Chapter 10: How can one be without integrity

Liu's gaunt face was framed by sharply arched eyebrows, and his eyes exuded an undeniable authority that could not be defied

Surrounded by a group of guards, Liu He, riding on a large black horse, turned his body to bid farewell to the closed-off Duan Wei and Jia Xu

Ding Kuang, I command you to swiftly proceed ahead to investigate. If you discover any situation, return immediately to report!

The next morning, the grand and towering Wuguan Gate slowly descended with the creaking sound of the winch, as a group of people emerged from within the gate

Duan Wei is a man of his word. Yesterday, at the banquet, he promised to lend Liu He one hundred soldiers. True to his word, early this morning, he ordered that these one hundred soldiers be brought to the place where Liu He resides

Before a person arrives, their voice has already reached

Jia Xu spoke with profound meaning

Liu pondered for a moment and then ordered Shi A and Ding Kuang: "Command your two senior brothers to traverse through the mountains and forests, ensuring they encircle this group of bandit thieves from behind, blocking their escape route!"

Although Liu Yu is in Youzhou, his reputation as a member of the imperial family and as the current Grand Tutor is something that cannot be overlooked by anyone

The sixteen men from Houfeng Village, I hereby command you that in the event of battle, you must not panic or shout, and you must not abandon the horses you are leading. Anyone who disobeys this order shall be dealt with according to military law

After the team emerged from Wuguan, they did not traverse a flat and open plain, but rather continued along the Dan River, navigating through mountainous and hilly terrain. It is estimated that they will need approximately three more days to exit the mountainous region and enter the Nanyang Commandery controlled by Yuan Shu

Duan Wei carefully recalled the situation when he met Liu He yesterday, suddenly remembering that the middle-aged man who had accompanied Liu He seemed to be absent today

Xianyu Yin expressed his concerns and said: "Young Master, leaving only twenty soldiers by your side, what will we do if we encounter any danger again? I believe it would be better for us to continue marching at a normal pace. Even if Master Wang and Zitai cannot ensure the safety of all the villagers, with their skills, they can still retreat unscathed."

Your Excellency, the Angel, it has been reported that ten miles ahead, our master and the villagers from Houfeng Village have been surrounded by a group of highway robbers. The situation is extremely dire now

For Duan Wei, who commands over 20,000 troops, a hundred soldiers are merely a "drop in the bucket"; however, for Liu, who has only Tian Chou and Xian Yu Yin as his two attendants, it is akin to a "timely rain".

Although Duan Wei only assigned a squad of infantry to Liu He, they were indeed regular troops, rather than the assorted auxiliary soldiers.

There are approximately sixty people

Jia Xu nodded with a smile

Okay, understood

Xianyu Yin's meaning and the thoughts on books are very clear, which is that Liu He’s life is precious. Even if there is no time to rescue the people of Fengzhuang afterwards, one must first ensure their own safety

Jia Xu pondered briefly and replied: "With a resolute gaze, composed demeanor, gentle disposition, and meticulous thoughts, he is not an ordinary person."

Duan Wei nodded and said with some approval: "This young man is quite different from when I saw him in Chang'an last year. He seems to have lost some of his timidity and hesitation, and gained a bit more confidence and determination. I wonder who has taught and guided him."

Shi A, I command you to oversee the battle. If we encounter any conflict later, anyone who shows cowardice or disobeys orders shall be executed without mercy

The people of Nanyang are well aware of the notorious brutality of the Xiliang army, which is why in the mountainous areas near Wuguan, where the Xiliang army is stationed, one rarely encounters any signs of human habitation

"Wen and brother, what do you think of this young man?" Duan Wei turned to ask Jia Xu beside him

After Liu He finished speaking, he elegantly turned the horse's head and, under the somewhat complicated gaze of Duan Wei, slowly rode off into the distance

Liu He felt a subtle discomfort upon hearing Xianyu Yin's words. He is a modern individual, lacking the experience of living in the rigidly stratified society of the Han Dynasty. Moreover, as someone who exists at the bottom of the social hierarchy, he possesses no awareness of a 'superior' mindset that values his own life as more precious than that of others

The heart trembled slightly at www.hetushu.com, and I roughly understood the meaning that Jia Xu wanted to convey

Liu now possesses twenty warhorses, one hundred infantry soldiers, and the protection of the formidable trio of Wang Yue and his disciples, finally feeling that his personal safety has gained a measure of assurance

Jia Xu listened to Duan Wei's words and silently thought: I hope you still have such an opportunity. I fear that this young man, after leaving Wuguan today, will return to the deep mountains like a tiger, heading straight for Youzhou.

Xianyu, the Commandant, I command you to immediately lead eighty infantry soldiers to hasten to the scene of the incident and capture this group of audacious thieves without exception! Remember, unless compelled by circumstances, strive to minimize unnecessary slaughter

During the Three Kingdoms period, the value of a regular soldier far exceeded that of five auxiliary soldiers. This is because regular soldiers must be seasoned veterans who have undergone rigorous training and battlefield testing, whereas auxiliary soldiers are merely conscripted from among the common people to serve as logistical support personnel for transporting supplies and provisions

Liu, along with his team, had been traversing the rugged mountain path for nearly half a day, yet he still had not seen the villagers taken away by Tianchou, nor had he encountered Wang Yue, who was responsible for communication. This stirred a sense of unease within him.

However, Liu and He also understood that Xianyu Yin was indeed considering his safety

What Brother Wen said is reasonable. When this young man returns from his mission, I will certainly be close to him. From now on, I will ensure that he receives more care in Chang'an at www.hetushucomcom.

Liu, with a stern expression, assigned tasks to everyone and then continued to move forward with his team

Xianyu, the Commandant, I hereby entrust these one hundred soldiers to your command. In the event of an emergency, you need not seek my approval; you may issue orders at your discretion

Wenhe, do you mean that someone beside Liu has already slipped out of the pass last night

As Liu and the others gradually moved further away, they naturally could not hear the conversation between Duan Wei and Jia Xu. At this moment, he was urging the soldiers to hurry along, eager to quickly reunite with the Tian Chou's team, which had exited the pass a day earlier.

I thank General Ning Ji for his hospitality, and wish the General victory in every battle and to command respect far and wide. I take my leave today!

"With heroes Wang Daxia and Tian Zitai present, how is it that they cannot deal with dozens of petty thieves?"

Although Xianyu Yin had a shoulder injury, it did not hinder him from commanding the one hundred soldiers sent by Duan Wei to march in formation. It was somewhat unreasonable to ask Xianyu Yin to serve as a personal bodyguard for Liu, as he had been a commanding officer of thousands in Youzhou, and leading troops in battle was his true calling

"To be able to leave our military camp with such ease and to scale such a high wall, it seems that there are indeed hidden talents around Liu!" Duan Wei said thoughtfully

"Can you see how many strong individuals there are in the cutting path?" Liu He asked with a calm expression.

About half an hour later, Ding Kuang returned anxiously riding Wang Yue's horse.

Indeed, something has gone wrong

I command you to immediately lead the team to rescue the villagers in distress, and you must not disobey!

Although Liu Bo'an is in Youzhou, he still places great importance on this son. I believe that Zhongming might as well befriend this young man; it is possible that a good relationship could be established, providing him with a way out in the future

Dong Zhuo is now only aware of luxury and indulgence, having long lost the ambition to dominate the world as he once did. His control over the generals and troops under him is increasingly weakening. Should an unexpected event occur, it is feared that the more than 200,000 troops stationed in Guanzhong would immediately plunge into chaos. At that time, if Duan Wei could gain the support of the Grand Tutor Liu Yu, it would naturally be very beneficial for consolidating his territory and power

The master and Lord Tian must protect the safety of the people, so they cannot take the risk of a decisive battle; both sides can only remain in a stalemate

Minghui, yesterday I made a promise in front of all the elders and fellow villagers of Houfengzhuang that I would safely take them to Nanyang and find them a place where they could live. My promise still echoes in my ears; how can I betray the people today for my own selfish interests

Ding Kuang rode a horse, and behind him he led the horse that Wang Yue had ridden yesterday. He quickly surpassed the large group and disappeared from sight

"Has Zhongming noticed that one person is missing from Liu He’s team today?" Jia Xu suddenly asked