Chapter 79

Thump thump thump……

The sound of war drums echoed, and Zhang Ke hurriedly looked in the direction of the noise. A group of soldiers appeared on the distant road, running quickly toward them.

Zhang Feng also watched from the side, nodding continuously, "Second Brother, the soldiers here in Yizhou are all hereditary military households. See, they run very neatly. It seems the commander is quite capable. Uncle He was a general in Jin and Yizhou a few years ago, but he never mentioned any good generals here. Do you know whose troops these are? I really want to see them!"

As he spoke, Zhang Feng couldn't help but look into the distance, nodding in approval.

Behind him, Qiao Fu couldn't hold back any longer and burst out laughing, "Brother Feng, the person you want to see is right in front of you, why bother looking far?"

Zhang Feng's mouth dropped open in surprise, and he said in disbelief, "Qiao Fu, don't lie! To run so neatly, it would take at least half a year of training. Your group has only been together for less than a month, and you've already reached this level. Are the commanders still alive? Second Brother, what do you think?"

Zhang Feng glanced at his second brother, who had a proud but restrained smile on his face.

Zhang Ke said, "Big Brother, maybe, just maybe, it really is the troops from He Bay Village!"

Qiao Fu patted his chest and said, "Brother Feng, don't you see, isn't the one running in front my brother Qiao Gui?"

Zhang Feng, upon hearing this, quickly focused his gaze and indeed saw Qiao Gui. Could it really be...

"Second Brother, when did you learn to train troops? Tell me, what other skills do you have? There's a saying, right, it's called 'viewing with new eyes'!"

At that moment, Qiao Gui and Yue Zixuan led their troops over. They also saw the dozens of people with Zhang Ke.

Qiao Gui was overjoyed and ran over, rolling and crawling to Zhang Ke's group.

"It's really you! You're finally back!"

Qiao Gui gave Zhang Ke a bear hug, tears streaming down his face.

"Brother, you don't know how scared we've been these past few days!"

Zhang Ke patted Qiao Gui's back and smiled, "Brother Gui, we're all fine, and Big Brother is back too!"

Qiao Gui, upon hearing this, turned his gaze to Zhang Feng. The two men looked at each other, and sparks flew. They then embraced in a fiery, earth-shattering hug.

Actually, Zhang Ke and Qiao Fu were about three to four years younger. Qiao Gui and Zhang Feng had grown up together, bare-bottomed. They were notorious troublemakers, climbing trees to steal birds, fishing in the river, fighting together, and getting beaten together.

After years apart, they were almost on the brink of a life-and-death separation. How could they not be moved? They hugged each other, crying and laughing, pounding their chests, and patting each other's backs, like two madmen.

Zhang Ke quietly wiped away a tear from the corner of his eye and turned to look at Yue Zixuan, who had run over.

"How have things been while I was away? Has anything happened?"

Yue Zixuan, upon seeing Zhang Ke, blushed.

"Sir, you're finally back, we were all scared to death. We heard that Sir Zhang was killed, and the Zhang family was to be exterminated!"

"Bullshit!" Qiao Fu jumped up and shouted, "Isn't Brother Feng fine? Who spread this rumor? Speak up, I won't let them off!"

Zhang Ke's mind raced, and he immediately had a hunch.

"Is it the new group from Dacheng Fort?"

Yue Zixuan nodded quickly. At this point, Qiao Gui and Zhang Feng had finished their emotional reunion and began recounting the events of the past few days.

After Zhang Ke left, Qiao Tieshan and the others followed his instructions, guarding He Bay Village and waiting anxiously for news. Less than ten days later, a group of about three to four hundred people suddenly appeared, charging straight for He Bay Village.

The leader introduced himself as He Guangguang, the deputy commander of Guangning's Houtun Guard, claiming he had orders to arrest the Zhang family and punish them.

This news terrified the villagers. They thought Zhang Ke's rescue mission had failed, and they were coming to finish them off! Yue Zixuan, who was in charge of the village's defense, quickly reported this to Qiao Tieshan.

Qiao Tieshan was also frightened, but he had more experience.

"Listen up, the master took twenty people with him. Even if the rescue failed, he would have sent a message. These people coming here without warning are not to be trusted! Furthermore, even if it did fail, I, Qiao Tieshan, will not let them take the Zhang family!"

Yue Zixuan and Ma Rufeng nodded in agreement. Yue Zixuan patted his chest and said, "Sir Zhang is our hope. If the court won't accept him, we have no future. We might as well rebel and become bandits, at least we'll be free!"

As they discussed, Qiao Gui suddenly said, "Father, Brother Ke has a good relationship with Wang Huazhen of Guangning. Why don't I ask Wang Huazhen?"

Qiao Tieshan slapped his forehead and said, "How could I forget? Go immediately!"

Qiao Gui left from the back of the village, while Qiao Tieshan led the others to the city wall to confront the outsiders.

"Who are you, and why are you here to arrest people? Show us your credentials!"

He Guangguang, below the city wall, was furious and started cursing.

"Old man, do you know who I am? I am the deputy commander of Guangning's Houtun Guard, and my brother is the general He Guangxian, a favorite of the governor and the inspector. Hand over the Zhang family, or I'll kill you all!"

Qiao Tieshan smiled coldly, "From your words, you don't sound like an official, but more like a bandit. If you want to arrest people, show us the imperial warrant. Otherwise, even if your brother He Guangxian comes, it won't work."

Qiao Tieshan's demand for a warrant stumped He Guangguang. He had none, as he was just there to take advantage.

To understand He Guangguang's position, we need to look at his official title. The Guangning Houtun Guard was originally set up in Yizhou (now Fuxin, Inner Mongolia). In the eighth year of Yongle, the Daming Command was abolished, and the various guards were moved inland. The abandonment of the Daming Command was a significant mistake in Emperor Zhu Di's northern strategy, leaving the narrow Liaoxi Corridor without a buffer. Mongol cavalry could easily raid south, and the Jurchens had a chance to rise.

However, this is a bit too far back. The Guangning Houtun Guard was moved to Yizhou, sharing the city with the Yizhou Guard. As the saying goes, "Two tigers cannot coexist on one mountain," and the Yizhou Guard gradually gained the upper hand over the Guangning Houtun Guard.

By the Wanli era, the Guangning Houtun Guard was almost defunct, and the hereditary officials were barely better off than ordinary people.

He Guangguang had no real skills and was a complete incompetent. However, his cousin He Guangxian suddenly rose to become a general, and as a result, He Guangguang, the underachiever, was given a new lease on life. He gathered a group of ruffians and passed them off as soldiers, gaining some authority.

A few days ago, He Guangxian wrote to him about Zhang Feng's case, saying that Zhang Feng was almost implicated and was to be executed. He Guangguan was furious upon reading this and, upon learning that Zhang Feng's hometown was in Dacheng Fort, immediately led his ruffians to demand justice, wanting to arrest the Zhang family and avenge his cousin.

However, He Guangguang's information was outdated. He thought the Zhang family would be an easy target, but when he reached He Bay Village and Qiao Tieshan refused to hand over the Zhang family, he was furious and ordered his men to attack.

If it were any other village, they might have been scared by a few hundred people, but He Bay Village was different. They had fought tigers and battled Tartars. They didn't take these people seriously at all.

The villagers, already angry about the attempt to arrest the Zhang family, vented their fury on the attackers. Ice blocks rained down from the city walls, causing many casualties.

Arrows flew, killing more of He Guangguang's men.

He Guangguang's men were a bunch of ruffians, good at bullying civilians but not at fighting. When they encountered real resistance, they quickly broke ranks. The village soldiers, seeing this, didn't hold back. Yue Zixuan and Ma Rufeng led a group of spearmen and a group of shield and sword soldiers out of the city.

These soldiers, knowing the hardships of survival, trained rigorously. Zhang Ke was generous, giving each soldier at least half a pound of meat a day. With good nutrition, the soldiers were in high spirits, and a month of training was equivalent to two or three months in other armies.

When they charged out of the city, they were like a pack of young tigers, chasing and attacking fiercely. He Guangguang's men scattered, and he had no choice but to retreat to Dacheng Fort.

He Guangguang was terrified, with an arrow in his buttock, and he was in a sorry state. He wrote to He Guangxian and tightened his defenses, fearing a counterattack.

Qiao Tieshan, however, didn't act rashly. He didn't know what had happened to Zhang Ke, so he retreated to He Bay Village and sent more scouts to gather information.

Qiao Gui recounted the events, smiling, "I returned from Wang Huazhen yesterday. When he heard about the attempt to arrest the Zhang family, he was furious. He said that to arrest the Zhang family, his approval was needed, and he would send men to arrest He Guangguang. I told him that He Guangguang was a bumbling fool and that the village soldiers were enough. After returning home, I told my father, and we brought two squads of soldiers and twenty archers to arrest He Guangguang!"

Zhang Ke, upon hearing this, was both angry and amused.

"This He Guangxian is ruthless, thinking of exterminating the Zhang family! But it's too bad, he can't destroy me, and I'll destroy him first!"

Zhang Ke led his soldiers to the city wall, where the defenders trembled in fear.

"Listen up, Zhang Ke is back! Tell Tang Bi to come out and see me. If I don't see him in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he'll be responsible for the consequences!"

His voice carried on the north wind, reaching the city. Xie Zongqi, who was urinating at the base of the city wall, heard Zhang Ke's voice and was so frightened that he held his urine.

"It's the master, the master is back, Zhang Erlang is back!"

Xie Zongqi pulled up his pants and ran like a rabbit to Tang Bi's house.

"Sir Tang, Zhang Erlang is back, the defense commander is back. What should we do?"

Xie Zongqi's shouts alarmed the city's residents, and many people, upon hearing the news, were moved to tears.

"I always said, a good person like the defense commander wouldn't be in trouble. The ones who should be punished are scoundrels like He Guangguang!" Han Changlu, moved, ran to the kitchen, grabbed a kitchen knife, and rushed out.

"Where are you going, you fool!" his wife shouted in surprise.

"Uneducated woman, I'm going to welcome Zhang Erlang and let him into the city!"

...

Thank you to Guanyueq, Nifeng, Nagen Gun Zou Tianxia, and Meihua Jin for your generous support. I am deeply grateful...

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