Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

A group of men and horses galloped southward at a gust of wind. They rode relentlessly, not even stopping for a moment to rest their horses. At each post station, they quickly changed horses and continued their journey. They were clad in thick leather garments, tightly wrapped from head to toe, as if completely insulating themselves from the cold outside. In their eagerness to travel, they were forced to endure the harsh conditions of sleeping in the open air.

Each member wrapped themselves tightly in clothing, not daring to relax even a moment, fearing the biting cold would incapacitate them. Passersby, seeing the hurried procession, panicked and moved aside. People whispered to each other, their hearts filled with confusion and curiosity.

"What the hell is going on? Why are they in such a hurry?" a passerby couldn't help but ask. Another echoed, "Yes, look! They're riding fine horses owned by the government! And the saddles are clearly branded with government emblems. Could something catastrophic have happened?" Someone worriedly speculated, "Could it be that those big men from the northwest are going to start another war?" The very thought stirred panic and discussion among the surrounding crowd. Everyone looked nervous, their eyes fixed on the receding group, secretly speculating about the impending disaster.

Their team shouldered an extremely difficult mission, galloping southward day and night, just to find the legendary sweet potato. This team came from the northwest and had already traveled a long way, enduring wind and rain, crossing mountains and rivers along the way.

Now, they reached the edge of a secluded, flat valley. Everyone dismounted, methodically tying their horses to nearby trees and beginning to pack their bags and gear. The horses were exhausted after their long journey and needed a good rest to replenish their energy.

The middle-aged man leading the team slowly walked to a large rock and sat down. After taking a breath, he turned to look at Wang Ming, who was tying up the horses, and said, "Wang Ming, go find some fresh grass to feed the horses so that these little guys can have a good meal and have a good rest."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ming immediately stood up straight and responded loudly: "Okay! Don't worry, boss, I can definitely complete this task and feed the horse well!" After that, he turned and walked towards the grass around him.

The leader appeared slightly older than the others, around thirty, a typical middle-aged man. He was a sturdy, stocky man with a resolute countenance, exuding a calm and reliable air. However, those who knew him well knew that he was extremely serious about his work, sometimes even a bit stern. This did not diminish their respect and trust in him. After all, it was his leadership that enabled them to maintain their direction and unwavering faith throughout this arduous journey.

The leader Qi Jianlin ordered his men in a serious tone: "Hurry up! Set up the pot quickly to boil water and cook. Everyone, hurry up and fill your stomachs, then rest for half an hour and continue on your way!" His voice was loud and firm, leaving no room for doubt.

Upon hearing this, the men sprang into action. They quickly unloaded iron pots and other cooking utensils from their horses, found a few appropriately sized stones, and expertly set up a simple stove. Meanwhile, several others ran to the nearby woods, bent down, and gathered dry branches and grass from the ground. Soon, they had gathered a pile of dry wood, enough to last for a while.

Then, someone carried a bucket to the river and brought back a full bucket of clear, clean water. This bucket was carefully brought to the stove and poured into the cauldron. As the flames at the bottom of the pot licked at it, the water gradually heated up, soon boiling, bubbling with clear bubbles.

Meanwhile, another of his men took out their carry-on rations, broke them into small pieces, and gently placed them in the boiling water. The rations gradually softened and fell apart under the hot water. They then added some dried vegetables and freshly picked mushrooms to the pot, seasoning them with a generous pinch of salt. Although lacking in elaborate seasonings, this simple meal was more than enough to satisfy these exhausted men, exhausted from their overnight journey.

When the steaming hot food was cooked, everyone couldn't wait to pick up their bowls and spoons and fill a bowl. The hot food instantly dispelled the coldness in the body, making people feel warm all over, as if all the fatigue disappeared at this moment.

After the meal, everyone took a short break before cleaning up. Everyone quickly set to work, putting the dishes and leftover food back in their proper places. Qi Jianlin stood aside, his gaze scanning the busy figures around him, muttering to himself, "Brothers and sisters, please carefully check that everything you have brought is properly stored. Don't leave any important items behind. And make sure that campfire is completely extinguished. Don't leave even the slightest safety hazard in this forest!" With that, he turned to his bag and methodically packed his personal equipment.

Hearing the leader's instructions, the others hurried to work. Some deftly cleaned pots and pans and carefully hung them over the side of their horses; others shoveled dirt and covered the still-warm fire, ensuring the sparks were completely contained. Soon, everyone had completed their tasks, remounted their horses, and, following closely behind Qi Jianlin, galloped off like an arrow from a bow toward the next post station. The clatter of horses' hooves echoed across the mountain path, stirring up clouds of dust, as if heralding the beginning of a new chapter in this journey filled with unknowns and challenges.

The team galloped all the way, traveling day and night, sleeping in the open air and eating in the open air. After a full month of arduous journey, they finally arrived at a small county town in the south.

Upon setting foot on this land, everyone immediately felt the stark difference in climate between the north and the south. The north was still bitterly cold, and people still wore thick cotton-padded jackets to protect against the howling north wind and the falling snow. However, in this small southern city, the heat was already unbearable, as if entering another season.

Along the way, vibrant flowers bloomed in profusion, and lush, verdant grass blanketed the ground like a green carpet. Qi Jianlin and his companions continuously shed their heavy clothing as they walked. At first, they simply unbuttoned their coats, but as the journey progressed, they shed and discarded layer after layer. Even so, by the time they reached their destination, each person was left with only a thin layer of clothing, yet the sweat still streamed down their face.

Looking out, the mountains and plains were covered in lush wild grasses and flowers, growing unrestrained and adorning the landscape with a vibrant array of colors. Faced with such vibrant, lush greenery, everyone's mood gradually brightened. After all, until now, they had been trapped in the bleak, snow-covered, withered landscape of the northwest; now, they saw a vibrant and vibrant green world. How could such a stark contrast not bring a sudden sense of enlightenment? Gazing at this picturesque scene, I believe anyone would be captivated and forget all their worries!

Qi Jianlin and his companions came to the county government office of this small southern county happily, carrying the documents and tokens given by the Fourth Prince. This county government office is not large, and naturally not that grand, but compared with the houses next to it, it is still much better! When the group arrived at the gate of the county government office, the gatekeeper looked at the group of people, immediately stepped forward, and shouted at the top of his voice: "Hey! Where are you from? What are you hanging around in front of the county government office? Get out of here quickly, this is not a place for you to act wild!

"Qi Jianlin looked at the arrogant yamen runner at the door and couldn't help laughing in his heart. He winked at the person next to him, and Wang Ming understood and hurried forward and said, "Go and report to your master! An important document has been delivered from Kyoto, send someone out to greet it quickly!" The yamen runner looked at the posture of these people and didn't seem to be joking, so his attitude immediately softened and said, "Wait a moment, I'll go and inform the master." After that, he turned around and ran hurriedly to the yard.

The guard, looking flustered and hurried, rushed straight into the inner courtyard. The legal advisor, who had been leisurely sipping tea in a chair, was startled by the sudden commotion. His brow furrowed, and he shouted angrily, "Do you have any manners? How dare you be so reckless in this yamen? What's the matter? Why are you running so fast? Why can't you explain it slowly and clearly?"

The yamen runner stopped in his tracks upon hearing the noise, nearly stumbling and falling to the ground. After stabilizing himself, he quickly ran to the legal advisor, bowed and scraped, and said in a fawning voice, "Oh, legal advisor, calm down, legal advisor, calm down! I was indeed rude and impolite, but this matter is indeed extremely urgent! Suddenly, several people appeared at the door, each of them tall and mighty, looking very imposing. They claimed to be from the capital and asked to see our county magistrate, saying that they had important matters to discuss. I heard that this person was not ordinary, so I thought I would come in quickly to report to you and the lord, so as to hear your decision on this matter. After all, our place is always far away, and we don't usually see such important figures from the capital!"

The lawyer hurriedly called out to the yamen runner, "Wait here for a moment while I go to the county yamen and report to the county magistrate!" Before he even finished speaking, he dashed towards the inner courtyard like a gust of wind. His footsteps were so swift that they seemed to be whirling under his feet, and he disappeared from sight in the blink of an eye.

The yamen runner who was left behind stood there in a daze, watching the lawyer's retreating figure. He subconsciously reached out and scratched his head, muttering softly, "Hey, why did the lawyer leave in such a hurry? He didn't even bother to tidy up his appearance, which is so important to him..."