Chapter 147: Not Just a Sidekick

Chapter 147: Not Just a Sidekick

Xianjin's heart pounded.

How daring is this woman!

Just the four of us?

Xianjin's gaze stiffly shifted to the four horses nearby, snorting and grazing leisurely.

Including these four horses?

Xianjin's expression amused the man with the beard standing next to the woman.

The broad-faced man with a beard chuckled, half-smiling as he turned to the woman. "Miss, this girl doubts our capabilities!"

Xianjin's lips twitched. Unless your horses suddenly sprout fluffy white wings and don bright golden armor, I find it hard to believe you can take down a bandit den with just four people.

Xianjin glanced at the men lying on the cart, their wounds treated with wood ash and tightly wrapped with gauze to prevent excessive bleeding. The Zheng brothers were in relatively better condition, but Zhou Ergou was in bad shape. His exposed wounds were shocking, and he had gone from initial excitement and extreme fear to silence and lethargy. He now lay on the cart's shaft, eyes tightly shut, while Shuo'er and Mama Zhang wiped him clean with clean handkerchiefs, to no avail.

Xianjin frowned and pursed her lips. They needed medicine, a doctor, a quiet environment, and clean water; otherwise, infection in ancient times could be fatal.

"Let's go!" Xianjin gritted her teeth, determined. "In ancient times, Zhuge Liang used an empty city strategy; today, we have four heroes ready to raid a bandit lair! Perhaps we can achieve much with little effort, like a surprise night attack to burn down their camp? Our Chen family has money, and I have silver notes. We could bribe some informants for inside help and catch them off guard!"

These suggestions about arson and murder were beyond Xianjin's expertise, but they were the only ideas she could muster.

This time, it was the woman who was amused, her lips curling slightly. "Where did you get these ideas?"

Xianjin hesitated. "...From books?"

Of course, from numerous excellent films and TV shows.

The woman smiled and shook her head, squinting into the golden sunlight as she peered down the mountain. She gently waved Xianjin closer and whispered, "A good general never fights unprepared—likewise, a good sister doesn't boast without confidence."

Following her gaze, Xianjin felt goosebumps rise on her back.

In the tall forest below, another horse team was hidden.

The hundred or so horses, all brown and chestnut, were ridden by men dressed in dark clothes and belts. Oh, not entirely men; Xianjin clearly saw several women with high-bound hair sitting upright on the horses!

This horse team!

It seemed like an army!

Their stern demeanor gave Xianjin a strange feeling... almost like a SEAL team!

Her hair stood on end.

Who are these people?

Are they the daughter of a powerful general, or is she the general herself?

Xianjin stared, looking between the horse team below and the beautiful woman before her. After a moment, she swallowed and lowered her voice. "I am He Xianjin. He means 'congratulations,' Xian means 'show,' and Jin means 'gold.' I currently reside with the Chen family and serve as the workshop manager. The middle-aged man in the light blue robe is my stepfather, named Chen Fu, the third son of Chen's in Xuancheng. The others are the shop assistants: Zhou Ergou, Zheng Da, Zheng Er, Mama Zhang, and Shuo'er..."

Xianjin's eyes skipped over Baozhu as she detailed everyone's roles, origins, and addresses.

The woman looked at Xianjin with interest. "Why are you telling me all this?"

Xianjin swallowed again, her gaze solemn. "Please rest assured that even if a thousand swords were held to our throats, we would not reveal a single word!"

The woman's eyes showed a hint of surprise.

This was a way of reassuring her, openly revealing their identities so that if news of her military expedition leaked, she could easily find the source.

She was a very smart girl.

The woman looked at Xianjin's bloodied hands and resolute eyes, also a very brave girl.

She nodded lightly and patted Xianjin's shoulder. "Alright, time is of the essence. Once they scatter, it will be harder to capture them all." She turned and commanded sternly, "Lift those twelve bodies! Lao Bing!"

The broad-faced man with a beard responded!

"Send orders! Have the scouts find the bandit camp!"

"Team Qian goes ahead to scout the bandit camp's forces!"

"Teams Gen and Dui stay behind, cut off all entrances, and watch for anyone passing through the forest, especially disguised bandits pretending to be hunters!"

"Sili and Siqin, find a temporary hut built by hunters in the mountains and settle the injured from the Chen family and the girl there!"

"Sili and Siquan, search nearby farms for information on the bandit camp!"

A long string of orders was given calmly, and her subordinates executed them efficiently. Each order was followed by someone riding out, bowing, and retreating. Within twenty breaths, all orders were carried out.

Xianjin held her breath.

Monkeys = Scouts.

Team Qian = Vanguard.

Teams Gen and Dui = Rear Guard.

Sili and Siqin = Logistics.

Sili and Siquan = Spies.

Thanks to her father's love for military channels, Xianjin was certain this was a well-trained, coordinated, and battle-hardened... army.

Xianjin lowered her head and remained silent.

No matter who this woman is, she is not someone that the current Chen family or the current Xianjin can aspire to be associated with—such a plot where the heroine clings to a golden thigh and rises to prominence is not so realistic in real life.

Think about it with your toes.

Over a hundred elites all dressed in plain clothes took a detour, looking weary from travel and in a hurry, speaking impeccable official language, coming from the north and leaving discreetly.

What are they here to do?

It must be a top-secret matter of utmost importance that cannot be disclosed to outsiders.

The government, the military, secrets... any involvement by an ordinary person could easily lead to death.

This is different from dealing with Prefectural Magistrate Xiong.

Dealing with Prefectural Magistrate Xiong, the consequences are still manageable.

These consequences... she doesn't even know the cause, let alone think about the consequences!

Xianjin shrank her neck back, trying to make herself invisible—she is not the heroine who can boldly and loudly seek connections and stand out; she is just a dung beetle striving to live better within the rules.

After giving her instructions, the woman caught sight of the little girl in dark brown clothing cowering like a quail on the side, and inwardly praised her again—this really is a very perceptive little girl!