Chapter 34: Highway Robbery

The next day, Ning Ye departed from the manor with a dozen men in haste, leaving Hu Laosan behind to continue training the remaining troops and secure the estate.

Ning Ye had already investigated the Huang family. They were bona fide grain merchants; however, despite the remote location, their business was not with the Great Qian Empire, but with the Turkic tribes beyond the borders. Every month, in the middle of the month, a grain convoy from the Huang family would head toward the frontier to transport the grain and sell it to the Turks.

Under normal circumstances, such an operation would carry immense risk. Yet, because this region was so desolate and Wang Mingyuan couldn't be bothered with such trivial matters, the Huang family had found an opportunity. Previously, there had been no oversight, but now things were different. Colluding with foreign tribes was a serious offense; even if brought into the light, Ning Ye would be standing on firm ground. Furthermore, the Huang family would have to swallow this loss in silence, unable to seek help from anyone.

The route taken by the Huang family's convoy was known to be infested with bandits, but they had long since greased the palms of the local factions, so they rarely encountered any major trouble. Today, however, the leader of the convoy felt an inexplicable sense of unease, though he could not pinpoint the cause.

Huang Zhenjiang called his attendant over. "Pass the word down to everyone to be on high alert. I have a bad feeling today; something might go wrong."

The attendant was slightly taken aback. "Master, have you not been sleeping well? We are already halfway through our journey; it is unlikely that anything would go wrong now."

Huang Zhenjiang frowned and snapped, "Just do as you are told. Stop with the useless chatter. I tell you, this grain transport is a major matter. If something goes wrong, it might provoke the dissatisfaction of the Turks. Can you bear the consequences?"

The attendant shrank back, well aware that those Turks were the type to devour a man without leaving a bone. He hurriedly relayed the order to the rest of the crew, and the entire convoy grew tense. Yet, this convoy of dozens of large carts was guarded by fewer than a hundred men. Relying on such a small force to defend the shipment showed just how arrogant the Huang family had become in this region—they simply did not believe anyone would have the audacity to rob them.

That arrogance would ultimately cost them. At this very moment, Ning Ye was maneuvering through the nearby woods with his men, and in the distance, the dust stirred up by the approaching convoy could already be seen.

They had ridden hard, changing horses frequently, and after three days of relentless travel, Ning Ye finally arrived ahead of the convoy. Holding a telescope, he observed the situation from afar. He was determined to seize this shipment; they could not be allowed to transport the grain out, or else the Huang family would not suffer the blow he intended.

Nearby, Wang Wu stared at the telescope in Ning Ye's hands with eyes burning with envy. "Sir, where did you get such a fine instrument? With this, marching and fighting would be much easier."

Ning Ye smiled slightly. "You like it?"

Wang Wu nodded. "Of course. Such a tool is incredibly useful at times, as I am sure you are well aware, sir."

"If you like it, you can have it when we return, but you will have to forgo your salary for the next few months."

"Sir, even if I go without pay for a year, I still want it."

"Rest assured, I never go back on my word. As long as you handle this matter perfectly, it is yours."

Wang Wu said excitedly, "Just watch me, sir. They are nothing but soft-footed weaklings; they aren't even worth mentioning."

The dozen men behind them were equally excited. They had come to understand Ning Ye’s temperament: whenever there was an opportunity like this, the subsequent rewards were always generous. Although they were already living well, they felt like freeloaders if they did nothing; no one with a shred of self-respect could feel at ease with that.

Ning Ye shifted the topic. "After we return, you must tell me in detail about the matter concerning Mr. Zhang. If he is truly being coerced, we may have more work to do."

Wang Wu’s expression turned serious. His investigation had confirmed that the young woman in question did not want to marry; rather, a scion of a prominent family in Jiangyang City had set his sights on her. He was forcing the girl to break ties with Zhang Zihe, threatening to harm Zhang Zihe if she refused. Fortunately, the girl had a strong spirit; she had confined herself to a small building, threatening to jump from the balcony should anyone approach her.

Once, she had even leaned half her body over the railing, proving her threats were not empty. However, this was merely a delaying tactic. It was impossible to keep these predatory men at bay forever; it was only a matter of time. Ning Ye had originally intended to resolve that matter first, but the Huang family situation could not wait, so he had to prioritize them.

As the convoy drew closer, the rumbling of the wheels could be heard. It was an imposing sight, but to Ning Ye, the defense was laughably lax. He leapt onto his horse, and he and Wang Wu blocked the middle of the road.

When the convoy reached them, the man in the lead shouted, "Are you blind? Do you know whose convoy this is? How dare you block the path! Get out of the way, now!"

Ning Ye snatched a long spear from his horse and threw it at the man. It whistled past the man's ear and embedded itself into the ground, the shaft vibrating violently, a testament to the immense force behind the throw. The man who had shouted was drenched in cold sweat, trembling uncontrollably.

The massive convoy ground to a halt. Seeing the commotion, Huang Zhenjiang rode to the front. Upon seeing only two men, his face filled with disdain. "Where did you two petty thieves come from? Daring to block the road here—you must be tired of living."

Ning Ye and Wang Wu wore black masks, but their tone was incredibly arrogant. "I'm in a good mood today. Leave the goods on these carts and I will spare your lives. Otherwise, none of you will make it out alive."