When Nie Canjun came back with the three injured thieves, the three were kneeling in front of Man Bao, telling about their miserable lives in the past few days with tears and snot in their noses.
"... Last year we also took this official road, and there were no bandits. Who knew that such a ferocious horse thief was ambushed in the mountains this year? Our master said that if the green hills are left, there will be no worries about firewood. It is important to save lives first, so they want Money, we will give money, if we want to rob all the goods, we will give them all... "
When the three of them said this, they cried for a while, and Man Bao asked, "And then?"
The three wiped their tears, "Perhaps because they saw that our master was too cooperative, they arrested us all and took us up the mountain, wanting us to become bandits with them."
Man Bao and the others: "...that's a bit too much."
"No, we all have families and businesses, how can we abandon our homes and stay here as horse thieves?" The three said: "It's just that they have knives, and we don't dare to say cruelty directly, so we just say Thinking about it, we also helped to chop wood and light the fire, which made them less wary of us."
It's just that there are still guards on a daily basis, and you can't leave the fixed area.
"Last night when the head of the family celebrated their birthday, everyone had a lot of fun. We just ran out while we were going to fetch water and cook things for them at dawn."
Originally, they wanted to run away last night, but when they went out, they saw that the woods were dark, they couldn't see their fingers, and it was still chilly. They were very worried that there were beasts in the dense forest, so they waited until dawn for an excuse to fetch water for them. water, and then quietly ran out.
Most people drank alcohol last night, and those who didn’t drink didn’t go to sleep until late. When they got up early in the morning, they not only had to cook, but also cleaned up the leftovers from last night, so it was the person in charge of the kitchen. No one is not happy to get up so early, Master You and the others can find a chance to run out.
The three cried and begged Zhou Man, "Master Zhou, please save our master."
Man Bao asked, "How many of you ran out?"
"Counting the three of us, there are a total of fifteen people. It's just that people were alarmed not long after we ran out. The master told us to run separately. This way, the chances of running out alive are greater. No matter who it is, as long as they come back alive, they will give each other Send a letter to your family."
Man Bao asked: "Do you remember which direction they ran?"
The three guys looked at each other, scratched their heads and thought for a while, and finally the oldest one pointed in two directions hesitantly: "We've been running for a day, and I don't know if they changed directions."
Of course it has changed, not only has it changed, it has become outrageous.
Man Bao just glanced at Nie Canjun.
Nie Canjun thought for a while and said, "Go back first. If these thieves don't go back after dark, the horse thieves should know that something has happened. We have to find a good place to station first."
Everyone escorted the three thieves back, and when they arrived at the place, the people who went to ambush another place also came back with people, and Master You was among them.
He had already met Mr. Zhuang, and when he saw Zhou Man and the others, he couldn't help crying again.
The injuries on the six of them were not serious, they were all scratches and falls, and the soldiers and guards sent were not injured either. After all, they not only ambushed but also brought bows and arrows, waiting for work with ease, two against one, and then being injured again I can't justify it.
"Eight thieves, three dead, two seriously injured, and three slightly injured, it seems that they can't die, join the army, do you want to save them?"
"Stop the bleeding, I'm going to kill him anyway, but I have to ask first."
But the horse thieves also knew that most of them would be sentenced to beheaded, so they didn't open their mouths.
Bai Shan looked up at the sky, and said to Man Bao: "It's getting late, we have a lot of luggage, we dispatch a team to search and rescue people, if we can find them, we will save them, if we can't find them, we can only wait for the reinforcements to arrive."
Man Bao nodded, squatted down and cut off the arrows of those who were shot, leaving only the arrows inside, "Let's find a place to camp first."
One of the yamen servants who came to guide them has already gone back quickly. The speed is fast, but I don't know if they will be able to return to Liangzhou after nightfall.
Nie Canjun also felt that they should leave here and find a place to station.
The remaining yamen servant racked his brains and thought, "Sir, there is no place to hide around here. If there is, it is through this mountain. Not to mention the large grassland on the other side, there are also several natural shelters from the wind." Mountain cols can be concealed and hidden."
Nie Canjun said: "It's too far away, and there are horse thieves, how can they be stationed in the mountain depression?" He was surrounded by people accidentally.
Nie Canjun thought for a while and said, "Let's go back. There is a wide grassland on the way we came. At that time, I saw a lot of fresh sheep manure on the grassland. Someone should be grazing there."
"Yes, that piece of water and grass is pretty good. There are people grazing right now, and they won't move there until June." Those who were called by Duan Shishi to lead the way are naturally familiar with this piece of land.
Nie Canjun nodded and ordered the thieves to be tied up and thrown in the car, and they returned immediately.
Before leaving, he ordered ten soldiers from among the soldiers, among them was a scout, he said: "Go to those two places, if you find someone you can save them, rescue them, and see if you can touch this group of horse thieves In such a situation, as long as Governor Duan sends people, we will wipe them out."
This meant to let them make meritorious deeds, all ten people's eyes lit up, and they responded excitedly.
So everyone separated, Man Bao and the others gave up the carriage to Mr. You and others, got on the horse and ran, she looked back, and knew the exact direction from Ke Ke, and said to the ten people who were about to set off: " When people flee for their lives, they always run wherever is convenient, so it is difficult to lock the direction. If you can’t find people after you pass by, you might as well go in that direction. I think since they are all running this way, it’s possible The den of thieves is in that direction."
Man Bao gave them two directions.
The ten people solemnly agreed, and after taking the order, they dragged their horses and sneaked into the forest.
Bai Shan and the others withdrew until the setting sun barely found a suitable place. A scout ahead of them came back and reported: "My lord, five miles ahead is a place where a tribe is stationed. I have seen it. Their tribe It’s bigger than Tutu.”
Nie Canjun nodded, and said to Man Bao: "Master Zhou, we will station here. It has a wide view and is far enough away from the thief's den. Even if there is a raid at night, we can find it early, and there are herdsmen tribes five miles away. Those horse thieves are more or less scrupulous."
Herdsmen on the grasslands are different from ordinary people in the Central Plains. They can serve as soldiers as soon as they mount a horse, so horse thieves generally don't trouble the local tribes.
It is different from those bandits in the Central Plains who often go down the mountain to rob the people.
The sleeping effect of the medicine is so good, I fell asleep after taking it in the morning, and I dare not take it at noon
The next chapter is around six in the afternoon