to judge whether a man is handsome or not. Jun Yu couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Haha, if that mysterious 'Young Master Jun' is already married, according to your logic, he naturally wouldn't be considered a handsome man?"

"How could he get married?" the two retorted in unison, as if Junyu had told an unbelievable joke.

Jun Yu asked curiously, "Why can't he?"

“A man as unique as him deserves only a woman as unique as him,” Mo Feiyan said leisurely. “We’ve followed you all over the country for many years and have seen many outstanding men, but we’ve never seen anyone as breathtaking as him. He claims to be an old friend of yours, and when he mentions the word ‘old friend,’ even a blind person could see how overjoyed and caring he is. How could a man who looks at you with such eyes marry another woman?”

Junyu's heart stirred, but she remained silent.

"You must have mentioned us to him, that's why he knew who we were as soon as he heard our names. Manqing and I have discussed this hundreds of times along the way. Who would you have mentioned us to? It must be someone you have an extraordinary relationship with. After he learned who we were, he treated us incredibly well. If he treated us like that, you can imagine how much better he would treat you."

Junyu was somewhat lost in thought. Years ago, in Tuosang's secret room, she had chatted with him for a long time, telling him about her parents, relatives, and the closest and most important people in her life, including Mr. Nongying, Shu Zhenzhen, Mo Feiyan, and Zhao Manqing. She had never mentioned them to anyone else since.

Two years ago, after secretly sending that message about Ejina's troops marching towards Yanmen Pass, Tuosang disappeared without a trace. Now, could this person calling himself "Young Master Jun" be Tuosang? She shook her head. From their descriptions, the mysterious "Young Master Jun" was dressed and acted like an ordinary man, and what kind of business he was involved in. How could he be Tuosang?

If it really is Tuosang, what kind of dramatic changes have occurred in his life?

Chapter 273: Tuosang Becomes a "Free Man"

Seeing her nod and shake her head, looking utterly lost, the two exchanged surprised glances. They had never seen such an expression on her face before, and both found it highly unusual.

Mo Feiyan asked softly, "Who is this person?"

Junyu regained his senses and laughed loudly, "I don't know who it is either. He was just being mysterious, but fortunately he meant no harm. If he were really an old friend of mine, he would naturally come looking for me. If I haven't seen him, I can't be sure who it is."

Upon hearing this answer, the two looked at each other in dismay, greatly disappointed.

Seeing the disappointment on Manqing's face, Junyu smiled and said, "It's a pity that Bai Ruhui and the others are stationed in another place and won't be back for a while. Are you disappointed?"

"Young Master, you're so cunning. You're changing the subject again!" Manqing glared at her, but was genuinely disappointed. She muttered, "It's alright, I'll wait until the battle is over before leaving. Let's see if he shows his face! Humph!"

Junyu and Mofeiyan exchanged a glance and burst into laughter. Mofeiyan said softly, "Junyu, the battle situation is urgent right now. Although we can't offer much help, we can still gather supplies and scout enemy positions in the surrounding areas without any problem. Do you agree?"

Manqing and Feiyan were no longer frail women; both had extensive business experience and some martial arts skills, and were more astute than many men. Junyu immediately nodded: "Alright, you two should return to the border and reunite with Sister Shu. You can act together and look out for each other. Perhaps, you'll really need to put in a lot of effort then."

The two immediately accepted the order with pleasure.

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The flames of war quickly ignited along the entire northern border. Over the course of more than a month, dozens of battles, large and small, were fought, with both sides experiencing victories and defeats.

A subsequent heavy snowfall not only swept across the northwestern desert but also froze the withered grass of the grasslands, making marching extremely difficult in the vast expanse of land. However, both sides were rapidly assembling large forces, and a decisive battle was imminent.

That noon, Junyu had just finished discussing military matters with his generals when he was suddenly informed that the monk Xia Ao and Qin Xiaolou had come to visit.

Xia Ao was a familiar face to the Northwest Army. When the Northwest Army was ravaged by plague, it was he and the old monk who practiced medicine and saved countless lives. Therefore, many former generals treated him with great respect.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, everyone withdrew. Xia Ao couldn't hide his joy and first bowed deeply to Jun Yu: "Thank you for your help, Marshal Jun."

Junyu immediately returned the greeting. Half a year ago, the puppet of the Lahan Cult forcibly took over the Holy Palace, which resolutely refused to submit. The Crimson Gold Clan army, which had been secretly supporting them, took the opportunity to disguise themselves and attack the Holy Palace, but was defeated by the reinforcements that Junyu had already deployed. Along the way, they also tracked down and eliminated a large number of spies and ambitious individuals who had been secretly lying in wait. After this battle, the Lahan Cult was crippled and no longer had the strength to carry out its schemes, which gave the Holy Palace a chance to breathe.

Seeing Xia Ao's joyful expression, Junyu hadn't even spoken when Xia Ao continued, "We have found the reincarnation of the Great Abbot, and it has been unanimously approved by all parties."

So that's how it is! After several years of trials and tribulations, the situation is finally settled, and the former "Bokdo" who had long since "died" will no longer be searched for by them! Tosang, he is finally a "free man"!

Junyu was so excited that he couldn't speak for a long time.

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Chapter 274: Zhu Yu, that villain

Xia Ao sighed, "It must be thanks to Buddha's blessing. Three months ago, we found the reincarnation of the abbot, and the next day we were besieged by the enemy. Just when the situation was extremely critical, a mysterious person arrived in time to save us. We wanted to thank him, but he left without saying goodbye, and to this day, we don't even know his name."

Junyu suspected that the person was most likely Tuosang, but it seemed that no one else in their sect knew about his resurrection, so he wouldn't mention it. He simply said happily, "Your sect has always offered assistance to those outside, so it's only right that we receive this good fortune. Besides, the reincarnation of the Great Abbot is naturally protected by Buddha. Now that the new 'Bokdo' has been chosen, we can temporarily stop the conflicts and wars, which is a blessing for the people."

"That's exactly right."

Junyu breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the believers and pious men and women who had endured so much war and strife must also be relieved. She looked at Qin Xiaolou; he had been instrumental in the ambush that defeated the combined forces of the Crimson Gold Clan and the Lahan Cult. The two had been friends since childhood and had worked together on these matters; now that they met, they were both overjoyed. Despite the deposition and installation of two "Bokdo" leaders, Qin Xiaolou remained firmly in his position, a testament to his tireless dedication to the cause.

Xia Ao bowed deeply again: "In half a month, I will be teaching the new 'Bokdo' to his coronation ceremony. I would like to invite Marshal Jun to come and see it."

Junyu returned the greeting and shook his head: "Master's kindness is something I dare not refuse, but with a great battle imminent, I dare not leave the camp without permission. I hope your sect will understand."

"Since that's the case, I wouldn't dare to force the Marshal. It's just that the Marshal has been very kind to me, and it would be a real pity if he were absent from such a grand ceremony."

Qin Xiaolou also said, "If that's the case, then we won't force you. Junyu, you just need to focus all your efforts on preparing for the war, and you don't need to worry about anything else."

Junyu nodded and thanked the two. Qin Xiaolou then said, "I heard that Zhu Yu has made great achievements in battle over the past few years. He is now personally leading an army of 100,000 and is the first general in the decisive battle against Zhenmutier in the west. He is not easy to deal with and is familiar with many of your combat habits. You must be careful when you encounter him."

Junyu smiled bitterly. In the past two years, Zhu Yu had rarely clashed directly with the Northwest Army, but he had led his army to conquer several ethnic minority regimes and tribes on the border, gradually dismantling the defenses of the Central Plains court. Last year, Zhang Yuan's elite troops had encountered his army by chance. The two sides fought fiercely for half a day, suffering losses on both sides, and then withdrew, resulting in a draw.

Afterwards, Zhang Yuan recalled with great alarm that even with the advantage of terrain, his side could only manage a draw with Zhu Yu. Moreover, Zhu Yu was returning from a long expedition and did not want to fight for a long time; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Zhang was originally Junyu's top strategist, and from then on, he regarded Zhu Yu as a great enemy. He devoted himself even more to studying the Crimson Gold Clan's battle tactics, hoping to one day have a showdown with him.

Xia Ao harbored deep hatred for Zhu Yu because Zhu Yu framed Tuosang. Now, upon hearing Qin Xiaolou mention him, he immediately said, "It was this villain Zhu Yu who plotted to kill me, 'Bokdo.' Heaven has eyes; he will surely die at Marshal Jun's hands."

Junyu's heart suddenly trembled, but he forced a smile and said, "Master, Xiaolou, thank you for your concern."

"Marshal, swords and spears have no eyes on the battlefield, so please take good care of yourself!"

"Junyu, a great battle is imminent, you must be very careful. We'll take our leave now."

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Chapter 275: The Life of the Prototype of Tosang

"The Flying General of Fengcheng" is a story based on the Sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, who was the prototype of Tosang.

He was born in Ugyenling, Nawo Yusong region, in the southern part of Tibet. His father, Zhaxi Danzeng, and mother, Tsewang Lhamo, were from a family that had been followers of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism for generations. He was born shortly after the death of the Fifth Dalai Lama, and the local political situation was complex. From a young age, he was identified by the local rulers as the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.

In fact, Cangyang Gyaltsen was not a follower of the Yellow Sect, but a devout follower of the Red Sect. This sect's rules do not prohibit monks from marrying and having children. However, he was later designated as a reincarnation by another sect, and the Laba Sect strictly forbids its members from marrying, having children, or engaging in sexual activity with women, similar to the rules of temples in Central China.

He was already 15 years old when he was welcomed into the palace, not as a child. You can imagine that a 15-year-old cowherd boy living in such a vast world must have longed for freedom. However, once he entered the palace, he could not control his own eating, drinking, and relieving himself. Every move he made had to comply with the rules and regulations. Therefore, it was difficult for him to achieve the same purity of mind and body as those old monks who had entered into meditation.

At that time, the lifestyle of those nomadic peoples on the grasslands was very mobile, and there were no taboos about marriage and love among the common people. In many cases, it was even somewhat licentious. According to legend, Cangyang had a childhood sweetheart since he was a child. So after entering the palace, he was always unwilling to accept this rigid life. He often secretly slipped out of the countryside and mingled in "teahouses and taverns", committing many "romantic affairs" that violated religious rules.

For example, love among the Tibetan people at that time was relatively free, which led Tsangyang to develop free ideas about love. However, he was later identified as the Great Lama, and the Gelug (Yellow Hat) sect to which the Great Lama belonged strictly forbade monks from marrying, starting families, or having contact with women. Moreover, as the Great Lama, he was even more required to set an example. This conflicted with his original beliefs, making it difficult for him to accept such extreme ascetic rules. Therefore, disregarding criticism from all sides, he broke through numerous obstacles, disguised himself, and frequently went to Lhasa late at night, frequenting teahouses and taverns, engaging in many "romantic affairs" that violated religious rules.

At that time, the struggle between religious sects was very fierce. Cangyang, who held a high position, behaved improperly, which naturally gave his political enemies an excuse. His political enemies seized on many things about him and reported them to the court, which made the young Cangyang a victim of the struggle.

It is said that once, when he was having a secret rendezvous with his lover, they were discovered, and his lover was secretly executed by the Iron Bar Trumpet, who was in charge of the discipline.

Cangyang Gyatso was also an outstanding folk poet who wrote a large number of love songs, many of which praised the beauty of women or expressed his admiration for them. Judging from the style of his love songs, his favorite women ranged from wealthy ladies to shepherdesses, but his true love was only for the mysterious woman who was later executed.

His famous poem, which has been widely circulated, includes the line, "White crane in the sky, lend me your wings, I will not fly far, I will only go to Litang and then return," which has a strong romantic flavor.

In his final moments, there's a wondrous legend: after retiring to seclusion, he went to herd sheep for a family. One day, the sheep were eaten, and the master scolded him. He called over the wolf that had eaten the sheep and said to the master, "Blam him, don't blame me." The master was astonished, realizing he was an extraordinary person.

Of course, this is just a legend, but it is enough to prove that he had the ability to drive away wolves.

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Chapter 276

Today is the eve of the Lunar New Year, the very day of the coronation of the new "Boccod." Junyu glanced in the direction of the Holy Palace; it was nearly noon. Judging by the time, the coronation ceremony should have long since ended, and the congregation should already be in the midst of joyous celebration.

She looked at the vast expanse of heaven and earth, and headed straight for the Iron Horse Temple.

The thick snow covered Tiema Temple in a blanket of white. With each step, a deep footprint was left behind.

Junyu didn't use his internal energy; he simply walked on the snow like an ordinary person, his steps uneven. Looking into the distance, he could see monks coming and going near Tiema Temple. With the Holy Palace's revival, the restoration of Tiema Temple was just around the corner. Since last year, believers had been returning one after another, and with the addition of new followers, this ancient temple, which had survived a great calamity, was gradually regaining its vibrant atmosphere.

After the great calamity, many reconstruction matters needed to be prepared, and the original abbot of Tiema Temple had returned to preside over daily affairs.

Junyu didn't want to encounter the monks, so he stopped a distance away, turned around, and walked in another direction. About thirty miles ahead lay the tranquil Qinghai Lake. At that moment, the biting wind and snow lashed against his body and his heart. Looking into the distance, deep within the lake, the familiar little wooden house remained, lifeless and serene.

In front of the wooden house, the meadow that once bloomed with small red flowers is now completely covered by wind and snow. It was on this very meadow, covered with red flowers, that Tuosang hugged himself, closed his eyes, and stopped breathing.

It was nearly dusk when she slowly walked over, reached out and pushed the door open, bringing in a room full of wind and snow.

Having traveled many roads, seen many clouds, and drunk much water, the blood-stained clothes that Tuosang changed out of, the many things that Mr. Nongying sent, even the hard wooden planks and the dusty felt in this wooden house are all still vivid in my mind. It's just that I missed the best people I met in the best years of my life.

Her hands and feet were already icy cold, so she lit the brazier. The fire grew stronger, and her hands and feet began to warm up, but the world outside remained a cold expanse of ice and snow. At that moment, she suddenly didn't want to move. Years of toil and war had left her heart with few moments of peace. Even in the dead of night, those bleak and merciless memories would haunt her, separating the person in her dreams from her by vast distances. Even knowing he was still in this world, she increasingly dared not hope for the day they could truly hold hands and look at each other again.

She pondered deeply; over the past two years, she had sensed Tuosang's presence several times in the middle of the night. But each time she awoke to search, the area was empty, as if it were all a dream. Now, returning to this familiar place, she was still filled with weariness and desolation. Tuosang, where was he now? When would they meet again in this life?

Thinking of Tuosang, besides a deep sense of melancholy, I also felt a lingering resentment.

Ever since Tuosang "died" by Qinghai Lake, for a whole year, every time I thought of him, I felt an excruciating pain. Two years ago, I was in grave danger and went blind. If it weren't for his timely arrival, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Thinking back to those three days by the lake, I felt his meticulous care made even the loss of my sight seem less terrible.