The bandits numbered several hundred after all. If they had charged together like a swarm of bees, the veterans would never have been able to hold them.
But where would bandits find that kind of courage and discipline?
Those who were still alive all cowered behind big trees or boulders, too terrified to show their faces.
“Get up there and fight, you useless lot! If Jin Feng arrives with the main army in a minute, we’re all finished!”
Boss Lu, himself hiding behind a rock, stamped his feet in fury and cursed the bandits nearby.
At a time like this, whoever stuck their head out died. No matter how loudly Boss Lu shouted and swore, every bandit pretended not to hear him.
And so, a few dozen veterans managed to pin several hundred bandits firmly on the hillside.
A few hundred metres away, when Big Liu heard the signal arrow, he immediately looked up towards Tiger Roar Ridge.
“The young master truly is a genius. The bandits really did plan to ambush us here!”
“It wasn’t me being clever. This whole operation was arranged single-handedly by Brother Liang,” Jin Feng said with a smile.
“Haha, Captain is awesome too!”
Big Liu hurriedly gave Zhang Liang a thumbs-up.
Zhang Liang glanced at Big Liu but ignored him, turning instead to Jin Feng. “Young master, I’ll take some men to support Da Zhuang. They’re too few. We can’t risk anything going wrong.”
“Go ahead!” Jin Feng nodded quickly. “Be careful.”
Zhang Liang shouted an order to those behind him. Apart from Jin Feng’s personal guards, all the remaining veterans followed him and left.
“Master Jin, what’s happening up ahead?” Captain Xiao galloped over to Jin Feng’s side. “Where is Brother Zhang Liang going?”
“Our people received word that bandits were planning an ambush at Tiger Roar Ridge. Brother Liang has gone to deal with them,” Jin Feng replied casually.
“What? Bandits lying in wait at Tiger Roar Ridge?” Captain Xiao was startled. “How many?”
“It’s the Double Camel Peak bandits who escaped from Jinchuan back then. Five or six hundred, I think.”
“Five or six hundred?” Captain Xiao immediately grew anxious. “But Brother Zhang only took a few dozen men!”
He had served in the army for over ten years and possessed basic military knowledge. He naturally understood that the terrain of Tiger Roar Ridge was perfect for an ambush.
With the bandits already holding the high ground, it would be impossible to charge up without several times their number.
In Captain Xiao’s view, Zhang Liang taking just a few dozen men was no different from marching to their deaths.
Yet Jin Feng remained perfectly calm. “Captain Xiao need not worry. We discovered the bandits’ movements yesterday and sent men to infiltrate Tiger Roar Ridge last night. By now the bandits should already be under our control.”
At this point, success or failure was decided. There was no longer any need to keep the truth from Captain Xiao.
Captain Xiao was stunned for a moment, then showed sudden understanding.
Actually, when Zhang Liang had used Jin Feng’s stomach ache as an excuse to camp yesterday, Captain Xiao had already found it odd.
After all, with a column of over two thousand men stretching so long, Jin Feng could simply have ridden ahead. The time it took the army to pass would have been more than enough to deal with the problem.
Now Captain Xiao understood. Jin Feng had known all along about the bandit ambush at Tiger Roar Ridge!
“Master Jin, you really kept me completely in the dark.”
Captain Xiao gave a wry smile and shook his head.
“Brother Liang and I only received the information at the last moment. We didn’t have time to discuss it with Captain Xiao. I hope you’ll forgive us.”
Jin Feng gave an apologetic scholar’s salute to Captain Xiao. “In future, we will definitely consult Captain Xiao first.”
Captain Xiao knew perfectly well that Jin Feng still did not trust him and was only making polite excuses, but he could hardly say anything about it. He smiled and returned the salute. “Young master, since there are bandits ahead, I need to make arrangements. Please excuse me.”
“Captain Xiao, please go ahead.”
Jin Feng nodded. Captain Xiao spurred his horse and rode off.
Soon the prefectural troops entered combat readiness. Shield soldiers raised large shields and moved to the front of the column.
Up on the hillside, the bandits were pinned down tightly by Da Zhuang and Zhang Liang. When they heard the footsteps of the approaching main army, they fell into complete despair and finally chose to surrender.
Boss Lu was also captured alive.
Hundreds of bandits were lined up and forced to squat at the south side of the official road under prefectural guard.
Zhang Liang and Da Zhuang led a few veterans leaping down the slope. They walked up to Jin Feng and said regretfully, “Young master, we questioned the bandits. Mr Feng did not come to Tiger Roar Ridge this time.”
Besides breaking the ambush, both Jin Feng and Zhang Liang had hoped to capture Mr Feng himself.
Unfortunately, that hope had come to nothing.
“No matter. If he isn’t at Tiger Roar Ridge, he must be at Wulang Mountain. As long as he keeps causing trouble, we’ll catch him eventually!”
Jin Feng smiled, patted Zhang Liang on the shoulder, then turned to Da Zhuang. “No brothers injured or killed, right?”
“None. The bandits were completely stunned by us. We seized the heavy crossbows before they even reacted.”
Da Zhuang answered cheerfully. “The lads are up there right now dismantling the heavy crossbows and trebuchets.”
He had made a mistake during a previous bandit-suppression campaign, and twenty military lashes were still recorded in Zhang Liang’s little notebook.
This time he had achieved a great merit. Those twenty lashes should be cancelled now.
“I did a quick count just now. Half of the heavy crossbows and trebuchets that were carried off with Miss Muluan’s group are here,” Zhang Liang added.
“At last some good news these past few days.”
Jin Feng let out a slight sigh of relief.
He really did not want to see weapons he had made himself used against him.
“Young master, what should we do with these people?” Zhang Liang asked, pointing at the bandits by the roadside.
“Execute the leaders. Send the rest to Black Water Ditch to dig coal!” Jin Feng said coldly.
The bandits squatting nearby heard this and all breathed a sigh of relief.
They had once tried to attack Xihe Bay and were terrified that Jin Feng would slaughter them in anger or hand them over to the authorities for a reward.
Bandits handed to the government had only one fate: being sent to the battlefield as cannon fodder.
By comparison, digging coal at Black Water Ditch was far more acceptable.
Some bandits even felt a flicker of anticipation.
After all, Jin Feng thought like a modern person and would never treat people like livestock.
Work at Black Water Ditch was heavy, but Jin Feng never stinted on food. Every bandit received two coarse-grain steamed buns and a plate of pickled vegetables per meal, and wheat porridge was available without limit.
Many bandits had lived worse lives when they were still robbing.
Moreover, Jin Feng had introduced a work-points system. Those who behaved well and worked hard could earn points.
With five hundred points, they received the same monthly wage as regular Xihe Bay workers and could buy things at the mine shop.
With one thousand points, they gained full freedom and could leave the mine whenever they wished.
When this rule was announced, countless bandits had wept with gratitude.
Now there were very few bandits at Black Water Ditch who still hated Jin Feng. Everyone kept their heads down, worked hard, and saved points, hoping to regain their freedom one day soon.
In truth, many had only become bandits because they were forced by circumstances. Following Boss Lu these days, drifting about like homeless dogs, never eating or sleeping properly, plenty of them had had enough of that life.
For many, being sent to Black Water Ditch was actually a kind of release.
“Brother Liang, go discuss with Captain Xiao and have him arrange men to escort the bandits to Black Water Ditch.”
Jin Feng continued, “Da Zhuang, we can’t take the crossbows and trebuchets with us right now. Dismantle the critical parts and leave the rest here. Tell the brothers to grab some rest while they can. The real hard fighting is still ahead!”
