"Damn it! Even if we can defeat it, how many people will die?"
Zhao Lin was furious and picked up the horsewhip to whip him.
"Our men are strong, but not invincible. Do you intend to use the lives of your colleagues as a token of your advancement?"
Duan Yongfeng quickly knelt down and said, "Please calm down, my lord. I didn't mean that."
"snort!"
After whipping Duan Yongfeng a few times, Zhao Lin looked at the other three and asked, "What do you think?"
Tang Bohan said, "Your Excellency, you are considerate of your subordinates. We are deeply grateful. As you said, a frontal attack would cause too much loss. Even if we succeed, it would be meaningless. Why not send someone to find a small path. It would be great if we could get there unnoticed."
"Yeah." Zhao Lin didn't comment and looked at Song Huaian: "What about you?"
Song Huaian bowed and said, "I have never been on the battlefield and have no experience. I have only read some military books before. As you said, although a strong attack can win, the losses will be too great. Our army is here first to train troops and second to capture prisoners. Destroying the enemy is secondary."
Zhao Lin showed a look of satisfaction: "Not bad, you can see my intention. So what do you say we should do?"
Song Huaian said: "In my humble opinion, we should lure the enemy down."
Duan Yongfeng said disdainfully, "That's just a scholar's opinion. The enemy has the advantage of time and place on the mountain, why would they come down?"
Song Huaian said: "Then you will have to sacrifice your reputation."
Zhao Lin smiled. "Yes, that's what I thought. This time, you will be in charge of eliminating the bandits in Niutou Mountain. Let me see what you are capable of."
Song Huaian said, "I obey your command. My plan is to have you show off your reputation, fight with great fanfare, and then pretend to be defeated and flee in embarrassment. It would be even better if you can get injured."
“Bold!”
Duan Yongfeng, Tang Bohan, and Xia Dayu immediately shouted, "What do you want to do?"
Song Huaian said calmly: "Just let the adults pretend to be injured."
Zhao Lin agreed: "Yes."
Song Huaian immediately went to make arrangements.
First, he used the name of the Qingzhou prefect to call the Huayun County magistrate and local officers and soldiers, and then told the bandits on Niutou Mountain that the prefect had brought a thousand people in person and asked them to surrender immediately, otherwise they would be crushed to pieces wherever the heavenly soldiers passed.
"Heavenly King, this is bad. The prefect has arrived with his troops."
A small minion came crawling over to report the news.
"What? The prefect is here in person?"
Niu Dadan hurried to the edge of the cliff and looked down. Sure enough, he saw a handsome young man in an official robe sitting on a horse. Next to him stood a large flag with a big "Zhao" embroidered on it in a flamboyant style.
"Is that the prefect? So young?" Niu Dadan asked, pointing at Zhao Lin.
"Yes, it is said that he is only seventeen years old and this year's top scholar." said an informed subordinate.
Niu Dadan grinned and said, "Great! The prefect is great, but the number one scholar is even better. If we capture him, our Niutou Mountain will become famous. When the heroes around here see me, Old Niu, they will all politely call me the Heavenly King."
There were factional disputes within the country, foreign enemies rampant outside, and various natural disasters. Qingzhou was in dire straits and many people could not survive. There were three heroes who occupied the mountain and became kings near Niutou Mountain. Together with Niu Dadan, they were called the Four Heavenly Kings.
This shows what kind of life the people of Qingzhou live.
"Heavenly King, Zhao Lin brought a thousand soldiers, plus the soldiers in the county, that's more than two thousand. Can we defeat them?" asked a subordinate.
"Bullshit, our Niutou Mountain is easy to defend but difficult to attack. As long as we guard that one road, let alone two thousand people, even twenty thousand people will be useless." Niu Dadan cursed.
"The king is right. War is not about who has more people, but about the right time, place and people." A middle-aged man who looked like a scholar shouted.
"Haha, Mr. Pu is right. Today I will capture Zhao Lin alive and let everyone know the power of Niutou Mountain." Niu Dadan laughed.
Military Advisor Mr. Pu said, "The Heavenly King sent someone to yell and curse. Zhao Lin is young and hot-tempered, so he's definitely not going to be able to handle it. If he dares to come up, we can capture him. If we capture the prefect alive, who in Qingzhou doesn't know the reputation of the Heavenly King Palace? Who would dare not come and pay their respects?"
"Ha ha ha ha……"
Niu Dadan laughed heartily, "Mr. Pu is right. Come, go and tell Zhao Lin that if he can even get one step into the village, I will surrender."
Someone immediately started shouting and cursing.
"What a bastard prefect! He's just a baby. Our king said, come up if you dare, and we'll surrender if you do."
Zhao Lin was furious.
"How dare you insult me, you idiot! Come, attack the mountain. Whoever can catch Niu Dadan will be rewarded handsomely."
Zhao Lin shouted loudly.
The officers and soldiers attacked immediately.
The two sides together had a total of two thousand people, but the mountain roads were rugged and they could not form a formation at all. Instead, many of them were shot and injured by bows and arrows by bandits in the mountains.
Sure enough, in less than half an hour, the local officers and soldiers collapsed and fled in all directions, and then the soldiers of the prefectural yamen were dispersed and collapsed by the local officers and soldiers.
This exposed Zhao Lin.
He stood on his horse under the fluttering flag, shouting angrily, "Stop! Everyone, stop right there! Anyone who dares to run will be killed without mercy."
But no one listened.
The soldiers from the prefectural yamen refused to listen, and the soldiers on the ground refused to listen even more.
Even the magistrate ran over and grabbed Zhao Lin's horse reins, saying, "Sir, hurry up and leave. If you don't leave now, the bandits will come down."
"You're not allowed to leave."
Zhao Lin was furious and said, "I personally led the troops, but I couldn't even capture a bandit. How can I have the nerve to go back? Come back here!"
Hearing what Zhao Lin said, the magistrate sighed and ran away without looking back.
It seemed that Zhao Lin was left behind last.
Then I heard a sound from above.
The village gate opened and a group of bandits rushed down in a disorderly manner.
"Capture Zhao Lin, take down Qingzhou Prefecture, and then we can become high-ranking officials for fun."
The leader, Niu Dadan, shouted loudly, holding two axes in his hands, like Li Kui, the Black Whirlwind.
The magistrate couldn't help but look back.
Zhao Lin's horse was seen spinning in circles, and was so frightened that it ran away without even realizing it.
"What a piece of crap. Besides being a good writer, what's the point of it?"
The magistrate couldn't help but curse.
Niu Dadan was very surprised.
"Haha, you're just a young governor after all, you've never seen a big scene. Come, let your Grandpa Niu teach you what war is...ah!"
Niu Dadan's voice stopped abruptly.
The gangsters behind were all terrified.
The magistrate also widened his eyes in disbelief.
The young magistrate, who should have surrendered, took out a long spear from somewhere. The spear was as fast as a dragon and killed Niu Dadan with one shot.
With a bang, Niu Dadan fell heavily to the ground and fainted.
Then there was a shout from both sides.
Countless officers and soldiers rushed in from both sides, cutting off the bandits' escape route and rushing directly into the stronghold.
“Kill!”
"Eradicate the bandits and safeguard peace."
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