Chapter 5, Displaying Great Power

Tao Fang's expression darkened as he said: "Since the reign of Duke Wen of Wei, the State of Wei has continuously engaged in invasions, not only weakening our strength but also allowing the Qin people to grow powerful, becoming a grave threat. In the current chaotic situation, the Wei people are indeed the main culprits. Next are the faithless and ungrateful Qi people; when our state allied with Chu and Han to attack Qin, they chose to attack us instead, allowing the Qin to take advantage and annihilate the Ba and Shu states, thereby more than doubling their territory. They are truly shortsighted individuals"

Three hours later, the bandits finally arrived. Hearing the neighing of the strong horses on the mountain, they hurriedly surrounded the small hill. In an instant, the area was filled with the murderous aura of the bandits, causing the warriors to feel a chill in their hearts, as the disparity in momentum was truly too great.

Another Way of the Samurai: "However, the most foolish of all was King Huai of Chu. The Qin people lured him into severing ties with Qi over a mere six hundred miles of land. As a result, he was left isolated and defenseless, ultimately suffering a great defeat at Danyang, with eighty thousand heads severed, losing Hanzhong, and the northwest defenses of Yingdu completely gone, leading to a significant decline in national power. Later, he was further lured by the Qin people to Wuguan, where he was captured alive, and ultimately died of illness in a foreign land, truly a situation that evokes both pity and ridicule."

Xiang Shaolong touched the beard on his face, almost bursting into tears. Before entering the city, he had one purpose in mind, which was to figure out how to sneak into the city. Now that he was truly inside the city, he found himself at a loss as to what to do next

Xiang Shaolong knew that this enchanting woman had developed genuine feelings for him, and his heart stirred. He used the tip of his tongue to wipe away the tears hanging on her face, while his other hand slipped inside her thin garment, caressing her soft bosom. Suddenly, he recalled Mei Can Niang and thought to himself that it was indeed a wise decision to not let her follow; otherwise, she would likely be terrified to death at this moment.

He opened his eyes and saw that it was a mule cart team transporting sheep. Overjoyed, he carefully observed that no one was paying attention and hid in the last sheep cart, squeezing in among the sheep to sneak into the city

When he turned around to scare them, dozens of children scattered like birds and beasts. One little girl, unable to escape in time, fell to the ground

Although Xiang Shaolong had practiced equestrian skills in the army, he was still not as proficient as those bandits and warriors who had grown up on horseback. By the time he charged down the slope, he had already fallen behind the other warriors, who believed that he was a man of loyalty and righteousness, selflessly covering their retreat.

The warriors cheered together, their morale greatly boosted

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Xiang Shaolong first thought about how beautiful and poetic it would be if there were no wars

In the grand city of Zhao during the Warring States period, the high halls and deep chambers, along with the multi-tiered pavilions, were all of considerable scale, and the population was thriving. However, there was a notable imbalance with more women than men. Xiang Shaolong thought to himself that this must be a consequence of the 400,000 Zhao soldiers who were slaughtered by the Qin general Bai Qi in the Battle of Changping.

At this moment, all the warriors were greatly impressed by Xiang Shaolong's ability to anticipate the enemy's moves, which significantly boosted their confidence

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Suddenly awakened, it turned out that the hurried footsteps were approaching from afar, and Miss Tingfang was also startled awake.

Tingfang, who had become increasingly beautiful and alluring under the nourishment of love, had just woken up. As she was about to change her clothes, Xiang Shaolong stopped her, saying: "Let's just sleep like this tonight! I have a feeling that the bandits will come to raid the camp tonight."

Moments later, Tao Fang and the women boarded the carriage, escorted by more than sixty warriors, and proceeded through a passage on the other side that had not been set with traps

At the sound of the horn, the bandits dismounted in droves, splitting into two groups to launch an offensive from all directions

Xiang Shaolong felt a sense of luck, knowing that the opponent had merely lost due to carelessness and underestimation, falling into a trap unexpectedly. He hurriedly ordered everyone to move to the slope below, taking cover in a deep pit without sharp spikes, setting up bows and arrows, and preparing to face the enemy's second wave of fierce attacks

The horizon extends in all directions, revealing a vast grassland where green waves undulate, interspersed with sparse trees of wild forests and meandering rivers and streams, a beauty of nature that captivates the soul

The bandits who came up from this side numbered only about 100, and they were caught off guard, resulting in a chaotic scene with people and horses falling over each other

The morale of the warriors surged, and they shouted in cheers

At this moment, the first group of bandits reached the mountainside, slowly advancing, creating a tense atmosphere

Having said that, he hurriedly left

Xiang Shaolong observed the movements of the opponent and realized that their main force was positioned on the hillside to the east, which was relatively less steep. He secretly rejoiced at the assistance of heaven and ordered the warriors to withdraw one by one back to the mountain.

On the road, he encountered two groups of merchants consisting of dozens of people. Upon seeing his disheveled appearance, they hurriedly left, completely ignoring him. Xiang Shaolong sighed deeply at the fickleness of human relationships. After walking for another three days, he unexpectedly arrived at the large city of Wuan, located to the west of Handan in the State of Zhao.

Two teams of bandits began to charge up the slope, emitting sharp whistles that indeed sent chills down the spines of those who heard them

Xiang Shaolong, confident in his extraordinary strength, drew his bow and shot an arrow at the gray Hu horse. The powerful arrow reached its limit just before the horse, landing ten meters in front of it, yet it caused the bandits to change color in unison. Who possesses such strength?

He was determined that after entering the city, he would go to any lengths, including theft and deception, to obtain clothing, food, and horses. After clarifying the route to Handan, he would immediately go there to seek refuge with Tao Fang, in order to put an end to his current life of suffering

At this time, the weather turned cold in the evening, causing him to shiver uncontrollably. When he attempted to enter the city, he was driven out by the Zhao army guarding the city. He soon realized that those wishing to enter the city must pay a city gate tax and undergo a check of their household registration and identity. Not to mention that he was penniless, even his beggar-like appearance made it difficult for him to enter the city

Xiang Shaolong was adept at observing enemy situations and deduced that the enemy was still at a distance, not yet forming a encirclement. He proposed, "Master Tao might as well take the women and escape immediately, leaving the horses here. I will lead fifty warriors to intercept the enemy, and we shall meet again in Handan in the future"

The bandits reached the halfway point of the hillside, dispersed, and quickly surged upward

Xiang Shaolong felt a surge of ambition, realizing that in the twenty-first century, there were no chaotic times where everything was determined by war. Only here could he truly utilize his strengths and thrive like a fish in water. At this moment, he thought less and less about the issue of returning.

The warriors cheered in their hearts, yet dared not voice their approval, fearing that the enemy would discover their position

A smaller number of people also has its advantages, making it difficult for the enemy to detect their movements

The sound of horns arose, and the bandits attacked from all directions once again. However, of the nearly 500 remaining bandits, the majority were advancing from the eastern hillside.

In the initial days, survival relied entirely on wild fruits, and later, with exceptional physical endurance, I used crushed mountain herbs applied to the wounds to prevent inflammation and infection. As the arrow wound gradually healed, I resorted to eating some wild rabbits raw to stave off hunger, becoming disheveled and barely clothed

Tao Fang suddenly felt a sense of emotion and sighed: "Thinking of the Wei people, I also feel very conflicted. The southwestern corner of the Jin state is separated by the Yellow River, followed by treacherous mountainous areas, presenting a formidable natural barrier that tightly controls the only entrance for the Qin people coming from the east. After the three families divided Jin, this part was taken over by the Wei people. As long as the Wei people remain strong, the Qin people will be trapped in the west and unable to invade the east. Alas! Should we ultimately hope for the Wei state to grow strong or to decline?"

A glimmer of dawn appeared in the eastern grasslands, and before one knew it, the night had passed in a rush. No wonder the horse was exhausted; after casting a guilty glance at the horse, I stumbled away in a panic

Suddenly, the bandits in the front row were thrown off their horses, either falling into a pit filled with sharp spikes or being tripped by the reins, tumbling down the slope. The bandits following closely behind also fell in disarray, with both men and horses rolling down together. As a result of this chain reaction, more than half of the nearly 200 bandits from both groups suffered casualties, leading to a complete rout.

For a comprehensive professional soldier like him, any weapon can be wielded better than others. He humbly sought guidance from other warriors, refining their sword techniques to create a uniquely free and highly lethal style of swordsmanship. Although he still felt inadequate, he could not find a distinguished master to learn from at that moment, so he had to make do.

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Xiang Shaolong embraced her and comforted her, saying: "There is no need to be afraid. With me, Xiang Shaolong, here, I will ensure your safety. I may stay behind to confront the enemy while you and Master Tao head to Handan. I will join you later."

More than ten piles of trunks and stones hidden behind the bushes and low trees were pulled away from the barricades, rolling down like waves, smashing the opponents' shields and sending people tumbling.

His throat felt parched as if it were on fire; he knew this was a symptom of excessive blood loss, yet he endured the pain and managed to get up.

He felt ashamed and turned into a secluded alley, only to be discovered by a group of children playing in the courtyard, who chased after him, mocking him like monsters, with some even picking up stones to throw at him

Xiang Shaolong suddenly stopped and said: "Tonight I need to conserve my strength to deal with any situation. Can you endure for one night?"

Xiang Shaolong shouted "Fire!" and the warriors hidden in the pit emerged one after another, unleashing a rain of arrows upon the enemy. The adversaries were thrown into chaos, lacking any capacity for resistance, and many were struck by arrows, rolling down the slope, resulting in over 200 casualties.

Although Dongpo was in chaos, the bandits from the other two hills rushed to provide assistance, and in an instant, the sound of killing filled the heavens

Hui Huze and his three hundred subordinates, mounted on horseback, were arrayed in formation in the east, eager and ready to charge forward at any moment to unleash a massacre

Relying on his astonishing strength, Xiang Shaolong used his spear to kill several bandits that were entangling him, and was just about to catch up with the main group when suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder, having been struck by a powerful arrow

Xiang Shaolong let out a roar, spurring his horse into a wild gallop. In a state of panic, he chose his path haphazardly, only knowing to rush forward. Before long, he became a solitary rider, advancing across the vast grassland.

Xiang Shaolong led more than thirty people to set traps and pits on the surrounding slopes to prevent the enemy from launching a surprise attack in the dark. He also established emergency response measures with Tao Fang, who nodded in approval.

Each individual further studied how to deploy defenses on the mountain peak before proceeding to undertake their respective tasks

At this time, only more than thirty of the fifty warriors remained, fleeing in panic

Thinking of this, I find it amusing myself, and I jump out of the car

After walking for more than twenty days in the desolate wilderness, Xiang Shaolong endured the most painful and arduous journey of his life

Tingfang's beauty faded, and with tears she said: "I beg the heavens to have mercy on Tingfang and bless Lord Xiang. In the past, I felt no difference between any man I was with. But now I realize that if I were to lose Lord Xiang, I might not wish to live even a single day."

Overcome by extreme fatigue, he fell asleep

Xiang Shaolong never expected to become a person without anyone to take him in, but fortunately, he had undergone rigorous military training, possessed a resilient character, and remained undaunted, waiting for an opportunity outside the city

Xiang Shaolong understood that the other party was merely testing the waters, and instructed everyone to maintain their posts, urging them to remain calm and not to act rashly

Li Shan readily agreed and went to find his partner for collaboration

Tingfang's limbs wrapped around him, and she gently whispered in his ear: "He keeps a tight rein on me, but I often have to accompany the men he assigns. When he is in a good mood, he allows his family and friends to toy with me. Fortunately, serving other men is much better than serving him"

Xiang Shaolong was well aware that this move would greatly surprise the enemy. Hui Hu did not know that all the women had been transported away, nor could he have imagined that only fifty-one knights had managed to break through

This was the first time Xiang Shaolong encountered such a scene. After his heart inexplicably raced a few times, he commanded, "Release the rolling stones!"

When Xiang Shaolong attempted to help her up, the little girl became so frightened that she burst into loud cries. This immediately attracted several adults armed with knives, guns, and clubs, who rushed over shouting and yelling.

Xiang Shaolong asked: "Why does Master Tao hate the Wei people so much?"

It is uncertain whether there exists the profession of male prostitutes; if it does, one might rely on their physical abilities to win the favor of women, earning a substantial income, and then travel to Handan in fine clothes and on a splendid horse.

Xiang Shaolong roughly estimated that there were still nearly 700 combatants on the opposing side. Even if they could eliminate all of the more than 400 attackers currently advancing, the enemy's numbers would still far exceed their own. Moreover, it was fundamentally impossible to completely annihilate the enemies that were attacking at present. Additionally, their side would inevitably suffer casualties. With a thought, he instructed Li Shandao beside him: "When the offensive and defensive battle begins later, immediately take ten men to the horse pen. When you hear the sound of three long and three short horns, break the fence and release the horses, urging them to charge down the mountain from the southeast. At that time, we will escape via the western route."

When they all retreated to the mountain, Xiang Shaolong instructed them to bring their mounts and revealed his plan. Upon hearing that there was a chance for survival, the warriors were greatly encouraged, united in spirit, and had no objections whatsoever. Until this moment, they had not suffered a single casualty, and naturally, they revered Xiang Shaolong like a deity.

The gray-haired man was furious and jumped up in rage, withdrawing the injured soldiers and immediately organizing a third wave of offensive.

The people on the street all showed disdainful looks upon seeing him

Tingfang's face turned pale with fear, and she trembled as she said: "What should I do? If this lowly servant falls into the hands of the bandits, I will suffer greatly, and it would be worse than death"

He returned to the camp to rest only late at night

Suddenly, the sound of hooves echoed as two groups of over one hundred horse bandits charged up the mountain from the east and west sides

Tingfang sighed in disappointment and reluctantly nodded in agreement. However, just by looking at her rapidly rising and falling bosom, one could tell that she was on the verge of being consumed by desire, struggling to maintain her composure

Following Tao Fang's instructions, he observed the sun during the day and the stars at night, advancing towards the direction of Handan. On this day, he arrived before a great mountain, gazing at the steep cliffs that seemed insurmountable, and could only find a way around the mountain. Little did he know that after walking for more than ten days, he was still wandering within the endless mountainous region. By the time he left the mountains, he was utterly exhausted, having even broken his sword, and just as he felt lost and helpless, he discovered a main road outside the forest, feeling a sudden surge of joy. He followed the road, at this point, his boots were already worn out.

Xiang Shaolong had no time to watch the results, leading fifty warriors as they rushed towards the western slope, sprinting down the mountain through the safe passage

Xiang Shaolong felt weak, dizzy, and experienced a sharp pain in his shoulders and back. His body was covered in wounds from which fresh blood flowed. Gritting his teeth, he managed to rise, took out the dagger gifted by Tao Fang, and, enduring the excruciating pain, cut the arrowhead out from the wound. He then hastily tore off a piece of clothing to bandage himself.

Tao Fang and all the warriors rose up, lying on the mountaintop and gazing out in all directions

Tao Fang's face turned pale as he said: "Here it comes!"

Tingfang extinguished the oil lamp and pressed herself into the man's embrace, making it difficult for him to maintain his composure

Tingfang's delicate body trembled, her face flushed as if on fire, her pair of beautiful eyes nearly shooting out flames, her small mouth slightly parted, continuously gasping and moaning, displaying an overwhelming state of springtime passion, utterly irresistible.

Xiang Shaolong sighed inwardly, realizing that women in this era held no status at all, merely existing as the appendages of men. Hearing her speak, he felt that a married woman and a courtesan were hardly different. This reminded him of the movie portrayal of Qin Shi Huang, whose mother was given to his father, Yi Ren, as a concubine by Lü Buwei, which made it seem all the more unsurprising.

After Xiang Shaolong and the bandits passed the halfway point of the mountain, he ordered a signal to be sent out. A cacophony of neighing and trampling ensued as over a hundred wild horses were driven out of the horse corral to the north of the camp, charging wildly. The warriors hurriedly joined the ranks of those herding the horses, driving them down the eastern slope at a frantic pace, while using long spears to prod the horses' flanks, inciting the wild nature of the steeds. Amidst the swirling dust, the wild horses raced down the eastern slope, charging directly towards the incoming bandits.

Xiang Shaolong also felt his scalp tingle, repeatedly telling himself to stay calm

At dawn, as the sunlight illuminated the ground, he finally fell into a deep sleep

That night, he relied entirely on wild fruits to stave off hunger, huddled in the dense forest by the roadside, enduring a night of bitter cold that tested the resilience of the human spirit

Behind them were all archers, continuously shooting arrows towards the mountain to cover the ascent of the shield and spear bearers, unaware that Xiang Shaolong had already hidden in the arrow pit in the middle of the slope

Hundreds of torches lit up all around, casting a blood-red glow over the mountains and valleys.

Xiang Shaolong and others immediately became busy, strengthening defensive measures, deepening the concealed trenches, and setting up more obstacles such as horse snares and stones

Xiang Shaolong instructed her to stay in the tent, quietly took out his sword, and met the tense-looking Li Shan, realizing that the situation was dire, he hurriedly followed him to the eastern hill.

I do not know how long it has been, but I was awakened by the sound of wheels.

Tao Fang was also aware that the number of bandits was considerable, and they were all fierce and ruthless, which filled him with trepidation. He reached out and grasped his shoulder, expressing his gratitude: "I entrust everything to you; you must ensure your safety and come to Handan to see me. I, Tao Fang, will take good care of Tingfang for you"

Beneath the magnificent starry sky, the seemingly tranquil grassland is suddenly disturbed as birds take flight, and the roar of a fierce tiger can be heard in the distance

A robust man with a large gray beard emerged from the enemy ranks, proudly seated on horseback, pointing and shouting: "Damn Zhao bastards, if I, Gray Beard, let even one of you leave here intact, I will never mix in this line of work again."

Xiang Shaolong embraced a bundle of warmth, and after lying down in bed, he softly said: "I forgot to ask you, on that day did you sneak away with another man behind your husband's back"

In recent days, whenever he has free time, Xiang Shaolong practices swordsmanship and archery. These are skills he was trained in before, but of course, they were not emphasized as much as shooting practice, which is why he now needs to increase his training efforts.

The first wave of the offensive was led by shield-bearing cavalry, who cautiously ascended the slope under the illumination of torches to dismantle the traps set by Xiang Shaolong

Xiang Shaolong secretly scolded the other party for being foolish. If this is the case, wouldn't it force our side to fight to the death?

The horse suddenly stumbled, throwing him off and rolling into the grass, even breaking the tail of the arrow. It turned out that the horse could no longer endure and collapsed from exhaustion.