Chapter 50

Wudamu was a middle-aged man of short stature but with a robust build. He had a large, flat face with very rough skin, a typical Mongolian man's appearance.

Wudamu and Li Yuan had dealt with each other many times. After hearing Li Yuan's explanation, he reluctantly said, "So that's how it is. Since you put it that way, we'll let it go this time. If it happens again, we won't be so lenient. Go back and tell that rash young man to keep his men in line when he goes in. These days are different from usual; our tribe is hosting some esteemed guests. We can't afford to disturb them, or I can't guarantee your safety."

"Alright, thank you, Brother Wudamu." Li Yuan felt a great relief when he heard that the matter was finally over. After all, maintaining peace and harmony was the top priority for any businessman traveling abroad. No merchant would be like Yueyang, eager to show off his muscles and ready to fight at any moment.

However, just as both sides were about to call it a day, a commotion arose from behind Wudamu. With the sound of galloping hooves, a cavalry unit quickly approached from the rear.

At the sight of this cavalry unit, Yueyang, who was standing beside the formation, began to frown.

At first, it was a lie to say he wasn't nervous. Yueyang knew that these Mongolian cavalry were not like the bandits outside Yingzhou City, a motley crew of ruffians.

If a real fight broke out, he and his thousand-strong caravan might have to pay the ultimate price. Although his soldiers were equipped with the finest armor in the world, they were still just infantry. The cavalry had a natural advantage over them.

The cavalry could use their mobility to attack and retreat at will, wearing them down. Yueyang's army wasn't completely defenseless; with their repeating crossbows, he was confident he could make the enemy pay a heavy price before he fell. But who would want to die if they didn't have to?

However, when the cavalry unit appeared from the rear, Yueyang sensed a completely different aura from the previous Mongolian cavalry.

Firstly, the attire of the two units was very different. The previous Mongolian cavalry wore a chaotic mix of sheepskin coats and various leather clothes, with few wearing armor. Their weapons were also varied, including curved swords, long swords, and maces, giving them a disorganized appearance.

The cavalry unit that appeared from the rear, however, was very different. They were uniformly dressed. Through his telescope, Yueyang could clearly see that the cavalrymen were all wearing bright red armor, with white silk edging. Their armor was studded with shiny copper rivets the size of chess pieces, and their helmets had long, sharp spikes with white plumes on top.

Most importantly, the moment this cavalry unit appeared, it gave off a very oppressive feeling. When they looked at you, it felt like they were ready for bloodshed.

"This is a battle-hardened army!" This was Yueyang's first thought when he saw this unit. Moreover, he noticed a slight unrest in his own army, which quickly subsided under the orders of the junior officers, but it still raised his alertness.

"This doesn't seem like a Mongolian cavalry unit!"

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Li Yuan spurred his horse toward him, shouting, "Nephew Yue, quick... quick, come with me to meet Chief Zaisang and the distinguished guests from the Later Jin."

"Guests from the Later Jin?" Yueyang muttered, then suddenly slapped his thigh and said, "Now I understand why this unit is so different from the Mongolian cavalry. These people must be the Jurchen..."

"Shh... Do you want to die? How dare you call the people from the Later Jin by such a name!" Before Yueyang could finish, Li Yuan quickly covered his mouth.

At that moment, Li Yuan's face was pale. He glared at Yueyang and said, "If you want to die, I won't stop you, but don't drag me down with you. Do you realize whose territory we're in? Don't you remember what I told you earlier?"

"Alright, I was wrong! I won't say it again, okay?" Yueyang knew he had slipped up and quickly apologized to Li Yuan. However, this habit was a result of his time on military forums in the modern world.

But this realization finally made Yueyang understand the unease he had felt earlier. The cavalry unit that appeared from the rear was from the Later Jin, which explained the intense pressure he felt!

Seeing that Yueyang was still in a daze, Li Yuan patted his shoulder and said, "Come on, snap out of it. Let's go meet Chief Zaisang and the distinguished guests from the Later Jin!"

"Alright!"

Yueyang nodded and called over Shunbao and Hu Laosan, who were leading the troops behind him. He whispered, "Shunbao, Hu Laosan, remember this: when I go to meet those Mongolian and Jurchen Tartars, keep your eyes open. If anything happens to me or if something seems off, don't hesitate. Take the brothers and fight them, got it?"

"Understood, Master!" Shunbao and Hu Laosan replied in unison. One was Yueyang's childhood servant, and the other was the head of the guards who owed a great debt to the Yue family. Their loyalty to the Yue family and Yueyang was unwavering. Although they knew that fighting such a large group would likely end in their deaths, neither of them hesitated.

While Yueyang was preparing for the worst, several people in the Later Jin contingent were also observing the situation with his caravan.

A man in his fifties, riding a strong horse and wearing a sheepskin coat, said to a middle-aged man in his forties with a gentle face and a money rat braid, "Great Prince, it's just a caravan. Why are you so interested in this caravan?"

This man speaking was none other than Zaisang Buhe, the leader of the Khorchin tribe, and the middle-aged man beside him was Dai Shan, the Great Prince of the Later Jin. Dai Shan had come at the behest of Huang Taiji to discuss another marriage alliance with the Khorchin tribe. Unexpectedly, Dai Shan had just arrived at the Khorchin tribe and hadn't even had time to enter the tent for a cup of milk tea when he heard that a fight was about to break out. Curious, he and Zaisang Buhe hurried over with their guards.

Hearing Zaisang's words, Dai Shan pointed to the front and said, "Chief Zaisang, take a closer look. Don't you find the guards of that Ming caravan interesting?"

Hearing Dai Shan's words, Zaisang became curious and began to observe the caravan. After a while, he shook his head, "It's too far to see clearly, but I can definitely say that the equipment of this caravan is very fine."

Dai Shan nodded and said, "Yes, I think so too. We'll know more when the leader of that caravan comes over." He then turned to a general beside him and gave a subtle nod, which the general acknowledged with a nod.

As they spoke, they saw a Mongolian general leading two merchants dressed in Ming attire galloping toward them. These two merchants were none other than Yueyang and Li Yuan.

When Yueyang and Li Yuan approached Dai Shan and Zaisang, they immediately felt a strong pressure emanating from the cavalry in front of them. As they got closer to Dai Shan and Zaisang, the pressure intensified, especially from the cavalrymen behind Dai Shan, who were glaring at them with fierce eyes.

Yueyang didn't care about such glares. As a modern internet veteran would say, "Girl, stop glaring! If looks could kill, the country wouldn't need to make so many weapons; they'd just practice their glares every day!"

However, Yueyang's indifference didn't mean Li Yuan felt the same. Under the fierce gazes of so many cavalrymen, the old man was already breaking out in a cold sweat...