Beginning with the Ubume Bird-Chapter 366 - 3

Chapter 366: Chapter 3

Chapter 366: Chapter 3

Cao Yongchang quietly cursed his streak of bad luck!

The man was originally the son of a merchant from Taizhou. Although young, he loved to frequent the brothel, gamble at Leaf Play, watch shadow plays, engage in cockfighting, walk dogs, listen to storytellers, and was especially fond of brawling with others, making him a fierce little master.

Once, Cao Yongchang lost control and stabbed a swindler who eked out a living by collecting protection fees from chest to back, creating a fatal wound. As bad luck would have it, the newly appointed magistrate of Taizhou was a tough character whom neither soft words nor force could sway. With no other choice, Cao Yongchang bid farewell to his family elders and went into exile.

The lad had stayed in the northern part of Suzhou for a while, but as the heat increased, he gritted his teeth and decided to head north, aiming to seek wealth and fortune in the Capital City. It was just when he reached Zhili that he ran into the horse bandits, and thereafter, his encounter with Li Yan.

He did have an uncle, indeed named Cao Zhengsheng, but the man was far away in Taizhou. Cha Xiaodao was just an impostor claiming to be that dead ghost, someone he had shared a carriage ride with who bragged well enough. It wasn’t long into their journey that he revealed his profession to Cao Yongchang, allowing him to assume the guise.

Cao Yongchang initially thought that since more than three months had passed since his crime, and he was far from his hometown, even if he encountered soldiers checking identities, they wouldn’t recognize him. However, he hadn’t anticipated that the soldiers in Liaodong would be skilled at identifying spies and scouts coming from the south or north; their eyes were particularly sharp. Seeing his southern appearance, the guard at the gate harbored an initial suspicion, which turned into certainty once he fled, prompting the guard to bellow out an alarm immediately.

It was indeed the young man’s lucky day. The streets were crowded with people and horses, making it difficult for the soldiers to apprehend him. Li Yan certainly had the capability to catch Cao Yongchang, but he deliberately turned a blind eye, allowing the young man to slip through the alleys and vanish.

Immediately, the soldiers surrounded Cha Xiaodao, since he had claimed that the unruly young man was his nephew.

As for Li Yan, the guard didn’t dare to hold him accountable. Even if the three had been traveling together, it was presumed that Governor Li must have been deceived by those two as well.

Cha Xiaodao glared at Li Yan, “What did I say?”

Li Yan responded with a smile of apology; it was certainly his fault this time.

He stepped forward, “Brother, what’s the matter? Is this man also a fugitive?”

He pointed at Cha Xiaodao.

“No, that’s not the case.”

The gatekeeper was shrewd. With just one sentence from Li Yan, he discerned the hint of defense in his voice and resolutely swallowed the words “He’s in league with the murderer on the run”.

Li Yan held the dual roles of a fifth rank Governor and a Flying Cavalry Captain with military honors; he was quite famous in the three northeastern towns. Moreover, Li Yan had fought his way up through the ranks, winning the deep favor of the Li Clan in Liaodong and had many old friends in high positions. He was not a man to be trifled with.

Li Yan looked towards Cha Xiaodao, who got the hint and immediately pretended to be panicky, “That kid gave me five taels of silver to pose as his uncle, I really didn’t know anything!”

The gatekeeper remained silent, looking down.

Li Yan moved closer and slipped him several pieces of broken silver, whispering, “Much obliged, much obliged.”

The gatekeeper coughed, “Ahem, the Governor is too kind.” But he actually pushed the silver back, refusing to accept it, and then spoke loudly, “Let him go.”

Li Yan bowed in thanks.

“Governor.” The soldier about to lead Li Yan to the General Military Mansion hesitated, “General Li is getting quite anxious; he has been urging you since yesterday morning.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Li Yan turned to Cha Xiaodao, “You find a guest room and wait for me.”

“What about that kid?”

“He might be a person who will leave his name in history, but let’s not worry about him for now.”

Li Yan silently repeated “Night Lamp, Book, Sword, Monk, Ghost Fox” to himself several times and decided not to delay any further, hurrying to the General Military Mansion with the soldier.

…

At the parade ground of the Guangning Guard’s General Military Mansion, hardwood round targets were lined up in a row; dark flags stood tall around the houses, creating a somber and dignified atmosphere.

Li Rumei wore a black military uniform and sat cross-legged on the floor with a green leather quiver holding six steel arrows beside him, their white feathers tinged with a hint of rouge as he adjusted his bowstring.

Behind him stood a row of men, each armored and stout, with sharpness shining in their eagle-like eyes. Their mere presence was formidable.

“My lord.”

The sun was already high in the sky. Li Yan walked past the stern gaze of these soldiers and came alone to Li Rumei’s side, bowing with a fist in palm.

Li Yan’s horse had been taken to the back courtyard, and he hadn’t changed his attire, wearing only his armor and carrying a wine gourd at his waist, which made him look somewhat weary.

Li Rumei glanced at him, “You look travel-worn, yet you’re the last to arrive. Don’t tell me you dressed in tatters on purpose to soften my heart.”

Li Rumei’s tone was not pleasant, a demeanor he only showed towards subordinates he trusted more. To outsiders, Li Yan was regarded as an unquestionable direct descendant of the Li Clan. Seven years ago, he was called up from Liaodong to participate in the Renchen War, where he made a name for himself under the banner of the Li family. The military honors of his Flying Cavalry Captain position were secured through a memorial written by Li Rusong—still alive at that time.

“I dare not, it’s just that I haven’t traveled far in these years, and as I seldom tread the official road, I’m indeed confused,”

Li Rumei was even more displeased after hearing this, “What, I haven’t seen you for several years, and you can’t even find your way anymore? If you’re no use, then go back to Zhili, don’t delay the task and lose your life!”

Li Yan didn’t care but just gave a foolish smile.

Clothes make the man. Li Yan, having hurried here over several days of hardship, had his clothes somewhat dirty with mud and snow. Combined with his current mood, which wasn’t as excited as when he first arrived, and his more reserved manner, he indeed was the least conspicuous on this drill ground.

The soldiers and officers present noticed Li Yan’s disheveled appearance, and though they said nothing, they looked down on him even more.

Seeing that Li Yan only smiled without responding, Li Rumei gave him a displeased glance, then pointed at the fierce soldiers beside her, “Take a look, these are the border generals I’ve promoted from the twenty-five guards of Liaodong. These years defending the frontier, each of them boasts the courage to face a hundred foes alone.”

Li Yan looked up as he was told, his gaze moving from one to another, he saw nothing but a pair of defiant faces beneath the dim or bright white light.

Li Rumei’s command to review the troops was clearly a sign of respect, yet this calabash-carrying officer who arrived the latest, had a low rank, and even less impressive demeanor, was unlikely to win these men’s allegiance.

Li Yan scanned the troops from front to back and back to front, then looked down and cupped his fists again, “My lord must be jesting. Where are the border generals who can take on a hundred each here? These are but family soldiers who carry bows and pass arrows.”

A middle-aged officer with bushy eyebrows charged forward without regard for Li Rumei’s presence, aiming a kick at Li Yan’s knee while cursing, “What an arrogant brat.”

His words arrived before his knee, and it was no sneaky attack. Li Yan took the blow without flinching, only glancing sideways at him as if nothing had happened.

Seeing that Li Yan didn’t budge, the middle-aged man’s pupils contracted. He was not one to be reckless and ignorant of the gravity of the situation. He bowed his head and took two steps back, then remained silent.

Li Rumei shook her head, “You’re exaggerating with your words.”

Li Yan stood up straight, “May I ask General, is this journey fraught with immense danger?”

Li Rumei replied gravely, “It is bizarre and unpredictable. Without ferocious generals of formidable might to escort us, even a group of several thousand men will fall apart. With more people, the danger is only greater.”

Li Yan nodded, with a pensive look on his face, “In that case, it would be better to dismiss these men. I can focus without distraction, and perhaps even travel faster.”

Several officers, upon hearing this, were so angered they couldn’t contain themselves. One couldn’t help retorting, “Commander-in-chief, it seems apparent that Governor Li is extraordinarily skilled. However, words alone prove nothing. Why not compete with us first, and then we can discuss the escort matter?”

Li Yan said nothing, knowing that bringing these people to Dragon Tiger Mountain would just make trouble for him. In his view, it was best to let him escort alone. Since he couldn’t bring them along, he might as well make his position clear. He was no longer the young Chief Banner without a foundation on the Renchen battlefield, and there was no need to mince words for anyone’s sake.

“…”

Li Yan was not interested in competing with these people. He looked around and then made a request to Li Rumei, “I take the liberty of borrowing your bow and arrow.”

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Li Rumei of course had no reason to refuse. An attendant handed Li Yan a bullhorn great bow and a red-feathered arrow, which Li Yan took, drew the bow to a full crescent, and released. The arrow flew, piercing the target’s bullseye and leaving a dark hole.

Li Yan’s archery had always been mediocre, but since being enhanced by Destiny Yak, these skills had become extremely simple for him.

“Good.”

Li Rumei, a master of archery, was naturally delighted with the sight.

However, the officer who spoke up earlier was not satisfied, “Is Governor Li comparing archery with us? Being able to draw a five-stone bow and shatter the target is indeed impressive. But drawing a five-stone bow is nothing remarkable for me on a normal day, and shattering a target? General Gai Tongshan of Jinzhou Guard is also rumored to achieve this feat in the army. Such skills, I’m afraid, won’t convince the crowd…”

Li Yan watched and said nothing.

Meanwhile, the mentioned Gai Tongshan was embarrassed, kicking the man who spoke up and shaking his head with a grave look, whispering, “He didn’t use a thumb ring.”

The officer was taken aback and noticed that indeed, Li Yan had nothing on his hands.

Opening a five-stone bow barehanded, were this man’s fingers crafted of fine steel?!

“Commander-in-chief,” an attendant came running back, “Governor Li’s arrow struck into a rock in the back garden, sunk two feet deep. I am unable, sir, to pull it out.”

On hearing this, Li Rumei stood up hastily. He wasn’t wearing boots, and his white socks touched the ground, immediately getting dirty, “Lead me to see it!”

He rushed off, and the officers followed with downcast expressions.

After walking about seven hundred steps, they saw the arrow embedded in the rock, and couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, “Great!” He turned to Li Yan, “Li Guang’s shooting a tiger was merely a story on paper, but you have truly opened my eyes! As for escorting the Dragon Tiger Banner, there is no second choice but you!”

“I will not fail the mission,”

Li Yan bowed.