In the face of this dense barrage of silver, Jiang Yan, carrying the dazed Li Mao'er, retreated into the back rooms.
Although Gao Shier was furious, he could do nothing about them for the moment. After all, this brat Li Mao'er had hidden quite a sum of silver in his own bedroom.
Even with over a dozen of them working together, they had been smashing for nearly fifteen minutes, yet there was no sign of it stopping.
"General, we can't wait any longer. We should leave quickly, the government troops are here!"
The two sides only lasted for less than a quarter of an hour. Hearing the shouts of fighting that had almost reached their doorstep, the men around Gao Shier finally couldn't take it anymore.
While their skills were good, the "Four Killers" outside were almost finished. If they didn't leave now, even if they could break out of this courtyard, they probably wouldn't be able to escape the estate.
"Let's go!"
After gritting his teeth fiercely, Gao Shier let out a shout and led his subordinates to fight their way out.
"Are they gone?"
Hearing that the commotion outside had finally subsided, Jiang Yan quickly asked his companion.
"They're gone!"
After receiving a positive reply, Jiang Yan plopped down on the ground. The situation had truly startled him.
If they hadn't responded calmly, they might have met their end tonight.
"Boss, what do we do with this old fellow?"
The burly men around Jiang Yan once again set their sights on Li Mao'er.
After working hard all night, they had only captured such a big fish!
As long as they took this fellow back, they would all rise in rank and become rich.
"Kid, those in the outlaw path uphold righteousness. Grandfather is sparing your life today, will you owe me a life in return?"
Jiang Yan licked his lips and then grabbed Li Mao'er by his collar, asking.
"Since I've fallen into your hands, do as you please, whether to kill or torture me. We've reached this point, why still humiliate this grandfather?"
Li Mao'er was now like a defeated rooster, completely devoid of his earlier arrogance.
He was about to be imprisoned, and with the crimes he had committed, he would likely be beheaded soon. How could he have the mind to think of other things?
"Do I look like someone who has nothing better to do than to make fun of you?"
Jiang Yan sneered and then said directly.
"I've hidden another hundred thousand strings of copper cash outside this manor. If you let me go, I'll give it all to you!"
After hearing Jiang Yan's words, Li Mao'er was silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said.
"Very well, you are also a dominant figure. We were merely acting on behalf of our respective masters tonight. I see you as a man of character, you may leave now!"
"Boss!"
After finally catching this fellow, Jiang Yan was now letting him go. His companions immediately voiced their objections.
"Alright, I have my own plans for this. I will explain the situation to the superior myself later!"
Before they could finish speaking, Jiang Yan directly raised his hand to stop them.
"You're really letting me go?"
Li Mao'er's pupils contracted, and he looked at Jiang Yan in disbelief.
"The world today is about the people rebelling against the officials. If I were born in Hebei, I might have rebelled like you. Go before I change my mind!"
As Jiang Yan spoke, he reached out and cut the ropes binding Li Mao'er.
Although his companions didn't understand what Jiang Yan was plotting, they tacitly remained silent.
"May I ask the hero's name?"
As Li Mao'er was about to reach the door, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Jiang Yan, asking.
"Why ask so many questions? We're all in this territory, and we'll meet again sooner or later! You should leave quickly, if you fall into someone else's hands again, it will be too late!"
Hearing Jiang Yan say this, Li Mao'er gave him a deep look, then turned and disappeared into the darkness without another word.
"Boss, why did you let go of such a big fish after catching him with such effort? That was three thousand strings of copper cash!"
After seeing Li Mao'er leave, the companions around Jiang Yan could no longer hold back, and they whispered their complaints.
"What do you know? Even if we killed this kid, wouldn't the bandits choose a new leader? Besides, didn't you all see it just now? That fellow named Gao Shier was clearly trying to betray you! What do you think this kid will do to Gao Shier when he gets back?"
Jiang Yan chuckled sinisterly and said casually.
Hearing him say this, his companions immediately fell silent.
"It's just a bit of a shame, that was three thousand strings!"
"Are your brains flooded? Didn't you throw out more than three thousand strings of silver just now?"
Jiang Yan gave them a look of disdain and then directly picked up the sack and headed towards the courtyard.
As dawn broke, the battle finally came to an end.
The government troops had completely occupied Li Family Village, and the routed bandits had fled and disappeared without a trace.
"Sir, are you alright?"
Seeing Han Mo covered in blood, Wu Lin was startled and quickly stepped forward to ask.
"What could be wrong with me? This is all the blood of the rebels! How are you? Are you injured? What are the casualties among the brothers?"
"More than thirty have died, and the remaining men are all wounded, but at least we won..."
Regardless, they had won, and even Wu Lin felt a sense of luck.
Fortunately, they had launched a surprise attack under the cover of night, and these bandits were too careless with their defenses.
If they had been even slightly prepared earlier, Wu Lin and his men would likely have been the ones in trouble tonight.
After this battle, Wu Lin realized that he had overestimated these Hebei auxiliary troops.
If it hadn't been for his timely intervention and the direct execution of a few soldiers who attempted to flee, his men would have long since vanished.
"In war, people always die. Tell the brothers to clean up the battlefield as quickly as possible!"
With Wu Lin leading the charge and fighting to this point, Han Mo could already foresee the casualties on Lu Ying's side.
Compared to these local Hebei auxiliary troops, the dozens of imperial guards he brought with him were indeed much braver.
Although these men were a little flustered at first, after a brief period of adaptation, they quickly adjusted to this low-intensity warfare.
Especially after tasting blood, these men finally showed a glimpse of being a strong, iron-blooded army.
"Sir, your subordinate has something to report!"
Seeing that Han Mo finally had some free time, Jiang Yan quickly stepped forward.