Entrepreneurship in the Late Tang Dynasty

Chapter 11 Entering the village
Zhao Huaian was thinking, why did Xian Yuyue say such a thing at this time? He also drew his knife.

In his opinion, Aqimo had no motive to betray them. The reason was simple: this man was right next to him. If he dared to sell him out, could he survive?

Xian Yuyue must be aware of this truth, but he still wants to frame Lao Mo and kill him.

What is the reason?

But now, he could only suppress this doubt in his heart, and took the initiative to walk in front of Aqi Mo and help him up:
"Lao Mo, I believe you."

Aqi Mo cried and stammered to explain again, but was stopped by Zhao Huaian.

Zhao Huaian turned around, looked at Xian Yuyue coldly, and asked:
"Lao Yue, you know Lao Mo won't sell us out. If you wanted to kill Lao Mo, why would you find such an excuse? You can just kill him directly, but I tell you, Lao Mo, I will protect him. If you don't believe me, ask my knife."

After saying that, Zhao Huaian drew the sword at his waist and rushed towards Xianyu Yue and the other two without saying another word.

Xian Yuyue's face was clearly filled with anger, but because of Zhao Huaian, he still patiently explained:

"Lord Zhao, I've seen these barbarians leave several traces in the forest along the way. They look suspicious and hard to trust. Now they've led us here, trying to trick us into entering the camp with words. If we believe them, you and I will die."

After Xian Yuyue finished speaking, Ren Tong beside him also said to Zhao Huaian irritably:

"My benefactor, why bother with so much? Just kill these barbarians. They are like pigs and dogs. For many years, they have been fickle and indecisive between the Tang Dynasty, Nanzhao, and Tubo. I don't believe a word they say."

Song Yuan also gently advised Zhao Huaian:
"My benefactor, the barbarians are indeed untrustworthy! Besides, we know the way back and we don't need this person, so why take the risk?"

Even Zhao Liu came over and hummed softly:
"They're right. Those mountain cowards have been led by the Nanzhao people before. They're all in the same group. Zhao Da, why don't you just kill them?"

Now Zhao Huaian finally understood what was going on.

The Qionglai Mountain area where these Yi people live is a buffer zone between Nanzhao, Datang and Tubo. Many Yi tribes often wander between the three parties, helping Nanzhao today and Tubo tomorrow. They must have blood debts owed to the Tang people on their hands.

Xianyu Yue and the other two must have wanted to kill all these barbarians a long time ago, but they probably didn't know the mountain roads, so they kept it to themselves.

Now they have finally arrived at Tongshan Pass, and they know the road ahead, so they want to get rid of them here.

But how could Zhao Huaian let them kill Lao Mo?

If Lao Mo is killed, those barbarians will definitely run away, and even the three disciples he just accepted will become disloyal. Wouldn't that mean the small group he just formed will be broken up?
Wait? Is Xian Yu Yue really trying to cut off my influence and make me powerless? I've been chatting with him so much along the way, he must be keeping an eye on me.

After a moment, Zhao Huaian remembered the words:
"Invite, behead, accept as a dog."

This grandson, I want to treat you as a brother, but you treat me like a dog? These ancestors are so evil.

In a flash, Zhao Huaian suddenly thought of a solution.

He said to Xian Yuyue:

"Old Yue, to return to Qiongzhou, do we have to pass through Tongshan Pass?"

Xian Yuyue sighed and nodded:
"Yes, to get to Qiongzhou, you must pass through Tongshan Pass and then go east along the river. I understand what you mean, but do you really want to trust these people?"

Zhao Huaian patted his chest and said seriously:
"I believe that if these barbarians really betray me, I will kill them with my own hands. But now, don't kill each other because of suspicion. There is still a long way to go."

After saying that, Zhao Huaian turned to Aqi Mo:
"Lao Mo, you heard everything. I believe you, but you also need to make them believe you, so you have to make a pledge of allegiance to everyone."

Aqi Mo had never heard of the term "loyalty certificate", but he guessed its meaning and replied firmly to Zhao Huaian:
"Lord, don't worry, Lao Mo is willing to do anything."

Zhao Huaian nodded. He turned to look at Sun Tai and Zhao Hu who had retreated to the side and scolded:
"I hate insincerity the most. If you have any extra thoughts, I won't stop you. Just go. But if you still want to follow me, don't let me see you again."

Sun Tai and Zhao Hu panicked and knelt down hurriedly. Sun Tai bravely explained:
"Master Zhao, we two dare not have any second thoughts. Just now we were just..."

Zhao Huaian interrupted him rudely and said only one sentence:
"I don't want to hear that. I'm just telling you, if there's a next time, get out of here! Get up now and get behind me."

The two men shuddered, kowtowed, and quickly came behind Zhao Huaian.

After stabilizing the two hesitant disciples, Zhao Huaian said to Aqi Mo:

"Lao Mo, you should explain to Yang Mao and those Yi people first, so you know what to say."

Aqimo nodded repeatedly, then pulled Yang Mao up and talked to the remaining Yi people.

Although it is not known how Aqi Mo persuaded them, the effect was very significant. Some of the Yi people even smiled embarrassedly at Xianyu Yue.

Everyone withdrew their troops and the atmosphere seemed to have returned to what it was before.

Zhao Huaian remained calm and said to Xian Yuyue:

"Old Yue, we must unite as one now. If we want to pass Tongshan Pass, we can't rely on just a few of us. We need these barbarians. So, you're worried about Lao Mo, right? I'll take him to the camp ahead to check. You stay here with everyone else and wait for my news."

Xian Yu Yue thought for a while and agreed not to target those barbarians, but he disagreed with Zhao Huaian taking the risk. If he really wanted to investigate, he could go.

These words eased Zhao Huaian's resentment. This old man was still grateful and willing to take the risk for him, but he didn't know why he hated the barbarians so much.

Isn’t it said that the Tang Dynasty is very tolerant?
Zhao Huaian felt much better, but still shook his head and refused:

"The only one here who knows both sides' language is Lao Mo. How could Lao Mo dare to go to the camp with you? Only I can do this."

What Zhao Huaian said was so reasonable that Xian Yuyue was speechless and could only agree. However, he hinted in his words that if Zhao Huaian really couldn't come back, he would definitely kill these barbarians.

Zhao Huaian didn't care about this hint at all. After all, he was dead, so why should he care about these things?
After pacifying Xian Yuyue and the others, Zhao Huaian instructed Zhao Liu:
"Sixth Brother, be smart. We'll need people to rebuild our Lizhou Army in the future, won't we? These are our future possessions, so please protect them."

As he spoke, Zhao Huaian painted another pie for Zhao Liu:
"Sixth Brother, follow me, good days are yet to come." In response, Zhao Liu nodded vigorously, obviously very impressed.

Then Zhao Huaian called Sun Tai and Zhao Hu aside:
"I'm very optimistic about you. The fact that you made it all the way from the Western Regions proves that you have good fortune. What you lack now is strength. So focus on learning by my side. When I return, I'll teach you the unique skills of the Righteous Society. Work hard and don't let me down."

These words were both coaxing and beating, and Sun Tai and Zhao Hu were coaxed into nodding repeatedly. They promised Zhao Huaian that they would listen to their sixth brother.

Sixth brother?

Zhao Huaian was stunned for a moment, then looked at Zhao Liu and cursed inwardly:

"This old man, you're so quick to steal my girlfriend. I'll come back and deal with you!"

After resolving the conflict between the Yi and Han people in the team, Zhao Huaian took a broadsword and walked towards the Tongshan Pass camp ahead with Aqimo without even wearing armor.

……

Walking behind Achimo, Zhao Huaian felt a little nervous.

He wasn't too sure whether this old Yi would sell him out, but he had no choice. In this world, if he didn't have his own power, he would really have no choice but to be a dog for aristocratic families like Xianyu Yue.

At this moment, Zhao Huaian was really a little tired. Why was it so difficult to recruit younger brothers?

Xian Yuyue and the other two were fine, as they were clearly a team, but even the three disciples he had accepted all had their own thoughts.

Also called Zhao Liu, he reluctantly followed him and was standing behind him during the conflict just now.

However, despite being tired, Zhao Huaian was not discouraged. He had confidence in himself.

Whether it is with them or with this world, Zhao Huaian will establish a bond.

……

The two soon arrived at the outskirts of the camp. It was indeed a market as Lao Mo said, with many stalls selling mountain products.

At this time, Aqi Mo lowered his head and whispered to Zhao Huaian:

"Lord, I saw someone I know. I'll go ask about the situation here."

Zhao Huaian nodded and replied:

"Okay, I'll go with you."

Aqi Mo took Zhao Huaian to a stall where an old man was selling firewood. When he saw Aqi Mo coming, he greeted him warmly.

Then Achimo started chatting with this person, and at this time, Zhao Huaian carefully looked at the camp.

The camp's defenses were weak, and the palisade was shallow, suggesting a makeshift presence. There were no sentries or patrols, and even the market was unattended, suggesting this army wasn't permanently stationed there.

While Zhao Huaian was looking around, Achimo had already found out the situation.

After exchanging pleasantries with the man, he pulled Zhao Huaian to a less crowded place and explained in a low voice:

"Lord, I've found out that the soldiers here are Tibetans. They said they arrived recently, but we don't know why. They just control the pass here."

Zhao Huaian asked an important question:

"Do you know how many Tibetan soldiers are in the camp?"

Achimo replied:
"That person didn't know about this, but he told me that a group of people had already left the camp yesterday."

Zhao Huaian frowned and was about to say the following words to Aqi Mo when he suddenly saw some people gathered in front of him, and their voices were getting louder and louder.

Seeing this, Zhao Huaian also pulled Lao Mo in.

……

As soon as Zhao Huaian and Lao Mo squeezed in, they saw three sword-wielding warriors beating an old man.

These three men looked like barbarians, their hair braided and piled on top of their heads. Although they looked fierce, they were probably not wealthy. They only had a knife, washed-white clothes, and a pair of straw sandals.

The old man who was beaten had his hair tied up and wrapped in black cloth, and looked like a Tang Dynasty man.

Behind the three down-and-out barbarian warriors was a group of hangers-on. They laughed as they moved the bamboo basket at the old man's feet, which was full of mountain products, rice, and a few pieces of cured rabbit meat.

The old man begged the three warriors, but his hands held on to the bamboo basket and refused to let go.

This annoyed the short warrior, who stepped heavily on the old man's palm with his straw sandals, and while rolling on it, he cursed the old man in his dialect.

Suddenly, a voice came from behind. It was Zhao Huaian who pointed at the man and asked the old Mo beside him:

"Old Mo, what the hell is he spouting?"

The sound was so loud that everyone looked at Zhao Huaian, including the three barbarian warriors.

And Zhao Huaian stared at them in the same way.

(End of this chapter)