Chapter 70

Zhao Jingwen trained soldiers. It was easier than training soldiers at Ye Family Fort. Because among the people he recruited, many had followed that mixed general of Gu City before.Not only had they killed and fought battles, they might even have looted and plundered.

Unlike the refugees recruited in Deng Prefecture who were all good folks, just getting them to cross the threshold of killing was quite an effort.

Military discipline was extremely strict in Ye Family Fort from the very beginning, and the recruits of good folk origin were also willing to abide by it.

Many of their family members and fellow villagers had settled in Fang City. So being a soldier was not just about getting fed, defending Deng Prefecture and Tang Prefecture had become defending their own homes.

Killing was not difficult for Zhao Jingwen's side, but restraining military discipline cost him a lot of effort.

Fortunately, he was a ruthless man who would never hesitate when it was time to kill.

Nothing deterred more effectively than killing. The motley crew gradually took shape under his crackdown.

At this time, he was extremely grateful to have these one hundred Ye family troops.

The model of military discipline and the main force of crackdown.

It was these one hundred Ye family troops that suppressed the four hundred motley crew. This further illustrated that numbers were one thing, combat effectiveness was another.

So Fang City's Du Jingzhong was defeated like a mountain collapse.

Zhao Jingwen reminded himself of Du Jingzhong's failure from time to time.

He now also admitted that earlier, he had become inflated due to the rapid increase in the number of men under him. One really tends to make such mistakes easily. Once you fly up, you lose sense of your own weight.

Fortunately he realized the situation in time and corrected it promptly.

A man need not fear making mistakes, as long as he can correct them.

Xiang Da and Ye Mancang were very dedicated in training the soldiers.

They both felt that Young Master Zhao was right, a man ought to go out and accomplish great things to have prospects.

With these troops trained, even if they returned to Deng Prefecture, Aunt Ye Suijin would have to give them a promotion. If they didn't return... hmm, just thinking, only thinking about it.

Keeping so many men idle in Hekou Town for a long time was not going to work.

Hekou Town could barely feed five hundred people, feeding troops was really expensive in food and money. Although there was still some money, food and seized assets on hand, Zhao Jingwen knew they couldn't live off of it for long.

As the weather grew warmer, he decided to do what Aunt Ye Suijin did — raid bandits.

This was really something that could both train the troops and enrich their purse.

Because Zhao Jingwen could not go about looting, burning and plundering himself. He still cared about face and knew his bottom line.

Then, black eating black was a quick way to get rich.

Deng Prefecture was a large plain. But once you went west of Deng Prefecture, the terrain gradually rose. The mountains were not particularly precipitous, but there were many hills large and small. In this kind of terrain, given the state of the times, bandits and rebels proliferated.

Just right to feed Zhao Jingwen.

He remembered Aunt Ye Suijin's teaching to send scouts twenty li ahead.

The terrain here changed a lot. If they were ambushed, it would not be a joke.

And he had been ambushed before — he wanted to eat others, and others wanted to black-eat-black him too. The new gang in Hekou had been marauding around, and many had heard a little about them.

Especially since Zhao Jingwen did not massacre them completely, nor did he recruit them under his banner. Usually he would beat them back and disperse them, take what he wanted, then stop.

Because he could not feed more men. Any more, if they still had to honestly keep their hands off the common folks and not loot, the troops would go hungry. Once so many strong young men went hungry and revolted, it would be a mutiny.

Unless they were like Du Jingzhong or these bandits, scraping off the land. Not caring if the common folk lived or died, as long as they themselves don't starve.

But he could not do that.

Black eating black, however, he could do. Since that was the case, there had to be "black" to eat.

He could not exterminate them completely.

Therefore, proper military forces could not expand indefinitely. At the minimum, food supply had to keep up.

This made him realize how good Deng Prefecture was. Large plains, as long as there were no natural or man-made disasters, it could basically yield a bountiful harvest every year.

Ever since Aunt Ye Suijin's father's time, they had been very prudent about stockpiling food. Later when Aunt Ye Suijin took over, she inherited this policy. Before the attack on Fang City, Zhao Jingwen already roughly knew that the food reserves at Ye Family Fort gave him confidence.

Now that she had taken Deng Prefecture, her confidence was even greater.

In contrast, Hekou here was suitable for stationing troops. Xiang Prefecture should also have been an agricultural area, but after years of turmoil and instability, much of the land had been left fallow.

Now that Zhao Jingwen was directly responsible for feeding the troops himself, he now understood how great the expenditure was. Looking at the fallow fields, it hurt his heart to death.

No wonder when Aunt Ye Suijin took Fang City, she immediately relocated refugees to settle and cultivate the wastelands. She must have also felt terrible pain seeing those abandoned fertile fields.

On this day, Zhao Jingwen was on the march. Ahead was a gang he had been eyeing for some days. This bunch had just gone out looting a while ago, and Zhao Jingwen intended to have a full feast off of them.

Unexpectedly, the forward scout galloped back urgently: "Young Master! There are two groups fighting ahead!"

One side was the gang they had been watching for days.

"The other side, don't know who they are, seems to have women with them." said the scout. Zhao Jingwen became interested: "Let's go take a look."

He leaped onto his horse, and brought his men sneaking over.

Finding a high vantage point, looking down he did see one group besieging another group.

The besieged side was a convoy, with defenders using several large carts surrounding one cart, forming a fan-shaped defense against the attack.

There should be women, Zhao Jingwen saw maidservants jumping off the carts in panic trying to escape, only to be hacked down.

Those carts looked expensive at a glance, presumably carrying many valuable items.

The bandits probably thought the same.

Ye Mancang asked: "Save them?"

Zhao Jingwen said: "Wait a little longer."

They were neither kin nor acquaintances, why save? If they saved them, it would not be easy to get those items in the carts.

He could not loot and plunder precisely because of this — Ye Family Army had strict military laws. If he did such things, he would not be able to explain it to Aunt Ye Suijin afterward.

Better to let others do the dirty work, he would swoop in later to black-eat-black.

But after watching closely for a while, he noticed something strange.

Although the convoy guards were fewer than the bandits, the bandits were unable to overtake them for a time.

Looking closely, the guards cooperated seamlessly in their advance and retreat, deployments clear and orderly. Clearly they were not ordinary guards.

They were troops. And well-trained troops at that.

Looking again, seeing the trick, he was even more astonished.

These were not just some ordinary ragtag militiamen, such quality, only a few of his personal guards among the Ye Family Army could match. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ N0vᴇlFirᴇ.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

How could ordinary people have guards like these, those in the carts must not be ordinary people, but people of some status and background.

Now that he saw these, if he still only eyed those chests and packages of the other's floating wealth, it would be too petty and shortsighted.

Zhao Jingwen swiftly changed his mind: "Let's go, save them!"

With a jerk of the reins, the party thundered down the slope!

Using the speed of the downhill charge, they joined the melee!

"Crap! They have reinforcements!" Seeing the cavalry charging down the hillside, the convoy guards' expressions changed drastically.

If it was just the people before them, they should still be able to protect the young miss to retreat, but if the other side had reinforcements...

The guards gritted their teeth, preparing to meet this wave of charge.

Inside the cart, Pei Lian took a deep breath upon hearing "They have reinforcements". She drew the dagger from its sheath, gripping it tightly.

Now, of course there were regrets.

Gripping the dagger tightly, she took a deep breath. Closing her eyes, she reviewed her sixteen years of life.

When the family fell, she had been too young to remember.

But she knew her mother had committed suicide, entrusting her to the loyal servant. The loyal servant took her fleeing, seeking her father.

She had very deep memories of those few years.

Cold, hunger, fatigue and fear often shrouded her. She had eaten many unpleasant foods, and seen many frightening faces.

But eventually, the loyal servant found her father, and her suffering ended.

After that, life had been good.

Only the suffering from before still stuck in her heart. Recalling it, she was the young miss of the Sword South Military Governor's residence, how could she have fallen into such misery and hardship. Naturally, it was because her father had abandoned her and her mother, fleeing alone.

When she found her father, her father already had other children. That child had never left her father's side since birth, unlike her, wandering for years.

But because of this, her father and uncle felt guilty toward her, indulging her every request.

Only not for this matter, her father refused to yield. Annoyed, she decided to leave home for the capital.

Her mother's family had originally been in the capital, although they lost contact for a long time, she wanted to try her luck. Or maybe, her father would find her on the way and bring her back, which was also very likely.

Even if she was brought back it was fine, she had demonstrated her determination decisively this way. Her father surely could not force her anymore after this.

She just didn't expect to encounter bandits like these on the way. Just now hearing alarm in the guard's voice outside.

Pei Lian parted the curtains with her dagger and took a peek outside. The fighting was intense.

Raising her eyes, many horses were charging down the slope, stirring up rolling clouds of dust.

Pei Lian regretted in her heart.

Tears filled her eyes as she clutched the dagger tightly. If things went badly, she could not fall into the hands of these bandits and would have to follow her mother to the afterlife.

In an instant, the cavalry had charged up to them, and the man leading them wielded his spear like a dragon. Pei Lian just saw a flash of silver, and two bandits were stabbed through the chest.

"Who are you evil-doers causing trouble here!" The man rode a white horse and held a silver spear, heroic and imposing like a war god. He shouted, "I am Zhao Jingwen of Taiyuan, die insignificant thieves!"

Pei Lian was stunned.

Friend not foe! The guards were overjoyed!

The two sides joined forces and attacked together. Pei Lian grabbed the carriage curtain, her bright eyes not daring to look away for even a moment.

Blood splattered outside the carriage, with shouting and screaming. The tide had turned.

Not long after, the battle was over.

The lead guard stopped Zhao Jingwen's horse: "Hero! Do not pursue these meager bandits!"

Zhao Jingwen dismounted, asking: "Who are you people, why are you here? This area is not very safe. Were there any casualties?"

The lead guard was extremely grateful. He cupped his fists and expressed his thanks: "Thank you for your help, we are deeply grateful. Our master's surname is Pei. May I ask which hero the gentleman hails from?"

Zhao Jingwen returned the salute: "Zhao Jingwen of Taiyuan."

He also asked: "Is your master injured? Do you need any help?"

The lead guard replied: "There are ladies in the carriage, it would be inappropriate for them to meet the gentleman. May I ask where Sir Zhao resides? Our master will definitely..."

Before he could finish, a gentle female voice suddenly rang out, calling: "Sir."

Both men turned to look.

Pei Lian was getting down from the carriage, supported by her maidservants.

Zhao Jingwen looked her over.

The girl looked slightly sickly, probably around the age for hairpinning, a delicate and pretty young lady.

As soon as she appeared, the lead guard bowed to the side respectfully.

But she did not have Ye Suijin's heroic spirit and fortitude, and did not seem like someone who could command these well-trained troops.

Perhaps her father, or elder brother, in any case there must be an important man in her family.

With the quality of these soldiers, they could be called elite troops. It was this very point that attracted Zhao Jingwen, making him decide to lend a hand and see if he could make an acquaintance.

Pei Lian bowed: "Thank you for lending a hand sir. Some of my guards are injured, may I ask if your residence is far? Could my men go there to rest and have their wounds treated?"

With the soldiers' might, and Zhao Jingwen arriving so timely, only two had died, the rest were lightly injured. They could actually just be treated here.

Zhao Jingwen saw this very clearly.

He also saw the lead guard's initial surprise, followed by helpless resignation.

Just like how the Ye family acted with Twelve.

It was clear the young lady was doted on at home.

With the quality of these troops, they could be called elite soldiers. It was precisely this that drew Zhao Jingwen, making him decide to help, to see if he could make an acquaintance.

Pei Lian bowed, "Thank you for lending a hand, sir. Some of my guards are injured, may I ask if your residence is far? Could my men go to rest and treat their wounds there?"

Given the soldiers' might and Zhao Jingwen's timely arrival, only two had died and most had minor injuries. They could actually just be treated here.

Zhao Jingwen saw this very clearly.

He also saw the lead guard's initial surprise followed by helpless resignation, just like how the Ye family acted with Twelve.

It was clear the young lady was doted on at home.

With the guards' skills, they were elite troops. This very point attracted Zhao Jingwen, making him decide to help and see if he could make connections.

Pei Lian was only twenty-eight, living with her father she had only seen military men.

When had she seen such an affectionate, charming gentleman? His eyes seemed to speak.

The young lady was usually aloof about her status and proper in conduct, but under this mature handsome man's smile, her heart was confused.

A voice inside her head kept shouting—

This is the man Pei Lian should marry!

This is the gentleman suited for me!

How could I, how could I marry someone like He Lian!!