Chapter 8: Military Equipment

  "Alas, how did this bandit come so suddenly? What can be done now?" He Zhonghou was so anxious that he kept turning around on the ground.

  "Sixth Grandfather, do you still want this leather gown?"

  "How can we not, this is fox fur." He Zonghou took it over and stuffed it into the wooden box. Suddenly he raised his head and saw a pair of vases on the table, and hastily said: "Shunzi, bring me those two vases."

  "Ah." Lu Shun responded with a sound, hastily stretched out his hands, one hand on each side, and held them in his arms.

  "Be careful, kiddo, this is a treasure from the Song Dynasty, don't drop it."

  Just then, Gu Zhenhua hurried in and saw He Zhonghou still packing things up. His brow furrowed: "Sixth Uncle, are you moving house?"

  "Isn't it?"

  "Of course not!" Gu Zhenhua hastily said: "We are fleeing for our lives, now Li Zicheng's army has arrived outside the city, it's possible that they're preparing to attack the city at this moment. Whether we can fight our way out of the city is still uncertain, how can we bring too many things?"

  "Ah..." He Zhonghou couldn't help but sigh: "The old man isn't ignorant, it's just that these old things have been used for many years and are now being thrown away like this, it's a bit of a waste."

  "You can't take it with you when you go!" Gu Zhenhua said bluntly: "Sixth Uncle, as long as we can get through this hurdle, everything will be fine. If we can't get through, not even our lives will be spared, what's the point of keeping these things?"

  Just as they were talking, a loud rumbling sound suddenly came from afar, like muffled thunder.

  "What's going on?" He Zhonghou asked in surprise.

  "Sixth Grandfather, I'm afraid it's Lu Bu attacking the city?" Lu Shun said with a changed expression.

  After a cannon shot outside the city, the sound was endless and continuous. The ground seemed to vibrate with the cannon fire, and people were like small boats, shaking and trembling.

  Xia Zi suddenly woke up, and hastily said: "Shunzi, stop struggling, we're an old man and a young boy, originally just a burden to others. Being able to keep our heads is better than anything!"

  Gu Zhenhua also said: "Sixth Uncle, it's best if you bring some important account books with you. After we leave the city, we'll have a clear idea of things."

  "Hmm." He Zhonghou, although still having a thread of loyalty towards Zhu Chuncan, couldn't help but think of himself at this point, and thus nodded without hesitation.

  He hastily sorted out the accounts, and outside was another urgent footsteps, it was Lu Yong who came.

  "Fourth brother, the Duke has given an order. All the guards and house servants in the mansion are to take up arms and prepare to defend the estate. You should go with them too."

  "Good." Gu Zhenhua said: "I just happen to lack a handy guy."

  "I want one too!" Lu Shun also said: "Second Uncle, get me a weapon too."

  "Kids like to join in on the excitement, honestly stay with Sixth Grandfather for now, and when it's time to make a move, just follow us."

  Lu Shun suddenly shook his head like a rattle drum and said loudly: "I'm not young anymore, I'll be 15 this New Year's, as a man, I shouldn't be a turtle hiding in its shell!"

  "Haha, good kid!" Gu Zhenhua laughed and said: "Second brother, since Shunzi has this intention, don't stop him. In the chaos of war, who cares if you give him a rifle? At critical moments, it can still save his life."

  As soon as Gu Zhenhua said this, Lu Shun excitedly grabbed his arm and smiled: "Fourth Uncle is still understanding."

  "Hmph, you little brat, don't just know how to be happy, when the time comes to struggle desperately, don't cry. " Lu Yong said and turned around to leave, Gu Zhenhua pulled Lu Shun, closely following behind.

  They turned into the backyard, where there were more than a dozen warehouses near the wall. At this time, a large group of people had gathered, all of whom were the mansion's guards and escorts waiting to receive their weapons.

  "Brother Yong, Brother Zhenhua, you're here too!" Ruan Hu, the big and tall black guy, was the first to run over. Just three days ago, Gu Zhenhua and the others had helped send Ruan Hu's mother out of the city. The old lady was out of danger, and Ruan Hu, this little brat, was deeply grateful to Gu Zhenhua.

  The other guards also smiled and greeted, in fact, a few days ago, some people still had doubts, thinking that Li Zicheng would not attack the capital, and it was unlikely to break through the city defense quickly. These lucky guys refused to relocate their families and did not believe Gu Zhenhua's warning.

  But now that things have really come to their doorstep, they are also afraid. The cannon fire outside the city is shaking the sky and earth, and their hearts are trembling with it.

  Gu Zhenhua smiled and walked into the crowd, when suddenly a big man rushed over and fell to his knees on the ground.

  "Lu brother, Gu brother, I, Tang Zong, was obstinate and did not listen to the advice of you two brothers. My whole family is still in the city. Now that the bandits have broken in, I fear we will all be finished. I only hope that you two brothers can think of a way to help us find a path to survival."

  As they spoke, Tang Zhanxiong kept kowtowing. He was not the only one; some guards who had not had time to move their families also rushed over, begging incessantly and treating Gu Zhenhua as a savior.

  Several dozen guards, plus family members, add up to over a hundred people. Wanting to safely take them out, Gu Zhenhua didn't have the confidence either. However, at this time, what was most needed was strength, he had to stake everything on one throw.

  "Tang brother, you get up first. As long as there's a glimmer of hope, I'll definitely do my best, everyone can rest assured." Gu Zhenhua gritted his teeth and reluctantly agreed.

  Tang Zhanxiong and others also showed a happy expression. Lu Yong, who was on the side, coughed and said: "Brothers, we are all old friends, I only have one request, that is to obey orders unconditionally, everyone must work together like a rope. If you want to take advantage of the situation, not only will you harm yourself, but also implicate others. Once such a bad thing happens, I will show no mercy!"

  "Don't worry, brother Lu, I guarantee we'll follow orders." Tang Zhanxiong patted his chest to assure him, and the others also nodded in agreement.

  Just then, several people rushed over in a flurry, led by Zhu Wang. He had just dealt with the property issue and was now ordered to organize the household servants to guard the mansion. Having received his master's attention, this guy was particularly inflated.

  "Brothers, a thousand days of nurturing soldiers are used in one moment. The Duke has treated us with great kindness like a mountain, and now is the time to repay him. Everyone must obey orders, or don't blame me for not showing mercy!"

  "Taking chicken feathers as arrows!" Yun Hu muttered in a low voice. Gu Zhenhua, on the other hand, looked calm and collected, not paying attention at all.

  Zhu Wang said a few words and felt very satisfied, then said: "Everyone listen up, now receive your weapons, each person gets one long and one short piece, choose between leather armor or cotton armor."

  The guards of the Imperial Palace usually only patrolled and were on duty in the capital, and did not need to be heavily armed. Now the situation is clearly different, and strengthening equipment has become a necessity. Zhu Wang personally took charge of distributing weapons, and soon everyone received their weapons, including Gu Zhenhua, who got a wooden sword and a quilted armor.

  But after getting it, Gu Zhenhua's eyebrows furrowed as he weighed it in his hand. The cotton armor was extremely light, and upon closer inspection, there were many worm-eaten holes on its surface. He then drew out the wooden sword, which had rust spots all over it, and several notches on the blade.

  "What?!" Gu Zhenhua was shocked at once, how can you fight with such a weapon?!

  Look at the others, their weapons are all like this too. The long spears have lost their tips, the treasured swords are broken in half, and the heavy armor, cotton armor, and leather armor are almost all damaged. Everyone's eyebrows are furrowed.

  Just as everyone was at a loss, a big black man suddenly appeared in front of Zhu Wang, three steps two steps away, and grabbed his chest with one hand.

  "Zhu Wang, do you want to kill Tiger Ye?"

  Zhu Wang was also shocked by the sudden attack, and he pretended to be calm, saying: "Luan Hu, do you want to rebel? Whatever I give you, use it. Where did all this nonsense come from?"

  "Nonsense! You're playing with my life, believe it or not, I'll twist your head off right now!" As he spoke, Huan Hu stretched out his hand to grab Zhu Wang's neck.

  Watching the two men wrestling together, Lu Yong walked over a few steps, pulled down Huan Hu, and frowned at Zhu Wang: "Zhu, let's not mention past things. What time is it now? You still dare to use these things to deceive people. Do you want to harm everyone?"

  This sentence hit the nail on the head, and all the guards present glared at him with anger in their eyes. Tang Zhanxiong and several others who were hot-tempered had already clenched their fists and surrounded him.

  Zhu Wang also felt afraid, but he still forced himself to say: "It's just these things, use them if you like, you have the ability to find a country..."

  He hadn't finished speaking when he felt a flash before his eyes, and a dagger was pressed against his neck. The icy blade had already pierced the skin, and it was Gu Zhenhua who had struck. A weapon is one's lifeblood; how could he possibly let him off?

  "Hmph! The prestigious Duke's Manor doesn't even have a decent weapon, what a joke. I'll count to three, if you don't bring it out, your head will be gone!"

  "You!"

  “1……”

  "Let go of me! I want to see Master Guo!"

  "2..." Gu Zhenhua counted with a expressionless face, while Zhu Wang's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

  "I'm telling you, I'm telling you." Zhu Wang said in a panic: "It's in the eighth room, those are the national duke's armor and weapons, all of them are the best things!"

  Gu Zhenhua put down his dagger and said loudly: "Everyone, don't be polite, let's take a look at the collection of the Duke!"

  "Good!" Everyone followed closely and rushed towards the warehouse.