Chapter 32 Who Comes Here

The sky is sunny and clear of clouds. Lin Yuan sends off Yang Zi’an by the woods. This time Yang Zi’an is traveling lightly, only taking 2 people with him to Xing Hua city. They must disguise themselves as small merchants so Lin Yuan hands over the only ox cart to Yang Zi’an and even gives him some of the silver taels that he has very little left remaining.

“Guaranteeing your safety is the most important.” Lin Yuan squeezes Yang Zi’an’s hand.

Everytime someone must leave for the outside world his heart always feel like it is being hung in midair.

Nobody knows what the future holds for them.

Returning safely before does not mean that it will remain like that everytime.

Something like luck, it is the hardest to pinpoint.

Yang Zi’an squeezes back and climbs onto the cart. Before driving away he says:”A blade that will not see blood is not a good blade, a weapon that does not kill is not a good weapon.”

When Yang Zi’an left farther away, Lin Yuan lets out a sigh.

After a day of pondering, Lin Yuan calls over Zhu Yuanzhang. Recently, Zhu Yuanzhang has been living and eating with those ‘soldiers’ and has developed a camaraderie. There are some who are willing to follow his lead and some not willing. This is all that Lin Yuan has expected. People are complex, each one with their own way of thinking. Soldiers are people too.

“Since the training is almost up to standards, it is time to take it to the next level.” Lin Yuan says, “this time I will go with you to suppress the bandits in the area.”

Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes seem to gleam:”About time!”

Lin Yuan nods:”We leave tomorrow morning, leave early.”

“No need for breakfast.” Lin Yuan adds.

Zhu Yuanzhang pauses, and says with some sadness:”Looks like I should eat more tonight.”

Lin Yuan chuckles and they separate to go back to their own living quarters.

Although fighting on an empty stomach is a bit inhumane but as this is the first time to use armed forces against the bandits, Lin Yuan thinks it would be better to take some measures.

He forgot where he heard it from but the period before stepping onto the battlefield, soldiers are not given any filling meals. Only during a celebratory feast after a win can they eat fully. For their stomach the soldiers will have to fight hard.

He wants to try this method, but he is also slightly unsure so he only decided to take out breakfast.

That night Lin Yuan did not sleep well, his dreams filled with scenes of carnage. When he woke up in the morning he looks at the sunlight streaming in through the window. He touches his back and comes away with cold sweat.

When he is dressed he leaves his room and walks past the half finished wall surrounding the farmstead. He comes across a 100 man battalion all standing at attention.

Every one of them had on vine armor and hand holding onto a weapon. Their heads held high and back straight, their spirits high. All of them know what they will be doing soon but other than just a bit of fear there is more excitement. They are also clear that after training for so long it is time to put what they have learned to the test.

Besides they have vine armors, weapons and thick soled shoes made by the women overnight. With the shoes they walk on the ground and feel like they are walking on clouds. They also don’t need to worry about slipping in them either.

Because there are no horses they could only walk on foot, every person carry on them bamboo flasks filled with water. The food can only be foraged from the surrounding woods. Lin Yuan also accompanies them in eating tree bark.

The wisdom of the ancient people; they know which trees have edible bark. Although there isn’t much flavor to be had and must eat alot to feel full but it is still better than nothing. People will only feel comforted with food in their mouths.

They walked for three days and three nights and finally just before sunset, they see a residence.

Bandits stake out their territory in different parts of the mountains. They don’t abide by the imperial court’s rule and rely on killing and stealing for a livlihood, abducting grown men and women to add to their numbers.

They would force the young men they abducted to join them in causing harm to the people in the area.

As for the women, they would be locked up and if they are pretty and attracted the attention of a bandit with a higher status then they would live relatively better.

But if the women are plain or average and have not attracted a higher up bandit’s attention then they will be reduced to tools for the bandits to sate their lust.

The entire day Lin Yuan and the others did not act hastily. Neither did they start a fire. They just hid and observed the house of bandits. Although it is a nest of bandits the place is rather organized with even a watchtower set up and night guards. Although the houses are shacks but they were not constructed crudely, but rather luxurious in comparison to the shacks of regular common people.

The number estimate to be about 300 and can be considered to be a mid-scale bandit nest.

But their weapons are not alot. After a day’s observation no more than 50 carry blades, more people only have wooden sticks.

Lin Yuan discusses lowly with Zhu Yuanzhang:”We can only take them off guard.”

They spent a week observing the patterns of the bandits.

Every two days a group of bandits would go down the mountain and return with quite a lot of supplies which look to be taken from the common people. Sometimes they would also bring back women.

This group of bandits number around 200, leaving 100 to guard the residence.

In an era without any methods to contact each other across long distances, if they take advantage of the absence of these 200 bandits to attack the residence, the bandits left in the residence would not be able to contact for assistance.

“Have 50 people circle to the back and 50 people attack from the front.” Lin Yuan draws on the ground with his finger. It is crude and simply drawn but Zhu Yuanzhang can still understand it, “look, this is the biggest shack within the residence, the bandit leader likely lives here.”

“Although we can’t know for sure whether the bandit leader will be present, but attacking from here is the fastest.”

Zhu Yuanzhang nods and says:”I will bring people to circle out back.”

Lin Yuan:”Then I will lead the frontal attack. Once my side make a movement then you must speed up as well.”

Zhu Yuanzhang:”Understood.”

The current Zhu Yuanzhang is still in the learning phase. Lin Yuan himself is also just fumbling along. But Lin Yuan has an advantage – the knowledge he gained while living in the modern times.

The advantage modern people have over ancient people is that from birth modern people are exposed to information from all directions. And these information are extremely valuable wealth.

And ancient people lack in this wealth of knowledge. How fast are high speed rails? And how fast is a horse carriage?

Lin Yuan tries to find the silver lining and thinks, he can be considered to be standing on the backs of giants.

They waited 2 more days, and it was finally time for the day Lin Yuan decided to launch the attack. He gives a motivating speech to the soldiers. Pointing at the bandit residence he says:”In there is food, meat and wine. As long as you capture it, the things inside are all yours. You can not only eat and drink fully, you can even bring it back to share with family and friends.”

The soldiers widen their eyes.

Just Lin Yuan’s words have them feeling as if they can already smell the scent of wine and meat.

The people here, some have never even tasted wine in their whole lives.

Wine requires fine grains to make.

“Inside there are also women.” Lin Yuan says, “as long as you save them and bring them back, perhaps by next year you will be able to welcome a plump and healthy son.”

The eyes of the soldiers appear even more ardent.

What are the dreams of the people in the lowest social class? Eat and drink fully, marry a wife and have a son. This is their highest motivation.

At this time someone asks:”Boss! One for each person?”

Lin Yuan says irritated:”Do you think you’re shopping, one for each person? When they are saved and brought back they will be part of the farmstead. You are in the farmstead everyday, don’t you have any confidence in winning the beauty’s heart?”

He does not wish for his small army to be like the bandits.

The women are willing to marry and spend their lives with these soldiers, he will approve.

If they are unwilling, he will also approve, after all women are also part of the labor force and can farm the land or sew clothes, the more the better.

The soldiers’ eyes glow.

Currently the farmstead has too little women, and they are also separated when working. But since they began training, the women often come to look at them.

And even discuss who looks the most mighty, whose physique is the most sturdy and strong.

The most impressive one amongst them, with the best performance during training, now already has a wife.

It makes the others extremely envious.

Anyway, under all kinds of enticement, these soldiers become extremely excited.

As if a beautiful life is just in front of them. Capturing this bandit residence they will be able to welcome a successful life.

The bandits who go down the mountain usually arrive back the next morning.

The sky darkens and Lin Yuan sees the people in the residence get ready for sleep. He then separates from Zhu Yuanzhang, both taking two different roads towards the residence.

After being trained for this long, disregarding anything else these soldiers have high levels of obedience.

But battle skills are something that can never be taught. In an age of cold weapons only experience can be relied upon.

They move forward in the dark but with this many people they naturally cannot go unseen by the night guard on the watchtower.

The person shouts in a hurry:”Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Hurry and get up!”