Water Margin: The Tale of Li Erlang of Guankou

Chapter 130 Talented individuals emerge generation after generation, their skills boundless, with su

"Ugh! Who did this?!"

However, what the young Yue Fei didn't know was that this golden eagle already had an owner.

This golden eagle is the new mate of Li Hanxiao's eagle—the golden eagle that was taken from the Zhu family manor, and is now also Li Hanxiao's bird.

After Li Hanxiao finished visiting Zhou Tong, the group ate noodles and set off. Just as they were about to pass Bijia Mountain, Li Hanxiao released a hawk to scout ahead, but unexpectedly it was shot by Yue Fei!

But at the same time, Li Hanxiao was also a little shocked. Such excellent archery skills!

It's important to know that golden eagles fly at incredibly high speeds. Their average flight speed can be between 240 and 320 kilometers per hour, and when swooping down to catch prey, they can reach speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour.

Golden eagles trained by humans can even drive away wolf packs during grassland riots, using their speed and power to grab the wolves' necks tightly during a swooping attack.

Whether you use a bow and arrow or a gun, it is extremely difficult to hit a high-speed moving object in the air. That's why when "Little Li Guang" Hua Rong joined Liangshan in the original novel "Water Margin", he showed off his skill of shooting geese, which shocked "Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King" Chao Gai so much that he obediently sat down.

Regardless of time or place, any archer who can hit objects moving at high speed in the air is a formidable figure in the ranks of sharpshooters!

Moreover, these two arrows were even more difficult to execute because they didn't directly hit the golden eagle's body. Instead, they grazed the eagle's wings one after the other, inflicting only limited damage.

It's difficult to shoot accurately, and even more difficult to control the force of the arrow so precisely. Many people can only release the arrow but not control it back. But the archer in front of us has actually controlled it to this extent. It's truly amazing.

You have to understand that when the first arrow wounds the golden eagle's wing, you have to immediately follow up with the second arrow, in just a fraction of a second. In that time, you have to draw the bow, nock the arrow, and find the right force and distance to shoot it. This is more difficult than passing the imperial examination for martial arts.

It should be noted that Li Hanxiao's archery skills were among the best in the world. Over the years in Shu, he had honed his archery skills to perfection. He hunted, shot, captured, trained, and tamed eagles every day, which made his eyes exceptionally sharp, almost like "fiery eyes." He could clearly see the trajectory of two arrows in the sky.

Li Hanxiao figured that even if he brought over "Little Li Guang" Hua Rong and "Little Yang Youji" Pang Wanchun, they wouldn't amount to much.

Li Hanxiao first needed to find this person and have a talk about why he was allowed to shoot his eagle. Secondly, he needed to find out what kind of person this was, as an ordinary hunter probably wouldn't have this kind of skill.

This is a real talent! With his archery skills alone, he could easily serve as a lieutenant general or a junior officer in the army. Archery was one of the "Six Arts of a Gentleman" during the Spring and Autumn Period. The "archery" in the "rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics" refers to the art of archery.

A person skilled in archery is unlikely to be bad at martial arts, because to shoot accurately, you need tremendous strength in your arms, a precise lower body, and good eyesight; otherwise, you won't be able to shoot accurately.

唐朝武贡远程步射标准为：一石弓（79.3公斤）、六钱箭（25克）、射程105步，满清时代另一个常见说法是：骑射三力（36磅），步射五力（60磅）。

This kind of bow and arrow is so difficult for a normal person to draw, let alone hit the target every time.

Therefore, a good archer must have excellent strength, speed, and eyesight. Even if he puts down his bow and arrows and engages in hand-to-hand combat, he will still be better than others.

People generally think that archers only know how to draw a bow and shoot arrows, and that they become weak and vulnerable when approached, seemingly unable to fight in close combat. Unfortunately, many people in later generations have been influenced by games, movies and TV series, especially European and American fantasy films, such as the Lord of the Rings series, and have always had a great misunderstanding of archers.

After all, they had never actually held a bow and arrow or tried to draw it. Many people thought that ancient archers were really as thin and slender as the elves in the movies. Some even thought that ancient archers were fragile in close combat and that their role on the battlefield was to shoot arrows, kill the enemy in the form of arrow rain, and then retreat quickly when the enemy approached the position, giving up the battlefield so that melee troops could take over and engage the enemy in close combat. Otherwise, once the enemy rushed into the archers' position, the fragile archers would be unable to stop them and would scatter.

This idea is completely wrong. Thinking like this will only lead you to be crushed by a group of incredibly strong men with extremely well-developed arms. Even if they had nothing else on them, they could still smash your brains out with a bow and a stick...

Although the Song Dynasty army possessed powerful weapons like the Shenbi crossbow, it also placed great importance on archers and bows. The draw weight of bows in the Song Dynasty was measured in dou and shi, and the draw weight of war bows was generally divided into several categories, such as eight dou, one shi, and one shi and two shi.

宋代的1石等于92.5宋斤（一宋斤等于640克），1石即59.2公斤。所以宋代八斗、一石、一石二的战弓大约等于现在的九十磅（40.82千克）、一百三十磅（58.96千克）、一百八十磅（81.64千克）左右的弓，岳飞就是那种能开三石之弓的神人，真能一箭射爆一个人。

Are people who can lift 50 to 70 kilograms with one hand really strong men? Moreover, the main part of the human body used to draw a bow and shoot an arrow is not the arm, but the waist and back, relying on the latissimus dorsi muscles. The method of exertion is similar to the one-arm bent-over dumbbell row. This means that a qualified ancient archer was basically a big guy with a large frame and strong muscles, stronger than many modern people. Otherwise, he would not be able to draw the bow. It is impossible for him to be like the thin and agile archers in movies and games.

Therefore, Li Hanxiao believed that the archer was very likely a skilled and strong man who had been overlooked in this area, and that it was very necessary to recruit him.

If he could recruit him, Li Hanxiao would naturally not let such a talent slip by. On this trip to rescue "Nine-Tattooed Dragon" Shi Jin, long-range attack methods would be indispensable. Although "Thunderbolt" Ling Zhen also went with his firearms, the problem with firearms was that they were too loud when lit, and they would emit light, fire, and smoke, which would expose the target. Bows and arrows, on the other hand, did not have this problem.

So Li Hanxiao urged Beihai Sa Lu Zi onwards, galloping towards the spot where the golden eagle had fallen.

"What a majestic, feathered beast!"

Young Yue Fei didn't pick up the wild geese first, but went straight to catch the golden eagle, since it was the most valuable one and he was afraid it would run away.

That golden eagle wasn't small, but after its wings were injured, it was no match for Yue Fei. Yue Fei spotted it, grabbed its claws, and tied them together with his waistband rope in a "pig's hoof knot".

Just then, a loud cry rang out in the air again. It was Li Hanxiao's eagle coming to rescue his wife. The eagle immediately revealed its sharp talons and swooped down on Xiao Yuefei's head.

"Don't!"

Li Hanxiao arrived at this moment and, seeing that it was a child, hurriedly tried to stop the eagle from hurting him.

Because Li Hanxiao guessed the child's identity in that instant!

Right next to Qilin Village, at the right age, with such strength to draw a bow and shoot an arrow, and with such accuracy to shoot a golden eagle, who else could it be but the young and loyal General Jingzhong!

If his eagle were to injure him even slightly, Li Hanxiao would probably have to commit suicide to atone for his sins...

At this moment, Yue Pengju was caught off guard. Just as the sharp claws were about to land on Yue Fei's head, the child's body trembled, and a golden light shot out from his Niwan Palace, transforming into the shape of a raptor.

But behold, that creature: with golden wings and a Kun head, starry eyes and leopard-like pupils. It soars north and south, strong and brave, its transformations and flight causing dragons to tremble in fear; its wings spread like the wind, and all birds cower in terror; its sharp claws strike, and all birds lose their courage!

"A roc soaring ten thousand miles on the clouds!"

While others hadn't caught up yet and couldn't see it, Li Hanxiao saw it clearly—it was definitely Yue Pengju!

Upon seeing this divine form, his eagle immediately landed, drooped its wings, and stood there obediently.

The novel "The Complete Biography of Yue Fei" states that Yue Pengju was the reincarnation of the Golden-Winged Roc from the Western Paradise. The Golden-Winged Roc is almost considered the ancestor of all birds. "Journey to the West" says that the Roc and the Peacock were born from the Phoenix. At the beginning of chaos, heaven and earth merged to give birth to all things. The Phoenix, the chief of birds, received the energy of the union and gave birth to the Peacock and the Roc.

This roc can travel 90,000 li with a single flap of its wings, while Sun Wukong can travel 108,000 li in a single somersault. Therefore, by flapping its wings twice, it can catch up with Sun Wukong. Among birds, it is an ancestor-level existence. Compared to it, Li Hanxiao's eagle is like a firefly compared to the bright moon!

However, Yue Fei himself was unaware of this, and the golden-winged roc's Dharma form vanished instantly. Li Hanxiao caught up and was finally relieved.

"Young man, are you alright?"

Li Han smiled and said, recalling his past life when he visited West Lake and paid homage to Yue Fei at the Yue Fei Temple next to it. He had spat on Qin Hui seven or eight times.

Unexpectedly, Li Hanxiao was overwhelmed with emotion at the prospect of meeting Yue Fei in this lifetime. He couldn't help but recall the line, "With lofty ambition, I'll feast on the flesh of the barbarians when hungry, and laughingly drink their blood when thirsty..."

"It's nothing. May I ask who the guest is...?"

Although Yue Fei was young, he was well-mannered and bowed to Li Hanxiao.

“Passerby, the golden eagle you shot belongs to me. Since you shot it, this hawk also belongs to me, which is why it attacked you!”

Li Hanxiao began to explain.

Yue Fei then realized his mistake and apologized profusely, "I really didn't know. I shouldn't have injured the guest's eagle. I just shot a few geese and gave them to the guest as an apology!"

"No need. It was an unintentional mistake, nothing to be ashamed of. If you can promise me one thing... I'll forgive you, how about it?"

After actually meeting Yue Fei, Li Hanxiao was at a loss for words...

"what's up?"

"I'll tell you something, and you must swear to remember it, and put it into practice to the very end. First, memorize it, then let it seep into your very bones!"

Li Hanxiao placed his hand on the young Yue Fei's shoulder and spoke very solemnly.

"Alright, Yue Pengju hereby swears that he will remember this guest's words firmly and put them into practice to the end. He will first keep them in his mind and then let them seep into his very bones!"

Young Yue Fei raised three fingers and pointed to the sky.

"Alright, remember this: the rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen; loyalty and righteousness reside in the people, not the ruler. The true heroes are those who serve their country and its people. Remember that? Repeat it!"

"Remember, the rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen. Loyalty and righteousness reside in the people, not the ruler. The true heroes are those who serve their country and its people... However... sir, I find your words quite philosophical, but I am of limited knowledge and dull-witted, and cannot grasp their profound meaning at the moment..."

Young Yue Fei scratched his head, looking at Li Hanxiao with some confusion.

At this moment, Li Hanxiao was also looking at Yue Fei, two large tears already streaming down his cheeks. Yue Fei didn't know why he was crying, and probably no one else could either.

"It's alright. Don't worry if you don't understand right away. Just remember it well, and you'll understand sooner or later. When you do understand, you'll be like a roc spreading its wings!"

Li Hanxiao wiped away his tears and changed from kneeling on one knee and patting Yue Fei's shoulder to standing normally.

At this moment, the sun shines brightly overhead, its rays dazzling.

Li Han smiled and said loudly, "I never thought that you would become a successor in front of me, the successor. It doesn't matter. As long as you remember and practice this sentence, even if I never return, there will be successors... there will be successors!"

Young Yue Fei understood Li Hanxiao's words less and less, and was completely confused, but he felt that Li Hanxiao was very impressive!

Li Han smiled, riding his horse towards the sunlight, still shouting loudly, "Young people! Young people, how wonderful! The rising sun shines brightly. The river emerges from its hidden source, flowing into a vast ocean. The hidden dragon soars from the abyss, its scales and claws flashing. The young tiger roars in the valley, causing all beasts to tremble. The eagle tests its wings, stirring up dust and wind. The rare flower is in its first bloom, resplendent and magnificent. The sword is sharpened, its edge gleaming. The sky is blue above, the earth is yellow below. Spanning a thousand ages, encompassing the eight directions. The future is like the sea, the days ahead are long. How beautiful is my young China, as timeless as the heavens! How magnificent are my Chinese youth, as boundless as the nation!"

At this moment, the eleven people behind him caught up. Looking at Li Hanxiao's slightly crazy and rather strange behavior, the eleven people looked at each other, not knowing what was going on or what was happening.

"Chief, why did you treat that boy..."

Yang Zhi, the "Blue-Faced Beast," asked in bewilderment, then turned his head to the left and right, asking Lu Zhishen, the "Flowery Monk," on his left, and Wang Yin on his right.

"How would I know!"

Lu Zhishen shrugged, looking like it was none of his business and that he didn't care to think about it.

"I've been following the chieftain for quite some time now, and this is the first time I've ever seen him like this..."

As the highest-ranking combatant who followed Li Hanxiao, Wang Yin was one of the earliest people present to follow Li Hanxiao, apart from Guo Sheng, who was nicknamed "Sai Rengui". However, he was still very puzzled when he saw Li Hanxiao like this.

"I did witness it once, when I first met my brother, we were drinking on a boat..."

Guo Sheng, nicknamed "Sai Rengui," chimed in, recounting their first encounter, drawing everyone's attention...