Chapter 169 - 167: Dragon’s Den, Tiger’s Lair
However, just as they rushed out of the street, they were met head-on by a group of bandit army pursuers.
Zhao Huaiming suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. The bandit army, upon seeing them, closed in quickly like wolves spotting a fleeing flock of sheep.
The Zhao family members panicked. Faced with wolves ahead and a monstrous serpent behind, they had nowhere to escape.
Zhao Huaiming knew he was no match for them, and drawing his blade would only bring disaster to his family behind him. He calmed down, intending to surrender quietly for now, prioritizing the safety of his family above all.
At that moment, another person approached from the street.
"Changming!" Zhao Huaiming could hardly believe his eyes.
He thought Song Changming had left the city long ago, yet unexpectedly, they met again.
"You!" The bandit army member also noticed Song Changming approaching. Just as he was about to speak, Song Changming decapitated him with a swift stroke.
The remaining dozen or so bandit soldiers didn’t escape either; each fell with a single blow.
Even the giant fog beast serpent attempting to slither away was not spared, being sliced into several segments.
Today, Song Changming didn’t even know how many people he had killed. It was the bloodiest day since he took up martial arts!
Even Zhao Huaiming found this side of Song Changming somewhat unfamiliar, overwhelmed by the thick murderous aura surrounding him, leaving him momentarily speechless.
Suddenly recalling something, Zhao Huaiming urgently asked, "Changming, why have you returned? Where are Yu’er and the others?"
"They’ve all been sent out safely. How is the situation in the city now?" Song Changming asked.
Upon hearing that Song Yu and the children hadn’t returned, Zhao Huaiming let out a small sigh of relief and said, "The Governor’s Mansion has fallen, and many officials have been imprisoned, including the governor and the captain!"
Song Changming initially wanted to ask about the Patrol Armor Bureau and Liang Chuan Mountain, but knowing that the Governor’s Mansion had fallen, he realized the Patrol Armor Bureau likely couldn’t hold out either.
Zhao Huaiming, tasked by Zhao Dezhi with protecting his family, was also unaware of the specific situation at the Patrol Armor Bureau.
Song Changming instructed Zhao Huaiming to hide well.
The Zhao family had already been looted once, so the bandit army likely wouldn’t return soon.
Once he handled matters in the city, if necessary, he would take Zhao Huaiming away.
Being out of options and putting his trust in Song Changming, Zhao Huaiming had no choice but to comply.
Afterward, Song Changming rushed to the Patrol Armor Bureau on Houli Street.
The once-imposing Ministry Mansion had become utterly desolate, littered with ruins and walls stained with blood, evidence of a fierce battle.
Entering the premises, he saw many patrol guards’ corpses, yet to be dealt with.
"Who goes there!"
Bandit soldiers and gang members spotted Song Changming and yelled at him.
Song Changming glanced coldly, kicked up scattered blades from the ground, and hurled them.
The long blades turned into streaks of afterimages, piercing through the bandit soldiers and gang members, pinning them alive to the walls.
He then strode inside, leaving no enemy he encountered along the way.
Alone, he slaughtered through the place.
Several high-realm martial artists appeared, seemingly leaders of the bandit army and senior members of the Dinghai Water Gang.
But they quickly fell to Song Changming’s blades.
"I ask you, are there any survivors here?" Song Changming pressed his long blade against the face of one of the leaders, demanding.
"Yes, yes, some officials are still locked inside." The leader broke out in a cold sweat and quickly replied.
"Take me to them." Song Changming didn’t bother with needless talk.
"Yes, yes."
In the prison where the Patrol Armor Bureau usually detained prisoners, Song Changming found Liang Chuan Mountain and others.
The good news was they were still alive; the bad news was their injuries were severe.
Surviving was uncertain, let alone whether they could continue practicing martial arts in the future.
The other patrol captains imprisoned there were no better, each gravely injured, including Zhao Dezhi.
However, some civil servants and junior officials from the Patrol Armor Bureau, although in disarray, weren’t severely injured and considered lucky to escape with their lives.
"Changming!" Liang Chuan Mountain looked at the arriving Song Changming and gave a bitter smile.
Perhaps he regretted not leaving with Song Changming initially.
But it was too late to speak about that now.
"Take good care of your injuries; at least you’re still alive," Song Changming reassured him, then asked the still-mobile officials to carry Liang Chuan Mountain and others to a hidden cellar for hiding.
Next, he went to the Patrol Armor Bureau overseen by Lv Gang and found him equally severely injured. He brought him together with Liang Chuan Mountain, making them brothers in misfortune.
Night fell.
The city remained like a purgatory, with lives lost everywhere, and cries and sounds of slaughter unending.
The people left behind in the two Patrol Armor Bureaus were all killed, and the officials imprisoned in the cells were all released.
This incident quickly drew the attention of the Bandit Army, and the search for Song Changming began in the city.
Governor’s Mansion.
"At present, we need to cooperate with the Great King’s side, swiftly devouring the surrounding counties. Before the army from Nanyang arrives, move all the money, grain, and population from Donglai Prefecture. Move whatever you can!" Jiang Kan, the eldest of the Dongcang Three Dragons, looked at the map spread on the table and spoke first.
The Great King he referred to was, of course, the Second Prince, who orchestrated this event.
According to the initial plan, their attack on Donglai County City was never simply for destruction.
Causing a fire in Gu Wenhui’s backyard, making him apprehensive was just one part.
More importantly, it was to seize Donglai Prefecture’s money, grain, and population to expand their territory.
In times of chaos, as more people fall in battle, the importance of territory population becomes increasingly prominent in the later stages of the chaos.
Even more important than money and grain.
"Also, have your men restrain themselves!" Jiang Kan turned his head and looked at the Leader of Dinghai Water Gang, who was sitting with his legs crossed.
Yao Yizhu glanced at Jiang Kan, saying coolly, "Don’t just say it’s my brothers doing things. Your men haven’t done any less in arson and killing in the city.
We both know it. Why say more? If you want them to risk their lives, they need some incentives."
Jiang Kan’s face turned grim. Of course, he understood this principle, but the gang members of Dinghai Water Gang had acted with even more rampant excess, turning the newly occupied County City into utter chaos.
"At most one day."
"Three days, allow them to plunder for three days. Otherwise, I can’t account to my brothers." Yao Yizhu was not compliant with Jiang Kan’s arrangement.
Nominally, Jiang Kan and he led their respective forces, neither could control the other.
Jiang Kan’s face was unpleasant, and one of the Three Dragons, Evil Dragon Xu Dabao, looked at this Leader of Dinghai Water Gang with increasingly dangerous eyes.
At this moment, a stern voice came from outside.
"One day only. By tomorrow morning, start escorting the people out of the city!"
"Who?!" Yao Yizhu looked displeased, tilting his head to see who it was as he sat.
In came a general clad in Profound Armor.
The general looked at Yao Yizhu, "This General is Xue Boyan. Does my word carry weight?"
Yao Yizhu’s expression changed slightly, putting down his crossed legs, and quickly said, "So it is the renowned General Xue. Of course, it carries weight, it carries weight."
Xue Boyan snorted coldly, saying, "Why aren’t you arranging it quickly? By tomorrow morning, the first group of tallied citizens and all money and grain supplies must depart!"
Three expeditions, coming from the Second Prince, led by the regular army, Xue Boyan naturally was the highest commander of this campaign.
Whether the Dongcang Three Dragons or the Leader of Dinghai Water Gang, they all had to follow his orders and act accordingly.
After all, Xue Boyan represented none other than the Second Prince himself.
"Yes, yes, General, you have come from afar. Why not let us host a banquet for you and the other generals to welcome you..." Yao Yizhu, in a somewhat flattering tone, suggested.
"No need." Xue Boyan waved a big hand, rejecting Yao Yizhu’s useless suggestion.
"Then... I shall take my leave first." Yao Yizhu tugged at the corner of his mouth, still clasping his hands in salute as he said.
After Yao Yizhu left, Xue Boyan stopped Jiang Kan and said indifferently.
"Jianghu scoundrels, short-sighted, nothing more than a ragtag mob. The Great King does not need the allegiance of these wastes. Once their use is exhausted, dispose of them."
"Yes." Jiang Kan nodded.
Unlike the Dinghai Water Gang, the Bandit Army he led had long been secretly supported by the Second Prince.
In essence, they were all the Second Prince’s people, with only Dinghai Water Gang being outsiders.
As they were speaking, suddenly, outside the door, a Personal Guard of Xue Boyan came rushing.
"General, the Leader of Dinghai Water Gang was just slain by someone outside the mansion!"
"Hmm?!" Xue Boyan and Jiang Kan were baffled, exchanging glances.
"Who did it? What about the guards outside?"
"It is said to be a very young swordsman from Jianghu! He killed with one strike, and the guards couldn’t even react..." the Personal Guard reported truthfully.
Jiang Kan was silent for a moment, Xue Boyan’s brows furrowed, only feeling a headache.
Indeed, he had thoughts of discarding Yao Yizhu after his usefulness had been exhausted, but now the Dinghai Water Gang still had value to be utilized. The mill had not yet been completed, but the donkey was already gone...