"In that case, I will write a letter, and it will be ready within three days. Please go to Yangcheng, sir, to obtain it; I can also go there myself." Zhen Yao had no other choice. He could only take a detour, albeit with a smaller contribution. Being targeted was like having thorns in his back. There's no such thing as a thousand-day defense against a thief, even if you're careful. A single oversight could eventually be exploited, making it a losing proposition.
"Alright, go write the letter. I'll send you to Yangcheng in three days. Once I've wiped out the Yellow Turbans in Anze County, you can travel in peace." Lu Ming had no particular interest; since the price was acceptable, he'd do the deal.
"Thank you, sir. I'll take my leave now. But could you allow me to station my guards nearby to prevent any bandit attacks and to create a pincer movement?" Zhen Yao still felt pressured. At least after witnessing Lu Ming's godlike performance and battlefield rampage, following this brute seemed safer.
Scholars, however, always looked down on such brutes—mere muscle-bound fools!
They certainly wouldn't say it aloud; their contempt was none of the other party's business.
Leading over a hundred personal guards, all of whom had undergone rank changes, Lu Ming set off.
Before leaving, he called Jiang Qin aside and instructed him to send out scouts to monitor the Yellow Turban movements. If the Yellow Turbans in Yicheng mobilized, then he should lead his men north to rendezvous with him.
"Profession: (Tiger and Leopard Cavalry) Archer, Special Skill: None. Level: Five. Experience: Thirty. Trait, Marching: Increases the movement speed of the commander's troops by 100%, ignoring terrain obstacles."
Having one's own personal guards provides this advantage; speed is crucial in both ancient and modern warfare.
It's like two masters dueling; Chu Liuxiang slapped the Fire Cloud Evil God and ran far away, while the Fire Cloud Evil God only reacted after punching thin air—that's the key to speed.
Without any hindrance, Lu Ming's speed was phenomenal.
The group of over a hundred people traversed mountains and valleys, encountering numerous wild animals along the way.
With both hands, he shot arrows, each venomous snake a kill, and even managed to kill several wild boars, which Lu Ming stored in his medicine box.
It would keep them fresh and prevent them from spoiling.
In their haste, they didn't bother processing the corpses; they could prepare them later when needed.
Lu Ming led the group, covering a distance of two hundred li (approximately 100 kilometers), completing the journey in just one hour, despite the arduous mountain crossing.
Even Xiahou Yuan, renowned for his long-distance raids, would blush at this speed—it was simply inhuman!
The nature of marching was purely about maximizing stamina for combat, so there was no worry about running out of energy after such a rapid march.
Meanwhile, in the distance, a convoy of carriages was slowly making its way.
The bumpy, muddy road was a typical scene in ancient times; cement hadn't been invented yet, let alone paved roads.
Only in large cities can you see roads paved with blue bricks; everywhere else, they're mostly dirt roads, some even mixed with sand and gravel—much better than traditional muddy roads.
Lu Ming distributed insect repellent cream. Applying a little to exposed skin would keep mosquitoes away.
This cream, made from aloe vera and snake grass, lasted for about ten hours. As long as it wasn't washed off, the effect was excellent.
Mosquitoes were the most annoying thing in the wild. The mosquitoes in the mountain gullies were extremely venomous and easily spread diseases. Too many bites could cause overheating, which could even be fatal.
It was necessary to boost immunity to suppress them; there wasn't a very good, effective medicine.
Therefore, personal protection was crucial at this time. It was their foundation, so they naturally had to be extra careful.
In the distance, a group of sneaky bandits began to lie in ambush.
Among them were even quite a few cavalrymen, their faces painted with strange camouflage—undoubtedly the style of the Huns.
Zhen Yao's statement that the Southern Xiongnu had allied with the Yellow Turban rebels seemed to be true.
Lu Ming had never had a good impression of the invading Xiongnu.
Just like no one likes invading Japanese pirates, those bastards should stay in their own territory.
If they insist on making a fool of themselves, then they'll just have to be taught a small lesson.
Zhang Ping was a seasoned captain who had accumulated numerous merits in battles since Zhang Ji joined Dong Zhuo.
However, due to his humble origins, even though his military career was more fortunate than most, he was still only a lowly captain. This was nothing like a captain appointed by the court; he wasn't even qualified to carry shoes.
This time, ordered to escort his cousin's wives and concubines to Bingzhou, his eyelids kept twitching; he had a very bad premonition.
Bingzhou wasn't actually far from here; after all, Bingzhou was just outside Hedong Commandery, and it was a direct route from Liangzhou.
The risk of going through Hedong Commandery was much, much lower; a direct route would be disastrous if they encountered Xiongnu or Wuhuan cavalry.
"All of you, stay alert! You can rest when it's time. If you slack off, I won't be so lenient!" Zhang Ping shouted to bolster his courage; the atmosphere here was truly eerie.
High mountains on both sides, with a river running alongside—this kind of road was easy to ambush.
However, they weren't transporting any valuables, and their armor clearly identified them as government troops. If someone came to rob them, wouldn't they be asking for trouble?
Inside the carriage, a beautiful, mature woman, seemingly middle-aged yet showing no signs of age, sat gracefully. Her gentle demeanor, exquisite face, and delicate curves, along with her full, rosy lips, made one want to embrace her and kiss her passionately.
The elegant silk draped around her jade-like neck, revealing not a trace of skin, yet still exuding an alluring charm.
Her captivating allure, emanating from within, irresistibly drew men closer. Even with her lips tightly pressed together, feigning seriousness, a cool, repressed allure remained. Her natural temperament (qi zhi, a kind of refined elegance or aura) defined her as a woman of inner beauty, a sophisticated mature woman who knew how to seduce men perfectly!
Through a woman's intuition, Zou sensed something amiss.
She and Zhang Ji rarely saw each other, and this trip was likely due to a prolonged stay in Bingzhou, hence the invitation to bring her along.
No explanation was given, nor was one necessary.
To a woman, she was merely an object, a tool for sexual gratification. A woman without status or position was simply a tool for satisfying lust and procreation, nothing more.