At noon, cicadas started chirping on the forest road outside Tangjiang City, making people's ears hurt with the noise.
Xue Tong wiped the dust and smoke from his face, looking around with wolf-like eyes from time to time. Behind him, there were more than 20 officers and soldiers, all carrying swords and armor, riding fierce horses.
The fierce horse was donated by the four major households and was regarded as an extra gift. Of course, Xue Tong had no intention of repaying it in the first place.
"Xue Tou, there is a military officer who died in battle ahead." A scout riding back, his voice suddenly dropped.
Military position is the name given to friendly troops in the military camp.
The only ones who dare to kill the officers and soldiers are those knights.
Xue Tong frowned and did not go to check the situation. There was not much time. In these two or three days, he must kill the young master to get this wealth.
"More, how far is Changjia Town?"
"Xue Tou, there are still more than fifty miles."
Taking out the wine gourd from the saddle mattress, Xue Tong raised his head and took a sip to quench his thirst, then looked forward with a cold face.
"Emergency march!"
More than twenty officers and soldiers on horseback were galloping on horseback in the direction of Changjia Town.
…
The scorching sun at noon seemed to burn every inch of skin and flesh on the body.
After drinking a few mouthfuls of water, Xu Mu calmed down.
"Zhou Zun, how far is it?"
"Master, it's less than twenty miles away."
Xu Mu nodded. Going to Changjia Town was not to seek refuge, but to stay in a place for turnover.
"My boss, my horse is gone."
The sun was so hot for several hours that even humans, let alone horses, couldn't stand it.
"Si Hu, drive the carriage into the woods and wait for a while."
Several horses were really running to death and it was too late to cry.
"Brother Mu, okay, there are a lot of people."
Xu Mu was startled, and then he stuck his head out of the carriage, his eyes suddenly tightened.
In the small forest, there were at least a dozen men, hiding on tree branches or huddled in tree holes... When they saw Xu Mu and the others coming in, their faces were full of fear.
"My boss is trying to avoid trouble. These people probably have young and old at home. They are afraid of being caught and don't dare to run too far."
Those in the city may be better, and there will be more or less notices posted.
However, if those in the countryside do not escape, they will have to wait until a disaster strikes and the officials will hit their heads with sentry sticks to knock them unconscious and tie their bodies, and they will have no choice but to die at the border crossing two thousand miles away.
"Si Hu, push the car farther away and don't disturb others."
Si Hu's face was gloomy and full of unwillingness. According to his temperament, he should have rebelled against his mother.
"Don't panic, everyone. We are also people trying to avoid disaster. Don't be surprised if we pass by here."
"Zhou Zun, leave a bag of grain."
According to Xu Mu's wishes, the carriage carried not only a few bags of rice grains, but also some emergency items.
Several poor villagers hesitantly dragged back the grain bags.
After resting in the woods for half an hour, Xu Mu got back on the carriage.
"Everyone, this is not a blessed place. If you still have the strength, you might as well go a few miles further and avoid the mountains."
More than a dozen villagers remained silent, hugging their bodies and hiding again.
Xu Mu sighed deeply, God was unfair, and in this world, just living in peace became a luxury.
"Si Hu, let's drive."
It was getting close to dusk, and the sudden chirping of cicadas finally subsided. The cool breeze blew through the dense forest, making people's hair dangle.
The carriage ran over thorny grass and followed the winding forest road. In a short time, it reached half a mile.
…
Click.
At dusk, Xue Tong raised the knife in his hand and stabbed it into the chest of a white-robed young man in front of him.
The young man in white robe had a resolute expression on his face and his mouth was spitting blood, but even so, he remained cold and silent.
"Xiaer? Saving the country and the people, how majestic it is!" Xue Tong laughed angrily and stabbed the knife several times until the white-robed young man no longer had the strength to hold himself up and collapsed softly.
Taking the wine gourd, Xue Tong pretended to take half a sip, sprayed it on the blade, put his two fingers together, and coldly wiped away the blood.
"Thank you all for the military positions. These bullshit heroes claim to be saving the country and the people, but in the final analysis, they are just a bunch of rabble."
"Xue Dutou is the infantry instructor in the Protectorate Camp, and he is indeed very skilled."
Xue Tong didn't say anything, and there was a feeling of irritation in his heart. But when he encountered officers and soldiers being ambushed by Xia'er on the way, he couldn't ignore it.
In front of him, the five heroes were all stabbed to death, and they were too dead to die.
"The mountains and rivers are foggy and rainy..."
tread.
Xue Tong took a few steps forward angrily, raised his cloud-headed boots, and crushed a knight's head.
"Fellow military officers, please take your leave."
After grinding away the blood stains on his boots, Xue Tong got on his horse, led the more than twenty riders behind him, and galloped forward again.
"Xue Tou, there is someone in the forest!" A mounted scout who ran near a forest road and made inquiries first rode his horse to report back.
Xue Tong looked ecstatic and took the lead to rush into the woods. When he saw the men fleeing from trouble, he hurriedly took out the picture scroll of Xiao Dong's family from his arms.
After a comparison, the whole person became angry and embarrassed.
A villager turned around to run away, but Xue Tong immediately flew his bow, piercing his chest and leaving his body lying on the grass.
"Tell me! Have you ever seen this person?"
Unfolding the scroll, Xue Tong's voice roared loudly. There was a stuttering man who only hesitated to speak before he slashed him with a knife and half of his body was stained red.
"I, I've seen it before."
"This person went to the north of Lin Road and threw a bag of grain..."
Putting away the scroll, Xue Tong showed a rare smile.
"Don't be afraid, fellow villagers. We are all focused on catching the thief. Please stay safe. If you hide for three days, you will be fine."
"Remember not to run around. There are many officials outside. If you catch them, they will be killed."
More than a dozen people did not dare to say anything, and they all hung their heads and trembled.
Xue Tong led the men out of the forest, slowed down his horse's hooves, and his tone became funny.
"Light the dung smoke and ask the nearby military officers to come and get the people. Untouchables are untouchables, and death is not a pity."
Raising his head, Xue Tong stared at the forest road ahead. The faint marks of the wheel could still be seen.
For a moment, his expression suddenly became ecstatic again.
"Emergency march!"
A group of birds on the roadside of the forest were so frightened that they flew into the sky and fled in a hurry.
…
Winding forest road.
Sitting on the carriage, Xu Mu frowned and raised his head, looking at the line of birds passing by in the sky.
The forest is frightened and birds fly.
After waving away the smoke and dust raised by the wheels, Xu Mu looked back and looked for a long time before turning back in silence.
"My boss is less than ten miles away from Changjia Town."
"Faster, hurry up the horse."
After passing Changjia Town, there are wild mountains and forests. At worst, we can spend a few days in the woods, wait until the matter of catching young men subsides, and then go out of the mountains and return to the city.
Chat——
The forest was startled by birds flying, and another line of birds hurriedly passed overhead, flying farther and farther against the sky that was about to droop.
"My boss, it's still early in the day. We will definitely be able to reach Changjia Town today."
"That's not what I meant." Xu Mu stuck his head out of the carriage again, his face suddenly turned cold.
Forest birds flying for no apparent reason must be caused by something evil.
"Si Hu, hurry up the horse."
Turning around, Xu Mu simply took off his sword and held it in his arms.
I raised my head and wherever I looked, I saw a panic-stricken sunset starting to fall to the west.