Chapter 80 of 100

Chapter 80

16 min read4,064 words

Facing Luo Shixin's ridicule, Sun Zengyou and Li Yunchong were at a loss for words. They were not fools; they understood the situation clearly, but they could not bear to see the person they respected most walk to his death. The thought that they must do something, anything, echoed in their minds, even if it meant risking their lives to grasp at the faintest of hopes.

Li Yunchong hurriedly said, "Does the general have any plan?"

Luo Shixin shook his head and said, "There's no plan for now. Reality is harsh. If there's no plan, there's no plan. There's no such thing as a plan when there's no plan. Acting rashly will only make your ten years of effort go up in smoke."

If someone who knew Luo Shixin well were here, they would surely sneer at his words: When has Luo Shixin ever been so rational?

But now, as an observer, he saw the situation more clearly and rationally than Sun Zengyou and Li Yunchong.

Li Yunchong said painfully, "We can't send troops, and we can't just watch Uncle Zuo die. I can't do it, I can't do it." He repeated "I can't do it" twice, his expression miserable. He had been a large and strong boy since childhood, as strong as a twenty-year-old at fifteen, and was forcibly conscripted before he was of age. At a young age, he knew nothing. It was Zuo Tiancheng who promoted him, found him a teacher, and taught him military strategy and how to conduct himself. Without Zuo Tiancheng, there would be no him. Anyone with a heart would value this favor more than their own life.

"It's not entirely hopeless! You need to think from a different perspective, don't get stuck in one place," Luo Shixin said. He always liked to think from multiple angles, and if one way didn't work, he would try another, never getting entangled in a dead end. "In this situation, you shouldn't think about how to save him, but rather how to ensure Zuo Tiancheng's life and how to make Gao Huizhen release him. For example, kidnapping Gao Huizhen's son? His parents? Or even the king of Goguryeo? More options mean more ways out!"

Li Yunchong and Sun Zengyou's eyes lit up simultaneously. They had never thought of it this way. They had only been thinking about how to save Zuo Tiancheng, what methods to use, but never considered turning the tables.

Saving him was indeed too unrealistic, but changing the approach might just work!

Seeing that they understood, Luo Shixin smiled and said, "The plan can only be thought of by you. I know nothing about Gao Huizhen. You know better what he fears and cares about."

Sun Zengyou stood up and said, "I'll go investigate!" He went to the counter, took out a raincoat, and hurriedly left without even saying goodbye.

Li Yunchong smiled and said, "Uncle You is too hasty. He's different from us rough men; he's a man of letters. Half of the money we earn from hunting and selling wild ginseng goes to Uncle You. He single-handedly created an intelligence network, and our ability to stand firm in Mount Taibai, knowing our enemies and ourselves, is largely due to Uncle You."

Luo Shixin, having already guessed the identity of Li Yunchong's group, knew that this tavern was a meeting point and was not surprised by this revelation.

Li Yunchong still asked about the situation in Central China, as missing one's homeland after a long absence is only natural.

Luo Shixin, as Li Yunchong wished, began to recount the situation in Central China, starting with Emperor Yang Guang's three expeditions against Goguryeo. No one in the world could tell historical stories better than he could, as he had once had a god's perspective and knew all the major events of the time, choosing to highlight the key points.

Li Yunchong's expression changed with the story, as if he were right there in the midst of it.

Especially when he spoke of the Battle of Hulao, where the Tang forces were in dire straits, with Wang Shichong's army in front and Dou Jiande's army pressing from behind, his breathing became more rapid with anxiety. He was from Guanzhong, and his personal feelings leaned towards the Tang of Guanzhong.

But when he heard that King Qin Li Shimin turned the tide with just 3,500 soldiers against 100,000 Dou Xia troops, he couldn't help but cheer in admiration.

He was then angry at the rampant Turkic tribes and delighted at their defeat, listening with great interest and a longing for the world of Central China. After all, compared to the vast world, Mount Taibai was too small.

Luo Shixin also curiously asked how Li Yunchong had discovered him.

Li Yunchong smiled and called down his eagle. Seeing the majestic bird, Luo Shixin's eyes sparkled with intense interest.

"Great eagle!"

Falconry and horseback riding were the most common pastimes of the wealthy and powerful in Chang'an. One could often see groups of rich young men riding tall horses and parading their eagles on leashes through the streets. A good eagle could fetch a sky-high price in Chang'an, far more expensive than gold, jewels, or jade.

But none of those eagles could compare to Li Yunchong's, whether in appearance or size.

Li Yunchong said proudly, "This is a divine eagle I captured with great effort, the king of all eagles in this generation. Apart from the extremely rare Haizhongqing, it would be hard to find a more fierce and powerful eagle in all of Mount Taibai."

Luo Shixin looked enviously, "With this, it's like having an aerial radar!" He picked the fattest piece of meat from the table and offered it to the eagle.

But the eagle ignored it until Li Yunchong called out.

The eagle then took the meat, raised its head, and enjoyed it.

Luo Shixin was even more impressed, praising the eagle's intelligence.

Li Yunchong felt very proud, let the eagle play on its own, and then said, "Actually, what I most want to train is a Haizhongqing, but they are extremely rare, with only one appearing among ten thousand divine eagles. Because they are so fierce and intelligent, people here call them the gods of all eagles. I once had the good fortune to see a substandard Haizhongqing. It swooped down and carried a snow fox into the sky right before our eyes. We tried to shoot it with arrows, but the speed of the arrow was no match for its speed carrying the fox."

Luo Shixin exclaimed, "Carrying a fox and still faster than an arrow, that's amazing! Are there different grades of Haizhongqing?"

Li Yunchong nodded, "They are graded by bloodline. The best are those with a completely sky-blue, pure white, or jet-black body. Golden, brown, and mixed colors are considered substandard. The one I saw was a mixed-color Haizhongqing, but its agile and heroic appearance was unforgettable."

Luo Shixin said wistfully, "If I have the time in the future, I must come to Mount Taibai to search for the Haizhongqing. Who knows, I might even catch one to play with."

Li Yunchong said, "That's hard to say. It's said that a hundred years ago, an old man who couldn't even draw a bow accidentally captured a Haizhongqing. When asked for the secret, he only said it was a matter of fate. I think that makes sense. Only fate can bring you a divine eagle like the Haizhongqing."

Luo Shixin and Li Yunchong drank and chatted, and before they knew it, a whole night had passed.

Sun Zengyou did not return all night. Luo Shixin checked the time and, realizing how late it was, hurriedly bid farewell to Li Yunchong and rushed back.

From a distance, he saw Pei Qingyi pacing in the courtyard. As soon as she saw Luo Shixin, she turned and went into the house without a word.

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