Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!…
Bolts flew from hidden spots in bushes, trees, and haystacks, striking down bandits one by one.
But the bandits were too close to the net. Zheng Fang and his veterans only managed one round of shots before the bandits were nearly upon the women soldiers.
Though the modified crossbows reloaded quickly, they still took a few seconds, and there was no time left.
Zheng Fang ordered a halt to shooting, drew his sword, and charged into the fray.
Most of the women soldiers had crawled out of the net, but the new recruits, previously just housewives or young women doing laundry and cooking, had never seen such a scene.
They had been fine during training, but facing ferocious bandits head-on, they froze, clutching their crossbows, unsure what to do.
Fortunately, the dozen or so women guards Qing Mulang brought had seen blood before. They quickly reacted, firing their crossbows at the bandits.
Over a dozen bandits were shot dead instantly.
But the bandits, now bloodthirsty, kept coming despite the losses.
This caught even the veteran women soldiers off guard; half were still reloading their crossbows.
At that moment, Ah Mei rushed forward, her long sword weaving a curtain of blades, instantly cutting down four bandits at the front.
“Drop the crossbows, draw your swords!” Ah Mei shouted, killing two more bandits. “And you new recruits, don’t just stand there! If you don’t want to die, fight!”
Qing Mulang reacted first, drawing her sword and stabbing a bandit in the stomach.
But the bandit slashed at her waist.
Luckily, her armour blocked the blow, but the force knocked her to the ground.
“Third squad, protect the miss!” Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju, Qing Mulang’s earliest and most loyal maids, saw her fall and immediately shielded her.
Perhaps inspired by Qing Mulang, Ah Mei, and Ju, Xiao Yu screamed, raised her crossbow, and fired into the bandit crowd.
She didn’t aim, but with so many bandits, she still killed one.
“Kill!” She dropped her crossbow and followed Ah Mei, charging at the bandits.
By then, Zheng Fang and the male soldiers arrived, and both sides engaged in brutal close combat.
Hand-to-hand fighting was one of the cruelest forms of battle. Veterans, bandits, and new women recruits all turned into beasts, grappling and tearing at each other.
The veterans, retired from the Iron Forest Army, were battle-hardened. Their combat skills and experience far surpassed the bandits’.
Morale was critical on the battlefield. High morale could let ten defeat twenty.
Without it, a hundred could be crushed by ten.
The Dangxiang Army had once routed Da Kang’s six-thousand-strong army with just five hundred, and not just once.
As the fight continued, more bandits fell, and the survivors began to fear, some even surrendering.
Surrendering spread quickly; one led to two.
In moments, the forty-some surviving bandits were crouching with their hands on their heads.
“Old Zheng, how’d you get here? When did you arrive?” Qing Mulang finally had a chance to speak to Zheng Fang.
“Now’s not the time for that,” Zheng Fang said, catching his breath before issuing orders. “Monkey, tally the losses. First and second squads, stay on alert. Third squad, finish off the wounded. Fourth and fifth squads, guard the prisoners. The rest, tend to the injured.”
“Yes!” The veterans sprang into action, working efficiently.
Only then did Qing Mulang realise the gap between her and Zheng Fang. She quickly ordered her women to help clean up the battlefield.
While they were busy, a veteran on lookout reported another group approaching from the mountain’s base.
“What, more of them?” Zheng Fang’s face darkened. “How many?”
“It’s too dark to see clearly, but judging by the torches, there’s a lot,” the veteran replied.
“Everyone, prepare for battle!” Zheng Fang ordered. The veterans snapped to attention, drawing their swords.
The women readied their crossbows.
“Captain, it’s Master Jin!” a veteran shouted, running over.
“You keep cleaning the battlefield. I’ll go greet the master,” Zheng Fang said, heading to the mountain entrance.
“I’m coming too,” Qing Mulang said, hurrying after him with Ah Mei.
At the entrance, Jin Feng arrived, accompanied by the guard team and a group of strangers.
Iron Hammer was holding a man with his hands bound.
“Master, what are you doing here?” Zheng Fang asked, surprised. “Who are they?”
“They’re doctors from the city and nearby towns,” Jin Feng said to the strangers. “Gentlemen, thank you for your help. Please go treat the wounded.”
“Of course!” The doctors rushed to the battlefield to tend to the injured.
“Have the losses been tallied?” Jin Feng asked.
“Just finished. Three women soldiers dead, four heavily injured, and most of the rest with minor wounds,” Zheng Fang reported. “Six male soldiers heavily injured, and nearly all the rest with minor wounds.”
The male soldiers had taken the brunt of the bandits’ attacks to protect the women.
If Jin Feng hadn’t emphasised teamwork in training, the injuries would’ve been far worse.
The three women who died had frozen in fear, unable to fight back as bandits closed in.
Such people, if they didn’t die this time, would likely die in the next battle.
“Three dead…” Jin Feng nodded slightly.
Death was normal in battle, and this outcome was acceptable.
“Master, I’m sorry. I underestimated the enemy and fell into their trap!” Qing Mulang said, head bowed, filled with regret.
“You did make a mistake. Write a report when you get back, reflecting on what you did wrong, and submit it to me!” Jin Feng said coldly.
“Master, I’m also at fault for not spotting the hidden enemies. Please punish me!” Monkey knelt.
“You’ll write a report too, reflecting on your mistakes!” Jin Feng said. “And Old Zheng, you write one as well.”
“Yes!” Zheng Fang nodded.
Post-battle reports helped commanders and soldiers grow through reflection.
Jin Feng decided to apply this to Qing Mulang and the veterans.
“Master, these bandits were well-prepared. They dug a trap and lured us in step by step. It was too meticulous,” Zheng Fang said. “Bandits don’t have that kind of cunning. Someone must be behind them, and we need to find out who.”
“No need. It’s him,” Jin Feng said, pointing at the man Iron Hammer was holding.
