Tiger Guards

Chapter 611 Piercing Through with a Spear

In this time when the world is once again in turmoil, heroes must use their skills.

Qin Yilu, who had been nagged by Zhao Ji for a while, was in a difficult situation. He led several followers and traveled by day and night, finally crossing the Yangtze and Huai Rivers, and escaped from his position as the governor of Danyang to Chenliu County.

After entering the territory of Chenliu County, Qin Yilu and his group finally relaxed.

He was appointed by Lü Bu as the governor of Danyang Commandery, and with the support of Liu Ai, the governor of Yangzhou, and Liu Xun, the governor of Lujiang Commandery on the north bank, he was able to barely maintain his position.

However, with Lü Bu's departure from Xuchang, Qin Yilu's situation became precarious and precarious.

After news of the coup in Xudu arrived, Qin Yilu offered no resistance or maneuvering, and instead abandoned his post and fled with his fellow villagers.

Officials at all levels in Danyang County did not make things difficult for Qin Yilu, and because the situation was not clear, Liu Xun and Liu Xie tacitly allowed Qin Yilu to pass through the area.

Just then, Yuan Shu led his troops to flee north. Liu Xun was also worried that Yuan Shu would use a feint to attack from the north to the south. So he entertained Qin Yilu and gave him food. With the help of this food supply, Qin Yilu was able to escape from Lianghuai and then enter Chenliu through Chen State.

Near the road, in a newly ruined area, Qin Yilu and three followers were resting in a courtyard.

To ensure Qin Yilu's safe return, these followers from Taiyuan risked their lives.

They had already cut the hay, enclosed the horses in the shed to feed them, and even took turns keeping watch.

Traveling through the night, Qin Yilu woke up in the afternoon.

The autumn sunlight was pale and harsh. Qin Yilu lay on a door panel, basking in the sun with his eyes closed. He was covered in dust and tattered clothes, with leggings on his legs and strips of cloth wrapped around his sleeves.

Only after this treatment can the loose-fitting clothes look good and move around easily. However, the marks of thorns tearing through the clothes are all over the place, and there are even bloody marks on the cheeks from the sharp thorns.

After a good night's sleep, Qin Yilu was starving, but the wheat cakes were all gone.

The fields had all been harvested, but fortunately, this area had become a no-man's land due to the escape of Cao Cao's troops and the migration of Zhao Ji.

There are some advantages to uninhabited areas, such as wild grains sprouting and growing in abandoned fields.

At that moment, one of his attendants was pounding the collected wheat grains with a small stone mortar and pestle; in addition to these grains, many more had fallen into the soil and had already sprouted.

If nothing unexpected happens, these sprouting wheat seedlings will survive the winter and become winter wheat.

Qin Yilu's entourage pulled up all the wheat seedlings they could find, either to feed the horses with other fodder... or, like right now, this entourage was chewing on the slightly white stalks of wheat seedlings, holding a stone mortar with one hand and a stone pestle with the other, pounding the wheat grains.

Qin Yilu glanced at the other person a few times, then at another follower who was fast asleep in a sheltered spot.

He hesitated for a long time, but still didn't want to eat the wheat stalks.

Although there is a hint of sweetness amidst the bitterness, eating too much can cause stomach cramps.

If we hold on for two more days, we can escape to Chenliu City, which is under Zhang Yang's control. By then, we'll be well-fed and watered, and we'll be heroes again.

As Qin Yilu pondered, the third lookout suddenly trotted back and whispered, "My lord, there is a large group of knights south of the road, no less than a hundred!"

"understood."

Qin Yilu responded with one sentence, without giving any further instructions, believing he still had some face to save.

Even if he were discovered by the armies between Yan and Yu, few would dare to kill him.

What I fear most is encountering small scout squads. These unmonitored scout teams are the real killers once they are deployed, committing all sorts of atrocities.

He also feared those nameless soldiers who were unaware of the important affairs of the court. These people were short-sighted and might rashly and decisively kill him for a few horses or to gain military merit by taking his head.

Qin Yilu had also experienced the Luodu coup back then. Over the years, what strange and bizarre things hadn't he seen?
Upon hearing that the opposing vanguard had over a hundred cavalry, he immediately calmed down. Anyone capable of commanding such a large army must be no nobody.

Qin Yilu's confident and composed demeanor inspired his followers, who all performed their duties and waited for him to come to them.

Outside the village, Zhang Fei personally led his cavalry to scout and pursue the enemy.

He stopped on a hill outside the village and observed several breaches in the inner wall. He then said to his men, "Search carefully. Open up the north side. If the enemy cavalry escapes, we can pursue them."

"Here."

The officers on the left and right responded and led their troops forward. They were all key members of Liu Bei and Zhang Fei's forces, and were not afraid of any frontal battles or skirmishes. What they found most difficult to deal with was ambushes in street fighting.

Even if he killed all of the enemy's scouts and captured all their horses, Zhang Fei would not want to see any losses on his own side.

There were no scouts in the abandoned village, but the knights sent by Zhang Fei still cautiously scouted and advanced step by step, tirelessly seizing all sorts of meaningful high points and rooftops.

Finally, Qin Yilu and his three servants were surrounded in a dilapidated, overgrown courtyard.

Zhang Fei also rode over and scrutinized Qin Yilu, whose beard was disheveled, almost failing to recognize him: "Is this Lord Qin of Danyang?"

"I dare not. I heard that there has been a change in the court, so I have already resigned and was about to return to my hometown. I did not expect to encounter General Zhang here."

Qin Yilu stood up, cupped his hands in response, and Zhang Fei glared at him, then sneered, "Returning home? I think you're going to assist those two traitors, Lü and Zhao, with the intention of joining their rebellion!"

The three attendants trembled at Zhang Fei's shouts, but Qin Yilu remained unmoved: "I resigned from my post and returned to my hometown. Even if I wanted to follow my former master, I have never betrayed him. How can you, General, assert that I, Qin, would betray him and start a rebellion?"

"As expected, you're going to join the rebels!"

Zhang Fei drew out his words, pointing his spear at Qin Yilu from his horse, but glared at him as he advised, "Your family affairs have become the talk of the town. Now that you've returned home, how will you face Zhao Yuansi? You're alive and well outside, but if you return home, even if Zhao Yuansi has no intention of harming anyone, it's hard to say what will happen to those around him."

Qin Yilu hesitated, lowered his head in thought, and looked gloomy.

He genuinely doesn't care about these things. They're just casual acquaintances in the martial arts world. But given Zhao Ji's current momentum, if someone tries to curry favor with him using this tactic, it will definitely endanger his life and his new family.

Seeing that Qin Yilu was persuaded, Zhang Fei went a step further and said, "Now Lü Bu has lost his ambition and wants to rely on Zhao Yuansi. If you go there, it will be difficult for Lü Bu to protect you. In my opinion, a great man should roam the battlefield, make merit for the court, restore peace to the world, and achieve great fame."

Qin Yilu lowered his head, still deep in thought, and shook his head slightly: "Fengxian has treated me very well. Even if I cannot help him, I cannot be his enemy, as that would violate the bond of friendship. Furthermore, Zhao Yuansi treats my son like his own son, so how could I be his enemy!"

Zhang Fei was furious upon hearing this: "You scoundrel, how dare you consider Lü and Zhao as friends and benefactors!"

Qin Yilu remained silent, showing no remorse whatsoever.

Enraged by this, Zhang Fei roared, "The world is in turmoil because of your utter lack of virtue! I will not rest until I have killed you!"

Having said that, he raised his spear and spurred his horse to thrust, but his attack was not fast; he only wanted to scare Qin Yilu away.

The significance of persuading Qin Yilu to surrender was greater than the act of killing to vent hatred.

Qin Yilu seemed to know all this as well, and forced himself to remain calm without dodging or flinching.

Zhang Fei couldn't stand Qin Yilu's arrogant attitude, so he grabbed his spear and stabbed hard, the blade plunging into Qin Yilu's chest.

Qin Yilu instinctively reached out with both hands to grasp the spear blade and shaft connection, but soon his hands lost strength, and he could only barely stand by relying on the long spear that had pierced through his chest and back.

His three followers dared not resist any longer and knelt on the ground awaiting their fate.

Zhang Fei glanced at these people and said, "Send him back to Chenliu."

(End of this chapter)