Three Knights on Horseback Practicing Martial Arts Real Man

  "When the family teacher was entertaining guests, I stood beside him and served him and the guests. I heard a guest talking about General La and a woman named Hong Zhan, so I had some impression. Before my family teacher passed away, he told me to go to Chang'an to find General La." Su Ning lowered his head to speak, but as soon as he finished speaking, he raised his head, hoping that Li Jing wouldn't see through him. But unexpectedly, as soon as he raised his head, Li Jing's old face was only a few centimeters away from him, with two big hands tightly grasping his shoulders, and asked in a trembling voice: "What is the guest's name? What does he look like?"

  Su Ning's heart was greatly settled, although it hurt a bit, but it seemed that this was true. According to the description in the story of "The Three Heroes and Five Gallants", he said: "My master called him Zhang San, he is tall and strong, with a thick beard on his face, dark complexion, and very majestic!" Li Jing's hands grasped even tighter, and tears appeared in his eyes: "Where is he? Where is he? Tell me! Tell me! I want to go find him!"

  Zhang San is Zhang Zhongjian, Zhang Zhongjian is also known as Qiu Mao Ke, one of the three heroes of Feng Chen. He uses the alias "San", so some people call him Zhang San, for example, Lao Tou Er...

  Sunning was shocked, oh my god! What happened between Li Jing and Zhang San? Can make Li Jing forget that he is leading the army to fight? Between them, are they good brothers? The years of burning foundation? Isn't it said that Hong Piao Nu and Li Jing are a couple? Are Li Jing and Zhang San a couple? Is Hong Piao Nu the third party?

  Having been corrupted by education, Suning thought of such a vicious idea, but he couldn't help thinking that his shoulders were extremely painful and had to think of a way to get out as soon as possible, otherwise he would be pinched by Li Jing sooner or later!

  "He set sail, and the last time Master Zhang saw him was six years ago. Six years ago, Master Zhang said he wanted to go out to sea to find a land of happiness, and if he couldn't find it, he wouldn't return to his hometown in this life. When Master heard this, he was very sad, and said that he had lost another good friend. Then he took his son and started traveling around the world until he passed away." Suning was no longer afraid, her face wasn't red anymore, she just kept talking!

  Li Jing's eyes glazed over as soon as he heard, releasing his tight grip on Su Ning's shoulder. He seemed lost in thought, unaware of what was happening around him. Su Ning took a few steps back, wincing in pain, and rubbed her sore shoulder to ease the ache. She looked at Li Jing again, and couldn't help but think that the saddest thing wasn't men fighting over women, but rather women fighting over men...

  But I'd rather think of it this way and say something else: "General, why is this so?"

  Li Jing's lifeless eyes closed, and after a long while, they opened again, regaining their luster. However, this was followed by a deep sigh. Alas! Why, why didn't he want to show himself even once? Many years had passed, and both I and Hong Chui were already in our twilight years. If we don't meet now, we'll have no chance in this lifetime, alas! Another sigh escaped Li Jing's lips as he slowly spoke: "Sanming, you don't understand, but since you know about my brother, it's all right."

  Li Jing thought to himself, the matter of Qiu Mao Ke was something that even his best friend didn't know about, except for his wife; he didn't recognize this child and hadn't heard Hong Dou mention anything either. Since this child knew, then there's no need to suspect his identity.

  Okay, Suning is not good at this way. Although he has been unlucky for over a decade, his luck with women has not been bad. Suning likes the ways of men and women and understands them deeply. However, he strongly dislikes and despises same-sex relationships, whether between men or women. Therefore, he cannot comprehend the world of Brokeback Mountain and cannot understand this pair that is overflowing with gay emotions.

  Although Li Jing has acknowledged his identity, he can only say: "This emotional debt, I naturally don't understand, but since Zhang San didn't come to see General Li, it must be that he has his own thoughts. I'm dull and can't know why, but perhaps you also have your own difficulties. I think, some things, don't need to be too persistent, the more you pursue them, the less they will appear, and when you don't pursue them, they will appear on their own."

  Li Jing looked at Su Ning, slightly surprised in his heart. He thought that anyone who could be friends with his brothers must be a master of martial arts. If so, then Su Ning's abilities should not be underestimated. His master had called him to come and surrender to the old man, which meant he must have some skills. If so, it would be fine to give him a try.

  Su Ning didn't know what he was about to face, he just thought he had gotten away with these things and from now on he wouldn't have to worry about food and drink, so he felt extremely fortunate; but as the saying goes, there's no such thing as a free lunch, this not only applies to modern times, but also to any era.

  So...

  "Sanming, since your master is friends with my brother, I suppose you must have some skills. Otherwise, how could you have entered his eyes? Is that right?" Li Jing's seemingly casual question made Su Ning's heart skip a beat, and he secretly sighed that Li Jing was indeed not easy to fool. This time, there would be trouble! If he showed any weakness now, Li Jing might get angry and drag him out to kill him, which would be a light punishment! The bond between men could not be underestimated! To save his own life, Su Ning could only reply: "My master's skills are great, I am far from reaching them."

  The old man's skills are indeed not small, otherwise Su Ning would not have given up his studies to follow him. Although he has studied for many years, but as I guessed, did I learn even a tenth of it? Old man, what kind of person are you...

  Li Jing smiled: "No need to be humble, since you can get my brother's attention, you must not be incompetent. Otherwise, why did your master entrust you to come to me before he passed away? Hehe, no need to be humble. If you really have skills, I will naturally support you. Now that the borders of our great Tang Dynasty are filled with tigers and wolves, it is precisely the time when we need talented people. As the saying goes, 'to promote the virtuous without regard for relationship', you don't need to have any other thoughts."

  Damn it! I, an old demon who has lived for almost sixty years, can't be fooled around with! It seems that if I don't bring out some real skills, I won't be able to fool anyone anymore! Alright! Let me use my true abilities! Summoning technique! "The Heroes of Sui and Tang"!

  At this time, what was Li Jing going to do? Alas, the Romance of Sui and Tang doesn't seem to be that complete! What's to be done?! Ah, I remember after Old Man told the story of Romance of Sui and Tang, he also talked about some other stories of the great Tang conquests. The fourth year of Zhenguan... why does it feel a bit familiar? It seems like...

  "Sanming, how old are you this year?" Li Jing asked. Su Ning was taken aback, how old was she? Twenty-two? Of course not, that would make her look like a middle school student. So, hmm! She decided to say: "Hmm, I'm fourteen this year."

  Li Jing nodded: "Fourteen, still a bit young, but also half a man, considered middle-aged. Sanming, do you know what's happening in the Great Tang Dynasty right now?" Li Jing thought to himself that he would first give him a general idea of the situation and then see if he had any talent. If he did, he would reuse him; if not, it would be a different story. Looking at his slender build, he didn't seem like a brave warrior either, and being a soldier wouldn't be easy for him!

  Su Ning just needed this to determine what was going on, and with great joy, he hastily asked: "Little one, I don't know."

  Li Jing nodded and said: "In the second year of Zhenguan, the Turkic Khan Ashina Helu led his army to attack our Great Tang, all the way to forty miles north of Chang'an, the capital was shaken, it was the greatest crisis since the founding of our Great Tang. However, at that time, the domestic situation in the Great Tang was unstable, and the country was in a precarious state, it was an autumn of survival. Your Majesty implemented the Empty City Strategy, led six riders to the banks of the Wei River to form an alliance with Ashina Helu, emptied the treasury of Chang'an Prefecture, and painfully handed over 30,000 Han people as slaves to him, only then did we alleviate the crisis, it was truly shameful!"

  Li Jing's hair stood on end, his furious appearance, the murderous aura accumulated all over his body for decades was suddenly released, making Su Ning feel like he had fallen into an ice cave. After a long time, Li Jing withdrew his momentum, and Su Ning slowly came back to himself, his back covered in cold sweat. The power of one's anger was indeed formidable!

  Li Jing thought that this young man was quite bold, able to withstand his killing aura at such a close distance. It seemed he wasn't an ordinary person! Of course, Li Jing didn't know of a term called "dumb luck"...

  "This is the shame of our great Tang, and also the shame of us Han people! It's a great humiliation! So the whole Tang Dynasty is united in one mind, just to wipe out this shame! And now is the best time! I, Li Jing, lead these three thousand elite cavalrymen, come here just to wipe out this shame!"

  Su Ning was suddenly shocked and suddenly enlightened, it turned out to be this way! Right! Sneak attack on Dingxiang! This is the Battle of Dingxiang! Li Jing captured Yang Zhengdao, the puppet emperor set up by the Turks! He drove away Qibi Khan and later joined forces with Li Ji's elite soldiers, launching a surprise night attack on Yinshan with an army of 10,000, thoroughly defeating the Turkic army, capturing tens of thousands of people and livestock, and annihilating them! Qibi Khan was later captured, and the prosperous era of Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan officially began!

  "If the young master has not made a mistake, General, is this trip to launch a surprise attack on the location of the Turkic Ashina Helu Khan's headquarters in Dingxiang?"

  Li Jing's eyes widened in shock, his mind greatly shaken. How did this young man guess the purpose of his visit so easily? Li Jing asked incredulously: "How did you know what I came for?"

  Su Ning smiled and said, "War is a treacherous way. Firstly, General La leads the iron cavalry to come here, encountering Xiaozi, being so cautious and careful, not daring to advance, and also because this place is thousands of miles away from human habitation, thinking that they must be coming to launch a surprise attack, and don't know what's ahead, so they are being cautious. Secondly, not far from here is the location of the tent of Yeli Khan, where the Turkic people set up their puppet Yang Zhengdao, the remnant of the Sui dynasty. Therefore, General La must have come to launch a surprise attack on Dingxiang!"

  Li Jing took a deep breath and suppressed the shock in his heart, asking: "Do you understand military strategy? Do you know this location?"

  Suning said, "I only understand a bit of military strategy, and as for the location, I'm not very clear. I just followed my master, and before he passed away, he told me that the Turkic Khan's tent is nearby. He instructed me to head south to Chang'an to find General." The old man didn't teach him military strategy, and he himself admitted that he didn't understand military affairs, but Suning still liked to listen to lectures and read books.

  Li Jing's face was calm, and he stroked his long beard: "Are you willing to follow me to make achievements for the great Tang Dynasty? If so, after this battle, I can recommend some positions for you. How about it? As a man, you should make achievements for the great Tang Dynasty!"

  Su Ning was overjoyed in his heart, and just as he was worried about where to eat, a place to eat immediately appeared! Great! Although this battle was a bit dangerous, Li Jing had won, and in this battle, Li Jing was the protagonist. Under the protagonist's halo, as long as he followed closely, enjoying the protagonist's halo, there shouldn't be any danger. So Su Ning immediately nodded: "I am willing to make contributions for the great Tang!"

  Su Ning was overjoyed in his heart, but he didn't know that Li Jing was also delighted. This young man was so clever and had learned the art of war from a great master. If he could be trained by him, he would surely become a valuable asset. However, whether he could become a great general of the Tang Dynasty still needed to be tested, as it required many qualities. Although this child was well-versed in the art of war and clever, if he didn't have a strong will, it would also be difficult for him to succeed. Therefore, Li Jing decided to use this battle to test Su Ning and see if he had the qualifications worth cultivating!

  "Then come with me! Someone, bring out a military horse! Sanming, mount up, let's set off immediately!"

  Just as Su Ning was about to respond, she suddenly remembered something very important...

  "Uh, General, I... can't ride a horse..." Su Ning felt a bit embarrassed. As a farmer from Hebei province, although he had learned many things from the old man, riding a horse was not one of them. This hardware skill was something Su Ning really didn't possess. And he had never been to Inner Mongolia, where would he have ridden a horse? Oh wait! In elementary school, during an autumn outing, he did ride a horse for a few minutes, but as soon as the horse started running, it scared him so much that he almost fell off. He had a severe case of acrophobia!

  Li Jing was taken aback, then asked: "On the vast grassland, you and your master, why didn't you ride horses? Ah, where is your horse? Don't tell me that you and your master walked here!" Su Ning's face turned red as he stammered: "Uh, General Li, I really can't ride a horse, but my master could. So I always sat on the horse with my master... But then we encountered a big snowstorm, and my master passed away during that time... And the horse, because it was hungry, ate..." Su Ning's voice trailed off...

  This isn't all nonsense, the old man somehow had a special fondness for horse meat and would even sneak into rich people's private stables to steal it. Good grief, that wasn't just stealing horse meat, that was stealing horses! Because of this, Suning had once suspected that the old man was actually some kind of expert, how else could he be so familiar with what made a good horse and what made a bad one? Of course, his main focus was on whether the horse meat was edible or not.

  Li Jing pointed at Su Ning with some anger, his hand trembling slightly. After a long while, he put it down and said helplessly: "Why don't you learn to ride a horse? A Tang Dynasty man who can't ride a horse is a laughing stock! Don't tell me you also don't know martial arts!" Su Ning was taken aback, lowering his head and saying: "I really don't know martial arts..."

  Dongxuanzi's Thirty-six Scatter Hands and the Su Nu Jing's Ninety-nine Postures are quite proficient, old man is a lecher, these aspects are quite skilled, men are all like this, Suning is no exception, dare not say otherwise, Taoist techniques are absolutely learned to perfection... However, such martial arts can only be used on the bed at midnight...

  The Tang Dynasty was indeed different from other dynasties, with a strong martial spirit prevailing. Only those who could ride horses and wield martial arts were considered real men, even scholars often carried a sword to roam the world, this is the unique memory of the Tang Dynasty.