Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Encountering Bandits
No wonder Qin Hu is this excited.
Since the Commandery Princess led troops to eradicate the bandits in Li County at the beginning of last year, Nanyang County has been peaceful. Large and small bandit gangs suddenly vanished without a trace. Each of the trusted aides was eager to give it a try but couldn’t find any opponents. Discovering traces of bandits again today, how could one not be elated?
Jiang Shaohua raised his eyebrows, placed down Little Flower, and got off the carriage: "Have everyone stop, and immediately summon Commander Song and Commander Liu."
At the command of the Commandery Princess, everyone immediately halted and regrouped. Song Yuan and Liu Hengchang arrived quickly.
"How many bandits are there?" Jiang Shaohua asked bluntly.
The scouts were the trusted aides from the Third Camp. Liu Hengchang replied upon hearing the question, "To report to the Commandery Princess, this gang of bandits is not large in number, probably fewer than a hundred. It’s about half a day’s journey to Ye County. They are hiding here, probably planning to rob weavers on their way to Ye County."
A cold glint flashed in Jiang Shaohua’s eyes: "Even when a fierce tiger hunts a rabbit, it uses all its strength. Commander Liu, gather all the trusted aides from the Third Camp and proceed to eliminate the bandits."
Liu Hengchang hesitated for a moment and glanced at Song Yuan.
Song Yuan said calmly, "There are still two hundred trusted aides here, enough to ensure the safety of the Commandery Princess. Commander Liu, rest assured and go deal with the bandits."
Only then did Liu Hengchang cup his hands and accept the orders.
Chen Jinyu hugged Little Flower and boldly advised, "Commandery Princess, when capturing these bandits, don’t kill them all. Select some sturdy ones and send them to Bo Wang County, where the mines are in need of manpower."
The mine mentioned by Chen Jinyu is a silver mine.
Understanding the situation, Jiang Shaohua nodded, "Very well. However, the primary task is to eliminate the bandits. Do not sacrifice the personnel of the Personal Guard Camp in vain for minor gains."
Liu Hengchang responded again and quickly went to gather the troops.
This time, the trusted aides from the Third Camp went all out to escort the Commandery Princess, each with two horses, everyone wearing soft armor, and carrying at least two kinds of weapons. The well-trained trusted aides quickly gathered around the team leaders.
The trusted aides had long desired to eliminate bandits. As the saying goes, troops are raised for a thousand days to be used at a critical moment. There was no need for the Commandery Princess to give special instructions; each trusted aide was spiritedly off to kill with murderous intent.
Only Li Tianxi was left behind.
For one, Li Tianxi had been in the military camp for less than three months and was still a new recruit. Secondly, Li Tianxi was currently responsible for raising and taming eagles, so he was not suitable to take risks.
Liu Hengchang’s small bit of over-protectiveness was something Jiang Shaohua was happy to fulfill. She specifically instructed, letting Li Tianxi and Qin Huma, Meng Sanbao stay together in one place.
Li Tianxi didn’t think much of it, but after coming over, he glanced around from time to time, muttering, "Uncle really, at such a good opportunity to earn merit, he left me behind."
Qin Hu, unable to go kill bandits, had itchy hands, and casually gave Li Tianxi a slap, "What nonsense are you talking? You greenhorn, have you ever lifted a knife and killed anyone? If you go, you’ll just be a burden."
Meng Sanbao said with a smile, "Exactly, you’d better stay put here!"
Li Tianxi wasn’t foolish; he heard the disdain in their words and couldn’t help but blink, "Do you underestimate me, thinking I’m not capable?"
Qin Hu tugged at the corner of his mouth, grinning insincerely, "How could we dare? We heard you can raise and tame eagles, an exceptional skill."
"That’s right, we brothers admire it very much," Meng Sanbao chuckled and echoed, "and it has nothing to do with you being Commander Liu’s nephew."
Ha! Spoken as if they had no connections themselves. If not for the favor of Commander Qin and Commander Meng, would the Commandery Princess hold them in such regard?
Li Tianxi secretly harbored complaints in his heart but said nothing more.
Uncle had advised him before, that as a newcomer without stable footing, he should first keep a low profile. After a couple of years, when the young eagles were raised and tamed... huh! Then he would vie for supremacy!
...
Everyone settled down to rest on the spot.
Liu Hengchang frequently sent people back to report.
"Reporting to the Commandery Princess, the opposition is fewer than a hundred and lacks decent weapons. As soon as we acted, they fled in terror."
"Commander Liu ordered everyone to pursue and eliminate the bandits. Capture the living if possible and kill those who refuse to surrender."
Jiang Shaohua nodded appreciatively, "Relay this from me to Commander Liu—tell him to focus on killing the bandits, no need to constantly report back. I am here waiting for his good news."
The personal soldier who delivered the message acknowledged, mounted his horse swiftly, and galloped off into the distance.
Jiang Shaohua thought for a while, then said to Song Yuan, "In a few hours, it will be dark today, not suitable for traveling further. Let’s settle down here and rest. Order everyone to set up camp!"
Song Yuan took the order to arrange it.
When traveling outside, there are times when it’s inevitable to camp in the wilderness. The trusted aides carried simple tents, pitching them on a spacious open field to manage a night’s sleep.
Jiang Shaohua was no stranger to camping in the wild and slept in a tent like the trusted aides.
On tasks like pitching tents, there were Qin Huma and Meng Sanbao to busy themselves with it. Jiang Shaohua sat in the carriage, listening intently.
The bandits were originally ten miles away. As they fled, most of them got into the mountain folds. Some, having lost their direction, even ran toward this side.
Song Yuan let out a cold laugh, personally holding a long knife, and with a few swift strokes, he chopped off two bloodied heads.
Chen Jinyu and Ma Yaosong’s eyes lit up, exclaiming in unison, "Commander Song is truly formidable!"
Lu Cong glanced at the two bandit corpses in the distance, his genteel face turning paler, and his facial muscles twitched slightly. After holding it in for a moment and unable to endure, he went behind a tree and retched thoroughly.
After calming his emotions, Lu Cong returned again.
Chen Jinyu and Ma Yaosong stole a chuckle, coming over to express concern to Lu Sheren, "Lu Sheren, having never witnessed such a killing scene before, it’s understandable to feel unwell temporarily."
"You get used to it after experiencing it a couple of times."
Lu Cong chuckled at himself bitterly, "I’ve been an official for many years and thought highly of myself. Only now I’ve realized I have so many shortcomings."
Chen Jinyu, being soft-hearted, immediately comforted, "Lu Sheren, don’t belittle yourself. In dealings, social network wrangling, we can’t compare to you."
Lu Cong: "..."
This barb hit both steady and accurate!
Lu Cong managed to only chuckle out, "Chen Sheren is too kind. What skills do I really have, other than staying in officialdom for several years and growing older and thicker-skinned? In the future, I really should learn more from you all."
Chen Jinyu laughed, "Lu Sheren, you are too humble. We all serve beside the Commandery Princess; we should indeed learn from each other."
Ma Yaosong, who always sided with Chen Jinyu, immediately chimed in, "What Chen Sheren said is exactly what’s on my mind."
Inside the carriage, Jiang Shaohua gave a silent smile.
By nightfall, Liu Hengchang finally returned and personally reported, "Reporting to the Commandery Princess, I led the men for half a day’s chase, killed thirty-five bandits, and captured fifty-two alive."