Aspirations of Beauty

“In the year 671 of the continental calendar, the most distinguished politician, military strategist, orator, dynastic founder, and first emperor of the Huihuang Empire, Li Wufeng, was born to a declining n.o.ble family in the capital city of the Tanghe Empire, Zhongzhou, situated in the eastern part of the continent.”
– Excerpt from the History of the Huihuang Empire.

“Ah, my hometown, I’m finally back,” looking up at the towering gates, I took a deep breath. Despite having no more relatives here, this city was still my home for more than ten years, a place that carries with it the memories of my childhood. No matter where I am, this nostalgic feeling is something that will not be easily forgotten.

As the scenery became less rustic, my hometown became ever more closer, yet it seems that my heart is becoming increasingly more fl.u.s.tered, unable to calm itself. “Perhaps I’ve only just grown up,” recalling the feeling from two years ago when I first left home seeking to experience the world, how vastly different it is from my current mood, “I do not even know how wild the weeds have grown on my parents’ graves, maybe it’s time that I finally visit them.”

Watching the coming and going of the traffic in front of the gatehouse, the dirt covered teen murmured quietly to himself. Leisurely, without a care in the world, he dusted himself off, hoped onto his horse with the reins in one hand, and galloped off into the countryside.

“Mom, Dad, your son is back,” arriving in front of two nondescript tombstone, the teen kneels in front of the graves, unwilling to get up despite the pa.s.sage of time. Amidst the occasional  chirps of the birds, the cemetery appears especially quiet.

Finished with paying his respects, the teen looked towards the sky and let out a deep sigh, “What should I do now?”

“Before anything else, let’s first go home.”

With vast land and a grand population size, the Tanghe Empire is located towards the center and east of the continent. Its capital, Zhongzhou, is located on the Fan River Plains towards in the center of the empire where the soil is fertile with nutrients, irrigated waterways are highly developed, transportation is swift, quality goods are in abundance, and workforce is widely available. Here lies not only one of the great breadbasket of the empire, but also its political, economic, and cultural center.

Established at the dawn of the Tanghe Empire in the year 286, Zhongzhou took over twenty years to lay its foundations. Gradually improved upon by following generations, the city was finally complete at the dawn of the current century. With the lack of devastation from warfare, Zhongzhou is the most prosperous city in the eastern part of the Laya continent with around 50,000,000 in population, making it the largest city in the East and one of the largest in the entire world.

The city is divided into the inner and outer sections. The imperial palace lies in the inner section where the Emperor works and lives with his wives, concubines, and their children. Directly bordering the Imperial Palace on the outer section are the governmental offices followed by the estates of the rich and n.o.ble, and finally by the residency of the small folks and the commercial sector.

The entire city is rectangular in shape, and is protected by a moat along with a wall 15 meters tall and 10 meters thick. Nine large avenues spans the east-west, and north-south directions of the city, dividing it into the likeness of a chessboard. Dotted throughout the sections carved out by the avenues are small alleyways and squares. Leading out into the plains beyond are four 10 meter wide doors on each side of the walls, but they opened only in times of emergency and other extraordinary circ.u.mstances. Normally, a smaller gate 5 meters wide beside the ma.s.sive doors will be opened daily from 6 to 8 at night for everyday use.

On each side of the 4 city gates lies a barrack housing a total of 4 divisions of Imperial guards inside the city and 4 divisions of city guards outside.

The industrial and commercial sectors are mainly situated in the north part of town, including various workshops, warehouses, markets, and the headquarters of large firms and guilds. The Empire’s Department of Finance and the Tax Revenue Agency are also located here.

Everyday, outside of the north gates of the city near the banks of the Fan River, warehouses and distribution centers of all major continental labels help the docks in the importing and exporting of endless quant.i.ty and variety of goods to and from not only various parts of the Empire, but the whole continent.

The city’s central business and entertainment districts are located in the eastern side of city where the feng shui for business makes these lands invaluable. Everywhere the eye can see are rows upon rows of shops and traffic, attracting tourist and businessmen from all across the continent. Most of the famous jeweler, banks, restaurants, hotels, brothels, casinos, p.a.w.n shops, auction centers are also located in this zone. As one of the most complicated area for the maintenance of public order, the Imperial Police Headquarters and the Capital Police Department also called this sector home.

On the south side of the city lies the culture center of the empire. The Imperial University, Imperial Arts Inst.i.tute, and the Imperial Military Academy where students can learn from all variety of skills and specializations attract hopeful potentials from all across the continent. Here also lies the Imperial Library, Imperial Museum, Imperial Center of Arts, Imperial Chess Academy, Imperial Theatre, Imperial Arts Inst.i.tute, Grand Hospital, and other famous landmarks.

As a result of the beauty of its scenery and the strong cultural atmosphere, nations all across the continent chooses to place their emba.s.sies here. This environment also attract many members of the Imperial family for the placement of their private estates, as well as the establishment of well known private library and schools.

To the west side of the city lies the residential area, where the small folks live. Directly outside the west gates of the Imperial palace are the Arc of Triumph and the Victory Square where the Empire hosts their major celebrations and military parades.

Surrounding the four sides of the square are the headquarters and barracks for the Imperial and Capital City Guards and their First Division. In addition, the empire’s Military Police Headquarters and the Headquarters for the Yulin Army, the most elite unit of Imperial Guards are also located off to the sides of the square.

After paying respects to his parents, the teen hopped back onto his horse, and galloped towards the city. Entering the city through the eastern gate, he arrived at the world renowned Triumph Avenue leading directly to Victory Square and the Arc of Triumph. Dismounting, he leisurely walked down the avenue, reminiscing about the familiar sights. Despite leaving home for two years, memories of the past is still fresh in his mind, and a seemingly exact copy of the sight that greets him now, the bustling crowds, the prosperous shops, the groups of tourists taking in the sights, and the hawks of the peddlers.

“Looks like the lives of the small folks in the capital are quite good, vastly different from that of those living in the western edges of the empire,” the teen thought as he took in the sights.

Taking the reins of his horse, the teen turned right onto another avenue, then stepped into a small alleyway to the left after a short walk. It wasn’t long before he saw the front doors of his home. The alley itself wasn’t much, and its inhabitants were all ordinary individuals, yet it is hard to imagine that in less that a few decades in the future this same street will be filled to the brim with tourists coming to visit the house that their Emperor once called home.

“Aunt Wu!”

“Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

“Who?” As the door opened with a creak, a middle aged women around forty years came walking out. The teen immediately recognized her as Aunt Wu, his neighbor from his childhood days.

“It’s me, Wufeng”

“Wufeng, it’s really you, where have you been these past two years? There weren’t even a simple message, you really had me worried. If something have had happened to you, how could I fulfill my promise and face your mother, heaven bless her soul.”

“Aunt Wu, aren’t I back now? Not to mention, I’m not young anymore, and just like I said when I left, I’m capable of taking care of myself now.” 

Unwilling to let go, Aunt Wu asked about all aspects of Wufeng’s health with concern, making it a while until he was able to describe his journey over the last two years.

“Wufeng, you are only sixteen yet you’ve already visited such a great number of places, it must have been hard on you to be alone in the past years.”

“It was nothing much really, ” despite saying these words, recalling his original 14 year old self, the hardship that he endured in the past two years has really forged his growth from a frail child into a athletic teen. ‘To be bestowed with great responsibility, one must be suffered with ordeals and tribulation so as to break one’s will; subdue one’s spirit; exhaust one’s muscles; starve one’s flesh.’ Heeding the teachings of his master, these two seemingly short years has opened his eyes, deepened his wisdom, and tempered his body, greatly improving his martial skills. It was these two years of hardship that set him onto the path of adulthood.

“Oh, speaking of which, I haven’t seen Daniu and Erniu.”*

“Daniu and his father went to the docks to help out, Erniu has already married to the fourth son of the Zhang family across the street, who works at the pharmacy as a clerk, and from what I heard, they are pretty well off. That being said, I heard lately that there’s been war in the east and bandits to the north, I fear that the peaceful days will soon be over. Your uncle will soon be here, I’m going to go prepare the food, wait until then and we will celebrate your return.”

Resting in the home that he hasn’t returned to for more than two years, Li Wufeng couldn’t help but be touched by the heartfelt concern of his neighbors. Now that he is home, he would have to consider his next steps in life. Suddenly, he remembered what Uncle Wu said during dinner about the army’s recruitment drive at Victory Square, perhaps this is a chance, a start that he can use to realize his childhood dream.

His master had already mentioned two years past that in the current state of the continent, the Tanghe Empire is surrounded by threats, to the east, ambitious military governors threatens the stability of the Imperial court; to the north, the Empire is faced with annual incursion by the northern nomadic tribes; at the same time the Empire is also surrounded by enemy states seeking to topple its hegemony. Internally, the situation isn’t any better, minor slave and peasant revolts are increasingly more common, leading to a rise in banditry. Compared to the empire of ages past, the current Tanhe Empire has long since lost its might.

Nations in the central part of the continent faces constant war from the aggression of the northern nomadic tribes. Towards the south lies the alliance of smaller cities states who have had been at peace for the last decade. While the situation may seem calm on the surface, because of of imbalance of economic development, smaller conflict are not eliminated and the threat of war still persists.Towards the east lies a constant state of war between four major powers, three large kingdoms and a fourth grand alliance. This state of conflict is further aggravated by the nomadic tribes of the north who invades their southern neighbors year after year without fail.

Thinking of the current state of the world, Wufeng is deeply reminded of the words of an unknown philosopher, that in order to make a difference and voice in today’s world, one must possess strength and skill, without them, one could only dream.If he enters the army today, then he can show off his strength and skill, making a name and place for himself. Thinking of this, he could not help but make up his mind before gradually drifting off to a peaceful slumber.

After the first comfortable sleep he have had in a long while, he woke up on the second morning when the sun hasn’t even risen yet. Walking out into the yard, he proceeded to practice his martial arts, a routine that, under no special circ.u.mstance, he would be doing without fail. It is as the proverb said, against the current, if you are not steadily advancing, then you being slowly pushed back.

When Li Wufeng heard Aunt Wu calling him for breakfast, he tidied up after himself then quickly went to  their side. After breakfast, he discussed his decision with the Wu family. While Aunt Wu have some concerns, Uncle Wu is fully supportive of Wufeng’s decision, thinking that a young man should be willing to go through hardship and test his skills in the real world.

*Edit 1: I just realized, the “niu” used for Daniu is the one used for cattle, implying that the character is male while the “niu” used for Erniu is one of the short form/nicknames to describe a girl.