Yuan Shao, the father of Fanghua in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 157
Yuan Xi and his soldiers dug the soil until dark, and boiled several big pots of broth with the wild game.

At the beginning, the soldiers were still very panic. After all, Yuan Xi was the governor of Zhuojun County now, but seeing that Yuan Xi had no airs in the slightest, he asked them to have dinner together. The temptation of wild game still defeated the restraint.

Yuan Xi held a wooden bowl, filled half a bowl of multigrain rice in the pot, and poured a large spoonful of broth mixed with minced meat on top.

He squatted on the ground and stirred the rice a few times with wooden chopsticks. The aroma immediately diffused, and the soldiers gulped and spit.

Sun Li stirred the pot, fished out a bone, and shouted, "What are you doing in a daze, you'll lose everything if you start too late!"

After hearing this, the soldiers rushed forward.

The meat of wild geese is actually very hard, and Yuan Xi has to chew it many times before swallowing it. It has a bloody smell in it. If it is not covered by the smell of miscellaneous grains, it is actually not so delicious.

Although this kind of food is far inferior to the delicacies in Yecheng, it is already a rare opportunity for soldiers to improve their food.

After all, in the Han Dynasty, hunters who could hunt were much rarer than soldiers.

The bows and arrows on the battlefield are actually quite expensive to make. They are not from a family like Yuan Xi. Ordinary hunters either use sharpened wood as arrows, or use projectiles to hunt.

The "Wuyue Spring and Autumn Annals" in the Eastern Han Dynasty records, "I heard that the crossbow was born from the bow, and the bow was born from the bomb. Playing the ancient filial son.... The filial son can't bear to see his parents being eaten by animals, so he pretends to guard them by playing the bomb, and never harms the birds and beasts. .”

The bow that shoots projectiles is called a slingshot. Unlike modern slingshots, the slingshots of the Han Dynasty were in the shape of bows, but the structure was slightly different. The bow strings were equipped with spring pads or double-string structures.

Most of the projectiles used are made of clay. As long as it is not a large prey or a fast-flying raptor, a skilled hunter can almost stun it and shoot it down.

Of course, for unskilled people, projectiles are more troublesome than arrows, and they may even hit their own hands.

But projectiles also have the advantage over arrows, that is, they can better preserve the complete fur of prey, especially for animals with high fur prices such as minks and foxes, which is more important.

Sun Li was young, and it was easier to mingle with others. He finished the rice in the bowl with a few strokes. Seeing that a soldier was curious that he was carrying two bows, he explained the difference between a slingshot and a bow.

He raised his voice, took out a projectile and put it on the bow, and then pulled it, the projectile flew out suddenly, knocking a stone in the distance and rolling it a few times, attracting applause.

Sun Li said triumphantly: "This slingshot can be made from any wood, and it doesn't need a good bow string. If you are afraid of trouble, you can go to a craftsman in the city, and you can make one for a few tens of pennies."

"Wouldn't it be convenient to hunt any game you want to eat by yourself?"

All the soldiers nodded their heads when they heard this.

Although Youzhou is considered a place of bitter cold, there is no shortage of wild game.

Of course, these beasts also destroy the crops, which is also a very headache.

The excavated river ditches can effectively prevent wild animals from approaching the farmland. If soldiers use slingshots to hunt and guard the fields, the situation will be much better.

After Yuan Xi had finished his meal, he bid farewell to the soldiers and led Sun Li and others into the city, only then did he feel at ease.

In the past few days, he always felt that someone was staring at him, which gave him a chill down his spine.

He guessed that it was very likely that the other party had already taken the bait, but the other party was very cautious. Now that he was surrounded by scouts, the other party would never show up easily.

Yuan Xi was a little impatient, he couldn't waste any more.

He said to Sun Li: "Tomorrow you and I will go hunting in the city without bringing anyone else."

After hearing this, Sun Li opened his eyes wide in surprise: "Brother, is he crazy?"

Yuan Xi smiled and said, "Are you afraid?"

Sun Li gritted his teeth and said, "I'm not afraid!"

"Brother dares to take risks himself, why don't I dare!"

"Okay!" Yuan Xi clapped his hands, "Tomorrow, the two of us will see what skills the other side has!"

The next day, Yuan Xi and Sun Li went out to hunt for another day, but when it was almost dark, there was no movement.

When Yuan Xi returned to the city, he even doubted himself, was there anyone staring at him?

Tian Yu stood up, and the two guards beside him were puzzled: "General, why didn't you make a move after so many opportunities today?"

Tian Yu remained silent. The opponent didn't have flaws, but the flaws were too big, which made him wonder if he would be killed by the opponent as soon as he made a move.

After all, the opponent is a famous fierce tiger!

He gritted his teeth, he couldn't hesitate any longer, or his mind would be exhausted!
Tomorrow will be the end of this assassination!

At dawn at last, Yuan Xi and Sun Li rode out of the city gate facing the morning light.

If the other party doesn't make a move today, he will go back to Beixin City, and when he attacks Yi Jing, he can only kill Tian Yu.

In the morning, he and Sun Li shot a few more rabbits to death, and walked all the way to the side of the creek.

Yuan Xi squatted down and wanted to scoop water by the stream, but just as he bent down, three arrows roared towards him from the forest!

Although Yuan Xi had prepared for it long ago, the sudden arrival of the arrow was far beyond his expectation.

He threw himself on the ground in embarrassment, an arrow stepped on his face and flew past, and the other two arrows shot into his body.

Yuan Xi lay on the ground, screaming loudly, Sun Li was shocked, and hurriedly stood in front of Yuan Xi.

Tian Yu took a look, he was in a very safe position, separated from the other party by a stream, even if the other party came to rescue, he would not be able to cross the stream for a while.

He bent his bow and set an arrow, aiming at Yuan Xi's leg lying on the ground.

Sun Li was prepared for this time, and blocked the arrow with his body. The arrow hit Sun Li's body, was blocked by the armor inside, and fell down.

Sun Li put his hand in his mouth and whistled, startling many birds in the forest.

Tian Yu's eyes froze, the guards were all wearing armor, how could the fierce tiger not wear it?

The other party has already sent a voice report, but his personal guards have already searched for it, and there is no Yuan Jun for miles around, so we must seize this fleeting opportunity!

Yuan Xi sat up slowly, pulled out the two arrows from his body, and said, "Do you have the guts to shoot arrows, but don't you have the guts to meet people?"

Holding his bow, Tian Yu walked out of the woods, and said across the stream, "Tian Yu, under the command of Marquis Ji, has seen a fierce tiger."

Yuan Xi got up slowly, and smiled at Tian Yu: "I heard that brother Guorang has been famous for a long time, and I heard that elder brother also suffered a big loss under his hands."

"I'm curious, since brother Guorang has made up his mind to attack, why didn't he continue to attack?"

Tian Yu said solemnly: "This is the most basic respect for the young master who is in danger alone."

"Although I hate you Yuan Shi very much, but you can do this, Tian also admires you very much."

"But does the young master rely on his reputation as a fierce tiger and think that I, Tian, ​​cannot kill you?"

Yuan Xi thought to himself that Tian Yu was so upright, and said with a smile, "Brother Guorang, if you want to know, why don't you come and meet me?"

Tian Yu said, "How could I be fooled by you!"

Yuan Xi smiled and said: "In that case, then I'm here!"

After finishing speaking, he actually walked towards Tian Yu by wading in the knee-deep brook!

This was beyond Tian Yu's expectation. Could it be that this fierce tiger is so confident in himself?

At that moment, he actually had the idea of ​​retreating.

Without even thinking about it, he bent his bow and set up an arrow, and was about to shoot at Yuan Xi's face, but he heard the sound of the bowstring, but Sun Li had already aimed his arrow at Tian Yu and shot first!
In the past few days, Tian Yu saw that Yuan Xi's personal guard was still young, and he was not conspicuous among the scouts.

When Tian Yu saw him coming out with Yuan Xi today, he also doubted whether this personal guard had any special abilities, but at this moment, most of his thoughts were on Yuan Xi, and when Sun Li fired an arrow, he suddenly realized that he still underestimated him!

In his busy schedule, he turned his head to the side to avoid it, but the arrow aimed at Yuan Xi had lost its aim.

He wanted to raise his bow, but he saw that Sun Li fired three arrows in succession, shooting three people separately. Only then did Tian Yu realize that Sun Li's arrow skills were much stronger than when he was peeping these days!

He and his two personal guards had no choice but to dodge the arrows and temporarily retreat behind the tree. At this time, Yuan Xi was about to wade across the stream, holding the ring head knife on his back in his hand.

Yuan Xi shouted: "Brother Guorang, fight me!"

"Let me see if you can compare to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei!"

Tian Yu gritted his teeth secretly, this fierce tiger really lived up to its reputation, and even had the guts to challenge him, it seems that the rumors of him beating Liu, Guan and Zhang are true!

As soon as he gritted his teeth, he also pulled out the long knife behind his back, and walked out from behind the tree, but he heard the sound in his ear that Sun Li was still shooting arrows at him!
He suddenly became angry: "I'm fighting you one-on-one, why is your bodyguard still shooting me?"

Yuan Xi looked innocent, "What heads-up?"

"Ah?" Tian Yu was stunned: "Aren't you going to fight me?"

Yuan Xi nodded, "That's right, I'll fight you, but I can't control others."

Tian Yu really vomited blood this time, "You are so skilled in martial arts, yet you still use such despicable methods?"

Yuan Xi sighed: "Brother Guorang, you are wrong."

"My martial arts skills are not high."

"I just don't want you to run away."

"Actually, I'm terrified right now."

Tian Yu sneered, he figured it out, the fierce tiger in front of him was not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also insidious and cunning!
He was about to speak when a shrill wind sounded.

Tian Yu slammed forward, and a long arrow flew past his arm.

But his subordinates were not so lucky. Two long arrows pierced through their right arms respectively, screaming, and the bow fell to the ground.

Tian Yu turned around quickly, and saw a big man with two halberds in his back and a longbow walking out slowly.

Tian Yu's eyes twitched, he recognized this person, it was Sima Tai Shici from the other branch stationed in Rongcheng!
When did he appear, and how did he get behind him?
Yuan Xi sighed, "Ziyi has worked hard."

Tai Shici said: "It's just a few days of sleeping in the cave, it's a trivial matter."

Only then did Tian Yu understand that the other party had already ambushed him!
He said shyly, "I don't understand, how do you know that I'm here for tens of miles around?"

Yuan Xi shook his head and said, "No, I don't know."

Tian Yu was stunned.

Yuan Xi raised a finger solemnly, "It's just that the place where Ziyi is hiding is near you."

"In order to ambush you, I had people dig some holes in the middle of the night in advance, found some hiding places, and ambushed people."

"My route these days is to pass through these places nearby to ensure that no matter when something happens, someone can come in time."

"They haven't shown up since they hid in, and it's been several days."

"Brother Guo Rang, if he made a move elsewhere, he might meet Zilong."

"It's also fortunate that brother Guorang appeared today, otherwise, their food should have been eaten up."

"Brother Guorang, guess how many people were ambushed in the place I passed by?"

(End of this chapter)