A day later, Ouyang Xiong's shadow guards had already investigated clearly.

The small group of cavalry that plundered the caravan was not a barbarian, but a mountain bandit from Xiaoquan Mountain in the Sanzhi area at the junction of Lingwu County, Jiang County, and Yangquan County.

The bandits of Koizumi Mountain are all real outlaws, plundering passing caravans all year round.

The Tusi Mansion and the state capital have been purged many times, but they have all returned in vain.

"Commander Ouyang, it seems that there is something wrong with your information?"

When Li Xing saw this information, his brows couldn't help frowning.

According to the intelligence, these mountain bandits are purely to plunder the wealth of the caravan, and there is no shadow of the Celestial God Sect or the family behind it.

But if that's the case, it's too much of a coincidence.

Everything was on their side, and when they were about to further suppress the local wealthy clans, these mountain bandits disguised themselves as barbarians to rob.

"What do you mean?"

Ouyang Xiong looked at Li Xing with some puzzlement.

Li Xing said his thoughts, but Ouyang Xiong smiled, handed Li Xing another piece of information, and said with a smile: "What Master Li said is right, there must be demons when things go wrong."

Li Xing took it and took a look, it was a report to the imperial court that the state government and the Tusi had failed to clean up the bandits in Xiaoquan Mountain.

The 10,000-strong combined army of Tusifu and the state government cleared out the Xiaoquanshan bandits, which had only 2,000 people, but they were defeated and suffered heavy losses, and when the 10,000-strong coalition army finally retreated, only 5,000 people remained.

At the same time as the Tusi Mansion and the state government pleaded for guilt, they also asked the imperial court to increase troops to clear it.

Most of the imperial army's army was controlled by the clans, so there were no soldiers to send at all.

There was no way, the imperial court could only order the Tusi Mansion and the state capital to recruit troops on the spot and eliminate the mountain bandits.

Seeing this, Li Xing suddenly realized: "This is a double play jointly performed by the local government and the mountain bandits, in order to obtain the right to conscript troops on the spot."

"You can also loot the people in the name of suppressing bandits, and when the people can't continue, they give the people some small favors in the name of the Celestial God Sect."

Ouyang Xiong didn't speak, Jiang Hong had already opened his mouth angrily at this time: "Let the court carry the infamy, and they will gain the hearts of the people."

The speaker has no intention and the listener has a heart.

Li Xing couldn't help but feel a chill begin to run down his spine.

Isn't this a script in the late Eastern Han Dynasty?

The local powerful factions and clans were given the right to recruit soldiers by the imperial court, and expanded their strength in the name of suppressing bandits.

When the time comes, they will all be divided and stand on their own, and the world will be in chaos.

Li Xing subconsciously looked at Jiang Hong, then at Ouyang Xiong, and then thought of the holy decree given to him by the emperor.

It dawned on him.

It seems that the emperor is also aware of this crisis.

That's why it was arranged like this, let him recruit troops on the spot, on the surface, he Li Xing led the suppression of bandits, but in fact, he was cultivating a pro-army for the prince.

"Lao Li, what's wrong?"

Jiang Hong said a few words to Li Xing, but he didn't move.

Gently touched Li Xing and asked.

Li Xing was agitated before he came back to his senses: "It's okay, I'm thinking about something."

"What is there to think, according to the main palace, it is just this opportunity to start clearing up the mountain bandits, as long as the mountain bandits in Xiaoquan Mountain are exterminated, the mountain bandits in other places will definitely be frightened, and when the time comes, we will work together to eliminate all the bandits in the northwest and restore the peace of the people."

Jiang Hong had already held his breath!

Now that the holy decree has been made, and the other party has given them a reason to clear up, he can no longer bear it, and he has the heart to fight on the battlefield.

"Your Highness is right, then prepare soldiers and horses, march covertly tonight, and take down the Xiaoquan Mountain bandits in one fell swoop."

Although Li Xing has never fought a war, he has watched a lot of TV series in his previous life.

He knew that only a surprise sneak attack would increase the probability of success and minimize losses.

As soon as he finished speaking, he was rejected by Jiang Hong.

"Lao Li, we are the official army, and the official army should defeat the mountain bandits in a dignified manner, so that it can play a deterrent role, and it can also be allowed

The families who secretly support the bandits know that we are not to be provoked."

"Your Highness, this is a bad statement, the art of war is cloudy, and the soldiers are treacherous, only if we take it by surprise and win unprepared, can we give the enemy the greatest deterrent."

Li Xing said that he was fighting here, and he saw Jiang Hong's bewildered face.

He sighed, it seems necessary to change the "Art of War" to let the people of this world see it for a long time.

"Your Highness, you say, do we not hurt a single soldier and take down the Xiaoquan Mountain bandits to deter them, or do we lose our troops and take down the Xiaoquan Mountain bandits to deter them?"

"Of course, not a single soldier will be injured."

When Jiang Hong said this, his eyes looked at Li Xing a little differently.

Suddenly stopped Li Xing's shoulder and said, "Old Li, you actually know the art of war, this palace really underestimates you."

"I know the art of war, I've seen it all in books."

Li Xing didn't want Jiang Hong to misunderstand, so he hurriedly exchanged a copy of "The Art of War" with a thousand prestige and handed it to Jiang Hong.

"The Art of War? What do you mean, to be a grandson?"

Jiang Hong saw the title of the book and subconsciously questioned it.

Li Xing's face was dark, this prince is good anywhere, but he doesn't read much.

"Your Highness, this is an ancient book, and in ancient times, a teacher or a moral and learned person was called a son, which shows that Sun Wu, who wrote this book, has a very high attainment in the art of war."

After Li Xing explained, Jiang Hong's eyes couldn't help but light up, but he still said stiffly: "It's so powerful, why haven't I heard of it in this palace."

"This is when I traveled to the rivers and lakes, and I found that the military books left in those ancient books were not passed on to future generations at all, and His Highness naturally did not hear of them."

Li Xing had already told Jiang Hong that the reason why he knew so much was entirely because he had traveled to the rivers and lakes, obtained some ancient books, and obtained knowledge from ancient books.

So now that he said so, Jiang Hong didn't doubt it.

is even more interested, because both salt and coal mines have subverted his cognition.

Therefore, Jiang Hong knew that this art of war must be unusual, so he responded and looked at it.

At this glance, his whole person was shocked, and he was immersed in it all of a sudden.

Ouyang Xiong looked at Li Xing thoughtfully, what kind of ancient book is that? Why had he never heard of it?