“Old Peng, what’s the matter? Smashing doors first thing in the morning?”
Master Zhu emerged from his room in a white under-robe, rubbing his brow.
He had drunk the most last night, and now not only did his head ache, but he felt dazed.
“Wait until County Lieutenant Zhao comes out, then we’ll talk.”
Master Peng had barely finished speaking when County Lieutenant Zhao appeared from the next room.
Unlike Master Zhu’s casual attire, the lieutenant was already fully dressed.
His hair was combed without a strand out of place.
“What happened?”
County Lieutenant Zhao asked with a frown.
The frown was not directed at Master Peng, but because he knew Peng would not bang on doors early unless it was urgent.
“I just received word that Jin Feng has sent men to attack Black Water Ditch, Tiger Head Mountain, and Double Hump Peak…”
Master Peng quickly relayed the news from Mr Feng.
“Has Jin Feng gone mad? He has only a few men, yet he starts war against all three of us at once?”
Master Zhu exploded with anger. “Sir, it’s because we’ve kept yielding that he’s grown arrogant. Let’s seize this chance, pool our forces from all three families, and slaughter everyone in West River Bay.”
Over the years, the major bandit groups had fought plenty among themselves, sometimes brawling fiercely over territory.
But now, faced with a common enemy, they unhesitatingly decided to unite.
“Can you ever think before speaking?”
County Lieutenant Zhao glared irritably at Master Zhu. “Old Peng just said our men are all sealed in by Jin Feng’s forces. What will you use to slaughter West River Bay? Your mouth?”
“I’ve investigated. West River Bay has only a few hundred veterans and women soldiers combined, and half went to Guangyuan as escorts. Jin Feng can muster at most two or three hundred now.”
Master Zhu refused to back down. “Our three bandit groups total over two thousand. How can he blockade us?”
“Because he is Jin Feng!”
County Lieutenant Zhao said. “Have you forgotten how Iron Pot Mountain vanished? Back then Jin Feng had only a few dozen men, yet he still wiped them out.”
“That was because Iron Pot’s idiots fell for Jin Feng’s trick and charged straight into his trap.
This time is different. Sir, your Black Water Ditch, Old Peng’s Double Hump Peak, my Tiger Head Mountain, which one isn’t easy to defend and hard to attack? Without tens of times the troops, no one could take them!”
Master Zhu said confidently.
“That’s exactly the problem. When bandits choose lairs, they all pick places easy to defend and hard to assault, but such places have a fatal flaw. Once the descent paths are blocked, no matter how many men are inside, they can’t get out!”
County Lieutenant Zhao explained. “Jin Feng doesn’t need to storm the mountains. He just seals the paths down, and given time, the bandits will starve to death inside.”
“Then it’s a matter of who lasts longer!” Master Zhu said. “I don’t know about your places, but my Tiger Head Mountain has plenty of grain. The bandits up there could eat for a year without issue.”
In fact, this was common in cold-weapon warfare.
The defending side would clear the fields and hold the walls. The attackers would besiege the city, yielding not an inch.
Generally, unless one side vastly outnumbered the other, neither could prevail. It became a test of endurance.
In his previous life, when Jin Feng studied history, he read of a strategic fortress where attackers and defenders stalemated for three years. Finally, the defenders ate all their stores, emerged desperately to fight, and lost.
By then the soldiers had starved for three years, lacking strength and will, while the besiegers received constant supplies and waited at ease. The outcome was obvious.
“You…”
County Lieutenant Zhao sighed, unwilling to engage Master Zhu further.
“Old Zhu, you’re thinking too simply. Jin Feng followed Marquis Qing to battle and brought back many heavy crossbows. He needs only a few men at each pass to seal the mountains!”
Master Peng explained. “With Jin Feng’s wealth, feeding a handful of men is effortless. A crumb from his fingers could sustain them for life. How could we outlast him?”
Powerful gentry became so because their clans were numerous locally, untouchable, gradually dominating the area.
Some top Da Kang gentry families had histories longer than the dynasty itself.
After all, no matter who ruled, someone had to manage the grassroots people.
Gentry clans were ideal for that.
Though the Zhu and Peng families lacked such longevity, they had nearly two centuries of history, with countless clansmen.
Clansmen were both their muscle for local tyranny and their burden.
Most annual tribute from bandits went to clansmen, earning their support.
Without that grain, they would quickly lose it.
Master Zhu was no fool. He had drunk too much last night and was still foggy, but Peng’s reminder made him grasp the gravity.
“Then… what do we do?”
Master Zhu clutched the lieutenant’s sleeve. “Sir, you’re the county lieutenant. You must stop Jin Feng…”
“Jin Feng is nobility. He’s fighting bandits. Who dares utter a word against it?”
County Lieutenant Zhao said irritably. “Enough. I’m going back to find out what’s happening.”
With that, he hurried off.
“Old Peng, do you think Sir Zhao is abandoning us?”
Master Zhu asked bitterly.
“Probably not. We’re all in the same boat now, and he wouldn’t face Jin Feng alone just to let us profit. He’s likely gathering facts.”
Master Peng shook his head.
“Old Peng, Jin Feng and we have no grudge. He makes his fortune, we live our lives. Wouldn’t peace suit everyone? Why does he cling to us?”
Master Zhu rubbed his brow.
“Sir Zhao called him mad. Now I understand. He truly is mad!”
“Who but a madman would challenge thousands with dozens?”
Master Zhu sighed. “Old Peng, I must hurry back too. If you get news, send someone to tell me.”
Moments later, both boarded carriages and returned to their territories.
…
In recent days, the West River Bay suppression team had raided bandits everywhere, passing many villages. Many common folk knew of it and followed developments.
Ordinary people held little grudge against roadside robbers, as they rarely travelled, and even if they did, bandits scorned their few coppers.
What they hated most were the major bandits collecting annual tribute.
Learning the West River Bay team was striking everywhere, people hoped Jin Feng would soon target the big bandits.
Then travelling merchants and hunters spread word that West River Bay was besieging the three major groups.
For the people, this news surpassed New Year joy. They spread it eagerly, nearly beating gongs and drums in celebration.
One told ten, ten told a hundred. In just five days, the news reached nearly every corner of Jinchuan County.
