"Halt!" Wang Zhen loudly stopped the pursuing soldiers from behind.

  "This man ran all the way down from the mountain and through the forest, and was discovered by our patrol team. We originally planned to stop him and ask for his identity, but he didn't say a word and just kept running with his head down. We had no choice but to chase after him all the way here." The panting soldier behind said.

  "It's none of your business, this is the commander's flag. Going up the mountain is military affairs, you all continue patrolling." Wang Zhen waved his hand to indicate that the soldiers could leave.

  "It's an adult!" The crowd of soldiers who had been chasing after him were exhausted and could only catch their breath for a moment before getting up to return to their posts.

  "Zhang Feng, what's going on with you? You're just coming back when it's almost noon." Wang Zhen hastily asked.

  "Huff... huff... I have an urgent matter to report to Lord Qianhu." Zhang Feng panted as he said this, having rushed here without stopping at all along the way, his heavy breathing was quite normal.

  "What's the big deal? Didn't you guys find something on the mountain? But the left guard and our scouts who returned earlier said they didn't discover anything. Is the credit for this reconnaissance mission going to fall on us, the Thousand Households?" Wang Zhen asked with a pleased expression.

  "It's urgent, can you take me there quickly?"

  "Alright, alright, let's go. I'll take you to meet Commander Qian now." Wang Zhen dragged Zhang Feng straight into the midst of battle in the central army.

  It wasn't until they had walked halfway that Wang Zhen suddenly remembered that two people hadn't returned, and he couldn't help but ask: "Zhang Feng, why didn't Old Liu and the little soldier under your command come back? According to Old Zhou, Old Liu was following you?"

  "Lao Liu was slightly injured, they are behind me, I'm just ahead to report back." Zhang Feng replied.

  Wang Zhen nodded in relief. Fortunately, the two of them hadn't caused any trouble; if they had lost two subordinates on their first mission, he would have been held accountable as the leader of the hundred-man unit.

  Two men arrived at the front of Qian Hu's account, and at this moment, Qiu Fu and Li Dan were discussing the intelligence reported by the scouts. Although the previous scouts did not reveal the specific location of the mountain stronghold, they could still analyze the general direction based on various clues.

  Qiu Fu and Li Dan were arguing over the thousand households when a voice came from outside the tent, "Zhong Huwei Baihu Wang Zhen seeks an audience!"

  "Come in." Qiu Fu said lightly.

  Wang Zhen led Zhang Feng into the tent. "Your subordinate greets Commander Qianhu, I have an urgent military report from General Zhang's vanguard."

  "Speak, what's so urgent." Chu Fu furrowed his brow and said. He had just asked those scouts who hadn't returned to the camp, among them was Zhang Feng. At that time, he was disappointed and felt that he had misjudged the person. A small reconnaissance mission was delayed for so long, and now he heard that he had urgent military news to report, naturally feeling very suspicious.

  Wang Zhen hastily signaled Zhang Feng to step forward and answer, Zhang Feng took out the account book from his bosom and handed it over. Qiu Fu doubtfully took the account book from the guard's hand, not understanding what urgent military situation could be related to an account book.

  Zhang Feng began to recount everything that had happened in the past half day, from their entry into the mountain stronghold to being ambushed on their way down. Listening by their side, Wang Zhen and Li Dan both felt a sense of wonder. Who would have thought that a reconnaissance mission could lead to so many things? Moreover, listening to the bandit's account, it seemed that they were also persecuted by Pinggu County Magistrate.

  Even the county magistrate's catcher participated in the killing team, which sounds like a fabrication. Li Dan shook his head, thinking that Zhang Feng was simply deceiving himself. How could such a coincidence happen? Maybe it was all just a play staged by the mountain bandits.

  He turned his head to explain to Qiu Fu, but saw that Qiu Fu, who was flipping through the account book, had a very heavy expression, and his hands were moving faster and faster. At this point, Li Dan knew that he had thought too simply, and it seemed that this matter was indeed as complicated as the general flag had said.

  Qiu Fu's face turned gloomy as he finished reading the account book, without saying a word. The records on it clearly showed that Pinggu County had never seen such a large amount of grain in recent years. These non-existent grains were divided into two routes from Pinggu County, one going south and the other leaving the pass. It didn't specify where they went, but the quantity was indeed very large. This non-existent grain matched exactly with the grain reported on the official surface.

  If this account book is true, then the so-called mountain bandits on the mountain may have been wrongly accused. This matter would be unthinkable. Pinggu County Magistrate privately selling official grain, oppressing the people, deceiving superiors and other such things are all serious crimes. How could a small sixth-rank county magistrate be so bold as to do such reckless things?

  Qiu Fu cannot yet determine whether this account book is genuine or not, but it's better to believe it exists rather than not. After all, they are just subordinates of the King of Yan's personal guard, and such a major matter should be left for the King of Yan to decide.

  "Come! Quickly send this thing to the Yanwang Mansion in Beiping City by fast horse and hand it over to His Highness Yan Wang!" Qiu Fu could only do so, now the suppression of bandits must be temporarily suspended, everything is waiting for instructions from His Highness Yan Wang.

  "Brother Qiu, is this true or false?" Li Dan couldn't help but ask.

  "Someone doesn't know the truth, but this is probably not a groundless rumor. We are just ordinary martial artists, although our official rank is higher than that of Pinggu Valley's county magistrate, we also have no right to interfere with Pinggu Valley's government affairs. So I can only report it to King Yan." Chui Fu said, rubbing his forehead.

  "After all, this is just a one-sided story from that kid. Should we continue to suppress the bandits now?" Li Dan asked further.

  "Let's wait for the time being, since General Zhang said that the bandits on the mountain have a mind to surrender, and now this thing has happened, let's give him two more days, what's the harm?" Qiu Fu said calmly.

  However, we can't just wait now. Wang Zhen, take my words to Zhao Zhixian and tell him that our army is resting for the time being, and Ben Qianhu plans to invite him to a welcoming banquet in Pinggu City. Chui Fu stroked his beard as he spoke.

  "Yes!" Wang Zhen led the order and exited the account.

  "Director Zhang, you'd better go down too, this matter must not be told to anyone else!"

  "It's an adult!" Zhang Feng nodded and also bid farewell.

  At this moment, there were only two people left in the big account, Qiu Fu and Li Dan. After a brief thought, Li Dan asked Qiu Fu, "Brother Qiu, are you trying to take advantage of this banquet to test Zhao Zhi County?"

  "Otherwise, if we talk about conspiracy and calculation, those literati are our opponents. This is a clear plan of the certain family, just to drag on for time. First, stabilize him, and wait for news from Beiping to come before making a decision." Qiu Fu said with a smile, narrowing his eyes.

  Li Dan nodded: "Then this matter should be told to Li Jun and Zhu Neng, the two thousand households, so that they can also be on guard. If we startle the snake by hitting the grass, it won't be good."

  "It's settled then, Brother Li will call the two of them over to remind them, while I'll prepare a banquet. When doing things, one must do them thoroughly, and when seeing guests off, one must accompany them properly, so let's have a good drink with Zhao Chuhai tomorrow."

  Li Dan nodded and responded, also getting up and leaving the tent.

  Qiu Fu sat alone in the tent, his eyes narrowed in thought. He had already largely believed Zhang Feng's words, although he didn't know whether this account book was true or false. However, the reports of the garrison's bandit-suppressing actions over the past few years were certainly not fake. He had long suspected that something was amiss here, and initially thought it was just a case of soldiers colluding with bandits. Now, however, it seemed more like corruption by officials.

  It seems that the campaign against bandits is going to turn into a problem of investigating the official administration of Pinggu County...

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