Chapter 3: Rescuing a Divine Figure
What audacity! Do you know who our young master is?" Upon seeing the soldiers approaching to arrest Zhao Kuo, Yu Zhang immediately stood in front of Zhao Kuo and said, "If you dare to lay a finger on our young master, be careful of your heads.
Zhao Kuo was fortunate to witness a vividly realistic scene of a brawl. Initially, the young man was able to fend off one or two of his many adversaries, but soon he lost the ability to retaliate. He was left with blood splattered from his mouth and nose, and his head resembled that of a pig, truly receiving a thorough beating
The young man saw the narrow street ahead crowded with people, and he suddenly turned around, kicking one person down. However, over a dozen individuals surrounded him with weapons in hand. Despite facing formidable foes, the young man showed no fear; he leaped onto the stone steps beside the street, leaning against the wall, calmly preparing to fight.
Zhao Kuo saw that the young man's right hand was bleeding profusely, and immediately said to Zhang Dao: "Find a medical officer to take a look at him..."
Zhao Kuo swallowed a few mouthfuls of saliva, somewhat unable to believe that the people lying on the ground, wailing in pain, were injured by him. When did he become a "martial arts master"? In his memory, Zhao Kuo did not possess such skills. Suddenly, he recalled that bottle of genetic factor. Could it be that the genetic factor had altered Zhao Kuo's body? Only this could explain the situation.
"Capture him, we need him alive." shouted the person who had thrown the boy away.
As the saying goes, "A seventh-rank official stands before the prime minister's door." Yu Zhang already knew that his master, Zhao She, had been granted the title of Marquess of Cavalry by King Zhao, ranking among the upper nobility. The Zhao family, being a prominent noble clan, held a status even more esteemed than that of the prime minister, which inevitably revealed a hint of pride in his words
Unfortunately, this team leader did not have the opportunity to perform. When Yu Zhang announced Zhao Kuo's identity, those people on the ground ran away faster than rabbits, disappearing into the crowd without a trace. Only the beaten young boy lay alone on the ground.
A trace of panic flashed in Li Mu's eyes as he nodded and said: "My ancestral home is indeed Changshan, and my other name is Li Zhao. Do you know me, young master?"
Zhao Kuo looked around and always felt that something was amiss. It was only when he focused his gaze on the horse gear that he realized where the problem lay. At that moment, the horse gear was extremely rudimentary; there was no saddle or stirrups, and at most, there was a bridle on the horse's head and a soft pad laid on its back.
Seeing that Zhao Kuo placed such great importance on the youth's injury, the team leader hurriedly said: "Young master, do not worry. His right hand is severely injured, and if not treated carefully, it is very likely to result in a disability. My uncle is quite skilled in treating external injuries; please take him to him."
Zhao Kuo, seeing that the young man was not seriously injured, let out a sigh of relief and exchanged a glance with Yu Zhang beside him
Understanding the situation, he took out several Zhao State knife coins from his person and offered them to Tao Di's uncle, but Tao Di's uncle adamantly refused to accept them, leaving him with no choice but to give up.
The attitude of the soldiers is not without reason. Zhao She possesses an extraordinary charisma within the military ranks of the Zhao state. He shares both hardships and joys with his soldiers, often dining and drinking together. After receiving rewards, he distributes the majority to the soldiers under his command. The respect such a leader commands within the army is self-evident. Therefore, when the squad leader learned that the assailant was Zhao She's second son, Zhao Kuo, he immediately considered himself one of Zhao Kuo's personal guards.
Although the leader of the troops was merely a squad leader, having served in Handan for a long time, he possessed a certain level of discernment. He noticed that the master and servant across from him were well-dressed and appeared to have a significant background. Moreover, how could an ordinary person dare to call themselves a young master? He hurriedly asked, "May I inquire who you are, esteemed sir?"
As Zhao Kuo and his servant passed through the southern city, they discovered it was crowded with people, and nearly a thousand horses were enclosed in the square, accompanied by the sounds of horses neighing and tossing their manes, creating a lively atmosphere
The young boy got up from the ground, gritting his teeth. He had not expected to survive and wanted to express his gratitude to his savior, but his injuries left him unable to speak.
Since the time of Zhao Wuling Wang's adoption of the Hu clothing and mounted archery, horses have become an important livestock in the State of Zhao. This is the mule and horse trading market in Handan City, where on this day each month, mule and horse traders from various regions gather to conduct transactions, with merchants and travelers converging, creating a scene of great prosperity
As soon as these words left Zhang's mouth, the soldiers' expressions changed, and they all knelt to pay their respects. The leader of the group said, "We did not know the young master was here; we were truly reckless. Please, young master, step aside for a moment while we take these few who have offended you back to deal with them properly."
"It's fine, if you can't come back, just stay there for a night." Zhao Kuo wrapped the titanium alloy beam with cloth. It was because he had the idea of making the titanium alloy beam that he remembered a friend, Guo Zong, the head of the Guo family. Although his relationship with Guo Zong was not deep, asking the Guo family to help craft the titanium alloy beam was merely a matter of raising a hand, and there should be no problem.
Zhao Kuo saw that the thin young man was about to make a move when, unexpectedly, a large hand reached out from the side and firmly grabbed him. Then, with great force, the young man was violently thrown into the air. Seeing the young man being thrown towards him, Zhao Kuo quickly sidestepped to avoid being hit directly.
After Zhao Kuo thanked the soldiers for their assistance in the rescue, he turned to the boy on the ground and asked, "Are you alright?" Upon finishing his question, Zhao Kuo felt that his words were utterly pointless; the boy was covered in blood from the beating, how could he possibly be fine!
Zhao Kuo walked along the streets of Handan, observing the details of this significant city from the perspective of an onlooker. The streets were filled with dust, and it was estimated that after rain, they would be flooded with muddy water. On both sides of the street, shops were numerous, and although the flow of pedestrians did not reach the level of jostling, it fully reflected the prosperity of commerce and industry. This completely transformed Zhao Kuo's previous understanding of this historical period
When Zhao Kuo read historical texts, he came across descriptions of the many generous individuals from Yan and Zhao. Today, I have truly experienced how formidable the chivalrous figures of the pre-Qin era were. In broad daylight, they brazenly wielded knives and guns, displaying an expression of utter nonchalance. It is no wonder that Han Fei remarked that chivalry disrupts the law with violence. Such a law enforcement environment indeed instills a sense of dread, leaving one with no sense of security
As Zhao Kuo stepped out the door, upon hearing this remark from behind, his legs nearly gave way, almost leading to a comical scene. He steadied himself and turned around to ask: "Are you Li Mu? The Li Mu from Changshan? Also known as Li Zhao?"
Let us go! If we delay any further, we won't be able to return today. Zhao Kuo is thinking about having the craftsmen from the Guo family forge weapons, and tomorrow he still needs to bring gifts and illustrations to visit the "Three Great Families"! Time is very tight.
Zhang cleared his throat and said: "My master is the newly appointed Marquis of Ma, and this is my family's second young master. You all should quickly withdraw."
The grace of saving my life, I, Li Mu, will never forget for as long as I live
Behind the youth, there were more than ten individuals pursuing him in a relentless manner. They were equipped with crossbows on their backs and held sharp swords in their hands, clearly indicating that they were not to be trifled with
"Stop, don't hit him anymore." Zhao Kuo ultimately softened his heart, unable to bear the sight of someone being beaten to death right in front of him. However, when he shouted, he found that no one paid him any attention. In a fit of anger, he pulled out the titanium alloy beam, jumped in, and began to swing it down, specifically targeting the meaty areas. As Zhao Kuo joined the fray, cries of pain filled the air, and in the blink of an eye, the ground was littered with people.
Suddenly, the commotion ahead interrupted Zhao Kuo's thoughts. Turning his head to look, he saw people scattering and fleeing in all directions on the street. A young boy ran across the alley; although he was small in stature, he moved swiftly. An anxious expression appeared on his thin little face as he ran while glancing around.
Second Young Master? Second Young Master? Upon discovering Zhao Kuo with his mouth agape and looking dazed, Yu Zhang couldn't help but feel anxious. Hadn't Second Young Master won? Why was he still in a daze?
The young man indeed had some skills; at the moment he landed, he used the tips of his toes to bounce back up, dissipating most of the force. However, when he steadied himself, he was once again surrounded by a dozen or so people.
Zhao Kuo never fantasized about becoming the protagonist of a chivalric novel. By chance, he obtained a rare treasure that could enhance his abilities, and from then on, he became the unrivaled hero of the martial world. However, the facts presented by the current situation indicate that the fundamental factors developed through high technology have certainly played a role in improving Zhao Kuo's physical condition
"Fortunately, fortunately, if we delay any longer, this arm will be useless." Tao Di's uncle was most skilled in setting bones. He properly aligned the young man's right wrist and stopped the bleeding, saying: "In a couple of days, once the bone heals, there will be no major issues."
Zhao Kuo gazed into the bronze mirror for nearly ten minutes, increasingly feeling that his luck was quite good. The person reflected in the mirror appeared very spirited, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, a straight nose, and a pleasing face shape. He truly did not expect that the historical Zhao Kuo was actually a rather handsome young man. This appearance was indeed impressive, far superior to Jack Ma's looks and physique.
This discovery filled Zhao Kuo with immense joy, as he contemplated mentioning the matter of the horse gear when Zhao She returned. This could improve his standing in Zhao She's eyes, demonstrating that his son was not merely a brash young man who only spoke grandly.
Zhao Kuo, adhering to the principle of being a good person to the end, had Yu Zhang assist the young man in following the team leader. Along the way, he learned that the team leader's name was Tao Di, whose ancestors were minor nobility. By the time it reached Tao Di's generation, the family had long since fallen on hard times, leaving him with no choice but to make a living in the military.
In accordance with the conventions of films, the police always make their appearance last. Today's situation is no different; after Zhao Kuo has taken down more than a dozen individuals, the Zhao Guojun, responsible for maintaining urban security, arrives belatedly and surrounds Zhao Kuo and the others.
Yu Zhang was Zhao Kuo's personal servant, of a similar age to Zhao Kuo. Upon seeing Zhao Kuo come out, he said: "Second Young Master, the Guo family's iron smelting factory is outside the city. If we go at this time, I fear we won't make it back to the city by evening."