The Dugu family had strong financial resources, so they arranged for five hundred soldiers to have a hearty meal. Li Ye also had dinner with the Dugu people, and then they got up and set off.
At this time, it was completely dark, and the night shrouded the Tianjie. The drums to close the city gates and square gates were about to sound. The Tianjie was deserted, and no one could see a pedestrian.
There were several men in black sitting on the wall of Kuanzhengfang, holding crossbows in their hands, looking coldly at the cavalry team on the street dozens of steps away. The cavalry team was neat and murderous.
Luoyang City is very deserted at night, but it is also extremely active. All forces are out at night.
Li Ye sat in a carriage and left the city smoothly under the escort of five hundred soldiers. Both sides of the Tianjie outside the city were densely covered with brothels and restaurants, brightly lit and noisy, which was in sharp contrast to the deserted both sides of the Tianjie inside the city.
After about three miles, the shops on both sides gradually became sparse. At this time, there was a forest on both sides, which stretched for about a mile. People guarded the carriage and sped up.
At this moment, a burst of arrows shot out from both sides of the woods, and more than a hundred arrows were shot at Li Ye's carriage intensively.
The sneak attack came so suddenly. Although the soldiers guarding both sides of the carriage were very vigilant, they still had no time to raise their shields and fell on their horses. Thanks to the thick armor of the soldiers, ordinary arrows could not penetrate, but the horses were unprepared.
Several war horses neighed miserably and fell down after being struck by arrows.
"There are assassins, protect the lord!"
The cavalry immediately rushed up, raised their big shields, and surrounded the carriage. The two hundred cavalry split up and rushed into the woods on both sides.
But the assassins were well prepared, and they all fled. The woods on both sides were deserted, and only a dozen military crossbows were found.
At this time, Zhang Yun asked anxiously: "Your Highness, are you injured?"
Li Ye said calmly: "I'm fine. Are any of the brothers injured by arrows?"
Zhang Yun breathed a sigh of relief and said quickly: "Reporting to Your Highness, fifteen brothers were hit by arrows, but the arrows failed to penetrate the armor. No one was injured so far, but nine horses were injured and fell down."
Li Ye nodded and ordered: "Light the torch and have a look!"
Zhang Yun immediately ordered, "Light the torch!"
More than a hundred torches were lit, illuminating the surroundings like daylight. Li Ye came out of the carriage with a gloomy face. He saw that the walls on both sides of the carriage were covered with arrows. The arrows reflected green light and were poisonous arrows.
Li Ye snorted heavily. Fortunately, they had thought carefully before setting off. When setting off, all the soldiers were asked to put on heavy full-body iron armor, wear iron pockets, and wear thick cotton clothes inside. Fifty steps away, ordinary bows and crossbows were fired.
He didn't wear iron armor just to protect himself from poisonous arrows. His worries came true, and he met an assassin on the first day.
At this time, Zhang Yun stepped forward to report: "The other side was ready and they all ran away. Only fifteen troops were found!"
Li Ye nodded and said to Zhang Yun: "Immediately send two brothers back to the city to find my father and ask him to inform Peng Haiyan, the minister of Dali Temple, to bring people here immediately to investigate!"
"Follow the order!"
Zhang Yun handed the gold medal to the two soldiers and gave them a few instructions. The two soldiers immediately turned around and ran towards the city.
Li Ye said again: "Leave a hundred brothers to wait, while the others continue to return to the camp!"
The team immediately divided into two groups, with one hundred men staying where they were and waiting, while the remaining four hundred cavalry escorted Li Ye and continued southward.
More than half an hour later, Peng Haiyan arrived with a large group of Dali Temple officials, as did the prime ministers Pei Zunqing and Li Dai.
King Qi was assassinated on the first day he came, which was a big deal. Fortunately, King Qi was safe and sound, and his soldiers were not injured. This was another blessing among misfortunes.
"Have you found any clues?" Pei Zunqing asked Peng Haiyan.
Peng Haiyan sighed and bowed: "There are currently no clues, but the situation has been found out."
"What's the specific situation?" Li Dai asked.
Peng Haiyan pointed to the woods on both sides and said: "The other party is ambushing in the woods on both sides. There are a total of one hundred and twenty people. Because they have one hundred and twenty arrows, they should have been keeping an eye on His Highness King Qi, but they dare not in the city.
Take action, His Highness the King of Qi set out. They ambush here. They used military crossbows. The numbers on the crossbows were worn away. Each arrow was quenched with poison. Seventeen horses were hit by arrows and all died.
It shows that the toxicity is very strong.”
Pei Zunqing frowned, "There are actually more than a hundred people? This is not an ordinary force. Is there any record?"
Peng Haiyan shook his head, "This is the cunning point of the other party. If we are inside the city, maybe we can find it, but outside the city we can't tell. Sometimes there are only a dozen people in the city, but there are a hundred hidden outside the city.
It’s possible for multiple people.”
"Continue to investigate and look for clues!"
Pei Zunqing said to Li Dai again: "Let's go to the military camp! Take a look at your son and comfort him!"
When he heard that his father and Xiangguo Pei were coming, Li Ye personally welcomed them into the tent.
Li Dai asked: "Xinyue is with you, or in Dugu Mansion?"
"She is in Dugu Mansion, father doesn't have to worry, there is someone to protect her."
Li Dai nodded, "Actually, you can stay with me instead of going back to the military camp. This way you won't be attacked by surprise."
Li Ye smiled bitterly and said, "Didn't this lead the assassin to you?"
Li Dai was stunned for a moment, he had not thought of this.
Pei Zunqing said next to him: "This is a very bad thing, but please calm down your highness and don't be angry. The court will do its best to investigate the murderer and will definitely give you an explanation."
Li Ye smiled and said: "Pei Xiangguo, don't worry about me being annoyed. I've been through a lot of things. I actually don't take this matter to heart. I can check it if I can. It doesn't matter if I can't."
Pei Zunqing sighed, "Your Highness is open-minded and has relieved us a lot of pressure!"
At this time, a soldier came in to serve hot tea, and the three of them drank the hot tea.
Pei Zunqing asked again: "Has Hangu Pass been captured by Your Highness?"
Li Ye shook his head and said: "The word "capture" is not used correctly. It was Hao Tingyu who took the initiative to join me. Otherwise, I only have cavalry and no siege weapons. With the danger of Hangu Pass, how could I capture it? But Hangu Pass is indeed in my hands.
My troops are temporarily guarding it."
"Only a temporary guard?"
Li Ye laughed and said, "Xiangguo Pei doesn't know much about military affairs! This Hangu Pass is actually meaningless to the army. It is the Hangu Pass of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Why did Cao Cao build Tongguan when there was Hangu Pass?
Because the Yellow River bed is getting deeper, the water volume is decreasing, and part of the river bed is exposed. The army can completely go around the Yellow River beach, but it is difficult to walk carts. Ordinary people and businessmen have to go through Hangu Pass, but for the army
It doesn’t matter, that’s how Qin Hangu Pass was abandoned back then. It’s just because it’s freezing in winter now, and I’m afraid the princess won’t be able to withstand the cold air on the Yellow River, so I walked through Hangu Pass.”
Speaking of this, Li Ye said calmly: "After I returned, the army abandoned Hangu Pass. I don't care about this pass."