The Song Dynasty on the Sand Table

Chapter 406 Jiangdong Rascal
Three days later, in an open space outside the city gate of Qiao County.

Niu Gao and a small group of people had been waiting here for quite some time.

As soon as it was light, he led a group of people out of the city, set up small tables and stools, and waited patiently.

After waiting for a short while, Peng Qi arrived, bringing with him several strongmen from his army.

Those strongmen were not only fully armed to the teeth, but their bodies were also incredibly muscular and frightening. They were typical elite warriors trained by a military family, pampered from childhood with good food and drink, relentlessly trained in martial arts, and guarding their masters on the battlefield. Each of them possessed the courage to take on a hundred men.

Those "famous generals" never died after each defeat and were able to escape successfully because they had such people around them.

However, Peng Qi, despite having several strongmen with him, still lacked confidence.

He carefully sized up Niu Gao, comparing his physique to those of the other strongmen, and felt that Niu Gao was not as physically strong as the others.

Judging by sight alone, Niu Gao should lose, right?
"General Niu," Peng Qi said, "our army's strongmen have arrived. When shall we have our contest?"

Niu Gao: "We'll compete when the people from the Northern Song Dynasty arrive!"

Peng Qi glanced southeast and laughed, "That beggar envoy from the Northern Song Dynasty made a boastful claim, which angered the general. He might not dare to come today, right?"

Niu Gao snorted and said, "If they dare not come, it means that the Northern Song Dynasty has no heroic spirit at all. Then I will naturally follow General Li Heng."

Peng Qi was overjoyed, thinking: That's great! I was a little worried that my few strongmen might not be able to beat you. If the Northern Song Dynasty doesn't come, then there's no need to compete, hahaha.

He was laughing triumphantly when he saw a small group of knights appear on the southeastern horizon.

The group of people grew larger as they approached, and soon their outlines became clear.

Although they were still far apart, Peng Qi noticed that this small cavalry unit exuded the aura of a thousand troops. In particular, the leader of the cavalry, riding a tall black horse, was as tall as the horse, and his imposing and domineering appearance resembled that of an ancient war god.

Even from a great distance, that terrifying aura struck Peng Qi's face.

Peng Qi involuntarily took three steps back: "Huh?"

Niu Gao: "What happened to General Peng?"

Peng Qi: "Cough, it's nothing, it's nothing."

Soon, the small troop of cavalry arrived, and the owner of the big black horse also came to Peng Qi. Niu Gao and Peng Qi then saw clearly that the man was not wearing armor, but only wearing a very ordinary set of coarse cloth clothes, and carrying an ancient-style iron spear on his back.

Although this man was unarmored, he exuded the aura of an unparalleled warrior despite wearing only simple cloth.

If he were to be fully clad in armor, I wonder how imposing he would be.

Niu Gao and Peng Qi only glanced at it before taking a bite of their beef buns.

Niu Gao couldn't help but ask, "Who comes here?"

The domineering man grinned, a hint of loneliness in his smile: "I am a roughneck from Jiangdong, and I am ashamed to introduce myself. Just call me Wuming. I represent the Northern Song Dynasty and have come to arm wrestle with General Niu."

This person is, of course, Xiang Yu, the Xiang Yu possessed and controlled by Yue Wenxuan.

With a light flip, he leaped off the horse and landed with a loud "thud," as if a giant beast had pounced from a great height. The sheer force of his landing alone startled Peng Qi and his several strongmen, causing them to take a step back.

Niu Gao remained seated, but his soldiers were equally startled and took a step back along with Peng Qi and the others.

Niu Gao was secretly shocked: This man is extraordinary! Regardless of his strength, his aura alone is enough to make him an unparalleled warrior. Even if I could beat him with brute force, I would most likely lose to him in a real fight. Moreover, brute force might not even be enough to win.

For a fleeting moment, the thought of "There's no need to compete anymore, I might as well surrender to the Northern Song Dynasty" even crossed his mind.

I'm starting to seriously consider whether or not to go easy on them when we arm wrestle later.

Just then, Yue Wenxuan spoke up: "I apologize, but in order not to cause General Niu any misunderstanding, our Northern Song army is stationed at a relatively far location. I started my journey before dawn, but we still arrived here a bit late."

Niu Gao: "It's alright. Since our brothers from the Northern Song Dynasty are here, let's start the competition now. Who wants to go first?"

As soon as he asked the question, Peng Qi immediately started calculating in his mind. In an arm-wrestling match, the one who goes in later definitely has an advantage. Even if Niu Gao is born with superhuman strength, he will still consume a lot of energy after wrestling with someone first, and his wrist may even become numb and weak. The person who goes in later will have a great advantage.

Thinking of this, Peng Qi immediately interjected, "Guests from afar, brothers from the Northern Song Dynasty, please go first!"

Yue Wenxuan laughed heartily and said without a care, "No problem, I don't mind the order."

Niu Gao thought to himself: Peng Qi is making petty calculations, while the people of the Northern Song Dynasty are full of arrogance. In this respect, the Northern Song Dynasty has won again.

He sat down at the small table, extended a hand to Yue Wenxuan, and said, "Then let's go! Men don't need to waste words; a handshake is enough to tell whether they can be friends."

Yue Wenxuan smiled and said, "General Niu, please wait a moment. I have a few more words to say."

Niu Gao: "?"

Peng Qi laughed sarcastically, "Oh? What's wrong? Changing your mind at the last minute? Was your generosity just a facade?"

Yue Wenxuan: "No, no, I was thinking of General Peng."

Peng Qi: "?"

Yue Wenxuan said, "I'll first spar with General Niu. If I lose, General Peng's men will still be of some use. But if I accidentally win, and General Niu confides in me and agrees to join my Northern Song camp, wouldn't General Peng's men have made a wasted trip?"

Peng Qi: "Even if you win, we can have another match against General Niu. If both of us win against General Niu, we can discuss another way to compete."

Yue Wenxuan said, "That would be too troublesome. Military matters are urgent! General Li Heng is currently on a two-pronged northern expedition, and our Northern Song army is also on a four-pronged northern expedition. How can we keep competing here and delaying the military situation? I still hope to decide the outcome here in one fell swoop."

Peng Qi: "So how do you want to compare?"

Yue Wenxuan: "I think it's better to do this: I'll compete with General Peng's strongman first, and we'll decide the winner. Then the winner will challenge General Niu. That would be easier, don't you think?"

Peng Qi was shocked. What kind of insane suggestion was this? Didn't you know what kind of monster Niu Gao was? If your men had already competed with my men and exhausted themselves, how could you still want to compete with Niu Gao? You're practically courting death.

Niu Gao was furious: This burly man has such a big mouth! Just how much does he look down on me?! He's furious!

(End of this chapter)