Chapter 1: Conscription
Upon thinking of the battlefield, Yang Gang felt a surge of heroism in his heart and said: "Rest assured, Zhen'er, when your elder brother Yang returns from battle, I will definitely come to marry you in a grand manner!"
Li Hong's eyes sparkled with intense fervor as he stepped forward and said, "Yang Gang, the conscription has begun! You have finally endured until the end!"
In the fields, the rice seedlings are withered and yellow, the ground is filled with cracks, and only the weeds remain green.
The neighing of horses is heard, accompanied by the thunderous sound of hooves
Li Zhen gazed at Yang Jiang's tall and majestic figure as he walked away under the blazing sun, unable to hold back any longer, allowing tears to flow freely down his face
With a wife like this, what more could a husband desire
Yang Jiang looked up to the sky and sighed deeply, his eyes radiating determination. He glanced at the thatched cottage behind him and resolutely declared: "I will repeat the glory of the Yang family with the long spear of my ancestors"
Without waiting for the momentum of the spear to settle, Yang Jiang suddenly lowered his shoulders and shook his wrists, transforming his long spear into ten. It was as if a dragon soared through the nine heavens, instantly unleashing thousands of spear shadows.
A faint sound arose on the sycamore leaves, resembling the gentle patter of light rain
Yang Jiang quickly stepped forward
It turns out that this Li Hong is the man who previously laughed at the notice in Lutucheng, and he was a childhood companion of Yang Jiang. As for Yang Jiang, he is a descendant of the founding general Yang Dingguo. Unfortunately, due to treachery and deceit prevailing, the Yang family has declined, leaving only Yang Jiang.
Yang Jiang initially intended to say something, but suddenly felt a pang in his heart. He abruptly pulled Li Zhen into his embrace once more, not allowing her to see his vulnerable side
A person on a horse swiftly passed through the city gate and galloped into the stone street within the city. Upon seeing countless pedestrians blocking the way, the official on the horse quickly called out a warning.
The only thing that can evoke a slight sense of anger is a giant parasol tree located beneath the bare hills at the edge of the fields. Its branches and leaves extend to cover a radius of approximately 4 zhang, and even in this extreme drought, it cannot be restrained from exhibiting its powerful and vigorous vitality
If it were not for my elder brother managing the seedlings in the fields for me, Yang Gang would probably have starved to death in this place!
Unbeknownst to when, the myriad shadows of gunfire had already dissipated. Yang Gang showcased his determination to his most revered "Elder Brother" with the long spear in his hand. With intentions clear, there was no need for further words. Yang Gang split the mysterious iron spear into two, shouldered them behind him, then released his grip on Li Hong's hand, and thus, he strode out with pride.
"The dragon emerges from the gorge," "piercing through the clouds to see the sun," "swift as the wind and lightning," "sweeping across a thousand troops"... Yang Gang continued to unleash his might, the force of his spear growing ever fiercer, akin to the relentless flow of the Yangtze River, without beginning or end
Yang Jiang was overwhelmed with mixed feelings and said: "I, Yang Jiang, have never wished to be a recipient of others' kindness, yet I have received too much grace from you siblings. For over twenty years, although I have never spoken of it, I have always regarded you as my elder brother"
In the vast desert, a yellow dragon suddenly appeared, heading straight for Lutu City, moving with astonishing speed, and in the blink of an eye, it was close at hand
Yes
Yang Jia, remember to visit my sister, she is still waiting for you
The conscription has begun! The conscription has begun!
At this moment, Yang Jiang was concentrating and gathering his energy, wielding his long spear and conjuring a myriad of spear shadows in the air
The person who spoke just now, upon witnessing Yang Jiang's remarkable marksmanship, despite having urgent matters on his mind, could not help but be captivated by Yang Jiang's skill and presence. He stood there speechless, entranced by this extraordinary display of marksmanship.
At the age of 22, having achieved nothing, Yang Gang truly feels ashamed before the ancestors of the Yang family
Zhen'er, I have wronged you!
Brother Yang
Yang Jiang was taken aback, his expression changing several times in an instant, and his heart was filled with both joy and worry.
Hiss! ... ... ''
The swift horse arrived at the street, and the official suddenly reined in the horse, leaping down. He did not even bother to tie the horse, rushing to the government notice board, quickly taking out a notice from his bosom and hastily affixing it to the board.
Despite the myriad of tender feelings that could not be relinquished, Yang Jiang ultimately gritted his teeth and turned away.
The spear was entirely black, glimmering with a cold light, resembling a slumbering beast
Good! Good!
Take care, Zhen Er
An excited voice rang out across the fields, echoing far and wide
Yang Jiang did not turn back, braving the scorching sun as he walked forward, and said loudly: "Elder brother, rest assured, how could Yang Jiang ever forget for a moment the kindness of my real sister in gifting shoes and sewing clothes!"
Seeing the officials in such a hurry, the common people understood that the content of the announcement was of great importance, and they quickly swarmed from all directions to surround the officials.
Li Hong felt a bit at a loss. Although he was always one year older than Yang Jiang, the two had always addressed each other by their names. He did not understand why Yang Jiang suddenly called him "big brother"
As the swift horse galloped over, the common people and merchants hurried to evade, while grains and goods were scattered all over the ground
At this moment, Yang Jiang is already like a dart flying away, but if there is anyone who can hold him for a moment, it would only be Li Zhen.
This silver spear, with its thrusts and withdrawals, in its weighty moments resembles the collapse of Mount Tai; in its delicate moments, it is akin to the fluttering of pear blossoms. However, regardless of how the spear's momentum changes, within this spear technique there exists an inherent flavor of the fierce battlefield, emanating a sense of unyielding dominance.
Li Zhen's fair face flushed with a hint of red, and she slightly tilted her head back, her eyes filled with happiness, softly responding. For this promise, she had waited for four years. From the age of fourteen, when her feelings first blossomed, to now at eighteen, her heart has only held the image of a man who stands as straight as a spear.
Even as a mere observer, one cannot help but be moved by the imposing aura of the gunfire, feeling a surge of passionate blood, as if one were amidst a sea of thousands of troops.
The two siblings hurriedly squeezed through the crowd. The elder brother, filled with excitement, laughed and said: "Sister, let’s quickly go back and tell Yang Qiang; he has been waiting for this for over ten years!"
Take care, brother
The sound fluctuates between urgency and calmness, heaviness and lightness, resembling a clear spring that pierces through the oppressive heat of summer
The sound of "chih chih..." echoed incessantly, as the force of the gun seemed almost tangible, shooting towards the sycamore leaves above like a fierce wind and torrential rain, leaving countless small holes pierced by the gunfire.
Alright! However, I would like to buy a few pieces of clothing for Brother Yang to take back first
The sky is cloudless, and the blazing sun is at its zenith
The dragon's head of the Yellow Dragon was unexpectedly a person and a horse from https://www.hetushu.com, with an official on horseback fiercely whipping the strong steed beneath him
It is as if he is a long spear that dominates the world
As usual, Li Zhen was dressed in a light green floral dress, her long hair, as dark as ebony, was casually tied in a bundle and fell loosely behind her. She carried a white cloth bundle over her shoulder, yet her delicate face was hidden beneath two sycamore leaves, barely shielding her from the scorching sun
Only because this giant parasol tree has taken deep root
Yang Jiang sincerely said, tightly holding Li Zhen's small hand, his mood gradually calmed down
Yang Jiang stood firm with his gun, his body as straight as the long spear in his hand. At this moment, his clothes were drenched in sweat, yet his resolute and rugged face maintained a cold demeanor. Even though he wore ordinary coarse linen garments, it could not conceal his fierce aura.
Elder brother
Yang Jiang repeatedly expressed his admiration, yet there was no trace of joy on his face. He handed his silver spear to Li Hong and said, "Brother, this spear is the only thing I can give you. You can take it and sell it later; it should fetch a few taels of silver."
Conscription has begun! Yang Gang, conscription has begun...
He knew that Li Zhen would definitely be waiting for him at the intersection, because she truly understood Yang Jiang.
Brother Yang, you go ahead, Zhen'er knows how to take care of herself
The panic brought about by war and conscription quickly spread like a plague, plunging the entire city of Lutu into a state of chaos
Yang Jiang suddenly leaped into the air, soaring a full meter above the ground, and with all his strength, he thrust his spear forward. The long spear pierced through the air like a fierce dragon emerging from a gorge, producing a series of dragon roars.
However, among the crowd reading the notice, there was a pair of siblings who appeared joyful, as if the war or conscription was precisely what they had long anticipated
Yang Jiang did not go to the home of the Li siblings, Li Hong and Li Zhen, but instead headed directly towards Lutucheng.
As if drawn by the ethereal spirit of the mountains and fields, her delicate and enchanting figure is indeed so endearing
With just this one shot, his determination and spirit were fully encapsulated within it
Li Zhen had already heard Yang Qiang's footsteps. No longer able to care about the scorching sun, she brushed aside the sycamore leaves that were shielding her head and joyfully leaped into Yang Qiang's embrace
Clearly, this is a set of combat marksmanship techniques.
Yang Jiang felt a surge of emotion. Although Li Zhen was aware of the dangers of the battlefield and the likelihood of death, she never uttered a single word to dissuade him from beginning to end, simply because she understood Yang Jiang's ideals and aspirations deeply
Indeed, at the exit of the valley, Yang Jiang saw that familiar figure
Li Hong looked at Yang Jiang's straight back and felt an indescribable emotion in his heart. In his eyes, Yang Jiang was a hero on the battlefield, a born general. Therefore, he felt that Yang Jiang did not belong here
The seven-foot flower spear, known as the thief of a hundred weapons, is said to be agile and swift, appearing and disappearing like a ghost, making it difficult for others to defend against. However, when this flower spear dances in the hands of this individual, it exudes the regal aura of a ten-foot spear.
The myriad shadows of gunfire vanished without a trace, as the dragon-like spear swiftly retracted behind Yang Gang's back
In an instant, the crowd was abuzz with discussion, while the official had already galloped away, leaving no trace behind
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Pedestrians in the city paused one after another, gazing at the galloping horse approaching swiftly, all engulfed in a state of panic and doubt regarding the conscription.
Yang Jiang gently held the woman in his arms, remaining motionless, allowing the sun to pass overhead, leaving the final moment of tranquility here
The hooves galloped, scattering the scorching yellow sand in all directions across the vast desert
Yang Jiang possesses an innate courage; despite the decline of his family's fortunes, he diligently practices martial arts every day, awaiting the day when he can be valued by the court and restore the former glory of the Yang family.
Yang Jiang gently embraced the woman in his arms, feeling a deep sense of emotion. At the age of twenty-two, he was unable to serve the court and demonstrate loyalty to his country; he could not establish a family or bring honor to his family name. Even the woman in his arms, he could not provide her with a single day of happiness, and instead, he often had to rely on her siblings for care and support. Fortunately, Yang Jiang felt that all these hardships and confusions would soon leave him. He was filled with confidence, for the Yang family had always been strong warriors on the battlefield, as formidable as the dark iron spear behind him, fierce as lions and tigers, and unstoppable like a bamboo being split.
Has conscription begun
Suddenly, Li Zhen slowly left Yang Jiang's embrace, hanging the bundle on Yang Jiang's shoulder. With her clear and beautiful eyes gazing at Yang Jiang, she said affectionately: "Brother Yang, take care on your journey. Zhen'er will be waiting for your return"
Yang Jiang sighed, a look of sorrow appearing on his face, and then turned his gaze towards the person who had just spoken, saying: "Li Hong, what did you just say? I was fully focused on practicing my spear and did not pay attention."
What brings joy is that we can finally display our prowess on the battlefield, and there is hope for the revival of the Yang family; yet what causes concern is the rampant treachery within the court, where the wise are not appointed and counsel is not heeded. Otherwise, how would the barbarian outsiders dare to grasp the tiger's whiskers
No need, from now on, Yang Jiang is qualified to use the family heirloom black iron spear
Li Zhen smiled and said, gently pulling out her small hand to carefully tidy up Yang Qiang's clothing
Oh! ... ...
Oh! ... ...
The official first took out a sheepskin bag and gulped down a mouthful of water, then gasped for breath and shouted: "Along the coastal area, a large number of barbarians have suddenly invaded. The Ministry of War has ordered conscription, with each person receiving a stipend of ten taels of silver! Conscription starts today; those who wish to enlist should report to the government office!"
In the first year of Guangwu, in the month of July
The world is suffering from a great drought, famine is widespread, and bandits are rising in numbers
Having spoken, Yang Gang placed the silver spear into Li Hong's hands, then turned and returned to the thatched cottage. When he emerged again, he was holding a spear that measured twelve feet in length.
She originally had a thousand words to say, but at this moment, she did not want to say anything; she only wished to indulge for a moment in the solid chest of Yang Qiang.
Sand ... ... sand ... ... sand ... ...
However, this sound is neither the sound of rain nor the sound of wind; it is the sound of bullets piercing through the air and striking the leaves
As the time of parting approached, Li Hong felt a lump in his throat. He pushed the gun in his hand and choked out, "Yang Gang... with you calling me 'big brother,' I have not made a mistake in having you as my brother! However, this gun... you should use it yourself!"
Step aside! Quickly step aside!