The stronghold was backed by a green mountain with steep cliffs on both sides. Behind it was a mountain peak that pierced through the clouds. With Yang Fan's eyesight, he could tell at a glance that the stronghold was easy to defend and hard to attack. If a stone fortress was built here, with enough food and soldiers, even an army of a hundred thousand would have a hard time taking it down.
But it was easier said than done. The stronghold was not big and it was not an important military location. It did not have the ability to build a stone fortress, nor was it necessary to spend generations to build a stone fortress. The walls of the stronghold were built with bamboo, wood, and earth according to the terrain of the mountain. It was not very tall, and its main purpose was to prevent wild beasts from entering.
Yang Fan thought of the girls he had seen with their backs against the water. He guessed that there was no running water in this stronghold that was built on a high mountain. Without a water source, no matter how sturdy the fortress was, no matter how much food and soldiers there were inside, it would not be able to defend it for long.
The stronghold gate was made of wood and was very rough. It was not even planed flat. It could be seen that the gate had just been repaired. Walking into the stronghold, one could see that many of the houses were half-collapsed in ashes. There were charred beams and blackened walls. It was obvious that this place had just suffered a military disaster not long ago.
Some of the commoners were cleaning up the rubble. The atmosphere in the stronghold was a little oppressive. When they saw someone carrying a large net back with a person wrapped in it like a fish, they did not have any special reactions. They only glanced at him indifferently and then continued with their own work.
Yang Fan grabbed the rough net with both hands and looked at the situation in the stronghold. An indescribable anger filled his chest.
He was carried to a large hall that was still in good condition. There were many marks of knives and axes on the pillars of the hall. A beam that could only be reached by climbing a ladder had a few bamboo arrows stuck in it. It seemed like there was no time to clean them up. From the remnants of the scene, one could imagine how intense the battle had been.
Yang Fan was released from the net. Of course, before he was untied, his hands and feet were tied up tightly with beef tendons like a pig's trotters. Then, he was hung upside down on the beam with a rope.
Yang Fan did not resist. Since the other party had carried him back, his life was temporarily safe. As long as he could see their chief and explain the situation, he believed that the situation would immediately change.
There were no walls in the hall, so it was quite cool to be inside. The only flaw was that there was no wine to serve the guests. Yang Fan was hung upside down in the hall, like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. A burly man with a hint of hostility between his brows slowly walked in front of him, coldly sizing him up.
The man asked, "Who are you? You know our Miss Xun Er? "
Yang Fan said, "That's right! I … am Miss Xun Er's friend. I'm not a spy sent by Huang Jingrong. I'm here to see your chief. I have something important to discuss with him. "
"Our chief has died in battle! There's no chief here now. If you have something to say, say it to me! "
The burly man's voice was a little gloomy. When Yang Fan heard this, his heart sank. He had already understood the power structure of the tribes in the Yaozhou region. At the rank of chief, it was not hereditary. The chief was a highly respected clansman elected by the people of the village. After being confirmed by the chief or headman, he would become the chief of the village.
If the original chief had died, before the chief or headman confirmed it, no one in the village would dare to call themselves the chief and take charge of the affairs of the village. That would be looking down on the chief. Since the person in front of him had come out to ask him questions, he should be someone with some prestige in the village. However, it was impossible for him to have the authority to interfere with official matters.
Yang Fan frowned and said, "Then, can you get in touch with your chief? My matter is very important. It concerns the survival of your tribe. This matter can only be discussed with your chief. I can't tell you the details. "
The burly man seemed to have heard an absurd joke and laughed loudly. "Do you know how busy our chief is right now? Do you know how much work we have to do in our village? Just because of one word from you, I have to invite the chief to see you. Or even travel through mountains and rivers to send you to see the chief? "
The burly man pulled out a sharp short knife from his waist and said coldly, "If you really have something important to say, then say it immediately. Otherwise, I won't waste my breath with you. I'll kill you with one slash and throw you into the ravine to feed the wolves! "
"I'm a friend of your Miss Xun Er!"
The burly man laughed coldly. "You think I'll believe you just because you say it? How could Miss Xun Er know you? Even I've only seen her twice … "
As the two were talking, a pretty girl walked in with a water basket on her back. She put down the basket and poured a ladle of water. She said to the burly man, "Brother Qingshan, drink some water."
As the girl spoke, she glanced at Yang Fan and suddenly let out a soft cry. She cried out involuntarily, "How come it's you?"
The person she called Brother Qingshan looked at her with a sharp gaze and asked, "You know him?"
The girl nodded and said, "Yes, he passed by here a few days ago and asked us for directions."
Brother Qingshan immediately asked, "How many people were with him and what was he wearing?"
The girl said, "He was alone. He was wearing clothes for traveling and even had a saddle bag. He asked us for directions to Yao State City."
Brother Qingshan looked at Yang Fan again. Although there was still some suspicion in his eyes, his voice had already softened. "You really aren't one of Huang Jingrong's people or the lackey of Wenhao and Yun Xuan? Then tell me, what is it? "
Yang Fan hesitated for a moment and said, "This is very important! There cannot be too many people involved. Do you really want to hear it? "
Brother Qingshan frowned slightly and said, "Don't be deliberately mystifying. What is your identity?"
Yang Fan said in a deep voice, "I am an imperial envoy! An imperial envoy sent by the imperial court! "
"What!"
The able-bodied men who were scattered all around immediately rushed forward and glared at Yang Fan with hatred in their eyes. "Huang Jingrong and I are not on the same side. I'm here to supervise his actions in Jiannan!" Yang Fan said with a deep voice.
Just as the burly man was feeling bewildered, he suddenly heard a clear female voice calling out, "Gao Qingshan!"
Brother Qingshan looked up and his face lit up with joy. He hurriedly led his men forward and greeted respectfully, "Young Miss!"
Yang Fan was tied up in the air and could not see what was happening behind him. He only heard the female voice say, "Father, Elder Brother, and the other headmen are busy and could not send anyone over in time. They asked me to bring some men to help guard the village. Has your chief died in battle?"
Gao Qingshan grunted in response. The female voice said loudly, "What are you looking so dejected for? Who doesn't die? Whoever killed our men will be punished with weapons! Who is this person? Is he one of Wenhao and Yun Xuan's soldiers? "
Gao Qingshan said, "No, this person passed through our territory and was captured by us. At first, he said that he knew you and I scared him with a knife. He then said that he is an imperial envoy from the Great Zhou and has important matters to discuss with our Chieftain. I am not sure which part of his words is true. I am currently interrogating him. "
"Oh?"
Yang Fan heard the rustling of footsteps and from the corner of his eye, he saw a pretty figure. The lady slowly turned to face him. Yang Fan's limbs were dangling in the air in a ridiculous manner. His eyes followed the figure of the lady and when their eyes met, Yang Fan cried out in surprise, "Miss Xun Er!"
This lady was Xun Er. She was dressed in a white blouse, a red waistcoat, blue pants, and white shoes. She was clean and pretty and she wore a crescent white hat with a white tassel hanging down her shoulders. She was as beautiful as a mountain spring. Holding onto her horsewhip, she looked at Yang Fan in astonishment. After a long while, she exclaimed, "It's you?"
Gao Qingshan asked, "Miss, do you really know him?"
Xun Er looked at Yang Fan and then at Gao Qingshan. She used her horsewhip to lightly tap Yang Fan's shoulder and asked, "You said he is an imperial envoy from the Great Zhou?"
Gao Qingshan said, "He said it himself."
Xun Er snorted and raised her little Yao nose. She said in disdain, "Imperial envoy? Pah! This is a swindler, a big swindler who goes around swindling people … "
"What?"
Gao Qingshan was furious. He drew his knife and said, "I will kill him!"
"Slow down, slow down!"
Xun Er used the tip of her whip to gently push Gao Qingshan's knife away. She smiled at Yang Fan and said, "Big swindler, you are quite daring. You didn't get any benefits from my sister-in-law and you actually came to Yaozhou to swindle people. In Yaozhou, you are a fugitive. In Yaozhou, you become an imperial envoy. That is incredible. If you continue to head south, won't you become the Emperor when you reach Nanzhao? "
Yang Fan smiled bitterly and said, "Miss Xun Er, I really am an imperial envoy from the Great Zhou."
"Shut up!"
Xun Er glared at him. Her little nose wrinkled up. "Will you die if you don't brag? Looking at you, I know that you are not someone sent by Huang Jingrong. You are afraid that you will be killed by the people in the stronghold. That is why you are speaking nonsense, right? Alright, alright. Stop pretending. Seeing that you are acquainted with my sister-in-law, I will not make things difficult for you. "
Xun Er waved her little hand and ordered Gao Qingshan, "Put him down first. This is a swindler who goes around swindling food and drinks. He is not someone extraordinary."
"Yes!"
Gao Qingshan replied. He waved his hand and four strong men came forward to untie Yang Fan. Yang Fan's feet landed on the ground. His hands were still tied behind his back. He said to Xun Er, "Miss Xun Er, to tell you the truth, I am indeed an imperial envoy from the imperial court."
Xun Er handsomely crossed her arms. Her hand stroked her smooth and round chin. She teased, "Oh! So what do you want in coming here, Sir Imperial Envoy? Is it gold or women? Or both? Aren't you Han people all so greedy? Humph! You still dare to talk nonsense. Do you believe that I will not whip you? "
Yang Fan sighed. "The imperial edict is in my belt. If Miss does not believe me, you can take a look."
Xun Er's black eyes turned. She suspiciously said, "Go and untie his belt!"
Yang Fan was now dressed in civilian clothes. His belt was only a sweatband. It was not old. A village guard went forward to untie the sweatband around Yang Fan's waist. He shook his hand and a yellow silk cloth floated down.
The village guard bent down to pick it up and presented it to Xun Er. Xun Er took the yellow silk cloth and looked at it. It was the back. There was an exquisite golden embroidered pattern of two dragons playing with a pearl. Xun Er's expression became serious. She turned the yellow silk cloth over and looked at it carefully. She slowly raised her face. Her pretty face was covered with a layer of frost.
Xun Er said with hostility, "You are indeed from the imperial court. Why did you come to our village?"
At this moment, a shrill shout suddenly rang out in the distance. The entire village was immediately in an uproar. Someone grabbed a spear and ran towards the village wall. As he ran, he shouted, "Enemy attack! Enemy attack! "
Clanging sounds rang out incessantly in the hall as the stockade keepers drew their sabers one after another and surrounded Yang Fan like a pack of vicious wolves!
…
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