The Zhang River flows in long brilliance,
The terraces of Ye rise high in spring delight.
The first month ends, winter snow is gone,
Silver garments fade, rugged forms emerge.
With the coming of spring the waters swell,
Boats crowd the ferry crossings in great numbers.
Where do the vessels travel?
With spring wind filling their sails and joy filling the heart,
Fine rain touches the clothes and gladdens the cheeks.
The Bai Canal enters the Yellow River,
And the current is followed toward Luoyang.
---
As the calendar turned into the second month, Ye City became busier than ever.
After all, the Proclamation to Revive Han had already spoken clearly of returning to the old capital. Everyone knew that Luoyang had once been burned to ashes by the villain Dong.
To peddlers and porters, Luoyang was a great city waiting to be rebuilt from ruin.
To the common people, Luoyang was fertile land encircled by five rivers.
To many more, however, the matter was even simpler. The Flame-Han had already received Heaven's Mandate three times. If that was the case, then the capital of the Eight Passes would inevitably become the hottest place under Heaven once again.
Under such circumstances, even gaining half a step ahead might become a great fortune worth boasting of in old age before one's descendants.
After all, the chaos caused by Dong was finished, and the peace of Han had only just begun. No matter how one looked at it, the realm should enjoy at least a century of peace.
---
Although Zhuge Dan was still young, his feelings about these matters were not inferior to those of most fully grown men.
The forced flight of the Zhuge clan and its subsequent scattering in all directions had been explained clearly to him by his father since childhood.
And that father had, not long after the New Year, solemnly visited his son's teachers and clan elder to request their care. He then departed to prepare for returning to Langya to conduct ancestral rites, and had already set out several days earlier.
"Dan'er must remember. Although Kongming is your clan elder brother, you must serve him as a teacher and treat him as a senior. Do not rely upon kinship and grow lax as though he were merely a brother. After I return to the homeland to worship the ancestors, I will hasten back to Luoyang to meet you."
His father's earnest instruction before boarding the boat still echoed in his ears.
But then—
"Good uncle, why have you come so late?"
The spirited greeting carried a trace of laughter. Zhuge Dan raised his head and, as expected, saw Jiang Wei waving to him from a carriage.
Although Ye City lay beside the Zhang River, most people traveling south preferred a land route eighty li south to Changle, where they could board ships and sail along the Bai Canal into the Yellow River. It was simply more convenient.
Their party, together with Kongming, followed the same route.
---
Once he climbed into the carriage and felt its gentle swaying, listening to the soft rhythm of wheels rolling through damp earth while Ye City gradually receded behind them, the heroic feeling he had experienced when leaving the city quickly shrank.
"Let the youth test the world."
The boldness of that thought quickly turned into confusion.
"Where will my home be settled this year?"
Fortunately, the shallow melancholy was quickly swept away by the people sharing the carriage.
"My teacher is still too impatient this time. I did not even climb the two and a half terraces of Ye City."
Jiang Wei spoke casually. Zhuge Dan's curiosity was instantly stirred.
"What do you mean by two and a half?"
"You truly do not know, good uncle? Five years ago Cao built the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, a place for banquets, poetry, and amusement."
"Three years ago he added the Golden Tiger Terrace beside it, using the city wall as a base. It was meant for viewing the mountains and discussing military strategy. Look, you can still see a shadow of it over there."
Jiang Wei lifted the curtain of the carriage. Zhuge Dan leaned forward and indeed glimpsed a tall terrace faintly visible near the southwest corner of Ye City.
Seeing him stretch to look, Jiang Wei laughed and casually hooked an arm around his neck to keep him from falling.
"Has good uncle grown interested and regrets not climbing it? It is said that Cao Zhi wrote a rhapsody on ascending the terrace that became famous throughout the city. Climbing the terrace has since become a fashionable pastime."
---
Zhuge Dan brushed away Jiang Wei's hand with a stern face.
"One Bronze Sparrow and one Golden Tiger makes two terraces. What is the remaining half?"
Zhuge Qiao noticed the awkwardness and calmly explained.
"The half is the Ice Well Terrace begun last year. The Cao clan intended to build a terrace and dig fifteen zhang beneath it to store ice for summer banquets. However…"
However what had happened afterward was obvious. Last year Cao had been defeated and Ye City captured. Such wasteful construction naturally ended unfinished. Only a rough foundation remained.
"That rhapsody on ascending the terrace truly weaves jeweled words and brocade sentences. Its literary elegance is remarkable."
Zhuge Guoguo added a comment of praise.
Jiang Wei nodded in agreement.
"The academy also says Cao Zhi is exceptionally talented in writing. If he were still here to debate literature with us, we would certainly lose."
---
Zhuge Dan had heard fragments of Ye City's upheaval from his teacher Lu Su, though not in detail. For example, he did not know where Cao Zhi had gone.
Fortunately the atmosphere in the carriage grew increasingly relaxed as they moved farther from the city.
Even Zhang Fei, who had originally climbed aboard half asleep while volunteering to escort Kongming, now spoke loudly with renewed spirit.
"That Cao youth skilled with words drove north to Yanmen. He wishes to imitate Ban Chao, casting aside the brush to take up the sword and kill barbarians. That can be called the conduct of a true man."
"Third Uncle, will General Zhao also pass through Yanmen?"
"Zilong is heading to Youzhou. Yanmen will be guarded by another capable general."
"If he can be called capable, then it must be General Zhang Wenyuan or General Ma Mengqi?"
"Of course it is Zhang Eight Hundred! As for Ma Chao, he still has matters with his father in Yongliang to settle. After all, Hexi…"
Zhang Fei did not elaborate further.
---
"Second Brother says that although Zhang Wenyuan showed bravery at White Wolf Mountain, he nearly died there and still carries hidden wounds. He must recuperate and consult Physician Zhang."
At the mention of Zhang Liao the carriage suddenly became livelier. The youths spoke at once.
"If we are visiting old friends from Jiangdong, why did Teacher not invite General Zhang? Those friends would surely be delighted to see him."
"Does General Zhang know the story of the Eight Hundred who broke the enemy lines?"
"If we count properly, General Zhang Wenyuan has many acquaintances in Ye City. For example the Grand Commandant Jia who invited Bo-yue to his residence…"
---
At the suggestion that those Jiangdong acquaintances would be "delighted," Zhang Fei actually stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"Military Advisor…"
"Yide."
Kongming's voice was calm but firm.
Zhang Fei immediately abandoned the thought.
"Jia Taizhong and Zhang Wenyuan only share a bit of former official association. He invited you because both of you are from Yongliang. Bo-yue must not imitate that too freely."
This referred to events after the New Year. Social visits were common, yet Jia Xu had been a key figure in the capture of the city for the emperor. For such a man to invite a youth was rather remarkable.
But Jiang Wei had shown no hesitation. He brought two blades of fine paper and half a jin of cane sugar, visited alone, and reportedly enjoyed a pleasant conversation.
Zhang Fei had privately asked the military advisor about it. Kongming merely said Jiang Wei knew his own measure.
Just as now Jiang Wei smiled.
"Jia Taizhong also said that Third Uncle's earlier pacification of the western rebels was a kindness to him. He asked me to convey his thanks."
Zhang Fei sighed with emotion.
"I had forgotten. Jia Xu is a man of Wuwei. Harsh frontier lands often produce remarkable talents."
---
The conversation continued easily until Zhang Fei remarked:
"When I campaigned through Longyou, the local governor once hosted a banquet. He understood the situation in Hexi completely and knew the fate of Guanzhong clearly. A man of great ability, yet content to guard the frontier."
The meaning was clear enough. It was advice for Jiang Wei not to grow arrogant.
But Jiang Wei suddenly asked,
"Third Uncle, is that governor named Zhao Ang?"
"How did you know?"
"Governor Zhao once governed the Qiang in West County. Everyone in Tianshui knows that he married a remarkable wife. She writes well, advises strategy, educates their children, and even assists in governance. Her name is famous across Yong Province."
Zhang Fei immediately understood.
"Does this woman have a name?"
"Wang Yi."
Kongming quietly repeated the name behind him.
With female officials already serving in Chang'an and the new Imperial Academy accepting women as students, Wang Yi would certainly find opportunity.
---
The topic drifted again.
"Truly, the ancients were right. One must marry a virtuous wife."
Jiang Wei quickly diverted the conversation.
"The Lady Zhen is also known as a virtuous wife."
Zhang Fei snorted.
"Cao Pi is only being beaten by Cao Cao in Xuchang. He is not dead. How can he abandon his wife and children?"
The rapid changes in Ye City had reduced former nobles to burning coal briquettes for warmth in winter. Only after Lady Cai wrote to Liu Xuande did matters ease somewhat.
Zhuge Qiao then recalled another matter.
"I heard on New Year's Day that the wife of Sima Yi intends to travel to Yizhou to find Sima Zhongda."
"I heard the same. Lady Zhang is said to be quick-witted as well."
But as it was a family matter involving Sima Yi, no one discussed it further.
---
The carriage continued southward.
By the time it stopped, Zhuge Dan felt he had learned much simply from listening to Zhang Fei speak about military formations and to Kongming and Lu Su discuss affairs across the thirteen provinces of Han.
"Military Advisor, we have reached Changle Ferry!"
They climbed down from the carriage.
The ferry bustled like a market. Ships large and small crowded the river.
Two squads of armored imperial guards stood silently nearby.
Zhang Fei quickly spotted someone.
"Zhao A! Over here!"
A young soldier squeezed through the crowd.
"Military Advisor, General, the ship is prepared. I will lead the way."
---
As they walked, Zhuge Dan noticed the ground beneath his feet.
Earlier the frozen earth had been hard as stone. Now the thaw of early spring had turned most roads into mud.
Yet the surface of Changle Ferry was different. It resembled neither brick nor stone but a seamless gray surface, hard and dry.
Jiang Wei laughed.
"Good uncle also finds this cement remarkable? With this material we may someday build terraces ten times higher than the Bronze Sparrow Terrace in Luoyang."
Zhuge Dan merely memorized the name.
Cement.
---
They boarded the ship.
Entering the Bai Canal, then the Yellow River, the voyage south began.
Winter snow had ended. Spring dawn had arrived.
Farmers swung their hoes across the fields.
The scent of newly turned soil filled the air.
Boatmen and villagers sang together.
"The son did not die in vain,
The wife was not scattered,
The chaos has ended,
Peace returns to the realm."
The ship traveled swiftly with the current.
By evening they had already entered the Yellow River. Spring farming scenes spread along both banks.
Zhuge Dan saw Kongming standing at the prow, gazing silently into the wind.
Night fell. Light rain began.
Suddenly lightning flashed across the sky, followed by a deep rolling thunder.
Kongming pushed open the window and let the rain dampen his smiling face.
"The thunder of Jingzhe awakens the spring."
"All things emerge from their winter sleep."
"This year will surely be a bountiful harvest."