Chapter 52 It's not easy to be a fence-sitter [Seeking follow-up reading]

Let’s put aside what happened to the second team for now.

There are more than a thousand people traveling, including more than 700 new recruits, so the process will definitely be much slower than before when they brought elite troops.

The baggage and food cannot be transported the same as last time. The loyalty of the new recruits is not high, and most of them are Shanyue people who have no tradition. If each person marches with a large bag on his back, I'm afraid half of them will disperse halfway.

Also, Zhang'an County was assassinated by Jiao Jiao's assassins, and if something unexpected happened to Yu Fan.

Jin Mao is so tearful.

Therefore, Jin Mao decided to let one team carry food and go ahead with him, leaving Liu Mu to lead the third team and the baggage behind.

He was anxious to find Yu Fan, on the one hand because he was afraid of being assassinated and the incident in Zhang'an County was still before his eyes.

On the other hand, if Jinmao wants to carry out the second step of Xi Zhicai's plan, it needs Yu Fan to write for it.

He doesn't know what an article is, and he doesn't even know Zhu Hao, so why should people trust him?
And Yu Fan has all of these!
He brought so many soldiers because Jin Mao was afraid of death.

Also just in case.

...

Shangyu County.

When Jin Mao set out, Zhu Fu just received news from Shan County.

"Bang bang bang!"

After a lot of vandalism, Zhu Fu was furious: "Jin Mao, you little brat! You are going too far!"

"How dare you ignore me!"

After venting for a while, Zhu Fu finally calmed down.

He picked up his penknife and began to write.

In the evening, many messengers set out from Zhu's house and went to Zhuji, Yongning, Shanxian, and Shangyu Jiao's house.

Just as Xi Zhicai expected, Zhu Fu used all his strength to kill Jin Mao.

However, Zhu Fu was arrogant and did not contact the county governor Tang Mao, thinking that the strength of the Zhu family alone was enough.

"Since even your roots are rotten, there is no need for you to live!"

Zhu Fu's face was ferocious as he uprooted the lingering pine and cypress trees.

...

Zhuji County, big prison.

Each cell has a large luxurious suite, specially prepared for people of status.

Yu Fan happened to live in such a luxurious suite.

His hair was disheveled and his face was haggard, but his eyes were bright and he looked in good spirits. He had no injuries on his body, but he hadn't taken a shower for several days and he smelled bad.

The prison door opened with a click, and the Zhuji County Magistrate Zhang Yan came over with a cane, looking very old, trembling as if a gust of wind could blow him away.

In the large suite, an old man and a young man stared at each other across the wooden fence.

"Is Magistrate Zhang going to let me out?"

Yu Fan did not stand up, but looked directly at the old man and said weakly, "My master is not a kind person. Do you really want to help him?"

"Alas." Zhang Yan leaned on his crutches, hunched over, and said hoarsely, "Jin Mao is just a fake county magistrate. He could lose his job at any time. Why should you be so loyal to him?"

"Both young masters of the Zhu family admire you very much, why don't you work for the Zhu family?"

Yu Fan was furious, baring his teeth like a wounded wolf: "Shut up, old dog! How could I, Yu Zhongxiang, betray my master!"

"Let me out now!" Yu Fan threatened, "Otherwise, you will be the one waiting for the fate of the Jiao family in Taimo County!"

Zhang Yan closed his eyes in pain and waved his hands left and right. Soon, his confidants made room for five people.

"Yu County Zuo Mo is surprised."

Zhang Yan changed his address, his back was no longer bent, his eyes were bright, and he said, "That day, the three people who ordered your arrest were the Zhuji County Magistrate and the Lieutenant."

"I am just a foreigner who has been sidelined. All I can do is ask for your understanding."

Yu Fan calmed down and bowed with difficulty: "Please let me out, my lord. Otherwise, I am afraid my master will lead his army into the prison to rescue me."

Zhang Yan closed his eyes and said painfully, "That's what they want Jin Wushang to do!"

"Impossible! Are they trying to kill themselves? Are they crazy?!"

Yu Fan was too excited and finally realized something was wrong: "It's Zhu Fu!"

Zhang Yan nodded: "Yesterday, Zhu Fu sent a letter to set up this situation."

Yu Fan staggered to his feet, put his hands through the railing, and grabbed the corner of Zhang Yan's clothes to keep his balance.

"Then the county lord should let me go. As long as we stop my master, we still have a chance of winning!"

Zhang Yan shook his head weakly.

Yu Fan's expression turned stern: "This is the only way you can go!"

"Unless I die!" "Otherwise, I will tell my Lord that you are the same as them!"

"Ahem." Yu Fan's face turned pale, and he coughed twice before threatening: "Then the Zhang family of Xinyang will be exterminated!"

Zhang Yan's face was filled with pain. He didn't want to offend either side, so why did they have to force him?

At this moment, Zhang Yan's confidant came to report in a panic: "Jin Wushang has brought 300 elite soldiers!"

Everyone looked at Zhang Yan nervously. The Zhuji Jiao family tragedy was still before their eyes, and Jinmao’s reputation was even worse than Shanyue’s.

After a while, Zhang Yan made a difficult decision: "Yu County Assistant, I will take you to see Jin Wushang."

...

Outside Zhuji County.

Jin Mao led his men on a quick march of six days before reaching Xinyang from Jinyun Mountain. After asking, he learned that Yu Fan had gone to Zhuji.

It took more than a day to reach Zhuji County. The city gate was closed, and Jinmao's anger level instantly reached the maximum.

It goes without saying that something must have gone wrong for Yu Fan in Zhuji, and a worse outcome is not impossible.

"Cut wood! Build ladders!"

At the command, three hundred elite soldiers took action.

Zhuji County had a two-meter-high earthen wall, and two pieces of wood tied together could be used as a ladder. Add in the two hundred county soldiers guarding the city, and it wasn't difficult to attack the city.

That’s right, Jin Mao was furious and had prepared for the worst, ready to attack the city!

From noon till night.

A team leader, Bai Shi, led people to build twenty wooden ladders and destroyed dozens of short weapons, which made Jin Mao very distressed.

But it's all worth it!

In his heart, Yu Zhongxiang is more important than the entire Zhuji County!
He ordered people to light torches, but before he gave the order, there was a commotion on the city wall.

Amid the noise, Jin Mao vaguely heard the cry of "Open the city gate" and immediately gave the order:
"alert!"

"drink!"

A team of three hundred personal soldiers pointed their guns at the city gate.

...

Time goes back half an hour.

When the powerful people in the city noticed Jin Mao's actions, they were delighted at first: Young Master Zhu Fu had accomplished what he had asked!

Then there is fear: What to do next? Escape? Where to escape?
The city gates are closed!
No one has thought about what to do next after Jinmao attacks the city.

Everyone was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

It just so happened that Zhang Yan and Yu Fan were trying to escape, but were discovered and blocked at the city gate, unable to get out.

"Zhang County Magistrate, the bandits are attacking the city. Do you want to abandon the city and flee?"

"You are disregarding the people!"

"People like you are not worthy of being a county magistrate!"...

The powerful people condemned it.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yan, who was old and smart, stiffened his neck and said, "That's right! I want to resign and return to my hometown. Whoever wants to be the magistrate of Zhuji can do it!"

"You can't leave!" "Yes! You can't leave!" "What will we do if you leave?"

Now that the decision had been made, Zhang Yan no longer followed these idiots. He took out the county magistrate's seal and ordered, "Open the city gates!"

In the beginning, these were the people who wanted to arrest Yu Fan. Zhang Yan tried to stop them but was sidelined. Now that something went wrong, he has to take the blame?

How can such a good thing happen!
"Don't open it!" The two county lieutenants gave the order, and the county soldiers didn't know whose orders to obey.

The two sides remained deadlocked until the evening, and it was getting dark.

Yu Fan finally couldn't help himself and said weakly: "Everyone, if you don't open the city gate, the Golden Crow will break in."

“Ahem.” He coughed violently, a sickly blush on his face, and roared as if he was regaining his strength: “When that happens, there will be no turning back for Jinwushang, and you will all die!”

Suddenly, the powerful people split into two factions, one advocated opening the door, and the other refused to open it.

Seeing this, Yu Fan grabbed Zhang Yan's arm and said, "Zhang County Magistrate, you can take action now!"

Zhang Yan nodded vigorously and shouted with all his strength: "Open the city gate!"

The county soldiers on the city wall saw torches lit outside the city and knew that the enemy was about to attack the city, so they didn't care about anything else.

"Open the city gate quickly!" The shouts were transmitted in a chaotic manner to the brothers guarding the city gate.

After all, the gate guard trusted his brother more than the county lieutenant.

at last.

With a "click", the city gate opened.

(End of this chapter)