America 1881: Legend of the West

On a high ground not far from the camp, two people were lying down and observing what was going on in the valley below. It was getting dark, and bonfires had been lit in the camp. The soldiers were sitting around the bonfires in twos and threes, and they were complaining about the valley. Terrible weather, troublesome beasts, and watery moonshine.

Then their seniors told them that it was good to drink moonshine mixed with water, and they were lucky if they didn't drink it to death.

There were several carriages parked in the northwest corner of the camp, and some wooden boxes were stacked next to them with a cloth-covered roof that looked like ammunition or something.

"Boss, I have a question, why can't we just run?" Sean probably felt that his kneeling legs were a little numb, and he wanted to stretch out a little, but his head was held down by a hand next to him.

"Don't put your head higher than that stone." Chen Jianqiu stared at the camp below and answered the black man's question absently.

"You're here now."

Sean disapproved of this extremely perfunctory answer. This was obviously not Chen Jianqiu's true thoughts, but he really didn't think that just three people on his side and a few broken guns could avenge Feiniao's tribe.

Chen Jianqiu stared down intently, but his mind was racing: How could we lift Edward out alone?

His eyes turned to the camp again.

"Boss! Look! Over there!" Sean suddenly whispered.

Chen Jianqiu looked in the direction Xiao En pointed.

Two soldiers approached an iron cage in the camp. In the corner of the iron cage were two Indian women. Noticing someone approaching the cage, the older Indian woman hugged the frightened Indian woman and stared at the two soldiers like a she-wolf.

A soldier got into the cage and reached out to pull the woman. The woman tried her best to hide in the corner, but the soldier simply grabbed the woman's black hair and dragged her out.

Suddenly there was a scream of "Ah", and the Indian woman suddenly pounced on the soldier and bit him hard on the arm, completely ignoring the shackles on her hands and feet.

The soldier swung his arm desperately, but the old man refused to let go. Seeing this, the soldier outside the cage quickly got in, picked up the butt of his gun and pointed it at the woman's mouth.

The woman was knocked to the ground. When she raised her head, her mouth was already full of blood, and her teeth fell not far from her.

The blood-stained face made her face look a little ferocious.

Her voice was similar to a growl, as if coming from the most primitive wilderness, and she cursed the two people in front of her in the most vicious Sioux Indian language.

The bitten soldier raised his gun. He wanted to shoot the middle-aged Indian woman, but he was stopped by the soldier next to him.

"This woman is said to be the mother of the Indian who ran away. The lieutenant said she is still of some use."

The soldier then gave up and dragged the Indian woman out of the cage. The woman stopped struggling and stared blankly at the sky.

The two soldiers dragged the woman outside the camp, where two other soldiers were waiting, as well as Scar Yu who was tied and kneeling on the ground.

Scar Yu lowered his head, his long hair covering his face, and his current expression could not be seen clearly.

The woman was dragged to her feet and knelt beside her husband in the same position. She slowly raised her head, opened her lips slightly, and hummed an Indian ballad.

The voice was like weeping and complaining, reverberating in the valley.

"Boss, what is she singing?" Sean turned to look at Chen Jianqiu who was standing aside, "Should we go down to rescue them?"

Chen Jianqiu's face was expressionless, but his fists were already clenched.

"I'm afraid it's too late."

A gunshot interrupted the chanting, followed immediately by another.

Scar Yu's body fell forward. His body lost all vitality in an instant and fell to the ground like a cloth bag. Blood flowed from his head and dyed the entire land under him red.

His face was facing the direction of his wife, and his wife was also facing him, with her eyes wide open and unblinking.

"You two take care of the body, and I'll take care of the wound." The bitten soldier kicked the body angrily, turned around, and walked toward the camp.

"Let's go down along the bushes now." Chen Jianqiu spoke after being silent for a few minutes.

"Uh, now, get off?"

"Yes, just follow me."

The two of them bent down and walked down the slope. Chen Jianqiu walked very carefully, trying not to make any big noise.

However, the soldiers in the camp did not seem to care much about the situation outside the camp.

The soldiers sitting around the bonfire had been drinking for three rounds. The lighter ones were lying on the ground, and their hair was lit by the bonfire without even noticing. The heavier ones also began to sing and dance. They danced and hugged each other, humming in their mouths. Sing American western country folk songs, perform by yourself, and accompany yourself.

"Boss, why are they so happy?" Sean asked in a low voice.

"Today is their Independence Day."

Five minutes ago, another folk song sounded in this valley, which originated from the original owner of this land.

The current cheerful singing sounded harsh to Chen Jianqiu.

They walked around to the northwest corner of the camp and hid in a shadow near the outermost tent.

The bitten soldier cursed and walked out of the tent. It seemed that the wound had been basically treated. He picked up the gun leaning against the tent and walked towards the center of the camp.

When passing by the iron cage where the Indian women were imprisoned, I may have felt resentful and spat into the cage again.

The old man in the cage did not move. It seemed that the struggle just now had exhausted her last strength.

After the soldiers left, Chen Jianqiu and Sean quietly walked to the pile of wooden boxes.

"Look, boss, it's explosives." Sean opened one of the boxes, and several bundles of explosives lay quietly inside.

He opened another box next to it, which contained detonators and detonators.

"What do they want this thing for?" Sean was a little confused.

"Maybe it's for road opening." Chen Jianqiu went to look through several other boxes, which contained guns and bullets.

"Boss, let's blow them up into the sky." Sean seemed a little excited. He rubbed his hands and stared at the explosives in front of him.

"No, I'm afraid these explosives are not enough." Chen Jianqiu counted the explosives, but after thinking for a while, he suddenly turned to stare at Sean again.

Sean was a little scared. It was definitely not good for Chen Jianqiu to look at him like this. The last time he looked at him like this, he had exposed his lockpicking skills. The last time he looked at him like this, he almost peed his pants in fear.

"What did you do in the mine before?" Chen Jianqiu asked.

"Shoveling coal, transporting coal...well, does stealing count?" Sean's answer was very honest.

"What about other mines? There are mining towns near Shiquan, and there are so many people coming and going. Your method of stealing is easy to be discovered. You will definitely not stay in a mine or a town for a long time." Chen Jianqiu said.

"Well, I learned blasting in a mine in Carbon County." Sean looked like he just remembered.

Chen Jianqiu didn't care. He put his arm around Sean's shoulders and said to him sincerely: "Sean, I know you are a trustworthy person and you never lose your guard at critical moments, right?"

Sean felt goosebumps rising behind his back: "Boss, just give me your orders, don't do this."

"That's what I like about you." Chen Jianqiu patted him on the shoulder, "Do you still remember the unique stone bridge we passed when we came here?"

Sean thought about it. When they were looking for the cavalry company camp this afternoon, they passed through a small mountain stream where there was a small naturally formed stone arch.

"The first thing is to bring two bundles of explosives, detonators and detonators, install them under the bridge, and hide them nearby." Chen Jianqiu took out the explosives from the box and stuffed them under Sean's creaking nest.

The black man looked at the explosives and was a little confused. Two bundles of explosives? Is it enough?

"Boss, I have a question."

"explain."

"When will I detonate it?"

"I thought we already had enough tacit understanding, Sean. Well, forget it, when you see me passing by, just explode."

"The second thing is to take the black radish to a forest after the mountain stream. No need to tie it up."

Sean nodded.

Chen Jianqiu took out another nail, which looked familiar to Sean, as if it was the one he used to unlock the lock in the prison.

"Boss, do you still keep this?"

The nail was put into Sean's hand by Chen Jianqiu's hand: "The third thing is, after the explosion, come back to this camp and rescue Feiniao's mother. We will meet in the cave. Be careful not to be targeted."

"Boss, if you want me dead, just say so." Sean looked ugly.

"You are my dear friend, how can I bear to let you die." Chen Jianqiu showed a familiar smile on his face, "It always takes time to save people."

"Um, boss, I have one last question."

"Say it!"

"I do these things, what are you going to do?"

"I'll create this opportunity for you."

Under the stunned gaze of the black people, Chen Jianqiu slowly walked into the camp. He took something out of his pocket, held it high above his head, and shouted:

"Edward! I want to see Lieutenant Edward!"