Chapter 76
Chapter 76
Song Jin sat down and carefully read through the contents written on the silk cloth.
Then he found a few more people who had been to the stronghold and questioned them. In the end, he concluded that most of it matched.
As for the parts that did not, it was only because those people had only gone once and had not had the chance to scout many areas.
Fan He said excitedly, “Most of what’s written here is true. With this, and with the exact number of people inside the stronghold, attacking it will be much easier.”
Song Jin said, “Don’t celebrate too soon. The most important part is that Third Chief.”
“If my guess is right, that Third Chief should have some connection to the Barbarians’ Eighth Prince.”
Everyone’s gazes turned toward him.
After all, Song Jin had once stayed at the side of the Barbarians’ Third Prince, so he understood their side far better than the others did.
“The Barbarians’ Eighth Prince was born to the king of the Barbarians and a woman from the Central Plains. Before him, there had been princes of mixed Central Plains and Barbarians heritage, but none of them lived to adulthood.”
So one could imagine the schemes and cunning of this mixed-blood Eighth Prince, who had not only survived but grown up, as well as the people behind him.
“This Eighth Prince, Yelü Can, is best at killing with a borrowed knife. Naturally, he’s suffered no shortage of harassment himself, but anyone who made trouble for him would meet with some accident the next day or after a while. And no one could ever trace it back to him.”
“For someone to make it all the way to being Third Chief of a mountain stronghold, his Central Plains speech must be excellent. Over there, as far as I know, the only people with that kind of ability who can speak the Central Plains tongue are either me or someone under that Eighth Prince. Taking that guess one step further, it might even be the Eighth Prince himself.”
Even as he spoke, he did not forget to praise himself.
Shen Qingzhu rolled his eyes outright. “And now you’re getting smug.”
Song Jin gave a cold smile. “Why shouldn’t I be smug? That’s my own skill.”
Ji Yan’an said, “According to Jiang Yunsui, that Eighth Prince likely dug a secret passage. Where do you think that secret passage leads?”
The men exchanged glances. “We’ll know once we investigate it.”
But they would need Jiang Yunsui to lead the way.
“Where’s that child?”
Song Jin was raring to go, practically wishing he could attack the bandit stronghold right now.
Of course, he was not that kindhearted. His main goal was the treasure inside the stronghold and that iron mine. With those, they could raise troops, and they would be one step closer to rebellion.
Ji Yan’an paused. “She was tired. She fell asleep.”
Song Jin said, “What’s she sleeping for? She’s so young.”
Zzz… zzz…
Just then, the sound of Jiang Yunsui’s soft little snores drifted over.
Everyone followed the sound and saw the child lying asleep on Ji Yan’an’s lap.
The men looked at the child, then at Ji Yan’an.
Song Jin crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. “Well, well. Who would’ve thought our Young Master had such a kind heart?”
Whenever this man spoke, he always managed to sound sarcastic.
Ji Yan’an said, “Shut up. I’ll send word first and ask Old General Tang to lend us some dogs. The Yaoguang Guard can only spare two hundred men. The rest have to remain behind to guard Beizhen City.”
Song Jin curled his lip. “Then let’s discuss the plan. If that secret chamber really does lead straight into the stronghold, I have an idea.”
Ji Yan’an said, “Let’s hear it.”
“Simple. We disguise ourselves as their people and poison their food.”
As he spoke, he smilingly took out a packet of poison. “I’ve got Gut-Tearing Poison prepared right here. Guaranteed to send every last one of them on their way.”
Fan He turned pale with shock. “Absolutely not! That plan would harm heavenly harmony and human harmony alike. Don’t forget, there are still innocent people who were captured and taken there.”
Song Jin clicked his tongue. “What does that have to do with me?”
The corner of Ji Yan’an’s mouth twitched. Song Jin had really been provoked so badly he was losing his mind.
Shen Qingzhu said, “Poison is unnecessary. But sleeping drugs may be worth a try. If they really can make them lose their strength, it will save us a great deal of trouble. We don’t have the advantage in numbers, so this is the safest option.”
“The only question is, how do we make sure we aren’t discovered?”
As he spoke, his gaze landed on Jiang Yunsui, who was sound asleep.
Ji Yan’an also lowered his eyes and fixed them on the sleeping Jiang Yunsui.
But when he thought about how unlucky this child was every time she came out of the mountain stronghold, he hesitated. Besides, her injuries still had not healed.
He could not keep relying on Jiang Yunsui’s ability forever.
After carrying Jiang Yunsui into the carriage, Ji Yan’an grew drowsy as well.
He simply lay down too, pulled Jiang Yunsui into his arms like a soft little pillow, and fell asleep.
Honestly, Jiang Yunsui was chubby now, soft and warm to hold.
Ji Yan’an was sensitive to the cold, and only after holding her did he feel much warmer. Soon after, a heavy wave of sleepiness overtook him.
They slept for four hours. Though it was not enough to make up for last night’s lost rest, it was sufficient.
Jiang Yunsui woke as well, smacking her lips.
Bursts of barking came from outside.
She looked bewildered.
After sitting up and spacing out for a while, she glanced out the carriage window.
Wow… so many dogs!
“Woof, woof…”
Zuozuo and Youyou, the dogs she had raised, were standing upright with their front paws braced against the carriage, their tails wagging with incredible joy.
Jiang Yunsui got up. The moment her feet touched the floor, her legs went weak and she toppled over.
Thank goodness, thank goodness. She had landed sitting down, not face-first.
“Woof, woof, woof…”
The two plump little dogs barked, seemingly worried after hearing the noise.
Jiang Yunsui glanced at her own legs. Sigh. There were no spores to heal her legs today. She would have to wait until night.
So she simply crawled out.
Little Mushroom did not need to be so particular.
“Zuozuo Youyou, I’m coming.”
She truly was a mushroom with a disabled body but an unyielding spirit.
The moment she got outside, she met several pairs of eyes.
Not far away, the Yaoguang Guard who were gnawing on steamed buns saw the way she crawled out, and the corners of their mouths twitched.
Children were great. They did not care about dignity at all.
Zuozuo and Youyou had grown quite a bit by now. Their legs were much sturdier, and their bodies were at least two whole sizes rounder than when they had first arrived.
Jiang Yunsui could no longer pick up both at once.
She could only hug one fluffy little fatty at a time.
One by one, she carried both dogs into the carriage.
“Why did you come too?”
She glanced at the other dogs. Not counting Zuozuo Youyou, there were twelve dogs in total including Heiwa.
Every one of them looked incredibly energetic.
“You’re awake.”
She was happily petting the dogs when a rather unearthly voice sounded behind her.
Jiang Yunsui whipped her head around.
“What are you doing?”
Little Mushroom glared at him, but those big watery eyes were clear and adorably silly. The one thing they lacked was the fierce look she thought she had.
“Can your legs still move?”
Song Jin asked, leaning against the carriage with his arms crossed.
Jiang Yunsui was puzzled. Had this man come to show concern for her?
Little Mushroom looked at him with dead-fish eyes. “I just crawled out.”
Song Jin clicked his tongue, turned, and left.
Jiang Yunsui: ???
So what on earth had he come here for?
Naturally, Song Jin had come to see whether this child could still work.
If her legs had not healed, then Ji Yan’an definitely would not let her go.