Chapter 141

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The convoy continued on their way without stopping, only slowing down slightly by evening when they arrived at a rural village to spend the night. Where could there be an inn in a small village? The escort members set up their own tents and created a campsite.

Having learned a painful lesson from the previous night’s ambush, Zhang Xiaohua privately pulled Zhang Xiaohu aside and spoke to him in a low voice. Zhang Xiaohu smiled, patted his head, and said: “It should be fine here. Look, we’re camping at the edge of the village. The area is densely populated, so even if someone has ill intentions, they would be cautious. Plus, this is just our first day out. We’ll be vigilant and careful about everything. If I were a bandit, I would wait until later and choose a more remote area.”

Zhang Xiaohu paused and added: “Also, this route has been traveled by the guards before. The campsites along the way have all been used before. Don’t look at how fast the convoy has been moving, the speed is controlled. In fact, it could go even faster. Unless something unexpected happens, the situation is under our control. And don’t be fooled by Head Escort Luo’s usual laziness, he’s actually quite skilled and has rich experience.”

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua’s skeptical expression, Zhang Xiaohu said: “Alright, if you don’t believe me, just wait and see. It’s a good opportunity for you to learn more. When you grow up, you can also become a head guard at the agency. Oh, by the way, with all this busyness, how’s your injury?”

Zhang Xiaohua rolled up his sleeve, and the wound was nearly healed. Zhang Xiaohu was relieved and said: “Kids heal quickly. An adult would need a few more days.”

Then he seemed to remember something and asked: “Also, Xiaohua, how’s your right hand?”

After hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua knew that his second brother was worried about his injury again, so he said with a smile: “It’s almost healed. I feel like my fingers on the right hand are more flexible now and I can exert more strength. I just can’t quite make a full fist yet.”

He then raised his right hand and made a half-hearted fist in front of Zhang Xiaohu. Zhang Xiaohu looked at it, nodding repeatedly, ”Good, good,” his eyes growing misty.

Just thinking about it, he was out traveling with his younger brother, and it was his fault that his younger brother’s right hand had been disabled. It weighed heavily on his heart. Now that his brother’s hand was clearly improving and seemed to be recovering quickly, how could he remain calm? It was only right to feel a surge of emotions!

At the same time, he harbored a bit of worry in his heart. The doctor who had examined Zhang Xiaohua’s hand was a seasoned physician from the Lotus Escort Agency, who had worked there for decades. He had treated countless injuries, from fractures to internal wounds, and his judgment was highly accurate. The doctor had said that Zhang Xiaohua’s hand would never fully recover, and such an opinion must have been based on decades of experience. Zhang Xiaohua wondered if his brother’s recovery had exceeded the doctor’s expectations or if his hand had reached a point of recovery where it could no longer be restored.

However, Zhang Xiaohu soon reassured himself. Regardless of what the doctor had said, Zhang Xiaohua had already recovered to this extent, which was far beyond his own expectations. Whether or not he could practice martial arts again was uncertain, but at least for his future life, he wouldn’t face any significant issues. This brought Zhang Xiaohu some relief.

After giving Zhang Xiaohua a few more instructions, Zhang Xiaohu went back to his own tasks.

The escort campsite was set up with great efficiency. In no time, it was ready, and Zhang Xiaohua hadn’t needed to help at all. After confirming which tent Zhang Xiaohu was using, Zhang Xiaohua took some items from the carriage and put them all into the tent.

Soon after, Yuan Changqing came to find Zhang Xiaohua. Ever since he learned that Zhang Xiaohua would be deducting his meals from the group’s expenses, Yuan Changqing had been particularly attentive to him. Whenever there was any food or drink, he would bring it to Zhang Xiaohua. Naturally, Zhang Xiaohua didn’t hesitate to follow Yuan Changqing and enjoy the food and drinks.

That night, Zhang Xiaohua slept soundly. When he awoke in the morning, the first thing he asked was: “Second Brother, were we robbed last night?”

Zhang Xiaohu was both amused and exasperated, giving him a playful tap on the head and laughing: “Are you still not awake?!”

After breakfast, the convoy packed up and continued their journey.

Over the next ten days, they encountered no signs of being robbed, nor did they have to camp out in the wilderness. Zhang Xiaohua grew increasingly suspicious, if Ou Yan hadn’t taken a shortcut that day, would someone else have a chance to ambush their camp?

As they traveled farther north, the weather grew colder, and the biting wind grew stronger. The large triangular flag embroidered with the word “Lotus” flapped loudly in the wind, making a “flap-flap” sound.

That day, as they traveled along a rare mountain road, the convoy had already slowed down considerably and was moving forward at a leisurely pace.

Zhang Xiaohu stayed behind, following Zhang Xiaohua’s carriage and moving slowly.

Zhang Xiaohua, bored, gazed at the snow-covered shrubs on either side and thought to himself that this environment was a perfect setting for an ambush. Could bandits appear?

Just then, an urgent gong sounded ahead, and a loud voice called out: “I planted this tree, I opened this mountain. If you want to pass through here, then pay the toll!”

Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes lit up, and he exclaimed: “We’re being robbed?!”

Zhang Xiaohu gave Zhang Xiaohua an exasperated look and said: “Why are you so excited about hearing there’s a robbery?”

Zhang Xiaohua replied with a smile: “Last time we encountered bandits, there were about ten of them. They fought us in a best-of-three game. It was quite fun. Since our convoy has dozens of people, why should we be afraid? Won’t we just deal with them in no time?”

“Geez,” Zhang Xiaohu thought to himself, “So Xiaohua just wants to see the excitement.”

Zhang Xiaohu scolded him: “Last time there were only a dozen bandits, but you can’t assume all bandits are like that. Although our escort team is large, what if hundreds of bandits show up? We’d be in trouble and might end up as prisoners.”

“Ah, really?” Zhang Xiaohua exclaimed in surprise. “Then what should we do? Who knows how many bandits there are and if there are any who are too powerful for even Second Brother to handle?”

At this, Zhang Xiaohu reassured him: “Xiaohua, you stay in the carriage. I’ll go up front to check. Head Escort Luo has probably already dealt with them.”

Zhang Xiaohua, however, was not obedient and pleaded: “Second Brother, take me with you. I want to see the bandits. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance, isn’t it?” He even started to act spoiled as he spoke.

Zhang Xiaohu looked at his spoiled little brother and thought for a moment before saying: “Alright, you can sit behind me, but remember, once we get there, you must not say a word.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua immediately jumped down from the carriage and quickly ran to the front of Zhang Xiaohu’s horse. Zhang Xiaohu bent down, grabbed his hand, and pulled him up to sit behind him. Then he gently urged the horse forward to the front of the convoy.

The convoy, consisting of twenty carriages, was quite long. The escort’s guards and porters all held weapons, thoroughly securing the convoy, and no one else was like Zhang Xiaohua, eager to see what was happening up front.

Zhang Xiaohu led the horse to the front of the convoy without rushing. Ahead of the convoy was an open area where several of the escort guards had already gathered. Head Escort Luo, who usually appeared lazy, was now mounted and standing at the very front with a long spear, calmly surveying the situation ahead.

Zhang Xiaohua peeked out from behind his second brother’s arm and carefully looked forward. When he saw the scene, he couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath.

In front of them were not just a dozen people with a few horses as he had encountered before. Instead, there were over a dozen burly men on tall horses, each armed with various weapons, staring coldly at them. Behind these dozen or so men, there were several dozen more similarly armed, standing in an organized formation, unlike the disorganized bandits he had seen before. What made Zhang Xiaohua most nervous was that among the trees on either side, there seemed to be many more people hiding, giving the impression that they were encircling the entire convoy.

Zhang Xiaohua whispered: “Second Brother, what should we do? There are so many people, we’re probably not their match. Are we going to fight? You should be careful, why aren’t you carrying a weapon?”

At this moment, Zhang Xiaohu appeared unusually calm. He whispered, “Xiaohua, don’t speak. Just watch quietly.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua immediately fell silent.

Indeed, at this moment, Head Escort Luo, who had been standing still, moved. He shook the reins, guiding his horse slowly forward until he reached the center of the open area. There, he stopped and clasped his hands in a formal greeting, saying: “I don’t know which friend from the road is here. Please step forward and speak.”

Upon hearing this, a burly man with a red face and a square jaw among the bandits rode forward to meet them. When the two horses were close enough, he stopped and also clasped his hands in greeting, saying, “I am Yang Shuo, the leader of the bandits of the Ku Cao Mountain. May I ask how you are addressed?”

Head Escort Luo replied, “I am Luo Ruihe, the leader of the Lotus Escort Agency from Pingyang City. We are merely passing through your territory as bodyguards. I hope you will show us some courtesy.”

The bandit leader frowned slightly and said loudly: “Oh, so you are friends from the Piaomiao Sect from afar. Please allow me to see the flag.”

Upon hearing this, Head Escort Luo, now certain he was dealing with the main leader, was pleased and said: “Leader Yang, please wait a moment.”

He then turned his horse and rode back to the front of the convoy, shouting: “Please present the flag!”

Immediately, two of the escort guards dismounted from the lead carriage and, with great respect, removed the escort flag from the carriage. They walked over to Head Escort Luo and handed him the flag. Head Escort Luo took the flagpole with both hands and waved it vigorously in the air. Then he rode back to the central open area, where Leader Yang and the others were waiting. Yang Shuo carefully examined the flag Head Escort Luo held, nodded in approval, and then bowed towards the flag, saying with a smile: “Indeed, you are friends from the Piaomiao Sect. This Yang apologizes for the neglect. If you have time, please visit our mountain stronghold for a chat.”

Head Escort Luo smiled and replied: “Thank you for your understanding. We are in a hurry today and have no time to stay. If we pass by again, we will definitely come to visit.”

Leader Yang said: “Then I wish you a safe journey Head Escort Luo, and here is a token from our stronghold. You may travel freely for five hundred miles.”

With that, he tossed a small token over, which Head Escort Luo caught with a smile, saying: “Thank you very much. There is a small token of our agency’s appreciation. Please accept it, Leader Yang.”

Leader Yang nodded and said: “Thank you for your kindness, Leader Luo. I will not see you off. Safe travels.”

With that, he waved his hand again, turned his horse, and returned to his formation. He explained the situation to the people behind him and then the bandits withdrew into the mountains with their horses.

Seeing the bandits retreat, Head Escort Luo rode back, gave some instructions to the escort guards, and then made a hand signal for the convoy to continue on its way.

Seeing that the convoy was moving again, Zhang Xiaohu led Zhang Xiaohua back to the rear of the convoy. However, Zhang Xiaohua stubbornly refused to dismount and clung to his older brother’s horse. Zhang Xiaohu, feeling helpless, said: “Fine, you can stay on for a while longer, but when we reach the front, you have to get back on the carriage.”

Zhang Xiaohua nodded eagerly.

As the convoy passed the open area they had just been in, Zhang Xiaohua noticed that the guard that Head Escort Luo had instructed was now carrying a bag of items and riding towards the bandits. He handed the bag to a bandit stationed there, who weighed it in his hands, smiled, and bowed slightly to the escort guard before leaving. The escort guard then turned his horse and rode back to the front of the convoy.

Zhang Xiaohua was puzzled and asked Zhang Xiaohu softly: “Second Brother, why was this robbery so strange? There was no fighting or anything. Why did they just let us pass like that?”

Zhang Xiaohu laughed and said: “What do you think robbery is? Is it just about fighting and killing?”

Zhang Xiaohua replied: “If there’s no fighting, how do they get the money?”

Zhang Xiaohu, not surprised by the question, said: “Heh, it’s not that unusual. I used to think the same way as you. When I first encountered a robbery, I was so nervous that I broke out in a sweat. But after a few times, it’s always the same, a loud thunderclap followed by a light drizzle. That’s when I understood how things really are.”

Zhang Xiaohua asked curiously, “Is there some deeper reason behind this?”

Zhang Xiaohu explained with a smile, “Actually, it’s quite simple. Bandits rob for money, but there’s a method to it. Simply resorting to violence is not the best approach. As the saying goes, ‘Killing a thousand to lose eight hundred of your own’, violence has its cost. It might be worth it if the loot was substantial, but where can such opportunities be found? Moreover, if this route becomes known for frequent killings, merchants will avoid it, cutting off their future revenue. Besides, if you fight every time, how many brothers risk their lives? Therefore, robbers need to be skilled. If they can avoid violence and still gather some loot, it’s better to do so, as even small gains can add up over time.”

Zhang Xiaohua nodded thoughtfully, reflecting: “As the ancients said, ‘In every profession, there are experts’. Even bandits need a professional perspective.”

Zhang Xiaohu continued: “When merchants are on the road, they generally know there’s a risk of encountering bandits. If their valuables are not too much, they’re not very afraid of bandits and can just pay a small amount of silver to get by. But if the valuables are significant, they must find protection, which is exactly what an escort agency like ours does. Just like bandits, bodyguards in an escort agency also follow the principle of ‘harmonious profits’. If you rely solely on force, every bandit group will be against you, and the agency might as well close down, as we can’t withstand constant conflict. Therefore, in an agency, reputation or face is crucial. If your reputation is large enough, many bandits will recognize your badge and naturally give you some leeway.”

“Mutual consideration?” Zhang Xiaohua asked, somewhat puzzled.

“Yes, mutual consideration means that the escort agency, based on the value of its cargo, pays bandits a sum of silver as a kind of ‘toll’, and the bandits, smiling, accept it and let you pass, just like today when you don’t need to worry about being harassed by bandits for the next five hundred miles.” Zhang Xiaohu explained.

Zhang Xiaohua was confused and said: “Second Brother, It sounds like they’re being treated like friends.”

Zhang Xiaohu winked and replied: “Snakes and rats friends, hehe, it’s how things work.”

Zhang Xiaohua then asked: “If there was no protection from the agency, and the merchants paid such a large sum, wouldn’t the bandits still come after them? Even if they suffered some losses, it would be worth it to them.”

Zhang Xiaohu responded with a smile: “Without the protection of the escort agency, merchants would be like a piece of braised meat, everyone would want a bite. They wouldn’t care about the little bit of silver you give.”

Zhang Xiaohua asked again: “There were so many mountain bandits just now. If they all came at once, our escort agency probably wouldn’t have been able to handle it. Wouldn’t they have taken us all out? Even if they suffered some casualties, it would still be worth it.”

Zhang Xiaohu smiled and said: “This brings us to another aspect. Escort agencies come in various sizes and strengths. A small escort agency naturally faces such risks. However, our Lotus Escort Agency is backed by the Piaomiao Sect. To put it simply, the Piaomiao Sect uses the escort agency as a means of collecting wealth. Although they might be able to take down our convoy, they would inevitably face the Piaomiao Sect’s thunderous retaliation. The Piaomiao Sect is a well-known major faction in the martial world. Even sending a few disciples would be enough to wipe out the mountain bandits. How could they have the courage to do that?”

As Zhang Xiaohu spoke with enthusiasm, he swallowed his saliva and continued: “Furthermore, the mountain bandits being able to establish themselves here is also due to support from nearby martial arts sects. It’s likely that there are escort agencies similar to the Lotus Escort Agency backing them. If they don’t show us respect, the Piaomiao Sect could not only eliminate these bandits but also target other bandits within their sphere of influence and attack their escort agencies.”

Zhang Xiaohua nodded and said: “I understand now. Simply put, it still comes down to respect for strength. If you are strong, everyone will be amicable and harmonious, making money together. If you are weak, you’ll just have to swallow your pride. By the way, does that mean the mountain bandits on West Cui Mountain are also backed by the Piaomiao Sect?”

Zhang Xiaohu smiled and replied: “I’m not sure about that. However, West Cui Mountain is too small. Even if they wanted to ally with the Piaomiao Sect, the Piaomiao Sect would likely ignore them.”

Zhang Xiaohua sighed and said: “Sigh, the martial world is still too complex. It really is hard to explain.”

Then Zhang Xiaohua cheerfully said: “So, if that’s the case, the convoys your agency protects must be very safe, and you won’t need to fight so hard?”

Zhang Xiaohu replied with a bitter smile: “It’s not as carefree as you think. There will always be reckless bandits coming to rob us. Being an escort is a dangerous profession, haven’t you noticed that the escort agency has to recruit new bodyguards and escorts every year? Where do the old ones go? However, I’m just a porter at the moment, so I’m not yet involved in these kinds of dangerous situations.”

Zhang Xiaohua listened and felt silent in his heart.