Chapter 6: The Brave Soldier

But he cannot block it, for the Zhao brothers are the masters, while the little Ma Mulek is merely a slave soldier

Zhao Fubo also stood up with Xiao Ma Mulu, who obediently returned to Wei Zhen's side. However, before leaving, four words quietly floated over from his direction

"San Niang, Er Lang's skills are lacking, and he could only manage a draw with him. I ask San Niang to impose a severe punishment!"

It is indeed my own lack of ability that has implicated Shu Yuer, causing him great discomfort

Unfortunately, he cannot speak at this moment, as his own son currently has the advantage. If he were to speak up now, others would discern his intentions.

As Shu Yuer said, such a banquet naturally has nothing to do with him. It is more appropriate to return to his own small garden, tidy up the neglected space, and continue practicing his marksmanship, which is the serious matter at hand.

This was during the busy time of setting up the food and drinks when Shu Yuer quietly found a way to vent her frustrations at Zhao Fubo. However, the subsequent words made Zhao Fubo feel a warm and deeply appreciated sensation in his heart

Wei Zhen need not be mentioned further; he has always preferred those with superior martial skills, particularly Er Lang. However, Hasan, due to frequent business dealings with me, has developed the best relationship among the various estate owners.

When he returned to his nearly desolate garden, several young servants were already stationed at the entrance of the garden

Indeed, upon receiving Hassan's pleading gaze, he stopped fiddling with the tips of his beard and turned to bow respectfully to San Niang

Remember to ask Wei Zhuang for that little soldier, he is quite useful

At this moment, a group of family members entered through the newly opened door, carrying tables and holding chairs. Behind them, a large number of maids and servants brought in large platters of delicacies from land and sea

Calm and silent, this gave Zhao Fubo a sense of pressure that was both vague and palpable

In a casual manner, he easily outperformed Erlang and even arranged an event for Dalang, which brought Zhao Wuji a sense of secret delight. Especially the words from the third lady further made him realize that he would need to express his gratitude to Hassan in the future

Amidst the calls of the young girls and maids, Shu Yuer had no choice but to leave, carried away by a waft of fragrance. Before departing, however, she threw a remark at Zhao Fubo.

It is astonishing that his Mandarin is spoken with such precision and clarity. Moreover, it is evident that he has been a military person for quite some time, as he speaks with complete composure and measured tone.

Perhaps it is better not to have any expectations

If it were not for the sight of a horse coming in response to the sound, his affectionate voice would indeed lead one to suspect that he was calling for his brother

Whether it was Zhao Wuji or any other landlord, they all immediately fell silent, watching San Niang with eager eyes

This is once again the annual banquet to reward several estate owners. Zhao Fubo, who has never won a prize, naturally has no opportunity to sit there

The one who spoke was Zhao Wuji. Seeing that his carefully arranged plans were about to be overturned by the words of this little slave soldier, how could he not be filled with anger and humiliation

"How bold! A mere mamluk (meaning slave) dares to speak to San Niang. Take him down and behead him!"

It is entirely your own fault for lacking ability, and you have also dragged others down with you

Moreover, setting aside Wei Zhen's feelings of regret for his little horse Muliuke, it is indeed a great pity if the strongest contender in the training ground were to fall at the hands of Zhao Fubo

Taking advantage of others' inattention, he quietly whispered something behind the back of the little horse Mamluk

You return to your own yard, and I will have someone bring you some delicious food. Don't rush to eat it all by yourself; remember to save some for me!

In his green eyes, a calm light still radiated. It seemed as if there was no attachment whatsoever to a life that could be lost at any moment

Hello... Hello... Don't be greedy, or Shuyu will be angry after you finish eating

With thoughts of humorous anecdotes from books in mind, I had already slipped out the door.

He knelt down beside Erlang Zhao Fubo and spoke the first words he had uttered since arriving here today

Just as Zhao Fubo was about to catch up and say a few more words to that young Mamluk, a quiet remark suddenly came through.

The warriors in the household, who were often favored by Zhao Wuji, naturally responded promptly to his anger and reprimands

The ... ... ''

With a sense of admiration, Zhao Fubo made the following choice

Shu Yuer's father, Master Shu, is akin to Guan Yu of the Three Kingdoms.

At this moment, Zhao Fubo placed his long spear beside him and knelt on one knee to pay his respects to San Niang.

Er Lang, you may as well get up; today's competition is hereby concluded

Your marksmanship is quite good

At this moment, Shu Yuer, as the most favored Yu'er girl by San Niang, naturally could not be absent from any matters.

At this moment, almost everyone focused their attention on San Niang, eager to see how she would adjudicate this matter

They knew that there was no need to wait for any rewards from Zhao Fubo; he himself wore the same tight leather armor all year round and could not even afford to wear proper clothes, so what could he possibly bestow as a reward

San Niang promptly tapped her dragon-headed cane twice, and the cold glint in her eyes suppressed the movements of the warriors in the household

This large and spacious courtyard was originally the place where Zhao Fubo's father cultivated horse breeds before establishing Jifeng Manor. Now that Jifeng Manor exists, there will naturally no longer be any fodder or stables here

After all, this elderly lady holds the highest status in the household, and anyone who shows her disrespect will be met with a united front of opposition from the other family members

Regardless of whether it is Da Lang or Er Lang, it is evident from this competition that they have been putting in their utmost effort in learning and practicing recently. I have funded Da Lang to select some maidservants and attendants for himself. As for Er Lang, although he may not be as talented, he should not be without any reward.

Indeed, in this competition, Da Lang has greatly outperformed Tu Shu, and it is appropriate to reward him well. Da Lang, you should accompany Master Hasan to his estate to take care of yourself

When it comes to "being with you," it seems that many people feel somewhat uneasy. They quietly reach out with a small hand and give a hard twist on the rough and tough body of Zhao Fubo.

Hearing Shuyu Er's remark, Zhao Fubo found it rather amusing in his heart

The disheveled little Mamluk struggled to wield his long sword, laboriously fending off the scattered points of the guns before him

Master Shu, because Erlang has no parents, I have always sent Yu'er to supervise his studies. It seems that he cannot surpass his brother in learning, which is probably in his nature. However, since Yu'er has not done a good job in supervision, there must be a penalty. I think we should do it this way: let Yu'er buy someone to serve him, even if just as a companion

This time, his words received no response. Xiao Ma Muluk, bearing the injury on his waist, silently returned to Wei Zhen's side

However, human calculations are no match for the heavens. Just as San Niang announced the results of this competition, the previously silent little horse, Mulu Ke, suddenly stepped forward a few paces

Having at least memorized "The Art of War" and practiced with this rarely used large gun, Zhao Fubo has subtly become a growing threat in his heart

In a state of urgency, his gaze darted among several landlords and others, hoping someone would step forward to speak on his behalf

Zhao Fubo, kneeling on the ground, seemed to have not understood any of the discussions behind him. Instead, he was secretly glancing at the nearby Mamluk, who was slightly taller than himself.

Zhao Wuji was certainly pleased in his heart, as his son maintained a leading position in both literary and martial skills during this competition. However, he did not intend to miss the opportunity to deal with Zhao Fubo.

Perhaps Shu Yuer no longer remembers his words, and it is likely that Zhao Fubo has long been completely forgotten by the people in Liuyuan.

While speaking, he turned his gaze towards Master Shu.

He was able to steadfastly defend against the continuous onslaught of his opponent's firearm with nothing but a long knife, without ever yielding. This clearly indicates that he is precisely the kind of cold-blooded warrior.

His pale red face bore no expression, and his eyes were half-closed; if it were not for his frequent stroking of his beard, others might have thought he was asleep

As the long spear was retracted, the overwhelming wave-like shadows of the weapon immediately dissipated. The pressure lifted, and the little Mamluk could finally lean on his long sword against the ground, bending over to catch his breath

Madam San, I believe that in this competition between the two young masters, Eldest Master has made notable progress in both literary talent and martial skills. As for Second Master, although he has also improved, his advancement seems to be slightly slower compared to Eldest Master. I have an idea: since Eldest Master Xu is gradually maturing, it is time for him to have his own personal attendants and close companions. Coincidentally, a batch of slaves has arrived at my estate, and I would like to invite Eldest Master to select some as a reward. I wonder if I may request your guidance on this matter.

As he watched the young servants walk away, Zhao Fubo straightened his neck and called out

He is a useful person, yet I am tired of Yu'er, who has turned out to be a useless fool

Master Shu naturally understood that this was merely a suggestion for harmony and prosperity in response to the aggressive demeanor of Zhao Wuji from Jifeng Manor

Seeing the guards of the Zhao family rolling up their sleeves and glaring as they prepared to advance and bind the young horse, Muluq

Zhao Fubo would certainly not feel any joy from these four characters; on the contrary, he harbored a deep-seated admiration for the young Mamluk before him

Upon learning this, Lady San felt that in the first match, the underhanded tactics had merely caught her off guard. In the second match, despite exerting all her strength, she was unable to gain even the slightest advantage

I apologize to you. How about this: in the future, I will quietly return to San Niang and simply say that I did not find a suitable person, and that will be that

Just like the few young attendants in front of me, who are only a few years younger than Zhao, each of them quickly put down their food boxes and took their leave.

Amid the hurried sound of hooves, a jet-black horse, as if forged from a pile of coal, strode forward with great strides, quickly leaping in front of Zhao Fubo. The large horse's head affectionately rested on Zhao Fubo's shoulder, emitting a joyful sound from its throat

Before he could finish speaking, someone nearby had already shouted loudly

The vast empty lot, along with three tile-roofed houses, constitutes what Zhao Fubo refers to as the so-called East House. It is located a short distance from the residence of San Niang, known as "Liu Garden," and is separated by a high wall made of blue bricks. Usually, apart from Shu Yuer, this place is entirely Zhao Fubo's domain

Although he had never begged for it, Zhao Fubo had already sensed that he only sought death to uphold the dignity of himself as a soldier

Just as Zhao Fubo pressed his face against the horse's neck, affectionately embracing it, he discovered that this gluttonous creature had already thrust its mouth into the food basket, prompting Zhao Fubo to shout in alarm

Little Black Charcoal ... ... Little Black Charcoal, come and enjoy the delicious food!

Dong dong ... ...

At that moment, stroking his long beard with ease, he smiled and said: "It is only right; this little girl, Yu'er, has not been diligent in her supervision, and she should also receive some lessons!"

With the announcement from San Niang, the entire ancestral hall was filled with voices congratulating Da Lang Zhao Xu, and several village heads also joined in congratulating Zhao Xu's father, Zhao Wuji

Your swordsmanship is quite good; if it weren't for the use of a firearm, I wouldn't be able to defeat you

At this moment, the young horse, Muluque, seemed to sense Zhao Fubo's gaze, yet he showed no reaction whatsoever, merely twitching the corner of his mouth slightly

This is Zhao Fubo's closest "brother" since childhood. From the time he can remember, this little colt, which he calls "Little Black Charcoal," has always been by his side. Before the appearance of Shu Yuer, it was only this horse, which grew up alongside him, that kept him company.

Zhao Fubo did not care much about his losses; although he bore the name of Erlang, no one at home truly regarded him as such.