Zhao Zhong, Feng Rufeng and the black-robed man "Heishui" heard the rumors about the ancient ruins from the businessmen, and the three of them were all excited.
Since many businessmen in this desert have said that they have heard this rumor, it seems that this ancient ruins are almost inseparable in this desert oasis.
It's just that the oasis is occupied by sand bandits, so it's very difficult to explore there.
Ye Fan just listened, but remained silent and did not interrupt.
He traveled around various places under the guise of "the son of a noble family in Xiayang County", so it was not convenient for him to ask too many questions.
"There are three to four hundred people in this group of sand bandits. They have built a stronghold in the canyon. The stronghold is built on the mountain. The terrain is difficult and easy to defend but difficult to attack."
"The city lord of Xiayang City, the nearest city here, once sent troops and horses to encircle and suppress the sand bandits in the desert. However, if they sent too few people, they could not defeat them. If more people were sent, they would flee to the depths of the desert to hide. The response was repeated over and over again. Again, the bandits in the great desert always reappear. In the end, we can only let them go, which only hurts us businessmen!"
"Since there were three more Wu Zun leaders, this group of sand bandits has become more and more powerful, directly occupying the canyon and oasis and becoming king. No matter who passes here, they must pay tolls."
The wealthy merchants gathered in front of a large bonfire to barbecue and drink, and loudly cursed the bandits. After eating and drinking, they dispersed after the night was late and went back to their tents to rest and prepare to continue their journey tomorrow.
...
Late at night.
In the camp of Ye Fan and others, Ye Fan and the three women discussed exploring the ancient underground palace.
"Do you think this rumored ancient ruin in the desert could be the ancient underground palace we are looking for?"
"Nine times out of ten, it is! On the adventurer map in our hands, it is recorded that this ancient underground palace is near a canyon in the desert. As expected, it is in the canyon oasis."
"It's just that our adventurer's map is the underground palace map that President Wang of the Donglai County Adventure Guild obtained from a ghost clan warrior fifty or sixty years ago. It has been so many years, and this place I'm afraid the situation has changed a lot. We don't understand the situation here either."
"Then what should we do next? There is an extra bandit here!"
Cao Youwen is in trouble.
Qin Yuer's sense of justice was overwhelming, and she immediately said: "Of course we have to go in! This kind of sand bandit is entrenched in one area, does many evil things, and deserves to die! We are just in time to eliminate harm to the people of Xiayang County!"
Mu Bing thought for a while and said: "In addition to the bandit leader who is on the fifth level of the Martial Master Realm, there are also two subordinates in the Sand Bandit Village who are at the Martial Master Realm, which is a bit tricky. I'm afraid it will be difficult for the four of us to deal with them. We Do you want to ask Zhao Zhong and the other three for help?"
Mu Bing has never seen Ye Fan really attack with all his strength. According to her estimation, Ye Fan's strength is equivalent to the fourth level of an ordinary martial arts master.
But the leader of the sand bandits is at the fifth level of the Martial Lord Realm, and his cultivation level is one level higher than Ye Fan. However, she and Qin Yu'er were at the first level of the Martial Master Stage, so they were obviously weak.
Calculating this, they are only about the same strength as the bandits.
If you fight like this, you will easily suffer losses. It takes more people to have a chance of winning.
"No! We don't need to ask them for help! We are traveling in Xiayang County in the name of 'traveling around'. It doesn't matter whether we fight in the sand village or not. But the three of Zhao and Zhong came here for this ancient ruins. Where? I'm willing to leave empty-handed!"
Ye Fan smiled and shook his head, and said confidently: "The three of them are no match for these bandits, and they will definitely ask for help from us! We just go with the flow and act according to the situation."
...
After leaving the Gobi springs and streams, another six or seven days passed.
This cavalry team of more than 2,000 people saw a large canyon in front of them from a distance. This invigorated everyone, and it would be great if they could enter the oasis in the canyon for a rest.
But can't get in.
At the entrance of the canyon, there stands a tall wooden walled village. The wooden wall several miles long completely blocks the entrance.
On the wooden wall of the village, there are a large number of sand bandits watching and guarding the canyon.
No horse team is allowed to enter the canyon to rest, and can only go around one side of the Grand Canyon. Of course, if you want to be spared, you have to pay a toll, otherwise the bandits will rush out and loot the cavalry.
Zhao Zhong and the other three saw the Grand Canyon right in front of them, but they were occupied by the bandits and could not enter at all, so they could only leave helplessly.
Although I don't know if there are ancient ruins in this canyon, or if I can find good things in those ancient ruins. However, they couldn't get in, which obviously disappointed them.
As expected, Zhao Zhong and the other two couldn't keep their composure and asked Ye Fan to discuss helping them break through Shazhaizi. Of course, the benefits of breaking through the sand village must be shared by everyone.
This is what Ye Fan has been waiting for.
The two sides have agreed that after taking over this sand village, the benefits will be divided into 60% and 40%. Ye Fan's side accounts for six, and Zhao Zhong's side accounts for four. Neither side suffered a loss.
As for the ancient ruins of the mysterious island, whoever has the ability to find the treasure will get it, and no one needs to take advantage of others.
After negotiating the benefits.
Ye Fan also invited Zhou Jushang and discussed with Zhao Zhong and the other three to take down this sand bandit village together.
"This group of sand bandits is entrenched and guarding this canyon. They will definitely not let us enter the canyon to search for ancient ruins! The only solution for now is to destroy them!"
"And by wiping out these bandits, caravans no longer need to pay large tolls when passing through here. Are you willing to be exploited by these bandits every time you go on a business trip?"
Ye Fan smiled and encouraged Zhou Jushang to do it together. Zhou Jushang has a group of warrior guards under him, which is perfect for dealing with ordinary sand bandits.
Zhou Jushang was shocked by their boldness. He had never dared to deal with the bandits.
However, there are seven martial masters on both sides of Ye Fan and Zhao Zhong. Only they have the courage to compete with the bandits.
Zhou Jushang was more worried: "What are the chances of winning? If I fail, I won't be able to do business here in the future. The bandits will definitely take revenge on me!"
"We have seven Martial Lords here, enough to deal with the three Martial Lords and bandit leaders. You also have two Martial Lords under your command. Although they are a little timid and incompetent, they can lead hundreds of warriors and bodyguards to kill others. Little bandit. The chance of winning is at least 90%. If you can capture this bandit stronghold, the gold, silver, jewelry and other goods confiscated in the stronghold will be enough to make up for the losses of your caravan. Not to mention the long-term benefits. Save you a lot of tolls!"
"Okay, done!"
Zhou Jushang was finally persuaded and made up his mind. He has some confidence in the seven martial arts masters Ye Fan and Zhao Zhong. They can easily kill the porcupine beast master together, which is enough to prove their strength.
And once such a good thing is missed, he will not be able to invite so many martial masters to deal with the sand bandits here in the future.
Ye Fan, Zhao Zhong and Zhou Jushang secretly discussed for a long time and decided on the entire means and steps for attacking the mountain stronghold.
For the sake of confidentiality, only a few confidants of the martial masters and Zhou Jushang knew.
Zhao Zhong and Zhou Jushang were secretly shocked after hearing Ye Fan's technique of breaking through the cottage.
...
This cavalry team of more than 2,000 people stopped about five or six miles away from the Grand Canyon Village.
Ye Fan sat in the luxury carriage and looked towards the cottage.
The mountain stronghold is built on the mountain, and the terrain is really dangerous. It is not easy to attack it. A large number of bandits gathered in the village. They stood high above the ground and fired random shots and arrows. Even Wu Zun would feel a headache.
If we attack them forcefully, we will definitely suffer a lot of casualties.
Later, Zhou Jushang sent an alert wealthy businessman to the front of Muzhai with several grooms carrying several boxes of gold and silver jewelry.
When they arrived near Muzhai, they shouted loudly, "Is the owner of the village here? A low-class businessman was passing by here. I specially offered a sum of money as a tribute to the village owner and the brothers to drink tea!"
Soon, all the bandits on Muzhai started laughing, and a cavalry team came to give them money. The face of a thin, pointed-mouthed bandit leader soon emerged.
"Master of the Third Village! I'm here to give you some filial piety money!"
The wealthy businessman recognized the bandit leader, who was the three leaders of this group of bandits known as "Lynx", and immediately shouted loudly.
"Well! Okay, that's enough, you can go over!"
The third leader of the bandits looked at the boxes of gold and silver jewelry and estimated that there were tens of thousands of taels of silver. He couldn't help but grin and nodded with satisfaction.
He then looked at the cavalry in the distance, and suddenly his eyes widened.
In front of the cavalry, I saw a stunning woman in green riding a bright red horse, looking calmly. He had never seen that rich lady's luxurious temperament, long legs and thin waist, and graceful and touching beauty.
"Who is that woman?"
The three leaders of the sand bandits swallowed their saliva, looked shocked, and asked.
"That is a young lady from a wealthy family in Xia Yang City. She is the second wife of our team leader. This time she is planning to go back to her parents' home to visit relatives! Since the third village master is satisfied with these belongings, the younger one has resigned!"
The wealthy businessman said quickly. After saying that, he took a few grooms and put down a few gold and silver boxes in the village. He patted the horses and turned around and left in a hurry.
The entire cavalry also walked slowly, preparing to take a detour and pass through the Grand Canyon.
The third bandit leader on the wooden wall suddenly became anxious. He stared at the beautiful woman in green, and his heart felt like a burning desire, which made his bones itch.
In this desert village, a remote place in the mountains, some of the women who were snatched back from the village were of mediocre appearance. Where are the beauties with such beauty who can compare with the young ladies from wealthy families?
But the cavalry team paid the Shanzhai a large amount of filial money according to the rules. According to the rules and morality, they can't embarrass the cavalry team anymore.
If he wants this horse team businessman to offer his wife, he will definitely be rejected verbally, and he will have to use force to get it.
This cavalry team is about to leave, and they must make up their minds immediately.
"No matter what, being a bandit is just for robbing money and sex. What's moral and moral? We'll talk about it after we get it!"
The three leaders of the Sand Village were filled with excitement and immediately shouted to the surrounding Sand Bandits, "Brothers, rush out with me and grab a beautiful girl to come back to be my wife!"
"Oh, look, there is indeed a beautiful woman!"
"Come on! Follow the third master to steal the woman!"
The door to the cottage was quickly opened.
The three leaders of the "Lynx" bandits roared excitedly and rushed out of the sand village with hundreds of cavalry armed with iron guns. They rushed toward the large cavalry four or five miles away.
The merchants and warriors in the entire cavalry were suddenly panicked.
Ye Fan, Zhao Zhong, Zhou Jushang and others were prepared to lure the enemy and attack this stronghold. They were not disclosed to them, but they were just told to be more vigilant.
Firstly, it is easy for people to leak the secret if they know it. Secondly, they, the small traders and warrior guards, may not be willing to risk their lives to fight against the bandits.
Only by tempting the sand bandits to attack, the more than 2,000 people in the cavalry team will unite and fight back desperately.
I only heard a few of Zhou Jushang's trusted wealthy businessmen shouting loudly in the crowd, while quickly directing the crowd, "Quick, the bandits are attacking regardless of morality. Brothers, fight against the bandits with all your strength! Fight them!"
"Here, form a sharp knife array!"
"Damn sand bandits! I gave them money to buy the road, but they are still greedy to attack. Brothers, fight with them!"
More than three hundred warrior guards hurriedly drew their swords and formed a war horse formation, preparing to resist the sudden attack of this bandit. Otherwise, if the bandits break up the team, they will all die.
As for Ye Fan, Mu Bing, Cao Youwen, Zhao Zhong's group of three, and Zhou Jushang in the team. The two Wu Zun guards and others were not in a hurry at all.
This situation had been expected by them.
Standing in front of the cavalry, it was Qin Yuer who lured the enemy.
"Sure enough, we fell into the trap and lured the masters of the three strongholds out! If we kill this wave, we can defeat at least one-third of the bandits' strength. It will be much easier to find a way to attack the stronghold."
Among the cavalry, Zhou Jushang clapped his hands and laughed, applauding Ye Fan's strategy.
After the cavalry team was shamelessly attacked by the sand bandits, their morale will definitely increase if they later attack the stronghold.
Ye Fan just smiled lightly.
This kind of little plan is nothing, it's just that the three leaders of the bandits are too impatient. If they can't be lured out, they can only fight back tonight and sneak attack the stronghold at night.
With their strength, they will definitely be able to break through this stronghold. This is the least expensive one.
Cao Youwen, who was next to Ye Fan, also laughed and said, "Sister Yu'er's beauty can't even be resisted by the bandit leader! She lured out a big fish in one go! There are still two bandit leaders Wu Zun left, who are easy to deal with. too much!"