However, before Zheng Quchi could answer, the sound of horse hooves could be heard from the narrow mountain wall ahead.
It was like iron bones striking each other, deafening, click-click, click-click, click-click... The sound of horse hooves came from far to near, and the crisp impact sound of the metal armor on the horse's back constantly echoed in the deep stream of the cliff.
One after another, horses came from afar, gradually appearing in the thick smoke and fog in the middle of the night.
Zheng Quchi stared ahead with bright eyes. The firelight made the mountain wall look rugged and yellow. It was not until she saw a familiar and cold figure leading an army that she let out a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, she made the right bet.
It's Wang Zebang and the Xuanjia Army who are here!
The sound shook the valley, and when the army that resembled wind, thunder, and tigers and leopards arrived, the road bandits all broke out in a cold sweat just by the towering outlines and corners that penetrated the mountain road.
They took another look at Xing'an, who was kidnapped by Xiao Zheng, and were in a dilemma. When they finally couldn't resist the huge pressure and wanted to run away, it was obviously too late.
No, it wasn't that it was too late now, it was already too late the moment they heard the sound of horse hooves.
Wang Zebang was galloping on horseback. He saw a fire burning in front of him. Two peaks and mountain walls faced each other. There was a vague group of people gathered together. They were holding sharp weapons. Around them, corpses and smashed bodies fell on the ground. pieces of wood.
Undoubtedly, there had been a tragic fight here before.
When they were a few hundred meters away from them, they planned to escape from the other direction of the mountain. Wang Zebang immediately realized that there was something wrong with these people.
He immediately raised his voice and shouted: "I am Wang Zebang, the adjutant of General Yuwen. I am leading the army to suppress the bandits. If you dare to escape, you will be treated as thieves and bandits. You will be killed on the spot without mercy!"
As soon as these words came out, the road bandits were even more frightened. Their instinct was to run away, but how could a person's two legs outrun four legs? What's more, the opponent has a large number of people, and they are all well-equipped and well-trained troops. What can they use to fight against them?
But if you don't run away and are caught by them, won't you die?
Some people were heartbroken and planned to continue taking risks and escape, but as soon as the person moved, a sharp arrow hit his back with a "whoosh" sound. The person didn't even have time to grunt, and fell down directly.
The rest of the bandits were stiff and their pupils were dilated. They were obviously frightened and they no longer had the courage to take a step forward.
"If you want to die, just keep running away!"
Wang Zebang's usually calm voice was particularly bloody and cruel at this moment.
"Everyone kneel down!"
This majestic shout was like a thunderclap above their heads. The road bandits' knees weakened and they knelt down with a "plop".
"My lord, have mercy on me, my lord, have mercy on me!"
Xiaosan and Xiaoqi clenched their fists. They also knew that what they were doing was a "business" with their heads tucked into their waistbands. But when this day really came, they found that they couldn't bear it at all.
They don't want to die. They are still so young. They have just escaped and haven't enjoyed the free air outside for long. Are they about to die?
The clattering and neighing sounds of horses hooves pierced the sharp sky, until all the oppressive sounds gradually turned into a strong atmosphere of tension, stopping in front, and a heavy and shadowy light shrouded the heads of the road bandits and others.
"Sir, please forgive me..."
"Shut up."
With the snort of the horse's nose, Wang Zebang calmly reined in his horse and stepped forward. After getting closer, when his eyes turned on these people, he suddenly caught sight of two people standing next to them out of the corner of his eye.
He immediately glanced over with a stern look, but the next second, when he saw the other person's face clearly, his pupils were glazed over.
She also raised her head and looked at him on horseback.
The heaviness and pressure in the air seemed to have suddenly faded a lot.
Xiaosan and Xiaoqi were both surprised at the sudden silence. They looked up in confusion and nervousness, but they were almost breathless.
Everyone was trembling and kneeling down to beg for mercy to save their lives. However, among this neat team, there were two disharmonious people who stood upright.
Stand there, unyielding.
Xiao Zheng actually kidnapped their brother Xing'an and stood there dumbfounded? !
This officer clearly said that anyone who doesn't kneel down will die. Is she willing to die? !
"Adjutant Wang."
Zheng Quchi stood among the road bandits and called him in a very familiar tone.
And this sound directly shook everyone's sluggish nerves back.
The road bandits were shocked and confused, not understanding what was going on, until they saw that the majestic Adjutant Wang and his men all turned over and dismounted, and then they all moved in unison and smoothly, and knelt down on the street. In front of Zheng.
"Wang Zebang (Xuanjia Army) has met the general's wife!"
The road bandits’ eyes almost popped out of their sockets: “…”
Will, what will come?
Whose wife is coming?
They had thought that this "Little Zheng" was either an undercover agent sent by the government, or a slave girl raised by a powerful family who had escaped. In short, they had made many guesses, but they never thought that she had already married, and her identity was still the same as before. The hostess who plans to frame one party!
Xiao San and Xiao Qi were also confused and stupid, their minds went blank.
Xiao Zheng...is the general's wife?
Isn't she a little carpenter? How come you suddenly changed into a general's wife?
No wonder she recognized the chief eunuch and Mr. Liu, and knew so many things. It turned out that her origin was so scary.
But how could she, a dignified general's wife, be chased by officers and soldiers as a road bandit? If you say that the government is so short of people that it needs a general's wife to act as bait, even if you kill them, they won't believe it.
Zheng Quchi put down the knife that was pressed against Xing'an's neck. She expected that as long as he was not stupid, he would not choose to fight to the death at this time.
"Get up, there's no need to pay attention to these false etiquettes now, these people are the road bandits we are looking for, and they just robbed a brigade."
The people in the government were also stunned, and they saluted hurriedly, but they couldn't help observing the general's wife with small eyes that were both shocked and surprised.
Is this the wife of General Yuwen? But how could she be with these road bandits?
Was she the one who made the explosion sound just now?
And when they came, they saw her holding a knife to someone's neck and threatening her. Was she trying to buy them time?
Wang Zebang heard his wife bluntly clarify the identities of these people. Like the officers and soldiers, he was also very shocked that she appeared here.
Thinking of the series of unusual movements that he had wondered about before, now he finally had the answer.
It was Madam who did it. Not only did she help them find the elusive road bandit, she also successfully captured it in one fell swoop...
When she disappeared, they were worried and nervous about her safety. They thought she was in danger, but they didn't expect that she had found herself in a den of road bandits.
He stood up solemnly with all the Xuanjia soldiers. He waved, and the officers and soldiers were ordered to take out ropes and tie up all the road bandits. He glanced at Xing'an, who was always silent but calm, narrowed his eyes slightly, and then He ordered someone to put an extra pair of shackles on him.
Why treat others specially?
Just because Wang Zebang felt a dangerous aura in him, which aroused a sense of vigilance and threat in his heart, he must not be a simple person.
"Madam, are you injured anywhere?" Wang Zebang asked with stiff concern.
Zheng Quchi shook her head at him. She knew that her disappearance this time must have frightened them: "I'm fine, not a hair is missing."
After showing him that she was fine, she approached him and said with a suddenly serious expression: "Adjutant Wang, we will talk about other things later. Now you can send the people away from the government immediately, and then ask our people to deal with the body. We cleaned up the scene and led the bandits back to the camp quickly."
Her words made Wang Zebang very confused.
Seeing her serious expression, Wang Zebang subconsciously looked towards the messy pool of blood not far away, surrounded by flames. Due to the dim light at night, it was difficult to identify the face of the fallen body unless he took a closer look.
Their appearance and origins were unknown, but their carriage was destroyed, their horses fled, and there were no clues.
However, he inadvertently glanced at the figure and clothing of a figure lying on the ground with a sword in his back...
His expression suddenly changed.
It was immediately clear why the lady asked him to do these weird things.
He said tightly: "Zebang will do it immediately."
"And the looted property must be kept and cannot fall into the hands of others." She explained again.
"clear."
After everything was settled, Wang Zebang asked the officers and soldiers to give up a horse. Since the war horses in the army recognize their owners, it is difficult for strangers to ride unless they ride together.
The government horses do not have this restriction. Due to different breeds, they are shorter and much docile than war horses.
Wang Zebang put his cloak on Zheng Quchi's shoulders to prevent her from getting cold in the night wind while riding a horse.
Zheng Quchi turned over and sat on the horse. The whole process was smooth and clean. Wang Zebang and Xuanjia Army were surrounding her like guardian angels. Surrounded by a group of majestic troops, her figure was particularly highlighted. It's petite, but the picture looks abrupt yet so harmonious.
Because it is a tiger and a rose. Although one side is strong and brave, they will still carefully guard the delicate and beautiful flower. The tiger also needs the restraint and guidance of Teng Man. This is the close relationship between Xuan Jiajun and Zheng Quchi. relation.
The road bandits were tied into two teams and marched on foot from the rear like exiles. They looked forward and through the gap between the figures, they could vaguely see the back of "Xiao Zheng" on the horse.
Xiao San and Xiao Qi were tied together. They looked at "Xiao Zheng" with complicated eyes, including anger, resentment, sadness and loss.
Xiao Zheng... is the general's wife. From now on, there will be a world of difference between her and them.
——
Zheng Quchi and Wang Zebang separated into two groups. Wang Zebang led the people back to the camp first, while she led the people to find the cave where the bandits had been. She plundered everything inside and took it away.
Hers, hers, all hers.
After returning, Wang Zebang was also very surprised by what these road bandits had hidden in the cave. The contents of these large trucks were equivalent to a small military depot.
But at the same time, a seed of doubt sprouted and grew in his heart.
By chance, Zheng Quchi also had something important to discuss with them. She roped in Wang Zebang and Wei Yao, who had come back overnight after getting the news, and the three of them closed the door to discuss important matters.
Zheng Quchi's face was very serious: "Have you checked those corpses?"
Wang Zebang nodded heavily.
Wei Yao was pulled over for a meeting as soon as he came back. He didn't understand the ins and outs of the matter at all, so he shook his head.
Zheng Quchi continued: "The ones who died were the chief eunuch and Master Liu."
When Wei Yao heard this, he was completely shocked.
"They're dead?!"
"Shh, keep your voice down, that's right, it's just them. You think it was a coincidence or not, but the envoy who came to our Fu County to deliver the edict died in our territory. How can we clear ourselves of responsibility now?" She said. Asked them both.
Wang Zebang frowned and said, "Hand over the gang of road bandits who blocked the road, killed, and robbed us."
Wei Yao reacted for a while before murmuring: "I'm afraid things won't be that simple."
Zheng Quchi also believed deeply: "Of course the culprit who killed these two female officials must be handed over, but this matter cannot be handled directly. King Ye has been eyeing our Sixiang Army since early in the morning, lest he take advantage of it this time We need to arrange everything properly first and completely rule out that their death has anything to do with us."
Wang Zebang understood. He thought for a moment and said, "In other words, they couldn't have died within our jurisdiction?"
"That's what it means, but it's not enough. There are other things to divert their attention." She thought thoughtfully.
"What else?" they both asked together.
Zheng Quchi almost laughed at the two of them, but he
Feeling that the trouble is weighing on his mind, he can't laugh out loud: "I haven't decided how to arrange this matter yet. First, we have to find out the true identities of these road bandits. I suspect that they are not road bandits at all. No, let's put it this way It’s not quite accurate, but I suspect they must have had other identities before becoming road bandits.”
Wang Zebang nodded: "Indeed, they are completely different from ordinary road bandits. Not only do they have a large number of regular weapons, but they also know how to use them."
"Not only that, they seem to know something about us. In short, the identities of these people are definitely not simple, so you go check it out as soon as possible. This matter cannot be delayed for long, nor can it be hidden for long. We must get the news from King Ye as soon as possible Before that, we have to come up with countermeasures to get out of trouble." After Zheng Quchi finished speaking, he thought of another thing: "There is also the matter of Princess Sheng'an."
"Then leave this matter to me. I will ask them to reveal all the truth verbatim." Wei Yao said with a cold and sinister light in his eyes.
I heard that Wei Yao is very good at interrogation.
Zheng Quchi didn't object. It was okay to use extreme measures to deal with these thugs who killed people and robbed money. She just said: "Among these road thieves, there is one named Xiao San and one named Xiao Qi. Don't touch them yet."
Wei Yao must obey the lady's instructions.
After discussing the business, Wei Yao had time to ask Zheng Quchi about her disappearance: "Madam, how did you end up in the gangster's den? Could it be that you were investigating the case for Zebang?"
I heard that the people in the county government were worried about finding the road bandit case due to pressure from the top, so they turned to Wang Zebang for help.
And Wang Zebang was also stunned. He actually asked the county government to pay a corresponding reward before he would help. The county government refused, so he naturally agreed. Could it be that the lady wanted to get this reward? You just put yourself in danger, right?
He had no idea that it was Zheng Quchi who came up with the idea of asking for money.
"of course not."
Zheng Quchi rejected it outright.
Does she look like someone who wants money without taking it?
