The severely wounded King of South Sea had finally made a full recovery. Without question, it was excellent news that lifted morale.
Figures moved restlessly outside the camp tents, cheering with joy. Amid the rumble of carriages and horses, tiny droplets on the leaves gathered into beads and pattered onto the oiled canvas overhead, as though another light rain had begun.
His five fingers tightened around the spear shaft as Liang Qu looked toward Ta Ta Kai.
"What date is it today?"
Ta Ta Kai climbed up from the blanket, pulled out a yellowed calendar, and tapped a red circle with its claw.
"Whew, it's already the end of January. February fourth is the Start of Spring, February sixteenth is New Year's Eve, February seventeenth is the New Year Festival... Spring rains, startled insects, clear skies, grain rains; summer fullness, grain in ear, summer heat in succession... First, the east wind thaws the ice. Second, hibernating insects begin to stir. Third, fish rise bearing ice on their backs. What teeming vitality..."
"Reporting to the Xingyi Marquis, King of South Sea has recovered and arrived by carriage. He has slaughtered cattle and sheep and come with several prefects to offer condolences to the frontline soldiers. General Xu invites the Xingyi Marquis to greet him together. I wonder..."
The soldier outside the tent respectfully sought instructions.
Click.
The weapon rack stood empty. Liang Qu seized Fubo, spun it three times, and Wishful shrank to three feet before he tucked it at his waist and lifted the tent flap.
"Take me there."
"Yes!"
"Da Xi? Why have you come? You did not send anyone ahead to deliver word..."
On the South Bank of the Red River, the Southern Border main camp was likewise thrown into alarm by the Da Xi's arrival. The