The Funiu Mountains stretched for 800 li, with mountain ranges rising and falling from high in the west to low in the east. The vast forest was filled with cliffs and steep walls.
The mountain terrain was both high and steep. Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu returned to Nanyang, taking a detour that led them up Funiu Mountain. While Lu Yun managed fine, Luo Lingyu complained bitterly about the climb. In the past, she climbed mountains for social occasions, but now she climbed to prevent Lu Yun’s misfortune. She had no choice but to grit her teeth and persist.
Fortunately, after mocking her inability to walk for a while, Lu Yun still carried her on his back.
This mountain had many peaks, and it was impossible to traverse them all. When Lu Xian said he dreamed of Lu Yun dying in the mountain’s snowy mist, Funiu Mountain was the first place Luo Lingyu thought of. However, Funiu Mountain was too vast, and she didn’t know which peak it might be.
While climbing with Lu Yun, Luo Lingyu complained: “Why didn’t you let Second Cousin come to Nanyang? Since he had the dream, wouldn’t it be better for him to find that mountain than for us to guess randomly?”
Lu Yun laughed lightly: “Even if my second brother came, he might not recognize it.”
He knew his second brother very well. While his brother appeared composed and seemed to have great insight, in reality, his mind was quite confused. Though he could describe the dream eloquently, if Lu Xian actually had to analyze it, he wouldn’t be able to. For instance, Lu Yun still didn’t believe that if his brother could predict the future, why did he always dream about him and Miss Luo…
Lying on his back, Luo Lingyu made wild guesses: “It must be because Second Cousin was moved by the love between us. Snow Brother, could it be that in Second Cousin’s dreams, you loved me deeply? Because you loved me so much, you moved your cousin, making him help fulfill your wishes in reality.”
Speaking of this, Luo Lingyu felt somewhat smug.
Lu Yun replied: “Little Sister Yu still has such thick skin.”
Annoyed, Luo Lingyu reached up to pinch his handsome face: “Then why do you think he keeps dreaming about us two?!”
Lu Yun uncomfortably dodged. In all his years, no lady had dared to touch his face. Luo Lingyu’s teasing made his face hot, his eyes slightly moist, and his breathing uneven. Lu Yun forced himself to stay calm, trying not to be swayed by her playful actions: “I guess it’s because in his dreams, he only understands romance and love talk.”
Luo Lingyu burst out laughing at his words and hugged his neck tighter, nuzzling against him: “You’re so mean with your words. You even mock your own brother, when Second Cousin cares for you so much.”
The attendants following behind led the horses and carried the luggage. Though it was entering autumn and winter, everyone was sweating profusely from walking so much, complaining internally. Meanwhile, Lady Luo lay on Lu Yun’s back, her cheeks dimpled with smiles, face pressed against his neck, her chest soft and full. Her face was beautiful, her figure good, pressed close against him.
A tingling sensation ran down his spine. As they climbed, blood rushed in reverse. In the middle of what should have been a normal mountain climb, while others were drenched in sweat, the young lord was aroused from her nuzzling.
Lu Yun: “…”
He felt mortified.
He wasn’t typically a lustful person. He had never been so impatient before either.
He turned his face away, distracted: “Stop teasing.”
Trying to shake off Luo Lingyu’s influence on him, Lu Yun casually diverted his attention, sweeping his gaze across the mountain scenery. When his eyes swept to the cliff edge, his expression subtly changed. He gestured for Luo Lingyu to get down, and asked the attendants behind for the terrain map. At present, the officials did not allow the drawing of terrain maps – this map was drawn by Lu Yun himself. As he compared the map to the mountain before him, waves of emotion stirred in his eyes.
Standing beside him, Luo Lingyu could tell from his expression that he must have discovered something. She paced by the roadside, following Lu Yun’s gaze toward the cliff edge. She saw vast clouds and mist, with cranes flying through; further in the distance, on the great plains below, cities stood densely packed.
These cities… Luo Lingyu’s gaze fixed in place.
Lu Yun spoke softly beside her: “You see it too?”
Luo Lingyu hesitated: “Mm… Xuechen Brother, what we’re seeing from here, could it be Nanyang Prefecture?”
While Funiu Mountain was indeed connected to Nanyang, the mountain range was so long – 800 li of road – that seeing Nanyang was not easy. However, at this moment, as Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun stood at the cliff edge in the middle section of the mountain, they could see the cities below. Though too far to make out clearly, in general… it had to be Nanyang.
Lu Yun had already checked the terrain map, and now explained: “This peak is called ‘Crown Prince’s Lookout Mountain’. When ancient Liu Xiu raised his army, it was said he climbed this mountain to view Nanyang. This peak offers a direct view of Nanyang…” He mused thoughtfully: “Ah yes, I remember Liu Xiu raising and training his army, how could I have forgotten about his mountain observations?”
Stationing troops here, ambushing here, training here, avoiding enemies here… and nobles being reburied here.
All in Nanyang.
Lu Yun immediately crouched down and used a nearby tree branch to draw the terrain. Crown Prince’s Lookout, Nine Li Mountain, Deer Call Mountain, Swallow Tail Mountain, Official Mountain… Funiu Mountain was too long, impossible to traverse all 800 li. In recent days, the places Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu had walked were all locations that historically were suitable for military use. The terrain here was excellent – not only used by ancients, but when Lu Yun and General Wei Cong previously ambushed Northern enemy troops, they had also relied on Funiu Mountain’s terrain.
Now with continuous warfare, after the battles, the main battlefield had shifted, allowing Lu Yun to climb the mountain. He thought if he were to die, it would likely be at a military position. But arriving at Crown Prince’s Lookout now, Lu Yun realized this better matched his personality – from here one could observe Nanyang, seeing almost all situations clearly. Moreover, this mountain was not famous.
For someone as arrogant and aloof as himself, wasn’t this feeling of controlling the overall situation what he liked most?
If he were truly to die, the possibility of it being at Crown Prince’s Lookout suddenly became very high…
Luo Lingyu stood beside him, watching as he crouched writing and drawing, his face deep in thought. She only looked a few times at first, then realized his writing was too messy for her to understand. But it didn’t matter – she thought Lu Yun must have figured something out. Their robes fluttered in the wind as the lady stood by, not disturbing Lu Yun. As she lowered her gaze to look at her beloved, admiration rippled in her eyes—
Snow Brother must have seen things she hadn’t noticed.
Her talented and quick-witted young lord was also incomparably handsome – how could she not love him?
As Luo Lingyu patiently stood waiting for Lu Yun to think things through, suddenly her body swayed and she stumbled back two steps. Lu Yun immediately stood up and steadied her, pulling her into his embrace. The nearby attendants also felt the tremors and stood alert. As the ground rumbled and shook, everyone looked down the mountain toward where Lu Yun had earlier identified as “Nanyang”, seeing warfare erupting with great flames, while outside the city people swarmed like ants and locusts – it must be armies engaging in battle.
Lu Yun’s expression changed: “The Northern army is attacking Nanyang today?!”
This mountain’s position was indeed excellent – they could see clearly even from so far.
Luo Lingyu immediately: “Then what do we do?! Should we return to Nanyang right away to help?” But Lu Yun had sent his troops to support Ruyang, and when he and Luo Lingyu returned to Nanyang, they were almost alone.
Lu Yun: “Mm.”
His expression showed slight hesitation as he looked at Luo Lingyu, thinking she was delicate and going down the mountain would be difficult… but when he looked over, Luo Lingyu – who had just been crying about sore feet and weak legs, demanding he carry her – had quickly rolled up her sleeves and trouser legs. She lifted her skirts and ran toward the downhill path faster than his reaction.
Luo Lingyu anxiously looked back: “Xuechen Brother, what are you spacing out for? Hurry up!”
Though it wasn’t the right time, Lu Yun couldn’t help covering his upturned lips with his hand: “…”
His Little Sister Yuhuan really was… quite good at running.
…
However, this brief moment of lightness also ended here.
The two hurriedly descended the mountain with their attendants. Since Lu Yun already had a grasp of the mountain terrain in his mind, he no longer delayed, directly mounting horses to return to Nanyang. His heart burned with anxiety, fearing Nanyang city would be breached. Upon entering Nanyang’s main city, Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu separated. Luo Lingyu rushed back to the Luo family to see if anything had happened to them, if the elders and sisters were well, and to learn about Nanyang’s current situation from them.
From this day forward, Luo Lingyu did not see Lu Yun for half a month.
As a staff officer in Nanyang’s stationed Southern army, Lu Yun had sent troops to aid Ruyang but couldn’t forget the situation in Nanyang. Returning to camp, Lu Yun immediately went to see General Wei. General Wei was so busy his lips were chapped, sitting astride in the military camp cursing loudly with great vigor. Lu Yun entered the tent to see Wei Cong with one arm in a sling, wrapped in bandages.
Wei Cong followed Lu Yun’s meaningful gaze to look at his own arm, snorting: “It’s just a broken arm, not severed. You noble young lords are such fussy women – it’s just a small wound, but you look like you’re about to cry?”
Lu Yun ignored General Wei’s mockery.
He only saw the arm wound and thought that if Wei Cong weren’t thick-skinned and sturdy, he likely would have died in that battle of arrows. That arrow formation wasn’t necessarily fatal, but it would have been bad.
Lu Yun paused, then bowed deeply with flowing sleeves to General Wei: “I was away from Nanyang for several days on personal matters, thank you for your hard work, General.”
General Wei became very uncomfortable and flushed red: “…”
Lu Yun stood tall and graceful, elegant and refined with his flowing sleeves. It was normal for such a jade-like young lord to usually be at odds with him, but to now formally bow to him, a general of humble origins…
General Wei was at a loss, pounding the table and speaking gruffly: “Stop being so fussy! I don’t care for you nobles’ habit of bowing at every turn. I’m a general, since I’m stationed in Nanyang, I should naturally be responsible here. You pretty boy, you couldn’t have helped much anyway.”
Lu Yun’s eyebrow raised slightly but he said nothing.
However, Wei Cong felt Lu Yun must have had some cutting remark – he was well acquainted with this young lord’s haughty way of speaking. Wei Cong spoke roughly: “…But since you’re back, tell me about the situation in Ruyang. Is the Northern army truly so strong, so invincible?”
Having personally gone to the frontlines, Wei Cong understood better than anyone the Northern army’s mighty strength compared to their own troops’ weakness.
Lu Yun calmly said: “We cannot win on military strength alone. Moreover, the Jianye court’s heart is not with us – General, you must have received the court’s orders for us to withdraw troops. We cannot retreat, and since we’re not following the court’s orders, they will no longer provide troops and supplies. I made a trip to Ruyang and Yingchuan, only to find the various generals fighting separately, and the court-assigned soldiers actually unfamiliar with each other. Yet to defeat the Northern army, neither Nanyang nor Ruyang alone can make a difference. We must combine forces.”
“When I returned with Ling Yu, we didn’t take the official road, but went through Funiu Mountain.”
Wei Cong interrupted: “You climbed Funiu Mountain to survey the terrain?”
He was quite sensitive regarding military matters and pondered: “…From what you’re saying, you want to use the terrain to combine forces. Hmm, interesting – continue, Staff Officer Lu.”
At this time, the Nanyang battle was left to other subordinate generals. Holed up in the tent since Lu Yun’s return, General Wei discussed with him all afternoon. Lu Yun thought that with the court’s hearts divided, though troops and supplies weren’t cut off now, they would gradually be. When cut off, they would have to rely on enemy forces for sustenance, so battles must have more victories than defeats.
Unable to count on the court, Lu Yun was reassured that Lu Xian knew the dream’s direction – he would convince his own Lu family faction to stand on Lu Yun’s side; Prince Chen alone couldn’t shake the entire court to fully support the northern war. But with Prince Chen and the Lu family joining forces, they should at least be able to stabilize the situation. Even if they couldn’t get the court to deploy troops and give money, they could also delay the court’s interference in military affairs.
General Wei: “How do you know Prince Chen will help us? Troublesome, have to write letters again.”
Writing letters meant waiting over ten days for a response – by the time news arrived, the court’s imperial edict would have long since arrived. If it was the court’s edict directly dismissing him as general, what then?
Lu Yun: “No need to write letters, he knows in his heart. Since he let me come to Nanyang, he should trust me; he just needs to help me handle the rear matters, not letting rear matters drag me down.”
Wei Cong said nothing, as he knew Lu Yun indeed had a very good private relationship with his lord, Prince Chen. Now he only thought that apparently they didn’t need letters to be of one mind… Prince Chen and Lu Yun’s relationship was even better than he had imagined. Wei Cong didn’t have much mental energy to ponder that matter, as Lu Yun had already moved on to discussing combining forces.
Lu Yun’s expression paused, and when Wei Cong looked over, heard his tone grow subtle: “The other generals are proud of their talents and don’t trust me, they may not listen to me. But currently, the general who sent troops to support Ruyang is Prince Hengyang.”
Wei Cong recalled what he had heard in Jianye: “This is bad! You have poor relations with Prince Hengyang.”
Lu Yun nodded slightly: “…But Prince Hengyang knows my abilities and will listen to me. Though political enemies, we can cooperate. Ruyang, Nanyang, Yingchuan – at least these three prefectures can combine forces using Funiu Mountain’s terrain. If these three prefectures successfully combine forces and surround the Northern army, when other prefectures are suffering badly from enemy encirclement, they will seek our help.”
His hand traced across the map, his expression cold: “…Thus, the entire northern region combining forces to surround and fight can destroy the enemy.”
Ruyang, Yingchuan, Nanyang – surrounding Funiu Mountain’s terrain, attacking from three directions to form an encirclement, forcing the Northern army into terrain depressions. This was the first step.
General Wei still had doubts: “How to communicate with Prince Hengyang?”
Lu Yun looked up, his eyes clear and dark: “Light beacon fires.”
Wei Cong: “Beacon fires transmit too few signals, not convenient.”
Wei Cong was already considering arranging messenger troops to ride back and forth at full speed, but heard Lu Yun say: “When Prince Hengyang was young studying in Jianye, he, Prince Chen, and I studied at the same school. When young we had some mischievous methods. Now grown up, I won’t speak more of our student days, but the signals I transmit by beacon fire, he will definitely understand.”
“Even if complex.”
Wei Cong started, then rejoiced greatly, patting Lu Yun’s arm: “…Staff Officer Lu, excellent! With you planning the battle against the Northern army, how could our Southern forces not be victorious?”
…
Beacon fires lit, horns blown, flags raised.
Flag troops planted flags, beacon fires ignited. Every few li a tower, gradually transmitting messages.
In Ruyang city the battle situation was deadlocked. Prince Hengyang Liu Mu was there, cooperating with Ruyang’s soldiers to counterattack the city, wanting to take back the city fallen to enemy hands. The messenger troops saw the flag and beacon fire signals but were momentarily stunned, unable to understand as the signals were too complex. With no choice, the messenger troops steeled themselves to find Ruyang’s general, but when the general saw the signals… he also couldn’t understand.
Ruyang’s side: “…Where did the initial beacon fires come from? Are we certain they’re from our side? We’ve never seen signals like these.”
The young Prince Hengyang Liu Mu quietly listened beside them, when suddenly his eyelid twitched: “Let me take a look.”
He had suddenly thought of Lu Yun. Complex things, things others couldn’t understand… perhaps they came from Lu Yun’s hand.
Ruyang’s forces indeed brought the confused and anxious messenger troops to Liu Mu. At this time their troops were below the city, oil burning on the city walls, countless soldiers charging forward, countless ladders burning against the walls. Waves of soldiers fell, and more waves surged forward.
Liu Mu stood at the army’s front, tall and imposing with his hands behind his back. When he gestured for the messenger to demonstrate those complex signals, his expression grew slightly dazed. Like a revolving lantern, when those complex signals were revealed – those signals played with in childhood and youth, abandoned for being too complex to teach others, when they reappeared in the light of day –
The carefree days of youth in Jianye came rushing back.
Back then, strutting through Jianye city, in fine clothes on spirited horses, with an arrogant air.
Back then, not knowing his elder brother wanted to kill him.
He was still the next imperial candidate chosen by the late emperor’s secret edict.
But now, now…
The messenger asked anxiously: “General, can you also not understand?”
Liu Mu said: “I understand.”
The messenger had been disappointed, but now was stunned: “…Ah?!”
Seeing Prince Hengyang’s downcast eyes, his eyelashes shadowing his form. Liu Mu quickly turned and strode off to find Ruyang’s general.
…
Combining forces.
Three prefectural cities combining forces to jointly destroy the Northern army.
…
In Nanyang city, Luo Lingyu had not seen Lu Yun for half a month. She had tried going to the military camp several times, but the troops moved quickly back and forth, and since General Wei had handed strategic planning to Lu Yun, he rarely appeared in camp. Each time standing outside the camp, seeing wounded soldiers being carried back, Luo Lingyu’s eyes would dim.
And returning to noble ladies’ social circles, what the ladies commonly complained about was just: “When will this war finally end? My brother was conscripted and taken away, I haven’t seen him in so long.”
“Yes, my father ran off there too. What’s wrong with Lu Yun, not sparing any men – we’re aristocrats! How can aristocrats personally go to the battlefield?”
“Nanyang’s communications with the outside are cut off. The rouge and powder I want to buy, I haven’t been able to buy for so long…”
The ladies chittered and chattered, still speaking only of women’s matters. Luo Lingyu sat among them, her expression growing increasingly faint. When they complained about no communications, Luo Lingyu’s eyes moved, and she stood up with a smile: “With outside communications cut off, unable to even see the men of your households, how pitiful. If I had a way to let you see your brothers and fathers, would you be willing?”
The ladies perked up: “Really? My mother was crying last night, afraid my brother wouldn’t return. Miss Luo, what way do you have to let us see them?”
Luo Lingyu smiled mysteriously.
The next day, the ladies were led by Luo Lingyu to the military camp entrance. When their faces changed drastically and they tried to flee in panic, Luo Lingyu firmly gripped one lady’s arm, speaking quickly: “The army’s casualties are severe, there aren’t enough medics. Sisters, you’re all well-read – if you can’t do other things, can’t you at least assist the medics, help bandage the wounded soldiers?”
Her eyes fixed on the ladies, tempting them: “This way, when the men of your households return, won’t you be able to see them first?”
The one whose arm she gripped covered her nose with her sleeve, voice disgusted: “I don’t want to! Why don’t you find commoner women to do this? How can you make us do such things?”
Luo Lingyu: “Common women don armor and become militia to protect the city. Isn’t that more difficult than what you’d do? Sisters, shouldn’t we do something for Nanyang?”
The ladies were stunned by her words: “…You say common women have all joined the army?”
Actually they hadn’t.
This was just Luo Lingyu’s plan, not yet put into action. Only because noble ladies were arrogant and army casualties numerous did she first try to persuade these aristocratic ladies.
Luo Lingyu declared firmly: “Nanyang’s situation is not good, our military forces are extremely weak. Sisters, if we don’t save ourselves, when the city falls, should we flee to Jianye? Jianye is not our home territory.”
The ladies: “…Don’t grab us, let us think about it.”
“Hmph, you’re just doing this to help Lu Yun.”
In this era, being pursued by a young lord was something ladies greatly envied.
In the eyes of Nanyang’s noble ladies, Luo Lingyu’s first fiancé was the Fan family’s fourth son, and now it was the Lu family’s third son… Lady Luo’s luck made them quite jealous.
Luo Lingyu didn’t care what they thought, just smiled and persuaded them. She was eloquent, constantly making grand arguments. When the ladies were unwilling, she simply went door to door, speaking with their elders. The noble ladies suffered bitter expressions, afraid of Luo Lingyu, and could only gloomily follow her to help.
…
Not only did she ask noble ladies to help treat the wounded, Luo Lingyu also wrote detailed articles explaining that while the men fought on the battlefield, common women in civilian areas could be employed as female soldiers. With Nanyang’s troops so few, why not mobilize the entire prefecture’s strength to resist the enemy?
General Wei was overjoyed.
Lu Yun was a savior.
Who knew Lady Luo would be one too.
This long-lasting war let General Wei see hope.
…
The famous scholars’ verbal and written attacks on the Northern army did not cease.
After the flames of war blazed higher, support and criticism from all sides also multiplied many times over.
The Jianye court could no longer completely stop the northern war. Every time they tried to exchange troops or move forces, or recall personnel, Prince Chen would walk among the court officials below, preventing orders from being implemented. The Northern country’s envoy team received news from their army at the front, their expressions ugly, still anxious even after burning the letter:
Lu Yun!
Again it was Lu Yun!
Lu Yun’s strategies on the northern battlefield were an extreme threat to the Northern army!
The Southern country’s old emperor was truly useless – ten edicts in one day could be rejected halfway by the aristocrats. Then trying to transmit to the north, that Prince Chen Liu Su in the Secretariat would find all sorts of excuses to prevent imperial edicts from being issued.
The Northern envoy team panicked, with an ominous feeling that the situation was reversing, that their enemies had seen through their thoughts. They could wait no longer – that hidden piece they had buried in the Southern country, which they had been reluctant to use before, but this time… since the Southern court could not influence Lu Yun, they must make this hidden piece take action.
…
After days of rushing about, the weather turned cold, and Lu Xian caught a cold, with headaches all day.
After discussing political matters with Prince Chen during the day, Lu Xian felt uneasy and went to the temple to pray. He had become a regular visitor to Jianye’s various temples, and during his visit accidentally encountered Princess Ningping Liu Tang, who was discussing marriage arrangements with him. Liu Tang was also leading the Luo family’s little sister Luo Yunhuan, joining her in offering incense and worship.
By evening, when driving back to the manor, Lu Xian was leading Luo Yunhuan back.
His eyelid kept twitching, his mind weary, and beside him Luo Yunhuan was quiet and still, not disturbing him. So upon sitting in the carriage, with his headache, Lu Xian simply closed his eyes to rest. Little Miss Luo Yunhuan had originally wanted to talk with Second Cousin, to ask about Nanyang’s situation. She had heard that things were unstable there, and she worried about her sister and future brother-in-law. But since Second Cousin closed his eyes to sleep upon entering the carriage, the little miss could only puff up her cheeks and obediently stay quiet.
After playing with her fingers for a while, suddenly the window was pushed open, and rain drops from outside the curtain splashed onto her face.
Luo Yunhuan leaned over in surprise, her small face pressed against the window. She carefully tried to close the window to prevent Second Cousin from getting wet, when suddenly she saw a young lord standing expressionlessly under the wall, illuminated by the hanging lanterns outside the carriage. Luo Yunhuan was stunned, the fine rain falling diagonally, and she rubbed her eyes.
The young man looked up toward her.
They were both silent, saying nothing.
In her heart, Luo Yunhuan hesitantly called out: Brother Zihan.
But she only leaned against the window without speaking, because she knew that behind the commoners who had endangered her and Lu Si’s last encounter was Miss Chen Xiu. The Lu family and Chen family had conflicts because of this, and though Luo Yunhuan was young, she was quite perceptive. Afterwards she understood that Brother Zihan was also on Miss Chen’s side.
Deliberately coming to trouble her… yet also saving her… perhaps he wasn’t a good person.
The young lord stood quietly leaning against the wall, the rain falling steadily, his shoulders half wet. The little miss sat in the carriage, her snow-white small face passing before him, he only watched, not calling out in greeting.
And at the other end of the alley, the Northern envoy team’s carriage passed by.
Someone in the carriage pulled back the curtain, saw that young lord, and their eyes suddenly flickered.
…
Had many dreams, some patterns could be understood.
For example, if reality’s major direction and the dream had already been found to change, the dream would not continue.
So after several consecutive days without dreams, Lu Xian harbored a glimmer of hope in his heart, thinking it was because reality had already changed, the major direction had changed, Lu Yun would not die. That’s why he kept not having more dreams.
However, this prayer was shattered when he once again fell into a dream. It turned out the lack of dreams was not because reality had changed, but because the crucial moment had not yet arrived.
When his carriage passed through the street, as he slept inside, when the carriage brushed past the young lord Zihan standing straight against the wall, that crucial moment finally arrived.
…
The dream was still that great snow, that death after the great battle.
Lu Yun still died, but the timeline retreated one step.
Like a wandering ghost drifting outside, Lu Xian stumbled through the mountains searching for his brother. He saw thousands of troops fallen, saw lines of bloodstains, saw corpses strewn about… his heart screamed: No!
He finally found Lu Yun.
Lu Yun standing in the snow with a snow-white face, spiritually exhausted, the soldiers around him dead in battle, yet the enemy before him was not pursuing troops.
Rather it was a young lord slowly raising his weapon, his features as cold and fierce as ice and snow.
…
If he opened his eyes, if he looked out the window like Luo Yunhuan, he would recognize that the young lord who finally came to kill Lu Yun in his dream was now in Jianye, standing silently against the wall, watching the carriage move away, brushing past him.
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