“This gemstone was brought to the Kingdom of Kang four hundred years ago by the chief priest of the Persian Zoroastrianism. Legend has it that it is one of the three incarnations of the God of Light, Ahura Mazda. You can see his eyes within the gem, so it is also called the ‘Eye of Light’. It was always enshrined in the Zoroastrian temple of Samojian in the Kingdom of Kang. Forty-two years ago, the fierce Arab general Qubodi conquered Samojian, burned down the temple, and after passing through many hands, the ‘Eye of Light’ finally ended up in the hands of the former king of the Stone Kingdom. It was set into the scepter and became a symbol of royal power. Among the king’s many sons, whoever obtained the ‘Eye of Light’ would inherit the throne. But two years ago, when the king fell seriously ill, the gemstone mysteriously disappeared, and the third prince Campbell also vanished at the same time. Their whereabouts remain unknown to this day. Because of this, I was expelled from the royal palace.”

Peter Morris walked a few steps with his hands behind his back and asked curiously, “Are you saying that whoever gets the ‘Eye of Light’ can inherit the throne of the Stone Kingdom, is that right?”

“That’s correct. This was the rule set by the former king, but the prerequisite is that one must be a prince of the Stone Kingdom.”

“I know that!”

Peter Morris waved his hand and said, “Alright! I’ll buy your information. What’s your price?”

“I don’t want money. I only ask that the great chieftain allow me to mine the Dunduo Silver Mountain for five years, and restrain your people from disturbing it. After five years, I will return the silver mine to the great chieftain.”

“You’re quite shrewd. Fine! It’s a deal. Now tell me, where is the ‘Eye of Light’ now?”

“It’s in the hands of a Tang soldier surnamed Li at the Suluo Beacon Fortress at the Ling Mountain Pass.”

……

Nasunin left, and beside him, Peter Morris’s son David Morris laughed and said, “That Sogdian isn’t greedy after all. I thought he’d want to monopolize the Dunduo Silver Mine!”

Peter Morris smiled and said, “That’s his cleverness. He knows I would never truly give him the Dunduo Silver Mine, so he only asked to mine it for five years. That’s fine—let him organize the manpower to dig the mine. After a few years, once he’s got it running, we’ll take over the silver mine. What will we have to worry about then?”

“But Father, what use do you have for that gemstone?” David Morris frowned and asked.

Peter Morris smiled cunningly, “You don’t understand. Hasn’t the Stone Kingdom always wanted to get its hands on Suiyechuan? They want to form an alliance with us. Once I have this gemstone, I’ll support the second prince Ethan Ward to ascend the throne. By then, it won’t be the Stone Kingdom annexing Suiyechuan, but I, Peter Morris, annexing their Stone Kingdom.”

At this point, Peter Morris patted his son’s shoulder. “I know you’ve always wanted to marry Princess Julan of the Stone Kingdom. Once I get this gemstone, I’ll use it as a betrothal gift and formally propose for you.”

A look of anticipation appeared in David Morris’s eyes. He said excitedly, “Father, let me go and seize that gemstone.”

A trace of sinister intent flashed in Peter Morris’s eyes. “That’s exactly what I was thinking. I’ve long wanted to eliminate the Suluo Beacon Fortress.”

……

Note: The Stone Kingdom did indeed possess a peerless gemstone. After the Battle of Talas, the commander Ziyad sought this gemstone to present to Caliph Abbas.

Chapter Seven: The Tuhu Attack

Half a month passed. On this day, it was Andrew Thompson’s Fifth Fire Unit’s turn to garrison the Ling Mountain Beacon Tower. The beacon tower was located at the exit of the Ling Mountain Road, built atop a sheer cliff, accessible only by climbing a rope ladder. At the foot of the cliff was a sheep and horse fort for storing livestock. The fort would store half a month’s worth of food and fresh water, and the garrison would rotate every ten days.

The beacon tower was usually manned by five soldiers. They would light one beacon in the morning and evening to signal all was well. If a small enemy force was spotted, two beacons would be lit. If a large force attacked, three beacons would be lit. If no beacons were lit in the morning or evening, it meant the beacon fort had been overrun by bandits.

“Fire Chief, look! That’s the Ling Mountain Beacon Tower.” In the distance, Brian Foster pointed at a solitary mountain shaped like a stone steeple and laughed.

It was Andrew Thompson’s first time at the Ling Mountain Beacon Tower. He sat on his horse, staring blankly at the stone peak that looked so much like a bamboo shoot. It felt strangely familiar.

It was this very peak. On that snowy night over a month ago, he had heard the thunder of hooves beneath this stone peak. When he rushed over, he found himself in the Tang Dynasty, thirteen hundred years in the past.

Could this stone peak be hiding the secret to traveling through time? Andrew Thompson bit his lip, spurred his horse hard, and galloped toward the peak.

The stone peak was unchanged, no different from thirteen hundred years in the future. Andrew Thompson circled the peak among the scattered rocks, his heart gradually calming. How could he possibly find the door back?

He shook his head with a bitter smile. Seeing that the rope ladder had already been thrown down from above, he said to the others, “It’s getting late. Let’s go up!”

The Tang soldiers climbed up the tall beacon tower one by one. Andrew Thompson tested the rope, then began climbing to the summit step by step.

……

Night had fallen. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. A full moon sailed across the boundless blue sea, casting a lonely, cold light over the land and mountain peaks, tinting everything with a silvery white. The night was very quiet, with only the sharp howling of the Ling Mountain night wind to be heard.

Andrew Thompson sat alone atop the beacon tower, staring blankly at the bright moon in the sky. Today’s unexpected discovery had stirred his homesickness, and his thoughts flew across thirteen hundred years of time and space, returning to his distant homeland.