The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 246 The Eight Trigrams Formation of Ten Thousand Beasts Manor

When the sounds of fighting rang out in the mountains and forests, the镖师 (bodyguards) and 趟子手 (porters) who were eating quickly reacted, forming a triangular defensive position with their镖车 (caravans). Mules and horses were led in, and more than a dozen burly 趟子手 (porters) drew their bows and nocked arrows, while the镖师 (bodyguards) brandished their weapons and concealed their bullets, ready for battle.

Zhang Wangyue took the octagonal copper staff, stood up, and looked towards the mountain ridge.

Soon after, Zhou Yan, Huang Rong, Hu Yanlei, and Mu Nianci emerged from the woods and quickly approached. Zhou Yan was carrying a lean man in black.

"Five people were hiding in the forest on the mountain ridge. We captured one and killed the other four."

Zhou Yan threw the "Iron Hawk" scout on the ground and used the "Acupoint Release Secret Manual" technique from the Nine Yin Manual to release the acupoints with two quick snaps.

Huang Rong chuckled, and the镖头 (bodyguard/escort) effortlessly dispelled the "Orchid Flicking Acupoint Technique".

Zhou Yan released the pressure point and stepped on the other person's chest: "What's your background?"

The scout said hoarsely, "Kill me."

"Xiao Wu."

Liang Xiaowu was adept at water torture interrogation; the alert young镖头 (bodyguard) had already taken the water bag and bamboo paper when he saw the scout.

Two guards held down the scout's hands and feet, while Liang Xiaowu covered the scout's face with water-soaked bamboo paper.

After the first round of water torture, the scout's clothes were soaked with cold sweat. Soon after the second round of water torture, the scout was shaking his head like a garlic clove.

Liang Xiaowu peeled off the bamboo paper.

"What's the origin?"

"Iron Falcon".

Zhang Wangyue's expression instantly turned serious, and Zhou Yan's heart skipped a beat.

The two reacted this way because the chief镖头 (bodyguard/escort) of Fu'an knew the quality of this army, while Zhou Yan had knowledge of it through his two lifetimes.

Throughout history, they were among the most ferocious cavalry.

Hu Yanlei didn't understand, so he kicked the other person and said, "Explain in more detail."

The scout had a mocking expression on his face.

“I know,” Zhang Wangyue said. “The cavalry, the foundation of the Western Xia Dynasty, were clad in iron armor, symbolizing not only the strongest military force of Western Xia, but also the traditional symbol of the Tangut aristocracy. Passed down from father to son, generation after generation, they would only be replaced if the entire family perished in battle. They were nobles, officers, and the very foundation of the state. The *Military Records* states: ‘The Pingxia cavalry, called “Iron Falcons,” could travel a hundred li and arrive a thousand li in a single day, their speed and agility were unparalleled. Whenever they encountered the enemy on the plains, they frequently used the Iron Falcons as a charging force.’”

The scout looked surprised.

Hu Yanlei was taken aback. "The Western Xia cavalry are targeting us?"

"This is strange," Zhang Wangyue asked. "How many people came, and how did you know about the caravan?"

The scout was already a prisoner, but looking at Zhang Wangyue and the others was like looking at the living dead. He smiled coldly, "Five hundred riders, you can't escape even if you grow wings. We were just following orders. We arrived in Liangzhou a few days ago and searched around. You noticed us as soon as you left the desert."

Where are the cavalry?

"Black Mountain Fortress".

Having spent some time in Wuwei, Mu Nianci immediately said, "Black Mountain Fortress is located more than 300 li northeast of Wuwei. It is an abandoned earthen fortress near a marsh."

"When was the message sent out?" Zhou Yan asked.

"When we find you," the scout said ominously, "everyone will die. Even if you enter the desert, you will be wiped out. Give us a quick death."

"Xiao Wu, kill him," Zhou Yan said.

"Got it."

Liang Xiaowu grabbed the man, dragged him into the woods, and with a swift stroke of his knife, beheaded him.

Huang Rong asked Zhang Wangyue, "Chief镖头 Zhang, is it really as this person said? Chief镖头 Zhou can easily take on a hundred people."

Zhang Wangyue smiled bitterly, "This is not as simple as comparing martial arts. When armored cavalry form a battle formation and charge, their momentum is like a landslide or a tsunami. It is not uncommon for five hundred cavalry to break through the formation of ten thousand infantrymen. Unless we scatter and go our separate ways now, once we are found, it will probably be the same result that the scouts said. Compared with the bandits we encountered in Jingzhou, the difference between them and the 'Iron Falcons' is like the chasm between an ordinary martial artist and Brother Zhou in terms of martial arts."

When Zhang Wangyue said this, Mu Nianci and Huyan Lei had a very direct understanding of it.

"The 'Iron Falcons' were clearly after the goods, but how did they know the caravan contained gold and treasures?" Hu Yanlei wondered.

This is also what puzzled Huang Rong. She was clever and quick-witted, but she never inquired about the goods or merchants along the way, so she couldn't figure it out no matter how hard she tried.

Zhou Yan's analytical skills were no less than Huang Rong's. He said, "The possibility of the镖局 (escort agency) personnel leaking information can be directly ruled out."

Zhang Wangyue nodded: "That's right. Only a dozen or so of us know about the goods. Even if we misjudged it, and one of the packers leaked the information, it's impossible for it to be revealed to the Western Xia Kingdom." "So the problem lies with the merchants."

"Did someone close to the merchant leak the information?" Hu Yanlei asked.

Zhou Yan laughed and said, "Could it be that the problem lies with the Mongolian prince, Huo Du?"

"What does Brother Zhou mean?"

Huang Rong had a flash of inspiration: "The Mongolian prince is holding a grand banquet for heroes to recruit skilled fighters. Who knows if there are any people from the Lin'an court, the Jin Kingdom, or the Western Xia among those who stay to serve the prince?"

Zhang Wangyue nodded, "That makes sense. It must be someone from Western Xia who sent people to the banquet to become Huo Du's spies. Genghis Khan plundered gold and jewels from Zhongdu, and given Huo Du's status, it's highly likely he knew about this. The speaker may have been unintentional, but the listener may have been attentive, and it's very possible that he leaked it out. The Iron Falcon has dispatched 500 cavalry; they're going to wipe out the entire escort team."

"Hiss!" Hu Yanlei said, "I've been a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) my whole life, and I've encountered all kinds of thieves, but this is the first time I've been robbed by the army. But this is very troublesome."

“That’s right,” Zhou Yan said.

Huang Rong winked at Zhou Yan, then walked outside.

Zhou Yan followed.

“I’ve noticed.”

"Tell me."

"The scouts of the 'Iron Falcon' sent a message to Blackwater Fortress northeast of Wuwei, saying that it would take at least one or two days for the Iron Falcon to arrive."

"That's right!"

"I have enough time to deploy a chaotic stone formation according to the Eight Trigrams Formation."

Zhou Yan had no doubt about Huang Rong's abilities in this regard.

"But the other side has a large number of people and is using brute force to destroy things, so it is expected that they will not be able to hold out for long."

"Indeed."

Huang Rong smiled and said, "If you ride the 'Night-Shining Jade Lion' to Liangzhou, you should be able to return in about the same amount of time as the 'Iron Falcon'."

"You want me to go to 'Ten Thousand Beasts Manor'?"

"The one who knows me best is the head镖师 (镖头, a person who is skilled in martial arts). If what Spallway said is true, the 'Iron Falcon's' warhorse should go weak at the hooves when it hears the roar of a tiger and the howl of a lion."

"As it should be."

"If the cavalry are forced to dismount, then the mission is accomplished. Fu'an has over a hundred men, plus experts like you and Chief Escort Zhang. With the help of the chaotic rock formation, we should be able to establish an invincible position."

"Great idea."

"Now you know the benefits of having me with you," Huang Rong said with a smug smile.

Zhou Yan chuckled and turned to look at Zhang Wangyue, "Chief Escort."

Zhang Wangyue strode over, and Zhou Yan said, "Island Master Huang's mastery of Qimen Dunjia and the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams is unparalleled. Miss Huang has inherited his true teachings and can deploy formations to repel enemies. I met a remarkable person at the Heroes' Banquet in Zhongdu. He is in Liangzhou and is proficient in animal taming. He can ride lions, tigers, leopards, and elephants. He can ride the 'Night-Shining Jade Lion' and arrive before the 'Iron Hawk.' With the help of lions and tigers, we can fight."

Zhang Wangyue's eyes suddenly brightened.

"Furthermore, the镖局's escorts are well-trained and skilled in combined attacks. If they practice according to the eight formations of Tianfu, Dizai, Fengyang, Yunchui, Longfei, Huyi, Niaoxiang, and Shepan, there may be unexpected results."

"good idea."

"There's no time to lose, I'm going to Liangzhou."

"Thank you for your trouble, Brother Zhou, and thank you, Miss Huang."

"Chief镖头, please don't be so polite," Huang Rong said with a smile.

Time was of the essence, so Zhou Yan didn't delay. He greeted Hu Yanlei, Mu Nianci, and the others, and rode the "Night-Shining Jade Lion" straight to Liangzhou.

After observing the surrounding terrain, Zhang Wangyue and his caravan broke camp and traveled more than ten miles northwest before settling down in a valley full of jagged rocks.

The caravans and mules were all delivered to the valley and hidden away.

Zhang Wangyue had long trained the bodyguards and escorts of Fu'an using battlefield tactics, and they naturally mastered the formations in the "Wumu's Legacy" very quickly.

He selected the archers and grooms from the escort team and had them follow Huang Rong's orders to cut down trees, transport stones, and deploy a chaotic stone formation. He also had Liang Xiaowu lead several capable scouts, while Zhang Wangyue, following the methods in the "Wumu's Legacy," began practicing the Eight Formations with a team of one hundred escorts and scouts.

(End of this chapter)