Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 123 A quarter of an hour, is that enough?

At the foot of the mountain, five yamen runners, two armed guards, and most of the armed guards of Xinghe Trading Company were left. The caravan manager of Xinghe Trading Company did not go up the mountain.

They knew that their belongings were not robbed by bandits in the mountains, so they were too lazy to go up the mountain to get involved.

However, the owner of Dongming Trading Company, although his face was pale, still let two guards support him and walked up the mountain path.

His goods were really robbed by bandits in the mountains.

"Although Captain Zhang acted a little hastily, he was a rare talent in war. Speed ​​is of the essence, and it is truly rare."

"Captain Zhang is in Luyang Prefecture. He's a man of great righteousness. From what I've seen, he's a responsible, responsible person..."

Manager Xue of Dongming Trading Company was walking while whispering, not knowing whether he was talking to the frightened guards around him or to himself.

Captain Cao in the front was holding a sword in his hand, and was accompanied by several yamen runners, all of whom had tense faces. Together with the armed guards led by Xiao Yunzheng, they lagged far behind Zhang Yuan and his team of armed guards.

However, Zhang Yuan and the others in front were moving faster and faster. If it weren't for the extra light in the snowy night, they would have been unable to keep up.

The mountain path was icy and slippery. Cao Shen and his companions were sweating profusely. After climbing for more than five miles, they finally saw a thatched hut by the side of the path.

When they reached the hut, they found the wooden door wide open. Two figures in linen and leather robes were lying on the ground, with blood gurgling from their necks. Several large pottery jars were placed safely beside them.

Cao Shen had been a captain of the police for more than ten years and knew that the two bandits were on guard duty. When they saw someone coming, they would simply kick the pottery jar off the cliff. The jar contained phosphorus and other things that would explode when smashed, making a loud noise.

Places like Tonggu Mountain are easy to defend but difficult to attack. As long as the signal reaches the mountain stronghold and the bandits guard the mountain road, even three to five hundred people will not be able to attack.

A few years ago, the Liping County government suffered a loss while suppressing bandits and suffered heavy casualties.

This time, the two bandits on guard didn't even have a chance to kick the can before they were killed.

"Captain Zhang was quite ruthless, leaving no one alive. Did you ask about the situation on the mountain?"

Xiao Yunzheng looked at the bandit lying down and whispered softly.

This was a direct kill, without even the process of capturing and interrogating.

The group continued to walk up, and after three miles, they came to a place where the mountain path was slightly flat. Three bandits were lying in a snow cave beside the path, with blood on their necks that was about ten feet around them.

"Kill with one strike, without even a chance to resist. How cruel." Cao Shen's expression had become much more serious at this time.

Judging from the methods used by the Luyang Prefecture's armed guards, they are really capable and dare to kill.

Captain Zhang came to Tonggu Mountain with the real intention of attacking the mountain.

Before, he still held a glimmer of hope, thinking that Zhang Yuan was just pretending.

"Captain Zhang, Master Zhang, you are so righteous." The owner of Dongming Trading Company looked at the bandit lying in the snow and spoke with clenched fists.

These words made Xiao Yunzheng and Cao Shen turn their heads.

"You two, you are truly righteous. After today's incident, I will report it to the boss and ensure that the Wuwei and the brothers from the government office do not suffer this in vain."

Shopkeeper Xue bowed quickly.

Cao Shen turned his head to look up the mountain and said in a deep voice, "Guo Changzi, the bandit leader of Tonggu Mountain, once served in the border army. He has some tricks up his sleeve. There must be more than two sentries here—"

Before he could finish his words, a scream was heard from the hill ahead, followed by the sound of a fireball exploding and a panicked shout.

"Some imperial henchmen have crept up the mountain—"

The sound stopped abruptly, but along with the shouts and explosions, fireballs exploded in the direction of the top of the mountain and flames rose.

The originally silent mountaintop suddenly became noisy.

"There's a black dog going up the mountain. Damn it, is it courting death?"

"It's not Bian Jun. I was just scared. How could Bian Jun not give our eldest brother face?"

"I see it, I see it, dozens of black dogs are coming to die."

Xiao Yunzheng and others looked pale.

Cao Shen gritted his teeth and rushed up the mountain with his sword in hand.

After all, he was at the early stage of the acquired realm, and he was running at full speed at this time, so his speed was not slow.

Although the others were terrified, they knew that this was not the time to retreat.

Retreating from the battlefield before the battle even begins is a crime punishable by military law.

Besides, they were Qin people after all, and they possessed a certain innate bravery. Rushing to the open area on the top of the mountain, they saw the flat area in front of the mountain stronghold. The Luyang Prefecture guards were assembled and standing outside the stronghold gate.

About a hundred feet away, there were bandits holding torches on the wooden village, as well as people holding bows and arrows, swords and guns, at least a hundred of them, with bright lights and rising flames.

Tonggu Mountain is adjacent to the border. Whether the traveling caravans are respectful or not, Tonggu Mountain has benefited from the trade route and lives a quite comfortable life.

This place is more than a hundred miles away from the county town, with dangerous mountain roads. Unless the matter is not really made serious, the government is too lazy to come and suppress it.

The bandits who were able to occupy the mountains for a long time also had good vision and knew which caravans could be robbed and which could not.

"Guo, Guo Changzi, your story has been exposed!"

Cao Shen ran forward and shouted.

"Those who know what's going on should quickly deliver all of Dongming Commercial Bank's goods."

"Otherwise you'll be in trouble tonight."

"The army has assembled at the foot of the mountain. Five hundred, eight thousand, and even the county magistrate has arrived."

Before becoming a captain of police, Cao Shen was a sergeant in the army. He understood that fighting a war always requires momentum.

How can you make the other party afraid if you don't build up your own reputation?
"Captain Cao, it turns out you're an old brother."

A laugh came from the mountain stronghold, full of energy, showing that the cultivation level was not weak.

This aura is heavy and deep, at least it can be found in the middle stage of the acquired realm.

"I, Guo Changzi, robbed Dongming Commercial Bank of its belongings."

"If County Magistrate Jiang is kind enough to send me some wine and meat, I will return the goods."

Guo Changzi's words made Cao Shen happy.

At this time, everyone had really reached the gate of the Tonggu Mountain stronghold, and it was estimated that the bandits in the stronghold were also unsure of their situation.

Guo Changzi was a smart man as he had been able to occupy Tonggu Mountain for so many years.

Manager Xue and others who caught up also looked happy.

For them, it would be best if they could avoid fighting and killing.

Businessmen believe that harmony brings wealth.

After today's fight, will Dongming Trading Company still follow this trade route in the future?

"Boss Guo, please speak up. My Dongming Trading Company knows the rules. As long as—"

Shopkeeper Xue called out tremblingly, but before he could finish his words, a voice came from the direction of the stronghold.

"I just want to ask one question."

"How are my brothers who were on guard on the mountain road?"

There was a fierce tone in Guo Changzi's voice.

Cao Shen opened his mouth and looked at the Luyang Prefecture guards gathered in front of him.

Shopkeeper Xue's hands and feet were trembling and his face was pale.

It’s over.

Dongming Trading Company is afraid that it will not be able to continue this trade route in the future.

In front, Zhang Yuan, who had been silent all this time, turned his head and looked at Xu Changzhi.

"A quarter of an hour, is that enough?"

Xu Changzhi shook his head and did not answer, but turned to look at the guards behind him.

"A stick of incense."

"Yes." The thirty guards responded, and the originally assembled army formation dispersed instantly.

Five people form a team, two in front and three in the back, holding crossbows and pressing swords, bending over and running.

It only took a few breaths from disbanding the formation to rushing to the wooden wall of the mountain stronghold!
(End of this chapter)