In a clearing in the woods, Su Wan and the giant eagle opposite her stared at each other with wide eyes.
“I know you’re hungry,” Su Wan said helplessly, looking up at the two ropes hanging from the giant eagle’s beak. “Can’t you wait until I untie the ropes before you eat?”
She finally managed to lead the two pigs into the woods, but before she could even untie the ropes, a giant eagle swooped down from the sky and swallowed both pigs whole, one by one.
The result is what it is now: the pig swallowed it, but the two ropes are left outside.
Two ropes were pulled out of its throat, dangling from its beak, yet the giant eagle didn't seem to feel any discomfort. Su Wan grabbed the ends of the ropes and tried to pull them outwards, but couldn't budge them at all. It felt like if a plank were tied to them, they could be used as a swing.
She had a sudden inspiration. She took a pair of scissors from the apartment, cut off one of the ropes, and tied it together with the other rope in a knot. This left more than four meters of rope sticking out of the eagle's beak.
She gripped the rope and pulled hard, but fearing it wasn't strong enough, she simply grabbed the rope, lifted her feet off the ground, and swung herself back and forth twice.
The giant eagle remained as steady as a mountain, not even tilting its head. It merely glanced down at her with its eyes, as if to say, "Master, how old are you? Swinging around like a child here. Don't pull out the pig I just ate!"
Su Wan landed on the ground with a smile and said, "That's all."
The giant eagle makes little noise when soaring in the air, but its flapping wings upon landing inevitably create a strong wind. With this rope, she can keep the giant eagle suspended in the air, and then she can land by holding onto the rope without attracting the attention of those around her.
She mounted the giant eagle and said, "Listen carefully, this meal isn't for nothing. Bai Zhiyi is locked up in the military camp. If things get bad, I'll need your help to fight. Let's fly up and take a look from the air first."
The giant eagle spread its wings and flew out of the woods, soon reaching the airspace above the military camp. Su Wan looked down from the eagle's back.
The military camp below was extremely rudimentary, with no defensive fences whatsoever. In the very center of the camp stood an abandoned old house, seemingly a villa built by some wealthy man who had nothing better to do in Zhangjia Village, which was later abandoned.
Entering through the main gate, the old house is divided into front and back courtyards. The front courtyard has two rows of wing rooms on the east and west sides, while the back courtyard has three tiled houses in a row. The central tiled house is lit up, and several servants are going in and out. Those going in are carrying wine and dishes, while those coming out are carrying empty plates. Laughter and voices can be heard from inside from time to time.
Su Wan guessed that Xie Maoliang and the county magistrate were drinking inside, so she wasn't in a hurry to go down and continued to observe the surroundings.
The courtyard was surrounded by rows of cowhide tents, each emitting light; there were probably over a hundred of them. Outside the tents, bonfires burned in the open space, meat roasted over them, and groups of soldiers drank and made a ruckus around them, all quite drunk. Chicken and duck bones and broken wine bowls were scattered everywhere on the ground.
After surveying the entire camp, there were probably over a thousand soldiers. These soldiers had followed Xie Maoliang all the way here, and they were undoubtedly Xie Maoliang's trusted confidants. If a fight broke out, these soldiers would be a huge problem.
She didn't know the giant eagle's fighting strength, nor how many it could fight. Especially since this eagle was quite old, practically a venerable old man. To be on the safe side, it would be best to probe its strength first.
She had the giant eagle fly to the main house in the backyard of the old house, where it hovered in the air. She then grabbed a rope and slid down to the roof, letting the giant eagle fly to a higher place to wait.
As she lifted the roof tiles, the light, voices, and pungent smell of alcohol rushed out, almost making her sneeze. She quickly covered her mouth and nose, held her breath, and peered inside.
Xie Maoliang was sitting in the main seat at the banquet, talking to the person sitting to his left.
"Haha, Lord Sun, you jest. I merely rid the people of a scourge; I have no great merit to speak of."
When Su Wan saw Xie Maoliang, she remembered that it was he who had injured Wei Jingzhuo, and she wanted nothing more than to jump down and tear him apart. But when she saw Xie Maoliang in full armor, with a sword hanging on his left waist and a defensive pistol on his right, she had to calm down.
Unexpectedly, Xie Maoliang is quite cautious; he never removes his armor while eating or drinking, and he never leaves his sword and spear behind.
The defensive guns are no joke; even Jiang Yan, a White Walker, couldn't withstand them. It's best to hold back for now.
Sitting to Xie Maoliang's left was a fat, middle-aged man with an oily face, twirling the rat-like whiskers on his lips.
"General Xie is too modest. Bai Zhiyi assassinated the late Emperor and Consort Li and their son. Later, she breached the Gui River estuary, flooded our Jin army, and assassinated the General and his wife. Her crimes are numerous and too many to count. In my entire history of Jin, I estimate that this woman is the only one whose crimes can be described as 'heinous'."
Xie Maoliang said, "Fortunately, Heaven has eyes and allowed me to capture this rebellious and wicked woman."
Su Wan was furious. Xie Maoliang had actually shifted all the blame onto Bai Zhiyi, clearing himself of all charges and becoming a great hero who had rid the people of a scourge.
There's nothing she can do now, so she can only watch patiently.
"I'd like to offer another toast to General Xie," Magistrate Sun said, picking up his wine cup. "When General Xie arrives in the capital, please put in a good word for me."
Xie Maoliang said, "Lord Sun, you are too kind. We are old classmates and good friends. The first thing I did after we landed was to come and find you, Lord Sun. Thanks to you for providing my brothers with tents and bedding, I will definitely do my best to help you when I meet His Majesty in the capital."
Magistrate Sun smiled and said, "General Xie, I dare to speak frankly. Now that the Grand General is dead, will His Majesty issue an edict appointing you to replace him?"
Xie Maoliang was drinking with his head tilted back when he heard this and nodded, saying, "Who knows, who knows... hahaha."
"If that's the case, then General Xie, you'll rise to the highest ranks of the court and become a great minister."
"Thank you for your kind words, hahaha, let's drink."
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