Chapter 4: The Siege
Regardless of whether it is Li Mo, Li Qing, or Li Xiaobai, the three brothers have no time to pay attention to how their father and the steward have suddenly become so valiant; they can only follow the second steward and the other servants to carve out a bloody path.
As for those idle companions, by now they have mostly already packed their bags and slipped away, excusing themselves from further company. Who would still be foolish enough to stay and risk their lives alongside this county magistrate, playing a deadly game with ruthless bandits
Although Wu Xiangjun was terrified to the point of losing her color, she pulled down the golden hairpin from her hair and pointed it at her neck, ready to sacrifice her life to preserve her chastity
From time to time, a group of three to five bandits would rush into residential homes, whether they belonged to the wealthy or the poor, and the courtyards would immediately echo with the frenzied, sinister laughter of the criminals and the anguished cries and wails of the homeowners
My lord! There are too many of these fellows, we must hurry and break out, or it will be too late!
The man took out a small black flag, clasped it with both hands, and offered it to the sky. A sinister light shone in his eyes as countless vengeful spirits and ominous winds flew in from every corner of the town, all converging towards this strange little flag
County Magistrate Cui and County Lieutenant Liu exchanged glances, astonished that the notorious band of ruffians led by Old Knife had arrived so swiftly, leaving no time for Xiyan Town to react, as over a thousand marauders stormed into the town
The orange-red flames suddenly surged, transforming the paper bird into a gigantic firebird, which flapped its wings and soared into the sky. It quickly circled above Xiyan Town, showering countless fire rains from the sky, instantly creating numerous spots of flames rising from the ground, accompanied by even more cries and wails.
At that moment, a great clamor of battle cries erupted outside the county office, and the ground trembled slightly, as if thousands of horses were galloping.
Even if there are occasionally unwilling civilians who take up whatever sticks and weapons they can find to resist, how could they possibly stand against seasoned bandits? In the blink of an eye, they are overwhelmed by a flurry of blades and meet an untimely death
Hello!
Outside the Li family mansion, dozens of ox carts filled with wealth naturally became the primary targets of numerous bandits.
Don't let go
Over a thousand fierce bandits breached the pass at Heifengkou, and Xiyan Town was left vulnerable, like a stripped maiden at the mercy of the enemy
A county has only a dozen or so constables, which may be sufficient to deal with local ruffians, but even if we include the retired soldiers from nearby villages who may not be able to wield a knife, they are likely not a match for the seasoned fighters. In fact, even when their numbers are combined, they may not even account for a fraction of the opposing force.
The county magistrate, regardless of being crude or refined, fiercely declared while gripping a fine steel sword: "Gather everyone, let’s fight those bandits!" Beneath the hem of his official robes, his calves trembled uncontrollably; if one did not pay close attention, it would be hard to notice. The ancients were truly clever!
Seeing that the county lieutenant was about to leave the county office to gather the foolishly brave who dared to confront the bandits, County Magistrate Cui quickly called out to him, still harboring a glimmer of hope.
The county office has only a dozen or so constables registered, who can manage to deal with local ruffians and bullies on ordinary days, even if we add in the old soldiers scattered in the villages outside the town, whose ability to wield a knife is uncertain
Stay and die alone, or leave and endanger the whole family; this is a straightforward calculation. Politely, it can be referred to as integrity, but unflatteringly, it is simply being forced into a corner with no options left.
Li Dahu seemed to stroll leisurely, lightly shifting his feet to evade the saber aimed at his neck. He then swiftly sidestepped, closing in on the warhorse that was about to pass by. With a firm grip, he yanked the bandit, who had missed his strike, off the horse, as if he were tossing a chick to the ground with great force. He then stepped forward unhurriedly, and with a crack, the bandit's neck was instantly broken underfoot, leaving him no chance to retaliate, resulting in his immediate demise. He yanked the bandit, who had missed his strike, off the horse, as if he were tossing a chick to the ground with great force. He then stepped forward unhurriedly, and with a crack, the bandit's neck was instantly broken underfoot, leaving him no chance to retaliate, resulting in his immediate demise.
Regarding the fate of these innocents, the besieged host can only express helplessness; at present, self-preservation is already a challenge, and each can only follow their own destiny
The bandits attempting to swallow such a large sum of ill-gotten wealth encountered unexpectedly tough resistance outside the Li family mansion, resulting in their heads being bloodied and bruised.
The people of Xiyan Town have completely fallen into despair
Li Dahu shouted at his three sons, trying to attract the attention of those bandits as much as possible
Rob the money! Rob the food! Rob the women! Kill and burn everything else!
Before the Black Wind Pass was breached, assistance had already been requested from Shattered Leaf City and the nearby Zhechong Prefecture. County Lieutenant Liu received the only piece of good news from the old soldier who reported it. After a moment of hesitation, he continued, "The reinforcements may already be on their way"
County Magistrate Cui discovered that the yamen had suddenly become desolate, with not even a messenger present. This was still after County Lieutenant Liu had heard the news and rushed over.
Your Majesty, I shall now dedicate my loyalty to you
The horse bandits are coming! The horse bandits are coming... Ah...
Hi! What about the others, they left early!
At ! At !
Before the reinforcements arrive, only the deities in the heavens can save Xiyan Town, as well as my own life.
Er Lang, Xiao Lang, Miss Xiang Jun, keep close!
Everyone knows that at this moment, wealth has become unimportant; preserving talent is of utmost importance
"Eldest Young Master, Second Young Master, Third Young Master, stay close to me!"
The county magistrate clasped his hands together and began to pray devoutly
Even while breaking through to escape, Er Lang Li Qing did not forget to hold in his hand a scroll of Confucius' "Analects". Although he comforted his younger brother and future sister-in-law with words, his own face turned pale, yet he still forced himself to hold on.
Rich and noble, let your second child take people to protect my three little ones first, and also the young lady from the Wu family, as she is the bride chosen for the young master. You must ensure their safety!
Bearing the safety of his two younger brothers and his young sister-in-law, Li Mo did not hesitate to take action against those ruthless bandits
Moments later, the villains, carrying valuable belongings or dragging away the women they had abducted, continued to search for their next target, weapons stained with blood in hand
The bandits roared recklessly together, their blades stained with blood, unaware of how many innocents had fallen beneath their knives
Have you notified Suye City yet
... ...
Despite lacking any martial skills and not knowing how to fight, as a man, there is still a passionate spirit within me
He feels a sense of regret; if he could foresee the future, he would certainly find a way to learn some martial arts skills, which would at least allow him to assist in fighting the enemy, rather than being helpless and relying on others to fight to the death to protect him.
Cui Youde indeed wanted to escape, but as a county elder, he had the responsibility to defend his territory. The law is merciless; he could fully guarantee that as long as he dared to step out of Xiyan Town, those idle officials from the Imperial Censorate in the court would be able to bombard him with a deluge of memorials, effectively condemning him to death, offering a complimentary service of exterminating his entire family, along with a one-way ticket to hell for them all.
It seems that all the bandits deliberately keep their distance from him
Li Jialang Li Mo held a three-foot green blade, closely following behind the second steward
Magistrate Cui, having arranged for his family to leave town to take refuge, immediately shouted out
The entire street was crowded with a throng of menacing bandits, numbering at least two to three hundred. They greedily eyed the ox carts, each one eager to take the lead.
Finally, he took out a cinnabar pen and pointed it at the eye of the paper bird. Instantly, the paper bird ignited spontaneously without any fire. The man seemed unafraid of the flames, holding the burning paper bird between his two fingers and aiming it at the sky, letting out a loud shout
County Constable Liu, drenched in sweat, rushed in with two constables
Among these bandits, there is unexpectedly a sorcerer hidden.
This is the price of eating the emperor's grain, Liu County Lieutenant gritted his teeth and continued, "Naturally, we will fight to the end!"
Such a decisive and efficient method of killing is entirely unlike the skills one would expect from a wealthy gentleman like Master Li. If it were not for these horse bandits, it is likely that no one would have suspected that Master Li was, in fact, a master of hidden prowess.
Xiyan Town's Li family is clearly not an ordinary prominent household
Some bandits engaged in several internal conflicts in order to secure a more advantageous position
The only thing he can do now is to honestly accept protection, so as not to worry his parents and brothers, in order to avoid any unforeseen incidents
The county constable saw a trace of the same resigned sorrow in the eyes of the county magistrate.
Liu Zizheng ! Liu County Magistrate !
Where are the others
If it were not for the Wu family leaving a step earlier, it is likely that at this moment, they would be trapped here together with the Li family
Without turning his head, he casually caught a flying arrow and threw it back, only to hear a distant scream as a bandit fell from his horse along with his powerful bow
Alongside the ruthless bandits charging into Xiyan Town, there was a disheveled man with empty hands, devoid of any weapons or armor. However, within a radius of one zhang around him, not a single bandit dared to approach.
Go! Do not look back!
Officials like the county magistrate often say this, and as someone in charge of military affairs, I cannot back down either
The second steward, Li Mancang, was like a nimble monkey, wielding dual knives to slash left and right. The dozen or so burly servants swung their long-handled polearms like windmills, and any nearby bandit who was careless would find himself and his horse shattered on the spot
In an instant, wails and screams rose and fell in succession, thick smoke billowed upwards, and the small town seemed to have transformed into a hell on earth
At this moment, this delicate woman with a heart of virtue and grace has become exceptionally strong
What can resist a thousand troops, with feather fans and silk hats, in the midst of laughter and conversation, the masts and sails turn to ashes and smoke; these only exist in the scripts of plays. At present, no one has any tricks up their sleeves, only the clash of blades, with heads rolling chaotically. Those who die are the scoundrels, while those who survive are the true masters.
A man cried out in anguish, followed by a scream, and his voice abruptly ceased
The county magistrate oversees civil affairs, while the county captain manages military matters; at this moment, they are indeed a pair of fated partners.
Please rest assured, young master, that in the event of any unforeseen circumstances, I shall never live in a state of despair
The Li family's capable fighters are all present here, while the other servants with little combat ability have either fallen on the spot or fled without a trace. Many of the maidservants have also fallen into the clutches of the bandits, emitting piercing cries.
The arrow that was just shot not only returned along its original path but also pierced through the chest of the bandit.
Kill! Kill! Rob money, rob food, rob women! Those who cannot be taken away, kill them all, burn them all! Hahaha
Having traveled the world for over ten years, although I have not found a true immortal, I have cultivated formidable martial skills. Even when facing horse bandits, I do not fall behind in the slightest. The Qingfeng sword strikes repeatedly, and in a brief moment, I have taken the lives of two vicious criminals
Xiyan Town is where the county government is located. At this moment, the county magistrate Cui Youde, who received the news at the same time, is as anxious as an ant on a hot pan
It seems that the more killings are perpetrated by those ruthless bandits, the more vengeful spirits are drawn into the shadowy veil of the black flag
Young Lang, Miss Xiangjun, do not be afraid, for I am here with you!
These outlaws want to abduct the young lady beside him, but they must first step over his dead body
An old swordsman, with a striking scar running from his left eye to the corner of his right mouth, donned in silver armor still stained with blood, wielded a long sabre as he rode a warhorse, rampaging through the streets. He laughed maniacally while indiscriminately cutting down civilians who were running about like headless flies.
... ...
Uncertain from where he had acquired a red tassel spear, the chief steward Li Fugui thrust and parried with all his might against the wolf-like bandits. Seizing an opportunity, he managed to unseat a fierce adversary from his horse, and in the next moment, the glinting spear tip pierced the opponent's throat. With a swift thrust and retraction, he wielded it once more with such skill that not a drop of water could penetrate.
The man took a piece of yellow paper from his bosom, quickly folded it into a paper bird, while simultaneously muttering incantations.
May the Buddha bless us, may the Infinite Heavenly Sovereign bless us, and may the reinforcements arrive as soon as possible
Faced with the encirclement and attack of a group of bandits, Li Xiaobai, protected in the center by his two elder brothers and family servants, tightly grasped Wu Xiangjun's delicate and slender hand, as soft as if it were made of bone, shielding her behind him