Chapter 87: Plotting to Deploy Troops

Watching the three's retreating backs, Tan Jiang said angrily, "They're too reckless, too reckless. If it weren't for those guards, I'd have taken them out right now. Tomorrow, I'll say whatever it takes—I'll lead men to teach them a lesson."

Tan Ping replied, "How do we go? With those few fishing boats of yours, how many can a boat hold? One trip only fits three to fifty people; that won't even fill the gaps for them."

"He's just the village chief of a Small Village, how many troops could he have? They're all women anyway. At most, lend me all your fishing boats; one trip can carry over a hundred, enough to wipe him out. We can't let him keep being so arrogant, otherwise how can we establish prestige among other lords?"

Tan Ping pondered, "The Wei family on the opposite bank is always watching us; our main opponent is Wei Zidan… To deal with external threats we must first secure the interior. Others haven't shown up yet, so we should cut this chicken open, to make those monkeys obey us. The lesson must be given, but in this battle you must win decisively, and you must not kill him—just cripple him."

"Don't worry, I know my limits. I'll make him kneel and beg for mercy, leaving him half a breath. That guy is a lecher; his subordinates are all women, I hear they're rather pretty. I'll capture a few for big brother to enjoy."

Tan Ping waved his hand, "In the battle at Luo Ping Hai, I heard that kid did fairly well; we must not be careless. To be safe, tomorrow when I send the ships over, I'll bring my Whirlwind troops on the same vessel, let them be your vanguard, ensuring nothing goes wrong."

Tan Jiang asked, "Whirlwind troops? How come I've never heard big brother mention them."

"Hmph…," Tan Ping said ominously, "A few days ago while inspecting the Territory, I recruited from the forest; you'll see how fierce they are then."

……

The three left the bank and walked together toward the tavern.

Qian Feng said, "Pleasant, it's been a long time since I could vent like this. But isn't this a bit too hasty? It might actually be that they'll come to kill us tomorrow."

"I actually hope they'll come to kill us tomorrow."

"But we still have Wei Zidan in front of us."

Li Bucai naturally knew there was also a Wei Zidan, and it was uncertain when they would meet him, but from Wei Zidan's appearance one could see he was a very competitive person. Since he was so competitive, even if the schoolgirl immediately cut ties with him, he would never at the first moment fly into a rage and raise troops because of a girl he liked—that would be tantamount to surrender, something only a brute would do. He would simply keep courting the schoolgirl, and until he was completely disheartened, he would not easily launch troops.

"I think Wei Zidan still doesn't have that idle time, which gives us a chance to settle the Tan family brothers."

"Settle? I've seen the Tan family brothers' official robes; they control two Large Villages. Even if the three of us combine, we might not have more men than a single one of them. Can we swallow them?"

"Now, of course we don't have that big an appetite yet, and I don't expect to eliminate them in one or two battles; at least not in the near term."

"Then what do we do?"

Li Bucai said, "People like them are just petty opportunists; if we can't knock us down in one or two attacks, as long as we inflict some loss on them, they'll fear the growing power of the North Bank, and then they'll not only voluntarily seek peace with us but may also pull us into an alliance. When that situation arises, it will be the best time for us to develop peacefully. The Tan family brothers on the South Bank won't dare to provoke us again, and we're still nominally the South Bank alliance, and Wei Zidan won't dare to use troops lightly."

Qian Feng said, "If it can really be like you say, we'll be on equal footing with the Tan family brothers, and we can also use the chance to win over the others. Right, boss?"

Li Bucai gave a faint smile.

The schoolgirl followed nearby; they were discussing military matters, and she found it extremely boring.

"My great strategist, your beautiful servant has returned."

Li Bucai smiled apologetically, followed her gaze, and Yan Qiu walked over with a large bundle, saying timidly, "Food has been scarce here these days, could only buy these. It's a sweet made from tender leaf grass and rice flour, tastes decent enough." He opened the bundle for the three to taste.

Li Bucai put a piece in his mouth, "Hmm, not bad, what do you think?"

"Hmm, many people in Sky City like this sweet."

"There's nothing decent now, so consider this a gift for you; this won't be counted against your Monthly tribute. Also, your Monthly tribute was short by 1 gold; I think you forgot your own."

"I… I…" Yan Qiu had wanted to say that when she first arrived at the Territory she was very unprofessional, and the lord had saved her life, so she couldn't take tribute.

Li Bucai said, "Do you want me to exchange all the gold coins for items and then give them to you?"

"This…"

"I understand your intention, but public belongs to public, private to private, a horse is a horse, the tribute was agreed from the start. Alright, go, it'll take an hour; when you return there'll be many tasks for you."

Yan Qiu nodded apologetically and left.

The schoolgirl said enviously, "Ah, you care for your servant more than us; even I want to be your servant."

"If they could also have many people to look after them, I'd hope it'd be easier. If you're willing to part with them, I have twelve vacant rooms that no one dares to occupy."

"Dream on, unless a year from now you can beat me." Compared to going to his place, she preferred to bring only him to her Territory.

As they spoke, the three entered the tavern.

"Princess." Near the stairs seat, Wei Zidan, surrounded by several lords, saw the schoolgirl from afar, quickly rose and greeted her with a princess's courtesy.

When Wei Zidan left Luo Ping Hai, he gave each of four heavily damaged lords ten guards, preventing them from falling into a state of having no usable men. Now each of those four has at least thirty to fifty gold coins, grateful for his kindness, and they voluntarily return double the value of their troops to him. Not only does he receive Monthly tribute, but he also wins their hearts. Later, if he wants more Monthly tribute, he only needs to find some specialties from his own Territory and provide them on credit, profiting without suppressing their strength. While they grow, he only needs to be a few times stronger, which also serves to promote his own development.

The schoolgirl only gave him a faint smile, counting it as returning the favor, then looked at Li Bucai, "It's stuffy here, let's go upstairs to sit."

Li Bucai was about to find a private room upstairs to host Wu Zhuoran's grandfather Wu An. He nodded; after all, among those opposite were four who had fought alongside him, though cooperation wasn't very pleasant. Out of courtesy he greeted each of the four, finally walked to Wei Zidan and bowed.

At that moment Wei Zidan stood where he was, his smile frozen, occasionally glancing at the schoolgirl; her gaze still only on Li Bucai, coldly scanning him, watching the three go up to the second floor.

He Qingming said angrily, "Too ungrateful, we've taken such good care of her, yet she doesn't know gratitude. Should we teach that little guy beside her a lesson?"

Wei Zidan forced a smile, sat back, and gritted his teeth, "She's just a woman; I, Wei Zidan, haven't sunk to the level of fighting over a woman's petty jealousy. Since she doesn't want to stand with us, let her be; when she regrets later."

Though he said this, he still liked her; he said it only to avoid losing face before the allies, but secretly sent someone to inform the Tan family brothers that this woman was temporarily not under his control; if they want Monthly tribute, they can take it from him.

What he wanted was her heart; given the current situation, only by driving her to a dead end could he make Li Bucai, a village chief of a Small Village, think he had great ability, borrowing the Tan family brothers' help, first letting Li Bucai embarrass himself before her, then he would heroically intervene, turn the tide, and make her see who truly is outstanding.

After the Tan family brothers' contact with Wei Zidan's people, Wei Zidan became their number‑one enemy, so naturally he wouldn't reveal his own affairs to them, and hearing Wei Zidan push the schoolgirl onto himself, and just now she was with Li Bucai, the three simultaneously declared war on him, claiming Wei Zidan wanted to use the three to stir up the South Bank, so they wouldn't mention to Wei Zidan the war with Li Bucai and others, lest he take advantage.