Chapter 9

Since ancient times, there have been countless filial sons, but how many could cut their flesh to feed their mothers!

Zhou Shixiang, who had lived two lives, was already stunned by Hu Lao Da's act of cutting off his arm to feed his mother. His chest felt as if a heavy weight was pressing down, making it hard to breathe. After a long time, he murmured, "A true man indeed."

Song Xianggong also sighed, "Yes, Hu Lao Da is a true man!"

"Cutting off his arm to feed his mother, this act of filial piety is no less than the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars. Why is Hu Lao Da unwilling to mention this? It seems there is some sorrow he does not want others to know?" Zhou Shixiang was puzzled and cautiously probed Song Xianggong.

Song Xianggong smiled bitterly, pointed to his heart, and whispered, "Hu Lao Da could not save his mother, nor could he save his two younger brothers. He feels guilty, so he is unwilling to talk about it. The more he talks, the more it hurts... Let's not talk about Hu Lao Da anymore. Come, Brother Zhou, let me introduce you to the other brothers."

After saying this, he took Zhou Shixiang's hand and led him to the man with a full beard, saying, "This is Brother Peng Dazhu, a native of Guangdong. He joined the army during Emperor Shaowu's reign and has always followed General Chen Qice. After our defeat in Xinhui last year, he got separated from the troops and joined us on the way."

When he mentioned joining them, both Song Xianggong and Peng Dazhu looked a bit uncomfortable, but Zhou Shixiang did not notice, and even if he had, he would not have thought much of it. He could see that these men were outlaws; otherwise, why would a group of men with knives and guns gather together?

Peng Dazhu was still a bit embarrassed about his earlier actions and regretted them. He clasped his hands and said apologetically, "Brother Zhou, I was really wrong just now. If Old Peng had known that Brother Zhou is a hero who kills Tartars, I would never have been so disrespectful!"

Zhou Shixiang quickly replied, "Brother Peng, you didn't know. It's all in the past, don't dwell on it."

"Alright!"

Peng Dazhu, being a straightforward man, nodded and said no more.

Song Xianggong then introduced the man dressed as a hunter to Zhou Shixiang. This man's name was Zhao Sihai, also a native of Guangdong. Like Hu Lao Da, he had once served in Li Chengdong's army. After Li Chengdong's defeat, he joined Hu Lao Da in their bandit activities.

Zhao Sihai also clasped his hands and said to Zhou Shixiang, "I apologize for my earlier behavior. When we return to the camp, I will treat you to some wine to calm your nerves!" He did not call Zhou Shixiang "brother" like the others but addressed him as "scholar," showing that he had a high regard for scholars.

"Mr. Song, there's no need for you to introduce them. We can introduce ourselves."

Before Song Xianggong could introduce the two men with fierce faces, they walked up to Zhou Shixiang. The taller one said, "I am Ge Wu, and this is my brother Ge Liù. We are bandits, and we look fierce. If Brother Zhou finds us unpleasant to look at, just don't look at us. We won't be offended."

Ge Wu and Ge Liù were indeed bandits. Before the Qing army entered Guangdong, they had been robbing on the roads in the western mountains of Guangdong. They had been pursued by the Southern Ming government in Guangdong many times, but they knew the terrain well and had a group of fearless followers, so the government's attempts to capture them were unsuccessful. After the Qing army entered Guangdong and the Southern Ming's rule in Guangdong collapsed, no one paid attention to them anymore, and they enjoyed a period of freedom.

Last year, the two brothers responded to the call of the Southern Ming Grand Secretary Guo Zhixi, leading over a hundred followers to help the Ming army attack the Qing army in Xinhui. However, they were not motivated by a desire to kill Tartars but by the hope of profiting from the chaos. Unfortunately, they did not make any money and were defeated by the Qing army, with most of their followers killed or injured. Ge Liù was seriously wounded, and if they had not met Hu Lao Da and received treatment from Song Xianggong, he would have died. Since then, the two brothers have followed Hu Lao Da, and since the beginning of the year, they have been active in the Dachao Mountains.

Ge Wu and Ge Liù's self-introduction left Zhou Shixiang speechless. He nodded with a smile, indicating that he understood.

"By the way, Brother Zhou, the Tartar's proclamation says you are a scholar. I just don't understand how a scholar like you could kill the bandit You Yunlong?" Song Xianggong suddenly brought up the question that Zhou Shixiang found hard to answer.

"Um..."

Zhou Shixiang stammered, "That day, You Yunlong thought I was a scholar, weak and helpless, so he did not suspect me. That's how I got close enough to strike. Looking back, it was really a stroke of luck... If he had been prepared, even ten Zhou Shixiangs would not have been able to kill him."

"Luck?"

Song Xianggong frowned, unsure whether to believe him or not, but he did not press the issue further.

Just as Zhou Shixiang thought he could get away with it, Zhao Sihai suddenly asked, "Scholar, have you ridden a horse before?"

This question startled Zhou Shixiang again. Thinking quickly, he blurted out, "My late father once worked as a groom, so he taught me some horse riding skills when I was young. It was just for fun, but I never thought it would come in handy later." As he said this, he sighed deeply, as if deeply saddened.

Seeing this, Zhao Sihai's mouth opened slightly, but he did not ask any more questions. Peng Dazhu and the brothers Ge Wu and Ge Liù were rough men and did not ask so many questions. They only needed to know that You Yunlong was killed by Zhou Shixiang, and they believed whatever he said.

Song Xianggong did not express any doubts but asked Zhou Shixiang, "What are your plans now, Brother Zhou?"

Zhou Shixiang replied, "I killed You Yunlong, and the Tartars will surely be looking for me everywhere. I can't stay in Guangdong. Killing You Yunlong is not enough to avenge my parents and family. I want to go to Guangxi and join General Li Dingguo's army to fight the Tartars, but I have been wandering in the mountains for two days and can't find a way out."

"Join the army in Guangxi?"

Song Xianggong was taken aback and was about to speak when Hu Lao Da's voice came from outside, "We shouldn't stay here long. Let's go back to the camp. Lao San, go get Brother Zhou's horse. It's dark and the mountain path is steep, be careful not to fall off the horse."

"Alright, I understand." Zhao Sihai loudly responded and went to get the horse.

Seeing this, Song Xianggong did not say anything more but said to Zhou Shixiang, "Brother Zhou, if you don't mind, come and rest at our camp."

"Exactly what I wanted!" Zhou Shixiang, who was looking for a place to stay, immediately agreed and said, "Please lead the way, Mr. Song."

At that moment, Zhou Shixiang followed Hu Lao Da and the others to the camp, and the sword that belonged to You Yunlong was returned to him.

...

Author's Note: Emperor Shaowu, the younger brother of Emperor Longwu (Tang Wang Zhu Yujian), was enthroned in Guangzhou by Grand Secretary Su Guansheng and Guangdong Governor-General Gu Yuanjing in the second year of Emperor Longwu's reign after Emperor Longwu's death. His reign was short, lasting only one month. After Guangzhou fell, Emperor Shaowu committed suicide.

Late father: deceased father.

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