Chapter 48

"Damn bastards!"

Mei Zhihuan slammed his hand heavily on the table, causing the paper and pen on it to jump. "Inhumane, beasts!"

After a few curses, Mei Zhihuan's chest heaved uncontrollably, his anger difficult to subside. "Are you all just eating your fill and doing nothing? How could you let a group of bandits come and go as they please, and not catch them for so long? Now they have even massacred an entire village. Do you still have the nerve to show your faces?"

In front of Mei Zhihuan stood a row of burly men, all officers of the Baosheng Fort militia. Among them were the camp commanders, middle-ranking officers, and the captains of the elite cavalry, the Night Watch, and the roving troops.

More than a dozen important militia leaders stood in a row, each of them scolded to the point of being speechless. Normally, the Baosheng Fort militia was well-known in Macheng and even throughout the two prefectures of Qihuang in eastern Hubei. They were respected wherever they went, even though they were not regular soldiers, they were much more prestigious than the beggar-like soldiers of the garrisons.

However, today, they could only lower their heads in shame. The Lin family village on the Guanghuang Road in Xianju Township had been completely massacred, the scene was horrific. All the men were killed, and the bandits even decapitated them, placing their heads on wooden stakes. Young children were impaled on sharpened stakes, and the women suffered even more. The Night Watch reported that all the women were raped and then killed, the atrocities were unspeakable.

The bandits responsible for this massacre were not from outside but had been robbing and plundering along the Guanghuang Road since last year. Initially, they only robbed passing merchants, and the militia's several attempts to catch them were unsuccessful, so they were left unchecked. However, this time, such a major tragedy occurred.

"Worthless, a bunch of good-for-nothings!" Mei Zhihuan's anger did not subside. After retiring, he had actively raised funds and established the Baosheng Fort militia. This was no longer just a private force but a local armed group to protect Macheng and even the entire Qihuang region of eastern Hubei.

With a large number of troops and complete equipment, they had a cavalry of several hundred, a well-trained Night Watch, and he had even brought in a large number of cannons and muskets from southern Jiangxi and Guangdong, forming a several hundred-strong artillery unit. Over the years, the militia had grown in size and strength, with a main camp of elite troops and a roving camp of recruited refugees. He sent the Night Watch, cavalry, and main camp to sweep away bandits and prevent them from entering the region.

He also assigned the roving camp to guard the villages, contributing significantly to the stability of the area. This had always been Mei Zhihuan's proudest achievement.

But now, under the protection of his militia, an entire village had been massacred, and not in the dangerous northern mountains, but right next to the main road leading to the prefecture city.

"What do you know about this group of bandits now? Can you eliminate them?" Mei Zhihuan asked.

"Sir, this group of bandits has been robbing and plundering along the Guanghuang Road for over a year. They are always cautious and careful. We have mobilized many times, but each time we have come up empty-handed. This time, their actions were so brutal that we are all enraged. However, finding and eliminating them will not be easy."

"Idiots, don't make excuses for your incompetence." Mei Zhihuan was very dissatisfied with this answer.

"Three days, I give you only three days. In three days, I want to see the heads of those who massacred the Lin family village brought to me. I will hang their heads on the city gate for public display."

"Three days is too short..."

"Only three days."

The militia officers all complained, "Three days is too short, and the area around the Lin family village is under the jurisdiction of the Nine-Headed Bird cavalry stationed in Queen City. They are more familiar with the area." Some officers began to shift the blame.

Mei Zhihuan glared at the man but did not blindly protect the Nine-Headed Bird cavalry.

"Since the incident has been going on for so long, why hasn't the Nine-Headed Bird reported anything? Does anyone know what they are doing now?"

Someone replied, "The Nine-Headed Bird camp is always moving around in Queen City, but they eat and drink well, with three meals a day and meat every day. They live a very comfortable life. It's said that the local gentry and people of Queen City have given them over a thousand taels of silver. They are probably hiding in their camp and dare not come out."

Mei Zhihuan said, "Send two riders to Queen City immediately and ask Gong Ji and Ji Ye to come for a meeting to discuss the elimination of this group of bandits."

Xing'an Temple.

The battle was over.

Under the dark night sky, bonfires were lit in the Daxing Temple, and the Nine-Headed Bird cavalry was clearing the battlefield.

Liu Jun and Li Chunjiang were patrolling the battlefield with long knives, "Cut off the heads of the dead bandits, and tie up the wounded, don't kill them."

At this time, the two doctors in the team were also busy, carrying medicine boxes and directing several soldiers to check the injuries of the Nine-Headed Bird warriors. They first assessed the injuries according to the training Liu Jun had taught them.

"Um, you just have some scratches, nothing serious. The blood on your clothes is from the bandits. You have a lot of luck." The doctor checked Donggouzi, who had large bloodstains on his body. However, after removing his armor, it turned out to be just a minor scratch. The arrow that hit him had only penetrated a little bit through the padded armor. A little medicine would do the trick.

"Press this bandage to stop the bleeding, and then clean the wound with water and alcohol. It will be fine." The doctor tied a green cloth strip around Donggouzi's arm, indicating that he was basically fine and did not need further diagnosis or medication.

The member of the central flag team looked at Donggouzi with envy. At Donggouzi's feet were three heads. These were all his personal achievements. As soon as the battle ended, Donggouzi immediately cut off the heads of the three bandits he had killed.

Fortunately, there were strict rules during training that soldiers were not allowed to cut off heads until the battle was over. And tonight's battle was not too chaotic. He killed three people in total: one with a musket, one with a musket in the temple, and one with a long knife with the help of Dogsheng.

The rest of the team also killed a few people together, and the heads were placed at the feet of the fire soldiers, counted as the team's collective military merit.

"Brother Dog, you are awesome. One head is worth twenty taels, so three heads are sixty taels. Not to mention other military merits." The central flag team member was a drummer. During the battle, he was in the back, and after the battle, he helped the doctor treat the wounded. Although it was safer, he had fewer opportunities compared to the combat team. His regular pay was less, and the rewards for battles were also less.

Donggouzi looked proud, "You should practice the musket well in addition to the drum. As long as you have the skills, you can also join the combat team." He looked at the three bloody heads at his feet, feeling an uncontrollable excitement rather than fear.

Three heads, one twenty taels, three sixty taels, no, one was a leader, worth two, so three heads were eighty taels. Oh, eighty taels of silver, that's a lot. He usually earned two taels a month, so eighty taels would be forty months' pay, equivalent to three years and four months.

He even thought about how he would spend the money after receiving it. First, he would find a good girl to get engaged, then hire people to build a large house with three courtyards, and buy a few acres of land.

Another doctor passed by and looked at the heads at his feet, smiling, "The reward is nothing. Donggou has done such a great job this time. He will definitely be promoted. Don't forget to treat us to a drink when you get promoted."

"Sure, sure." Donggouzi smiled broadly.

At this moment, Liu Jun and Li Chunjiang, along with a few servants, were patrolling the battlefield. Liu Jun immediately saw the heads at his feet.

"Are they all your achievements?"

"Yes, sir."

Liu Jun smiled, "Brother Dog, you are really growing. Killing three people in one battle is impressive."

At this moment, a Night Watch member came forward and examined the heads, pointing to one and saying to Liu Jun and Li Chunjiang, "This is the bandit leader, Ma Gui. Look at his face, full of scars, very recognizable."

The head was lifted, and several people examined it by the firelight, indeed full of scars. Liu Jun then brought a few living captives and had them identify the heads. It turned out that Donggouzi had indeed had a stroke of luck, killing the bandit leader with one shot.

"Record the achievement for Zhang Donggou, killing the bandit leader Ma Gui and two other bandits."

The scribe following Liu Jun quickly wrote it down, looking enviously at the surprised Donggouzi.

A poor hunter from the eastern mountains had turned his life around. He was good with the musket and often received guidance from Liu Jun. Now he had earned his reputation, killing three people in one battle, including the bandit leader.

"Donggou, what do you want to say to your comrades?" Liu Jun asked with a smile.

Donggouzi swallowed, still not fully recovered from the immense happiness. His mind was filled with the reward announced before the battle: one hundred taels for killing or capturing the bandit leader.

"Commander, can I really get one hundred taels?" He blurted out what he was thinking. After the words came out, he felt a bit regretful. How could he ask such a question in front of everyone? Actually, even fifty taels would satisfy him.

Li Chunjiang patted Donggouzi's shoulder with a smile, "Do you think I and Ji Ye are the kind of people who don't keep our word? Of course, you will get the reward, and it will be exactly one hundred taels, no, three people are one hundred and forty taels, not a single tael less. Not only will you get the full reward, but I will also promote you. Ji Ye, what position do you think is suitable for Donggou?"

Liu Jun glanced at the already speechless Donggou, "Rewarding the meritorious and punishing the guilty is a must. Donggou has performed outstandingly and achieved remarkable results. I think he can be promoted to squad leader."

Donggouzi was so happy he didn't know what to do. He asked foolishly, "Will I have to change to a hook gun after being promoted to squad leader?" In his squad, the squad leader Cai was a hook gun user, equipped with rockets. Zhang, the team leader, was equipped with a flag gun, a long knife, and a crossbow, but the squad leader and team leader did not use muskets. Donggouzi had become accustomed to and liked the musket and was reluctant to change.

Liu Jun laughed heartily, "Don't worry, you can still use the musket as a squad leader."

Ps: Today is the 70th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan. Remember to watch the grand parade, remember history, and never forget national humiliation!

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