“Ajü, well done.”
Amei praised her, then walked to a cluster of bandits. With a single swing of her long sabre, three wailing bandits fell silent.
Amei’s expression remained unchanged, as if she had not killed people but slaughtered three chickens.
Perhaps Amei’s composure gave the female soldiers confidence, as they raised their long sabres and sought out targets.
In truth, finishing off enemies is best done with long weapons like spears or lances, which reduce the risk of being ambushed by enemies feigning death.
But to make the female soldiers experience death up close and adapt to the battlefield quickly, Jin Feng insisted they use long sabres.
For safety, Zhang Liang split two teams of male soldiers to spread out across the threshing field, holding crossbows to keep watch.
If any bandit attempted a sneak attack, the male soldiers would shoot them dead immediately.
Since it was their first time killing, the female soldiers’ movements were still clumsy, and they needed to overcome psychological barriers, so the process was not quick.
The task of finishing off the bandits continued for over an hour without completion.
The elderly, weak, women, and children hiding in the back hills were called back by the village chief. Everyone stood quietly around the threshing field, watching the female soldiers carry out their task.
The bandits’ wails in the threshing field grew fewer until they ceased entirely.
Every bandit, whether severely wounded or already dead, had a gash, large or small, on their neck.
Qing Mulian led the female soldiers slowly out of the threshing field.
They were all drenched in blood, with it dripping from their hair and clothes in steady patters.
Not only Jin Feng and Zhang Liang’s veteran soldiers, but even the watching village women could see that the female soldiers’ aura had changed.
Many village women even lowered their heads, lacking the courage to look at them.
“Sir, it’s done!”
Qing Mulian clasped her fists toward Jin Feng, saying sincerely, “Thank you, sir!”
As the leader of the female soldiers, her experience was the most profound.
She also understood the true purpose behind Jin Feng’s order for her to lead the female soldiers in finishing off the bandits.
From this day forward, the maids who had followed her for years were finally qualified to step onto a battlefield.
“Well done!”
Jin Feng, unmindful of the blood on Qing Mulian, patted her shoulder with satisfaction. “Runniang has prepared bathwater. Go clean yourselves up.”
“Alright.”
The watching villagers parted to make way, allowing Qing Mulian to lead the female soldiers away.
“Xiaofeng, what’s next?”
After Qing Mulian left, the village chief stepped forward, approaching Jin Feng to ask.
The events of the day had been overwhelming, completely upending the old chief’s worldview.
Even now, his scalp tingled, and his legs felt weak when he walked.
“Since everyone’s here, Uncle Liu, have them all go to the textile factory. I have a few things to say.”
Jin Feng smiled. “It’s too foul here.”
“What about this place?” The village chief pointed at the threshing field.
“Killing Tieguan Mountain bandits comes with a reward. We need to wait for the county coroner to inspect the bodies before burial.”
Jin Feng added, “Have Brother Liang and the others keep watch for now.”
“That makes sense.”
The old village chief nodded, turning to usher the villagers to the textile factory.
Jin Feng first arranged for Zhang Liang and the veterans to guard the captives, then followed along.
At the textile factory, Guan Xiaorou, Tang Dongdong, and Xiao’e were waiting at the entrance.
“Dear, are you alright?”
Seeing Jin Feng, Guan Xiaorou ran forward a few steps to meet him.
“I didn’t even lift a finger, just directed from the back. What could happen to me?”
Jin Feng spun around twice to prove he was fine.
Only then did Guan Xiaorou pat her chest in relief. “When Mulian and the others came back, all looking like they were drenched in blood, it was terrifying.”
“Take some of the prepared clothes and soap to them.”
Jin Feng instructed, then entered the textile factory and stood on a prepared table.
The villagers below all looked up at him.
For a long time, Jin Feng’s image in the village had been that of a timid scholar. Even when bullied by Xie Guang, he would only complain with literary phrases.
Even after getting married and showing some change in temperament, aside from the time he beat Xie Guang, he was always smiling, greeting everyone warmly.
No one had ever imagined Jin Feng had such a ruthless side.
These were hundreds of bandits, yet he ordered their deaths without so much as a change in expression, still smiling as usual.
This instilled a sense of fear in some villagers’ hearts toward Jin Feng.
Others, however, were thrilled.
With the bandits gone, could work resume? Would they no longer need to pay the annual grain tax?
Some quick-witted villagers had already sensed Jin Feng’s strength and vaguely understood why he had deliberately provoked the bandits earlier.
“Everyone, quiet down.”
Jin Feng struck a gong, and the villagers immediately fell silent.
“First matter.”
Jin Feng raised his left index finger. “Starting tomorrow, the textile factory, brick kiln, and construction sites will all resume work!”
The villagers paused, then erupted into applause.
Regardless of their opinions of Jin Feng, resuming work was a tangible benefit.
Jin Feng pressed his hands downward, and the villagers quieted again.
“Starting tomorrow, anyone from Xihe Bay or Guan Family Bay working under me will have their wages doubled.”
When Liu Tie and the village chief had led their ragtag group to provide support, Jin Feng made this decision.
Doubling wages would cut profits, perhaps even lead to losses.
But for the sake of these simple villagers, Jin Feng was willing.
Applause thundered.
When it subsided, Jin Feng continued, “Also, from this year onward, you will no longer need to pay the annual grain tax.”
At this, he raised his voice and shouted, “If any bandits dare come to collect grain taxes, the Tieguan Mountain bandits will be their fate!”
Roar!
The textile factory erupted.
All the villagers clapped wildly with excitement.
This was one reason Jin Feng chose to fight at Xihe Bay rather than ambushing the bandits at Tieguan Mountain.
To assert dominance, the bandits injured villagers every year during grain collection, and every few years, someone would be killed.
The villagers had lived under the bandits’ shadow for too long.
Jin Feng did this to show them that the bandits were not so fearsome!
Of course, a single battle could not fully erase the shadow in all the villagers’ hearts, but Jin Feng had planted a seed in their minds, one that would eventually take root and grow.
After calming the villagers, Jin Feng sought out Zhang Liang again.
“Still no news from over there?”
Jin Feng glanced toward Tieguan Mountain, his tone tinged with worry.
One does not put all eggs in one basket. Initially, he had recruited not just thirty-two veterans but over seventy. The remaining forty or so were hidden at Maomao Mountain.
Only Zhong Wu and Zhang Liang knew of this, not even Qing Mulian.
Their task today was to seize Tieguan Mountain while its rear was vulnerable.
But until now, no news had come back, which worried Jin Feng.
