Chapter 1: Possession (Part 1)

These young individuals, articulate in their speech, all displayed concern upon hearing this

The true protection comes from this squad of guards sent from above

The military law is strict; as a personal guard, if the young official encounters any trouble, he cannot escape responsibility himself

If not going home, where else can one go

Around ten individuals, clad in thin leather armor, encircle a man who appears to be in his thirties. This man has a resolute expression, silently stroking his knife, seemingly lost in thought

In fact, although the young official and they are from the same hometown, there has never been much interaction between them. These five individuals, of course, revolve around He Zhong, but at this moment, they are all hoping fervently that this person will wake up soon

In the center of the tent, a young boy is lying on a temporary wooden bed

"Call me Captain Wu, how is the situation with the young official?" He Zhonq asked as he lifted the tent.

Then we can only continue to retreat, but where can we retreat to? One thousand five hundred people, and in one battle, we are all scattered. What can we do now? Are we supposed to go home directly? Not to mention whether we can return smoothly, even if we do make it back, fleeing without permission is a capital offense. If caught, it means death. If something happens to the young master, it will also implicate the family

After years of turmoil across the land, the people's livelihoods have deteriorated to an extreme degree. The region of Shu has remained relatively isolated and suffered less from disasters, yet it too has not been spared entirely. Furthermore, with the newly appointed regional governor by the court, in order to facilitate governance, many small towns have been incorporated, with smaller ones being grouped into a single prefecture and larger ones into two or three prefectures.

"Bench, your home is right next to the Wang residence. How much do you know about the young official's matters?" A curious soldier could not help but ask.

He Zhong, in his youth, was already known for his promises and love for chivalry. It was not his first time killing; on one occasion, several thieves attempted a robbery at night, and He Zhong killed several of them, gaining fame in the countryside. If it were only this, he would merely be a rough and unrefined soldier. However, this individual had a passion for reading from a young age. Although his family was poor, he found a way to gain the qualification to audit classes at Mr. Tian's private school, eventually becoming a leader among the youth in the village.

These eleven individuals are all fierce and indifferent, exuding a bloody aura. No matter how arrogant they may be, the five youths understand that even if they usually find ways to train in martial arts and strengthen their bodies, confronting these eleven individuals now would be tantamount to seeking death

Ah?

There were more than ten individuals, quite fierce in demeanor, yet their attire was not military uniforms, but rather that of mountain dwellers

Thus, He Zhong became increasingly anxious to leave

Yesterday, our army suffered a great defeat, and General Lu was killed in action. The troops were in disarray, and this unit, originally designated as the rear guard, was equally precarious. To make matters worse, the young officer in charge of the unit fell from his horse and lost consciousness.

While He Zhong was gathering herbs, more than sixty people were sprawled in a disordered manner, resting in a secluded valley.

Indeed, they nodded in agreement, expressing their helplessness, and then fell silent.

At this point, there was a moment of silence

He Zhon's eyes turned cold as he drew an arrow, nocked it, and waited.

This must wait until the young official wakes up before any arrangements can be made

"Yes, Captain!" The four immediately responded, clearly indicating that He Zhong held a high level of authority among them

The autumn rain falls gently; after a while, the rain intensifies, with dense raindrops pouring from the sky. In the vast fields, the west wind rages, sometimes heavy and sometimes sparse.

The soldiers outside are causing quite a commotion. If the young master does not wake up by tomorrow morning, things will become troublesome!" He Zhon said this while simultaneously giving orders: "Listen up, keep your eyes open, do not let anyone in. If anything happens to the young master, we will all be in deep trouble!"

"It is the enemy's cavalry, and they have actually arrived here!" He Zhon's heart was pounding violently, he did not expect that the enemy would catch up to this area so quickly

Suddenly, chaos erupted in the military camp, with a cacophony of complaints, commands, and footsteps merging into one, adding an air of terror and unease to the rainy night at this military installation

He Zongmai took a big step and walked out from deep within the forest

At that moment, a sudden commotion erupted outside. Several individuals instinctively stood up, gripping their weapons, and only relaxed after identifying the person who entered.

There are only two paths to take: one is to retreat, and the other is to continue hiding here. The bench pondered for a moment and said, under the dim light, illuminating the five youths, the atmosphere was somber

The young man, around sixteen or seventeen years old, has a delicate appearance, with a high nose bridge and dark, sword-like eyebrows. His eyes are now tightly closed, as if in a state of unconsciousness. Surrounding him are four equally youthful guards.

The four looked at He Zhong: "Squad Leader, no, Brother He, you have always led us in the village. Now that you say what to do, we will all follow your lead!"

Brother He

He Zhongbian stepped forward, holding an oil lamp, which he lit. The flame flickered like a bean, illuminating the entire tent.

At this moment, the autumn rain began to fall again. After walking a short distance, a small path appeared ahead. Crossing that dirt path and entering a small valley, they found the temporary hiding place of their team

The situation of the young official can be described as acceptable! A somewhat frail guard removed his hand from the boy's wrist as he spoke

Upon seeing this, the bench remarked: "I am also unclear about what exactly is wrong with the young official. For now, we can only wait for the will of heaven. If Brother He can find some good medicine, perhaps it might still be of some use"

However, precisely because of this, https://www.hetushucomcom was favored by the higher-ups and appointed as the personal steward of the young official

If something happens to the young official, not only will we be in trouble, but Brother He will also surely face great difficulties. I hope he can wake up!" Looking down at the young man, the bench sighed as he spoke.

"It depends on the situation; it will take some time before he wakes up. I will simmer some meat broth and keep it warm for him to enjoy when he wakes up," He Zhong said, feeling a sense of frustration in his heart.

He Zongzheng was about to walk out from behind the tree when suddenly he crouched down, hiding in a thicket. He took down his short bow, listened intently, and his eyes revealed a vigilant glimmer.

He Zong stood up, his expression somewhat gloomy. He was the son of a hunter, and his family had a military background. He had learned a variety of martial arts and archery skills, and was quite intelligent. He managed to obtain the qualification to audit classes at Mr. Tian's private school, gaining a modest reputation in the village. However, at this moment, it was difficult to turn the situation around.

Because it had just rained, there was a layer of dampness on his body. It was already early autumn, and the chill penetrated to the bone. At this moment, He Zhong had no time to pay attention to these matters; he was only concerned about the situation at the camp.

County Chronicle: On this day, a white rainbow spanned the sun, and shortly thereafter, it rained

Now, however, I find myself at a loss because of this appreciation, and can only let out a sigh

"Squad Leader, even though we have the status of being audit students at Mr. Tian's private school, returning like this would still mean certain death. Moreover, there is also Zhang Huochang outside. Without the Young Master, he will not listen to us. If he finds out that the Young Master is in trouble, we will be the first to be executed!"

I am not clear about the specific matters, but I heard from my father that the young official and the general are from the same clan and have a close relationship. This time, during the expedition, he was appointed to the position of team leader but was arranged to stay in the rear camp. Moreover, a fire tooth soldier was assigned for protection, and to ensure close proximity, Brother He, a fellow villager, was conscripted. The subsequent events are known to everyone.

Such individuals are all elite

"The captain is still not awake?" several of the personal guards said anxiously

In the afternoon, it rained. Although the sky has cleared now, there still lingers a hint of moisture in the air

This is how things are. After recounting the recent encounter to a few companions, He Zhong stood up, paced a few steps, and then said: "What do you all think we should do next?"

The attire of these individuals is disordered, subtly delineating several factions

"Do you mean... the young officer is fine?" Upon hearing this, the other three guards all turned to look at the still sleeping youth, secretly letting out a sigh of relief

The key now is the young official; the young official is a relative of the great commander. With this justification, retreating to regroup will surely not lead to punishment. At this moment, He Zhong pondered for a moment and sighed as he spoke.

"No, I must go back immediately!" Holding a wild chicken, He Zhong rushed towards the opposite side

"Hiding in this place is clearly not feasible; this area is no longer safe. If the enemy searches here, we will be trapped in the valley and unable to escape." One person expressed dissent.

In times of chaos, it is different from periods of peace, where many at the age of sixteen or seventeen already dominate their surroundings, beginning to show their prowess

He is dressed in thin clothing, with a long knife at his waist and a short bow on his back

These individuals remain silent, with most of them resting. In this valley, away from the crowd, there stands a large tree, beneath which is set up a tent.

Seeing that the young man remained unconscious, one of the guards could not help but say: "Why hasn’t that young gentleman woken up? Ban Deng, isn’t your father a doctor? You were taught by your father, do you know what’s going on?"

Upon mentioning Brother He, the previously silent individuals all displayed a spark of enthusiasm on their faces, indicating that this person holds considerable esteem in their hearts.

In this era of a rigid class system, individuals with such a background represent hope

The cavalry rode away swiftly. When the troop had gone far, He Zhongcai emerged from behind the tree, gazing at their receding figures. On his sharply defined face, there was not only vigilance but also fear.

After a brief pause, the sound of hooves approached from a distance

Not knowing whether the young official has woken up or not... Thinking of that person's situation, He Zhong's face revealed a hint of anxiety

The protection of the young official is not solely provided by the five local militia members; rather, their close ties as fellow townsmen enable them to offer personal care and soothe the young official's emotions

He Zong could not help but gasp in surprise; the cavalry opposite him wore leather armor and carried bows and arrows, undoubtedly the enemy's scouts

Upon seeing their appearance, He Zhong's expression relaxed slightly. He glanced outside and whispered to the four of them: "I encountered the enemy on my way back just now"

Chaos is imminent, as the team leader lies unconscious, and a group of vassal mountain militia is causing a commotion in the camp. How can this be tolerated

Further away, there are soldiers in uniform, but the weapons in their hands vary in length. Each person's face is marked by a look of panic and despair, creating an impression of disarray at first glance

My father is merely a physician, not a divine doctor, and I only possess this limited skill in pulse diagnosis," the boy named Bench retorted.

Therefore, the number of soldiers does not exceed ten thousand, and these elite troops are of utmost importance. Do not underestimate even a small number of cavalry; just by looking at their fully equipped horses, armor, and weapons, one can tell that these are well-funded elite soldiers. In a single garrison in Shu, it is reasonable to assume that there are no more than a thousand men, and most of the feudal lords typically command only a few hundred cavalry.

Before long, several cavalrymen came galloping from one side of the road

In his hand, he held a wild chicken and a carefully selected bundle of herbs