Chapter 6

In the midst of the Qing army's grain transport convoy, Keluondo looked grimly at the bandits who had vanished into the mountains. There were many people who could speak the official language, but to hear such a distinctly Beijing accent in the remote and impoverished regions of Guangxi was a great surprise to the imperial guards. Although the distance was far and the voices were somewhat muffled, the distinctive pronunciation and the specialized curses were unmistakable to the guards who had been away from the capital for a long time. Who were these people with strange hairstyles and a Beijing accent? Keluondo couldn't figure it out.

However, this was not the time to discuss such matters. The grain transport convoy, which had started with over 150 people, now had fewer than 60 left. Some of the Qing soldiers had fled into the dense forests on either side of the road and would probably gather together later. Keluondo estimated that at most, only another dozen or so would return. Nearly half of the entire grain transport convoy had been killed, and the rebels had not lost a single man. Recalling the ferocity of the rebels in battle, especially the bravery of the young man who had led the charge, Keluondo couldn't help but feel a chill.

If the number of rebels had been forty or even sixty instead of twenty, the grain transport convoy, including Keluondo and the imperial guards, would likely have been wiped out. Keluondo, who was usually a bold and daring man, suddenly felt a surge of killing intent. He turned to Liu Baozong, the commander of the Green Standard Army responsible for escorting the convoy, and loudly ordered, "Send men to pursue them immediately! We cannot let these rebels escape!"

Hearing Keluondo's order, Liu Baozong, who had narrowly escaped with his life, turned pale and said, "Sir, we were ordered to escort the grain. We have already bravely fought and repelled the enemy. The best course of action now is to gather our horsemen, strengthen our defenses, and request reinforcements. If these bandits are using a feint, sending troops to pursue them would only fall into their trap." Liu Baozong was a capable commander, but he had never seen such fierce enemies and lacked the courage to continue the pursuit.

"Bravely fought?" Keluondo almost laughed in anger at these words. This was being bravely slaughtered by the enemy! In the battle, the grain transport convoy had lost at least sixty men, and not a single one of the bandits had been killed. If Keluondo hadn't dispatched other imperial guards and personal troops to hold the line at the critical moment, the grain transport convoy would have been completely shattered.

"Sir, it was you who led us in the brave fight," Liu Baozong quickly corrected himself.

Keluondo glared fiercely at the commander, "Those bandits are carrying a lot of loot. They can't run fast now. If we don't pursue them now, are we just going to let them escape?"

Even though he was very respectful to Keluondo, the commander mustered the courage to object, "Sir, I was ordered to escort the grain. When the bandits robbed the grain, I naturally had to fight bravely... against the enemy. But now that they have fled, if I pursue them and fall for their feint, I will be unable to redeem myself even if I die a thousand deaths!"

Just as Keluondo was about to say more, the injured imperial guard Wang Feixiong spoke up, "Brother Keluondo, let's not pursue them for now. What if those bastards are really up to something?" Wang Feixiong, who had not pulled out the spearhead embedded in his shoulder, looked quite pained.

With his brother's advice, Keluondo, recalling the recent battle, also felt that sending these frightened Green Standard soldiers to pursue the bandits would be futile. Despite his anger, Keluondo finally said, "Very well. Gather the troops quickly, and send a message to the checkpoint ahead to request reinforcements. Also, Brother Wang, bear with it, I'll help you remove the spearhead now!"

Seeing that the imperial guards were not insisting, Liu Baozong felt a great weight lifted from his heart. He had been prepared to refuse Keluondo's order to pursue, even if it meant defying the commander of the grain transport convoy. Although the imperial guards were close to the emperor, they could not directly command the grain transport convoy. Pursuing the bandits was not part of the convoy's duties. If the grain was lost, the commander of the Northern Camp, the former Guangxi Inspector General Xiang Rong, who had been reinstated, might not dare to kill the imperial guards, but he would certainly dare to kill the commander of the grain transport convoy.

"Truly a fine blade!" Wei Ze praised as he carefully applied the grease from the single-edged saber to the blade. This saber had been taken from a yellow jacket, who had used it to cut through the long spear thrown by Wei Changrong with a single swipe. Wei Ze had noticed the saber at that moment. When he used it to cut the cured meat, it felt like cutting rubber. It required some effort, but the cuts were very precise.

Wei Changrong, who was beside Wei Ze, paid no attention to the quality of the saber. After running to the predetermined retreat camp, everyone was too exhausted to run any further. The battle had drained them, and the forced march had left them completely spent. They didn't care if anyone was pursuing them; the brothers immediately lay down on the prepared grass mats, unable to move.

Wei Ze, however, was as usual, despite his fatigue, he forced himself to start a fire. The Qing soldiers who had been left behind to cover the retreat had not pursued them, so Wei Ze began to cut the cured meat. The cured meat was made from the legs of fat pigs, and Wei Changrong had shown remarkable strength by carrying four large pig legs on his own.

Seeing Wei Ze start to cut the meat, the brothers, despite their exhaustion, took out their bamboo tubes and filled them with the slices of cured meat, tying them with long grass and placing them by the fire. In those hard times, if a family had cured meat as the main dish during the New Year, it meant they were having a good year. After such a great victory, everyone was overjoyed, and the presence of cured meat in the loot made the brothers even happier. The rich aroma wafting from the bamboo tubes made many of the brothers drool. Even Wei Ze, who had just finished maintaining the single-edged saber and was now examining the double-barreled flintlock pistol, couldn't help but glance at the fire a few times.

However, Wei Ze wasn't too focused on eating. He put away the maintained saber and drew the captured double-barreled flintlock pistol. This pistol was not a matchlock but a flintlock, which used a flint to ignite the powder. As long as the powder and bullet were loaded, it could be fired at any time, far superior to a matchlock. The capture of this single-edged saber had already delighted Wei Ze, and the beautifully decorated double-barreled flintlock pistol was his lifeline.

If the Taiping Army could replace all their matchlock muskets with flintlock pistols and add bayonets, Wei Ze was confident he could easily defeat any Qing army of this era. As Wei Ze's thoughts turned to these future military considerations, Zhang Yingchen respectfully asked, "Commander Wei, can we eat now?"

"Oh! Eat! Eat!!" Wei Ze immediately replied. As soon as he spoke, the troops erupted in cheers.

Wei Changrong hastily untied the long grass from his bamboo tube and stuffed a slice of cured meat into his mouth. The meat was a bit hot, and Wei Changrong couldn't help but suck in cool air. But after a few breaths, he started chewing vigorously. No one laughed at Wei Changrong; everyone was just as eager to eat the cured meat and scoop up the rice mixed with the meat's aroma.

After wolfing down the meal, Wei Changrong sighed contentedly, "If only we had some wine, it would be even better!"

This comment immediately received widespread agreement from the brothers, who all chimed in, "Yes! Some wine would be great!"

Then one of the brothers regretfully said, "Unfortunately, this Qing army didn't bring any wine. Otherwise, we could have looted some."

Wei Ze, who hadn't eaten as voraciously as the others, smiled and said, "Not this time, but maybe next time. The New Year is coming, and the Qing leaders will surely reward their subordinates. There will be plenty of wine. We might get some next time."

"Oh? Are we going to ambush them again?" The brothers immediately perked up.

Wei Ze shook his head, "First, we need to send the salt and gunpowder back to Yong'an. The city is in dire need of these supplies. We can't just enjoy them ourselves; our families in Yong'an need salt too!"

Mentioning their families in Yong'an, the previously lively atmosphere became somewhat subdued, and many of the brothers stopped eating.

Zhang Yingchen, a small leader of the Heaven and Earth Society in Yong'an who had joined the Taiping Army after they captured the city, had learned a lot about the Taiping Army in recent days. Wei Ze and the other "old soldiers" had all joined the God Worshipping Society. Anyone who wanted to join the God Worshipping Society had to first donate all their property to the society. Through this donation, the God Worshipping Society could determine their loyalty. To prove themselves, most people even sold their land.

After passing the loyalty test, these believers and their families joined the Taiping Army. This meant that everything the believers owned belonged to the Taiping Army, and if they left the army, they would have no home to return to.

Currently, the families of the Taiping Army were in Yong'an, and Zhang Yingchen understood why the old Taiping soldiers would react this way when Wei Ze mentioned their families in Yong'an. The brothers had looted cured meat and salt and were enjoying their meal, while their families in Yong'an were eating bland food and living without salt or vegetables. At this moment, anyone who could still enjoy their meal without a care would be considered heartless.

So Zhang Yingchen quickly said, "Brothers, let's quickly transport these supplies back to Yong'an. Our families will be able to eat salt. With Commander Wei, we can defeat the Qing army again, and we won't have to worry about salt anymore!"

"Yes! Following my uncle, we can defeat any Qing army. Everyone, finish eating and rest. We'll head back early tomorrow morning," Wei Changrong also encouraged.

The Taiping Army brothers fought not just for the Taiping Army but also for themselves and their families. Hearing that they would return to Yong'an and continue fighting, and with the recent victory boosting their morale, everyone was re-energized.

"We will follow Commander Wei and fight well!"

"With Commander Wei leading us, we fear no one!"

The brothers expressed their determination.

Hearing these words, Zhang Yingchen felt a surge of excitement. He shared the same sentiment. Wei Ze's bravery on the battlefield had left Zhang Yingchen with no doubts. Moreover, Zhang Yingchen's family was also in Yong'an, and if Wei Ze could lead the brothers to more victories, his family would have more salt to eat. If they could continue to harass the Qing army's supply lines under Wei Ze's leadership, the chances of the Qing army capturing Yong'an would be greatly reduced.

Wei Ze, of course, wouldn't miss this opportunity. He loudly said, "Brothers, our top priority now is to quickly transport the supplies back to Yong'an. As for your contributions, I will remember them. The Eastern King has issued an order: the Taiping Army rewards those who have made contributions and punishes those who have committed faults. Since all of you have made great contributions, I will not bury your achievements. Once we return to Yong'an, I will report to the Eastern King. Although I can't promise anything, I will strive to promote everyone to the rank of squad leader."

Hearing about the promotions, everyone cheered.

Wei Ze immediately dampened their enthusiasm, "Brothers, let's be clear. Since we have looted the Qing army's grain transport, we will likely be sent out again as soon as we return to Yong'an. If you are not promoted this time, you must not have any other thoughts. If you are promoted, I must also say that my command is based on ability. As a squad leader, you will receive the appropriate pay, but in my unit, a squad leader may not necessarily command four people. This is not because I don't want you to be promoted, but because if you can't fight well, you will lose your life. If you lose your life, what good is a promotion?"

"Everything will be as Commander Wei arranges!" The excited soldiers almost spoke in unison.

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