Chapter 454: Shanyang Shock
Chapter 454: Shanyang Shock (Part )
At two o'clock in the morning, an army of more than a thousand people rushed towards Shanyang County. The leader was about thirty years old, very strong, with scars all over his face and a fierce look. He was Miao Haichao, the fierce bandit from Donghai County.
The remnants of the Yimeng Mountains extend southward to Donghai County, forming a hilly area of more than 300 miles in the west of Donghai County. This hilly area is also the border between Donghai County and Xia Pi County. Miao Haichao led more than a thousand bandits to occupy the mountain and become the king.
Miao Haichao usually did not harass the county town or kill people indiscriminately. At most, he robbed women and food, which had little impact. Therefore, both Xia Pi County and Donghai County turned a blind eye to him and regarded him as a bandit from the neighboring county.
Miao Haichao had always wanted to make something big, but he never had the chance until more than ten days ago, when he received news that a grain transport fleet was anchored on the canal outside Shanyang Mountain City. The ships were fully loaded with grain, at least hundreds of thousands of kilograms, and had no guards at all. Miao Haichao knew that his chance had come.
He immediately found his uncle Miao Zhi, who was the county magistrate of Shanyang County. When Miao Haichao killed someone, it was Miao Zhi who helped cover his escape. The uncle and nephew had a very good relationship. Miao Haichao knew that his uncle had always wanted to set up a fleet. It happened that he was a bandit and had no use for these hundreds of ships, so he simply gave them to his uncle as a favor, on the condition that he could delay reporting to his superiors. As long as his uncle helped him delay for two days, he would be able to deal with all the food and ships.
The uncle and nephew hit it off and agreed to take action tonight. Unexpectedly, his men at the Sanhe Town contact point just told him that Magistrate Miao asked him to postpone the action for three days.
Miao Zhi's problem was that he overestimated his influence and thought that if he sent a message, his nephew would listen to him and cancel the action.
How could it be possible? He didn't know that Miao Haichao had more than a thousand men and dozens of leaders, all of whom were waiting to get rich tonight. Could Miao Zhi cancel the operation with just one word? He was thinking too simply.
Before three o'clock in the morning, Miao Haichao led more than a thousand people and ran to the canal full of hope, but the scene before them stunned them.
The canal, which was originally full of grain ships, was now empty. Where did the ships go?
Miao Haichao was puzzled and ordered, "Go find the grain ship!"
More than a dozen gangsters went to look for him separately.
Soon, several of his men captured a dock manager. Miao Haichao grabbed his collar, pressed a dagger to his neck, and asked viciously, "Where did the hundreds of grain ships go?"
The dock manager was so frightened that his legs were shaking. He said tremblingly: "They have already returned to Jiangdu!"
"what!"
Miao Haichao was furious and slashed with the dagger in his hand. Blood spurted out immediately. The dock manager fell to the ground and struggled. After a while, he kicked his legs and died.
Miao Haichao felt a little annoyed. He killed the man before he even asked clearly when the fleet left. But no matter how annoyed he was, he would never admit it.
He glanced at everyone. No one said a word. They were obviously dissatisfied. The New Year was almost here, but they were tricked and got nothing.
Miao Haichao was well aware of the consequences of offending his men. He looked back at the county town, made up his mind, and said to everyone, "Since we're already here, how can we go back empty-handed? Charge into the county town and grab a lot of shit before leaving!"
The bandit leaders were overjoyed. Their dissatisfaction at being left empty-handed was immediately swept away. They all expressed their support, "Big brother eats the meat, we drink the soup. Let's grab a handful and take it back just in time for the New Year!"
Miao Haichao waved his hand and everyone started to act. They cut down several tall pine trees, placed them on the moat, crossed the moat directly, stood the pine trees upright, and climbed up to the top of the city wall using the pine trees.
The county town wall was not high, only two meters, and there were no defenders. There was only a night watchman beating a drum and two yamen runners on duty in the tower.
Soon, dozens of bandits climbed up to the top of the city wall, rushed into the tower, and hacked to death two sleeping yamen runners and night watchmen. They rushed down the city, opened the city gate, and lowered the drawbridge.
More than a thousand bandits had been itching to get in. As soon as the city gate opened, they rushed into the city one after another, and the county town was suddenly filled with cries and shouts.
"Young Master, wake up!"
Xiao Xia was pushed awake by Zhang Qiao while he was sleeping. He opened his eyes in a daze and saw Zhang Qiao's anxious face. He was about to ask something when he suddenly heard faint crying.
He was startled and quickly sat up and asked, "What happened?"
"Bandits have entered the city, at least one or two thousand of them."
Xiao Xia was immediately furious, and stood up and ordered, "Put on your armor!"
Two guards ran in with armor. Zhang Qiao took the armor and said, "Let me do it! You go wake up the others." The two guards ran to call for help. Zhang Qiao put on the armor for Xiao Xia. Xiao Xia drew his sword and said, "Let's go out and take a look!"
He carried no long weapons, only a sword.
The two men walked out of the gate quickly and saw flames rising to the sky in the west city and cries of grief. At this time, the personal guard captain Wang Zhen rushed out with 300 soldiers, each of them wearing armor and holding a spear.
Wang Zhen handed a large knife to Xiao Xia, "Your Highness, this is a weapon found in the VIP hotel. It is probably left behind by the emperor's guards."
Xiao Xia took the broadsword, which was a typical Qianniuwei long-handled three-pointed double-edged sword, weighing about fifty kilograms. It was a little light for Xiao Xia, but he could still use it.
He took another short spear and handed it to Zhang Qiao, "Follow me later, don't leave my side!"
Zhang Qiao nodded and took the short spear. After her aunt passed away, she returned to Qingcheng Mountain to practice martial arts. She had mastered the one-handed short crossbow to perfection and could hit the target every time within fifty steps.
Everyone mounted their horses. Xiao Xia gave a low shout, galloped out, and led three hundred personal soldiers straight to the west city gate. The streets were full of terrified civilians, carrying their wives and children, not caring about their property, and desperately fled towards the county government office in the north.
"Quickly open!"
The guards shouted, and the people on the street dodged. The three hundred cavalrymen galloped all the way and soon reached the west city.
There were corpses lying in pools of blood everywhere on the streets of West City, looted property piled on the ground, and more than a dozen bandits each pinned a woman to the ground and raped her. The women were crying and screaming desperately.
Xiao Xia was furious. He rode his horse at lightning speed and swung his sword. The three bandits were caught off guard and their heads flew more than ten feet away.
The other bandits were horrified and turned to flee with their lower bodies naked. How could Xiao Xia let them escape? He rushed forward and killed seven of them with his sword. The other three were about to escape into the alley when three short crossbow arrows were shot out like lightning and hit the three men in the back of the neck. The crossbow arrows pierced their throats and they fell to the ground and died instantly.
"What a quick technique!"
Xiao Xia turned around and praised. Accurate archery is one thing, but the key is the fast stringing speed. The intervals between the three arrows are very short. If you don't pay attention, you would think they were shot at the same time. This is the skill that comes from repeated practice.
At this time, countless bandits heard the screams and rushed out. Xiao Xia ordered sternly: "Kill without mercy!"
"kill--"
The three hundred royal guards roared and charged at the bandits with their spears raised. Although these bandits were cruel, they were only cruel to the common people. They were no match for the most elite cavalry. In just a few moments, they were killed and screamed for their parents. Countless people were killed or injured.
At this time, seeing His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin leading his troops to kill the bandits, Xu Yan, a military officer of the Household Department, also led dozens of neighboring men to fight back against the bandits. This immediately formed a leader effect, and the people who had been killed like sheep also began to look for weapons to resist.
All the men in the city were mobilized, and they took out their hoes and hatchets to join the battle. They worked in groups of dozens, searching for the bandits everywhere and fighting desperately. The remaining bandits were so scared that they didn't want money or women and rushed to the city gate to escape.
But they no longer had a chance. County lieutenant Tian Guangshen led dozens of constables to pull up the drawbridge and close the city gate.
The streets were littered with corpses. The bandits who fled to the city gate were intercepted and surrounded by the cavalry without exception. Xiao Xia led her army to kill them mercilessly. Zhang Qiao hid behind Xiao Xia and shot the bandits with a short crossbow. Her arrows never missed their targets. Soon, all thirty crossbow arrows were used up. Thirty bandits died under her arrows, and each of them had an arrow shot through the throat.
More than half of the bandits had been killed. The others knelt on the ground and kowtowed desperately for surrender, but without exception, they were stabbed in the chest by spears from Xiao Xia's men.
Similarly, bandits who fled into the city were beaten to death by angry citizens.
But the bandit leader Miao Haichao disappeared.
At this time, the county lieutenant Tian Guangshen stepped forward and saluted His Highness, saying, "I heard a rumor before that County Magistrate Miao has a nephew who became a bandit leader in Donghai County. This bandit group came from Donghai County. Could it be related to County Magistrate Miao?"
Xiao Xia immediately ordered: "Go to the county government office!"
(End of this chapter)