Chapter Eleven: The Duel

  Just as both sides were about to clash, Liu Yanzhao stepped forward a few steps, his eyes fixed coldly on the school lieutenant. "Since you're not convinced by the previous trial, why don't we have another round? If you lose, then don't make trouble and deliberately cause difficulties!"

  "What if you lose?"

  Liu Yanzhao's proposal gave the school lieutenant a boost of energy, and his mouth even cracked a smile. It wasn't until then that he felt the weak-looking man in front of him still had some heroic blood in him.

  "Do as you wish!"

  "Fine! Even your General Liu won't be able to protect you when the time comes!"

  Seeing the other party waving their hand, Jian Xiongjun's subordinates retreated several zhangs back. Liu Yanzhao also stopped Zhang Yun and others who were about to persuade him, and stared silently at the front.

  Dozens of feet away, the commander of Jianxiong Army, He Feng, was worried and wanted to stop him, but was stopped by Liu Jiye's low voice.

  Why is this?

  He Feng couldn't help but feel a sense of doubt in his heart, yet he didn't dare to raise any objections. At least not until he received the imperial edict from the court, he wouldn't go against Liu Jiye.

  After all, he was just a commander, in charge of the affairs of Jianxiong Army when Liu Jiye was not around. To be honest, now that Liu Jiye has taken over the Jianxiong Army, He Feng is just a deputy.

  He Feng had thought about making some small moves, but he didn't dare to do so. Many officials in the imperial court were dissatisfied with Liu Jiye, but who could overthrow him? The resistance against Song couldn't be done without him, therefore even if He Feng gained more recognition from the emperor, he still wouldn't dare to openly oppose Liu Jiye.

  The situation ahead seems to have escalated, and it appears that they've already clashed. This guy doesn't listen to orders and acts on his own, causing trouble. I don't know how we'll be able to protect him later on.

  Thinking of this, He Feng couldn't help but take a look at Liu Jiye, only to see him standing with his hands behind his back, watching the commotion in the crowd without making a sound, his face expressionless, making it impossible for anyone to tell whether he was happy or angry.

  "I've offended you!"

  Liu Yanzhao cupped his hands in a salute to the other party, and in this era, even if you hate someone, you have to learn to hide it. You can't lack the necessary courtesy, otherwise, how can you make him surrender willingly?

  "It depends on whether you have the ability to offend Lao Chang!"

  Weng Sheng retorted, and Chang Kui swiftly pounced forward. In the blink of an eye, a massive fist was already in front of Liu Yanzhao, accompanied by a whistling wind sound.

  He dodged to the side, grabbed his right arm, spun it a few times, and instantly the opponent's body was stunned. Liu Yanzhao also resolved the attack and used one hand to block his continuing left fist, and immediately swept his right leg horizontally.

  The move was similar to the one he used against Sanlang that day, but Changkui didn't have a chance to dodge, and all he heard was a dull thud before heavily falling to the ground.

  This time, Liu Yanzhao did not take advantage of the situation. If he had followed his previous move, he would have definitely come up with another devastating blow, even if he was wearing armor, he would still be injured.

  However, before the fight, Liu Yanzhao had already thought it through. He could win, but he had to control himself and not enrage Jianying's army, so that after defeating this school lieutenant, he would be convinced and obedient.

  He took a few steps back, and the undefeated Hanzi jumped up again, charging forward once more. After exchanging dozens of blows with Liu Yanzhao, he was thrown to the ground once again by an over-the-shoulder throw.

  In this way, in a moment, he had been defeated by Liu Yanzhao five times.

  It's no wonder that Liu Yanzhao, who had never learned martial arts before, would naturally recall those moves in his mind when he encountered a fight.

  What's more, those grappling techniques from past lives can also be used, you know, those are all neat and efficient enemy-capturing techniques.

  "Believe it or not?"

  Liu Yanzhao asked in a low voice, the school lieutenant's eyes were full of anger. Losing to this little partner in front of many people, how could he still mix in the camp? He immediately jumped up from the ground, waving his fists and shouting loudly, "I don't accept it!"

  "If you're not satisfied, then continue. If you feel that your fists and feet can't exert their strength, using weapons is also an option."

  Glaring at Liu Yanzhao with anger, he quickly turned around and tried to snatch the long axe from Que Zheng's hand not far away. However, Que Zheng was unwilling to let go, "Brother Chang, don't provoke bloodshed!"

  Causing trouble is okay, it can relieve hatred in one's heart, but killing people is absolutely out of the question.

  But Changyuan had already been stunned by Liu Yanzhao, and he didn't care about these things anymore. He pushed the team leader aside, grabbed his long axe and chopped towards Liu Yanzhao.

  "Be careful!"

  Seeing the opponent dance with a long axe, Zhang Yun and others couldn't help but exclaim, only Liu Tian's quick eyes and hands quickly passed Liu Yanzhao's pointed steel gun.

  "Ah!"

  The long spear thrust out and collided with the long axe, producing a clear and crisp sound. Liu Yanzhao only felt his arm go numb.

  His arm strength is also astonishing, and he was able to knock him down continuously just now relying on his cleverness. Now that they are fighting head-on with their weapons, he's likely to be at a disadvantage.

  Having made up his mind, Liu Yanzhao seized the opportunity and took advantage of Chang Piao's momentary block to turn defense into offense. His spear danced in the air, its long shaft darting in and out like a venomous snake spitting its fangs, making swift and agile attacks on his opponent's weak points.

  At last, under a chaotic footstep, the long axe flew out of his hand and quickly flew towards Jian Xiong's direction. The suddenness of the matter made the soldiers on that side stunned and unaware of how to dodge.

  "Be careful!"

  The long spear was charging towards his face, but the school lieutenant wanted to pounce on the long axe and grab it, but ultimately he was one step too late. He fell to the ground and failed to grasp the axe handle.

  Not far away, the soldiers who were about to be slaughtered were extremely desperate, and even let out cries of alarm. It can be imagined that soon blood would splatter everywhere.

  "Then!"

  Another crisp sound, a long spear suddenly extended, knocking the long axe to the ground, smashing onto the brick road surface, leaving a deep crack.

  It's okay, I made it.

  Liu Yanzhao also breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, but immediately his right arm felt a sharp pain, and suddenly the momentum changed, the move dealt considerable damage to him. If the opponent still needed to fight again, he was afraid that he would lose.

  "What a big nerve you have, daring to cause trouble here! Are you trying to say that even the law doesn't apply to you?"

  Just as Liu Yanzhao was thinking about how to deal with it, the crowd dispersed and Liu Jiye walked in with a gloomy face, "Who started this?"

  "It was I who disobeyed military orders, please punish me, General. As for these brothers of mine, they have nothing to do with this."

  Unexpectedly, this guy is quite sentimental and righteous. From the fact that he risked his life to save others just now, it can be seen that there are also real men in Jianxiong Army.

  "Even those of lower rank have a share, if the general is to blame, then please issue a punishment order."

  The remaining Jian Xiong army officers and soldiers all spoke up, and He Feng also pleaded in a low voice, "General, this man is naturally rough, please forgive him this time. I will definitely deal with him properly and ensure that there won't be a next time."

  "Hmm!"

  Liu Jiye let out a cold snort, his tiger eyes glaring, "The Jianxiong Army is also under my command, so naturally I have the final say in matters of punishment!"

  One sentence made He Feng speechless, and soon after, he turned to the first trial, "Since you all pleaded guilty, go and receive your punishment to remember it for a long time. The consul will be flogged fifty times, and the rest of you will be thirty!"

  This punishment is neither heavy nor light, but Liu Yanzhao doesn't understand why his father's attitude has become so severe that even He Feng's request was rejected without any explanation.

  At that moment, I suddenly felt a gaze coming over me. When I looked up, I saw Liu Jiye nodding slightly without revealing any expression, and my heart became clear at once.

  This is asking him to come out and sing the red face.

  Thus, Liu Yanzhao could understand that Liu Jiyuan had already detected this duel and did not intervene to stop it, but rather wanted them to share the punishment together to eliminate their differences.

  As for He Feng, it's better not to show mercy, and completely accept Jian Xiong Jun. It is necessary to either set him aside or get rid of him. Leaving a way out would be a bad thing instead.

  In a flash of inspiration, Liu Yanzhao understood the situation and immediately put away his spear to pay his respects. "General, please calm down. I was just exchanging martial arts moves with the Jianying army's officer, not causing trouble in the camp. Please forgive me."

  "So you people also have a share? The camp has been quiet for many years, but today it's bustling. Could it be that you've been too lenient with them? Deputy General Wang, these soldiers will be punished as usual, no mistakes allowed!"

  It seems that this red face is not easy to sing, looking at Liu Jiye who walked away in anger, Liu Yanzhao could only secretly lament in his heart, is this really my own father?

  He actually used his own pain as a means of governing the army, it's really heartbreaking!

  The barracks were bustling with punishment, a collective flogging of three or four hundred people, which was also extremely rare in the decades when Liu Jiye led the army.

  "Slap!"

  The heavy wooden rods came down, making Liu Yanzhao's wounds ache to the point of tearing his heart and lungs. If it weren't for the school officer in charge of punishment receiving Wang Gui's prior instructions, these fifty rods would have left him crippled.

  "Why bother telling him about our relationship?"

  Not far away, whether it was intentional or coincidental, the school lieutenant who had been competing with him also lay on the ground to accept punishment, his whole face scrunched up in pain, and he spat out a few words from between his teeth.

  "You and I were never destined to be together, but earlier you risked life and death to grab the flying axe, it seems that you are a true hero! I, Liu Yanzhao, respect and admire heroes with blood!"

  Liu Yanzhao also endured the pain and replied intermittently, half of these words were to win over the people in front of him, and the other half came from his true heart.

  He can put aside his own life and death, rush to rescue the soldiers, Liu Yanzhao can be sure that the other party is rough in appearance, but must be a brave and responsible person at heart.

  Only such people can block swords for their comrades on the battlefield and entrust each other with life and death.

  Liu Yanzhao finished speaking, and the man turned his head and no longer spoke. After a while, he said, "I lost, I admit it wholeheartedly, as for the bet, I will definitely keep my promise, I won't go back on my word!"

  It seems to be working, Liu Yanzhao originally wanted to show a joyful expression, but with a stick coming down on his buttocks, he instantly turned into a bitter melon face, and could only frown and stammer, "This bet doesn't need to be taken too seriously, Your Excellency, we are all officials of the imperial court, we are all one family, in the future we will still fight bravely together, defend our homes and country!"

  Sweat the size of beans fell from Liu Yanzhao's face, and his words seemed to have sunk into the sea again, without any echo. However, a despondent look appeared on the school lieutenant's face that made him very puzzled.

  Yes, unlike the expression of pain, this is a lonely look. Even if his face was twisted in pain, his eyes couldn't deceive people.

  "Someone named Changyuan, people close to him all like to call him Old Chang."

  Upon hearing this, Liu Yan Zhao knew that the tall man's mental barrier had been removed. He endured the pain and laughed, "How about I privately call you 'Big Brother Chang'? My name is Liu Yan Zhao, sixth in my family line, so Big Brother Chang can privately call me Sixth Young Master."