"Lieutenant Zhang, what was written on the arrow that Siling shot over earlier?"
Xu Gan suddenly turned to Zhang Lin and asked.
There was a white cloth hanging on the arrow that Bai Siling had shot over. Other than the pills that had helped them immensely, there were also many words written on the white cloth.
However, Zhang Lin didn't mention a single word about the contents of the white cloth.
"This... Sigh, that letter was actually written for me by that lord. I'll show it to you if we manage to escape from here. That lord has instructed me time and time again not to show the letter to anyone other than me. It's written on it how we can escape. That's probably our only way, and also our last chance. "
Zhang Lin said with a bitter smile.
"Oh? Even we are not allowed to see it? "
Xu Gan asked. Even though Zhang Lin didn't say it out loud, Xu Gan knew that the only person whom Zhang Lin could refer to as' that lord 'was probably Wang Chong.
"Un."
Zhang Lin nodded earnestly.
Xu Gan fell silent. A moment later, he seemed to have thought of something, and he subconsciously turned to look at Huang Yongtu. The only reason why Wang Chong would instruct them time and time again not to show the letter was probably Huang Yongtu.
That fellow was probably worried about Huang Yongtu.
"Bastard!"
At the same time, Huang Yongtu also came to a realization. Veins popped up on his forehead, and rage burned in his heart. Even though he didn't say a word, he wasn't deaf.
He didn't miss a single word that Xu Gan and Zhang Lin had said.
"What does that bastard mean by that? Does he not trust me?"
Huang Yongtu's face was flushed red from anger. At a time like this, she actually said that she didn't trust him. How could he endure this?
Be it Zhang Lin or Xu Gan, they wisely turned their heads away, pretending that they hadn't heard Zhang Lin's words at all.
Huang Yongtu and Wang Chong had been at loggerheads along the way.
It was understandable why Wang Chong wouldn't tell him about it.
...
"Lord, what do we do next?"
On the eastern path, Ma Song suddenly asked. His words attracted everyone's attention, and they all looked at Wang Chong, who was at the front of the group.
The stalemate had been going on for quite some time now, but this wasn't enough to save Xu Gan, Huang Yongtu, and the others.
Furthermore, the bandit leader of the Iron Cloak Highwaymen hadn't made a move yet. At the very least, he hadn't made a move against them yet.
"It would be great if we could spread the news."
Another ten-man squad leader said.
"It's useless. The capital is very far from here, and even the nearest garrison is three to four days away. If we wait until then, it will be too late. "
Bai Siling was the one who spoke. She immediately rejected the ten-man squad leader's idea.
"In other words, we can only rely on ourselves to save them now."
"Siling is right. The other party even shot down the pigeon sent by the imperial court as soon as possible. Their goal was to prevent us from spreading the news. They won't let us have that chance. "
Wang Chong frowned.
In order to prevent all kinds of cheating, before the mission was completed, no one was allowed to bring in any kind of communication device.
As a result, when Wang Chong and the others were in danger, they were unable to communicate with the outside world at all.
Moreover, the road to the west had always been the most remote, desolate, and unfrequented mountain range. Apart from the occasional traveling merchant, there were even fewer people who came here.
If not for the fact that it was far away from the royal court, there wouldn't have been so many bandits and highwaymen in the first place.
In other words, the only hope they had to save Xu Gan and the others was the forty-two of them!
"... Furthermore, that isn't what I'm most concerned about. There's something else that I'm more worried about. "
Wang Chong said with a deep voice.
"What is it?"
Those words made everyone's heart tighten, and they turned to look at Wang Chong.
"Do you feel anything?"
Bai Siling asked uneasily.
At this moment, Wang Chong was the anchor of the entire army. If even he was feeling uneasy, the others would be even more so. Before today, Bai Siling would have never imagined that she, along with forty veteran cavalrymen of the Tang dynasty, Xu Gan, Huang Yongtu, and the others, would place their hopes on a young man much younger than them.
But everything had happened just like that.
Regardless of whether it was her or the others, no one felt that anything was amiss.
"Siling, why do you think Iron Cloak Li isn't making a move?"
Wang Chong suddenly asked.
"Ah!"
Bai Siling was taken aback. For a moment, she found herself unable to keep up with Wang Chong's thoughts.
"Given the current situation, we might not be able to save Xu Gan, Huang Yongtu, and the others, but Iron Cloak Li and the others won't be able to deal with us either. The reason why we aren't in a hurry is because we can at least pin down the bulk of their strength and protect Xu Gan, Huang Yongtu, and the others. But why isn't Iron Cloak Li in a hurry?
"Given their strength, they could have easily devoured Xu Gan, Huang Yongtu, and the others. Even though they would have to pay a price, it's still within their means. But they chose not to do so. That's because they want to use Xu Gan, Huang Yongtu, and the others to pin us down.
"If Xu Gan, Huang Yongtu, and the others were to die, we would have retreated immediately. But now that we are here, why isn't he making a move? "
With his back facing Bai Siling, Wang Chong's gaze pierced through space to look at the bandit chief and the military advisor on the boulder behind the bandits and highwaymen.
To be able to control so many bandits and highwaymen and make them work for him, there was no doubt about Iron Cloak Li's capability.
Furthermore, to be able to mobilize the bandits and highwaymen who had relied on him so effectively when he had just charged in and crushed their frontlines, the military advisor was able to react in a timely and effective manner. On top of that, he was able to see through the fact that the cavalrymen were unable to traverse through the mountain slope and mobilize the bandits and highwaymen to flank him from both sides to counter his cavalrymen.
Facing such an opponent, Wang Chong couldn't afford to underestimate them.
If he were to underestimate them, it would only lead to his own defeat and an unacceptable outcome.
"You mean..."
Hearing Wang Chong's words, Bai Siling also frowned. She seemed to have thought of something as well.
"Tell me, let's see if we share the same thoughts!"
Wang Chong said grimly. A storm seemed to be brewing between his brows.
"The reason why they aren't making a move yet is because they are waiting for an opportunity to crush us completely?"
Bai Siling probed.
"Un."
Wang Chong nodded solemnly.
"That's what I'm thinking as well. Those Iron Cloak Highwaymen are too calm, to the point that it's ridiculous. If I'm not mistaken, the military advisor of the Iron Cloak Highwaymen must have made some arrangements behind our backs. "
"Then what should we do?"
Bai Siling's face warped in astonishment, and she found it hard to maintain her composure.
Five to six hundred bandits and highwaymen were already difficult to deal with. If they had some sort of trump card up their sleeves, they would be in deep trouble. Perhaps, not only would they be unable to save Xu Gan, Huang Yongtu, and the others, they might even lose their lives.
"It's too late. If I'm not mistaken, they should be nearing the end of their preparations. It's too late for us to retreat now. "
Wang Chong said grimly.
Around them, the sound of the wind surged. The entire army was deathly silent.
The atmosphere was extremely stifling.
This was the first time a regular army of the Tang dynasty had been forced into such a state by bandits and highwaymen. But the predicament they were in was right before them.
No matter how formidable the forty Tang dynasty cavalrymen were, it would be difficult for them to deal with five to six hundred bandits and highwaymen. Not to mention, there were quite a few True Martial realm highwaymen among them.
The difference in numbers was simply too great.
Furthermore, according to Li Cangqi's words, Iron Cloak Li was at least a True Martial realm 5-dan expert. Coupled with his unique 'Iron Cloak Technique', if they were to wait for him to make a move, the situation would be even more perilous.
Seated on the back of the White-hoofed Shadow, countless thoughts flashed across Wang Chong's mind.
Bai Siling knew that Zhang Xuan was deep in thought. Even though she was anxious, she knew that she shouldn't disturb him, so she could only forcefully suppress her emotions.
Time slowly passed, and after an unknown period of time, Bai Siling finally couldn't take it anymore.
"Have you thought of something?"
"There's only one way out of this predicament, and it's also the last and only way."
"What is it?"
Bai Siling asked.
Wang Chong chuckled silently. His gaze swept across the space before him, landing on the Iron Cloak Highwayman chief and the military advisor.
"But before that, we still have some other matters to attend to."
Wang Chong waved his hands, and the forty Tang dynasty cavalrymen immediately retreated around the corner.
"What are they trying to do?"
As soon as Wang Chong left, Iron Cloak Li immediately frowned.
"Could it be possible that they have discovered our plan?"
Iron Cloak Li had traversed the mountains unhindered, and regardless of whether it was merchants or soldiers, he would kill as he pleased without any qualms. But this time, Iron Cloak Li felt as though he was being held back.
The reason was simple. This group of forty soldiers was too threatening to him.
"That shouldn't be possible. I've already instructed them to circle around the mountain ridge. Even a bird wouldn't be alarmed by their presence. It's impossible for them to sense anything from the surroundings. Furthermore, since they are already here, even if they were to sense something, they wouldn't be able to leave so easily. My intuition is that they have only left temporarily, and they aren't too far away either. "
Zhou An said after a moment of contemplation.
"Men, send a scout out to take a look!"
Iron Cloak Li pondered for a moment before waving his hands.
"Yes, lord!"
A highwayman scout quickly acknowledged the order and left.
...
"Damn it, could it be that these fellows sensed danger and abandoned us to escape?"
On the slope, as soon as Wang Chong and Bai Siling made a move, Huang Yongtu couldn't help but curse anxiously.
He wasn't someone who would lose his composure in the first place.
But his life was at stake, and every single action of Wang Chong and the others concerned his life. Thus, Huang Yongtu couldn't help but be alarmed.
Huang Yongtu had never experienced such a dangerous situation since he was born in a large clan and had an illustrious status. Had he known that he would be in such a predicament, he would have never participated in this expedition.
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