A burst of cheerful laughter came from the large ship ahead, seemingly celebrating their successful luring of the enemy.
Sha Laoda's eyes turned red with hatred!
He had planned everything meticulously, but he hadn't anticipated encountering a storm in Meishan! The timing of this storm was too bizarre; he simply refused to believe that someone had used it to lure him into a trap!
However, the ships ahead of him escaped the storm, which he absolutely could not tolerate. He wanted to slaughter everyone on those ships!
Boss Sha brought out more than two hundred brothers, but only twenty or thirty were left scattered around. He gathered them on a small boat and slowly approached the large ship.
Just as they approached the large ship to board, they were spotted by the people on board.
"Pirates are coming! Run!"
One chased, the other ran, and they chased each other for most of the hour until it was already broad daylight.
Sha Laoda was consumed by hatred and focused solely on catching up with the large ship ahead, neglecting his surroundings.
By the time he realized he was already in Zongyang County's territory and wanted to regret it, it was too late.
A larger ship lay quietly to the right, crowded with people. Li Minghe's squad of guards had been waiting for a long time.
"Boss Sha, is this all the men you have left? Oh my, Lord Li is indeed a prophet. You've crushed the Hai Sha Gang without firing a single shot. What a great achievement!" Li Minghe said with a smile.
Sha Laoda glared fiercely at Li Minghe, raised his left hand and pressed down hard, causing the small boat to turn around and run away.
"Release the arrows!"
Arrows rained down on the small boats, but the pirates suddenly brought the boats together and unfurled several pieces of black cloth to shield themselves from the arrows.
After a few screams, there was no more movement on the small boat.
"Go take a look!" Li Minghe waved his hand.
As the large ship approached, the black cloth was lifted to reveal that there were only a dozen or so corpses on several small boats, and eight people were still missing.
Boss Sha is not on the ship.
"He's escaped again! Men, notify all prefectures and counties that Boss Sha and eight of his accomplices are on the run. Order all localities to guard the checkpoints and make sure they capture him!"
Three days later.
At the south gate of Guyang County, long queues of people waiting to enter and exit the city formed early in the morning. Some were going into the city to do business, some were going out to visit relatives and friends, some were coming from the countryside to buy goods, and some were peddlers carrying loads on their shoulders and walking through the streets and alleys.
Among the queuing crowd, a peddler was walking in a hurry when he accidentally bumped into a woman with his load on his shoulder.
The woman was about to lash out when she met the peddler's eyes, instinctively pursed her lips, and slowly took two steps back.
The guards at the city gate have been checking pedestrians and large items more strictly these past few days. When they checked those peddlers, they focused on opening their carrying poles to take a look before letting them pass.
Watching this scene from a short distance away, Song Huan whispered to the constable beside him, "Tell the lord that the people have entered the city and to prepare to close the city gates!"
The peddlers reached an intersection, slowed down, and looked around.
Just then, a man walked over from the direction of the city gate, sighing. The leading peddler's eyes darkened slightly, and he pulled the man aside and asked him a question.
"Alas, the city gates are closed again; you can only enter, but not leave!"
The peddler's expression changed drastically. He exchanged glances with the other peddlers, then hurriedly left, abandoning his load.
At the same moment, at the east gate of Guyang County, four butchers pushing a cart full of pork entered the city and hurriedly headed towards South Street.
Half an hour later, the butcher and the peddler met in an alley. The eight of them took out knives from the pig's belly and hid them on their bodies.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, two constables approached him.
The eight men suppressed the murderous intent on their faces, preparing to strike at the opportune moment.
The constables passed by them without making any move.
The group breathed a sigh of relief and were about to leave with their cart when two more constables arrived.
Something's wrong!
"Brothers, kill them and charge out!" Boss Sha roared, raising his knife and charging towards the constables opposite him.
"Here they are! Stop them! Don't let them go out and harm innocent civilians!"
This place is not far from the county government office. Boss Sha's target is the county magistrate. Only by taking the magistrate hostage can they have a chance to survive.
After a fierce struggle, two constables had fallen and several pirates had been injured, while Boss Sha had rushed out of the alley and headed straight for the county government office.
In order to minimize casualties, Fu Qiyuan made a meticulous plan and arrangement. He could neither block the streets and keep people from leaving their homes, nor allow too many people to wander around the streets to avoid unnecessary casualties. Therefore, there are currently only pedestrians walking on the street where the county government is located.
If we can lure Boss Sha into the county government office, the pedestrians on the street will be safe.
Unfortunately, man proposes, God disposes; unexpected things always happen in this world.
When Fu Qiyuan appeared in front of Boss Sha, Boss Sha saw a glimmer of hope in him.
Along with Boss Sha, Jiao's mother also appeared in Fu Qiyuan's line of sight.
Carrying a bamboo basket, she walked into the county government office gate, chatting and laughing with Wang Siniang.
Jiao's mother didn't even glance at Sha Laoda, who was only a few steps away from her.
"Yuan'er...!"
"mother……!"
To Boss Sha, Fu Qiyuan's dilated pupils, and the terror and anxiety gathered within them, were like the most beautiful rainbow in the world, thoroughly pleasing him.
He grinned maliciously and slowly placed the knife against Jiao's mother's neck.
"Let go of my mother!" Fu Qiyuan rushed over, but Fu Shu grabbed him from behind.
"Young master, calm down!"
Jiao's mother stopped in her tracks, feeling the cold, bloody smell on her neck. She watched as Fu Qiyuan's eyes slowly widened, and the color drained from his face.
Wang Siniang's legs went weak, and Song Huan, who rushed over, grabbed her and pulled her away.
The killing in the alley was over; all the pirates except for Boss Sha were dead.
"Hahahaha!" Boss Sha laughed wildly, pointing at Fu Qiyuan. "Trade your dog's life for your mother's, or prepare a boat for me and take me to the sea. I'll let you choose!"
Jiao's mother hesitated, her gaze trembling as she moved from the blade at her neck to Fu Qiyuan's face, and said in a trembling voice, "Yuan'er, don't worry about your mother, don't switch places with him!"
"Don't hurt my mother, and I'll let you go. I'll send someone to prepare a boat for you right away! Men, quickly prepare a boat!"
Sweat beaded on Fu Qiyuan's forehead as he approached Boss Sha step by step, intending to replace Jiao's mother.
"Yuan'er, don't come any closer!" Jiao's mother shouted, and began to struggle violently.
"Mother, don't move! Don't move!" Fu Qiyuan's heart was pounding in his chest.
Because of her overreaction, blood was already seeping from Jiao's neck.
When Fu Qiyuan was less than two steps away from Boss Sha, Boss Sha suddenly slashed at Jiao's mother's neck with the knife in his hand.
"Ah...!" Wang Si Niang screamed and closed her eyes.
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