Chapter 430: Horse Racing

Liu Zheng and the others.

They did not sleep tonight either.

Several commanders gathered together to study the battle situation for tomorrow.

"The key is where the main force of the Big-Trouser-Legs will be!"

Liu Zheng looked at the map before him and said.

The others nodded as well.

The Zhongkujiao Tribe, represented by Shama Zhuoyi, has already been placed in the open... According to Liu Zheng's speculation, this Zhongkujiao Tribe should be the weakest in the Liangshan region at this time.

If a real war were to break out, the Zhongkujiao might not even be able to defeat the Small-Trouser-Legs!

However...

The Big-Trouser-Legs, that Naibao Rize, is the one who has truly been hiding in the shadows all along!

The leader of the Horse Gang...

Liu Zheng knows that in history, the Horse Gang also once had a glorious period. Compared to Shama Zhuoyi, this big shot on the surface, he feels that the one who should be paid more attention to is Naibao Rize.

Therefore.

The direction his troops are heading is very important.

Huobu Quli said: "My lord, the Scouts have already been sent out... but the terrain of Liangshan is complex, making it difficult to survey, and the Big-Trouser-Legs control the Butuo region, so it is very difficult for us to enter..."

Liu Zheng's eyes lit up: "You mean he wants to cut off our retreat in Butuo?"

Qin Zhangfeng, Pei Yanran, and Huobu Quli nodded simultaneously.

If Shama Zhuoyi wins at the Duge Grand Gathering tomorrow, this situation will certainly occur.

Liu Zheng chuckled upon hearing this: "So... logically speaking, the main force of the Big-Trouser-Legs should be mostly ambushed in the Butuo region, is that so or not?"

Huobu Quli nodded.

Liu Zheng's eyes lit up, he slapped the table and said: "Since that is the case, as soon as the Duge Grand Gathering ends tomorrow, we must strike first! Taking advantage of the momentum of the Son of the Black Dragon, and using the excuse of 'expelling' the Bone-Eating Poison, we will attack the Zhongkujiao Tribe first, and then completely take control of Qionghai!"

"What?"

Several people were dumbfounded and incredulous.

The next day.

This is the second day of the Torch Festival, and it will also be the liveliest day of the annual Torch Festival.

Because on this day, all kinds of exciting programs of the Torch Festival will appear in turn.

Early in the morning, these Liangshan People began to prepare.

Praising Fire, meaning "praising fire" or "extolling fire," is the climax of the Torch Festival. Just as the sky was beginning to brighten, the men, women, and children of Daliang Mountain all put on their festive attire, brought cooked chunk meat and buckwheat cakes, and walked toward the tall sacrificial altar. The scene of hundreds of thousands of people gathering together was quite spectacular.

The young women wore beautiful clothes and danced the "Duluoqi," while the men played various musical instruments on the side.

"Hahahaha, the noble guest has finally come!"

Seeing Liu Zheng and his party approaching, Shama Zhuoyi and the others came up to greet them.

The Headmen following Shama Zhuoyi looked at Liu Zheng as if they were looking at a dead man. Today, regardless of winning or losing, this Longyan must die!

Liu Zheng smiled, not even looking at Shama Zhuoyi, but instead looking at the silent Naibao Rize, and asked as if casually: "It seems there are quite a few fewer Big-Trouser-Legs people today; this scene is a bit less lively."

As soon as these words were spoken, a subtle glint flashed in Naibao Rize's eyes.

Shama Zhuoyi also gave a cold laugh.

Seeing that Liu Zheng's gaze would not leave, Naibao Rize could only cough and say: "The noble guest does not know, but recently locusts have been rampant in Liangshan, and the tribesmen have gone back to make some preparations. But at today's Duge Grand Gathering, our Warriors will certainly not give the noble guest any face!"

This remark caused everyone to laugh.

Huobu Quli, who was beside Liu Zheng, snorted coldly: "Who wants your face? Today, who wins and who loses is not yet certain!"

"Is that so?"

Shama Zhuoyi looked arrogant and sneered: "Headman Huobu, it has been five consecutive years now that you Inuo people haven't even made it into the top three. What, have you become arrogant this year because you have a noble guest supporting you?"

"You..."

Huobu Quli was so angry that he clenched his fists, and the others laughed and mocked him even more.

Liu Zheng smiled: "After all, we have the blessing of the Son of the Black Dragon this year, don't we? It wouldn't be surprising if anything happened."

"Right!"

Huobu Quli roared: "Son of the Black Dragon!"

"Son of the Black Dragon!"

At this, the Zhongkujiao tribesmen followed suit and roared. Today, it was not just the Zhongkujiao; other tribesmen, after seeing Aluba's "stunning" performance yesterday, also followed along and roared.

Shama Zhuoyi gave a cold laugh: "Whether it is the Son of the Black Dragon or the Son of the Black Bug, we will know in a moment! Noble guest, are you interested in adding a wager?"

He looked at Liu Zheng again.

"That's right, let's have a wager!"

"Hahaha, I lost three thousand cattle last year, I must win them back this year!"

"Just you? Did you bring the sheep for this year?"

"Pah!"

Liu Zheng felt Shama Zhuoyi's aggressiveness and smiled: "Headman Shama, what kind of wager do you have in mind?"

Seeing that Liu Zheng had agreed, Shama Zhuoyi's eyes lit up, and he laughed: "In any case, I must fulfill the duties of a host; I will let the noble guest decide!"

Liu Zheng smiled: "Good! What is the first program?"

"Horse racing!"

Shama Zhuoyi pointed over there.

Horse racing!

The Yi People are skilled at riding, and are no worse than the Liangzhou Army, because Liangshan possesses natural plains conditions. Liu Zheng looked over; horse racing is the first event of the Duge Grand Gathering, and also the most passionate one, where hormones fly wildly, and the Warriors on horseback easily gain the favor of the beauties present.

At this moment, the racing Warriors from various tribes were already preparing.

A racetrack circling the beach of Qionghai had already been cleared by the people.

The racing Warrior sent out by Huobu Quli this time was his own younger brother, Huobu Zhuoli, who was young, handsome, and physically powerful; such a man is undoubtedly very popular in Liangshan. He was riding a jujube-red steed.

The racing Warrior on Shama Zhuoyi's side was likewise a burly man.

But the horse he sat upon was pure black!

As soon as this horse appeared, it immediately caused all the other racehorses in the arena to lower their heads one after another, doing their best to avoid it.

"The Horse King!"

Huobu Quli exclaimed in shock, his expression changing drastically: "This horse, shouldn't it be in the Nanzhao Kingdom?"

The entire crowd was startled.

There was an uproar.

Shama Zhuoyi wore a look of triumph.

The Horse King?

Liu Zheng and Qin Zhangfeng looked over at the same time. That horse was indeed incomparably tall. Because he often dealt with War Horses in Liangzhou and Baiya, and had seen Sweat-Blood Horses from the Western Regions, Liu Zheng was quite familiar with horses.

This horse was indeed a fine steed.

It was majestic, full of imposing spirit, and had a fiery temper.

In particular, one could tell that this horse was not a Dian Horse! It was a Dayuan Warhorse!

Such a precious horse indeed belonged to a level that only royalty could possess.

It seems...

This Nanzhao Kingdom still wants to crush me hard at the Duge Grand Gathering...

What a pity.

Liu Zheng smiled and shook his head: "Huobu Headman, what kind of horse is ours?"

Upon seeing this precious horse, Huobu Quli immediately wilted: "My Lord, it is a Dian Horse."

The crowd laughed loudly, mocking them endlessly.

This Yunnan Horse is short in stature and not fast in speed, but it is known for its endurance and is skilled at traveling mountain roads. "To the west of Yuedan there is lush grass, producing fine horses, known to the world as 'Yuedan Steeds'. When first born they are like lambs; within a year, they are tethered with fine ropes and fed with rice water; in seven years they can be ridden, traveling hundreds of miles a day." Liangshan also produces Yunnan Horses, but who would use a Yunnan Horse to race in such a grand gathering? Isn't this just asking to lose?

Liu Zheng chuckled: "Strange, how strange; you Southern Barbarians do not use Dian Horses for racing, but instead use horses from the Western Regions. By doing this, are you not boosting the morale of others while destroying your own prestige?"

"How can you even laugh?"

These words were blunt, causing everyone's expressions to change drastically.

Liu Zheng gave a cold smile: "Today, how about we use your Dian Horses to defeat your foreign horses? Since we want a wager, let's bet three thousand horses; Headman Shama, are you satisfied?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned into silence.