Chapter 312: Returning Bandits

Fang Wushang produced a map, analyzing it in detail alongside Bai Yuan.

Fan Shanyue had accepted appeasement in Heyang County. After his subordinates disbanded, they would splinter into countless small groups returning home.

Most returned to various villages and towns in Heyang County, but some ventured back to places like Bai Shui County, Chengcheng County, and Hancheng.

Fang Wushang’s finger traced along the ridge marking the border between Heyang County and Chengcheng County, dragging southward…

“Mr. Bai, every village along this line is potentially at risk of being raided for grain by these appeased bandit troops.”

Fang Wushang added, “I will coordinate centrally, reinforcing wherever the bandit strength is heaviest. Ordinarily, all villages rely on your militia for defense. You need to allocate militia instructors to every village and town, ensuring they hold their positions.”

This required no explanation from Fang Wushang; Bai Yuan understood perfectly.

Scanning southward, Zhengjia Village appeared first. Fan Shanyue had once battled the militia fiercely there, where Sui Fengxiong and Erchun had perished. His men were highly likely to enter Chengcheng through Zhengjia Village again.

Further south lay Beisi Village, Shijia Gou, Bangou Village, Beipo Village, the Zhang family’s He Village, Quangou Village, Changjia He…

Fang Wushang tapped Quangou Village on the map. “I’ll station myself here, ready to support other villages at any moment.”

Bai Yuan nodded. “Then the other villages will be guarded by the militia I deploy. Rest assured, General Fang, I’ll arrange the militia effectively.”

Fang Wushang cautioned, “These appeased bandits differ from ordinary ones. Having nominally accepted appeasement, they’re now ‘commoners’ recognized by the court, simply ‘returning home.’ We cannot proactively block or attack them. We can only act to stop them once they begin causing trouble. This complicates matters significantly.”

Bai Yuan frowned. “Indeed!”

Previously, when Fan Shanyue’s men scaled the heights towards Zhengjia Village, the Gaojia Village Militia could have just unleashed rolling logs and stones without a word. But now, that wasn’t permissible. As the climbers were officially ‘returning home,’ not ‘attacking,’ the militia launching stones would forfeit moral justification. They simply wouldn’t hold the moral high ground.

It meant being profoundly passive!

If the bandits exploited their ‘returning home’ guise to ascend, bypass the natural defenses, and then launch a sudden assault, it truly would be an unpredictable threat.

Li Daoxuan couldn’t help but frown as well.

I’ll need to watch this entire situation carefully, no oversights. Otherwise, my little people could incur heavy losses unwittingly.

After Fang Wushang and Bai Yuan conversed, his hundred-odd soldiers finally caught up, panting heavily. “General Fang… pant… we finally made it.”

Fang Wushang replied, “Ah? Good. Mr. Bai and I are done. We head to Quangou Village immediately now.”

He slapped his horse’s rump. “Hya!” Once again, he charged alone towards Quangou Village.

Over a hundred subordinates cried out collectively, “Huh? Running off again?”

Their protest was futile; Fang Wushang vanished into the distance. The soldiers had no choice but to resume their grueling march towards Quangou Village…

The deputy inspector sighed deeply. “I truly miss when Patrol Officer Cheng was still here.”

The archer squad leader echoed, “Absolutely! Cheng Xu was excellent, ah! Such a pity he was killed by the Imperial Guards.”

“A-choo!” Cheng Xu, hiding in a distant grove, sneezed. “Who? Who’s talking about me behind my back?”

…

Gaojia Village was already mobilizing, preparing to enter Huanglong Mountain and confront Wang Zuogua. Now, hearing the He Yang bandits might scatter their way, they simply shifted their focus to the He Yang threat.

Cheng Xu only emerged from behind the trees after Fang Wushang’s group had departed. “Zhengjia Village will undoubtedly be our primary defensive point. So, I shall lead the main force of the Gaojia Village Militia to remain stationed there.”

Bai Yuan concurred. “The cavalry unit led by Zao Ying can stay centrally positioned, ready to support, without being tied down to specific villages. Let me consider… I’ll return to the county seat once and mobilize the newly formed large militia stationed there. Dispatching groups of two hundred men each to garrison the villages along the border.”

Li Daoxuan suddenly spoke up. “Bai Yuan, the dilemma you face isn’t an inability to defeat these returning bandits. It’s the constraint against striking first. Mingling with them is perilous; you must maintain distance. Simultaneously, you must deter them with overwhelming strength, making them hesitate to cause trouble at the mere sight of your forces.”

Gao Yiye had just then arrived beside them, allowing Li Daoxuan to issue direct instructions.

Bai Yuan, rushing with pride after hearing this, responded, “I share that exact thought. However, the specifics of how to intimidate them still elude me.”

Li Daoxuan stated simply, “Demonstrate your military power.”

Bai Yuan pressed, “Specifically… how…?”

Li Daoxuan instructed, “Lead your militia back to Gaojia Village. Have the artisans’ well equip them with weapons and gear. Ensure every man is armed to the teeth. We want the returning bandits so awestruck by their presence, their resolve crumbles instantly. They won’t dare make trouble.”

Bai Yuan experienced a flash of understanding.

Li Daoxuan continued, “Furthermore, grain! Ample grain is paramount for stabilizing these men. Immediately transport vast quantities of food to stockpile in these villages. When the returning bandits arrive, host them and feed them until they are full. This prevents hunger from driving them to turn blades on the villagers.”

Bai Yuan bowed long and low. “The Deity’s benevolence.”

Li Daoxuan added sternly, “Fan Shanyue has plagued Heyang County for over a year. Some bandits have long turned bloodthirsty predators, incapable of reverting to farming. Some will inevitably grasp for more even after receiving kindness – eating our grain, then seeking to plunder further… Any such wretch must be executed. Hang their heads for public display.”

Bai Yuan, rushing with pride once more, affirmed, “I understand everything now.”

He leaped onto a horse and, accompanied by several servants, sped swiftly towards the county seat. Simultaneously, Thirty-Two began organizing the grain convoy to transport provisions to all the villages along the border. This was no easy feat.

Most of these villages lay in remote areas, inaccessible by cement roads. Grain would have to be hauled over mountains and through ravines by manual pushcarts…

It required mobilizing a significant labor force.

Li Daoxuan had a sudden inspiration. “Thirty-Two, head to the prison. Organize the labor offenders into groups of one hundred. Have each group transport grain to a designated village. Once they deliver it, issue each man a weapon to guard that grain.”

Hearing this, Thirty-Two instantly grasped the Deity’s intent and chuckled. “That truly is an excellent stratagem. Those returning bandits… if they behave, fine. But dare they covet our grain… heh heh heh… they’d be truly bringing disaster upon themselves.”

However, Thirty-Two voiced a lingering concern. “But… what if these offenders abscond with the grain carts during transport?”

Li Daoxuan stated calmly, “I will be watching.”