After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 198 His Past
The trap was quickly dug, covered with carefully disguised branches and thatch, the seemingly ordinary ground concealing a hidden danger.

They were very familiar with the terrain of the mountain stronghold, and through camouflage, they managed to avoid alerting their men.

Duan Zhuo and Wen Caifu kept a close watch on the enemy's movements from the watchtower. As the enemy's siege engines slowly approached, the atmosphere in the entire mountain stronghold became increasingly tense.

Seeing this, Duan Zhuo unconsciously gripped the hilt of his sword, his eyes fixed on the enemy troops below.

Wen Caifu took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, even though her heart was racing.

Her gaze darted back and forth between the enemy and the traps, silently praying that the plan would succeed.

When the first siege engine stepped into the trap area, there was a loud "boom" as its wheels instantly sank into the trap, causing the entire siege engine to lose its balance and tip forward.

The soldiers on the vehicle panicked and fell off one after another.

Then, many long arrows were shot down from the mountain.

Arrows rained down in an instant, catching the enemy off guard and throwing them into chaos.

However, Lu Yongkang's army was well-trained and quickly stabilized the situation, beginning to organize a counterattack.

"It looks like they're about to attack."

Wen Caifu said nervously, watching the enemy soldiers raise their shields and charge towards the gate of the village.

Duan Zhuo's face darkened: "Prepare to roll the stones and logs!"

At his command, the bandits pushed the prepared boulders and logs down the hillside and smashed them at the enemy.

Shouts of battle and screams of agony mingled together, and the battlefield was filled with the smoke of gunpowder.

Seeing that the mountain was too difficult to conquer, the men below had no choice but to retreat.

Unexpectedly, the second brother had already led his men to guard the back, just waiting for these people to retreat.

This time, Lu Yongkang's men not only failed to capture the stronghold, but were also all wiped out here, with no one surviving.

Upon learning the news, Lu Yongkang was furious.

"Your Highness, since we can't conquer them, why don't we offer them amnesty?"

Upon hearing his advisor's words, Lu Yongkang slammed his hand on the table, causing the teacups to jump.

Tea splashed out, wetting his sleeves, but he was completely unaware.

"To offer amnesty? They don't deserve it! How could I allow a bunch of bandits to ride roughshod over me!"

The strategist who proposed the amnesty was so frightened that he knelt down with a thud, his body trembling like a leaf, his head bowed low, not daring to utter another word.

Lu Yongkang paced back and forth in the tent, his boots making a dull thud on the ground.

After a moment, he stopped and said, "However, the idea of ​​offering amnesty is worth considering. Let's feign amnesty first, and wait until they lower their guard."

Just as Duan Zhuo and the others had predicted, Lu Yongkang's intention in attacking the village was precisely to seize the mountain path beneath it.

If someone else gets there first and sneaks into the capital, he will have gained nothing.

"Keep a close eye on that road."

Lu Yongkang said something to his men, and they nodded in agreement.

At this time, Pei Yanzhi in Tingzhou had successfully found what Lu Yongkang had hidden in Tingzhou, as planned.

Almost a month has passed since Prince Qing's coup.

Pei Yanzhi had no idea how Empress Dowager Feng and the young emperor, who were trapped in the palace, were doing at this time.

Therefore, he decided to send a portion of his troops to the capital.

However, Lu Yongkang had set up checkpoints on all the main roads leading to the capital. If so many people were to enter the capital quietly, they would have to ask Duan Zhuo for help.

Pei Yanzhi knew that Duan Zhuo had a grudge against him, but he had also heard that Duan Zhuo refused to submit to Prince Qing.

Therefore, Pei Yanzhi wrote two letters, one to Duan Zhuo and the other to Wei Ziqian. Although Wei Ziqian was somewhat carefree, he protected the emperor and empress dowager at the crucial moment.

Now that Prince Qing can't pry open the palace gates and doesn't want to be accused of treason, he can only wait it out with them.

When Duan Zhuo received Pei Yanzhi's letter, he was discussing with Wen Caifu, Lao Er, and others how to deal with Lu Yongkang's offer of amnesty.

He unfolded the letter, a mocking smile involuntarily appearing on his lips.

Seeing that he looked strange, Wen Caifu quickly asked, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"He did have a day when he needed my help."

However, Duan Zhuo didn't say much. After all, it was a matter of national hatred, and personal grudges seemed less important at this moment.

Furthermore, Duan Zhuo still needs Pei Yanzhi to accomplish what he wants to do.

Duan Zhuo handed her the letter and said in a deep voice, "Pei Yanzhi has asked us for help to allow his troops to pass through the mountain stronghold on their way to the capital."

Upon hearing this, the second brother frowned and said, "Pei Yanzhi? Doesn't he have a grudge against us? Why should we help him?"

Duan Zhuo pondered for a moment and slowly said, "Although we have old grudges against him, it seems that he and Lu Yongkang are enemies now. The enemy of my enemy may become an ally."

"Moreover, if we can lend him a hand, we might be able to lift the siege of the capital and reduce some trouble for our mountain stronghold."

Everyone knew that helping Pei Yanzhi meant becoming a complete enemy of Lu Yongkang, which was extremely risky.

However, if we don't help, even the counterfeit businesses will find it difficult to remain unscathed in this situation.

After a long silence, the second brother broke the silence first: "Big brother, that's true, but Pei Yanzhi has always been a cunning man. Who can guarantee that he's not using us? What if he kicks us while we're down? We'll be in big trouble."

"Then you can rest assured, at least he never does anything like abandoning someone after you've served your purpose."

Duan Zhuo knew Pei Yanzhi's character well.

With Duan Zhuo's words, the others, though still having doubts, agreed.

Duan Zhuo then selected several agile and quick-witted bandits, gave them instructions, and sent them to the agreed-upon location with his handwritten reply.

After everyone had left, Duan Zhuo looked at Wen Caifu and said, "You've been staring at me the whole time, are you trying to say something?"

"I just feel like you're a little different than before."

Upon hearing Wen Caifu's words, Duan Zhuo crossed his legs, leaned back in his chair, tilted his head, and smiled, "How is it different?"

"You shouldn't be from a poor family who were forced to become bandits."

Wen Caifu said softly.

If he were truly illiterate and forced to go up the mountain because he couldn't afford food, he wouldn't have...

She thought for a moment and could only describe it in one sentence: it's something only soldiers possess.

Duan Zhuo was skilled in strategy, read military books, and even the way he held his sword was commonly used in the army.

Sometimes, Wen Caifu observed that his eating habits differed from those of the bandits.

"If you want to know me so much, I'll tell you about my past after this matter is settled."

After all, that was hardly a good past.

"Okay, then I'll wait."

Wen Caifu nodded in agreement and was about to leave when she suddenly asked, "By the way, Lu Jiamin, what do you plan to do with her?"

"Lu Yongkang is unaware that she is in our hands."

Otherwise, they wouldn't have had the idea of ​​blowing up the mountain stronghold.

"When the time comes, we'll give it to Pei Yanzhi and have him take it to the capital. It will definitely be of great use."

(End of this chapter)