Chapter 698

A band of mountain bandits hiding deep in the mountains and old forests is inevitably a huge trouble for the local Provincial Troops. With limited manpower, the bandits play hide-and-seek, and the Provincial Troops can do nothing about it.

But when manpower is sufficient, a mountain will not become any obstacle.

Chen Wuji gave an order, and over thirty thousand Bīngmǎ launched a carpet-like assault on Ye Lao Mountain.

After a huge encirclement is formed, the main direction of attack is then determined.

People leave their names behind; geese leave their echoes when they pass.

Even if the bandits have as many hides as a cunning rabbit with eight or nine burrows, as long as they live here they will inevitably leave traces of their activity, and determining enemy numbers and movements through those traces has always been a required course for the Xùhòu yíng.

It's also basic training!

The central army and the two Xùhòu yíng under Lü Ji's command mobilized the entire force, and within less than an hour they confirmed the area where the bandits were concentrated; afterward the army split into several columns and advanced mightily.

Chen Wuji was also in the army, and he went up the mountain with them.

"My lord, we have found the bandits' Old Stronghold, but it is empty of people; however, they released our soldiers and took away our warhorses." Chen Li stepped forward to report.

The bandits having fled and left their stronghold empty, Chen Wuji was not at all surprised.

These mountain bandits are not fools; having plundered the scout horses, they certainly would not dare to remain in the Old Stronghold.

Hide-and-seek is their usual trick.

Fortunately, they still had some sense, leaving only the warhorses and releasing the people.

"Bring over the soldier who was just captured from the Xùhòu yíng." Chen Wuji ordered.

"Yes!"

Moments later, a fit soldier was brought over.

"Commander of the central army's rear camp, Chen Youmi, greets my lord."

Chen Wuji glanced at the soldier and asked, "Are you from the clan?"

"Yes, I come from the Kuhe branch."

Chen Wuji nodded, "Your Kuhe branch is excellent; you have set an example for all the branches. Work hard, for now is the time for us to establish merit and achieve greatness."

"Yes!" Chen Youmi exclaimed excitedly, shouting loudly.

Chen Wuji looked satisfied at the vigorous, righteous commander and said, "Tell me what happened."

"Yes!"

Chen Youmi responded loudly, then said: "When we scouted near Ye Lao Mountain, we carelessly fell into a pit dug by these bandits; these people are extremely cunning, with pits everywhere, real and fake, and we were caught off guard."

"We had no time to react before the bandits rushed out from the woods, about a hundred of them. We were in the pit, unable to resist, and they tied us up and took us up the mountain."

"The bandits initially did not want to release us, but after asking about our identities and origins they decided to let us go. They should have been moving deeper into the mountains at that time, and I noticed they were heading west."

Chen Wuji gave a solemn order: "Pass the command, launch a large-scale search to the west!"

"Yes!"

After giving the order, Chen Wuji then asked Chen Youmi, "How are the soldiers? Any injuries?"

"Reporting to my lord, no one suffered serious injuries; basically just scraped some skin when falling into the pit."

"Go rest."

"My lord, we are physically unharmed and can continue fighting."

Chen Wuji chuckled, "You like fighting that much?"

"My lord, you just said this is the time for us to establish merit and achieve greatness; as long as we don't die, I don't want to miss any opportunity." Chen Youmi straightened his back and replied loudly.

"Alright, go!"

"Yes!"

Chen Li stepped forward and said, "Family Head, the soldiers have all been released; does our army still need to continue searching the mountain? Ye Lao Mountain is not small; if we carry out a large-scale search, we may not have results by tomorrow, possibly delaying the war effort."

"It's only two or three days; it won't cause a delay." Chen Wuji shook his head, his eyes sharp as a knife, "But this band of mountain bandits must be punished by law; to think they could stand on my shoulders and achieve fame is a foolish daydream."

"Such bandits who dare to provoke the dignity of our great army must be eradicated root and branch; if not eliminated, the impact would be too bad."

"Yes!"

Chen Li said no more, accepted the order, returned to the ranks, and directed the central army to search to the west.

Two hours later.

At the time when the sky was about to darken, soldiers from the front came to report.

The bandits have been eliminated, with over two hundred beheaded.

Chen Wuji ordered to set up camp on the spot; they would stay overnight at Ye Lao Mountain.

The bonfire blazed, and Chen Li used the leaves of the golden vine to wrap a simply marinated wild chicken, adding several stalks of yellow essence inside, then covered it with mud and simmered it beside the fire.

"Family Head, this band of mountain bandits is quite interesting; although there isn't a single woman on the mountain, their houses are built exquisitely, and they even know how to grow vegetables." Chen Li joked, "Earlier when we went up the mountain, I thought this band of bandits were all families with children."

"This is a band of mountain bandits that knows how to live, indeed different from ordinary bandits; unfortunately, their minds are also unlike other bandits, not clear-headed at all." Chen Wuji held a teacup and sipped it lightly.

Under normal circumstances, when bandits encounter a passing great army, they run as far as they can and hide themselves thoroughly, fearing they might be swept away casually.

This band of mountain bandits, however, dared even to intercept and kill his scout horses.

No matter what kind of mountain bandits they usually are, based on this point alone, it is a dead end.

There is no second road to choose.

Chen Li pulled out the somewhat scorched yam roasted in the fire.

"Family Head, the yam seems done; it can be eaten."

"First send it into the Big Tent."

"Yes!"

Today's meal is entirely game.

Once in the mountains, Chen Wuji will surely take the opportunity to improve a meal.

Even though he is now the Lord of Nan Jun, he has not forgotten the skills with which he started out.

At this moment, Lu Ji came around from the other side of the slope, holding his belt.

Because space was limited, his camp was on the other side of the mountain, a short distance from the central army.

"You've come at just the right time; the fish was just finished grilling."

Chen Li smiled and greeted.

Lu Ji nodded in acknowledgment, then clasped his fists and said to Chen Wuji, "My lord, the scout just reported that a unit passed down the mountain, escorting a large amount of luggage and supplies, several hundred carts."

"The unit numbers about a thousand, all armored knights; the cargo on the wagons is heavy enough to have sunk the road a bit."

Chen Wuji handed over a grilled river fish, saying, "Eat while we talk."

"Here!"

"Has the identity of this unit been confirmed?"

"They weren't flying any flags, but given the route, no one else but Yu Ren's troops would be passing here." Lu Ji sat down, though he didn't rush to eat the grilled fish in his hand.

"It's more likely to be under Yu Ren's command," Chen Li said.

"Just that, heading south from here leaves Songzhou; where could Yu Ren be transporting the luggage and supplies to?"

Chen Wuji smiled faintly, "No need to guess; let the scout follow them and we'll find out."

"Here!"

"South..."

Chen Li muttered softly, then said, "They wouldn't be heading for Yingzui Ridge, would they?"