Chapter Sixteen: Just as I Had Hoped

  The sound of horseshoes broke the tranquility of the countryside, tall horses and iron-clad soldiers marched in formation. The young child suddenly saw this array, frightened and crying loudly. The flustered woman hastily picked up the child, called her husband to block the door with firewood, and hid inside the thatched hut.

  An Tong rode on horseback, his body swaying with the horse's gait, and asked leisurely: "Xin Gang, where have we arrived?"

  Xin Gang spurred his horse forward quickly and reported back, "General Hui, the dense forest is just ahead. This is the most lush area of trees in this region, hence its name. According to the scouts' report, the bandits' gathering place is right in this area."

  "Really?"

  "Yes, and what's more, I've heard some good news from my subordinate." Xing said with a hint of mystery in the corner of his mouth.

  An Tong's pupils suddenly enlarged and asked: "What good news?"

  Xin Gang smiled and said, "The general's reputation is well-known far and wide. Before he even takes action, the bandits are already scared out of their wits. According to reports, after learning that the general was sending troops, the bandits were extremely terrified, and more than a dozen people have escaped. Now, only about 100 stubborn followers remain by Yin Xu's side, and it is likely that their morale has collapsed. Yet they still attempt to put up a desperate resistance."

  The flattery was well-placed, and An Tong burst out laughing: "That's only natural, General. I'll personally take care of those little bandits, no problem at all."

  Xin Gang smiled and said, "General, your prestige is great, but a group of mobs actually dared to resist, it's simply a mantis trying to stop a chariot, they don't know their own strength. Deputy General Li has already led people to surround and annihilate them, I think the bandits have already been beheaded."

  An Tong burst out laughing and felt very pleased. Just as he was speaking, a cavalryman on horseback came galloping towards them, and Xin Gang smiled and said: "General, it seems that Deputy General Li's good news has arrived."

  Before the words had fallen, the scouts had already arrived in front of them. Looking at the expression on the scout's face, Xingang had a bad premonition.

  "How is the battle going?"

  The scout bowed his hands and said: "This morning, I received news that the thieves are still lurking in their nest in the dense forest. After Vice General Li arrived with his troops at noon, there was no one left."

  "Ran away?" Xing Gang laughed and said: "The thieves must have been intimidated by the general's reputation, and they fled in a hurry."

  "Hmm! The scout's expression was strained as he said, 'Deputy General Li initially thought the same way, but due to a moment of carelessness and inattention, he didn't expect that the thieves had set up traps and mechanisms.'"

  "Huh?"

  "The hut was filled with dry firewood smeared with pine resin, and a hidden fire source was connected to the mechanism. When the brothers entered the yard, they accidentally triggered the mechanism, and the dry firewood was ignited. The large bamboo shed instantly became a sea of flames, and more than ten brothers who entered were killed."

  "What?"

  Upon hearing the scout's words, Xingang's smile froze in an instant. Antong was even more furious, and in his eyes, annihilating over a hundred bandits was too simple, like crushing an ant. However, before he had even seen their shadow, they were ambushed by the bandits. Although only a dozen or so were injured, it wasn't anything significant, but it undoubtedly gave this commander a severe slap in the face, causing him to lose all dignity.

  A loud shout made the soldiers turn their heads, and An Tong had no choice but to lower his voice and ask: "Where are the bandits hiding now? Is there any clue?"

  The scout replied: "The patrol reported that the thieves have withdrawn to the area of Rongshu Ridge, and Deputy General Li has already sent someone to pursue them, but there is no further report yet."

  "Yong Ridge?" asked An Tong, "Do you know the terrain and situation of that place?"

  Xing Gang replied: "Rongshu Ridge is in the southeast from here, and the specific situation has not been explored yet. It seems that we can only ask the local people."

  An Tongwei nodded and ordered: "Bring the guide over!"

  After a moment, a middle-aged man came forward with a smile and asked for peace. His name was Lai San, a local rascal who had been taken in by Yin Xu and others. When Tong Da Jun arrived looking for a guide, he heard that there would be a reward and an opportunity to avenge himself with one arrow, so Lai San actively signed up.

  "Depend on three?"

  "Little is here!" Lai San nodded and bowed, with a flattering face, looking very respectful.

  Xing Gang said: "Tell General about the terrain, mountain situation and river condition of Rongshu Ridge in detail."

  Lai San smiled and said, "Yes, the Rongshu Ridge is a relatively high mountain ridge in this area. The trees are lush, and there are wild beasts roaming around. Few people come here normally. From the northwest, there are six gullies that can be used to climb up the mountain. To the south is the border of Fan Township, and there are two paths that can be taken to descend the mountain. Further east, the mountains are high and the forests are dense. Even local hunters dare not enter casually. Other places have steep terrain and no roads to walk."

  "Eight Trigrams?"

  "Yes."

  "Go down first!" Xing Gang said with a wave of his hand, turning to An Tong and asking: "General, what should we do?"

  An Tong said, "The thieves are only a hundred people, as long as we catch them, we can wipe them out in one pot. But if we let them hide and escape like this, we won't be able to do anything. Now that they're hiding in the Banyan Tree Ridge, it's a good opportunity, best to surround and annihilate them at once, if they slip away again, it will be difficult to deal with."

  "It makes sense," Xingang asked tentatively, "does the general mean to divide our troops and surround them?"

  "Very well, divide the troops into six routes, advance along the river, and set up camps step by step. Gradually close in on them until they have no way to escape, then surround and annihilate them."

  Xin Gang nodded thoughtfully and said: "The general is right, the strategy of advancing separately and striking together is good, but what about the south? There are still two roads."

  An Tong smiled and said: "Notify Wu Rui, let him send people from Fan County to guard the two passes for me, don't let a single one escape."

  "Uh... okay!" Xing was about to say something but stopped himself.

  An Tong looked at him with some displeasure and said: "You are my trusted person, speak your mind, don't be hesitant like a woman."

  Xin Gang smiled and said, "Please think about it, General. These thieves are mostly from Fan Township, and many of them have a relationship with Wu Rui. If we let them guard, won't there be some mistakes? In the past two years, hasn't Wu Rui been lenient towards strong robbers and convicts?"

  "That's also true!" An Tong said thoughtfully: "In that case, Wu Rui's side is somewhat unsettling."

  Xin Gang said in a timely manner: "It's better to dispatch our own troops to defend against it, just in case. But this way, the eight routes are divided, and each team's military strength seems a bit thin?"

  "It doesn't matter!" An Tong shook his head and said, "This is not a big deal. Even if we split our troops into eight routes, each team still has more than 600 people. Now the bandits only have over a hundred people left, let alone they are a disorganized mob fleeing in all directions. How can they compare to the elite soldiers of Great Qin?"

  "This is indeed!"

  "Order it down, divide the troops into eight routes, advance and strike together, surround and annihilate Yangmu Ridge."

  "Hello!"

  ……

  "Master, Pu Jun is back!" A loud shout came from a dense forest. Yin Xu stood up with joy and welcomed back Pu Jun who was covered in sweat.

  Gao Yi asked somewhat impatiently: "What's the situation at the foot of the mountain?"

  "No rush." Yin Xu waved his hand and said, "Take a rest first!"

  Pu Jun wiped the sweat and said, "It's really relieving. The lever mechanism of yours is indeed effective. The bamboo house was a sea of fire, burning to death more than ten Qin soldiers."

  "Really?" Gao Yi was very excited about this.

  Lu Ming went away somewhat dejectedly and said: "Only a dozen or so, it's too few."

  Gao Yi cursed with a smile: "You little brat is really ungrateful, just such a big house, burning to death a dozen or so would be fine."

  Yin Xu also smiled and asked: "What is the reaction of the Qin army? What is the situation?"

  Pu Jun's face showed a hint of excitement as he said, "They are dividing their troops into eight routes and are preparing to launch an attack up the mountain."

  "Divide troops into eight places? So even the few roads in Nanbian Fan Township are blocked?" Yin Xu hurriedly asked.

  Pu Jun nodded in agreement.

  "Ah?" A small soldier on the side couldn't help but exclaim: "Are we completely blocked? The eastern mountain is high and dense, and we can't get in. Don't we have no way to retreat?"

  Yin Xu and Pu Jun, Gao Yi exchanged a look, then smiled: "Who said to retreat? It's blocked just right, just what I wanted."

  "Huh?" Xiaozhu's eyes widened in confusion, his face a picture of bewilderment.