Chapter 278: Chapter 120: A Torrent of Steel! Thousands of Troops and Horses!_2
This mine could yield a certain amount of Star Pattern Gold and was a mine occupied by Dafeng State City. The man in the bronze mask’s real name was Zhao Chengji, and he was one of the chiliarchs guarding the mine.
But to earn more money, Zhao Chengji took advantage of his official position to embezzle a portion of the Star Pattern Gold mined and then sold it to Su Changkong, who needed it. He embezzled some every month, very cautiously, fearing discovery.
But as they say, ‘If you often walk by the river, how can your shoes not get wet?’ Perhaps someone reported him, or there was an uneven distribution of the loot that caused an insider to reveal the matter. The higher-ups discovered it, thus leading to today’s scene, with the Chief of Ten Thousand leading his cavalry, swarming in to catch the man in the bronze mask, Zhao Chengji, and others red-handed!
Su Changkong was somewhat speechless. He had speculated on where the man in the bronze mask and others got so much Star Pattern Gold from, but he had not expected that they were members of the Dafeng Iron Cavalry, stealing from their own mine through their guardianship!
“Zhao Chengji, do you still think you can resist? Come out quickly, admit your guilt, and surrender!”
That deep voice rang out again.
The man in the bronze mask, Zhao Chengji, swayed, exchanging looks with the others, and they all sighed in unison, removing their masks and heading down the mountain.
They knew that with the jig up, there was no possibility of escape. They still had family and relatives, and if they resisted forcefully, they wouldn’t only be unable to escape from the thousands of Dafeng Iron Cavalry surrounding them, but their crimes would also worsen.
If they surrendered without a fight, severe punishment was inevitable, but their crimes would not warrant death!
Thus, Zhao Chengji and the others had no intention of resisting. They surrendered obediently to receive a lighter punishment.
Zhao Chengji and the others, now without their masks, reached the outside of Yellow Leaf Mountain, all with pale faces. Facing cold stares, they were somewhat ashamed and bowed their heads. Guarding for self-theft and caught in the act, facing their former colleagues and subordinates, naturally, they couldn’t lift their heads in embarrassment.
“Seize them!”
A man clad in silver armor, engraved with lines of star patterns, and wearing a Treasure Sword at his waist, who looked to be in his thirties and handsome, said coldly.
This man was Pei Chen.
Pei Chen’s background was not simple. He himself was the Chief of Ten Thousand of the Dafeng Iron Cavalry, but he had another identity—he was from the Pei Family, a Wealthy Family in Dafeng State, and the biological brother of the State Governor, Pei Yang!
Pei Yang became the State Governor of Dafeng State through exceptional ability and certainly had a significant background. Standing behind him was the Wealthy Pei Family, from which many capable people came.
Among them, Pei Yang was the State Governor of Dafeng State, his younger brother Pei Chen held the position of Chief of Ten Thousand, and their younger sister Pei Yuexian was one of the Four Great Generals of the Dafeng Iron Cavalry! One could say that the three siblings from this family were all dragons and phoenixes among people, each with outstanding abilities!
Upon Pei Chen’s order, immediately more than a dozen cavalry dismounted and approached Zhao Chengji and others. They inserted silver needles that locked Qi and Blood into their acupoints and bound them with iron chains of refined steel.
Zhao Chengji and the others didn’t dare to resist and were meekly captured without causing any trouble, ended up bound hand and foot, becoming prisoners beneath the steps.
Up on Yellow Leaf Mountain, Su Changkong, who had witnessed everything from atop a large tree, also sighed, sometimes a moment’s thought could instantly turn a glorious official into a traitor scorned by all!
Su Changkong did feel a bit of pity for Zhao Chengji and the others. After all, their dealings had been pleasant, and neither party had harbored any ill intentions. But now that their theft of Star Pattern Gold had been exposed, they were destined to have to spit out all that they had eaten, double.
After capturing Zhao Chengji and the others, the cavalry didn’t leave. Pei Chen, the heroic-looking man clad in silver armor, glanced at nearby Yellow Leaf Mountain and spoke up again, “Are you called Ape Demon? Why hide? Come out and meet! ”
Su Changkong silently shook his head, but at such a time, he didn’t flinch. With a light tap of his foot, he moved between the treetops, the branches and leaves fluttering as if brushed by birds. Like a gentle breeze, Su Changkong appeared at the entrance of the mountain path of Yellow Leaf Mountain, looking towards Pei Chen in the silver armor from a distance.
“What excellent Qinggong!” The cavalry all slightly focused their eyes—Su Changkong’s Qinggong, as agile as a bird in flight, was already enough to amaze!
“Lord Pei Chen, I’ve long heard of your renown but may I ask what advice you have for me?” said Su Changkong, neither humbly nor arrogantly. Wearing an ape mask and having used Turtle Breath Shrinkage, he was of average height, appearing rather unremarkable.
Su Changkong indeed had heard of Pei Chen’s reputation, for he was the biological brother of State Governor Pei Yang. Although he couldn’t compare to their sister Pei Yuexian, who held one of the positions of the Four Great Generals, he was indeed a significant figure within Feng State City.
Pei Chen observed Su Changkong up and down and, after a long while, said slowly, “That Star Pattern Gold belongs to our Dafeng Iron Cavalry, and I’m sure you’ve dealt with them more than once, haven’t you? You need to return the Star Pattern Gold!”
Upon hearing this, Su Changkong chuckled. Pei Chen wanted to retrieve the batch of Star Pattern Gold from his hands, but that was, of course, impossible. How could it be handed over now that it was in his possession? Moreover, he had paid money for that Star Pattern Gold!
Su Changkong said gravely, “Lord Pei, I purchased this Star Pattern Gold with real silver, so if you want to take it back, it’s fine, but you’ll need to buy it back. Moreover, you’ll need to pay a price 20 percent higher than what I spent, for I cannot toil in vain!”
“You dare talk terms?”
One of Pei Chen’s deputies immediately barked, his eyes bulging with indignation.
This one wearing an ape mask surely didn’t realize the current situation, did he? With Pei Chen personally taking action, leading nearly half of his cavalry here, this one claiming to be the Ape Demon still dared to negotiate, asking them to buy it back with money?