Chapter 928
Young Master is not doing well here
Chapter 928 Young Master is not doing well here
"Old Three, do it."
"yes, Sir,"
At the entrance of the hunting palace, a dozen people holding short blades, with their faces covered, revealing only pairs of eyes that shone with dim light, ran out from the corner of the wall in the dark like ghosts.
At the front of the team was the strong man known as the third brother, Wang San. He leaned against the wall with his body low, and approached silently. When he saw the soldiers in the palace looking outside, he immediately rushed forward, covered their mouths, and swung his short blade, silencing the guards. A fierce look flashed in his eyes, and he quickly approached the remaining people with his men. In a few breaths, he killed all the guards at the camp gate.
"Everyone, be alert. You guys, pick up the knives and stand at the door pretending to be in trouble. The rest of you, move the body away and send a message to the hall master. Don't make too much noise. If you find out that you failed, don't blame me for being ruthless."
The voice seemed to be squeezed out from between teeth. The brothers in the church behind him nodded and quickly did as they were told. They replaced the people at the camp gate silently.
then,
There was a sound of footsteps coming from outside. Zhou Xiu suppressed his excitement and led the army forward slowly. When they arrived at the camp gate, he did not stop. He just nodded to Liang Xiangzhu, then led his men to sneak in without any sound.
This place is said to be a hunting palace, but it is not very big, about the size of a farmhouse, and it has an open space in the backyard with many tents built. Prince Zhou once said that if there are no tents in the hunting palace, it cannot be called a hunting palace.
"Your Highness, please wait a moment. The last sauce for the venison will be served as soon as it is ready."
After entering the big tent and waiting for the second young master to sit down, the guard Sun Ping followed closely with a smile on his face. After a while, many maids came up with pots of delicious stews. Although the appearance did not look very good, the aroma wafting out was extremely tempting, which also made the second young master Zhou Huaijin look much better. He picked up the chopsticks, picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. The meat was fragrant and melted in his mouth. He praised,
"General Sun, you are very thoughtful. This is top-quality venison, cooked to perfection and very tasty!"
It was rare for the Second Young Master to praise him. General Sun was filled with joy, his eyes narrowed into a slit, his mouth couldn't close, and he looked so flattering that even the leader of the Flying Knife Sect twitched his mouth. He was really a mean person.
Perhaps the meal distracted their attention and the unpleasant atmosphere just now dissipated a lot.
"As long as you like it, I'm glad you think highly of me. Today, I'd like to trouble you to rest here for a while. If you need anything, just tell me and I will definitely prepare it for you."
Sun Ping was also determined to go all out. There was a lot of secret fighting going on in the palace. Not to mention the staff and retainers around the eldest son, even the other sons had many confidants.
My own people have been close to the Second Young Master since childhood. Although the Second Young Master has many retainers around him, he does not have many followers. If I join him, I will be his confidant anyway. In this way, my position as the governor of the palace will be secure. After thinking about it, I finally keep it in my mind. Why can't the Young Master fight for the position of the Crown Prince?
I want to say some flattering words.
Who knows,
Jiang Menzhu's ears moved, his expression alert, just now, he seemed to have heard a scream, and shouted;
"Everyone, be alert. Guardian Sun, go outside and take a look. What's going on?"
"Yes, Master."
Sun Qiwen, the guardian of Feidao Sect, had a cautious look on his face, holding a long sword in his hand. He responded and immediately rushed out of the tent with a kick. He climbed up the wall of the central courtyard with a few light steps, crouched down, and looked around.
Inside the account,
With this loud shout from Lord Jiang, General Sun, who was still trying to fawn on him, was startled. He glared at Lord Jiang with dissatisfaction, thinking that it was him who had just shouted. How could a general become a guardian of the law? He snorted in dissatisfaction and said,
"Second Young Master, don't worry. This place is vast and sparsely populated. Few people come here. I have 600 soldiers under my command who are responsible for the safety of the palace. Ordinary people are not allowed to enter. The warrior just now shouted randomly and frightened me."
The words seemed to be a comfort, but no one paid attention. The disciples of the Feidao Sect in the tent, as well as the personal guards brought by the second young master, all drew out their long swords and broke the blades, and stood guard around the big tent.
The head of the personal guard Ming'an had an even gloomier expression and ordered,
"Quick, tell the guards to assemble and mount their horses, and get the carriage ready, quick!"
After giving the order, he drew out his long sword and used it to protect the second young master.
Zhou Huaijin, who was still sitting there eating venison, was confused. He knew the ability of the leader of the Feidao Sect, so he should be right. There should be movement outside, but he still had some doubts in his heart. Aren't these Taoist sects famous and powerful? Could it be that they were just a few wild ginsengs? They went back on their words and did some petty thefts? What about the health-preserving secrets? At worst, they could just give them up. Why bother?
In doubt,
Perhaps there was some movement in the outer courtyard. The guardian Sun who had just been sent out sent out a secret whistle to alert the people in the tent that the situation outside had changed.
Sect Master Jiang heard it and listened attentively. Sure enough, there was a hint of shouting and killing outside, as if a huge rock was thrown into a calm lake, instantly breaking the tranquility. He turned his head suddenly, and the candlelight flickered, leaving a gloomy and uncertain face on Sect Master Jiang's face. He said sternly;
"Second Master, get up. Let's retreat. There are sounds of fighting in the outer courtyard. There are at least a thousand people involved. Something has happened."
As soon as this word comes out,
Everyone in the tent was shocked, especially Sun Ping, who stared with eyes wide open, not believing at all who was so bold as to come and kill him, and there were so many soldiers around. When he hesitated, with a barely perceptible panic on his face, he asked as if he was hoping for luck;
"My hero, you can't speculate like that. Although this place is not a dangerous place, it is not easy to enter either."
Before he could finish his words of dissatisfaction, the door curtain rang, and the guardian Sun, who had just left, ran back with a look of fear on his face, not daring to breathe.
"Second Master, Sect Master, it's bad. There are bandits from the Taiping Sect coming in from outside. There are at least 3,000 of them. The camp can't hold on any longer. There are also a few good knife fighters inside, they are from the underworld."
The last sentence is to remind you that the Taiping Cult's people are not good people. They are good at using knives. The Feidao Sect is one of them. Although they are called the Feidao Sect, those who are good at using flying knives may not necessarily be good at using flying knives. So who can't tell the good from the bad among those who use the same knives?
"What? People from the Taiping Cult? No way. Am I seeing things? How did these thieves come to this place? Three thousand people? How is that possible?"
If you say that a few hundred people have sneaked here, it's fine. The battle in Daliang City in the south is life and death, so why would they send troops to advance rashly?
"General Sun, quickly organize the troops and guard the gate of the middle courtyard. Then prepare the horses and take the rest of the people to escort the second young master through the back door."
Deputy General Ming ignored him. The most important thing now was the safety of the Second Young Master. If the Second Young Master died, all of them would be buried with him.
As they were talking, the sounds of fighting and killing in the outer courtyard were getting closer and closer. Sun Ping looked grim and replied hesitantly;
"Deputy General Ming, the back door has been blocked by the prince. Only the east and south gates are still there, and they are both connected to the front yard. If you want to leave the camp, you need to fight your way out."
He spoke angrily, his face turned pale instantly, and beads of sweat flowed down his temples.
"What? General Sun, you must not talk nonsense about this matter. Fight your way out. What if you get trapped inside?"
Ming An was furious, and almost couldn't help but draw his knife to chop this man. He couldn't even defend a camp. Zhou Huaijin was a little nervous, but he still suppressed his temper and asked;
"General Sun, how many soldiers are there in the middle and back yards, or how many people are there?"
"My Lord, most of the soldiers in the camp are stationed in the front yard. There are about a hundred soldiers in the middle yard and the back yard. In addition to the grooms, porters, and servants, there are another hundred people, including thirty women who serve as maids."
He was familiar with these things, blurting them out, as if thinking of something, and continued;
"Second Master, there are more than 200 fine horses in the courtyard. Except for the women, everyone can ride a horse."
This additional sentence made Jiang Menzhu and Deputy General Ming's eyes light up. What a good way out.
"Second Master, gather your men immediately and let's charge out. With two hundred horses and cavalry, we can't stop them even if we want to."
"Yes, Second Young Master, I will lead the way for you with my disciples. It will be a sure thing."
Now they were trapped in the camp, and the cavalry could not speed up. They were just fighting like trapped beasts, and they could do nothing to them.
"Okay, remember to prepare more carriages and follow behind as disguise. Those women are also pitiful people, take them with you. Prepare a horse for me, and I will follow behind Master Jiang."
The second son, Zhou Huaijin, did not hesitate. He stood up and took off his white shirt, changed into a soldier's robe and light armor. If you didn't look carefully, you really couldn't tell.
Ming An knew what the Second Young Master was thinking and nodded in agreement.
"Sir, I will be behind you to protect you as you leave."
Seeing that everything was ready, he saw Sun Ping'an still standing there in a daze, and he scolded him;
"General Sun, there is no time,"
"Oh, yes, yes, I will arrange it right away. Hurry up, Ji Wenhai, gather the people and horses, bring out the horses, and prepare the carriage."
The deputy commander of the camp, Ji Wenhai, had already gathered his men at the entrance to the central courtyard and ambushed them. At this time, the hunting palace was in chaos. The Taiping sect members were all wearing black armor and fighting with the defenders in the tents. The long swords in their hands reflected a cold light under the flickering firelight. Some people even shouted,
"Peace has come to the world, and the world is blessed." The voice resounded through the night sky, making the guards' faces even paler. They rushed into battle hastily, but the numerical disadvantage could not be made up. They were defeated step by step and were about to retreat to the tent in the courtyard. When they saw the general running out in a panic, Ji Wenhai immediately stepped forward and shouted;
"General, the bandits are rebels from the Taiping Sect. There are quite a few of them. The brothers in the front yard are still resisting. If we kill them from behind, there is still a chance of survival."
"Oh, my General Ji, we are outnumbered and the Second Young Master is still here. Why should we fight him out? We must protect him and get him away safely. Come quickly and get the horses and prepare the carriage. Those who can get on the horses can get on the horses, and those who can't get on the carriages. It will be too late if we are late."
Sun Ping didn't care about that. He asked others to go to the stable to get the horses and sent someone else to notify the servants. However, Deputy General Ji looked incredulous. Those people outside were all his brothers who he called brothers on weekdays. How could they escape from the battlefield?
In the front yard, there was already a sea of blood. Both sides fought hand-to-hand, leaving no one alive. The sounds of fighting and screaming were intertwined. The Taiping Cult was coming with great force. Today, so many brothers had been killed without knowing why. Zhou Xiu had been holding his breath for a long time.
The palace guards,
Having been kept awake all night by General Sun, he just wanted to take a rest when he hastily went into battle. For a moment his formation was in chaos, and he fought and retreated at the same time, unable to resist.
"General, if we charge out now and cooperate with the Second Young Master's cavalry, we can still suppress them. If we leave, the lives of the five hundred brothers will be over. These people have followed you for many years. How can you bear it?"
"Ji Wenhai, my words are orders. The second young master must get out safely. It's not that I'm cruel. Soldiers have to eat food. This day will come. It's not that I don't have feelings for them. When I go back this time, I will definitely give them three times the compensation. Hurry up, the young master is out."
The cold words made Ji Wenhai and the remaining soldiers in the middle courtyard feel a little unbelievable. After spending so many years together, how could there be no feelings? However, military orders were as firm as a mountain. The second young master had already walked out of the tent and urged them impatiently.
"What are you waiting for? Get on your horses, get into formation and charge out."
"Yes, Second Young Master."
Everyone responded and quickly mounted their horses. Behind the warhorses were three carriages, with Sect Master Jiang leading the way. In the middle was the Second Young Master, who was nervously lying on the horse's back. Ming An and the Feidao Sect's guardians followed him, and finally the people led by General Sun.
"Fight out, head straight to the east gate, don't fight too long,"
A shout,
Everyone rode out at full speed. After all, the Second Young Master was on a tour with elite troops. No one could stop the cavalry. The Taiping sect members who were still fighting in the front yard were immediately scattered by the cavalry. The leader of the Jiang clan held a spear in his hand, and the cold light flashed. Wherever he went, the bandits fell one after another, and the road was opened in an instant.
Zhou Xiu saw this and knew that the real master had come out, and frowned and ordered,
"Put those barricades in the front yard, but leave a way out,"
"Yes, Hall Master,"
Liang Lao Da understood what the hall master meant. He wanted to keep the carriage behind. He quickly called the third brother and put down a barricade. Unfortunately, this action was seen by Jiang Menzhu, who immediately threw a flying knife over. The thieves carrying the barricade fell down. There were also several Taiping Sect leaders who wanted to block the road with their men. They rushed over waving their swords.
"Enemy, please stop being so arrogant. I, the leader of this altar, will come and meet you."
With eyes wide open, he charged forward. Jiang Clan Master snorted coldly, put away his flying knife, dodged the blade sideways, and then "struck Huanglong directly". His spear suddenly thrust forward and hit the altar master in the chest. With a scream, he fell to the ground.
Jiang Daiyun shouted loudly,
"Anyone who stands in my way will die!"
The roar slowed down the surrounding bandits. Taking this opportunity, the cavalry in front broke through the formation and rushed out, and the people behind them followed suit. However, in the chaos, they still relied on the number of people to suppress the people at the back of the convoy.
Seeing the opportunity to eat a bite of meat, the Taiping followers came like a tide, surrounding him in waves.
Sun Ping suddenly felt the pressure increase. He fought left and right with the knife in his hand, panting. He watched the team in front rush out. The grooms and others behind had already lost their composure and were mostly stuck. If they didn't leave now, it would be too late. They could only sacrifice the car to save the driver.
cried out immediately;
"Brothers, don't worry about it, rush out, quickly."
The horse was beaten with a knife, and it immediately roared and rushed out. Ji Wenhai led the troops to follow behind. It was a pity that the women in the carriages, as well as the grooms and others, were left in the camp.
After a while,
Everyone rushed out of the hunting camp and looked at the tent with flames shooting up into the sky. Fear flashed across their faces.
"Second Master, we cannot stay here for long. There are Taiping Cult bandits here, and we don't know how many are lying in ambush outside. We need to go to the capital to report to the prince and the court. We cannot delay any longer."
Ming An looked around vigilantly at this time. The trees were swaying, and he always felt that there was an ambush in the dense forest. Looking back, he saw a carriage coming out, but the rest of the people did not run out. He thought they could not escape. He sighed and urged,
The second son, Zhou Huaijin, was still in shock as he looked at the hunting palace that looked like hell. A trace of resentment flashed in his eyes. He vowed not to be a human being until he had taken revenge.
"Let's go back and get reinforcements. Quick, go."
"drive!"
The sound of horse hooves rang out, and the figures on the official road gradually disappeared.
In the palace,
The defenders had already been killed, leaving only a few carriages in the front yard. The third brother wanted to open them to have a look, but was stopped by Liang Lao Da, who shook his head.
"Old Three, it's over,"
Hearing this, the third brother stopped immediately. After a while, Hall Master Zhou came over with his men. Seeing several carriages parked there and the sound of women sobbing in the carriages, he was very curious about who was inside. He used the edge of a knife to prop open the curtains and suddenly pulled them open. He saw that the carriages were filled with servants. There were more than ten of them in palace costumes, which was very eye-catching.
The surrounding believers cheered and rejoiced.
"Okay, now we need to gather tents, weapons and rations, and fill up the water bags. Each person should take two or three of them. Be quick. The rest of us should start a fire and cook. We should also change into clean uniforms and act like soldiers. Then, we will start a fire here."
"Well, Master, it would be a shame to burn down such a nice place. Why don't you stay here and sleep for a night?"
The incense master was reluctant to leave this place. It would be a pity to lose such a good place. However, he didn't know that a pair of cold eyes suddenly looked over.
"If you want to die, then stay here. If we move into the palace of King Zhongshun, how can he let us go? We can't go back, so we can only live here like bandits. Quick, move some more dry food to the cave. It's enough for us to eat for a year. This is really worthy of being the prince's territory."
Several warehouses were filled with food and bacon. There were not many weapons and armors, but there were a lot of bows and arrows. No crossbows were found, but it was a pity, so they immediately had people pack up and take everything away.
At the moment, Hall Master Zhou was already sitting in the big tent, enjoying the delicacies sent to the Second Young Master with many incense masters and altar masters. Several large pots of braised meat were also ready. Everyone had been starving for a long time, and now seeing the delicious food, they naturally ate with grease dripping from their mouths. There were also a dozen women in palace dresses, crying and lying in the arms of the incense masters, their faces pale with fear.
at this time,
outside the door,
Liang Xiangzhu reported after entering the door;
"Master, the weapons and food have been sent back to the cave. There are about a hundred war horses intercepted in the palace. Should we keep them?"
"Oh, Warhorse, keep the good stuff, it will be of great use tomorrow."
Zhou Xiu nodded, then looked at everyone in the tent, his face straightened, and said;
"Everyone, after eating, burn this place down. Don't stay here. If the palace is still there, the government troops may camp here."
"Well, it is the master, but don't be too anxious, there are still some women who haven't enjoyed it yet."
"Yes, Master, we have it all ready."
There was no vigilance, only foul language. Everyone was dissatisfied, and most were unwilling to accept it. They had just eaten the hot meal.
However, they did not know that Liang Lao Da and his men were unmoved by these words. Zhou Xiu narrowed his eyes, a ruthless look flashed across his face, and he threw a knife. The incense master who spoke first groaned and fell to the ground. There was no sound for a moment, leaving only the scream of the woman in his arms. Then Liang Lao Da stepped forward, raised his knife and the woman fell to the ground. He showed no mercy at all.
The tent suddenly became quiet, and all the incense masters and altar masters had a trace of fear on their faces.
"Everyone, I am not here to discuss, but to inform you that the imperial court's soldiers are not mediocre. Since we have started the war, we should at least find a way out. We should have food and avoid being caught. We must be fast. These war horses are precious. Let's go."
"Yes, Master. What about these women? What a pity."
Some people even tried to persuade him to stay and take him on the journey, but they only received cold words.
"Kill them all!"
(End of this chapter)