The wind in Shuobei was bitterly cold. It blew the cattle and sheep back into their pens, sent the horses' manes flying, furrowed the brows of the men, and reddened the chapped faces of the women. Yellow sand danced wildly, blotting out heaven and earth.
Wang Yan—Academician of the Dragon Diagram Pavilion, Court Gentleman Consultant, Vice Minister of the Imperial Granary, Acting Commissioner of the Henan Circuit Pacification Office and Prefect of Yan Prefecture, Valiant Cavalry Officer, specially granted purple robes—wore a purple official robe beneath a sable cloak. Because the wind was so fierce, he wore no winged official hat. His hair was simply piled high and secured with a green jade hairpin. Wearing official boots, he stood upon a gentle slope amid the hills.
His hands were tucked into his sleeves as the northern wind whipped his greatcloak about him.
"Lord Fan, Lord Di, let us return. The cold cuts to the bone. Neither of you is young anymore; you should avoid the wind."
The two old men stared deeply at the Khitan camp across from them. They so badly wanted to fight...
This was Warm Spring Peak, where Xia Prefecture bordered Khitan territory. A considerable portion of the troops was holding the line here, and they had even already fought once—during the earlier peace negotiations.
Wang Yan had repeatedly submitted memorials requesting a northern expedition, coordinating his efforts with the peace talks. After the ceasefire with Western Xia, he had directly marched his army here and, without another word, launched an attack on the Khitan garrison. They fought a small-scale clash involving ten thousand men, beating the enemy until they abandoned their armor and helmets. Afterward, the Khitans reinforced Warm Spring Peak, the peace talks proceeded smoothly, and they no longer demanded annual tribute payments.
"Ziyan, tell