The sound of horse hooves was loud, rapid and chaotic, and everyone looked at each other in fear.
Jiang Yushu paused and asked nervously, "Who could it be?"
"Judging from the sound of horse hooves, there are at least forty or fifty people." Zhang Feng was stabbed twice in the back, and the police were bandaging him.
Guo Honglei listened attentively for a long moment, then slowly said, "Those scoundrels tend to hide here and there, hiding during the day and coming out at night. There shouldn't be another group of deserters in broad daylight."
"How do you know there are deserters?" Zhang Feng asked knowingly.
Guo Honglei said calmly, "I heard a few words about it when I was at the last post station."
"Alas." Zhang Feng smiled bitterly. "Actually, we heard about it, but we didn't take it seriously. Who would have thought that the deserter would actually turn to the grass and cut off his path? He deserves to be hacked to pieces. Not only did he steal money, but he also killed innocent people!"
Guo Honglei said in a deep voice, "Military orders are as strong as a mountain, and military discipline is strict. The army will never forgive deserters. What cruel things would these people not do to survive?"
"You beast, you're such a beast!" Zhang Feng cursed, his eyes red. "You coward! You don't have the guts to fight the enemy, yet you murder innocent people! Sigh, five of our men were killed today. How am I supposed to explain this?"
Jiang Yushu sighed and said comfortingly, "What a sudden disaster! I hope you will accept my condolences."
"Young Master, please be patient." Xiao Tao sobbed and gently sprinkled medicine on the wound.
Jiang Yushu wrapped the clean white silk around her neck twice, tying a knot deftly. She immediately stood up and said anxiously, "They're coming! Look, who are they?"
"Let me take a look." Guo Honglei stood up with his long sword, and Jiang Yushu hurriedly supported him.
For a moment, everyone looked into the distance.
Guo Hongxuan jumped onto the cart, stretched his neck, and announced loudly: "Here comes a group of soldiers in military uniforms, not only wearing swords, but also carrying quivers!"
Military uniform? Jiang Yushu immediately felt uneasy and reminded him, "Fourth brother, don't stand so high, it will stand out."
"The enemy has arrows. What if he is another deserter who kills without blinking an eye? Do you want to be a living target? Oh, Xuan'er, come down quickly!" Wang waved her hand fearfully.
Guo Hongxuan was so scared that his neck shrank and he jumped off the cart in a hurry.
"drive!"
"Gee!" A team of guards whipped their horses and surrounded the captain Pan Kui, rushing over quickly.
Pan Kui was nearly forty, nine feet tall, dark-skinned and as strong as an iron tower. He frowned from a distance, reined in his horse, and shouted, "Hey! Who are you? Why are there casualties?"
Thank goodness, they weren't deserters. Zhang Feng breathed a sigh of relief, yet also felt a surge of resentment. With a stern face, he stood straight and replied coldly, "We were escorting exiled prisoners to Xicang under orders from the emperor. Unexpectedly, we were robbed and murdered by bandits, resulting in heavy casualties. Five of my brothers were killed on the spot, three others were seriously injured, and a dozen were slightly wounded."
"Let's go and take a look!" Pan Kui dismounted, with a long sword hanging from his waist and a whip in his hand, and led the crowd to check the corpse.
His subordinate, Qian Xiaoshuan, the general commander, carefully examined the bodies and excitedly reported, "Sir, it's them!"
"Oh? Are you sure it's one of your men?" Pan Kui, brimming with rage, lowered his voice and sternly said, "Xiaoshuan, look carefully! Deserters disrupt morale. Every single one of them must be executed to restore military discipline!"
"Yes. We must not leave any fish that slip through the net, lest they cause chaos and greatly damage the reputation of the border army." Tian Bo, who was also the general flag, echoed.
Qian Xiaoshuan blushed and replied with shame, "I'm sure these guys are all deserters." He pulled himself together, carefully counted them, and reported, "One is missing! There were eleven deserters in total, but only ten bodies."
Pan Kui turned around and asked, "Hey, how many escaped bandits did you see?"
It was past noon, and the group heading north hadn't eaten yet, so they were starving. Zhang Feng, who had lost a lot of blood, hurriedly urged everyone to treat the wounded first, and then rest on the spot, drink water, and eat dry food.
Guo Honglei was close by, so he thought for a moment before answering loudly, "Eleven in total, but one escaped during the melee. He took advantage of the chaos to flee into the dense forest on the south slope."
"Boy, did you see it clearly?" Pan Kui frowned and looked tall, strong and mighty.
Guo Honglei answered seriously: "One person did escape. At that time, the fugitive was kicked to the side of the hillside and ran away." In fact, he was the one who kicked that person, so he knew it clearly.
"Where did he escape into the woods?"
Guo Honglei raised his finger and said, "There."
"Really?" Pan Kui led his men down the slope and said disappointedly as he checked. "Xiao Shuan, you failed to discipline your men properly. One of your men deserted. Not only are you embarrassed, but the entire Heqin Guard is embarrassed. You've also caused the deaths of innocent civilians. Your crime is unforgivable!"
Qian Xiaoshuan had no way to refute it, and said dejectedly: "I know I am guilty, please punish me."
"The most urgent thing is to catch the deserter." Pan Kui was so frustrated that his work failed that he shouted, "What are you standing there for? Arrest him immediately!"
"Yes, sir!" Qian Xiaoshuan quickly selected twenty people and searched the mountains in pursuit with gritted teeth.
Another place
Wang was exhausted. She sighed and said tiredly, "Alas, this cycle of disaster after disaster, when will it ever end? Yushu, take good care of Honglei."
"Yeah." Jiang Yushu lowered her eyes, carefully uncovered her clothes, and asked softly, "It must be very painful, right?"
Guo Honglei's face turned pale, and he replied soothingly, "I applied some medicine to the wound, so it doesn't hurt that much."
"Thank goodness the bleeding stopped in time!" Jiang Yushu breathed a sigh of relief, a wave of fear still lingering. She whispered, "Eat some dry food and rest for a while. There are quite a few injured. I'll go ask Lord Zhang how he plans to proceed. Take this, and eat it quickly!"
Guo Honglei had three steamed buns stuffed into his hands. A smile flashed in his eyes as he asked in a low voice, "Give them all to me. What are you going to eat?"
"I still have some." Jiang Yushu hurriedly ate half a steamed bun, rinsed her mouth, put down the water bag and just stood up, but saw Zhang Feng leading several strong men walking towards her quickly.
Jiang Yushu calmed down and asked in surprise, "Master Zhang, what's the matter?"
Yo?
Wow! Such a stunning beauty among the exiled prisoners? Tian Bo was instantly shocked and filled with admiration. He stared at Jiang Yushu, examining her beautiful face and exquisite figure, his gaze lingering on her chest and waist for a long time.
The surroundings were in chaos and no one noticed Tian Bo's greedy eyes.
Zhang Feng regained his composure. He didn't dare to offend the border troops, so he politely said, "This is Captain Pan of the Xicang Heqin Guard. He has been ordered to hunt down the fugitives. They have harmed us, and Pan needs a detailed list. Please quickly report the names of the Guo family's injured, both seriously and lightly."
"Okay." Jiang Yushu suddenly realized what was going on. Guo Honglei had already stood up and tilted his head to order, "Luan Shun, do as the master ordered immediately."
"Yes!" The butler nodded and immediately counted the injured again.
Pan Kui frowned as he looked at Guo Honglei, questioning him suspiciously, "I heard from the officers that you are a skilled martial artist and killed four fugitives in a row. Is that true?"
Guo Honglei replied calmly, "My martial arts skills are mediocre, but my life was at stake just now, so I had to give it my all."
"Well, he's quite steady and humble." Pan Kui smiled.
Guo Honglei said modestly, "You're too kind."
Tian Bo had no time to pay attention to others. He kept staring at Jiang Yushu secretly, his eyes itching, his heart burning with desire, and he thought excitedly: A young and beautiful female prisoner, lacking food and clothing, humble and terrified... Humph, I am the general flag, why should I worry about not being able to get her?
Would she dare to disobey after a few threats?
Even if she is a stubborn one, what is there to be afraid of if I force myself on her?
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