From the old cowboy's description, Zhang Heng can basically confirm that Cook's marksmanship is above lv2, and it should not reach lv3, but the difference is not too much, and his riding skills are very good, and he can shoot on horseback. Not as good as standing still.
Considering Cook's age, Zhang Heng is quite sure that he can defeat the opponent in one-on-one if the match is fair. not optimistic.
Fortunately, they still have time.
Cook probably didn't expect that the ten people he stayed in Bliss would be killed, causing their whereabouts to be leaked in advance.
According to Zhang Heng's preliminary estimate, Cook's group should still have a day to reach Lincoln County, and before considering how to deal with so many famous robbers, there is still a key issue before everyone, that is how to catch up with Cook. and Matthew intercept them before reaching Lincoln County.
"The earliest report I had about the Cook Gang was two months ago," the old cowboy said with a frown. "They have always been like this, coming and going like the wind. Some people call them the Scarlet Scourge. Where did they appear and where did they go, the only thing everyone knew was that wherever they passed, blood would flow like a catastrophe."
"I probably know where they will be." Zhang Heng said, Marshal Morton has been tracking down the group of robbers disguised as fur traders. As long as Cook and Matthew are not stupid, they will definitely find Morton first, so they should Has come to the burnt town there.
Then they would probably believe what Morton said, thinking that he took the forty kilograms of gold and what Cook put in the bank.
In fact, Zhang Heng has not been able to determine whether that thing really exists, or it is just an excuse for Cook to trick Matthew out.
Considering that apart from Cook, the only group who can answer this question has been killed by Zhang Heng, it may be difficult for him to get an answer to this question.
Zhang Heng told the old cowboy the direction where Cook and others might come, and the latter spread out a map, pointing to a forest road twenty miles east of Lincoln County, "If there is no problem with your news, Ku Ke should first gather with the ten people who stayed in Bliss, and then launch an attack on the county seat. Considering that there will be a certain interval between the arrival time of the two of them, the person who arrives first should find a place to rest first. Great location."
Wendy on the side also interjected at this time, "My father and I went there in the summer. I remember that there was a hunter's cabin there. The hunter's cabin has no owner, and it can be used for people hunting in the woods to rest."
"If Cook didn't see anyone staying in Bliss when he arrived, he should also rest in the hut," said the old cowboy.
"Can we ambush there in advance?" Zhang Heng asked.
"It's hard," the old cowboy shook his head, "I haven't been to that place yet, but Cook himself is very cautious, and I heard from the bailiff who chased him that he would send people to search around wherever he went, and They will arrange perimeter security, which is why the Cook Gang is so difficult to eliminate, even if we want to surround him, we can't find a hiding place nearby, but have to rush over from a distance."
Zhang Heng also frowned when he heard the words. Night battles are his biggest reliance. However, if Cook's people choose to use the hunter's lodge as their base, hide in it, and stand in a stalemate until dawn, then they want to rely on a group of miners and farmers to resist the Cook gang. A group of thugs is obviously not realistic.
"Let's go there and have a look first." Zhang Heng thought for a while.
...
Their time is actually very tight. The Cook gang should be able to reach Lincoln County in a day at the earliest, but it will take half a day for Zhang Heng and the others to reach the woods, and they have to be careful in the woods. Li and the Cook gang met in advance, so they only had half a day to prepare, so before dawn, the group set off again and came to the hut Wendy mentioned.
The hut was located in the middle of the woods, there was a path that had been stepped out, and there was a stream flowing beside it. Because it had just rained, the air in the woods was very humid, and there were still drops of water on the bark.
This is not good news for Zhang Heng and others, because it means that if they want to use fire to force Cook and others out of the house, it will not work. In addition, the surrounding trees have also been cut down. It is also difficult to approach quietly from the outside.
In order to avoid the horseshoe prints being noticed, the old cowboy made everyone else wait outside the woods, and only he, Zhang Heng, and Wendy walked in.
The old cowboy walked around the hunter's cabin, and then asked Zhang Heng, "Do you have any ideas?"
"This room can't accommodate more than 30 people. There should be some people outside. As long as there is a war, the people inside will definitely be aware of it. It will be difficult to complete the raid, but if you are lucky, you may be able to kill as many people as possible. Some outsiders create favorable conditions for the subsequent battle." Zhang Heng paused, "But the real trouble is the battle after the opponent hides in the house. There is no cover around here, and we will be very passive. We have to find a way Get them out of there."
"Even if we can get them out, are you so sure you can defeat them?" The old cowboy raised his eyebrows.
"It's impossible to catch them all. If they are determined to leave, I can't kill them all, but if I only kill Cook, I'm still a little bit sure." Zhang Heng said.
"Enough is enough. Cook has always been the soul and brain of the Cook Gang. As long as Cook is killed, the Cook Gang will naturally cease to exist." The old cowboy said, "I may have a way to let them come out. But I still have to borrow your people to use it."
"They'll all be at your disposal, Sheriff."
After briefly discussing the next action plan, everyone withdrew from the forest first. If so many people went to Lincoln County, they would definitely attract the attention of the locals. Therefore, they only left one watcher, and the rest headed west. After walking for twenty miles, they rested behind a grassy slope, but Zhang Heng still had one thing to do before starting the battle.
He walked towards Wendy, who had been very quiet along the way, hoping that someone would forget his existence.
"Let's go, I'll take you home first." Zhang Heng said.
"Please, I have practiced the gun for a long time, and I am ready to fight, and you are not short of manpower now." Wendy begged.
"You have never experienced a real battle at all. This is not as simple as you imagined. Moreover, what we are about to face is the most powerful and brutal gang in the entire west. I don't think there is any room for negotiation in this." Zhang Hengzheng said.