“I’m thinking of you. How is that harming you?”
The veteran said, somewhat angrily.
He and Dazhuang had been in the same hundred-man unit in the Iron Forest Army. Back then, he had taught Dazhuang how to fight hand by hand.
The two had fought back-to-back many times. They were brothers who had risked their lives for each other.
Though Dazhuang was now captain, he still respected him greatly.
“Brother Tong, you’ve just arrived. You don’t know Sir’s temper or Xihe Bay’s rules.”
Dazhuang whispered. “Killing a few bandits who deserve death is no big deal. Even if Sir finds out, at most he’ll dock half a month’s pay and kick me a few times. That’s it.
We all give oral after-action reports when we return. With female soldiers and medics in the team, we can’t hide it. If Brother Liang learns we colluded to fake it, our whole team can pack up and go home.”
“I understand.”
The veteran smiled and nodded. “Then you’ll have to endure a few kicks.”
“A few kicks are nothing. Most people want Sir to kick them, but he won’t.”
Dazhuang laughed. “Tell everyone to finish the food in their bowls quickly. Aim to reach Luanshi Beach in two hours, light another fire, and see if we can lure out another band of bandits.”
The fight happened fast. The mutton flatbreads in the veterans’ lunch boxes were still warm, though soaked.
Plus, the thick bloody smell nearby made a few new female soldiers nauseous.
But the veterans and the female medic remained calm, gulping down the contents in a few bites.
They washed bowls in the river. Dazhuang had the bandit bodies thrown into the woods, planning to have the coroner verify them later for reward money.
After handling this, the team set off again, heading straight for Luanshi Beach.
…
In the evening, the warhorse carried the cavalryman and the chief back to Xihe Bay.
No need for Zhang Liang to torture. The chief answered everything.
It was just repeating what he had told Dazhuang.
The cavalryman completed his task, left without eating, and set off again.
He had to reach Luanshi Beach tonight for the rendezvous.
He had already made a mistake. If he failed to return, Dazhuang would surely deal with him.
As this cavalryman left, cavalry from two more teams returned one after another.
They each brought a live bandit.
After interrogation, the confessions were similar to the first chief’s.
“Clearly, someone is targeting Xihe Bay.”
Qing Muluan asked, “Sir, who do you think it is?”
“Who else?” Jin Feng said coldly. “Whoever benefits most is basically the one doing it.”
“Who benefits most?” Qing Muluan thought, then asked, “Sir means the ones hiring bandits are those big bandits collecting annual grain?”
“Bandits lack the guts and wealth.”
Jin Feng shook his head. “I think it’s the gentlemen behind them.”
“They forgot Master Zhou?” Qing Muluan said angrily. “Still provoking Sir. They’re courting death!”
“Never underestimate human greed. The annual grain from bandits brings them considerable profit.”
Jin Feng sneered. “Plus, I dealt with Master Zhou because I had evidence of his bandit collusion. Now, I have no evidence on these people.”
“That’s tricky. My brother placed spies around Master Zhou because he controlled the county magistrate and might link to the Zhou family.”
Qing Muluan said, “From what I know, of the three big bandit groups left in Jinchuan, two are controlled by gentry. My brother couldn’t plant spies on them. Gathering evidence might be hard.”
“No need to bother,” Jin Feng shook his head. “So long after Master Zhou’s incident, any evidence is destroyed.”
“Then what? Just watch them arrogantly hire killers?”
Qing Muluan said unwillingly.
“Of course not. We lack evidence to arrest them, but suppressing bandits needs no evidence, right?”
Jin Feng asked coldly. “If I tell you to blockade the remaining three big bandit groups’ mountain gates, can you do it?”
No matter how far he went later, Jinchuan was his base. Using this chance, better clean up Jinchuan’s bandits thoroughly to avoid home worries.
Plus, Xihe Bay’s population capacity was nearing its limit.
People came to Xihe Bay with families because they couldn’t survive at home.
Without bandits collecting annual grain, one big burden lifted. Life would ease much.
This solved the root problem.
But the three groups totalled thousands. Veterans and female soldiers were only a few hundred, half protecting caravans.
Most remaining formed suppression teams and went out, some guarding Tieguan Mountain and Maomao Mountain.
Now, only dozens of veterans and female soldiers left in Xihe Bay.
Dozens blockading thousands…
Just thinking, Qing Muluan found Jin Feng’s proposal insane.
Impossible.
But next second, she saw Zhang Liang nod.
“Bandits choose lairs easy to defend, hard to attack. Such places are easy to blockade.
Old Zheng and I investigated these groups, saw their terrain. Except Black Water Gully with two exits, the other two like Tieguan Mountain have one path up and down. Set heavy crossbows and catapults, fully blockable.”
Zhang Liang said, “But this drains village defences. Risky if trouble arises.”
“Village stability is paramount.”
Jin Feng thought, said, “Since suppression teams wiped three bands, it should deter small bandits temporarily. Tomorrow, recall half the people. Enough?”
“Enough.”
Zhang Liang nodded. “But village warhorses are few. Notification and return might take until the day after tomorrow.”
Warhorses were short. Last pursuit of Zhou Wenyuan killed over a dozen, tightening supply.
“No issue. I wrote to Marquis Qing for another ship of warhorses. By time, should arrive soon. Then no horse worries.”
Jin Feng said.
The Qingshui River battle captured many Party warhorses, now with Qing Huai.
With their friendship, one ship was simple?
“Alright, I’ll prepare.”
Zhang Liang turned and ran out.
Blockading Jinchuan’s three biggest bandits simultaneously was no small matter. He needed careful planning.
After Zhang Liang left, Qing Muluan sincerely thumbs-upped. “Sir, brilliant move! Blockade bandits, those gentlemen behind won’t sit still, might slip up!
Heard Jinchuan’s biggest Black Water Gully bandits are backed by the county lieutenant. If I grab his pigtail this time, see how I deal with him!”
