The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 561 Life or death
The dark clouds from the southeast moved in quickly, with lightning and thunder. The sun was shining brightly just now, but in an instant it was pitch black. The wind was howling, blowing sand and rocks everywhere. A large patch of mulberry trees at the entrance of the village fell to the ground, like a raging sea under a storm. The horses tied under the mulberry trees were restlessly neighing.

Granny Liu was experienced and said hurriedly, "It looks like this rainstorm will be big. The village entrance is low-lying. If there is a flood in the mountains, it will definitely be flooded. Huan'er, quickly ask someone to lead the horses to the woods behind the village."

"Thank you grandma for the reminder." Jia Huan thanked her and asked Xu Sheng to arrange for people to move the horses to the high ground behind the village.

As soon as he finished speaking, sparse raindrops began to fall. The bean-sized raindrops hit his cheeks and caused a slight pain. However, at this moment, Xing Wei, who was on guard several miles away from the village, rode his horse back at full speed, and the dust was kicked up by his horse's hooves.

Jia Huan's heart tightened, and everyone rushed out of the house with their knives in hand. Wang Gou'er's family looked at each other in shock. After a while, Xing Wei had already rushed to the front of the courtyard and shouted loudly: "Third Master, the enemy is chasing us. They have passed the valley entrance and will be here soon."

Xu Sheng's face turned pale with horror, and he hurriedly said, "Everyone, hurry up and get on your horses. Let's rush out now!"

Click—boom!

A pale flash of lightning streaked across the sky, and a loud thunder made people's ears buzz. Then, the dark sky seemed to be cut open, and heavy rain poured down. In just a blink of an eye, the accumulated water on the ground gathered into thousands of small streams, rushing towards the low-lying areas.

Seeing Jia Huan staring at the puddles on the ground in a daze, Xu Sheng said anxiously, "Master Huan, don't hesitate. The rebels will be here soon. If you don't leave now, you won't even have a chance to mount your horse."

Jia Huan shook his head and said, "If you don't want to ride a horse, go up the mountain!"

Xu Sheng was surprised and asked, "Go up the mountain?"

Jia Huan raised his head and said firmly, "That's right, abandon the horse and go up the mountain."

Xu Sheng cried out in amazement: "Master Huan San, you are kidding me, right? With a mount, we may still be able to escape, but without a mount, we can only wait for death."

A frightening cold light flashed in Jia Huan's eyes, and he said coldly: "Then find a way to kill all the enemies."

Xu Sheng frowned and said, "Just us? The enemy has several times more people than us!"

Jia Huan said calmly: "If Captain Xu doesn't trust me, you can take your brothers on horseback and charge out. We can split into two groups and each leave it to fate."

Xu Sheng's face stiffened slightly. Shitou patted him on the shoulder and said, "Old Xu, stop asking so many questions. It's right to listen to the Third Master. If I hadn't seen that you're a good person, I wouldn't have bothered to remind you."

Xu Wenhou also said at this time: "Xu Sheng, listen to Brother Jia."

Xu Sheng gritted his teeth, stamped his feet, turned around and shouted, "Listen to Master Huan San, abandon your horse and go up the mountain."

So everyone braved the heavy rain, stepped on the puddles, and fled to the mountain behind the village. Before leaving, Jia Huan held Granny Liu's hand and said apologetically, "I'm sorry to trouble you, but don't worry, the other party is not an unreasonable bandit. If they come to our door, you don't have to hide it. Just tell them the truth that we are hiding in the mountains."

Granny Liu said awkwardly, "How can this be possible? Huan'er, you are our family's benefactor, how can you repay kindness with hatred?"

Jia Huan smiled and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, grandma. I have already repaid you. The other party is of great importance. It is not worth it to get involved and risk your life. Just tell the truth. Life and death are determined by fate, and wealth and honor are determined by God. Just accept your fate."

Granny Liu sighed and said, "My dear brothers, who on earth have you offended? Well, I won't say any more. The path on the mountain is complicated. I'll let the dog lead you up, so you don't get lost again."

Upon hearing this, Jia Huan said happily, "That's great. I'll have to trouble you, Uncle Wang."

Although Wang Gouzi was a little reluctant, he put on rain gear and led Jia Huan and others to escape to the mountain under the urging of Liu Laolao.

It was only a cup of tea after Jia Huan and the others left that a group of cavalry appeared at the entrance of the village in the heavy rain. They were Chen Yejun and Wei Ruolan's group. They followed the hoof tracks on the ground and came here.

"Brother Ruolan, look, these are their horses. They must be in the village." Chen Yejun was overjoyed when he saw a dozen horses tied at the entrance of the village.

Wei Ruolan also said happily: "After searching everywhere for you, I finally found you. Brothers, surround the village."

At the command of the two men, all the rebels dismounted, leaving only a few people to guard the horses, and then surrounded the village.

The small river flowing out of the mountain was originally very clear, but now it has become a little turbid, and the water level has begun to rise, reaching above the knee.

The rebel soldiers waded across the river in the heavy rain and entered the village cautiously. They asked every household and soon found Liu Laolao's home. They kicked the door open, and all the women and children in the room burst into tears in fear.

"Who... who are you?" When Liu Laolao saw that they were a group of people dressed as soldiers, she asked bravely.

Wei Ruolan said coldly, "We are the Imperial Guards, and we are ordered to arrest the imperial prisoner. Anyone who dares to harbor the imperial prisoner will be punished with the same crime. Tell the truth, where is the imperial prisoner?"

Granny Liu was shocked. Wasn't Huan the top scholar? How did he become a criminal? She said with a stammer, "Sir, I didn't know they were criminals. I took them in just for the sake of money. They have already fled to the mountains."

Wei Ruolan and Chen Yejun looked at each other and immediately led their men up the mountain.

The rain was getting heavier at this time, and the accumulated water on the ground was flowing. Led by Wang Gou'er, Jia Huan and others walked up the mountain, taking one step deep and one step shallow.

The mountain road was difficult to walk on, and with the heavy rain, everyone was soaked. Xu Wenhou was obese, and he fell several times after walking for a while. He was in great pain and finally couldn't walk anymore. He sat down on a rock next to him and said, "I can't walk anymore. Let me rest for a while."

Wang Gou'er, who was leading the way, saw everyone stop and said anxiously, "Hurry up, this place is low-lying, and it will be no joke if a mountain torrent rushes down." Jia Huan was moved and pulled Wang Gou'er to ask, "Will it flood here?"

Wang Gou'er nodded and said, "Look, Master Huan, there are steep slopes on both sides, and there is a mountain stream over there. Once the mountain torrent arrives, it will be flooded immediately. It will only take a blink of an eye. You can't run away even if you want to."

Jia Huan couldn't help but feel happy. He took off his shirt and threw it to Xing Wei, saying, "Shitou, do you see that little tree up there? Tie my shirt up there where it's visible."

Xing Wei didn't understand why, but he still climbed up the cliff two meters above the ground, tied Jia Huan's clothes to a small tree, and then jumped down.

Wang Gou'er couldn't help but secretly praise his agility. Xing Wei wiped the rain off his face and said, "Third Master, it's done. Any other instructions?"

"No more, let's go!" Jia Huan waved his hand and everyone continued to climb up.

After walking for a while, Jia Huan called Wang Gou'er and said, "Uncle Wang, you have worked hard. Stop and find a high place to rest."

Wang Gou'er pointed ahead and said, "There is a cave not far ahead that can accommodate dozens of people and can shelter us from the wind and rain. It is the place where our village hides from bandits and tax collectors. Why don't we go there to rest?"

"That's even better!" Jia Huan said happily. He asked Xu Sheng to send someone to escort Xu Wenhou to the cave, while he, Xu Sheng, Tie Niu and Shitou stayed behind and quietly returned to the place where they had tied their clothes just now.

At this time, the stream water had risen a lot and the heavy rain was still continuing. Jia Huan and others climbed up the mountain wall on the other side, hid behind the bushes and quietly observed the way they were coming.

At this point, Jia Huan didn't need to say much, Xu Sheng and others understood Jia Huan's intention and waited nervously and expectantly.

Sure enough, not long after, a group of people came up along the mountain stream. They were Chen Yejun and Wei Ruolan's group. At this moment, the rebels were all soaked and in a miserable state.

"Two young generals, the rain is too heavy. Why don't you retreat back to the village and wait until the rain stops before going up the mountain." A centurion suggested.

Wei Ruolan glanced at the rising stream, frowning, looking hesitant. But Chen Yejun said firmly, "No, if there are other roads out of the mountain, let them escape. Damn it, they forgot to catch a villager as a guide."

"Look, what is that?" A rebel soldier finally found the clothes tied to the tree and pointed at it and shouted.

Chen Yejun and Wei Ruolan looked up and saw that it was a piece of clothing. They were secretly surprised. Chen Yejun was quite skilled. He climbed up the mountain wall in a few steps and took down the clothes.

"Hey, this seems to be Jia Huan's clothes." Wei Ruolan had good eyesight and recognized it at a glance. Suddenly her face changed, as if she had thought of something, and shouted, "Be careful of ambush!"

whoosh...

A sharp arrow shot towards him from the mountain wall behind him. Chen Yejun screamed and fell to the ground with a thud. His left calf was hit by an arrow, and the blood instantly dyed the puddles around him red.

"Enemy attack!" Wei Ruolan shouted loudly, snatching the shield of the guard beside her and blocking it in front of her. The rebel soldiers squatted down and shot at the mountain wall with their bows.

However, Jia Huan and others chose an excellent position, commanding an upper position. The rebels below shot at them, but could not hurt them at all. In just a few breaths, several more rebels were shot down.

Xu Sheng said excitedly: "It's great, it's a pity that we only have eight arrows left, otherwise we can kill them all."

"Stop, don't use it up." Jia Huan shouted in a low voice, and Xu Sheng and Xing Wei, who were shooting left and right, had to stop.

At this time, the rebels below were obviously frightened and were slowly retreating down the mountain. Jia Huan shouted, "Shoot the one who runs fastest."

Xing Wei shot an arrow, and the rebel soldier running in the front was hit by the arrow in the back and fell to the ground. The rebel soldiers were frightened and squatted down hurriedly.

Seeing the stream water constantly overflowing, Wei Ruolan could not help but get anxious. She gritted her teeth, carried the injured Chen Yejun on her back, and shouted, "Retreat quickly!"

collapse……

A powerful arrow shot towards her, and Wei Ruolan felt a burning pain in her knee, and she and Chen Yejun, who was on her back, fell into the water.

stab...

A pale flash of lightning pierced the sky, like the rumbling of thunder, and also like the sound of water. Just as the rebels were in panic, a wall of water rushed in from upstream, and the stream water rose rapidly.

Flash flood is coming!!!

The stream water, which was only up to the ankles just now, suddenly rose to the knees, and in a moment reached the waist. Miscellaneous dead branches were floating in the water and rushed down the mountain. The majestic momentum was chilling.

In less than a minute, the rebel soldiers below were swallowed up by the mountain torrent. Due to the sound of rain, only a few shouts could be vaguely heard and then nothing else. Jia Huan and others were so shocked that they broke out in cold sweats.

The mountain torrents came quickly and receded quickly. In just a few minutes, the stream water receded rapidly. There was no rebel soldier left at the previous position, only a few scattered swords.

In the face of the power of nature, human beings are so insignificant.

(End of this chapter)