Chapter 52 Ambush

Zheng Yi led five hundred Qingwu Guards to escort Song Ziyong and Cao Rui toward the capital, stopping to rest halfway at the Donglai Post Station.

Situated along the main official thoroughfare, the Donglai Post Station was a place where travelers gathered in relatively large numbers.

Furthermore, a town named Linyuan lay three hundred miles away, making this location a comparatively safe haven.

As a commander of the Qingwu Guards, Zheng Yi was well aware of the importance of both Song Ziyong and Cao Rui.

At the same time, he knew all too well what these two imperial criminals signified to certain individuals.

Consequently, the journey back to Jinyong City could be described as fraught with extreme peril.

Even though the Qingwu Guards were an agency exclusively loyal to the Divine Martial Emperor, those people would still be forced to take desperate gambles in the face of such massive stakes.

"How far is Peng Hai's troop from the Donglai Post Station?"

Zheng Yi looked toward his subordinate and asked with a grave expression.

"Reporting to Commander, they are only fifty miles away," the subordinate hurriedly replied.

"Fifty miles?"

"Back at Fengxi County, I already dispatched a messenger to Peng Hai, instructing him to bring his men and meet us at the Donglai Post Station."

"A whole day and night has passed, yet he is dragging his feet to this extent!"

Zheng Yi said with a trace of displeasure.

Although he and Peng Hai held the same rank as commanders and enjoyed equal status within the Qingwu Guards, their relationship in daily life could hardly be called good.

Even so, Peng Hai should not have neglected the gravity of this mission simply because of their poor relationship.

"What on earth is this fellow up to?"

At such a crucial moment, Zheng Yi could not help but remain on his guard against Peng Hai.

The problem, however, was that he only had five hundred men at his disposal.

Peng Hai, on the other hand, had entrenched himself in Linyuan County for many years and could mobilize up to two thousand men.

Once Peng Hai harbored treacherous intentions, it would prove exceptionally disadvantageous for Zheng Yi's detachment.

"Inform the brothers, we depart immediately!"

Zheng Yi gave a decisive order, preparing to lead his troop out of the post station at once.

Just at that moment, a small squad of over a dozen riders came galloping wildly, blocking Zheng Yi's path right at the gates of the post station.

"We are subordinates of Commander Peng, here to pay our respects to Commander Zheng."

The speaker had already dismounted from his horse, and the dozen or so men immediately barred Zheng Yi's way forward.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Zheng Yi slightly furrowed his brow, eyeing this group with utmost vigilance.

"My Lord Commander has said that any previous misunderstandings between him and Commander Zheng should not be taken to heart by the Commander."

"This time, my Lord sent us specifically to notify Commander Zheng that there is likely an ambush hidden near the Donglai Post Station."

"We earnestly request Commander Zheng not to leave the post station; everything shall wait until my Lord arrives to discuss the details with Commander Zheng!"

The messenger wore a solemn expression, and his words immediately caused the surrounding atmosphere to grow heavy.

"My Lord!"

The subordinates beside Zheng Yi all wore expressions of worry.

However, prior to this, Zheng Yi had already dispatched numerous scouts to inspect the vicinity of the post station, and they had never detected any traces of an ambush.

Could it be that Zheng Yi's men had been negligent?

"Brother, you too hail from the Qingwu Guards. Do you know what the Qingwu Guards excel at the most?"

Zheng Yi looked at the man expressionlessly.

The man felt thoroughly uncomfortable under Zheng Yi's gaze, as if his very thoughts had been seen through by him.

"Commander Zheng jests. Since we are Qingwu Guards, naturally we know our own strengths."

"The Qingwu Guards excel most at concealment and reconnaissance."

"I wonder why Commander Zheng asks this?"

The man asked, looking puzzled.

"Heh!"

"Since you know what the Qingwu Guards excel at, you shouldn't question my men."

"My men have already scouted a ten-mile radius around the Donglai Post Station thoroughly and never found any suspicious tracks."

"How is it that your Commander Peng managed to know where an ambush is hidden?!"

Zheng Yi's expression sank as he abruptly grabbed the man by the shoulder.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

The five hundred men behind him instantly drew their sabers, waiting only for Zheng Yi's command.

"Wait... wait a moment!"

"We truly do not understand what Commander Zheng means."

"Our Lord Peng merely ordered us to come and deliver a message; we know nothing else whatsoever!"

The man looked panicked, as if he had suffered a tremendous shock.

Seeing this, Zheng Yi paused.

He was certain these men genuinely knew nothing, otherwise the acting skills of this dozen or so people would simply be too lifelike.

Yet if what they said was true, the situation warranted a complete reassessment.

"Perhaps Peng Hai did not lie, and there truly is an ambush near the Donglai Post Station."

"Or perhaps he intentionally sent a few clueless men to disrupt my judgment!"

"Whichever outcome it is, it is extremely unfavorable for me."

"At the very least, one thing is certain: someone intends to make a move at the Donglai Post Station!"

After a brief calculation, Zheng Yi arrived at an unsettling conclusion.

The most fatal part was that he could not voice this conclusion publicly, lest it shake the morale of his troops.

"Pass down my order: escort the prisoners and return with me to Fengxi County!"

Zheng Yi commanded coldly.

Hearing this, perplexity surfaced on everyone's faces.

Yet they all knew that for Zheng Yi to suddenly become so tense, a matter of extraordinary magnitude must have occurred.

"Additionally, I fear I must wrong a few of you brothers."

Zheng Yi suddenly cast a cold glance at Peng Hai's subordinates.

Then he had them bound up and thrown inside the post station.

"My Lord, what on earth has happened?"

A deputy commander named Du Wei asked with a puzzled expression.

Du Wei had always been Zheng Yi's confidant.

The two of them shared a decade-old friendship and could talk about anything without reservation.

"I suspect that Peng Hai is colluding with outsiders in an attempt to intercept and kill Song Ziyong and Cao Rui."

"Although it is merely a suspicion, the possibility is extremely high."

"Of course, I could choose to trust Peng Hai. If what he said is true, then this Donglai Post Station is equally unsafe."

"Returning to Fengxi County right now might lead us into an ambush, but staying here will only be more dangerous."

"I have no choice but to take this gamble. If we encounter no ambush along this road, it will prove that Peng Hai harbors treacherous intentions, and I can report him directly to the imperial court!"

Zheng Yi explained with a dark expression.

"So that's how it is!" N(øvel)B(in)

Du Wei nodded, though his face remained peculiarly calm.

Zheng Yi, however, paid no heed to this—or perhaps he trusted Du Wei far too much—and never suspected anything amiss.

Yet this very lapse in vigilance would almost cost Zheng Yi his life.

A quarter of an hour later, a troop of two thousand men arrived at the Donglai Post Station.

They found the dozen or so bound Qingwu Guards inside the station.

"They have headed toward Fengxi County!"

Upon learning the direction Zheng Yi and his men had taken, Peng Hai appeared remarkably calm.

"Zheng Yi, oh Zheng Yi, this Commander clearly already warned you. Since you insisted on rushing to your death, you cannot blame me!"

Peng Hai sneered, and then once again led his troop in pursuit of the direction Zheng Yi had taken.

Meanwhile, fifty miles away from the post station, Zheng Yi encountered an unprecedented crisis.

"Commander, we've been ambushed!"

As Du Wei fought the enemy, he edged closer to Zheng Yi.

"Could it be that I wronged Peng Hai?"

Zheng Yi could not help feeling a pang of regret.

Peng Hai had warned him of an ambush nearby, yet he had gone so far as to suspect Peng Hai. This truly was judging a noble heart with a petty mind.

"No, no, no. How could a commander as clever as you make the wrong guess?"

"However, in order to deal with such a clever commander, we had no choice but to prepare three contingencies."

"Would the Commander care to guess what this second contingency is?"