I wanted to have a good meal, but I was disturbed by Zhao Zongyi.

After leaving the natural residence, the three of them lost interest and immediately returned to the grass hut by the river. The hammer was removed from the tank, and the color was completely copper. Under the reflection of the sun, the eight convex ridges on the hammer are light and dark, as if a hideous dragon snake has come to life.

With a few waves of his hand, he felt very handy, and hung on the saddle with satisfaction.

"Little Brother Qin, let's say goodbye." Shi Qilang was going south, while Qin Zhong was going west.

"Brother Shi, I don't know when I will see you again?" Qin Chongcheng Shi Qilang's great kindness, a little reluctant.

"In the future, if the little brother goes to the capital, he can come to the Shi family outside the Donghua Gate to find me." Shi Qilang patted Qin Chong on the shoulder and said with a smile. Being able to tell where he lives already recognizes Qin Chong's little brother. With that, he took up his clothes and baggage and strode out of the village.

"Big brother." Qin Zhong remembered something and hurriedly called Shi Qilang. He took the reins of a pack horse and handed it to Shi Qilang. "This horse is for the eldest brother to travel, and I hope that the eldest brother will not dislike it, and he will definitely accept it." As he spoke, he turned around again and took out a bag of silver taels from his baggage.

Shi Qilang didn't speak, took the reins and silver two, nodded at Qin Chong and the others, turned over and galloped away.

"Let's go, too." Shi Qilang's figure had already disappeared and gradually disappeared. Lang Zongyu said sullenly, turned over and stepped on the horse. He lifted the iron spear stuck in the ground and hung it on the victory hook. As for his original hammer, he naturally discarded it.

Qin Chong's hammer hung on the back of the remaining pack horses. The weight is very heavy, and if you go slowly, the pack horse can barely support it. If the horse is galloping, the pack horse will not be able to keep up. However, Qin Zhong was reluctant to carry the white horse hammer, so he could only sacrifice speed.

The two did not enter the village again, but went around the outside of the village and waited for the main road before heading west. From Fuping to Tongguan, there is a post road. Although there are many potholes, after all, it is an official road, and it is much more convenient to travel on horseback. Every four or five miles, there is a gazebo where you can rest.

There are also vendors in the pavilion, selling some food and tea. Qin Chong and the others were hungry, and they were not picky eaters, and they devoured a meal.

At this moment, the sun has turned west, and at most there will be another hour, and the sky will be dark. Qin Chong was eating while looking at the pedestrians on the road. This look is really strange. On this official road, only people come to the east, but no one goes to the west.

"Hey?" Discovering this strange thing, Qin Chong became curious, so he asked the vendor for the reason.

"The guest officer doesn't know anything." An old man said to Qin Chong, "The front is not very peaceful." ”

"Huh? Why? Qin Zhong asked.

"Twenty miles west of here, there is a group of strong men who occupy Maoer Mountain, and everyone who passes through has to pay for the road." The old man sighed, "If you don't pay it, then you don't want to go over." At first, there were some who broke through, but they all lost their lives. ”

"Why are there only those from the east, but not from the west?" Qin Chong was still puzzled.

"Hehe, those who come from the east are empty-handed, but those who go west are carrying goods." The old man said.

It turned out that the further west the Tongguan trade route, the more barren it became. Almost nothing but persimmon pecans. Especially near the border of Western Xia, illegal salt was overflowing. Every household is either a smuggler or a relative of a smuggler.

They needed a lot of goods, except salt and pecans.

As long as it is a commodity that can be sold, it is not worried about selling at all. What worries me is how to avoid the mountain bandits and bring the silver money back safely. Therefore, the people who went west were full of goods. Those who came to the east did not see the goods, and the carts were full of money.

The strongman of Maoershan took a fancy to this rolling wealth. But after one or two years, the vendors also learned to be smart. When going west, there are always several or more than a dozen caravans gathered together, hired strong martial guards, and marched through Maoer Mountain.

When he returned, he did not take this road, but went to Chang'an. Because there is an abundant supply there, it is possible to purchase cheaper goods.

Although it was a little far away, it was naturally willing to avoid the bandits.

Because most of the merchants heading west set out in the morning. In the afternoon, almost no one went west.

"I see." Qin Zhong smacked his lips, not knowing what to say. The government has basically done nothing about such things. It is no wonder that bandits are rampant nowadays, and bandits occupy every mountain. Selling goods is really pinching his life to make money.

After settling the account, Qin Zhong and the two turned over their horses and headed west.

"Guest officer, seeing that it is dark, you still want to go west?" The old man reminded loudly.

"It doesn't matter." Qin Chong clenched his fists and thanked the old man for his kindness. But the bandits really didn't look at him in his eyes.

"They're ruthless." The old man still persuaded himself.

"If you really hit it, it's better to see who is more ruthless." Qin Zhong said in his heart, beating his horse and heading west.

The two of them did not travel fast, and they only walked about twenty places in an hour. Seeing that it was getting dark, they also saw two abrupt hills. From a distance, these two hills really look like a pair of cat ears. It is separated from north to south, and there is a narrow ravine in between.

This is Mao'er Mountain, and sure enough, a good place for an ambush. The vendors entered the ravine, and the bandits were blocked at both ends, and they couldn't run if they wanted to. On the mountains on both sides, a few archers were arranged to suppress from a high place, and even if the officers and soldiers came, they had to admit and disarm.

"What a place." Qin Chong said with a smile, "I'll rest here tonight." ”

"Okay." Lang Zongyu agreed, turned over and dismounted. I went to pick up some branches nearby and lit a fire.

Where they stayed, they were just a stone's throw from the entrance to the ravine. Even if there were archers hidden on the mountain, and there was no three-stone hard bow, they would not be able to shoot here. If you can't help but rush out, then you will fall into Qin's heavy arms and clean up this gang of bandits.

Actually, when they heard that there were bandits here, Qin Chong and the others were already ready. Because, twenty miles to get here, it was almost dark. If you don't want to take advantage of the darkness to cross Mao'er Mountain, there is only one way. Stay here overnight to lure out the bandits.

Qin Chong's baggage was accompanied by boiling water. Taking a little mountain spring water from the foot of the mountain, the two sat down leisurely. It's not like a pedestrian, but like a rich kid who comes here for a visit. If this posture can't attract bandits, it will be a strange thing.

The sky grew darker, and the glow of the fire grew brighter. Strangely, there is no movement on the mountain yet.

"Didn't they come out today?" Qin Zhong held his chin in his hand and said lazily.

"This kind of place, definitely look at it. When you see a fat sheep, you will only send a message to the nest. Lang Zongyu shook his head, and he was clear about this matter.

"yes." Qin Chongde admitted that the bandits must know the bandits best. "Then let's wait."

In fact, Qin Chong didn't know that they had already been targeted. Even, coming out of Shangyang Village, there have been people who have fallen far behind them. It's just that the person was obviously very careful, and Qin Chong and the two didn't notice it. When he arrived at Mao'er Mountain, the man copied another mountain road and went up the mountain.

And at this moment, halfway up the Mao'er Mountain, under the cover of weeds and shrubs, there are twenty or thirty people. They were all dressed in a mess, and the weapons in their hands were also varied. One of the strong men was the leader who met in Shangyang Village and intended to grab the horse.

It turned out that the three people who grabbed the horses were the bandits of Maoer Mountain. The leader is named Jin Chao, nicknamed the poisonous scorpion. was originally a soldier in Yanzhou, but because he offended Shangguan, he was forced to flee to Maoer Mountain and fell into the grass. Ruthless and notorious.

When I saw Qin Chong's white horse today, I was salivating when I boarded, and I immediately wanted to grab it. But seeing Lang Zongyu's majesty, he stopped thinking for a while. But how could he be willing to let go of such a god horse? To gather strength, you must grab it.

When it was confirmed that Qin Chong and the two of them were going west, Jin Chao could be said to be overjoyed. Because of Mao'er Mountain, that is the only way to go west.

In fact, as soon as Qin Chong and the others arrived at the mountain, Jin Chao had already found out. However, Qin Zhong sat down and didn't leave, which made him grit his teeth and curse. Waiting left and right, still not seeing Qin Zhong get up. I look like that, I'm going to rest in the mountain pass. This time, Jin Chao's patience ran out.

"Go down the hill and surround them." Jin Chao gave the order, picked up a machete, and rushed down the mountain first.

"Kill." Chaotic screams rang out from halfway up the mountain, all the way to the mountain pass.

Qin Zhong slowly stood up and moved one arm and leg. To be honest, he had been waiting impatiently. Maybe if there is no movement, he will slip into the ravine. Qin Zhong looked up the mountainside, and the light of the fire was crooked, like a fire snake that had been cut into countless pieces.

Suddenly, a sharp arrow struck through the air. With a "whoosh", it was inserted four or five feet away in front of Qin Chong's body. With this arrow, behind the low hill not far ahead, a sentry was killed, wearing all kinds of clothes, and there was actually a flag in his hand.

This group of people killed in front of them, but they did not come at Qin Chong, but hulala separated to both sides, surrounding Qin Chong and the others. "Hahaha." A burst of arrogant laughter came from the cold. With laughter, Jin Chao appeared in front of Qin Chong.

"It's you." Qin Chong also laughed, recognizing the person who grabbed the horse in Shangyang Village at a glance.