Chapter 525: Tofu Beiliang

Sodu. Sodu.

Peregrine falcons constantly circled above the master and servant. Lezhang, being a mere brute unfamiliar with military maneuvers, didn't quite understand the implications of seven or eight military falcons circling and hovering. However, he clearly felt a chilling, ominous presence, like dark clouds pressing down on a city. Lezhang squatted down, placing a hand on the ground of the post road. He had intended to report the enemy's approach to the Fan-Wielding Young Master—two hundred cavalry charging their way. But Lezhang quickly remembered that the young master's cultivation was far superior to his, and that the Finger-Profundity realm also possessed the mystique of divination. Therefore, he didn't bother to offer unappreciated advice.

Lezhang picked up a snowball, weighed it in his hand, and considered whether to kill an annoying peregrine falcon. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed one scout who was particularly bold. While a dozen other scouts from all directions kept their distance, this one, unaware of the danger, attempted to approach and investigate. Lezhang rose with a sneer, swung his arm, and, recalling the instructions concerning soldiers, launched the snowball. It slammed into the warhorse's head, instantly erupting into a crimson mist of blood. The warhorse collapsed dead. The scout tumbled to the ground, but instead of fleeing in a panic, he quickly drew his crossbow. After running a dozen steps towards the horse's killer, he finally remembered his military orders. With a resentful turn, he retreated. As he passed the spot where his beloved warhorse had died, the young scout's eyes reddened. He unfastened the nanmu horse tag from its neck, tucked it into his embrace, and sprinted away.

The Fan-Wielding Young Master paid no mind to Lezhang's minor skirmish. His gaze followed the ridge, fixed on a distant, moderately tall mountain peak. According to his original plan, he anticipated encountering a cavalry force of three to four hundred, or at most six to seven hundred, stationed in Zhelgui County. This engagement would serve as a warm-up for Lezhang, to break the North Liang cavalry's morale and allow them to penetrate the formation. Afterward, relying on a speed far superior to that of a galloping horse, they would charge directly to the formidable Tongmen Pass. There, he would personally engage in a fierce battle with Tongmen's elite iron cavalry. Regardless of victory or defeat, it would be an opportunity to achieve instant fame, renowned throughout the land. He would only reluctantly reveal the life-saving talisman on his person if absolutely necessary. Of course, he was not so arrogant as to believe he could single-handedly suppress six thousand cavalry at Tongmen Pass. More likely, it would be a strategy of fighting and retreating, avoiding prolonged engagement. If he were to stubbornly hold his ground, he would suffer the same fate as the Sword Emperor of West Shu. Despite the Wu family's nine swords breaking ten thousand cavalry, and Li Chungang's feat of slaying two thousand six hundred armored soldiers with a single sword on the Guangling River years ago, their ultimate outcomes were far from glorious.

As the young master who had ventured alone into their territory gazed up at the mountain peak, others were also looking out into the distance. Beside Xu Fengnian were Pei Nanwei, the two Lingzhou Deputy Generals Xu Yanbing and Han Laosan, as well as the two Tongmen Pass Commanders Wei Shaqing and Xin Yinma, who had come to observe, and Pearl Commander Huang Xiaokuai. Unlike Huang Xiaokuai, Wei and Xin had not brought a single soldier with them; Pearl's six hundred light cavalry were waiting at the foot of the mountain. The two hundred cavalry Lezhang had detected belonged to Ma Jinchai, the Dongye Commander of Zhelgui County. This time, Xu Fengnian, acting as Lingzhou General, issued orders for troops from several counties, including Dongfeng and Zhelgui, to leave their garrisons. As for the full deployment from the military and judicial departments of several county yamen, it was nominally attributed to the new Lingzhou Provincial Governor, Xu Beizhi. Centered around the mountain peak, all post roads within a thirty-li radius had been strictly sealed, forcing merchants to detour. Nearly a hundred scouts were dispersed throughout the area, aiming for one scout every three li, regardless of direction. Ma Jinchai's Dongye cavalry was divided into three sections, gradually forming up, with two hundred cavalry leading the way to probe the enemy's strength. Additionally, Ren Chunyun, the Beiguo Commander of Dongfeng County, had brought four hundred troops and was waiting in position to the southwest, while Zhu Boyu, the Fengqiu Commander, personally led five hundred cavalry, watching menacingly from the northwest. Troops from the various official military and penal departments were interspersed in the gaps between the northwest positions.

The rank of North Liang Commander was highly disorganized, and the number of troops under their command varied greatly. For instance, Wei Shaqing and Xin Yinma of Tongmen Pass each commanded three thousand men, yet their rank was still a tier lower than Pearl Commander Huang Xiaokuai, who was also of the fourth rank. Dongye Commander Ma Jinchai, Beiguo Commander Ren Chunyun, and Fengqiu Commander Zhu Boyu held the same rank and grade as Wei and Xin, but their combined forces were still fewer than that of a single Tongmen Pass Commander. North Liang's military officials were powerful, suppressing civil officials, but they themselves were rife with factions and rivalries. In addition to long-standing border disputes, there were regional conflicts over passes and counties, and within counties, disputes over substantial positions and honorary titles, making the situation intricate and complex. Being entangled in this was like falling into a spiderweb; any slight movement could trigger a chain reaction, causing shocks and repercussions. This was precisely why Xu Fengnian's initial efforts to rectify the Lingzhou bureaucracy were not met with optimism.

Han Laosan, holding a jujube wood spear named 'Little Barbarian's Shoulder,' chuckled softly, "This person surely never imagined His Highness would have such audacity, directly mobilizing nearly three thousand cavalry under four commanders. We will make sure he meets his end right here in Zhelgui County, giving him no chance to reach Tongmen Pass, much less enter Lingzhou's provincial capital to steal fame."

Xu Fengnian smiled, "If he could use martial arts methods to take the head of a senior general amidst an army of ten thousand, do you think the imperial court would reward him with the title of Grand General?"

Wei Shaqing of Tongmen Pass scoffed, "With this boy's ability, he won't even make it up the mountain. I hear he has delicate skin and tender flesh, and a pretty face like a beautiful woman. Brother Xin, you have diverse tastes. When His Highness has him tied up, why don't you plead with His Highness and take him back to Tongmen Pass as a concubine?"

Xin Yinma, the Tongmen Pass Commander with a somewhat effeminate appearance, did not refute Old Wei's indiscriminate teasing. He whispered, "Your humble subordinate does indeed have that thought, but how dare I act on my own initiative and ruin His Highness's plans? Old Wei, since you've sparked my interest, why don't you give me your delicate young son, and we can become in-laws? I'll call you father-in-law from now on; losing a generation in seniority wouldn't matter."

Cornered by the retort, Wei Shaqing angrily kicked Commander Xin's horse in the flank, muttering curses. He and Xin Yinma originated from different factions within the North Liang army. Wei Shaqing was a loyal confidant from the Grand General's direct line, while Xin Yinma had served in various armies, holding military posts under old North Liang powerhouses like Zhong Hongwu and Chen Zhibao. Later, he became associated with Yan Wenluan, the Infantry Commander, and now Xin Yinma was loosely considered a half-member of the Yan faction. Despite their differing backgrounds, he and Wei Shaqing had gotten along well at Tongmen Pass over the years. Inside the pass, they naturally engaged in internal struggles, genuinely needing to support their respective three thousand men, who constantly clamored for positions, money, and armaments. This made it impossible for them to be high-minded and incorruptible, but externally, they always presented a united front. It was well known that Commander Xin favored men. He, however, viewed accumulating wealth and a family fortune very lightly. If his former subordinates, the commandants, wished to show him respect, they would spend heavily to procure well-trained, attractive young men from Jiangnan and send them to Xin's manor. This was more effective than any other tribute. Fortunately, the King of North Liang was never a stingy or unforgiving master; he never bothered to dwell on such minor improprieties that caused no harm to North Liang's military or political affairs. Xin Yinma glanced at the young man who had already stepped down as Lingzhou General. After hearing his conversation with Wei Shaqing, he ignored it, maintaining his smile, and looked towards the post road down the mountain, slowly uttering the three words, "The show begins."

Xin Yinma concentrated intently, straightening his back to gaze into the distance. Ma Jinchai's two hundred cavalry had already charged towards the master and servant. Xin Yinma had always looked down on Dongye Commander Ma Jinchai's troops. In his opinion, these pampered 'sons of generals' were all weak-kneed. It was rumored that this mission to flank and intercept the retreat should have been Fengqiu Commander Zhu Boyu's responsibility. However, Ma Jinchai shamelessly begged His Highness for this 'plum assignment,' anticipating military merits. Disregarding established military orders to maintain distance and advance in sequence, he launched a reckless charge. Clearly, he believed the rebellious Jianghu outlaws would be easy to subdue, and as long as he captured the two, he wouldn't fear His Highness's punishment afterward. As for stealing the Pearl cavalry's first credit, and potentially alienating Huang Xiaokuai, who was isolated in Lingzhou, Ma Jinchai, with his familial ties to Grand Commander Yan, naturally wouldn't care.

The young master fanned himself, resting with closed eyes, while sparse, fragmented hoofbeats reached his ears from behind. There was none of the thundering momentum rumored of the North Liang hundred cavalry. At the border east of Jizhou, he had already experienced Grand General Gu Jiantang's military prowess, having been pursued by Gu's six hundred cavalry across vast plains for a long distance. That was true iron cavalry. If North Liang's cavalry was all at the level of these two hundred behind him, then the claim 'North Liang's Iron Cavalry is the best under heaven' would indeed be a huge joke. Two thousand such cavalry could be scattered by a charge from Gu's six hundred. Without a glance from his master, Lezhang turned to face the two hundred 'embroidered pillows.' He took a deep breath, scraped his toe on the iron-hard frozen ground of the post road, instantly making a pit, then darted out. A wave of harmless black arrows rained down from short crossbows. To an expert, this looked comical; though seemingly aggressive, the arrows were still six or seven *zhang* short of Lezhang. Ma Jinchai, bringing up the rear of the two hundred cavalry, didn't think anything was amiss. He was protected by a dozen brightly armored guards, one of whom was a charming, petite attendant with graceful features, wearing beautiful light armor—clearly a woman. It seemed Commander Ma, besides aiming for credit, also wanted to show off his disciplined troops in front of his pampered beauty. However, Ma Jinchai soon realized something was wrong. The first volley of crossbow bolts had achieved nothing. This wasn't a major issue; crossbows were light and fired quicker than bows. But Ma Jinchai's face suddenly changed. The two hundred cavalry were solely focused on charging, yet the Jianghu man's speed far surpassed that of galloping warhorses. The second wave of crossbow bolts poured down, not missing entirely, but the man disdained to even raise a hand to block them, letting them strike his body like reed stalks hitting iron and stone. Some shattered, others slid off, giving the cavalrymen no chance to continue their 'game.' He had already met the three leading cavalrymen. Those three were startled, immediately abandoning their crossbows and hastily drawing their spears. Lezhang, like a jackal entering a flock of sheep, burst into the wide gap between two galloping horses. He leaped high, positioned himself horizontally, and punched one horse while kicking another. The outermost cavalryman on the left was also caught in the crossfire; two warhorses tumbled sideways off the post road, one on top of the other. The warhorse on the right was sent flying five or six *zhang* away by the man's punch, crashing to the ground, scattering snow like willow catkins.

The three cavalrymen riding abreast were clearly terrified and tried to evade the man's unstoppable onslaught, but it was too late to dodge. One of them, whose horsemanship was quite skilled, reluctantly gave in to a fit of brutal courage and rode his horse directly towards the Jianghu brute. Commander Ma had already announced: whoever could slay an outlaw would be rewarded six hundred taels of silver and promoted three ranks! Lezhang lightly leaped, then brought his elbow down onto a horse's head. A tall horse, rapidly galloping forward, was brought down by that single elbow strike. The cavalryman, tumbling forward, instinctively thrust his spear into Lezhang's incomparably fierce chest. But before he could even feel surprise, he found an icy pain shooting through the web of his hand gripping the spear, and the long spear slipped from his grasp. Lezhang took the spear with one hand, grabbed the cavalryman's collar with the other, and tossed him high into the air like a chick. Then, with a flick of his left wrist, he raised the spear, retreating as he went, catching up to the two cavalrymen who had narrowly slipped past him earlier. He then held the long spear horizontally, blocking their path. The two warhorses collided with the spear, unable to advance even an inch. The cavalrymen in the rows behind them crowded together, horses jostling horses, spears pressing spears, and their initial charging formation instantly disintegrated.

Lezhang poured internal energy into the long spear with both hands and strode forward, laughing. The dozen or so cavalrymen ahead, clustered together, were sent sprawling, horses and riders overturned. Disregarding these feeble ants, Lezhang shifted the spear from a two-handed grip to a single hand. Several nimble cavalrymen on horseback hurled their spears; one long spear flew straight towards Lezhang's forehead. The man, who was as docile as a pet cat or dog in front of the Fan-Wielding Young Master, lunged his head forward, directly shattering the spear into pieces. He then snatched a spear and swept it diagonally upwards, striking a cavalryman in the waist, sending his body arching sideways through the air, rolling into a somewhat 'playful' large snowball on the snow. Lezhang leaped forward, no longer caring about spear arts or techniques, but simply wielding the long spear like a club. With one swing, he split a warhorse from its spine down to its legs, tearing it in half. The cavalryman sat on the fallen half of the horse's carcass, his gaze vacant.

Ma Jinchai swallowed hard. Forcing himself to remain calm, he avoided looking at his pet concubine, whose face had gone pale, and muttered to himself, "This rogue is formidable. We can slowly retreat, then turn around and ambush him!"

Then Dongye Commander Ma Jinchai turned his horse around and fled in a flash.

On the mountaintop, Xu Fengnian turned to Wei Shaqing and Xin Yinma, smiling faintly, "It seems our Commander Ma has welcomed a splendid start to the New Year."

Then, looking at the Pearl Commander, who wore a cold smile, Xu Fengnian said calmly, "Huang Xiaokuai, Ma Jinchai wasn't trying to compete with you for military merit. Clearly, he was being painstaking, feigning weakness to lure the enemy deeper."

Huang Xiaokuai's lips curved upward. He softly said, "Huang Xiaokuai appreciates Commander Ma's kindness. Your Highness?"

Xu Fengnian nodded.

Huang Xiaokuai rode his horse alone down the mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, three hundred cavalry remained stationary, while the other three hundred formed left, right, and center divisions, charging towards the young master slowly waving his peach blossom fan.

Lezhang glanced back, scoffing with a chuckle. He didn't pursue the routed Dongye cavalry. When they had initially charged him, they were as impatient as hungry men seeing women. Now, before he had even warmed up, they were crying for their fathers and mothers and heading home. Lezhang discarded the long spear, its red tassel soaked in warhorse blood, intending to experience the prowess of the next North Liang Lingzhou cavalry unit.

In the eyes of this Vajra Realm expert, all this talk of North Liang's Iron Cavalry was just utter nonsense, made of tofu.

Lezhang spat a glob of thick phlegm onto the ground with a 'pah' sound.

With such 'shrimp soldiers and crab generals,' Lezhang felt he could even play at being the King of North Liang.

On the mountaintop, Xu Fengnian, who had been observing with cold eyes, kept his hands tucked into his sleeves, his fingers subtly twisting inside, as if meticulously unraveling a complex situation.

Sodu.