Han Ji

Chapter 128 Four-pronged Bandit Suppression

Twenty people climbed up the vines like monkeys. Halfway up, someone slipped, and loose stones tumbled down, hitting the shoulders of those below. No one uttered a sound.

Upon reaching the top of the cliff, one finds a gentle slope. The stockade wall is just a hundred paces away, a wooden fence, with smoke rising from inside.

Zhang Fei lay prone in the grass, observing. The stockade walls had been freshly coated with tung oil, gleaming brightly. The arrow tower was strategically positioned, capable of blocking the entrance to the plank road.

"I've learned my lesson," he said in a low voice. "I've become more shrewd."

Back at camp, Zhang Fei summoned his deputy: "Tomorrow, you will lead two hundred men in a feigned attack on the plank road. Be fierce, make the drums and gongs sound, and show that you are about to launch a full-scale assault."

"Yes! That's the real top..."

"The real attack is from behind." Zhang Fei narrowed his eyes. "When they see you're about to attack, they'll definitely send men to guard the plank road. Then the stronghold will be empty."

That night, Zhang Fei led three hundred elite troops, carrying oil tanks and rockets, to climb the back mountain again.

The next day at dawn, the sound of battle erupted from the direction of the plank road. The deputy led his men to ram the gate, and arrows clashed in a fierce fight.

As expected, the bandits on the stockade wall gathered at the entrance to the plank road. Zhang Fei, who could see this clearly from the cliff top, waved his hand and shouted, "Charge!"

Three hundred men reached the base of the stockade wall. Only five or six soldiers remained on the wall, craning their necks to look ahead.

Zhang Fei formed a human ladder and scaled the wall, slitting the guard's neck with a single stroke. He opened the gates, and three hundred men surged in, hacking at anyone they saw and pouring oil on every house they encountered.

The bandit leader, Scarface Fox, burst out of the main hall, shirtless and carrying a ghost-head knife: "Who the hell..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhang Fei's eighteen-foot spear was already at his face.

Scarface Fox raised his knife to parry, but with a loud clang, the knife flew out of his hand. He staggered backward, while Zhang Fei advanced, thrusting his spear forward and piercing through his chest and abdomen.

Scarface Fox looked down at the spear shaft in his chest, opened his mouth to curse, but blood and foam gushed out.

Zhang Fei drew his spear, and the corpse fell to the ground.

"Surrender or not!" he roared.

Chaos erupted in the village. Some knelt on the ground, while others ran towards the plank road. Zhang Fei ordered, "Block the entrance to the plank road, don't let a single one escape!"

Fire broke out. The stockade walls, coated with tung oil, crackled and burned, billowing black smoke into the sky. Of the more than one hundred bandits, thirty surrendered, the rest either dead or burned.

Zhang Fei stood in front of the fire, watching the village turn to charcoal.

The deputy whispered, "General, surrendered soldiers..."

"Send them to the labor camp to build roads." Zhang Fei wiped his face. "Don't keep these villages. Burn them down so no one will dare to follow their example in the future."

When Jian Yong arrived in Xixiang, Wang Chun led his men to greet him ten li away.

Before the pavilion, Wang Chun knelt down and presented a wooden box with both hands: "Registrar Jian, I have prepared a small gift to help the army suppress the bandits, as a token of my gratitude."

Jian Yong dismounted and took the box. He opened it, and inside were gold ingots, neatly arranged, weighing about a hundred catties.

He closed the box and handed it back.

Wang Chun's face turned pale.

"Your Highness," Jian Yong smiled, "suppressing bandits is the government's business, how can we let the common people pay for it? I thank you on behalf of the Commandant for this gift, but I cannot accept the money."

Wang Chun said urgently, "Registrar! This is the sentiment of the common people..."

"I appreciate the sentiment," Jian Yong interrupted, taking out an account book from his robes. "However, if Your Highness truly wishes to assist the army, I have a business opportunity. The prefecture needs to purchase a batch of winter clothing, and Your Highness's estate has a hundred looms. Would you be willing to take on the task? The market price will be settled, without any deductions."

Wang Chun was stunned, then realized that this was both giving him a way out and keeping him in check.

"Yes, sir! I will definitely handle it well!"

"Then let's draw up a contract." Jian Yong asked someone to bring paper and pen, and wrote it down on the spot, with both parties signing their seals.

For the next ten days, Jian Yong toured the villages of the western countryside, setting up soup kitchens, distributing grain, and registering hidden households. When powerful local figures objected, he would visit them, politely present the Han law, and casually mention that "Wang Chun, the Prince, has been frequently visiting the Commandant's office recently."

The powerful figures understood.

When Jian Yong left, the number of registered unemployed households in Xixiang increased by 500, and they donated 3,000 shi of grain. He put all of it into his account and took it back to Nanzheng.

Qian Zhao and Zhang Wu's scouts were the busiest.

The two men each led a hundred riders, and like combing through a comb, they surveyed all the roads of Hanzhong. Small groups of bandits were scattered; fleeing bandits were pursued and killed; and suspicious caravans were inspected for their goods and licenses.

In one month, they intercepted and killed 27 fleeing bandits, seized 14 horses, and a number of weapons. On one occasion, they intercepted a group of salt smugglers on the Micang Road, seized 200 shi of smuggled salt, and escorted them back to Nanzheng.

By the end of February, all four routes had returned to camp.

Inspection at the drill ground: Seven strongholds were captured, six bandit leaders were beheaded, and 420 soldiers surrendered. Eight million coins, 1,200 shi of grain, and countless horses, weapons, salt, and iron were seized.

Only the bandit leader of Beizhai, One-Eyed Wolf, led a dozen or so henchmen and fled into Qiang territory through a mountain gully, declaring before his escape: "I will definitely lead the Qiang cavalry back and slaughter Nanzheng!"

The battle report was presented to the prefectural government.

After Su Gu finished reading, his hand trembled, and the teacup fell to the ground and shattered with a "crack".

Chen Lun hurriedly tidied up.

"Seven Villages..." Su Gu stared at the broken porcelain. "Did he really clean it up?"

"Yes. Now, within Hanzhong, the main roads are open and smooth, and merchants and travelers dare to travel alone."

Su Gu leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

"Chen Lun, tell me... am I still a prefect?"

Chen Lun lowered his head: "Why do you say such things, Prefect..."

"The bandits are gone, the refugees are safe, the salt wells are under control, and the canals are completed." Su Gu opened his eyes and smiled, a smile more like a grimace. "Next, who should he turn his attention to?"

Chen Lun dared not answer.

"The one-eyed wolf has fled into the Qiang territory..." Su Gu murmured. "Good, good riddance. If the Qiang come, Liu Bei will have to defend against them. If he can defend them, he'll suffer heavy losses; if he can't... humph."

He got up, walked to the window, and looked at the distant mountains to the west.

"Liu Bei, you can sweep away bandits, and you can win over people's hearts. But can you even budge the swords of the Qiang people?"

A victory celebration banquet was held at the military camp in the west of the city.

A large pot of stewed meat, and plenty of cloudy wine. Zhang Fei, his face flushed from drinking, shouted about burning down Ghost Head Stronghold. Guan Yu ate his meat quietly, occasionally picking out some vegetables for a few promising young soldiers he had chosen from among the surrendered troops.

Liu Bei sat in the main seat, listening to Jian Yong report on the accounts.

"Four hundred and twenty soldiers surrendered, eighty of whom were incorporated into auxiliary troops, and the rest were sent to hard labor camps to repair roads. The money and grain seized were enough for the entire army's expenses for three months."

Liu Bei nodded: "Keep a close eye on the labor camps and make sure they don't cause any trouble. Building roads is a way to atone for your sins. If you do a good job, you'll be released back to civilian life in three years."

"clear."

Guan Yu spoke up: "Brother, the One-Eyed Wolf has escaped into the Qiang territory, which may cause future trouble."

"Understood." Liu Bei took a sip of wine. "The Qiang region... I'll have to go there sooner or later. But not now."

"Wait for them to come." Liu Bei put down his cup. "The Qiang people value profit, but they value power even more. If you attack them, they'll hold a grudge. Wait until they attack you, then inflict serious damage before offering them something in return... only then will they submit."

Zhang Fei leaned closer: "Brother, next time we fight the Qiang people, let me go!"

"You'll be indispensable." Liu Bei patted him on the shoulder. "But remember, the Qiang people are not bandits. Bandits can be wiped out, but the Qiang people cannot. We must fight, but we must also appease them."

When the banquet ended, the moon was already high in the sky.

Liu Bei sat alone in front of his tent, watching his soldiers clean up the mess. The torches crackled, illuminating the young faces, some only fifteen or sixteen, who had been child soldiers during the Guangzong era.

Xun Cai came out, put on his clothes, and gave him a robe.

"Is my husband worried about the Qiang people?"

"I'm worried, but not worried either." Liu Bei pulled her down to sit. "The arrival of the Qiang people is both trouble and opportunity."

"Chance?"

"The powerful clans of Hanzhong outwardly submit to me, but inwardly they remain hesitant. Only if I can repel and pacify the Qiang people when they invade will they truly be loyal to me." Liu Bei paused, "The same goes for Su Gu. He hopes the Qiang people will teach me a lesson. If I suffer, he will still have some hope."