Chapter 337: Killing Bandits

In the old Roving Bandits camp ground east of the docks, though it was already deep into the night, many figures still moved about. Around several large bonfires, people crowded even more tightly, with all sorts of materials propped up in front of them.

A red flash flickered on the distant horizon, and a moment later, a low, muffled cannon report rolled in. A stir of unrest rippled through the captives, many lifting their heads to look in that direction.

Yang Guangdi had no time to look. He took a bundle of firewood and grass directly from a Roving Bandit's hands. He had been among the last group to reach Erlang Town, arriving just as night was about to fall, and with almost no rest, he had been organized and put to work again.

Everyone here consisted of captured Roving Bandits. The able-bodied men and women, probably only about ten percent, had already been transferred into the town to haul corpses and building materials for reinforcing Erlang Town's fortifications. The majority left in the camp were the old, the weak, women, and children, guarded by a small number of sailors and civilian laborers. These captives could not handle heavy labor. The Garrison Commander camp needed dry firewood and dry grass, so these people were set to drying the leftover materials from the old camp, then hauling them into town.

Yang Guangdi had already made several trips, delivering dry grass to the Cavalry Ying's horses. This time, Chief of Ten Tan had sent him to move firewood for lighting and heating in the town. As soon as a batch was dried, he would take a few captives to transport it.

He looked around but found no dry place to set things down; water stains were everywhere nearby. Just as he was at a loss, a voice beside him said, "Officer soldier, sir, put it over here."

He turned his head to look. The Roving Bandit had taken off his tattered clothes, revealing a gaunt, bony upper body. He carefully spread the clothes on the ground, then looked up at Yang Guangdi with a fawning expression.

Yang Guangdi glanced at him. It was an old Roving Bandit, his face full of wrinkles. Half of the white beard on his chin had been burned off, the ends curled in a messy, scorched tangle.

"What are you putting on an act for, you mangy bandit spawn?" Yang Guangdi spat at him with utter disgust, the spittle landing squarely on his face. The old Roving Bandit did not dare dodge, letting the spittle hang on his face.

Yang Guangdi kicked the old Roving Thief. The old man staggered and fell to the ground. A woman beside him cried out in alarm and threw herself over, covering the old man's body with her own to shield him.

"For all the countless evils you've done, you'll still get the blade in the end." Yang Guangdi cursed with bitter resentment. The few civilian laborers nearby heard this and burst out laughing together, praising him for cursing well.

The captives drying materials all buried their heads. Someone sobbed quietly. Yang Guangdi held his head high and paid them no mind. He and his mother had once been abducted into a Roving Bandits camp, but not for long. The Roving Bandits were soon defeated at Chuzhou, and he escaped the bandit camp then. He had never felt he was one of them.

Suddenly, an authoritative voice sounded from behind. "Yang Guangdi, what are you doing? How much firewood have you delivered?"

Yang Guangdi hurriedly turned around and saw the short Chief of Ten Tan standing imposingly behind him, a waist saber in his hand, scavenged from who knows where. He quickly went over and said, "I just delivered forage to the Cavalry Ying. I'm about to take some to the Personal Guard Division. Master Yong said they'll have another meal tonight, something about setting out early."

Tan Laizi grunted in acknowledgment. "Why haven't you brought any for us? It's the middle of the night, and I, your elder, haven't even had a mouthful of thin congee."

Yang Guangdi nodded repeatedly. "Once it's cooked, I'll eat with you, Chief of Ten."

"What qualifications does a little brat like you have to eat with me, your elder? I'll reward you a few mouthfuls, and you can eat off to the side." Tan Laizi said to Yang Guangdi sternly. "And don't call me Chief of Ten. The Deputy Gang Leader just told me, from now on, I, your elder, am far bigger than a Chief of Ten."

Yang Guangdi asked in surprise, "Chief of Ten Tan, what official post did you get?"

"What I'm in charge of is the Women's Camp." A satisfied smile crept onto the corner of Tan Laizi's mouth.

Tan Laizi clasped his hands behind his back and strolled slowly to the bonfire's edge, casting an authoritative glance around at the captives, mainly looking at the younger female Roving Bandits among them.

Under Yang Guangdi's admiring gaze, Tan Laizi clapped his hands and shook his head with a sigh. "Ever since I personally cut down eleven bandit spawn in Hezhou last year, it's been a long time since I've run into any. My hands have been itching fiercely. I, Tan Ye, originally told Lord Pang that tomorrow I'd break that Eight Bandits Camp stockade first, behead a dozen... twenty or thirty bandit heads, and then come back to discipline these women. But Lord Pang simply wouldn't allow it, said I managed things well at Shipai Market, that it had to be me. Pity my blade here won't get to taste blood this time. What a shame, isn't it? Ah."

Tan Laizi sighed, shook his head, and with a clang, drew the waist saber in his hand. Under the firelight's glow, the Dragon Spring blade shimmered, though several large notches on it somewhat marred the visual effect. But it was imposing enough. The Roving Bandit women and children around him, hearing these words, were all silent as cicadas in winter chill; some were even so frightened they began to cry softly.

Yang Guangdi was also so astonished his mouth hung open. He never imagined that Chief of Ten Tan, who looked so wretched, actually had a glorious moment of personally slaying eleven bandit spawn. It sounded like the truth, too, otherwise the number wouldn't be so oddly specific.

Tan Laizi sheathed his sword with satisfaction. The task of inventorying seized wealth had not fallen to him, but today's gains had already far exceeded his expectations, mainly in terms of his mental spirit.

"Yuan Pozi."

A middle-aged woman with thick hands and large feet came over. "This old woman is here. Please give your orders, Lord Tan."

Tan Laizi said to Yang Guangdi smugly, "Look, this is the Women's Camp's Grand Team Leader. I, Tan Ye, just appointed her."

Yang Guangdi had no idea what to say and simply nodded blankly.

That Yuan Pozi looked at Yang Guangdi and quickly judged that this child was no one important. Paying him no further mind, she spoke directly to Tan Laizi. "Reporting to Officer Tan, there are seventeen women here in total. This old woman just examined them; quite a few are the wives and concubines of Post Commander and Team Leaders. They used to know nothing but bullying this old woman. Now I absolutely must deal with them properly..."

Tan Laizi waved his hand dismissively. "Well, about that, discipline what needs disciplining, but Lord Pang said that personal vengeance is forbidden in the camp."

Yuan Pozi grunted in acknowledgment. "This slave understands. That's just what officials say openly for people to hear. This slave will speak plainly with Officer Tan. These few still have some looks to them. This slave understands everything. I guarantee I'll make them obediently listen to whatever the officer says..."

Tan Laizi cut her off with a dry cough. "I, Tan Ye, am a decent man. Count the people. What's the total number we've taken into the camp here?"

"Two hundred and seventy-one have been taken in. Nearly full at three hundred."

Tan Laizi chuckled. "Nearly full means still short. Leave it at that for now. Once things are done later, you go round up twenty-nine more. Anything else?"

"This old woman needs to ask Officer Tan for a horsewhip." Yuan Pozi shot a resentful glance at the female captives nearby. "These cheap women are all from the Roving Thieves' Women's Camp. They won't submit to discipline without a beating."

"That makes some sense. If a beating is needed, then beat them." Tan Laizi said thoughtfully.

The female captives on the ground all kept their heads lowered, not daring to look at Tan Laizi. Only one woman shot him a glance, her gaze full of bitter resentment.

In this short while, a few more bundles of firewood had been dried. Tan Laizi waved his hand, and Yuan Pozi pulled out a thin firewood branch, lashing at several women on the ground and ordering them to pick up the firewood and carry it into town.

Yang Guangdi also hoisted a bundle and followed at the rear of the group. They soon entered the town. Inside, soldiers of the Garrison Commander camp were everywhere, gathered in their respective Squads around fires. The alleyway entrances and broken perimeter walls on the north side were all piled high with corpses and stone blocks. The large group of able-bodied captives was still being guarded and kept busy, hauling bricks, stones, and timber from the south side to the north.

Bonfires were everywhere. The remaining water stains on the street flagstones reflected the firelight, creating a scene of bright illumination all around.

Another cannon report sounded from the north. It had gone off many times during the evening, and the Garrison Commander camp soldiers were long accustomed to it; no one paid it any mind anymore. After walking a while longer, Yang Guangdi reached his destination.

Their Chief of Ten had originally been assigned to support the Cavalry Ying, but after arriving, there were not enough civilian laborers, and the various divisions had been reassigned piecemeal. The Garrison Inspector soldiers had also drawn off a portion to guard the old and weak outside. Now they were scattered everywhere, leaving only seven or eight people here, and even the Chief of Ten was about to be promoted. Fortunately, Chief of Ten Tan had transferred a few women over, just in time to cook.

Yang Guangdi set down the firewood. This was a former alleyway entrance, flanked on both sides by brick walls that had not yet collapsed. It looked like it had once belonged to wealthy households. Now the alleyway entrance was filled with piled-up Roving Bandit corpses. Heads, hands, feet, and bricks were densely intertwined, a sight of sheer horror.

Old Man Zeng was also here, waiting for food. Holding a torch, he stood before the pile of corpses, carefully studying something. Only when he heard Yang Guangdi call him did he sigh and come back to sit down.

Over on that side, Yuan Pozi was already directing several women to light the fire and set up the pot. They borrowed fire from the neighboring Third Division. There was a well not far away, and Yuan Pozi sent two more women to fetch water.

The two women struggled greatly on their way back with the water. The one in front paused for a moment by the pot — it was the very woman who had glared angrily at Tan Laizi earlier. As she strained to lift the bucket, her hand suddenly slipped. The wooden bucket overturned onto the ground, the gushing water extinguishing half the fire.

Without any explanation, Yuan Pozi grabbed a half-burned wooden stick and slapped it across the woman's face. Sparks flew everywhere instantly, and the woman let out a miserable howl.

"Let's see you make trouble! This old lady is telling you, you're not some Post Commander's woman anymore. This old lady is the Team Leader now. Your family's Post Commander is dead. I watched him get trampled to death. The child you bore was trampled to death too."

The woman screamed sharply and lunged to grapple with Yuan Pozi. But that Yuan Pozi was quite formidable; she grabbed the woman by the hair and pinned her to the ground in one move, then proceeded to burn her bare feet. Amid the piercing, agonized screams, the smell of scorched flesh and skin instantly filled the air.

The Garrison Commander camp soldiers nearby all stared blankly at Yuan Pozi, never having imagined that a fight between women could be so vicious.

Yuan Pozi seemed to have gone mad. "Let's see you bully this old lady now! I'll burn your face!"

As she spoke, she pulled the wooden stick back, preparing to press it down onto the woman's face. The woman flailed her hands wildly, struggling with all her might to block it.

"Stop!"

Tan Laizi seemed to have just reacted. He suddenly roared, stood up, and shouted again, "No burning!"

Yuan Pozi, her hair disheveled, only released the woman when she heard Tan Laizi speak.

"Go round up the people. I, your elder, can cook by myself." Tan Laizi waited a moment, then pointed at the woman on the ground. "Leave her here to cook."

Yuan Pozi obediently left, taking the other women with her. The woman who had been burned lay prone on the ground, her disheveled hair covering half her face. The exposed half of her face was expressionless, not looking at all like someone about to cook.

Tan Laizi waved at Yang Guangdi. "We'll cook ourselves."

The few civilian laborers clumsily fetched water, added the rice, and stoked the fire high. Since they were all ravenously hungry, they gathered around the pot, waiting to eat.

Yang Guangdi sat in a spot further inside, right next to the pile of corpses. From time to time, his eyes darted over to the woman lying outside. After a moment, he quietly asked Tan Laizi beside him, "That woman is ruthless."

Tan Laizi said distractedly, "What, you pity the bandit spawn now?"

"I don't pity bandit spawn, they're all bad people. The bandit spawn burned down my family's house, only me and my mother got out alive. If I saw them, I'd kill every last one." Yang Guangdi rubbed his head and added, "Killing's one thing, but Chief of Ten Tan, why did you put that cruel Yuan Pozi in charge? She's clearly a bad person."

Tan Laizi rolled his eyes at him. "What the hell do you know? It's precisely someone like Yuan Pozi who can get things done. Naturally you need a bad person to manage bad people. Have you ever seen a good person who could handle bad ones?"

Yang Guangdi let out an "Oh." "Then Chief of Ten Tan, you manage people too."

Old Man Zeng, nearby, suddenly coughed violently and hurriedly covered his mouth.

"You spouting nonsense, you little dog!" Tan Laizi aimed a kick at Yang Guangdi. Yang Guangdi turned and ran, circling around the fire beacon, with Tan Laizi chasing and swinging at him from behind.

"A bad man hitting a good man." Old Man Zeng sighed from the side. "Boy, just let him hit you a few times. With his strength, he can't really hurt you anyway."

Yang Guangdi shouted as he ran, "Can't dare let him hit me! Chief of Ten Tan killed over a dozen Roving Thieves in Hezhou — he'd definitely hurt me for sure."

Old Man Zeng shook his head. "Doesn't look it."

Tan Laizi stopped and cursed at Old Man Zeng. "What do you mean, doesn't look it? Go ask around all of Hezhou — who dares mess with Tan Ye from Anqing? Tan Ye here killed seven or eight bandit spawn just at the Wharf docks, and even saved… saved two or three people. What do you know, Old Man Zeng? I'm telling you, find me one Roving Thief right now, and Tan Ye will cleave him in two with one stroke of the sword, just so you all can have your eyes opened!"

Just then, a soft "Ah" sounded from the pile of corpses behind them. The few still sitting there sprang up in alarm and, following Tan Laizi, scrambled away.

"A ghost!"

Yang Guangdi retreated with the other civilian laborers to the middle of the street. Some soldiers nearby glanced over, had a laugh, and went back.

"What ghost? Not dead." Old Man Zeng was still sitting in the distance. He turned to look and sighed. "Won't live long either."

"Not dead, huh." Tan Laizi's mind eased. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. The moment he lowered his hand, a Waist Saber was offered to him from the side.

The laborer said ingratiatingly, "Chief of Ten Tan, are you going to cleave him in two?"

Tan Laizi pushed it away with one hand, stood on tiptoe to look at the corpse pile. "Get lost. This one's half-dead. If the master cleaves him, it'll ruin my reputation. Let him be."

He looked around. "This place is foul luck. Once it's cooked, bring it over to the master."

With that, he walked west along the street, sat down on the curb to wait for his meal. Several laborers followed him over, leaving only Old Man Zeng and Yang Guangdi. Old Man Zeng didn't care and went on tending the fire by himself.

Yang Guangdi cautiously approached the sound. By the flickering firelight, he looked carefully. It was a middle-aged man at the bottom of the corpse pile, pinned under a heap of bodies, with only his head and right hand exposed. Blood still trickled from his ear. His head turned slightly, his eyes opened, his gaze swept blankly once, then closed again. A hoarse groan squeezed from his throat.

Yang Guangdi crouched down. The man opened his eyes again, his unfocused gaze sweeping half a circle before finally finding Yang Guangdi before him. His lips trembled for a moment, then he said, "Water…"

Another cannon shot rang out in the night sky. Yang Guangdi flinched. He did not reach for his sword, only crouched there watching. The Roving Bandit's face was pressed to the ground. Seeming to sense there was water on the flagstone, he turned his face slightly, stuck out his tongue, and laboriously licked the stone. Blood from his ear dripped steadily onto the flagstone.

Old Man Zeng behind him said quietly, "He won't make it anyway. Weren't you going to kill bandit spawn? Just send him on his way sooner."

Yang Guangdi froze for a moment. His hand trembled as it felt at his waist, found the hilt of the Short Blade, gripped it once, then let go. He reached further back and touched the Coconut Ladle. He hesitated, then finally pulled out the stopper, carefully tilted the ladle, and let the water fall from its spout, dripping into the man's mouth.