Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Space Supermarket

Chapter 581 - 512: Interception and Assassination

Before Su Jingchen could speak, a nearby villager shouted loudly, "The mountain has collapsed, this road surely can’t be used anymore. You should take a detour, or you might not make it to Yangzhou City today."

"How do you know we’re heading to Yangzhou City?" Su Jingchen suddenly looked at the villager who spoke.

The villager was a bit unnerved by Su Jingchen’s gaze, "I... I guessed!

Aren’t you heading to Yangzhou City?"

Su Jingchen jumped down from the carriage, "We are going to Yangzhou City, my friend. If we’re to take a detour, which road is closer?"

"I know the way, and I’m heading to Yangzhou City as well. You have a carriage, and I know the road. Why not give me a lift?"

Su Jingchen sized up the villager, noticing that as soon as he got off the carriage, the other villagers backed away a few steps, discussing the mountain’s sudden collapse from afar.

Su Jingchen, with keen ears, overheard the villagers’ quiet discussions, and felt suspicious of this villager who spoke so fearlessly.

"You know the roads? From which village nearby?" Su Jingchen asked.

"I’m from nearby East Flower Village, familiar with the roads to the left and right. Let’s get in the carriage? Give me a ride!" the villager said, starting to eye the Su Family convoy.

Su Jingchen smiled faintly, "There’s always someone who needs to handle a landslide. I see it’s not too serious; gather more people, and it’ll be cleared in more than an hour.

"How about this? I’ll do a good deed. You go back to the village and gather some villagers. I’ll pay thirty wen per person to clear the road. How does that sound?"

The villager offering to lead Su Jingchen was startled, confused by Su Jingchen’s intentions.

Ordinary people would certainly choose to detour when seeing the road blocked. Why does this Master Su do the opposite?

He had taken the Yangzhou Huai Salt Headquarters master’s money to lure Su Jingchen’s group to a secluded path to be killed. Clearing the road would ruin the plan!

It’s not suitable to make the move on the official road. "This... Master may not be local, so unfamiliar with the situation here. The mountain landslide can increase when cleared, possibly causing a large landslide and risking lives. Even for fifty wen, no one in our village would want to do such dangerous work!"

Su Jingchen looked at the villagers not far behind and turned to He Jian, saying, "Go ask if they’re willing to work?"

He Jian returned shortly, "They are willing. Those two men went back to their village to call more people. They said they’re from nearby West Mountain Village and will be back soon!"

"Alright, inform the convoy to rest in place." After instructing He Jian, Su Jingchen turned around, only to find that the villager’s figure had vanished.

He glanced at He Jian, who immediately drew his sword and pursued the escapee.

No matter who this person belongs to, they clearly harbor ill intentions. Having He Jian follow and observe would be wise.

The villagers from West Mountain Village soon arrived with iron shovels to clear the road, with almost every member from old to young joining in.

Su Jingchen walked to Yu Xiaolian’s carriage, instructing her not to get off, and advised Cao Gen to stay close to the carriage.

"Is there something suspicious about the guide?" Yu Xiaolian asked.

"He has calluses on his hands, clearly from wielding a knife often. Not like an ordinary villager," Su Jingchen replied.

Yu Xiaolian also noticed there was something off about the villager who offered to guide them. If he had waited for Su Jingchen to inquire about the detour before speaking, he might not have seemed so suspicious.

This man was too eager, too deliberate!

"Shouldn’t you get in the carriage too? What if someone fires a hidden arrow?"

"Don’t worry, they won’t dare to make a move on the official road!" Otherwise, they wouldn’t have considered the landslide idea.

Liang San, seeing Su Jingchen unwilling to fall for his trap, realized there must be something that aroused Su Jingchen’s suspicion. So, when Su Jingchen wasn’t paying attention, he sneaked away.

Running all the way to the ambush point on the detour, Liang San revealed his ferocity and cursed, "Damn it, that Su won’t detour, cunning as a fox!" He had tried in vain to deceive them.

"Old Three, what do we do? We’ve taken Master Cao’s money. We can’t leave the job unfinished!" They valued chivalrous conduct.

"If only we’d known this kid was so cunning, we should have blocked him before Fuming Mountain. Now he’s close to Yangzhou City, and we have no chance to strike. Should we return half to Master Cao?" Thinking of the money they might have to give back, Liang San was deeply pained.

Liang, the leader, spit out the grass he’s chewing and shook the large knife in his hand. "Once money is received, there’s no reason to return it.

How many people did Su bring?"

"Six carriages and two ox carts carrying goods. As for people, not sure of the exact number, but those in the carriages haven’t gotten off, and seem mostly old and young, few men!" From his years as a bandit, he deduced that the carriages mostly carried women and children. After all, adult men seldom ride carriages!

"Counting the men driving the carriages, plus those armed, only about twelve or thirteen people!" Liang San recalled carefully.

Liang, the leader, slung the large knife over his shoulder, "Let’s go to the other side of the mountain and wait for them!"

"Leader, ahead is East Mountain Town road junction. Once we move, government officers from the town will come to help. Will we manage?" Liang San was a bit worried.

Liang, the leader, spat on the ground contemptuously and scolded, "It’s just a scholar, why be afraid? I bet before the officers from the town hear of it, we’ll have his head down!"

Liang San frowned, considering the men with swords beside Su Jingchen, cautioning, "There seem to be some skilled fighters with Su, carrying swords!"

Liang, the leader, hesitated upon hearing this, but the thought of returning the money made him resolute, "No fear, we have many people. Old Four, Old Five, Old Six, you all should try to entangle those fighters. Old Three and I will grab the head of Su!"

Listening to all this from the shadows, He Jian sneered, these fools hadn’t even noticed he was tailing them, yet they plotted against their master. Truly absurd!

He Jian hurried back to Su Jingchen and told him everything he’d heard.

"They have over thirty people?" Su Jingchen asked.

"Yes, each with a large knife," plus they’re burly in stature.

In the past three years in Linzhou, due to Su Jingchen’s good governance, most of the people had lived unprecedentedly peaceful lives. As word spread, his prestige soared, with many skilled martial artists voluntarily joining the Su Mansion, becoming guards for the Su Family.

There were too many wanting to follow him, but Su Jingchen did not plan to take everyone on board. After careful selection, six were kept.

Wei Guang and Wei Xiong, the brothers, were among them. The other four were sent by Su Jingchen to escort Sun Manhong’s family to Yu State.

However, Wei Guang and Wei Xiong, the brothers, were highly skilled, even surpassing Su Jingchen and He Jian, capable of taking on ten at once.

Even with over thirty bandits, there wasn’t need for panic!