NABC Chapter 47 Guan Yu's Treatment and Lü Bu's Heart
Chapter 47 Guan Yu's Treatment and Lü Bu's Heart
For half a month, the busy Torre had no time to look for Yang Kang. Instead, Zhu Chi frequently invited him to his camp for drinking and horseback riding.
Besides Zhu Chi, other Mongol generals also frequently sought out Yang Kang for banquets.
Genghis Khan held a small banquet every three days and a large banquet every five days.
During this month, the Mongol Khan spent his time learning about health preservation from Qiu Chuji and showering Yang Kang with gifts.
"It's such a pity that my daughters, apart from Huazheng, are either too young or already married. Otherwise, I would really like to betroth my daughter to you."
At the banquet, Genghis Khan smiled and said to Yang Kang.
However, no one dared to mention the matter of Hua Zheng remarrying Yang Kang, after all, how could Genghis Khan's daughter become someone else's concubine?
Yang Kang could only awkwardly return the cup, unable to reply.
If Genghis Khan showed suspicion towards him, he could disregard it.
But he didn't expect that Genghis Khan would treat him like Cao Cao had met Guan Yu, wishing he could use wealth and honor to chain him up.
Instead, it made him feel a little guilty from time to time.
In early August, an envoy from the Southern Song Dynasty came to pay homage to Genghis Khan.
The Southern Song Chancellor Shi Miyuan ordered an envoy to negotiate with the Mongols a joint attack on the Jin Dynasty. In exchange for the Southern Song's ability to contain the Jin forces from the south, the Mongols agreed to return the Henan region after destroying the Jin.
Genghis Khan had long harbored this intention; what he wanted was the death of the Jin dynasty, and he didn't care who would help him bring down the sword.
Moreover, after the Jin dynasty was destroyed, the weak Song dynasty was naturally nothing more than meat on a plate.
The alliance was quickly finalized. The Southern Song Dynasty sent envoys to pay tribute, the Mongols attacked the Jin Dynasty from the north, and the Southern Song Dynasty sent troops from the south. They agreed to divide the former Jin Dynasty territories after the alliance was established.
As for whether Henan would be returned after the destruction of the Jin dynasty, Genghis Khan and Shi Miyuan kept their intentions to themselves.
Yang Kang was also present when Gou Mengyu met Genghis Khan in the Golden Tent.
"Humanity has learned nothing from history."
"That must mean the lesson from last time wasn't painful enough; the humiliation of Jingkang couldn't make the Song people abandon their naivety and weakness."
"This imperial court is truly beyond saving!"
Yang Kang shook his head inwardly.
However, that doesn't affect his plans with Gou Mengyu or Murong Yan.
After the Mongol-Golden Treaty was concluded, Yang Kang took the initiative to resign and leave Genghis Khan.
"It seems that my Mongolia still lacks some appeal for you Han heroes."
"Guo Jing, who grew up in my sight, is leaving, and now even you are eager to leave."
"Am I really that undesirable in the eyes of you Han people?"
When Genghis Khan heard that Yang Kang was preparing to leave, he suddenly felt a sense of dread about life.
He was incredibly generous to Yang Kang over the past month.
In the end, Yang Kang also had to leave whenever he wanted.
Having lived his entire life as a succubus on the grasslands, Temujin began to doubt his own charm.
"The Great Khan is a hero of our time. You led the people of the grasslands to victory over countless enemies and the increasingly cold winter."
"Winter is coming, and I will go to fight the cold and hunger with my people."
"When the Great Khan returns to the East, I will come to pay my respects to you again."
Yang Kang said humbly and politely.
"yes!"
"Winter is getting colder and colder, maybe I should go back home."
Genghis Khan said with a sigh.
He did not stop Yang Kang from leaving, but after Yang Kang left the tent, his expression as he looked into the distance grew colder and colder.
As Yang Kang prepared to set off, it was also time for Zhu Chi to return to his fiefdom.
On the eve of his departure, Zhu Chi invited Yang Kang to drink one last time.
There were only two people in the tent. Zhu Chi personally poured wine and drank three bowls in a row. His face was slightly red, but he was less reserved than usual when he spoke.
"Yang Kang, which of my father's four sons do you think will be able to sit on that throne in the future?"
Suddenly, Shu Chi asked.
Yang Kang put down his wine bowl and looked at Zhu Chi.
"What does Your Highness think?"
Zhu Chi gave a bitter laugh and did not answer.
He knew better than anyone that the two words Chagatai had shouted in public had cut off all his paths.
"Never mind, I'm not going to say anything more."
"I really envy you, that you can return to the East. I'm afraid I'll never have the chance to see my hometown again in my life."
Shu Chi shook his head with a wry smile and drank the remaining wine in the bowl in one gulp.
The next morning, Zhu Chi rode a white horse and bid farewell to Yang Kang by the river.
His white horse rode side by side with Yang Kang's black golden crow.
The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the river water shimmered like scattered gold beneath the hooves of the two men's horses.
"General Yang Kang, your strength is terrifying, but the principles of you Han people are even more awe-inspiring."
"It's such a pity that I never had the chance to go to your Han Chinese homeland to learn those principles."
"I will definitely write down what you said these days and pass it on to my descendants."
"That's what Zhu Chi said."
"It is indeed a pity that a leader like Prince Zhuchi was not born in the Central Plains."
"I hope that in the future, the people of the Western Regions will be able to live a peaceful and prosperous life under your rule."
Yang Kang nodded in agreement.
"Actually, I envy Guo Jing. I envy that he could leave everything behind and go without caring about anything."
"But I cannot disobey my father's will, nor can I abandon my children."
"I don't want a fiefdom, and I don't want to be a king."
"I just want to go back to my hometown and be with my mother."
"I just don't know if I'll ever have the chance to see this day in my lifetime."
Shu Chi suddenly coughed and said with a sorrowful tone.
Yang Kang sensed the death intent in the other party's words, but could only sigh for this rare rational person among the Mongols.
"The world is vast, and everywhere is a home for a fine man."
"Prince Zhuchi, as a person of the grasslands, you should understand this principle even more."
Yang Kang said loudly.
Upon hearing this, Shu Chi could only manage a wry smile.
The longing a middle-aged man feels for his mother is something a young man like Yang Kang would never understand.
He took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Yang Kang.
"I heard that you have already resigned from your post with your father, the Khan, and are preparing to return to the Central Plains in the East soon."
"Your horse is a rare and divine steed, and it will surely be able to return home soon. I would like to ask you to deliver this letter to my mother when you pass through the grasslands."
Tell her that although her son may never have the chance to return to her, his soul will return to her even in death.
"It's sad," said Shu Chi.
Yang Kang took the letter and nodded solemnly in agreement.
Then, Zhu Chi cracked his whip and led his men away into the distance.
The white horse's silhouette gradually blurred in the morning mist, eventually disappearing at the end of the riverbank.
Before setting off, Genghis Khan did something that surprised everyone.
He did not keep Yang Kang, but kept Qiu Chuji instead.
"Master, it is inconvenient for you to travel with a young man like Yang Kang. Why don't you come with me and return to the grasslands next year?"
"I'd also like to learn more about health preservation from you."
Genghis Khan spoke in an almost pleading tone, a rare occurrence for him.
Qiu Chuji glanced at Yang Kang, and Yang Kang nodded slightly.
"This humble Taoist priest will obey your command."
Qiu Chuji clasped his hands together and agreed.
Yang Kang had no choice but to return east first, while Qiu Chuji followed Genghis Khan's army back all the way.
The master and disciple parted ways outside Ghazni. Yang Kang mounted his horse and glanced back.
Qiu Chuji's figure in his gray robe gradually receded into the morning light, with Genghis Khan's vast army beside him.
The old Taoist priest who once chased Mei Chaofeng all over Shandong is now going to follow the same path as the most powerful person in the world.
Yang Kang shook his head, spurred Jinwu's horse on its flanks, and rode off towards the east.
Half a month later, the Southern Song delegation and Yang Kang left the Mongol camp.
The two groups left one after the other.
No one knew that at some point during the journey, Gou Mengyu, one of the envoys from the Southern Song Dynasty, suddenly left the mission and headed towards Kunlun with Yang Kang.