"What is this?"
Wang Xingye was stunned. This kid looked quite sharp, so why was he talking nonsensically?
Shouldn't he be prostrating himself and pledging allegiance at this moment?
As he was wondering, the burly man suddenly strode towards him.
Here he comes!
Wang Xingye immediately became excited.
He never expected his reputation to be so effective.
With such a man, why worry about not gaining greater power?
Bandits were the epitome of the law of the jungle, and even within their ranks, conflict was ever-present.
Only by having his subordinates be strong enough could he have greater authority.
Looking at the powerfully built man, he was already considering if giving this fellow a small captain position would be too demeaning.
Just as he was contemplating what he should say next, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his neck.
Immediately after, he saw a headless corpse. Upon closer inspection, the corpse looked remarkably like him.
"Boss Wang is dead! Boss Wang is dead!"
"Kill him, kill him!"
The subordinates who had been watching the spectacle were also bewildered.
"I go by no other name, and my surname is not to be changed. I am Lü Ying, the Captain of Nei Huang County! You birds, if you know what's good for you, kneel and beg for your lives. If you don't, today is your day of death!"
Upon hearing this, the subordinates immediately felt a sense of unease.
The bandits who were about to charge forward and fight to the death suddenly halted their momentum.
However, at this moment, large contingents of soldiers rushed out from the nearby tents.
"Kill—"
Seeing the soldiers in shining armor, how could these bandits not realize they had fallen into an ambush?
With their leader dead and an ambush in place, many bandits instinctively wanted to turn and flee.
But before they could run far, over a dozen arrows were suddenly shot from behind them.
The first few unlucky ones didn't even realize what was happening before they fell headlong to the ground.
"Ambush from behind!"
In the ensuing panic, someone shouted, and the bandits who had been preparing to resist turned and fled.
The army was the most effective weapon of slaughter. These undisciplined rabble, daring to ambush the imperial army, relied solely on a surge of courage.
Now, with Wang Xingye's death and the appearance of the hidden forces behind them, these bandits were thrown into utter chaos.
"Those who surrender will be spared, those who resist will be killed without mercy!"
Soon, another cry rang out from the imperial army.
These imperial troops were already well-equipped, and coupled with the urgent training they had received from Wu Jie along the way, they were more than capable of fighting this one-sided battle.
They charged into the enemy ranks like tigers released from their cages, fighting with their lives on the line.
In contrast, the bandits, with their inconsistent quality and no effective leadership after the death of their chief, were being pursued relentlessly, only wishing their parents had given them faster legs.
"Kill—"
Just as they were preparing to flee westward, shouts of battle suddenly erupted from the woods to the west.
"There's an ambush here too! Damn this Lü for setting us up!"
The few bandits at the forefront yelled out.
This immediately caused the bandits, who were already unable to escape, to drop to their knees.
In less than half an hour, what should have been a sure victory ended in a disastrous defeat for the bandits.
Except for a small number of more cunning individuals who managed to slip into the woods under the cover of darkness, most were either cut down by the imperial army while trying to escape or surrendered by kneeling.
There were even some unlucky souls who were tripped by their comrades during their escape and trampled to death.
"Big Brother, are you all alright? Where is the official?"
Seeing that the imperial army had gained complete control of the situation, Wu Lin quickly came forward and asked.
"I'm fine, aren't I?"
Before Wu Jie could speak, Han Mo walked over with a smile.
"Official, it's good that you are alright!"
Seeing Han Mo appear, the heavy burden in Wu Lin's heart was finally lifted.
"By the way, Official, this is the head of the bandit leader Wang Xingye!"
After a moment of relief, Wu Lin suddenly remembered the head hanging from his waist and quickly presented the bloody head to Han Mo, reporting his success.
"Well done! Have the men keep a close eye on these scoundrels and tie them all up!"
Han Mo was also pleasantly surprised.
He had only arrived today and had already taken down a bandit leader. With this achievement, he wondered who among the troublemakers would dare to cause any further problems.
"Rest assured, Official. You can sit aside, and leave these matters to these young lads!"
This was a prime opportunity for financial gain. Although the Great Song Dynasty had no notable achievements in foreign wars, its rewards for military merit had always been quite generous.
To the imperial soldiers, these bandits were no longer just bandits but walking coins!
They were appointed by the Emperor himself, so who would dare to withhold their credit?
"By the way, where is that fellow named Lü?"
Han Mo suddenly remembered.
"Official, this bird is right here!"
An excited soldier pushed Lü Ying forward.
"Captain Lü, you have made a great contribution this time!"
Seeing Han Mo again, Lü Ying's face had turned ashen.
Although he was tied up securely and his mouth was gagged, his ears were fine. He had heard very clearly that Wu Lin had announced his name when killing.
While many among the bandits recognized him, it was dark and chaotic in the crowd. He knew without a doubt how those bandits who escaped would report back...
They were supposed to be the inside help, but now, the bandits who were supposed to receive them were all but captured. If Li Mao'er didn't want to see his entire family wiped out, it would truly be a miracle!
"Official, spare my life, spare my life!"
Lü Ying knelt on the ground without hesitation.
"Captain Lü, what are you saying? You have made such a great contribution this time, personally slaying the bandit leader Wang Xingye. I should be recommending you for merit immediately!"
Han Mo said with a cold smile.
"I confess, I confess! I only beg you to spare my family's lives, and I am willing to tell you everything I know!"
Lü Ying knelt on the ground without hesitation, begging for mercy.
He understood the methods of these bandits too well. The imperial court would adhere to laws and evidence, but these bandits would not play by those rules.
As long as this information got back, his entire family, young and old, was surely doomed!
"Spare you? That depends on how much you can tell me!"
The initiative had once again returned to Han Mo's hands. Now, the dark secrets within Nei Huang County could finally be revealed...