Chapter Seventy-Four: Borrowing the Corpse to Return the Soul!

Li Yun had long known that the provincial authorities, or rather Sima Cao, would inevitably find ways to interfere in this matter.

But what he had never expected was that the people from the provincial office would arrive so quickly!

Judging by the timing, it was unlikely that Prefect Jiang had sent a message to Xuanzhou. Though it was possible in theory, the efficiency of military mobilization in this era made it impossible for them to gather troops in such a short time.

So, it became clear when the Xuanzhou troops had set out. It must have been just as County Magistrate Xue arrived in Xuanzhou and began his negotiations with Sima Cao—Cao must have immediately dispatched people to Linyang Mountain!

The reasoning was simple: if their men arrived before Li Yun and the Qingyang government forces, they could hold the mountain’s base under the pretext of suppressing bandits, keeping Li Yun and his men outside Shiwang Peak, thereby protecting Shiwang Stronghold.

If Li Yun arrived first, then this situation would arise—they would come up the mountain and, in the name of the province, take over the operation.

However, Sima Cao had surely expected the former scenario, never dreaming that Li Yun would capture Shiwang Stronghold with such speed.

After hearing Li Zheng’s report, Li Yun sat in his chair, his face dark.

After a moment, his expression eased and he smiled at Li Zheng. “Skinny Monkey, you’re right. They’re pushing us too far, and we can’t back down.”

Li Zheng clenched his fist. “I’ll go organize the men right now and give them hell!”

Seeing that he was about to leave, Li Yun grabbed him and shook his head. “Not everyone who came up the mountain with us is from the stronghold. Chen Da and the others are Qingyang constables; they have families at home. If you go about this recklessly, it would be tantamount to rebellion. How could they ever go home again?”

Li Zheng scratched his head. “But Second Brother, didn’t you say we should—”

“We’ll fight them, but not as Qingyang constables. The bandits of Shiwang Stronghold will fight them!”

The chief bandit squinted his eyes and said softly, “Since they’ve come to suppress bandits, then it’s only reasonable that the bandits of Shiwang Stronghold resist in turn, isn’t it?”

“But Second Brother, the bandits of Shiwang Stronghold aren’t—”

He suddenly widened his eyes at Li Yun, slapping his thigh. “Second Brother, you mean—”

Li Yun smiled and said, “Skinny Monkey, go find Chen Da at once. Have him take all the Qingyang constables down the mountain by the small path to rest somewhere below!”

At this, Li Yun stood up and shook his head. “Actually, I’ll go talk to him myself. Skinny Monkey, you go find Liu Bo and have him immediately organize the brothers from the stronghold to hold every pass on Shiwang Mountain. Whoever comes up, don’t ask questions—just attack!”

Li Zheng, now excited, gave Li Yun a thumbs-up. “Second Brother, you’re devious!”

The chief bandit calmly straightened his clothes, then left the main hall, found Chen Da among the crowd, and addressed him: “Chen Da, there’s been a change.”

“There are about two or three hundred people in Shiwang Stronghold. Yesterday we only killed around forty. At first light, they’ll see our numbers aren’t great, and now that the people from the province have arrived, our patrol team should withdraw for now.”

“Let them fight amongst themselves.”

Chen Da was surprised. “Chief, won’t they take all the credit then?”

“What credit?” Li Yun scoffed. “We’ve suppressed so many strongholds already. When has the province ever acknowledged our efforts? We do this for the people of Qingyang, not for their rewards!”

“You listen closely.” Li Yun drew a deep breath and continued, “This assault on Shiwang Stronghold was a great success. The stronghold has been dealt a heavy blow and won’t recover its strength soon. Every member of our patrol team deserves credit. When we return, everyone gets two strings of cash.”

“Those injured get five strings; those badly wounded, ten.”

Li Yun said gravely, “This mountain is no place to linger. The provincial men may try to meddle even more if they come up. Take the men and withdraw down the small path. Wait for me at the foot of the mountain!”

Chen Da hesitated, then nodded. “What about you, Chief?”

Li Yun patted his shoulder. “I’ll stay to observe a while longer. I’ll find you later. Rest for a day at the foot of the mountain. If I haven’t come down by tonight, return to Qingyang on your own.”

Li Yun added solemnly, “Don’t worry, brothers. I won’t shortchange anyone for their efforts.”

Chen Da lowered his head, embarrassed. “Honestly, we didn’t do much. It was you and Brother Zhang who charged at the front. The rest of us just made up the numbers.”

“Making up the numbers is already something.”

“Alright, before day breaks, get down the mountain so the provincial men don’t see you and get suspicious. If anyone from the province asks, say you fought bitterly all night but had to retreat to recover.”

Chen Da nodded, then looked up at Li Yun. After a moment’s thought, he clenched his fist. “I’ll do as you say, Chief.”

With that, he turned and left.

At that moment, Li Zheng returned from Liu Bo, watched Chen Da’s departing figure, and said with a smile, “Chen Da’s a good man, Second Brother. Think of a way to bring him into the fold.”

Li Yun shot him a look. “Nonsense. He’s a good constable—why would he join you on the mountain?”

He paused, then laughed. “When the campaign commander arrives, Chen Da might just earn himself a post.”

...

Half an hour later, Chen Da and the Qingyang constables had all withdrawn down the small path, leaving only the bandits of Shiwang Stronghold and those from Cangshan Stronghold led by Liu Bo behind.

The chief bandit shed his black uniform and changed into another outfit, hiding his spear and picking up a spiked club instead. He grinned at the brothers gathered in the stronghold. “Now, there are no outsiders here!”

Everyone burst into laughter.

“The chief knocked that big fellow out with just a few punches earlier—what a sight to behold!”

Someone shouted, “That so-called King Juiling is nothing!”

“Second Brother is invincible throughout Qingyang. He should be called the Invincible King!”

The chief coughed, raising his hand for silence. “Alright, enough!”

“Listen to me!”

He lowered his voice. “The situation at Shiwang Stronghold is still unclear, but the damned government troops are already here to steal our spoils. Can we allow that?”

“No!”

The cry was unanimous.

“Good!” the chief said sternly. “Then let’s give them hell!”

“Ninth Brother!”

Liu Bo answered at once, “Here!”

“Go and gather all the Shiwang Stronghold banners. Hang up every one you can find. Brothers, take up your weapons—we’ll give these government troops a fight!”

“But remember, they outnumber us. Don’t go head-to-head. Defend according to the terrain—holding the stronghold is what we do best. Haven’t you all forgotten?”

The bandits from Cangshan Stronghold laughed. “Of course not! Defending the stronghold is our specialty!”

For bandits, defending the stronghold truly was “guarding the home.”

“Good.” Li Yun nodded, instructing, “Remember, today we are not from Cangshan Stronghold. We’re bandits of Shiwang Stronghold, understand?”

Thanks to Li Yun’s maneuvering, as far as the authorities were concerned, Cangshan Stronghold had been “nearly wiped out” after a fierce battle with Shiwang Stronghold.

Today, Cangshan Stronghold could be whomever they wished.

All the bandits nodded, the older ones chuckling, “Who’d have thought we’d one day be bandits of Linyang Mountain?”

“Enough chatter.” Li Yun gripped his spiked club and looked toward the main gate of Shiwang Stronghold, speaking gravely, “Guard every key passage. Let’s give these Xuanzhou troops a fight!”

With that, he put on his mask and headed for the stronghold’s main gate.

This time, he did not take Li Zheng or Zhang Hu, but brought Liu Bo instead. Li Zheng and Zhang Hu were too well known in Qingyang; they couldn’t risk being seen by the government troops.

The chief bandit took a longbow and quiver from a dead Shiwang bandit, strapped them on, climbed a small slope, and lay in wait behind it. As soon as the government troops approached along the mountain path, he drew the bow to its full length and, without aiming, loosed an arrow into the crowd.

A shriek rang out.

Liu Bo, quick on the uptake, bellowed, “Who dares trespass on our Shiwang Stronghold?!”

At his roar, a dozen more bows loosed arrows from around the main gate. After the volley, several of the leading government troops fell, and the rest retreated a dozen paces, too frightened to advance.

At the front of the government troops was another officer from Xuanzhou, surnamed Yang. Seeing this, he looked up at the stronghold not far ahead, his face ashen.

These damned Linyang Mountain bandits—have they lost their minds?!