Chapter 559: Reinforcements
Editor: Atlas Studios
There were only 48 people who had followed the village chief up the mountain. They had taken the byway up the mountain when the sky had just darkened. Although they kept encouraging themselves in their hearts, their hands could not help but tremble when they moved the wood and rocks.
However, no matter how afraid they were, no one retreated down the mountain at the last minute.
When those people rushed up the mountain, they were extremely flustered. Yet they still tried their best to roll down the things in front of them, hoping to give the Zhu family more hope.
It wasn’t that they were very noble people. They only felt that the Zhu family treated them well. The village chief was right. If not for the fact that the Zhu family was willing to take out grains to exchange for things with them, most of the villagers would have had to go into exile. In this chaotic world, not going into exile meant starving to death, while going into exile would only increase their chances of survival by 20%.
However, because of the Zhu family, their parents, wives, and children had all survived this winter. They were doing this to repay the Zhu family.
The village chief lay on the ground, crying as he picked up rocks and threw them down. He regretted it now, but he also felt a little relieved. He did not know if he could survive this time, so he just followed his instincts and kept throwing things down.
When Mu Yangling and the others ran back, they saw that they had already thrown down everything they could find.
Mu Yangling waved at the four of them, who each took a corner. Mu Yangling went forward and patted the village chief’s shoulder. “Tell them to retreat and run into the forest in all directions. It’s best if you run in pairs. Hurry!”
The village chief looked at Mu Yangling in a daze. After Mu Yangling patted his head and snapped him out of his daze, the village chief hurriedly scrambled to his feet and organized everyone to leave.
Mu Yangling took out her bow and arrows and blocked the enemy with the four guards.
When the enemies were about to rush in front of them, Mu Yangling and her men gathered and retreated to the north.
Bai Qing narrowed his eyes as he watched Mu Yangling disappear. “Is that Mu Yangling?”
“That’s right.” Mo Yong said indifferently, “Lord Bai, you’ve seen her archery skills now, right? In just a few breaths, the number of people she killed were the total of those killed by the other four.”
“Run in to chase after them.” Suppressing the anger in his heart, Bai Qing said, “I want to see how many of us she can stop alone.”
“Sir, wait.” Mo Yong stopped him and said, “Sir, since only the five of them came out, the rest must have escaped with Madam Li and the two children. Our top priority is to capture the three of them. As for Mu Yangling, once we catch her child, she will naturally surrender.”
Although Bai Qing was angry, he did not lose his mind. After thinking for a moment, he agreed to Mo Yong’s suggestion and entered the forest with others to search for traces and pursue them.
The villagers fled in all directions. Even though Mu Yangling stalled for time for them, because they were inexperienced and unfamiliar with the forest, they quickly collided with the enemy. The helpless commoners were killed in a few moves.
Mu Yangling’s eyes turned red when she discovered a few corpses. However, she had too few men with her and they couldn’t protect them. Moreover, they quickly realized that the people were chasing towards the east.
They could only ambush them from the side and lure them away, but Bai Qing and Mo Yong were even more determined to chase to the east.
Although this was their plan, the enemy was too close behind and it would not be long before they caught up. Should they catch up, they would not be able to keep the puppets a secret…
Mu Yangling and the guard ruthlessly stopped them. In the end, Bai Qing had no choice but to stop and say to Mo Yong, “Let’s split up. You chase after those people while I’ll stay behind to block them.”
Mo Yong agreed and rushed back with his men.
At this moment, Bai Li, who had been traveling day and night, finally brought his men to the entrance of the village. When he barged into the house, he saw that it was a mess inside. Without any time to think, he waved his hand and said, “Hurry up and go up the mountain to save them.”
Just as he rushed out, a guard ran back and reported, “Sir, General Zhan Yu has also arrived at the village entrance.”
Bai Li stopped in his tracks and stood at the entrance, waiting for Zhan Yu.
Seeing the travel-worn Zhan Yu rush up with his men, Bai Li said, “I saw traces of them retreating up the mountain. Fourth Madam is good at fighting in the forest, but she has too few men with her and they might not be able to hold on for long. Quickly bring your men up to support them.”
“Yes,” Zhan Yu answered and turned around to leave. However, when he saw Bai Li standing there motionlessly, he immediately stopped in his tracks and turned around to ask, “Lord, aren’t you going with us?”
“I have something to confirm. You go first.”
Zhan Yu knew that Bai Li was a sacrificial soldier and was very trusted by Qi Xiuyuan and Qi Haoran. Therefore, although he was suspicious, he still obeyed the order and ran up the mountain.
Bai Li immediately turned around and returned to the backyard. He asked someone to bring a shovel to dig up the soil under the rock, and also asked someone to bring some wood. A few of them used all their strength to lift the rock while the others hurriedly ran up to push the rock out. After a long time, when everyone was exhausted, they managed to make a small hole that was barely wide enough for an adult to pass through.
Bai Li said, “Move it a little more.”
When the hole was big enough for two people to enter and exit at the same time, Bai Li bent down and entered.
As the cave was dark, Bai Li lit a torch and walked down. After walking for a few steps, he turned right a few steps and saw a huge cave. Instead of walking further in, Bai Li asked respectfully, “Is Eldest Madam inside? I’m Bai Li.”
After saying that, he picked up a stone on the ground and knocked it a few times at a certain frequency. A moment later, he heard a hoarse voice say, “Lord Bai Li? Please follow me.”
Bai Li walked forward and finally saw the person.
Holding a knife in her hand, the maidservant nodded slightly at Bai Li before turning around and walking in.
The cave was huge. There was only an oil lamp in the corner, so other than that corner, there was no light anywhere else.
Li Jinghua sat on the stone bed with Little Bear in her arms. When she saw Bai Li, her eyes revealed hope. Bai Li bent down and reported, “Eldest Madam, the bandits outside have been lured up the mountain by Fourth Madam. Can I bring you and the young masters out first?”
“What about Fourth Madam?”
“Zhan Yu has already gone to save her. Eldest Madam, Fourth Madam instructed us to ensure the safety of you and the two young masters first.”
Eyes slightly red, Li Jinghua stood up with the help of the maidservant. She hugged Little Bear tightly in her arms and was escorted out by the crowd. A nanny who was carrying Little Treasure followed closely behind.
Little Treasure and Little Bear were both asleep. Bai Li escorted them out of the village and went straight to Lin’an after getting into the carriage.
However, they had only walked out for less than ten minutes when they encountered the army that had come to reinforce them.
It turned out that Qi Xiuyuan had sent 3,000 soldiers over to look for them. Bai Li immediately changed his plan and brought 3,000 soldiers to escort Li Jinghua and the others back to the small village. He stationed them in the courtyard and then sent 500 soldiers up the mountain to search for Mu Yangling while he stayed behind.
Li Jinghua said uneasily, “Bai Li, why don’t you look for her yourself?”
Bai Li lowered his eyes and bowed. “Eldest Madam, protecting you and the two young masters is my most important responsibility.”
Seeing that Li Jinghua’s expression was not good, Bai Li hurriedly said, “Zhan Yu brought a lot of people with him. In addition to the 500 soldiers that I just sent out, it shouldn’t be difficult for them to save Fourth Madam.”