Chapter 27

"Last time we cleared out the bandits in Green Mountain Village... we left many warhorses and captured weapons there. Although Uncle Han is taking care of them, it’s not a good idea to leave them there. You take my military order, lead ten Black Armor Cavalrymen, and twenty logistics soldiers, and go to Green Mountain Village to retrieve the horses and weapons."

Han Tuo said to Su Peng.

Su Peng nodded, received the military order from Han Tuo, and went to the camp to gather the troops.

...

Three hours later, at Green Mountain Village.

Su Peng led ten Black Armor Cavalrymen and twenty logistics soldiers who were driving carts, and arrived at Green Mountain Village.

Since Su Peng joined the Black Water Army, Han Tuo had also recommended him for military merit. Because of his timely reporting of military intelligence and the added "bravery in battle" by Han Tuo, Su Peng had even become a squad leader, barely able to command a group of soldiers. The Black Armor Cavalrymen also knew he was Han Tuo’s man, and since Han Tuo would eventually be promoted to deputy commander, no one dared to make things difficult for him.

When they arrived at Green Mountain Village, it was almost noon. Su Peng chatted with Chief Han for a while, and the events of capturing the traitor a few days ago were still fresh in his mind.

While chatting with Chief Han, Su Peng suddenly thought of something. He said to Doctor Han, "Old Han, I wonder if anyone has occupied the carpenter Cao’s house in Green Mountain Village?"

"There isn’t, actually. There are already enough residences in Green Mountain Village, and Cao’s house isn’t particularly good. No one wants it. Besides, Cao’s intentions are unclear, and he has been hiding in Green Mountain Village for ten years. Who would dare to take his house?"

"I see..." Su Peng nodded and said to Doctor Han, "Old Han, although I have settled in Jiangning County, I still feel rooted here. Since no one wants it, I’ll pay in gold to buy Cao’s house. If I don’t do well in the future, I’ll have a place to stay when I return to Green Mountain Village."

"Hahaha... Brother Su, you are too polite. Since you have this intention, why do you need gold? That residence is just a matter of my word. Since Brother Su wants it, I will give it to you as a gift."

Doctor Han laughed heartily. Su Peng didn’t pretend, thanked Doctor Han, and the house was directly assigned to him without any land deed.

Su Peng looked at the sky. He had logged in at nine o’clock and was given this task by Han Tuo. The real time and game time were synchronized, so it was also noon in the game.

Su Peng called over a head of the Black Armor Cavalry and said, "Brother Wu, it’s already noon, and I’m sure everyone is hungry. How about this, I’ll treat everyone. Aunt Li’s food at the Green Mountain Village inn is very delicious. Let the brothers have a good meal."

"This... isn’t good, right? General Han wants us to return quickly..." the head named Wu hesitated, but he was also hungry, so his refusal wasn’t very firm.

"The emperor doesn’t send hungry soldiers. If there’s a problem, I’ll talk to General Han." Su Peng said to him. The soldier finally nodded. Su Peng was Han Tuo’s confidant, and this wasn’t an urgent military task, so no one wanted to work on an empty stomach.

"Then I’ll accept Brother Su’s kindness!" the head named Wu nodded and shouted, "Brothers, Su the squad leader is treating everyone to a meal!"

"Roar! Great!"

This was said, and the cavalrymen immediately cheered.

Soon, the soldiers gathered at Aunt Li’s house, which served as both a residence and an inn. The ten cavalrymen couldn’t all fit inside, so two large tables were set up outside for the logistics soldiers to eat.

"Brothers, today’s meal will have plenty of meat, but no alcohol. We still have military duties. If you need anything, find Aunt Li. I have some private matters to discuss with the village chief, so I’ll take my leave first." Su Peng stood up and shouted. The soldiers responded loudly. The Black Water Army’s treatment was good, with plenty of steamed buns, and meat only occasionally. Su Peng’s treat didn’t cost much silver, but it won him a lot of favor.

After apologizing at the banquet, Su Peng went to Cao the carpenter’s house alone.

The villagers in Green Mountain Village were simple and honest, and they didn’t lock their doors at night. Cao’s house was locked, but Su Peng didn’t enter. He just stood in the courtyard of Cao’s house, closing his eyes.

"Didn’t I tell you? To inform the people of Green Dragon Mountain to come and ambush nearby, watch for my signal, and attack the village at night. I will open the village gate at the right time and let them in! But why did Green Dragon Mountain’s Ling Tian and the others come during the day?!"

"How should I know? I’m just responsible for communication. Who knows what the people of Green Dragon Mountain were thinking? Also, is your information accurate? Is that thing really in Green Mountain Village?"

"I noticed some abnormalities, and it’s very likely in Green Mountain Village. I have already confirmed the person’s identity. We must attack Green Mountain Village tonight, or this person will escape. His true identity is..."

In Su Peng’s mind, he recalled the conversation he had accidentally overheard in Green Mountain Village. The voices and the environment were vivid in his memory.

"Now it’s clear... The traitor Xu Guohan was monitoring Cao the carpenter... The reason for monitoring Cao the carpenter is that his identity might be someone else... The reason for the disguise might be because of a certain 'thing.'"

Su Peng slowly recalled these clues, breaking them down and combining them.

"These are the known facts... The key point is, what is Cao the carpenter’s true identity? Is it something that can’t be exposed? If so, why did he hide in Green Mountain Village for ten years? To avoid trouble? Or to hide something... And what is that thing they mentioned?"

"Let’s start with that 'thing'... Is it big or small? What does it look like? Can it be divided? Is it treasure? Stolen goods? It definitely has value, but is it economic value or something else?"

Su Peng combined and deduced these clues in his mind. He first imagined that the thing was about the size of an iron box.

"If it’s that big, how did he bring it into Green Mountain Village? Sneaking in at night? No... Even if Cao the carpenter had martial arts skills, it would be risky... That thing can’t be that big."

Su Peng guessed and considered several possibilities, but he rejected each one.

"That thing can’t be too big, it’s more likely to be small. So where is it now? Was it taken away, or is it hidden in Green Mountain Village or somewhere else?"

After thinking through the clues, Su Peng rejected the idea that it was hidden somewhere. If that were the case, Cao the carpenter wouldn’t have needed to hide in Green Mountain Village for so long. If he was avoiding trouble, Green Mountain Village wasn’t very secluded, and there were many people coming and going. There were too many similar places, so there was no need to stay in Green Mountain Village for ten years. Moreover, Cao the carpenter likely changed his appearance, so there was no need to stay in a relatively remote place for so long.

"It must be related to the location... Either it’s something that only works near Green Mountain Village, or it’s related to an event." Su Peng thought.

"So, is that thing on him, or somewhere else?" Su Peng continued to deduce, putting himself in Cao the carpenter’s shoes.

"If I were Cao the carpenter, with such an important thing, I would either keep it with me or somewhere within sight. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully." Su Peng thought, but Cao the carpenter’s house had already been searched by the Black Water Army. The search was conducted by skilled soldiers, and even the carpenter’s tools were dismantled and examined, but nothing unusual was found.

Su Peng thought again and closed his eyes, recalling the few times he had interacted with Cao the carpenter.

The first time was when Cao the carpenter used a flying knife to kill a venomous snake and taught him the flying knife technique.

The second time was when he obtained a wooden doll and went to Cao the carpenter for advice, who told him he had learned some martial arts in Jiangning County...

The third time...

Su Peng closed his eyes and began to recall, not just simple impressions, but every detail of each interaction, as if watching a movie, clear to every detail.

Su Peng entered a profound state...

After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Su Peng suddenly opened his eyes and slowly turned his gaze. His eyes fell on...

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