Melodic Tale (BL)

Chapter 6

Chapter 6:

Upon hearing this, Tian Lan shook his head. He didn't want to help increase the number of deaths in war; however, because Wu Yuan was asking for his cooperation he had to do something that would be of use to him. So, Tian Lan taught him some basic sign language that he thought up on the spot. 'Stop' was the usual palm facing message receiver, come was the normal gesture of cupping the palm and bending fingers forward, while leave was the same action in the opposite direction. Ambush was an index finger point upwards, then turning and pointing downwards and surrounded was circling the index finger in the air. This would help troops communicate in an area that they couldn't speak or hear. On top of all this, Tian Lan began to teach Wu Yuan English. The twenty-six letters and words that were likely used during the current war-fuelled era. The concept of developing a new language and hand symbols outside of a scholar's room was something new and innovative. Up until now, messengers were often ambushed and caught, so that their messages could be read. However, with the invention of a new form of code, it was possible to overrule the current system of sending five or six messengers at a time, and hoping that the ones that landed in enemy hands would not have their messages deciphered.

Wu Yuan had been aghast when he found out that communication in another language was possible. He learnt diligently, and although slow, he had a grasp of many military term and phonetics before long. Not too long afterwards, he submitted a recommendation to his father, the emperor, to make the elite troops learn a bit of English. In the common circumstance that a letter was intercepted and read by their enemies, a new form of communication was necessary. On the battlefield, communication that no one but the sender and receiver could identify was an overwhelming advantage because spies and lookouts were everywhere.

The idea was new and innovative, but what was startling was that the idea emerged from a seven year old's brain. The emperor and councillors dismissed the thought of external help, and spoke highly of Wu Yuan. Although, the emperor approved of the third prince's recommendation, originally, the emperor would have refused it as coming up with a totally new language just for the sake of war could take decades. However, the recommendation that the third prince received already included a new language. The emperor had stared blankly at the scroll he was holding. The simple symbols sprawled all over the page. Some of them were singular while others were joined in a chain of symbols that varied in length. Naturally, the symbols were the letters of the English alphabet. The emperor asked his son, "Wu Yuan, what is this? These symbols?"
Wu Yuan had proudly replied, "You always rejected the idea of having to create a new language, so you never accepted the proposal of hiding a new style of writing, so I had a friend teach me a language which he created. I only know the basic military terms, but he's fluent in this language."

The emperor was slightly intrigued, there was someone out there who was willing to develop their own language? He pondered for a bit, this person must be extremely intelligent and have had a number of tutors before being able to accomplish such a feat. He didn't know how to read the symbols, but he was interested in hearing the full extent at which this language had evolved to. The emperor decided to utilize the new language and as Wu Yuan had suggested.

Day by day, Wu Yuan learnt English from Tian Lan. Wu Yuan's vocabulary grew quite impressive; however, there were still words which he could never remember and words he could never pronounce. He persistently continued his path for learning until before they knew it, two years had gone by. Wu Yuan was decently fluent in the English language, and the military had been taught the hand signs and military terms of English. The military was using English and because of it, any mail that was intercepted was unreadable to any nation except for their own. There were spies that were easily weeded out when they attempted to learn the language, and numerous other nations that attempted to copy this idea, but it never worked. Developing a new language could take hundreds of years, and there were emperors expecting it to be done in less than a hundred times that.

The day came when it was time for Wu Yuan to be sent to the army frontlines to be both general and strategist as part his duty as third imperial prince of the nations. Wu Yuan met up with Tian Lan for the last time for many years to come. Whilst they both vowed not to forget each other, Wu Yuan buried the memories of Tian Lan deep into his heart in a box which was always kept locked to prevent himself from flying back to his side. His complex mixed up feelings of wanting to possess the beautiful Tian Lan were buried deep into his heart, but if one poked around a bit, would see the overwhelming amount of emotion resurface as quickly and vividly as if it was yesterday. For the first time since he was a child, tears spilled over the edges of Wu Yuan's eyes despite his obvious reluctance in letting them fall. Tian Lan smiled. He could do naught but smile, it wasn't like the emperor would suddenly change his mind if Tian Lan frowned, so he smiled. Contagious indeed his smile was. Through the blurry tears, Wu Yuan could see Tian Lan's smile and upon reflex smiled as well. It had been Tian Lan's father's motto, to "live without regrets and don't depart with a depressed face".

Tian Lan, in over seventeen years in his past life, had never understood his father's words even on his dying death bed. Now he knew why his father had said that. Tian Lan's lips turned upwards as he continued smiling as a departing gesture to his leaving friend. His hand reached over and swept a tear from Wu Yuan's eye before placing it under his own. The tear slowly rolled down his own face.

"I can't cry when I know we'll surely meet again, so until that time comes, I will borrow your tears."

Hearing this, Wu Yuan smiled and nodded. They would surely meet again; they had to while they were still under the same sky. Through his still blurry eyes, he looked down suddenly remembering that he had prepared a parting gift for Tian. Tian had given him precious herbs and ground medicine that was infinitely more useful than any prescription given by the royal physicians. He fished out a piece of jade given only to royals and handed it to Tian Lan. How he dearly wanted to keep his dear Tian close. He wanted to work out the complicated knot of feelings he had for Tian and have him become his advisor, but at the tender age of eleven, Wu Yuan was sent to the military to gain his standing as a prince general. It would be many years before they saw each other again.

Later that year there was a loud commotion arose in the city. The annual martial arts tournament of the city had arrived. By the time this happened, Tian Lan had just turned old enough to apply for the tournament. Thus, this was exactly what he did. The prize money was a colossal hundred gold and could feed a family for a few summers if they were careful. However, to get that much, one had to be the best artist in the city which was difficult because the city was quite large. It was close to a many other cities that were sending in participants as well. The winner would be given honour while the loser got back to their everyday life. Winning was a plus, but participants didn't lose anything other than the few copper entrance fee that they submitted, so the competition was a wildly popular spot to train in strength.