Chapter 6: The Bow and Crossbow of Wu Hou

  The March wind always carries a hint of chill and clarity, especially when galloping on horseback the wind blowing against one's face is as sharp as a knife. Fortunately, the bandits are accustomed to this life and their faces aren't cut by the knife-like wind, with ten thousand green silk ribbons hanging down.

  The bandits' hideout was a small village called Qugou, from which it wasn't far to set out for the Yuyang Commandery. The three hundred li of road were not very long, and the Great Sui's official roads were flat and straight, making it comfortable for war horses to run on. To say it was comfortable is relative; if ordinary commoners rode a horse for half an hour, they would probably have their buttocks rubbed raw. Running three hundred li in one breath would be painful even for regular cavalrymen. People who spend a long time living on horseback are easy to recognize; walking down the street, you can spot who has bowlegs and walks with their upper body still and lower body swaying back and forth - either they're long-time horse riders or they have cerebral palsy.

  It would be even better to identify in the bathroom, who has a layer of callus on his buttocks can almost confirm his identity, either being beaten every day or working eight hours a day riding a horse. Being beaten every day is not something that anyone would dare to beat out a layer of dead skin.

  These horse bandits had been living with Zhang Zhongjian in the Yanshan Mountains for several years, and then spent several more years in Sai Bei. They were already accustomed to life on horseback. After replenishing supplies from Qu Gou to Gu An County, the horse bandit group Tie Fu Tu, who was known for being able to stop children's crying at night, left the area of Zhuo Jun You Zhou. Their next destination was Yu Yang Jun, but no one expected that in a place not much bigger than a donkey's egg, so many brothers would lose their lives.

  "Ah, is Little Di in Youyang?"

  Li Xian had a two-year-old black horse, which was specially selected by Zhang Zhongjian from dozens of young horses. It is said that there is also the bloodline of the Khitan breed Botouwu, but on the hooves, there are no four pieces of white fur like auspicious clouds. Li Xian has raised this horse for over a year and likes it very much. Chen Que'er once deliberately teased him, saying what's so special about an impure Botouwu? You silly boy, your grandfather cheated you, what do you have to be proud of? Li Xian said solemnly, Little Bird Brother, you don't understand, this horse is not like humans, hybrids are not necessarily bad things.

  Zhang Zhongjian had a blade of grass in his mouth, raised his head to look at the gloomy sky: "She was taken away by her aunt to Baxian Mountain, saying that the girl's roots were extraordinary and she was a good seedling. She must take her as an apprentice. You know, I can't afford to offend your aunt."

  Li Xian smiled and said, "Yes, there are only a few masters in this green forest who can provoke the Red Buddha Girl."

  Li Xian sighed, why is the difference so big between two aunts? Yang Guo had an aunt who eventually became his wife. I also have an aunt, and it's possible that she might become my stepmother.

  "Grandpa, if you two really fought, who would win, you or Grandma?"

  Li Xian has always been very curious about this question.

  Zhang Zhongjian thought for a moment and said, "If we fight immediately, I can win in less than five rounds. If it's close combat, your aunt's little tricks will be used, and I really can't say who will win or lose. Those messy tricks of hers are headache-inducing just thinking about them."

  "What a pity."

  Li Xian sighed.

  "What a pity!"

  "What a pity! She was a good stepmother after all. The fallen flower has intention, but the flowing water is ruthless."

  Zhang Zhongjian gave Li Xian a glance and said, "Don't talk nonsense! Medicine Master Xian has strategies for governing the country, his literary and military talents are both superior to mine. Moreover, Hong Fo had an engagement with him long ago. From now on, don't speak such words again, or let your aunt hear it and tear your mouth apart."

  Li Xian shuddered at the memory, thinking back to when he first met Hong Furen as a child. He still had lingering fears about it. Who knows if that deadly woman was from Evil Valley or not, but she actually caught an almost fully-grown black bear and locked it in a mountain cave, then asked seven-year-old Li Xian if he had ever eaten bear paw before. Li Xian hadn't, so Hong Furen asked him if he wanted to eat some. Li Xian naturally said yes, and Hong Furen smiled sweetly, saying "You go cut it yourself." Then she kicked Li Xian into the mountain cave.

  Zhang Zhongjian was anxious to rush in and save Li Xian, but Hong Fo solemnly said that if he wanted him to truly grow up, he had to face all kinds of dangers and constantly grow in the trials of life and death. This statement was both grandiose and reasonable, so Zhang Zhongjian held a hard bow and stood guard at the entrance of the cave, not going in to rescue Li Xian from his predicament.

  Hong Buddha stood at the entrance of the cave and shouted loudly to Li Xian: "Little guy, no matter what a man wants, he must strive for it by himself. If you want to eat bear paws, go cut them down yourself!"

  Li Xian wailed in the mountain cave: "Aunt..."

  "Stop begging me! You're a man, can't you even get what you want to eat by yourself?"

  Li Xian dodged and wept, shouting: "Auntie was right, men have to fight for what they want. But Auntie, if you want me to cut off the bear's paw, at least give me a knife!"

  Hong Fodeng: ……

  That's indeed a notorious female demon king, Li Xian exclaimed in his heart.

  "Grandfather, is the Xianbei tribe close to Youyang Commandery?"

  This time, the Iron Pagoda was moved to Youyang County by Zhang Zhongjian's decision. The reason is that recently, the Red Buddha in Youyang County sent a message to Zhang Zhongjian saying that the Xianbei people have been frequently crossing the Great Wall to raid Caogu Valley. At this time, Li Jing was hiding on Mount Pan in Youyang County, so the Red Buddha was also there. However, the two did not live on the same mountain, and the Red Buddha hid on Mount Baxian, which is still a long way from Mount Pan. The Xianbei people were not as fierce and warlike as the Turks, and their relationship with the Han people had always been stable. But something happened during this period, and the soldiers of Youyang County were exhausted from running around but could not block the northern mouth of the Great Wall.

  "Beyond the Great Wall to the north is the territory of the Xianbei tribe. The Xianbei people live along the river, originally a group of timid and cunning nomads, much more gentle than the Turks. Merchants traveling through the regions of Shanggu and Boling love to deal with the Xianbei, who are hospitable and generous, and every time they come away loaded with goods. This time they have been entering the passes frequently, it can't be said that something big has happened within the Xianbei tribe."

  Zhang Zhongjian smiled and said, "The medicine master is in Youyang disguised as a wandering man. The Qi people's affairs have made the governor of Youyang County, Pei Yan, worried and anxious. He has sent someone to invite the medicine master several times, but was rejected by the medicine master. Your aunt asked me to go also to persuade the medicine master. Although he is not interested in official career, it is time for him to do something for the people of Youyang."

  Li Xian curled his lip and thought to himself, "Li Yao Shi has no interest in officialdom?" Only you and Hong Fo treat him as a detached and noble recluse who is above worldly fame and fortune. A person who would abandon and even harm his own wife with whom he had a marriage arrangement just to become an official - how could he have no interest in officialdom? What a ridiculous lie!

  "When we arrive at Yu Yang, your grandfather will ask a scholar to give you a courtesy name."

  Zhang Zhongjian smiled and said: "Grandpa doesn't read many books, it's time for you to find a famous teacher to learn the teachings of the saints."

  Li Xian said: "Forget it, old man. The word 'biao' is not a prostitute, anyone can mess with it."

  "Xian'er, why do you seem to dislike Yao Shi so much?"

  Li Xian tilted his head and was too lazy to explain.

  Tie Pao Tao is a name thought up by Li Xian, and Zhang Zhongjian still can't help but wonder to this day why that three-year-old child was able to come up with such a name. But wonder aside, the bandits all love this name. Although no one knows what Tie Pao Tao means, who cares, it sounds domineering just listening to it. From the Five Dynasties period onwards, many names for elite cavalry used these three characters, and by the Song Dynasty, they specifically referred to the heavy armored cavalry under Wanyan Zongbi of the Jin State.

  The northern folk are bold and fierce, with over sixty riders on fine horses galloping by, the common people wouldn't be too afraid. At this time, the Great Sui had not yet reached that chaotic period, the country was strong, laws were strict, and horse bandits were rarely seen in various places. The people of Yan and Zhao were brave and fierce, many men practiced staffs, so they wouldn't scatter and run away at the sight of a cavalry. After three days of continuous travel, they finally entered the territory of Youyang County before dusk.

  The administrative center of Yuyang Commandery is located in Yuyang County, which is also the only county under its jurisdiction.

  Yuyang County is not big, the prefecture and county governments are both located here, so the city is quite peaceful. Zhang Zhongjian led his men through the city without entering it, heading straight towards Baxian Mountain. Baxian Mountain is northeast of the city, also a considerable distance away from the city. Li Xian rubbed his sore butt and asked: "Master, we've already passed Pan Mountain, why not go see your fellow pharmacist first?"

  Zhang Zhongjian furrowed his brow and said, "I didn't plan on seeing him anyway."

  "Why?"

  "In those years, the pharmacist advised me to surrender to Yang Su, Duke of Chu State, but I had no good relationship with the Yang family. In those years, Yang Jian recruited, and my father didn't even bother him, let alone a duke of Chu State? My brother Sun Shan'an made contributions during the pacification of Chen, but was wrongly killed by Yang Su. I didn't go to kill him, so how could I go under his command? The pharmacist persuaded me hard, but I refused. Now, rashly going up the mountain to see the pharmacist would only make things worse. As for Qi people's affairs, there's nothing difficult to do. Since I've come, why bother going to Mount Pan to see the pharmacist's face?"

  Li Xian burst out laughing and said: "It seems that you, Old Master, are also not very close to your fellow disciple, the Medicine Master."

  Zhang Zhongjian rubbed his forehead and smiled: "You're a clever kid, the pharmacist is fine, but he's too unfeeling. Yuancheng has been waiting for him for so many years, I don't know why he's reluctant to marry! Every time I see him, I feel uncomfortable in my heart, so it's better not to see him."

  Everyone saw that they were about to reach their destination and relaxed, laughing and galloping on horseback. At the foot of Baxian Mountain, there is a village called Xiaodao, with more than 70 households in the village. The villagers live by the mountain, and the folk customs are simple and honest. Zhang Zhongjian had been to Baxian Mountain before, so he knew that there was a village at the foot of the mountain, planning to rest his feet and ask for water to drink after arriving at Xiaodao Village, and then go up the mountain to see Hong Fo.

  Two or three miles away from the mountain village, Zhang Zhongjian smiled and said: "The head of the village in front is called Chen Xiaodao. He is over 60 years old and can still drink two kilograms of rice wine in one breath. Last time we rested at his house."

  Li Xian was about to say how he was still colluding with the great horse thief, when suddenly his heart tightened and he subconsciously leaned back against the horse's back. A crossbow arrow shot past his chest, tearing open a hole in his shirt. Immediately after, a series of mechanical sounds were heard, as countless crossbow arrows rained down from the trees on both sides of the road, striking several of the Iron Lotus brothers off their horses!

  Zhang Zhongjian let out a loud shout, and the brothers of Tie Fotou immediately dispersed.

  "It's Sui soldiers!"

  Zhang Zhongjian pulled Li Xian's black horse into a dense forest on one side.

  Li Xian, although he had not experienced many battles, could also tell that the ambushers were absolutely not prairie people. Prairie people are good at riding and shooting but do not like to use crossbows, only the Great Sui soldiers are equipped with modified Wu Hou Lian Nu. Listening to the sound, the Sui soldiers ambushing in the dense forest were less than a hundred!

  Note 1: The real name of Red Buddha has never been found, and Zhang Wancheng is a pseudonym coined by the author.