The 4th Flying on the Grass
I have heard that Lu Sicheng is cunning and shrewd; how could he possibly send two useless individuals here? It would be wise for us to remain cautious. Losing our lives is a minor issue, but if we were to delay the master's important matters, I, Wu, would not be able to atone for my sins even if I were to die a thousand deaths. Steward Wang, it would be better for you to transport some supplies back first.
The Eagle Hall is the core secret of the Lu family, consistently under the control of the clan leader, Lu Sicheng. His primary focus is on intelligence gathering and analysis, a type of organization that exists within several prominent families.
"Hmph, if the general is afraid, perhaps he should let his son go for a turn." Seeing that Cao Shangfei was unwilling to let his son go into battle, Steward Wang coldly snorted and said, "Fei'er, you go for a turn and let the Lu family see the might of the Wang clan of Taiyuan." As soon as he finished speaking, a pale-faced young man emerged from behind, holding a golden spear that shimmered like gold, making him appear exceptionally valiant. Unable to suppress their admiration, onlookers couldn't help but silently cheer.
Do you want to annihilate these people in one fell swoop? A hint of mystery appeared at the corner of Lu Zhao's mouth
Why?" Lu Zhaoying's expression changed, and he asked in confusion.
Who do you see leading?" Cao Shangfei furrowed his brows slightly and asked in a calm tone
"Sir, what place is this? This is Qingfeng Mountain, located merely thirty li from the fortified city of Huoyi. Who is Caoshangfei? In the entire Hedong region, there is no one who does not know of this bandit; unfortunately, no one has ever discovered the location of Caoshangfei's lair. Although the officials and soldiers are searching everywhere, who would know that Caoshangfei is right here in Qingfeng Mountain? If it were not for my Lu family's Eagle Hall scouts discovering it by chance, we might never have known where Caoshangfei is. Such a person, if not a fool, is certainly a madman. Lu Zhaoci analyzed: 'Caoshangfei has been active in Hedong for several years, and even renowned generals such as Qututong and the Taiyuan garrison commander Li Yuan do not know his lair, which shows that this person is extraordinary. He has chosen this place for his hideout, employing a strategy known as "darkness under the lamp."' Such a person, if not a fool, is certainly a madman.
Father, you have roamed the eastern river for many years, why are you so timid today? I have followed my adoptive father in martial arts for many years and am already capable of defeating a hundred men. Those two young masters of the Lu family are merely dandy youths; I regard them as nothing more than pigs and dogs. Father, please wait a moment. Once I descend the mountain, I will take their heads.
This "Grass Flying" is indeed a formidable character. Lu Zhaozi glanced at the family private soldiers behind him. Although there were only five hundred of them, they were elite troops meticulously trained by the Lu family over a century, not inferior to the elite soldiers of the Sui dynasty. Not only were they well-equipped and highly combat-effective, but most importantly, they were utterly loyal to the Lu family
"Of course I thought about it, but how is this related to my younger brother's feigned defeat?" Lu Zhaoying asked, puzzled.
On Qingfeng Mountain, the henchmen had already reported to the mountain. Inside the grand hall, there sat a middle-aged man with a striking appearance, dressed in dark black armor, giving no impression of being a thief. Instead, he resembled a seasoned general who had long been on the battlefield. Beside him stood a young man, whose looks were reminiscent of Pan An, holding a silver spear in his right hand, further accentuating his elegance.
In our daily lives, we use bowls, plates, and other vessels to pour in vegetable oil, ignite the wick, and use it for lighting. During illumination, due to the obstruction from the lamp itself, dark areas are created beneath the light. Since these areas are very close to the light source, we often do not pay attention to these shadowed parts; this phenomenon is referred to as "darkness under the lamp." The grasshopper has its nest placed at hetushu.com, not far from Qingfeng Mountain, which is near Hedong and Huoyi, illustrating this principle.
"Perhaps they are mercenaries," Lu Zhaozi suddenly said. "Fourth brother, in this battle, defeat is permitted but victory is not allowed." Lu Zhaozi suddenly said.
Haha, the Lu family is indeed without capable leaders, unexpectedly sending two young men to lead the army. It is said that Lu Sicheng is determined to strengthen the Lu clan of Hedong, yet today he sends two youths to command, which is truly foolish. If Lu Changding were to come, we would still have to be somewhat cautious, but with these two young men here today, General, you can rest easy. Suddenly, a burst of hearty laughter echoed through the great hall. Everyone turned to see a plump middle-aged man, his face glistening as if he were a wealthy gentleman.
"What’s the matter? It’s just a pretty boy," Lu Zhaoying asked in confusion.
This is no ordinary bandit! Heh heh, their equipment is not at all inferior to that of my Lu family's private soldiers, and is far superior to that of the county troops. Among bandits, to have such a pretty boy general is quite remarkable!" Lu Zhaozi said with a cold laugh. At this moment, he had already determined that this group of bandits could not be judged by common sense. Behind them, there must be an unspeakable secret.
"They are two young boys." The scout quickly replied
"Elder brother, look, they are coming. I wonder if it is Caoshangfei." The drums were thundering on the mountain, and down below, Lu Zhaoying had long been impatiently waiting. Upon seeing Wang Fei riding in on horseback, a look of wild joy instantly appeared on his face, and he was just about to rush forward.
General Wu holds the Lu family of Hedong in too high regard. Steward Wang cast a glance at the youthful figure, who appeared unperturbed, and sneered: "If it were the Lu family of Fanyang, we would indeed need to be more cautious. However, Lu Sicheng is merely a collateral branch. If it were not for the sake of the old Lu patriarch from Fanyang, our lord would have long since expelled him and his associates from Hedong. How could they still maintain a foothold in Jiahubao? Hmph!"
"Fourth brother, is that where the grass flies down on Qingfeng Mountain?" Lu Zhao Ci asked淡淡. It has been two months since he arrived in this world. After reciting the family teachings in the Jinbiao Hall, his identity as the legitimate eldest grandson was officially recognized within the Lu family for the first time. The next day, the elder of the Lu family instructed him to report to the family’s private army commander, Lu Changding. Although he is the legitimate eldest grandson, he still needs strength if he wishes to lead the family’s private army in the future. Fortunately, although the owner of this body was a fool, heaven is always fair; after depriving him of one right, it compensated him with another advantage. The advantage of this body is its immense strength. Lu Zhao Ci inherited all of this and became immensely strong. In just two months, among a thousand private soldiers, no one could match him, including Lu Changding. A few days ago, hundreds of stones of grain transported from Hedong City by the Lu family were robbed by bandits on Qingfeng Mountain, and Lu Zhao Ci was ordered to retrieve these hundreds of stones of grain.
Cao Shangfei, upon hearing this, coldly snorted in his heart: "If it weren't for your suggestion, how could I have seized the grain from the Lu family? Now that trouble has arisen, I am expected to bear the consequences. Where in the world is there such a cheap deal? Lu Sicheng is in charge of the Lu family in Hedong, and has maintained a foothold in the prominent families of Guanzhong for nearly a hundred years; he is certainly not a simple character. The two young men before me, if not spoiled and disobedient to the Lu family's orders, are outstanding talents of the Lu family in Hedong. I have only one son; how could I let him take such risks?" With this thought in mind, he glanced at the people under the tent and commanded: "Who is willing to go on this errand?"
"This is excellent," Wang Fei exclaimed with great joy. Immediately, he ordered five hundred soldiers to charge down the mountain, while Cao Shangfei and others stood at the gate of the stockade, watching the battlefield below.
"Elder brother, why speak so lightly of the books? Can he really withstand my spear?" Lu Zhaoying said with wide-open eyes, expressing his dissatisfaction. In this era, the spear has become the primary weapon of generals, yet not many can wield it. This is because using a spear requires not only high skill but, more importantly, quality iron to forge a good spear, which necessitates substantial financial resources. Thus, only prominent families or wealthy individuals can afford to use a spear. It is for this reason that Lu Zhaoying possesses such confidence in defeating Cao Shangfei.
He struck his warhorse with his right hand, causing the horse to neigh loudly, its sound echoing through the mountains and rivers. With his spear held at an angle towards Qingfeng Mountain, he shouted, "Cao Shangfei, quickly return my provisions, otherwise, I will leave no chickens or dogs alive. Cao Shangfei, come out and fight me!" The five hundred private soldiers of the Lu family behind him also followed suit, shouting loudly.
Wait! Lu Zhao-ci furrowed his brows and quickly grabbed Lu Zhao-ying, saying: "Fourth brother, look."
"Elder brother, what does 'dark under the lamp' mean?" Lu Zhaoying asked curiously
"Hehe, big brother, he's just a thief; you are overestimating him! Watch me take his head with ease." Lu Zhaoying shook his head dismissively, clearly not agreeing with Lu Zhaoci's viewpoint
According to the news from the Eagle Hall, the lair of Cao Shangfei is right here. Elder brother, what should we do now? Lu Zhaoying's face was filled with excitement, and even the warhorse he was riding became restless.
Beneath the clear breeze of the mountain, flags fluttered, and a murderous aura filled the air. Under the shining sun, cold light radiated, and amidst the autumn wind, an added sense of solemnity prevailed. Hundreds of soldiers clad in black armor, with cold expressions and unfeeling eyes, focused their gaze on two young riders at the front of the procession, mounted on tall steeds. The one on the left held nothing in his hands, his demeanor serene, resembling a scholar who could not even harm a chicken. In contrast, the one on the right, with a robust physique akin to a tiger's back and a bear's waist, wielded a long spear, yet bore a youthful innocence, his leopard-like eyes glimmering with a hint of excitement. It was surprising that among the two, the scholar seemed to be the leader.
The guard? '' Lu Zhaoying opened his eyes wide like a leopard.
"Qingfeng Mountain is easy to defend but difficult to attack. The enemy's troops are well-trained and well-supplied, and their equipment is no less sophisticated than ours. If we force an attack, the casualties will be enormous. We can only hope to defeat them by luring them down the mountain," Lu Zhaozi explained slowly.
"Arrogance! Just because you have learned martial arts from your adoptive father for a few years, you regard all the heroes of the world as insignificant. Have you not considered that the Lu family has a legacy spanning nearly a thousand years, with countless talents? How could Lu Sicheng, who has established himself in Hedong, be an ordinary person? Sending two young men this time clearly indicates that they are not just any ordinary youths. Alas, if it were not for the urgent matters of the family head, I would not have dared to seize the Lu family's provisions, and now I have brought trouble upon myself." Caoshangfei's face was filled with regret. No one understood better than him that in this chaotic world, the aristocratic families are far more terrifying than the court. Alas, if it were not for the urgent matters of the family head, I would not have dared to seize the Lu family's provisions, and now I have brought trouble upon myself." Caoshangfei's face was filled with regret. No one understood better than him that in this chaotic world, the aristocratic families are far more terrifying than the court. Although he was brave and skilled, he was merely a vassal, and even the current fat steward, who was as plump as a pig, held a much higher status than he did, simply because he belonged to an aristocratic family.
Only a hint of mockery flashed in the eyes of the one flying over the grass, as he secretly scoffed: "It appears imposing, yet the foundation is weak, the eyes lack spirit, and there are signs of bruising. Clearly, this is a person consumed by lust, having long since drained their body, leaving only a good exterior. Among these scions of noble families, how many possess true skill? No wonder the lord's family can command Taiyuan. Very well, since you wish to go to your death, let you take this journey; it will also help weaken the influence of the eldest son. " He then nodded and said: "Since the young master is willing to go, I shall personally beat the drum to cheer for you."