Volume 2: The King's Way Chapter 190 Misunderstanding
After Chen Lan, Lei Bu and others withdrew, they found that there were no pursuers. Combining the previous and subsequent events, they realized that there was a trap, so they turned around and chased after them.
However, this time when they arrived at the Qin River, they saw Bai Tu's personal guards already on the opposite bank, with large shields placed on the ground as cover, ready for battle!
Ordinary cavalry had to wade across the river, which was even more unbearable than wearing wooden and stone armor. When the enemy had just waded a quarter of the way across, they would be within the shooting range of Bai Tu's personal guards.
Although Bai Tu had not yet made large-scale efforts in military technology at this time, his personal guards were definitely equipped with the best equipment.
The armor is loaded with two sets of bows and arrows, both of which are composite bows. The core of the longbow is made of cen wood, which is known for its toughness, with hardwood attached to the bow arms and tip bends, and then wrapped with beef tendons on the outside. The curvature and length of the bow are specially designed according to the height of each guard to conform to ergonomics . Although it has the defects of being laborious and expensive, the effective killing range is an astonishing nearly 300 meters.
The other is a horn-rib composite short bow, which was modeled after the Mongolian bow. It has a range of less than 200 meters and is mainly used for shooting while running. It does not require a long range and is known for its fast shooting speed and energy saving.
After being loaded into the armor, the range and power are further improved, and the power can be consumed into laser arrows.
Of course, considering the limited physical strength of the wooden and stone warriors, it is usually better to load them with real arrows.
At this time , using infantry longbows, the enemy was completely crushed in terms of range. Some generals in the chaos had been shot by arrows and fell into the water, while the enemy did not even have a chance to draw their bows. Even if they managed to draw their bows, the arrows would be weak when they reached the other side!
Although the firing rate is not fast and the number of people is not large, but... can you expect a group of bandits to charge at the cost of human lives?
Dream on!
Ignoring the shouts of Chen Lan and others, the rebel army stopped when they reached the middle of the river. Chen Lan and others had no intention of leading the charge, but just kept forcing the charge.
When there were signs of the army's collapse and some generals even ignored orders and tried to escape, Chen Lan and several other leaders had no choice but to retreat.
However, at this moment, a burst of engine sound was heard - Bai Tu was very familiar with it, it was the sound of the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry charging!
As soon as the rebel army returned to the shore, they were driven back by Cheng Lian and Cao Xing, who led their troops into the river...
Cheng Lian and Cao Xing showed no mercy to these villains who had deceived and led them away in an attempt to launch a surprise attack on their lord.
When they failed to catch up with the rebel soldiers and found out they were tricked, they were just puzzled. But when they went back, they found that the village had changed a lot. Every household was pulling out the tied villagers from the cellar and untying them. The old man who received them at the beginning, after admitting his crime and explaining the situation, hit his head on the blade and died. This scared Cheng Lian and Cao Xing so much that they almost lost their souls!
If they hadn't had much time to waste and were not bound by Bai Tu's usual military discipline, they would have really wanted to massacre these unruly people.
Although I know in my heart that they were coerced, but... even if it was in Bingzhou, if there were Han people coerced by the Xiongnu and plotted against the governor, killing the entire family would be the lightest punishment.
Cheng Lian and Cao Xing could only pray that Bai Tu was okay while following the trail...
When they discovered these rebel troops, they could not hold back their anger. No matter if they knelt on the ground or abandoned their troops, they would all be shot through the chest or beheaded with a single blow!
This is not considered a violation of military discipline - for soldiers who surrender on the battlefield, who they injured or killed while fighting for their respective masters will not affect their treatment as prisoners. Those who kill without authorization will be dealt with according to military regulations, but for soldiers who attack civilians... killing one person is like killing my father, and there is no point in surrendering.
Chen Lan and others wanted to cross the river but couldn't, and wanted to return to the shore but couldn't, so they were pressed into the river and killed. Even if they were forced to bite people, they were no match for the Bingzhou Wolf Riders!
After a round of shouting and killing, Cheng Lian and Cao Xing led the three leading bandits across the river. Lei Xu, one of the four bandits, had just been shot dead in the chaos...
As soon as Cheng Lian and Cao Xing reached the other side, they bowed down and said, "I'm sorry that you're late. My lord, you've been frightened!"
Bai Tu glared angrily: "You are just a thief, and you scared me?"
"I am not afraid of my lord's divine power... " Cao Xing nudged Cheng Lian with his elbow.
"Okay, it was me who asked you to chase the bandits. You were able to get back in time, so you have done a good deed and no fault." Bai Tu said.
If it was Gan Ning, Chen Dao, etc., who led their own troops and fell into the trap, it would definitely be their responsibility. If it was Xiao San who fell into this trap, Bai Tu would slap him for murdering his own brother right now...
But as for Cheng Lian and Cao Xing, regardless of their abilities or official positions, they were only following orders and it is not their turn to take the blame.
Seeing the neat and orderly cavalry, the general called him "Lord"...
Jiao Qing, who was standing by, couldn't tell Bai Tu's identity. He also hurriedly greeted him, but he just called him "Mr. Bai".
After all, Jiao Qing was recommended by local officials to be an official. It was his first time meeting Bai Tu, so he had not "paid homage to the mountain master" before. Others who were in the same boat would directly call him "Lord", but Jiao Qing was still quite deep.
Bai Tu held his arm and said, "Jiao Shuzuo has done a great deed today. Don't call me Lord Bai, it seems strange... Call me Lord! Come back to Shucheng with us!"
There was no reason for Jiao Qing to refuse.
To say this to Chen Dao was Bai Tu's shamelessness in directly recruiting people, but to say this to Jiao Qing, a minor official in the prefectural government... it was considered a compliment.
While other officials in Lujiang Prefecture were still worried, Jiao Qing, the young clerk, was the first to get ashore.
Although Jiao Qing's previous schemes were relatively simple, he dared to stand up and cheat at that time, which showed his character and quick wit and left a good impression on Bai Tu.
On the way, Bai Tu also curiously asked Jiao Qing why he was traveling overnight - Jiao Qing was a clerk in the prefectural government, and was now responsible for collecting head tax in the countryside. The grain tax in Lujiang had been exempted, but the head tax was still being collected, and most farmers used silk cloth to pay the tax.
Ordinarily, if he really was the governor of the imperial court and was leading his troops on the journey overnight, he would be considered loyal to his duty. However... as a clerk in charge of transporting silk and cloth taxes, is it worth it for you to travel in the middle of the night?
After asking, I found out that this was the chief clerk in the mansion. The task assigned to him was very tight in terms of distance and speed, and the banner was still for the "performance arranged by the General of Chariots and Cavalry."
Of course, Jiao Qing didn't dare to say it so directly. His description was very obscure, and Bai Tu had to guess it himself.
"So, the officials in Shucheng must be very dissatisfied with me now, right?" Bai Tu asked with a slightly serious expression.
"No, no, no, my lord, you have reduced taxes and provided large-scale disaster relief. We are just moving our legs more..." Jiao Qing quickly denied.
"We are only given seven days to collect taxes from eleven villages, and we have to travel overnight... Let alone others, did you really have no objections before?" Bai Tu was already very dissatisfied.
Of course, it was not directed at Jiao Qing, but at the chief clerk of Shucheng and other officials of the prefectural office - as for Lu Kang, the prefect, he had not actually taken office, and Zhou Yu had just arrived and was probably in the process of reorganizing military affairs.
Bai Tu just thought that someone was using this to express dissatisfaction with his policies.
"This..." Jiao Qing hesitated for a moment, but finally said: "I dare not deceive the lord. In fact... it is mainly because I have some personal grudges with that Gao Zhubu. He dare not be so harsh to other officials, and it will not damage the lord's reputation."
Jiao Qing didn't want to say this at first, as it would seem too hypocritical, and... as an official, it was a bit taboo to have a bad relationship with his superiors and to file a complaint to a higher level.
But seeing Bai Tudu's expression, Jiao Qing felt that it would be better not to let this misunderstanding continue...
White picture: embarrassing.
