Chapter 78: The Swordsman

Li Xuan looked at it for a long time and thought that there was no such coincidence.

They are both from Shulu, Raoyang County, and they both have unparalleled physiques.

It is impossible for there to be two Zhang Xings among tens of thousands of people in a county.

Throughout the prosperous Tang Dynasty, Li Xuan knew of only two Modao generals, one was Li Siye from Anxi, and the other was Zhang Xing from Hebei.

What they have in common is that they are all seven feet tall and have great physical strength.

Of course, the heights recorded in history books are all estimates. Generally, people with a height of more than 6 feet 5 inches would be recorded as 7 feet. If they were more than 63 inches, they would be recorded as 6 feet 5 inches in history books.

For example, historical records show that Gao Lishi was six feet and five inches tall, but Li Xuan felt that Gao Lishi was only slightly taller than him, unlike Zhang Xing, who was half a head taller than him.

The Mo Dao was used in the early Tang Dynasty, but its effect was not obvious and it was often used by the army.

During the Kaiyuan period, the Mo Dao was improved. The blade became longer and the tip was no longer as sharp as a sword. It was also more finely forged and specially made for craftsmen.

The Mo Dao is ten feet long and weighs fifteen pounds. It can only be used by a very strong person.

During the Kaiyuan period, various military towns successively established Mo Dao teams. However, the town commanders, including Wang Zhongsi, believed that Mo Dao was only used to assist defense and was usually mixed with the long axe team.

It would take Li Siye a few years to accomplish the momentum of "all men and horses were shattered" and "advancing like a wall".

In contrast, Zhang Xing was a wild man. He regarded the Mo Dao as a weapon. Although he could "kill several people" with one strike of the sword, he was fighting alone and his human strength would be exhausted.

Zhang Xing possessed the fearless spirit of the Modao generals. During the Anshi Rebellion in history, Zhang Xing was captured due to exhaustion. Shi Siming personally tried to persuade him to surrender, but was scolded by Zhang Xing. The angry Shi Siming dismembered Zhang Xing and continued to scold him before he died.

"Zhang Lang is obviously a hero. Even a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring. This is the righteousness of China! What's more, it is a life-saving grace. Is there anything you want? I will do my best."

Li Xuan bowed again and asked Zhang Xing.

"General, you can't say that. It's just a small favor. I don't want anything!"

Zhang Xing waved his hand quickly. He originally wanted to be Li Xuan's bodyguard, but was embarrassed to say it in this situation.

"Like Yan Hui, doing good without expecting anything in return is a gentleman's virtue, but I don't advocate that here. I'll treat you to a meal later, and then we can talk openly."

After Li Xuan said something to Zhang Xing, he came to the side of the assassin crossbowman. He observed the bag containing the powerful crossbow and the situation in the alley, and knew that the murderer was not just the crossbowman.

Li Xuan guessed that someone saw him the moment he left the Jiedushi Mansion, and then came to this alley to inform the assassin crossbowman.

Li Xuan's troops are still in the north city.

You must pass through this alley to exit the north gate.

"I joined the army when I left Chang'an, fought on the battlefield, and never made enemies with anyone. You and I are strangers, so who asked you to assassinate me?"

Li Xuan questioned the assassin who was beaten black and blue.

"Humph!"

The assassin was like a man, snorting coldly and saying nothing.

"Say it!"

Luo Xing grabbed the assassin by the hair and punched him twice in the abdomen.

He still gritted his teeth and said nothing.

At this time, the city guards of Huile City arrived. When they saw that it was the famous General Li, they immediately said, "Greetings, General Li!"

"I just walked out of the government office when this guy ambushed me with a crossbow and shot me. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to survive. Huile City is an important border town with many soldiers and generals. How could they let an assassin with a military crossbow walk on the street?"

Li Xuan said to the city guards.

"This is my dereliction of duty."

The city guards were sweating profusely. Li Xuan had just made an unprecedented contribution when he was assassinated.

This is a huge matter. If he is not careful, he may lose his job.

"This assassin was able to set up an ambush with great precision. He must have an accomplice. I hope you can catch him as soon as possible."

Li Xuan instructed the city guard, "Notify the Lingwu commander that I want to see him."

"As ordered!"

The city guards will immediately send someone to notify them.

A moment later, not only the deputy governor of Lingwu County and the governor of Lingwu County arrived, but Wang Zhongsi also came in person after hearing about it.

"How can this be! Privately possessing a crossbow is a second-level crime. This crossbow can only be manufactured by a crossbow workshop. This crossbow has neither the mark of a crossbow workshop nor the name of our Shuofang Army. Where did it come from?"

Wang Zhongsi breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Li Xuan was not hurt.

He picked up the crossbow and looked at it carefully.

This is obviously the work of Nufang. A national tool has fallen into private hands.

Although Li Xuan is brave, it is easy to dodge a spear, but difficult to defend against an arrow. This powerful crossbow can penetrate armor and put Li Xuan to death.

Wang Zhongsi could not stand the fact that he had just returned from a battle and had not even been here for a day.

"This is not something that could be done by one person alone. Governor Chen, I have notified the soldiers to guard the four gates. I hope you can solve the case as soon as possible."

Wang Zhongsi gave orders directly to the governor of Lingwu.

"As ordered!"

Lingwu prefect obeyed the order. This incident made him, the prefect, very embarrassed.

Li Xuan might become a military governor's envoy in the future. With his talent in poetry and prose, he has the potential to become a ruler.

He escorted the assassin back, tortured him and interrogated him, determined to pry open his mouth.

Wang Zhongsi knew that Li Xuan was a little drunk, so he asked Li Xuan not to leave today and to leave early tomorrow morning when he was full of energy.

At the same time, he asked his assistants to arrange accommodation for Li Xuan and his party.

After saying goodbye to Wang Zhongsi, Li Xuan took Zhang Xing to the tavern they had been to before for dinner.

Although Li Xuan was not hungry, he ordered a pound of mutton, a pound of beef, a plate of cabbage, five Hu cakes and a pot of good wine.

The guards all sat around the table next to Li Xuan, fearing that another accident might happen.

Li Xuan also ordered beef, mutton and cabbage for his guards.

"General, please."

Zhang Xing looked big and strong, but he was actually literate, had read history books, and knew etiquette.

He had been waiting for Li Xuan outside the government office for a long time, and his stomach was already growling with hunger.

"Not long ago, I ate and drank a lot at the banquet, so you don't have to be polite, Zhang Lang."

Li Xuan said as he just picked up a piece of cabbage.

This cabbage is pickled, and tastes sour and salty, very tasty.

Zhang Xing was no longer polite. He grabbed a Hu pancake and finished it in the blink of an eye.

Then he ate the beef and mutton in big mouthfuls, like the leftovers swept away by the wind.

The guards next to him were shocked. This guy was such a big eater.

"Doctor, give me two pounds of beef and mutton each."

Li Xuan called out to Dr. Guandian.

"okay!"

Dr. Guandian responded that he had met Li Xuan three months ago and asked him questions at that time.

Who would have thought that the elegant young man was actually General Li who captured two Khans alive.

I feel honored to patronize their tavern today and it brings honor to their humble home.

"Excuse me, I eat more than the average person, but I have money."

Zhang Xing smiled awkwardly, he was really hungry.

"Haha, Zhang Lang is taller than others, so it's normal that he eats more than others. You don't have to worry about the money for wine and meat." Li Xuan laughed.

After the new beef and mutton came up, Zhang Xing whetted his appetite and finished a total of four pounds of beef and mutton in a short while.

Li Xuan wanted to order more, but Zhang Xing said no, he had almost finished eating.

After finishing the remaining cakes and cabbage, Zhang Xing stopped eating. Usually, he was satisfied when he was 80% full.

Historical records show that Zhang Xing could eat a dou of rice and ten kilograms of meat in one meal.

Li Xuan really believes it now.

"Why did Zhang Lang come all the way from Shulu?"

After the meal, Li Xuan asked Zhang Xing.

"Just to travel and broaden my horizons."

Zhang Xing had a lot of family wealth and could support his long journey.

"Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles. That's what a man should do. But a real man can also serve in the frontier, be a marquis or a general. What do you think, Zhang Lang?"

Li Xuan said again.

Historically, Zhang Xing returned to his hometown of Raoyang to join the army and was eventually promoted to general.

Li Xuan felt it was such a pity.

What he meant was to ask Zhang Xing if he wanted to join the army with him. "General, is that true? I, Zhang Xing, admire heroes like you and am willing to be your bodyguard, even if it means risking my life."

Zhang Xing quickly stood up and bowed to Li Xuan.

This has always been what he had in mind.

He had not originally planned to join the army at the frontier because his parents were in his hometown.

But when he heard about Li Xuan's feat of capturing two khans alive, he could not control himself.

Just as Li Xuan wrote in his poem, "Why bury your bones in your hometown? There are green mountains everywhere in life."

He has a wealthy family and his parents are in good health. When he has accomplished something and returned home in glory, he will support them.

"It is a waste of talent for Zhang Lang to become my guard. You should be my subordinate first and I won't treat you unfairly." Li Xuan helped Zhang Xing up.

Zhang Xing saved his life, so he cannot be his personal guard. If there is a chance, Li Xuan will form a Mo Dao team for Zhang Xing. Practice the skills of Mo Dao and learn the tactics of the Mo Dao team.

"I will follow the general's orders."

Zhang Xing bowed again.

"Come on, let's test our strength."

Li Xuan stretched out his wrist, meaning that he wanted to arm wrestle with Zhang Xing to see how strong his arm was.

"General, I am very strong."

Zhang Xing said to Li Xuan.

"I can kill generals and pull out flags. I'm quite strong." Li Xuan laughed.

"it is good!"

Zhang Xing was a straightforward person and immediately decided to compete with Li Xuan.

The table was not high, and the two of them sat cross-legged with their wrists touching.

"start!"

After Li Xuan finished speaking, the guards and the people in the tavern looked at him without blinking.

As soon as he came on stage, Li Xuan started to exert his strength.

Zhang Xing, who originally wanted to save face for Li Xuan, suddenly changed his expression. He felt a huge force coming at him, and his arm was about to tilt, so he had to give it all he had.

But still useless.

In just one breath, Zhang Xing's arm was pressed down.

"Crack!"

The moment Zhang Xing's arm fell, the table he was supporting shattered.

Everyone was stunned.

"Luo Xing, go and settle the bill and pay for the table." Li Xuan instructed Luo Xing.

"The general's divine power, Zhang Xing admires it."

Zhang Xing was stunned and said to Li Xuan, "He thought he was extremely powerful and no one could match him."

Now it seems that he is just looking at the world from a narrow perspective. General Li is the real power.

"Come on, I'll take Zhang Lang to a place."

Li Xuan was very satisfied with Zhang Xing's strength. He had never encountered such a strong Hu man on the battlefield. He knew that he could definitely wield the Mo Dao easily.

After paying the bill and leaving the tavern, they came to the military camp outside the city.

As the military commander, Li Xuan could monitor and command the military.

Cheng Gui is not here, so the deputy general will come to meet Li Xuan.

"General Wang, please bring two Mo Daos."

Li Xuan came to the training ground and gave instructions to the deputy general.

After a while, two ten-foot-long Mo Daos were brought to the training ground.

The double-edged blades are sharp and look breathtaking.

"Zhang Lang, do you know what this is?"

Li Xuan asked Zhang Xing.

"Long knife."

Zhang Xing replied.

"This is a Mo Dao. Mo means tough and sharp. The blade is four feet long. Ordinary long swords don't have this kind of blade."

Li Xuan pointed at Mo Daoren and said to Zhang Xing.

"You don't need such a long blade to kill people." Zhang Xing thought the knife design was strange.

"Killing people is not necessary, but killing horses is."

As Li Xuan spoke, he came to the target. He signaled everyone to step back, then held the handle with both hands and swung it violently.

"Crack!"

The target was cut in half with one blow. Li Xuan turned around and said to everyone, "If you have the courage, when the enemy's horse is charging, you can cut off the horse's head with one blow."

The Mo Dao Army was not only armed with Mo Dao, but also wore the heaviest armor, including face protection, so that the enemy's spears could not penetrate even with the help of horses.

As long as the enemy cavalry does not lose their formation in the first wave of charge, you can "advance like a wall."

"Zhang Lang, come and give it a try."

Seeing Zhang Xing's surprised expression, Li Xuan handed another Mo Dao to Zhang Xing.

With Zhang Xing's height and arm span, it would be more appropriate for him to hold a Mo Dao.

He imitated Li Xuan, swinging and slashing, each blow was powerful and heavy.

"Click!" "Click!"

With great swings, several targets were chopped into pieces.

Zhang Xing's face was not red, and he was not out of breath, which meant that he could perfectly control the Mo Dao.

"General, this man holds the Mo Dao as if it were an ordinary sword, and he is so strong, he looks like a fierce general. Why not let him stay in the Jinglüe Army, and I will ask General Wang to make him a general."

When Cheng Gui returned to the military camp and learned that Li Xuan had arrived, he immediately went to the parade ground.

He was surprised at the way Zhang Xing wielded the Mo Dao. He couldn't find such a fierce man in the right wing of the Jinglüe Army, so he asked Li Xuan for him.

"He is my savior, and I will train him carefully in my own army. The army led by General Cheng is brave and strong, and even if there is one more Zhang Xing, it will be of no avail." Li Xuan politely refused.

Li Xuan planned to use Zhang Xing as a Modao general.

Now that the Turks have been destroyed, Shuofang has only minor wars in the next ten years or so.

Zhang Xing cannot let this pearl be covered in dust here.

Li Xuan didn't want to be the "reserve commander" of the Shuofang Army. Even if he became the governor of Shuofang, what would that mean? He would only be able to gain some insignificant merits in ten years.

The Tang Dynasty's greatest enemy was the Tibetans, who had a population of more than 3.5 million. Every time they raided, they would bring hundreds of thousands of cavalry and their cattle and sheep would cover the mountains and plains.

That's where Li Xuan made his achievements.

When he returned to Beijing this time, Li Xuan decided to recommend himself to Longyou and Hexi.

What Li Longji hated the most was Tubo. Generals who made contributions to Tubo would be favored, whether in the Hexi Corridor or in the Western Regions.

"Well! How can we fight for the General's love?"

Although Cheng Gui likes her, he has no choice but to let Li Xuan go. Now Li Xuan is his boss.

"How about it?"

Seeing Zhang Xing coming back with the sword, Li Xuan asked.

"General, this weapon feels very suitable for my hand."

Zhang Xing shook the Mo Dao in his hand and it was very easy to use.

"Zhang Lang will make a great contribution, and will be between these two blades!"

Li Xuan pointed at Mo Dao and said something intriguing.

Zhang Xing didn't think too much about it. He thought it was just a handy weapon for him to use on the battlefield.

"Report these two Mo Dao to the Hyogo. I will take them to Feng'an Army."

Li Xuan informed Cheng Gui before leaving.

Take it back first and let Zhang Xing practice on it.

For such a small matter, Cheng Gui could just ask his assistant to take note of it.

At sunset, when Li Xuan returned to his residence, he learned that Lingwu prefect Chen Boyu had been waiting for a long time.

He came to tell me about the assassin's matter and found out some clues.

(End of this chapter)