Chapter 589: Ambush
A few days later, the Celestial Fertilizer from Xi'an's official fertilizer store was almost sold out. So, Padi Tu and Zheng Gouzi, along with dozens of Gao Family Village Militia soldiers, drove dozens of empty carts, preparing to return to Chengcheng County to collect more. As the convoy exited the city, it stretched for a considerable distance, flowing in an orderly procession from the city gates. A death sworn warrior from the Prince of Qin's Residence, mingling with the crowd, revealed a sneer on his face. He followed them out of the city gate, quickly ran to a nearby copse where horses were already prepared. He spurred his horse to a gallop, taking a shortcut to get ahead. Fifty *li* was a short distance for a galloping horse. In no time, the warrior reached a forest in Gaoling District, where a hundred death sworn warriors from the Prince of Qin's Residence were already impatiently waiting.
"Boss, the fertilizer store's convoy has left the city."
The leader of the death sworn warriors was ecstatic: "Excellent! We've been waiting for days, our skin practically itching for action. Finally, the main targets have arrived."
A subordinate inquired, "Shouldn't we wait until they've transported the Celestial Fertilizer from Chengcheng County before making our move? That way, we could seize more."
The leader of the death sworn warriors retorted, "Fool! How could we possibly bring that Celestial Fertilizer back to the Prince's Residence? Are you afraid the civil officials won't have enough leverage against us? We're only here to kill and vent our anger. Strike and flee!"
Only then did his subordinates understand. "Hmph, they want to die, but it won't be that straightforward!"
"You still have the advantage in numbers; just kill all those Jinyiwei, and then..."
The death sworn warriors were about to charge, when suddenly, someone gasped, "Wait, look! It's Zheng Gouzi!"
Very quickly, the remaining death sworn warriors dwindled. Since Wei Zhongxian's death, the power of the East and West Agencies and the Jinyiwei had significantly waned. However, as the saying goes, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. As the imperial secret service, the Jinyiwei were highly efficient in their operations and excelled at covert actions. When they chose not to appear, one wouldn't see a single hair of those agents, but when they *did* appear, in an instant, one would find oneself caught in an inescapable net.
The gang spread out in the woods, taking cover and forming an ambush in a "pocket" formation, then waited in silence. Padi Tu's furious roar: "My Heaven Rabbit Rending Overlord Sword!"
At that moment, a death sworn warrior, spurred by the commotion, lunged forth from the trees, leading the charge into the convoy.
The leader of the death sworn warriors turned his waist-saber, intending to slit his own throat. But then, eight Jinyiwei pounced simultaneously from eight directions. Two desperately seized his arms, while another swiftly dislocated his jaw. The death sworn warriors fell one after another, their resistance fading with unnerving slowness as the Jinyiwei, swift as shadows, enveloped the entire area. Several horsemen immediately galloped to the center, taking positions around Zheng Gouzi. "Centurion Shi, we've arrived."
A large contingent of Jinyiwei had arrived!
"Road bandits!" Shi Kefa shrieked in an exaggerated voice, then clumsily tried to draw his waist-saber, only to find it stuck. He yanked and yanked, but for a long time, it wouldn't come out. Padi Tu chuckled, "Indeed, indeed."
The death sworn warriors all laughed. The leader of the death sworn warriors hadn't even finished his sentence when they heard the thundering rumble of hooves. One of the death sworn warriors charged past him, let out a loud laugh, and brought his saber down squarely on Shi Kefa's face. At that, the death sworn warriors were startled: "Damn, it's a trap!"
The death sworn warrior had seen Shi Kefa struggle for ages to draw his saber, which led him to underestimate the man. Little did he know, the man was merely acting. Caught off guard, he had no time to dodge. All he heard was a wet 'thud' as Shi Kefa's blade pierced his chest.
It could even be called a one-sided slaughter. On the other side, a death sworn warrior lunged at Padi Tu. Padi Tu yelped, tumbled backward, and fell behind a cart.
The death sworn warriors roared and charged forward. But the saber he swung was casually dodged. Padi Tu poked half his head out from behind the fertilizer cart, shaking it. "Sigh, it seems there's no chance for this Rabbit Lord to perform today."
Zheng Gouzi declared, "Since you insist on resisting to the bitter end, don't blame this official for showing no mercy." In the instant they charged out, Zheng Gouzi, Padi Tu, Shi Kefa, and the others, in their attackers' eyes, transformed into dead men.
The battle's outcome was decided the moment it began. He waved his hand, and the Jinyiwei surged forward from all directions, launching their attack.
"Jinyiwei on official business!"
Shi Kefa seemed like a different man, no longer a powerless civil official, but a valiant spymaster. He declared in a loud voice, "Lay down your weapons immediately and surrender, or perhaps you may be spared a life."
On the official road, the convoy's shadow appeared—dozens of carts stretching for a long distance, their front and rear out of sight of each other. They looked like an easy target. "Once the convoy enters our trap, we'll charge down and kill every single one, leaving no survivors."
The death sworn warrior was startled, just as he braced to defend against his opponent's ultimate move. His eyes widened, and he collapsed, becoming another fallen warrior. Zheng Gouzi remarked, "They arrived just in time."
The death sworn warrior gasped with difficulty, "Embroidered Spring Blade!"
The leader stared, and indeed, Zheng Gouzi was among the group, riding a tall, dark horse. "What are you scared of? If we were inside Xi'an city, we couldn't attack an imperial official. But out here in the wilderness, we are mere bandits. Even if we kill Zheng Gouzi, as long as there's no evidence, what can civil officials do to the Prince's Residence?" Who knew how long they had waited? Then came the cry, "Boss, Zheng Gouzi is the Judicial Commissioner of Xi'an. If we lay a hand on him, I'm afraid..."
Seeing his opponent so disheveled, the death sworn warrior lowered his guard and leaped onto the cart. He intended to stand atop the cart and attack Padi Tu, who was on the other side, from an elevated position. However, at that very instant, Shi Kefa's waist-saber flashed out. It was drawn with fluid motion, the blade aimed directly at the death sworn warrior's chest.
The tarp was thrown open, and a Jinyiwei soldier leaped out, announcing loudly, "Jinyiwei on official business! All unrelated persons, stand back immediately!"
Unexpectedly, a broad, slender long saber extended from beneath the tarp on the cart. With a wet 'thud,' it pierced the death sworn warrior. Each cart now revealed a Jinyiwei hidden beneath its covering. Shi Kefa leaned over, chuckling in a low voice, "It's good that we're saving our strength. It's not suitable for us to use Flintlock Rifles here, nor to wear full armor; our equipment isn't complete. If we truly fought, we would suffer casualties too. Better to let the Jinyiwei take those casualties."
"Understood!"
"Kill Shi Kefa as well, leave no one alive."
"Aow!"
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