fifth form

Chapter 3361 Reinforcements
Without a family lineage in the Han Dynasty and having lived through its entire hundred-year history, it would be difficult to understand Cheng Bushi's passionate emotions.

"Bring out the cavalry from the Strong Army Battalion and the Willow Battalion for a run!"

On the city tower of Yanmen, Cheng Bushi issued his first order to command a large-scale cavalry charge out of Yanmen Pass.

He learned from Zhang Xuezhou that an accident had occurred in the ancestral land of Longcheng, which led to Yu Dan's escape. Cheng Bushi was too far away to go and meet Wei Qing and the others, but he could create the illusion of an attack near Yanmen Pass, thereby disrupting the possible encirclement and interception by the Xiong Kingdom's army.

"Right now, we need to race against time with the Xiong Kingdom. Once the Xiong Kingdom gets information from Yu Dan, they will definitely send powerful cultivators skilled in rapid attacks to find Wei Qing and the others and harass them. Meanwhile, the Xiong Kingdom's army may intercept them. We can interfere from Yanmen Pass, but defeating the Xiong Kingdom's experts will require more effort from the capable!"

"The Sky Shuttle can carry just one more person. General Cheng, would you like to come along?"

"Uh!"

Cheng Bushi reacted extremely quickly after receiving the information. He attempted to create the illusion of a large-scale military attack at Yanmen Pass in order to mislead the Xiong Kingdom.

He explained the situation in a few words, indicating that he would hold off the Xiong Kingdom army. When he told Zhang Xuezhou and the others to be careful of Xiong Kingdom experts, Zhang Xuezhou's invitation caught him somewhat off guard.

Zhang Xuezhou and his group are very capable, but following them in a battle is definitely not a good thing.

Cheng Bushi suffered at Zhang Xuezhou's hands in Mayi. The opponent was too agile, and the probability of the support being attacked was very high. If you weren't lucky, you couldn't cooperate at all.

Of course, the more important issue is that Cheng Bushi needs to command the cavalry army at Yanmen Pass, and few other generals have the ability to command large-scale operations, so he simply cannot get away from it.

After thinking for a few seconds, Cheng Bushi recommended someone.

“There is a captain in the Xiliu Camp named Li Ju. He is a highly skilled archer. If it weren’t for his inferior cultivation level and poor family background, he would have a three-tenths chance of winning against Li Guang in an archery contest,” Cheng Bushi said. “I have summoned him to assist you!”

"You need to improve your cultivation level, you need to upgrade your magic weapons, and then you'll likely lose 70% of the time if you go toe-to-toe with Li Guang, right?"

Zhang Xuezhou translated Cheng Bushi's words. Cheng Bushi's old face turned red, but he did not argue.

If one is to be able to survive alongside Zhang Xuezhou and others, then only those skilled in archery can be matched with them.

He shouted the order, and the signalmen below Yanmen City immediately spurred their horses and went to find the person.

"Li Ju is still very strong!"

Cheng Bushi pursed his lips.

As the undefeated general of the Han Dynasty, Cheng Bushi transformed the Yanmen Pass area into an impregnable fortress. The Xiong Kingdom's army had no ambitions towards this area, and no war ever broke out there.

The situation at Yanmen Pass was very peaceful, but it also had a major drawback: the soldiers and generals who followed Cheng Bushi found it difficult to achieve merit.

No matter how outstanding one's abilities are, without combat merits, it is difficult to advance in rank.

Without sufficient official rank, it is difficult to access the top knowledge within the Han Dynasty. Cheng Bushi can select the best to teach, but he cannot provide what others need for cultivation, which ultimately resulted in many people on his side being highly skilled but holding low official positions.

Li Ju was one of them.

During the brief time it took to place and preserve the dragon bones, two riders galloped swiftly from afar.

One rider was a messenger, and the other was Li Ju.

Zhang Xuezhou watched from afar and saw that the other person was small in stature, but carried a strong bow that was half a person's height on his back. His arm strength was obviously extremely powerful, and he couldn't help but marvel.

By the time Li Ju rode his horse to the vicinity, Zhang Xuezhou could clearly see the old-looking face of the other party.

This face bears the marks of time and hardship, a testament to the trials of life.

Those who have lofty ambitions in their youth and repeatedly try to achieve something great in their youth but fail to make a name for themselves will have this kind of face when they reach middle age.

Pseudo-psychology has a somewhat mysterious quality, but it falls within the scope of scientific cognition and has even formed a knowledge system. Zhang Xuezhou's face reading, while not 100% accurate, is at least 80-90% accurate.

“Li Ju…”

Cheng Bushi summoned Li Ju from the main tower of the city gate. After exchanging a few words, Zhang Xuezhou now had a skilled archer by his side.

"A good bow!"

Zhang Xuezhou didn't stand on ceremony. He focused on the longbow behind Li Ju, and then looked at the unusual mechanism on the longbow, and gave it a rare compliment.

When his cultivation level became difficult to advance and he lacked cultivation resources, Li Ju turned to the path of refining his weapons.

"This is my Cloud Piercing Crossbow," Li Ju said, pursing his lips. "When I have enough strength, I can draw the bow and shoot arrows. When I'm not strong enough, I can assemble crossbow parts on the bow. It can fire up to twenty-four crossbow bolts!"

"How far is the range?" Zhang Xuezhou asked with interest.

“I can shoot 250 zhang with my bow and 200 zhang with my crossbow,” Li Ju said.

"Where's the aim?"

"It should be alright!"

Zhang Xuezhou inquired about the accuracy of his archery skills, and Li Ju found it difficult to answer for a moment. After all, he had no problem shooting falcons and peregrine falcons, but he lacked experience in combat among cultivators and found it difficult to accurately assess his own archery skills.

After giving a brief answer, Zhang Xuezhou didn't press further, but instead invited Li Ju onto the Imperial Shuttle.

After taking the elixir, the Imperial Shuttle took off again.

Looking back, Zhang Xuezhou saw only the thunderous roar of iron hooves at Yanmen Pass, and dust billowing like sandstorms in the distance.

“The Imperial Shuttle is nearly two thousand miles from Longcheng to Yanmen Pass. The distance on horseback would be even longer. In addition, the legion is carrying food and spoils, so the horses can’t go very fast. It may take five or six days to return,” Zhang Xuezhou said. “There are some risks along the way, so make the most of your strengths!”

"Li Ju will surely fight bravely!"

Li Ju responded loudly, his voice trembling slightly, and cold sweat occasionally broke out on his forehead.

The Sky Shuttle flew too high and too fast, the earth rushing past below, and the mountain mist rushing towards us like a reflection.

Not everyone has the ability to be unafraid of heights. The new emperor vomited quite a bit back then, and Li Ju also had a hard time adapting, even having to temporarily close his eyes to reduce the adverse reactions in his body.

"If you're feeling unwell, just put your arm around my shoulder and take a nap. When you wake up, we should be where we are!"

"Your Excellency is right!"

Li Ju placed his hands on Zhang Xuezhou's shoulders, trying to close his eyes tightly to avoid looking at the fleeting images outside.

Sleeping in this state is difficult. Compared to the physical discomfort, Li Ju is more worried about being thrown off the Imperial Shuttle and falling to his death.

He was still unsettled. Only when a long, snake-like strap was tied around his waist and the other end was firmly bound to Zhang Xuezhou did Li Ju feel a little calmer.

Looking at the Cloud Piercing Crossbow on his back, then at the Sky Shuttle, and then at the "Three-Zhang Green" magic weapon he was bound with, Li Ju felt somewhat ashamed of his own treasures, but also felt much more at ease.

He felt a little dizzy and leaned against Zhang Xuezhou's back.

He didn't know how much time had passed when the continuous sound of his mount galloping reached his ears, and Li Ju forced his eyes open.

When he looked down, he saw more than a thousand riders galloping below.

As Zhang Xuezhou said, this cavalry regiment was carrying heavy loads and nearly a hundred prisoners, so its marching speed was not fast.

The shuttle and the horse gallop at similar speeds, which seems to create a rather peculiar sense of rhythm.

Li Ju felt his vision blurring and his nausea intensifying.

As he tumbled and leaped off the Sky Shuttle, attempting to land, his body was pulled back by the Three-Zhang-Qing sword, preventing him from falling. Then, he was pulled back by a strong and steady hand.