The snow had stopped in Yong Capital, but at Ironbeam Mountain, three hundred li north of Yongzhou, it still fell thick and fast, whitening the mountains and rivers and wrapping the world in silver. Even in such foul weather, a party of roughly a hundred riders continued to gallop onward. Many of their horses were utterly exhausted and refused to advance no matter how their riders lashed them. One horse, its strength completely spent, gave a mournful whinny and collapsed in the snow.
The officer on its back was caught off guard and thrown into an ignominious heap. Flying into a rage, he drew the saber at his waist and roared, "You beast! How dare you shirk! I'll kill you!" He raised his saber to hack down at the horse's head, but before he could strike, an authoritative shout rang out behind him. "Mingwei, stop!"
The officer's saber froze in midair. An old commander in a black cloak rode up from behind. He was none other than Yuchi Chong, Grand Marshal of Great Yong. After receiving news of the upheaval in Yong Capital, he had hurried back from the Northern Frontier, hoping to arrive in time for the funeral. Yet the weather had turned foul from the moment they set out, and one blizzard after another had hampered their journey. Despite traveling day and night, they had inevitably fallen behind. Upon reaching Ironbeam Mountain, the wind and snow had suddenly intensified. By now, men and horses alike were exhausted, almost at the limits of their endurance.
The officer was Yang Mingwei, one of Yuchi Chong's favored subordinates. Only after the commander-in-chief rebuked him did his anger cool and reason return. Looking at his mount lying in the snow, its neck stretched out as it whinnied pitifully, he felt guilt well