Qiang Jin Jiu (Author : Tang Jiuqing 唐酒卿)

Chapter 115 : Destiny

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Swing after swing of the Imperial Army’s blades pressed in towards them. The soil under their feet was already soaking wet from the splashes of blood. A bandit who was still alive was pinned to the ground. He listened to the never-ending screams until even his pants were wet with piss. The back of a blade pressed up against the back of his neck. His nose and mouth were smeared all over with bloodied water, choking him until tears and mucus flowed. He cried in terror, “I don’t know. I really don’t know!” 

Lei Jingzhe was suspicious by nature, and he was very secretive about his whereabouts when he was in Mount Luo. Other than his trusted aides, no one else knew his exact hiding place. 

Tantai Hu scraped away the bloody mud on the soles of his boots and said, “Since you know nothing, then why are you wasting our time? Drag him away!” 

Both of the bandit’s arms were bound behind his back, and the Imperial Army dragged him by the rope to the execution spot. He kicked out both legs, looking at those headless corpses lying on either side of him. The back of the blade that had been pressing against his nape was already turned over, and the sharp edge of the blade made him tremble all over. He watched Tantai Hu lift his blade and suddenly burst out bawling. “Liu’er! Sir! I know where Liu’er is!” 

Tantai Hu asked, “Is this person a trusted aide of Lei Jingzhe?”  

“Yes, yes, a trusted aide!” The bandit’s chest heaved as he stared wide-eyed at that blade and said. “Liu’er is our ‘carrier pigeon’. He is the one who passes on all the orders issued by Lei Jingzhe! It was also Liu’er who sent someone to pass me the message telling me to bring the men to hide out in the west!” 

After having been here for half a night, Tantai Hu finally managed to pry out some information. He lifted the man and asked, “Where is this Liu’er now?” 

“In Bianshui Town.” The bandit answered. “The information I received a few days back came from Bianshui Town. If you go look for him now, you will definitely find him!” 

Bianshui Town was just a few li away, but on second thoughts, Tantai Hu felt that it did not bode well. They had searched through that place many times, and in all probability, they had already alerted the enemy. He hurriedly released his grip on the man and strode away to report to Xiao Chiye. 

The Imperial Army promptly changed direction and raced to Bianshui Town. They set up a heavy siege outside the town, then searched from house to house and detained all the recent arrivals with questionable origins who were not registered in the household register. The bandits were identified one by one, but there were no traces of Liu’er and Lei Jingzhe. 

Seeing as dawn was about to break, the bandit feared that Xiao Chiye would take out his anger on him, so he racked his brain to offer suggestions. He said, “Liu’er has plenty of followers; they are all his snoops and spies. Every time he heads out for battles, they will spread out all around him to facilitate the relying of updates to Lei Jingzhe. Now that they are not here, it’s most likely because they have gotten wind of it and fled. You have blocked off access to the south, and we don’t dare to head north, so we can only retreat east. If you give chase now, you’ll definitely be able to catch up to them!” 

Although Tantai Hu despised a spineless coward like him who would sell out his master for his own benefit, he still reported the information as it was to Xiao Chiye. Xiao Chiye considered it over for a moment on his horse before he said to Tantai Hu, “Take half of your men and chase after them along the eastern side of the mountain forest. They are now birds that will be startled at the mere twang of a bow-string. Just intimidate them a little, and they will be in such panic that they won’t be able to turn around and meet the attack head-on as usual. You just need to hit them hard. Those remaining thousand people are all scattered soldiers without contact with their commander. They won’t be able to hold their own against you.”