All the heroes of the world are now in my grasp.

Chapter 25 Encounter on the Road to Lüliang

The next day, just as dawn was breaking and the morning mist over Loufan County had not yet dissipated, Gao Zidan and Han Xin mounted their horses and set off for the border river mouth.

There were no extra ceremonial guards or attendants, only two strong horses, each carrying a simple bag containing a change of clothes, dry food and water, as well as Gao Zidan's light green ninth-rank official robes and bronze seal with yellow ribbon, all carefully stored in a waterproof wooden box. Gao Zidan changed into a well-fitting outfit; his face, still somewhat pale from his recent illness, remained ramrod straight as he rode, his eyes showing no fear.

Han Xin rode alongside him, a ring-pommel sword at his waist, his eyes constantly scanning the surrounding wilderness with vigilance. The bloody stench of the battle at the border river had not yet dissipated. This thirty-mile stretch of road, though seemingly flat, was actually fraught with unpredictable dangers, especially since there were only two of them.

"Young lord, are you really not going to ask General Zhou for a few more personal guards to accompany us?" Han Xin reined in his horse, slowing down to ride alongside Gao Zidan, and said in a deep voice, "Most of Xihe County is now in Liu Yao's hands, and there are many Xiongnu cavalry along the way. If there is an emergency between the two of us, we may not be able to handle it."

"It's alright." Gao Zidan shook her head, her tone calm, deliberately feigning ignorance. "We were entrusted by Liu Yao to get him territory, and now we've given him a prefectural governorship. Isn't he satisfied? Besides, it's only thirty li, a fast horse can cover it in no time. Nothing serious will happen."

He knew perfectly well that, just as Liu Daogui's uncle had said, Liu Yao had just taken Xihe Commandery and what he needed most was a legitimate title of prefect. He was going there with Ji Guang's intention to bestow the title, which was a boon to Liu Yao. Liu Yao would never make a move against him at this critical juncture. Moreover, he had stayed in Yongming's tribe for nearly a month. Although he had been used as a pawn by Liu Yao, he had also earned some genuine favors among the tribe's members.

As the morning mist gradually dissipated, the early spring sun shone on the open fields. The soil, damp from the melting snow, carried a moist scent. In the weeds along the official road, one could still see broken arrows and tattered armor left from the battle at the border river mouth. Occasionally, there were also a few unburied corpses, mutilated by wild dogs, exuding an inescapable stench of blood.

Gao Zidan looked at the scenery along the way, silent in her heart. This was the chaotic world, where human life was as worthless as grass, and the saying "one general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand" was never just a lighthearted phrase in history books.

The journey was only thirty li, but with a fast horse, it took just over an hour to see the outline of the border river camp in the distance.

Before they even reached the camp, more than ten Xiongnu cavalrymen suddenly charged out from behind the earthen slope ahead. Each was clad in leather armor, wielding a saber, and their horses snorted, instantly surrounding the two men. The leading Xiongnu knight shouted sharply, his fluent Chinese laced with intense wariness: "Who goes there? Halt! Any further and we'll fire arrows!"

Han Xin immediately spurred his horse to block Gao Zidan's path, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword at his waist, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. Just as he was about to speak, Gao Zidan raised his hand and pressed down on his arm, slowly spurring his horse forward half a step. He cupped his hands to the leading knight and said in a calm tone, "Please inform him that Gao Zidan of Bohai has come to request an audience with Liu Yao, the Chanyu of Yongming."

Upon hearing this, the leading knight was taken aback. He narrowed his eyes and carefully examined Gao Zidan. The wariness on his face gradually faded, and he dismounted, bowing deeply to Gao Zidan. His tone instantly became much more respectful: "So it's Young Master Gao! We were blind and offended you!"

Upon seeing this, the surrounding Xiongnu cavalrymen also sheathed their sabers, dismounted, and saluted Gao Zidan, their faces showing genuine goodwill.

Gao Zidan was slightly taken aback, then realized what he meant. During his time with the Yongming tribe, he saw that many of the herders lacked food and clothing, and even their tents were drafty in the cold winter. So he often took Han Xin with him to help the herders repair their tents, chop wood, and carry water. When they encountered families who had run out of food, he would share some of his own dry rations. He even taught the children in the tribe to recognize a few words.

In this chaotic world, the sons of noble families have always been arrogant and looked down on the herdsmen, treating them like dirt. None of them would lower themselves to do such menial work. It was precisely because of this that almost every ordinary member of the Yongming tribe recognized this kind-hearted young man, had a deep impression of him, and even held him in high esteem.

"Young Master Gao, what brings you here?" The leading knight stood up and said with a smile, "The Chanyu specifically instructed that if we see you, we must not be negligent."

"I have come on the orders of Governor Ji of Bingzhou to request an audience with the Chanyu, as I have important matters to discuss." Gao Zidan didn't mince words and directly stated his purpose. "I wonder if the Chanyu is currently in the main camp?"

Upon hearing this, the leading knight showed a hint of apology on his face and shook his head: "Young Master Gao, you have come at an inopportune time. The Chanyu left with his main force ten days ago and has already entered Lüliang City, Xihe Prefecture, a few days ago."

Gao Zidan frowned slightly: "Lü Liang? So soon?"

He had anticipated that Liu Yao would take over the entire Xihe prefecture, but he hadn't expected it to be so fast. Calculating the timeline, from capturing Jiehekou on New Year's Eve, it was practically the next day when Liu Yao headed towards Lüliang without hesitation—truly resolute.

"Indeed, it was fast." The knight shook his head with a smile, his tone tinged with disdain. "That Prefect of Xihe, Xiang Xu, is utterly useless. It's said that as soon as our troops arrived at the gates of Lüliang, instead of opening the city defenses or organizing the troops, he led his subordinates to the city tower to recite the Classic of Filial Piety, claiming that it could repel the Xiongnu soldiers. The subordinates and soldiers guarding the city couldn't stand it anymore, so they simply tied him up, opened the city gates, and surrendered. The Chanyu entered Lüliang without bloodshed."

Upon hearing this, Gao Zidan was momentarily speechless. He had long known that Xiang Xu was only good at empty talk about classical texts, but he never expected him to be this absurd. With the enemy at the gates, instead of thinking about defense, he actually dared to try to repel them by reciting the Classic of Filial Piety—it was utterly ridiculous.

"What about Xiang Xu? What did the Chanyu do with him?" Gao Zidan couldn't help but ask.

"The Chanyu (Xiongnu ruler) didn't even bother to kill him when he saw him." The knight sneered. "Killing such a pedantic scholar would only dirty the blade. He just had him driven out of the city. Whether he lives or dies is entirely up to his own fate."

Gao Zidan remained silent. This approach was quite in line with Liu Yao's character. He disdained killing such a harmless, pedantic scholar and was too lazy to waste time on such a person; his arrogance and ruthlessness as a tyrant were on full display.

"Young Master Gao, since you are going to see the Chanyu, we will send someone to escort you to Lüliang." The leading knight readily agreed, "It's still over a hundred li from here to Lüliang City, and the road is not safe. It's not safe for just the two of you to travel alone. With our escort, no one will dare to cause you any trouble."

Gao Zidan didn't refuse and bowed to the group in thanks, saying, "Then I'll have to trouble you all."

The knight immediately arranged for four strong Xiongnu guards, prepared horses and provisions, and followed Gao Zidan and Han Xin, turning their attention towards Lüliang City.

Heading west, the scenery gradually changed. Just outside the border river, the official road was lined with dilapidated villages, deserted and uninhabited. But as we went closer to Lüliang City, the villages gradually became populated, and occasionally we could see people turning over the soil in preparation for spring planting. The roadside inns and taverns also opened their doors. Although not bustling, there was no sense of desolation like in the aftermath of war.

Gao Zidan saw this and her understanding of Liu Yao deepened.

Just as he had predicted, after Liu Yao took over Xihe County, he did not allow his troops to plunder. Instead, he restrained his soldiers, pacified the people, and wanted to truly establish Xihe County as his base. Such a person was by no means a mere grassland brute who only knew how to burn, kill, and plunder, but a true shrewd and farsighted warlord in a chaotic world.

As they traveled, darkness gradually fell, and the setting sun painted half the sky red. The group arrived at a small county town called Zhongyang, a necessary stop on the way to Lüliang. The town was small, but quite lively. The Xiongnu guards suggested that since it was late and traveling at night was unsafe, they should rest at an inn in the town for the night and continue their journey early the next morning.

Gao Zidan also felt a bit tired from traveling for several days, so she nodded in agreement. The group of six found the largest inn in the city, booked rooms, and ordered food and drinks in the lobby to rest and eat.

The inn was bustling with people, including merchants, wandering knights, and many herdsmen dressed in Xiongnu attire. They drank and chatted, making a ruckus, yet remained peaceful. It was clear that Liu Yao had indeed stabilized the order here after taking over Xihe County.

As the group was eating, they suddenly heard a deafening commotion coming from the street outside the inn. The sounds of gongs, drums, cheers, and shouts were all mixed together, and even with the inn door closed, they could hear it clearly. It was unusually lively.

Many guests who were eating in the inn heard the commotion outside and put down their bowls and chopsticks. Excited expressions appeared on their faces as they jumped up and ran towards the door, shouting, "Hurry! The martial arts competition is about to start! If we're late, we won't get a spot!"

In just a short while, the inn's lobby was almost empty, with only a few scattered tables of guests remaining. Even the waiters were leaning against the doorframe, peering longingly out onto the street.

Gao Zidan looked curious and turned to Han Xin beside her: "Mr. Han, what's going on? Why is it so lively?"

Han Xin, having roamed the land in his youth and worked as a wandering knight-errant, was intimately familiar with the customs of the north. Hearing this, he smiled and explained, "Young lord, the northern border is different from the Central Plains. It borders the grasslands, where Han and Hu people live together, and they have always valued martial arts and chivalry. Scholars and commoners alike are fond of hand-to-hand combat, archery, and horsemanship. When conflicts arise, they don't want to report to the authorities, so they will often meet in the streets to fight and determine who is better, sometimes even to the death. It's not just Han knight-errant; the Hu people on the grasslands also admire bravery and often participate in duels, so naturally, there are many onlookers."

He paused, then added, "Moreover, Young Master, you come from Shanggu, a military family on the border. Most of your retainers are skilled martial arts practitioners who often spar with others. However, you were seriously ill before and can't remember these things."

Upon hearing this, Gao Zidan understood. As a transmigrator, he naturally didn't know about these northern customs. Hearing the commotion outside, he felt a bit interested in watching the excitement. However, having just entered officialdom and carrying out official duties, he felt that going to the street to watch a martial arts competition was beneath his dignity, and he couldn't bring himself to do it.

He put down his chopsticks, about to say he was going back to his room to rest, when the innkeeper approached with a smile, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Gentlemen, I see you've come from afar, haven't you? Today's martial arts competition is no ordinary contest; it's a duel between Young Master Dugu. If you miss this opportunity, you'll never have another chance!"

Dugu Langjun?

Gao Zidan looked puzzled, turned to Han Xin, and asked in a low voice, "Who is this Lord Dugu? I've never heard of him before."

As soon as he finished speaking, Han Xin's eyes lit up, and he sat up straight instantly, his grip on the hilt of his sword tightening slightly. Clearly, he had heard of him long ago and was filled with surprise and excitement. Even the four Xiongnu guards at the same table put down their chopsticks, their faces instantly showing excitement as they whispered among themselves, their voices full of longing and admiration.

"Sir, you haven't heard of Lord Dugu?" The innkeeper paused for a moment, then smiled and explained, "Lord Dugu's given name is Xin. He's the most famous chivalrous knight-errant in our entire northern border! Handsome, with superb swordsmanship, and known for his generosity and willingness to help those in need, he's admired by everyone, whether Han or non-Han. In our Bingzhou and Yunzhou area, which martial arts enthusiast doesn't consider Lord Dugu a role model?"

Dugu Xin!

A thunderbolt exploded in Gao Zidan's mind, a surge of excitement rushed to her head, and even her breathing quickened.

He finally realized! Dugu Xin, one of the eight pillars of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, a handsome man with a hat tilted to the side, a three-generation relative of the emperor, and the most powerful father-in-law in history! He never expected to encounter this legendary figure in this small county town of Xihe County!

"No wonder you guys are so excited?" Gao Zidan composed herself, looked at the four Xiongnu guards beside her, and asked with a smile.

"Of course!" a Xiongnu guard immediately exclaimed, his tone full of admiration. "We've all heard of Lord Dugu's name on the grasslands! Two years ago, our tribe's caravan was robbed by bandits in Dai County. Just then, Lord Dugu happened to pass by. He single-handedly defeated more than a dozen bandits with just his sword, and returned all our goods and money to us without taking a single penny! Who wouldn't admire such a hero?"

Another guard nodded in agreement: "Not only is he righteous, but his swordsmanship is also divine! Last year in Youzhou, he fought against a fierce general under Xiang Yu and defeated him in thirty rounds. Even the Overlord praised his swordsmanship! In the entire Northern Territory, who wouldn't want to see Lord Dugu's swordsmanship with their own eyes?"

Now that things have come to this point, how can I not go and see it?

Gao Zidan immediately stood up and said with a smile, "Since it's the renowned Dugu Young Master from the Northern Territory having a martial arts competition, we absolutely have to go and watch. Mr. Han, everyone, shall we go and join in the fun?"

Han Xin and his four Xiongnu guards immediately stood up, their faces full of excitement. The group followed the innkeeper and quickly left the inn.

As soon as I stepped out of the inn, I saw that the street was teeming with people, completely packed together. The entire street was blocked by the crowd of onlookers, men, women, young and old, Han Chinese and non-Han Chinese, all huddled together, standing on tiptoe to look into the open space in the center of the street, with shouts and cheers rising and falling, creating a lively and extraordinary scene.

Gao Zidan and her group squeezed for a long time, but they couldn't move forward even a step. The wall of people in front of them was so dense that they couldn't see anything inside.

Just as Gao Zidan was feeling helpless, the four Xiongnu guards beside him exchanged a glance, immediately stepped forward, and shouted in a deep voice, "Make way! This is a distinguished guest escorted by Yongming Chanyu!"

The four men were elite soldiers in the Xiongnu army, tall and fierce, their shouts carrying the menacing aura of soldiers. Now that Xihe County was Liu Yao's territory, the people and soldiers on the street recognized the Xiongnu cavalry's uniforms. Upon hearing their voices, they all stepped aside, making way for them in the crowded streets.

Taking advantage of this privilege, Gao Zidan and her group walked unimpeded to the very front of the crowd, just a few steps from the open arena in the center of the street, with an excellent view.

In the center of the open space, a flat area had already been cleared, and torches were planted around it, illuminating the area as bright as day.

And standing in the center of the arena was none other than Dugu Xin.

The torchlight fell upon him, and Gao Zidan finally saw the legendary figure clearly. He looked to be no more than twenty-three or twenty-four years old, dressed in a moon-white outfit with a jade belt around his waist, his posture as upright as a pine tree. His appearance was exceptionally handsome, with sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose, and well-defined lips. His eyes shone like cold stars, and even just standing there casually, he exuded a dashing and debonair air, forming a stark contrast with the rugged and bold men of the northern region around him.

He held a long sword in his hand, its scabbard ancient and its blade still sheathed, yet even just holding it exuded a graceful and sharp sword intent. He turned slightly to the side, a faint smile playing on his lips, composed and unhurried, showing no sign of pre-fight tension.

Among the onlookers, many young women blushed as they watched him, whispering among themselves, their eyes filled with admiration.

Gao Zidan looked at Dugu Xin in the arena, her heart filled with mixed emotions. He truly lived up to his reputation as a dashing figure with his hat askew. With such appearance and bearing, it was no wonder that he was famous throughout the northern border, and even the Xiongnu people on the grasslands held him in high esteem.

Just then, the crowd suddenly erupted in a deafening cheer, and from the other end of the street came a series of heavy footsteps.

Dugu Xin slowly turned around, his smile fading, and gripped the hilt of his sword at his waist, his gaze calmly fixed on the direction from which the footsteps were coming.

His opponent has finally arrived.