Chapter 45

Kneeling before him, Zhang Ke was not at all unfamiliar with the man—it was Liu San, who had come to collect a debt half a month ago!

Zhang Ke asked coldly, "Liu San, did Wan Baichuan send you? What did he tell you to do?"

Liu San lowered his head, trembling all over, and said in panic, "No, it's not Master Wan. I came on my own."

"On your own?"

"Yes, I was just passing by to collect a debt, just passing by!"

Zhang Ke laughed loudly, "Liu San, if you want to lie, at least come up with a decent excuse. Every village within dozens of miles has moved to Daqing Fort except this one. Are you going to collect a debt from ghosts?"

Liu San trembled even more violently. Zhang Ke stared at him and said with a smile, "Liu San, I believe in repaying kindness and avenging grudges. I remember clearly when you brought people to my house to collect a debt. Now that you're in my hands, don't blame me for being ruthless! Ma Biao, do you have any ideas on how to deal with him?"

"I do!" Ma Biao said without hesitation, "Master, I've seen the Tartars deal with people. They tie them to a wooden frame and pour water on their arms. In this weather, it won't take two hours for them to freeze. A light tap with an iron hammer, and the arms will shatter like ice. The victims will see their bones exposed and scream in terror, which can scare them to death!"

Wow!

Before Ma Biao could finish, Liu San vomited. Zhang Ke was ruthless, and his subordinates were even worse. How could they come up with such a cruel idea?

Tears streaming down his face, Liu San pleaded, "Master Zhang, I'll tell you everything, everything. It was Wan Baichuan who sent me."

"What did he send you to do?"

"To watch the village and see if anyone was sending messages out."

"What if they were?"

"Capture them." Liu San said trembling, "Master, not just me, but Master Xu Bangyan sent many people. They've sealed off all the roads leading out of the village! Anyone who goes out will be captured."

Ma Biao asked in surprise, "Master, what are they planning?"

Zhang Ke's mind raced, and suddenly his eyes lit up. He said urgently, "Ma Biao, go tell Yue Zixuan and the others to come see me!"

It was a break in their training, and everyone gathered upon hearing the order. Qiao Fu saw Liu San and asked in surprise, "Ke, what's going on with this guy?"

Zhang Ke smiled bitterly, "Xu Bangyan is about to make a move against us."

"Ah?" Wu Boyan was shocked, "Master, didn't you scare him away? How dare he cause trouble?"

Zhang Ke said, "I probably scared him too much. Xu Bangyan is worried I'll expose him, so he wants to strike first."

"Strike, how?"

Qiao Fu asked in surprise, "Will he bring people to attack us?"

Qiao Gui shook his head, "Brother, I don't think he dares. If he did, he would have done it when he came. Why make things complicated?"

Zhang Ke nodded and smiled, "Right, I have Hong Gonggong's token. Xu Bangyan absolutely won't act himself. If any news leaks, he'll face the death penalty for his entire family. If I were Xu Bangyan, I'd find a way to frame someone else and use them as a tool."

Yue Zixuan asked, "Master, do you mean he'll find someone to deal with us?"

"Exactly, the easiest way is to hire a band of bandits to eliminate us. Then he can send troops under the pretext of suppressing bandits, avoiding any blame and even getting rewarded."

Zhang Ke's theory made sense, but it also filled everyone with fear.

Qiao Tieshan clenched his fists and said worriedly, "We've just started training. Dealing with bandits will be very difficult. Zhang Ke, since you have Hong Gonggong's token, why not mobilize troops and capture Xu Bangyan?"

Wu Boyan nodded eagerly, "Master, the instructor is right. Xu Bangyan has committed many crimes. Executing him on the spot would be too lenient!"

Everyone looked at Zhang Ke, as if he were a heavenly general who could crush Xu Bangyan with a wave of his hand and clear the sky. Zhang Ke could only smile bitterly and shake his head.

"You don't understand. Hong Gonggong gave me the prayer beads, but not the authority to mobilize troops. I'm just a commoner, and no one will listen to me. Moreover, killing a commandant without cause is something even Hong Gonggong can't afford, which is why he came to Liaodong in disguise."

"Ah!" Qiao Fu's face fell, and he said dejectedly, "Ke, I thought it was a sword of authority, but it's useless?"

Zhang Ke smiled, "It's not useless. Without this talisman, Xu Bangyan would have attacked us in broad daylight!"

Zhang Ke waved his hand, and someone brought Liu San over.

"Liu San, besides watching the roads, what else did Xu Bangyan tell you to do?"

Liu San said with a bitter face, "Master Zhang, I really don't know!"

Zhang Ke snorted, "Ma Biao, take him away and freeze him into an ice stick!"

"Wait!" Liu San cried in terror, "Let me think... Yes, I remember. Wan Baichuan sent Er Hu to Heishankou."

"What is Heishankou?"

Liu San hurriedly said, "Master, Heishankou is fifty miles from Daqing Fort. I heard it's a bandit den. The leader is called... called..."

"Called Xiaoshanhu!" Qiao Tieshan's brows furrowed, and his face was filled with worry.

"Uncle Qiao, is Xiaoshanhu very powerful?"

"Yes, I've heard that Xiaoshanhu was originally a powerful figure in Liaodong, but later became a bandit. He has been causing trouble along the Great Wall. He has over a thousand men, and he has connections with both the Ming and the Mongols. The court has sent troops several times, but to no avail. If Xu Bangyan hires Xiaoshanhu to deal with us, our chances of survival are slim!"

Hearing Qiao Tieshan's description, everyone looked at each other in dismay. They had just settled in, and now they faced a formidable enemy. A suffocating atmosphere spread.

Yue Zixuan crouched on the ground, holding his head, while Wu Boyan rubbed his hands nervously. Even Qiao Gui and Qiao Fu were dispirited.

"Father, do you think we can deal with Xiaoshanhu?"

Qiao Tieshan said painfully, "It's difficult, very difficult. His men are fierce, and many are Mongols. If we had three months to train, we might stand a chance, but our chances now are very low!"

Wu Boyan thought for a moment and said, "Master, why not send someone out to find your supporters and accuse Xu Bangyan of killing innocent people and colluding with bandits?"

Zhang Ke waved his hand, "It won't work. Xu Bangyan has sealed off the roads. Even if they weren't sealed, it would take three days to reach Guangning, and more time to investigate and send troops. By the time they deal with Xu Bangyan, it will be too late!"

The last hope was gone, and everyone lowered their heads. The village had just started to get on track, but now it faced a dire situation. Was there no way out?

The atmosphere became increasingly oppressive, and everyone felt dejected.

Zhang Ke walked around the room a few times, then suddenly slammed his fist on the table, startling everyone.

"Get up! Can't you survive without relying on others? Yue Zixuan, you led the villagers to escape from the Tartars. Now you lack the courage to face bandits? And Qiao Gui and Qiao Fu, where is your courage to face wolves? Do you think we're safe in Heibayu Village and have lost our fighting spirit?"

His words made everyone's faces flush. Yue Zixuan's face turned red, and he said through gritted teeth, "Master, I am willing to fight to the death!"

"Me too, Master. No matter how powerful Xiaoshanhu is, I will bite a piece out of him!" Wu Boyan clenched his fists.

Qiao Fu said, "Ke, just tell us your plan. At this point, we might as well fight to the bitter end!"

Everyone's fighting spirit was rekindled, and Zhang Ke nodded slightly, "Xiaoshanhu may be powerful, but he's just a bandit. With the right tactics, we can defend Heibayu Village. We have no retreat. Tell all the brothers that retreating means certain death!"

"We understand, Master!"

Zhang Ke's eyes twinkled, and he smiled, "As the saying goes, one person's plan is short. Call all the brothers together, and we'll come up with a strategy to defend against the enemy!"

"Sure thing, I'll go right away!" Qiao Fu excitedly ran out to notify the soldiers.

...

"Boss, I've been waiting for you!"

Wan Baichuan smiled and welcomed the group of about twenty riders galloping from a distance. The leader was a lean man in a sheepskin coat, wearing armor on his upper body and carrying a heavy twenty-five-pound saber. His most distinctive feature was his golden eyes, sharp and piercing like an eagle's, making one's heart race. His companions were all burly men, skilled in horsemanship.

Xiaoshanhu laughed as he approached Wan Baichuan, "Hahaha, Brother Wan, no need for pleasantries. Is the silver ready?"

"Of course, here are five hundred taels. You'll get another five hundred once you capture Heibayu Village!"

Xiaoshanhu sneered at the silver, "Do I need to be paid in installments? Don't you trust me, Xiaoshanhu?"

"Of course not!" Wan Baichuan bowed, "Boss, there are rules. Heibayu Village isn't easy to capture. Please bring more men!"

"Hahaha, I brought five hundred men. We'll take it in one go. If we capture Heibayu Village and the silver is short, you know the consequences!"

"How could I dare to deceive you, Boss? Rest assured!"

"I hope you and Master Xu are smart!" Xiaoshanhu said, waving his whip, "I'm off. Wait for the good news!"

Watching Xiaoshanhu's back, Wan Baichuan suddenly sneered, "Brat, you still want money? Once you capture Heibayu Village, we'll play a game of the mantis catching the cicada while the oriole waits behind. Whether they are real bandits or fake ones, we'll kill them all! Master Xu will become a commandant, and I'll become a defense officer! Zhang Ke, I'll use your head to help me get a promotion!"

"Hahaha, hahaha..."

...

"Boss, we're approaching Heibayu Village!"

Xiaoshanhu climbed a high point and saw a magnificent village ahead, with walls two or three zhang high. He asked in shock, "What's going on? Wan Baichuan said it was an abandoned village. How is it more fortified than Daqing Fort?"

"Boss, those aren't real walls. They're made of ice!"

Xiaoshanhu noticed the walls gleaming in the sunlight and laughed maniacally, "The villagers are amusing. Do they think an ice wall can stop me, Xiaoshanhu? Brothers, charge!"

At his command, the bandits charged like a storm, closing in on the walls. But the walls remained silent, like a dead city.

The bandits, brimming with confidence, rushed to the walls.

"Attack!"

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the walls, and countless soldiers emerged, throwing objects down.

"What is it?"

"Ah!" The bandits screamed in pain, falling off their horses in droves.

The bandits, full of confidence, rushed to the walls.

"Attack!"

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the walls, and countless soldiers emerged, throwing objects down.

"What is it?"

"Ah!" The bandits screamed in pain, falling off their horses in droves.