Volume 1 Nightfall Border City Chapter 35 Road Open (Middle)

  There are few bandits on the grasslands who use axes as weapons, axes are heavy and inconvenient to wield, consuming physical strength, but Meng Kang doesn't care. He just likes the thrill of chopping off limbs with his axe, the battle-axe chops down with a force of thousands of kilograms, unstoppable, severed limbs flying everywhere. He is like a bloodthirsty beast, also like a demon in the dark night, the bandits hastily retreat in defeat.

  Since entering the grassland, Meng Kang has always believed that making others fear him is the most effective way to protect himself. In those days under Zuan Shan Ying's command, every time he obtained spoils of war, they were second only to Da Dang Jia, and no one ever dared to provoke him. Now, the horse thieves coming towards him are all trying to avoid him.

  Meng Kang charged forward with a loud roar, his left hand carefully holding up his shield to protect his vitals, directing his personal troops to guard his flanks. If you thought he was just a reckless man, then you would be greatly mistaken.

  Zhongshan Lang loudly urged his trusted followers to surround and charge forward. If they couldn't break through the blockade, this group of people might be abandoned here.

  The road was narrow, the battle line was very long, and the ambush cavalry could not charge, only shooting arrows on both sides of the mountain slope while shouting. Half of the Zhongshan Lang were newly recruited newcomers who had never experienced such a formation, running around in all directions, just wanting to find a place to hide.

  Zhongshan Lang's eyes were already red with urgency, and the situation in front of him made it impossible to retreat completely. Being able to escape with his life would be a blessing.

  "Kill!"

  Zhongshan Lang himself took the field, with a long knife in his hand that chopped straight towards Meng Kang. The blade collided with an iron shield coming from the opposite direction, causing his wrist to go numb. Seeing the master of the house fighting for his life, the loyal guards behind him fearlessly charged forward on horseback.

  After blocking a wave of fierce attacks, Meng Kang seized an opportunity and shouted "Withdraw!" He led the cavalry in a swift retreat on the main road, disappearing around the bend of the mountain path moments later.

  Zhongshan Lang had no time to think, and could only flee for his life. Surrounded by a group of trusted followers, he finally rushed onto the main road and ran wildly towards the west. The mountains and forests in that direction were gentle and sparse, leading directly to the grasslands. As long as he could reach there, his life would be saved.

  Meng Kang, hiding not far away, saw Zhongshan Wolf fleeing and immediately led his troops to kill him back, re-blocking the road of escape.

  "Zhongshan Wolf is dead, surrender!" someone began shouting loudly.

  "Spare his life!" The cries rose and fell in waves.

  In the darkness, the bandits were surrounded and divided, unable to discern the situation, and no one was willing to fight desperately anymore. Surrender had become an inevitable choice.

  Che Feng and Meng Kang respectively gathered the captives at both ends of the encirclement, handed over their horses and weapons, and then in groups of twenty captives each, under the escort of cavalry, walked back to the road they came from, returning to the Lao Ya Shan stronghold.

  At dawn, the number of people was counted, and more than 50 bodies were found in the mountain valley. Nearly 200 prisoners were captured, and it is estimated that more than 50 people escaped in the darkness. It is unclear how many followers Hei Anwu took away with him, but all the goods he had accumulated over the years were left behind.

  Lao Ya Mountain stronghold, Meng Kang, who had just won the battle, was still muttering to himself, "Why did we let Zhongshan Wolf go?! If it weren't for your idea, little brother, I would have blocked his way and no one could have escaped!"

  "Letting some people go is to send a message to Geng Guang! If we can defeat the enemy without fighting, why do we need our brothers to risk their lives?"

  Di Zhe still had a worry in his heart, recently he had recruited too many captives and bandits, some of whom had been lurking around the Kill Hu Kou for years, it was hard to guarantee that there were no traitors among them. He just wanted to quickly open up the road into Kill Hu Kou so that he could focus on rectifying the internal situation.

  Meng Kang shook his big head and said: "Little brother, I don't understand what you're saying. Just tell me what to do and I'll do it!"

  Di Zhe secretly laughed in his heart. This kid was still pretending in front of him. After knowing Meng Kang for so many years, he had never seen Meng Kang suffer a loss in anything.

  When the sun shines on the mountain top, Lao Ya Mountain's camp is cleaned up. Che Feng is ordered to go to the Tuermute cavalry's tent in front of the mountain and invite Princess Wulan to come up the mountain. After a fierce battle on the back of the mountain for one night, the Tuermute cavalry didn't move at all.

  Ge Rituo received the news and went to the princess's tent to report: "Princess! People have come from the mountain, the Han people launched a night attack on the horse thieves and have occupied Old Crow Mountain!"

  Princess Wulan did not sleep all night, and when she walked out of the tent door, her eyes had bloodshot. The success or failure of the Han people determined whether her plan could be implemented smoothly. The Tumet people were in a state of internal anxiety and external trouble. This time, she came to the Tokto grassland alone at the order of her brother Khan, shouldering a heavy burden. The Great Khan agreed to let her come also because he wanted the Tumet herdsmen to recognize that the Great Khan's family had not abandoned them.

  And she was just a teenage girl!

  Wulan stretched out her hands and gently rubbed her face, laughing and scolding: "The cunning Han people still have some skills!"

  Gedai'erduo deeply agreed and said: "The Han people are indeed very cunning!"

  Princess Wulan did not want to lose the only cavalry of Khan troops in her hands. Chai Zhe let 300 Tumuert riders arrive at Lao Ya Mountain one day in advance, and secretly withdrew 250 people at night, re-walking on the main road during the day, creating a false impression of adding troops, crushing the morale of Zhongshan Lang.

  The Han people's plan succeeded, and Princess Wulan was in a great mood. She said, "No matter how cunning the Han people are, they can only cooperate with us Tumet people on the grasslands. Now I just hope his skills will be even greater!" Then she stepped forward, beckoning to Geliretu: "Come! Follow me up the mountain!"

  The terrain of Lao Ya Mountain is continuous, with vast forests and mountains that are not as steep and dangerous as Mo Tian Ridge. Zhong Shan Lang has built some earth houses on the mountain, which are now definitely insufficient. Che Feng has arranged for people to build wooden sheds in a sheltered place.

  Di Zhe brought out the remaining fine wine from Xiaoyan's old camp and treated the Tumote people to a feast, celebrating their victory.

  "Meat is not good meat, but it's a good wine!" Kerui Tu adhered to the straightforward character of Mongolians, speaking without any curve.

  Di Zhe's face showed a hint of awkwardness, this meat was obtained from the slaughter of wounded war horses last night, horse meat is coarse and not as palatable as lamb, Mongolians don't particularly like it.

  "Wine is all that's left!" Xiang Zhiyan's tone was full of reluctance. Leaving Duo Yan, without the Zhang family business to rely on, it would be hard to drink such good wine again in the future. Not being the head of the household doesn't know how precious food and rice are, these days Di Zhe had to calculate every day how much grain supply was left, how much was consumed each day, Xiang Zhiyan's heart was clear about these things.

  "That's enough wine!" Gerdreth laughed with a clear and cheerful voice.

  The whole table was full of people, only Di Zhe and Princess Wulan didn't like drinking wine, but as the leaders of both parties, they also had to make some gestures.

  Di Zhe drank a few cups and left the seat, leaving Xiao Zhisheng to entertain the Tumet people. Anyway, this person was not drunk after drinking a thousand cups.

  Seeing the men filling the table, Princess Wulan felt that she was also hindering everyone's interest after drinking a few cups, so she made an excuse to leave and saw Di Zhe standing on the edge of the hall, gazing into the distance.

  "What are you looking at?" Zhai Zhe was staring in the direction of Kill Hu Kou, when a clear voice sounded from behind him.

  Di Zhe turned his head and saw Princess Wulan standing behind him, her face flushed on both sides, obviously unable to hold her liquor.

  "Your Highness!" Di Zhe hastily bowed.

  Wulan waved his hand and said: "Are you thinking of killing Hu Kou? This battle is won, and the merchant road is not far from opening."

  "You Han people are willing to take such a great risk just for money!" Ulan seemed to have a lot of doubts.

  "Men die for wealth, birds perish for food!"

  "But I always feel that you are not for the sake of money!" Ulan walked to Zhai Zhe's side, looked up and stared at him with her eyes, the effect of alcohol made her eyes look even more charming.

  Di Zhe dodged his eyes and his gaze happened to fall on Princess Wulan's ears, which he thought were small and delicate, crystal clear like jade.

  In the midst of panic, Di Zhe turned his head away.

  "Do I look good?" Ulan saw Zhai Zhe's embarrassed expression and let out a giggle, twirling around in front of him with her skirt flying. Women on the grasslands were not as reserved as Han women, they liked to show off their beauty and receive praise from others.

  "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen on the grassland!" Zhai Zhe hadn't seen many women on the grassland anyway.

  After finishing this sentence, Di Zhe coughed lightly again and changed the subject, saying: "To deal with Geng Guang, we still need to borrow the Tumote cavalry, scare them!"

  "No problem!"