met free Chapter 31 Brave Warriors
Chapter 31 Brave Warriors
The bandits had already left.
The porters then straightened up and continued on their way.
Not far ahead, the sound of hooves could be heard again behind them, and groups of bandits galloped past on horseback.
They walked and stopped like this for half an hour, but they hadn't gone very far. They were hiding among the rocks and grass below the road. Moreover, with more than 20 people hiding, they needed a large area, which was very dangerous.
There was one time when we almost got exposed.
Master Zhu immediately summoned everyone.
He said with a grave expression.
Apart from the group led by the adjutant general, we were probably the only ones who managed to escape.
Without porters and laborers following behind, the entire camp might have already been wiped out.
However, with more than twenty of us gathered together, we would be too conspicuous. Once we got off the road, it would be difficult to hide. Having too many people would actually make us more likely to be spotted.
Having finally escaped, we cannot afford to lose our lives because of this.
So, we'll split into groups of two or three and set off separately, which will make it easier to hide.
Even if something really happens, only one group of people will be unlucky; the others still have a chance to survive.
Master Zhu then said that the road back to Gongzhou Prefecture from where they were standing was the only dirt road for at least several dozen miles, with no forks, and that this was the most dangerous part of the journey.
Walk forward for half a mile.
To the left of the road is a range of mountains, and at the foot of the mountains are two large trees that stand out. We stopped there to rest when we came here, and you should all remember that.
Actually, if you go a few feet between those two trees, there is an old road that winds through the mountains. It is the old road from Yiling County to Gongzhou Prefecture. It is not suitable for large armies to travel, but it is still fine for a few dozen of us.
I traveled this route decades ago, which allowed me to avoid this dangerous path, although it would have added an extra day to my journey to Gongzhou Prefecture.
You can choose which route to take to escape.
Later, Jiao Ada, Xiao Jiling, and I will go ahead to scout out the old path for everyone under the big tree at the foot of the mountain. We'll wait for you there.
We only need to wait half an hour. After half an hour, no matter how many people have arrived, we must set off.
We fled in such a hurry that we left our food and supplies in the tents. We had nothing to eat, and some of us weren't even wearing shoes. Once we entered the mountains, food would be a problem. If we left too late, we might starve or freeze to death in the mountains in the dead of winter.
Master Zhu looked serious as he carefully gave instructions to everyone.
They had no other choice but to split up and run away.
Yang Silang's face was gloomy, and he frowned without saying a word. Master Zhu's analysis was similar to his.
If it weren't for the unfortunate terrain of this road sandwiched between two mountains, we should be as far away from this road as possible right now.
He touched his pocket and found six or seven dry food dumplings left, which put his mind at ease.
"Master Zhu..." Wang Daniu asked in a low voice, "Why didn't you let Silang and me go with you..."
Master Zhu chuckled and patted him on the shoulder.
"Silly child, it's not safe to scout ahead. What if those bandits turn back after failing to capture the adjutant and his party?"
"There are several straight sections of this road where you can see right through; you won't even have time to hide."
He turned his head and looked at Yang Silang again.
"Si Lang, take good care of Da Niu. You've always been resourceful. Survive."
Yang Silang responded with a smile.
"Master Zhu, don't worry, we will all make it back to Gongzhou Prefecture alive!"
Everyone quickly divided into groups, forming teams of two or three based on their close relationships.
Master Zhu led Jiao Ada and Xiao Jiling to set off first, and then after a few dozen breaths, the second group set off.
As if blessed by the heavens, the moon disappeared into a layer of clouds, hazy like a thin veil covering the ground, and soon the figures and footsteps of those who came before vanished into the darkness.
Yang Silang and Wang Da Niu were in the middle, and they also set off quietly.
He gripped the carrying pole in his hand, calculating in his mind that if something really went wrong, he would use his special ability to pull Wang Daniu up the mountain and escape, going wherever was most dangerous.
Even a real horse couldn't match his speed when galloping through the mountains.
He might not be able to say for flat ground, but if it were a rugged and bumpy mountain path, it would be perfect for him to use his mud-walking stake technique in combination with his armor-wearing supernatural abilities.
They wandered around in hiding for who knows how long.
On the way, the two even saw the corpses of two gang members lying on the roadside, their heads chopped off. They were just unlucky; they ran right into the hands of the thieves and couldn't dodge.
Fortunately, no other bodies were found.
Yang Silang and Wang Daniu hurried along late at night. When they looked up again, they finally saw the outlines of two large trees at the foot of the mountains. The escape route was right in front of them.
The sound of horses' hooves clattering.
Several more bandits rode past from behind.
Yang Silang and Wang Daniu hurriedly hid behind a huge rock at the bottom of the road.
He sniffed and sensed a bloody smell.
Turning my head, I saw something behind the boulder. First, I heard a cough, then a chubby, round face appeared, sweat pouring down his head, his belly as big as a bucket, trying his best to smile kindly.
Unfortunately, his lips twitched repeatedly, making his smile look very forced and ugly.
"Two brave warriors, what a coincidence! You've escaped too? You seem to be blessed individuals..."
"How about we make a deal and travel together?"
Yang Silang looked closely and recognized him as Ruan Qianzong, the officer in charge of the supply battalion, who issued orders and commanded 1,200 soldiers and more than 1,000 porters and laborers.
This commander and the iron commander are in stark contrast.
The latter is a valiant martial arts master who commands elite personal guards and leads them into battle. He is the sharpest blade in the hands of the adjutant general.
Of course, the knife is now broken.
Ruan Qianzong, I don't see any particular ability in him, but he's actually survived until now.
It seems he fled on horseback as soon as the camp fell; otherwise, given his size, it would have been difficult for him to escape ahead of the others. He probably wouldn't have made it past the wheelbarrow obstacle. Knowing to escape first shows he has good judgment.
Furthermore, his ability to immediately greet people with a smile and call them heroes when he was in trouble shows that he was a wise and shrewd person who knew how to adapt to changing circumstances.
Yang Silang and Wang Daniu walked around the boulder and then understood why Commander Ruan was smiling so strangely.
It turned out that half of his body was trapped under a dead horse with its legs bent, and he couldn't move. Moreover, his own leg was broken.
Or.
Commander Ruan fled in such a way that he crushed the horse that was supposed to save him.
The horse broke its leg, tumbled off the road, and died.
The broken-legged horse crushed General Ruan's leg.
And so, General Ruan was thus tragically trapped in place.
In other words, he set off early but arrived late, which is truly a tragedy.
"My lord... please take care..." Yang Silang bowed to him and prepared to set off.
If you can't even save yourself, how can you save others?
"Brave warrior... I have money..." Commander Ruan hurriedly pulled out a gold ingot from his pocket, lowering his voice so as not to startle any bandits who might be passing by.
"I have one too..." Yang Silang took out a copper coin from his pocket and said in a low voice.
The two stared at each other, wide-eyed.
Gold may be expensive, but it is dead gold; copper coins may be cheap, but they are living coins.
"I am the only son in my family... My sister is still hoping that I will carry on the Ruan family line..." Ruan Qianzong's mouth trembled and tears streamed down his face as he cried very softly.
"Me too..." Yang Silang said softly.
Who isn't a pampered younger brother, the hope of the family?
He was about to turn around and leave.
"My brother-in-law is the prefect of Gongzhou, and my sister is the ninth favored concubine..." General Ruan was sweating profusely with anxiety.
"Huh?" Yang Silang stopped in his tracks.
He scratched his head.
"No, I don't actually have that."
"Although my sister also became someone's concubine."
"But the man who slept with her wasn't the prefect."
"Pah... Old Zhou still isn't trying hard enough!"
When Commander Ruan saw Yang Silang stand still, he was overjoyed and immediately made a promise in a low voice.
As long as you get them out of danger, you'll be richly rewarded. They can have gold, silver, and houses if they want. In addition, if they want a future in the military, you can also get them military status...
Yang Silang waved his hand, signaling him to stop making a wish.
At this point, even if it meant promising the two of them to become emperors, Commander Ruan would dare to say it.
"General Ruan, let's be frank."
"We'll try our best to help you. Whether it works out or not is up to fate. If there's real danger, we'll have to abandon you halfway and run away. Don't blame us for being unrighteous."