Chapter 042

Chapter 042

Pine Village.

After a day of spring plowing, the villagers all went to bed early and slept deeply.

However, when screams and cries suddenly erupted from neighboring houses or the outskirts of the village, most of the villagers, who had been ravaged by years of war, woke up instantly.

The headman's family lived near the center of the village. After waking up, the nearly fifty-year-old headman, Zhang Maode, hastily put on his coat and ran outside. As soon as he stepped out of the gate, two shadows leaping over a neighbor's wall on the left side of the street startled him, causing him to quickly crouch down against the wall. Still trembling, he saw someone on the right kicking open a neighbor's door, acting with complete disregard.

Hearing the continuous cries and shouts coming from all around the village, Zhang Maode felt a chill run down his spine and leaned helplessly against the wall.

"Father, what's happening? Are there bandits?"

His second son, Zhang Wengong, holding a cleaver, rushed over, followed by his limping elder brother, Zhang Wensheng.

The appearance of his sons calmed Zhang Maode somewhat. He took a deep breath under the night sky, listened for a moment, and then said to his sons while keeping an eye outside: "It's not mountain bandits; they have mules and horses, so they come and go quickly. These people either carry sticks or are bare-handed, and they specifically target small places like ours. They must be newly turned bandits from displaced civilians."

Zhang Wengong angrily said, "I'll go kill them now!"

Zhang Maode stopped his son, becoming even more composed: "Don't act rashly. From the sounds, this group of displaced civilians is numerous, and they are desperate like hungry wolves. For the sake of money and food, they will fight you to the death. You alone cannot defeat them. Listen to me: immediately ride our mule to Xiao Qianhu's house and ask him to gather some able-bodied men to come to our aid. Perhaps we can save some villagers' lives."

Zhang Wengong panicked: "If I leave, what about you?"

Only he and his nephew had learned martial arts at the Xiao residence for over half a year. His nephew was still young, his father was elderly, and his elder brother was lame. If the displaced civilians broke in, it would mean certain death for the whole family.

Zhang Maode said: "If you stay, our entire family will die. Leave now, take Xiao Chao with you. The Zhang family will at least have two survivors! No more talk, hurry before the displaced civilians notice!"

Zhang Wengong wanted to say more, but Zhang Maode slapped him, tears in his eyes: "Do you know better than I do? Go!"

The slap stirred Zhang Wengong's determination. He knelt and bowed three times to his father, then rushed into the house, pulling his ten-year-old nephew, Zhang Chao, out from his sister-in-law's arms and onto his shoulders. Back in the courtyard, he saw his father had already untied the mule. Zhang Wengong bit his lip, placed his nephew on the saddle, and then leaped up himself, riding away without looking back.

The galloping hooves alerted the looting displaced civilians, who shouted: "Someone is riding out! Tell Brother Qin!"

Unfortunately, the displaced civilians only had their feet. By the time their leader, Brother Qin, found out, Zhang Wengong and his nephew were long gone.

Brother Qin thought for a moment and ordered: "Pass it along: loot for another quarter of an hour. After that, regardless of the gains, gather at the north end of the village and follow me into the northern mountains!"

Once they escaped into the mountains, even if the person sought help from nearby villages, it would be useless. The government no longer cared for the people, and the villagers wouldn't risk their lives to venture into the northern mountains at night for the sake of victims from other villages. They would move west overnight, change locations, and head straight for the largest bandit gang in the county, stationed in the northwestern part of Longxing Mountain at Imprisoned Dragon Ridge, ensuring their safety.

The displaced civilians loudly relayed the message, becoming even more frenzied in their killing.

Outside the village, Zhang Wengong often practiced martial arts at the Xiao residence. Even though the moonlight was dim tonight, he knew the way well.

The mule, which had just finished plowing during the day, was already panting, but Zhang Wengong could not afford to care about its condition and whipped it harder.

Ten-year-old Zhang Chao, tightly pursing his lips, let his tears roll down continuously.

Within less than a cup of tea, the uncle and nephew reached the Xiao residence after traveling the seven- or eight-mile dirt road.

Zhang Wengong helped his nephew dismount the horse and rushed to the gate of the Center Court, wailing in despair, "Xiao Qianhu, our Pine Village is on the brink of being massacred by the refugees, please save us, elder!"

This heart-wrenching cry, as if tearing one's throat, almost echoed throughout the entire Lingshui Village.

In the eastern wing of the eastern courtyard, Xiao Zhen, much like the last time the village was troubled by thieves, advised Tong Sui to bolt the door, instructed Xiao Ye to guard the courtyard, and then hurried to the Center Court to join the old master, Xiao Shouyi, and Xiao Yan, the three of them.

Without Xiao Mu asking, Zhang Wengong recounted the tragic events of Pine Village once again.

Xiao Mu clenched his iron fists in anger; the act of slaughtering an entire village was beyond comprehension, those refugees were utterly heartless and deranged!

Arm yourselves, you five uncles and nephews, and go with Wen Gong to Pine Village immediately. Save as many villagers as you can, and capture all the refugees if possible!

The five uncles and nephews quickly prepared themselves, and with Zhang Wengong, they were just about to set off on three mules when Sun Dian and Sun Wei, the brothers, also arrived on mules, each holding a machete.

Xiao Zhen looked at Sun Dian and said, "Time is of the essence, let's talk while we walk."

Sun Dian's expression darkened: "Lead the way, by all means!"

They left, and Xiao Mu raised his voice to the women and children of both households, saying, "Rest assured and sleep soundly; I will be guarding the courtyard until they, uncle and nephew, return!"

Having finished the arrangements, Xiao Mu closed the main gate of the Center Court, led Zhang Chao to the West Court, and instructed him to sleep in Xiao She's room. He placed a spear against the door of the western wing and sat on the threshold himself.

In the southern room of the western wing, seven refugees who had just helped the Xiao Family till the land for a day still resided.

The wailing of Zhang Wengong awoke the seven individuals, who were also aware of the unrest caused by the displaced people outside. This filled their hearts with dread, fearing that they might be implicated by the scum among the refugees and lose their newly acquired positions, or even be taken as accomplices and delivered to the authorities.

For a while, no one could sleep anymore.

Xiao Zhen and seven others were racing towards Pine Village with the speed of the wind and the flash of lightning.

The Sun brothers, each with a mule, moved at a faster pace. Before they took the lead, Xiao Zhen swiftly said: "Pine Village is bordered by mountains to the north. Once the displaced people succeed in their mischief, they will surely flee to the mountains. You should hurry to the north of the village first. If the displaced people have already escaped, just pursue them; if they are still causing trouble, you should start from the north and move south, rescuing people from house to house."

Sun Dian unconsciously agreed, "Good!"

Xiao Zhen continued his admonition towards his receding figure, "This case is too significant; it will undoubtedly be reported to the authorities. Try to incapacitate the refugees if possible, and avoid causing death unless absolutely necessary."

Though they were ridding the people of a menace, facing such a corrupt and incompetent government, they tried to avoid taking lives whenever possible, for fear of being unable to justify their actions.

Sun Dian: "Nonsense, I'll slaughter these beasts!"

Sun Wei: "Elder brother, heed the second brother Xiao Er's advice!"

The two brothers ran swiftly, and Xiao Zhen and his group of six were not far behind.

Three mules, each carrying two people, charged into the village from the east, south, and west directions, all within about a quarter of an hour after Brother Qin noticed some villagers had fled.

It's not that Brother Qin underestimated the enemy; how could he have anticipated that eight people would dare to ride mules to confront their hundred or so? According to his estimation, even if reinforcements set out from the nearest neighboring village, gathering enough manpower and the time spent running here would take at least half an hour, more than enough time for them to escape into the Northern Mountains.

Sun Dian and Xiao Yan, along with several valiant young warriors, detested these roving bandits who killed the innocent without mercy. As they fought, they cursed. They kept in mind Xiao Zhen's admonition not to kill, but one cut off a bandit's arm with a single stroke, another thrust a spear straight into an eye, one drove a mule to kick a fleeing bandit into the air, and another swept the bandits' heads with a gun pole, causing unbearable pain to the struck bandits, who lay on the ground, no longer able to fight back.

Zhang Wengong followed Xiao Zhen's instructions, riding his donkey and galloping around the village. As he dealt with the marauders he encountered, he shouted loudly, "Fellow villagers, don't be afraid. People from nearby villages are coming to help, surrounding us from all directions. These bandits will come in alive but won't leave alive; not a single one will escape!"

He repeated this over and over, giving the surviving villagers hope, making them fight even harder. The marauders panicked and, without needing Brother Qin's reminder, spontaneously rushed towards the northern forest. Even though they tried to escape from the east and west sides of the village to avoid Sun Dian and others, they would still end up heading north like moths to a flame.

There was only one mountain path leading into the mountains, and Brother Qin and the others had already scouted the location before taking action.

On both sides of the mountain path were ancient trees. The moonlight was dim, and the marauders saw several of their companions rushing into the path, viewing it as a drowning man would a lifeboat.

However, they did not see that those who had already entered were all crippled by Xiao Zhen.

Finally, some marauders realized something was wrong. Some turned to run back, while others attempted to flee into the forests on either side.

Xiao Zhen temporarily set aside his iron sword, took down his bow and arrows, and despite the obstructing branches and leaves, his shots were unerringly accurate.

After dealing with the marauders who had rushed in, he appeared at the entrance of the mountain path, bow in his left hand and sword in his right. This sight made the fleeing marauders hesitate and stop in their tracks.

At the same time, Xiao Shouyi, Sun Dian, Xiao She, Zhang Wengong, and some villagers also surrounded the marauders from behind. Among them, Sun Dian and Xiao She rode donkeys, guarding the northeast and northwest directions, ready to chase any marauders attempting to flee into the mountains.

Xiao She said to Xiao Zhen, "Second Brother, Third Brother and Fourth Brother, along with Sun Wei, have gone after the marauders escaping in other directions."

Xiao Zhen understood and looked at the dozens of marauders they had surrounded. "If you surrender now, I guarantee you'll go to jail in the county with your limbs intact."

The marauders, carrying various bags, all looked at Brother Qin.

Brother Qin stared calmly at Xiao Zhen. "A member of the Xiao family? I've heard of you. Our paths don't cross, so please let us go."

Xiao Zhen remained unmoved. "I'll ask one last time: do you surrender or persist in your foolishness?"

Brother Qin gritted his teeth and raised his blood-dripping cleaver. "Brothers, let's fight! I don't believe they can stop all of us!"

As he turned to rally the marauders, a gust of wind suddenly came at him. Brother Qin looked in horror as an arrow pierced through his shoulder.

The searing pain made him drop his cleaver.

Sun Dian roared, "Come on, let's see who wants to try my cleaver again!"

Xiao Zhen's arrow, combined with Sun Dian's roar, completely terrified the marauders, causing them to drop their weapons and kneel down.

Why run when being caught with broken limbs is worse than just surrendering?

Zhang Wengong called for the villagers to find ropes and bind the marauders together like grasshoppers, including those pulled out from the mountain edges.

From other directions of Pine Village, cries of agony could be heard. Soon, Sun Wei, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Ye returned, each bringing back marauders with injured hands or legs.

In the end, all 112 marauders who attacked Pine Village that night, except for a few killed by the villagers, were captured.