The term "an ran wu yang," meaning safe and sound, first originated in Liu Xiang's "Stratagems of the Warring States: Qi Policy" during the Western Han Dynasty.
As the name suggests, it refers to a person being safe and without illness…
But in reality… Prefectural Clerk Wang felt as if he had been scared out of his wits. Safe and sound? He felt… he was no longer safe, and indeed, unwell.
"Cough, cough…"
After a bout of violent coughing, Prefectural Clerk Wang spoke, "An… an ran wu yang means… it means Young Master Xu is fine now, Young Master Xu is safe and sound… sa… sa… safe and sound!"
Safe and sound?
Upon hearing this, Huang Zhong was utterly bewildered. My son has contracted a cold, a fatal illness! What do you mean, safe and sound? How could he possibly be safe and sound?
"Explain yourself more clearly!"
Huang Zhong's voice boomed out once more. "What the hell do you mean by safe and sound?"
"Explain! Ex… plain!"
Huang Zhong's voice grew louder with each word, like the roar of a tiger and the cry of a dragon. The entire yamen was trembling, violently trembling!
Prefectural Clerk Wang could only respond meekly, "Safe and sound means… it means… Young Master Xu's cold has… has been cured. Administrator Zhang cured him after looking at a medical book… and… and now… he's perfectly fine, he won't die, and he won't suffer!"
The moment these words were uttered…
Cured… cured?
Xu'er won't die? And won't suffer anymore!
Huang Zhong's eyes suddenly regained their radiance!
At this moment, his mind raced with possibilities…
Could my virtuous brother Zhongjing have… cured even this cold… illness?
No, it was my virtuous brother Zhongjing who cured him after looking at a medical book. Then… then isn't the savior of Young Master Xu the one who wrote this medical book?
For a moment, Huang Zhong's eyes widened to the size of saucers, his chest heaving. It was clear… this was no longer a matter of being safe and sound, or unharmed. Huang Zhong felt this was a huge surprise!
"Hahaha…"
"Hahahahaha…"
Huang Zhong burst into laughter. He had been roaring moments ago, and now… he was laughing, still with a laughter that shook the tiles.
Even the eaves of the yamen were constantly quivering.
"Haha, so… so this is…" Huang Zhong forcefully placed his hand on Prefectural Clerk Wang's shoulder. "So this is what they call an ran wu yang! Good, a very good an ran wu yang, a very good safe and sound…"
Huang Zhong repeatedly uttered the phrases "an ran wu yang" and "safe and sound"…
His strength was immense. Pressing down from above, Prefectural Clerk Wang felt as if Mount Tai had descended upon him… His left side immediately slumped.
To make things more bearable, he decided to explain everything in one go, lest Huang Zhong press down again and crush his shoulders!
"General Huang…"
"This… this medical book was… was sent by Prefect Cao of Yan Province. However… however, only half of it was delivered. Administrator Zhang, in order to learn this entire medical book and completely cure the cold, he… he didn't hesitate to resign his official post to go to Yan Province!"
"Young Master Xu, to repay the great kindness, also intends to go to Yan Province to thank the benefactor. He… he went together with Administrator Zhang."
Hmm…
Prefectural Clerk Wang's words completely exhilarated Huang Zhong.
Originally, his hope was that his virtuous brother Zhongjing knew of some reclusive divine physician and took Xu'er to seek treatment for his cold. But now… there was indeed a reclusive divine physician, and he was in Yan Province. The difference was… Xu'er wasn't going to seek medical treatment, but rather… rather to express gratitude and repay a debt of kindness!
Although both journeys were to Yan Province, for Huang Zhong, the emotional difference was worlds apart…
One was facing an overcast sky of uncertainty, the other was clear skies after recovery!
Hahaha…
Hahahahaha… Huang Zhong couldn't help but laugh out loud again.
Repaying kindness! It’s good to repay kindness!
He nodded heavily. As expected of his son. He had taught his son from a young age to repay kindness, let alone a life-saving debt!
Even if the benefactor was over a thousand miles away in Yan Province, even if the journey from Changsha Prefecture to Yan Province was arduous!
Still… he had to go, and he should go to repay this debt of kindness.
Moreover, it wasn't just his son who should repay the kindness; he, Huang Zhong, should also go! The divine physician in Yan Province had saved his son, which was equivalent to saving Huang Zhong himself!
Speaking of which, Huang Zhong was unlike Zhang Zhongjing, who would travel a thousand miles north for the common people and the world's populace. His heart held only one person, his son Huang Xu.
For his son Huang Xu, he, Huang Zhong, would not hesitate to face a mountain of knives or a sea of fire, let alone…
"When did they leave?" Huang Zhong asked urgently…
"Two or three days ago," Prefectural Clerk Wang replied truthfully.
"By carriage, or on horseback?" Huang Zhong asked again.
"Carriage!" Prefectural Clerk Wang looked at Huang Zhong helplessly, mentally complaining, You idiot… did you only grow in strength and not in brains?
Even if Administrator Zhang and Young Master Xu wanted to ride horses, they would have to be capable of it…
For a long journey, who could ride a horse day and night without extensive training as a rider?
Of course… others couldn't, but Huang Zhong had no problem with it.
"Good, good, good!"
With three consecutive "good," Huang Zhong was about to walk out the door. Just as he stepped over the threshold, Huang Zhong suddenly remembered something.
He turned around and returned to Prefectural Clerk Wang, his eyes exceptionally sharp!
Prefectural Clerk Wang felt a bit panicked. Damn it, why do I feel like you want to hit someone?
With a "bang"…
Before Prefectural Clerk Wang could react, Huang Zhong directly placed his helmet on the desk.
Along with it, he took out a document and an official seal from his embrace and placed them there as well.
This document was the memorial from Governor Liu Biao of Jing Province to the imperial court, on which the court had issued an edict appointing Huang Zhong as Zhonglang General. The seal was for his appointment as Vanguard General after pacifying the southern prefectures of Jing…
At this moment, they were all placed on the desk.
"Haha…" Following this, Huang Zhong, laughing, unfastened his official robe and casually tossed it onto a bamboo chair.
His words followed in rapid succession…
"Please trouble Prefectural Clerk Wang to submit a memorial to Governor Liu of Jing on my behalf, stating that my son Huang Zhong is lost, and I, Huang Zhong, am going to travel a thousand miles to find him! This Zhonglang General's seal and the appointment document as Vanguard General are to be left here!"
With these words, Huang Zhong turned and left with a flourish…
In just a few breaths of time.
"Got it, got it, got it…"
A horse's neigh was followed closely by the sound of "da da da" hoofbeats. Even through the walls, one could tell… the resonance of these hoofbeats.
A few more breaths passed, the hoofbeats gradually faded, and the Changsha Prefecture yamen fell silent once more. Only Prefectural Clerk Wang remained seated on the bamboo chair, utterly astonished. At this moment… his jaw nearly dropped.
Resigning one's official post and sealing it with gold?
Was it another instance of "hanging up the seal and putting away the gold"?
A familiar scene, only the person doing the "hanging up the seal and putting away the gold" was different.
It seemed that in just three to five days…
The sky over Changsha Prefecture had completely collapsed, utterly collapsed! It had crumbled with a roar!
The two most famous figures in the entire Jingnan region… the Great General Huang Zhong and the Medical Sage Zhang Zhongjing, had both departed north to Yan Province!
Huo…
Prefectural Clerk Wang heavily patted his forehead. Bah, it’s all my fault for being greedy for money. Otherwise… otherwise, how could there be the tragic story of Changsha Prefecture losing its twin luminaries!
That's right, the origin of all the stories began when I, Wang Qi, accepted that bag of gold coins from Cao Xiu.
Exchanging a bag of gold coins for the twin luminaries of Changsha, this deal… was a sure profit with no loss!
…
…
Yan Province, Chenliu Prefecture, in front of the Cai Mansion!
When Cao Cao, along with Xiahou Yuan, Cao Hong, and Cao Ren, arrived at the location, they were stunned.
In such cold weather, why were there so many people in front of the yamen?
Most of them were kneeling… some were still kowtowing and bowing their heads towards the main entrance of the Cai Mansion, shedding tears and snot, the entire scene was incredibly moving.
Cao Cao specifically inquired from the surrounding guards. Had the Grand Clerk Lu not come out at all?
The guards' explanation further confused Cao Cao. Lu Yu had come out, but… he had persuaded one group to leave, and a new group had arrived, and they were kneeling again, ceaselessly, endlessly.
Of course… because he had some prior preparation, Cao Cao's expression was not overly exaggerated.
However, another matter before him astonished him even more.
That's right…
From within the mansion, door attendants had been sending out some soup. It was a fragrant and rich soup, with the aroma of mutton, but… it also carried a medicinal scent that made one's appetite whet from just smelling it.
Every kneeling commoner received a bowl. Cao Cao could see that in each bowl, there were two food items that looked like ears. The commoners were gnawing on these "ears" while marveling at them…
To be honest, this scene made Cao Cao feel a bit hungry, and he wanted to get a bowl to try.
However… unlike Cao Hong, who shamelessly went to ask directly.
Cao Cao was still preoccupied with the main business. "Wenruo, Zhicai… where is the treasure you spoke of?"
That's right, they had come here… to find a treasure!
Both Xun Yu and Xi Zhicai had told him, Cao Cao, that there was a treasure here, a treasure that was crucially important to him at this moment.
Heh, how could the two strategists not know?
What Cao Cao wanted to do most urgently now was to advance west to Luoyang. Therefore… the treasure mentioned by the strategists, which was of paramount importance…
Cao Cao's gaze was fixed, scanning left and right, as he carefully searched for this legendary treasure.
But it seemed that besides people, besides the soup, besides these "ears," where could there be any other treasure?
Xiahou Yuan and Cao Ren, enduring their rumbling stomachs, also asked curiously.
"Yes… where is the treasure mentioned by the two strategists? It doesn't seem to be around here…"
"Hahaha…" Xi Zhicai raised his hand. He glanced at Xun Yu. "This treasure is far away, yet right before your eyes!"
Hmm…
Upon hearing these cryptic words, Cao Cao was taken aback, and Xiahou Yuan and Cao Ren were also taken aback.
Far away, yet right before your eyes, it couldn't be… couldn't it be these kneeling commoners right before them?
Were they the treasure?
Could it be that they could help him advance west to Luoyang?
For a moment, Xiahou Yuan and Cao Ren lightly tapped their foreheads, somewhat confused about the situation.
It was Cao Cao, however, who, with Xi Zhicai's reminder, focused his gaze even deeper and observed each of the kneeling commoners more carefully.
Normally, people's eyes were for looking, but Cao Cao's eyes were more often for observing.
That's right…
Although all were kneeling before the Cai Mansion, there were obvious distinctions among the commoners.
Some of them… because they had been kneeling for a long time in this winter, assailed by the cold wind, their faces were inevitably pale as paper, and their ears were particularly red from the cold.
What's more, their ears had a whitish frost-like color, as if frosted.
Besides this, the most significant manifestation was that their bodies were stiff. This was easily understandable. Let alone them, even Cao Cao and his kinsmen, having just rushed from the yamen, could feel the bone-chilling cold after just one street.
This was completely normal!
But… precisely because of this.
The problem lay here. In front of the yamen, there were also some people who were kneeling, but their faces seemed flushed with blood, very red, and they were repeatedly exhaling, as if they weren't cold at all!
Especially their ears, although they would also turn red from the cold, they were actually beginning to soften and were no longer so stiff.
Even everyone's hands felt red and plump, as if their bodies generated a warm current that could resist the encroaching bone-chilling cold!
And the difference between this group of people and the previous group was simply…
They had drunk the soup sent out from the mansion and eaten the two plump food items resembling "ears."
This…
Cao Cao subconsciously raised an eyebrow. He realized that the protection mentioned by Zhicai and Wenruo might… might be this bowl of soup, these "ears!"
"Ah, it smells so good! These things are actually called Jiaozi, they're delicious!"
Exhaling a mouthful of steaming breath, Cao Hong's mouth was filled with the aroma of meat at this moment.
He first begged a bowl from the armored soldiers of the Dragon Valor Camp, finishing nearly all of the Jiaozi and the soup.
But… with only two Jiaozi, it was clearly not enough for Cao Hong.
He recognized a kneeling acquaintance and immediately went up to him, and in a few words, snatched the Jiaozi from his hand, leaving him with only a bowl of soup. In Cao Hong's opinion, this was already a generous act.
When he tried to beg from the armored soldiers of the Dragon Valor Camp again, he was told that Grand Clerk Lu had given instructions that everyone, from kings and nobles to commoners, would receive only two Jiaozi. At this point… Cao Hong's eyes were practically seeing stars from craving.
However, when it came to taking advantage of small gains, he was a professional…
He immediately had one of his attendants go to get a bowl, and then… as usual, he ate the Jiaozi, and the servant drank the soup!
But after eating six Jiaozi, he still wasn't satisfied. These things were "addictive"…
They made Cao Hong more and more addicted with each bite.
Of course, because he had drunk a bowl of soup and eaten many Jiaozi, coupled with walking around, Cao Hong's complexion was much redder than others. He even started to sweat on his forehead.
If one didn't know better, they would think Cao Hong was wandering around in the bright sun. Who would have thought… that in this bone-chilling cold, he could actually… sweat!
"Ah, go call all the servants at our residence and ask them for a bowl each! Understand?"
Cao Hong instructed the servant…
"Understand… understand…"
The servant nodded, "We understand the rules…"
The Jiaozi are yours, the soup is ours. Having followed Master Cao Hong for so long, they had a good grasp of their master's personality. They were indeed willing to give up the Jiaozi.
"Hehehehe…"
Seeing the servant run off, Cao Hong cunningly chuckled.
"Zilian…"
Cao Cao really couldn't stand it any longer and called out to stop him. Zilian was being too much.
Those who understood his nature knew that he loved to take small advantages. Those who didn't understand him would think… that Cao Cao was very harsh on this kinsman! After all, in the entire Cao camp, he, Zilian, was the wealthiest, overflowing with riches!
Of course…
The current Cao Cao didn't have the time for this.
"Zixiao, get me a bowl!"
"Alright…" Cao Ren had been waiting. Seeing others eat "ears" and drink "hot soup" while they could only shiver in the icy cellar, they had been craving it for a long time.
At this moment, Xun Yu and Xi Zhicai had already brought three bowls of Jiaozi from somewhere…
They were exactly the same as the commoners' Jiaozi, with one bowl of soup and only two Jiaozi each, no special treatment.
"Lord Cao, please…"
"General Miaocai, General Zixiao, please…"
Xi Zhicai held one bowl, and Xun Yu carried a tray with two bowls on it. These three bowls were placed before Cao Cao, Xiahou Yuan, and Cao Ren.
The three exchanged glances, then simultaneously picked up their bowls.
Cao Hong, standing nearby, widened his eyes, staring intently at these three bowls of Jiaozi, his saliva nearly dripping out, looking like someone who had never seen the world.
Cao Cao, however, picked up a Jiaozi with his chopsticks, blew on it gently, and took a bite. It was a little hot, but… the taste was very special, unlike anything Cao Cao had ever experienced.
Taking another bite, this bite reached the meat filling inside, and the rich, thick juice immediately surged into Cao Cao's taste buds, with the ample filling juice leaking out, and the aroma lingering in his mouth.
Cao Cao couldn't help but swallow this Jiaozi in one gulp, and then he put the other one into his mouth and chewed it.
The satisfaction he felt upon swallowing left Cao Cao feeling utterly refreshed. Looking at the bowl that only contained soup, he couldn't help but feel a sense of loss.
Fortunately… the taste of the minced meat remained in the soup and on his teeth.
Cao Cao, like the others, drank the soup in one go. The rich aroma of the dough skin, the medicinal scent of the herbs, and the profound meat aroma from the simmered sheep bones made Cao Cao's mouth water, leaving him in a state of lingering emotion.
At this moment…
He suddenly understood Cao Hong very well. Let alone Cao Hong, even the current Cao Cao, looking at the Jiaozi in Xiahou Yuan and Cao Ren's bowls, wished he could snatch them away.
These plump Jiaozi, crystal clear, looked so tempting that one couldn't help but take a bite. The taste of the dough skin and mutton melting in the mouth was extremely delicious.
Ah…
If only they could have another bowl.
Cao Cao couldn't help but have such a thought… However, with so many people watching, he couldn't openly seek special treatment.
As the saying goes—There are thousands of foods in the world, but only Jiaozi look the best.
—There are many, many foods in the world, but Jiaozi are never too many!
For a moment, Cao Cao felt he had fallen in love with these Jiaozi…
The name was also well chosen, making it memorable after hearing it once.
"Ah…" Xiahou Yuan next to him also said in surprise. "Since I was little, this has been the most delicious food I've ever eaten. Haha… I wouldn't mind ten or twenty more!"
"Yes!" Cao Ren nodded. "Unexpectedly, the most delicious delicacy of our Great Han is not the lavish feasts in the imperial palace, but rather within the modest confines of Grand Clerk Lu's residence. Today… to taste these 'ears,' no… to taste these Jiaozi, I feel comfortable all over! I must ask Grand Clerk Lu for this recipe and formula tomorrow!"
Hearing his two kinsmen say this…
"Hahaha…"
Cao Cao also laughed heartily, completely forgetting his original purpose for eating the Jiaozi.
Of course, this was entirely within Xun Yu's expectations.
Xun Yu had also been completely lost in the moment the first time he ate Jiaozi.
He immediately reminded him.
"Lord Cao, try to feel how your body is doing?"
Body? Cao Cao was slightly taken aback, then… he felt a warm current continuously sweeping through his entire body. This warm current was constantly dispelling the cold air around him…
It was continuously flowing into his limbs and bones, and it seemed… his entire being had suddenly become warm.
"This…"
Just as Cao Cao was about to speak.
Who would have thought that Xun Yu's words would precede his own? "How are your hands and feet, Lord Cao? Are they still cold? What about your ears? Are they still numb from the assault of the cold wind?"
As soon as these words were spoken…
Huo…
Cao Cao suddenly understood.
No wonder Wenruo and Zhicai said there was a treasure in the Cai Mansion…
No wonder, after eating the Jiaozi and drinking the soup, the commoners, even after kneeling for so long in this winter, did not feel any cold. It turned out… it turned out that the secret lay entirely within these Jiaozi and the soup!
With this realization, Cao Cao turned to look at Xun Yu and Xi Zhicai.
"Haha…" At this moment, Xi Zhicai raised his hand and said with a laugh, "Lord Cao, just as General Zilian said, these things resembling ears are Jiaozi. As for the soup, it is named 'Qu Han Jiao Er Tang' (Cold-Dispelling Beautiful Ear Soup), and it is made by simmering sheep bones and over ten kinds of cold-dispelling herbs. Each Jiaozi also contains over ten kinds of cold-dispelling medicines. It is a cold-dispelling recipe created by Grand Clerk Lu!"
Having said this, Xi Zhicai paused and continued.
"Therefore… after a bowl of this, one's body will be warm, and even walking in the snow and ice for a day will not cause any discomfort, nor will there be symptoms of cold hands and feet or frostbite on the ears!"
Having said this, Xi Zhicai reached out and took Cao Cao's hand.
In this cold weather, incredibly… both of their hands were warm…
At this moment…
Their hands clasped together, and their hearts also became considerably warmer.
— "Lord Cao, please observe. This Cold-Dispelling Beautiful Ear Soup and Jiaozi, please savor them, and ponder them in relation to 'Advancing West to Luoyang and Welcoming the Emperor'!"
…
…