Chapter 248: Heavy Losses

Chapter 248: Heavy Losses

Finally, a fat prize had come, and it arrived right at the critical moment when Magistrate Song Yunzhi was spreading the rumor that Lei Biao was a "rusty cleaver" everywhere!

Lei Biao was seething; he just couldn't stomach this humiliation.

He had to pull off this heist, and he had to do it brilliantly!

Let everyone in Yingzhou know that he, the Mountain-Cleaving Axe Lei Biao, was not to be trifled with, and that he was the real boss on this turf.

Driven by fury and greedy desire, Lei Biao rallied nearly seven out of ten men in the stronghold.

Swords glinted, men and horses bustled—there would be no room for error; he would swallow this fat chunk whole.

Second Chief White Brow watched the formation, his brow furrowed, sensing something was off.

The merchant convoy arrived too conveniently, and the magistrate's provocation seemed too deliberate.

He went to Lei Biao, who was itching for action, and advised in a low voice, "Big brother, this might be a trap.

Song Yunzhi just made his threats, and now a fat prize shows up? That's too much of a coincidence.

I'm afraid it's a ruse to lure us away. We should be cautious and leave more brothers to guard the stronghold, just in case."

Lei Biao was in high spirits, and this cold water dampened his mood, but White Brow was the camp's strategist, so he couldn't completely ignore him.

He growled, "Second brother, you overthink things. That Song is just a blabbering fool.

Our Axe Handle Ridge is steep and easy to defend but hard to attack. Even if the King of Heaven himself came, he'd have to shed a layer of skin.

Besides, if he were up to something, wouldn't that Liu guy have tipped us off?"

Although White Brow found his reasoning somewhat sound, he still felt something was off.

In the end, seeing Lei Biao's insistence, he took part of his advice.

The manpower was reduced from seventy percent to half, with the other half left under White Brow's command to guard the stronghold.

Still, Lei Biao wasn't worried. The Axe Handle Ridge merchant route had many narrow passes and gorges; if they ambushed in one of those sections, no fat prize, no matter how big, would escape.

"Second brother, the stronghold's in your hands. Once I grab that batch of furs, I'll get you a big cloak made!"

With that, Lei Biao waved his hand and led a dark mass of bandits, shouting as they set out.

Just as the group reached the stronghold's gate, a figure was struggling to mount a saddled horse.

The man moved clumsily, his leg seemingly still weak. It was none other than Fourth Chief Cheng Ge, who should have been "resting" in his room.

Lei Biao's thick brows shot up as he bellowed, "Fourth brother! What the hell are you doing?! Get your ass back inside at once!

Your leg injury just healed a bit—are you trying to visit the gates of hell again?"

Cheng Ge turned his head, forcing a pale and stubborn smile, his breath unsteady.

"Big brother... I, I'm coming with you. The more hands, the more strength. I... I can protect you, big brother."

Lei Biao looked at him, barely able to climb onto the horse, and heard him talk about protecting his big brother. He was both furious and, strangely, a little touched.

He put on a stern face but his tone softened involuntarily: "Protect my ass! The best way you can help is to stay put in the stronghold! Get back and lie down!"

Without waiting for Cheng Ge to argue further, he directly ordered two minor leaders.

"You two, take the fourth chief back to his room and make sure he doesn't sneak out!"

Cheng Ge was half-convinced, half-carried off the horse. He looked at Lei Biao, but seeing the latter unmoved, he turned to Xiong Meng and called out, "Third brother..."

Xiong Meng's heart softened at the sight. He wanted to say something, but seeing Cheng Ge's battered body, he shut his mouth. Going along would only cause trouble.

Cheng Ge's eyes were full of reluctance, eventually turning into a helpless sigh as he let the two men support him back.

Lei Biao and Xiong Meng led the main force, galloping along the treacherous mountain path toward the predetermined ambush spot.

But back in the attic, Cheng Ge's face no longer showed a trace of reluctance or weakness.

He quickly walked to the window, watching the dust kicked up along the winding mountain road below, his gaze was terrifyingly calm.

The path on Axe Handle Ridge was dead silent, only the wind whistling through dry branches.

Lei Biao and his men lay in ambush among the rocks and dead grass on both sides of the narrow gorge, barely breathing.

Finally, the rumbling of wheels and the clatter of hooves sounded in the distance.

A long merchant convoy slowly came into sight, several cargo wagons leading the way.

Behind them came more wagons, covered with thick tarps.

Flanking the convoy were many escorts, all with swords sheathed at their waists, their eyes scanning the treacherous terrain alertly.

Lei Biao fixed his hawk-like gaze on the convoy, calculating the distance.

Seeing that most of the enemy had entered the bottleneck gorge, he suddenly stood up and let out a thunderous roar: "Brothers! Kill every last one of them! Leave no survivors!"

In an instant, the bandits in ambush surged from both sides, their war cries shaking the valley as they charged toward the convoy!

However, the convoy's guards did not panic or scatter as expected.

Though a flicker of expected tension crossed their faces, the escorts did not flee.

Lei Biao's heart sank heavily; he knew something was terribly wrong. These men didn't react like ordinary escort guards.

But there was no turning back now. Besides, his side had the numerical advantage. He roared and brandished his mountain-cleaving axe, charging into the enemy formation first.

Seeing their chief so ferocious, the bandits howled and followed suit.

Third Chief Xiong Meng, like a crazed black bear, wielded his ghost-head saber, his roar like thunder: "Bastards! Taste Uncle Bear's blade!"

He led the charge, and the scent of blood filled the air wherever his blade passed.

The two sides clashed, and the valley filled with the ring of steel and screams.

The battle was brutal. These escorts fought tooth and nail, tougher than any regular troops.

Just as the fight was deadlocked and Lei Biao thought he could still grind them down with superior numbers, everything changed.

Suddenly, war drums and horns blared from both ends of the gorge.

Then, two columns of brightly armored soldiers surged in from front and back, outnumbering the bandits at least two to one.

Gleaming blades and the banners of government troops instantly choked off the narrow mountain path, leaving no way out!

“We’ve been tricked! It’s a trap!” Lei Biao’s eyes blazed with fury as the realization hit him.

“Big brother! Run!” Xiong Meng roared in anguish, throwing himself in front of Lei Biao and desperately swinging his blade to deflect the incoming arrows.

But there were too many soldiers; an arrow thudded into his thigh.

Xiong Meng stumbled and fell to one knee. Before he could rise, four or five spears plunged deep into his chest from different directions.

“Third brother!!!” Lei Biao watched helplessly as Xiong Meng’s massive body was impaled by several spears, blood gushing like a fountain.