You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 205 Joy Turns to Tragedy, Little Chiang is Assassinated!
Jiang Qingyun's estate was only 20 li away from Yongdingmen.

The path between the fields was narrow, so the group reined in their horses and proceeded slowly.

Suddenly, Jiang Deshun spurred his horse away from the field ridge and angrily berated an old woman who was sitting outside a thatched hut combing her hair. The old woman was so frightened that she scrambled back into the hut.

Jiang Qingyun turned her head and glanced at it, somewhat puzzled.

So he inquired about Jiangbei:

"What's wrong with your father?"

"General, you may not know this, but if a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) encounters a woman combing her hair in the morning, it's a sign that the journey will not go smoothly and accidents are likely to happen. If the镖 (escort/escort) is not in a hurry, we usually try to rest for a day."

"That's right."

Jiang Qingyun nodded slightly.

Actually, he doesn't reject folk customs. Twenty years of experience working at the grassroots level have filled him with awe for many folk customs and metaphysics.

There are indeed many swindlers in this world, but there are also many experts.

……

Welcoming and seeing off guests is an art in itself!
If you master this knowledge, you won't have to struggle so much to make a living in this world.

The sentries ran back and forth between Yongding Gate and the two points of the formation to ensure that the timing was perfect for the two-way journey.

The civil and military officials welcoming them outside Yongding Gate had to line up in advance, the musicians invited by the Imperial Guard had to conserve their energy, the thousand-shot firecrackers had to be lit in advance, and the salute cannons had to be fired in time.

If you arrive too far in advance, the team will be exhausted and lack energy when you get there.

Similarly~
Jiang Qingyun's side also paid attention to their military appearance.

Yesterday, we set up camp after only 30 li (approximately 15 kilometers). Everyone ate, drank, and slept well to ensure they were refreshed in the morning. Today, we will ride horses slowly to avoid fatigue.

Dust flying everywhere was a common occurrence in ancient times.

After galloping 20 miles, the rider was covered in dust from head to toe, looking quite disheveled.

……

Yablan suddenly came over and whispered:

"General, there is a ditch ahead with clear water. Since it's still early, could we pause the march and let the brothers wash themselves?"

"allow."

Jiang Qingyun agreed without hesitation.

"Thank you, General."

The imperial guards cheered and rushed to the reeds to wash their faces, coats, boots, and scabbards, and dip their sun hats into the river.

Returning home in glory is the ultimate form of romance for a man.

Returning to Beijing looking disheveled and humiliated?

Return to Beijing gloriously?

Obviously, any normal human being knows how to choose.

It is summer.

The river is flowing relatively fast.

Jiang Qingyun, considering himself of high status, felt it inappropriate to squeeze into the ditch with a group of ordinary soldiers, so he slowly walked upstream, which was more befitting of his status.

……

There was a large expanse of green gauze not far away.

Jiang Qingyun reined in his horse and stopped, frowning.

"Sir, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I just suddenly remembered what you said this morning."

Jiangbei didn't hesitate:

"Please wait a moment, sir. I'll take a few men to scout ahead."

In late summer, the green gauze curtains grew wildly.

Jiang Bei led a troop of cavalry, spreading out at a distance, and charged into the tall grass tents. They shouted loudly along the way and used their spear shafts and scabbards to beat the plants.

Birds took flight, and rabbits darted about.

Jiang Qingyun became interested in hunting. He took out his bow and arrow, nocked a plum blossom arrow, and aimed at a plum-colored wild rabbit that suddenly rushed towards him from the green gauze tent.

It all comes down to feel.

huh~
An arrow struck the hare.

The crowd cheered and the flattery was deafening. He couldn't help but feel elated. "Is Baturu really me?"

……

Half an hour later, Jiangbei returned.

The knights were covered in grass and looked somewhat disheveled, with a few having scratches on their hands and faces.

Jiang Qingyun dismounted.

"Brothers, let's go down and wash up together."

The group walked towards the riverbank.

Suddenly, something unexpected happened. A naked woman with long, black hair stood up from the low-lying water plants by the river, her back to the crowd.

In the middle of nowhere, it's extremely rare.

Instantly, Jiang Qingyun recalled seeing a similar scene in a movie, and inwardly cried out in alarm, leaning back. The guards, however, were delighted, thinking they had stumbled upon a great opportunity.

The woman quickly turned around, raised a small crossbow hidden in front of her, and pulled the trigger.

call out!
A short arrow flew past Jiang Qingyun's eyes.

The soul is gone.

……

"There are assassins!"

All the guards drew their swords and rushed forward.

Before the shameless female assassin could reload her crossbow, Zhou Cang had already rushed in front of her, the two of them no more than 2 zhang apart.

She decisively threw away the crossbow and turned to run towards the middle of the river.

The riverbank was muddy, making it difficult for Zhou Cang to walk. He stopped, gripped the hilt of his knife in reverse, and threw it forcefully at the figure who was running away through the water with high kicks.

The sharp blade easily pierced the slender back, the assassin fell, and blood stained the river red.

huh~
Whoosh~
Unexpectedly, four more assassins emerged from the green gauze tents on the opposite bank of the river, armed with bows and arrows, and began to fire continuously.

Zhou Cang, who was at the forefront, immediately lay prone in the weeds and mud, ignoring the arrows flying overhead and not daring to look up.

Jiang Bei parried with his knife while retreating, shouting, "Cover the lord!"

The four assassins on the opposite bank kept shooting arrows as they moved, clearly no ordinary men; the one in front had already stepped into the shallow water.

Surrounded by the crowd, Jiang Qingyun retreated step by step, his guards falling one after another, each struck by an arrow.

If you retreat another two or three zhang, there is a burial mound where you can avoid arrows.

suddenly!

A plum blossom arrow fell from the sky and struck him squarely in the chest.

Ah ~
Jiang Qingyun shuddered, as if he had been electrocuted.

On the opposite bank, the archer standing in the shallow water also covered his face, screamed, and fell into the water.

Our reinforcements have finally arrived.

Yablan glanced at Jiang Qingyun, who had shot an arrow into his eye, out of the corner of his eye, and was so frightened that he pulled the bowstring in his hand so hard it snapped.

The two sides exchanged fire across the river.

A duel between masters, arrows flying wildly.

The imperial guards ultimately proved superior. Before long, three of the four assassins on the opposite side had fallen, struck by arrows.

Some of the guards took off their boots and official robes and jumped into the river to swim and pursue the pursuers. The narrow river, no more than three feet wide, could not stop their boundless rage.

Jiang Deshun, who rushed over, tore off his son-in-law's official robe. Upon seeing the wound, the old man's hand immediately stopped trembling.

"Amitabha Buddha, may the gods and Buddhas protect you."

This was a plum blossom arrow with carved feathers; the tip of the arrowhead pierced through the soft armor, causing a minor flesh wound to my good son-in-law.

There was bleeding, but only a little.

Jiang Deshun put the arrow in his mouth and tasted it.

"Bah, bah, bah~"

"My dear son-in-law, you are blessed by Heaven. Fortunately, this arrow was not poisoned."

……

With blood streaming down his bare chest, Jiang Qingyun felt a surge of anger rising in his head and roared, "Capture them alive! Capture one, and I will reward you with 500 taels of silver!"

The seasoned veteran Jiang Deshun remained calm and quickly stopped the dozens of guards around him who were eager to attack.

"No good! Protect the master and retreat first! There might be more than one wave of assassins!"

"withdraw."

Sure enough~
As the group rode away, two wisps of white smoke faintly rose from the distant green gauze tent.

Bird gun!

Fortunately, the distance between the two sides had increased, so ordinary firearms could only make a sound, with almost no killing power, let alone accuracy.

Jiang Qingyun and his group ran for three miles before reining in their horses.

"Prosecutor Wu, please bandage this official's wound."

……

Jiang Deshun and his guards stood guard with knives in hand.

Wu Yong carefully examined the wound and breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's nothing, it's just a superficial wound, I'll bandage it."

Jiang Qingyun whispered, "Use more cotton cloth to make me look more miserable."

"it is good."

Wu Yong's medical skills were completely at odds with his name. He skillfully bandaged up a partial mummy, then sprinkled some medicinal powder on it. At first glance, the injury looked quite serious.

Seeing that no one was around, he asked in a low voice:
"Third brother, who do you think did it?"

“All the bannermen in the capital are suspects. Once I recover from my injuries, I’m going to make them pay. The prince wants to bring them to court, and Shi Tou wants to be executed.”

Jiang Qingyun, who was quite frightened, gritted his teeth and said.

(End of this chapter)