The diplomatic corps of various countries far away in Beijing didn't know that the Hanyang Consular Corps had already contacted the People's Party, the chief culprit behind the mounted bandits in Hebei. The mounted bandits hadn't come to the foot of Beijing city for a few days, but the destroyed telegraphs and isolated communications still couldn't be restored. During the Boxer Rebellion in the Gengzi year, it was Yuan Shikai who restored order in Shandong and Hebei. Now as soon as Yuan Shikai left Hebei, the situation immediately became like this. The response capability of the Manchu Qing government, which was terrible like a shrinking turtle, made the diplomatic corps thoroughly angry.

On November 21, 1908, the diplomatic corps in Beijing formally notified the Manchu Qing government, demanding the Manchu Qing government recall Yuan Shikai to eliminate the mounted bandits.

Zaifeng already showed signs of quitting completely, but the Imperial Clan members still gathered at Zaifeng's residence as usual to discuss countermeasures. The gatekeeper ran in and out like practicing shuttle runs.

"Prince Gong asks to see you outside the gate."

"Prince He asks to see you outside the gate."

"The 19th Beile asks to see you outside the gate."

"..."

These people didn't come to offer advice but to demand solutions from Zaifeng, or to inquire about news. Zaifeng simply had no solution. At this moment, his mind was chaotic; Zaifeng turned a deaf ear to whatever people around him said. This young man's spirit had collapsed under continuous heavy pressure. Sitting on the warm kang, Zaifeng inexplicably felt he was closing his eyes in the spring sunshine, the sun warming him, a tea bowl beside him, drinking a sip whenever he wanted. Just at this moment, a voice suddenly sounded in Zaifeng's mind, "...Absolutely must not let Yuan Shikai return to the capital..."

Then, someone shook Zaifeng's shoulder vigorously, dragging him forcefully from hallucination back to reality. Opening his eyes, it was his own brother Zaitao. Since Zaifeng came to power, his brothers Zaixun and Zaitao had been Zaifeng's right-hand men. Although these two were also embroidered pillows (good-looking but useless), in terms of action capability, they could be considered energetic.

"Ah?" Zaifeng responded muddle-headedly.

"Big Brother, Yuan Shikai always harbors evil intentions. With foreigners backing him this time, Yuan Shikai will definitely usurp the throne." Zaitao shouted loudly. Because of the running around and anxiety these days, Zaitao's eyes were as red as a rabbit's.

"Ah?" Zaifeng had heard this dozens or hundreds of times, so his numb brain didn't react at all.

"Big Brother, listen to me. This time when Yuan Shikai comes back, we will seize his military power immediately. I've already thought it out; let Liangbi and Tieliang take over the military power." Zaitao said with a firm expression.

"Ah?" Zaifeng still looked half-dead. Everyone knew Liangbi and Tieliang were capable Manchus. Zaifeng had actually summoned the two many times, hoping they could take over the Beiyang military power. Although the two guaranteed loyalty to the court, they both refused. Could it be that Zaitao had persuaded them?

Just wanting to ask, he heard Zaitao say: "Big Brother, say a word. If you think it's okay, I'll go see the two of them now. As long as we promise each of them an Iron-cap Prince title, they will agree."

These words were like cold water, instantly extinguishing the flash of hope in Zaifeng's heart. His brother's performance disappointed Zaifeng too much. At this point, they were still thinking about seizing power. When Cixi was around, she couldn't seize Yuan Shikai's control over the Beiyang Army. Now that Cixi was gone, what could Liangbi and Tieliang do?

Thinking of this, Zaifeng couldn't help recalling the result of visiting Zhang Zhidong yesterday. Zhang Zhidong obviously tried to distance himself from the Imperial Clan all along. Treating Regent Zaifeng, Zhang Zhidong was always lukewarm. He didn't delay official business, but that was all. Zaifeng also had heartfelt distrust for such a highly reputed minister. Although he seriously asked for the ministers' attitudes at several Grand Council meetings, he never sincerely asked Zhang Zhidong for advice. Half a month ago, Zhang Zhidong fell ill. Logically speaking, Zaifeng should have visited him, but with the situation like this, Zaifeng felt it was logical not to have time to visit Zhang Zhidong. How could a subject have time to complain that the lord didn't have time to visit?

It wasn't until Zaifeng searched everyone and couldn't find a solution to the problem that he had to visit personally to ask Zhang Zhidong for advice. Zhang Zhidong was very sick; the old man lay in bed unable to move. Zaifeng waived Zhang Zhidong's ceremony with a condescending attitude, and then sat beside Zhang Zhidong. There was a strange light in the old man's eyes; Zaifeng was actually startled when he first saw it.

"Lord Zhang, I came to see you." Zaifeng said.

Zhang Zhidong's throat moved, "Re... Regent, this old subject knows why you came. This old subject is dying soon; as the saying goes, a dying man's words are good. This old subject has a few words to say. I know the Regent wants to kill Yuan Shikai. Killing Yuan Shikai isn't hard; originally, as long as Prince Qing was willing to nod, it could be done. But in this situation, whether Prince Qing's words count is uncertain." Speaking to here, Zhang Zhidong was already gasping.

Zaifeng didn't understand what was going on at all, but at least these words already suited Zaifeng's wish.

Zhang Zhidong caught his breath before continuing: "Absolutely must not let Yuan Shikai return to the capital. Even if we recruit the Anhui rebels, we cannot let Yuan Shikai return to the capital. Yuan Shikai already knows the Regent wants to kill him. Even if the Regent doesn't have this thought anymore, for his own sake, Yuan Shikai won't believe you, Regent, anymore..."

Zhang Zhidong's voice became lower and lower. Zaifeng lowered his head wanting to hear more clearly, but saw Zhang Zhidong's head tilt, actually fainting. The family doctors beside him hurriedly came up to call for help, but the old man never woke up.

"Must not let Yuan Shikai return to the capital." This was the advice of the most experienced minister in the Qing court now. Prince Qing and Yuan Shikai wore one pair of pants. The two would absolutely not fall out at this critical juncture. Moreover, if the situation continued to deteriorate like this, the foreigners would absolutely not let it go.

"Big Brother, say something clear. What to do?" Zaitao continued to press beside him.

"What to do? Wait for other viceroys and princes' armies to enter the capital." Zaifeng replied. Besides continuously strictly ordering the Beiyang armies in Henan and Zhejiang to fight a decisive battle with the People's Party, Zaifeng had sent people to go outside the Pass (Manchuria) and to Shanxi and Shaanxi to mobilize local troops to come to save the Emperor. The Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army had been famous for being brave and skillful in battle since the early Qing. Even in the late Qing, this army could still be called skillful in battle. In the Tongzhi Hui Rebellion, the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army performed outstandingly. Since Yuan Shikai's Beiyang Army definitely couldn't be counted on, and the troops outside the Pass couldn't be counted on either, they could only rely on the military strength of the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army.

Zaifeng had actually cut off supplies to Yuan Shikai. He believed that in this situation, the court had to solve the mounted bandits no matter what. If the capital became an isolated city, with news unable to come in or go out, what was there to talk about.

"Wait for the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army to enter the capital to save the Emperor." Zaifeng said as if sleepwalking.

News always spread fast. "The Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army is coming to the capital to save the Emperor" soon became known to everyone in the capital. Anyway, after experiencing many defeats, having such seemingly reliable news, whether princes and nobles or officials and clerks, they finally had a bit of backbone. Following this, rumors of the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army being brave and skillful in battle spread in the capital. After various irresponsible processing, the combat capability of the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army was no less than that of the Beiyang New Army.

"Oh? The Manchu Qing still has such a combat-capable force?" Pang Zi laughed looking at the intelligence.

"Chairman Chen seemed to mention there is such a force in the Manchu Qing. Whether they can fight is hard to say, but they are quite loyal to the Manchu Qing." Chai Qingguo said while asking the staff officers to check if there was intelligence on this force in the materials.

"How many places has Chairman Chen actually traveled to? Always feel the affairs of the world can't escape his grasp." Pang Zi asked Chai Qingguo. Recalling when he was with Chen Ke, he couldn't see Chen Ke had such ability no matter what.

"Chairman Chen works with heart and knows how to arrange work. Unlike you, seeing nothing and not taking it to heart." Chai Qingguo laughed.

"Bullshit!" Pang Zi immediately became unhappy, "If I didn't use my heart, could I persuade so many people to send things here?"

Looting wasn't finished just by looting. Mounted bandits got the spoils; they had to turn these spoils into ready money. There weren't many channels for disposing of stolen goods; they could only find trustworthy people. The People's Party prepared beforehand. They didn't have much ready money, but they had plenty of quite valuable best-selling commodity "salt". In Pang Zi's hometown Nangong County, the People's Party set up a channel for disposing of stolen goods. As long as these heroes could transport things to Nangong County, the People's Party would give them salt. This salt was quite good, fine white and crystalline. The packaging was even better, gunny sacks on the outside, sturdy oil paper inside. Salt was scarce in the Taihang Mountain area. Taking this salt back, whether selling or exchanging for things, it was a big profit. This group of local heroes also recognized it.

The price of stolen goods wasn't high originally. The Base Area sent a few "black-hearted ghosts" to weigh, making the heroes complain endlessly. However, local heroes recognized fists. Seeing the hundreds of capable horse teams entrenched in Nangong County, the heroes thought they couldn't take advantage. Finally, they all accepted Great King Pang's exploitation with sad faces.

The military camps along the way from Nangong County to Shandong had long been kicked clean by Chai Qingguo. How could troops of Shandong hero origin let others rob them? Supplies were transported back batch by batch; the troop escort was very effective.

"Third Brother, who do you think is stronger compared to these Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard troops?" Chai Qingguo didn't want to deny Pang Zi's credit, but didn't want to entangle in these matters either. He brought up the content he cared about most.

"Haven't fought, don't know." Pang Zi also answered honestly, "Why, do you want to touch them?"

Chai Qingguo looked at the map and said: "Not just I want to. Our purpose coming out this time is to slap the Manchu Qing's face hard. Although this war is about to finish, we can't just run when the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army comes. That would be like we are afraid of them. I'm afraid the Military Commission won't do this either."

Pang Zi also leaned over to the map, "But this Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army coming to the capital, it doesn't look reliable no matter how you look at it. Look, even if they want to set off, they have to go here, here, here. Relying on two legs, when will they arrive in the capital?"

The journey from Shaanxi to Beijing was long, and these roads were particularly difficult to walk. If it were before when Pang Zi didn't know how to read maps, he might have been bluffed by such news. After learning to read maps, Pang Zi confirmed that many things were simply easier said than done. Let alone the difficulty of marching, eating and drinking along the way cost a large sum of money. Needless to say from Shaanxi to Beijing, just the mounted bandits of Taihang Mountains had to spend a large part of their income on buying grain for the journey home. This was based on the People's Party providing a large amount of dry provisions. Otherwise, even tossing clean the grain of the entire Nangong County wouldn't be enough for these people to eat.

"There is no smoke without fire. Since there is such a saying, maybe there really is such a thing? Or maybe they also sent cavalry to help?" Chai Qingguo still hoped to be more prudent.

"Then where do you think they will go? We don't have much military grain. Without the grain we grabbed from the Imperial Estates, we would have starved to death long ago. Everyone in the Base Area finally has food to eat this year; we can't dig grain out of the common people's mouths to send out, right?" The Base Area Pang Zi mentioned referred to the Shandong Yimeng Mountain Base Area. The People's Party managed to increase grain production by less than ten percent in more than a year. Plus reasonable distribution system, the people's life was much better than in previous years. But this was only one year; it was far from being able to support large-scale military operations' grain supply.

Chai Qingguo pondered for a while before making up his mind, "Wait a bit longer. Anyway, military grain is not easy to transport. I'm afraid it will be eaten up on the way back. Then we might as well eat it completely now and be done with it. The Military Commission's meaning is, we must smash the organized armed forces in Hebei. In case the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army really comes, we haven't completed the task."

"Since we must yield Hebei to Yuan Shikai, why do we care so much? Let the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army reach Hebei and annoy Yuan Shikai." Pang Zi said very unhappily.

Chai Qingguo and Pang Zi had a blood feud with Yuan Shikai's Beiyang Army. The Military Commission spent a lot of effort working on the two. Unexpectedly, the two accepted the organization's arrangement very easily. This wasn't because the two were broad-minded and didn't remember past grudges. It was because after working solidly in the Base Area, facing the realistic situation, they had to admit the fact that they couldn't persist in fighting in Hebei for a long time. Since the fact was so, the two could understand the Central Committee's arrangement. Where there is life, there is hope. Pang Zi and Chai Qingguo crawled out of piles of dead bodies; the Central Committee actually underestimated the two's perseverance.

"Yuan Shikai can't act against the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army openly; we still have to do it when the time comes." Chai Qingguo checked this map, "Third Brother, if it were you, how would you go?"

"I am unwilling to ride a horse on mountain roads. If all cavalry, going through Inner Mongolia is quite convenient." Pang Zi's finger drew a line on the map, "I haven't walked this place, but Mongols can walk it, cavalry can also walk it."

"Raising grain in Hebei is so difficult for us; we broke more than a dozen Imperial Estates to get this little grain. This is autumn, just after harvest. Going through Mongolia looks like a flat river, but there is no food on the road."

"Then is there food walking in the big mountains? There is no food on both sides of the road for hundreds of li."

"..."

After studying and arguing over the map for a good while, Pang Zi suddenly asked: "What if they go through Henan?"

Actually, this was the simplest route. Starting from Xi'an, exiting Tongguan, going through Sanmenxia, Luoyang, Hulaoguan, arriving at Zhengzhou, then going north along the railway line to enter the capital. Between Tongguan and Hulaoguan was mountainous; other areas were plains, convenient for marching. But this route had to pass through Yuan Shikai's current jurisdiction. For some reason, the two subconsciously avoided this route at first.

These two could ignore Yuan Shikai, but couldn't ignore facts. The Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army, holding vigorous loyalty, really took this road. On November 28, Yuan Shikai telegraphed Chen Ke that the Gansu-Shaanxi mixed force of three thousand Green Standard and New Army troops walked all the way to Zhengzhou. This military intelligence was immediately transmitted from the Anhui Base Area to the Shandong Base Area. Then from the Shandong Base Area to Chai Qingguo and the others here.

The news of the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army also reached Beijing at this time. Learning that reinforcements arrived, the morale of the capital, which was low to the extreme, recovered a lot immediately. The incomparably loyal, brave, and battle-skillful Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army was coming to the capital to save the Emperor. The Imperial Clan was already busy arranging reward official positions and formulating bandit suppression plans on paper.

Zaifeng didn't forget to send someone to inform the diplomatic corps of various countries about this, as a response to the diplomatic corps forcing the Qing court to recall Yuan Shikai.

By December 10, three thousand exhausted Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard troops were ambushed during the march more than a hundred li south of Beijing. Four thousand People's Party cavalry launched a surprise attack. The Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army was truly loyal; resistance continued to the end. Two thousand Green Standard troops all died in battle; one thousand New Army troops had three hundred left.

In this battle with no suspense but extraordinary tragedy, the Shandong Base Area cavalry suffered unprecedented losses. Four thousand cavalry suffered more than five hundred casualties. Chai Qingguo, overflowing with revenge, ordered people to take these remaining three hundred people to the foot of Beijing city, tied their hands behind their backs, stripped them leaving only jackets, tied the military flags, seals, and heads of a group of commanders of the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard and New Army around the necks of this group of captives, and released this group of bare-bottomed barefoot captives under the eyelids of the terrified Qing garrison troops in the cold wind of December.

No blow was crueler than directly extinguishing hope. Beijing had expectations for the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army far above their strength, and what they got in return was such a cruel ending. The Manchu Qing court from top to bottom, inside and outside the capital, completely lost rationality. The call for Yuan Shikai to return to the capital rose wave after wave. The foreign diplomatic corps demanded Zaifeng immediately recall Yuan Shikai to the capital with a tougher attitude. And some people in the capital plucked up their courage again to flee to Tianjin.

After this battle, the Manchu Qing could no longer see usable troops. Chai Qingguo took the troops south back to the Base Area. Before leaving, he said fiercely to Pang Zi: "Third Brother, teach this bunch a lesson ruthlessly."

Because of becoming somewhat arrogant after fighting Hebei Qing troops many times, he underestimated the combat will of the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army too much. Chai Qingguo adopted a group charge directly this time. Even attacked, the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army didn't panic; instead, they sent cavalry to counter-charge directly, delaying the impact of the People's Party cavalry. The infantry behind lined up to shoot. Fortunately, Chai Qingguo was experienced; the speculative method of attempting a large group surprise attack failed. He simply didn't make meaningless adjustments but continued to order the large group of men and horses to death-charge the Qing infantry array.

This command method wasn't wrong originally, but the troops had really never fought with such resolute and determined Qing troops. The Shandong troops saw what "fighting to the death without retreating" meant for the first time. The cavalry's grenades blew open a gap, and it really only blew open that gap. The Qing troops on both sides of the gap brandished rifles and met them to fight just like that. Those with bullets shot; after the single-shot rifles were fired, they used rifles to poke the horses rushing close. If they couldn't poke the warhorses, they used rifles as sticks to hit horse legs. The Qing troops using rifles were actually easier to deal with; the Qing troops using cold weapons in the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army caused great trouble for the troops.

Compared with the Shandong Base Area cavalry using sabers, the Gansu-Shaanxi cavalry training was even superior. Their weapons were a bit complicated compared to the Shandong cavalry using only sabers, but they were all fully trained. One-on-one combat didn't fall into the disadvantage at all.

If not for the inferiority in numbers, if not for the People's Party troops adopting the mode of grenades, rifles, and sabers Chen Ke copied from foreign countries. If not for the Gansu-Shaanxi Qing troops consuming considerable physical strength during the march. If not for Chai Qingguo's own combat experience of braving death allowing him to let a thousand troops dismount to fight in the dogfight. The casualties of the People's Party would definitely be more than five hundred.

The result of the summary meetings at all levels after the war, the unified conclusion was "No mistakes were made in combat command; the only problem was underestimating these Qing troops too much. When encountering tenacious resistance, the troops' emotions wavered for a time."

Although there was no problem with the command, Chai Qingguo was still full of disgust for himself. This disgust turned into resentment; he asked Pang Zi to teach the fleeing rich people of the capital a ruthless lesson.

"Are you preparing to leave these mounted bandits in Hebei?" Pang Zi asked.

Those experienced mounted bandits harvested abundantly in the first looting; it was truly "don't open for three years, open for three years (eat for three years)". The salt transported back was enough for them to enjoy for a while. The remaining mounted bandits now were small groups. Because of timidness and carelessness in the first looting. Either the harvest wasn't much, or they were blinded by profit preparing to stay in Hebei for a few more big ones.

Pang Zi couldn't behave too "disloyally"; he actually warned this bunch that there might be danger in the future. But the livelihood of mounted bandits was licking blood on the blade tip; danger wasn't scary. After Pang Zi fulfilled his loyalty, the mounted bandits not only weren't afraid but felt more necessary to make a good profit before this last opportunity ended.

Without answering Pang Zi's question with an obvious answer, Chai Qingguo sighed: "Third Brother, don't know what year and month we will enter Hebei again."

"How about following me into Beijing to chop a few Prince families again?" Pang Zi laughed. He had to stay here until Yuan Shikai's troops returned to Beijing; actually, these bandits were also a "gift" to Yuan Shikai.

Chai Qingguo knew what situation Pang Zi had to face. He said seriously: "That's not necessary. Third Brother, you have to be extra careful. If you feel things are wrong, come back quickly. In case you are really besieged, hurry up and surrender too. Keep your life, report our People's Party's banner; the Beiyang Army dares not do anything to you."

"Don't worry, before cutting off Yuan Shikai's head to sacrifice to Uncle Jing (Jing Tingbin) and Uncle Zhao (Zhao Sanduo), I won't die." Pang Zi laughed quite happily.

Miss Nalan Neruo sat in the carriage; the female relatives in the same carriage were already leaning on the carriage dozing off due to fatigue. Although the carriage bumped a bit much, Nalan Neruo secretly took out a copy of "This Life of Cixi" from her bosom and studied it carefully. This was a hand-copied copy, copying everything including the notice in front. As a descendant of the litterateur Nalan Rongruo (Nalan Xingde), the Nalan family felt they couldn't lose the glory of their ancestors. Although no such world-famous litterateur appeared again, the Nalan family naturally prided themselves on poetry and books. Miss Nalan received very good cultural education since childhood because of this tradition.

This "This Life of Cixi" was copied by the Nalan family. The Imperial Clan members were scared by this book; they searched and seized vigorously in the capital. The results were very good. Because this book was in vernacular, those who could read knew this book was a hot potato; either hand it over obediently, or burn it directly without leaving a trace. Because of the tradition of establishing the family with poetry and books, the Nalan family burned the original manuscript but couldn't help copying one. Miss Nalan was seventeen this year; seeing her father hide this book, her curiosity really rose. Taking the opportunity of fleeing from disaster, she stole this book to read privately.

Miss Nalan knew the author of this book was Chen Ke. Her family had a complete set of "Chinese Cultural Heritage and the Rise of Materialism". Regardless of understanding or not, Miss Nalan praised it very much after reading. Miss Nalan had really seen Chen Ke once; that was when Chen Ke held a grand banquet for his wedding; Miss Nalan attended the wedding with her family. That tall and handsome square-faced man was the standard appearance of a handsome man in the north. And facing the crowd, that smile which looked a bit immature but not bashful at all, Miss Nalan could still remember long after.

There weren't many ladies from noble families in the capital who understood Western piano. The young lady of the He family, He Qian, understood piano; she was an object of great envy for girls. Learning that Chen Ke was a piano master, Miss Nalan naturally looked at Chen Ke with even higher regard.

Wait until the literati Chen Ke, proficient in "articles and musical instruments", shook the capital and the world with the reputation of "Great Rebel". Miss Nalan didn't treat this young rebel scholar, only ten years older than herself, as a great enemy. On the contrary, such a character had irresistible charm in the girl's pink imagination.

What did Chen Ke look like charging and killing on the battlefield with a weapon? Or what did Chen Ke look like riding a snow-white big horse, standing under the army flag commanding operations? Regardless of what image, Miss Nalan could only put a set of Beiyang general uniform on Chen Ke based on the Beiyang Army she had seen, and always fantasized about standing beside Chen Ke in military attire herself.

The mounted bandits outside the capital raged, but no one in the capital connected these mounted bandits with the People's Party raging in Anhui. However, it must be explained that even if Miss Nalan Neruo knew this was Chen Ke's arrangement, she wouldn't have any bad feelings towards Chen Ke.

"This Life of Cixi" was in vernacular, but after repeated revisions by two great literati Feng Xu and Shen Zengzhi, the writing style was delicate and the words peaceful. Talking about world events and discussing the supreme ruler of the Manchu Qing, Empress Dowager Cixi, in a narrative mode, completely fitted Miss Nalan's imagination of Chen Ke. The admiration for Chen Ke not only didn't subside at all but was greatly fanned up.

Even the sharp continuous whistling sound from far to near sounded very pleasing to Miss Nalan Neruo's ears.

"Mounted bandits are here!" Following the screams, the carriage shook violently first, then stopped. Miss Nalan put the book into her bosom almost reflexively. And other female relatives had also woken up with a start.

The sharp whistling was closer; the crying and screaming around rang out more violently. With a burst of gunshots, these sounds stopped abruptly.

"Scream again and I'll kill people!" The voice like a wolf howl made the female relatives inside the vehicle cover their mouths with hands, not daring to utter a sound all their lives.

"Listen well! We know you are fleeing. There are no Manchu princes in this team. So we want money not lives. But whoever the fuck moves, I'll kill people."

The shouting scared everyone into not daring to move randomly. However, the cries and begging for mercy of men outside rose one after another. The female relatives' hearts pounded one by one. Nalan Neruo wanted to peek out from the crack of the shed board but was pressed down by her mother. "Head down, don't move." There was indescribable panic in her mother's low voice. The news that mounted bandits snatched the fujins and ge-ges of the princes' families spread throughout the capital. No woman was not afraid.

The convoy wasn't big; soon footsteps came close. "There are female relatives in here!" Someone said.

"Women? Women are good. Let the Grand Master (me) have a look." The person outside not only didn't mean to stop but became more excited. Following the sound of action outside, the door curtain of the female relatives was lifted violently.

The female relatives, including Nalan Neruo, all screamed. The mounted bandits not only didn't stop but dragged the female relatives out instead. Needless to say, the hairpins on the head and bracelets on the hands were stripped off first. Things inside the carriage were also dragged out in a mess.

"Hiding good things in the women's carriage, are you trying to bluff the Grand Master me?" The mounted bandit shouted abuse holding an opened jewelry bag. Not only cursing, the mounted bandit punched and kicked the men of the Nalan family.

"Don't hit my dad!" Nalan Neruo screamed and got up to bump into the mounted bandit. Before she achieved her goal, her arm was grabbed by another person. In a pause, Miss Nalan Neruo, who always covered her face, was seen clearly by the mounted bandit.

"This chick is quite pretty. Looks like a little fox." The mounted bandit laughed.

Appearance in these years took "silver basin big face" as beauty, that is, white skin and round face were best. Sharp face and high nose were called "fox-like appearance". Chen Ke's wife He Ying was this type. Sometimes when Miss Nalan Neruo faced the mirror, she was still very unconvinced in her heart. But that was when fantasizing about being with the gentle Chen Ke; being said so by a mounted bandit, Miss Nalan's confidence in her appearance turned into a huge sense of humiliation.

"Masters, money for you! The child is ignorant; don't lower yourselves to the child's level!" The head of the Nalan family still tried hard to protect his family.

At this time, the looting by the mounted bandits was basically finished. Miss Nalan heard the mounted bandit grabbing her laugh lewdly, "Child? I think this chick isn't small."

Ignoring Miss Nalan's own will, the mounted bandits suddenly punched her unconscious. Then, Miss Nalan knew nothing.