After everyone gathered, they quietly leaped out again just like when they had co.
The faint starlight shone through the window, and the hunter in bed turned over and then sat up.
He walked to the window, looking at the already empty courtyard, and frowned deeply.
Not until there was noise in the courtyard again did he promptly regain composure and walk briskly out the door.
By then, there was an additional person with a straw hat in the courtyard, whose brim was pressed low enough to completely obscure his face.
...
Fu Zhen sat on her horse, staring at the dark mountains for an unknown length of ti before Cheng Chili and the others finally returned.
"How is it?" she asked first.
"Nothing unusual." Having been troubled for half the night, Cheng Chili’s voice was lacking in vigor, "We’ve checked inside and outside; it’s indeed just a hunter."
Fu Zhen knitted her brows: "Could it be that we guessed wrong?"
Cheng Chili didn’t reply. Having searched thoroughly without finding any anomalies only revealed that they probably overthought it.
But they still couldn’t understand why a hunter would show no fear towards so many of them.
"There’s sothing I find a bit strange." The general they brought in earlier hesitated before speaking, "Considering how ticulous Lian Rong and his n are, why would they choose such a crude thod like subrging Consort Li’s body in water, when there are surely many other ways?"
Cheng Chili, still annoyed, replied, "If you have sothing useful to say, then say it! Isn’t this pond during dry season anyway? If not for this timing, they might have succeeded. What if it’s just bad luck on their part?"
Chastised like this, the general’s voice weakened further. He scratched his head and said, "I just feel it’s also peculiar that Consort Li’s body was found so tily, having been dead only two days, without decomposition or being eaten by wild animals, with her face still discernible. If more days had passed, even if it hadn’t sunk, it might not have been recognized."
Hearing this, Fu Zhen couldn’t help speaking out: "I think there’s so truth in that; this seems coincidental when reconsidered."
Pei Zhan looked up towards the town a few miles away and instructed the guiding general: "Take a group to monitor this village. The rest, follow to the town!"
Fu Zhen followed him onto the horse, though she wasn’t entirely supportive: "Going to the town now might yield nothing. If they’ve been hiding here for days, by this ti, they’ve had enough leeway to conceal themselves."
"I know we won’t find them tonight. But if I can’t catch them, I can still wait for them!" Pei Zhan turned his horse, "Now, within tens of miles, all the checkpoints are in place. So many of them have to eat and drink. I doubt no one’s supplying food; what will they do then?"
Fu Zhen was montarily taken aback by his words...
Camp Town is just a town with a population of over a hundred households. Because it’s within the Capital area, with large fertile lands, many noble and rich families from the capital bought estates here. After years of war, this place still remains relatively affluent.
Even tenant farrs in the surrounding villages have no difficulty making ends et; there aren’t many shortages of grain or food.
In such circumstances, Lian Rong and his group lurking here would not stand out when surviving day-to-day.
But what if each household’s grain storage was regulated?
That group is no fewer than a dozen people, right?
Could they really go unnoticed consuming food for so many mouths per al?
All outsiders in the town have been docunted.
Whichever household’s grain expenditure doesn’t tally up becos an imdiate surveillance target.
On the morning following the extensive search by the Capital Camp personnel, all households in the town and surrounding villages, along with the rice shops, had to report any storage over fifty jin of grain.
The information spread like wings, reaching every corner within tens of miles around.
Lian Rong stood in the courtyard, looking up at the hawk flying across the sky, with a deeply concentrated expression.
"Mr. Lian!"
At this mont, a samurai rushed in and said urgently, "Even raiding for food all night, we managed to stock only five to seven days’ worth of rations!"
Lian Rong looked at him: "Ti for their reporting takes ti too. Give Old Zhang more silver to bring back more!"
"Yes!"
After watching the person leave, Lian Rong circled around the bean-grinding mill and returned inside.
Upon entering, he imdiately spoke: "General, we need to quicken our actions. The one taking the lead this ti is Pei Zhan; he’s very formidable, plus he’s the chief commander of the Capital Camp with incredibly swift command. Delaying may lead to unforeseen circumstances!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)