Over three thousand soldiers and horses marched towards Yishu Pass, taking the official road. However, the checkpoints on the official road were now guarded by troops from Huangmo Pass and Yishu Pass. As they left Huangmo Pass, they could see the Xing family army branch inside the checkpoint respectfully saluting the Major General.
It seems that Fang Pingshan still has a long way to go if he wants to defeat the Xing family army. After all, all the important things are now in the hands of Major General Xing Lie, Lin Rui thought honestly in his heart.
For Fang Pingshan, it seems that only when Xing Lie dies can he have a chance to succeed.
Wait! Thinking of this possibility, Lin Rui instantly straightened up from his horse and looked at the lush forest around him. What a perfect place for an ambush and a sneak attack. Will this grandson...
Han Wenjing noticed Lin Ru's nervousness and couldn't help asking, "Master Lin, what's wrong with you?"
Lin Rui swallowed and looked around, his face showing just the right amount of tension and worry. "Master Han, the roads on both sides are mostly hidden by the woods. If someone is ambushing there and trying to attack our army..."
The words were not finished, but those who understood understood.
"Hahaha!" Xing Lie laughed heartily after hearing this. He looked at Lin Rui with a chuckle on his handsome and resolute face. "Master Lin, Master Lin, I didn't believe you when you said you were afraid of death. Today, I see that you are as true to your words as you are. We have just left Huangmo Pass, and we have special scouts who take turns to report the road conditions ahead. If there is an ambush, these battle-hardened scouts will definitely give the first warning."
Only then did Lin Rui breathe a sigh of relief. It would be better if his personal safety could be guaranteed. He didn't want to die before accomplishing his mission.
After another day of walking, they finally arrived at the territory of Yishu Pass. However, how should I put it, Lin Rui felt physically uncomfortable when he got here. He always felt that there was an aura of death here, but strangely, he couldn't find a single dead person.
Ever since he fled from famine, he had a strong premonition of danger and ominous things, and when he arrived at Yishu Pass, every goose bump on his body stood up.
"Major General, Lord Han, do we have to go to Yishu Pass?" Lin Rui couldn't help but ask again.
Xing Lie and Han Wenjing, who were also on horseback, looked over. Han Wenjing asked, "Why do you say that, Lord Lin?"
Lin Rui said honestly, "This city and the checkpoint give me a very bad feeling, a very, very bad one. Even when I was fleeing from the famine, I never felt such a great fear. People say that appearance reflects the heart, but now that I'm at Yishu Pass, I'm so frightened even just on the outskirts. I can't imagine what the situation is like inside, it's like tigers and wolves are lurking, and all kinds of evil spirits are dancing around."
Xing Lie and Han Wenjing looked at each other. Although they did not have a good impression of the Yishu Pass, they did not feel as strong aversion as Lord Lin did.
They thought that Lord Lin was frightened and unable to adapt to the unfamiliar environment, so they all spoke to comfort him, "Lord Lin, there is no need to panic. Our Xing army has brought 3,000 elite soldiers with us this time, more than enough to ensure our safety."
Lin Rui did not hold out much hope. Although the three thousand elite soldiers gave him enough confidence, would Yishu City allow the three thousand soldiers to enter the city?
No matter how powerful the Xing family army was at Huangmo Pass, when they arrived at Yishu Pass, everything had to be done according to the will of its master.
His thoughts were soon confirmed. When the Xing family army appeared in Yishu City, a middle-aged man about 1.7 meters tall and with a fat belly stood at the city gate. When he saw Xing Lie, he quickly walked forward and saluted in a fawning manner: "Welcome to the great general!"
Xing Lie grabbed the horse's neck and shouted, "Whoa!" to make the horse obey the command.
"Who are you?"
The short and fat man smiled with a greasy look on his face. Lin Rui had been in this world for so long, but this was the first time he had seen a man who had eaten himself so much that he became so fat. Even in the sun, one could see his face glowing with oil. My God, this must be the effect of drinking several kilograms of oil.
"In reply to the Major General, my surname is Rui, and I am in charge of the Major General's entry into the city. Now, the city has prepared a good banquet to welcome the Major General and his entourage. I hope the Major General would be willing to do me the honor of having a gathering." The short and fat man said very politely.
Xing Lie nodded. When he was about to lead his soldiers into the city, Fatty Rui, looking embarrassed, repeatedly blocked the city gate with his body. Xing Lie asked him unhappily, "What do you mean, Lord Rui?"
Lord Rui continued to smile humbly, "Young General, Yishu Pass is the territory of the Marquis of Xinyang, just like the old Linjing. Even the General Zhenbei has to remove his sword before entering to see the emperor."
Han Wenjing laughed sarcastically, "Master Rui, have you been the local tyrant of Yishu Pass for so long that you dare to aspire to the throne? You know that was before when you went to the capital to see the emperor. Now, the Marquis of Xinyang, not to mention being just a marquis, has come to a barren place like Yishu Pass and is still acting like this. What's the point?"
Xing Lie narrowed his eyes, a murderous look of a seasoned warrior emerging from his chest. "Could it be that Lord Rui also wants us to unsheathe our swords and meet the Marquis of Xinyang? If so, I don't see the need for a marriage alliance. Let's go back."
As he spoke, Xing Lie reined in his horse and changed his route, taking the same route he had just come from. Now he was ready to go back.
Lord Rui was anxious and quickly stretched out his arm to stop him: "General Xing, General Xing, it's a misunderstanding, it's a misunderstanding. We at Yishu Pass have never neglected your kindness!"
Han Wenjing sneered, "This is truly unheard of and unseen. You've already ordered me to leave, yet you still have the nerve to say you didn't mean to neglect me."
Not only did Lord Rui's show of force have no effect, it even angered Xing Lie so much that he almost left. He was unprepared to withstand the wrath of the Marquis of Xinyang. He quickly shouted to the two guards at the city wall, "You're blind! Open the city gates for General Xing!"
Xing Lie then rode his horse back in, with four people by his side, namely Wang Sanhu, Sanliang, Lin Rui and Han Wenjing, as well as a dozen personal soldiers. The remaining 3,000 soldiers set up camp on the outskirts of the city, more than ten miles away from Yishu Pass, using General Xing's fireworks as a signal.
After entering the city, unexpectedly, Yishu Pass was unusually prosperous. The commercial trade there was even more diverse than that of Huangmo Pass, and the people here were all like normal people.
Why use the word "normal people" to describe it?
Lin Rui noticed that the men and women walking along the main street of the city were all fleshy, unlike the skinny people still seen in Huangmo Pass. Did they really underestimate the Marquis of Xinyang? How could such a typical old aristocratic nobleman govern his own territory so well?
Is it raining red? Lin Rui couldn't help but look up at the sky. It was clear and blue. There was still some snow in the city that hadn't been cleared away, and many people in patched clothes climbed onto the rooftops to shovel it away.
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