Do you have the capability to do so?

Of course not!

If he had that capability, would he have been suppressed by those bandits for so many years?

So after trembling twice, Zhang Huanping quickly said, “Prince Rong, even if this lowly official must stake his life, I will certainly rescue Master Ji.”

“Enough. Just tell me the details about Gaoshan Stronghold in full. Don’t leave out a single thing.”

“Yes, yes, yes!”

Zhang Huanping then related the matters concerning Gaoshan Stronghold.

“Over these years, it’s not that this lowly official hasn’t tried to find ways to resolve this. I’ve also submitted memorials to the court multiple times. But as Your Highness knows, this is a strategic location. Having the court send people to suppress the bandits is truly impractical. The main issue is actually the layout of Gaoshan Stronghold—inside are mechanisms left behind by the former old stronghold chief. It’s difficult even to approach, and moreover, Gaoshan Stronghold is at the mountain peak. Attacking upward is extremely difficult. Prince Rong, it’s truly not that this lowly official is unwilling to handle it. If we provoke that gang of bandits, there’s no guarantee they won’t bring calamity upon the common people of Shanhuai County.”

His face was full of worry and distress!

Jingrong asked, “What kind of mechanisms are they?”

“There are all kinds. An arrow formation is set up below the mountain peak. If the switch is activated, it becomes a rain of arrows. We attacked once before but weren’t successful. The people we sent were nearly all shot down by that rain of arrows.”

“I see!”

Only now did Jingrong understand why there had been such dense and regular arrow rain in that forest.

So it was due to mechanisms!

Muruo walked over and waved at Zhang Huanping. “You may withdraw for now.”

“Then… what about Master Ji’s matter?”

“For now, organize your men and stand ready on standby.”

“Yes, yes, yes!”

Responding repeatedly, Zhang Huanping withdrew.

Only then did Muruo speak with Jingrong. “Zhang Huanping is ultimately just a county magistrate. With his capabilities alone, it’s indeed very difficult to restrain those bandits.”

Jingrong squinted at him. “Are you speaking on his behalf?”

“No! I just feel that after all, he’s knelt for so long. We can’t really remove his official cap, can we?”

Jingrong said, “Right now I’m in no mood to concern myself with his official cap. I need to know news of Yunshu.”

“But the stronghold is full of mechanisms,” Muruo reminded.

However, Jingrong endured the pain in his chest and said with firm resolve, “Even if I must force my way through, I will lead people to storm it.”

To this, Muruo had no words!

After all, Jingrong’s temperament was what it was.

Just at this moment, two figures appeared simultaneously at the doorway.

Looking up, it was actually Lang Bo and Shi Zijin.

The two quickly entered.

Lang Bo cupped his hands and reported, “Your Highness, there’s news.”

“Speak.”

The next moment, Lang Bo quickly produced the piece of cloth and the bell collar from his sleeve.

As he handed them over, he said, “These were sent out by Master Ji.”

Jingrong grabbed them immediately and unfolded the bloodstained cloth.

On it, two lines of characters were strikingly written in blood.

“Tiger’s den like drinking poison, auspicious time self-fulfilling.”

Eight characters, crooked and twisted.

After Jingrong read these eight characters, his worried heart relaxed slightly.

Lang Bo asked, “Your Highness, what do these two phrases from Master Ji mean?”

Lang Bo had also looked at them but didn’t understand!

Muruo also stuck his head over to take a look and frowned. He didn’t understand either.

“Is this a code between you two? The literal meaning is clear enough, but what exactly is Master Ji trying to say?”

“She had already guessed there were problems within the stronghold.”

“Hm?”

Jingrong gripped the cloth tightly in his palm and looked at Shi Zijin. “You’ve been following by her side all along. If something happened to her, you would have no reason not to rescue her. But she didn’t wait for you, which means she knew there were problems with the stronghold—that you couldn’t get in.” He paused, then continued in a low voice, “She doesn’t want us to enter the tiger’s den. She wants to save herself.”

“Save herself? Relying on Master Ji alone? That’s clearly impossible,” Lang Bo said.

Muruo picked up the thread. “Since she was able to send out the message, it naturally proves she’s fine. Perhaps she’s already thought of a solution.”

“No!” Jingrong ordered Lang Bo, “Right now no one can guarantee with certainty that Yunshu is fine. We also don’t know what the situation inside the stronghold is really like. This prince cannot simply do nothing. Lang Bo, immediately dispatch people, together with the county government’s men, to attack the stronghold at once.”

“But Your Highness, Gaoshan Stronghold is at the mountain peak with complex terrain, and it’s all mechanisms. Going like this would only be sending people to their deaths. Your Highness, we must have a foolproof strategy.”

“I don’t even know whether Yunshu is safe or not. Should I simply ignore it and ask nothing?”

“But…”

“Are you refusing to obey this prince’s orders?” Jingrong demanded.

Lang Bo lowered his head, not daring to say a single word of refusal.

Muruo, watching from the side, quickly intervened. “Jingrong, don’t be so impulsive. Since Master Ji said this, she naturally has thought of a solution. If you dispatch people to attack, you might disrupt her plans, and then things will spiral out of control. Moreover, do you want to watch innocent people march to their deaths? Even if you ultimately rescue Master Ji, do you think using so many lives to exchange for hers would leave her conscience at peace?”

Jingrong was both anxious and panicked. If they delayed any longer, no one knew what the consequences might be.

But Muruo’s words weren’t without reason!

Attacking the mountain—the outcome was uncertain!

If unsuccessful, countless lives would be traded.

If successful, would Ji Yunshu be at peace?

Seeing that his words were having an effect, Muruo continued, “You’re also injured now and couldn’t personally go to rescue her. You should calm down first. Finding a foolproof strategy is the key.”

Jingrong nodded slightly. His weakened body leaned against the bed as he furrowed his brow in contemplation, gradually calming down.

Muruo, Lang Bo, and Shi Zijin stood to the side on standby, staring at each other.

Suddenly—

Jingrong abruptly asked Lang Bo, “This prince remembers that six years ago, Marquis Kang raised an elite force of soldiers in the Jingzhou area. Is that correct?”

Lang Bo thought for a moment and nodded. “Yes. After Marquis Kang withdrew from the court, this military force has continued to be maintained.”

“Are they still in the Jingzhou territory?”

“Yes.”

“Jingzhou is not far from here. Ride at full speed to Jingzhou and borrow this military force from Marquis Kang.”

With the order given, Lang Bo showed some hesitation.

He cupped his hands and said, “Your Highness, in previous years Marquis Kang left the capital because of disagreements with His Majesty. Over these years, he has refused to serve the court. This time…”

This was difficult!

Everyone said Marquis Kang was a stubborn man. Just because he had a disagreement with Emperor Qizhen in court, he angrily removed his own official cap, casually threw it on the ground, turned around, and left.

The next day, he even moved his entire household to Jingzhou. From then on, he parted ways with the court.

Over these years, no matter what happened in the court, Marquis Kang simply ignored it, maintaining his own military force and living freely and at ease!