The Heavens: From Film and Mythology to Conquering Myriad Realms

After saying these words, Yu Xiaoxue blushed. These words were almost tantamount to entrusting her life to Lu Yao, but she did so willingly.

Girls blinded by love are always brave.

Upon hearing Yu Xiaoxue's words, Lu Yao couldn't help but sigh.

He originally only wanted to use the sisters to restrain Yu Ji in the future, so as to increase his bargaining power when he fought against Xiang Yu in the future.

I never imagined that Yu Xiaoxue would be such a woman who dares to love and hate.

"In that case, Xiaoxue, you can stay by my side for now."

Lu Yao also knew that if he rejected Yu Xiaoxue, she would have nowhere else to go.

"Thank you, sir!"

Yu Xiaoxue blushed and said in a low voice.

After spending some time together, Gao Yao and Yu Xiaoyue were no longer so distant and were able to communicate normally.

At the entrance of the tower, Gao Yao waved goodbye to Yu Xiaoyue with reluctance.

The two Yu sisters will temporarily stay at the Lu residence. Lu Yao arranged for Yu Xiaoyue and Yu Xiaoxue to keep Lü Su company and also to find two people for Lü Su to talk to.

He was about to lead his troops out to suppress the bandits, so it was inconvenient for him to take Yu Xiaoxue with him.

At the Lu residence, Lü Su had prepared a family feast early on, waiting for Lu Yao's return.

Lu Su wore a white brocade dress, which made her face look even more beautiful.

After becoming Lu Yao's wife, she is trying to be a good wife.

"Thank you for waiting for me so late, Susu."

Lu Yao walked up to Lü Su and took her soft, delicate hand in his.

“My husband is busy outside, this is what Su Su should do.”

Lu Su smiled slightly and nestled into Lu Yao's arms.

After a brief moment of tenderness, Lu Yao introduced the two Yu sisters to Lü Su, saying that Yu Xiaoxue was his maidservant and Yu Xiaoyue was Gao Yao's adopted sister.

Lu Su's expression shifted slightly, and she understood. She looked at Yu Xiaoxue carefully.

Lu Yao didn't say anything, after all, Yu Xiaoxue wasn't a concubine he had taken.

"Please sit down, my two sisters. Now that you've come to the Lu family, we're all family."

Lu Su smiled and invited the two women to sit down.

At the dinner table, Lü Su gently inquired about the two women's situation. Upon hearing that the two sisters had only recently reunited, she was slightly moved.

Lu Su was a very sentimental woman and felt very sorry for the Yu sisters' plight.

Yu Xiaoxue, who was initially a little nervous, relaxed considerably under Lü Su's care.

……

The next morning.

Lu Yao then received an order from the Ministry of War to lead his troops to Yingchuan County to wipe out the bandits.

After bidding farewell to Lü Su and the others, Lu Yao led a thousand soldiers to set off.

There would naturally be no large-scale bandits around Xianyang, after all, this was under the emperor's nose and had to demonstrate a model of orderly governance. As for sporadic bandits like those in Lanchi, that was another matter.

The target of this operation was several large bandit gangs in Yingchuan County. They occupied the mountains and oppressed the people, which naturally made them unacceptable to the Qin state.

Most of these bandits became outlaws because they couldn't pay taxes or endure corvée labor; their actual threat was not significant.

However, these bandits were extremely cunning. Once the government troops came to surround and suppress them, they would abandon the mountains and flee like birds and beasts. After the government troops left, they would regroup, just like a stubborn skin disease.

The local government was very troubled by this and repeatedly reported it to the authorities, requesting a crackdown, but to little avail.

Lu Yao spent about twenty days leading his troops to the vicinity of Lin'ying County in Yingchuan Prefecture. According to intelligence from the Ministry of War, there was a large band of outlaws in the area.

Lu Yao naturally understood that if he were to openly and honestly attack their stronghold, he would find nothing at all.

He set up his military camp about ten kilometers away from the target and dispersed his thousand men into several teams.

Here, they created the illusion that the army was stationed there, while the other soldiers quietly left the camp to assemble and attack the mountain stronghold at the agreed time.

Meanwhile, outside the camp, there were already people watching them.

Lu Yao's scheme successfully deceived the people monitoring him.

Deep in the nameless mountains near Lin'ying County, a bandit stronghold was built in a secluded valley.

In a large hall called Juyi Hall, several burly men were discussing matters.

"Brother, that South Korean envoy from last time has come again, and it's about the same thing we talked about last time."

"I can't believe it," said the burly man sitting on the chair to the side.

"Korea my foot! Korea's long gone. These guys are still daydreaming."

A burly man curled his lip and said in a contemptuous tone.

"That's not right. They're willing to give us money and gifts, so there's no harm in agreeing first."

A man who looked like a strategist said with a smile.

This band of bandits is Lu Yao's current target. They have been trying to win over the remaining forces of South Korea for several months, but they have been constantly pulling and demanding benefits.

"Brother, our scouts have discovered a Qin army of several hundred men stationed more than ten kilometers away from us. Should we prepare?"

A burly man frowned and spoke to the person in the middle.

"Keep a close watch on them. If they show any signs of moving closer to us, we'll withdraw. It's the same old rule."

The chieftain was a burly man with a shaved head and the character for "prisoner" printed on his face. After thinking for a moment, he spoke.

No one else raised any objections; this has always been how they have treated officers and soldiers.

After all, they were just bandits, there was no need for them to fight the government troops, and they couldn't possibly win anyway. They only had a few hundred men, and if they really fought the government troops, they would have been wiped out long ago.

If they lost the battle and were captured, the consequence would be beheading and public display of their heads. If they won, the consequences would be even worse, as more government troops would come to annihilate them, and they would be doomed sooner or later.

"It's terrible! It's terrible! The soldiers have attacked!"

Just then, a bandit rushed in, shouting loudly.

Several burly men in the main hall of Juyitang immediately stood up.

"What did you say? How is that possible? How did they get here?"

A burly man stepped forward, grabbed the messenger by the collar, and glared at him fiercely.

The messenger was so frightened that he didn't know what to do.

"Alright! Tell the brothers in the village to get ready, we're going to take a look."

The bald-headed chieftain shouted and immediately gave the order.

When the group arrived at the gate of the mountain stronghold, they saw dozens of soldiers dressed in Qin armor fighting a group of bandits.

Outside the gate, countless Qin soldiers continued to surge towards it.

Their stronghold's gate was made of century-old wood, so it still had a certain defensive capability. Lu Yao's soldiers were seizing the gate, otherwise the soldiers behind them wouldn't be able to get in at all.

The stronghold was cleverly set up, nestled in a valley between two mountains. The main gate faced a narrow entrance, allowing only a hundred people to pass at most.

As reinforcements continued to arrive from within the village, the battle gradually reached a stalemate.

The bald-headed chieftain breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, the gate had been secured.

In the distance, Lu Yao and several centurions were watching the battle.

"Lieutenant! Let me take men and take that gate!"

Seeing that the gate of the stockade had not been captured and that dozens of Qin soldiers had been killed or wounded, centurion Li Da volunteered to lead the charge.

Lu Yao knew that continuing the stalemate was not a solution, so he agreed to Li Da's request.

Li Da led his soldiers quickly toward the gate of the stockade.