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Chapter 760: We're Definitely Helping

Former Brigade General Luo Xi was currently acting as their guide.

He led a hundred and fifty household guards, Padi Tu, Zheng Gouzi, two thousand militia members, and... an Elder Li!

Indeed, an Elder Li!

One of the mass-produced Puppet Heavenly Lords (Unit 3s) had accompanied them.

However, Elder Li remained "dormant" inside his carriage for extended periods, transported by the militia soldiers, and rarely showed his face.

Luo Xi couldn't help but feel a flicker of curiosity. He lowered his voice and said to Zheng Gouzi, "Brother Zheng, this Elder Li is a bit strange. He's a very wealthy and important figure, isn't he? Why would he involve himself in such a dangerous venture? All the important people I know are extremely protective of their lives."

Zheng Gouzi smiled. "Elder Li is different. He enjoys experiencing life among the common folk."

Luo Xi mumbled, "I've seen people 'experience life among the common folk' before, but never to the point of joining the front lines of a bandit suppression campaign."

As the two quietly chatted, on the other side, Padi Tu was invigorated. He pointed at the continuous mountain range ahead and burst into loud laughter. "I've been stuck doing desk work in Xi'an for far too long, my bones were practically dissolving. It turns out fighting is what suits this Lord Rabbit best! Hahahaha, Chuang bandit, just you wait, this Lord Rabbit will soon claim your head!"

"That's because *you're* all weak," Padi Tu retorted, rolling up his sleeves to reveal his arm and flexing a meager muscle. "Look, just look at this Lord Rabbit's strength! With a single sword stroke, this Lord Rabbit could chill forty prefectures. Within a hundred paces, my sword qi slays. Any scoundrel who crosses my path won't escape."

The militia soldier deadpanned, "Lord Rabbit, that 'sword qi slays within a hundred paces' line might have worked for showing off a few years ago, but our rifles now shoot several hundred paces. If the rifles can't deal with an enemy, your hundred-pace sword qi won't do much good either."

Padi Tu was speechless.

He was utterly at a loss for words!

From a distance, Luo Xi glanced over, then whispered to Zheng Gouzi, "Brother Zheng, your comrade, Padi Tu, seems a little unreliable. He talks endlessly, without a single honest word."

Zheng Gouzi chuckled. "Oh, you picked up that 'mouth runs like a train' phrase quickly, didn't you? That just shows you're already being influenced by him. Lord Rabbit's greatest talent is using his bluster to throw everyone else off balance."

Luo Xi quickly clapped a hand over his mouth. How dreadful! He'd been so utterly astonished when he saw the giant trains in Xi'an, and then hearing Lord Rabbit say "mouth runs like a train," he'd thought it sounded incredibly fashionable and picked it up.

If things continued like this, something terrible was bound to happen!

As they continued their awkward conversation, a manor appeared at the foot of the mountains ahead.

Luo Xi brightened. "We're here! That's my home."

The Luo family estate was situated at the foot of Tianzhu Mountain in Shanyang County, Shaanxi Province.

They were considered local gentry, after all. With the saying, 'Scholarship for the poor, martial arts for the rich,' a military officer of Luo Xi's rank, a third-grade Brigade General, couldn't possibly come from a poor family.

The vast expanse of fertile fields at the foot of the mountain all belonged to the Luo family.

These fertile lands were cultivated by numerous tenant farmers. Consequently, a large population of tenant farmers had formed villages and towns around the Luo estate, creating a reasonably prosperous settlement.

The place was known as Luojia Gully.

Luo Xi held the highest official position within the Luo family. His return sent ripples through the entire Luojia Gully, with many tenant farmers rushing out to watch him from a distance, hidden along the roadsides.

Meanwhile, the Luo family patriarch, leaning on his staff, emerged with a large retinue of family members to greet him.

The moment they met...

The patriarch swung his staff and, with a resounding thwack, struck Luo Xi squarely on the head.

"You bastard!" the patriarch roared, brandishing his staff furiously. His skill with the weapon was evident as he rained blows upon Luo Xi. "What disgraceful deed did you commit to get yourself stripped of office? To think my Luo family produced such a disgrace!"

Luo Xi dared not retaliate, hunching down and covering his head defensively. "Father, please stop, stop... I didn't do anything wrong! I just wrote a memorial to the emperor, and I wrote it truthfully. The emperor just got angry. I really didn't commit any evil deeds. I may be incompetent, and not skilled in battle, but I truly did nothing wrong, I swear it."

The patriarch demanded, "What did you write?"

Luo Xi replied, "I wrote that a thousand firearm soldiers fired four volleys in ten breaths of time, repelling the Mongol troops..."

The patriarch immediately flew into a rage. "Worthless scoundrel, spouting such nonsense! You're trying to infuriate me to death! What kind of firearm can fire four volleys in ten breaths? Are you trying to kill your old father with anger, you good-for-nothing?"

"Thwack!"

This blow landed heavily. Luo Xi cried out, collapsing to the ground, motionless.

The patriarch, however, suddenly felt a pang of fear. *Surely I didn't hit him in a vital spot? I was being careful!* He quickly poked Luo Xi with his staff. "Get up, hey, hey, are you alright?"

Luo Xi feigned death, successfully evading any follow-up attacks. After lying prone for a while, he pretended to stir awake and slowly, deliberately, got back to his feet. "Father, I really wasn't talking nonsense. It truly was four volleys in ten breaths."

The patriarch warned, "Say that again, and I'll switch to my iron staff."

Zheng Gouzi, who had been struggling to suppress his laughter, stepped forward. "Elder Luo, Brigade General Luo is telling the truth."

The patriarch wasn't buying it. "And who are you, trying to trick me along with him?"

Zheng Gouzi chuckled. "You'll find out in a few days. Anyway, there's going to be a battle very soon."

Hearing this, the patriarch's brow furrowed. He glanced at the two thousand firearm soldiers who had followed Luo Xi, sensing something significant. "So many soldiers? It seems something truly serious is about to happen."

Luo Xi briefly explained how the rebels had crossed the Yellow River, bypassed Luoyang, and were advancing towards the border region of the four provinces.

In his youth, the patriarch had also been a military officer, with the entire Ming map etched in his mind, and he understood military campaigns. Upon hearing this, he immediately grasped the gravity of the situation, his brow furrowing deeply. "So, Shanyang County truly might be drawn into the conflict."

He looked up at Tianzhu Mountain, which bordered the Luo family manor, and murmured, "This Tianzhu Mountain would be a very suitable place for rebels to encamp. If they come to the border region of the four provinces, they might very well set their sights on our area."

Luo Xi explained, "Your son understands this, which is why I rushed back in a panic. This is Zheng Gouzi, and this is Padi Tu. They are household guards of Shi Jian, the Garrison Commander of Hejin, and I shamelessly begged them to come and help."

Upon hearing this, the patriarch quickly turned and bowed to Zheng Gouzi and Padi Tu. "Thank you for your assistance. However, the rebel forces are immense, numbering often over a hundred thousand. For you two to righteously aid the Luo family is far too dangerous... I implore you to return. My Luo family cannot be a burden to others."

"Oh, Elder Luo is quite honorable!" Padi Tu laughed heartily. "Elder, just for those words of yours, we're definitely helping the Luo family!"