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In the carriage, Xiao Heng"s expression also became vigilant.
The dark guard spoke again, "Not good, Lord! There are people coming from the north and south too! There are quite a few! We"re about to be surrounded!"
Xiao Heng clenched his fists, "Charge through!"
The dark guard gritted his teeth, "Yes!"
With still no one blocking their path ahead, the dark guard pushed the carriage to its limit. Fortunately, Princess Xinyang"s carriages were all pulled by top-notch horses, so there was no doubt about their strength.
"Turn left!" Xiao Heng commanded.
The dark guard abruptly tightened the reins, steering the carriage into a left alley.
Almost as soon as they entered the alley, two groups of people came rushing from both ends of the street. If they hadn"t entered the alley, they would have been blocked from both the front and back.
"Turn right!" Xiao Heng ordered.
"Turn around!"
"Charge through!"
"Turn left!"
Relying on his familiarity with the terrain of the capital, Xiao Heng managed to evade the pursuit of three waves of troops.
But ultimately, this was just a temporary solution. Faced with an absolute encirclement, they had to admit defeat in the end.
After driving into the outskirts of the city, Xiao Heng"s carriage was surrounded on a desolate path.
On both sides of this path were embankments with fields, ahead was a ravine, and behind was vast open ground. The ravine and open ground were already filled with pursuers. Xiao Heng had nowhere to run unless he ran into the fields, but even then, it was impossible for him to escape.
The embankments were not suitable for carriages to pa.s.s through.
And he couldn"t outrun these skilled experts on foot.
The pursuers in the ravine ahead obviously came from another road. The one leading was Grand Preceptor Zhuang, wearing a hooded cloak.
At this point, Grand Preceptor Zhuang couldn"t be bothered to conceal his ident.i.ty anymore. He took off his hood, smiling ambiguously at Xiao Heng"s carriage, "Xiao Heng, do you think you"re the only one familiar with the terrain of the capital?"
He could call out Xiao Heng"s name, showing that he already knew Xiao Heng"s ident.i.ty.
Xiao Heng coldly lifted the curtain, gazing through the thick darkness at Grand Preceptor Zhuang on horseback, "Grand Preceptor Zhuang, good to see you again."
"Between you and me, there"s no need for pleasantries. Today, my purpose is simple."
"Oh? Let me guess, is it to capture or kill me?"
"Capture first, then kill."
Xiao Heng turned back and looked out of the carriage"s rear window.
Grand Preceptor Zhuang sneered, "No need to look, the people who should come have already arrived. You can"t escape."
Behind them were hundreds of Dragon Shadow Guards from the State of Yan. Unlike the Dragon Shadow Guards of the State of Zhao who wore masks, they wore black hoods, covering their faces.
And among the group of people ahead, there was a well-dressed, burly middle-aged man.
Presumably, that was General Nangong.
Grand Preceptor Zhuang sneered, "I know what you"re thinking. You"ve guessed from the beginning that Princess Xinyang"s plan has leaked, and you knew that people from the State of Yan would take advantage of it to enter the capital. You also guessed that I would help them, so you wanted to set up the trick of a mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. This is the only way to the Langshan Camp. You want to lead us into the territory of the Gu Family Army. However, Gu Changqing is absent, and the Old Marquis is recuperating at home. Let me guess, is the second young master of the Gu Family waiting in the barracks at this moment? Too bad, you didn"t expect us to intercept you halfway. When the appointed time comes and you still don"t show up, Gu Chengfeng will come out to find you. But do you think he"ll find you?"
Xiao Heng squeezed his fingers, "Grand Preceptor Zhuang, turn back while you still can."
Grand Preceptor Zhuang laughed arrogantly, "Did this old man guess right? Let this old man continue guessing for you. Is there a mechanism and formation set up in the ravine ahead, so even if the Gu Family Army doesn"t arrive in time, you can still let us die in the formation and mechanism?"
Xiao Heng"s expression changed.
Grand Preceptor Zhuang saw through Xiao Heng"s expression and understood that he had guessed it all. He laughed heartily, "Xiao Heng, oh Xiao Heng, I have to admit that your plan is seamless! You understand tactics even better than my grandson, Zhuang Yuheng! If it weren"t for you always opposing me, I would really want to cultivate you well! But alas, you"re the son of Marquis Xuanping, destined to be a stumbling block for this old man! How does it feel? To have the devil at your heels? Is it unbearable?"
Xiao Heng clenched his fists tightly.
General Nangong selected ten skilled Dragon Shadow Guards and ordered, "You guys, go and check the ravine."
"Yes!"
The ten men galloped towards the ravine. The ravine seemed normal, but it could also be that they were just unfamiliar with the ravine.
The leader dismounted, whipped the horse"s b.u.t.tocks, and it ran off in pain.
Nothing happened.
He cautiously followed the horse.
The remaining nine people also intended to follow. At this moment, the first man had already exited the ravine. He saw something and raised his hand to signal the others to stop.
Then he took out a thin rope and tied it to a protruding rock.
He crossed the ravine again and returned to his companions. With his bare hands, he pulled the thin rope, causing the rocks to fall. Soon after, there were several loud bangs, as boulders tumbled down the ravine. Arrows and spears flew, along with hidden weapons like darts and silver needles, filling the sky, sounding like the roaring of tigers and the thunderous crackling of lightning!
After a terrifying noise, the pa.s.sage through the ravine was completely blocked by giant rocks.
If they hadn"t intercepted Xiao Heng in time and instead let him pa.s.s through the ravine, triggering the mechanism, though they wouldn"t have been wiped out, at least half of them would have been trapped.
General Nangong shuddered.
Grand Preceptor Zhuang sneered, "It"s a good plan, but as I said, Xiao Heng, you are no match for this old man!"
General Nangong said coldly, "Stop wasting time with him! Quickly capture him and get things done!"
Grand Preceptor Zhuang said, "Xiao Heng, will you surrender on your own, or shall this old man send someone to capture you?"
Xiao Heng opened the curtain and got off the carriage.
Grand Preceptor Zhuang gestured, and two Zhuang Family guards and a Yan Dragon Shadow Guard walked towards Xiao Heng"s carriage.
The Yan Dragon Shadow Guard knocked out the dark guard from the Princess Mansion without hesitation.
The Zhuang Family guards captured Xiao Heng and brought him in front of Grand Preceptor Zhuang.
At this moment, General Nangong also came on horseback from behind, tightened the reins, and looked down at Xiao Heng from a high vantage point.
His eyes gradually became profound, as if looking at Xiao Heng, but at the same time, looking at someone else through Xiao Heng.
"You are General Nangong?" Xiao Heng met his gaze fearlessly.
A general from an upper state had enough aura to crush the high-ranking officials of the State of Zhao, yet this nineteen-year-old dared to stare him down.
General Nangong faintly smirked, "A bit bold. Cut off one of his fingers!"
Even hearing that his finger was going to be cut off, Xiao Heng still looked at him without changing his expression.
A Yan Dragon Shadow Guard stepped forward and casually grabbed Xiao Heng"s left hand.
Grand Preceptor Zhuang said lightly, "Wait, cut off his right finger."
Xiao Heng looked coldly at Grand Preceptor Zhuang.
The Dragon Shadow Guard drew his dagger, about to strike, when suddenly there was a rapid sound of hoofbeats from afar.
"Hold your blade——"
The Dragon Shadow Guard paused.
Grand Preceptor Zhuang and General Nangong looked over, seeing Eunuch Qin under Empress Dowager Zhuang swiftly riding a horse towards them.
"Who is he?" General Nangong frowned.
Grand Preceptor Zhuang smiled and said, "Eunuch Qin, Empress Dowager Zhuang"s confidant."
When Eunuch Qin"s horse reached the open s.p.a.ce, he was stopped by the Yan Dragon Shadow Guards and soldiers.
General Nangong gestured, and the crowd made way for him.
Eunuch Qin dismounted. Panting, he looked at Grand Preceptor Zhuang and said, "Empress Dowager Zhuang... Empress Dowager Zhuang has sent a decree... Spare those... under the blade... As long as you release Xiao Heng... Empress Dowager Zhuang... will agree to any conditions..."
Grand Preceptor Zhuang squinted slightly, "Is this Empress Dowager Zhuang"s intention or are you falsely representing her decree?"
"Of course, it"s Aijia"s intention!"Raz P."s Thoughts
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