History Park: Starting with the Imjin War

Chapter 37 Bald-tailed Old Li

Zhou Hu was about to leave, but stopped when he heard the sound.

Then Zhao Tou came limping over, his face shifting between displeasure and annoyance.

He first looked at Zhou Hu, then at Mo Qin, and sneered.

"I knew it."

"You little rascal, whenever you have a spare moment, you come here to learn from others."

Mo Qin quickly clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Master, Brother Zhou teaches a different approach."

"nonsense."

With a snort, Zhao Tou glared at him.

"Of course I know it's another route."

Zhou Hu, with a calm and collected expression, said:

"The spear skills trained by Zhao Tou are quite good."

Zhao Tou glanced sideways.

"Do you need to tell me?"

Zhou Hu nodded.

"Then I won't say anything."

Seeing the two bullfighting, Mo Qin felt that it was best to keep quiet at this moment.

Zhao Tou cursed fiercely, but he didn't actually get angry.

As he approached, Zhao Tou took something out of his pocket and casually tossed it over.

"Catch it."

He caught it with both hands, looked down, and saw that Mo Qin's breath hitched.

It was an old gun barrel.

Upon closer inspection, the iron appears dark in color, and the blade has extremely fine chipping.

The largest cut was two inches behind the tip of the spear, as if something extremely hard had been inserted and then rammed into it.

Mochin's current white waxwood gun is equipped with an ordinary gun head.

It's enough, but it can also kill.

But that was the usual stuff given to new recruits.

As for the one in my hand, that's different.

It's not a new addition to Curry's team; it's an old hand that's been through the wringer and tasted blood.

Realizing the item was valuable, Mo Qin instinctively tightened his grip.

He propped up his practice pole, and Zhao Tou, standing beside him, casually mentioned it.

"A good spear is only a decent spear if it has a white waxwood shaft and a good spearhead."

"This is what I used when I was young."

"On that trip to Ningxia, I fought against the cavalry of the Bo Bai rebels."

Even now, Zhao Tou's tone remained as harsh as ever.

"Later, the blade got a little chipped, so I put it away."

"Remember this, you still have a long way to go."

Whether they are a good match or not remains to be seen.

Mo Qin lowered his head and examined the base of the spearhead closely.

There is a very small character engraved at the very end of the stem.

Zhao.

The lettering is worn and somewhat blurred, but it can still be recognized upon close inspection.

Mo Qin looked up, about to speak.

Zhao Tou, however, seemed annoyed and turned his face away.

"What are you looking at?"

"I'm giving you the gun barrel, not so you can hold it up like a god."

"Before crossing the river, find a craftsman to fix the stem and replace your current one."

"Don't embarrass me when you get to North Korea."

Mochin remained silent for two breaths.

The next moment, he knelt on one knee, holding the old gun barrel in both hands, and bowed his head, saying:

"Thank you, Master."

Zhao Tou paused slightly for a moment while holding the practice stick.

"Are you sick?"

However, his voice was two octaves lower than usual when he said this.

"I'm not dead yet, stop giving me this nonsense."

Mochin didn't get up, and said again:

"Disciple understands."

Zhao Tou remained silent, simply turned around, and limped away.

After taking a few steps, he left a sentence:

"Always remember, don't be greedy when it comes to guns."

"You've gained some understanding now, but once you're actually on the battlefield, greed will be your downfall."

He paused for a moment before letting out the second half of what he wanted to say.

"Come back alive."

After he finished speaking, he didn't turn back.

Zhou Hu watched the whole thing from the side without saying much.

I just patted him on the shoulder.

"Your master has treated you well."

Mo Qin looked at the old gun barrel in his palm.

"Um."

Zhou Hu said:

"Then let's not let him teach for nothing."

After saying that, Zhou Hu left.

It was as if he sensed Mochin's feelings.

The air mass in his chest and abdomen twitched slightly.

In the following days, everyone in the forward camp was on edge.

The day of departure was drawing ever closer, and everyone knew that a major battle was just around the corner.

From then on, Mo Qin went to the training ground every day at dawn as usual.

First, adopt the posture of Zhao Toujiao, then follow Zhou Hu in practicing spear fighting.

One afternoon, having some free time, I went to find the craftsman to remove the original spearhead and replace it with the old spearhead given to me by Zhao.

The craftsman held up the old gun barrel, examined it for a long time, and then said:

"This thing is quite old."

Mo Qin didn't say much, but just kept his eyes on the craftsman, watching the hilt of the gun tighten little by little.

The moment the gun head was attached, this rifle finally had real teeth.

On the other side, Lin Jun and Liu Gao were also busy.

In the afternoon, outside the old shed of the front camp.

Wang De stood in the middle of the open space, with an old wooden shield, two short wooden swords, and a worn-out short-bladed training knife at his feet.

Lin Jun and Liu Gao stood on either side of each other.

The two men's expressions were completely different.

Liu Gao held the newly acquired lion-head shield as if it were his wife.

Lin Jun lowered his eyes, looking calmly at the training knife at Wang De's feet.

Wang De's first words were blunt.

"Master Han said that you two will be exempt from miscellaneous duties before crossing the river."

"Then don't waste this breath you've saved."

"From today onwards, I will lead you."

Liu Gao was taken aback at first, then scratched his head.

"Hey, boss, all I'm doing is carrying the shield, isn't I?"

"Screw your mother."

Wang De gave him a cold glance.

"A shield in your hands is a weapon, not a door."

"If all you do is tough it out, that's not using a shield, it's holding up a coffin lid and waiting for someone to come and take you down."

Upon hearing this, Liu Gao lowered his head and looked at his lion-head shield.

Her lips moved, but she didn't dare to retort.

Wang Deshun lifted the old wooden shield with one hand and picked up the short wooden knife with the other.

"Watch closely."

After saying that, he held the wooden shield horizontally in front of him.

An imaginary knife slashes down from the right.

Wang De did not face him head-on, but simply tilted the shield slightly.

The moment the wooden sword touched the shield, the force slid off along the slope.

Before anyone could see clearly, he had already pushed off with the edge of his shield, pulling the hand holding the knife outward by half an inch.

Immediately afterwards, the short wooden sword emerged from behind the shield and stopped right under the opponent's ribs.

The whole set of movements was crisp and clean.

There wasn't a single fancy trick.

"A shield isn't meant to block your entire side."

"A shield can save you half a lane."

Wang De put down the shield and kicked the old training dagger to Lin Jun's feet.

"the same as you."

"I've seen your old methods before."

"Quick hands and sharp eyes, but too frivolous."

"It's like dismantling a scaffold, not like fighting for your life on the battlefield."

Lin Jun bent down and picked up the dagger.

"Wang Tou taught me."

"Don't call me that so smoothly."

Wang De's face was ashen.

"I am not your master."

"I'm just responsible for training you two to be more professional before crossing the river."

"Once you cross the river, who lives and who dies is up to you."

After he finished speaking, he first pointed to Liu Gao.

"You stand in front."

"Raise the shield."

Liu Gao quickly did as instructed.

"Too high."

Wang De frowned.

"Are you afraid people won't see how big your belly is?"

Liu Gao quickly pressed the shield down.

"Too low."

"Are you planning to have your head split open?"

Liu Gao raised the shield another half an inch.

Wang De then said coldly:

"Lower it a little more."

"It's not about sticking it to the legs, it's about connecting the shoulders and the shield into one piece."

"If people shrink back, the shield is dead."

"People push forward, and the shield remains intact."

Liu Gao was stunned by the scolding and hurriedly adjusted his posture.

Wang De then looked at Lin Jun.

"You stand to his side in front."

"Don't raise the knife so high."

"Are you preparing to slaughter a pig?"

"Short sword, short sword, what's short isn't the sword, it's the road."

"If you raise your knife high, the line will be longer, and others will know where you came from at a glance."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jun lowered the short sword by half.

The blade slid along the inside of the forearm, and the elbow followed suit.

Wang De's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't say anything, only raised his chin.

"OK."

"Liu Gao, take three steps forward."

"Lin Jun, you are only allowed to find openings, not to cut straight down."

"Come."

Liu Gao grabbed his shield and charged forward.

His three steps were firm and heavy, just like a wild boar with its head down, rooting in the ground.

Lin Jun did not retreat, but only took half a step around.

The knife didn't go after the shield, nor did it go after the face.

Instead, gently smear the shield along the edge, creating space inwards.

Her cut was quick and clean.

But Wang De immediately called a halt.

"The location is correct."

"The force is incorrect."

Lin Jun stopped what she was doing.

Wang De walked over and pointed to her wrist.

"You're thinking of smearing it in."

"But in the army, you don't need to cut people open with every single blow."

"What you need is to go in and cripple the other person's hand, leg, and half of their body."

"I'm not seeking death."

"It is a desire for chaos."

He grabbed Liu Gao's shield with one hand and took the dagger from Lin Jun with the other.

First, press down on the shield, then use your blade.

The shield was pressed forward, forcing the opponent's upper body to the goal line and killing them.

The short sword doesn't travel in a large arc; it simply slides downwards along the edge of the shield.

The tip of the knife was positioned about half an inch above and outside the knee.

"This knife won't kill a person immediately."

"But he will kneel."

"Once he kneels, the person behind you can go up."

Seeing that, Lin Jun seemed to understand the trick, and his eyes lit up.

"Again."

Wang De stepped back and said coldly.

After the second round began, Liu Gao held on even more steadily.

Lin Jun's sword strokes became even shorter.

The shield presses down, the blade drills.

Although not yet skilled enough, and not ruthless enough, it's not as frivolous as before.

Wang De stood to the side, watched for a while, and then gave his evaluation.

"This is getting interesting."

Next, he switched their positions again.

Have Lin Jun take a short stick and keep looking for open spots next to Liu Gao's shield from the side.

This practice lasted for half an hour.

Liu Gao was covered in sweat, his arms were sore and trembling, and he kept muttering to himself:

"This shield..."

"How come you're even harder to please than a door panel?"

Wang De, who was standing nearby, overheard this and said coldly:

"Will the door panel win for you?"

"……Won't."

"Then shut up and continue."

After practicing for several more rounds, Lin Jun's forehead was covered in sweat, but his movements already had the feel of close combat in the military.

Wang De didn't deliberately correct her original habits of using lines, cutting corners, and short-distance control.

Instead, it was integrated into the tactics of the military formation.

Wang De glanced at it twice and finally added another sentence.

"It's a good thing that you haven't lost your old ways."

"Now that we've added some military formations, we won't be left with nothing but running away when we cross the river and encounter a tough opponent."

Liu Gao, standing to the side, was panting heavily from exhaustion.

After listening, he didn't forget to add a sentence:

"Hey boss, I'm not lacking either, are you sure you have any meat today?"

Wang De didn't even glance at him.

"Old Qian's over there tonight, give you an extra spoonful of meat broth."

Liu Gao's eyes lit up immediately.

"really?"

Why would I lie to you?

"Then I can practice fifty more times!"

After saying that, he actually hugged the shield and charged forward again.

Wang De didn't react, but when he turned around, a smile still appeared on his lips.

At the archery range in the evening, Yan Qi had just finished shooting his seventh arrow.

The arrow was embedded an inch above the chest of the straw target, its fletching still trembling slightly.

Just as he was about to step forward to take the arrow, a bone whistle was suddenly thrown from the side.

Yan Qi raised his hand and caught it; the bone whistle was very light.

It looks like it was made from ground animal bones.

The whistle has turned yellow and there are fine old marks on the edges.

The visitor was a tall, thin night clerk.

Yan Qi had seen him by the river when they changed horses earlier.

The other person had a short knife hanging at his waist, deep-set eyes, and a gaze as sharp as a hawk's.

"Scout Feng"

The other person first introduced himself, then gestured with his chin towards the target.

"Good arrow."

"The ability to recognize tracks in the snow is even more valuable."

Yan Qi didn't speak, she just looked at him.

Scout Feng said:

"After crossing the river, the mountains on the Korean side are deeper and the roads are more slippery than those in Liaodong."

"The night watchman is not someone who can ride a horse."

"They are people who can find their way, listen to the wind, and recognize tracks; they are the kind of people who can come back alive on a snowy night."

He glanced at the bone whistle in Yan Qi's hand.

"Take it."

"This isn't a waist tag."

"It's not a military order."

"Consider it half an introductory token."

Yan Qi glanced at the old bone whistle in his palm.

Scout Feng continued:

"If you want to try it, bring it to me."

"If you don't want to, then pretend you never saw it."

Yan Qi finally spoke.

"Why are you giving it to me?"

Feng the Scout looked at him.

"I heard about that night at the cliff pass; you have a pretty good sense of the way."

"The arrow is steady."

"Most importantly, you don't talk much."

After saying that, he turned and walked away, leaving behind another sentence as he went:

"Sometimes, a bone whistle is a cry for help."

"Sometimes it's also to let others know that you're here."

Whether or not to use it is up to you to decide.

The person quickly disappeared into the twilight outside the archery range.

Yan Qi didn't chase after him to ask. He simply hung the bone whistle on his waist, slung the bow over his shoulder, and slowly walked back.

A few nights later, behind the weapons shed.

Old Ding squatted in his usual spot, fiddling with his tinderbox.

When Mo Qin came over with the booklet, he didn't even look up.

"You're here?"

"Um."

"How many days did you practice with the booklet?"

"All things considered, it's less than ten days."

Old Ding nodded and casually drew a circle on the ground with his hand.

"That thing should also have feelings."

"You know what I mean."

Mo Qin understood the implications and didn't beat around the bush.

"have."

"That lump was just below my chest."

"It doesn't move normally."

"When practicing shooting, there will be a reaction, but after finishing, it will become stable again."

Hearing this, Old Ding finally looked up at him.

"When I said earlier that your build wasn't human, I wasn't insulting you."

"Your physique and physical condition are already outrageous enough."

"Now that there's this extra lump of stuff, it's even stranger."

Mo Qin touched his chest.

"I call it an air mass."

When Lao Ding heard this rustic name, he scoffed.

He stuck the tinder into the ground, freed his hands, and measured it between his chest and abdomen.

"When people practice boxing, kicking, or spear fighting, the ultimate goal is simply to unleash the power of their muscles, bones, and blood into a single force."

"This is the method of ordinary people."

Grind it inch by inch.

"Accumulate it layer by layer."

"But you're different."

"Your original body was already incredibly strong."

"Now there's another ball of energy inside my body."

Old Ding looked at Mo Qin, his tone much more serious than usual.

"This thing seems to be innate internal energy."

Mo Qin was startled.

"Internal energy?"

Don't be too happy yet.

Old Ding looked up.

"I meant it's somewhat similar."

"It's not that you can kill someone from three zhang away now."

"If you push it too hard, you might get a stitch in your side at best, or even ruin yourself at worst."

"Build a solid foundation and integrate it into your own life; you can't rush it."

Mo Qin nodded; he had taken his words to heart.

Seeing that he seemed to be deep in thought, Old Ding continued:

"That booklet contains a clumsy method for stretching and breathing."

"Clumsy as it may be, it's reliable."

"Practice as instructed."

"Inhale and focus on the soles of your feet."

"Exhale and focus your breath on your lower abdomen (Dantian)."

"When you're applying force with the gun, don't think about your hands first."

"Think about your feet, your hips, your back."

"If the air mass is willing to move along, don't stop it."

"If it doesn't want to move, don't rush it."

Mochin glanced at the booklet.

"Is this method something you practiced when you were young?"

Old Ding adjusted the tinderbox.

Mars flickered on and off.

"almost."

Mochin looked at him.

Where did you learn it?

This question made Lao Ding fall silent for a moment.

After a moment, he slowly said:

I spent a few years in the Songshan area.

Mo Qin's eyes flickered; wasn't that the Shaolin Temple?

Old Ding glanced at him.

"Don't look at me like I've seen a ghost."

"Mount Song is not a heavenly palace."

"I'm not the only one who's been there for several years."

Mo Qin tentatively asked:

"Shaolin?"

Old Ding neither admitted nor denied it.

He simply pulled his injured left leg back a little.

"When I was young, I practiced the Vajra Fist."

"I also practiced the Vajra Kick."

"Later, my legs were ruined, and the little thing on my feet was practically useless."

He spoke casually, but Mo Qin felt a chill run down his spine.

Mo Qin knew that Old Ding was formidable, but when he heard about the Mighty Vajra Fist and Mighty Vajra Kick, he felt that the old man's aura of a master had deepened even further.

Mochin couldn't help but say:

"I feel like..."

Old Ding glanced at him and interrupted.

"What, it doesn't look like it?"

"...like a shed guard."

Old Ding shook his head.

"Who says someone from Shaolin Temple can't guard a shed?"

Mochin was speechless for a moment.

Old Ding changed the subject.

In short, don't expect to achieve success overnight.

"Zhao the Cripple will teach you how to use a spear."

"Zhou Hu will help you find a way to survive in the battle."

"And what I have here is to help your muscles, bones, and blood flow more smoothly."

"Plus the energy within you."

"These are the things you should be practicing right now, all put together."

With a serious expression, Mo Qin nodded repeatedly.

"clear."

Old Ding looked at him for a while, then suddenly asked:

"Have you dreamt about that thing at the bottom of the cliff?"

Mo Qin's heart tightened.

"no."

"That's good."

Old Ding picked up the tinderbox again and started poking at the sparks.

Mo Qin stared intently at Lao Ding; he really wanted to get to the bottom of this.

"Do you know something?"

After a long while, Old Ding slowly spoke.

"I've only heard the legend of Old Li with the bald tail in Nurgan."

Mo Qin's heart skipped a beat.

"Old Li with the bald tail?"

But when it came to the crucial point, Lao Ding stopped.

"No matter how much more there is, you shouldn't know it now."

"Just remember one thing."

"Since it didn't eat you, but instead gave you this ball of energy as a starting point, it means there's some inexplicable connection between you two."

Whether fate brings good fortune or misfortune, no one can say for sure right now.

After saying that, he folded up the tinderbox and retreated into the shadows.

"Come again tomorrow."