Chapter 1445: Chapter 1445: Spreading Poison

Old Wu’s wife didn’t expect Mrs. Cen to dare hit her. She was stunned for a moment, then raised her hand to hit back, but was kicked down by Mrs. Cen, who spat and cursed: "I warn you, I’m a lady, and you are just a civilian woman. If you hit an official’s family member, I could kill you immediately without being arrested!"

She then looked at the other people present, her gaze cold and malignant: "And you, remember this, you are merely relatives of soldiers. Taking care of you is a favor, not taking care of you is perfectly normal. You have no right to complain!"

Everyone was terrified, completely unprepared for Mrs. Cen’s sudden outburst, afraid of being hit, they nodded hastily: "Yes, yes, yes, Madam, please calm down!"

Mrs. Cen snorted coldly, cursing in her heart: A group of insolent fools, you deserve to be cursed!

"Come with me, I can’t find a few vehicles for you to sit in?!" Mrs. Cen picked up Sister Tang and led the group to the Ding Family Camp.

When Ding Changli saw Mrs. Cen and the others, he was startled, thinking, is this woman crazy? Desperate for everyone to know her relationship with the official, hastily proclaiming it?

But Ding Ge had said, to kidnap Mrs. Ji and the Gu Family, Mrs. Cen’s help was needed, and action was planned for the next few days, so they couldn’t offend Mrs. Cen. He brought them into the camp and arranged several vehicles for them.

"First recognize the vehicles, then the people inside them. When it’s time to set off tomorrow, just come and find the cars and people, I’ll leave it at that." Ding Changli said.

"Ah, ah, ah, thank you, Manager Ding." The elderly and children in the Lu Family camp expressed gratitude, recognized the vehicles and people, took some food from Ding Changli, and returned happily.

Tonight, Lu Chong didn’t need to stand guard, and upon hearing of this incident, he beat Mrs. Cen severely.

You wretch, wretch, do you long for everyone to know you’re cuckolded? You even seek help from Ding Ge, I’ll let you find a man, beat you to death!

After being beaten, Mrs. Cen hated Lu Chong even more, impatiently waiting to kill him.

...

At dawn the next day, the army set off on time, running swiftly again.

However, Mrs. Kuang and others were much more relaxed this time, no longer having to push elderly and children along, with several weak women hitching a ride on the Gu Family’s vehicle, happily journeying.

The relatives of other Prefecture soldiers weren’t as fortunate, many running on foot, some too weak, collapsing while running.

The Company Commander of their Military Office was worried, seeking Vice General Fang and Vice General Xue, hoping the army would slow down.

But military orders are like mountains, the two deputy generals refused to slow the march, merely providing several vehicles for the fainted soldiers to sit in.

But there were too many accompanying relatives, and too few vehicles, even the five provided were packed.

In the end, they had no choice but to have soldiers carry the small elderly and children while running.

Vice General Fang and Vice General Xue thus felt the burden of military sustenance... not just feeding the soldiers, but also caring for their families. Their two families weren’t managing well.

But neither wanted to give up this chance for promotion, fiercely gathering all soldiers together, preventing those capable Company Commanders from leading the troops ahead.

The army raced for three days, finally nearing the Hundred Wolves County by dusk on the third day.

Everyone was delighted: "Finally getting close, we’ve been running nauseated these past days."

They began complaining: "Are Vice General Fang and Vice General Xue overexerting? There wasn’t even a bandit pursuit along the way, and we ran for nothing, truly infuriating."

A soldier said: "We ran, so what now?"

Vice General Fang and Vice General Xue were pleased but didn’t stop the army, issuing a new order: "Only two hours until the Hundred Wolves County Inn, everyone rush at full speed. Once at the inn, rest well, embark again tomorrow afternoon, after lunch!"

Though exhausted, the thought of hot water at the inn and resting half a day tomorrow cheered everyone, hollering and continuing to run.

Wildly running for half an hour, finally spotting the Hundred Wolves County Inn’s flames, they shouted in joy: "It’s the inn, the Hundred Wolves County Inn is here, hurry and run!"

"Let’s go, let’s go, hurry and run!"

Everyone was thrilled, quickening their pace.

But suddenly, a sound different from marching footsteps was heard: "Why has this sound gotten louder? It sounds like hoofbeats?"

"We’re so many, running makes loud sounds. Hoofbeats are common, there are plenty of horses in the army, don’t get startled."

The soldier who had doubts earlier said nothing further, continued running, hoping to reach the inn first to secure hot water for his family.

But suddenly, many soldiers running behind them fell to the ground.

Thud thud thud, the sounds of soldiers hitting the ground were incessant. Those ahead turned to see fallen soldiers amid numerous galloping horses.

There were people on the horses, galloping while scattering something among the crowd.

After scattering, soldiers fell where it passed.

"What’s going on? Who are you? What are you doing?!"

As soon as the words fell, a soldier shouted: "Bandits, they’re bandits, scattering sedatives! Quick, fight back!"

But as he called out, a bandit behind him beheaded him.

With a roll, the soldier’s head fell to the ground, his body thudding down, startling those who witnessed it.

Clang clang clang!

"Fight back quickly! Bandits are attacking!"

The army descended into chaos, no one expected such audacious bandits to strike near the county gates, right next to the inn.

"Don’t panic, fight back quickly! Cover your mouth and nose, cover your mouth and nose, don’t breathe the sedatives!" Vice General Fang shouted, urging the Flag Soldier to wave the government army’s flag, rallying the soldiers.

But some soldiers had families with them, anxiously trying to rescue them rather than rally, instead running to their kin.

Seeing this, Vice General Fang was nearly furious, shouting: "Each Company Commander swiftly gather soldiers, gather and fight back! Only by repelling the bandits can your families be saved!"

He then ordered a soldier: "Take the Yongtai Prefecture Camp token to request aid in Hundred Wolves County, ask Lord County Magistrate to send county soldiers and officials to help. Go quickly, ride!"

"Yes!" The soldier took the token and galloped off.

But the Hundred Wolves County gate commander was terrified, knowing the bandits from Hundred Wolves Mountain had descended, refused to open the gates, shouting: "Brother, it’s not that I’m cruel, but the bandits from Hundred Wolves Mountain are too numerous, there are Nine Villages, thousands of fierce bandits. Had they not found Hundred Wolves County too poor, they’d have conquered it long ago to rule as tyrants... you should fend for yourselves."

We’ll help collect your bodies.

The soldier seeking aid was nearly furious, even cried, kneeling and pleading: "Brother, you mustn’t ignore our plight, soldiers have families, elderly, young, many women. If caught by bandits, it’s a lifetime of ruin."

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