It was good to have someone leading the way, and Fan Zehao said no more, only giving a gentle warning: "Don't play any tricks, otherwise I'll send your entire family to accompany you!"
Ma Lao Qi nodded frantically, nearly wetting his pants from fear. How could he dare to deceive the Grand Emperor!
He had been a bandit his whole life, but of all people to kidnap, he had to kidnap the Grand Emperor. Wasn't that like asking Yama for a friendly chat?
How could he be so unlucky? He had traveled all this way and thought about how to behave, but the more he thought, the more he seemed to understand Fan Zehao's intentions!
To behave meant to eagerly capture the leader of the horse bandits. If he succeeded, he might be spared, but if he failed, he would die, and his wife and children would not be punished!
At this, his spirit faltered. But thinking of his descendants, as a man, a father, and a son, this was the only thing he could do for his family!
Once he understood, he resolutely straightened his chest and strode forward without hesitation!
The horse bandits were a group that had been mythologized by all sorts of people!
The government and those within the government had connections, and bandits and bandits also had connections. They each had their territories and did not interfere with each other; this was their self-formed rule!
Bandits generally lived in the mountains, fleeing into the deep mountains when trouble arose. With such vast forests, it was indeed difficult to find them if one truly wanted to.
But for the horse bandits to be able to roam so recklessly in the mountains, it was probably...
Filled with questions, Fan Zehao followed behind Ma Lao Qi, constantly reminding his men to be careful lest he play any tricks!
Huangfu Xian, while the soldiers were marching and being watched by those guards, rode his horse to Fan Zehao's side. He first let out a silly chuckle, then spoke: "Brother, my body is injured, and it's unlikely I'll be able to have any descendants in this lifetime. I've already issued an edict for the throne, and have returned it to you. The ministers in court have all agreed."
Before Fan Zehao could lash out, he quickly delivered another piece of news: "Oh, and there's one more thing I need to tell you. Those barbarian tribes have a tendency to expand eastward. Last month, they stationed fifty thousand troops at the border. Every single one of them is an elite, strong and well-equipped. Their arrival is not a good sign!"
Before his words had even finished, he spurred his horse forward, afraid that if he were any slower, he would be hit by Fan Zehao's murderous fist!
The veins on Fan Zehao's forehead were about to burst. If his eyes could kill, Huangfu Xian would be a hedgehog at this moment!
Such a major issue concerning the barbarian tribes, and he only mentioned it twenty days later. It was as if he wouldn't excrete anything until it was directly at his anus!
Now, he could better understand Huangfu Jin Tao's worries. Prince Huangfu Yi Fan, while appearing harmless on the surface, was actually suspicious. This wasn't a major flaw, but the key was that he was petty and narrow-minded. His eventual death was very humiliating.
He was schemed against by his own people. Truly a grand life, and a pathetic death!
Fan Zehao looked up and sighed. Helpless, he felt that in this lifetime, he was truly at the mercy of Huangfu Jin Tao!
He raised his arm and waved behind him. Shi He rode his horse forward: "My Lord!"
"You and Feng Xiao return to the inner city and gather as much information on the barbarian tribes as possible with the Special Envoy!"
Fan Zehao's sudden command shocked Shi He and Feng Xiao. He looked at the soldiers marching ahead and frowned slightly: "My Lord, if I and Feng Xiao and the Special Envoy withdraw, then your safety..."
"It's fine. Hurry and prepare. When I return to the inner city, I want to see all the information on the barbarian tribes!"
His life and the lives of the vast populace were nothing compared to the stakes at hand.
Shi He nodded, pulled on the reins, turned his horse, and galloped in the opposite direction. Generals Shi Hao Ming and Xie Chang Ming watched, completely bewildered, not understanding why the Grand Emperor's personal guard was leaving him.
They also began to discuss quietly behind his back, all expressing that this situation was truly rare!
Jin Zhou City, Yue Lai Inn!
Zhao Jia Qi and Fan Yao were chatting with Ying Xiong, who had just returned, when they learned that the horse bandits' stronghold was not on any mountain but was disguised as farmers living in the countryside.
In one village, every household had horses. When they weren't out robbing, they would work the fields. When they went out to rob, they would ride out on horseback!
Since the entire village consisted of horse bandits and their families, and the nearby villages were quite far apart, their collective horseback excursions did not attract the attention of people from other villages!
Therefore, they had been safe until now. The most secure aspect was that when ordinary people saw masked figures on horseback, they would all dodge and hide. They knew which direction these people came from, but not where they were going!
As for where the horse bandits specifically appeared from, these people could not say. Every time the government came to suppress them, they would be intercepted halfway, and the soldiers, not even knowing their stronghold, would be driven back!
Zhao Jia Qi listened to Ying Xiong's account and deeply admired the leader of the horse bandits: "This person is meticulous and bold, actually disguising themselves as civilians, hidden in plain sight, using their families as cover. Truly ingenious!"
"At crucial moments, they can unite their scattered forces, act swiftly, and obey orders. Such a team is truly wasted as bandits!"
Ying Xiong smiled, hearing her admiration for talent, and chuckled: "Such a team is not easily subdued. They do not fear military force, and facing death is like an everyday affair for them. It would be difficult to make such a team serve the court!"
Zhao Jia Qi turned to look at the speaking Ying Xiong and stared at him for a while before slowly asking: "Young Master Ying has no ties and thus no weaknesses. Naturally, others have no means to threaten him!"
Who could become a weakness for Ying Xiong, a person who feared no death and had no concerns in his heart?
But the horse bandit group was different. Their families were their concerns. Even if they couldn't be made into his people, they absolutely could not be allowed to become pawns in someone else's hands to deal with the court!
Ying Xiong grasped the meaning of her words and gained a new understanding of her. A woman whose methods were in no way inferior to a man!
The sound of galloping horses stopped urgently at the inn's entrance!
Zhao Jia Qi and Ying Xiong, sitting by the window, saw it clearly. Seeing Shi He dismount and rush towards the inn, his demeanor hurried and his face grave, her heart trembled slightly!
Fan Yao pointed at the person outside the window and tugged at his mother's sleeve: "It's Uncle Shi He!"
"Uncle Shi He, we are here!"
Shi He entered the inn and heard the eldest young master calling him. He turned and saw the mistress and young master were both there, so he stepped forward to explain the situation.
Zhao Jia Qi had some understanding of the barbarian tribes.
"You go with Feng Xiao and the Special Envoy. I have secret guards here, so you don't need to worry about my safety!"
Shi He looked up at Ying Xiong, saw him lowering his head to drink tea, and then saw the mistress nod silently at him. Shi He then cupped his hands, bowed his head, and said: "Yes, your subordinate will inform the two of them and leave immediately!"
As he was leaving, Shi He remembered the matter of the eldest young lady and a faint smile appeared on his face. Although very faint, it was not difficult to see that he was in a very good mood at this moment!
"Madam, the eldest young lady has returned. She went with the Master to suppress the bandits. I estimate the Master and the eldest young lady will return by evening."
Eldest young lady? Yu Meng!
Only those who had taught Yu Meng martial arts would call her Eldest Young Lady. Most people would call her Princess!