Shi Haoming immediately cupped his hands and said, "This humble general is willing to follow the Grand Emperor and serve as his vanguard!"
Fan Zehao smiled faintly, "Good!"
With a capable general accompanying him, the burden on his shoulders was lightened once more!
It took half an hour to select the thirteen hundred elite soldiers, each capable of fighting ten. Xie Changming dared not be careless and choose just anyone!
For this excursion of the Grand Emperor, utmost caution and meticulousness were paramount. This esteemed gentleman was not as easily swayed as the current emperor!
When it came to leading troops in battle, this Grand Emperor was quite adept. Even Yu Meng, that young deputy general, inherited her father's prowess. He himself had suffered at the princess's hands before, and she truly was not to be underestimated!
As the troops were being assembled, two carriages made a flamboyant entrance into the military camp.
Upon seeing the conspicuous banners on the carriages, Fan Zehao's eyes narrowed instantly. His fingers clenched into fists, veins bulging on the back of his hands, his knuckles creaking.
His thin lips parted slightly, and he said softly, "I searched high and low, but found nothing; yet here you are, effortlessly appearing. Huangfu Xu, Huangfu Xian, you two have done yourselves proud!"
Before even dismounting from their carriages, Huangfu Xu and Huangfu Xian, each seated in his own carriage, let out a violent sneeze. Rubbing their noses, they both wondered which scoundrel was cursing them. If they knew who it was, they would surely skin them alive!
As they stepped off their carriages, they immediately saw a man with a sinister smile and an amiable demeanor glaring at them.
Huangfu Xian froze on the spot and quickly retracted his foot from the low stool, "Quick, let's go!"
Fan Zehao leaped directly onto a carriage, grabbed Huangfu Xian by the scruff of his neck, and threw him to the ground!
"Ouch, that hurts... Big brother, it hurts!" Huangfu Xian landed on the ground, his backside split in two, crying out in pain.
He attempted to move his hard heart with a pitiful and wronged expression, but alas, Huangfu Xian overestimated his own standing in his heart.
Only his wife and daughter could move his heart of stone, and even his sons rarely succeeded. How much less so Huangfu Xian and Huangfu Xu, who were not his sons!
However, relatively speaking, Huangfu Xu was smarter than Huangfu Xian. Instead of turning tail and running, he cautiously approached and respectfully bowed.
Fan Zehao, preoccupied with his current matters, did not look at them directly and said coldly, "The city of Jinzhou is plagued by horse bandits. As emperor, you must lead by example and take troops to quell this rebellion. Prince Xiaoyao is to assist the emperor; there can be no mistakes. If this battle is lost, you two shall die to atone!"
The supposedly powerful Yun Kingdom, if its emperor could not even handle a minor bandit problem, would be a laughingstock to the entire world, losing face even in outer space. How could it then suppress those restless neighboring countries!
Huangfu Xian, his face a mask of misery, climbed up from the ground and glared back at Prince Xiaoyao. That scoundrel had said the most dangerous place is the safest place!
And now, he had been delivered directly into the Grand Emperor's hands and ordered to lead the troops to suppress the bandits. He had known about these horse bandits since the New Year. Du Liang had submitted several memorials detailing their power, which was why he had stationed Shi Haoming's army here.
Yu Meng followed Shi Haoming. Their master-disciple relationship was very close. If Yu Meng could not defeat these horse bandits, he would have an excuse to write to Fan Zehao, lying that Yu Meng was bullied by the horse bandits. The doting father would then personally come to pacify these horse bandits.
He had merely employed a stratagem, but who would have thought Fan Zehao would directly turn the tables, pushing him out to lead the troops into battle, with Yu Meng and two generals accompanying him!
Being ordered to fight was like using an egg to smash a rock; the odds of victory were nil. How could he possibly smile now, let alone look kindly upon Prince Xiaoyao!
Huangfu Xu shrugged helplessly. He had no idea Fan Zehao was in Jinzhou, let alone that he would coincidentally be at the military camp.
If he had foreseen this, he would have fled far away long ago. How would he dare to approach, let alone now, when the entire world was discussing the emperor's incompetence!
And the mastermind behind all this was none other than himself!
Now that everyone was gathered, he should prepare himself for a beating.
Huangfu Xian and Huangfu Xu, with no other choice, supported each other as they mounted their horses. With imposing steps, they crossed the military camp gate and headed straight for...
Then they remembered they didn't know where to go.
They turned their heads in unison and looked at Fan Zehao.
"Shi He, lead the way!"
Shi He received his master's command and led the way. Near the medicine farm, after merging with the Dragon Guards, they launched a surprise attack on Ma Lao Qi's stronghold.
However, what baffled everyone was that they didn't even fight. Upon seeing so many soldiers arrive, these people immediately knelt and begged for mercy, showing none of the legendary spirit.
Having prepared to be scolded, Huangfu Xian burst into laughter, like a goose. It was wonderful; heaven was good to him!
Fan Zehao rode his horse forward, surveying the surroundings. It was said the horse bandits were skilled in archery, but here, not only were there no horses, but not a single bow was to be seen. This was clearly not the horse bandits!
Upon seeing him, Ma Lao Qi immediately recognized him as the person who had robbed them that morning. He crawled forward on his knees, prostrating himself at Fan Zehao's horse's hooves, and pleaded, "Sir, esteemed sir, I was blind earlier and offended you. All the gold and jewelry are here. I haven't touched a single item. I will return it all now... No, I will contribute all my assets to you. Please spare my life!"
He was not interested in the gold and jewelry; he was interested in the horse bandits. However, this person had deceived him and even claimed to be the leader of the horse bandits. He could endure much, but this was too much.
He drew the saber by his side, and with the blade, he lifted the man's chin. Soon, the sharp blade cut a gash on his jaw, and blood flowed down his neck.
He said coldly, "Ma Lao Qi, I, this king, ask you, where are the horse bandits? If you answer truthfully, I will spare your life. If you do not, you will all die. Think carefully. The crime of deceiving the emperor is punishable by annihilation of the entire clan!"
"I, this king, do not change my name or my surname. Let you die with understanding. I am Fan Zehao!"
This king?
Fan Zehao?
Ma Lao Qi found the name familiar but couldn't recall it for a moment. His subordinates, however, remembered. Their kneeling bodies suddenly went limp.
They muttered, "The King of Zhen, in the inner city, the God of War of Yun Country, the Grand Emperor Fan Zehao!"
At his words, the dozen or so bandits were stunned. It was Ma Lao Qi who recovered faster. If it were anyone else, they wouldn't have the power to annihilate nine generations of a family, but if it were this man before them, then these words were definitely true!
What about righteousness and rules? Ma Lao Qi could only think of his own life and the lives of his family. He immediately grabbed the hem of Fan Zehao's robe and said anxiously, "I know, I know where they are. If I tell you, will the Grand Emperor spare us?"
Fan Zehao pulled his hem from his grasp with disgust and said, "Earn merit through atonement. Your performance will be judged!"
This phrase, "earn merit through atonement," was enough to show his attitude. As for how to perform, Ma Lao Qi didn't understand.
He said, "I will lead the way. The horse bandits are not far from here!"