Chapter 43

Just setting up camp, Huan Yuan talked for an entire afternoon. It was because of his explanation that Liang Xiao first learned about the so-called Eight Arrays.

Originally, the Eight Arrays were not some mysterious formation, and had nothing to do with the Eight Trigrams. They were just a basic way of setting up formations, commonly used when camping.

Everyone knew how to set up formations, but whether they were set up well depended on two things: first, whether the commander could choose suitable terrain. Terrain is ever-changing, and being adept at using the advantages of the land rather than sticking to rigid rules is one factor that distinguishes a good commander; second, whether the commander could know and utilize people's strengths. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses; some are good at attacking, others at defending. Placing them in suitable positions maximizes their combat effectiveness and forms a cohesive force.

"This is like a person using their feet to walk because they are sturdy, and their hands to do various delicate actions because they are flexible. If you make your hands walk and your feet do tasks, that would be putting things in the wrong order."

Huan Yuan paused, and Liang Xiao quickly offered him a water pouch. Huan Yuan took the water pouch and drank two large gulps in one breath. After talking for so long, his throat was almost on fire.

"Did you remember it?"

Liang Xiao smiled bitterly. "I remember about half of it."

"Remembering half is not bad," Huan Yuan smiled. "You don't need to worry. This is just laying the foundation for you. In the future, when you participate in the military exams and gain firsthand experience, you will truly understand."

Huan Yuan took another sip of water and said hoarsely, "Though military strategy often involves deception, it is more about solid skills rather than fanciful ideas. Great generals come from the ranks because only through the ranks do they understand the wisdom contained in those seemingly simple statements. Aoxiao, you don't have the chance to be Zhao Kuo, and you shouldn't be Zhao Kuo. In the future, if you join the military, you must be down-to-earth. First, ensure you are invincible, and then you can achieve victory."

Liang Xiao nodded vigorously. "Master, you're tired. Rest well. I'll go hunt some game."

Huan Yuan shook his head. "Leave the hunting to your Uncle Zhongli. You're not ready for that yet. Don't ruin the state of mind you've cultivated with hard work."

Liang Xiao, feeling helpless, went to Zhongli Qi and relayed Huan Yuan's words. Zhongli Qi looked worried, sighed, and kicked Tuniu down from a tree, dragging him off to hunt.

Liang Xiao thought for a long time, and Zhongli Qi's sigh kept echoing in his ears, making him feel uneasy. In fact, he himself sensed something was off. Huan Yuan had talked too much today, as if he wanted to pour everything out of his mind and into Liang Xiao's brain. This sense of urgency made him very uneasy, always feeling that something was about to happen.

He walked over and sat beside Huan Yuan, quietly accompanying him.

...

A full moon climbed up the hill, and the cold moonlight shone on the trees, breaking into scattered patches of light that fell on the faces and bodies of Liang Xiao and the others.

Zhongli Qi and Tuniu had a bountiful harvest, not only hunting a wild boar and catching two fat fish but also finding a nest of bird eggs. All the spoils were thrown on Tuniu's back, while Zhongli Qi only held a few bird eggs, tossing them up and down with ease. His hands seemed to have eyes, always catching the eggs no matter how high they were thrown.

Tuniu looked gloomy, his hands wet and a few eggshells stuck to them, as if he had just crushed a few eggs.

"What happened?" Liang Xiao went up to him and took the firewood off Tuniu's back.

"Forget it," Tuniu grumbled. "He made me hold eggs while fighting him. I wasted a few eggs and got hit a few times for nothing."

Liang Xiao patted Tuniu's shoulder to comfort him. "Niu'er, if it weren't for your master's dedication to teaching you, could you have survived the battle with Lei Bei today?"

Tuniu was taken aback, scratched his head awkwardly, and chuckled. Liang Xiao knew that this guy was not a good person and was probably plotting some revenge. Advising him was for his own good. With his strength, any mischief would only result in a beating from Zhongli Qi, with no other outcome.

"Niu'er, a gentleman's revenge is never too late."

"Right," Tuniu nodded vigorously, giving Zhongli Qi a sidelong glance with ill intent.

They started a fire, roasted the wild boar and fish, and Zhongli Qi went back first. As the head of the village, he had responsibilities and couldn't stay outside the city. Huan Yuan, however, had no intention of leaving. He wiped his mouth and said with a lingering desire, "We won't go back to the city tonight. We'll camp here. Aoxiao, Niu'er, you have fifteen minutes to find a place to hide. After fifteen minutes, I'll come looking for you. If I find you within half an hour, you won't sleep tonight and will walk around the city until dawn."

Liang Xiao and Tuniu looked at each other and, without a word, got up and ran off in a flash.

No way, it was just getting dark. Walking around the city until dawn would break their legs.

Huan Yuan listened to their gradually distant footsteps and smiled, scolding them.

...

Liang Xiao dragged Tuniu and ran for two miles, stopping on a hill to the east. They found a large rock, cleared the dense grass underneath, and crawled in.

"Why didn't we run farther?" Tuniu asked, puzzled. "The farther we run, the harder it is for him to find us."

"Stupid. Isn't it easy to make him not find us? We could just run back to the city, find a place to hide, and he wouldn't find us even by tomorrow morning."

"Right, why didn't we do that?"

"Niu'er, hasn't your master beaten you enough? Haven't you learned yet? My master asked us to hide, not to win or lose. He's testing our ability to hide. Don't you want to be a little spy? The most important skill for a little spy is to be good at hiding. Even if you hide in front of the enemy, they won't know you're there. Only then can you gather information and strike effectively."

"Right, right, right." Tuniu suddenly understood and praised. "Aoxiao, you're so smart. No wonder my master always praises you. I said, what about my sister? Think about it? Really, being a concubine is fine too."

"Shut up." Liang Xiao was furious. "If you mention your sister again, I'll cut ties with you."

Tuniu shrugged indifferently. Liang Xiao was about to say more when he suddenly heard rustling footsteps and was startled. He quickly shut his mouth, thinking, "Master, this is not fair. You said fifteen minutes, why are you not keeping your word?"

As he was complaining about Huan Yuan, he suddenly frowned, pressed Tuniu, and put a finger to his lips, signaling him to be quiet.

The footsteps grew closer, and he realized they were not from one person, nor from Huan Yuan's distinctive steps. A rough count suggested at least three people.

It was dark, who would come here? Could they be here to observe the military exams like us?

At that moment, a familiar voice rang out above their heads.

"Why don't you let me do it myself? I can't get rid of this hatred unless I kill this lowly civilian with my own hands."

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