Chapter 39

"Xiaomao, you barely managed to save your life, and instead of staying with a good woman in the city, you come here to seek death?" The monk rubbed his stubbly scalp, looking at Xiaomao. Although he was complaining, a smile played on his face. Xiaomao extended his fist and punched the monk's broad chest hard, then grinned and said nothing. He walked over to the stretcher where Yadog was still lying, bent down, and asked, "Still alive, huh? You've got a tough life!"

Yadog laughed loudly, but the laughter aggravated his injuries, causing him to wince in pain. Still, he continued to laugh and raised his hand to meet Xiaomao's with a heavy slap. "Brother, we live together and die together. Xiaomao, you're a good one."

A few people sat down on the ground. Shuchang glanced at everyone and said, "Qin Fengzi is not here, and the daredevil camp needs a temporary leader to command. Who will take the job?"

The few people looked at each other, but no one spoke. After a while, Jiandao said, "Doctor Shu, didn't Qin Fengzi tell us to listen to you before he left?"

Shuchang raised his eyebrows. "I am a novice in military affairs. The daredevil camp cannot enter the city, and staying outside will inevitably lead to a tough battle with the Western Qin. Whether we live or die depends on this battle. I am a novice; should I command you to go to your deaths?"

Yadog, lying on the stretcher, grunted a few times and said loudly, "Doctor Shu is right. My unit was previously commanded by Qin Fengzi. Although he is gone, Xiaomao is here. I will hand over my unit to Xiaomao and also recommend him as the leader."

"Brothers, I came here to be with you, not to be the leader. I have already left the daredevil camp, and it's not appropriate for me to be the leader," Xiaomao shook his head repeatedly.

"I think you are the most suitable," the monk said. "Jiandao and I don't get along, and neither of us will submit to the other. Yadog is lying down, and Doctor Shu is a novice in military affairs. It's just the two of us left. Whoever becomes the leader, the other won't be convinced. Xiaomao, you are a veteran of the daredevil camp and have been a battalion commander for two years. You have experience. If you don't do it, who will?"

"What do you think, Jiandao?" Shuchang asked in a serious tone.

Jiandao's face was grim. Seeing everyone looking at him, he nodded. "I have no objections. The monk is right. Only Xiaomao can command us."

Seeing everyone agree, Shuchang said, "Alright, it's settled. Xiaomao, stop whining. Do you think being the temporary leader is about wielding power? I'm telling you, the lives of thousands of people in the camp are in your hands. If you do well, there's no great merit, but if you do poorly, thousands of people will end up in the netherworld, and no one will care about you. You'll be alone."

Xiaomao stood up, looking at everyone with a serious expression, and bowed. "Alright, since you all trust me, I, Zhang Xiaozheng, will take on this responsibility. But I want to make it clear that I don't have the same authority as Qin Fengzi to make you all submit. However, since you all recommended me, I ask for your support. If anyone disobeys orders in the upcoming actions, I will not be lenient."

"Of course. Although Qin Fengzi is not here, the old rules still apply. Once the battle starts, anyone who disobeys orders and acts on their own will be beheaded," Yadog pounded the stretcher and said loudly, "I can't wield a knife now, but I still have a mouth. I'll bite them to death."

"Agreed," the monk and Jiandao also expressed their agreement.

"Thank you, brothers," Xiaomao looked at everyone. "Doctor Shu, the first task is still up to you."

"What is it?"

"The Western Qin are launching a large-scale attack. We can't run; running will only make us die faster. So we can only find a place to hold out. About three miles from Anyang City is Maer Mountain, the only suitable place for defense nearby. We will go there to set up camp." Xiaomao drew the nearby terrain on the ground. "By setting up camp here, at least on the surface, we will form a pincer with Anyang City, which will make the Western Qin somewhat cautious."

Although they knew the city would not care about their lives, the Western Qin might not know. Everyone nodded, as it was a last resort.

"But we lack materials to build fortifications and the food needed for the army, especially food. No one knows how long we will need to hold out, or if we will be wiped out quickly or survive until the end. So we need food."

"Are you asking me to go into the city to find Cheng Pingzhi?" Shuchang asked.

"Yes, Doctor Shu, Cheng Pingzhi's wife was seriously ill a few years ago, and you saved her from the brink of death. Although he is a fickle person, if you go, he will have some difficulty refusing. Also, tell him that if he doesn't give us what we need, the daredevil camp will break ties with him and take up arms to fight. We will die anyway, so don't blame us for taking them down with us. Cheng Pingzhi is a shrewd person. He will be willing to give us money, food, and weapons to get rid of us, and if we are all killed by the Western Qin, he can explain himself afterward."

"Alright, I'll go." Shuchang stood up and turned to leave.

"Jiandao!" Xiaomao looked at Jiandao. "We need to build defensive fortifications on Maer Mountain, which requires a lot of manpower. The Western Qin are coming soon, but our soldiers need to conserve their strength for the battle. So I need a lot of people. There are many people outside Anyang City. I need you to recruit more people to help us build the fortifications. You are the most suitable for this task, and you are also good at talking."

The monk chuckled. "This is something the pretty boy is good at."

Jiandao glared at him.

Xiaomao kicked the monk's broad buttocks without hesitation. "Monk, since you have nothing to do, take your people to Maer Mountain to cut down trees. Cut from the top down, leaving only the bottom circle."

"Ah?" The monk was stunned.

"This task is best suited for someone like you, who is strong and rough," Jiandao retorted, laughing and walking away.

"Xiaomao, what can I do?" Yadog, lying on the stretcher, looked at Xiaomao with an expectant gaze. Everyone had a task, and he felt left out, so he silently cursed Yang Zhi and his ancestors.

"What can you do?" Xiaomao looked at Yadog, thought for a moment, and suddenly smiled. "You sing pretty well. Come, sing a song for everyone to cheer them up."

Yadog's face turned black.

Shuchang successfully met Cheng Pingzhi in the city. Cheng Pingzhi immediately agreed to Shuchang's request without hesitation, as Xiaomao had predicted. Cheng Pingzhi was not a fool but a very shrewd person. If the daredevil camp chose to fight the Western Qin outside the city, even if they were all killed, it would be their own choice. By providing them with money, food, and weapons, he had fulfilled his duty as a local official.

"Doctor Shu, I will give you everything you need. Rest assured, there will be no discounts," Cheng Pingzhi said.

"Thank you, Lord Cheng. I will take my leave."

"Doctor Shu, please wait a moment." Cheng Pingzhi hesitated, stepped forward, and said, "Doctor Shu, the daredevil camp is a group of bandits. Why get involved with them? I will never forget the favor you did for my wife. You have already done enough for them by getting them so much. Why not stay in the city, in my house? It will be safer than outside."

Hearing Cheng Pingzhi's words, Shuchang laughed. "Lord Cheng, in your eyes, they are bandits, but to me, they are iron-hard men, true heroes. I have grown attached to them over the years. Even if I die with them, I will not regret it. Thank you for your concern, but I must take my leave."

Shuchang bowed to Cheng Pingzhi and turned to leave. After a few steps, he turned back. "Your wife's illness has not fully recovered. This is unavoidable. Be especially careful during the winter. She must not be exposed to the cold."

Seeing Shuchang walk away, Cheng Pingzhi's face showed a hint of shame. After a moment, he stomped his foot and called over a clerk. "Go, tell the treasury to give Doctor Shu the best of everything, and add ten percent more."

"Lord, will Commander Yang oppose this? If we give more to the daredevil camp, there will be less for the city!" the clerk said worriedly.

Cheng Pingzhi sneered. "Can we really expect Yang Yi to defend the city? If the Western Qin decide to attack, Yang Yi and his troops will be the first to run. Giving the daredevil camp supplies will not be a waste. Go, give them what they need."

Outside Anyang City, the daredevil camp received a large amount of military equipment, food, and supplies from the city's troops. Under the watchful eyes of countless soldiers on the city walls and the numerous civilians outside, they marched in neat formation toward Maer Mountain a few miles away. Shuchang watched the formation and smiled silently, as he rarely saw these guys march so neatly, with their heads held high and chests out, proud and determined. Over the years, Qin Feng had gradually transformed this army of death row inmates into a soulful force.

From a stretcher, a voice sang off-key, that of Yadog, who was belting out a folk song from his hometown. If it were any other time, Shuchang would have stuck a plaster over his mouth without hesitation, but now, he felt a lump in his throat.

We two row the boat,

Picking red lotus, picking red lotus,

If you have affection,

And I have feelings,

Just like the two corners of the lotus,

Born on the same day,

We have one heart.

(“Picking Red Lotus,” an old song I heard when I was a child. Decades have passed, but I can still sing it. It's a beautiful song.)

(A reader asked about updates. Old friends who have been following my books know that during the new book period, I update at 8 AM and 8 PM. After the book is published, I release two chapters at 8 AM. From the start of the new book to the end, there are no breaks, but no extra updates either. It's a regular schedule!)

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