The Chang 'an Escort Agency was neither too big nor too small in the eyes of Jianghu, which was said to be a province without escorts. It was good that the old escorts and the young escorts were well-matched. There were only 50 to 60 of them. However, most of the old escorts were heroes and retired soldiers, so their combat power was not weak. The old escorts were tired of licking blood on the blade and became escorts. Not only did they have a solid foundation in martial arts, but they also had a strong network of connections. When they went out, they relied on their friends. Since they were escorts, it was inevitable that they would pass by many local strongholds, carry the escort flag, and announce their family's name that they used to be in Jianghu. Perhaps they used to snatch a maiden together. Therefore, most of them were willing to give them some face. As for the old escorts who had been on the battlefield, they might not be as clean and straightforward as Jianghu boorish men when it came to fighting, but if they were in formation, they would be able to intimidate their opponents even more. The young escorts of Chang' an Escort Agency, under the guidance of the old escorts, were not inferior to the disciples of the top few escort agencies. The only thing they lacked was that they did not have a top-notch secret manual to support them. This was the most helpless thing. The size of the escort agency depended on how many living escort flags were raised in the agency. The only ones that the Chang 'an Escort Agency could bring out were the Head Escort, Shi Qingfeng, and the martial arts instructor, Yu Hanliang, who was in charge of the escort this time. They did not have a single guest.
Han Xiangma was an orphan. At that time, near the end of the Great War of the Spring and Autumn Period, the infant Han Xiangma was thrown into the snow by his heartless parents and was picked up by Instructor Yu who happened to be passing by. He grew up in the Chang 'an Escort Agency. Han Xiangma was narrow-minded and active, and was willing to endure hardships when he practiced martial arts. He was regarded as his own son by the great bandit Yu Hanliang who had washed his hands in a gold basin. Among the young bodyguards, he and the head bodyguard's son, Shi Xiangyang, each led two batches of bodyguards. In the agency, there was a girl who grew up together with his childhood sweetheart. Shi Xiangyang adored her to death, but that girl only cast affectionate glances at the glib-tongued Han Xiangma. Han Xiangma did not have any feelings for her, and this made Shi Xiangyang increasingly see her as a thorn in his side. In fact, when they were young, the two of them often peed together in the mud. The name of Chang 'an Escort Agency was derived from the meaning of long life and safety. It had been established for more than 30 years and had never once lost an escort. Therefore, it had finally gained a foothold in the Jian Province where there were as many escort agencies as there were hairs on a cow. According to the usual rules, when an escort agency carried out an escort mission, the ratio would be determined by the value of the goods. However, Han Xiangma felt that this escort mission was a little strange. He was the only one in the escort agency and the rest were the most experienced old escorts in the agency. Father Yu was personally leading the team. Before they left the Jian Province, the name of Chang' an Escort Agency was still somewhat useful. However, after leaving the Jian Province for more than ten days, it had obviously become a little tricky. Father Yu was an old drunkard, but he would occasionally rest in the cooked shops and have a few cups of wine after the shop was closed to satisfy his cravings. However, this time, he didn't even bring a wine pot. Han Xiangma rode the horse and guarded the escort box with his saber. The box wasn't big. According to Father Yu's private disclosure, when the Chief Escort received the escort that day, he said that it was a piece of family heirloom jade. There was an expert in the escort agency who specially appraised it and said with trembling hands and feet that the jade was worth at least half of the Chang 'an Escort Agency! Han Xiangma glanced at the escort box and then turned his head to look at the heavily veiled carriage. It was two local Jian Province girls dressed as men. Although they were wearing heavy veiled hats that covered their faces, Han Xiangma, who had accompanied his father to visit his aunts and sisters in the brothel when he was eight or nine years old, had sharp eyes. He could tell the truth just by glancing at them when they got off the carriage in the middle of the night. Han Xiangma, who had been making a living in the brothel since he was a child, was convinced that these two girls were absolutely beautiful. When they brushed past each other, they smelled good. When Han Xiangma was not on night duty, he would occasionally lie on his bed and toss and turn. He thought that it would be worth it if he could get a good look at them during this escort mission. Instructor Yu Hanliang carried an ox-horn bow on his back and a large saber on his waist. He rode his horse around the escort team. When he saw Han Xiangma smiling foolishly, he kicked him and scolded him. Han Xiangma patted his butt and said with a smile, "Dad, when are you going to pass me your bow? My hands are itching."
Yu Hanliang's father was an illiterate boorish man. The name of his adopted son, Han Xiangma, was given to him by a gentleman in the escort agency. He had spent a few jins of wine. Although he had raised him as his own son, he naturally hoped that his son would become a dragon. However, Yu Hanliang did not understand at all how to become a dragon. In any case, if he committed a crime, he would be whipped. If he felt that this brat had grown up, he would take out some money and let him have fun with his friends. Whether it was drinking or visiting brothels, they were all grown men. Why would he pretend to be a scholar? That brat from the Shi family was not pleasing to the eye. He was obviously a martial artist, yet he spent all his time reciting poems, writing couplets, and dancing in calligraphy. Did he f * cking recite poems for a deaf person? He deserved to be disliked by Lass Liu. The older generation, no matter how vicious and merciless they were when they were young, wasn't their greatest joy now that they were older, comparing their descendants to see who was more promising? Yu Hanliang felt that Han Xiangma was not bad. After a few more years of polishing, he would become a man. He would not have to worry about not being able to find a wife. Yu Hanliang was in a good mood. He pointed at the saber on Han Xiangma's waist and scolded him jokingly, "Don't be unsatisfied. Including the two from the head escort, there are only six qilin sabers in total!"
Yu Hanliang's father stroked the ox-horn bow on his back affectionately, as if he was caressing the smooth skin of his lover. Seeing Han Xiangma's nauseating and disgusting expression, he glared and said, "The earliest I can pass it to you is when I'm in my coffin. If you didn't make a good trip this time, I'll take this bow with me into my coffin. Pass it to you, my ass!"
Han Xiangma tightened the reins so that the two horses could run side by side. He hooked his arm around Yu Hanliang's shoulder and said with a flattering expression, "Dad, you're treating me like an outsider. I work like an ox and a horse to save money for you when you're old and when you die. How can I roam Jianghu without some money? It's not like you don't know that I'm one of the best in the escort agency.
Even the head escort doesn't dare to compete with me in archery. A good horse deserves a good saddle. Dad, if you disgrace this treasured bow, you'll be punished by the heavens. "
Yu Hanliang's father rolled his eyes and said, "Go, go, go. Keep an eye on the front. We're taking a small path this time, so it won't be safe. Don't ruin the reputation that the escort agency has painstakingly built up over the past few decades."
Han Xiangma smiled and said, "Understood." Then he spurred his horse forward. Yu Hanliang's father's eyes were kind. He really couldn't imagine that this fellow was a bandit who killed people like scything flax. Looking at his son's back, his heart was filled with gratification. This kid was allowed to wear the qilin saber not because Han Xiangma was his adopted son, but because he relied on his own ability to earn a living in the escort agency. Every weapon in the escort agency had to be reported in detail to the authorities. Every addition or loss of a weapon had to be recorded. The Chang 'an Escort Agency only had six qilin sabers. This type of saber was an imitation of the Beiliang saber, tempered into steel. The blade was narrow, light, and sharp. It was a first-rate treasure for both horse and foot battles. There were several Guangling retired soldiers in the escort agency. Han Xiangma's temperament was restless, but he had absolutely no qualms about learning the saber from the Guangling old soldiers. As long as he was allowed to hold a saber, his buttocks would be rooted to the ground. He could practice bitterly for an entire night without complaining about being tired. In fact, this adopted son's archery skills were even better. Even the old soldiers said that Han Xiangma's ape arms were good at shooting and that he was a good seedling. However, compared to practicing the saber, Han Xiangma was unwilling to practice his archery skills. This made Yu Hanliang's father, who couldn't do anything about it, angry. He was unwilling to hand over the ox horn bow to this little bastard.
Yu Hanliang was very cautious when escorting the escort out of Jianzhou. First of all, the escorts were exceptionally precious. If they were lost, not only would the Chang 'an Escort Agency suffer a huge loss, it was also highly likely that they would no longer be able to accept jobs in Jianzhou where competition was fierce. Therefore, other than him, the martial arts instructor, and Han Xiangma, a meticulous and skillful bodyguard, the rest of the escorts were all experienced Jianghu escorts. There were more than thirty of them. It could be said that they had turned out in full force. Including the assistants and odd-job workers, there were nearly fifty of them. It was a mighty force. Even if they didn't take the official road or the small path, the average mountain stronghold wouldn't dare to show their head to block the way.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
