Chapter 767: Chapter Six: Taking to the Hills

Bai Lang at this moment also possessed a handsome appearance, flame‑like unruly eyebrows, steel‑needle‑sharp tiger whiskers covering the lower half of his face, a two‑inch‑plus beard; at a glance he truly looked like a mortal Tai Sui, a peerless fierce general. Shi Yi's looks resembled the white‑robed junior general from the stories, his appearance could be called handsome, and the weapon he wielded was a one‑zhang long bright silver spear, its blade like snowflakes, with a hook‑shaped concave near the middle of the spearhead.

It also had a locking effect; the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear is a skillful martial art. Legend says that in ancient times Zhao Zilong of Changshan was listed among the Five Tiger Generals, never wounded in his life, but Bai Lang had seen Zhao Zilong and knew it wasn't really like that… Nevertheless, this spear technique is indeed intricate and varied, usable in mounted combat, foot combat, breaking formations, and duels; Shi Dalang had practiced it to the point of being second nature, and Bai Lang, looking at his martial skill, said, "Making a hundred‑man commander is no problem."

Unfortunately Great Song lacks horses, and indeed Shandong has few good steeds for Shi Yi to bring his mounted combat to its personal peak— even if there were fine horses from the northwest, Shi Yi felt they were a bit beyond his means. "So we must rob the convoy." Although Bai Lang was good‑looking, he was also the head instructor of the manor, but now the manor had only one "voice," that being Shi Yi's. Recently Shi Yi sent Shi Xiao, Shi Xiaomei, and some elderly relatives to the south, spending a lot of money to buy a manor and settle it first.

The current Capital Director has changed; this Director Tao, after taking office, is ruthless in squeezing money, as if tomorrow he would be gone. Regarding the Shi Family Manor's dock and fields, he shows a greedy attitude, first raising tribute but ignoring or even exploiting the rowdy trouble‑makers to press the Shi Family Manor. In theory, Shi Yi should have already cleaned up all the ruffians within a hundred‑li radius, leaving none daring to tug at his whiskers—but now there are still some.

Yet Shi Yi does not dare to take harsh measures, because Director Tao is apparently waiting for his Shi Dalang to "injure someone to death." These days, injuring someone to death can be big or small; a big case means exile for three thousand li or decapitation, a small one might just be sent to the neighboring county or dismissed as nothing. Director Tao's current style is to reach for the manor's dock with his throat outstretched, and Shi Yi certainly cannot give him that chance now.

After all, he is still young; although he has entertained thoughts of rebellion, he has also considered joining the army in the northwest to earn a name, "I really haven't made up my mind." In fact Bai Lang feels similarly; Great Song may be known for cowardice, but its cultural, commercial, and economic affairs are quite appealing—of course, peasant rebellions are not rare either. Compared with that, Jin is certainly not as good as Song; the mere destruction of the Kaifeng Prefecture is enough for Bai Lang to be extremely dissatisfied—moreover they are the Khitans, and Bai Lang's descendants have always been at odds with their "offspring" in later generations.

However, compared with Ming, Bai Lang has an even poorer impression of the Zhao officials of Great Song; up to now the best impression he has is of modern society, while in ancient times it was certainly Han first, Li Tang second, Zhu Ming third, Zhao Song now barely fourth, the Khitans not in the mainstream, and the Sima family also not mainstream. The Northern and Southern Dynasties each had their merits; honestly, Bai Lang really wants to meet Gao Cheng—so that everyone can discuss the farmer's three‑fist technique and why the emperor conspires to rebel.

"The current ruler is the reincarnation of the late Southern Tang monarch, surely here to destroy the Zhao‑Song dynasty—who else could have caused Zhao Guangyi's misdeeds?" Bai Lang said this, and others paid him no mind—actually many people think so, differing on whether Great Song will fall, but no one disputes that the Dao‑ruler emperor is the reincarnation of the Southern Tang monarch. This time the Hua Shi Ganggang Ship passed through the canal, transporting from the south skilled craftsmen's Gold Beads and exotic curios brought as Western tribute.

"I heard this Gang ship carries silver‑copper coins and many Gold Beads and exotic curios; I think it's time to rob a batch," Shi Yi said, barely able to hold back any longer—Director Tao's methods have become increasingly brutal, his demeanor more repulsive. This time he simply sent troops to harass the dock, prohibiting loading and unloading, claiming someone intends to rob the imperial convoy and must be thoroughly searched.

Bai Lang also laughed, "This man is coarse, unlucky, and talks too much, yet hits the mark." Shi Yi, already furious, immediately summoned his flower‑blue horse and spear and charged out. Bai Lang, unhurried, only drew a knife, did not mount a horse, and followed behind toward the dock. From afar he saw the dock bustling as claimed, with people shouting "Kill him! Kill him!" Indeed, Shi Dalang, youthful and impetuous, rushed forward and with a spear thrust killed the leading dockmaster.

Poor dockmaster had only come to extort money, never expecting such a ferocious man to burst out; without giving him a chance to speak, he was shot through the chest and his corpse tossed into the canal. Then the spear flew like a flock of birds, and in the blink of an eye took the lives of five or six boatmen. When Bai Lang arrived, the remaining boatmen, seeing the danger, had already leapt into the canal, leaving Shi Dalang unable to finish off their dead heads, so he could only shout curses on the dock.

After arriving, Bai Lang immediately grabbed Shi Yi, "Why get angry with these guys? Go find Director Tao, he's the real culprit. Kill him and then retreat to the hills." Bai Lang, now older, does not act rashly. Hearing this, Shi Yi instantly urged his horse away, charging straight toward Director Tao. This time Bai Lang did not follow; he returned to Shi Family Manor, led out his mother—a flower‑striped horse—and began to chew on the saddle's mouthpiece.

Not only his own horse, Bai Lang also hauled over an idle man, gave a few orders, and those twenty‑odd idle men prepared the carriage and fodder—preparing for retreat to the hills. Bai Lang's weapons were placed on a large cart, and where to retreat, that depended on the situation, perhaps even to the place of the black‑mane tiger. At that moment the Luan bell rang, and Shi Dalang's flower‑blue horse returned with a trophy head hanging on its victorious hook.

"Director Tao's head is here." Shi Dalang's complexion turned pale, likely realizing after his anger cooled what he had done. "Don't overthink it, it's just a director; if you kill an official, the matter becomes big, a mere director isn't worth much." Bai Lang laughed, "Will the imperial convoy be robbed or not?" Shi Yi, full of spirit, replied, "If we start, we won't stop; rob it and we can recruit troops and horses for the retreat!"

Bai Lang twirled his beard and smiled, "Then let's rob it." The idle men, already fed and impressed by Shi Dalang's martial skill, immediately said they would rob the imperial convoy. "This affair on the water, I'll go with you, just bring a knife, no need for long weapons." Bai Lang looked at the idle men again, "Among you, is there anyone who can sail?"