Chapter 14: Nameless

The night was deep, the dew heavy, and the firewood in the house was nearly spent.

The house, which had not been repaired for years due to the ravages of war, could not withstand the invading chill as the fire gradually died out; everyone inside felt a bit cold and instinctively huddled closer to the pile of firewood.

These dozen Hu Ren were retreating from the battlefield.

Li Shuang learned from them that Er Zhu Rong had won.

He won with ease!

The Qihu soldiers under Er Zhu Rong's command, after years of training by Er Zhu Rong, were well-disciplined and incomparably fierce.

After Wan Ziqizhen led his troops in pursuit, he was ambushed by Er Zhu Rong; unable to withstand it, more than half of his Hu cavalry were killed or wounded.

After drinking a few mouthfuls of mutton soup, they gradually recovered; freed from the slaughter on the battlefield and now at leisure, their spirits were actually quite high.

Yu Fukan looked at these Hu Ren who had just failed in their rebellion yet were laughing and talking, and asked curiously:

"You followed Wan Ziqizhen in rebelling, and now you have failed; do you not worry at all about your future?"

The group of Hu Ren laughed heartily, and some even mocked Yu Fukan for being too timid.

"We are not worthless Han people; would the court dare to kill us?"

Upon hearing these words, Gao Ang, who had been in the corner, raised his eyebrows imperceptibly, and anger appeared on his face.

Yu Fukan, with a solemn face, listened to the words of these Hu Ren and sighed.

"When discipline has collapsed to this extent, how can the world not be in chaos?"

"Why do you speak like a Han person?"

Someone complained, not caring at all.

"We are now following Wan Ziqizhen in rebellion, and we have only killed some Han people worth a single coin; what great crime is that? When I served as a Yulin Guard in Luoyang, I set fire to Zhang Yi's mansion, beat Zhang Yi until he was half-dead, and killed his son; yet the court still dared not do anything to me! Are the lives of those Han people worth a single coin as precious as Zhang Yi's?"

Yu Fukan remained silent.

Seeing that Yu Fukan did not speak, the other felt somewhat dissatisfied and accused him:

"You people who came south have read too many Han books and have become just like Han people. Today I will show you how cheap these Han people are."

Having finished speaking, he took a few people and went out.

The peaceful night suddenly became noisy.

These few Hu Ren who had gone out captured several Han refugees outside, men and women alike, all half-naked.

"What are you doing?"

Yu Fukan looked confused, but he saw the Hu Ren inside the house laughing.

The Hu Ren inside the house corralled the captured Han refugees like dogs, making them crawl on the ground and bark; if they crawled a bit too slowly, they would raise their whips and lash them. Some even stripped the women's clothes, wanting them to perform with the men on the spot...

The cries and pleas for mercy only made the laughter of these Hu Ren louder.

"Enough!"

Yu Fukan's loud shout brought a touch of grim solemnity to the room.

These dozen Hu Ren sensed the strange atmosphere, felt something was wrong, and quickly stood up, gathering on one side with their hands gripping their personal swords.

The Han refugees who had been crawling on the ground took the opportunity of the distraction and ran out quickly.

"What do you intend to do!"

The group of Hu Ren looked at Yu Fukan and warned him.

At this moment, Gao Ang, who had not spoken until now, also stood up holding a long spear.

However, his attention was not on Yu Fukan, nor on the dozen Hu Ren, but on Li Shuang in the corner.

"How about this matter tonight?"

"A bit troublesome!"

Li Shuang's answer made Gao Ang laugh loudly.

After laughing, he raised his hand and thrust his spear out.

A point of cold light arrived first, and then the spear emerged like a dragon.

The Hu Ren standing at the very front had no time to react, and a bloody hole appeared in his neck.

Taking a life amidst laughter and conversation.

"I am Gao Ang of the Bohai Gao clan; when you go down to ask King Yama, do not forget!"

Gao Ang withdrew his spear behind him, looked at the Hu Ren before him, and said coldly.

As soon as the words fell, the Hu Ren's body crashed down with a boom.

The remaining Hu Ren, seeing this scene, felt their blood surge, and let out a roar.

"Kill!"

These dozen Hu Ren surged toward Gao Ang; he was seen holding his spear horizontally, let out a deep shout, the sound like an ancient temple's bronze bell, and with arms as thick as old trees, he exerted force and blocked all the Hu Ren charging at him.

While they were locked in stalemate, an arrow flew in from the side.

Gao Ang looked at the person shooting from the side and praised:

"Excellent archery, who is this gentleman?"

"Yang Kan of the Taishan Yang clan!"

The box Yang Kan had always carried with him had long been opened, and inside was a golden-threaded hard bow.

The string sang, the arrow flew, and the Hu Ren fell with the sound.

Hou Jing, who had been sharpening his knife outside the house, heard the commotion inside and immediately rushed in holding his knife.

Wielding two long knives, acting as if possessed, he shouted while charging:

"Dog Hu Ren, die for your grandfather!"

It was just that when Hou Jing rushed in, the battle was nearly over.

More than a dozen Hu Ren lay on the ground, most already silenced forever.

Hou Jing saw the scene, hurriedly set down the long blade in his hand, and rushed to Li Shuang, full of concern.

"Are you all right, my lord? This minister arrived late!"

Li Shuang pushed Hou Jing aside.

"What could possibly happen to me?"

Li Shuang walked over to a Hu Ren who still had one last breath left, wiped his own cross-blade on the man's body, then sheathed the blade.

"Judging by your dress, you don't look like ordinary soldiers. Out with it—what's your relationship with Wan Ziqizhen?"

The Hu Ren, with his dying breath, glared viciously at the four people in the room and cursed:

"We are the Herdsman's personal attendants, sent ahead to scout. Don't you gloat—a thousand armored cavalry are coming right behind us, and they will take your heads for certain!"

Li Shuang looked up at Yang Kan and Gao Ang.

"I told you there'd be some trouble!"

Yang Kan gave a soft laugh; Gao Ang shrugged indifferently.

Hou Jing, however, was a bit worried.

"Those useless fools of the General Er Zhu clan let Wan Ziqizhen escape. Even though his army is defeated, he still has several hundred riders. We don't have enough men—should we avoid him for now?"

"We can leave, but the refugees here can't run far."

Li Shuang grinned and looked at Yang Kan and Gao Ang.

"You two gentlemen agree, don't you?"

If they left and Wan Ziqizhen's defeated troops arrived, seeing their dozen-odd dead attendants, in their fury they would surely slaughter the refugees around them.

Li Shuang's meaning was plain: since the deed was done together, the trouble naturally had to be resolved together.

Gao Ang polished the spearhead of his long spear and said proudly:

"I don't work with nobodies—state your names first!"

"Li Shuang, originally from Guanzhong!"

Gao Ang seemed lost in thought, then asked:

"Could that be the fierce bandit Li Shuang who defeated Wo Hu?"

"I won't hide it from you, brother—I now serve the court!"

Gao Ang certainly knew what Li Shuang had been up to lately, and burst out laughing at once.

"Interesting. Tell me, what do you want to do?"

"To get rid of Wan Ziqizhen, the few of us alone aren't enough—we need to rely on the Han people outside this house!"

Yang Kan shook his head, not in agreement.

"The people outside have long had their courage broken by the Hu Ren; it's hard to count on them for anything important."

Li Shuang, however, just smiled.

"Not necessarily!"

Yang Kan was surprised and asked:

"What does Brother Li intend to do?"

"To catch a bandit, first catch the king!"