Chapter 4: Seven-Tenths of That Belongs to the Other Fellow

Northern Xiurong.

Early that morning, Er Zhu Zhao assembled the finest Qihu warriors under his command and armed them.

Today, Er Zhu Rong had ordered him to go welcome the leader of the surrendered Taiping Stockade, Li Shuang.

When the sky was fully bright, Er Zhu Zhao brought a hundred riders to the agreed meeting place.

Men and horses rested briefly.

Er Zhu Zhao called out loudly to the Qihu warriors:

"Listen up, all of you, look sharp. If anyone slacks off and lets those Han barbarians look down on us, watch out for my horsewhip!"

Among the Er Zhu clan's subordinates in Northern Xiurong, Er Zhu Zhao held tremendous authority.

For no other reason than this: he could fight!

Once he gave the order, the Qihu warriors all cheerfully agreed.

At his side, Er Zhu Zhao's trusted aide stepped forward and brought him water.

"The General sent you to welcome Li Shuang—what are you doing?"

"What do you know? This is called asserting dominance! I have to cut him down to size, otherwise how will I command him later?"

"But doing it this way, won't it cause a clash?"

Er Zhu Zhao paid no heed, pointing his horsewhip at the riders under him.

"See that? Fine clothes make the man, fine saddle makes the horse. I had all hundred of these Qihu warriors put on the best clothes from home and bring the finest gear."

As he spoke, Er Zhu Zhao laughed proudly.

"This is what they call overwhelming them with force. I doubt a mere bandit like him can have much dignity to speak of."

"Brilliant, my lord!"

Not long after these words were spoken, a cloud of dust rose in the distance.

As it drew nearer, Er Zhu Zhao looked hard and his face went pale with fright.

"Damn—has Po Liu Han Po Ling come attacking?"

He saw several hundred armored riders charging toward him, bristling with killing intent.

Er Zhu Zhao froze on the spot. If they clashed, his hundred riders had no hope of surviving.

Just as Er Zhu Zhao was at a loss, unable to collect himself, those several hundred riders suddenly halted. Their leader, accompanied by a few riders, came forward with a smile on his face.

"I am Li Shuang. I was invited by General Er Zhu, but I don't know where the General's residence is?"

Li Shuang?

Er Zhu Zhao was stunned. How could a mere bandit have equipment even better than his own regular troops?

Before Er Zhu Zhao could speak, the trusted aide who had just handed him water was so terrified by Li Shuang's military bearing that he didn't dare utter a word, and instinctively pointed out the road.

"Many thanks!"

Li Shuang led his men away. As they departed, Er Zhu Zhao still heard Li Shuang's sigh of admiration.

"I've heard Northern Xiurong is a wealthy place. Why are the herdsmen dressed so shabbily?"

Er Zhu Zhao was stunned, and his face flushed red at once.

Have I been looked down on by a bandit?

Before the Northern Wei moved its capital, Northern Xiurong, as the Er Zhu clan's fief, bore the responsibility of supplying warhorses to the army at Take Pingcheng.

The entire Northern Xiurong region was crisscrossed by mountains.

The Er Zhu clansmen, in order to tend their cattle, sheep, camels, and horses, mostly lived wherever water and grass were found, pitching tents in the wilds. Only in the core area of the Er Zhu clan's territory were a few buildings constructed.

Er Zhu Rong's residence was situated right in the midst of it.

At this moment, Er Zhu Rong was in conversation with Yuan Tianmu, who had brought the latest news.

"Someone leaked the news that Ying'e was abducted to Luoyang. The court wants us to hold off on sending Ying'e over for now."

Er Zhu Rong narrowed his eyes, and a shadow fell across his handsome, Bai Xi complexion.

"What did the Guard General say?"

"Prince Yuan Yi said he could smooth this over, but he wants us to pick another woman of the Er Zhu clan to send over."

"Looks like we'll have to send up more gold, silver, pearls, and jade again!"

Just then, a voice announcing a report came from outside the room.

"General, a man who calls himself Li Shuang has arrived."

Yuan Tianmu rejoiced.

"My young friend has come!"

Er Zhu Rong naturally knew Yuan Tianmu's attitude toward Li Shuang, and he was curious—what manner of man could earn Yuan Tianmu's praise?

"Where is Er Zhu Zhao?"

"The military chief has not returned yet!"

"What is that boy up to?"

Er Zhu Rong, somewhat displeased, took Yuan Tianmu with him to go out and greet the guest.

At this time, Er Zhu Rong was still only a local hegemon of the Xiurong region. Though he had earned military merit, he was far from possessing the imposing presence of the later Grand General of the Heavenly Pillar.

Li Shuang had over ten thousand men under his command.

A force of this level joining his banner was something worth treating with seriousness.

He saw, on the open ground outside the General's residence, several hundred riders drawn up in formation, waiting.

At the sight of the bearing of Li Shuang's men, Er Zhu Rong's eyes lit up.

Er Zhu Rong was a man exceptionally skilled in the use of troops, and he immediately knew that Yuan Tianmu's description of Li Shuang was no exaggeration.

As they drew closer and he saw the equipment of Li Shuang's riders, his heart rejoiced all the more.

Unlike Er Zhu Rong, Li Shuang had his own little calculations in mind.

He had thought that after joining Er Zhu Rong's official army, his life would see a qualitative improvement.

But looking at the buildings in the center of Northern Xiurong and the attire of the Qihu people, how was it not much the same as his own Taiping Stronghold?

Before the amnesty, my Taiping Stronghold people lived in earthen houses and wore hemp clothes; after the amnesty, my Taiping Stronghold people still live in earthen houses and wear hemp clothes. Wasn't this amnesty for nothing?

"Young friend, this is General Er Zhu!"

Yuan Tianmu led Li Shuang to meet Er Zhu Rong.

"I have come to pay my respects to General Er Zhu!"

Li Shuang performed the bow.

This legendary diving champion of Heyin was not as Dong Taishi as described in later generations; on the contrary, in the prime of his life, he was a handsome man with extraordinary bearing.

"No need for excessive courtesy; follow me to the residence for a banquet."

People of this era judged others from two starting points.

First, ask about their origin; second, look for heroic spirit!

"Do kings and generals have a special breed?" is nonsense in this era!

Any hero must come from a noble, high-ranking family.

From Yuan Tianmu's mouth, Er Zhu Rong had already learned that Li Shuang was of the Longxi Li clan.

When the Liuzhen were in their glory, they accepted many Han Chinese powerful families. After the Northern Wei moved its capital, the treatment of the Liuzhen ceased, and desertions of local garrison soldiers became frequent.

Er Zhu Rong did not doubt.

Anyway, now, most people of the Liuzhen have been designated as rebels by the Luoyang court; even if investigated, nothing could be found.

Longxi Li clan is just Longxi Li clan!

As for heroic spirit, looking at the hundreds of armored knights behind Li Shuang, who would dare say he lacks heroic spirit!

Therefore, Er Zhu Rong held Li Shuang in high regard.

During the banquet, when the wine was flowing and ears were hot, Er Zhu Rong even started calling Li Shuang brother.

"Brother, you don't know; you have caused me great trouble."

Li Shuang knew it was because of the matter of Er Zhu Ying'e and pretended to be foolish.

"What trouble could make you, brother, so worried?"

"Because of the matter of Ying'e, I must send a large sum of money to Luoyang."

Li Shuang waved his hand.

"The Er Zhu family's fame for wealth is known throughout the world; would brother be short of money?"

Whether from grievance or from drinking too much, the huge man Er Zhu Rong had tears glistening at the corners of his eyes.

"Why is brother so sorrowful?"

"Everyone thinks my Er Zhu family is as rich as mountains, but who can know that my Er Zhu family's estate has long been targeted; whatever we gain must be contributed year after year to the capital. Only by feeding the high officials and nobles in Luoyang can my small Northern Xiurong remain stable."

"Then how much can be kept?"

After Li Shuang finished speaking, Er Zhu Rong became even more sorrowful, and Yuan Tianmu explained:

"In good years, having three-tenths of the ten-tenths is already good."

Clearly, Yuan Tianmu was also very familiar with this operational model.

Er Zhu Rong wiped his tears and waved his hand.

"Let us not speak of these things. Hearing Tianmu say that brother manages affairs skillfully, seeing you today confirms it is no falsehood. Brother's cavalry armor is even finer than the armor of my personal guards. May I ask for some instruction?"

"Nothing special; good at plundering!"

Li Shuang's answer was concise and powerful, leaving even Er Zhu Rong, who had seen great storms, stunned.

"The Liuzhen are far in the northern wilds, without roots, and difficult to achieve great things; over time, they will surely fail. The court defends the Liuzhen in the north, guards against the Liang Kingdom in the south, has a demon empress within, and faces strong enemies without. After this war, it will surely suffer great damage; this is the time for heroes to display their talents. At this moment, one must broadly annex land, recruit heroes, and strengthen oneself. If one is a step slower, one will surely be taken advantage of by others."

Yuan Tianmu was lost in thought, while Er Zhu Rong listened with eyes shining.