Chapter 220: Su Ling Protects His Wife (3)

For the first time, Gu Yun felt that his angry appearance was so charming. Moving slightly closer to him, Gu Yun whispered in his ear, "You looked so cool just now."

Su Ling didn't understand what "cool" meant, but the look of admiration and undisguised appreciation on Gu Yun's face was something he had never seen before. Staring at Gu Yun, he always had a feeling that he couldn't do anything about her.

He really had no sense of humor. Gu Yun smiled, "Su Ling, you should have confidence in me, shouldn't you?" She knew he would protect her. She admitted that his declaration made her heart beat faster, but she wasn't someone accustomed to hiding behind a man's back. She had the ability to take on and solve problems.

She seemed full of confidence. Su Ling shook his head and replied with some helplessness, "Alright, go in." Forget it, things had reached this point, let her try. If she really couldn't save him, he would just clean up the mess for her later.

Su Ling held Gu Yun's hand and walked back, but Gu Yun stood there awkwardly and said, "Can you let go of my hand first?"

His hawk-like eyes raised, glancing at their clasped hands, but Su Ling had no intention of letting go. Gu Yun roared in a low voice, "Let go! I need to say a few words to Su Ren!" Not far away, Su Ren coughed lightly and turned his head away, pretending he hadn't seen anything.

Under Gu Yun's glare, Su Ling sheepishly let go of her hand and walked to Su Ren. He was still looking around, appearing incredibly busy. Gu Yun was secretly annoyed, slapped Su Ren's shoulder hard, and said, "Stop pretending! Go back to the mansion and have Yu Shijun bring a team here. Bring the equipment that was just replaced recently. I want to see them within half an hour."

Ignoring the pain in his shoulder, Su Ren was stunned, "Half an hour?" It would take nearly half an hour just to ride a horse back and forth from here to the General's Mansion, and they still had to organize the troops and prepare weapons. Was half an hour a bit tight?

Gu Yun insisted, "Yes, have them run here, no riding horses! The longer you delay, the less time they will have."

No, rid, ing, hor, ses?

Staring at Gu Yun in disbelief, Su Ren's eyes were filled with confusion, but Gu Yun ignored him. Although Su Ling was also very confused by Gu Yun's order, he didn't ask any more questions, and the two walked toward the tent together.

The two entered the tent, and everyone was waiting for them. Yan Hongtian and Xin Yuening sat in the main seats at the front, with Lou Xiyan and Zhuo Qing on the right, two empty chairs on the left, and Dan Yulan beside them. The large table had been moved to the middle of the tent.

Gu Yun didn't go to sit in a seat but walked directly to the desk and placed the two maps side by side. Without waiting for Yan Hongtian to speak, she spoke on her own, "These two are the maps of the villa's surroundings and interior. From the topographical map of the surroundings, the villa is built against the mountain, with a stream running through it. There is no cover in the front, and it is impossible to break through from the front without alerting the men in black. It is easier to cross the mountain and sneak in from the backyard. Also, this stream happens to pass through the main hall and the study in the back. These two locations are where the hostages are most likely to be imprisoned. We can enter the villa fastest through the stream."

Gu Yun spoke eloquently. Yan Hongtian originally didn't think much of her ability to say anything, but hearing her steady tone, clear thinking, and complete lack of nervousness, she had quite a bit of style. He sat up straight and listened carefully.

"There should be about twenty bandits. There is a three-story wooden building behind the study. The men in black will definitely observe the entire courtyard and the movement around the courtyard through here, so this sentry post must be taken down. That way, they will lose their eyes. My opinion is to send a team to enter from the back mountain and take down the sentry post. At that time, have Lord Dan lead them out to negotiate, attracting their attention and dispersing their personnel. In this way, the number of people guarding the hostages will definitely decrease. Then send a team to enter along the water to find the location of the hostages, join up with the other team, rescue the hostages, and bring them to the back mountain. At this time, the people outside can storm in, and we will attack from inside and outside."

Finishing her plan in one breath, Gu Yun looked up and asked, "My idea is roughly like this. What do you think?"

"Didn't you say there were explosives outside the courtyard? How to storm in?" The first to make trouble was Xin Yuening. Although Qing Mo spoke logically, she still didn't believe her.

"I just checked. Those are explosives buried underground, and they will only explode if someone steps on them. Lord Dan can cut down a dozen thick tree trunks and roll them over. The explosives will detonate. After they explode, you can just go in." The reason why they couldn't storm in before was the fear that the noise would alert the men in black and the hostages' lives would be lost. If the hostages were no longer under the control of the men in black, storming in would not be difficult.

Su Ling finally understood why Gu Yun didn't let the soldiers ride horses. The three-story sentry post could see what was happening within a range of three or four miles. If they walked, there would be tree cover, and it might not be easy to discover them. Moreover, the noise of more than a hundred people riding horses over would definitely not be covered up.

Dan Yulan's strength had always been in solving cases and clearing grievances; he rarely handled such incidents. He appeared very cautious, frowning all the time, thinking about something but not speaking. It was Cheng Hang behind him who looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated. However, he was only a sixth-rank official of the Ministry of Justice, and it was not his turn to speak in front of the Emperor. Gu Yun asked directly, "Cheng Hang, what do you want to say?"

Cheng Hang immediately stepped forward and expressed his opinion, "Although the mountain on the side near the villa is lush, the other side is very steep. It is not easy to go up, and it is impossible to go up within an hour. If we cannot take down the sentry post you mentioned, people entering from the stream will easily be discovered."

Gu Yun hesitated for a while and asked, "The topographical map indicates that the height of the cliff is twenty-three zhang. Is this the real height?" If not, it would be really troublesome.

Cheng Hang thought for a while and replied, "It is about that high."

Gu Yun breathed a secret sigh of relief and smiled, "Then we can go up in a quarter of an hour."

"Impossible!" A cliff of more than twenty zhang would take nearly an hour to climb.

Gu Yun looked down at the stream map and replied faintly, "The Su Family Army can."

Cheng Hang was speechless. Everyone said the Su Family Army were elite and fierce, but to be truly this powerful? His eyes secretly aimed at Su Ling, who was as steady as Mount Tai and looked calm. Cheng Hang could only close his mouth and retreat silently behind Dan Yulan.

Su Ling looked calm, but he didn't have much confidence in his heart. A cliff of more than twenty zhang, even for him, would take nearly a quarter of an hour. Could the troops she trained really go up so fast?

In comparison, the most relaxed one was Yan Hongtian. If it was really within such a short time, although Qing Mo's plan was a bit risky, it was still a feasible countermeasure. It was truly not easy, no wonder she dared to speak out just now. What was even more interesting was that she seemed to know everything about the Su Family Army. Since when could a woman participate in military affairs? The look in Yan Hongtian's eyes when he looked at Su Ling held a few more points of inquiry. Outside the tent, an announcement sounded: "Commander Su requests an audience."

Yan Hongtian replied in a low voice, "Enter."

Su Ren entered the tent, saluted Yan Hongtian, walked to Gu Yun's side, and whispered, "Sister-in-law, everyone is here." When he spoke, his breath was not steady, and he was panting slightly.

Others didn't know that Su Ren had made a trip to the General's Mansion, but Su Ling knew. It hadn't even been half an hour, how could it be so fast? And indeed, no horse hooves were heard.

They came at just the right time. Gu Yun smiled, "Let Leng Xiao, Ge Jingyun, and Luo Yan come in."

"Alright." Su Ren retreated silently. Not long after, three tall men followed behind Su Ren. Looking at their attire, Su Ling frowned slightly, Yan Hongtian's eyes showed surprise, Dan Yulan was somewhat confused, while Zhuo Qing's eyes widened, and the corners of her mouth couldn't stop rising.

The three men standing in front of the tent flap each had their own characteristics: one cold, one firm, one righteous. Sweat was dripping from their heads, but their breathing was not disordered. Even though everyone in the tent was a person of high status, there was no sign of panic on their faces. Yan Hongtian seemed very satisfied with them. Even though the three did not kneel to greet him, he did not get angry and stared with interest at their strange attire.

As members of the Su Family Army, they were not wearing the armor and battle robes worn by ordinary soldiers. The dark green clothes were very fitting, without a trace of sloppiness. On their upper bodies, they wore something like a padded jacket. On their right shoulders, they carried a crossbow, and around their waists, they wore a four-inch-wide belt. Looking closely, short arrows for the crossbow were neatly arranged on the belt, and a rolled fine hemp rope hung on the side of the belt. Two binding straps were tied to their left thighs, with a strangely styled short dagger inserted into them. The boots on their feet were not ordinary cloth shoes, but leather short boots.

Although everything on them was something Qing Mo had asked Su Ling to help prepare, when Su Ling saw them standing in front of him fully armed for the first time, he was also incredibly surprised. This outfit looked a bit alternative in the eyes of the crowd. Zhuo Qing thought it looked quite familiar and couldn't help but want to laugh. Why didn't Yun smear some camouflage paint on their faces? That would be a real field army.

Gu Yun was quite satisfied with their arming speed and equipment. It would be perfect if everyone could have one of the repeating short crossbows Su Ling showed her today.

Everyone's attention was on the three of them. Gu Yun asked loudly, "Does anyone have any objections to the rescue plan I just mentioned?"

Yan Hongtian withdrew his gaze, his thin lips curled slightly, and he smiled, "I have already said, you are in charge of this rescue." Well, since he said so, no one dared to say they had any objections, right? That was fine, time was tight, and she didn't have time to spend on discussion and explanation.

Gu Yun stared at the topographical map on the table, raised her right hand, and hooked her index finger lightly at the three people standing indifferently behind her. The three immediately walked toward her and stood behind her. Gu Yun pointed to the map on the table and whispered, "Topographical map, memorize it."

"Yes."

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 221 =====