Da Ming: I told you to die for your cause, why are you actually going to die?

Chapter 238 A Narrow Escape! Don't pry into other people's business! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Sun Baihu's body lay on the ground, the blood gushing from his chest forming a stark contrast with the blood-stained account book lying on the ground.

The cave fell into a deathly silence, with only the crackling of the burning torches and Song Zhong's heavy breathing remaining.

Zhang Biao gripped his gun, glanced warily in the direction of the cave entrance, and only after confirming there was no further movement did he quickly step forward and pick up the crucial ledger package.

He gripped it tightly in his hand, then turned to look at Song Zhong, whose face was ashen and whose shoulder was injured.

"Old Song, are you alright?"

As Zhang Biao stuffed the ledger into his pocket, he asked a question.

Song Zhong gritted his teeth, shook his head, and stared intently at Sun Baihu's corpse, his eyes filled with disbelief and heartache.
"The flesh wounds... are nothing to worry about. It's just... Sun Wang... he's been with me for seven years!"

"We've been through thick and thin together for seven years, I consider him a brother! How could he..."

"When did you get together with your partner?"

Zhang Biao interrupted his emotional outburst and calmly asked.

Now is not the time for sadness.

Song Zhong forced himself to calm down and tried hard to recall:
"I don't remember the exact details, but it was around the twentieth year of the Hongwu reign that he was transferred to my command."

“He was an orphan with no relatives or friends in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but he was diligent and skilled, which is why I gradually promoted him…”

Suddenly, Song Zhong remembered something else, and his face turned even more grim:

“Last year, his wife and children went back to her parents’ home to visit relatives. The boat they were on sank unexpectedly, and their bodies were never found… I even drank with him all night to comfort him…”

"Looking back now, he probably already had a backup plan in place, sending his family away and hiding them!"

Zhang Biao sneered, his tone mocking: "It seems that your so-called 'ironclad' Imperial Guard has long been infiltrated into a sieve."

Upon hearing this, a complex expression of shame and anger flashed across Song Zhong's face. He remained silent for a moment before whispering:

"Your Excellency may not know this, but during the Hongwu reign, the selection of the Embroidered Uniform Guard included not only the sons of meritorious officials and elite soldiers, but also some people from the martial arts world with clean backgrounds or special skills, and even... the descendants of criminals, all of whom were used to control them."

"It is indeed difficult to fully investigate the background of some people, and there are bound to be loopholes."

After hearing this, Zhang Biao had a sudden inspiration. He squatted down and began to tear at the shirt of Sun Baihu's corpse.

"My lord, what is this?" Song Zhong asked, puzzled.

"Check if he has any of those tattoos!"

Zhang Biao's men didn't stop, and soon tore open Sun Baihu's shirt.

Near his heart on his chest, next to the bloody hole where he had just been shot, there was a large patch of irregular scar tissue on his skin, the color of which was slightly different from the surrounding area.

The scar was clearly recent, like a mark left after something was deliberately destroyed with some kind of corrosive drug or branding iron.

Although the original pattern is no longer recognizable, the scar itself, which is an attempt to cover up the wound, says it all.

"really!"

Zhang Biao's eyes were sharp as knives:

"That mysterious organization has already started erasing all traces! They anticipated being exposed, so they deliberately made these lurking mobs self-destruct!"

He then recalled the words that Commander Sun had shouted before he died.

I'm just a nail the prince placed beside you!

"Your Majesty..."

Zhang Biao slowly stood up, exchanged a glance with Song Zhong, and both saw a deep chill in each other's eyes.

Although they had previously suspected that the mastermind might be a feudal lord, the shock of having their own core members confirm this suspicion before their death was still enormous.

The power and far-reaching plans of this 'prince' are truly astonishing.

He was able to infiltrate not only the grain transport system and garrisons, but also the Emperor's personal guard, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, planting such deep and crucial spies within them.

"This feudal lord... is terrifying."

Song Zhong's voice was slightly hoarse.

At this moment——

"kill--!"

Suddenly, a deafening battle cry rang out from outside the cave.

Immediately following were the sounds of weapons clashing fiercely and screams of agony rising and falling.

"Oh no! A fight has broken out outside!" Song Zhong's expression changed drastically.

Zhang Biao's eyes sharpened: "It was the gunshot just now! It gave them a signal! If Commander Sun fails, they will launch a full-scale attack immediately!"

The two could no longer afford to analyze the situation. They immediately grabbed the strong bow and leather armor that served as evidence, and Zhang Biao carefully tucked the account book into his pocket, preparing to rush out of the cave.

However, they had barely approached the cave entrance and hadn't yet gotten a clear look at the situation outside—

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Several sharp arrows, whistling through the air, accurately struck the spot where they had just peeked out, embedding themselves deeply into the stone wall and ground at the cave entrance!
Fortunately, Song Zhong was experienced and pulled Zhang Biao back the moment he heard the bowstring twang, and the two of them tumbled back into the cave to take cover.

"Damn it! The entrance is blocked!"

Zhang Biao spat, his heart sinking.

The shouts of battle outside grew closer and closer.

Clearly, the Imperial Guards stationed at the cave entrance were engaged in a fierce battle with a numerically superior enemy, and judging from the sounds, they were retreating steadily.

"Sir! Master Song!"

A Jinyiwei guard, covered in blood, scrambled into the cave, an arrow still lodged in his shoulder, and hissed:

"We can't hold on any longer! There are too many people outside! At least three times our number! And they're all skilled!"

Desperate situation!

A real desperate situation!
The internal traitors have just been purged, but the external enemies are surrounding us, the cave entrance is blocked by fire, and our side has suffered heavy casualties.

Zhang Biao leaned against the cold rock, able to clearly hear the sound of his heart pounding.

He glanced at the account book, which was like a hot potato in his arms, and then at Song Zhong and a few wounded subordinates beside him.

Song Zhong clutched his shoulder, his face pale, but his eyes remained resolute:
"My lord, the account books must not be lost! I'll lead my brothers to protect you, and we'll fight our way out!"

"Charging headlong into the enemy is suicide!"

Zhang Biao categorically denied it. His brain was racing under the pressure of life and death, and his sharp eyes scanned the inside of the cave.

The flickering firelight illuminated the jagged rocks on the cave walls and the still-warm body of Commander Sun on the ground.

Suddenly, his gaze fixed on the tin box where he had found the account books, and then on the wooden crates scattered on the ground containing the powerful bow and leather armor. An extremely bold, even crazy, idea took shape in his mind.

"Old Song!"

Zhang Biao suddenly grabbed Song Zhong's arm, his eyes flashing with a desperate light: "We can't go out through the cave entrance!"

"Then from where..."

Song Zhong was taken aback.

Zhang Biao pointed to an even darker area deep inside the cave:
"This cave couldn't possibly have only one exit! Even animals know to leave themselves an escape route. Would Geng Zhong have hidden the stolen goods without leaving himself a secret escape route?!"

Song Zhong's eyes lit up, but then dimmed again: "But... there's no time to investigate! The outside won't hold out for much longer!"

"No investigation is needed!"

Zhang Biao's tone was resolute, carrying an almost savage confidence: "Let's take a gamble!"

He offered no further explanation and swiftly issued the order:
"Drag the bodies of Commander Sun and that brother to the vicinity of the cave entrance, then move these opened boxes to the entrance! Create the illusion that we are still holding out inside the cave!"

"Once we've finished this, everyone, take the remaining weapons and torches and follow me to the deepest part of the cave!"

Although they didn't understand what Zhang Biao wanted to do, they had no choice but to obey orders.

Soon, the entrance to the cave was simply set up, and it seemed that someone was still putting up a stubborn resistance.

Zhang Biao quickly took out a thin, transparent thread, tugged it around the box, then took out a black, pear-shaped object, tied it to the thread, and carefully placed it in the corner of the box.

After doing all this, he led Song Zhong and the remaining four or five men, carrying torches, and without hesitation rushed into the unknown dark depths of the cave.

Behind them, the shouts and screams of battle from the direction of the cave entrance grew closer and closer; the enemy had clearly broken through the outer defenses and was about to rush into the cave.

Their time is running out.

On the other side, outside Black Wind Pass, deep in the dense forest.

A scarred man, like a rock blending into the shadows, calmly gazed at the cave entrance not far away.

The hideous scar on his face looked even more menacing in the moonlight filtering through the leaves.

Surrounded by a dozen elite men in black, two particularly conspicuous spies with slender builds and movements as nimble as raccoons.

They were the same black-clad men who had followed Zhang Biao and his group last time, known as the "Shadow Duo."

"The muskets fired once inside, and after that there were only sporadic arrows of resistance."

One of the subordinates in charge of surveillance whispered, "Commander Sun didn't come out. It seems we failed."

Scarface's eyes remained unchanged; he simply nodded slightly.

He looked up at the sky and quickly calculated in his mind.

"The Jinyiwei reinforcements were mobilized from the nearest garrison. Even if they reacted quickly, it would take at least an hour for them to arrive here."

His voice was hoarse and low: "We still have time."

The leader of the 'Shadow Duo,' the man with hawk-like, sinister eyes, chimed in:
"Boss, the firearm in Zhang Biao's hand is extremely powerful. It makes a thunderous sound and kills anyone hit instantly. I'm afraid that's what killed Commander Sun."

"They are now trapped in the cave, with only two choices: either hold out and wait for reinforcements, or... seek a way out that we don't know about."

The second-in-command of the 'Shadow Duo,' a pale-faced, thin man, added:
"The cave entrance is narrow, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack; a direct assault would result in too many losses. But if they truly have a way out, they must already be preparing to break out."

Scarface remained silent for a moment, then his sharp gaze swept across the cave entrance.

Only a few scattered arrows were fired, and the resistance was clearly weakened.

“If Commander Sun fails, Zhang Biao will surely be on his guard. Holding out and waiting for reinforcements is a poor strategy; they can’t afford to wait.”

Scarface made his judgment, his tone chilling:

"They are more likely bluffing to cover up their real breakout operation!"

"Or... there's something else inside the cave!"

Without further hesitation, he abruptly waved his hand:

"Charge! But watch out for Zhang Biao's firearms! Shuang Sha, you two take some men and use firearms to check the entrance and probe its strength!"

"Yes!"

The 'Shadow Duo' received the order and immediately signaled to their subordinates behind them.

Two of them took out two oddly shaped firearms with long barrels from behind their backs and began preparing to fire.

Although this firearm was slow to load and its range and accuracy were far inferior to Zhang Biao's Glock pistol, it still had considerable lethality at close range.

"Aim at the boxes and bunkers near the entrance!"

"The leader of the 'Shadow Duo' gave the order."

"Bang! Bang!"

Two muffled gunshots echoed through the valley, and lead bullets whistled as they shot toward the wooden crates and rocks piled at the cave entrance, sending wood chips and stone fragments flying everywhere.

However, there was no reaction inside the hole except for the debris that had been hit.

There were no screams, no retaliation, not even a single human sound.

A dead silence.

The unusual silence made Scarface frown.

"Could it be... that they really escaped by another route?"

"The second of the 'Shadow Duo' asked in confusion."

One of the more impatient men in black couldn't contain himself and spat out:
"Screw it! Let's go in and see! Maybe those two muskets have already taken down everyone inside!"

Without waiting for Scarface's order, he mustered his courage, grabbed his steel knife, crouched low, and rushed toward the cave entrance.

He cautiously approached, using the tip of his knife to pry open the wooden crate, which had been ravaged by musket fire, and peered inside. In the dim light filtering in from outside, he seemed to see scattered crates and a vague figure that looked like a person lying prone.

"Boss! There's no movement inside! They're probably all dead..."

He was overjoyed, pulled open a broken box, and turned around to shout to Scarface and the others.

However, the moment he uttered the word 'death'!
"Boom——!"

A deafening roar suddenly erupted from inside the cave!

It was as if the earth had turned upside down, and the entire valley trembled!

Centered on the cave entrance, a huge shockwave, mixed with flames, thick smoke and gravel, violently erupted outwards like a volcanic eruption!

The man in black who had just been shouting didn't even have time to scream before he was struck by an invisible giant hammer, instantly torn apart and thrown into the air, his limbs and debris mixed with gravel and dirt flying everywhere!

A terrifying shockwave followed immediately!

Scarface, the 'Shadow Duo,' and the other men in black, who were standing a little further away, felt an irresistible force slam into their chests, and their ears rang.

Several people who were nearby coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground.

The cave entrance groaned under the weight of the explosion, large chunks of rock collapsed, and dust filled the air, instantly burying most of the entrance.

"Ahem...uh..."

Scarface staggered to his feet, covered in dust and dirt, his ears still ringing.

He stared incredulously at the collapsed, still-smoking hole, his face showing a look of near-utter terror for the first time.

The 'Shadow Duo' were in a terrible state, lying on the ground, coughing violently, their eyes filled with fear and lingering dread.

They never expected that Zhang Biao would not only not run away, but would instead prepare such a ruthless and decisive "gift" for them in their desperate situation!
This is not a commotion that could be caused by ordinary firearms!
This was clearly... a violent explosion caused by a large amount of gunpowder!
"Where...where did he get the gunpowder?!"

The leader of the 'Shadow Duo' asked in a trembling voice, voicing the shock that had gripped everyone's hearts.

Scarface didn't answer; he just stared intently at the ruins, his face ashen.

He seemed to understand.

Zhang Biao, that madman, took advantage of their eagerness to retrieve the evidence, using those boxes as a smokescreen to secretly set up such a trap.

He must have gathered up the small amount of gunpowder he had previously seized or confiscated from the garrison and used it to create this deadly detonating device.

That reckless subordinate became the final death knell that detonated this deadly trap.

"Zhang Biao...you're a madman! A demon!"

Scarface uttered these words through clenched teeth, his whole body ice-cold.

At this moment, the second of the 'Shadow Duo' asked in a trembling voice, "Boss... Boss, what should we do now?"

Scarface glanced at the cave entrance with lingering fear, then at the corpse on the ground, and said in a deep voice:

"Dispose of the body first, without giving anything away, then search the nearby exits! They dared to do this because they must have found an escape route!"

"Yes!"

The 'Shadow Duo' exchanged a glance and immediately accepted the order.

at the same time.

Deep within the cave, behind a narrow, slippery, and obviously recently blasted open by Zhang Biao and his men using brute force, Zhang Biao listened to the muffled explosions and faint screams behind him, a cold and weary smile curving his lips.

"Hey... this gift is enough to keep them busy."

"Sir, what was that black thing just now?"

Song Zhong couldn't help but ask.

Zhang Biao glanced at him and said nonchalantly, "Don't pry into other people's business!"

After saying that, he waved his hand without another word: "Hurry up! There's only one of those things, and they'll be catching up soon!"

Upon hearing this, the Imperial Guards exchanged bewildered glances.

But they felt even more awe towards this mysterious and unpredictable 'Lord Zhang'.

As they ventured deeper into the cave, the path beneath their feet became increasingly rugged and uneven, and the air was filled with a damp, musty smell and an indescribable, chilling atmosphere that belonged to the depths of the earth.

"Sir, it seems there's no road ahead!"

After an unknown amount of time, a member of the Imperial Guards, carrying a torch and walking at the front, gave a desperate reminder.

In the firelight, ahead lay a rock wall covered with slippery moss, seemingly marking the end of the cave.

Song Zhong's heart sank to the bottom.

Zhang Biao remained calm. He raised his torch and carefully observed the rock face in front of him, as well as the situation on both sides and under his feet.

"It's impossible to completely seal it off."

Zhang Biao's tone was calm to the point of being cold: "Search carefully! Look for cracks in the rocks, traces of water flow, and the movement of air!"

He crouched down, touched the ground with his hand, and felt the extremely faint, almost imperceptible airflow.

His gaze finally settled on a spot at the base of the rock face, partially obscured by a few seemingly randomly scattered pebbles.

The moss there didn't seem to grow as lushly as the surrounding area, and its shape was somewhat strange.

"Move these stones away!" Zhang Biao immediately ordered.

Two Imperial Guards immediately stepped forward and laboriously moved the heavy stones.

As the stones were moved aside, a dark crevice, barely wide enough for one person to crawl through, was revealed.

A more noticeable, cool breeze, carrying the earthy smell, blew out from the crack.

"There's wind! It's a way out!" Song Zhong exclaimed with delight.

"Quick! Get in!" Zhang Biao didn't hesitate and was the first to bend down.

"Sir, let me go first!"

One of the Imperial Guards rushed forward and was the first to squeeze into the gap to investigate.

A moment later, his voice came from inside, with a slight echo: "Sir! The space inside seems larger; we can walk through it!"

Nowhere to be found!

Everyone's spirits lifted, and they immediately squeezed into the crevice one by one.

Despite his shoulder injury, Song Zhong followed closely behind Zhang Biao.

The crevice was initially extremely narrow, barely wide enough for a person to pass through. After walking several dozen steps, it suddenly opened up into an underground passage, whether naturally formed or simply man-made.

Although it is still narrow and low, it is now wide enough for people to bend over and walk.

"Hurry up! They'll soon find out we're not in the cave!" Zhang Biao urged.

The group dared not linger, and groped their way forward along the dark and winding passageway, using the faint light of their torches as a guide.

After traveling in the darkness for an unknown amount of time, a faint glimmer of light finally appeared ahead.

"Exit! It's the exit!"

Someone suppressed their excitement and whispered.

The group quickened their pace, moving closer to the source of the light.

That was also an exit cleverly concealed by vines and weeds, in an extremely hidden location on the mountainside on the other side of Black Wind Pass.

Zhang Biao gestured for everyone to be quiet, then carefully parted the vines to observe the outside.

It was already bright outside, the mountains and forests were quiet, and the birds sang in the secluded valleys, as if the life-and-death struggle before had been nothing but a nightmare.

However, the faint commotion coming from the distant mountain valley reminded them that the danger was not far away.

"Safe for now."

Zhang Biao whispered, "But we can't stay here long, they'll definitely search the mountain!"

Song Zhong looked at Zhang Biao, his face filled with relief and admiration at surviving such a disaster: "Sir, how did you know there was definitely a way out?"

Zhang Biao patted the stiff ledger in his arms and smirked:
"For someone like Geng Zhong, having multiple burrows is second nature to him. The fact that he dared to bring things here to destroy them means this place is safe enough."

“But even the safest place can be unsafe at times, so he would definitely leave himself an escape route.”

"And I just won the gamble."

After he finished speaking, he looked around at the four people who remained beside him, all of whom were injured and looked exhausted.

"Let's take a headcount, treat the wounds, and get out of here immediately. We need to find a safe place to discuss this further."

Half an hour later, in a hunter's abandoned makeshift cabin deeper in the mountains, the survivors finally got a moment to catch their breath.

After taking stock, of the more than ten elite soldiers who followed them into the cave, only Zhang Biao, Song Zhong, and three wounded Imperial Guards remained.

Those left to guard the cave entrance are probably in grave danger.

The cost was heavy.

Zhang Biao leaned against the cold earthen wall and carefully took out the blood-stained account book again.

In the firelight, the verification symbols of the inner transport warehouse and the records pointing to the vassal king appeared particularly glaring.

"Old Song, we are now the target of everyone's criticism."

Zhang Biao's voice was a little hoarse: "The people outside who want to kill us and seize the account books should be people sent by that unknown 'prince'."

Song Zhong nodded solemnly: "Moreover, we have suffered heavy losses, and carrying such important evidence, it is as difficult as climbing to heaven to return to Yingtian Prefecture safely."

He glanced at Zhang Biao: "Sir, should we find a place to hide the account books first, and travel light to draw away our pursuers?"

"no!"

Zhang Biao categorically denied it:

"The ledgers must be in our hands! Hiding them is too risky, and without the ledgers, even if we return to the capital, we'll have no proof and might even be accused of something in return!"

He pondered for a moment, a resolute glint in his eyes: "We cannot directly respond to the heavens. The target is too large, and the checkpoints along the way may fall under their control."

"Where are we going?" one of the Imperial Guards asked.

Zhang Biao turned his gaze westward and slowly uttered a place name: "Wuchang!"

Wuchang?

Song Zhong was taken aback: "That's the territory of the King of Chu, and...didn't we deliberately spread rumors that we were going to investigate the King of Chu?"

"It's precisely because we've leaked information that they might think we won't go! That's called using a mix of truth and deception!"

Zhang Biao analyzed: "King Zhu Zhen of Chu has a low profile among the princes, and his fiefdom is relatively stable."

"More importantly, Wuchang is a crucial transportation hub by both land and water, and it is well-informed!"

"We can use the channels there to find a way to safely send the contents of the ledgers and our findings back to Beijing!"

He looked at Song Zhong: "Old Song, do you have anyone you can absolutely trust in the Jinyiwei garrison in Wuchang?"

Song Zhong thought it over carefully and nodded solemnly:

"Yes! Chen Qianxiang, the deputy commander of Wuchang Garrison, is my brother who would risk his life for me. He's absolutely reliable!"

"it is good!"

Zhang Biao slapped his thigh: "Let's go to Wuchang! We'll use it as our base!"

"On the one hand, try to pass on the message; on the other hand, see if we can find any clues about other vassal kings or that mysterious organization from the King of Chu!"

He put away the ledgers, stood up, and glanced at the exhausted crowd:
"Rest for an hour, treat the wounds, and replenish our strength. Then we'll take a detour south and head straight for Wuchang!"

"Yes!"

In their desperate situation, Zhang Biao once again pointed out the way, rekindling hope in everyone's hearts.

Before long, Zhang Biao walked out of the wooden house again, looking at the distant, layered mountains, the mountain wind brushing against his face covered with dust and blood.

He touched the ledger in his arms, and then felt the Glock with only a few bullets left in his arms.

[Old Zhu, you wait, I've got a big surprise for you!]

……

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(End of this chapter)