In the thirteenth year of the Tianbao era: I became Yang Guozhong's eldest son.

After the letter was burned during the day, the atmosphere in the group changed.

It's not chaos.

Instead, it's even more tense.

Like a bow that was initially only drawn to seven-tenths of its length, suddenly pulled back half an inch.

This tension was first evident in Pei Zhao.

He was never a talkative person to begin with.

Even less in the last two days.

During the day, when traveling, he would ride in front, observing the terrain, the grass along the roadside, and which porter kept glancing at the main cart as he walked.

Once he had his campsite for the night, he would walk around the outer perimeter repeatedly, even using his toes to brush away the dung around the horse manure.

Afu whispered to Cui Shen in private:

"Boss Pei has been acting like he's about to bite someone these past few days."

Cui Shen shook his head.

"I'm not going to bite anyone."

"It's to pick a knife."

Afu didn't understand.

"Don't we have our own knives?"

"Yes, but not enough."

Cui Shen folded the paper and lowered his voice.

"Judging from the methods we've figured out so far, when we get to Yaozhou, what we'll lack is definitely not just someone who can write documents or someone who can read people's hearts."

"We also need someone who can truly command the scene, truly drive on mountain roads, and truly take a hit for the main vehicle at a critical moment."

Afu blinked.

"Then confess."

Cui Shen glanced at him.

"That's the problem."

"Just because someone carries a knife, has ridden a horse, or boasts that they've seen blood doesn't mean they can actually get on our vehicle."

Afu understood what he meant.

Along the way, there have already been people who wanted to come closer.

Some were drawn by the Yang family's old reputation.

Some people saw a county magistrate on his way to take office sitting in the main car and thought that at least he would have a government job.

Others are more direct; they're not after the food, but rather the potential profits they might make when they get to the border regions.

Pei Zhao had just kept quiet about it.

He would only look at whoever came, but not accept their gifts.

It wasn't until evening that day, after passing a small post station called Shipanling, that Pei Zhao stopped his horse for the first time.

That place isn't very big.

On one side was a dilapidated pavilion, and on the other side was a hay shed.

Three people were sitting under the shed.

A man with half of his left ear missing, his skin tanned dark by the sun, but his back still straight, was bending down to wipe an old sword with a cloth.

One was younger, with a thick thumb and forefinger, and a short gun was leaning against his feet, as if he had gotten lost while making a convoy.

There was another one wearing a gray cloth short jacket, with a horsewhip and hemp rope at his feet, looking like someone who made a living by working with caravans all year round.

All three of them were drinking coarse tea.

When the convoy arrived, the man with the missing ear was the first to raise his eyes.

With just one glance, Pei Zhao reined in his horse.

Because that's not the kind of greedy look that江湖人 (jianghu people) have when they see a caravan.

It's about the formation.

Let's see who's pulling the cart before the horse, who's protecting the middle, and who's truly in charge.

"You recognize me?"

Pei Zhaoxian spoke first.

The man with the missing ear placed the knife across his lap, did not get up, but simply cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

I recognize about half of them.

"You look like you came from the border army."

"I've lived along the Hexi line before."

Pei Zhao's eyes then turned genuinely cold.

"And you?"

"Lu Cheng".

The man answered readily.

"I retreated from the border of Liangzhou two years ago. I lost my ear while fighting the Tibetans for a pass."

"Now I make a living working for a freight team."

The young man next to him with the pistol also stood up.

"My name is Chen Ye. I used to be a scout in the Fengxiang Army, and later I escorted two shipments of goods."

Finally, the caravan man smiled, revealing a set of slightly crooked teeth.

"Dou Ping".

"People aren't as particular as you. They know how to judge horses, recognize mountain paths, and dare to walk at night."

Afu watched from behind, completely stunned.

The three of them standing together looked like three knives.

One is old, one is fast, one is slippery.

Most importantly, they are not like ordinary people begging for a living on the roadside.

It's more like they were just waiting for someone to come and pick them.

Pei Zhao did not ask them why they introduced themselves first.

Because these three men could tell that he was a border soldier, they could also tell that this group of people heading south was not simply fleeing.

Since that's the case, there's no point in pretending to be confused anymore.

"Want to ride along?"

He asked directly.

Lu Cheng answered directly.

"think."

Why?

Chen Ye spoke first:

"A single mixed-goods team won't starve, but that's about it."

"If the previous magistrate is truly capable, there will always be impressive achievements to be made."

Dou Ping then chuckled and added:

"I don't understand those big principles."

"I heard that along your journey, you fished at Yongxing Post Station, went empty-handed at Sancha Pavilion, and even broke through the official's soft offer to keep you as a guest."

"This job is more interesting than following a regular caravan."

Upon hearing this, Afu's heart stirred.

really.

After the letter was sent out during the day, the wind had already started blowing against people.

These three people may not have been deliberately lured here.

The fact that they dared to approach at this time shows that the commotion ahead has already reverberated along the south side of the road.

Pei Zhao neither refused immediately nor nodded.

He simply looked the three of them up and down.

Finally, he said:

"Yes, that's fine."

"First, pass through four gates."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ye's eyes immediately lit up.

Which four?

"Keep watch."

"Escorting the vehicle."

"Shut up."

"Hurry up."

Pei Zhao pressed down on the sentence one by one.

"We've passed, now we'll talk about whether to get on the bus or not."

"If you can't get through, go back to where you came from."

Dou Ping's smile remained unchanged.

"Is this considered a school exam?"

"No."

Pei Zhao said calmly:

"Calculate and sift waste."

That's not a polite way of putting it.

But none of the three changed their expressions.

Lu Cheng even nodded.

"Should."

Pei Zhao then turned around and made a gesture behind him.

"Reserve three spots for them on the outer perimeter of the accommodation tonight."

Afu immediately responded, but secretly clicked his tongue in surprise.

He used to think that when hiring people, all he had to do was ask about their background and check their physique.

Unexpectedly, Pei Zhao immediately placed the person on the knife rack as soon as he spoke.

That night, they camped out on the edge of a dry riverbed.

You can see half a mile in both the front and back, and there aren't many places to hide around. The only downside is that it's windy and gets cold quickly at night.

Pei Zhao deliberately placed the three people on the outermost circle.

Lu Cheng guarded the eastern breach.

Chen Ye guards the western grassy slope.

Dou Ping was pinned behind where the horse was tied.

"Two rules."

Pei Zhaoli stood before them, his voice low.

"First, if there is any noise at night, look first, don't shout."

"Secondly, without my permission, no one is allowed to move closer to the main vehicle."

Chen Ye asked subconsciously:

"What if a thief really sneaks in?"

"Then let's leave him outside for now."

Pei Zhao looked at him.

"A truly capable person wouldn't let the sound of a knife be heard right in front of the main vehicle."

These words left Chen Ye speechless.

After midnight, the wind indeed grew stronger.

The outer fire had long been extinguished, leaving only a pile of smoldering embers inside.

Ah Fu was curled up in the blankets, almost asleep, when he suddenly heard a very faint sound of a pebble in the distance.

When he opened his eyes, he saw a figure flash by on the grassy slope at the west end.

Chen Ye didn't shout.

Remembering Pei Zhao's words, he first lowered his body.

But the next moment, he panicked.

Because the dark figure didn't go outside.

Instead, it circled around halfway, as if trying to reach the horses.

Chen Ye tensed up and moved his feet first.

His move wasn't wrong.

The mistake was being too hasty.

The person had just lunged out when they stepped on and broke a dry branch.

The "click" sound wasn't loud.

But that was enough to make the dark figure leap up suddenly.

On the other end, Dou Ping didn't move.

He crouched behind the horse, his eyes fixed on the shadow.

When the other man actually lunged at the hitching post and reached out to cut the reins, he suddenly swung the rope.

The rope suddenly looped around the man's wrist.

Lu Cheng pressed in from the east almost simultaneously, delivering a powerful blow to the back of his opponent's knee with the back of his blade.