Chapter 94: Chapter 47: Return

“Peace talks?”

Li Rusong questioned incredulously. In the eyes of this warrior, now was the time to pursue the already defeated allied forces, with the various daimyo pointing fingers at each other and Japan in total chaos. At the very least, if they couldn’t annihilate the main forces, they should drive the Japanese out of the entire territory of Joseon.

“Ningxia, Burma, Jiaozhi, Jurchen, along with Bozhou…”

Song Yingchang put down the ink-dipped brush and sighed.

“We have quite a few troubles; this is also the intention of the senior officials in the court. Zimao, you should be mindful of the bigger picture. Don’t forget, when you delivered the imperial edict to those two wild gods in Joseon, it caused an uproar in the court. You have troubles yourself…”

“The bigger picture, the bigger picture,” Li Rusong silently repeated in his heart but shook his head, saying, “The Japanese will not just let things be.”

Having said that, he left dispiritedly without another word.

Song Yingchang picked up the peace talk document in hand and scrutinized it several times before throwing it onto the desk with a “plop”.

…

“You want my spear?”

Song Yi lay on the shelf, his face calm.

Li Yan entered the room with a jug of liquor and was choked by Song Yi’s opening remark.

“How’s the injury?”

He pulled up a stool to sit beside Song Yi and asked.

“It’s yours now.”

“…Thank you.”

Li Yan hadn’t interacted much with Song Yi, but from just these few words, he understood what type of person Song Yi was.

“The people from the Heavenly Master Mansion have visited, haven’t they? How long until you can walk?”

“Half a year to recover, I’ll be able to walk, but my left leg will be lame.”

Li Yan frowned upon hearing this: “The Heavenly Master Mansion’s talismans are said to bring the dead back to life and mend bones and flesh. That Taoist fooled you.”

“No, I said I won’t seek treatment.”

Song Yi took the jug from Li Yan’s hand and took two big gulps, then exclaimed with delight.

“To hell with being a soldier! I’m resigning my post and going back home to Baxian County to breed horses.”

After a pause, he asked, “After I step down, the court is conferring on me the title of Wusan and rewarding me a hundred pieces of gold. What about you?”

“I’m being transferred to Daning Guard as Governor, conferred the title of Xun Flying Cavalry Captain, and awarded five hundred pieces of gold.”

“Not bad at all. That’s fifth rank for you.”

Song Yi laughed: “I’ve fought on the battlefield for ten years, carrying the standard and always at the forefront in every battle, but after just one battle, your official rank has caught up with mine. It’s only right though; you’re worth the price.”

After a pause, he added, “But you’re no match for me. Do you believe that?”

“I don’t, let’s see if we ever get the chance to spar.”

“If we get the chance.”

Li Yan glanced at the sky, took out two cups from his bosom, cleaned them, placed them on the table, and filled them with liquor. He began to speak leisurely, “Everyone secretly calls you ‘Little Horse Thief’, and only General Shen got along well with you. What’s the story there? Tell me about it?”

“It’s nothing interesting, let’s not talk about it.”

Song Yi counter-questioned: “You’re from Tianjin Guard, right?”

Li Yan drained his cup with a creaking sound. The liquor was rough, but indeed strong.

“Cangzhou.”

“Ah, I thought so.”

Cup after cup, the two men drank from the large jug until it was empty. They talked late into the night, the conversation sporadic and scattered.

“Your soldiers are fine, but as for those Korean monsters and demons, better to have fewer dealings with them. I’ve heard that the leading ‘Tree Demon’ and ‘Bird Demon’ have been influenced by our Great Ming’s Dragon Tiger Qi and the court has decreed that the two must come to the capital to be presented to the Emperor. There’s a lot of intrigue involved, and we warriors should stay out of it.”

“Good or bad?”

“It should be good, but given your status, you’re prone to suspicion.”

“I’ve heard about the Japanese wanting peace talks; will the court agree?”

“Most likely they will. The court is out of money.”

“Oh well, it’s none of my concern.”

“What do you mean? You’ve still got battles to fight.”

“Ha ha.”

Their conversation trailed off as Yu Shu lifted the curtain, looking at the two men.

“…”

“I’m leaving,” said Li Yan.

“Mmm,” nodded Song Yi.

Li Yan stood up unsteadily, and Yu Shu extended her hand. Li Yan, without being polite, leaned on her arm as they walked out.

The great moon hung in the sky, and the night over Pyongyang City was a deep shade of blue.

Li Yan, with a straight back and waist, finally said after a long while, “If I were born here, I probably would have turned out to be like Song Yi.”

Yu Shu did not pay attention to Li Yan’s sentimentality but shoved a red gourd into his hands instead.

“Inside Old Diao’s wine gourd is the reward I promised you; now we’re really even.”

Her lips curled up narrowly, “I think you’ll definitely like it.”

“Why leave Yan Fu.”

“Why go to such lengths to help Ming Country?”

“…”

Yu Shu changed the subject, “I’m leaving.”

“Paths cross even in different environments.”

Yu Shu laughed heartily, “It’s really worry-free talking to you, aren’t you considering following me?”

“Afraid of death.”

Yu Shu’s smile faded, her eyes and brows casting a shadow.

“When you’ve made your mark in the future, don’t come looking for trouble with me.”

“We’ll see.”

Yu Shu, without another word, disappeared into the darkness of the long street, blending in seamlessly.

“Paths cross even in different environments.”

Li Yan repeated the phrase.

“Esteemed Walker, everyone’s waiting for you.”

Wang Sheng, wearing a black eye patch, his youthful face matured a lot, replaced by an air of competence. After the fierce battles with the Daimyo Allied Army, all of Li Yan’s old subordinates received their rewards. Diao Xiayan, being older, had only asked for a reward of five hundred taels of silver, but Wang Sheng, still young, took a chief position as a result of Li Yan’s strong recommendation and by now had emerged as a bona fide military officer.

A smile appeared on Li Yan’s face.

“Let’s go, let’s drink!”

Meanwhile, in the hall, the celebration banquet was noisy and bustling. Yi Yu was exchanging toasts, his face flushed with joy, while Fei sat swinging her legs on a chair, her head peeking over the generals’ shoulders as they walked into the hall and looking towards the darkness behind Li Yan.

…

In Japan, Osaka.

The Ming envoy held the imperial edict aloft, clear and commanding, reading out the handwritten imperial decree from the Wanli Emperor. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, at 58 years of age, remained calm. Only after hearing the translator did a fleeting shadow cross his eyes; it took him a long time to sigh.

“Turtle button, dragon seal, sent afar to Fusang’s domain, sincere and firm in large seal characters, gracing the mountain that stabilizes the country. With the rise of ocean waves and the incidental divergence of wind divination, at this grand occasion, it befits to praise the eternal laws. Heed this, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who raised a country from the sea, acknowledged the reverence of China, sent forth a single envoy racing to the west, admiring and seeking unity. Pleading at Thousand Mile Gate, earnestly seeking to pledge loyalty, with such staunch sincerity, and tender graciousness, I hereby appoint you as the King of Japan, bestowing upon thee the imperial edict, with the playful conferment of treasure chests filled with fern-brake, donning the robes across the sea, leaving the vesture of grass attire, and firmly guarding the frontier of the Celestial Empire. Remember well thy ministerial duties, adhere to binding obligations, grateful for Our imbued grace, never forsake sincerity, faithfully following Our edicts, eternally respect Our teachings, revered indeed!”

…

“You’ve completed the Yan Fu event and the special Yan Fu event; total Yan Fu events completed: 3.”

“Your rating for this Yan Fu event is: Excellent Fortune!”

“If the evaluation is above Excellent Quality, and you hold the ownership rights to an item, as an Esteemed Walker, you may take it directly without purchasing it through authority.”

“You will take the following items: Gold-engraved Tiger Head Spear, Kachiten, Dugong Dew Talisman*5”

“Settlement begins!”

…

One month later

Japan.

Kyushu Island.

Thunderclouds crowded the sky, and the ground was littered with blood puddles; the dark mountains were like blades forged in fire, thrusting straight into the heavens.

“Why is it taking so long?”

A giant blue-skinned, one-horned, three-eyed creature wielding a black stone hammer spat out a chunk of flesh from between its fingers, complaining to the dark river before it.

“I think the River Spirit wants to stay in Joseon and not come back to serve Lord Himiko anymore.”

A foul-smelling beast with porcupine quills and yellow-fanged teeth smirked as it stood atop a corpse dressed in a red skirt and white blouse, clicking its tongue in a strange laugh.

The rest of the creatures burst into raucous laughter at this, each with bizarre sounds and colors, lacking any shred of humanity.

On the river, a raft slowly approached, a woman poling it along, with her long black hair covering her face.

“Eh~”

One of the creatures with sharp eyes noticed a dark, round object on the raft.

Looking closer, it was a woman’s head, with a patterned face, and a frightened eye peering through disheveled hair, the mouth moving.

“Go, hurry…”

The raft hit a rock, and the woman poling it kicked the head into the Black River before stepping onto the shore.

“Who’s in charge here?”