Chapter 9

But there were also those who did not believe in the evil.

On the fourth day, they encountered a group of bandits openly blocking the road. These bandits roamed the fields beside the main road, carrying banners and spears, and arrogantly pulled down and killed the person sent to negotiate.

Several hundred armed men, shouting and yelling, launched an assault. The front line of the pole team scattered before even touching the enemy, but this somewhat diverted the enemy's attention. The subsequent spear team suffered considerable casualties and also fell, but at least they knew to run from both sides.

What was called a single wave attack met a three-layer defense, and was ultimately stopped by the last layer. A dozen riders on mules circled around and charged, causing the bandits to scatter in panic, crying out for their parents.

However, the subsequent pursuit was poorly organized. The remaining bandits scattered in all directions, and the militia were still fighting over the better-looking spoils on the spot.

It was only later that they learned these were former soldiers who had mutinied over pay. Their equipment was better than that of the militia, and they had also captured eighty to ninety prisoners. In summary, the benefits outweighed the drawbacks.

This battle also slightly improved my view of the military capabilities of the militia leader, who had a rustic air. His evaluation improved from being a mostly poor bandit to a somewhat better militia standard.

Thus, among the various items trailing behind our group, there were now a dozen sobbing women. They were usually the targets of the bandits' violence and were often left until last, which is why they were spared.

However, for the militia, they were merely expendable, whether it took a long or short time. For example, they had to take turns sleeping in the leaders' tents at night.

Often halfway through, the leader, Jiang An, would take a part of the better-armed men off the main road to gather so-called "military funds" or "provisions." Sometimes it was a few mules and carts of grain and vegetables, and sometimes it was some young men who, under threats of beatings and hunger, were easily coerced into becoming "glorious" members of this militia that had yet to officially start operations.

However, the results largely depended on the negotiation targets. If it was a village with walls and enough able-bodied men, considering the cost-benefit ratio of casualties and gains, they would obtain some supplies through formal and verbal threats. If it was a weaker, less protected village, they did not mind acting as bandits and charging a price for passing through.

But it was not always fruitful. When they encountered a well-fortified noble's stronghold, negotiations failed, and they were driven away, returning empty-handed and in disarray, sometimes even carrying the wounded and dead.

However, in any era, those with knowledge and experience always received more respect and courtesy. Even in this newly formed militia from the grasslands, it was merely respect.

Although I had to sit with smelly chickens and ducks, I was still luckier than those who walked barefoot until their soles were worn out and covered in blood and mud.

As I lived briefly with this armed group, some of my related memories began to recover and surface, such as basic military knowledge, camp management, finding water sources, and using terrain, as well as night curfews and basic defense procedures.

"Scholar Xia."

A voice called me back, and a friendly face appeared.

"Y-yes..."

A leader handed me a tattered piece of leather paper with a rather blurry line drawing of a map.

"Let you see where we are."

I nodded, examined the map, and marked it with a charcoal stick.

"Up ahead should be Pulu Town. After crossing the Western Jiajia Mountain along the official road, we will enter the territory of the official army."

"Good."

He responded and went back to report.

Although we were in a chaotic era, it was still the inland region. After more than four hundred years since the revival of the Tang Dynasty, the material foundation was still evident.

For example, the straight road we had just entered, although just a branch built by the local authorities, had been overused and neglected for years. However, the solid foundation and tightly packed soil beneath the severely worn surface spoke of the wealth and technology of the dynasty during its heyday.

The greatest enemy of these straight roads was not time or travelers, but the nearby villagers. After the basic order and maintenance were lost, they would come and try to take the seemingly sturdy road base back to their homes to build houses or fortifications.

They would gradually erode the wide and flat road, turning it into a narrow path or a road with uneven depths.

Just like the many good policies and prosperous scenes accumulated during the Zhongxing era of the Tang Dynasty, except for the straight roads that were still being used and repaired in various regions, things like postal services, official documents, and river transport had been largely destroyed by the prolonged wars and chaos after the Pang Xun rebellion. They were now mostly abandoned and in disrepair, with only a few prosperous cities in the southeastern coast and the independent regions of Lingnan still maintaining some of their former glory.

After getting on the straight road, the speed increased significantly.

Before all the supplies ran out, following the tracks of wheels and hoof prints, we finally reached the final destination of this long march.

Amid the sounds of people and horses, and the dust flying, a vast camp with various flags, strict watchtowers, and patrolling cavalry stood before us. A large brown flag with a huge "Qing" character and several smaller vertical flags with the surnames of the leaders were prominently displayed.

The scale and grandeur of this camp were incomparable to the small, dilapidated camp we had seen before. Just a glance was enough to make one's blood boil and feel a sense of awe.

It was said that this large camp was just one of the many camps of the various official armies, specifically the Qingzhou route, which was not the most important. The leader, Jiang An, then announced to the majority of the people the mission and origin of assisting the official army in suppressing the rebels.

This was one of the five large camps for the campaign against the Liangshan bandits, yes, the Liangshan bandits.

It was a coincidental parallel to another group of heroes who, under the banner of robbing the rich to help the poor, had taken control of the intersection of the Henan and Hebei regions, where the chaotic administration and the formation of a vast marsh due to river redirection had allowed them to engage in banditry and eventually grow into a formidable force capable of capturing entire counties.

In recent years, they had received support from foreign rebels, making them an even greater threat to the surrounding military towns. Even an inspector in Gaotang County was wiped out in his residence, leading to several military governors temporarily putting aside their disputes to launch a joint campaign with local forces.

To this end, the "Order for Assisting in the Suppression and Rewarding of Merit" was issued to mobilize the righteous and heroic people of the four regions.

Since we had arranged for contact beforehand, as a local armed force that could be useful, we were one of the earlier groups to join voluntarily.

On that day, we received several hundred stones of mixed grains from the official army, mostly old millet and sorghum, as well as some millet and soybeans. This did not stop Jiang An and his men from grinding and steaming a large batch of pancakes, enjoying their first full meal since forming the militia.

Then, we received a signed document from the local authorities, serving as proof of assisting the official army. This disappointed Jiang An, who had hoped for greater rewards, and he gathered his men to vent his frustration.

After looting some valuable items, they humbly returned to the large camp, where they were finally recognized as a traveling commander and a deputy commander, but the documents were signed by the local governor, not the official military seal, making them temporary leaders.

After all this trouble, only 1,171 people remained, as dozens had fled on the first night and were caught and executed, and many others were abandoned due to the inability to endure the whipping.

Others fell behind due to drinking unclean water, injuries during drills, or sheer exhaustion, and some were killed while gathering provisions. In total, about two to three hundred people were lost.

But this did not stop him from claiming to have three camps with 1,400 men and requesting provisions from the official army. However, the official army's food was not free, and various tasks were soon assigned.

"What, collecting bodies?"

Jiang An's roar echoed through the small camp.

"We came a long way to assist the army, just to collect bodies?"

They gathered to vent their frustration but had to accept the reality. What they had eaten could not be returned.

After much discussion, they managed to get more tools and carts as a form of compensation.

Our camp was on the periphery, while the mountains within the water-encircled area were already in the midst of intense battles. Almost every day, injured and dead soldiers were brought down in a steady stream.

Rumors said that the three-pronged attack by the five armies was not going smoothly. The Liangshan bandits, using the marshes to hinder the cavalry and their familiarity with the terrain, had made the official army's advance difficult, and they had not even reached the outskirts of Liangshan.

It was also said that the bandits received support through the waterways connecting to the sea, which tied up a significant portion of the official army's forces in guarding against these foreign rebels.

Thus, the dirty and tiring tasks of cleaning up and burying the dead were assigned to these irregular militia. Compared to those assigned to cut wood, quarry stones, and build fortifications, we were relatively lucky.

While the sight of blood and gore made many vomit and lose their appetite for days, and the task was considered unlucky, it was relatively easier and provided some opportunities to loot from the dead. Those who were bolder and more accustomed to the scene could find small items on the bodies.

The official army, in gratitude for the auxiliary forces that buried their fallen comrades, provided extra rations and were more generous with tools and supplies. As a member of the upper-middle ranks, one could enjoy a small meal of scallion oil pancakes without issue.

I made two suggestions: all those who participated in the collection and transportation must wash themselves thoroughly in the river before returning to camp, and the deep burial of the bodies, with the pole team taking turns, could serve as a pre-battle drill.

I had already been deeply frustrated by the poor hygiene habits of this group, and this was an opportunity to make some changes. At least they would not be worse than others in this regard.

It was not something that gave me a sense of belonging or motivation to do more. Apart from considering my own safety, I gave them some suggestions about hygiene and personal protection, then observed their actions and waited for a suitable opportunity to leave.

At the very least, I needed an official identity document, even in this chaotic era where the authority of the court and government was in tatters. A clean record would help me settle in a city with fewer troubles.

Then, I needed a mount, at least a mule, which could sustain itself for several days by eating grass, enough to escape any pursuers.

I also needed some handy and lightweight weapons, such as a small crossbow and a short knife. Even in peaceful times, traveling alone in the wild was risky.

And I needed portable food and other supplies, as not every place had the opportunity to buy food and other necessities with money.

So, for now, I needed to maintain my position and status in this irregular force to gradually achieve my goals. I touched the wooden token in my hand, which allowed me to enter and exit the official army camp to collect items. This was a good start.