The Central Empire was coming fiercely. Although the Bandit Leader acted as a robber, he was a kind-hearted citizen. So, he doesn’t know how to deal with this.
Seeing Xiao Tianyao come back, the Bandit Leader felt like he was seeing a relative. After briefly telling what happened, he asked Xiao Tianyao: “Prince Xiao, what do you think we should do?”
This matter… was so messy that people didn’t know how to end it. If they knew it would be so troublesome, they wouldn’t kidnap that person. They would just throw him into the forest and let the young prince walk slowly and let the Central Empire slowly find him.
However, this seems a bit stupid!
The Bandit Leader didn’t say much, but Xiao Tianyao could guess his thoughts with just one glance. He immediately said loudly: “What are you afraid of? You have hostages on your hands. If the third prince comes to your door, then fight with them.”
The reaction of the Central Empire was within Xiao Tianyao’s expectations. He would be surprised if the Central Empire did not send troops and privately offered gold to redeem people.
The Imperial Family has the pride of the Imperial Family, and the Central Empire has the dignity of the Central Empire. If they compromise on everything and do everything according to the other party’s will, how can they still have the style of a big and powerful country?
This battle was inevitable!
However, it was not the Central Empire that had the final say on how to fight, but them!
“But we can’t defeat them. The Central Empire has one hundred thousand elite soldiers and one hundred black-armored guards.” They only have five martial gods, and they can’t even defeat Prince Xiao. They were no match for the Central Empire.
“Tie the seventh prince to the front of the formation, they won’t dare to move.” At this time, the competition was about who was bolder.
The third prince dared to make such arrogant remarks that the robbers would not harm the hostages for their safety and to obtain the ransom, because if something happened to the hostages, the bandits would have no way out.
The third prince dared to do this not because he didn’t care about the life or death of the young prince of the Central Empire, but because he cared about it, so he put on a fearless look to prevent the bandits from threatening him with hostages.
At this time, whoever will be timid will lose, and whoever shows he cares will lose.
“Prince Xiao, are you sure?” The Bandit Leader asked in disbelief.
“I am sure.” Perhaps in private, the third prince would not care about the life or death of the seventh prince, but in public, he did not have the courage yet.
“Okay, I believe you.” Anyway, there was no better way. It’s better to do it according to Prince Xiao’s method. If…they fail, they will die at worst. Anyway, the young prince of the Central Empire and Prince Xiao of the Eastern Country will be buried with them. What else do they have to fear?
At three o’clock in the afternoon, the Third Prince’s 100,000 elite soldiers followed and a hundred armored guards charged forward. They sailed towards the island in a warship. However, they were still hundreds of nautical miles away from the island when they encountered the bandit’s ship.
“Are you here to surrender?” The third prince stood on the bow of the boat. Seeing this scene, a flash of joy secretly flashed in his eyes.
“Surrender?” The Bandit Leader laughed loudly, pointed to the mast of the ship, and said arrogantly: “Your Highness, look who is on top?”
After saying this, they saw the mast rotating slowly. Everyone thought that there was a piece of cloth hanging on it, but after turning, they realized that it was a person hanging on it.
“Xiao Qi?” The third prince was shocked, with a flash of worry in his eyes.
“The third prince has good eyesight. I will give the third prince one more day to raise money. If you cannot get 100 taels of gold, I will cut off the seventh prince’s hands first, and then wait another day. If I still can’t get the gold, I will cut off the feet of the seventh prince. On the third day, if I still can’t get the gold, I will cut off the head of the seventh prince.” The Bandit Leader looked arrogant and didn’t take the third prince seriously at all.
“You dare!” The third prince was extremely angry, but the robbers had hostages in hand, and he did not dare to move even with a hundred thousand elite soldiers.
“We even dare to kidnap people, why would be afraid of killing people?” The robber leader glanced at the black-armored guard behind the third prince who was about to move and reminded him coldly: “Third prince if I were you, I wouldn’t move. After all, our lives are not valuable, but the life of the Seventh Prince is very valuable. If you make any move… you will kill the Seventh Prince.”
With the support of Xiao Tianyao, the Bandit Leader was very calm and did not take the threat of the third prince seriously at all.
The third prince would never dare to bear the reputation of forcing the seventh prince to death. As long as he grasps this matter, he can force the third prince to retreat.
Sure enough, after hearing the threatening words of the robbers, the third prince was very angry, but he didn’t dare to move. Instead, he said patiently: “100 taels of gold is too much. I can’t get it together at the moment, or give me 2 more days.”
“Hmph…” the bandit leader sneered: “If you had talked to me so nicely 3 days ago, I would have accepted it, but now? I’m sorry, everything is non-negotiable. If I can’t see gold before sunset tomorrow, I will cut off the Seventh Prince’s hands. Third Prince, remember, you only have 1 day, otherwise, I will not be responsible if the Seventh Prince is disabled or killed due to your mistake.”
“1 day is too short. I will give you 50 taels of gold first, and you release the Seventh Prince first. After 2 days, I will give you another 50 taels, and you will release Prince Xiao and Princess Xiao of the East.” The third prince can be said not shrewd, but he was also flexible and adaptable. Although his previous plan was to attack by force, when things changed, he did not mind changing his strategy at all.
However, he was smart, but the other party was not a fool: “Tomorrow, you will give me 50 taels of gold, and I will release the prince and princess of the East. 2 days later when I see the other half of the gold, I will release the seventh prince.”
Everyone understands that the only thing the Central Empire cares about is the seventh prince. As a vassal state of the Central Empire, although the East has always done what the Central Empire says if a prince dies in the Central Empire, will the East still dare to send people to cause trouble?
Even if the East sends people to cause trouble, the Central Empire will not take it seriously.
“No, let the seventh prince go first.” The third prince naturally refused to agree and said in a commanding tone. He forgot that the other party was a bandit leader and not a good citizen of the Central Empire, so how could he obey his orders?
“Third Prince, I’m not discussing with you, I’m telling you that you can only do as I say. If you can’t do it……it doesn’t matter, I will chop off the Seventh Prince’s hands and feet, and cut them off piece by piece, then send them to the Imperial Capital.” The Bandit Leader made it clear that he did not want to talk to the third prince, and after speaking, he ordered the sailors to turn around.
“Third Prince, that’s all. You must retreat immediately, otherwise don’t blame us for being rude.” As soon as the Bandit Leader finished speaking, the ship began to turn around and go back. But at this moment, the Third Prince suddenly ordered: “Shoot arrows and save people!”
Yes, although the third prince has been negotiating with the Bandit Leader, he never gave up his plan to attack and rescue people from the beginning to the end.
The Central Empire only prepared soldiers and horses for him, but not gold. The Central Empire’s attitude has become bold. They will never bow to the bandits and use money to redeem people…
Thanks for reading, likes, and comments. ^.^ No spoilers, please! Please support the author by reading the original version on their official site, or buying the book. ^.^