Chapter 87: Mutual Schemes: Tiger, Wolf, Leopard Exchange Hostages
Speaking of the Mountain-Sitting Bear He Ji, just as he was about to urge his horse and brandish his club to enter the fray, he suddenly heard the Blocking Tiger Mi Sheng call out:
“Eldest Brother, wait a moment, be careful, it might be a trap!”
He Ji knew that his brother, besides being peerless in martial arts, was also resourceful and extremely cautious!
Hearing him say this, he immediately reined in his horse, turned his head, and asked:
“Second Brother, have you seen something?”
Mi Sheng frowned and said, “I think that scoundrel is deliberately provoking us with words, his only goal is to lure us into Rocky Valley!
Don’t forget!
The valley is perpetually filled with poisonous mist and miasma. If we rashly charge in, I fear we will suffer a great loss!”
Upon hearing this, He Ji couldn’t help but frown:
“Ah! Second Brother, your words have reminded me!
That scoundrel is truly insidious!
If that’s the case, what do you think we should do?”
Mi Sheng said, “When the scouts reported to our military camp previously, didn’t they say that King Wang Qing, besides sending the General of the Palace Xu Jin, also sent the Commander of Dragon Gate Mountain Du Xue, and Assistant General Feng Tai?
Why don’t we first have our men block the valley entrance, and then wait for Xu Jin, Du Xue, and Feng Tai to arrive!
Once they arrive and we rendezvous, we can discuss how to defeat the bandits!”
He Ji listened, and as he was hesitating, he suddenly heard the Assistant General of Shannan Prefecture City, Geng Wen, speak from behind:
“If we block the valley entrance, we can prevent the bandits from escaping!
But everyone, don’t forget, Duke Duan Er is still inside!
Since he was kidnapped that night, his life or death is unknown!
If we delay too long, and Duke Duan Er suffers any harm, how will we face Empress Duan’s wrath?”
As soon as he finished speaking, the nearby Assistant General Xue Zan added:
“The bandits chose Rocky Valley as their stronghold, they must have thoroughly investigated the terrain and layout here!
If there happens to be a secret passage out of the valley, wouldn’t we miss a great opportunity!”
Hearing the words of the two, He Ji nodded and said:
“Generals Geng Wen and Xue Zan have spoken well!
Duke Duan Er cannot be harmed, and we cannot let those bandits escape either!
Therefore, I ask Second Brother to rack his brains again and see if there’s a plan that satisfies both sides!…”
As he was speaking, he suddenly heard the General with Golden Mace Xu Tao call out from the other side:
“I’m talking to you, the Four Brave Generals of Longzhong Mountain!
You haven’t come out for half the day, are you all as timid as mice?
If that’s the case, then take my advice and quickly scram back to Nanfeng City, and let Wang Qing come!
I want to ask him face-to-face why he doesn’t let my Second Brother come and see me!”
Upon hearing this, Mi Sheng immediately said loudly:
“You vagabond, who is your Second Brother?”
Xu Tao glanced at him and said coldly, “This grandfather doesn’t deign to speak with nobodies!
If you want to speak, state your name first!”
Mi Sheng didn’t get angry and said with a laugh, “Haha! You scoundrel truly don’t know how to live or die!
Listen carefully, I am one of the garrison commanders of Longzhong Mountain, known in the martial world as the Blocking Tiger Mi Sheng!
Quickly tell me who your Second Brother is, and why you want King Wang Qing to release him?
If I know him, I will make the decision to resolve this matter for you, so that your brothers can be reunited!”
Xu Tao heard this and couldn’t help but laugh, “How can a mere garrison commander of Longzhong Mountain make decisions for your King Wang Qing?
Listen carefully! This grandfather is Xu Tao, known in the martial world as the General with Golden Mace!
My Second Brother is skilled with a pair of Primal Chaos Golden Hammers in his hands, and is known as the Golden Hammer General Xu Jin!
What? Can you really find him for me?”
Mi Sheng heard this, and his heart moved. He immediately said with a smile:
“So, brave hero, you are the brother of General Xu Jin!
This is truly a case of the Dragon King Temple being flooded by the Dragon King, and one family not recognizing another!
Your Second Brother Xu Jin is not only not King Wang Qing’s prisoner, but is also his close friend!
He is now in Nanfeng City, in the Golden Palace, serving as the General of the Palace, with high status and great power!
I see why Brother Xu Tao insisted on kidnapping Duke Duan Er, it was to find your Second Brother!
In fact, you and I are not enemies!
Listen to my advice!
Release Duke Duan Er, and I promise to invite General Xu Jin to come, so that your brothers can be reunited, how about it?”
Hearing this, Xu Tao couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly, then shook his head and said with a smile:
“Your words, though, are somewhat pleasant to hear!
However, you have deployed several thousand troops here, with such a fierce and murderous aura!
How can I trust that you will keep your word?”
Mi Sheng shook his head and said with a smile, “I, Mi Sheng, am also a well-known hero in the Huai River West territory, and my word is as good as gold!
As long as you, brother, release Duke Duan Er, I will guarantee with my life that I will bring General Xu Jin here!”
Xu Tao said with a smile, “If I release Meimaohu Duan Er, and you all turn on me, won’t I have achieved nothing?
Unless you send another hostage in exchange, I absolutely cannot release him!”
Upon hearing this, He Ji couldn’t help but say angrily:
“Hey Xu Tao, for the sake of General Xu Jin, I will give you some face!
But you cannot take this opportunity to give an inch and take a mile!
If you’re smart, release Duke Duan Er quickly, or don’t blame me for acting now!”
Xu Tao heard this, his eyes widened, and then he smiled at Mi Sheng again:
“Hey Mi Sheng, if you can truly make the decision, then I have a suggestion for you!
Have that He Ji discard his weapons and come over as a hostage. I will then release Duan Er, how about it?”
As soon as this was said, He Ji immediately said angrily, “You audacious vagabond, asking me to be a hostage, you must be daydreaming!
If I don’t show you some power today, then I’m not the Mountain-Sitting Bear!”
“Eldest Brother, do not be angry!”
Seeing that this scoundrel was about to urge his horse into action again, Mi Sheng reached out and stopped him, then called out to Xu Tao:
“My Eldest Brother is the commander of our army, so he cannot easily abandon his troops to become a hostage!
How about this: I will go in as a hostage, and you release Duke Duan Er, how about it?”
Xu Tao shook his head and said with a smile, “That won’t do! That won’t do!
Since General Mi Sheng proposed to invite my Second Brother to come, if he becomes a hostage, then who will accomplish this matter?
Also! Although you are the garrison commander of the northern foothills of Longzhong Mountain, your status is still somewhat different from Duke Duan Er’s!
King Wang Qing would be willing to release my Second Brother to save Duan Er, but he might not do so for you, Mi Sheng!
This is not feasible! Not feasible! It’s best to have that He Ji come!”
Hearing this, Mi Sheng couldn’t help but laugh:
“If I become your hostage, Eldest Brother can also invite General Xu Jin to come!
Therefore, Brother Xu Tao need not worry about this matter!
As for you saying that my status is different from Duke Duan Er’s, I won’t argue with you!
But you are wrong about one thing!
My King Wang Qing is the most righteous and generous person!
Let alone me, Mi Sheng, being his beloved general, even if it were an ordinary soldier captured, the King would never stand by and do nothing!
Therefore, General Xu Tao’s worries are entirely unnecessary!”
“Hehe! All things are just empty words, I don’t believe it anyway!” Xu Tao said with a smile:
“If General Mi Sheng truly has the sincerity to be a hostage, then bring two more people with you!
This way, three for one, Duke Duan Er’s life will be safe, and I won’t be at a disadvantage!
Otherwise, stop the nonsense, and let’s settle this with our actions!…”
