The journey to the Gu capital of Xiangyang was tiring but quiet. Larys Cassell and his men traversed the gentle countryside of southern Simbar. Farmers worked hard to till the land and tend to their livestock.
During the march, many of the soldiers learned about rice, a staple food of the Simbarnese culture. Individually, the rice tasted bland. It lacked any flavour but was fulfilling nevertheless. Some of the Gu escort soldiers introduced the foreigners to certain sauces and herbs that the rice taste better, like soy sauce.
For Larys and many of the men in his party, it was almost educational. They had never seen a culture so completely different from their own. Even the environment was different, it was more humid and warm than their home continent of Bulgar. A bonus was that the winters in Simbar were mild compared to the sometimes freezing winters in Bulgar.
Wang Jun and the Gu soldiers grew a strong admiration for the soldiers of the Luxenberg Royal Guard. Their marching was perfectly in sync and their endurance was greater than theirs.
With the passing of each day, fatigue slowly began to spread among the combined parties. Marching in a humid environment had caused many of them to sweat in droves. The only comfort they felt was marching in the shade covered paths through the occasional forest, escaping the warm sun.
After 2 weeks of marching, the combined parties had finally reached the Gu capital city of Xiangyang. It was a glorious site. Thick towering walls surrounded the grand city. Its presence dominating. On the inside was arguably one of the grandest cities in the world.
Xiangyang sat nestled in a mountain valley, surrounded by terraced hills that rose like steps toward distant peaks. The city spread across the fertile valley floor, with narrow cobblestone streets winding between traditional wooden buildings whose upturned eaves cast intricate shadows in the morning light.
Larys and his men were awestruck, the city was full of beautiful cherry and plum trees that lined the main roads, their blossoms creating canopies of pink and white during spring months.
The air carried the mingled scents of incense from numerous boutique stores, cooking oil from street vendors, and the earthy smell of the nearby rice paddies that stretch toward the surrounding hills.
"Captain Matthias, have you ever seen a city so surreal? It almost feels like a dream, a place many would call paradise," Larys remarked as he was taking in his surroundings. The Royal Guard captain was too stunned to respond, all he could do was let his eyes wander.
The marketplace bustled with activity as merchants tried to hawk their wares from wooden stalls draped with colourful silk banners. Craftsmen worked in open-fronted shops, their tools creating rhythmic sounds as they shaped metal, carved wood, or weaved intricate patterns into fabric.
If Wang Jun was not there to lead the party, they would have most likely been lost in the myriad of winding streets. Clusters of local people clamoured around to see the strange foreigners from Bulgar. These locals possessed the looks of people that Victor would commonly refer to as Asian.
Wang Jun and his soldiers helped escort the Luxenberg delegation to their lodgings. The group would be staying at a massive inn located in the heart of the city. It was similar to the inn that they resided in back in Guangdong, however, it was fancier and more elegant. Larys and his men were able to rest and relax for a while. Their meeting with King Gu Tian was not scheduled until the following morning, so they had plenty of time to take it easy.
Although many of the men were eager to take this downtime to explore, Captain Matthias forbade any of them from leaving. He addressed all of them in the courtyard of the inn before allowing them to find their bedding and unpack.
"If any of you bastards try to sneak out and explore, I will have you on every night watch. You will receive all the shittest jobs imaginable. We are here on an official mission. I will be damned if any of you try to fuck that up. Am I understood?"
All of the soldiers stood at attention and yelled back, "Yes sir!" Captain Matthias looked at them with a chuffed expression. He knew that his men would not dare to defy his orders. It was good to remind them of their mission.
The sun was slowly setting and the Royal Guard soldiers continued to remain in high spirits as they lingered around the courtyard, conversating and chuckling with one another. Larys Cassell retired to his private quarters to write in his diary about the journey.
He recounted the sheer size of both Guangdong and Xiangyang. Larys especially highlighted how grand and blissful the capital city was. He hoped to share his tales with his son and grandchildren when he returned from this mission.
Harys, his son, had grown into a fine man. He had grown into a man worthy of respect and married a woman who greatly complimented him. Her name was Elise Adler, and she was a daughter of a prominent merchant. They instantly clicked and within a couple of years, they were married and had three children.
When Larys finished writing in his diary, the sun had completely gone and darkness now covered the land. Torches illuminated the streets, and many people were still out and about. Drinks were drunk and music echoed through the streets.
Larys and his men would slowly drift to sleep with the sounds of the city fading from their hearing. The night was gentle and the light breeze helped keep the soldiers from being too hot.
As soon as dawn began, the streets began to fill with people. In an instant, the bustling city awoke and started its day. Captain Matthias organised his soldiers for the day. Twenty soldiers were selected to act as guards for today's visit to the palace. The remaining would remain stationed at the inn.
Wang Jun arrived in the morning with an escort of 100 Gu soldiers, they promptly led Larys Cassell, Captain Mathias, Ernst Augustine and the 20 Royal Guard soldiers to the Gu Palace.