Despite his short stature, Zhang Yuanmin was at the very front, carrying five Fraxinus mandschurica sticks. He led Minister Li and Li Erchen to a large linden tree.
The Li Brothers looked up and saw the den entrance was about three meters off the ground—definitely too high for one person to reach.
"Brother Zhang, we can't reach that," said Minister Li.
"So what?" Zhang Yuanmin pointed at Minister Li. "Minister Li, in a minute you'll be the one to provoke it. I'll get on Erchen's shoulders to go up, and I'll do the chopping!"
"You're... going to stand on me? Is that going to work?" Li Erchen hesitated. It wasn't that he was afraid of being stepped on; he just had a feeling that Zhang Yuanmin wasn't very reliable.
"Of course it'll work." Zhang Yuanmin leaned the Fraxinus mandschurica sticks against the linden tree and waved his hand with a confident flourish. "You two just watch me!"
