Chapter 149

The procession heading to the capital stayed in the small county for several days. During these few days, Dai Li only went out once to visit the market. The atmosphere in the county was very tense. Military patrols hurried back and forth, seemingly busy organizing a bandit eradication campaign.

However, this tense atmosphere automatically dissipated after Dai Li returned to the guest house. The men from the North seemed very casual about the bandit eradication, not caring about it at all.

Dai Li had asked Qin Shaozong about it, and he merely replied, "No rush."

Alright then, it seemed he already had a plan.

After resting and reorganizing in the small county, the procession set off once again.

Chang'an was located in Yongzhou, and Yongzhou was to the west of Yanzhou. If they were heading to the capital, logically they should travel directly southwest from Yuyang to reach Chang'an as quickly as possible.

But now, Qin Shaozong was heading south first before turning west, which was equivalent to taking a detour and traveling a longer route.

Shen Tianming realized this belatedly and said with a displeased expression, "Marquis Qin, we are going the wrong way."

"We are not going the wrong way." Qin Shaozong curled his thin lips into a smile. "Last year, Fan of Yanzhou colluded with the Green Lotus Sect to cause chaos and harm the common people. I was invited by Governor Nangong to head south and eliminate this threat for the people. Later, I beheaded that Yanzhou leader and parasite, causing Yanzhou to lose its ruler and turn into scattered sand. Ultimately, this matter started because of me, so how could I just ignore it? I had no choice but to take on the hardship and jointly assume the position of Yanzhou Governor alongside Nangong."

Shen Tianming's face twitched fiercely.

He had clearly killed Fan of Yanzhou and seized his territory, yet he could still speak in such a high-sounding and righteous manner.

How utterly shameless!

How could Qin Shaozong not see what he was thinking? But that didn't stop him from continuing to smile. "Since we happen to be traveling far from home, and Chang'an is not too far from Yanzhou, I thought we could drop by Yanzhou on the way to see how much vitality has been restored to this land after the parasite was eradicated. General Shen, could it be that you are not happy to see the common people living and working in peace?"

With such a huge accusation pressed upon him, Shen Tianming naturally denied it immediately. "Not at all. A harmonious government and peaceful people is naturally a good thing. It's just that heading to the capital cannot be delayed. Why don't we part ways here? I will escort your esteemed wife and young son to the capital to receive their titles, and you, Marquis, can continue to Yanzhou to handle your official business."

Qin Shaozong coldly rejected the idea. "The imperial edict only specified the deadline for setting off to the capital, but there is no time limit for arrival. Moreover, I have already sent someone to report this matter to the higher-ups. If they lay blame, I will bear it all myself. General Shen need not worry."

Beside them, Guo Nai was entirely focused on hurrying to the capital. Hearing that Qin Shaozong wanted to take a detour, he naturally disagreed. But just as he opened his mouth to speak, Shen Tianming held him down and gave a slight shake of his head.

Shen Tianming thought it over and felt that this situation truly could not go in the direction he hoped.

A man accustomed to summoning the wind and rain in the North could not tolerate repeated provocations. If they really angered this Northern tiger, it was hard to say whether they would ultimately arrive safely in the capital.

There was nothing to be done. Who told their side to have fewer than ten men left!

Shen Tianming gritted his teeth and said, "Fine. Since Marquis Qin has already submitted a memorial to the imperial court, we will walk a few extra steps and visit Yanzhou first."

The procession continued south.

Time flew by like a white horse passing a crevice, with the sun rising and setting. After traveling for about ten days, Dai Li and the group arrived at the border between Yanzhou and Jizhou. Traveling a bit further south would bring them into Yanzhou.

Approaching dusk, the procession arrived at a mountain village at the border of the two provinces. There were no towns nearby, only rural villages, so they settled in the village for the night.

The village was not small, containing about a thousand households. When Qin Shaozong's three hundred men arrived, their numbers were less than a third of the villagers, but their imposing aura was overwhelming.

Seeing them armed with swords and sabers, wearing armor, and riding fine horses, the villagers were momentarily terrified.

"Village Chief, have the bandits come?"

Hearing this, Shen Tianming immediately glared at the speaker with his tiger-like eyes. "Nonsense! I am the grand General of Agile Cavalry appointed personally by His Majesty. When did I ever degenerate into a bandit?"

This shout echoed far and wide, causing many villagers to look at each other in dismay.

"Not bandits?"

"He said he is a general of the imperial court. Could it be that the court has learned about the bandit menace around Spring Sprout Mountain and finally sent people to eradicate them?"

"That must be it. Thank the heavens and the earth! Thank His Majesty for his great grace!" Someone took the lead to kneel.

With this one kneeling, a whole crowd fell to their knees in a sweeping motion.

Shen Tianming was dumbfounded, feeling as if he had instantly been put on a pedestal.

But bandits? Were there bandits here too?

Qin Shaozong rode his horse forward and told the person who had kneeled first that they needed a place to stay for the night.

The man agreed to everything without hesitation, but at the very end, he said, "Noble sir, the bandits of Spring Sprout Mountain are extremely cunning. Please be very careful when eradicating them. The military officers from the local government office who went previously all returned in defeat."

Qin Shaozong did not reply immediately. Instead, he cast a sidelong glance at Shen Tianming, whose face had turned stiff.

The procession proceeded to settle in and make themselves at home.

When Dai Li heard the word bandits, she knew the time had come. At the earliest, it would be tomorrow night; there would definitely be action within five days.

Indeed, just as she expected, after the meal, Shen Tianming took the initiative to seek out Qin Shaozong.

"Marquis Qin, what are your thoughts on the matter of the Spring Sprout Mountain bandits?" Shen Tianming asked.

He had always been brooding over the previous attack, but strangely enough, after that incident, the remaining dozens of bandits had completely vanished. It was unknown whether they had fled after completing their mission or hidden away waiting for an opportunity to strike.

"If there is a bandit menace, it naturally must be eliminated. Besides, General Shen has already revealed his identity just now, and the common people have knelt to thank the heavens for its grace. If we just ignore it, wouldn't that ruin His Majesty's prestige?" Qin Shaozong said.

Shen Tianming choked for a moment. He had made up his mind not to get involved. "If you want to eradicate the bandits, go ahead. But ultimately, this matter is not part of my mission. Forgive me, but I cannot accompany you."

"As you wish." Qin Shaozong was surprisingly easy to talk to.

Then, right in front of Shen Tianming, he summoned Feng Feng. "Feng Feng, pick a few sharp scouts to go and scout the terrain of Spring Sprout Mountain tonight."

Feng Feng: "Yes, sir."

In just a few short sentences, the bandit eradication matter was set in stone.

Shen Tianming said in a cryptic tone, "Then I wish Marquis Qin victory upon the first unfurling of your banner."

Qin Shaozong accepted it entirely. "You are too kind."

The houses in the village were mostly single-story. As they spoke outside, Dai Li could hear them clearly from inside the room. They talked about their matters, while she busied herself with hers.

Shen Tianming left after finishing his important business. Dai Li, who was busy in the room, heard the creaking sound of the wooden door's hinges. A man's footsteps approached, but she did not look up, remaining focused on her work.

The woman sitting on the wooden chair had delicate eyebrows like dark ink, and her face was gorgeously beautiful, resembling a peony in full, stunning bloom.

At this moment, she had her eyes cast down, looking at the small pouch gradually taking shape in her hands. Her dark eyes were steeped in a faint smile, and her whole being seemed enveloped in a soft, peaceful halo that made it impossible for anyone to look away.

Qin Shaozong's footsteps suddenly stopped, and he narrowed his long, narrow brown eyes.

These past few days of traveling, he rode a horse while she rode in the carriage. The only time they spent together for a slightly longer period was at night. He had previously thought she was just embroidering handkerchiefs out of boredom, but looking at it now, that was not the case...

"What is Madame embroidering?" he asked, despite already knowing the answer.

Dai Li didn't hide it. "Embroidering a small pouch. Earlier, when I was visiting the market in the small county, I saw an old man selling peace amulets. He said the peace amulet was brought back from a distant temple, and the paper used to fold it had been steeped in the chanting of eminent monks for over half a year, and it was only meant for those destined for it."

Speaking of this, Daili could not help but smile. "Actually, I also know that his words were somewhat exaggerated. Strictly speaking, a peace amulet is just a piece of paper. But at the thought of Zhou Zhou and Qinian going to wipe out the bandits, I still couldn't resist buying it."

He stared unblinkingly at the item in her hands and offered a very sincere suggestion. "Since the peace amulets were bought, why should you, Madam, exhaust yourself with needle and thread? Wouldn't it be just as well to casually buy two pouches outside?"

Daili disagreed. "How is that the same? The temple is too far, and I have no way to go there, but embroidering small pouches is not something I am incapable of doing."

In truth, her embroidery skills were not very good either. After all, she had only learned needlework on a whim from Nianxia and the others last winter.

Qin Shaozong asked again, "Barring any accidents, the bandit suppression operation is set for the day after tomorrow. Do you plan to rush and finish the small pouches before then, Madam?"

"That is natural. When the time comes, the two brothers will each wear one." Daili calculated in her heart, thinking that she would definitely be in time by the day after tomorrow.

She had started making the pouches ten days ago. At first, she had even ruined one. Fortunately, the pouches only needed to hold the peace amulets, so it did not matter if they were made small. Otherwise, she really would not have made it in time.

"Does everyone going to suppress the bandits get one?" he continued to ask.

Daili was not a slow-witted person. He rarely dwelled on a single matter, asking about it over and over again like this. She paused her movements and finally looked up at him.

With this glance, Daili met his amber-brown eyes. Those mirror-like eyes gazed at her, a rarely seen darkness surging in their depths.

Daili coughed lightly. "Yes, but you are not going to suppress the bandits..."

"Who says I am not going?" he cut her off.

Daili parted her red lips slightly, but in the end, she said nothing.

Why would this man go? During the previous night attack, half of the imperial court's men were killed, and that attendant surnamed Guo had an arm chopped off, yet he had not personally set out to pursue the culprits.

Now, these were just ordinary mountain bandits, and he had already thoroughly scouted the vicinity beforehand. What difficulty could there possibly be in this bandit suppression?

Qin Shaozong sat down beside her, took one of the small pouches, and examined it.

The pouch was dark blue and plain, with nothing embroidered on it. It was already small to begin with, and in the man's large, dark palm, it looked even more petite and exquisite. Let alone half, it probably only took up about a quarter of his hand.

After looking it over, Qin Shaozong said, "This is that boy Qin Yanzhou's first time going into battle. As his father, I ought to be by his side to look after him a bit."

Daili: "..."

"Do the words you just said still count, Madam?" Qin Shaozong asked again.

Seeing him turning her ninety-percent-finished pouch over and over in his hands, his intentions couldn't be more obvious. Daili had no choice but to say, "...They count."

Qin Shaozong smiled. "Then I will quietly await the good news from you, Madam."

...

A night passed in the blink of an eye.

After waking up, Daili continued to finish her small pouches. The two pouches were mostly completed yesterday, so the finishing touches were quick. They were completely done exactly at the hour of Si.

After finishing the two, Daili hesitated for a moment before finally taking another small pouch out of a small wooden box.

This pouch was the one she had first started sewing, the very one she had ruined initially. At the time, she was using scissors to cut a thread inside the carriage when the carriage wheel happened to get stuck in a small pit. In the jolt, the scissors slipped and accidentally snipped the surface of the pouch.

With a piece of the surface fabric missing, it could no longer be used. She simply set it aside and took new fabric to sew it all over again.

Of course, apart from the ruined surface, the stitches on this first pouch were also understandably crude.

Daili stared at the little thing in her hand and suddenly chuckled softly. "New for three years, old for three years, patched and mended for another three years. Don't even think about making me embroider a new one."

...

Time unknowingly reached the hour of Shen, and the scouts sent out earlier returned.

The scouts gave a detailed report on the situation around Chunmiao Mountain, including the location of the bandit camp, the number of enemies, the main paths up the mountain, the frequency of their shift changes, and some simple defensive equipment around the bandit stronghold. They didn't even leave out the locations of the streams in the mountains.

Simply put, one side of Chunmiao Mountain was a sheer cliff. There were only three viable paths up the mountain: the main eastern and western roads, plus a small trail on the back mountain.

After listening to the report, Qin Shaozong began to assign tasks. "We move at the end of the Yin hour tonight. We will divide our forces into three routes. Feng Feng, you will lead forty men to ambush the rear trail. There is no need for a forced attack; just wait for them to fall into the trap. Qin the Second, you and Bai Jianping will lead eighty men up from the east. Qin San, you and Wei Qing will lead another eighty men to attack the west. You two must act according to orders and not be reckless."

The end of the Yin hour, converted to modern time, would be 5:00 AM.

The Yin hour was the darkest time before dawn. By the time the first wave of sneak attacks was over, the sky would be light. It would be just right for daytime combat, minimizing the bandits' terrain advantage.

The few men cupped their hands in obedience, and the two Black Cavalry platoon leaders quickly went to prepare. Qin Yanzhou and Qin Qinian were also about to follow them out but were stopped by Daili, who was coming out of the room.

The two turned around simultaneously and, seeing Daili waving at them, both obediently walked over.

Daili handed the small pouches to the two brothers, one for each. "I made you small pouches, and there is a peace amulet inside. Take it with you when you go into battle. Go happily, and return safely."

Both of them were stunned for a moment.

Qin Yanzhou looked at the small pouch and couldn't help but murmur, "Mother..."

"Thank you, Mother!" Qin Qinian acted as if he had found a precious treasure. He held it in his hand, turning it over and over to look at it, and then opened the pouch to peek inside. The corners of his mouth rose higher and higher until he finally smiled, revealing a row of white teeth. "Rest assured, Mother. I will definitely come back exactly as I left."

Qin Shaozong stood to the side, watching the two youngsters constantly fiddling with the pouches. No matter how he looked at it, it was an eyesore. He clicked his tongue lightly. "Alright, you two hurry up and go scout the terrain."

After the older and younger boys were chased away, Qin Shaozong looked at Daili. "Madam."

Daili knew what he meant and slowly took another small pouch out of her sleeve. "This one is for you."

Qin Shaozong's original intention was just to remind her not to forget his. Because he also knew that she had only recently learned needlework and was not yet skilled, but he didn't expect her to immediately pull out a small pouch.

He took it and couldn't resist asking, "Did you really embroider this yourself, Madam, without asking anyone else to do it for you?"

Daili got angry out of nowhere. It was already good enough that she had made one for him in passing, yet this man actually dared to doubt this and that. She immediately reached out to snatch it back. "It wasn't embroidered by me, so don't take it."

"How can there be a reason to take back what has been given?" Qin Shaozong raised his long arm, making her grab at empty air. The man held the pouch and looked at it again and again. The item in his palm was made of the same material as the ones she had just given to the two boys, and the size was identical.

The difference was that the brothers' pouches were plain, with nothing embroidered on either side, whereas his had a small flower embroidered on one side.

Qin Shaozong paused.

Looking closely, it really was a small flower, even smaller than his pinky fingernail, and it inexplicably had a somewhat cute feel to it.

Seeing him staring at the patch, Daili quickly said, "I only bought two peace amulets back then, so there's nothing inside this one."

Qin Shaozong replied with an "Mm," not minding at all, as he was still looking at the pouch.

Daili glanced at his expression and said tentatively, "Husband, since you said earlier that you were going into battle, please help me look after Zhou Zhou a bit. It is his first time on the battlefield, after all, and he has no experience."

He finally looked over, his tone unreadable. "So, is Madam trying to bribe me?"

Dai Li said nothing.

He snorted. "Qin Yanzhou is my son too. You have no need to worry, Madam."

Since there was an operation that night, everyone spent the day catching up on sleep. When night fell and the hour slowly crept toward Hai, the soldiers, led by Qin Shaozong, set out for Chunmiao Mountain.

Two hundred men were deployed for this mission, leaving the remaining one hundred to guard the base camp.

Chunmiao Mountain was not too far from the village. However, considering that horses would be useless going up the mountain and riding at night might alert the bandits, Qin Shaozong and his men abandoned their mounts and proceeded on foot.

The night was thick, and a bright moon hung high in the sky, shedding a graceful, silvery glow.

After traversing the initial stretch and nearing Chunmiao Mountain, Feng Feng, who was tasked with guarding the back mountain trail, was the first to lead his men away from the main group.

After walking another distance, it was time to split up toward the east and west.

Bai Jianping was in charge of the east. He looked at Qin Shaozong, awaiting his orders.

Although the Marquis had previously ordered him to take the east and let Old Wei take the west, that was when the Marquis himself had not yet arrived. Now...

And Bai Jianping was not the only one waiting for orders; Wei Qing was too.

Qin Shaozong said calmly, "I will be on the eastern side tonight."

Wei Qing understood. He cupped his hands to his superior and continued leading his men forward.

It was exactly the Zi hour, not yet the agreed time. The men silently climbed a short distance up the mountain and then found the cover the scouts had previously discovered to rest temporarily.

Qin Shaozong sat on the ground, and beside him was Qin Yanzhou.

In this night of mounting tension, Qin Shaozong spoke as if making idle chatter: "I have seen the agreement you signed with Madam."

The young man turned his head, his dark eyes calm.

"As they say, the first step is always the hardest. If you can pass the first hurdle smoothly, everything else will be easy," Qin Shaozong said suddenly. "Qin the Second, how about you stay right here and wait tonight?"

Qin Yanzhou froze.

According to the agreement, he could not suffer even the slightest injury. If he just came along but stayed at the foot of the mountain without advancing, he would indeed be one hundred percent safe from harm.

This was exploiting a loophole in the agreement.

The young man remained silent for a moment before finally shaking his head. His eyes sparkled like gemstones under the moonlight. "No, I will follow you up the mountain. I can hide for a while, but not for a lifetime."

Qin Shaozong chuckled softly. "You're quite resolute, kid."

Time flew by in a flash. Soon it was the Yin hour, slowly shifting from the beginning of Yin to the end of Yin.

Qin Shaozong looked up at the sky. Seeing that the time was right, he blew a bird whistle.

"Tweet—"

The surrounding grass rustled into action. The rustling sound moved all the way up, reaching the wooden palisade made of stakes and spikes halfway up the mountain.

More than two zhang behind the palisade, two figures were dozing with their arms crossed.

Qin Yanzhou picked up a longbow and, along with Bai Jianping, nocked an arrow, drew the bowstring, and aimed at the targets.

The two released their grips almost simultaneously.

With two swooshing sounds tearing through the wind, both arrows struck their targets right in the heart. Two streams of crimson blood spurted out, splashing successively onto the grassy earth.

Seeing this, a Northern soldier in front of the palisade took the lead, raising his saber and hacking down. With a loud crack, he chopped the wooden stakes into pieces, and the Northern army behind him flooded in like a tide.

After passing two checkpoints in succession, the sleeping bandits finally realized what was happening.

Gongs and drums clanged, echoing across the mountaintop.

The mountainside, which had previously been cloaked in darkness, seemed to instantly summon a fiery dragon. The bright, fiery dragon quickly climbed the enclosure, forming a small circle and illuminating the area as bright as day.

"Enemy attack! Get up quickly, enemy attack!" someone shouted at the top of their lungs.

"Hurry, wake everyone up."

"Damn it, is it the government officials again? They just suffered a loss last time, how could they forget their lesson so quickly?"

Amidst the clamor, the pale white of a fish's belly slowly rose in the east, and the night gradually faded away.

The bandit lair was in complete chaos. Some bandits hadn't even dressed properly, rushing out bare-chested with their sabers and slashing at anyone they saw.

Clad in a black robe and wielding a scimitar, Qin Yanzhou attacked a house from which bandits continuously poured out, accompanied by several Northern soldiers.

Iron blades clashed and scraped against each other, producing a grating sound that gave one goosebumps.

The young man's scimitar moved like a dragon, wiping a streak of blood red wherever the blade passed. His slashing motions never ceased, the crimson flashing out vague afterimages. The growing light fell upon his handsome, icy features, giving him the ruthless air of a jade-faced Asura.

"Thud, roll..."

Heavy objects continuously rolled and fell; with every landing thud, someone's expression was frozen forever.

Crimson quietly pooled together. Some seeped into the soil, softening the mud; some fell to the roots of the vegetation, silently absorbed while no one was watching.

"Not good, there are people on both the east and west sides. We can't go west either."

"Something's wrong. Why are the government troops this time different from the last?"

Bai Jianping grinned, "Could your granddaddy be the same as those spineless weaklings from Yanzhou?!"

Wang Hu hadn't expected that in just one night, their past glory would be completely shattered. Holding a longbow, he hid in a pile of tall trees, his eyes wide and bloodshot as he watched his comrades fall one by one. "You all deserve to die!"

The enemy had launched a night raid, attacking simultaneously from the east and west. Their numbers were about the same as the bandits', but they were several times more ferocious.

"I have to take one down with me." Wang Hu drew his bow, first aiming at the black-robed young man below.

But after pausing for a moment, he deliberately shifted his arrowhead away.

This person was incredibly agile; it was hard to say whether this rare shot would hit.

He aimed at someone else.

Releasing his fingers, the long arrow flew out with a swish.

For a split second, Qin Yanzhou felt a chilling killing intent, but in the next instant, the intent vanished without a trace.

He dispatched a man with a backhand strike, only to suddenly see a long arrow hurtling toward him from not far away, aimed straight at a Northern soldier two steps away. At this moment, the soldier was fighting one against two, holding off a pair of bandits.

Qin Yanzhou's pupils shrank abruptly. On the other side, a bandit saw him distracted and raised his saber to slash at him.

In this instant, many things flashed through Qin Yanzhou's mind.

He remembered this soldier's name; the man was called Xun He, loved his wine, and was a very hearty fellow. Just yesterday, Xun He had told Mo Yanyun that after this battle, he would exchange his accumulated military merits for silver to buy new clothes for his wife and children back home.

He also thought of that agreement, and his mother's worried eyes...

The myriad thoughts swept by rapidly; in just a fraction of a second, he had made his decision.

The young man swiftly stepped forward, using his scimitar to knock away the deadly long arrow, and then quickly pulled his blade back to block. However, due to the extra movement he had just made, the bandit's saber was slightly faster, and the tip of the blade pressed into Qin Yanzhou's arm.

His robe was sliced open, and he felt a trace of pain in his arm.