“Kill Jin Feng?”
The boss scratched his head. “But Jin Feng’s gone to the county city!”
“That’s exactly why it’s our chance!”
Lieutenant Zhao said, “Xihe Bay is impregnable now. Even if I gave you three hundred men, you couldn’t take it. Besides, Jin Feng is the heart of Xihe Bay. If he doesn’t die, even if you seize Xihe Bay, it’s pointless. He built one veteran team; he can build another. Kill Jin Feng, and no one will pay the veterans. Their team will disband on its own. That’s when we strike Xihe Bay.”
“I get it!” The boss gave a thumbs-up. “Master, you’ve thought of everything. I’ll take my men to chase Jin Feng now!”
“No!” Lieutenant Zhao said. “Take your men through the backroads to Black Wind Ridge and ambush him there!”
“Why?” The boss was displeased. “Black Wind Ridge is outside Jinchuan County. We’re not familiar with the terrain.”
“What do you know?” Lieutenant Zhao snapped. “Jin Feng is a noble now, backed by Lord Qing. If you’re recognised, you’re done for, and I can’t save you!”
“You’re right, master!”
The boss realised. “No one will suspect me if we act at Black Wind Ridge.”
“You’re not completely hopeless!”
Lieutenant Zhao said, “Remember, Jin Feng is a madman. If there’s no chance, don’t act. But if you do, you must kill him, no matter what. Otherwise, the consequences will be endless. Understood?”
“Don’t worry, master. I’ll bring all my men, plus your archers. Even if we have to pile bodies, we’ll kill him!”
The boss thumped his chest in assurance.
“Old Nie, go to the first camp and tell Qin Liang to assign twenty archers under the pretext of mountain training,” Lieutenant Zhao said to the gatekeeper.
“Yes, sir!”
The gatekeeper agreed and left.
“Wait outside the city. Once the archers arrive, move quickly,” Lieutenant Zhao told the boss.
“Master, just wait for the good news. I won’t let you down!”
The boss thumped his chest again and left with his trusted men.
…
North of Jinchuan County, a five-metre-wide official road wound through the mountains.
This was the Guangyuan Road, the only route from Jinchuan County to Guangyuan County City suitable for carriages.
Around three or four in the afternoon, a convoy of cavalry and a carriage appeared at the road’s end.
“Sir, that’s Black Wind Ridge ahead,” Iron Hammer said, pointing at a hill. “On a clear day, you can almost see Xihe Bay from the top.”
“That close?”
Jin Feng was surprised.
“Yep. Black Wind Ridge is just over five li north of Xihe Bay,” Iron Hammer said. “We’ve been circling all day.”
Jin Feng thought back and realised it was true.
They’d gone east, then west, indeed circling.
“Why don’t we go straight over Black Wind Ridge if it’s so close to Xihe Bay?” Guan Xiaorou asked curiously from the carriage.
“Sister-in-law, you don’t know. There’s a river below Black Wind Ridge. It’s less than twenty zhang wide, but the current’s strong, and the cliffs on both sides are steep. No way to cross it, so we have to detour,” Iron Hammer explained. “If not for that river, the county city would probably be closer than the county seat.”
The Shu region was mountainous, and such situations were common.
Sometimes, two hills looked close enough for voices to carry, but getting from one to the other could take days of detouring.
“If only someone could build a bridge over that river,” Guan Xiaorou said with a smile. “It’d make trips to the county city so much easier.”
Her words were casual, but they struck Jin Feng.
Jinchuan was just a county seat, lacking many things Jin Feng needed, which stalled some of his plans.
Moreover, Jinchuan’s population was small, with limited purchasing power. It wasn’t an issue now, but as his ventures grew, he’d need to expand beyond Jinchuan.
They’d left at dawn and ridden until now to reach Black Wind Ridge. If they were pushing carts, it’d take over a day.
A bridge could save at least a day transporting goods to the county city.
With this in mind, Jin Feng said, “Iron Hammer, find a place to rest ahead. We’ll check out Black Wind Ridge.”
“Sir, Black Wind Ridge is just a barren hill. What’s to see?” Iron Hammer said. “We need to keep moving, or we won’t reach Liuhe Town by nightfall and will have to camp in the mountains.”
“I just want a quick look. It’s not a tall ridge; it won’t take long,” Jin Feng said. “If needed, we’ll speed up after.”
“Fine then.”
Seeing Jin Feng’s insistence, Iron Hammer called back, “Monkey, go ahead and find an easy way up the hill.”
“Got it!”
Monkey agreed, spurring his horse forward.
Moments later, Monkey returned, looking odd.
“Sir, there are bandits hiding in the mountains. They thought I didn’t see them,” Monkey said smugly. “I spotted them from far off.”
“Bandits?” Iron Hammer frowned. “How many?”
“Couldn’t tell clearly. They’re hiding in the woods,” Monkey said. “But I saw over thirty. Don’t know how many I didn’t see.”
“Sir, what do we do?”
Iron Hammer looked at Jin Feng.
“Everyone, hold position. Monkey, go again, but not on horseback. Find out how many they are, what weapons they have, and if we can break through.”
With Guan Xiaorou, Tang Dongdong, and Xiao E in the convoy, Jin Feng didn’t want to take risks.
“Yes, sir!”
Monkey agreed, dismounted, and slipped into the forest.
“Pull to the side. Stay alert!”
Iron Hammer ordered, and the veterans and female soldiers readied their crossbows, vigilantly scanning the surroundings.
“Sir, you’re not wearing armour. Get in the carriage,” Iron Hammer said to Jin Feng.
Jin Feng knew he’d be no help in a fight and might even hinder the veterans. He rode to the carriage.
The carriage, modified by Jin Feng, had an iron plate layer. With the windows closed, ordinary arrows couldn’t penetrate it.
Jin Feng climbed aboard and waved to Qing Mulanz. “Mulanz, you too!”
“I’m wearing armour. I’m not going,” Qing Mulanz refused.
She was eager for a fight. Why would she hide?
“There’s a heavy crossbow in the carriage. I was going to let you operate it. If you don’t want to, forget it,” Jin Feng said, shaking his head as he entered.
“Heavy crossbow?”
Qing Mulanz’s eyes lit up, and she quickly jumped aboard. “Sir, I’m here!”
“Xiaorou, all of you stand up for a moment.”
Jin Feng had Guan Xiaorou, Tang Dongdong, and Xiao E stand. He lifted the carriage’s seat panel, pulled out parts, and expertly assembled a heavy crossbow.
Meanwhile, Monkey silently crept up behind the bandits.
