Chapter 1580: Siege [2]
Chapter 1580: Chapter 1580: Siege [2]
After speaking, she took out the small copper plate of the Lei Family’s Trading Team and slammed it on the coffee table, making General Liang want to chop her to pieces.
But because of the Lei Family’s Trading Team’s influence, General Liang could only turn around and leave, leaving behind one last sentence: "If Old Madam Gao is happy to stay, let her stay. I still need to patrol and have no time to listen to rumors."
Peng Wen was quite angry, stopped General Liang, and said: "General Liang, this matter is of great significance, you can’t just ignore it."
"Get lost!" General Liang pushed Peng Wen away, sneered, and cursed: "What kind of crap are you? Do you have a say here? Is the Xing’an Prefecture garrison your family’s business? Do you think you can fart and I, a court official, will attend to it? Dare to gossip and obstruct again, you’ll face military punishment!"
Peng Wen was just the housekeeper beside Ms. Gao Lei, so General Liang could scold him as he pleased.
After scolding him, General Liang glanced at Peng Wen dismissively, and stepped away.
Peng Wen felt very guilty and said: "Old Madam, it’s my fault, I’ve put you through an ordeal."
Rather than being a personal attack on him, those words from General Liang were more of an insult aimed at Old Madam Gao.
Ms. Gao Lei shook her head: "It’s not your fault, you were just blamed unjustly."
Thinking again about General Liang mentioning that Niu Dabao is camped near the barracks, she said to Peng Wen: "Go invite Niu Dabao to the barracks."
"Yes." Peng Wen immediately left the barracks, rode around in a big circle, and saw several small thatched huts, which was Niu Dabao and his team’s small camp.
"Where is Company Commander Niu?!" Peng Wen shouted towards the small camp.
Niu Dabao was quite overwhelmed at the moment, heard the shout, and emerged from a thatched hut. Seeing Peng Wen dressed as a scholar, he asked: "I’m Niu Dabao, who are you?"
"You are indeed Company Commander Niu." Peng Wen was pleased, dismounted, and stated his purpose.
Niu Dabao was shocked upon hearing this, and hurriedly grabbed Peng Wen’s hand to ask: "Have the relatives returned? Is everyone all right? Is my wife okay?"
Niu Dabao still cared very much for Mrs. Kuang, having asked about her safety before asking anything about his sons.
Peng Wen knew Mrs. Kuang, as that woman would clamor every day along the journey; it was hard for him not to know. He replied: "Rest assured, Company Commander Niu, Mrs. Niu is fine. She has already entered the city with Mrs. Qin and the others and is currently settling in the Old Madam’s separate yard."
Niu Dabao was relieved upon hearing this, but then angrily said: "That fool Liang Baifeng, when Old Madam Gao personally warns him, he still doesn’t take it seriously. Does he just want Xing’an Prefecture to fall?"
After cursing, he called all the soldiers, saying: "Let’s go, follow me to the garrison to meet Old Madam Gao."
"Yes." The soldiers, upon hearing this, immediately rushed into the thatched huts, grabbed their belongings, then mounted their horses and galloped towards the garrison.
Peng Wen was surprised as Niu Dabao indeed had a knack for leading troops; in the blink of an eye, his soldiers had packed their belongings, and mounted with gear, leaving behind nothing but a few thatched huts, moving like a swift wind.
"Brother Peng, hurry up and follow!" Niu Dabao saw Peng Wen dazed and called him, a flick of the horse whip, they galloped towards the garrison.
The garrison soldiers saw Niu Dabao returning and stopped him, saying: "Niu, you dare to behave presumptuously again, really think our general won’t kill you?!"
Niu Dabao struck his palm against the soldier’s long spear, pointing towards the garrison and said: "It’s Old Madam Gao, the elder sister of Elder Lei Wu of the Lei Family’s Trading Team, who invited me here!"
Would you dare stop us? Dare go against the Lei Family’s Trading Team?
The soldiers didn’t dare, but did not immediately let them in either and said: "Wait here, I need to report to the general."
These words were said to have the soldiers guard the entrance while he ran to report to General Liang.
General Liang hadn’t gone to patrol but was nesting in another house working, upon hearing this, he frowned and said: "What on earth is that old devout woman trying to do?"
However, he didn’t stop Niu Dabao from meeting Ms. Gao Lei and said: "Let Niu Dabao enter alone, the other soldiers stay outside. They need to know that the Xing’an Prefecture garrison is not a place for just anyone to come!"
"Yes." The soldiers took orders and let Niu Dabao and Peng Wen inside.
The two went straight to the previous house.
Ms. Gao Lei was still sitting inside; Niu Dabao saw her and immediately thanked her: "Junior thanks Old Madam Gao for her help."
Ms. Gao Lei said: "No need to be polite, we’re just helping each other. Moreover, if your wife and they hadn’t come to the Manor for help, I wouldn’t know Gushi Town’s Lei Family’s Manor had been targeted by the Rong people."
After saying a courteous word, Ms. Gao Lei asked: "Did you explain clearly to General Liang about the Rong people lurking in the village?"
"I did, but Liang Baifeng simply doesn’t believe me, even accuses me of spreading rumors to disrupt military morale and wants to punish me." Niu Dabao was furious thinking about this. But he was just a small Company Commander; if General Liang didn’t listen, he couldn’t seize the garrison and lead the soldiers to defend the city.
Ms. Gao Lei’s face turned somber upon hearing this, said to Niu Dabao: "I believe what you are saying, but General Liang does not... For now, we can only conduct scouting and seek aid ourselves."
"Seek aid? Where to seek aid? I’m afraid the reinforcements won’t arrive before the Rong people break into the city." Niu Dabao worriedly said.
"This is the only thing we can do now." Ms. Gao Lei sighed, gave the small copper plate to Niu Dabao: "You take your soldiers, follow Peng Wen back to the Xing’an Prefecture, lead the Lei Family’s Trading Team, and ride swiftly to Yongcheng Prefecture and Daliang Prefecture for assistance... Originally you shouldn’t have had to go personally, but you are the Company Commander. Only by meeting those garrison commanders in person and with the Lei Family’s Trading Team’s influence, they might risk and bring soldiers to help."
"Will this work?" Niu Dabao felt that seeking aid was an uncertain thing: "Old Madam, going so far for aid, by the time we return, the situation might worsen."
Ms. Gao Lei said: "This method is indeed time-consuming, but at this point, it’s our only option. We must bring the forces from these two prefectures to Xing’an Prefecture to defend the city to withstand the Rong people’s attack."
She then looked at Niu Dabao and said: "We can’t rely on General Xu, what if General Xu brings troops to aid when the Rong people from Yutian Prefecture sneak attack Long’an Prefecture, Long’an Prefecture won’t be able to be secured!"
Niu Dabao had no choice but to nod and agree: "You’re right, I’ll take soldiers and follow Brother Peng back to the city."
Ms. Gao Lei nodded appreciatively, smiled and said: "Don’t worry about the scouting, the Lei Family’s Trading Team will handle it. If there is any movement from the Rong people, they will immediately send word."
Niu Dabao was somewhat relieved to hear this and said to Peng Wen: "Brother Peng, let’s hurry and go."
Since the plan was already decided, they had to proceed quickly, as the Rong people wouldn’t wait for them to dawdle.
Peng Wen was somewhat worried about Ms. Gao Lei and looked at her.
Ms. Gao Lei said: "Go without concern, I have the entire Lei Family’s Trading Team backing me; Liang Baifeng can’t possibly kill me!"
"Yes." Peng Wen agreed, issued instructions to the maid and Protector serving Ms. Gao Lei, and then mounted his horse, leading Niu Dabao and others towards the Prefecture.
The garrison soldiers reported their departure to General Liang, worriedly saying: "General, they won’t do something detrimental to us, will they?"