The task for the villagers in the stockade was simple: to hold off the enemy and engage in guerrilla warfare.
They were in the dark, while the enemy was in the open.
But somehow, Ye Zhinan had an unsettling feeling deep in her heart.
"Let's think carefully. Have we missed any details?"
She dipped her finger in the sake and scribbled on the table.
Finally, she wrote down a name.
It was Chen Fangzhi.
"When did Chen Fangzhi go down the mountain?"
Lu Yanlai frowned, then told Xiaohu to call a man over.
The man bowed respectfully, then turned to Ye Zhinan and handed her a register.
"This is the record of people entering and leaving the stockade. Please take a look."
Ye Zhinan took the register. It was filled with names, and the one that appeared most frequently was Chen Fangzhi.
She simply drew a calendar and marked it. Finally, she found the problem.
The times when Chen Fangzhi went down the mountain seemed chaotic, but actually followed a pattern.
It was just that the intervals varied, and sometimes he only needed half an hour.
That meant he had to turn back immediately after reaching the foot of the mountain.
This behavior was more like clocking in for work.
"Something's wrong. Hurry and prepare the horses. I'm going to find them!"
Ye Zhinan's eyes were red, and her body trembled uncontrollably. She grabbed Lu Yanlai's sleeve and looked at her pleadingly.
She had never been so nervous. Even if it was just her conjecture, even if she was wrong.
She had to ensure everyone's safety.
"Don't be in a hurry. Tell me carefully what's going on."
Lu Yanlai had already sent someone to get the horses. She tried her best to calm Ye Zhinan down.
Since she came to the stockade, Ye Zhinan had been like a spectator watching a show.
It seemed that someone was backing her up, so this little girl had always been incredibly calm.
Seeing her so flustered, Lu Yanlai also felt uncertain.
"Shen Beiting's trips down the mountain followed a pattern. He probably went to meet the county magistrate, and yesterday was the day he should have gone."
The county magistrate, not seeing him, would naturally become suspicious.
Even if he was ill - informed, as an official, he would probably have heard the news about the approaching troops.
All these things combined, even a fool could figure it out.
Ye Zhinan poured out her conjecture. Lu Yanlai couldn't sit still either. She pulled Ye Zhinan onto the horse, and they rushed down the mountain.
When they arrived, Qin Yihuai had already set up an ambush.
It seemed normal, but there was an uneasy atmosphere hanging over them.
Qin Yihuai was startled for a moment when he saw Ye Zhinan, then quickly regained his composure.
He pulled her over and lay on the ground. There was a hidden anger in his tone.
"Why did you come here?"
Ye Zhinan didn't have time to care about his emotions. She quickly told him everything she had discovered.
Ye Yingfeng heard it clearly. He cursed in a low voice and punched a deep hole in the soil.
"I knew Chen Fangzhi was a troublemaker!"
"How did you find out?"
There was a rare look of panic in Qin Yihuai's eyes. He stared into Ye Zhinan's eyes, waiting for her to continue.
"Chen Fangzhi was too calm. He seemed ready to face death, but actually, you could faintly sense his smugness."
Chen Fangzhi was tied to the gate, surviving on chicken soup every day.
But he looked normal, and you could even hear his laughter.
Now that she thought about it, he wasn't laughing at anything else but these people going to their deaths.
"Moreover, I found that the county magistrate might be raising private troops."
Ye Zhinan only hated that her mind had been too slow. It was only at this critical moment that she remembered so many doubts.
The county magistrate was a civil official, but there were weapons everywhere in the corner of his house.
Ye Zhinan's eyes flickered as she stated her final evidence.
"If it's for collection, why are there so many of the same weapons?"
"And why are they placed in plain sight?"
Facing Ye Yingfeng's doubt, Ye Zhinan was silent for a moment, then slowly said,
"The most dangerous place is the safest place."
The weapons were placed in an inconspicuous corner, and with so many valuable furniture as a cover.
Even if someone became suspicious, they would only be interested in the wealth, not the private troops.
While everyone was discussing, the ground began to shake, as if thousands of troops were approaching.
Ye Zhinan suddenly turned around and only saw countless iron armors shining in the sun.
She was horrified, and tears were almost streaming down her face.
The enemy had horses and weapons, while they were just ordinary people.
"No matter what I take out later, don't be surprised. Just do as I say and remember to cover for me."
She couldn't just watch the people in the stockade die.
Even if it meant exposing herself, even if it meant being tortured, she had to save them.
Before, she used her benevolence as a doctor. Now, she would use her special ability.
"Follow me!"
She picked up a shovel and walked to an old, withered tree not far away. She pretended to dig vigorously.
When the time seemed right, she called Ye Yingfeng over.
There were five large boxes neatly stacked in front of them, all filled with gunpowder.
There were also a few primitive - style hand grenades.
"Brother, you're more familiar with gunpowder than I am. This thing in my hand is called a grenade. Pull out the safety pin and throw it hard. It's just as powerful as gunpowder."
Ye Yingfeng took the grenade in his hand doubtfully and weighed it.
"Where did you get these things?"
Ye Zhinan really didn't have the time to make up a lie. She made up her mind and just blurted out,
"You promised me just now not to ask where I got these things. Just use them."
The siblings knew each other like the back of their hands. Even without saying, Ye Yingfeng could guess.
If these things were obtained through proper channels, she wouldn't be so secretive.
He wouldn't expose his sister. He immediately shut up and got to work.
"Someone come with me to lay the horse - tripping ropes. Those with strength stay here to throw the grenades. The rest lie down. Be careful not to get hurt accidentally."
Ye Yingfeng commanded everyone, looking just like he used to be.
Even Li Feilong couldn't help but sigh, "The former Vice General Ye is back."
Li Feilong had served in the army. He had some skills and was well - versed in warfare.
He only took a far - away look and could tell what kind of horses the enemy was riding and what kind of weapons they were using.
"They're just a bunch of disorganized soldiers. Break through their defense first, and the rest will be easy to deal with."
Ye Zhinan watched from afar. The horse - tripping ropes had already taken effect.
But they only tripped the first few. The rest would have to be dealt with by the grenades.
"Boss, why not try my stuff? We can take them all out without losing a single soldier!"
Hearing this, Li Feilong got excited. He pulled out the safety pin and threw it hard.
There was a loud explosion. It not only stunned the enemy soldiers but also enraged Ye Yingfeng.
"Are you taking revenge on me! You hate that I've lived too long and want to shorten my lifespan, right!"
Ye Yingfeng was so angry that his teeth were itching. He wiped the dust off his face and strode towards them.