Chapter 34: White Wolf Valley

  Bai Lang Valley is indeed a good place, with only one small path between the two mountains, and you can only enter the mountain from this small path. The trees on the mountain are dense and lush. Bai Lang Valley has three peaks in total, with the left and right sides forming an angle and the middle forming a gate. In recent years, Yang Feng and others have occupied this place, using the wood in the mountain to turn it into a fortress.

  A wooden stockade gate, two zhang high, was built across the mountain road, nestled between two mountains. On both sides of the gate were watchtowers and walls, all made of wood, with a wide top that could accommodate horses. A dozen or so bandits wearing yellow turbans patrolled back and forth. Seeing several horses approaching them, the sound of bronze gongs rang out, and dozens more bandits rushed up onto the city wall.

  "Big brother, aren't we being too obvious?" Wang Wei looked at the other's stance and felt that something was off.

  Long Fei said, "This is called courtesy before arms. Blindly attacking will only result in heavy losses. This time we're just probing the situation. If persuasion doesn't work, it's not too late to take action! You few, keep quiet and watch me."

  Zhang Liao nodded: "These Yang Feng and others really have some skills, they actually built this place into a large stronghold, with three mountain peaks forming a triangular formation, it's indeed not easy to attack!"

  As they spoke, several people arrived at the gate of the village. Before anyone could say anything, a group of ruffians shouted and rushed out from the gate, surrounding the few people. There were not many of them, just over a hundred. If it really came to a fight, with their skills, they would naturally not be afraid. Long Fei took a glance at the crowd and saw a big-bearded man holding an iron rod, wearing a suit of cowhide armor, with a yellow scarf wrapped around his head, standing in front of them with one hand on his hip and legs apart, apparently the leader.

  "Everybody, everybody, hold your hands!" Long Fei hastily dismounted his horse and bowed repeatedly: "We mean no harm! We mean no harm!"

  The big-bearded man looked at several people and raised his head: "What are you doing? How dare you come here? Are you tired of living?"

  "We have been ordered by the Grand Preceptor of the current dynasty to come and pay our respects to your great king, with important matters to discuss!" Long Fei humbled himself, intentionally making his position seem lowly: "Would you trouble which good fellow to report for me?"

  "Ah! So you're an official!" The big-bearded man chuckled and circled around Long Fei: "Brothers, take off their clothes, lead away their horses, and scare them down the mountain! White Wolf Valley doesn't welcome corrupt officials!"

  Several rascals responded with a shout and rushed forward. Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, Zhao Yun, Taren and others had already placed their hands on the hilt of their swords, and if these people dared to make a move, they would be dead immediately! Long Fei begged for mercy again and again, but the big-bearded man didn't listen, watching from the side as the rascals made their move, and laughing loudly with the others.

  "Halt!" A voice boomed like thunder on a clear day above the crowd: "Niu Er, are you going to defy the Big Leader's orders?"

  The crowd followed the sound and looked over. The gate of the camp opened again. A military general, riding a white horse, holding an axe to open the mountain, although wearing cowhide armor, looked very spirited. His square face was slightly yellowish. Two small mustaches grew on either side of his lips, without any treacherous appearance, and his eyes, though not large, were exceptionally spirited. Sitting on the horse, one would surely think he was a general. Long Fei saw this man and hastily looked at Gao Shun. Gao Shun slightly shook his head.

  The big-bearded man turned his head, curled up the corner of his mouth and said coldly: "Xu Gongming, who do you think you are, daring to lecture me? Do you believe it or not, with just a few words from Grandpa, I can make your head roll, and I won't even need to lift a finger! If you know what's good for you, get out of here quickly, there's no place for you to speak!"

  Xu Gongming did not move, looking at Niu Erdao: "The leader has an order, anyone who comes from the imperial court must be brought to see him, how dare you privately drive people away?"

  "The imperial court? These officials are all good-for-nothings, they swallow people whole without spitting out their bones! Brothers, don't you agree?" Niu Er began to stir up the crowd: "Is there anyone here who hasn't been bullied by the government? The big leader wants to surrender to the government, we've all seen through this long ago. But brothers, can't swallow this insult, we work hard and struggle to the death, in the end still have to be the government's dogs! Brothers, are you willing?"

  "No!" everyone replied in unison, their voices loud.

  Xu Gongming dismounted and patted Niu Er's shoulder. Niu Er turned around, causing Xu Gongming to pat the air. Xu Gongming said: "Brother Niu Er, I also understand these principles, but look at our current situation, how much longer can we stay in White Wolf Valley? The imperial court will eventually eliminate us, and Big Head is thinking of the brothers! I, Xu Huan, am a rough man, I don't know what justice is, Big Head wants to meet with the imperial court for the sake of the brothers, so I absolutely cannot let you drive people away!"

  When Long Fei first heard of Xu Gongming, he felt a sense of familiarity. After hearing Xu Huang's name, he finally understood. This was one of the five good generals of Cao Wei, on par with Zhang Liao. He didn't expect him to be under Yang Feng's command. With him around, they must definitely subdue these mountain bandits and at least win over Xu Huang.

  Big Beard didn't say a word to Xu Huan, but glared at him fiercely and shouted angrily: "What are you still standing there for? Let's go! I want to see if the Big Head is really for us or for himself!" Over 100 men followed Big Beard into the camp.

  Xu Huan looked up and down at several people with a puzzled expression: "Didn't you guys come last time? Are you also General Li's men?"

  "Right, right, right!" Long Fei hastily said: "It was General Zuo who sent us! There is an important matter to discuss with General Yang, would you please inform him for us?"

  "I'm not a general!" Xu Huan smiled slightly: "I am Xu Huan, currently serving as Cavalry Captain. For those with imperial orders or from the court, no need to report, come straight up the mountain. Please follow me, gentlemen!"

  As they entered the village, a dense forest appeared not far away. As they stepped into the woods, the sky suddenly darkened. All around were towering trees, dense foliage, and intertwined vines. It was still winter, so there were no leaves on the trees, only branches that seemed to obscure the view of the sky. Long Fei was examining the terrain when he heard Xu Huan tighten his reins and turn to face everyone, saying: "Everyone, I apologize, but please follow our mountain stronghold's rules!" With a wave of his hand, six men emerged from the forest, each holding a black cloth about one foot long.

  Long Fei suddenly understood that this Yang Feng was indeed material for being a bandit, and he could think of such things. He chuckled and said: "Of course, of course!" After finishing speaking, he closed his eyes. The men came over, covered Long Fei and the others' eyes with black cloth, and helped them onto their respective horses, each leading one to follow behind Xu Huan into the depths.

  Long Fei could still tell the directions of east, south, west and north at first, but after circling around for a few times, he became somewhat dizzy. He clearly felt that this group of people deliberately led them to circle around in the forest for several times before turning onto the mountain road. Although they couldn't see anything, they could hear very clearly. Along the way, there were dozens of checkpoints, both big and small, and judging from the sounds, each had about a hundred people. These were just the visible sentries, who knows how many hidden ones there were.

  The sound of horseshoes echoed, sometimes loud and sometimes soft. Sometimes they walked along the riverbank, and sometimes they walked through the forest. By the time they stopped, they had already walked for almost an hour. A ray of dazzling sunlight made him unable to open his eyes, so he could only quickly close them. After adapting for a long time, it was a little better. When he looked around again, everything had changed. The dense forest was gone, and they were standing in a square. All around were towering high mountains, and on the left side of the square was a small river. They had just come from the small stone bridge over the river. On the right side of the square was a natural cave, with a small entrance, where two burly men stood guard outside the east gate, watching them vigilantly.

  Xu Huan walked over, cupped his hands and said: "Everyone, rest here for a while, I'll go report to the leader, wait a moment!" After finishing speaking, he went towards that mountain cave.

  Someone brought them a pot of tea and several tea bowls, then no one took care of them anymore. The square was very large but looked deserted, except for the two guarding the cave entrance, it was just the six people who led their horses. These people didn't say a word, their eyes stared at Long Fei and his group without blinking. Zhou Cang's mountain stronghold had been visited by Long Fei before, although there were fewer people, but it was much more lively than here, I don't know where Yang Feng hid his men, it was so deserted!

  Time was not long, Xu Huan returned, with a joyful face: "Everyone, our leader has invited you, but...!"

  "What's wrong?" Zhang Liao hastily asked.

  "But the leader of the Big Heads only wants to see the messenger, and at most bring one guard!"

  "What? Only two people?" Wang Wei was anxious as soon as he heard it, having been tied up for so long and not even able to see the other person's face.

  "Alright, just the two of you then. Lord Zhang, you and Second Brother stay here with them, I'll go in with Big Brother Gao."

  At the entrance, they took off their swords and were led by Xu Huan into the cave. The cave was truly a paradise on earth, with gentle streams flowing beneath their feet and long stalactites hanging from the ceiling, emitting a faint blue glow in the light of the torches. It seemed that Yang Feng had invested heavily in the White Wolf Valley, as he had built a long stone road and small bridges within the cave.

  Inside the cave, there were sentries every three steps and watchtowers every five steps. Compared to the imperial palace, it was in no way inferior. The robust and sturdy men holding sharp spears stood upright, gazing at each other, and with just a slight movement, the entire cave would be alerted. Although the entrance of the cave was not large, the interior was spacious, and what's more, the temperature was suitable, bearing many similarities to the places where immortals cultivated in ghost stories.

  Deep inside, there is a spacious platform. Originally, it should have been a huge boulder, but the washing of the water flow has turned this place into a platform. Yang Feng made good use of this large stone and designed his command post here. The boulder is divided into two layers, with four chairs placed side by side on the upper layer, separated by a small table in between. On the lower layer, four rows are arranged vertically, leaving a five-person-wide passageway in the middle. A large basin of charcoal fire was hung high above the top of the stone cave, burning fiercely.

  "General, Li Dian's envoy has arrived!" Xu Huang exclaimed, kneeling on one knee and speaking towards the shadows of the second floor of the stone platform.

  The people on the dozens of chairs under the stage shouted in unison: "Kneel down!" The voice was loud, and after being amplified by the mountain cave, it sounded even more terrifying.