Chapter 376: The Living Spear 1 |
“So that’s the situation.”
Back at Bluestone Fortress, Bai Zheng recounted what he had seen and heard.
Bai Shu frowned, hearing that the people across were even more troublesome than he had imagined, and he turned his head to look behind him.
“Mr. Chen, what do you think we should do?”
Behind Bai Shu, the unassuming schoolteacher in a gray long robe lifted his head. His face was covered with scars, which, in the literati-valuing Great Yong, almost meant the end of any official path.
Mr. Chen said calmly and lightly, “If it benefits both sides, then show a little weakness first. What harm is there in yielding three points?”
After listening, Bai Shu closed his eyes and lightly tapped the armrest with his fingers.
“Che’er, take some men to open the eastern cellar, take out three hundred shi of grain, and bring it over to trade with them.”
“Yes, Father.” Bai Che clasped his fist and bowed.
“Then have him come along too.”
Outside the residential complex, the patrol was underway.
Cao Biansheng flicked his silver spear and jabbed it into a nearby wall, dislodging a black beetle that had been clinging there.
The Guild Leader had said these black beetles were “pests,” and if seen during patrol, they were to be killed.
“Cao-ge, I heard the people from the neighboring complex want to trade with us,” Ma Xu said from behind.
Before Cao Biansheng could reply, a classmate beside him answered, “That’s not a mere complex. I heard they call themselves Bluestone Fortress. It’s a dukeburg—do you know what a dukeburg is?”
Ma Xu said confidently, “Of course. Before the crossing I was a loyal user of Qidian. A dukeburg back in ancient times was a small fortified town controlled by landlords and local powers, with walls, wells, and corner towers. When danger came, they shut the gate and turned into a turtle shell. Northern nomads back then were mainly cavalry and bad at sieges; dukeburgs were like nails planted in the north.”
Song Meng said, “Then you haven’t read enough novels. Dukeburgs aren’t as exaggerated as you think. If the regular army with siege engines shows up, they’re not hard to take. Our Qin Alliance has trebuchets and siege crossbows; surrounding them is still manageable.”
Ma Xu shook his head. “That’s not certain. Dukeburgs that survive on the frontier aren’t simple. And how would you even use a trebuchet in this cave? With so little height, you’d just throw rocks that hit your own place.”
Song Meng sneered, “That’s wishful thinking. Have you actually been transported to ancient times? Yet you talk like an expert.”
Ma Xu laughed coldly. “Heh, sorry, I actually have been transported. Four times, in fact.”
When he said that, the group fell silent; what he said sounded plausible.
Someone tried to calm things down: “Bird of garlic, bird of garlic, don’t argue, don’t break the harmony.”
“Cao-ge, I hear footsteps over there, looks like more people are coming.”
“They came so fast.” Cao Biansheng looked toward the opposite side.
At the corner, a caravan slowly drove into view, a flag hanging above it.
On either side rode armored private soldiers.
As it neared, Cao Biansheng realized that the head who had traded with him that afternoon was following behind another heavyset man; judging by appearance, the heavyset man seemed to be the main one.
Bai Che clasped his fists in greeting and said politely, “Captain Cao.”
Cao Biansheng nodded, then asked, “What’s on that cart?”
“Grain brought for trading.”
“May I inspect it?”
A retainer behind Bai Che was about to speak, but Bai Che waved him quiet. “As is proper. Please.”
Cao Biansheng didn’t bother with formalities and inspected the cart directly.
Not long after, satisfied that there was nothing wrong, he allowed it through and escorted them.
Members of the hunting team trailing Cao Biansheng whispered critiques: “He speaks refined.”
“A bit handsome, like those young masters in TV dramas.”
“Nonsense, being proper means he’s a real young master. In modern terms he’d be a second-gen leader of a county’s elite.”
Ma Xu interjected, “Not so weak. If the county-level elites wanted to ruin you, they’d still operate within rules—if they killed you they’d have to cover it up. But someone like this is a true local tyrant: land, soldiers, grain. As the saying goes, imperial power doesn’t go to the countryside; he is the lord of the village. If they kill you, they’ll toss you by the roadside and say you died from falling—no one would dare claim murder.”
Their discussion grew louder and louder.
The expressions of Bai family retainers beside them gradually changed.
Insult the lord and the minister dies—though these men’s phrasing was crude, the gist was clear.
Some glared angrily; such rudeness toward a young master was intolerable!
A bearded burly man, enraged, drew his blade. “You insolent bastard! Keep insulting and I’ll spill your blood three feet high!”
Ma Xu looked awkward, clasped his fists, and cupped his hands. “Sorry, I’ll be careful next time.”
To his surprise, the man grew angrier and stepped forward. “So much lip—do you really think my blade is dull?!”
Ma Xu frowned.
He had apologized, yet the man kept at it.
He wasn’t an ancient person with rigid status consciousness, but realizing his words had sparked the trouble, and that escalation would be bad, Ma Xu adopted a more sincere tone. “Apologies, my mouth was loose earlier. I beg your forgiveness.”
Bai Che smiled faintly. “No matter.”
But Cao Biansheng frowned as he looked at Bai Che’s back and said, “Your Bluestone Fortress guards the frontier, so surely martial skill runs strong. Who is the Bai family’s number one fighter?”
At these words, all eyes among the Bai family unconsciously fell on Bai Zheng.
Bai Zheng was stunned—why was the flame directed at me?
Noticing the others’ gazes, Cao Biansheng understood: that rustic who came that morning was actually the Bai family’s top fighter.
“I’ve been itching to test myself. Would you be willing to spar a bit?”
“Of course.” Bai Zheng inwardly sighed; the other had already gone that far with his words.
If he avoided fighting now in front of everyone, he would be exposed as timid. This battle had to be fought.
The crowd spread out.
Everyone’s eyes focused on the two in the center.
“Bai family, Seven Ultimate Spears, present.” Bai Zheng took up his spear and raised it.
Cao Biansheng casually twirled his spear. In terms of fundamentals, he felt he couldn’t match someone who had trained for decades.
After a moment’s thought, Cao Biansheng said, “Qin Alliance, Cao-family Spear.”
Bai Zheng thrust as soon as he lifted his spear, though his attack had just begun and not yet emerged.
The next second, a faster silver flash streaked toward him in an instant.
His palm trembled. Bai Zheng felt a tremendous force transmit from the other end, and then saw his spear shaft being pushed upward.
The silver flash climbed along the shaft, growing larger before him until it hovered right in front of his face.
Staring at the faintly wavering spear tip opposite him, Bai Shu felt a cold bead of sweat on his brow.
So fast, so nimble a spear. He felt as if the other’s spear were alive.