Chapter 39: Ruthless
"This is… an iron-cast bow?!"
As the leader of the squad, Wu Tiehu honestly put himself a piece of the iron-laid leather armor and a Hundred-Fold Tempered Steel Blade on his waist. The other one was naturally Zhao Song.
As the leaders, the two men picked a few ones could use bows and arrows, picked the horned hard bow, carried a quiver but looked at Feng Han's hands. It was an iron-cast military bow of fine quality, his complexion changed.
In these times, it was would be considered a good bow if it was able to shoot two hundred steps but this iron-cast bow has a killer range of three hundred steps.
Seeing Wu Ming's complexion, he was stunned again, knowing that something was going wrong.
"Come on!"
Wu Ming waved his hands, and the two family members came out holding the wooden plate and lifted the red silk. Inside was filled with five taels of shiny snow-white silver coins.
"I don't have to say anything… This time, you'll go with me to arrest the robbers! If I say to kill this person, he must be killed! Dead, hurt, I'll give you pensions! This is the family's grace and kindness, everyone receives two silver coins!"
With a big hand wave, Wu Ming handed the silver to everyone.
Two heavy ingots immediately made the Township Militia and DingHong red-eyed, shouting: "Willing to die for Young Master!"
"Good, let's go!"
Wu Ming took Feng Han and the others, setting off immediately, to look at the fields' scenery. Suddenly, he smiled: "Is the Inspection Office's skin very useful? We are preparing to out the thieves out of their business, this is official! What are you afraid of?"
"Young Master is talking!"
Wu Tiehu was laughing and tightened his leather armor.
In these times, the world is in chaos so it is understandable to carry a weapon in the fort but being so open about it, do you want to rebel?
Even the Jia Family's servant for tax collection would only use a stick, which is already a little taboo.
But in the name of the Inspection Office, it was justified.
"The place we're going is Ladle Mountain, don't you know?"
Since it came out, Wu Ming didn't hide it, waved his hand a little, and let Feng Han tell the truth.
"We naturally know this Ladle Mountain, guardian of mountain road from the west, has a group of thugs on it. The leader`s name is Jie Tianfeng!"
Wu Tiehu sneered and said: "It is said that Jie Tianhang has two brushes under his hand, I've heard that he had been in prison, this Lord Tiger wants to play with him!"
"Cough, cough…"
Wu Ming coughed, and the whole group immediately fell silent. These people were his family's tenants and Township Militia and were remunerated with money. These days, he had established some majesty, and as long as he isn't speaking against the government and want to rebel; they can basically be used: "It's true that our family has an enmity with the Zhou Family, and this time, a caravan of his family just so happens to pass under the Ladle Mountain… hehe…"
"On the way to suppress the bandits, accidental injuries are too normal…"
Wu Tiehu was startled, and then he said loudly again: "Maybe…We haven't gone yet, this caravan was robbed by Jie Tianfeng first!"
"That's it!"
Unexpectedly, this person is so knowledgable and enthusiastic. He's eloquent and it's really a talent.
Wu Ming said: "This battle is to arrest the bandits and protect the people in the environment. Not only will you get your share of the spoils but I will also write to the county magistrate and give you credit!"
It was decided, everyone cheered immediately.
Wu Ming and Feng Han looked at each other without a trace and smiled slightly.
This time, Wu Ming did have a murderous intention. If Jie Tianfeng moved, he would be annihilated together. If he did not move, he would directly kill the Zhou family's caravan and smash Jie Tianfeng's mountain stronghold.
As long as the murder has no witness and evidence, it can be said that the Zhou family's caravan has been eliminated by Jie Tianfeng, and the rest of the goods are naturally spoils! There are even merits for suppressing banditry!
As for the caravan's goods? Those were all captured by mountain bandits! How can we just give it up when you say to do so?
Besides, there was a loss during the battle reception, which was too normal.
All in all, this time, he wanted to deal with the Zhou Family fiercely and by the way, transfer all the blame to the bandits. No official account can be done, enough for the Zhou Family to cough blood!
The plan was settled. Wu Ming waved his hand and a bunch of people dispersed immediately, patrolling the village as usual.
In the middle of the night, undercover, a group of people seemed to return but Wu Ming rushed to Ladle Mountain with the elites.
Ladle Mountain is located on the west side of Peaceful Cloud County. The mountain peaks are like a long handle with the main peak being sunken. There is a Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) shaped like a colander, hence its name.
On this mountain, there was a group of thugs lead by Jie Tianfeng.
There are only wrong names but no wrong nicknames. Jie Tianfeng's people are like their names and the two wind ears are quite eye-catchy. At this moment, they are drinking bowls of wine, on the long table in front of them, there are large pieces of jerky, steamed buns, pheasants, and an old wine on the altar dispersed a fragrance.
Don't look at the bandits with jealousy, the actual days are also very bitter. This sumptuous meal cost ten days' worth of food.
"Brother, is there any business coming?"
The people underneath gorged themselves, but the second master was a one-eyed man, with his only eye staring straight at Jie Tianfeng.
"Oh… yes, a minion underneath presented a caravan route map which just happens to be on our plate. The goods are enough for our brothers to have a fat year!"
A cold light flashed in Jie Tianfeng's eyes as he said.
"What else is there? Just do it!" The third master was a black-faced and ruthless man, immediately shouting: "We have so many brothers, what are you afraid of?"
"This time, the idea is a little bit difficult. It is the goods of the Zhou family in the county and its leader is Song Jingang!"
Jie Tianfeng said.
"Zhou Family? Song Jingang?" The second master was a little more composed: "It's not easy to handle, it's just like breaking the sky…"
He deeply knew the influence of these big households which even has connections with several mountain bandits. If he really does it, there would have no place to live.
"The head has lost a big bowl, what are you afraid of?"
The Third Master put two wines on the top and patted his chest arrogantly: "As long as big brother orders, I will immediately go and settle the matter, but I will go hide in the mountains. The army is not afraid of siege!"
"Second and Third brother all makes sense, but one thing was missed. Where did this news come from?"
Jie Tianfeng faintly smiled: "Since I established the Heavenly Wind Stronghold, I haven't been in contact with Great Households. I just didn't want to be a knife. It's too obvious that someone wants to kill with a borrowed knife and would never expect…"
"To tell you the truth, I have already planned everything. I know that there is a dispute between the Great Households of this county, we will closely monitor them and hide behind. Let the two fire first, then, whether being the profiting fisherman or support one party is decent and easy! Even if things cannot be done, you can also withdraw!"
"The big master is wise!"
The second master was full of admiration, thinking that since the other is the boss, he could only be second. It really makes sense.
"Sure enough, a stable sitting on the fishing station!"
A voice suddenly came from the hall's entrance.
Jie Tianfeng took a look and saw a young man in leather armor standing at the hall's entrance, sneering. A group of soldiers poured in and he woke up from the drowsiness of wine: "Who are you?"
"I am naturally one of the two clams in your mouth, but you don't need to know. I only need your head this time!"
Wu Ming was too lazy to talk nonsense, and waved his hand: "Kill them all!"
Xiu Xiu! (Sound of arrows launching)
Upon hearing the order, Zhao Song immediately bent the bow and placed the arrow, the arrows fell like the rain. After two waves, Wu Tiehu roared and rushed to the rest of the survivors, and almost immediately, blood splattered
"Sure enough, they're not able to stand a single blow!"
Seeing this, Wu Ming shook his head.
This time, he did not care, surrounding the mountain, what defenses are there in a bandit den? He and Feng Han are true masters, they solved the whistleblowers in an instant.
A group of people rushed in, and at this time, the bandits were still drinking and having fun. How can they be an opponent?
On one hand, there is the well-trained and well-equipped Township Militia, and on the other hand, is a mob, most of them had no weapons, let alone leather armor, and were ambushed. Naturally, there is nothing to more say about the outcome.
Half an hour later, Zhao Song came back to report with his leather armor stained with blood: "Young Master, 53 bandits, none escaped! The entire mountain stronghold has been cleaned up and we found eight stones in the coarse grain, 237 taels of silver, and some miscellaneous goods. It is not considered but there are some broken copper and iron weapons that can be rebuilt…"
"Haha, Young Master, I've killed Jie Tianfeng and have come to offer a dog's head!"
Feng Han was himself an expert, and after breaking the defenses of the stockade, letting the Township Militia play.
But Wu Tiehu was hearty, with wounds on his body, carrying a deadhead, his two ears were particularly conspicuous, it was Jie Tianfeng.
"This owl grants the first prize, you're first place!"
Wu Ming nodded, but he knew in his heart that although Zhao Song and Wu Tiehu were both talented officers, Zhao Song preferred to command, but Wu Tiehu was a simple brave general.
"How about the casualties?"
When asked about this, Wu Tiehu was dumbfounded, Zhao Song bowed and said, "Fortunately, we have armor protection. Only one person on our side was seriously injured and six others were slightly injured!"
"Very good!"
Whether there is armor or not is completely different in battle. This time, Wu Ming dumped his treasury to arm his men to the teeth, but the effect is quite good.
"With this head, a lot of things can be said clearly…"
After Wu Ming swept the area and prepared to intercept the caravan, he first threw the head first and let his men see blood. The name of the transaction was drip-proof and the Zhou Family could only officially eat this dumb loss!
"This mountain stronghold, if it's renovated, it would be a good base!"
Wu Ming looked at the terrain, especially the mountains behind the cottage, and was very satisfied.
And his ambition has only revealed part of it now!
What is it to intercept a caravan? Even if it can be seamless, the Zhou family officials can't find the slightest flaw, and even swallowing this new. It will just a little harder, as long as the land is still there, the foundation is intact!
But what Wu Ming wants is definitely more than that simple.
Breaking the caravan and destroying the blood transfusion channel to the Zhou family was just the first step!
And then, if the government cannot find any flaws, the Zhou family will bear it? How is this possible?
The Wu family is just a newcomer, and with a slight movement, a mountain stronghold was destroyed. What kind of power does the old Zhou family have?