The cold river water slapped against the rough side of the ferry, making a dull splash.
Hu San stood at the bow, looking at the dozen or so craftsmen who were tied up tightly, gagged and thrown in the corner of the cabin, and the more than twenty bundles of golden grass emitting a strong and strange fragrance on the deck. Finally, a smile of relief appeared on his face.
Although we suffered heavy losses in last night’s raid, we succeeded in the end!
These craftsmen and fodder are the keys for his boss to pry open Zhao Muyun’s vault!
Since he returned with such a great harvest, Wang Pan would surely reward him with a lot of money and beautiful women.
"Hurry! Start the boat!" Hu San growled at the boatman.
As long as they cross the wide river in front of them, they will reach the heart of Hedong, and it will be difficult for Shi Yong's men to catch up.
The boatman had just pushed the long pole when the boat was only a few feet away from the shore.
"Thieves, please leave!"
A roar like thunder suddenly exploded from the dense forest on the east side of the river bank!
Immediately afterwards, the sound of hooves was like thunder!
A group of murderous cavalrymen came out of the woods like a whirlwind. The one leading them was Shi Yong with red eyes!
Beside him was Deputy Commandant Zhou, whose face was filled with shame and murderous intent!
"Shoot! Stop them!"
Shi Yong didn't give Hu San any chance to react and pointed with the long knife in his hand!
Buzz——!
A dense rain of arrows shot towards the ferry and several bandits on the shore like locusts!
Screams suddenly rang out, and several desperate criminals were shot into hedgehogs in an instant!
The desperate criminals on the boat hurriedly raised their shields to block the attack, and the sound of clanging and banging was endless.
"Row quickly!" Hu San was shocked and angry, and roared loudly.
He knew that he was a sitting duck in the water and that the only way to be safe was to stay away from the shore.
However, when the boatman saw the soldiers appear, he immediately jumped into the river and fled, leaving Hu San and others who could not swim to watch the boat spinning in the water.
The ferry drifted in the current and returned to the shore after a turn.
Seeing this, Shi Yong jumped off his horse, holding his embroidered spring sword, and rushed directly into the river with his angry soldiers, slashing at the desperate criminals who tried to go into the water to push the boat!
Deputy Commandant Zhou was even more like a madman. Wherever his sword flashed, blood and flesh flew everywhere. He poured out all his anger and shame for dereliction of duty on these thieves!
Close combat, blood and flesh flying everywhere!
Hu San brought with him a group of desperate criminals, but facing the angry charge of the regular army and the fact that they were outnumbered, they soon suffered heavy casualties.
The riverbank was dyed a glaring scarlet.
Hu San was hit on the shoulder by Deputy Captain Zhou who jumped onto the boat, and he rolled over with a scream.
Deputy Commandant Zhou had Hu San brought before Shi Yong: "It was this man who took advantage of our small numbers to gather information and lead the troops to burn Wohugang."
He learned the whole story from a seriously injured manager and found out that it was Hu San who sneaked into the convoy.
"Take him back and interrogate him thoroughly to find out who is behind this!"
Shi Yong slapped Hu San's face with the bloody Embroidered Spring Knife, and Hu San was frightened out of his wits.
"Captain Shi! Urgent news from the capital!"
A scout battalion soldier, soaked all over, rushed across the chaotic battlefield regardless of everything and lifted a carrier pigeon tied to a bamboo tube high in the air!
Shi Yong's blade suddenly stopped in mid-air!
He snatched the bamboo tube, unscrewed it, and quickly pulled out the note inside.
With just one glance, the fury and murderous intent on Shi Yong's face froze instantly, and then turned into an expression of incredible astonishment and deep confusion!
There were only a few lines of words on the note, written by Zhao Muyun himself:
"Xiao Shitou, Deputy Commandant Zhou: Leaving Wohugang without permission is unacceptable under military law! However, in an emergency, we must act swiftly and relieve Xiazhou to atone for our mistakes. We must recapture all the captured craftsmen!"
"Golden Silk Grass... allow the leader to take some away. Do as instructed, without error! Zhao Muyun's written order."
Take away part?
Shi Yong rubbed his eyes hard to make sure he was not dazzled!
Wohugang was burned and robbed, resulting in heavy losses. Instead of issuing strict orders to recover all the lost items, Tou Zhao wanted to let go of some of the golden grass?
What's the reason for this?
But military orders are as heavy as a mountain!
That familiar handwriting, that unquestionable tone!
Shi Yong clenched the note tightly, his knuckles turning white.
He suddenly looked up at the pale, dejected Hu San, then glanced at the bundles of golden grass on the boat. A fierce struggle flashed in his eyes, and finally turned into an extremely frustrated roar:
"Stop! Everyone stop!"
The soldiers in the fierce battle stopped in shock.
Shi Yong gritted his teeth, his voice piercing through his teeth, filled with overwhelming hatred and unwillingness: "Bring back all the craftsmen and take away half of the golden grass!"
He spoke the last few words with great difficulty and almost vomited blood.
"What about him?" asked Deputy Captain Zhou.
"Let him go!"
"Release?"
Deputy Captain Zhou also saw the note and was equally shocked and puzzled, but military orders were as firm as a mountain, so he could only kick Hu San in the stomach with red eyes, knocking him over again.
Then he rushed towards the ferry with his soldiers and roughly dragged the terrified craftsmen off one by one.
Hu San covered his aching stomach and looked at the strange scene in front of him in shock and confusion.
The other party clearly had an absolute advantage and was about to wipe them out and take back everything, so why did they suddenly stop and only take away the people without taking away the grass?
He didn't have time to think too much. Seeing the craftsman being taken away, his heart ached.
But when he saw that the other soldiers had only symbolically moved away a few bundles of grass, and most of the golden grass was still left on the boat, he felt a glimmer of hope again!
"Sail! Sail!"
Hu San, like a stray dog, scrambled onto the ferry and roared at the few remaining men.
The ferry left the shore again, and under the fiery gaze of Shi Yong and Deputy Captain Zhou, it carried the frightened Hu San, several corpses and more than twenty bundles of golden grass, and staggered towards the darkness on the other side.
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