“Liu Jiang’s treasure?”
Jin Feng couldn’t help but feel a stir of excitement.
The bandits of Iron Tank Mountain had been entrenched in Jinchuan County for years, collecting a substantial amount of annual tribute.
Although a portion had to be offered to Master Zhou, the bandits kept the lion’s share.
Moreover, the bandits didn’t just collect tribute. They also ran underground gambling dens in some areas, and occasionally engaged in kidnapping or robbing wealthy passing merchants. Their methods of making money were diverse, dealing in both legitimate and illicit activities, as long as it was profitable.
Sometimes, the money earned from these shady dealings surpassed the annual tribute.
This portion of the money didn’t need to be shared with Master Zhou. Apart from a small reward to the bandit leaders, almost all of it ended up in Liu Jiang’s hands.
Even Jin Feng couldn’t guess how much wealth Liu Jiang had amassed over the years.
“Take me to see it.”
Jin Feng gestured for the veteran soldier to untie the ropes on Shuanzi.
“Follow me, Great Leader!”
Shuanzi scrambled to his feet, jogging up the mountain.
“Don’t run so fast!”
Tie Niu raised his crossbow, aiming at Shuanzi’s back. “And don’t try any tricks, or I’ll shoot you dead with one arrow!”
“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare!”
Shuanzi quickly slowed his pace.
Iron Tank Mountain wasn’t particularly high, its peak less than two hundred metres, much lower than many surrounding peaks. However, it was not only easy to defend and hard to attack, but its structure was also unique. Unlike typical conical mountains that tapered upward, it resembled a large bucket turned upside down.
The mountaintop was a vast flat area, unsuitable for farming but perfect for habitation.
This was precisely why, for centuries, Iron Tank Mountain had been a bandit stronghold.
Upon reaching the summit, Jin Feng saw a large open space, used as a parade ground for the bandits’ drills and meetings.
To the east and south of the flat area were rows of thatched huts where the bandits lived.
Small-time leaders like Shuanzi had their own rooms, while ordinary bandits crammed five or six to a hut.
On the western side were the kitchen, stables, and warehouses.
At the northern centre stood a grand brick-and-stone hall, with a plaque above the door reading “Gathering Hall,” where the bandit leaders met to discuss matters.
On either side of the Gathering Hall were rows of tiled courtyards, the residences of the major leaders.
Jin Feng suddenly noticed a figure dart into one of the courtyards.
“Someone’s there! Everyone, stay alert! Protect the master!”
Tie Niu shouted, and dozens of veteran soldiers immediately formed an attack formation, surrounding Jin Feng and Qing Mulian in the centre.
“Great Kings, don’t be alarmed. There are no bandits left on the mountain. That was just a child,” Shuanzi hurriedly explained. “The major leaders are allowed to marry, and their wives and children live in these courtyards.”
He had been extremely cooperative along the way, not daring to make any sudden moves, walking cautiously to avoid provoking Tie Niu and risking a fatal arrow.
“Dazhuang, take some men and check it out!”
Despite Shuanzi’s explanation, Tie Niu decided to search for safety’s sake.
“First squad, follow me!”
Dazhuang led a few veteran soldiers and rushed into the courtyard.
Moments later, they emerged, escorting three women and two children.
“We searched. No men,” Dazhuang reported.
“Since you’ve searched, check the other places too.”
Jin Feng thought for a moment and gave the order.
After all, Iron Tank Mountain was already under their control, and Liu Jiang’s wealth wasn’t going to sprout legs and run away. It made no difference whether they retrieved it sooner or later.
Better to eliminate any dangers first. He didn’t want to capsize in a ditch.
“Understood!”
Tie Niu responded, leaving two squads to protect Jin Feng while the remaining soldiers dispersed to search the courtyards.
Soon, women and children were brought out, kneeling at the entrances of their respective courtyards.
“The bandits live quite the life, don’t they? Each with several wives,” a veteran soldier beside Jin Feng joked.
From just a few tiled courtyards, they had found dozens of women.
The smallest courtyard had three women, while the largest had an astonishing seventeen.
Jin Feng glanced at the courtyard behind them, a typical small quadrangle with, at most, five or six rooms including the kitchen and main hall. He couldn’t imagine how so many people fit inside.
“Is that Liu Jiang’s courtyard?”
Jin Feng pointed to the one with seventeen women.
“No, that’s the Second Leader’s,” Shuanzi said. “The Second Leader never had children, so he loved taking concubines. At his peak, he had twenty-three. Over the years, he beat some to death, leaving fifteen. The two at the end were newly taken this year.”
Jin Feng squinted, noticing that every woman bore scars, suggesting the Second Leader was likely a violent man.
He turned to Tie Niu. “Is this Second Leader still alive?”
“Dead,” Tie Niu shook his head.
“Got off easy,” Jin Feng snorted coldly, then asked, “Which courtyard is Liu Jiang’s?”
“That one.”
Shuanzi pointed to a courtyard to the right of the Gathering Hall.
Jin Feng followed his gesture and saw only one woman kneeling at Liu Jiang’s door, and she appeared to be older.
This surprised him.
Tie Niu was equally surprised. “Who would’ve thought Liu Jiang was a devoted man, with just one wife?”
“You’re mistaken, Great King. Over there, they’ve got more than two hundred ‘meat horses,’ all belonging to Liu Jiang.”
Shuanzi pointed to the west.
“What’s a meat horse?”
It was the first time Jin Feng had heard the term.
Was it some kind of horse breed?
Was Liu Jiang’s taste that extreme?
“Master, bandit groups like Iron Tank Mountain don’t allow ordinary bandits to marry, or the stronghold would soon be overcrowded. But they can’t do without women, so they kidnap or buy girls from other places, lock them up, and keep them on the mountain for the bandits to use,” Tie Niu explained. “These kidnapped girls are called meat horses.”
“Iron Tank Mountain has over two hundred kidnapped girls?” Qing Mulian asked, eyes wide with fury.
Jin Feng’s eyes also blazed with anger.
He had heard of so-called “confinement,” a practice used by brothels to prevent their girls from getting pregnant. They would strike the abdomen with a wooden rod, causing the uterus to prolapse, effectively sterilising them.
This method was not only brutally cruel but also carried a risk of death.
Even if the girls survived, a prolapsed or necrotic uterus would lead to numerous gynaecological issues. These might not be apparent in youth, but as they aged, they would be plagued by illness.
This was one reason why women in ancient brothels rarely lived long or died peacefully.
Jin Feng hadn’t expected the bandits of Iron Tank Mountain to use such a horrific method.
“Normally, the mountain doesn’t keep so many girls, but Liu Jiang said he was bored with the old batch of meat horses. A few days ago, he sent someone to buy a new batch, planning to replace the old ones,” Shuanzi said, noticing Jin Feng’s anger and speaking obsequiously. “Great Leader, these new girls haven’t been touched by Liu Jiang yet. They’re still virgins. How about…”
“How about your uncle!”
Jin Feng kicked Shuanzi over, roaring, “Where are they?”
