The mountain road that followed was very steep, bumpier than riding on a carriage. I was prepared for it, but the man behind me kept holding me hard and used his body to soften the impact of the bumps. When the horse climbed up

When walking on a steep mountain road, I can always feel his thick chest pressing against me and hugging me tightly. When the horse dives down, I can also feel his hands tightly wrapped around my waist to prevent me from having any pain.

Danger of falling forward.

Along the way, I am not sad.

But I know that he who protects me like this must be more miserable than those galloping around, or anyone else.

The wind blew on the white gauze around the curtain hat, and it touched my cheeks one after another. It was a little cold and a little ****, but I was always silent.

When we got off the carriage, it was already noon on the second day. We got on the horse and galloped for another day, only taking a short rest for two or three hours. Finally, on the afternoon of the third day, we arrived at Jiujiangkou.

At this time, the sky was full of dark clouds, as if they were going to crush the whole world. The wind was so strong that the dead grass all over the mountains and fields rustled, and they fell to the ground. Pei Yuan repaired his horse and carefully lifted me off the horse.

After taking it and leaving his arms, I immediately felt a chill that was so intense that I shivered. Only then did I really feel that this winter might not be over yet.

When I looked up, I saw the dark mountain col ahead.

The road here is even more dangerous, and the horse can no longer go up. You can even vaguely see arrows inserted diagonally in several places on the way up the mountain, shining coldly in the wind.

Before we dismounted, someone was already stationed here. When those who were marching first saw Pei Yuanxiu, they immediately came over. Pei Yuanxiu supported me with one hand and turned to them: "How is the situation?"

A man dressed as a deputy general replied: "Sir, they are still unwilling to let me go."

As soon as I heard this, my heart sank.

Pei Yuanxiu held my hand tightly and said calmly: "Have you found out who those people are?"

"My subordinates sent people to the surrounding prefectures and counties to inquire about it. I heard that these people were originally rogue bandits and were causing trouble everywhere in the Jiujiang area. However, because of their large numbers and the terrain here, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack, the government sent people

After several rounds of sieges, there was no way to clear them out. They had to make a fuss for a while and the government fought for a while. I heard that that was their home base."

"Besides these messages, what have you done?"

"Ah?"

The man froze for a moment and was speechless. Pei Yuanxiu said with a cold face: "But a bandit was able to hijack the escorting lady. You have been here for a day and you have made no achievements."<

/p>

His voice was calm and not angry, but when those around him heard this, they all fell to their knees and said hurriedly: "Young Master, please forgive me!"

Seeing this scene, I could only gently pull his sleeve: "Young Master..."

His face was light, but it gave people a sense of oppression without anger. But when he turned to me, the corners of his eyes softened, and he said softly: "What's wrong?" I saw those people kneeling on the ground, and just

Can help them say: "Everything happens for a reason. Master, don't blame them. First find out what is going on, and then talk about it."

Pei Yuanxiu relaxed his breath, nodded to me, then turned around and said: "Everyone, get up."

"Thank you, Mr. Xie, Mrs. Qingying."

Although I begged for mercy for those people, I didn't feel relaxed at all. I was just a little surprised by what he said just now.

I haven't seen Li'er these days, but since Yao Lao is here, I still talk to him often. I listen to him talk about some things about Li'er's childhood. I can feel from his words that Pei Yuanxiu loves Li'er very much, and every day he loves Li'er.

If I have free time throughout the year, I will personally send her to the temple to observe the fast. Even if I can't go, the people who accompany Li'er are carefully selected to protect her.

This time, these people were robbed by a group of bandits, which was quite unexpected. What was even more unexpected was that Pei Yuanxiu had already sent troops over. It could be seen along the way that these people behaved in a measured and strict manner.

, they are well-trained soldiers, but they can't deal with a group of bandits!

The situation seems to be more complicated than I thought before.

I held my hat and walked slowly forward for a few steps. Looking up along the mountain road, I saw a steep mountain wall. Rocks that fell from high places blocked the surrounding roads. There was only a narrow passage through which I could pass.

According to military strategists, such a road is easy to defend but difficult to attack. One man can pass a pass that cannot be opened by ten thousand men. It is no wonder that they have made no achievements. If they want to ensure the safety of Li'er and others, they must not dare to attack by force, but they must be smart.

Such a path is really not our way out.

I became more and more anxious, so I turned around and walked back and said, "Can I talk to them?"

I have not forgotten the money that Pei Yuanxiu prepared before setting off. If these bandits wanted money, it would be too easy.

The deputy general said hurriedly: "We also tried to talk to those people, but the people inside didn't want to talk to us at all."

"Oh?"

"The person we sent to talk to him was shot and wounded as soon as he arrived at the intersection."

When Pei Yuanxiu heard this, he frowned.

I also felt uneasy in my heart.

We all know how ordinary bandits behave, and it’s just one word - money!

If they knew Li'er's identity and knew that they could get a large amount of money by kidnapping her, then the matter would be easy to handle, but now it seems that those people are not doing it for money.

What on earth do rogues who don’t care about money do?

I didn't expect that when I got here, I would reach a deadlock.

The wind in the mountains was very strong, causing my clothes to rustle in the wind, and even my curtains and hat were almost blown away several times. Pei Yuanxiu stood behind me to block the wind, and then said: "Have you sent anyone?"

Take a detour from the side and see what's going on inside?"

"Back to the young master, this mountain wall is too long for our people to get around. Therefore, I plan to send another person in."

"Who?"

"I heard that this group of bandits is also divided into two teams. One team is in charge of the mountain road, and the leader is called Shanhu; the other team is in charge of the waterway, and the leader is called Shuilong. The subordinates of Shuilong have sent people to arrest him and are on the way, ready to let him

Go open a road and lead our people into the mountains."

"Oh."

I heard that there was a way, so I was not too anxious, so I waited with Pei Yuanxiu. I just thought that what they wanted to catch was the leader of the water bandits here, and it was not that easy after all. But after waiting for a while, I heard the sound of the mountain road behind me.

There was a loud noise, and when I looked back, I saw a group of people escorting a group of people walking towards here. The two leading generals escorted a thin man and quickly walked up to Pei Yuanxiu.
p>

"Sir, this is the leader of the water bandits, Shui Long!"

Pei Yuanxiu was standing with his hands behind his hands, looking at the mountain road above. After hearing these words, he slowly turned around.

That one is what I just mentioned, the leader of the bandits on the waterway, Shui Long.

This man was only in his thirties. He was thin and looked more like a loach in the water than a water dragon. He had a mustache at the corner of his mouth and a pair of round mouse eyes. He looked like a thief elf at first glance.

He did not resist when he was arrested, and his attitude was extremely submissive. Especially when he was taken here, when he saw Pei Yuanxiu in front of the camp, he immediately fell to the ground and begged for mercy. He only said that he had blind eyes and could not recognize Mount Tai, and he did not know where he contradicted the noble man's words.
p>

It seems that he also knows that he has stepped on a brick wall.

I watched from the side, and although I felt relieved, I was somewhat shocked.

I don't know how powerful this water dragon is, but from what the deputy general just said, he is also the leader of a water bandit. He can deal with people in the government for such a long time, and his strength should not be underestimated; and Pei Yuanxiu's people

He was able to clear out his lair and capture everyone within two days, which shows how powerful his naval force is!

Recalling the navy camps on the south bank of the Yangtze River, I feel even more heavy in my heart.

But at the moment, he couldn't think too much. Listening to the sound of water dragons begging for mercy, Pei Yuanxiu didn't have a good look on such people. He only said coldly: "Let me ask you, is the bandit leader in this mountain, named Shan Hu, the same as Shan Hu?"

Are you a brother?"

"Yes, yes." Shui Long said hurriedly: "The younger one knows him."

"How much do you know about what he did?"

"Sir, I share the land and water routes with him. I really don't know what he does."

"Then you are still brothers?"

"Hey, sir, brothers on the road, isn't that just a sentence?" Shuilong raised his head and smiled flatteringly: "I have had a little friendship with him, but in the past six months or so, we have been doing our own thing.

Damn it, he doesn’t interact with the little one very much. Originally, our approach was different. If we don’t interact with each other, we won’t be in the way of anyone. What he did this time, the little one really doesn’t know anything about it!”
p>

"Oh?"

"Every small sentence is true, don't dare to tell a lie."

Pei Yuanxiu raised his head and glanced at me. I didn't say anything, just biting my lower lip gently.

Although Shuilong is cunning, he can see that what he just said is at least 90% true. What Shanhu did is really a bit strange.

I thought about it and stepped forward and said, "If we ask you to go in and talk to Shanhu, can you do it?"

"Yes, yes, of course!" Shuilong nodded and said hurriedly: "Madam, just tell me what you want to say. Although I am not familiar with him, I can still say a few words."
p>

Pei Yuanxiu narrowed his eyes slightly and said: "Go in and tell him that as long as he is willing to let go of the robbery, I will agree to him no matter what conditions he wants. But if he hurts anyone even a little bit -"

At this point, his slightly narrowed eyes showed a cold light: "I will make him regret it!"

As soon as he said these words, even a person like Shui Long shuddered.

After being stunned for a long time, Shuilong stammered: "Little...little, little one knows."
To be continued...