Chapter 221: Rescuing Hostages (1)

The three moved in unison, stepping forward and staring intently at the two topographical maps. While they were looking, Gu Yun said, "There are about twenty bandits in the villa, and they have five hostages in their hands: three adults, one man and two women, and two children. The approximate location of the hostages is in the study or the main hall. Ge Jingyun, you lead a team to sneak into the villa along the stream, search the study first, then the main hall. If they are not in either, search from front to back."

"Leng Xiao, Luo Yan, you two each lead a team, cross the back mountain, and enter the villa. Leng Xiao is responsible for cover, and Luo Yan, your team's mission is to take down this three-story wooden building, then join up with Ge Jingyun at the study location. Once you find the hostages, retreat to the back mountain immediately. Do you understand?"

The three quickly memorized the content they needed to remember, raised their heads, and replied loudly, "Yes."

Turning to look at Dan Yulan, Gu Yun continued, "Lord Dan, you stay at the front gate. Two quarter-hours later, demand to talk to them, try your best to delay time. When you see a red flag flying on the mountainside, it means the hostages have been rescued, and you can initiate a strong attack."

"Alright, but I fear the men in black will only agree to negotiate if they see you. Should Qing stay in the tent?" He had seen this Qing's ability to solve cases; he didn't expect her to be quite capable of commanding an army. However, looking at her appearance, she probably wouldn't stay in the tent.

Sure enough, Gu Yun's brow furrowed after hearing his question. Su Ling had long expected that she couldn't stay in the tent, but he didn't intend to speak for her, although in his heart he still hoped she would stay in the tent for safety.

Zhuo Qing, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke, "This rescue plan was designed by Qing Mo. It is more appropriate for her to command from the front. Talking to them from half a mile away, they probably won't be able to see the person's face clearly. Even if they can see clearly, they might not necessarily recognize what Qing Mo looks like. The scar is the most obvious feature. I will disguise myself as Qing Mo; that should be able to stabilize the men in black for the time being."

Gu Yun was stunned and looked at Zhuo Qing. Zhuo Qing smiled at her, her persistence in her eyes self-evident. She also hoped to save that innocent child. The two just looked at each other, and the words Gu Yun was about to use to object were swallowed back. She only whispered, "You must be careful. No matter what they say, you cannot get close to them."

Zhuo Qing returned a smile, "Alright." Gu Yun looked at Lou Xiyan beside her again. With him there, Qing would definitely be fine.

"Su Ren, assist Lord Dan." And protect Qing. Gu Yun didn't say the last sentence, but the clever Su Ren already understood and replied straightforwardly, "Don't worry."

"Seize the time, act accordingly." Half an hour had already passed, and they really couldn't delay any longer. Gu Yun went out of the tent first, followed closely by Leng Xiao and the others, making Yan Hongtian, Su Ling, Lou Xiyan, and the others seem somewhat dispensable.

Just as Su Ling was preparing to go out, Yan Hongtian suddenly stood up and said, "I will go with you."

Xin Yuening, who hadn't been able to get a word in, was anxious and hurriedly persuaded, "Your Majesty, absolutely not! It's too dangerous, you cannot go!"

That thin figure outside the tent was followed by three strong men. This scene looked truly interesting. Yan Hongtian looked at Su Ling and smiled pointedly, "A woman can go, why can't I?" After speaking, Yan Hongtian walked out of the tent in a very good mood.

"Your Majesty!" Xin Yuening was truly panicked. If the Emperor had an accident, the Xin family couldn't bear the responsibility. The Emperor wouldn't listen to her persuasion. Xin Yuening looked at Lou Xiyan, who was sitting on a chair beside her, unmoved and composed, and said with a tone of reproach, "Prime Minister, as the Prime Minister of a country, the Emperor is putting himself in danger, how can you not persuade him?"

Lou Xiyan replied innocently, "Empress, since even you cannot change the Emperor's mind, I am also powerless."

"You!" Xin Yuening was furious. If there was anyone in the world whose opinion Yan Hongtian might listen to, that person was absolutely Lou Xiyan. He was actually pretending in front of her! Even if Xin Yuening hated him to the bone, she couldn't do anything to Lou Xiyan. Inside the tent, Xin Yuening was half-dead with anger. Outside the tent, Yan Hongtian was watching with interest as a group of mighty fierce generals listened incredibly seriously to a young woman whose height only reached their chests giving orders.

"Divide into three groups later. The captains are Ge Jingyun, Leng Xiao, and Luo Yan. Follow their deployment and cooperate with each other. Today is not a test, nor is it a drill; it is a real rescue. I don't need to say more. You should understand what I mean." Gu Yun didn't say much. Her cold voice was about the same as usual. If she had to say more about things like team cooperation and executing orders, the past half month of training would have been in vain.

"Yes." The neat response was concise and powerful. More than a hundred people were quickly divided into three teams. Ge Jingyun took one team to the upper reaches of the stream, while Leng Xiao and Luo Yan each led a team and trotted toward the back mountain.

Yan Hongtian traveled, so naturally, he couldn't really go alone. Four imperial guards followed him. By the time this group rode to the cliff of the back mountain, Leng Xiao and Luo Yan were already directing the soldiers to tie the ropes. Yan Hongtian was secretly amazed. Their movements were so fast; even if they had left a while earlier, they shouldn't have arrived faster than them on horseback.

Gu Yun dismounted and surveyed the surrounding terrain. The cliff was indeed as Cheng Hang had said, very steep, and mostly bare rock, with no trees or vines to borrow force from. Fortunately, the structure between the rocks was still suitable for climbing.

Soon, the long ropes were tied. Leng Xiao and Luo Yan looked at Gu Yun. She nodded slightly. Leng Xiao and Luo Yan tied one end of the rope to their waists and began to climb the cliff with their bare hands. The techniques they used were different but equally fast. Soon they reached the top of the mountain and tied the rope to a large tree on the top to secure it. The two shook the rope, received the signal, and the next person began to climb.

No wonder she said the Su Family Army could conquer the cliff in only a quarter of an hour. They used a relay method, leaving one person at every dangerous and difficult place to help the next person climb up. With mutual assistance, sixty or seventy people all reached the top of the mountain in a very short time. Yan Hongtian looked at Qing Mo not far away. Her expression was calm, without any joy or pride, as if these soldiers were usually like this, and today's performance couldn't please her at all.

She could feel the oppressive feeling from those black eyes. Gu Yun didn't look at him, walked to Su Ling, and whispered, "You accompany him up later, I'll go take a look first."

"Mm, be careful!" She had always been someone who did things herself. Being able to train soldiers who were good at climbing, she must be even stronger herself. This was Su Ling's understanding of her. Sure enough, Gu Yun turned back and, without using the convenience of the rope, sought another mountain path. She knew very well that her thin and petite figure was not suitable for the path of the soldiers. Gu Yun's movements were very skilled and light, and soon, she also stood on the top of the mountain.

Yan Hongtian's black eyes flashed, and he laughed, "What beautiful skill. Does Qing Mo know martial arts?" He never expected that the thin and weak little girl would actually have extraordinary skills. What other surprises could the Qing sisters give him?

Su Ling replied perfunctorily, "She knows some."

"You taught her to train troops?" He could see that she had some ability to deploy troops, and those soldiers were very obedient to her. She must have trained them on weekdays. Su Ling's mouth curled up involuntarily. It wasn't that he taught her to train troops, but that she helped him train troops. However, he didn't want Yan Hongtian to know these things. Being too sharp might not be a good thing for her.

The faint look of pride in Su Ling's eyes was truly dazzling. Yan Hongtian was full of teasing, smiling and replying, "So you like this kind of woman." No wonder there had been no women in the General's Mansion for so many years. Those noble ladies of official families really couldn't meet such requirements.

Su Ling didn't take Yan Hongtian's mockery to heart at all. He said coldly and faintly, "Your Majesty, please."

Looking up at the dangerous steep peak, a flash of excitement crossed his black eyes. Yan Hongtian suddenly laughed, "It's been a long time since I've moved my bones. Shall we have a competition?"

Su Ling looked back at Yan Hongtian and saw a serious look in his eyes. Su Ling also looked very excited and replied, "Alright."

The two looked at each other and started climbing at the same time. In an instant, two tall figures climbed left and right on the cliff. Su Ling won with his deep internal energy and full strength, every step leaping more than two zhang. Yan Hongtian won with his excellent lightness skill, his body almost never staying on the cliff, a method of borrowing force. The two reached the top of the mountain almost at the same time, except Su Ling was not out of breath, while Yan Hongtian's breathing was a bit chaotic.

Before Yan Hongtian ascended the throne, they often stood on the top of high mountains like this. After ascending the throne, they hadn't done so. Recalling the days of his youth, Su Ling smiled, "Your martial arts haven't been abandoned yet."

After panting for a while to catch his breath, Yan Hongtian also smiled, "I used to be faster than you." It had been ten years since he competed with Su Ling, right? It was a winter noon, and the sun was warm. The two smiled at each other, recalling their youthful arrogance. At this moment, four imperial guards also reached the top of the mountain at the same time. Yan Hongtian's expression was normal, but the guards felt that the Emperor's mood didn't seem as good as it was at the foot of the mountain. The group walked silently toward the mountainside. On the mountainside, they saw Gu Yun with a cold expression.

Standing in this position, one could clearly overlook the situation of the villa. Five people were guarding the front courtyard, and no one was patrolling the main hall and the study. The small three-story building that Gu Yun valued was indeed valued by the men in black. There were six people patrolling around the small building, and there should be people inside the building.

Luo Yan led more than thirty people to surround the small building. Fortunately, the men in black stood quite scattered, so there was still a possibility of breaking them one by one. The most important thing was to take them down silently! If the men in black guarding the hostages discovered the anomaly, the hostages would be in danger!

Yan Hongtian had been watching those dozens of people approaching the small house. Their movements were a bit strange. First, two or three people walked to the front, and they made some strange gestures, as if they could communicate with the people behind them this way.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 222 =====