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墨書 Inktalez
The Second-in-Command was dead.
Taking advantage of the distraction, he used the broad knife in his hand, stained with the innocent blood of countless victims, to slash across his neck with force.
In an instant, a notorious Bandit vanished from the world.
When Zhao Ren arrived at the mountain, what he saw was the body of the Second-in-Command, lying stiffly on the ground in plain sight.
"Second-in-Command!"
Zhao Ren let out a cry of despair. He had followed the Second-in-Command for years, treating him like an older brother. Now, witnessing his brutal death before him stirred a tumult of emotions within him.
"Why are you screaming?" A voice called out from behind Zhao Ren. "You should worry about yourself; you might be joining him soon!"
The malicious voice carried an evident delight. When Zhao Ren turned around, he realized that his companions had already been captured, and there were several familiar bodies lying on the ground.
He couldn't determine who had spoken earlier. Looking around, he saw that nearly everyone was radiating intense anger.
These people were all wishing for his death!
"Hahaha!" Zhao Ren suddenly laughed loudly. "You think it's that easy to catch me?"
Even if he were to die, he would take a few down with him!
The Soldiers had been on guard. As Zhao Ren attempted to fight back, they quickly restrained him. Although it took some effort, Zhao Ren was already at his limit and was ultimately bound tightly.
The battle had been fought beautifully.
The entire Bandit Stronghold lay in ruins. The fierce and warlike had been slain and buried on the spot. Those who survived were taken down the mountain to be handed over to the local authorities for judgment.
“It’s you!”
When Zhao Ren was escorted to the camp, he spotted Ye Xiaohan standing guard at the entrance.
He paused for a moment, then connected everything that had happened, suddenly concluding, “You’re in cahoots! You filthy woman, you deliberately infiltrated the Bandit Hideout to gather intelligence, didn’t you? Was it you who used the secret passage to escape?”
Ye Xiaohan found herself at a loss for words at his twisted logic. It was this man who had kidnapped her and brought her to the Bandit Hideout, yet he was now shifting all the blame onto others, convinced that he could do no wrong.
“Bitch! Even if you win using such despicable means, it’s not glorious; you’ll only make people laugh!” Zhao Ren’s gaze darted between Ye Xiaohan and Gu Bei. “What a pair of dog lovers!”
Ye Xiaohan didn’t want to waste her breath on someone like him. She ignored Zhao Ren completely as he continued to curse while being dragged away, until a soldier silenced him with a punch, finally bringing him to a stop.
Once her ears were clear, Ye Xiaohan looked up and saw Gu Bei watching her.
“Welcome back!” Ye Xiaohan smiled at Gu Bei. Just as Gu Bei instinctively opened his mouth to respond, she suddenly turned serious and glared at him. “Now that the major issues are resolved, can we attend to something that concerns your life?”
Gu Bei felt her glare and wanted to flee but couldn’t bear to leave her sight. He could only manage a couple of nervous chuckles.
“What are you laughing at? Hurry back!” Ye Xiaohan shot him a look before striding toward the tent. The medicine had already been prepared; she was just waiting for Gu Bei to arrive.
Shen Ru and the others watched Ye Xiaohan and Gu Bei interact and teased, “Madam is truly virtuous; General, shouldn’t you hurry over? Be careful or you’ll end up kneeling on silver needles!”
The people in the camp laughed heartily, and Gu Bei was not angry. This time, the effort to eliminate the bandits had been too great, and now that everything was settled, he decided to let them indulge for a while.
The bandits who had been entrenched for years were finally eradicated by the army sent by the court!
This news quickly spread to nearby towns. In addition to Gu Bei's deliberate notifications and promotions, the local populace had long suffered under the oppression of the bandits, living in constant fear. When they suddenly heard that the bandits had been wiped out, they were initially incredulous before the joy set in.
It was also because these bandits had been too arrogant in the past, relying on their strength to bully the common people and act lawlessly. The government office had sent troops multiple times without success, and as time went on, the people dared not hold onto any illusions.
Gu Bei dispatched soldiers to repeatedly inform the villagers, and with the government office posting announcements, some bolder individuals followed the officials to the bandit hideout. Only then did they truly feel relieved and believe in this great news.
Once the message spread, the villagers could hardly contain their joy. They inquired about where the army was stationed and rushed to the camp with their most valuable belongings, expressing their heartfelt gratitude to Gu Bei.
The soldiers welcomed the villagers with smiles but refused to accept their gifts. Both sides stood firm, and the villagers' enthusiasm nearly toppled the tents.
"What should we do, General?"
The soldiers looked helplessly at Gu Bei, waiting for him to make a decision. Refusing would mean rejecting the villagers' goodwill, but accepting might seem contrary to military orders.
Gu Bei surveyed the mountain of gifts—local specialties, everyday food, even a few hens and a lamb.
"Everyone take your things back. It is our duty to protect the common people; there is no need for gifts."
Gu Bei insisted that the villagers return their offerings, but this was met with strong opposition from them.
"General Gu, we poor folks may not have much of value to offer, but this is our heartfelt intention. Please accept it!"
The other villagers eagerly chimed in, "Yes, now that you've captured the bandits, our lives will be much better. We don't know how to thank you enough!"
Surrounded by the enthusiastic villagers, even the experienced Former General felt a bit overwhelmed. In the end, it was Ye Xiaohan who stepped forward with an idea.
"How about this? I'm not part of your military, so I don't have to follow the rules of the barracks. Let me take care of your goodwill!"
Ye Xiaohan patted his chest, looking quite righteous.
As long as he was willing to accept, it didn't matter who took what; the villagers expressed their gratitude to Ye Xiaohan.
"However," Ye Xiaohan continued, "you all are too generous. With so many things here, I can't take them all back. I'll just pick a few items; the rest, please take back for yourselves. If the common people live well, the court can rest easy. Your use of these items will bring us more joy than if they were given to us!"
"Right, right!" The Soldiers quickly agreed, helping Ye Xiaohan select some lightweight and less valuable items to take with them.
The rest were firmly pushed back.
Seeing the Soldiers' resolute attitude, the villagers gradually accepted it. They praised Gu Bei's army for being selfless and dedicated to the people, never taking even a needle or thread from the common folk.
Unknowingly, Gu Bei's good name spread far and wide once again.
After wrapping up subsequent matters, Gu Bei led his Army back along the same route to the capital.
Behind them lay a town that would now enjoy peace and prosperity, along with the farewells from grateful citizens along the way.
While the Army was still on the road, news of their victory had already reached the capital.
The Emperor was delighted to learn that the Bandits had been eradicated.
When Gu Bei returned to the capital, the Emperor directly waived the usual protocol requiring military generals to first pay their respects in court. Instead, he sent someone to the General's residence to announce the imperial decree.
The rewards were astonishingly generous, with gold and silver items, calligraphy, antiques, and various precious goods flowing into the General's residence like a river.
In addition to material rewards, the Emperor also showed concern for Gu Bei, who had sustained serious injuries during the bandit suppression. He not only dispatched the Imperial Physician to treat him but also granted him a special leave of half a month to recuperate.
The Emperor's favoritism sparked envy and resentment among some, while others felt a pang of bitterness. There were even those who were so furious they nearly destroyed their own homes.
The last group, of course, included Crown Prince Murong Cheng and his followers. They viewed Gu Bei as a thorn in their side and wished nothing more than to see him removed.
However, contrary to their wishes, Gu Bei's path was smooth; everything he did seemed to go well, and he continued to win the Emperor's favor.
Just thinking about this kept them awake all night in frustration.
During the second court session, Murong Cheng took the lead and presented a memorial to the Emperor.
"Father," he began, "I believe that although General Gu has eliminated the bandits, his army suffered over half its casualties. This cannot be considered a victory. Even if he won, it does not reflect well on him. Rather, due to his poor command, such significant losses were incurred. He should be given some lessons as a warning for others!"
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