Deep in Shaohu Lake.
The bandits were sallow and thin, and they were sighing.
"How much food do we have?"
"I don't know. The commander-in-chief didn't let me ask. The last one who asked got a hundred lashes."
"Shhh... I guess there isn't much left... I've been drinking gruel these days."
"Grandma, I'm so hungry that I feel dizzy!"
Perhaps because of their hunger, these Shaohu thieves were not only full of resentment, but also a lot more courageous. They actually started to curse Heijiao.
"If you ask me, the current commander-in-chief is too cowardly!"
"More than a month has passed, and there is no sign of the so-called 'Chu Army'. The commander-in-chief is so suspicious that he still does not allow us to go down the mountain to grab food, which makes me hungry."
"I think what happened to General Shaohu was probably a coincidence - damn, my legs were so thin from hunger!"
"Hiss... keep your voice down, do you dare to question the commander-in-chief? Do you not want to live anymore?"
…
At this moment, Heijiu was pacing angrily.
Like many of the Shaohu bandits below, Heijiu was also hungry - which made his already vicious temper even worse.
These days, if the people around me make some small mistakes, they will be severely whipped by the irritable Heijiu.
The people next to him are now walking around him.
However, despite his irritable mood, Heijiu's brain was still calm.
It has been more than a month since Shaohu and others went out and did not return, and everything was calm.
On the contrary, it made Heijiu even more suspicious!
It stands to reason that after catching Shao Hu, a former general of the Yue Kingdom and now the second commander of the Shaohu Pirates... even if the Chu government would not celebrate their meritorious service, there would definitely be clues.
As a result, now, it's as if this never happened.
"Commander..." A soldier came in from the door and reported tremblingly: "Brothers have returned from the investigation, and there is still no movement in Quyang."
"Yeah." Heijiao breathed heavily, "Let's explore again."
The soldier gritted his teeth and said bravely: "Commander... From what I can see, the Chu people didn't do anything strange, which may be excusable."
"Huh?" Heijiao's thick eyebrows twitched, but surprisingly he didn't get angry: "Go on."
The pawn mustered up his courage: "Is it possible that the second commander and the others were killed by the Chu people without explanation as soon as they showed up? Those damn Chu people didn't know the identity of the second commander at all!"
Heijiu was startled, then nodded slowly.
It's not impossible.
The Chu people saw the Shaohu bandits as a thorn in their side and wanted to get rid of them as soon as possible. In the previous encirclement and suppression campaigns, the Shaohu bandits had all escaped. This time, the Chu people chose not to practice martial arts and just beat them to death. Makes sense.
The pawn kneeling on the ground looked at Heijiao with expectant eyes.
These days, they go to Quyang every day to investigate.
You won’t know until you see it, but you will be shocked when you see it!
Not only are the crops growing in the fields amazingly, but there are also an endless stream of large trucks loaded with goods on the straight and smooth roads!
There were even merchants with foreign accents.
Damn it, when did Quyang become so wealthy? If I could go down the mountain and grab it, how much fuel and water would I have?
Think again about those hard-working brothers in the depths of Shaohu Lake who don’t have enough to eat and wobble when walking...
This risk is worth taking!
At this time, Heijiu, who had been pacing, stood still and seemed to be making up his mind.
We had to take action - even if it was a meal of gruel, the food in the lair was only enough for five days. If we waited any longer, we would have to eat people.
Heijiu looked hard!
"Tell the brothers to prepare to go down the mountain to grab food!"
"You spies, you should do some digging - see where the oil and water are."
"If you don't do it right, I'll skin you!"
The pawn was overjoyed when he heard this!
It’s finally time to get back to my old job!
…
In the past few days, Prince Mi Heng has been wandering around Quyang City every day and never tires of it.
Although it is a small city, under Xiong Wuliang's governance, there are many new things here that Mi Heng has never seen in Yingdu.
The only side effect... Mi Heng was brainwashed by the weird advertising song of the tea stall!
I hum along unconsciously every day.
Huang Xie was on the verge of mental collapse, and the swordsman's heart was broken.
"Brother Wang, when can I hunt in your fief?" After eating, drinking and having fun for several days, Mi Heng finally remembered the purpose of his trip.
During the Warring States Period, there were no entertainment activities.
Gathering for hunting can be regarded as the favorite team-building activity of noble princes.
Unlike the hunters who were running around for a living, the nobles hunted very elegantly.
Usually, the cavalry and horse teams are ordered to drive back and forth, driving the prey into the faces of the young men who are waiting for the prey. Then the young men bend their bows and arrows, and easily capture the prey that is already foaming at the mouth from exhaustion.
On the hunting ground, the noble princes would gather together to talk and have family affairs while they were waiting. It could be regarded as the original version of a social occasion.
Xiong Wuliang spread his hands and said helplessly: "Unfortunately, in order to encourage farmers to open up wasteland, I have already ordered Zhong Hua to sweep the land several times."
"I guess it's too choked to catch any prey."
Zhong Hua nodded cooperatively: "That's right, there aren't even any larger rabbits in the fiefdom... Unless you go hunting voles, you can also eliminate pests for the farms."
"It's so..." Prince Mi Heng was disappointed: "I came all the way to Quyang just for a few voles?"
"I'm afraid I'll be laughed at by everyone!"
Xiong Wuliang coughed lightly and said hypocritically: "Brother Wang, even if there are still prey in the mountains, we can't go hunting anymore."
"Oh? Why is this?" Mi Heng asked.
Xiong Wuliang paused, with a constipated expression: "I'm afraid... I'm afraid it's not safe."
Mi Heng laughed twice: "The palace guards around me are all the bravest elite warriors in Chu. How could they be injured by a few wild wolves?"
"Brother Wang, you underestimate me too much!"
Young Master Mi Liang nodded his head repeatedly and made a look of shame: "My prince of Chu State is extraordinary in martial arts, brave and resourceful, generous and righteous. Who in the world knows this? I'm ashamed of myself. It's just my stupid brother who made a mistake!"
The upright Mi Heng felt comfortable after being slapped by Xiong Wuliang's rainbow fart, and burst out laughing.
Zhong Hua on the side said straight out: "The danger my master mentioned is not a jackal."
"The danger in Quyang County is the Shaohu bandits entrenched in Shaohu!"
"Shut up!" Xiong Wuliang became furious and shouted sternly: "Didn't I say that you are not allowed to mention this matter in front of the prince?"
Zhong Hua immediately 'bowed his head and confessed': "The general is quick to speak..."
Mi Heng was confused by this double act and asked curiously: "Is there actually a group of bandits in Quyang? Why doesn't Brother Wang allow Zhong Hua to mention it to me?"
Xiong Wuliang "thumped his chest and stamped his feet" and sighed!
"I have always known that Brother Wang is eager for justice. If he knew that there was such a group of bandits that were harming the countryside and plundering the people, I would definitely go out personally and kill them without hesitation."
"But there are many bandits... Brother Wang is a wise and powerful man, and he will definitely be a great leader of my country in the future! If there is any danger here... Mi Liang will die!"
"Therefore, we strictly order the people in the mansion not to mention the Shaohu bandits in front of Brother Wang!"
"Who knew...who knew...oh!" Xiong Wuliang stomped his foot hard! He looked at Zhong Hua, who was bowing his head and confessing his guilt.
Zhong Hua's face was full of shame, and he remonstrated in a deep voice: "Your Highness, I know that you have always been upright and love the people like a son, and you will never compromise with these bandits."
"However, I beg you not to be impulsive - you must not risk your wealth for the sake of the people of a mere county!"
The prince was startled.
Then he laughed——
