Chapter 2814: Chapter 3815: Infiltrating Weifeng Stockade
The steward’s screams echoed constantly, awakening many people, even the residence’s guards hurried over.
But rushing into the room to check, the steward seemed unharmed at least physically, though mentally unstable, repeatedly shouting about seeing ghosts—headless female ghosts, hanged female ghosts, drowned female ghosts, all of them were young maidens.
"How could there be ghosts? Our residence treats servants the best." Someone muttered, but with so many people in the Laundry Workshop, no one noticed which clumsy maid said it.
The little maid’s mouth slightly curled upward, isn’t the master supposed to be kind? Just let them see then.
The steward had a mental breakdown, guards called for a doctor, who prescribed calming medicine, but upon awakening, she screamed crazily again. She had family members also working at Bai Residence, fearful of the impact, she was granted sick leave and taken home to recuperate.
This incident wasn’t reported to Bai Ruozhu; the chief steward thought it was a minor matter, or perhaps the Laundry Workshop’s steward had run into something supernatural; such unlucky matters weren’t reported.
...
Bai Ruozhu and her group set out in disguise, traveling very discreetly, resting outside the city at night.
The next day, Jiang Yichun quietly entered a nearby city, returning not long after to say to Bai Ruozhu, "I found out two things, which one first?"
"Good news." Bai Ruozhu replied casually.
"Neither are good news." Jiang Yichun shook his head.
She rolled her eyes at him, "If neither are good, then why hesitate? Hurry up and say it!"
He grabbed her fingers to play with, speaking softly, "The place Ma Xingguo went for bandit suppression wasn’t actually mountain bandits, but a place for training private soldiers."
"What? Is Ma Tongfang planning a rebellion?" Bai Ruozhu exclaimed.
Jiang Yichun snorted coldly, "I’m afraid such places aren’t just one; there should be several. If Ma Xingguo suppressed bandits and recruited them, his force would grow, which would be a merit; then leading the recruited force to annihilate the Turkic Army would be another merit."
Bai Ruozhu took a deep breath; this was thoroughly considered, who knows how long it had been plotted.
"What else?" she asked.
"Another corpse appeared in Beiyu City, died just like the one in Old Ding’s lantern; someone is inducing panic." Jiang Yichun said.
"They’re trying to stall us!" Bai Ruozhu’s teeth ground noisily, "In the dark, while we stand out; I’m afraid they won’t be drawn out."
Jiang Yichun squeezed her hand, "If it’s to stall us, naturally it won’t be drawn out easily, not needing to assassinate us."
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help massaging her temples, "We’re quite passive now; that’s not okay."
"So I’ve arranged for someone to infiltrate Weifeng Stockade." he said while helping her massage her head, "Don’t overthink, I’m here."
"Okay." She rested her head on his shoulder; she knew she couldn’t persevere without him.
Jiang Yichun hugged her, "I think it’s best I go personally, you return to Beiyu City and restrain them from the back."
"No way!" Bai Ruozhu immediately shouted, "I can’t let you take the risk alone; Xiaoyuan and Lan Ying stayed in the Jiuli Clan, while Qiu Zhi is in the Capital City, the astrologer and senior brothers didn’t come, we don’t have as many friends helping us as before."
"You must have confidence in your man." he said with a smile.
Bai Ruozhu slapped him, "With your parents at home, I’m not too worried; your father has high medical skills, your mother is more capable, perhaps only the Poison Master will benefit. As for you, don’t be brave; this matter is infuriating, I must act myself to quench the fury in my heart."
"Alright." Jiang Yichun said helplessly.
...
In Weifeng Stockade, Ma Xingguo lay on the most comfortable animal skin chair, looking at the crowd of mountain bandits below.
No, shouldn’t call them mountain bandits; they were all well-trained soldiers, soon to be his subordinates.
"Lian Jin, you’ve done well." he said.
Lian Jin was the head of Weifeng Stockade, also a trusted aide of Ma Tongfang, his ambition was to be a general but was dispatched to occupy the mountain as king, secretly training soldiers; naturally, it was suffocating.
Five years had passed quickly, those below were spiritless one by one, even some said if this continued, they would truly become mountain bandits.
Luckily, Ma Tongfang’s secret letter arrived, they were to fully cooperate with Ma Xingguo’s arrangements, feigning recruitment, only respecting Ma Xingguo.
Externally, it was said Ma Xingguo defeated him, and Ma Xingguo alone subdued dozens of mountain bandits, effectively making them submit.
They knew they were soon to battle the Turkic people, one by one extremely excited, the strength suppressed for five years finally had an outlet.
"Subordinates serve the master, the young master without hesitation, even unto death." Lian Jin saluted, the soldiers dressed as mountain bandits behind him all knelt and shouted, "Even unto death."
Ma Xingguo laughed heartily; indeed his uncle knew how to use troops, look at these people, how spirited they were now?
"Although you just got recruited, the military merits cannot take the lead, to avoid suspicion." Ma Xingguo said, "But don’t worry, afraid of no merits following me?"
"Yes, listening to the young master’s arrangements." Lian Jin said.
Bai Ruozhu and her group were stalking at the mountainside, racking their brains on how to blend in when they heard the deafening shouting.
"Even unto death; there’s always a time for them to die." Bai Ruozhu muttered disdainfully.
"Later, I’ll catch someone; I make a mask to look like him, the two of us will sneak in first." Jiang Yichun said.
He had learned the Facechanging Technique from Gao Zhou, carrying materials and tools for making masks, a temporary one was doable, though not finely detailed, caution was needed.
Luckily, most mountain bandits’ faces were dirty, which concealed somewhat.
Not long after, a patrolling mountain bandit came; Bai Ruozhu used some poison, knocked their consciousness out.
Jiang Yichun had someone drag him into a dark area, mimicked his face, and started constructing.
The mask was quickly made but took about an hour; Jiang Yichun was about to wear it when Bai Ruozhu pulled him back.
"No, don’t use the Bone Shrinking Skill; I’ll disguise myself." She compared her height, this person was short-statured, and she was 1.7 meters; just right to disguise, adding some support inside due to thinness.
"Alright." He smiled, his eyes sparkling, "My wife cherishes me."
A crowd of guards behind them witnessed the visible affection, was such open love really appropriate?
Bai Ruozhu’s face flushed, glared at him, "Later try to find one with a build similar to yours, be cautious; don’t alert them."
"Yes."
He led someone on a detour, soon brought back an unconscious mountain bandit with a similar build.
Likewise, finished making a human skin mask, stripped the clothes off and put them on, transforming into a bandit.
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There was an issue at home yesterday, updating resumes today~
