Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Bandit Women (Part 1)
Once the words were spoken, everyone’s expressions were complex, with differing emotions.
Only Yang Zheng was more determined than ever to leave as soon as possible.
Two bandit camps, with more than four hundred people combined, were all killed just like that! Even in the past when the Prince came out to suppress bandits, he wasn’t this ruthless!
He now looked at the Commandery Princess not as a ten-year-old girl, but as a deity of slaughter. How could he still dare to underestimate her! He wished his third uncle would immediately visit the Ministry of Personnel, issue an order to transfer him, and send some unlucky soul in his place.
County Magistrate Cai, upon hearing these words, was overjoyed, "It’s best that the bandits were all killed. From now on, the common people will dare to walk the mountain roads."
With two nests of bandits in the mountains, the common people didn’t dare to enter the mountains on regular days.
In the future, during the agricultural off-season, bold villagers can go into the mountains together. The forest has game, wild fruits, vegetables, and mushrooms, and they can also gather medicinal herbs.
Many practical ways to support the livelihoods of the common people flashed through County Magistrate Cai’s mind.
Jiang Shaohua observed the changes in everyone’s expressions and didn’t mind, smiling slightly, "By the way, didn’t General Qin bring back a few captives alive from the mountains, are they all women?"
Qin Zhan was somewhat hesitant.
Jiang Shaohua’s eyes flashed, and she stopped pressing for answers, simply instructing everyone to settle down and rest, and prepare to return to the military camp the next day, reunite with the personal soldiers for recuperation, and set off back to Nanyang County.
Once everyone had retreated and left, Jiang Shaohua kept Qin Zhan behind and softly pursued, "Uncle Qin, you seemed hesitant earlier, could it be that there are difficulties you cannot speak of?"
Qin Zhan spoke softly, "Commandery Princess, indeed, I brought a few women down the mountain. However, they are different from Lin Huiniang and the others... After being captured by the bandits, they also became bandits."
Jiang Shaohua: "..."
Jiang Shaohua was rarely surprised, "You mean, they are female bandits?"
"Yes!" Qin Zhan let out a breath, "When I led people to attack the camp, I intended to rescue these unfortunate women, settle them like Lin Huiniang and the others. Unexpectedly, each of them had knives and charged at us with them."
"In the chaos, two of our personal soldiers were injured."
"In a fit of anger, I killed one, and several others were also killed. In the end, eight women remained, who dropped their knives and begged for mercy. I really couldn’t bring myself to execute them, so I had them surrender their weapons, bound their hands and feet, and held them in the military camp."
"How to handle them ultimately depends on the Commandery Princess’s decision."
Jiang Shaohua was silent for a moment before saying, "Let me see them before deciding."
...
The next day, Jiang Shaohua left the county government with everyone and went to the camp.
County Magistrate Cai escorted the Commandery Princess to the camp continuously.
After Jiang Shaohua entered the camp, the first thing she did was visit the Wounded Soldier Camp.
In war, deaths cannot be avoided. Even though the Personal Guard Camp had the upper hand in suppressing the bandits, losses were still inevitable. Seven died, and twelve were wounded.
The previously wounded, those with minor injuries, are almost healed. Some left, and with the addition of the newly wounded, the total was now forty.
After visiting the wounded soldiers, Jiang Shaohua said to them, "We will break camp and return tomorrow; you will go with County Magistrate Cai to the county government to recuperate. Once recovered, follow County Magistrate Cai’s orders. Half a year later, return to the military camp."
The wounded soldiers all agreed.
County Magistrate Cai immediately said, "Rest assured, Commandery Princess, I will ensure that they eat and drink well to heal their wounds properly."
Primarily relying on the Commandery Princess’s banner to facilitate matters, not truly requiring them to work.
Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly, "I will leave a sum of silver specifically for their food and recuperation, so the county government does not need to spend. Don’t feel uneasy using them just because they belong to me. I never keep idle people; use them when necessary, no need for courtesy."
County Magistrate Cai could only agree.
Jiang Shaohua called over Sun Guangbai and Sun Zelan, "Thank you both, brother and sister, for your hard work."
Sun Guangbai’s eyes were dark and black, obviously having not slept well for days, yet his spirit was surprisingly high, "It is only right to serve the Commandery Princess; it is not hard at all."
Sun Zelan’s complexion was fair, with darker circles under her eyes, her bright, clear eyes shining, "Commandery Princess, you must take me along if you send troops to suppress bandits in the future."
Jiang Shaohua’s heart was touched, and she softly asked, "Did you two not sleep again last night?"
Indeed.
General Qin brought back so many fresh corpses to the military camp, both brother and sister were itching with excitement, having Meng Sanbao quietly carry four corpses of varying heights into their tents for "in-depth research"...
Sun Guangbai, fearing the Commandery Princess would be upset, hurriedly took responsibility himself, "This was all my idea; if the Commandery Princess wants to blame, blame me."
Sun Zelan straightened up her chest, "We siblings share blessings and woes together. If the Commandery Princess wants to punish, then punish us together!"
Jiang Shaohua couldn’t help but laugh, "When did I say I would punish you? Your dedication to medical research is not a fault but a merit. However, this matter doesn’t sound good, so keep a low profile and don’t let it spread."
The brother and sister relaxed and smiled.
Jiang Shaohua asked Sun Zelan again, "In these last few days, how have Lin Huiniang and the others been performing?"
Sun Zelan replied honestly, "One vomits at the sight of blood and really can’t continue, so I let her work in the kitchen. The others are progressing slowly. Lin Huiniang is resilient and learns quite well. She’s now responsible for tasks like wrapping bandages."
"As for Shanxing, she’s quite talented. Anything I explain, she understands immediately."
Jiang Shaohua was somewhat surprised, "Isn’t Shanxing mentally unclear? Even daily communication is difficult; can she actually learn and understand?"
Sun Zelan nodded, "She had lost her mind due to excessive mistreatment in the past. With good food and sleep, and companionship, she will gradually recover. Initially, I didn’t plan on teaching her anything, just letting her listen. Unexpectedly, she was the fastest learner."
This was indeed a pleasant surprise.
Jiang Shaohua’s brows relaxed, and she laughed, "You should guide her more in the future. Who knows, she might become your first disciple."
Sun Zelan blinked and playfully smiled, "How did the Commandery Princess know I plan to establish a school?"
Jiang Shaohua praised her with a smile, "As a future renowned doctor in Da Liang, if you don’t have such grand plans, I will be the first to disapprove."
Sun Zelan burst into laughter.
Qin Hu quietly glanced over, and a bloody scene from the military tent flashed in his mind, leaving his expression somewhat strange and stiff.
Sun Zelan didn’t even look at Qin Hu and whispered, "What does the Commandery Princess plan to do with the female bandits General Qin brought down the mountain?"
Jiang Shaohua’s smile faded, and she said lightly, "I’ll decide after seeing them."
The fate of these female bandits lay solely in the hands of the Commandery Princess.
Sun Zelan bravely whispered, "If the Commandery Princess decides to execute them, I’ll have more work tonight." Up till now, only men’s corpses had been studied, and she hadn’t yet studied women’s!
Jiang Shaohua could only look at her with a mix of amusement and exasperation, then walked away.
Sun Guangbai was also amused, glaring at his sister, "You’re really bold. Have some discretion in front of the Commandery Princess, and don’t speak carelessly."
Sun Zelan stuck out her tongue and continued to heal the wounded soldiers.