Chapter 46 Gong Jie I

　　—In childhood home is both a cradle and a shackle; one always carries dreams, expecting one day to soar into the sky and never return.

　　When Gong Kang returned to the inner city of Wangqiu the guards told him to go at once to the Great Chieftain’s residence for a council.

　　It turned out that during his absence from Wangqiu City a major event had occurred in the inner city: Gong Jie and Ge Wu had disappeared.

　　The first to discover Gong Jie’s disappearance was her elder sister Gong Min; she reported it at once to her mother Yu Jiao. Yu Jiao that very night interrogated the suspects—the twin children of Kitchen Steward Ji Mazi: Ji Zhi and Ji Yong.

　　Ji Zhi and Ji Yong were the twin son and daughter of Kitchen Steward Ji Mazi; Ji Yong was responsible for chopping firewood, Ji Zhi was a kitchen maid who tended the fire.

　　Yu Jiao glared at Ji Zhi and Ji Yong kneeling upon the ground and demanded sternly: “Speak—where have you hidden Gong Jie?”

　　Ji Zhi knelt upon the ground, trembling: “Lady, spare us! Even with a hundred times the courage we would not dare hide Second Miss. We had no choice—Second Miss and Ge Wu forced us to do it.”

　　It turned out that after Great Chieftain Gongdian refused to take Gong Jie to the capital, Gong Jie was very angry.

　　“Father can take Second Elder Brother Gong Yi—why can he not take me?”

　　She alone, full of indignation, threw stones into a pond of the inner city.

　　Her constant shadow Ge Wu walked over at that moment. Although Ge Wu was a hostage of the Bear Tribe he was extremely free in Wangqiu City and ordinarily, when free, circled around Gong Jie. Today, seeing that Gong Jie was very unhappy, he asked in surprise: “Second Miss, who has angered you again?”

　　“It is none of your business—do not follow me around like a shadow all day.” Gong Jie turned and walked away. Toward Ge Wu she felt both dislike and yet no aversion to his presence at her side; the lofty feeling of being flattered and surrounded was sometimes rather enjoyable.

　　Though rebuffed, Ge Wu was not angry and followed behind: “Second Miss, who dares anger you? Tell me and I shall settle accounts with him.”

　　“Is that so? It is my father who has angered me—do you dare go?”

　　“Ah—my mother! The Great Chieftain? Then even if you beat me to death I would not dare. Yet the Great Chieftain is always reasonable; this time it must again be that you have done something wrong.”

　　“Who says so? You judge—Father is going to the capital and insists on taking Second Elder Brother yet will not let me follow.”

　　“Oh—so that is it. The Great Chieftain naturally has his reasons. The journey is long and arduous; for a girl like you there would be many inconveniences on the road.”

　　“What is wrong with being a girl? My martial skill is not inferior to that of boys of the same age, and I am still the captain of the Women’s Gathering Escort.”

　　Ge Wu pondered a moment: “Mm… if you truly wish to go, I do have a method.”

　　“You have a method? Quickly tell me.” Gong Jie’s eyes again brightened.

　　Gong Jie and Ge Wu found the Ji Mazi family and, by a mixture of threats and inducements, finally persuaded Ji Mazi.

　　The idea Ge Wu put forward was this: Great Chieftain Gong Kang was leading more than a hundred and fifty men to the capital; the food and drink of the entire party on the road would be the responsibility of Kitchen Steward Ji Mazi. So long as they could mix into the cooks’ squad they could follow the Great Chieftain to the capital.

　　After Gong Kang’s return Yu Jiao convened a family meeting; Gong Kang, Gong Min and Gongkong attended.

　　Yu Jiao said with dissatisfaction: “Gong Min, your father told you to look after Gong Jie carefully—how is it that only after so many days did you discover your younger sister was missing?”

　　“Mother, you also know how clever Gong Jie is. She told the servants that during this period she would shut herself in her room to practice the sword in seclusion; the servants need only place the meals upon the ground outside the door and no one was to disturb her. Every day I and the servants saw through the window that there was indeed the figure of a girl practicing the sword inside the room, so we thought nothing of it.

　　“Yet when it continued for several days I became suspicious. I called to her before the window and she did not answer; therefore I forced the door open and discovered that it was Ji Mazi’s daughter Ji Zhi wearing younger sister’s clothes and impersonating her.”

　　“Ah—it is all because I have been too lax in discipline in ordinary times and allowed your younger sister to become so disobedient and thoughtless.”

　　Gong Kang pondered a moment and said: “Mother, since the matter has already occurred, further regret is of no help. Yet one point is consoling: Ge Wu has mixed into the cooks’ squad together with younger sister. With Ge Wu present, younger sister can at least receive some care. Gongkong, has the scout unit made any discoveries?”

　　Gongkong hurriedly reported: “According to the speed of the Great Chieftain’s party they have probably already penetrated deep into the heartland of the FireWorship Clan. I have already instructed the agents hidden among the various tribes of the continent of Mu to transmit at any time news of the Great Chieftain’s movements outside.”

　　Yu Jiao nodded and said to Gongkong in a mild tone: “At present we do not know whether the Great Chieftain has discovered Gong Jie and Ge Wu hidden in the party. Gongkong, can these agents approach the embassy party and tell the Great Chieftain that Gong Jie and Ge Wu are hidden in the cooks’ squad?”

　　Although Gongkong was an adoptive son taken in by Gongdian, Gongdian treated Gongkong better than his natural sons; therefore popular rumor held that Gongkong was Gongdian’s illegitimate son, which aroused Lady Yu Jiao’s great dissatisfaction.

　　Yu Jiao had once personally asked Gongdian whether the rumor was true; Gongdian not only denied the claim but sternly forbade her thereafter to inquire into Gongkong’s origins. This was the first time Gongdian had spoken so sternly to Lady Yu Jiao and only increased her curiosity.

　　Yu Jiao had once entrusted people to investigate Gongkong’s origins in secret, yet discovered that Gongkong seemed to have sprung from a stone; no one knew his origins. Fortunately this Gongkong was born with the appearance of a ruffian, idled about all day and continually caused trouble; his evil reputation resounded not only in the inner city but even the residents of the outer city knew that this illegitimate son of the Great Chieftain was a ruffian.

　　After Gongkong entered the inner city to live he could clearly perceive Yu Jiao’s malice toward him in ordinary times, yet from beginning to end he treated Yu Jiao with great respect.

　　At that time Gongkong was still young, yet he was very intelligent. For the sake of selfpreservation he deliberately caused one troublesome incident after another outside; each time only the Great Chieftain’s intervention could settle the matter. His purpose in doing so was nothing more than to make his own evil reputation known far and wide so that Lady Yu Jiao would completely lower her guard against him—for a ruffian would absolutely never be qualified to compete for the position of Great Chieftain in future.

　　Yu Jiao’s request that Gongkong order the agents planted among the various tribes to seek out Gongdian was an impossibility, for doing so would expose the identities of those agents. Yet even so Gongkong did not refuse Yu Jiao: “This subordinate obeys! I shall at once arrange for these agents to find means of approaching the Great Chieftain and inform him of the matter of Gong Jie and Ge Wu.”

　　That day the Great Chieftain’s party of more than a hundred and fifty set out in a great procession from Wangqiu City. In a wagon at the rear of the column Gong Jie and Ge Wu, having changed into the clothes of Ji Zhi and Ji Yong, sat together with Ji Mazi and several cooks.

　　Gong Jie and Ge Wu had also specially disguised themselves; Gong Jie’s face was covered with many pockmarks and Ge Wu had affixed a beard.

　　Gong Jie lifted the curtain and looked at the common people lining the road to see the party off, feeling especially excited. Had it not been for Ge Wu’s clever plan she would now be standing among the watching common people outside, watching the party leave the city.

　　“At last I can leave Wangqiu City and see the outside world.” Gong Jie gazed into the distance as the familiar city gradually became a small black speck in her eyes; a sense of happiness welled up in her heart. She now felt like a little bird that had escaped its bonds, able to spread its wings and fly high, embracing the distant sky.

　　After the embassy party left Wangqiu City Gong Jie’s heart was filled with excitement and agitation. Home, to her, was simply a place where one could sleep and eat. To be able to walk out of the house, go outside for a stroll, see the strange scenery of the continent of Mu, experience the curious customs of the various races, and become acquainted with the heroes of the whole world—would that not be far more enjoyable than staying at home? The very thought made her happy.

　　Ordinarily, as captain of the Women’s Gathering Escort, she had gone out of Wangqiu City, yet only to move about within the forest; the greater part of the time she remained in the inner city.

　　Yu Jiao had specially engaged teachers for the several children to teach them reading and writing. In addition Gong Jie still had to learn women’s work with her elder sister Gong Min; such a life of red sleeves adding fragrance and bare hands grinding ink was of course not what she yearned for.

　　From childhood she had preferred to brandish knives and spears and was more willing to follow the boys, learning the arts of knife, spear, staff and club from Guard Chief Instructor Lü Jin. Although after so many years of practice her martial skill had not reached great accomplishment, she could still perform the various weapons with a fair degree of competence.

　　The embassy party advanced northward along the official road. The socalled official road was merely a path that the hunters of the forest had trampled out over long years and was not particularly wide.

　　The cavalry rode in two parallel columns; Gong Jie and the others sat in a wagon. Inside, besides Gong Jie and Ge Wu, there were Ji Mazi and five other cooks.

　　The wagon was very crowded, with only two rows of seats; a smell of sweat filled the interior. At first Gong Jie found it very hard to adapt and covered her nose with her hand in disgust. This was hardly surprising—how could such a filthy place be one in which a young lady of a great family should stay? Yet since she had come out she must endure it; therefore she gradually adapted.

　　Behind their wagon were two more wagons laden with supplies; the food and drink of the more than a hundred and fifty men on the road depended entirely upon these cooks.

　　One of the cooks was on familiar terms with Ji Mazi. Sitting beside Ji Mazi he nudged him with an elbow, pointed at Gong Jie and Ge Wu, and asked in a low voice: “Old Ji, how is it I have never seen these two young people? Why have your son and daughter not come this time?”

　　“Oh, Old Wu—this… these two young people are distant relatives of mine. They wished to come out and see the world. The young man is called Ji Wu, the girl Ji Jie; this time they are taking the places of Ji Zhi and Ji Yong in chopping firewood and tending the fire.”

　　Hearing this, Old Wu found it rather hard to believe: “Looking at these two young people with their fine skins—are they relatives of your Old Ji family? Can they do the work of chopping firewood and tending the fire?”

　　Gong Jie’s ears were sharp; hearing their whispered conversation she was rather displeased and her younglady temper immediately flared: “Who says we cannot do it? Do not judge people by appearance!”

　　Seeing that the girl was displeased, Old Wu hurriedly waved to Gong Jie, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth: “Little girl, you are fierce. This old man is surnamed Wu—just call me Old Wu.”

　　Gong Jie, like a knighterrant long upon the rivers and lakes, clasped her fists: “I am called Gong… oh… Ji Jie of the Gongyou Clan. Master Old Wu, on the road I still ask for your guidance.”

　　“Guidance I dare not claim. This girl—your mouth is rather sweet; you know how to speak. Girl, young man, what is the relationship between the two of you? And what is your relationship with Old Ji?”

　　Ge Wu feared Gong Jie would let something slip and hurriedly said: “Oh, Master Old Wu, I am her elder brother. Uncle Ji is our father’s elder brother.”

　　“Is this the first time the two of you are going to the capital?”

　　“Yes. Master Old Wu, have you been to the capital?”

　　“Of course!” Old Wu put on airs before the two young people. “After the War of the Gods that year, when the various races went to the capital for the alliance, I already accompanied the Great Chieftain to the capital. An embassy to the capital is nothing. In the War of the Gods that year this Old Wu followed the Great Chieftain upon the battlefield…”

　　“Old Wu, forget it—when did you ever take part in the War of the Gods?” Ji Mazi interrupted Old Wu. “You two need not listen to his nonsense—he loves to boast.”

　　“Old Ji, I have been to the capital—that at least is no boast.” Old Wu’s face showed a little embarrassment after Ji Mazi’s words.

　　“Master Old Wu, you are a senior of wide experience—can you tell us what the capital is really like?” Gong Jie mediated.

　　“Ah, Old Ji—still your niece knows how to speak.” Old Wu said. “Speaking of the capital, our Wangqiu City simply cannot compare. The walls of the capital tower into the clouds; the buildings are magnificent and enormous. Every race lives in the capital; commerce is prosperous and the bustle is unmatched. The roads are paved with blue stone; the buildings are all constructed of huge granite; the great pyramid is covered entirely with gold leaf…”

　　Old Wu rattled on at length; Gong Jie listened entranced, imagining the appearance of the capital in her mind…