The Academy’s Matter Of Course

On the plaza in the capital of Song it was deadly quiet except for some heavy snorting from time to time. But it was from the warhorses rather than humans.

Someone was preaching from afar. It sounded indistinct because of the distance as if it was from Heaven. In the indistinct preaching there were weird words like women, stones, sins, steamed buns, and salt. But it was immediately blown away by the warhorses' snorting and disappeared in the chilling winter air.

But did it really disappear? Of course not. Those words got into people's ears and stamped on their hearts. The divine priests and deacons from the West-Hill and armed cavalry of Song were laying around the plaza, ready for an ambush. They looked uneasy upon hearing that.

The snorting from hundreds of horses became heavier. Thousands of divine priests, deacons and soldiers were gathering along the quiet streets.