Chapter 40: Deng Zhubu Steals a Horse

  On the narrow mountain path, hundreds of war horses trampled the ground with a rumbling sound, and a merchant team of over 100 people was driving the horse group to head south at high speed.

  As Yuan's scouts had said, the party driving the horses seemed to be just a merchant caravan.

  But if you look closely, it's not hard to discover that these horse drivers are actually all sturdy and strong, with a fierce appearance, and at first glance they seem to be seasoned veterans of the battlefield.

  As for the leader, a burly man, his appearance was even more ferocious, especially with a deep scar from his left eye to his jaw, and an aura of villainy surrounding him, he didn't look like a good person at all.

  At this time, the leader, a burly man with scars on his face, was holding a long-handled chopping knife and riding his horse in front with a gloomy expression. He didn't say a word or smile, as if something was bothering him terribly, stuck in his chest, unable to be shaken off or driven away.

  Just as Han Yu was feeling depressed, a middle-aged man with a gentle appearance and elegant demeanor slowly rode up behind him, wearing a green robe. He smiled at the man with scars on his face and said: "General Gong, why do you have an unusual expression? You don't seem very happy. Is there something on your mind? If you don't mind, why not tell Zhu about it?"

  Gong Du, also known as the Great Han, turned his head with a gloomy expression and said to the middle-aged Confucian scholar, "Mr. Zou, it's not that I'm being unreasonable, but before Liu Bei and I surrendered to our lord, we were at least considered great heroes... Cough, no, we were one of the few brave and talented generals under Zhang Jiao's command. My subordinates were all elite warriors who fought alongside me in the Yellow Turban Army. We defected to our lord to achieve great things and become generals! But instead, not only are we not allowed to fight, but I'm also tasked with overseeing the procurement of military horses? What kind of job is that for a general? Now I'm just like a horse groomer, covered in horse urine from head to toe! How humiliating can it get? Mr. Zou, help me reason this out, am I not being wasted?"

  Gongming heard this and burst out laughing, shaking his head: "General Gong, you really misunderstood our lord. Since we arrived in Yu and Ying's territory, if it weren't for your and General Liu's surrender and assistance, how could we have established ourselves so quickly in Yuzhou? When fighting against Cao's army, every aspect of the military must be perfect, not a single thing can be lacking. That's why our lord entrusted you with overseeing the procurement of military equipment and horses when I came here to supervise. Firstly, it's because our lord trusts your character, and secondly, this region is full of bandits. Without a brave warrior like you to protect us, how could we have ensured the safe transportation of the procured equipment and horses back to Yuzhou every time? Ha ha, General Gong, don't belittle yourself!"

  Gong Du heard this, blinked his eyes, nodded and said: "What you said is also quite reasonable, but I've transported horses and military equipment so many times, and I haven't seen any mountain bandits or robbers coming to rob us. My hands and feet are all itching to do something, it's too stifling."

  Mo Zhi heard this and sighed silently, unable to help but smile bitterly.

  Dog meat on the chopping board, too shameful to be served!

  These Yellow Turbans originally belonged to a group of reckless bandits, no matter how you support them, they can't be lifted up. The most feared thing about transporting horses, military equipment, and grain is that someone will come to rob them. But this Gong Da is good at it, others don't come to rob him, but he's uncomfortable all over his body, I don't know if it's because of his low status.

  A whole person.

  Don't mention Gong, who was suffocating with anger, and Zou, who was helpless. Let's just say that not far ahead of the cavalry team, Yuan Shang and Zhang Jue, Gao Lan, and others were hiding in the grass bushes on both sides, narrowing their eyes to size up the cavalry team approaching them.

  "Two generals, in your opinion, are the people of this merchant group... really a merchant group?" Yuan Shang asked with deep meaning, seeking the opinions of the two generals.

  Zhang Jing looked quietly for a long time, then shook her head and faintly spat out two words: "Not like."

  "Of course not!" Gao Lan snorted, saying: "Look at this group of people, each and every one of them is sturdy and powerful, but their marching formation is completely disorganized, as if they're doing whatever they want, without any restraint. Especially the leader in front, with scars on his face and a fierce gaze, exuding an aura of murder and slaughter. I can smell a stench from afar, it's like they're a group of Yellow Turban bandits!

  Yuan Shang's eyes suddenly lit up, and he muttered: "So to speak, these war horses... are wanted?"

  Gao Lan smiled slyly and said fiercely: "I want it! I must have it!"

  Zhang Jing stroked his beard and nodded: "To eliminate evil for the people, justice does not turn back, plans do not change, it can be done!"

  Yuan Shang's heart was greatly settled upon hearing this, and he clapped his hands, saying: "Since that's the case, I'll trouble you two generals to hold down the fort for me while I go get some horses and replenish our military supplies."

  Yuan Shang was about to get up and take action, but he saw a figure with his waist bent, like a mouse, hastily running from behind, squatting behind Yuan Shang, excitedly saying: "Wait, take me one, take me one!"

  The sound came suddenly and without warning, Yuan Shang was so frightened that he jumped up in an instant, turned his head to look back, but it was Deng Ai's father, Deng Chao!

  This silly county magistrate was squatting behind Yuan Shang, clenching two fists, with an excited face that clearly showed the four big words "eager to try".

  Yuan Shang was startled by Deng Ai and felt uncomfortable, saying: "You walk without making a sound, trying to scare someone to death?"

  Deng Chang's face was full of cunning and shame: "I'm afraid of exposing myself, aren't I going to scare the prey away again?"

  Yuan Shang furrowed his brow and said discontentedly: "What's wrong with you, it's not like something good is happening, why are you following him around and causing trouble?"

  Deng Chang's face was filled with worry as he lifted his head, gazing at the blue sky and white clouds with a sense of desolation, his heart full of emotions as he let out a deep sigh.

  "How is it none of my business now? So many days have passed, I was first robbed by you guys, then the Red Robbers from Jiuli Mountain robbed me of grain, and now even I myself have been captured... Heaven has eyes, shouldn't Deng someone be robbed for a change?"

  Yuan Shang's face changed color upon hearing this...

  There's also a psychological imbalance. The mentality of ancient people is really not good, making a fuss about trivial matters all day long, truly lacking mental health education.

  After a long silence...

  Yuan Shang waved his hand and rushed to Deng Cheng, saying: "General Zhang, General Gao, I'm afraid you two are hiding here to support me. Pay attention to my instructions and follow them. Secretary Deng will go out with me for a stroll to satisfy your spiritual needs. Remember, this is an exception!"

  Gong Dou and Zou Zhu's cavalry were walking along the dirt path, turned a corner, but saw Gong Dou suddenly raised his large knife in his hand, furrowed his brow and shouted: "Halt!"

  A crowd of Yellow Turbans hastily restrained their horses and stood still on the spot.

  Meng Jiao curiously raised his head and looked forward, only to see a middle-aged man with a sordid appearance standing on the dirt road ahead. He was wearing a green long gown, shaking a white feather fan in his hand, looking up at the sky, and acting like an immortal, blocking the way of the horse team.

  Who else could be so arrogant if not Deng Xiaoping?

  Gong Du narrowed his eyes, a sinister smile spreading across his face: "Heh heh, I just said my hands and feet were itching for a kill, and now one has really come along. It's been ages since I last killed someone, today is perfect timing to get started!"

  "General Gong, wait a minute, this matter seems suspicious."

  Meng Zong raised his hand to stop Gong Dou, who was impatient, and then patted the horse to move forward. He took a deep look at Deng Cheng and smiled kindly, bowing his fist on the horse: "The gentleman in front, I don't know which way you are from, why do you want to block our path?"

  Her demeanor was elegant and refined, her movements and speech were dignified and polite, her appearance was not common, and she stood out in stark contrast to the group of people behind her, like a crane standing among chickens, leaving onlookers speechless with admiration.

  Yuan Shang, hiding in the shadows, couldn't help but nod his head in admiration. What a refined and elegant scholar, yet somehow he had ended up with that group of rough and uncouth bandits behind him.

  Isn't it now that all bandits have increased their IQ and also know how to find a military advisor?

  Deng Cheng stood in the middle of the road, listening to the murmurs and whispers around him. He couldn't help but let out a few cold laughs, then shouted loudly: "This mountain is mine, this flower is mine, this road is mine! If you want to pass through here, leave your horse as collateral. If you're stubborn and refuse to understand, humph, humph, humph, humph - I'll kill you and use your body to fertilize the trees!"

  "Hmph!"

  Yuan Shang, who was nearby, almost vomited blood upon hearing this. What is wrong with Deng Ai's mouth, blurting out whatever he wants?

  It's clear that we've already identified the opponent as a thief, so how could he turn it around after just one sentence? Are we here to collect stolen goods or not?

  Now in this situation, is it that the other side are thieves or are we the thieves? How can you not even be clear on this stance and make such a mess of things?!

  A cavalry team led by Gong Du, with a group of former subordinates who were Yellow Turban bandits, all holding knives to greet him, cautiously looking at Deng Ai on the road.

  What a nerve this Confucian scholar has! How dare he be so arrogant? Doesn't he see whose horse it is? And yet he dares to speak recklessly?

  These Yellow Turbans were always taking other people's stuff before they surrendered to Yuzhong, who would dare to rob them? Today's incident is really a big girl getting on the sedan chair for the first time.

  With a clear mind and careful consideration for a moment, he deeply knew that the other side was not prepared and would not dare to rob their cavalry team.

  But seeing the dense forests on both sides, I'm afraid there must be an ambush within!

  As he thought of this, Mo Zhen suddenly rushed up to Deng Cheng and bowed his hands, saying: "I don't know what your surname is, who you are, or who sent you. How dare you rob us of our horses? Can you tell me a thing or two?"

  Deng Chao sneered and repeated Yuan Shang's words verbatim, saying: "Alright, I am Liu Yu of Yuzhou, under the command of General Liu! Today, I have received a special imperial edict to collect horses here. If you do not hand over your horses, it would be going against the Emperor's will... Hmph, kill without pardon!"

  "Hiss——"

  Mei Zhu and Gong were both shocked, taking a deep breath of cool air, staring incredulously at Deng Xiang's smug face, and asked in astonishment: "You... you said you are acting on whose orders?"

  Deng Chao snorted, displeased: "What's wrong with you? Can't understand human language? I said, by order of the Emperor, imperial edict, imperial uncle's command... Liu Yizhou... don't recognize Liu Yizhou? Don't know Liu Xuande?"

  Yuan Shang secretly gave a thumbs up, damn it's too good! This silly hat may not be able to learn from others, but learning from him is one by one. Looking at that expression and the acting skills, he's already better than himself, with some "the student surpasses the master" momentum!

  Waste can also be useful sometimes.

  The autumn wind is rustling, and people's hearts are chilled.

  Mi Zhu, Guan Yu, and many of the former Yellow Turbans were speechless, watching from a distance as Deng Ai looked smug and self-satisfied.

  Stood there in a daze for half a day, silently facing each other without a word...

  After a long time.

  But Gong Du let out a loud roar, his face suddenly turning crimson, he spurred on his horse, brandishing his sword and charging towards Deng Cheng, all the while shouting loudly.

  "Get out of here! Are you still talking about that imperial edict? I'll chop you to pieces today if I don't avenge my mother!"