PFC Chapter 182 Behind Life and Death
Chapter 182 Behind Life and Death
After a day of travel, Meng Yi and his group were already exhausted, but they still gritted their teeth and kept moving forward, and finally arrived at the mountainous area at the junction of Dangjun and Dongjun.
It was already late at night and it was pitch black all around. You couldn't see your hand in front of you and it was impossible to tell the direction.
What's worse is that there is no house around where they can stay. In desperation, everyone can only rely on the faint moonlight to find a sheltered place, light a bonfire, and spend this cold night.
As night fell, the cold wind howled through the valley, bringing gusts of chill.
Meng Yi, Xiao He and others sat around the campfire, trying to relieve their fatigue by the warmth of the fire. However, at this moment, danger quietly approached.
In the second half of the night, the grass in the mountains began to make slight noises, as if something was approaching.
Suddenly, a group of mysterious figures emerged from the darkness.
The masked men in black were agile and quick, quietly approaching their camp. Their steps were light and steady, as if they had undergone rigorous training, and they were obviously professional killers.
What's worse is that the guards who were responsible for keeping watch did not notice the approaching danger and were easily killed by the men in black.
Meng Yi was instantly awakened. He quickly drew his sword and stood up. He glanced around sharply and warned in a low voice, "There are enemies!"
This shout made Xiao He, Han Xin, Li Ziwei and other guards around him highly alert. They quickly picked up their weapons and prepared to meet the enemy.
"My lord, the enemy is coming with ill intentions!" Xiao He said in a low voice, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
"We can't just sit there and wait for death. We must find a way to break out!" Meng Yi responded.
Li Ziwei was silently observing the enemy's movements, looking for the best time to attack.
The man in black rushed into the camp like a ghost and engaged in a fierce fight with Meng Yi and his men. Blades flashed, swords clashed, blood splattered, and the bloody smell filled the air.
"Kill!" Meng Yi roared. He led the troops and bravely killed the enemies.
"Follow me!" He turned around and shouted to the people behind him.
Li Ziwei followed closely behind Meng Yi, providing cover for him.
The battle was extremely brutal, and Meng Yi and his men gradually felt exhausted. At the critical moment of life and death, Meng Yi decisively ordered a retreat. They fought and retreated, moving deeper into the woods.
In the dark forest, they cleverly used the terrain to their advantage, constantly setting traps and launching counterattacks.
Despite this, the men in black continued to pursue them relentlessly, holding on to them tightly, making it difficult for them to escape from the predicament.
Meng Yi led the group through the forest when they suddenly spotted a river ahead. A sudden thought struck him, and a plan came to his mind.
"Everyone run to the river!" Meng Yi shouted.
Everyone understood and ran towards the river.
When they arrived at the river, Meng Yi directed everyone to jump into the river and, with the help of the current, drift quickly downstream.
"Everyone be careful, hold on to each other!" Meng Yi shouted loudly.
"Understood, General!" everyone responded in unison.
The river was rushing, and the waves were splashing everywhere. Meng Yi and Li Ziwei tried to keep their balance while observing the situation around them.
The man in black chased to the riverside and looked at the surging water, roaring helplessly.
"Damn it, they got away!" the leader of the men in black said gritting his teeth.
"Chief, should we chase them?" asked a man in black.
"No need. The river is so fast. Even if they are not drowned, they will be washed downstream. We will guard downstream and we will definitely catch them!" said the leader of the men in black viciously.
Meng Yi and others finally managed to escape danger. After drifting along the river for a distance, they went ashore and found a safe place to rest.
"General, could these people be related to the fire in the Chenliu warehouse?" Li Ziwei asked.
"Well, it's very likely. Now we have become the target. Let's take a rest first, and when we have recovered our strength, find a secluded place to spend the night," said Meng Yi.
Then Xiao He said, "My Lord, the upper reaches of the river should be at the border of the two counties. We should have entered the East County now."
Meng Yi nodded and said, "Well, take advantage of the time to rest. We shouldn't stay here for long. These people won't be here by daybreak."
Everyone nodded and found a place to sit down, breathing heavily.
This time, of the twenty guards Meng Yi brought from the Censorate, only six were left.
After daybreak, Meng Yi led the group to the nearby Linji County Government Office. Upon arrival, they immediately began to rest and issued a wanted notice for the men in black.
Meanwhile, Meng Yi was in the Linji County Magistrate's residence, listening to the magistrate's report. He learned that the Puyang County meteorite case had been resolved. A flash of shock flashed in his eyes, and his brow furrowed tightly.
"Your Majesty actually ordered the meteorite to be burned and the nearby people to be killed?" Meng Yi's voice was filled with disbelief and astonishment.
The county magistrate nodded slightly, a helpless look on his face: "That's right, Lord Zhongcheng."
Then, the county magistrate saw that Meng Yi was lost in thought and left.
Meng Yi's mind raced back to recent events, recalling his assignment to Puyang County to assist in the meteorite investigation. The truth about the Chenliu Warehouse fire and the four-county grain accounting issues was about to be revealed, yet he had been transferred at this critical moment. It all seemed so coincidental.
He clenched his fists in anger, secretly sighing in his heart: "The mastermind behind this is very powerful and has sophisticated means. He can even play with the First Emperor in the palm of his hand."
At this time, Xiao He also hurried over, his face pale and his eyes full of regret.
"My lord, it is because of my lack of ability that I was unable to see through the enemy's conspiracy, which led to our failure. Please punish me!" Xiao He hurriedly bowed to Meng Yi and apologized, his voice full of self-blame and guilt.
Meng Yi hurried forward to support Xiao He and comforted him, saying, "Great Virtue, there's no need to blame yourself so much. This defeat isn't your fault; it's my own inconsiderateness. I know you have the talent to govern a nation, but strategic planning isn't your forte. So, don't blame yourself too much."
Xiao He raised his head and looked at Meng Yi's firm and trusting eyes, and the guilt in his heart was slightly relieved.
"Thank you for your comfort, my lord, but this defeat is really heartbreaking." Xiao He sighed.
Meng Yi patted Xiao He's shoulder and said, "Now that things have come to this, there's no need to discuss it further. Now that the imperial inspection has concluded, let's return to Xianyang and make plans."
Xiao He nodded, and their eyes met, full of fighting spirit.
Meng Yi turned and ordered Li Ziwei behind him, "Ziwei, prepare the horses and dry food. We will set off immediately!"
Li Ziwei responded and left, and Meng Yi and Xiao He also walked out of the official residence together.