Dapeng's Time Travel Life

Following the signing of the trade agreement, the border region presented a prosperous new scene. A steady stream of caravans traveled between the Central Plains and various tribes, bringing a dazzling array of goods, as well as new vitality and hope. The markets were bustling with activity, and the lives of the people gradually became more prosperous. Zhang Peng watched all this with a hidden worry in his heart; foreign forces would certainly not easily let go of this opportunity to destabilize the border.

"General, caravans have been coming and going frequently lately, and tax revenue has also increased. It seems that trade cooperation is beginning to show results," Li Ming reported excitedly to Zhang Peng, holding the account book.

Zhang Peng nodded slightly, but his gaze was fixed on the distance: "On the surface, it seems like a good thing, but we can't let our guard down. Foreign forces are definitely watching us from the shadows, and they might make a move at any time."

Just as Zhang Peng had predicted, trouble soon followed. One day, a caravan was attacked by unidentified individuals on its return journey; the goods were stolen, and the merchants suffered heavy casualties. Upon hearing the news, Zhang Peng was furious: "Investigate! Find out who did this!"

After some investigation, it was discovered that the group that attacked the caravan was actually a band of bandits claiming to be "acting on behalf of Heaven." But Zhang Peng knew in his heart that these bandits must have been supported by foreign forces.

"General, these bandits are too rampant. We must teach them a lesson!" Li Ming said angrily.

Zhang Peng pondered for a moment: "Sending troops rashly is not the way to go. These bandits are familiar with the terrain and act slyly, making it difficult for us to capture them. We need to find their lair first and then wipe them out in one fell swoop."

So Zhang Peng dispatched several reconnaissance teams deep into the mountains to search for the bandits. However, for several days in a row, the reconnaissance teams found nothing. The bandits seemed to have sensed the danger and hid even deeper.

Just as Zhang Peng was at his wit's end, a soldier brought unexpected news. "General, a man claiming to be an inside agent of the bandits is requesting an audience, saying he has important intelligence."

Zhang Peng's heart skipped a beat: "Bring him in."

A moment later, a ragged, panicked man was brought in. As soon as he saw Zhang Peng, he knelt down and begged for mercy: "General, spare my life! I was forced to join the bandits. I know where their lair is. I am willing to atone for my crime by performing meritorious service."

Zhang Peng sized him up, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes: "Are you telling the truth? If you dare to deceive this general, you will be executed without mercy!"

The man quickly kowtowed: "Everything I said is true. The bandits have been moving their goods these past few days, preparing to escape from here. Their lair is in Black Wind Ridge to the west, a strategically important and easily defensible location."

Zhang Peng pondered for a moment and decided to believe him. "Alright, if what you say is true, this general will spare your life. Go back first and keep the bandits in check; we'll be there shortly."

The man accepted the order and left. Zhang Peng immediately summoned his generals to discuss the battle plan. "We must be extremely careful in this operation. Since the bandits are preparing to escape, they have undoubtedly strengthened their defenses. We must act swiftly and decisively to wipe them out in one fell swoop."

As night fell, Zhang Peng led an elite force, quietly advancing towards Black Wind Ridge. Along the way, they proceeded cautiously, avoiding the bandits' patrols. Finally, they arrived at the foot of Black Wind Ridge.

Zhang Peng gazed at the bandits' lair on the mountain, secretly calculating his options. The lair was surrounded by traps and lookouts, making a direct assault impossible. He decided to send a small team to flank the bandits, while the main force would launch a frontal assault.

The battle commenced, with the flanking squad launching the first attack. The bandits, as expected, fell for the trap and rushed towards the flank. Seeing this, Zhang Peng immediately led the main force in a frontal assault. In an instant, shouts of battle filled the air, and flames soared into the sky.

Although the bandits fought valiantly, they gradually succumbed to the fierce attacks of Zhang Peng and his men. After a fierce battle, the bandits were all wiped out, and the goods were successfully recovered.

Having resolved the bandit problem, Zhang Peng thought he could finally breathe a sigh of relief, but a new crisis was quietly approaching. News came from the imperial court that a minister had impeached him for amassing power on the border, secretly signing trade agreements with tribes, and plotting a rebellion.

"These people are making things up out of thin air!" Li Ming said angrily. "The general is wholeheartedly dedicated to the peace of the border, yet they are stabbing him in the back!"

Zhang Peng's expression was grave: "There's probably more to this than meets the eye. It's very likely that this is the work of a foreign agent within the government. We must find a way to deal with it as soon as possible, otherwise not only will peace on the border be affected, but we will also be in danger."