Every time he travels, he is followed by a hundred-man guard, the members of this guard are complex, but without exception are all soldiers who have been tempered into steel, and they are familiar with all terrain tactics, including mountain and jungle warfare.

This time he was going to Zizhou to rescue Li Kang, because of the urgency of time and one step ahead, the guards set off an hour behind, Li Mao and the five people strayed into the Savage Valley, and the guards lost contact for a while, after losing contact, the guards launched a search on the spot, and it only took half a day to find Li Mao and Qin Mo.

Although there was only one hundred-man guard, Li Mao still did not hesitate to give the order to attack.

After capturing Hong Ermu for the second time outside Hong Yan's 'cave', Li Mao did not give her a chance to be silent again, and he used a little means to 'force' her to tell her about the internal situation of the 'cave' in the village. After that, Li Mao and his guards were busy making large wooden shields from local materials and waiting for dark.

Li Mao's gorgeous clothes, fast and outrageous swords and complex 'fine' bows and crossbows made the former 'cave' master's 'daughter' greatly amazed, everything outside the mountain was exactly the same as she had heard from her aunt when she was a child, it was a completely strange new world, although the people there were quite unreasonable, but it was different from the cottage, they used means to cut her neck, 'forced' her to show them the way, and in turn gave her 'medicine' to treat her injuries, they intimidated her to say ' The cave was empty, but he didn't torture her or do anything terrible.

They themselves admit that they are not good people, but even the bad people are much more upright than the good people in the stockade.

Hong Ermu finally chose to stand on Li Mao's side, she confessed to Li Mao some of the facts in the 'cave' village, but did not tell the whole thing, she was still suspicious of Li Mao, especially Qin Mo, she originally planned to observe Li Mao for a period of time, and then tell him the most critical secret in the 'cave' village, help him rescue his companions, and send them out of the valley to Zizhou to save their friends.

But the arrival of Li Mao's guards made her change her mind, and she found that this guard was equipped with terrible armor and bows, and each of them carried a huge quiver, which was full of well-made arrows, and once such a powerful force broke into her 'hole' village, her people would have no power to resist, and they would be completely reduced to fish 'meat' on the chopping board, to be slaughtered by them.

All this had to be stopped, she lied, and easily deceived Li Mao, who was fearful of her, and Qin Mo, who was fierce.

However, Hong Ermu soon felt hopeless, and Li Mao did not believe her words unconditionally, he soon hired a local guide who was familiar with Hong Yan's 'cave', and this guide knew everything about Hong 'Yan' and 'cave', the past history, geography and folk customs, and even the intricate interpersonal relationships in the 'cave'.

This guide, a Han Chinese, went to Hong 'Yan' and 'Cave' three times a year to sell gadgets such as needles and threads.

Successive owners of the 'cave' did not let him live in the 'cave' village for a long time, and he was not even allowed to spend the night in the 'cave' house, and he didn't know how he 'touched' everything in the 'cave' village so clearly.

Li Mao trusted the guide, but her words were doubted, and she herself lost her freedom again. That hateful Qin Mo tied her hands with a piece of hemp rope and led her like a sheep.

The steep terrain is the only magic weapon for Hong 'Yan' and 'Dong' to achieve the final victory in the previous battles of the same clan and clan, and it is also the key factor for the 'hole' to become one of the best forces in the region, these secrets, Hong Ermu originally planned to tell Li Mao as appropriate after observing Li Mao for a period of time, but now she has lost such an opportunity, the guide told Li Mao everything, and even the mobile whistle and secret whistle that Hong 'Yan' and 'Dong' are proud of have also been revealed by the guide and the discernment.

These clever arrangements, which exhausted the painstaking efforts of several generations of Hong 'Yan' and 'Cave' masters, were now completely clear in Li Mao's eyes, and they were easily lifted by them, they occupied all the commanding heights around the stockade, and then condescendingly released arrows.

Their arrows were shot accurately and far, and the warriors in the stockade fell one after another under their sneak attack, unable to fight any longer.

The Han people brazenly boasted about the sneak attack as a wonderful tactic, which made Hong Ermu stunned, indignant and aggrieved but helpless.

Now that everything is over, it only took a stick of incense for the invaders to completely control all the points of the 'cave' village except for the 'cave' in the back mountain.

Hong Ermu, who is familiar with the military, knows that they have completely lost this battle, and there is no chance to turn over, and the only one who can save the 'cave' village at the moment is her aunt.

In her mind, her aunt is a god-like existence, she is deeply hidden, there is inexhaustible wisdom hidden in her stomach, she has rich experience, she can understand the most subtle emotions in people's hearts, she feels at ease with her.

She is already the last hope of Hong 'Yan' and 'Dong'.

Li Mao motioned to Hong Zhu and Hong Ermu to loosen the ties, the young 'girl' stood in front of the old woman, knelt down on both knees, the old woman hugged her into her arms, patted her back gently, and after the grandson cried bitterly, the old woman pushed the young 'girl' away.

Raising his dark but godless eyes, he said to Li Mao: "Hong Shayan murdered the previous 'cave' master, the crime is unforgivable, he is no longer qualified to be the 'cave' master, if the gentleman from outside the mountain wants Hong 'Yan' and 'cave' to forget this grudge, he must set up my niece 'daughter' as the 'cave' master." ”

Hong Ermu was dumbfounded, and after a long time, Fang asked in a trembling voice: "Father, was it really killed by Hong Crushed Rock?" ”

The old woman nodded solemnly and said: "After your father died, I secretly visited, the wall has a deep foundation, the wall is straight, it is impossible for it to collapse by itself, it is someone who did it, this person is Hong Crushed Rock, it is the wall that he knocked down." Your father's death was not an accident, but was murdered by Hung Crushed Rock. ”

Hong and Mu wept silently.

Li Mao said: "She must swear to be a subject of my Tang Dynasty and not to be an enemy of the government at any time." ”

Hong Zhu said: "We have lived in the mountains for generations, we do not want to be enemies of the Han people, let alone the Han government, what we want is a quiet life." ”

Hong Ermu wiped away his tears and said: "We don't betray the government, but the government can't oppress us." ”

Li Mao said: "You recognize that you are the people of the Tang Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty recognizes your independent and autonomous status, as long as you do not rebel, the government will not interfere in your internal affairs." For the time being, you don't have to pay taxes on your income, but in case of disasters, the government will provide you with relief, and if one day you figure out that you are willing to become a member of the Datang Dynasty, the local government of the Tang Dynasty will sincerely accept you. After a pause, Li Mao said again: "However, some of your customs are very barbaric and must be reformed. ”

The young 'girl' said: "These customs have been formed by us for thousands of years and hundreds of years, how can they be easily reformed? If we ask you to follow our customs, can you do it? ”

Zhang Qi smiled: "What are you doing, we are here for your good." ”

The young 'girl' craned her neck and asked angrily, "That's how you express your friendliness?" ”

Li Mao said: "I heard that ten years ago, your venerable Huangshan Mountain 'cave' master once practiced civilization and enlightenment, which benefited all the 'cave' people a lot, and the results of civilization touched the interests of some conservative and stubborn old people. When he failed to oppose it, he designed and murdered the owner of the 'cave' of Huangshan Mountain, which led to the failure of this vigorous innovation aimed at bringing civilization and happiness to all the people of the 'cave', and he is still hated to this day. Hong Ermu, you were still young at that time, and you couldn't distinguish between right and wrong, good and bad, but many people in your 'cave' had experienced that reform movement, you can ask them, ask them whether their civilization and civilization were good or bad, and whether the innovation vigorously promoted by the master of the 'cave' of Huang Dengshan brought happiness or disaster to the people of the 'cave'. ”

Hong Ermu argued: "There are benefits, and you shouldn't force us, you ...... It's too domineering! ”

Qin Mo said: "Little brat, what do you know, changing customs is a treat to dinner, I don't force you, are you willing to change?" Have you forgotten how your father died? "The young 'woman's bold and woody 'breasts' fell together, and the 'desire' wanted to argue with Qin Mo, but the tears flowed down uncontrollably. Qin Mo cried a little girl in a few words, and he also felt that he didn't have much face, so he relieved his breath.

And he said, "Okay, don't cry, young people, don't be so stubborn." If I have the chance, I can take you outside for a walk and see if you compare the good and the bad. ”

The young 'girl' wiped her tears, bit her lip and said: "More than ten years ago, Jianzhou Thorn Shi sent someone to be a gentleman in the village to help me 'hole' the people to civilize and civilize, and now I also ask Brother Li Mao to leave two gentlemen in the village to teach my people. ”

Hong Ermu has loved to listen to his aunt Hong Zhu tell stories outside the mountains since he was a child, and he knows some Han people's words, but his knowledge is limited, and he really took a lot of thought about how to call Li Mao, but in the end, the result of the calculation was a bit nondescript.

Li Mao didn't care, he thought about it and replied: "Ten years ago, one of the two gentlemen left in a negative mood, and the other died in your village, and the cause of death is a little unclear like the master of the Hong 'cave', I need to find out about this matter before I can give you an answer." Would you like to help me find out about this? ”

The old woman said: "That Mr. Wang was stoned to death by a 'chaotic' stone, and it was Huang Crushed Rock who hit the first stone. ”

Li Mao nodded, and asked the old woman and the young 'girl': "Is there any other entrance to that mountain 'cave'?" ”

The old woman said: "There is a crack on the top of the 'hole', but you can't enter it. ”

Qin Mo was overjoyed when he heard this, and hurriedly ordered to prepare dry firewood and wet grass left and right, Hong Ermu immediately understood what Qin Mo meant, wiped his tears, and said, "I'll show you the way." At the same time, he instructed two men to help get dry wood and wet grass.

Hong Shayan, who was hiding in the mountain 'cave', was organizing manpower to prepare for a counterattack, when suddenly a ball of grass with fire fell from the sky, and the mountain 'cave' was suddenly filled with choking smoke.

"Plug it, plug it, plug it quickly."

The order of the lord of the 'cave' could not be carried out, the crack on the top of the mountain was more than three zhang from the ground, there was nothing in the 'hole' that could be touched, and even if something could, it would be useless, the crack was more than a foot long, and the widest part was more than a foot, so what to plug it.

After a cup of tea, the owner of Huang Shayan's 'cave' knelt in front of his cousin and niece' in embarrassment, and the accomplice who participated in the murder of the first 'cave' lord Hong Dengshan and the Han gentleman knelt behind him at this moment, and they said everything that should be said and should not be said, and Huang Shayan had nothing to say except kowtowing and begging for mercy.

Qin Mo handed the horizontal knife to Zhang Qi, who stood behind Hong Shattering's side, ready to be beheaded.

Li Mao looked at Hong Ermu, it was still a little embarrassing to let such a 'girl' child order his uncle to be killed, he gave Qin Mo a 'look', Qin Mo coughed, raised his hand, and Zhang Qi raised the knife high.

"Wait." The young 'girl' Hong Ermu suddenly stopped, and she strode in front of Hong Shattering.

The latter was overjoyed: "Mumu, I'm damned, I'm also a ghost." ”

Hong Ermu sneered, spat at the murderer's face, and said, "Cut him." ”