Chapter 453: Chapter 454: Target

"No, that’s not it," the peddler said, pointing to the mountain man beside him. "They’re the ones. They said they have a batch of goods and wanted to ask if you’re interested."

Ming Feng noticed the peddler blink twice and looked curiously at the man beside him. "What kind of things have you got?"

The mountain man rubbed his nose. "Game. All hunted by us in the mountains.

It’s just that there’s quite a lot of it, and we’re in a hurry to get back. That’s why we bothered this young man to bring us over."

Ming Feng replied, "Then I’m definitely in need. Bring over however much you have. As long as it’s good quality, I’ll take it all."

Seeing him act so wealthy, the mountain man’s eyes lit up. He nodded happily. "I’ll go get my brothers to carry the goods over right now.

But they’ll be carrying everything, so they won’t be that fast. They’ll probably arrive around dusk. Is that all right?"

"That’s fine," Ming Feng said. "I’ll be here waiting for you."

A deal was struck in just a few words. The large man standing nearby clapped Ming Feng on the shoulder. "Nice one. Looks like this year’s winter supplies are all on you to organize."

Ming Feng grinned at him. "Don’t you worry. I promise you guys won’t go hungry."

The mountain man, perhaps in a hurry to fetch the game, thanked the peddler and took off, disappearing in an instant.

Ming Feng then smiled at the peddler. "My friend, thank you for bringing him here. It’s freezing out. Come on in for a cup of hot tea!"

The peddler glanced at the empty street, then nodded. "Then I’ll take you up on that, my friend."

Ming Feng led the man inside. The moment the main gate closed, the peddler collapsed, slumping to the ground.

Ming Feng quickly whispered to the big man, "Dazhuang, help me get him inside. It’s too cold on the ground."

Dazhuang walked over, slid his hands under the man’s arms, and with little effort, lifted him onto the heated brick bed in the gatehouse.

"What happened to him? Why’d he suddenly collapse like that?" Dazhuang asked curiously as he moved the man.

Once the man was settled, Ming Feng brought over a cup of hot water. "Here, drink this. It’ll help."

After drinking the water, the peddler finally recovered. "That man’s accent... he was trying to sound like one of the mountain folk, but I could tell. They’re not from around here at all."

The statement was abrupt, but Ming Feng understood immediately. "How could you tell?"

"We’re middlemen. We deal with all sorts of people every day. Even though the accents might sound similar, every region has its own slight distinctions.

He sounded the part, but he was missing the little habits that the real mountain folk have.

Young man, Ming Feng, you have to tell the Magistrate right away! Those are probably bandits, here to scout. You mustn’t let your guard down."

’Lu City has only just found peace. We finally have something to look forward to. We can’t let them destroy it all over again.’

Dazhuang demanded, "Then why did you lead them here? Weren’t you just setting us up?"

The peddler looked at them with guilt. "I panicked. Besides, even if I hadn’t brought him, someone else would have, wouldn’t they?

I figured it was better to be direct, to play along and keep them from getting suspicious.

Ming Feng, I swear I didn’t mean you any harm. These people are ruthless. You have to prepare, and fast."

The peddler’s legs didn’t feel as weak now. He struggled to his feet. "I won’t disturb you any longer."

Ming Feng shot Dazhuang a glare. "That’s not what we meant. In fact, we can’t thank you enough.

I knew something was up when you blinked at me outside.

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Thank you for what you did today. I don’t believe I caught your name."

"My surname is He," the peddler said. "Everyone calls me Ah Bing."

"Ah Bing, I won’t keep you any longer today, but let’s stay in touch." Ming Feng knew he had much to do. "Try to stick to the main roads on your way back."

He Abing nodded. "I know my way around here. I can just dip into any alley, and no one would be able to catch me."

It was this confidence that gave him the courage to take such a risk.

After seeing He Abing out the gate, Ming Feng’s expression turned grim, and he ran toward the front office.

Meanwhile, the "mountain man" reached the main road, lowered his head, and hurried toward the edge of the city.

’Wait,’ he thought, ’wasn’t that mansion the Prefect’s Office?’

’Looks like the Magistrate sent by the court has already arrived.’

’These officials are all filthy rich. Coming from so far away, they must have brought plenty of valuables with them.’

’We already know this place like the back of our hands. If our little squad can slaughter this fat sheep, we’ll make a killing.’

Suppressing his excitement, Tian Er strode toward his squad’s hiding place.

They had come fully prepared for this trip. They really had hunted some game deep in the mountains, and they’d brought it all along to use as props.

The wild boar in particular had been turned into a container for their weapons—a perfect disguise.

* * *

Ancient Wen Heng almost laughed in exasperation when he received the report. ’The nerve of these people,’ he thought, ’targeting us so quickly.’

"We don’t know how many of them there are. Shouldn’t we go find General Zhou?" He Gaofei shifted restlessly. ’This back office is no fortress. No wonder Xiao and the others would rather have moved out.’

Lu Shenggen and Wu Yichen grew anxious as well. "Exactly! It’s too dangerous with just the few of us here.

We need to find General Zhou and ask him for help."

Xiao Yuling and the others recalled that night from a few months ago. ’If the enemy hadn’t charged straight for the main courtyard first, none of us would be sitting here today.’

The mere memory of that night’s horror made their old wounds throb with phantom pain.

"What’s the rush?" Ancient Wen Heng said. "We don’t even know their exact numbers. Besides, shouldn’t we be sending men to guard the city gates right now?"

"Right, let’s close the city gates!" Lu Shenggen immediately stood to give the order but was stopped by Ancient Wen Heng.

"Wait. Now is not the time to tip our hand. Since they want to get in, let’s welcome them with open arms."

Ancient Wen Heng turned directly to the Chief Constable. "Have your men get ready. Summon everyone to the back office, except for those on the city walls."

"Mr. Gu, what are you planning?" He Gaofei stood up, speaking nervously. "You can’t possibly think you can fight off those vicious bandits with just the men we have here, can you?"

"They’re just men," Ancient Wen Heng replied. "And given their short stature, are we supposed to be afraid of them?

If they’re posing as mountain folk to get into the city, there can’t be that many of them.

With the guards in my residence, plus all these constables, you think we can’t take them down?"

Chief Constable Fan Changxi stepped forward. "I will lead all the constables to capture every last one of these bandits."

’The raid a few months ago was his disgrace. This time, no matter what, he had to redeem himself.’

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