Chapter 32: The Death of Yiyangwu (2)

  The night wind is cool and comes straight on, though gentle, it turns into a sharp stab.

  The horse's speed wasn't particularly fast, but Cao Peng lifted the reins a bit higher, feeling an indescribable excitement in his heart. Being plotted against could make one's blood boil, right? The answer was clear... Cao Peng didn't know the reason either, he just felt that this step forward would officially integrate him into this era.

  Gripping the dagger under his ribs, a real man should be ready to kill!

  "We're here!"

  Deng Ji reined in his horse and turned around, jumping off from the back of the horse.

  Wang Mai and Cao Peng stopped one after another, looked up and saw that in the night, the outline of Jiuyang City was faintly visible.

  Along the road to Jiuniu City, dozens of carriages and horses were parked, as well as more than thirty people. Judging from their attire, they should be prisoners from Jiyang. Each carriage had a driver on either side, while the thirty or so prisoners stood beside the horse-drawn vehicles, each with a poor complexion and lacking energy.

  "Ah Fu!"

  "Huh?"

  "Look over there."

  Following the direction of Wang's pointing finger, Cao Peng saw several prisoners huddled behind the cart to avoid the cold wind.

  "What's wrong?"

  "Isn't that guy Ma Yu?"

  There were lanterns hung on the carriage, but the light was not very good.

  However, upon closer inspection, some outlines can still be made out.

  Cao Peng didn't really remember Ma Yu's appearance. On the day when Ma Yu came to make trouble, Cao Peng was still in the county town talking to Kuai Zheng. By the time he returned, Ma Yu and others had already been caught, so Cao Peng didn't pay much attention to him either. If Wang Mai hadn't recognized him, he really wouldn't have known that Ma Yu was among them.

  "Hello, old fellow! How have you been?"

  Cao Peng jumped down from his horse and walked up to Deng Ji, bowing his hands in greeting.

  The person in charge of handing over to Deng Ji was precisely Qu Zheng's old steward. Seeing Cao Peng's attire, the old steward also hesitated slightly.

  "Lord Cao, what is this..."

  Hehe, in response to Old Master's words, I'm preparing to head to Jiuniu City with my sister's husband.

  "You also know that my brother-in-law is a honest man, my sister is afraid he will be taken advantage of in the army camp, so she let us two follow him. I wonder if you can do me a favor and add our names to the list? I heard that those who are summoned can bring followers with them."

  "What's so difficult about this?"

  The old steward smiled and immediately ordered someone to bring over the name list, on which he added Cao Peng's and Wang Mai's names.

  "Lord Cao wants to see the strange, it's not that our county magistrate doesn't understand human feelings, but it's really an imperial order that can't be disobeyed. You also know that Huang Bing and Cao Shi have the tiger symbol of the state governor, all local governments must cooperate fully. County lieutenants and below officials can be directly summoned... This is why Huang Bing and Cao Shi's orders are so sudden, without any warning at all. However, our county magistrate said that Deng Zuo Shi's recruitment this time might also be a good thing."

  He has the talent, but lacks the opportunity.

  Even in this small and insignificant county of Jiuyang, nothing great can be achieved. Let's go to the Nine Ladies' City for a trip, who knows, maybe we'll make some contributions in the future."

  Kuai Zheng also didn't know what was going on!

  This further proved Cao Peng's speculation in his heart. Huang She summoned Deng Ji, fearing that Xiang Zhuang would dance with a sword, intending to harm the Marquis of Pei!

  "It's all right for a man to serve his country, whether it's humiliating or not. But you, old fellow, have gone too far... What about these carriages and horses, and what about these prisoners?"

  "What's loaded in the carriages is grain, hay and heavy equipment." The old steward explained with a smile: "This time, Jiunü City gathered troops and horses, and the grain, hay and heavy equipment needed were undertaken by both Jiyang County and Yuyang County. Two days ago, Huang Bingcao Shi still sent someone to say that they lacked some hard labor on their side."

  So thirty-seven people were urgently transferred from prison and sentenced to serve in the Nine Girls' Castle.

  It just so happens that Deng Zuo Shi has been summoned to go, and he will be in charge of escorting them. When they arrive at Jiuniu City, someone will take custody of these bandit prisoners, young master can rest assured."

  "So it was!"

  Cao Pengyi suddenly looked enlightened and glanced at the prisoners scattered beside the baggage carts.

  Deng Ji apparently did not notice the prisoners' situation, holding a list, checking the grain and luggage on the carriage.

  Cao Peng's expression changed and he said with a smile: "Old man, I have an impolite request, I hope you can help me."

  "Oh? Please speak, young master."

  "You see this cart is heavily loaded, apart from the carter, there are no other people escorting it."

  Three young men were in charge of escorting the prisoners and taking care of the vehicles. If they were careless, they would be held accountable when they arrived at the barracks."

  "This is indeed troublesome. Our Juyang is different from other places, since Liu Jingzhou took over, Juyang has not stationed troops and horses. Other places have local braves to use, but our Juyang is hard to find people. Moreover, at the end of the year, it's really hard to find anyone."

  "I have a small idea, take some sturdy ropes, tie both ends to two horse-drawn carriages, then loop the rope into circles, one circle for each person. This way, thirty-seven people will be fixed between the two vehicles. In this way, prisoners are connected by ropes, if someone wants to escape, they will inevitably be pulled back by others. Even if all thirty-seven people run away at the same time, they will still be dragged down by the horse-drawn carriages."

  The old steward's eyes lit up and he looked at Cao Peng with a hint of admiration.

  "The young master is indeed brilliant... I'll have someone in my household take care of it."

  The old steward immediately gave orders for people to go and bind all the prisoners.

  Deng Ji slowly walked up to Cao Peng and said in a low voice, "Ah Fu, is it really necessary? We're all from the same village, if things go this far, it'll be serious."

  "Brother-in-law, at this time you absolutely cannot have a compassionate heart. You also saw that Ma Yu and his gang are inside... If they make trouble on the road or one or two of them escape, when we arrive at Jiuniu City, we will definitely be punished. Think about our own situation, sympathizing with them is just adding trouble for us. Locking them up like this, if anyone dares to cause trouble, I wouldn't mind taking their heads."

  Cao Peng's last words were very loud.

  Ma Yu obviously also heard it and couldn't help but shiver, obediently letting the bailiffs tie him up with ropes.

  Deng Ji tried to persuade him, but thinking again, what Cao Peng said wasn't unreasonable.

  Escorting prisoners is actually quite troublesome. If one or two people run away on the road and reach Jiuniu City, they will definitely be punished.

  This kind of behavior has always been about the issue at hand, not about the person involved.

  As long as there is a headcount, it can be counted...

  Forget it, a friend in need is a friend indeed, but a poor friend is no friend at all. Ah Fu was right, I can barely take care of myself now, how can I possibly care for others?

  At this point, Deng Jie felt that Cao Peng was more decisive than himself.

  The roll-call of prisoners is completed, and Deng Ji signs his name on the roster and inventory, which is considered as formal receipt.

  Cao Peng rode his horse, deliberately passing by the thirty-seven prisoners, drawing his sword from its scabbard, its cold gleam making the previously rowdy prisoners suddenly become much more subdued.

  "Thank you, sir! We'll take our leave now!"

  "Take care, young masters!"

  The old steward waved goodbye with his hand, and Deng Jia bid farewell to the three of them.

  Cao Peng suddenly turned his horse's head, cupped one hand in the other and bowed, "Old sir, today is New Year's Eve, I'm here to pay my respects."

  "Ah... Congratulations, congratulations!"

  The old steward was taken aback for a moment, then hurriedly returned the courtesy with a bow.

  In her heart, she had an increasingly strong good impression of Cao Peng.

  This young master is indeed polite, worthy of being a disciple of Lu Men...

  ——————————————————————

  The sound of carriage wheels, accompanied by the chaotic sound of hooves and footsteps, echoed in the night sky.

  Deng Ji urged the horse to keep pace with the first carriage, while Cao Peng and Wang Mai brought up the rear, occasionally glancing at the group of prisoners tied between the two carriages with ropes. The old steward used riverboat cables, about as thick as a baby's arm. One person per loop, it didn't hinder progress, nor could they easily break free. Thirty-seven prisoners stumbled along, being pulled forward by the horse carriage, Wang Mai holding an iron-tipped long spear, occasionally galloping past them from the side. Even Ma Yu had to be careful, closely following the group.

  Wang Mai is a hardworking man who has been through hardships.

  Cao Peng

  Ma Yu had never directly confronted him, but vaguely felt that Cao Peng was probably more ruthless than Wang Mai.

  Form is not up to one's own discretion. Even if he was once rampant in the county of Jingyang, at this time, he must be honest and obedient, otherwise his head will fall to the ground.

  From Cixian County to Jiunü City, it's about half a day's journey.

  Although the night wind was cold and clear, the road was smooth, so it was also very fast to move forward.

  It was almost the third watch when Cao Peng and his party reached the mountain pass, looking around. The outline of Jiuniu City had already appeared faintly, and Deng Ji finally breathed a sigh of relief.

  "A Fu, we're here!"

  Deng Ji turned his head and smiled, but there were still a few worries between his eyebrows.

  Cao Peng took a deep breath and made an expansive gesture with his chest on horseback.

  Actually, it's not easy for him to come all the way here. On one hand, he has something on his mind, and on the other hand, he still needs to deal with people like Ma Yu.

  The destination is now ahead, and it's finally possible to relax a bit.

  It was also Liu Biao's governance that wasn't bad, and from Jingshui all the way here, it can be said to be safe and sound.

  "Let's go, let's get down."

  Deng Ji spoke as he urged his horse to prepare for a charge down the mountain slope.

  "Brother-in-law!"

  "Huh?"

  Happy New Year!

  Turning back, Deng Jie looked at Cao Peng in surprise, only to see a bright smile on his face.

  For some reason, Deng Ji always felt that Cao Peng looked particularly good when he smiled. His smile seemed to contain a kind of magic power, which could calm his nervous mood.

  "Ah Fu, Happy New Year!"

  "Happy New Year, Brother Tiger."

  "Hehe, Happy New Year..."

  Three people on the hilltop clasped their hands and congratulated each other.

  In an instant, all panic and unease vanished without a trace.

  "Let's go and report."

  Deng Ji suddenly raised his whip and urged on his horse, with a heroic spirit he charged down the mountain ridge.

  But Cao Peng's smile on his face was retracted at the moment when Deng Ji and Wang Maibuyi went down the mountain...

  Huang Sha, I'm here!

  I'll stand in front of you, what else can you come up with?

  Hand gripping the steel knife unintentionally, Cao Peng gazed into the distance, his two feet kicked out in a flying tiger stance, and he let out a loud shout: "Ride!"

  The old horse also had a fierce moment, raised its hooves and let out a long neigh, carrying Cao Peng rushing down the mountain slope, towards the direction of the advancing convoy.