"Really? What if the authorities find out about this? I don't want to hide it from you. Before coming here, I already reported it to the magistrate. I reckon the soldiers have already surrounded you."
Liang Shuyan was just trying to scare the bandit leader when a little boy came running in, stumbling in: "Boss, it seems our mountain has been surrounded. I heard it's government troops!"
The bandit leader immediately stood up: "When did this happen? Why are you only reporting it now?"
"I just heard about the news from the brothers down the mountain and rushed here to report to the boss."
The bandit leader glanced at Liang Shuyan: "Who are you? Do you believe I can tear this woman to pieces right now?"
"Fine, but what I want to say is that if I die, I'll just have a worthless, worthless life, while you, I'm afraid the entire mountain will be destroyed by the imperial court. Which is more important? Don't you, as the leader, know how to weigh the pros and cons?"
The bandit stood up: "You, what do you want to do?"
"I don't mean anything by it, I just want to talk business with this leader. Where was Xiao Huzi just now? As long as you release him, I will go down the mountain to distract those soldiers, and I certainly won't make things difficult for you."
The bandit leader thought for a moment. A worthless little tiger cub was worth exchanging for the lives of all the brothers on the mountain. Of course, it was a great deal. He just didn't know how much of what the woman said was true.
Liang Shuyan's eyes flickered, as if she had seen through the man's thoughts, and she said, "Do you have any other way now? Besides trusting me, do you have any other way to escape from here?"
A thin, dark-skinned man standing nearby said, "Boss, time is running out. We can't delay any longer. Hurry up and get the brothers out of here. If we're any later and those soldiers rush up, we're all doomed."
"Alright, let that little tiger go!"
Then a servant brought over Little Tiger and kicked him, saying, "Boss, we really shouldn't risk all our brothers' lives for such a worthless thing! Let's go!"
Liang Shuyan naturally wouldn't cooperate with these ruthless bandits. Seeing that Xiao Huzi was alright, she grabbed him and ran down the mountain.
Xiao Huzi quickly glanced at Liang Shuyan: "Auntie, I'm sorry, it's all my fault for dragging you into this. Should we go and distract the soldiers?"
Liang Shuyan snorted coldly: "Little Tiger, that man made it very clear that he is not your father at all. What are you still being so sentimental about? Get out of here!"
The soldiers from the foot of the mountain surged up the hilltop in droves. The leader of the men gave an order: "What are you all standing around for? Quickly capture these bandits! The imperial court will reward you handsomely!"
Although the bandits were skilled, they had no choice but to be captured and taken away by the large group of government soldiers.
The grain and gold and silver collected from the hilltop filled more than a dozen cartloads. The leading man said, "That's great! It seems that what this woman said was absolutely right. With so much gold, silver and jewels, the magistrate will surely reward us handsomely."
Inside the magistrate's courtyard, several constables stood in neat rows to one side. The leading constable said, "Congratulations, sir! That woman really wasn't lying. Not only have you captured all the bandits, but you've also amassed a large amount of gold and silver. The imperial court will surely reward you handsomely."
The magistrate's heart sank suddenly: "By the way, what kind of woman came to deliver the message?"
"Reporting to you, sir, he was wearing a hemp-colored top and carrying a wooden stick. He seemed to be in a hurry. After telling you the location of the bandits, he left in a hurry."
This constable was really something; after describing it for so long, the magistrate still couldn't understand what the person looked like. He said somewhat impatiently, "Alright, stop talking. Do you remember what she looks like? We'll have the painter draw her later!"
The constable described the woman's appearance to the painter, who then drew a portrait on paper according to the constable's description and handed it to the magistrate.
Upon seeing her, the county magistrate exclaimed in surprise, "Are you sure this is the woman?"
"Yes, sir, do you know this woman?"
The magistrate frowned: "Prepare the carriages and horses; I need to go to Daling Village right now!"
The advisor shook his head helplessly: "Don't you know? The young master is in Daling Village, isn't he? Something must have happened to that woman just now, that's why the magistrate is so anxious."
Liang Shuyan looked at Xiaohuzi and asked, "Xiaohuzi, are you still thinking about those bandits?"
"Auntie, I don't understand, where did all these soldiers come from all of a sudden?"
"When I saw you run out, I sent someone to inform the government. That's why the government officials came to this hilltop. Are you regretting it now?"
"Thank you, Auntie, for saving me! That bastard deserved it. Why would I feel sorry for a bastard!"
As soon as Liang Shuyan arrived in the village, she encountered the county magistrate, who slowly alighted from his carriage and looked at her.
"What's wrong? Did something happen to you? Why didn't you come in to report the case at the government office earlier?"
Liang Shuyan said awkwardly, "No, I had an urgent matter to attend to, so I sent someone in to report the case. Thank you for your generous help, Magistrate, because of this, Xiao Huzi and I were able to be saved!"
Upon hearing Liang Shuyan's words, Xiao Huzi quickly stepped forward and kowtowed to the county magistrate: "Thank you, Your Excellency, for sending people to help in time. Otherwise, Xiao Huzi would have been dead long ago!"
"Get up! You shouldn't be thanking me at all. On the contrary, I should be thanking you. You've removed a thorn in the Emperor's side and gotten rid of such a great scourge!"
"This is all thanks to the magistrate. What does it have to do with me, a mere commoner? Besides, I only resorted to this desperate measure to save Xiaohuzi. I bet that bandit leader is cursing me right now."
Little Tiger's lips curled up: "Your Excellency, will this bandit leader really be punished? Such a bad person must be punished, otherwise, won't Auntie be in great danger in the future?"
That's right. This time, she fooled that bandit leader. Next time, if he runs into Liang Shuyan again, do you think he'll let her go?
The magistrate threw his head back and laughed heartily: "These bandits have been entrenched in this area for a long time, not only harming the people but also robbing the imperial court's disaster relief funds. How could they possibly survive? Don't worry!"
Hearing the magistrate's laughter, Zhao Heng hurriedly ran out: "Father, why are you here? Are you taking me back?"
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