A divine healer, a general, a young marquis! Who can rival them!

There was still no movement from the Zhao residence.

Yang Hu didn't pressure him. These things can't be rushed. The troubles that are meant to happen will happen, and the troubles that aren't meant to happen won't happen no matter how much you pressure him. He continued to treat patients, manage the medicinal herb garden, and investigate the road in the rocky hill.

That afternoon, Chief Wang of the city defense battalion came to the door again.

He wasn't there to inquire about his health. He frowned as soon as he entered, covered in mud, and looked even worse than when he returned from guarding the grain last time.

"Dr. Yang, something's up again." Chief Wang plopped down, took a sip of cold tea, and said, "Those guys from Luanshigang robbed another caravan of medicinal herbs a few days ago. The two cart drivers are all dead. Now, caravans on the northern route have stopped traveling and are all taking the longer southern route!"

Yang Hu put down the medicine grinder in his hand.

The rocky terrain on the northern route is getting fiercer every day. The city defense battalion has fought it before, but…

"The camp has gone up the mountain three times," Chief Wang slammed his fist on the table. "All three times we came up empty-handed. By the time we entered the mountains, they had already slipped away. There are so many back alleys in those mountains; once you get familiar with them, it's like your own backyard. And," he lowered his voice again, "I even suspect that someone below is tipping them off. The moment we move, the news gets into the mountains first. We can't find their hideout at all."

He came to ask Yang Hu for advice.

During that grain escort mission, Yang Hu exposed the thief hiding in the pass. Chief Wang remembered it clearly. He had been a veteran of the city defense battalion for most of his life, and no one could compare to his sharp eyesight!

Yang Hu wasn't in a hurry. He knew something very important: the den in the rocky hill couldn't be destroyed right now.

Those were no ordinary bandits. Hundreds of stray dogs were lurking in the rocky hills, supported and instigated by someone who transported illicit goods to the outside world. The city defense battalion's ability to force their way into that complex mountain valley was achieved through sheer numbers, a feat accomplished with human lives.

But not wanting to destroy the nest doesn't mean there's no way.

During the night, she discussed with Qin Ying that during the day she disguised herself as a medicine boy, hunched over and wiping away tears, but at night, when she locked the door, she was a female general who had fought in battles and led people!

"A direct assault won't work!" Her fingers flailing across the table, her sharp eyebrows revealing a strong air of a military family's offspring. "But no matter how clever the people of Luanshigang are, they'll always have to come out of the mountains to plunder. They only rob wealthy merchant caravans, specifically targeting the most lucrative ones. That's their Achilles' heel!"

"Then let them have a good meal!" Yang Hu continued.

The two exchanged a glance and immediately had an idea!

They released a seemingly lucrative "fat merchant" as bait to lure the people of Luanshigang to plunder. The city defense battalion ambushed them behind the rocky slope beside the road, and when the people of Luanshigang made their move, they turned around and surrounded them.

If you can't take their nest, cut off their hands first, cut off their livelihood, and crush their courage.

The next day, Yang Hu told others about this trick.

He didn't mention Qin Ying's name at all, only saying that it was a good idea he had come up with himself.

"Yes!" Chief Wang nodded, becoming increasingly pleased as he listened, and finally slapped his thigh: "Great! That's it!"

Over the next two days, the city defense battalion secretly planned their operation, and Yang Hu and his men also got busy.

They gathered a few ordinary large carts of goods, wrapped them in oilcloth, and tied them up in a grand manner. From a distance, you could tell that only a large pharmacy could transport such a large item. Half of the merchants were strong men hired by the city garrison, who disguised themselves as porters to pull the carts. Then, three days later, at dawn, they slowly drove onto the northern road.

Including Yang Hu.

With Willow Leaf as his bodyguard and Qin Ying disguised as a medicine boy accompanying him on his business trip, they wiped their faces and smeared some dirt, hiding behind a cart shaft. As for the city defense camp, they were just patching things up, having already infiltrated the piles of rocks on both sides of the road before sunrise.

When the convoy had traveled a stretch of road with a gentle slope and wide terrain, they deliberately slowed down.

At this moment, Qin Ying suddenly nudged Yang Hu's arm gently.

"They're here!" she whispered, almost in a murmur. "First small hill on the left, birds are chirping, there's a thief up there."

The keenest senses on the battlefield are hidden among the startled flocks of birds, within the unruly breezes. In this respect, they are richer than anyone else.

Before he could finish speaking, a whistling arrow suddenly shot out from that direction.

Immediately afterwards, a dozen or so men carrying knives and clubs rushed down the slope. The leader, a foul-mouthed man with a booming voice, glanced at Yang Hu, who was dressed as a doctor, and spat out a vulgar remark:

"Oh, another pale-faced quack? You still dare to do this kind of thing these days? Living off your past glories? Leave your cart here and get lost!"

Yang Hu remained silent.

He just winked at Liu Ye.

The robbers shouted and ran up to the convoy, ready to attack...

"Release!" Wang Du shouted, and the city defense troops who had been lying in ambush emerged from the small slopes on both sides. The tripwires that had been set up beforehand snapped open, and the first few people fell to their deaths. Then, the swordsmen and shieldmen on both sides moved towards the middle, blocking the front and sealing off the rear, and circling the bandits in one go.

The robbers never expected that this seemingly chubby sheep was actually a trap with its mouth wide open.

They squeezed from both sides towards the middle and lost their formation in an instant.

This time, the city defense battalion was prepared, using numbers to attack the few. Liu Ye protected Yang Hu and the grain cart, while Qin Ying, hiding behind the cart, coldly watched the bag getting smaller and smaller: this was the kind of formation she had sketched out on paper.

The chaotic battle ended quickly. Several robbers were killed, and many were captured. The remaining few tried to escape back over the mountain, but were caught in a pincer movement.

The city defense battalion only suffered minor injuries. Yang Hu ran around to help them stop the bleeding, treat their wounds, and apply some ointment. None of them were seriously injured.

What truly made the King of Capital's eyes widen was the scene of him counting the spoils of war.

Underneath the tightly bound cargo found on the two captured robbers and the two packhorses that hadn't yet been dragged away, there was a cartload of blades, arrowheads, and several bags of military rations stamped with the same markings.

irrefutable evidence.

This time, there was no need to pry open anyone's mouth; the physical evidence was there, ten times stronger than any words: Luanshigang was smuggling military equipment to the area beyond the Great Wall for others. The Zhou Ji, Luanshigang, and the area beyond the Great Wall line was sealed shut by a truckload of stolen goods.

Chief Wang held the several cold arrowheads in his hand, his hands slightly numb. These were irrefutable pieces of evidence of treason, a crime punishable by death. He had endured half his life for this, and this was the first time he had gripped them so tightly.

"Good!" he shouted hoarsely. "With this truckload of stolen goods underneath, no one can erase today's achievement!"

Commander Wang, carrying several arrowheads, exuded murderous intent and was about to immediately muster his troops to attack Luanshigang.

"With this truckload of stolen goods, it's just the right time to wipe out this traitorous thief who colluded with the enemy!"

"Captain Wang, think it through," Yang Hu stopped him. "There are hundreds of desperate criminals inside, and their masters have powerful backers. These arrows may be evidence pointing at your heads, but they're not the key to getting into this mountain. It's much better to use them to see the people you need to see than to lose your life."

Wang Dutou gripped the arrows tightly for a moment, then released them, finally suppressing his impulse.

News of this battle spread through the city faster than ever before.

"The city defense battalion laid an ambush on the northern road, routing a group of bandits at Luanshigang!"

"I've heard of it. That idea came from Doctor Yang in the east of the city. He can cure diseases, fight battles, and even serve as a strategist for the city's defense battalion. No wonder it's so strange!"

The city defense battalion recorded a great merit for Yang Hu. Chief Wang said that even the head constables were talking about it, and they wanted to hear the opinion of this Doctor Yang on all matters concerning the northern route in the future.

An old doctor who treats patients has gained some respectability in official circles.

That night, Qin Ying didn't touch the knife. She stood by the window with her arms crossed, looking at the rocky hill to the north for a long time without moving.

"This battle was fought well today," she suddenly said. "The tactics of decoys, baits, and counter-ambushes are something only someone with experience in leading troops can pull off."

"I'll set it up exactly how you want it to speak." Yang Hu moved closer to her: "When it really comes down to fighting, we'll still need Chief Wang's men."

Qin Ying didn't respond, and the sharp glint in her eyes gradually faded.

But the greater her military achievements, the more attention she attracted.

The Zhao Prince's residence was quiet; the pressing was still going on, like a stone that hadn't yet fallen.

The line on the rocky hill cut off the claws, bringing it one inch closer to the hand hiding in the deepest part.