Dispute arises

The young girl sitting in the carriage held the boy who had cried himself to sleep in her arms, her face filled with confusion.

After traveling for several days, they had run out of their portable rations and planned to find a nearby town to purchase some food.

However, this group was far too conspicuous: a lavish carriage, combined with the weapons in the guards' hands, the armor on their bodies, and the bloodstains covering them from head to toe.

Before long, this peculiar group was targeted.

Thus, as soon as they had replenished their food and water and stepped back onto the main road, they were surrounded.

"Who are you people!"

The guards drew their sabers one after another, backing up against the carriage to assume a defensive posture.

A leading officer stepped forward, head held high and chest puffed out, proudly introducing himself:

"I am Ma Xiaoliu, Squad Leader of the Fifth Squad, Eighteenth Brigade of the City Defense Forces under the military governor of diannan circuit. Who are you, and what is your business in Wumeng?"

Hearing this, the Yang Family's guards became even more nervous.

The guard commander briefly assessed their combat strength, confirmed that they could not fight their way out, and then sheathed his saber.

"We are a merchant caravan from Chengdu. We encountered marauding soldiers on the road, and our masters all perished. We are the only ones left, protecting the orphans of our masters as we fought our way out."

"Heh, a merchant caravan? What kind of merchant caravan carries armor? Do you not know that is a capital offense?"

Ma Xiaoliu waved his hand, and one hundred soldiers stepped forward, tightening the encirclement.

The Yang Family's guards were already prepared to die in battle.

Suddenly, the sound of hoofbeats came from afar, and shortly after, a Cavalry unit of about a hundred men appeared in their line of sight.

Ma Xiaoliu and his men turned around guardedly, but upon seeing the flag in the distance, they immediately stood at attention.

The Cavalry unit arrived nearby and stopped. Ma Xiaoliu immediately led his men to meet them, his voice trembling with excitement:

"Greetings, Commandery Duke, greetings, Madam."

Although she had heard this form of address countless times, Mu Qing still couldn't help but blush every time.

And Gao Yuan never denied her status, which made the young woman both happy and apprehensive.

After staying in Guchang County for a few days, Gao Yuan saw that the young woman was feeling a bit down, so he took her out to relax under the guise of inspecting the border defenses.

And as it happened, they ran into Ma Xiaoliu and his group.

Upon hearing how Ma Xiaoliu addressed the leader, the Yang Family's guard commander immediately understood who had arrived.

Gritting his teeth, he mustered his courage and shouted:

"Commandery Duke Gao, I am Yang Tai, commander of the Personal Guards for the Local Chieftain of Bo Prefecture..."

This shout immediately caught Gao Yuan's attention. He narrowed his eyes to take a look and then waved his hand.

"Bring him over."

"Understood!"

Soon, Yang Tai was disarmed and brought before Gao Yuan empty-handed.

"You say you are the Yang Family's guard commander. Why are you here, and in such a wretched state?"

"Reporting to the Commandery Duke, my master... my master has been murdered!"

"Zunyi has fallen?"

Hearing this news, Gao Yuan was also shocked, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"That shouldn't be possible. Zunyi has high walls and deep moats, and twenty thousand troops. How could it have fallen so quickly?"

With tears and snot streaming down his face, Yang Tai recounted the changes that had occurred in Zunyi and the Yang Family.

"Unbelievable, simply unbelievable! A legendary hero actually died at the hands of petty villains. Your mistress is truly resolute!"

Gao Yuan felt a pang of regret hearing that Yang Zhao had died so ignobly, yet he was filled with admiration for his wife.

Then he cast his gaze toward the carriage not far away.

"Are those the orphans of Yang Zhao?"

"Indeed, they are the young miss and the young master of the house. I beg Commandery Duke Gao to show mercy. We wish to protect them and flee far away, living under assumed names to preserve the bloodline of our master."

As he was speaking, clouds of dust suddenly rolled in from the east, and the sound of hoofbeats approached from afar.

Soon, a Cavalry force flying the banner of the Left Martial Guard charged over, numbering about five hundred men.

Seeing the banner of the Left Martial Guard, the Yang Family members were instantly terrified, their faces turning pale as they didn't know what to do.

The Left Martial Guard Cavalry stopped at a distance of a hundred paces, and an officer rode forward, shouting arrogantly:

"Listen up, people ahead! I am Jiang Yuan, a Captain of the Great Qian Left Martial Guard, currently pursuing the remnants of the Yang Family. If you know what's good for you, hand over the imperial fugitives immediately, or don't blame us for being merciless."

"Insolence!"

Xia Luqi also rode forward.

"Do you people in the Left Martial Guard not understand the hierarchy of respect?"

"Hierarchy? And who are you?"

"None of your business who I am. Open your dog eyes and look at what is on that flag!"

This Left Martial Guard Captain finally noticed the flag nearby and was startled.

However, he quickly regained his composure.

"So it is the command of Commandery Duke Gao. Then I ask that the Commandery Duke hand over the remnants of the Yang Family so that we may return to report."

Gao Yuan was very displeased with his arrogant attitude.

Gao Yuan had not originally decided whether or not to help Yang Zhao's orphans, but the attitude of these Left Martial Guards now infuriated him.

With a cold snort, Gao Yuan rode to the front.

"Is this how you lead troops in the Left Martial Guard? You don't know how to salute when you see a superior officer?"

"May I ask who you are?"

Without Gao Yuan needing to speak, his lackey Xia Luqi had already begun the introduction:

"Before you stands the husband of Grand Princess Roujia, the Duke of Xicheng Commandery, the military governor of diannan circuit, Commander Gao Yuan!"

Gao Yuan also spoke at the appropriate moment:

"I am a relative of the imperial family, a high-ranking feudal official. You, a mere Captain, dare to block my path and talk back to me? I think you are tired of living!"

Jiang Yuan finally realized what mistake he had made and quickly dismounted.

"This humble general failed to recognize a superior; I beg the Commandery Duke's forgiveness."

"Your Left Martial Guard General is Jiang Huaizhen, right?"

"Indeed."

"Hmph! Come to think of it, he used to serve under my late father. He has certainly grown quite capable now."

Gao Yuan waved his hand at these Left Martial Guards.

"Enough. I will give him some face; take your men and get lost. Go back and have him teach you some manners."

As Gao Yuan said this, he turned his horse around to leave, but Jiang Yuan hurriedly called out to him.

"Commandery Duke Gao, what about the Yang Family remnants..."

"There are no Yang Family remnants here. You saw wrong. Get lost immediately."

Just like that, Jiang Yuan watched helplessly as Gao Yuan took all the Yang Family members away.

After seeing them leave, the people around him walked up to Jiang Yuan and asked in a low voice:

"Captain, what should we do?"

"Go back first and report this matter to the Zhonglang General."

On the way back, Mu Qing glanced at the carriage, still feeling somewhat apprehensive in her heart.

"Gao Yuan, why did you want to antagonize the Left Martial Guard for the sake of the Yang Family?"

"Don't you think that guy was too arrogant? I found it unpleasant to look at."

The young woman was just a bit naive, but she was not stupid at all.

"You don't seem like the type to be so impulsive."

"Oh, then Qingqing, tell me, what kind of person am I?"

"Clever, wise, heroic, and..."

The young woman finally realized what was happening and punched the smirking Gao Yuan with her small, pink fist.

"You are terrible!"

"Hahaha!"

Gao Yuan laughed, scooped the young woman off her horse, and onto his own warhorse, leaning in to whisper in her ear:

"I was just worrying that I couldn't find an excuse to clash with the Great Qian army. Isn't this like someone handing me a pillow just when I'm feeling sleepy?"

The young woman's pretty face turned red from the warm breath Gao Yuan exhaled, and she was also shocked by Gao Yuan's idea.

"You... you are crazy. The Great Qian army consists of some of the rarest elite troops in the world."

"Don't you think our army is too arrogant?"

"What do you mean?"

"Since its formation, the Nanzhou Army has been invincible, and it is inevitable that they have become somewhat impetuous and proud. That is why I want to let them clash with true elites to curb their arrogance. Most importantly, I do not believe the Left and Right Martial Guards are much stronger than our First Division and Second Division."