Chapter 49: Protect Your Madam
As soon as he said this, Ruan Qinghuan regretted it and met He An's slightly scrutinizing gaze: "So many people are chasing one person, this person must be very dangerous."
Jiang Ming and Jiang Qi quickly stepped forward, protected the man behind them, and forced the people on horseback to stop.
The heavy rain soaked the towels on their faces, revealing only a pair of fierce eyes. A thin man pointed a knife at Jiang Ming and Jiang Qi and said, "If you don't want to die, stay out of other people's business."
Jiang Ming and Jiang Qi didn't say anything. They raised their hands holding the long swords slightly, and then rushed towards the few people through the rain.
The guards pulled the injured man back to the carriage at the back, where he was examined by the accompanying doctor.
Ruan Qing looked out through the gap in the car curtain, his eyes becoming more solemn.
Although he knew that several of He'an's men were extraordinary, the enemy had more people than him, and he was still worried that he would suffer losses if he continued to fight like this.
He An, however, remained calm: "These people are not their opponents yet."
Ruan Qinghuan glanced at him and said nothing.
This was also the first time she saw Jiang Ming and Jiang Qi's kung fu, which was indeed extraordinary. They quickly defeated the man who had just spoken rudely.
Then the second, the third...
Seeing how skilled they were in martial arts, the other side no longer dared to attack recklessly, and even the few remaining people began to retreat slowly. Jiang Ming and Jiang Qi did not chase them, but only captured the one who spoke with some weight.
After the fight was over, Ruan Qinghuan let out a long sigh and turned around to look at He An.
Jiang Ming and Jiang Qi's kung fu is so powerful, but they are far from being a match for He An. How powerful are they?
We finally arrived at a town before dark. The rain was still falling, but it was getting lighter.
This time, everyone settled down in the inn and went upstairs. Ruan Qinghuan saw Jiang Ming and Jiang Qi bringing people to their room, and he was thoughtful.
The remaining guards were divided into two shifts and set up guard posts inside and outside the post station. As for the two captured men, they were detained in the hall on the first floor and were under special supervision.
Several officials in the Ministry of Revenue were all worried. Qi Yuanchang said worriedly, "Sir, in recent years, bandits have been rampant in Lucheng. If we capture their people, I'm afraid it will bring disaster."
Hean turned around and said nothing.
Ruan Qinghuan frowned. Although Qi Yuanchang was the second prince's man, he might not know about the private soldiers. This was top secret.
The people of Lucheng were living in misery due to successive floods, and the court's repeated disaster relief efforts had little effect. It was indeed possible that some people might take the risk and become bandits. This statement just happened to provide a cover for the second prince's private soldiers.
Qi Yuanchang felt a little awkward being left aside. He winked at several officials behind him, and two more people came forward and said, "Sir, there are many bandits in Lucheng Mountain. We only have less than 500 guards. What if..."
He An: "In your opinion, how should this matter be handled?"
Qi Yuanchang rubbed his hands and said, "Why don't we just let those two go?"
Qi Yuanchang couldn't understand why He An, who was in a hurry to get to Lucheng, would bother with such trivial matters: "These are all internal disputes among the bandits. Let them fight among themselves."
Ruan Qinghuan couldn't stand it any longer: "According to Lord Yiqi, should we still confess our guilt and apologize to these so-called bandits?"
"That's not what I meant, but we have an important mission and should focus on the disaster in Lucheng."
Someone echoed, "Young Madam has been raised in luxury since she was young, and she doesn't understand how treacherous people are. The bandits around Lucheng are ruthless and fearless, and if there is any mistake, I'm afraid we will also be in danger."
Ruan Qinghuan's eyes turned cold. It was because of these inaction of officials that Lucheng had reached its current situation.
The dikes and dams were repeatedly repaired but repeatedly damaged. This is a rainy area, and once a flood occurs, the fertile fields and homes will be destroyed, and there will be no harvest. How will the people survive?
Otherwise, how could there be so many people who were forced into desperation and had to become bandits?
But Ruan Qinghuan didn't want to argue anymore and turned back to her room.
A moment later, He'an pushed the door open and saw her standing by the window listening to the rain with a depressed look on her face.
"Are you trying to lure those people here?"
He An chuckled: "The one who understands me is my wife."
Ruan Qinghuan frowned: "Not only me, they must have guessed it, otherwise, they wouldn't be so anxious to come to you."
"It's good for them to be afraid. Maybe after tonight, they won't have back pain anymore and will just want to get to Lucheng as soon as possible." He then put his arm around Ruan Qinghuan from behind and asked, "Are you afraid, Madam?"
"If I say I'm afraid, will you change your mind?"
"No." He An turned her around and said, "But your husband will order someone to protect you first."
"If I say I'm not afraid at all, I'd be bragging. But there are things that have to be done, and there are risks that have to be borne."
The plot has changed, but the story of the private soldiers is a fact. It would save a lot of trouble if we could control them now, rather than waiting until autumn when they go around looting food and then encircling and suppressing them.
He'an closed the window, turned off the lights, and carried Ruan Qinghuan to the bed.
Today she was particularly obedient. She didn't refuse or lose her temper. In the darkness, nothing could be seen clearly, but it seemed as if the two of them were looking at each other.
The two of them lay on the bed. He An covered her with the quilt and gently held her in his arms: "Go to sleep."
There were sounds of rain outside and the scent of the incense made Ruan Qinghuan, who had wanted to wait with He'an, feel a little sleepy and fell asleep in a short while.
After making sure she was asleep, He An got up from the bed and suddenly saw several men in black in the room.
"Everything arranged?"
"Don't worry, sir. The Crown Prince's secret guards have surrounded the post station and General Ji's men will arrive soon."
"Protect the lady."
"yes."
After saying that, several people seemed to disappear out of thin air and hid in several corners of the room. He An sat down at the table in the dark and poured himself a cup of tea.
This night felt particularly long. I had been waiting for a long time, but it was not even midnight yet.
Listening to the light breathing sounds coming from the bed, He An pulled the corners of his lips. He now felt that his wife was more and more interesting.
Less than a quarter of an hour after midnight, there was finally movement in the courtyard.
The sound of chaotic footsteps came from all directions. He An opened the window a little and looked at the figures in and outside the yard. There were at least five or six hundred people.
It seems that the two people arrested today are of unusual identities.
These people whispered to each other in the courtyard for a while, and then quickly spread out with military gestures. Some climbed the wall, some guarded the gate, and some searched everywhere...
At the same time, all the lights in the inn lit up, scaring the infiltrating bandits.
Seeing that their whereabouts had been revealed, they could not care less. Someone shouted, "Go, save the boss."
The guards hidden in the dark appeared one after another and fought with the bandits. Just when the robbers thought they had an absolute advantage in numbers, a group of men in black suddenly appeared.
These men were armed with machetes and were very agile. Wherever they went, bandits kept falling down.
At this time, the leader guarding the gate of the courtyard realized that something was wrong. The other party had been prepared and they were being tricked.