“Were you tired last night?” Frank Reed lowered his voice, a mischievous grin on his face.

Adam Carter wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Can’t you see I’m still drenched in sweat?”

Frank Reed looked at him with respect. “Young master, even if you’ve been holding back for a while, you still need to take care of your health. There’s a long road ahead.”

Adam Carter pretended to be angry and gave Frank Reed a light punch. “Thanks for the reminder.”

The two of them joked as they walked into the assembly hall. Seeing everyone inside looking at them with serious expressions, they quickly put away their smiles. “Sorry we’re late.”

There weren’t many strict rules in the stronghold; most things were decided through discussion.

“Bu Yi, you’re just in time.” Everyone looked understanding, and the second-in-command, John Bennett, was especially warm and considerate. “Actually, we were planning to let you rest for a few days, but as they say, the capable do more work.”

Adam Carter thought to himself, Rest? What a joke. I slept better than ever last night.

“Are we heading out to rob again?” Adam Carter asked casually.

Present were, besides Peter Carter and John Bennett, familiar faces like Paul Grant, Mark Stone, George Price, and others. Brian Cooper and Frank Reed were also there. Basically, all the key people from the three generations in the stronghold were present.

John Bennett patted Adam Carter on the shoulder. “Bu Yi, you always joke around. We’ve been discussing all day and finally reached a consensus: we’ve decided to officially start trading horses.”

Paul Grant and Mark Stone nodded in agreement. “The chief and second-in-command are right. Since we’re deserters, it’s just about staying alive. There’s no need to get involved in more conflicts.”

Adam Carter was a bit puzzled, not understanding why they’d changed their minds so quickly.

John Bennett noticed his confusion and explained, “Bu Yi, last night, someone came back to the stronghold with news. It’s said that Zhang Xutuo has utterly defeated Zhi Shilang Wang Bo in Shandong, then quickly crushed Zhai Rang at Wagang, and even Du Fuwei was forced by him to retreat to Jianghuai, lying low and not daring to show his face. Although the Sui Dynasty is in turmoil with frequent uprisings, as long as the famous general Zhang Xutuo is still around, the rebels don’t stand a chance. So, after some discussion, we decided it’s best to keep a low profile and quietly make our fortune.”

“They were all defeated by Zhang Xutuo alone?” Adam Carter couldn’t help but ask.

“That’s right.” Everyone’s faces grew solemn at that moment, looking deeply concerned.

Adam Carter was startled. In his memory, aside from Zhai Rang, the chief of Wagang, he was unfamiliar with Du Fuwei and Zhi Shilang Wang Bo.

But according to what Paul Grant said yesterday, Wang Bo and Du Fuwei ranked ahead of Zhai Rang, so in Paul Grant’s mind, Zhai Rang was only third at this point. Yet these three legendary figures were all defeated by Zhang Xutuo—didn’t that make Zhang Xutuo almost godlike?

“Is Zhang Xutuo really that formidable?” This time it was Brian Cooper who asked, also a bit skeptical.

Peter Carter finally spoke. “Zhang Xutuo is a man of extraordinary strategy and almost divine military skill. Most terrifying is his unmatched martial prowess—he’s a one-man army, and he treats his men like brothers. His subordinates are also incredibly brave, each worth a hundred men. Back when rebel leaders Pei Changcai and Shi Zi He led twenty thousand troops to attack Licheng, Zhang Xutuo didn’t have time to gather his forces and went out to battle with only five riders.”

“Where were his troops?” This time Adam Carter asked.

He thought to himself, Zhang Xutuo is fierce, but could he be brave without brains, with soldiers not obeying his orders?

“It was harvest season, and the soldiers were all at home working the fields,” Peter Carter said with a smile.

Adam Carter was a bit confused—he didn’t know soldiers also had to farm—but John Bennett explained, “Bu Yi, the Sui Dynasty now uses the fubing system. Soldiers fight during wartime and farm during peacetime. But being a soldier exempts you from taxes and labor, so many people still like to enlist. Zhang Xutuo treats his men like his own sons, so he let them go home to farm. Pei Changcai and Shi Zi He took advantage of this loophole to attack Licheng.”

Adam Carter nodded, looking as if he understood a bit.

Peter Carter continued, “Zhang Xutuo was surrounded, but he fought his way through rivers of blood as if no one could stop him. When reinforcements arrived from the city, the rebel army collapsed instantly. That shows just how formidable Zhang Xutuo is. If you ever meet him, don’t provoke him.”

Normally, there’s no top scholar in literature, but there’s always a top warrior in martial arts. These men lived by the blade and rarely admired anyone, but at the mention of Zhang Xutuo, they all fell silent. Peter Carter held Zhang Xutuo in high esteem, and no one dared object!

Though Peter Carter was getting on in years, his courage hadn’t diminished. He could hunt tigers and subdue leopards. He became chief partly due to his reputation, but also because of his bravery. Yet even he spoke of Zhang Xutuo with caution and respect, a mix of awe and solemnity.

Listening to Peter Carter’s account, Adam Carter was filled with longing and admiration. He thought to himself, Damn, this is real history, not made up. Zhang Xutuo could rival Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang had his Empty Fort Strategy, but Zhang Xutuo didn’t even need a strategy—just an empty city.

Looking at everyone’s solemn faces, Adam Carter felt no fear, only curiosity. Suddenly, he was filled with heroic ambition. One shouldn’t be a coward, but should strive to be like Zhang Xutuo—imposing and admired by all.

He glanced at the others and noticed that, aside from Brian Cooper and Frank Reed, who looked confused and skeptical, even Paul Grant and Mark Stone were silent and anxious. This only made him more eager to meet Zhang Xutuo in person.