The bandits’ lack of discipline showed itself clearly at this moment.
The small gate tower was nearly three zhang high, flanked by steep cliffs, with a door reinforced by thick iron plates. Even after several guards were shot dead, over a dozen bandits remained. If they had held the wall’s advantage, Zhang Liang’s small force could never have breached it.
But now, the unshotted bandits fled in panic. Seven or eight veterans carried ladders and easily captured the tower.
They immediately opened the heavy gate and brought portable heavy crossbows onto the structure.
The same scene unfolded at the north gate of Black Water Gully.
The thousand-plus bandits in the valley’s heart remained oblivious.
The chief was cuddling a girl, sleeping soundly, when sudden frantic door-pounding woke him.
“Who the hell is it, pounding so early!”
The chief kicked the girl away in rage, pulled up his trousers, opened the door, and yelled at the reporting bandit underling, “Give me a good reason, or I’ll skin you today!”
“Chief, bad news, someone is storming the gate!” the underling said quickly.
“What did you say?” The chief thought he misheard.
“S… someone is storming the gate!” the underling repeated.
“Who the hell is so bold? Tired of living?” The chief’s eyes bulged in fury.
Storming a bandit’s gate meant fight to the death.
Black Water Gully was Jinchuan’s largest bandit group, backed by Lieutenant Zhao. They dominated black and white. They stormed others’ gates, not vice versa. Who dared storm theirs?
“Didn’t see clearly, can’t recognise.”
“How many?”
“Also… didn’t see clearly.”
The underling answered cautiously, “Their arrows were too accurate. Old Quan and the others just peeked out and got shot dead…”
“You don’t know who, don’t know how many. What gate were you guarding?”
At this, the chief glared, “Right, you ran back. Who’s guarding now?”
“I… I…”
The underling shrank his neck, silent.
“You little…”
Seeing the expression, the chief knew it was bad. He kicked the underling over, rushed to the yard, dragged out a large drum, and pounded it furiously.
Boom, boom, boom!
The dull drum echoed through the valley, waking the sleeping bandits.
This was the muster drum. Bandits dared not delay, grabbing weapons and rushing to the parade ground.
…
Over a li from Black Water Gully, two hunters hurried through the woods.
The tall one ahead stopped suddenly, “Old Tang, did you hear something?”
“Seemed like boom boom boom, but not clear.”
The short hunter asked, “Old Han, what’s wrong?”
“So you heard it too. I thought I imagined it.”
The tall hunter said, “Could it be Black Water Gully bandits drumming?”
“Who cares who’s drumming. Let’s check yesterday’s pit for wild boar.”
The short hunter pushed his companion.
“If none, we worry then. If there, we come tomorrow. It can’t escape.”
The tall hunter said, “But bandits drumming is rare.”
“Drumming’s nothing special. Want to hear? I’ll borrow the village drum. Knock all you want.”
“You don’t understand. Bandit drums have meaning, called muster drum. When it sounds, big trouble.”
The tall hunter said, “We’re here. A few steps right, we see Black Water Gully. Shame not to look.”
Ignoring the short hunter’s protest, he hacked thorns with his machete and veered right.
The short one followed helplessly.
They advanced four or five hundred metres to a cliff, overlooking the entire gully.
“My god, so many bandits. Over a thousand?”
The tall hunter stared at the mass on the parade ground, sighing, “They say Black Water Gully is Jinchuan’s top bandit. Looks true.”
“Why are they assembling?” the short hunter asked.
“How should I know?” The tall one guessed, “Maybe a big caravan on the official road. Going to fleece fat sheep.”
“What caravan needs so many bandits?”
The short hunter frowned, “Lately, Mr Jin from Xihe Bay formed suppression teams, wiping bandits everywhere. Could they be targeting Mr Jin’s teams?”
His father, a hunter, was killed by bandits years ago selling game in the county seat. He hated bandits but was powerless.
Days ago, that group was wiped by a suppression team. Hearing this, he cried all morning at his father’s grave, kowtowing towards Xihe Bay.
Thinking Black Water Gully might target the teams, he worried for them.
“Heard Xihe Bay teams are thirty-one each, eleven women. Even against them, no need for so many at once?”
The tall hunter knew his friend’s story, consoling softly, “Bandits must have other business.”
The short hunter hesitated, shook his head, “No, I must find the suppression teams, tell them. If true, they can prepare.”
“Don’t be rash. If bandits catch you, you’re done.”
The tall one grabbed him.
“I won’t take roads, through woods. Bandits couldn’t catch me if exhausted!” The short one was confident.
“But do you know where the teams are?” the tall one asked.
“Sold game in county days ago, heard near Yanghe Village. I’ll search there.”
The short hunter said, “If not found, go to Xihe Bay, notify Mr Jin.”
“Does Mr Jin know you? Will he believe?”
“Believing is Mr Jin’s affair. Going is mine.”
The short hunter was firm, “I’m incapable. Bandits killed my dad, I couldn’t avenge him.
Suppression teams avenged for me. If I don’t go, no face to see dad after death.”
He started down, but the tall one pulled him, “Wait, look, many bandits bare-chested. Doesn’t look like going against suppression teams…”
Before finishing, bandits yelling charged the south gate.
As they flooded the narrow pass, several spears flew from the small tower atop it!
