Our family has been rebelling for generations, and you've become the top scholar in the imperia

That night.

Duke Ma kept coming out of the room, looking at Qin Feng sitting in the front hall. Seeing that the other party was still awake, he couldn't help but shake his head and close the door.

It's past midnight.

The people who went to gather information have not returned yet.

There's probably no news at all.

"Um!"

Just then.

Hearing a sound coming from downstairs, Duke Ma immediately pushed open the door and looked down.

They saw that it was Qin Feng's men returning.

He quickly put on his clothes and went downstairs.

"Is the Duke still awake?"

"I can't sleep. Is there any news? We can't find these bandits, and we can't get the timber in. I'm really..."

Duke Ma sighed and looked at the returning men with concern.

Upon seeing the bloodstains on the other person, his eyes lit up.

Did we encounter thieves?

Otherwise, how did the bloodstains on his body come about?

"Is the situation clarified?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, the investigation has been completed. The timber was stolen by bandits from Sanniu Mountain. The bandits run an inn at the foot of the mountain, and the people transporting the timber must have stayed there for one night before being targeted."

Liu Tu cupped his hands in greeting, grinning as he replied:

"We've already looted the inn with our men. The timber is on the mountain. As for the number of people, there are two hundred bandits on the mountain!"

There are only two paths leading up and down the mountain; there are no other roads!

"When will you make your move?"

Duke Ma was quite surprised, his mouth agape.

The investigation was conducted in such detail?

They even found out how many people were on the mountain and how many roads there were.

Who exactly are Qin Feng's subordinates?

They searched for a whole day but couldn't even find the inn. The other party had only been gone for half a day, yet they not only found the bandits but also the whereabouts of the timber.

"Let's think this through carefully. Two hundred bandits... I'm afraid..."

Qin Feng smiled and waved his hand.

"Call for reinforcements! Let's set off now and take care of these bandits from Sanniu Mountain before dawn. Get the timber down here as quickly as possible!"

"Would the Duke like to come along and take a look?"

"Shall I go too?"

Judging from this situation, it seems that Qin Feng is going to go personally.

"Anything works!"

"Then I will go with you, along with several dozen servants, all of whom are capable fighters. I will bring them along as well."

Duke Ma lowered his head and thought for a moment, then reluctantly agreed, immediately ordering someone to summon the other nobles.

Everyone went up the mountain together to suppress the bandits.

The timber track business is a collaborative effort; such a dangerous task shouldn't be left to Lord Qin to handle alone.

Even if we just go along to take a look, we can't just sit in the inn and wait.

"Alright, let's get ready and set off together!"

Qin Feng nodded slightly.

After a while.

Qin Dali appeared at the entrance of the inn with dozens of men, each with a sharp short knife tucked into their waistband and dressed in coarse black cloth.

"They're all here. How dare they steal our stuff? We'll wipe out San Niu Shan tonight! They're asking for trouble! Let's go!"

He suddenly waved his hand.

Dozens of people immediately followed and left the county town.

The group of people led by Duke Ma looked at each other in disbelief, including some of his servants, their legs trembling with fear.

These men under Lord Qin don't seem to be ordinary people.

You can feel the fierce aura emanating from the other person even from a distance.

The key point is...

They went up the mountain one by one to wipe out the bandits. There were only a few dozen people, and there was no sign of tension at all.

On the contrary, they were very excited.

It's like you're about to do something good.

"Let's go, everyone follow me. You don't need to help up ahead. We'll be counting the timber in a bit. These servants will be there to carry the timber down the mountain!"

Qin Feng boarded Duke Ma's carriage and said with a smile:

"However, there is something... I must inform the Duke in advance."

"Please speak, Lord Qin."

"Without the government intervening, it's naturally very dangerous for these men to risk going up the mountain. If we manage to deal with the bandits of Sanniu Mountain, the consequences..."

Qin Feng left his words unfinished.

Duke Ma, inside the carriage, immediately realized what was happening and nodded.

"Of course, we'll follow Lord Qin's arrangements. The confiscated wealth should rightfully be divided among the brothers. Moreover, I just discussed this with you all, and if we really take down Sanniu Mountain, it will be a great help. I'm willing to give up less than a hundred taels of silver for the brothers to share!"

More than fifty men were fighting against two hundred bandits.

The Duke of Ma could imagine the many dangers involved.

This is a life-or-death situation.

If we finally succeed in taking it, what does dividing up the wealth of Sanniu Mountain matter? Besides, they have to pay us silver.

To be honest, the fact that Qin Feng's men have this kind of courage shows that they are no ordinary people.

When laying timber tracks in the future, other issues will inevitably arise. If timber robbery occurs again, we might have to trouble these people again.

As for their servants.

Forget it, let's not talk about it anymore.

They're fine for fighting in the capital, but if it comes to actually carrying knives, they probably wouldn't be a match for Qin Feng's men, nor do they have that kind of imposing presence.

"Then thank you very much, Duke!"

"Lord Qin, we're all on the same side now, so let's not be so formal. To be honest, I'm quite ashamed. I should be the one thanking you. It should have been us who stepped in to do this. It's really unfair that you had to come all the way from the capital and have your men risk their lives."

"It's alright, these are minor matters. Business comes first."

Although these nobles were not particularly capable, they were quite loyal and at least much better than the civil officials in the court.

They won't stab you in the back.

I don't know how the war is going. Judging by the time, the border guards should have already clashed with the wild boars, but the court hasn't sent any battle reports back.

Much later.

The carriage stopped by the roadside, and Qin Feng and his group got out.

Ahead.

Qin Dali had already led a group into the mountains, while the rest followed Liu Tu up the mountain from the other side.

"Just wait and see. It's the dead of night; the thieves are fast asleep. There shouldn't be any problems!"

"OK!"

How could Ma Guogong and his group wait quietly? They all looked at the dark mountain road with worried expressions.

I wonder what kind of men Lord Qin has under his command.

Is it really possible to take Sanniu Mountain?

……

Beijing.

Inside the palace.

After reviewing the memorials, Zhou Zhengde simply lay down in the imperial study to rest, with Eunuch Miao kneeling beside him and leaning over the headboard.

"emperor!"

suddenly.

Just then, a group of guards rushed to the outside of the imperial study, carrying a soldier covered in blood who knelt outside.

"What's going on outside?"

Upon hearing the voice, Zhou Zhengde frowned and asked.

"This servant will go out and see!"

Grandpa Miao hurriedly got up and walked out quickly.

Looking at the soldiers lying on the ground and the cotton armor they were wearing, Eunuch Miao's expression changed drastically.

Soldiers at the border?

How...

"What happened?"

"I asked, my voice trembling," Grandpa Miao asked.

The soldier stretched out his hand with difficulty and said haltingly:

"The wild boar hide couldn't break through... The border city walls suffered heavy losses... General Duan led his troops to attack, but encountered... an ambush, the entire army... was wiped out, defeated, defeated, the first fortress on the border has fallen... fallen!"

The voice just fell.

The soldier's hand fell limply to the ground.

The last breath he was holding on for finally dissipated.

"The sky has fallen!"

Eunuch Miao's face turned ashen. He mumbled something in a trembling voice and scrambled into the imperial study.