Three Kingdoms: I rely on system loopholes to survive

In the Taihang Mountains, the camp was hidden deep in the woods and rocks, with guards standing on the walls. On the path, women and children carried firewood on their backs or picked up clean clothes, humming local tunes. They greeted the young commander guarding the road, and their breaths of hot air spread out, making everyone smile.

Upon entering the village gate, one sees low houses surrounding the military camp, mostly built of wood, stone, spears, and straw. Although they appear simple, the houses are well-organized, and the sounds of pheasants and ducks weaving and looming create a peaceful and harmonious scene.

Zhang Yan received a message a month ago, knowing that Zhong Ping was coming. He had already kept the elusive Zhang Niujiao by his side. In the past few days, he had made a truce with Li Jue and only drilled his soldiers every day, pretending to fight against the Yellow Turbans.

Zhong Ping, whom he had been eagerly awaiting, had already entered Mengjin territory. Zhong Ping always kept his word, and before this trip, he had made a point of finding out all the details of the six rites. He exchanged most of his savings for gold bars and gave them to Li Meng, asking him to find a skilled craftsman to make gold ornaments to be included in the betrothal gifts in the future.

Zhong Ping thought about how he had nervously mentioned Cai Wan to Cai Yong, only to be told that Zhong Ji had given Cai Yong his birth information long ago, and had even tried to match them up repeatedly in Xuchang. However, he was unaware of this and thought that Zhong Ji had asked him to go to Cai's residence to improve his studies... He couldn't help but cover his face.

There weren't many pedestrians on the path, but a few men could be seen carrying short knives and with slightly bulging backpacks, looking like itinerant merchants.

"What are you thinking about, my lord?" Wang San tied the two horses to a tree, glanced at the sky, and estimated that he could reach Zhang Yan's camp before nightfall. So he relaxed a bit and picked up a stick from the ground to scratch his back.

“Thinking… nothing.” Zhong Ping coughed, using his ability to pinpoint the location of Wang San, and changed the subject. “We’ve seen far fewer people with high noses and deep-set eyes along the way. Li Jue wasn’t without achievements in Hanoi; he did manage to scatter Yufuluo’s forces several times. But I remember he didn’t have such military strategy when he was in Chang’an. I wonder who among his subordinates offered this advice.”

Wang San threw down the tree branch, scratched his head and thought for a moment, realizing that he knew very little about the situation in Hanoi. At this moment, he couldn't help but regret that he was not as good at socializing as Li Meng. If Li Meng were here, he would probably be able to tell a lot of information. After a long pause, he finally said, "Why don't we ask General Zhang Yan later?"

Zhong Ping had only asked casually, and was about to nod when he heard a young man's voice beside him: "I heard you are a strategist of the Jia family... Are you two also going to join General Zhang?"

The two were resting in a secluded spot when they suddenly heard an unfamiliar voice. Wang San instinctively drew his knife, but Zhong Ping waved his hand to stop him. Looking in the direction of the voice, they saw that the speaker was wearing a thick gray-brown robe, with thick eyebrows, handsome eyes, and a tall and slender figure. He looked and acted like a scholar.

The man bowed to Zhong Ping, first apologizing for his abrupt and disturbing behavior, and then introduced himself with a smile.

"Gentlemen, please do not worry. My name is Zhao Yun, courtesy name Zilong. I am from Changshan. I once served under General Gongsun as a lowly soldier. Since the general left, the Wuhuan, Xiongnu and other barbarian tribes have become increasingly rampant, causing great harm. Shanggu, Zhongshan and other places have suffered repeated disasters. I have heard that General Zhang of Henan is well-governed and no one in Yufuluo dares to disturb him. I wish to go and serve him. I wonder if you two are of the same mind?"

Zhong Ping's brows twitched slightly as he returned the greeting and inquired, "Hmm? Could you perhaps be Liu Jiaozhou's friend? I have often heard Liu Jiaozhou lament that he and you met when you were serving under General Gongsun, and that you were kindred spirits. Even though you have been separated for so long, you still think of your old friend every time you hold a memorial service for the general. I never expected to meet you here today. It seems that what you have been thinking about will surely be rewarded. Heaven must also be moved by Liu Jiaozhou's deep affection. I am Zhong Ping, from Luoyang."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yun's eyes lit up, and he clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "Could it be the former Prefect Zhong who guarded Chang'an?! I have long admired you, Prefect Zhong, and I never expected to meet you today! Are you now serving under Liu Bei in Jiaozhou? I suppose that righteous people, even if they do not know each other at first, will eventually meet again." Zhong Ping inwardly praised Zhao Yun's magnanimity, and his face also showed genuine emotion: "General, I have long heard of your loyalty and bravery. Meeting you today is exactly what you said. When Xuande was in Jiaozhou, he often said that his troops lacked a pillar, and today, having met you, I know that the pillar is here." He changed the subject slightly, seemingly casually asking, "General, you just mentioned the strategist Jia in the Hanoi army. Do you know his name? Li Jue relied heavily on Li Ru's strategies when he was in Chang'an, but Li Ru died early..."

Just as Zhao Yun was about to reply, he suddenly heard a bird in the distance startled and take flight, fluttering and soaring into the sky, shattering the twilight in the mountains. Wang San's expression changed drastically. He rushed to Zhong Ping's side, his hand already on the hilt of his sword, and listened intently.

"Hooves! No less than ten riders!" Wang San's voice was tense as his gaze swept like a hawk towards the bend in the forest path. Although this wasn't an official road, the path was wide enough for two horses to ride abreast. The sound of hooves grew louder as they approached, rapid as a drumbeat, shattering the tranquility of the forest. The horses ran with a ferocity unique to battlefields, far beyond the comprehension of ordinary merchants or hunters.

Zhao Yun frowned slightly, his body as still as a mountain, but his right hand had already quietly slid to the side of the sword at his waist. He said in a deep voice, "The newcomers are not friendly. Their horses are fast and their armor is heavy. They are elite scouts!"

Zhong Ping's senses were sharp; he discerned not only the muffled thud of horseshoes striking hard earth carried on the wind, but also the rustling of leather armor, the click of weapons rattling in their sheaths, and a chilling aura mingled with the smells of sweat, dust, and a faint stench of blood. He immediately shouted, "Take cover!"

The three moved with incredible speed. Wang San grabbed Zhong Ping's arm, while Zhao Yun swiftly untied the reins of the two horses. The three, along with their horses, retreated with lightning speed into the dense bushes by the roadside, using the gnarled tree roots and waist-high weeds for cover. Almost the instant they were hidden, a troop of cavalry swept past the spot where the three had just rested like a whirlwind.

The newcomers were all dressed in standard leather armor, over which were dark coarse cloth robes. They carried horn bows on their backs and ring-pommel swords at their waists. The lead knight was particularly robust, his face covered with a thin layer of dust, but it could not conceal a hideous old scar on his brow. He was an excellent horseman, and his eyes were sharp as lightning as he galloped, scanning both sides of the road sharply. He paused briefly near where Zhong Ping and his men were hiding, as if he had sensed something unusual.

"Whoa—!" The scarred knight abruptly pulled on the reins, and his warhorse reared up with a long neigh. The nine riders behind him also stopped at the same time, their movements perfectly synchronized, clearly demonstrating their excellent training. The horses snorted uneasily, exhaling puffs of white steam.

"There's a hint of life, and... the smell of horse manure, fresh!" The scarred knight's voice was hoarse and deep, like sandpaper scraping. He dismounted, his hawk-like eyes carefully scanning the ground. Just now, Zhong Ping and the others had led their horses into the bushes, inevitably leaving behind a few messy, fresh hoof prints and traces of horse manure.

"Search!" The scarred knight waved his hand, and several knights behind him immediately dismounted, their hands on their sword hilts, and cautiously approached the woods and bushes on both sides of the road in a fan shape. The sound of their footsteps crunching on the dry branches and fallen leaves was chilling.

Behind the bushes, Wang San held his breath, his knuckles white from gripping the hilt of his sword so tightly. Zhao Yun's eyes were calm; his left hand had silently drawn the sword from his waist, its cold gleam flashing and disappearing through the gaps in the branches. Zhong Ping listened intently to the enemy's approaching location and pace, his mind racing to calculate the possible escape route and its costs. The air in the forest seemed to freeze, leaving only the ever-increasing sound of footsteps and the heavy breathing of warhorses.

(End of this chapter)