novelraw Chapter 252: The Hero Who Wishes to Save the Realm
Chapter 252: The Hero Who Wishes to Save the Realm
Cheng Xu recalled the troops and pulled back beneath the low cloud.
The militia also withdrew. Everyone tallied their loot and found, huh, there was quite a haul indeed.
The officials had fled while shedding gear every step of the way, truly embodying the spirit of “disarming completely in a stampede.”
Li Ying’s full set of Mountain-patterned Armor was now entirely in the hands of the militia. Several men had each picked up various pieces, and together they assembled the whole set. Bringing it to Cheng Xu, they said, “Captain Ghost, we captured the enemy commander’s armor. This should go to you.”
Cheng Xu laughed. “What use have I for that? The set I’m wearing is no worse in craftsmanship than this. Bring it back and store it. When we gain a second commander, it’ll be for them.”
Ground Rabbit suddenly popped in from the side. “That would definitely be me! Grand Commander, Mr. Rabbit. Why not just give it to me early?”
“Thump!”
Cheng Xu knocked Ground Rabbit flat with one punch.
Everyone counted their spoils, gathering everything into a large bundle to carry back.
Usually, whether soldiers of the Ming army, Qing troops, or bandit rebels, the rule regarding loot was “finder’s keepers.” But Gaojia Village’s militia operated differently. One of the “Three Main Rules” they studied daily was that “all captured goods must be transferred to public ownership.” Therefore, anyone who obtained spoils didn’t get to keep them. Instead, everything was pooled for centralized distribution.This ensured the militia wouldn’t have individuals chaotically or recklessly charging ahead out of greed for plunder during battle.
Li Daoxuan watched their actions from the sky and silently nodded in satisfaction. Excellent. The results of ideological training were beginning to show.
As he thought this, his gaze caught a fast-moving figure at the edge of his perspective: a lone rider galloping hard. The rider was fully armored and gripping a long spear…
It was Fang Wushang, Patrol Officer of Chengcheng!
News of the Guyuan rebels’ approach had secretly been relayed to the county town by the gentry of Fengyuan Town. Liang Shixian and Fang Wushang had rushed immediately to aid.
The magistrate, leading the militia, was slower and had fallen far behind.
But Fang Wushang possessed a horse. Being impetuous, he couldn’t wait for the foot soldiers to catch up and charged ahead solo, mounted and unaccompanied.
He arrived a step too late. Li Ying’s division had long since vanished entirely, and Cheng Xu’s militia was already turning back.
A more cunning patrol officer, someone like Cheng Xu, would certainly halt the pursuit then. But Fang Wushang was rigidly upright. Seeing the “Guyuan rebels,” he roared instantly, “Treacherous rebels, dare you invade my Chengcheng?!”
With a slap to his horse’s rear, he charged forward.
His charge dumbfounded Li Daoxuan. “Eh? How could he just charge in like that?”
Equally bewildered, Cheng Xu muttered, “Does that patrol officer value his life so little? How much pay does a small ninth-rank inspector even get? Is it worth such reckless sacrifice?”
“He… Captain Ghost, he’s charging at us!”
“What do we do?” a few voices asked nervously.
Cheng Xu “hmph”-ed. “What do we do? Pick up your spears, pull in tightly, and form a circle pointing all weapons outward. That’s what we do.”
The militia, by now well-trained, followed the order instantly. They pulled into tight formation. Hundreds of spearpoints snapped up together like quills of a giant porcupine.
This was their first time facing cavalry; watching the warhorse hurtle towards them, they were visibly terrified. Several dozen trembled, the men gripping their spears unable to hold them steady.
But it was enough!
Fang Wushang, halfway through his charge, saw the enemy transform its formation thus and was shocked himself. He dared not charge headlong into them like he had previously done to the He Yang bandits. He yanked on his reins, pulling his horse into a frantic turn around the militia square.
Cheng Xu bellowed, “Raise crossbows!”
As one, every militiaman lifted their small crossbow upward…
Fang Wushang’s heart jumped. Abandoning even the circling, he frantically reined his horse around and fled backward.
Cheng Xu didn’t give the order to fire. Instead, he shouted after Fang Wushang’s retreating back, “Brother, soldiering is just a common trade to survive! Don’t risk your neck like this. Go back and lie low. We of the Guyuan border army merely came seeking our past-due military pay from the imperial court. We won’t rob the common folk.”
Stiffening slightly upon his saddle, Fang Wushang glanced back at Cheng Xu in disbelief. Slapping his horse again, he sped off. Internally, he pondered. The frontier’s border army was formidable indeed. That formation I stood no chance breaking solo. Even with my hundred men at hand, success would remain hopeless. Pray this rebel band keeps their word and refrains from harassing Chengcheng’s populace.
Only after he was entirely out of sight did Cheng Xu laugh derisively. “Hah! Why would we rob the common folk? Are any peasants across Chengcheng County richer than our villagers? Plundering their homes might yield less loot than robbing Ground Rabbit!”
Those nearby chortled in agreement, “Exactly! Let’s go rob Ground Rabbit!”
Ground Rabbit exclaimed indignantly, “H-hey now, what kind of terrifying talk is this? This Mr. Rabbit possesses not a shred of affluence! Empty as my rabbit hutch, you’d find naught but grains had you robbed me.”
Zheng Gouzi questioned him, “The militia pays well! How can you possess nothing? I’m relatively new myself and already banked a tidy sum.”
Ground Rabbit burst into boisterous laughter, “You know nothing! This Mr. Rabbit practices righteous vegetables! Every coin drawn as pay I gave unto the poor folk dwelling within Bai Family Fortress! Hahaha! Riches to me stink as manure. I, Mr. Rabbit, shall one day save the realm and sweep away all evil beneath Heaven. Why cling so greedily to transient treasure?”
Astonished silence met his words…
Only Cheng Xu retorted caustically, “Righteous generosity! Not vegetables! Damned fool, where did you muster the audacity for such boastfulness?”
Gao Chuwu mumbled beneath his breath, “Back before, when you first joined the village, you did bounce around fussing over tiny trifles of pay.”
Ground Rabbit flared up instantly. “Aghhh! Let those disgraceful deeds pass unspoken! Whomsoever brings them up again shall this Mr. Rabbit silence with his ‘Celestial Rabbit Sword’!”
Momentarily speechless, the others collectively “……”
Li Daoxuan almost chuckled aloud. Ground Rabbit. Always managing pleasant surprises at the strangest places.
Perhaps herein lay the peak joy found in fostering miniature worlds. Moments where one stumbled upon delight amongst these little folk.
The militia resumed their withdrawal. Soon, they skirted Fengyuan Town.
Liang Shixian, Fang Wushang, local gentry, as well as the town’s own militia, crouched upon the town walls. They watched this “Guyuan rebel band” with wary eyes, dreading an abrupt assault upon Fengyuan.
Their wariness proved unfounded!
Cheng Xu and his crew bypassed the town entirely, continuing north. Swiftly, they slipped back into Huanglong Mountain. Upon ensuring Fengyuan Town’s scouts failed pursuit into hills, they immediately tore off their cloth masks. Together they burned the banner bearing “Ghost” insignia and the “Return Our Hard-earned Military Pay!” standard. They wound through the mountains’ secret vale, looping westward to emerge descending Bai Family Fortress’ northern slope.
Bai Yuan awaited them already. With a cupped-fist greeting he asked, “How fares matters?”
Cheng Xu gestured upward at the low cloud above, a relaxed smile breaking. “Under the Deity’s watchful gaze, how could we do less than succeed? We successfully drive Guerrilla General Li Ying clear beyond Chengcheng.”