Chapter 51

Captain Mei could not help but doubt the situation, for the battle results were simply too unbelievable, almost impossible. On the other hand, the soldiers of the Ming army had long been accustomed to killing innocent civilians to claim false military achievements, whether they were from the Nine Border Towns or the garrison troops in the inland areas. They often killed innocent civilians, cutting off their heads to pass them off as those of bandits, in order to claim rewards and military honors.

Mei Zhihuan found it hard to believe that Liu Jun and Li Chunjiang, two outstanding young men, would engage in such despicable acts. However, before the matter was clarified, he did not want to make hasty judgments.

The sky was bright, and the golden rice fields by the river swayed in the wind, like golden waves.

On the path by the fields, a huge nine-headed phoenix flag fluttered high on a tall pole. Under the flag, Liu Jun and Li Chunjiang, still in their battle armor, led the Nine-Headed Bird cavalry of over a hundred men forward.

Beside them were about ten riders from Shen Village, all of whom were Mei Zhihuan's retainers. Their eyes were fixed on the Nine-Headed Bird cavalry, especially the bloody heads tied to the horses of many of the local militia.

Liu Jun had originally planned to leave with Li Chunjiang first, with the cavalry following later. However, they had not gone far when they encountered the remaining team members with Mei Zhihuan's retainers, who said that Lord Mei wanted to gather the cavalry at Baosheng Fort. Upon hearing this, Liu Jun immediately reported the battle results and the intelligence about the bandit hideout to the messenger, instructing them to return and report, while he and Li Chunjiang continued with the cavalry.

On the way, Li Chunjiang had intended to return to the Queen Town camp first to change their clothes, settle the women, and wrap the heads of the captives in bags to avoid excessive bloodiness.

However, Liu Jun stopped him.

From the shocked expressions of the retainers from Shen Village, Liu Jun knew that many people would find it hard to believe their battle results. Therefore, they decided to maintain their battle appearance, wearing their blood-stained armor and clothes, and the smell of gunpowder still lingering on them. They had the local militia who had killed the bandits hang the heads they had taken on their horses, and the captives were tied behind the horses, including the women, who were also made to ride along.

He wanted to use this state to go to Shen Village, to show the local militia that their battle was real.

Baosheng Fort.

The guard on the castle gate tower saw a black dot appear in the distance and immediately reported it. His team leader came over, raised a telescope, and when he saw the flag of the Nine-Headed Bird, he shouted, "The Nine-Headed Bird is here, the Nine-Headed Bird is here."

The news of the Nine-Headed Bird's night raid and great victory had already spread throughout the local militia of Baosheng Fort. Everyone was skeptical and did not really believe it. At the same time, a rumor began to circulate in the fort, saying that the Nine-Headed Bird had killed innocent civilians to claim false military achievements, and that they had not killed the bandits of the Lin family but only a group of pitiful refugees.

Therefore, everyone was now full of anticipation, eager to see the outcome.

"They're here, they're here, they're here!" Various local militia units rushed to the city gate, vying to see this formidable cavalry, personally established by the Jieyuan of the Li family, which was said to have cost tens of thousands of silver taels, with excellent treatment, three meals a day, and meat every day.

As Liu Jun and his group approached, the smell of blood and gunpowder could already be detected from a distance.

"Human heads!" someone pointed at the heads on the horses of the Nine-Headed Bird warriors and shouted.

"Wow, they are really human heads, so many heads," someone exclaimed.

The Nine-Headed Bird cavalry, seeing the crowd watching and hearing the various comments, straightened up, feeling a sense of pride. While other units were still struggling to find the bandits, they had already returned victorious.

"Hey, what are you so proud of, maybe you killed innocent civilians to claim false achievements," a voice from the crowd said.

Dong Gouzi, who had not slept all night and was still in a state of excitement, immediately changed his expression upon hearing this. They had risked their lives to achieve this, and someone was saying they had killed innocent civilians?

Dong Gouzi, still in a state of excitement, immediately turned and shouted, "Who the hell is spouting such nonsense, come out and say it if you dare."

"What if I did, you can do it, but can't let others talk about it," a man in the crowd said, crossing his arms and sneering, his tone full of sarcasm.

"Can you even kill three fierce bandits?"

Dong Gouzi leaped off his horse and punched the man in the face, knocking out one of his teeth.

"You damn thing, I risked my life to kill bandits, and you're here talking nonsense and slandering us. I'll beat you to death, you damn brat."

The man, spitting out a tooth, was furious. "I'll beat you to death, you fool!"

His companions also came to his aid, and Dong Gouzi was immediately surrounded. At this moment, Dog Sheng also jumped off his horse and joined the fight. Seeing the situation, their squad leader immediately called the other members to join in.

In an instant, the victorious Nine-Headed Bird local militia and other local militia units were fighting at the castle gate. At first, only a few people were involved, but more and more people joined in, and it quickly turned into a large-scale brawl.

Liu Jun turned and saw that it was already impossible to tell who was who.

He had also heard the slander about killing innocent civilians from the crowd.

Seeing the fighting crowd, Liu Jun did not stop them but shouted to the other Nine-Headed Bird local militia, "What are you looking at, you fools? Your comrades are being slandered and beaten, and you're just standing there? Brothers, get your weapons, beat these fools to death."

Liu Jun jumped off his horse, picked up his long sword, and without drawing it, held it with the scabbard and started smashing into the crowd of local militia watching the Nine-Headed Bird.

Seeing their leader take the lead, the other local militia members did not hesitate and immediately jumped off their horses, wielding their waist knives, musket stocks, and hook guns, and started a fierce assault.

"Maintain formation, the Mandarin Duck Formation!" Liu Jun shouted while fighting, commanding his subordinates to maintain the Mandarin Duck Formation.

Although there were more local militia at the castle gate, not all of them joined the fight. The Nine-Headed Bird local militia, on the other hand, all joined in and fought using the Mandarin Duck Formation they had trained in. They had just experienced a battle the night before, so they were well-prepared.

Wearing armor and helmets, they wielded their weapons with great force, while the opposing side was mostly a disorganized group, with members from various units, many of whom had come to watch and were not equipped with weapons.

As soon as the fight started, the outcome was clear. The Nine-Headed Bird local militia fought as a united team, using the Mandarin Duck Formation to support each other, while the opposing side was disorganized and lacked weapons.

Captain Mei and the other local militia officers had already heard that the Nine-Headed Bird had arrived and were heading to the castle gate.

Suddenly, a retainer ran over, looking panicked.

"Lord Mei, it's bad, it's bad."

"What happened, why are you so panicked?" Mei Zhihuan frowned and shouted.

The retainer, panting heavily, said, "They're fighting, they're fighting."

"Speak clearly, who is fighting?"

"The Nine-Headed Bird and the local militia at the castle gate are fighting. It seems that some of the local militia accused the newly arrived Nine-Headed Bird local militia of killing innocent civilians to claim false achievements, and then the Nine-Headed Bird local militia started fighting them."

"Is it still going on?"

"It's still going on, a big brawl with hundreds of people. The castle gate is in chaos."

Mei Zhihuan shouted angrily, "What's going on? Who is spreading rumors? And you, are you just watching the local militia bully the Nine-Headed Bird cavalry? The local militia has over five hundred people, and the Nine-Headed Bird has only over a hundred. Are you just going to let them be bullied?"

The retainer tried to suppress a smile but found it hard to hold back.

"Lord Mei, actually, actually, the Nine-Headed Bird is chasing the local militia."

"What?" The local militia officers were stunned. How could a hundred people chase five hundred people? This was a joke.

"It's true. The Nine-Headed Bird fights fiercely, especially with Liu Jiyeh leading the charge. They are using the Mandarin Duck Formation, and each squad supports each other. They are also wearing armor and wielding weapons, while the local militia is disorganized and unarmed."

This made Mei Zhihuan and the others even more speechless.

They all looked at the commander of the local militia, thinking, what kind of soldiers do you lead? Five hundred people can't beat a hundred. Why provoke them if you can't handle it?

The commander of the local militia's face turned red, wishing he could disappear into the ground. He shouted, "This Liu Jiyeh, is he trying to rebel? He actually used weapons!"

The retainer immediately defended the Nine-Headed Bird, "The Nine-Headed Bird only used scabbards, musket stocks, and gun handles."

"That's still using weapons."

"Stop talking, you disgrace. The local militia is a bunch of useless mud."

The commander of the local militia felt wronged. They were recruited from the homeless, and in terms of pay, food, equipment, and training, they were far inferior to other local militia units. The Nine-Headed Bird cavalry had only been established for a little over a month and had already spent tens of thousands of silver taels. How could they compare?

Mei Zhihuan waved his hand, "Let's go, let's watch the show."

They climbed up to the castle gate and looked down at the ongoing brawl. However, the fight was already nearing its end. The five hundred local militia outside the castle were no match for the Nine-Headed Bird. Five hundred people were being chased and scattered by a hundred, looking very disorganized.

Seeing this, Mei Zhihuan couldn't help but laugh. He turned to the other local militia officers, "Now, do you still think the Nine-Headed Bird cavalry killed innocent civilians to claim false achievements?"

Everyone was silent, seeing how the Nine-Headed Bird had beaten the five hundred local militia so thoroughly. Their combat ability was indeed extraordinary, and it was not impossible for them to have successfully raided fifty bandits at night.

"Alright, sound the gong and end this ridiculous and foolish 'battle'!" Mei Zhihuan shouted.