Chapter 92: Unexpected Companions (Part 3)

After another night of heavy drinking, Liu Zhongwu got up early the next day. Without a moment's hesitation, he stepped out the door, mounted his horse, and left, still not planning to wait for Han Gang to travel together.

In Liu Zhongwu's mind, traveling with Han Gang was like having a mountain wind wrapped around his neck, a pack of wolves following behind, riding a tiger, and having fleas in his clothes, making each day feel like a year.

However, as night fell, Liu Zhongwu, fearing he might run into Han Gang, hid in his room and gnawed on a steamed bun at the post station in Mei County (modern-day Meixian). But the Han Gang he was trying to avoid kicked the door open boldly, with Li Xiaoliu leading two soldiers from the post station behind him, bringing a feast of wine and dishes.

Han Gang, holding a wine jar, laughed loudly at the door, "Brother Ziwén, you're trying to leave without saying goodbye again, so you deserve a penalty drink! This jar is from Bīn Prefecture's Jingzhao Hall, a rare fine wine in Qín-Fēng. With good wine and good food, we won't stop until we're drunk tonight!"

Liu Zhongwu's face fell, and he was forced to drink heavily by Han Gang. He felt like a fly caught in a spider's web, unable to escape no matter how hard he struggled. What if Han Gang forced him to travel together the next day? He had already avoided him for two days, could he avoid him for a third?

After a few rounds of drinks, Liu Zhongwu was uneasy, and Han Gang spoke again, "Tomorrow, I will visit a friend in Hengqu Town and set off early, so I won't be traveling with Brother Ziwén."

Although Zhang Zai had already taken office in the capital, his house was guarded by only a few old servants. But Han Gang's visit would show his respect as a disciple of Hengqu, and Zhang Zai would be pleased to hear about it. Others would also praise Han Gang for his respect for his teacher. In a way, it was also a way to build good karma in advance.

Han Gang smiled and said apologetically, "I hope Brother Ziwén won't be offended."

Liu Zhongwu's eyes lit up. How could he be offended? He shook his head and waved his hands. Getting rid of Han Gang was exactly what he wanted. Since they met at Qiliping post station, he had been trying to lose Han Gang for two days but had never succeeded.

The horse he was using, though far superior to ordinary post horses, could run twice as fast as them at full speed. But Han Gang could change horses daily and ride continuously without sparing the horses. Liu Zhongwu, however, had to walk for half an hour after riding for half an hour. If he rode continuously, this fine horse from Hexi would die on the roadside within two days.

Although Hengqu Town was on the way to Xianyang, his destination the next day, he would eventually meet Han Gang. But just thinking about not having to set off at the fourth watch of the night, Liu Zhongwu was already content.

"Please do as you please, sir." Liu Zhongwu's eyes showed relief and a smile.

Han Gang's face also showed the same smile.

Han Gang clearly stated he would visit his teacher and not travel with Liu Zhongwu. For the first time in days, Liu Zhongwu felt he could sleep soundly without having to set off early. The next morning, Han Gang set off for Hengqu Town early, and an hour later, Liu Zhongwu yawned and got up leisurely.

Stretching in the winter sun, Liu Zhongwu had water brought to wash his beloved horse. Finally, he mounted his horse with a calm and composed demeanor. Without Han Gang, Liu Zhongwu returned to being the young man who even Xiang Bao had to look at differently, acting methodically and steadily.

Hengqu Town, located by the Wei River, was close to the exit of the Xiegu Pass, a famous thoroughfare in Guanzhong. Merchants and travelers passed through it continuously. In the summer and spring, the river was full, and countless boats sailed on the Wei River, passing by Hengqu Town. Not far from Hengqu, in Xiegu Town, was the largest inland shipyard in the Song Dynasty, the Fengxiang Xiegu Shipyard, which built 600 ships annually using wood from the Qinling Mountains, the most in the entire Song Dynasty.

Han Gang set off early and arrived in Hengqu Town by the fourth watch. The town was densely populated, with hundreds of houses, enough to qualify as a county in the northwest. It was his first visit to Hengqu Town, and he didn't know where the Zhang family's residence was, so he asked a woodcutter passing by.

"Are you a disciple of the Master?" The woodcutter, carrying a bundle of firewood taller than his head, had rough hands and feet, showing years of hard work, but spoke with a scholarly air. "The Master has already gone to the capital, sir. You are a bit late. Only an old couple is guarding the house now."

"I know. But whether the Master is here or not, I cannot pass by Hengqu Town without visiting!"

"You are right." Han Gang's respect for his teacher earned the woodcutter's nod. Seeing the large and small packages tied to Han Gang's and his servant's horses, the woodcutter knew they must be gifts. He pointed in the direction Han Gang had come from: "The Master's house is in Dazhen Valley at the foot of Mihulín Ridge to the south of the town. The graves of Mr. Zhang and his wife are on the ridge."

"Thank you for your guidance."

Zhang Zai's ancestral home was Kaifeng. His father, Zhang Di, took the family to serve in Sichuan but died in office. Zhang Zai's mother brought him and his younger brother, Zhang Jian, back to their hometown with the coffin. However, the long journey from Sichuan to the capital exhausted their savings, and they could only settle in Hengqu Town, where they buried Zhang Di.

In his youth, Zhang Zai preferred martial arts to literature. When Li Yuanhao rebelled, he wrote to the then governor of Shaanxi, Fan Zhongyan, offering to recruit local heroes to reclaim the Qingtang tribe in the northwest. Fan Zhongyan, however, advised him, "Scholars have the teachings of Confucianism to enjoy; why bother with military affairs?" This advice turned Zhang Zai from a potential general into a Confucian master. The story of Fan Zhongyan's encouragement to study was widely known, even a thousand years later, and Han Gang had heard it as a child.

On the sunny slope of Mihulín Ridge, where the woodcutter pointed, was the grave of Zhang Zai's father. A poor official who couldn't afford to return home for burial, he was indeed a clean official, no wonder he could raise a son like Zhang Zai.

In front of the Zhang family's house, Han Gang straightened his clothes and, with Li Xiaoliu carrying the gifts, knocked on the door respectfully. Soon, the old and creaky door opened, and an old woman shuffled out, looking at Han Gang and asked, "May I ask who you are, sir?"

Han Gang stepped forward and said gently, "I am Han Gang, a disciple of the Master. I am on my way to the capital and have come to visit."

After another day of travel, Liu Zhongwu hesitated as he looked at the post station a hundred paces away. He was not tired from the day's journey, but the thought of possibly running into Han Gang at the post station made him feel even more exhausted.

After hesitating for a while, Liu Zhongwu looked up and saw a colorful pavilion about ten feet high next to him. The sign on the door of the building behind the pavilion read "Shengping Tower." It was a hotel.

The welcoming pavilion made of bamboo and silk was a symbol of the hotel. The two major hotels in Qin Prefecture, Huifeng Tower and Yongping Tower, both had such pavilions. This custom had only recently spread from the capital, and Liu Zhongwu had heard that the seventy-two major hotels in the capital all had such pavilions, some as tall as three or four stories. The pavilion in front of Shengping Tower was only ten feet high, a mere decoration.

Liu Zhongwu saw that Shengping Tower had a large courtyard surrounded by a wall, probably several acres in size. Such a large area should not be just for dining and drinking; it should also offer accommodation. However, staying here for a night would empty his already not very heavy money bag.

Well, so be it. It was better than running into Han Gang. Liu Zhongwu sighed helplessly. On the way to the capital, the overly friendly Han Gang had given him a headache. He couldn't really turn his back on someone who always smiled, and Han Gang had never been impolite. He could only endure it every day. Now he realized it was because he always stayed at post stations.

He decided to splurge and not worry about money. Although he needed to save money for various expenses in the capital, getting too close to Han Gang was even worse. Liu Zhongwu made up his mind to take the Chang'an route the next day, delaying his journey by a day to avoid Han Gang.

Standing at the door, Liu Zhongwu looked inside. There were not many guests, and none of them looked like Han Gang. He breathed a sigh of relief but also smiled bitterly. He had almost become a frightened mouse, always trying to avoid Han Gang, the cat.

Stepping into the hotel, a waiter hurried over, asking politely, "Sir, are you here for a meal or to stay?"

"Stay!" Liu Zhongwu said firmly, "Bring some good wine and meat, and get me a clean and comfortable room. Oh, and my horse is the red roan at the door. Give it the best feed, and I'll pay for the fodder. If you serve me well, there will be a reward tomorrow!"

"Sir, you flatter us. Even without a reward, we wouldn't dare to treat you poorly. Please rest assured. If the horse loses weight, you can whip me." The waiter spoke smoothly and led Liu Zhongwu into the hotel, shouting, "One guest staying! One room upstairs!"

The waiter, in a singing tone, called out to the inside, then found a boy to lead Liu Zhongwu's horse to the stable. He then led Liu Zhongwu to the quieter second floor.

There were not many guests on the second floor, with about fifteen or sixteen tables, only a third of which were occupied. The waiter arranged for Liu Zhongwu to sit down and, with a cloth, wiped the already clean table twice. "Sir, what would you like to eat? Our specialties are steamed pork with litchi and twice-cooked fish with perilla, and the best Jintangchun wine, which is so fragrant that one cup can make you drunk."

"Since I'm on a journey, I don't have many preferences. Bring the two specialties and a good serving of meat, and heat up two pots of Jintangchun." Liu Zhongwu relaxed, since he had already decided to spend freely, there was no need to be frugal. He ordered the best wine and dishes.

"Sure thing!" The waiter responded with a singing tone, passing the order down as if singing, "One steamed pork with litchi, one twice-cooked fish with perilla, one plate of sliced mutton, and two pots of Jintangchun... Sir, please wait a moment, I'll bring some fruit up first!"

The waiter hurried down the stairs, and a young boy with a large copper pot came over to pour Liu Zhongwu a cup of hot tea.

The steam from the tea warmed his face, and the warmth spread through his body as he held the cup. The comfort of a place with hot tea and no Han Gang made Liu Zhongwu reluctant to stand up. He sighed, "What a comfortable place..."

At that moment, a guest sitting alone by the window, his back to the stairs, slowly turned his head, raised his wine glass, and laughed loudly at Liu Zhongwu's suddenly pale and red face, "Brother Ziwén... What a small world!"