Chapter 124 Is there anyone familiar here?

Indeed, under the shadow of the Oirat's iron hoof, several spontaneous peasant uprising armies were still stubbornly active in the mountains and countryside near Xuanhua.

Relying on their familiarity with the terrain and their determination to defend their homes, they hid in mountain valleys, abandoned villages and even secret tunnels, waiting for opportunities to resist and protect their fleeing relatives and neighbors.

After leaving the military camp, Yun Zhao and Zhao Ze did not flee far away. Instead, they quickly found one of the rebel armies led by Wang Daxing with their agility. Without any hesitation, they immediately joined them.

However, the reality was far more cruel than one could have imagined. The rebel army was poorly equipped, with many armed only with sharpened sticks, hatchets, and even farm tools. They lacked armor and even fewer standard weapons.

When more than twenty vicious Wala cavalrymen once again broke into the area where they were hiding, intending to burn, kill and loot, a massacre with a huge disparity in strength seemed inevitable. It was too late to notify the government troops in the distance!

At this critical moment, Yun Zhao and Zhao Ze stepped forward. The two men, one attacking and one defending, worked in perfect harmony. Yun Zhao's swordsmanship was agile and precise, targeting the Wala soldiers' vital points, while Zhao Ze was brave and steady, holding his own against several enemies.

Under their leadership, the originally panicked rebels also burst out with amazing courage.

In the end, this battle, which should have been disastrous, was miraculously won at a minimal cost. The rebels lost only two men and injured five, but they killed and wounded over ten Wala soldiers, killed seven or eight of the enemy, and seized valuable weapons, horses, and the dried meat and liquor carried by the cavalry.

For this team that has been struggling on the line between life and death for many years, this is undoubtedly an unprecedented victory!

Deep in the winding, dark and damp underground passage, Yun Zhao and Zhao Ze saw the elderly, the weak, women and children who were protected by the rebels at the risk of their lives.

From their leader Wang Daxing, they learned that there was another rebel group of about forty people active in the east of the city.

Yun Zhao's thoughts immediately quickened, and he offered a suggestion: "The Wala are now powerful, and our forces are scattered, making them vulnerable to individual attacks. Why not merge the two groups, bringing together a hundred men? We'll be a force to be reckoned with. Then, I'll try to... contact reliable sources and secure weapons and food to help us all survive the winter. By next spring, when the situation stabilizes, we can rebuild our homes, cultivate the land, and our lives will surely improve!"

After this battle, Yun Zhao's courage and Zhao Ze's bravery deeply impressed everyone. She made a quick decision, leaving Zhao Ze to stay behind to oversee the situation while she discussed the merger details with Wang Daxing and the others. She herself decided to travel to the east of the city overnight to contact the rebel army.

Zhao Ze's eyes sparkled with excitement and hope, as if he saw infinite possibilities for the future. He asked enthusiastically, "A Zhao, will they agree to the merger?"

"I definitely will!" Yun Zhao said firmly, "Winter is approaching, and powerful enemies are all around us. Only by banding together for warmth and unity can we survive! This is such a simple truth, everyone will understand."

Zhao Ze nodded heavily and praised sincerely: "A Zhao, you are so courageous and far-sighted!"

However, when they ventured to the designated contact point east of the city, they found no trace of the rebel army. Following the secret tunnel exit all the way to the city, they discovered that the group was surrounded by a group of fierce Wala cavalry. The situation was critical!

Yun Zhao and Zhao Ze did not hesitate and immediately led more than ten elite volunteers including Wang Daxing to join the battle.

The sudden appearance of the fresh troops caught the Wala people off guard.

After a fierce battle, the Wala cavalry saw that they could not gain any advantage, so they whistled and tried to escape as usual.

A passionate young man in the rebel army was so angry that he started to chase after the enemy with a knife, roaring.

Yun Zhao was quick-witted and quick-handed. He swung the reins in his hand, accurately wrapped them around his waist, and pulled him back with force.

"You're stupid! Can two legs catch up with four?!" Yun Zhao, riding on his horse, shouted sternly, "As long as there is life, there will be no shortage of firewood! Only by saving your life can you plan for the future! Do you understand?!"

The young man who was caught staggered a few steps, stood firm, and looked up at Yun Zhao on the horse with a look of resentment and unwillingness.

At this moment, with the help of the dim light and the unextinguished torch, Yun Zhao saw the face covered with blood and dust.

She was suddenly struck by lightning, her whole body froze on the horse, and her heart almost skipped a beat!

How could it be him? !

How could a king of a country appear on a battlefield outside the city with corpses strewn all over the place?!

And he's still involved in a peasant uprising army that's on the verge of collapse?!

Where was his official uniform with dragon pattern that symbolized his status? Where was his imperial Qingyun sword?

At this moment, he was in a miserable state, just like an ordinary defeated soldier!

As for Xiao Jin, upon seeing the heroic yet familiar figure on the horse, the bloodshot eyes and murderous intent were instantly replaced by immense astonishment and indescribable ecstasy. He almost blurted out, "A Zhao?! Why are you here?!"

Yun Zhao suddenly came to his senses, hurriedly dismounted, and rushed to Xiao Jin. His first reaction was that he must not reveal his identity.

She suppressed her turbulent emotions and said in a low voice, "You... why are you here?! It's too dangerous here! No, you must leave immediately! I will send you back south tonight!"

At this time, Zhao Ze had also finished dealing with the enemies at hand and walked over quickly. Seeing Yun Zhao and a strange man seeming to be quite familiar with each other, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "A Zhao, do you know each other? I didn't expect to run into an acquaintance in such a situation."

"A Zhao?"

How dare someone call her so affectionately?!

Xiao Jin's gaze instantly became as sharp as a knife, darting towards the young, handsome, and energetic man who had suddenly appeared beside him. Compared to his own current state of disarray, the other man's concerned expression as he stood beside Yun Zhao was particularly glaring.

A strong sense of displeasure and inexplicable hostility instantly surged in his heart. Xiao Jin ignored the danger in front of him and Yun Zhao's anxiety. His voice was cold and hard, with an undisguised question, he looked directly at Yun Zhao: "A Zhao, who is he?"

This possessive and hostile tone instantly infuriated Zhao Ze, and he immediately placed his hand on the hilt of his sword: "Hey! What do you mean? We saved you out of kindness, and you're ungrateful, but who are you giving this sour face to? Why are you being so fierce!"

Seeing this, Yun Zhao hurriedly stopped Zhao Ze, who was about to draw his sword, and whispered, "Ze, calm down! Go back first. He is indeed... someone I used to know."

In Xiao Jin's opinion, this dissuasion seemed more like Yun Zhao protecting the young man named "Aze".

Xiao Jin's face became increasingly gloomy. He snorted coldly and stopped looking at the two people who had upset him. He turned around with a flick of his sleeves, and walked towards the entrance of the secret passage with his hands behind his back, suppressing all his frustrations in his heart.

The rest of the rebels stayed behind to quietly clean up the battlefield and collect the bodies of their companions.

Yun Zhao and Zhao Ze followed, each with their own feelings. The group silently passed through the winding tunnel and returned to the relatively safe secluded base.

As soon as they entered the dimly lit room, Yun Zhao couldn't wait to speak to Xiao Jin again, his tone firm: "This is definitely not a place to stay for long! I will arrange for someone to send you back south immediately! You must leave Xuanhua immediately!"

Xiao Jin suddenly turned around, his cold eyes fixed on Zhao Ze again. He ignored Yun Zhao's arrangements and stubbornly repeated the question, as if it was the most important thing in the world:

"Who is he? Why does he call you 'A Zhao'?"