"I wonder if Brother Chao would be willing to offer up this severed arm and lead everyone to seek wealth and prosperity?" Wu Yong said, looking at Chao Gai expectantly.
“Alright.” Upon hearing this, Chao Gai agreed, “I really can’t rest easy keeping this thing here. I don’t know what to do with it, and I’m worried it might break free and run away, so I don’t dare to take it out easily. This time, let’s take it out and make a fortune together. It’s much better than robbing the birthday gifts.”
“Since Brother Chao has agreed, let’s not delay. Let’s present this item as soon as possible. While General Shenwei is still in Yuncheng, with this item, we’re sure to be able to see him,” Wu Yong said.
“Alright. Let’s all move this out and find a cart to take it to the county government office,” Chao Gai said.
After saying that, the group took out the iron box, tied it with iron chains twice more to ensure that the severed arm inside would not be lost, and then asked the servants to bring a horse-drawn carriage. They then headed towards the county government office with the servants.
——————————————
In the wilderness outside Yuncheng, Wang Han changed into plain clothes, rode an ordinary horse, and led Yang Zhi and eight others who had also changed into plain clothes, along with Lu Da, Li Shishi, Zhao Fujin, and the magistrate of Yuncheng, on horseback along the official road.
"General, what are we doing here?" After walking for more than ten miles under the scorching sun with Wang Han, Zhao Fujin finally couldn't help but ask.
"You'll find out soon enough," Wang Han said with a smile.
Directly ahead on the official road, a procession of about 150 or 160 people was approaching. Among them were two horse-drawn carriages.
Wang Han asked the magistrate of Yuncheng beside him, "Do you know what kind of army is ahead?"
Upon hearing this, the magistrate of Yuncheng looked closely for a while and said, "General, that is the convoy escorting the birthday tribute for Liang Zhongshu."
"The birthday tribute, that's them," Wang Han said with a smile. Because Yang Zhi had joined him, the escort team for the birthday tribute had changed.
"What does the General want with this birthday tribute?" Upon hearing this, the magistrate of Yuncheng felt a sense of unease and asked cautiously. He knew that this birthday tribute was obtained by Liang Zhongshu through the exploitation of the people.
"Of course we robbed him. Otherwise, how would we get the money to buy a house?" Wang Han said with a smile.
"Robbery, great, great!" Upon hearing Wang Han's words, Zhao Fujin immediately shouted, as if he wanted to stir up trouble. "I've never robbed anyone before."
Upon hearing this, the magistrate of Yuncheng broke out in a cold sweat, but dared not object to Wang Han's words, and could only cautiously ask, "General, should we cover our faces?"
"Why are we wearing masks? We want them to see what we look like," Wang Han said with a smile. "Otherwise, Liang Zhongshu won't know who robbed the birthday gifts and will implicate innocent people."
"Yes!" Upon hearing this, the magistrate of Yuncheng could only reply with a bitter expression. After all, he was just a lowly magistrate and dared not say anything more.
“Of course, we can’t reveal our identities, since we’re here to suppress bandits, not to rob them,” Wang Han said.
"Yes." Upon hearing this, the magistrate of Yuncheng breathed a sigh of relief. It was better that he didn't reveal his identity; Liang Zhongshu might not know that he was also involved. Otherwise, if Liang Zhongshu couldn't afford to cause trouble for the Divine Might General, it would be easy for him to cause trouble for a mere magistrate like himself.
"Yang Zhi, it's time to test your skills. Remember, don't draw your swords and don't take anyone's life. Not only must you steal the birthday gifts, but you must also beat all 150 or 160 people down and take them away openly." Wang Han said, "This is a test for you. If you succeed, I'll teach you a few moves of fist and foot."
"Yes, your men guarantee they'll be beaten so badly they won't be able to stand up." Hearing that they were ready, and that Wang Han would personally teach them a few moves of martial arts, Yang Zhi and the others were immediately excited, rubbing their fists together. This was martial arts taught by the Great General; it must be incredibly powerful. More importantly, this was the Great General beginning to train them; they absolutely had to perform well.
Soon, under the wolf-like gazes of Yang Zhi and his men, the procession escorting the birthday gifts encountered Wang Han and his group.
Seeing the predatory gazes of Yang Zhi and his men, the general in charge of escorting the birthday gifts immediately became alert and shouted, "Halt! Who are you?"
"They're robbing us," Wang Han said, looking like a mountain bandit. "Men, rob them!"
Following Wang Han's words, Yang Zhi and the other eight men, along with Lu Da, immediately dismounted and charged forward with all their might.
"You audacious scoundrels! You dare to steal the government's birthday tribute! Seize them!" Upon hearing this, the leading general immediately shouted, ordering his soldiers to step forward and capture Yang Zhi and his men.
"Ahhhh..."
The moment the two sides clashed, screams of agony erupted from the soldiers. Several were sent flying, knocking down those behind them. Yang Zhi and his men were all skilled martial artists, and these soldiers, though elite troops, were far inferior to them. In an instant, Yang Zhi and his nine companions were like tigers among sheep, relentlessly knocking the soldiers to the ground. To defeat them as quickly as possible, they used every move with deadly ferocity.
Not only that, but the group also charged at Wang Han without missing a single soldier. Their teamwork was quite good.
“They’re all experts. No wonder they dared to rob the birthday convoy.” The leading general frowned as he watched more than a dozen of his elite soldiers fall in just a few breaths. He waved his hand and ordered the more soldiers behind him, “Go!”
"Kill..." Upon receiving the order, twenty or thirty soldiers were left behind to protect the birthday gifts, while the rest immediately rushed forward with spears.
Facing a larger number of soldiers, Yang Zhi and his nine men not only showed no fear, but fought with increasing ferocity.
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