"What?!" Although everyone knew that the battle at Fenglin Ferry was going badly, they were all shocked to hear that Huo Kuang had been assassinated. Pang Zhen hesitated, unsure of what to say at that moment.
"Li Jun, Li Jun..." Liu Guang repeated the name over and over, turning back to look at the receding Huichang City. Beneath the purple dragon banner, a general seemed to stand atop the city wall, gazing intently at him. Liu Guang silently looked at the general, and after a long while said, "I am not as good as Lu Xiang. Lu Xiang has a disciple like Li Jun, but I have none. I have nothing."
“My lord…” Liu Zheng lowered his head, his willow-like hair now gray, seemingly having turned much whiter in just a few months. Liu Zheng sighed softly, swallowing the words that were about to come out.
"My lord, why do you say such a thing? We are forced to retreat temporarily due to the current situation, but in the battle of Yuzhou alone, Li Jun did not gain much advantage. Our main force is still intact, and besides, Chen is rich in resources and full of talented people; is it not far superior to that small Yuzhou?" Han Chong said resolutely. "After this journey, my lord, you should encourage your soldiers, examine your officials and people, and select the virtuous and capable to prepare for the next battle!"
"Exactly, exactly!" the generals echoed. Liu Guang, his spirits lifted, looked up and laughed, "Han Chong's words are reasonable. Though I am old, I do not wish to become a tool for these youngsters to make a name for themselves. If Li Jun wants to surpass me, that brat still needs the right time. Next time he comes, I will definitely take Li Jun's life!"
"What a stubborn old general." Li Jun smiled slightly from the city wall. Matters of state could be set aside for now; what he needed to do was prepare for his wedding. It would be a new beginning, for him and for the Peace Army. A mixture of longing and fear welled up within him. He let out a long breath, facing west, towards the spot where Liu Guang's army had disappeared, where the setting sun was about to sink. He shouted loudly to the setting sun: "Set, set! The old days are over, the new days are about to begin!"
Chapter One: Writing Style
Section 01
"Commander Li has defeated the old traitor Liu Guang and forced him to sign a treaty under duress. The people of Yuzhou can once again enjoy peaceful days!"
"Commander Li has returned to Thunder City and will be arriving in Raging Waves City soon. It looks like we can have the wedding feast before the New Year!"
Whispers came from outside the tent that made Mo Rong's heart race and her ears burn. She couldn't help but hide her head under the down-filled pillow and bury herself in the soft mattress.
"How embarrassing... that... that fool..." Her heart pounded wildly, seemingly unwilling to settle in her chest. She wanted to curse the one who had kept her from stepping out of the tent for days, yet she was afraid the curse would be heard by the gods and she would change it. Outside the tent, the guards were joking around with the barbarian girl without any regard for age, and these jokes were always related to Mo Rong.
After staring blankly for a while, the light in the tent gradually dimmed. Mo Rong gently tapped her fingers with her pearly teeth, calculating the journey. Li Jun would probably be back in Kuanglan City tomorrow. How could she... how could she face this person who was talking nonsense?
As the voices outside the tent faded into the distance, Mo Rong roused herself from the bed. She had been hiding in the tent all day out of shyness, and now that it was getting late, she should go out and explore. Although Kuanglan City had been completed two years ago, the later stages of construction would still take time. Moreover, in the past two years, Li Jun had established the Bureau of Gewu in Kuanglan City, where she was in charge of designing and supervising the manufacture of new equipment beneficial to the people's livelihood and the war effort. Both of these were places she had to visit daily. In addition, today was the completion day of the Haitian Tower. As a major landmark of Kuanglan City, the Haitian Tower, although not designed by her personally, was a testament to the combined wisdom of ordinary and skilled craftsmen. If she didn't go see it, she would find it difficult to sleep tonight.
Fortunately, with the population growing, the city of Kuanglan is bustling with people of all races. Although the Yue people are known for their conservatism, it is not uncommon to see Yue women playing in the city. She only needs to cover herself with a scarf to avoid being recognized.
Carefully avoiding the sentries, Mo Rong stepped out of the tent, but she hadn't gone far when a pair of hands suddenly reached out and covered her eyes. A soft, giggling voice came from behind her ear: "Where are you going, bride-to-be?"
Without needing to ask, Mo Rong recognized the voice as that of Lü Tian, a barbarian girl. Lü Tian had been by her side ever since the Japanese pirates first invaded Kuanglan City. In the two or three years since, the once slender and delicate fourteen-year-old girl had blossomed into a graceful young woman.
"You brat, I'm going to tear your mouth apart!" Mo Rong blushed and grabbed Lü Tian's hand. The Yue people were naturally shorter, and although Mo Rong was considered tall in the clan, she was still shorter than Lü Tian when they stood together.
"Did I say something wrong, sister?" Lü Tian hugged Mo Rong's arm, her joy overflowing. "I knew you wouldn't hide for a day. Today is the day Hai Tian Lou is completed, you will definitely go to see it, I want to go with you!"
“I knew you would sneak over. If I didn’t go, you would have gone by yourself.” Mo Rong gently pinched Lü Tian’s pretty face. “Once the Hai Tian Tower is completed, you and Tu Long Zi Yun will have a new place to play.”
This time, it was Lü Tian who was blushing. Ever since Tu Long Ziyun brought her from the merchant ship to Kuanglan City, she had developed feelings for this man who was both a brother and a friend. At first, it was just gratitude for someone who genuinely cared for her, but as she grew older, this gratitude gradually blossomed into love. Tu Long Ziyun was known throughout Kuanglan for his womanizing ways, and perhaps he hadn't noticed this sixteen-year-old girl, but Mo Rong, who spent every day with Lü Tian, knew all about it.
"Sister, sister, please don't make fun of me." The blush on Lü Tian's face faded, and she murmured softly, lowering her head. On a night like this, the celebrities from all walks of life in Kuanglan City would surely gather at Haitian Tower. How could Tu Long Ziyun give up this opportunity to get close to the ladies and gentlemen? And how could she, she herself, give up this opportunity to watch him from afar?
Mo Rong gently patted Lü Tian's hand and sighed with some sympathy. Compared to Lü Tian, she was more experienced and knew that matters of the heart depended entirely on fate; they couldn't be forced. She didn't want to be trapped in a love triangle and feel lost.
"Good sister, let's go quickly, just sneak a peek and come right back. Oh, and you should cover your face too, otherwise people will know I've arrived as soon as they see you."
Lü Tian raised her face, her girlish sentiments and petulance fleeting. She smiled and covered her face with a veil, saying, "Sister Mo, do you really think this Wanghai Tower will be famous for all time?"
"If we're talking about architecture, the Wanghai Tower is a culmination of the skills of both ordinary people and the ingenious craftsmen of Yue." When talking about architecture, Mo Rong temporarily put aside her own troubles. "When choosing the site for the tower, we specially invited Immortal Chu Qingfeng to divine the geomantic coordinates and Lei Hun to observe the celestial phenomena. Therefore, the location of the Haitian Tower is the very essence of Kuanglan City, and its presence is enough to ensure its legacy for generations."
Lü Tian chuckled: "That's a bit mysterious, I don't understand."
Mo Rong smiled and said, "Have you noticed that from our perspective, although we are far apart, Hai Tian Tower still looks like a tiger crouching and a dragon coiling? The reason for this is because of its advantageous location."
Lu Tian gazed intently at the Haitian Tower, which stood majestically against the backdrop of the setting sun, perched on a promontory jutting into the sea. While many high-rises had sprung up in Kuanglan City over the years, the Haitian Tower, overlooking them all, truly possessed an imposing and awe-inspiring presence.
The two arrived at the building. Although many people had already come that morning, the area in front of the complex of pavilions and towers was already packed with onlookers. Most people would have to wait until the official opening the next day before they could climb up and enjoy the view; only distinguished guests were allowed to enter.
Mo Rong quietly lifted a corner of her headscarf. The guard at the door recognized her and his face showed a mixture of amusement and delight. His complex expression made Mo Rong blush again under the headscarf.
"Let these two young ladies in." The guard smiled and pushed aside another guard, making way for Mo Rong and Lü Tian. The two had only taken a few steps when suddenly a man behind them loudly questioned, "Why can the two women go in, but I, a man, can't?"
The man's arrogant tone was grating to Mo Rong's ears. Turning around, she saw a man in his early thirties, with a fair complexion and a slightly stout build. He looked like a wealthy gentleman, but his clothes were rather shabby. Two guards blocked his way with their halberds. Although his voice was loud, there was no anger on his face. When he saw Mo Rong turn around, he smiled slightly and nodded, as if his loud words were just a ploy to get her to turn and look at him.
Mo Rong's heart stirred. This man's appearance was quite ordinary, but his eyes were clear as a spring. Mo Rong turned to the guard and said, "This gentleman is someone I invited. Please let him in."
The guards were originally assigned from the Peace Army to patrol Kuanglan City, so although they were somewhat surprised, they were unwilling to disobey Mo Rong's words. The man was let in, but he did not thank Mo Rong. He simply nodded slightly and walked inside.
"Hmph, how could you let such a rude person in, sister?" Lü Tian snorted softly. Mo Rong could almost imagine her little mouth pouting slightly, so she smiled and patted her hand. Although Mo Rong hadn't lost her childlike innocence over the years, she was much more composed than when she first came to Kuanglan City and met Lan Qiao and the other two.
Lü Tian quickly forgot the unpleasantness the man had caused, becoming engrossed in the wonder of the pavilions, terraces, and winding paths. She had visited several times when construction had just begun, but the Yi people were far more interested in the sea than in bricks and stones, so this place was still quite unfamiliar to them.
Despite its name, Haitianlou is actually a complex of buildings covering over 500 acres, named after its main building, Haitianlou. Its construction departs from the traditional Chinese emphasis on symmetry and solemnity; every element, from the buildings and corridors to the lakes and streams, is subtly imbued with a sense of tranquility. The artificial hills and gardens cleverly divide the scenery, ensuring that each step reveals a different vista. Although only covering a small area of 500 acres, it is enough to keep visitors engrossed for days, making them reluctant to leave.
"It's truly amazing, sister, it's so interesting!" Lü Tian exclaimed in amazement as Mo Rong pointed out the ingenious details of the design to her. Because Mo Rong was preoccupied with other matters, the two walked quickly and arrived at the main building, Hai Tian Lou, as the city lights began to twinkle.
The Sea and Sky Tower has seven floors and is ninety-nine feet tall. The first, second, and third floors are crowded with visitors, mostly young men and women from the city. Surprisingly, Tu Longzi Yun is not among them. The two went up to the fourth floor and were slightly taken aback. They saw that there were quite a few people on the fourth floor, and although there were occasional chanting sounds, it was much quieter than the first, second, and third floors.
"Ziyun, what's going on?" Mo Rong asked, seeing Tu Long Ziyun talking to several young women.
“Oh, these gentlemen are guests invited by the city’s wealthy merchants. It is said that most of the famous scholars in the country have been invited.” Tu Longziyun said with a bit of boredom, “These gentlemen are good at composing poems and essays. The wealthy merchants have nothing better to do, so they pay high prices to invite them to write the inscription for Haitianlou.”
Mo Rong couldn't help but smile slightly. Although these scholars and celebrities were physically weak, they always enjoyed extremely high prestige. As the landlords of Kuanglan City, the Peace Army naturally needed a high-ranking general to accompany them. With most generals having gone to the front lines, Tu Long Ziyun, though unwilling, had no choice but to remain there.
"By the way, Sister Mo, did you come to give me some wedding candy?" Tu Long Ziyun suddenly asked with a smile.
Mo Rong was instantly overwhelmed by shyness, and almost wanted to go up and hit Tu Long Ziyun, but when she saw the ladies beside Tu Long Ziyun trying to suppress their smiles, she hurriedly pulled Lü Tian and ran to the fifth floor.
"Hehe." Laughter from Tu Long Ziyun and the ladies-in-waiting came from behind. Although the laughter was soft, it startled the scholars who were deep in thought. Several of them glared angrily at Tu Long Ziyun, who quickly suppressed his laughter. But when they turned around, Tu Long Ziyun stuck out his tongue at them, making the ladies-in-waiting giggle again.
Upon reaching the fifth floor, the number of tourists decreased considerably, presumably because Tu Longziyun was guarding the fourth floor, preventing unauthorized personnel from easily ascending. Several wealthy merchants from the city, such as Jia Tongzhuang and Heng, were gathered together, speaking in hushed tones. Upon seeing Mo Rong, despite her face being veiled by a silk scarf, their keen eyesight allowed them to recognize her.
"Miss Mo is late." These men, all quick-witted, naturally knew why Mo Rong had veiled her face with a silk scarf. But over the years, they had become quite familiar with Mo Rong, knowing that although she was shy in this regard, she wasn't a petty woman. Moreover, with Li Jun and Mo Rong's wedding day approaching, Mo Rong would soon become the mistress of Yuzhou and Qinggui. If they didn't make an emotional investment at this point, these wealthy merchants would be as foolish as pigs.
"Greetings, esteemed business owners." Seeing that these business owners recognized her, Mo Rong had no choice but to remove the silk scarf from her face and greet them with a smile. Her face still had a lingering, intoxicating flush, which the businessmen knew perfectly well. They exchanged glances and smiled slightly.
"Miss Mo is the most skilled craftswoman in the world. What do you think of this Hai Tian Lou?" Jia Tong asked, seeing that Mo Rong's face was starting to turn red again. He quickly changed the subject.