13: Go into the mountains to kill barbarians

The five-hundred-man contingent snaked along. Lu Xuan, needing to lead the way, rode ahead alone, side-by-side with the vanguard officer.

Coincidentally, that person was Zhao Hu.

All five hundred men were lightly equipped. After they set off, two thousand County Soldiers followed closely behind, and after the County Soldiers, there were two Mountain Patrol Guard detachments, totaling over a thousand men, to prevent a counterattack and handle the aftermath.

“Young Lu, where are we going?”

Zhao Hu wore a black helmet and black armor, revealing only his eyes.

“Lord Zhao, since Lord Wang didn't say, it wouldn't be appropriate for this humble commoner to overstep.”

“Hmph, if you want to say it, I don't want to hear it!”

“Follow up from behind.”

After speaking, he turned back to urge the infantry behind him.

Fortunately, Xiaonan Village was only a few tens of li from Pingze County, and these people, more or less, had some martial arts foundation. Although not top-tier, they were still incomparable to ordinary people.

When they were five li from their destination, Wang Yuanhua ordered a fifteen-minute rest.

“Young Lu, it's not far from where you found them, is it?”

“My lord, they are in the mountain forest behind Xiaonan Village. Over three hundred people, they can't hide there at all!”

“Good!”

“Zhao Hu, take ten men and scout ahead. These people chose to act at dusk, probably fearing someone would report them, so they could escape under the cover of night. They likely didn't expect to be discovered in advance.”

Indeed, with the mountains sealed by heavy snow, almost no one would go to that place. But who knew Lu Xuan had a cheat?

Wang Yuanhua briefly explained the situation to Zhao Hu.

“See if there are any hidden sentries.”

“Yes!”

...After the group reached the foot of the mountain, they met Zhao Hu.

“My lord, there are indeed many Barbarians and mountain dwellers. They are all disorganized stragglers, without even a guard, all holed up in the gully sleeping.”

Zhao Hu was somewhat excited. After all, these were great merits. The court's attitude towards Barbarians goes without saying; as long as they dared to leave the mountains, they would be killed. Towards the mountain dwellers, these vagrants who defied imperial rule and mingled with Barbarians, there was no good attitude either. While not killed on sight, they would be arrested for forced labor.

“Good, Young Lu, this is no longer your concern. Ride back yourself. Come find me tomorrow afternoon.”

Wang Yuanhua did not keep Lu Xuan but arranged for him to return.

Lu Xuan showed joy, looking grateful.

“Many thanks, Lord Wang. This commoner will return to the county town now. The horse will be sent to the county yamen tomorrow.”

“Go!”

After Lu Xuan left, Wang Yuanhua's expression turned cold.

“Pass the word, everyone prepare. Orderly, inform the main army behind us of the situation here. We're going in first.”

“Yes!”

...Lu Xuan no longer inquired about the subsequent events. He had done all he could. As for the final fate of those Barbarians and mountain dwellers, he couldn't control it. As long as his family was safe and sound, that was enough. When poor, one should cultivate oneself... Bang, bang, bang.

A knocking sound came from the door.

Su Jing, sitting by the bed, suddenly woke up. Seeing her children sleeping peacefully on the bed, she felt relieved.

Then came a few more knocks.

“Who is it?”

She didn't open the door immediately but asked aloud.

“It's me, wife.”

Lu Xuan was very satisfied with Su Jing's vigilance, it was not in vain that he had taught her for so long.

“Oh!”

A cry of surprise came from the room, and the door was immediately opened.

“Husband, are you alright?”

She then hugged him.

Normally, even if she were bolder, she wouldn't dare to be so affectionate outside the home. But this time, she had been anxious for too long and couldn't even imagine a bad outcome.

“Let's go inside first, or someone might see us in a moment.”

Hearing this, Su Jing's little ears immediately turned red, and she quickly pulled Lu Xuan inside, closing the door.

“Is the matter finished?”

“Yes, mostly finished!”

“It's good that you're safe, it's good that you're safe!”

“Hahaha, you still don't trust your husband's abilities?”

“While I trust your abilities, I also worry about you.”

Su Jing said softly.

Lu Xuan's joy was also diluted by her loving words. He simply sat on the stool, holding Su Jing.

“I won't let my wife worry again.”

“Mhm.”

After speaking, Su Jing soon fell asleep.

Lu Xuan put Lu Jingan and Lu Jingyan on the small bed and placed Su Jing on the large bed.

Lu Jingming and Lu Jingyao were placed further inside. The two little ones were well-fed by Su Jing and slept after eating... The snow fell heavier and heavier, turning into goose-feather snow by evening. Beyond ten meters, one couldn't distinguish between people or animals.

“What heavy snow, I wonder how many people will freeze to death this year.”

Lu Xuan sat by the window.

“Husband, it's good to have you!”

Su Jing also spoke with emotion.

Such heavy snow, not to mention previous years, had not been seen even in the past ten years.

“Tomorrow I still need to go to the yamen to receive my reward. After I get the reward and buy some things, I'll be home by evening, how does that sound?”

“I'll listen to my husband.”

...The wind and snow, mixed with the sounds of battle, echoed through the sky.

The able-bodied men from the surrounding villages, armed with their farm tools, helped on the periphery. It wasn't really helping, just preventing any stragglers from making a desperate move. The village elders organized some people for defense.

Gradually, the wind and snow grew heavier, and the sounds of battle grew fainter.

Blood stained the snowy ground, and corpses lay strewn across the entire back mountain.

Zhao Hu, his face covered in blood, walked excitedly to Wang Yuanhua and whispered.

“My lord, except for a few mountain dwellers who escaped, everyone else was killed. Among them was one Innate master and three First-Rate masters.”

“Innate master?”

Wang Yuanhua looked at Zhao Hu.

He hadn't encountered a Innate master, so it was clear that others had.

“It was the Commander from the County Soldiers who dealt with it. He got the advantage for nothing.”

Thinking of this, Zhao Hu spat.

“Don't worry, we'll get our share in this no matter what.”

“However, my subordinate heard that the Innate master was a previously wanted criminal who had fled into the mountains, and that the arrest warrant came from the Prefectural City, seemingly involving a Prince. The County Magistrate took the body.”

Wang Yuanhua's eyes darted around.

“Let's stop talking about this. If the County Magistrate doesn't speak of it, no one else is to mention it.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Oh, by the way, Big Brother, we've made a great contribution this time. You'll have to treat the brothers to a good time at Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, won't you?”

“Get lost, get lost! Drunken Fragrance Pavilion? Do you even know how to enjoy yourself there? That's a place for scholars and literati.”

“You can just go to Yihong Courtyard.”

After speaking, he kicked Zhao Hu's backside.

“Go cut off their ears, don't let the County Soldiers take them all.”

“They wouldn't dare! We lost over fifty brothers this time. If anyone dares to steal our credit, I'll fight them to the death!”

However, Zhao Hu immediately went to rally his brothers to collect military merits.

When the news reached the county yamen, the entire Pingze County erupted. After all, a barbarian raid of over three hundred people was a relatively large scale in the past decade.

Zhao family.

Smash!

A porcelain bowl was smashed to the ground.

“Investigate for me! What right does that old man Wang Yuanhua have?”

“I want to see who has the guts to go against my Zhao family, knowing that we are competing with the Wang family, and still giving the information to the Wang family.”