Chapter 072: The Attack at the Dove Shop

The village woman’s words left everyone in silence, and the atmosphere immediately grew heavy. Li Dong let out a chuckle and replied to her, “I have matters to attend to in Dong’e. Once I’m done, I’ll be on my way. Whether I join Master Cheng’s ranks isn’t important—meeting a hero from the local militia is reward enough for this journey.”

With his words, the women’s hearts were put at ease, and they exclaimed with delight, “That’s fine, that’s fine.” The mood lightened, laughter and conversation resumed, and the oppressive air dissipated.

They continued onward, and upon reaching Quail Inn, they entered the village directly, never suspecting they had been followed. The thieves trailing them watched as they disappeared into the village. With a sly, vicious grin, one of them sneered, “The monk may have escaped, but the temple remains—let’s see where you run this time!” He then doubled back to gather his men.

Not long after entering the village, the women parted ways for home, each inviting Li Dong to rest at their house, to which he responded with a smile. One woman, proud of her courage, led him straight to the residence of Cheng Da.

Most homes in Quail Inn were modest, each with its own yard, but Cheng Da’s residence boasted a two-story pavilion, standing tall and conspicuous on the vast plain—a silent testament to the noble lineage the villagers spoke of.

A row of lofty phoenix trees and low willows stood by the wall, and from within filtered the faint sounds of drilling and shouting—likely Cheng Yaojin training his militia.

The village woman led Li Dong inside, exchanging a word with a servant before heading straight into the courtyard. Around a decorative screen, the scene opened up: on a wide open ground, a hundred men were practicing with sticks in lively formation.

From their movements and the arrangement, Li Dong could tell they had some knowledge of formations, a step above a ragtag group of villagers, though not particularly expert.

Before them stood a high platform, atop which was a burly man in his mid-twenties, over seven feet tall, his face covered in a thick beard, features imposing and stern. At his command, the militia shifted formation in unison. To the untrained eye, he cut a formidable figure, a true leader in war.

As the drills continued, the man on the platform noticed the village woman with a stranger at the rear of the crowd. After a quick word to his men, another took his place, and he leapt down and strode toward Li Dong.

He approached, looked Li Dong up and down, and asked the woman, “This young man’s face is unfamiliar. He’s not from Quail Inn. Why have you brought him here?”

She briefly recounted the incident at Sishui Ridge and probed, “Can outsiders join our militia?”

Judging from their casual exchange, Li Dong surmised this must be the renowned Cheng Yaojin himself. Despite his fierce appearance, his tone was kind and approachable, with none of the arrogance of a petty tyrant. Truly, seeing is believing.

Cheng Yaojin pondered a moment, then waved his large hand dismissively. “These are extraordinary times. We’re in dire need of men. As long as he has the heart to protect the village, what does it matter if he’s not from here?”

The woman beamed, “He’s only here on business and will leave once he’s done. I leave him in your care.” With that, she took her leave.

Cheng Yaojin nodded, then turned to Li Dong. “Young man, where is your home, and what brings you to Dong’e?”

With a hundred militiamen around, Li Dong couldn’t mention Qin Qiong, so he saluted and replied vaguely, “I’ve come on behalf of an old friend. May I ask your name, sir?”

Cheng Yaojin noticed the long bundle on Li Dong’s back, likely a sword or weapon, and asked curiously, “I am Cheng Yaojin. I didn’t expect one so young to be so skilled in martial arts.”

Li Dong’s heart skipped a beat. So the stories were true—Cheng Yaojin was known for his rough nature, but he was sharp-eyed and observant as well.

Li Dong smiled modestly, “I am not well-versed in martial arts.”

“Then you must be a scholar. Let me test you,” Cheng Yaojin said, confidence in his voice.

“I know but a little of letters, nothing to boast of,” Li Dong replied.

As they spoke, a gust of wind snapped a dry branch from the phoenix tree. It tumbled down, caught in the dense willow branches and never reached the ground.

Inspired by the moment, Cheng Yaojin mused for a while, then said, “I have an opening line for a couplet—not the best, but perhaps you can match it with a closing line.”

Li Dong recalled from the records that Cheng Yaojin was a valiant general, though history was vague about the details. His ancestors had served as officials in Northern Qi and were local nobility—he surely had some learning, which explained his blunt yet meticulous nature.

“I’ll do my best, but forgive me if I can’t grasp your full meaning,” Li Dong replied, intending also to test Cheng Yaojin’s education.

“Then listen well,” Cheng Yaojin said, pacing two steps before declaring, “Phoenix branches cross the willow tree!” He stopped, waiting for Li Dong’s reply.

Li Dong pondered. The line seemed simple, but on closer inspection, all seven characters contained the radical for ‘wood’, subtly referencing the Five Elements. To answer, he would need a line inspired by the Five Elements as well—a challenging task.

He paced, recalling the events of the day for inspiration. Suddenly, it struck him—why not use what had just happened? The Yong River, Sizhou Beach, the hill—just one verb was missing. With a flash of insight, he found it.

“Yong River’s waves batter Sizhou Beach!” he blurted out. The seven characters all carried the ‘water’ radical, matching the Five Elements theme.

He realized afterward that while ‘wood’ represents the east and ‘water’ the north, the directions didn’t quite align, but it was a fine match regardless.

Cheng Yaojin, not noticing the discrepancy, was delighted. He grasped Li Dong’s hands. “Remarkable! My line was just about the trees in the yard, and rather soft with the word ‘cross’. But you used the river and the beach—your scope is so much broader! And that word ‘batter’—how magnificent!”

“Come, let’s talk inside!” He was so overjoyed he nearly dragged Li Dong along.

Li Dong smiled and followed, and they entered the house together.

After the formalities and some light conversation, the topic turned to how Cheng Yaojin trained his militia.

Cheng Yaojin explained that the local bandits had recently recruited a learned strategist who knew a bit of military tactics. After two clashes, the militia had gained no advantage. He was considering recruiting a scholar himself, hoping to defeat the bandits quickly and rid the village of their scourge. Now, encountering Li Dong, whose couplet was so brilliant, he was certain the young man’s heart held grand designs—how else could his thoughts be so quick and agile?

Li Dong protested modestly, “I have little talent, not much strength, and know nothing of farming—I am unworthy of such praise.”

Cheng Yaojin replied, “Though you are young, your couplet alone shows your learning surpasses mine. Please, sir, teach me the art of war!” He now addressed Li Dong as ‘sir’, a sign of genuine respect.

Moved by his sincerity, Li Dong decided to help. He described all he had observed in the courtyard, first praising Cheng Yaojin for gathering so many brave villagers and for his training methods, letting him take pride before gently pointing out his flaws.

“War is a matter of life and death. One must be vigilant and observant! When you train your men, do you let anyone come and go at will? Do you not fear word will leak out?”

“Your open manner earns you praise for being approachable, but such carelessness may lead to unnecessary losses. Every oversight can be fatal—never take training lightly.”

Cheng Yaojin flushed and agreed at once.

“In battle, life and death are decided in an instant. The field changes rapidly—you cannot train indefinitely in the safety of a courtyard. You should have them spar in pairs, in changing formations, on different terrains, even in unknown mountains and rivers. That will strengthen their will and solidify their tactics, so they can adapt to any environment. Otherwise, you’re just a frog at the bottom of a well.”

Cheng Yaojin’s face grew red and dark by turns, his eyes wide, his beard twitching as if he might lose his temper.

Li Dong quickly stood and said, “I speak too freely—think nothing of it. You may continue as you see fit.”

Suddenly, Cheng Yaojin burst out laughing. “No wonder I always felt something was off! My training method is too rigid, while yours is flexible and draws out their potential. Don’t be so modest, sir—you are absolutely right. Please accept my bow!”

Li Dong breathed a sigh of relief. With a temperament like his, if he’d taken offense, things could have gotten ugly. In the future, he resolved to offer advice more gently, not so bluntly.

Just then, the sound of drums erupted outside the village, and someone burst in to report, “The thieves from Sizhou Ridge have come to raid the village!”

Cheng Yaojin slapped his thigh and roared, “Perfect timing! I was just hoping to meet them.” In his heart, he thought it would be the perfect chance to see how this gentleman’s strategies worked in practice.